Method and apparatus for dispensing beverages, especially carbonated beverages

Abstract

A beverage pressure control device, comprising a pressure regulating chamber and a pressure sensing chamber, separated by a movable or deformable wall part, wherein at least one gas inlet channel is provided for feeding gas under pressure into the pressure sensing chamber and at least one gas outlet channel for feeding gas from the gas sensing chamber, wherein the gas inlet channel can be closed by a valve operated by the movable or deformable wall part, depending on a pressure difference over said movable or deformable wall part, wherein an operating device is provided for regulating the flow through the at least one outlet channel.

1 . A beverage pressure control device, comprising a pressure regulating chamber ( 63 ) and a pressure sensing chamber ( 58 ), separated by a movable or deformable wall part ( 22 ), wherein at least one gas inlet channel ( 25   a ) is provided for feeding gas under pressure into the pressure sensing chamber ( 58 ) and at least one gas outlet channel ( 30 ) for feeding gas from the gas sensing chamber ( 58 ), wherein the gas inlet channel ( 25   a ) can be closed by a valve ( 24 ), ( 62 ) operated by the movable or deformable wall part ( 22 ), depending on a pressure difference over said movable or deformable wall part ( 22 ), wherein an operating device ( 28 ,  128 ) is provided for regulating the flow through the at least one outlet channel ( 30 ). 
     
     
         2 . A beverage pressure control device of  claim 1 , wherein the operating device is designed to regulate the flow between a minimum flow rate and a maximum flow rate, wherein the minimum flow rate is preferably substantially lower than the flow rate of the gas inlet channel when fully open and preferably just above zero. 
     
     
         3 . A beverage pressure control device of  claim 1 , wherein there are at least two outlet passages, wherein the operating device is provided for regulating the flow rate of a first of the at least two outlet passages, wherein preferably the other of the at least two outlet passages has a flow rate substantially smaller than the flow rate of the first of the two outlet passages, when fully opened. 
     
     
         4 . A beverage pressure control device according to  claim 3 , wherein the flow rate of the first of the outlet passages can at least be set at substantially zero and/or at a flow rate substantially equal to the flow rate of the inlet channel, when fully opened. 
     
     
         5 . A beverage pressure control device according to  claim 1 , integrated with a beverage dispensing unit. 
     
     
         6 . A beverage pressure control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating device is connected to and/or integrated with an operating means of a beverage dispensing unit. 
     
     
         7 . A beverage pressure control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable or deformable wall part is made at least partly of a plastic or rubber material. 
     
     
         8 . A beverage pressure control device according to  claim 1 , comprising a first and second outlet channel forming at least part of a first and second fluid communication path for the propellant gas between a gas container and a liquid container, the operating device being adapted to control the flow rate of the propellant gas flowing through said second fluid communication path from the gas container into the liquid container, and the first fluid communication path being adapted to provide a substantial delay in generating the first pressure in the liquid container, wherein preferably the fluid communication path is formed so as to provide at least a few minutes delay in the generation of a first pressure in the liquid container, such that substantially a pressure equilibrium is provided over said first communication path. 
     
     
         9 . A beverage pressure control device according to  claim 6 , wherein the operating means of the dispensing unit and the second operating device are integrated into a single control mechanism having a first operating range to provide the function of the operating means of the beverage dispensing unit and a second operating range to provide the function of the operating device. 
     
     
         10 . A beverage pressure control device according to  claim 6 , wherein an external end portion of the beverage dispensing path comprises a flexible tube and the operating means of the beverage dispenser is adapted to control the flow rate of the liquid by adjusting the flow area of the flexible tube by the compression thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method for dispensing a liquid under pressure, wherein the liquid is stored in a liquid container with a propellant gas at a first regulated pressure, and additional propellant gas is stored in a gas container at a second pressure substantially higher than the first pressure, and the liquid is dispensed by means of a dispensing unit coupled to said liquid container and said gas container, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) reducing the first pressure of the liquid container to a third pressure, wherein the third pressure is at least the ambient pressure,   b) opening a liquid dispensing path of the dispensing unit and settling the flow area of said liquid dispensing path, and   c) while keeping the adjusted flow area of the liquid dispensing path unchanged, controlling the dispensing pressure of the propellant gas in the liquid container within a pressure range defined by the first pressure and the ambient pressure, thereby dispensing a first amount of liquid.   
     
     
         12 . The method of dispensing a liquid according to  claim 11 , wherein the dispensing pressure of the propellant gas in the liquid container is controlled by controlling the flow rate of the propellant gas flowing from the gas container into the liquid container, wherein the step of reducing the first pressure to the third pressure and the step of opening the liquid dispensing path are preferably performed simultaneously, thereby dispensing a second amount of liquid, said second amount being substantially less than said first amount. 
     
     
         13 . A beverage container, comprising a beverage pressure control device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing unit for dispensing a liquid under pressure, the dispensing unit comprising a first coupling means for coupling to a liquid container, and a pressure regulating means comprising a pressure control device according to  claim 1 , the pressure regulating means having a second coupling means for coupling to a gas container. 
     
     
         15 . A dispensing unit according to  claim 14 , wherein the first coupling means is for coupling to a liquid container adapted to store the liquid to be dispensed and a propellant gas at a first pressure, and the second coupling means for coupling to a gas container adapted to store propellant gas at a second pressure substantially higher than said first pressure.