Abstract: A mixing funnel for mixing fluids is provided. In one embodiment, the mixing funnel includes a tray having a fluid inlet arranged to receive a primary fluid flow, and first and second fluid passages configured to receive primary fluid flow from the fluid inlet such that the flow is divided to flow along the first and second fluid passages. The first and second fluid passages can be arranged to direct the primary fluid flow to a mixing area. The tray can further include a fluid outlet arranged to receive the primary fluid flow from the mixing area and to deliver the fluid to a container.

Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods for a ratchet system for a gas canister in a beverage system are provided. In general, a beverage system is configured to form a beverage and dispense the beverage into a 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 ratchet system configured to provide feedback to a user indicating that a gas source, such as a CO2 canister for a carbonation system, has been properly coupled to the beverage system. The feedback is configured to be provided to the user automatically in response to the gas source being properly coupled to the beverage system.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. In one embodiment, the carbonation mixing chamber includes a housing, a fluid inlet pathway, a gas inlet pathway, and an outlet pathway. The housing may have an inner chamber, and the fluid inlet pathway can be configured to extend into the inner chamber of the housing and receive fluid from a fluid source. The gas inlet pathway can be configured to extend into the inner chamber of the housing and can be configured to receive gas from a gas source. The gas inlet pathway can include a plurality of nozzles positioned within the inner chamber and configured to direct gas in a plurality of directions that differ from one another. The outlet pathway can be configured to dispense a mixture of fluid and gas from the inner chamber.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a beverage system is provided and includes a beverage dispenser and a funnel removably coupled to the mounting ring. The funnel can be configured to receive a primary fluid and an additive, and the funnel can include a mixing chamber configured to combine the primary fluid and the additive into a combined fluid. The mixing chamber can include a plurality of ribs configured to direct the combined fluid toward a funnel outlet. The funnel can further be configured to receive the primary fluid through a primary outlet of the beverage dispenser, and the primary outlet can be positioned substantially tangential to a curve of the funnel such that a fluid vortex is formed in the mixing chamber. Additionally, the funnel can be configured to receive the additive from at least one secondary outlet of the beverage dispenser.

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.

Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods for a ratchet system for a gas canister in a beverage system are provided. In general, a beverage system is configured to form a beverage and dispense the beverage into a 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 ratchet system configured to provide feedback to a user indicating that a gas source, such as a CO2 canister for a carbonation system, has been properly coupled to the beverage system. The feedback is configured to be provided to the user automatically in response to the gas source being properly coupled to the beverage system.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. In one embodiment, the mixing chamber includes a housing, an agitator, a motor assembly and a rigid plate. A housing of the agitator and a housing of the motor assembly can each include a set of magnetics disposed therein and magnetically coupled so as to provide magnetic coupling between the motor assembly and the agitator. The mixing chamber is configured to receive a gas, such as carbon dioxide, and a liquid, such as water, to form a carbonated fluid. The carbonated fluid can be dispensed from the beverage carbonation system as a beverage.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. In one embodiment, the carbonation mixing chamber includes a housing, a fluid inlet pathway, a gas inlet pathway, and an outlet pathway. The housing may have an inner chamber, and the fluid inlet pathway can be configured to extend into the inner chamber of the housing and receive fluid from a fluid source. The gas inlet pathway can be configured to extend into the inner chamber of the housing and can be configured to receive gas from a gas source. The gas inlet pathway can include a plurality of nozzles positioned within the inner chamber and configured to direct gas in a plurality of directions that differ from one another. The outlet pathway can be configured to dispense a mixture of fluid and gas from the inner chamber.

Abstract: A mixing funnel for mixing fluids is provided. In one embodiment, the mixing funnel includes a tray having a fluid inlet arranged to receive a primary fluid flow, and first and second fluid passages configured to receive primary fluid flow from the fluid inlet such that the flow is divided to flow along the first and second fluid passages. The first and second fluid passages can be arranged to direct the primary fluid flow to a mixing area. The tray can further include a fluid outlet arranged to receive the primary fluid flow from the mixing area and to deliver the fluid to a container.

Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods of selectively releasing carbon dioxide from a gas source in a carbonation system are provided. A carbonation system is one example of a treatment system to which the systems, devices, and methods described herein apply. In some embodiments, a motor of a carbonation system is configured to drive a cam in a first drive motion that moves the cam to push on a pin of a gas source. The cam pushing on the gas source's pin causes the gas source to open and thereby release gas. The motor is configured to drive the cam in a second drive motion that moves the cam back to its initial position, which removes force on the pin so that the pin can return to its initial position. The gas source thus closes such that gas cannot be released from the gas source until the cam moves again.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. In one embodiment, the carbonation mixing chamber includes a housing, a fluid inlet pathway, a gas inlet pathway, and an outlet pathway. The housing may have an inner chamber, and the fluid inlet pathway can be configured to extend into the inner chamber of the housing and receive fluid from a fluid source. The gas inlet pathway can be configured to extend into the inner chamber of the housing and can be configured to receive gas from a gas source. The gas inlet pathway can include a plurality of nozzles positioned within the inner chamber and configured to direct gas in a plurality of directions that differ from one another. The outlet pathway can be configured to dispense a mixture of fluid and gas from the inner chamber.

Abstract: A mixing funnel for mixing fluids is provided. In one embodiment, the mixing funnel includes a tray having a fluid inlet arranged to receive a primary fluid flow, and first and second fluid passages configured to receive primary fluid flow from the fluid inlet such that the flow is divided to flow along the first and second fluid passages. The first and second fluid passages can be arranged to direct the primary fluid flow to a mixing area. The tray can further include a fluid outlet arranged to receive the primary fluid flow from the mixing area and to deliver the fluid to a container.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. In one embodiment, the mixing chamber includes a housing, an agitator, a motor assembly and a rigid plate. A housing of the agitator and a housing of the motor assembly can each include a set of magnetics disposed therein and magnetically coupled so as to provide magnetic coupling between the motor assembly and the agitator. The mixing chamber is configured to receive a gas, such as carbon dioxide, and a liquid, such as water, to form a carbonated fluid. The carbonated fluid can be dispensed from the beverage carbonation system as a beverage.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises: a housing and a motor fan assembly mounted in the housing, the motor fan assembly arranged to generate an air flow. A removable dirt container is mountable on the housing and in fluid communication with a dirty air inlet and the motor fan assembly. A moveable dirt compactor is mounted in the dirt container and moveable between a stowed position and a dirt compacting position wherein the moveable dirt compactor is closer to one end of the dirt container in the dirt compacting position than in the stowed position. Wherein the dirt container comprises a primary handle for actuating the moveable dirt compactor with a first hand and a first auxiliary handle for allowing the user to grip with a second hand.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises: a housing and a motor fan assembly mounted in the housing, the motor fan assembly arranged to generate an air flow. A removable dirt container is mountable on the housing and in fluid communication with a dirty air inlet and the motor fan assembly. A moveable dirt compactor is mounted in the dirt container and moveable between a stowed position and a dirt compacting position wherein the moveable dirt compactor is closer to one end of the dirt container in the dirt compacting position than in the stowed position. Wherein the dirt container comprises a primary handle for actuating the moveable dirt compactor with a first hand and a first auxiliary handle for allowing the user to grip with a second hand.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing; a motor fan assembly arranged to generate an air flow; a dirt container in fluid communication with a dirty air inlet and the motor fan assembly; a moveable dirt compactor mounted in the dirt container and moveable between a stowed position and a dirt compacting position wherein the moveable dirt compactor is closer to one end of the dirt container in the dirt compacting position than in the stowed position, wherein the movable dirt compactor is shaped so as to allow dirt within the dirt container located on one side of the dirt compactor to pass to the other side of the dirt compactor; and a detector switch coupled to the moveable dirt compactor, the detector switch configured to open an electrical circuit and interrupt power supplied to the motor fan assembly when the moveable dirt compactor moves towards the dirt compacting position and urges dirt towards the one end of the dirt container.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises: a housing and a motor fan assembly mounted in the housing, the motor fan assembly arranged to generate an air flow. A removable dirt container is mountable on the housing and in fluid communication with a dirty air inlet and the motor fan assembly. A moveable dirt compactor is mounted in the dirt container and moveable between a stowed position and a dirt compacting position wherein the moveable dirt compactor is closer to one end of the dirt container in the dirt compacting position than in the stowed position. Wherein the dirt container comprises a primary handle for actuating the moveable dirt compactor with a first hand and a first auxiliary handle for allowing the user to grip with a second hand.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing; a motor fan assembly arranged to generate an air flow; a dirt container in fluid communication with a dirty air inlet and the motor fan assembly; a moveable dirt compactor mounted in the dirt container and moveable between a stowed position and a dirt compacting position wherein the moveable dirt compactor is closer to one end of the dirt container in the dirt compacting position than in the stowed position, wherein the movable dirt compactor is shaped so as to allow dirt within the dirt container located on one side of the dirt compactor to pass to the other side of the dirt compactor; and a detector switch coupled to the moveable dirt compactor, the detector switch configured to open an electrical circuit and interrupt power supplied to the motor fan assembly when the moveable dirt compactor moves towards the dirt compacting position and urges dirt towards the one end of the dirt container.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises: a housing and a motor fan assembly mounted in the housing, the motor fan assembly arranged to generate an air flow. A removable dirt container is mountable on the housing and in fluid communication with a dirty air inlet and the motor fan assembly. A moveable dirt compactor is mounted in the dirt container and moveable between a stowed position and a dirt compacting position wherein the moveable dirt compactor is closer to one end of the dirt container in the dirt compacting position than in the stowed position. Wherein the dirt container comprises a primary handle for actuating the moveable dirt compactor with a first hand and a first auxiliary handle for allowing the user to grip with a second hand.

Abstract: A cooking appliance, an induction cooking hob (400) and a method (1000) of determining a characteristic of the cooking appliance. The cooking appliance (100) has vessel (102) containing a chamber (104). There are magnets (106) mounted to the vessel (102), the magnets (106) provide a code that identifies a characteristic of the cooking appliance (100). There is an appliance positioning interlock (110) for operatively coupling with an appliance positioning interlock engagement member (406) of the cooking hob (400) to thereby position the cooking appliance (100) on the cooking hob (400) In a predefined location. The cooking hob (400) has sensors (414) so that when the appliance (100) is at the predefined location the sensors (414) can detect and decode the magnetic field code to identify the characteristic This characteristic is used to define a cooking profile to heat of the appliance to a desired temperature and optionally the appliance is heated for a predefined time.