A stirrer includes a stirring shaft; a plurality of mixing wings extending from the lower end of the stirring shaft and spaced from each other around the stirring shaft; and a conical hub connecting the lower ends of the mixing wings.

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 system and method for providing a consumable liquid infused with gas from a liquid processor. The liquid processor may comprise a gas input port configured to receive the compressed gas. The liquid processor may further comprise a liquid input port configured to receive a consumable liquid. The liquid processor may further comprise a venturi injector configured to combine the compressed gas with the consumable liquid. The liquid processor may further comprise a static inline mixer including a plurality of mixing elements and configured to mix the combined consumable liquid with the compressed gas to form the consumable liquid infused with a compressed gas. The liquid processor may further comprise an output port configured to provide the consumable liquid infused with a compressed gas.

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.

The present invention provides a beverage machine with at least three distinct zones 1, 3, 4. A first zone 1 for storing a liquid or semi-liquid product at ambient temperature, a second zone 3 for processing the stored product, in particular for cooling the product to a predetermined serving temperature, and a third zone 4 for storing the cooled product and maintaining it at the predetermined serving temperature. From the third zone 4 an iced beverage can be dispensed.

An apparatus for dispensing a first liquid comprising a second liquid, the apparatus having: a male coupling configured to enter and establish a friction seal with a female coupling of a container containing the second liquid by inserting the male coupling into the female coupling and applying a load to the male coupling, the load being provided by the weight of a portion of the apparatus; a spout; and a pump for causing the second liquid to exit the container and the first liquid to be dispensed via the spout after the friction seal is established between the female and male couplings.

An invention for rapid chilling or heating of both carbonated and non-carbonated fluids is disclosed. The invention is a fluid dispensing device that can rapidly cool or heat carbonated or non-carbonated liquid from room temperature to a desired temperature. The electric on-demand device allows pour-through and pump-through fluid dispensing and temperature control.

A cooling system for rapidly cooling a beverage comprises a cooling channel configured to convey a beverage from upstream to downstream and a nozzle. The cooling channel includes an inner peripheral surface and the nozzle sprays the beverage on the inner peripheral surface such that the beverage is conveyed by gravity along the inner peripheral surface. The beverage cools as the beverage is conveyed by gravity along the inner peripheral surface such that the beverage is cooled by condensation and convection. The nozzle is further configured to reduce the pressure of the beverage such that the beverage cools due to expansion and reduction of pressure. The cooling system can also include a cooling media circulation system, a cooling media refrigeration system, and a post-chill coil.

Disclosed is a beverage dispenser including a housing having a beverage storage space capable of storing a volume of a beverage to be dispensed and a heat exchanger sub-system operable to effect the temperature of a beverage stored in or passing through the beverage storage space. The housing is provided with at least one wall through which beverage in the beverage storage space can be visualized. The dispenser includes a coupling enabling the coupling of a valve to facilitate dispensing of beverage from the beverage storage space.

The present application provides a beverage dispensing system for dispensing beverages with low solubility ingredients. The beverage dispensing system may include a sweetener flow, a first diluent flow, a low solubility ingredient premixing system for mixing a low solubility ingredient with a second diluent flow to create a mixed flow, and a nozzle to mix the sweetener flow, the first diluent flow, and the mixed flow.