A carbonation unit which includes a carbonation chamber and an expansion chamber is employed for use in beverage dispensers. The carbonation unit also provides a process for carbonation of a beverage that includes reducing the pressure in the carbonation chamber to a dispensing pressure through the use of the gas expansion chamber.

A method and dispensing apparatus for dispensing one or more liquids from a liquid storage container operably connected to the dispensing apparatus. The one or more liquids may include cold water, cold carbonated water, hot water and/or ambient temperature water. The dispensing apparatus preferably is a self-contained dispensing apparatus, i.e., a dispensing apparatus having its own source of liquid. The dispensing apparatus further preferably includes a housing storing a first cooled liquid reservoir and a second cooled liquid reservoir. The first cooled liquid reservoir preferably stores cold water and the second cooled liquid reservoir preferably stores cold carbonated water. A thermal link preferably connects the first cooled liquid reservoir and the second cooled liquid reservoir to cause thermal energy to be transferred between the first cooled liquid reservoir and the second cooled liquid reservoir.

A delivery apparatus and method for delivering liquid cryogen to a chilling application includes a liquid cryogen feed tank; a liquid cryogen conduit in fluid communication between the feed tank and the chilling application; a weight measurement device for controlling the weight of liquid cryogen to be delivered to the chilling application through the conduit; a flow controller for controlling the speed of delivery of the liquid cryogen to the chilling application; wherein the chilling application uses the liquid cryogen to produce an exhaust gas; a device for measuring the temperature of the exhaust gas, the device in operative communication with the flow controller; wherein the flow controller is configured to vary the speed of delivery of liquid cryogen in response to the temperature of the exhaust gas.

A beverage dispenser includes a gas infusion device that receives a base fluid and a gas and dispenses a gas infused liquid, a ratio pump that receives the gas infused liquid and a concentrate from a concentrate source and dispenses a predetermined ratio of the gas infused liquid and the concentrate, and a mixing chamber that mixes the predetermined ratio of the gas infused liquid and the concentrate to form a reconstituted beverage. An insulated enclosure has an interior space in which the ratio pump and the mixing chamber are positioned. A cooling heat exchanger is positioned in the insulated enclosure, and a first refrigeration system circulates a cooling media through the cooling heat exchanger to thereby cool the interior space to a suitable temperature such that the gas infused liquid and the concentrate dispensed from the ratio pump and the mixing chamber are cooled to the suitable temperature.

A drink producing apparatus includes: a dispensing unit for dispensing liquid from the drink producing apparatus, a dispensing container, which is formed for receiving a liquid addable to a drink by the drink producing apparatus in a first liquid state, a conditioning container, in which the liquid can be conditioned into a second liquid state different from the first liquid state, a decompression chamber for pressure reduction of the liquid in the conditioning container, wherein the decompression chamber is connected to the conditioning container by a line part of the line device, a carbon dioxide addition unit for adding carbon dioxide to the liquid, a carbon dioxide line device, which is connected to the carbon dioxide addition unit for leading carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide addition unit, wherein the carbon dioxide line device is a closed line circuit.

The invention also relates to a household refrigeration apparatus and to a method.

A refrigerator including a water intake container, in which carbonated water is produced by mixture of carbon dioxide and clean water, a first dispenser assembly, which the water intake container is attached to or detached from, and which supplies carbon dioxide and clean water to the water intake container when the water intake container is attached to the first dispenser, a dispenser lever and a second dispenser assembly which discharges clean water or ice according to manipulation of the dispenser lever, but stops the discharging of clean water or ice if the water intake container is attached to the first dispenser assembly. The refrigerator may include a dispenser lever and a processor to control an ice maker to stop operation if a command is entered through a user interface and to control the ice maker to start operation if the dispenser lever is manipulated while the ice maker stops operation.

A delivery apparatus and method for delivering liquid cryogen to a chilling application includes a liquid cryogen feed tank; a liquid cryogen conduit in fluid communication between the liquid cryogen feed tank and the chilling application, wherein the chilling application uses the liquid cryogen to produce an exhaust gas; a device for measuring a temperature of the exhaust gas, the device in operative communication with a controller; and wherein the controller is in communication with the temperature measuring device and a flow control valve, and is configured to receive a signal corresponding to the temperature of the exhaust gas from the temperature measuring device to vary the speed of delivery of the liquid cryogen through the liquid cryogen conduit to the chilling application in response to the temperature of the exhaust gas.

A beverage dispensing system including a control unit and a touch screen. Inputs are made to the touch screen to dispense beverages and apply system adjustments. The control unit controls a plurality of beverage dispensing valves according to inputs made to the touch screen.

A beverage dispensing system including a control unit and a touch screen. Inputs are made to the touch screen to dispense beverages and apply system adjustments. The control unit controls a plurality of beverage dispensing valves according to inputs made to the touch screen.

A beverage dispensing system including a control unit and a touch screen. Inputs are made to the touch screen to dispense beverages and apply system adjustments. The control unit controls a plurality of beverage dispensing valves according to inputs made to the touch screen.