The present invention is directed to a portable container for a beverage, such as beer, from a Sixth barrel or Cornelius keg. The portable container is specifically designed for storing, cooling, transporting and dispensing a beverage, such as beer. The portable container has a self-contained container of CO.sub.2, a regulator, and a tap for the keg.

A carbonation machine may include a carbonation head, a holder that is configured to hold a gas canister, the holder comprising a connector with a socket configured to enable linear insertion of a valve of the canister into the socket, the socket including a seal with at least one lateral opening to enable fluidic flow between one or more laterally oriented ports of the valve and a conduit of the holder while preventing leakage of gas from the fluidic flow, and a holding mechanism configured to hold a lateral projection from the canister after insertion of the valve into the socket such that the valve remains in the socket, and an activation mechanism configured to operate the valve to release the gas from the canister when inserted into the socket so as to enable the gas to flow via the conduit to the carbonation head

A mixing chamber for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. In one embodiment, the mixing chamber includes a housing, an agitator, a motor assembly and a rigid plate. A housing of the agitator and a housing of the motor assembly can each include a set of magnetics disposed therein and magnetically coupled so as to provide magnetic coupling between the motor assembly and the agitator. The mixing chamber is configured to receive a gas, such as carbon dioxide, and a liquid, such as water, to form a carbonated fluid. The carbonated fluid can be dispensed from the beverage carbonation system as a beverage.

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 home beverage dispensing device for dispensing servings of a beverage, having a vessel for holding a volume of liquid. This vessel may be equipped with a refrigeration unit, or may be comprised of a removable pitcher that may be put in an external refrigerator. This invention is equipped with a radio communications controller to provide for the ability to communicate over radio frequencies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. A special disposable beverage cartridge or beverage pouch fits into the holder. This cartridge or pouch may have pressure rupturable seals or diaphragms and contain beverage concentrate. The mixing structure also receives the optionally chilled liquid from vessel for holding a volume of liquid, and ensures that the concentrate mixes with the liquid without contacting the walls of the mixing structure.

A device for dispensing individual servings of a cold beverage with Wi-Fi connectivity, either having a refrigeration unit to chill the beverage or a removable pitcher that may be put in a refrigerator. A special disposable beverage cartridge or beverage pouch fits into the holder. This cartridge or pouch may have pressure rupturable seals or diaphragms and contain beverage concentrate. A dispensing mechanism puts pressure on the cartridge or the pouch to break the pressure rupturable seal or diaphragm to discharge the concentrate into a mixing structure. The mixing structure also receives chilled liquid from the refrigeration unit or the pitcher, and ensures that the concentrate mixes with the liquid without contacting the walls of the mixing structure.

A device for dispensing individual servings of a cold beverage, either having a refrigeration unit to chill the beverage or a removable pitcher that may be put in a refrigerator. A special disposable beverage cartridge or beverage pouch fits into the holder. This cartridge or pouch may have pressure rupturable seals or diaphragms and contain beverage concentrate. A dispensing mechanism puts pressure on the cartridge or the pouch to break the pressure rupturable seal or diaphragm to discharge the concentrate into a mixing structure. The mixing structure also receives chilled liquid from the refrigeration unit or the pitcher, and ensures that the concentrate mixes with the liquid without contacting the walls of the mixing structure.

An apparatus for producing carbonated water includes a gas cylinder configured to store carbon dioxide gas, a cold water storage unit configured to store cold water, a producing tank defining a closed space where the carbonated water is produced, a water supply passage configured to connect the cold water storage unit to the producing tank, the water supply passage including a water supply valve that controls supply of the cold water, a gas supply passage connecting the gas cylinder to the producing tank, the gas supply passage including a gas valve that controls supply of the carbon dioxide, a first relief valve provided along the gas supply passage, the first relief valve configured to control the discharge of the carbon dioxide gas, a dispensing passage connecting the producing tank to a dispensing member, and the dispensing member configured to dispense the carbonated water from a front surface of a refrigerator.

Hydraulic unit for a carbonation apparatus (2) having a carbonator (3) and a pump (10). The hydraulic unit (1) has a body made of polymeric material (20) defining a plurality of ducts (21-26), which comprise a duct (21) to convey water to the carbonator (3), a duct (22) to add a gas to the carbonator (3), and at least one duct to draw water (24, 25, 26) from the carbonator (3). The body made of polymeric material (20) can also define a fluidic connection interface (30), configured for mounting the body made of polymeric material (20) at at least one upper end (3 a) of the carbonator (3). The body made of polymeric material body (20) can also define at least one inlet (23.sub.IN) and at least one outlet (26.sub.OUT) configured for connection to an outlet (11b) and an inlet (11a), respectively, of the pump (10) of the carbonation device (2).

The present invention relates to a beverage carbonating device, including a carbon dioxide production unit that is configured to produce carbon dioxide gas by mixing reactants; a pressure container that is fluidly connected to the carbon dioxide production unit and configured to store the produced carbon dioxide gas in a pressurized gaseous state; and a gas outlet valve that is fluidly connected to the pressure container and configured to seal the pressure container when being closed and to release the carbon dioxide gas in the gaseous state from the pressure container when being opened.