The invention relates to a tank system for cooling, storing and removing a liquid, comprising a tank for cooling the liquid and storing the liquid in a volume along a stratification axis of the volume for thermal stratification along the stratification axis, wherein the tank can be filled through a filling device having a filling inlet in an inlet region along the stratification axis and can be emptied via an outlet in an outlet region opposite the inlet region along the stratification axis. For the purpose of flexible handling, in order to prevent mixing, the supplied liquid is conveyed into a flow, which extends completely or partly in a plane perpendicular to the stratification axis, and is supplied to the liquid stored in the tank, such that the flow runs tangentially to a circular arc that extends in a plane perpendicular to the stratification axis.

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.

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 beverage-making apparatus includes a container including a container body that includes heat-insulating material and has an opening that provides access to an interior of the container body. The container further includes: a container cover configured to open and close the opening of the container body, and at least three channels connected to the container and that are communicative with the interior of the container body. The at least three channels include at least one first channel and a second channel that are communicative with a beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior of the container body, the beverage ingredient pack configured to hold first beverage-making ingredients. The container further includes a third channel that is communicative with a space formed in the interior of the container body between a wall of the container body and the beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior the container body.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a container including a container body that includes heat-insulating material and has an opening that provides access to an interior of the container body. The container further includes: a container cover configured to open and close the opening of the container body, and at least three channels connected to the container and that are communicative with the interior of the container body. The at least three channels include at least one first channel and a second channel that are communicative with a beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior of the container body, the beverage ingredient pack configured to hold first beverage-making ingredients. The container further includes a third channel that is communicative with a space formed in the interior of the container body between a wall of the container body and the beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior the container body.

A system is for infusing liquid with a gas to form a gas-infused beverage. The system has a tank with first and second cavities. A refrigeration circuit refrigerates the tank and the contents of the first and second cavities. The liquid is supplied to the first cavity and cooled therein by the refrigeration circuit and then supplied to the second cavity and infused with gas therein to thereby form the gas-infused beverage. The gas-infused beverage is then supplied to a beverage outlet for dispensing to a user.

The invention relates to a tank system for cooling, storing and removing a liquid, comprising a tank for cooling the liquid and storing the liquid in a volume along a stratification axis of the volume for thermal stratification along the stratification axis, wherein the tank can be filled through a filling device having a filling inlet in an inlet region along the stratification axis and can be emptied via an outlet in an outlet region opposite the inlet region along the stratification axis. For the purpose of flexible handling, in order to prevent mixing, the supplied liquid is conveyed into a flow, which extends completely or partly in a plane perpendicular to the stratification axis, and is supplied to the liquid stored in the tank, such that the flow runs tangentially to a circular arc that extends in a plane perpendicular to the stratification axis.

A carbonated beverage dispensing system, which may be embodied as a unitary apparatus including electrically powered on-bench, under-bench or freestanding water cooling units. The system has a dispensing unit including a first source of liquid having a relatively high level of carbonation, a second source of liquid having a relative low or zero level of carbonation, a mixer in liquid connection with the first and second sources of liquid configured to mix liquid from the first and second sources, and a controllable pump to convey liquid from the first or second source of water at a variable flow rate to the mixer. The flow rate of the variable pump is controllable to provide a beverage having a variable mixture of liquids from the first and second sources of liquid to provide a beverage having a level of carbonation intermediate to that of the first and second sources of liquid.

A chilling reservoir for providing in-line carbonation in a beverage dispenser includes a housing having a first beverage material pathway extending therethrough. The first beverage material pathway may have a flow inlet arrangement and a flow outlet arrangement. The chilling reservoir also includes a heat exchanger arrangement that is positioned and configured to be selectively operated to chill beverage material passing through the first beverage material pathway. The chilling reservoir also includes a carbonation chamber operably positioned in the first beverage material pathway of the housing. The carbonation chamber may be configured to removably receive therein a carbonator.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a container including a container body that includes heat-insulating material and has an opening that provides access to an interior of the container body. The container further includes: a container cover configured to open and close the opening of the container body, and at least three channels connected to the container and that are communicative with the interior of the container body. The at least three channels include at least one first channel and a second channel that are communicative with a beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior of the container body, the beverage ingredient pack configured to hold first beverage-making ingredients. The container further includes a third channel that is communicative with a space formed in the interior of the container body between a wall of the container body and the beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior the container body.