Intermediate pressure dispensing method for a carbonated beverage
First Claim
1. A method for operating a system to dispense a carbonated beverage into a serving container at an establishment, that method comprising:
- connecting the system to a source which supplies the carbonated beverage at a first pressure level that is greater than atmospheric pressure;
maintaining a reservoir of the system at a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure level and substantially greater than atmospheric pressure;
transferring the carbonated beverage from the source to the reservoir that is maintained at the second pressure level;
when dispensing the carbonated beverage into the serving container is desired, lowering pressure in the reservoir to substantially the atmospheric pressure; and
dispensing the carbonated beverage from the reservoir into the serving container, after pressure in the reservoir is at substantially the atmospheric pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A carbonated beverage is conveyed from a source to a closed reservoir at a first pressure level. The pressure in the reservoir is controlled by selectively venting gas and adding pressurized gas to the reservoir to maintain the carbonated beverage at a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure level and substantially greater than atmospheric pressure. The carbonated beverage is dispensed from the reservoir into a serving container by reducing the pressure in the reservoir to substantially atmospheric pressure and then opening an outlet valve. During prolonged periods when dispensing is not occurring, the pressure in the reservoir may be increased to prevent degassing of the carbonated beverage. In that case, the reservoir pressure is reduced to the second pressure level before another dispensing operation.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for operating a system to dispense a carbonated beverage into a serving container at an establishment, that method comprising:
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connecting the system to a source which supplies the carbonated beverage at a first pressure level that is greater than atmospheric pressure;
maintaining a reservoir of the system at a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure level and substantially greater than atmospheric pressure;
transferring the carbonated beverage from the source to the reservoir that is maintained at the second pressure level;
when dispensing the carbonated beverage into the serving container is desired, lowering pressure in the reservoir to substantially the atmospheric pressure; and
dispensing the carbonated beverage from the reservoir into the serving container, after pressure in the reservoir is at substantially the atmospheric pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
opening a first passageway through which the carbonated beverage flows from the reservoir into the serving container;
allowing pressure in the reservoir to go below atmospheric pressure; and
thereafter opening a second passageway to introduce a fluid into the reservoir to raise the pressure in the reservoir to substantially atmospheric pressure.
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11. The method recited in claim 10 wherein the fluid is selected from a group consisting of the beverage and a gas.
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12. The method recited in claim 10 wherein the dispensing further comprises varying pressure in the reservoir while the carbonated beverage flows from the reservoir to control an amount of foaming of the carbonated beverage in the serving container.
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13. The method recited in claim 1 wherein the dispensing comprises:
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allowing pressure in the reservoir to go below atmospheric pressure to reduce flow of the carbonated beverage from the reservoir; and
thereafter closing a passageway through which the carbonated beverage flows from the reservoir into the serving container.
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14. The method recited in claim 13 further comprising, after closing the passageway, raising pressure in the reservoir to the second pressure level.
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15. A method for dispensing a carbonated beverage into a serving container, that method comprising:
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transferring the carbonated beverage to a reservoir from a source, which supplies the carbonated beverage at a first pressure level that is greater than atmospheric pressure;
sensing pressure in the reservoir;
in response to the sensing, maintaining the carbonated beverage in the reservoir at a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure level and substantially greater than atmospheric pressure by selectively operating a relief valve to decrease pressure in the reservoir and by selectively operating a supply valve to add pressurized fluid to increase the pressure in the reservoir;
when dispensing the carbonated beverage into the serving container is desired, lowering pressure in the reservoir to a third pressure level that is less than the second pressure level; and
dispensing the carbonated beverage by operating a valve element to open a passageway from the reservoir to the serving container while the beverage is maintained in the reservoir substantially at the third pressure level. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
maintaining the relief valve and the supply valve closed;
opening the valve element so that pressure in the reservoir goes below atmospheric pressure; and
at a predefined time after opening the valve element, opening the supply valve to raise the pressure in the reservoir to the third pressure level.
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26. The method recited in claim 15 wherein the dispensing comprises:
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reducing flow of the carbonated beverage from the reservoir by allowing pressure in the reservoir to go below atmospheric pressure; and
thereafter closing the valve clement through which the carbonated beverage flows from the reservoir into the serving container.
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27. The method recited in claim 26 further comprising, after closing the valve raising pressure in the reservoir to the second pressure level.
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28. A method for dispensing a carbonated beverage into a serving container from a reservoir that contains a quantity of beverage and a volume of gas, that method comprising:
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transporting the carbonated beverage from a source to the reservoir at a first pressure level that is greater than atmospheric pressure;
maintaining pressure within the reservoir at a second pressure level, that is less than the first pressure level and substantially greater than atmospheric pressure, by selectively venting gas from the reservoir and adding pressurized gas to the reservoir;
when dispensing the carbonated beverage into the serving container is desired, lowering pressure in the reservoir to substantially the atmospheric pressure;
when pressure in the reservoir is substantially the atmospheric pressure, opening a valve through which the carbonated beverage flows from the reservoir into the serving container;
as the valve opens, allowing pressure in the reservoir to go below atmospheric pressure; and
at a predefined time after opening the valve, introducing a fluid into the reservoir to raise the pressure in the reservoir to substantially atmospheric pressure. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
reducing flow of the carbonated beverage from the reservoir by allowing pressure in the reservoir to go below atmospheric pressure; and
thereafter closing the valve through which the carbonated beverage flows from the reservoir into the serving container.
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32. A method for dispensing a carbonated beverage into a serving container at an establishment, that method comprising:
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storing the carbonated beverage in a reservoir at a given pressure level;
opening a valve through which the carbonated beverage flows from the reservoir into the serving container;
allowing pressure in the reservoir to go below atmospheric pressure; and
thereafter introducing a fluid into the reservoir to raise the pressure in the reservoir to substantially atmospheric pressure. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
allowing pressure in the reservoir to go below atmospheric pressure to reduce flow of the carbonated beverage from the reservoir; and
thereafter closing the valve.
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Specification