A cold water tank for a direct water purifier is provided. The cold water tank for a direct water purifier may comprise: a tank housing having an internal space and having a height in the longitudinal direction at least four times greater than the maximum width in the lateral direction, and disposed in the longitudinal direction so as to introduce a fluid from the upper side and discharge the fluid to the lower side; an evaporator disposed in the internal space so as to guide movement of a refrigerant for cooling the fluid; a connection part disposed under the tank housing to convert the direction of the fluid moving downward to an upper side; a cold water pipe having a lower end connected to the connection part and extending so as to guide the cooled fluid to an upper side of the internal space, and disposed in the longitudinal direction in the internal space; and a cold water outlet formed at the upper end of the tank housing and connected to the upper end of the cold water pipe to discharge the fluid to the outside of the tank housing.

A machine dimensioned so as to be placed on the countertop of a bar for dispensing chilled alcoholic beverage includes a housing forming an enclosure with a beverage faucet having a handle mounted on its front outer surface. The enclosure provides a cooled interior section and a noncooled interior section. Heat-generating portions of a refrigeration cooling unit are contained in the noncooled interior portion. The cooled interior portion provides a beverage container mount configured to removably receive a stopper shaft of a bottle stopper which is fluidly connected via a manifold so an inclined beverage container can supply beverage to a beverage storage tank. A portion of an evaporator coil of the refrigeration cooling unit is located within the beverage storage tank for further cooling the alcoholic beverage. Chilled alcoholic beverage is transferred from the beverage storage tank to the beverage faucet via a beverage delivery tube fluidly connecting the beverage storage tank to the beverage faucet.

Methods and devices for dispensing a cooled beverage are provided. One embodiment of methods includes the steps of mixing a diluent and a concentrate to make a diluted solution. The diluted solution is carbonated to yield a carbonated solution. The carbonated solution is cooled to below 0? C. to produce the cooled beverage, and the cooled beverage is dispensed through a nozzle. A device for dispensing a cooled beverage, where the cooled beverage comprises a diluent having a freezing point at STP includes an upstream cooler that pre-cools a supply of diluent to a temperature above the freezing point. A mixer mixes the pre-cooled diluent with a concentrate to make a diluted solution. A downstream cooler further cools the diluted solution to below the freezing point. A dispenser dispenses the downstream-cooled solution to atmosphere. The temperature of the cooled beverage is below the freezing point when dispensed.

Bottom-loading bottled water dispensers are disclosed that include hot water sanitizing capabilities (and, optionally, UV light sanitizing features). The dispensers include a water bottle that is operably connected to a pump that is configured to extract water from the bottle and force the water through one or more tubes and into a cold tank. The cold tank includes an evaporator that is configured to chill the water in the cold tank. The dispensers further include a hot tank that is fluidly coupled to the cold tank through one or more tubes, with the hot tank being attached to a heating element that is configured to heat the water in the hot tank. In addition, the dispensers include an electronic control board that is configured to heat a volume of water contained in the cold tank above a defined threshold temperature and for a defined period of time that is effective to sanitize the internal surfaces of the cold tank.

A bottled water dispenser is disclosed that includes a water bottle, a cold tank, and an ozone generator, which is fluidly coupled to a Y-connector. The dispenser includes a first tube that is fluidly coupled to a first port of the Y-connector, with the first tube being configured to deliver ozone gas to the cold tank. The dispenser further includes a second tube that is fluidly coupled to a second port of the Y-connector, with the second tube being configured to deliver ozone gas to the water bottle. The ozone gas is effective to sterilize and prevent biofilm formation within the interior areas of the cold tank and water bottle. The dispensers further include an in-line flow restrictor positioned in-line with either the first tube or second tube, which helps balance the flow of ozone that is delivered to the cold tank and water bottle.

Methods and devices for dispensing a cooled beverage are provided. One embodiment of methods includes the steps of mixing a diluent and a concentrate to make a diluted solution. The diluted solution is carbonated to yield a carbonated solution. The carbonated solution is cooled to below 0? C. to produce the cooled beverage, and the cooled beverage is dispensed through a nozzle. A device for dispensing a cooled beverage, where the cooled beverage comprises a diluent having a freezing point at STP includes an upstream cooler that pre-cools a supply of diluent to a temperature above the freezing point. A mixer mixes the pre-cooled diluent with a concentrate to make a diluted solution. A downstream cooler further cools the diluted solution to below the freezing point. A dispenser dispenses the downstream-cooled solution to atmosphere. The temperature of the cooled beverage is below the freezing point when dispensed.

A bottled water dispenser is disclosed that includes a water bottle, a cold tank, and an ozone generator, which is fluidly coupled to a Y-connector. The dispenser includes a first tube that is fluidly coupled to a first port of the Y-connector, with the first tube being configured to deliver ozone gas to the cold tank. The dispenser further includes a second tube that is fluidly coupled to a second port of the Y-connector, with the second tube being configured to deliver ozone gas to the water bottle. The ozone gas is effective to sterilize and prevent biofilm formation within the interior areas of the cold tank and water bottle. The dispensers further include an in-line flow restrictor positioned in-line with either the first tube or second tube, which helps balance the flow of ozone that is delivered to the cold tank and water bottle.

A drink station is provided with an alkaline filter cartridge in fluid communication with an ambient temperature water line provide alkaline water, and with a chilled water mixed with the alkaline water at a spigot to provide chilled alkaline water. A hot water heating element is located below the spigot so hot water flows upward for dispensing from the spigot, with a vent line between the heating element and spigot helping hot water to flow from the spigot to the heating element. A refrigeration system and a carbonation system is also provided. The refrigeration system uses the ice-bank technology. A submersible agitator pump improves heat exchanged between ice-bank and water by forced convection. The agitator pump operating based on the temperature of the drinking water. A figure eight evaporator coil can provide two cylindrical ice banks and two chilled water coils to increase the chilled water capacity.

A beverage dispensing apparatus including a storage tank. At least one ice body is formed proximate the top portion of the storage tank. The ice body is formed in an icemaker configured to produce an ice body through direct contact with an evaporator coil and does not use cold air, or formed directly on a portion of the top portion of the storage tank using evaporator coils extending around a perimeter of the storage tank. The water is then configured to be carbonated and then dispensed to a user upon a user command.

An ice-making mechanism and a water dispenser with the mechanism include an ice-making box configured to make ice cubes, the ice-making box is in communication with a water source, so that the water source supplies water to the ice-making box, an evaporator sleeved on the ice-making box, the evaporator is configured to cool the water in the ice-making box to make the ice cubes, an ice storage basket configured for storing the ice cubes, the ice storage basket is located on a side of the ice-making box away from the ground and is in communication with the ice-making box, and a cold water tank configured for storing cold water, the cold water tank is in communication with the ice storage basket.