Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for cooling of beverages containers, such as cans or bottles, quickly, or on demand. An apparatus may provide for quickly cooling a number of beverage containers when power is available and for storing them, once they have been cooled. The apparatus may include a thermoelectric cooler configured to rapidly cool a beverage container in a cooling cell. The methods may include detecting the presence of a beverage container in a cooling cell and cooling the beverage container to a selected temperature. The availability of external power may be detected and a rapid cooling of a beverage container may begin when power becomes available.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for cooling of beverages containers, such as cans or bottles, quickly, or on demand. An apparatus may provide for quickly cooling a number of beverage containers when power is available and for storing them, once they have been cooled. The apparatus may include a thermoelectric cooler configured to rapidly cool a beverage container in a cooling cell. The methods may include detecting the presence of a beverage container in a cooling cell and cooling the beverage container to a selected temperature. The availability of external power may be detected and a rapid cooling of a beverage container may begin when power becomes available.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for cooling of beverages containers, such as cans or bottles, quickly, or on demand. An apparatus may provide for quickly cooling a number of beverage containers when power is available and for storing them, once they have been cooled. The apparatus may include a thermoelectric cooler configured to rapidly cool a beverage container in a cooling cell. The methods may include detecting the presence of a beverage container in a cooling cell and cooling the beverage container to a selected temperature. The availability of external power may be detected and a rapid cooling of a beverage container may begin when power becomes available.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing valve may include an inlet to receive carbonated water, a nozzle shell, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage. The nozzle shell may include an aperture open to ambient pressure environment. A method for dispensing a beverage may include flowing carbonated water through an inlet of a beverage dispensing valve, lowering the pressure of the carbonated water sufficient to promote carbon dioxide nucleation, flowing the carbonated water through a chamber vented to environment such that a portion of carbon dioxide nucleated is off-gassed, and introducing a beverage ingredient when the carbonated water reaches a sufficiently low carbonation level. A beverage dispensing nozzle may include an inlet configured to receive carbonated water from a beverage dispensing valve, a nozzle shell including an aperture open to ambient pressure environment, and an outlet downstream of the nozzle shell configured to dispense a finished beverage.

Abstract: An ice making and harvesting apparatus includes a mold, and bottom and top plates. The mold includes a plurality of cells. Each cell includes side walls and defines bottom and top openings. The bottom plate is configured to move relative to a bottom surface of the mold. An upper surface of the bottom plate includes a first sealing component. A bottom side of the mold includes a second sealing component. The second sealing component is configured to form a seal with the first sealing component of the bottom plate. The bottom plate includes an inlet and a plurality of channels. Each channel is configured to supply water from the bottom plate to a corresponding cell of the mold. The top plate includes a plurality of pushing rods, each rod configured to move relative to the top opening of a corresponding cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for cooling of beverages containers, such as cans or bottles, quickly, or on demand. An apparatus may provide for quickly cooling a number of beverage containers when power is available and for storing them, once they have been cooled. The apparatus may include a thermoelectric cooler configured to rapidly cool a beverage container in a cooling cell. The methods may include detecting the presence of a beverage container in a cooling cell and cooling the beverage container to a selected temperature. The availability of external power may be detected and a rapid cooling of a beverage container may begin when power becomes available.

Abstract: A forceps includes a housing, a curved waveguide, one or more movable members, and an end effector assembly. The housing includes one or more transducers configured to generate a mechanical vibration in response to energy transmitted thereto from an energy source. The curved waveguide extends from the housing and is configured to receive the mechanical vibration generated by the one or more transducers. The one or more movable members are positioned along the curved waveguide. The one or more movable members are configured to translate mechanical movement from the housing to the end effector assembly. The end effector assembly is disposed at a distal end of the curved waveguide and includes a movable jaw member pivotable between approximated and unapproximated positions relative to a distal end of the curved waveguide in response to movement of the one or more movable members.

Abstract: An ice making and harvesting apparatus comprises a mold, and bottom and top plates. The mold comprises a plurality of cells. Each cell comprises side walls and defines bottom and top openings. The bottom plate is configured to move relative to a bottom surface of the mold. An upper surface of the bottom plate comprises a first sealing component. A bottom side of the mold comprises a second sealing component. The second sealing component is configured to form a seal with the first sealing component of the bottom plate. The bottom plate comprises an inlet and a plurality of channels. Each channel is configured to supply water from the bottom plate to a corresponding cell of the mold. The top plate comprises a plurality of pushing rods, each rod configured to move relative to the top opening of a corresponding cell.

Abstract: A forceps includes a housing, a shaft assembly, an end effector assembly, and a waveguide assembly. The housing has one or more transducers that generate a mechanical vibration in response to energy transmitted thereto from an energy source. The shaft assembly extends from the housing and includes one or more articulating and clamping members and a longitudinal axis defined therethrough. The end effector assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a pair of opposing jaw members pivotable between approximated and unapproximated configurations in response to movement of the one or more clamping members. The articulating members articulate the jaw members relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The waveguide assembly is positioned within the shaft assembly and receives the mechanical vibration generated by the transducer. The waveguide assembly is positionable within one or both of the jaw members.

Abstract: A forceps includes a housing, a shaft assembly, an end effector assembly, and a waveguide assembly. The housing has one or more transducers that generate a mechanical vibration in response to energy transmitted thereto from an energy source. The shaft assembly extends from the housing and includes one or more articulating and clamping members and a longitudinal axis defined therethrough. The end effector assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a pair of opposing jaw members pivotable between approximated and unapproximated configurations in response to movement of the one or more clamping members. The articulating members articulate the jaw members relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The waveguide assembly is positioned within the shaft assembly and receives the mechanical vibration generated by the transducer. The waveguide assembly is positionable within one or both of the jaw members.

Abstract: A forceps includes a housing, a curved waveguide, one or more movable members, and an end effector assembly. The housing includes one or more transducers configured to generate a mechanical vibration in response to energy transmitted thereto from an energy source. The curved waveguide extends from the housing and is configured to receive the mechanical vibration generated by the one or more transducers. The one or more movable members are positioned along the curved waveguide. The one or more movable members are configured to translate mechanical movement from the housing to the end effector assembly. The end effector assembly is disposed at a distal end of the curved waveguide and includes a movable jaw member pivotable between approximated and unapproximated positions relative to a distal end of the curved waveguide in response to movement of the one or more movable members.

Abstract: A mold defines a first volume for an ice cube, the mold comprising a bottom face having an inner perimeter and side faces. Each side face has an inner perimeter, top edge, and bottom edge. The top edge of each side face may be longer than the bottom edge. Each side face may extend inward from the top edge to the bottom edge. The mold may comprise a three-dimensional shape within the first volume, the three-dimensional shape comprising a second volume. The second volume may be defined by a top outer perimeter, a bottom outer perimeter, and at least a bulge of the three-dimensional shape. The bulge may extend upwardly and taper between the bottom outer perimeter and the top outer perimeter. The mold may further define a third volume between the first and second volumes, with the mold configured to receive water within the third volume.

Abstract: A forceps includes a housing, a shaft assembly, an end effector assembly, and a waveguide assembly. The housing has one or more transducers that generate a mechanical vibration in response to energy transmitted thereto from an energy source. The shaft assembly extends from the housing and includes one or more articulating and clamping members and a longitudinal axis defined therethrough. The end effector assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a pair of opposing jaw members pivotable between approximated and unapproximated configurations in response to movement of the one or more clamping members. The articulating members articulate the jaw members relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The waveguide assembly is positioned within the shaft assembly and receives the mechanical vibration generated by the transducer. The waveguide assembly is positionable within one or both of the jaw members.

Abstract: A forceps includes a housing, a shaft assembly, an end effector assembly, and a waveguide assembly. The housing has one or more transducers that generate a mechanical vibration in response to energy transmitted thereto from an energy source. The shaft assembly extends from the housing and includes one or more articulating and clamping members and a longitudinal axis defined therethrough. The end effector assembly is disposed at a distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a pair of opposing jaw members pivotable between approximated and unapproximated configurations in response to movement of the one or more clamping members. The articulating members articulate the jaw members relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The waveguide assembly is positioned within the shaft assembly and receives the mechanical vibration generated by the transducer. The waveguide assembly is positionable within one or both of the jaw members.