Abstract: A carbonated beverage is furnished from a source at a first pressure to a reservoir in which a quantity of the beverage is held a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure and greater than atmospheric pressure. When it is desired to dispense the carbonated beverage into a serving container, the reservoir is vented to the atmosphere so that the beverage is dispensed at substantially atmospheric pressure. The amount of carbonated beverage in the reservoir is sensed and when that amount drops below a first level, carbonated beverage is added from the source while the reservoir is vented to the atmosphere. The venting terminates when the amount of beverage in the reservoir reaches a second level. The beverage continues to flow into the reservoir thereafter for a predefined period of time causing the pressure to increase to the second pressure level.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a fluid, such as a beverage, includes a housing with a closed chamber that forms bath of a refrigerant. A conduit for the beverage is coiled in the chamber and immersed in the refrigerant to transfer heat from the beverage to the refrigerant. The housing chamber is connected to a compressor and condenser of a standard refrigeration system to extract heat from the refrigerant drawn from the chamber and return the refrigerant to the housing. The refrigerant bath forms an efficient mechanism for cooling the beverage as it flows through the apparatus without requiring the beverage to remain stationary for a period of time.