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Apparatus for dispensing a carbonated beverage including a source of propellant gas, a reservoir for beverage to be dispensed, one or more dispensing valves connected to the reservoir, a propellant gas conduit for applying a first gaseous propellant pressure upon beverage supply vessels and for appl

Apparatus for dispensing a carbonated beverage including a source of propellant gas, a reservoir for beverage to be dispensed, one or more dispensing valves connected to the reservoir, a propellant gas conduit for applying a first gaseous propellant pressure upon beverage supply vessels and for applying a second and lesser gaseous propellant pressure upon beverage in the reservoir, a beverage supply conduit for transferring beverage from a supply vessel to the reservoir and normally closed valves in the beverage supply and gas conduits, which valves are controllable by a level sensor in the reservoir; the appartus also features structure for automatically switching from one supply vessel to another as vessels become emptied; a method of dispensing includes the steps of providing a supply of carbonated beverage, applying a first propellant pressure upon the supply, selectively transferring beverage from the supply to a reservoir, applying a second and lesser propellant pressure upon the reservoir and dispensing from the reservoir; there is also a step of automatically switching supply vessels as they become empty.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of dispensing a carbonated beverage, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a supply of a carbonated beverage in first and second supply vessels; (b) pressurizing the first supply vessel with propellant gas and at a pressure greater than the carbonation saturation pressure of the beverage;

A method of dispensing a carbonated beverage, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a supply of a carbonated beverage in first and second supply vessels; (b) pressurizing the first supply vessel with propellant gas and at a pressure greater than the carbonation saturation pressure of the beverage; (c) transferring beverage under the propellant gas pressure from the first vessel to a refrigerated beverage reservoir via a reservoir supply conduit; (d) maintaining a constant predetermined uninterrupted propellant gas pressure upon the transferred beverage in the reservoir, the propellant pressure in the reservoir being less than the supply vessel propellant pressure but greater than the carbonation saturation pressure of the beverage; (e) selectively withdrawing beverage from the reservoir under the reservoir propellant gas pressure, and dispensing the withdrawn beverage for consumption; (f) replacing the dispensed beverage withdrawn from the reservoir with beverage transferred from the first supply vessel; (g) emptying the first supply vessel of beverage by repetition of the steps of withdrawing and replacing; (h) sensing propellant gas from the first supply vessel in the reservoir supply conduit after the first supply vessel has been emptied, and in response thereto; (i) precluding further flow of propellant gas from the first supply vessel into the reservoir supply conduit; (j) switching the second supply vessel into an operative supply connection with the reservoir and pressurizing the second supply vessel with the supply vessel propellant pressure; and thereafter (k) replacing dispensed beverage withdrawn from the reservoir with beverage transferred from the second supply vessel while under the supply propellant gas pressure.