System and method for pressurizing a beverage container
OwnerEric Raguzininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for electronically adjusting the pressure in a beverage container during regular use. The system includes a connector attachable to a tapping connector of the beverage container; a gas pump operably connected to the connector for supplying pressurized gas into the beverage container through the tapping connector; a pressure sensor operably connected to the beverage container for outputting a pressure signal corresponding to an internal pressure within the beverage container; a power supply; and a controller adapted to control the gas pump based on the internal pressure and a set point pressure to maintain the internal pressure at the set point pressure.
Claims20
A system for pressurizing a beverage container having a tapping connector, comprising:
- a connector attachable to the tapping connector of the beverage container;
- a gas pump operably connected to the connector for supplying pressurized gas into the beverage container through the tapping connector;
- a pressure sensor operably connected to the beverage container for outputting a pressure signal corresponding to an internal pressure within the beverage container;
- a power supply;
- and
- a controller adapted to:
- acquire the internal pressure of the beverage container from the pressure sensor;
- receive a set point pressure from a user;
- compare the acquired internal pressure with the set point pressure;
- and
- control the gas pump to increase the internal pressure of the beverage container when the internal pressure is less than the set point pressure.
An apparatus for pressuring a beverage container, said apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining an interior volume,
- a controller disposed in said housing,
- a pressure sensor operably connected to the beverage container and configured to sense the internal pressure within the beverage container, said pressure sensor further configured to output to the controller a pressure signal representative of the sensed pressure;
- a connector attachable at a first end to a tapping connector of the beverage container and at a second end to the pressure sensor for sensing a pressure within the beverage container,
- a gas pump connected to the connector and configured to supply pressurized gas into the beverage container through the tapping connector to create pressure therein;
- a display configured to display the internal pressure within the beverage container based on the pressure signal output by the pressure sensor;
- a user interface supported by a surface of said housing to enable a user to change a set point pressure within the beverage container during regular use,
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- acquire the internal pressure of the beverage container sensed and output by said pressure sensor;
- receive the set point pressure from the user interface;
- compare the acquired internal pressure with the set point pressure;
- and
- control the gas pump to increase the internal pressure of the beverage container when the internal pressure is less than the set point pressure;
- and
- a power supply for supplying power to said pressure sensor, said controller, said display unit and said user interface.
A method for regulating the pressure within a beverage container during regular use, comprising:
- acquiring, by a controller, an internal pressure of the beverage container from a pressure sensor;
- receiving, by the controller, a set point pressure from a user comparing, by the controller, the acquired internal pressure with the set point pressure;
- and
- controlling, by the controller, a gas pump to increase the internal pressure of the beverage container when the internal pressure is less than the set point pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.