Multi-purpose valve for a beverage system
AssigneeSharkNinja Operating LLC
InventorsMichael Brough, Hamish Thompson, Jack Richardson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various illustrative systems, devices, and methods for beverage systems are provided. In general, a beverage system is configured to form a beverage and dispense the beverage into a container, such as a bottle, a cup, or other container. The beverage system can be a carbonation system configured to form a carbonated fluid and dispense the carbonated fluid into a container. In an exemplary embodiment, the beverage system includes a multi-purpose valve configured to control the dispensing of the carbonated fluid and to control venting of gas.
Claims19
A beverage system comprising:
- a mixing chamber in which a carbonated fluid is formed by mixing a liquid and carbon dioxide;
- and
- a valve configured to receive the carbonated fluid from the mixing chamber and to receive residual carbon dioxide from the mixing chamber, wherein the valve includes main body with a lead screw and a spool disposed therein, wherein the spool is threadedly engaged with the lead screw, the valve having:
- a first state in which the carbonated fluid cannot flow through the valve and the residual carbon dioxide cannot flow through the valve,
- a second state in which the carbonated fluid cannot flow through the valve and the residual carbon dioxide can flow through the valve, and
- a third state in which the carbonated fluid can flow through the valve and the residual carbon dioxide can flow through the valve.
A method for a beverage system, comprising:
- forming a carbonated fluid in a mixing chamber of a carbonation system;
- and
- after the formation of the carbonated fluid, changing a state of a valve of the carbonation system such that residual carbon dioxide in the mixing chamber is allowed to enter and pass through the valve for venting out of the carbonation system, and thereafter changing the state of the valve again such that carbonated fluid in the mixing chamber is allowed to enter and pass through the valve for dispensing out of the carbonation system into a beverage container, wherein the valve includes main body with a lead screw and a spool disposed therein, wherein the spool is threadedly engaged with the lead screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.