Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are described that enable a diagnostic tool, such as a debugger, to evaluate an expression based on the state of a target program process where the expression to be evaluated includes a call to a first function that exists in the target program process but where evaluation of such first function requires evaluation of a second function that does not exist in the target program process. For an expression such as this, the diagnostic tool emulates execution of the first function within a process other than the target program process, such as within the diagnostic tool process. In other embodiments, the emulation capability of the diagnostic tool is leveraged to enable a user thereof to simulate a modification of the target program process without making actual changes to the target program process.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are described that enable a diagnostic tool, such as a debugger, to evaluate an expression based on the state of a target program process where the expression to be evaluated includes a call to a first function that exists in the target program process but where evaluation of such first function requires evaluation of a second function that does not exist in the target program process. For an expression such as this, the diagnostic tool emulates execution of the first function within a process other than the target program process, such as within the diagnostic tool process. In other embodiments, the emulation capability of the diagnostic tool is leveraged to enable a user thereof to simulate a modification of the target program process without making actual changes to the target program process.

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: 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.

Abstract: A carbonated beverage is conveyed from a source to a closed reservoir at a first pressure level. The pressure in the reservoir is controlled by selectively venting gas and adding pressurized gas to the reservoir to maintain the carbonated beverage at a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure level and substantially greater than atmospheric pressure. The carbonated beverage is dispensed from the reservoir into a serving container by reducing the pressure in the reservoir to substantially atmospheric pressure and then opening an outlet valve. During prolonged periods when dispensing is not occurring, the pressure in the reservoir may be increased to prevent degassing of the carbonated beverage. In that case, the reservoir pressure is reduced to the second pressure level before another dispensing operation.

Abstract: A carbonated beverage is conveyed from a source to a closed reservoir at a first pressure level. The pressure in the reservoir is controlled by selectively venting gas and adding pressurized gas to the reservoir to maintain the carbonated beverage at a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure level and substantially greater than atmospheric pressure. The carbonated beverage is dispensed from the reservoir into a serving container by reducing the pressure in the reservoir to substantially atmospheric pressure and then opening an outlet valve. During prolonged periods when dispensing is not occurring, the pressure in the reservoir may be increased to prevent degassing of the carbonated beverage. In that case, the reservoir pressure is reduced to the second pressure level before another dispensing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing carbonated beverages into an open container uses a bottom filling technique in which the outlet port of the nozzle is proximate to a bottom of the open container when dispensing is initiated. The carbonated beverage is maintained in a pressurized state within the nozzle and the remainder of the system, until immediately prior to opening a valve to dispense the carbonated beverage into the open container. Prior to opening valve, the pressure of the carbonated beverage nozzle is reduced to an appropriate dispensing pressure, preferably slightly above atmospheric pressure, by slightly enlarging the nozzle volume.

Abstract: A system for dispensing carbonated beverage into an open container precisely controls the temperature of the carbonated beverages using an in-line zero&Dgr;T chiller. The chiller preferably includes a flooded freon-bath heat exchanger in which an output temperature of the carbonated beverage from the heat exchanger matches the temperature of freon within the heat exchanger under normal operating conditions. A pressure sensor measures the pressure of freon in the heat exchanger and a freon valve in the refrigeration circuit is electronically controlled in order to adjust the pressure of the freon and consequently the temperature of the freon in the heat exchanger. The optimum temperature for the carbonated beverage is selected either by choice, or in the case of carbonated beverages on ice to approximately the surface temperature of the ice in order to reduce foaming.

Abstract: A pressurized system for dispensing carbonated beverages into an open container uses a bottom filling technique in which the outlet port of the nozzle is proximate to a bottom of the open container when dispensing is initiated. The carbonated beverage is maintained in a pressurized state within the nozzle and the remainder of the system, until immediately prior to opening a valve to dispense the carbonated beverage into the open container. Prior to opening valve, the pressure of the carbonated beverage nozzle is reduced to an appropriate dispensing pressure, preferably slightly above atmospheric pressure. The system also precisely controls the temperature of the carbonated beverage, preferably using an in-line zero&Dgr;T chiller. In addition, specialized valve configurations and operation techniques, as well as container positioning techniques, are implemented in order to achieve a desired presentation of the carbonated beverage in the open container.

Abstract: A system for dispensing carbonated beverage and ice into an open container uses a bottom filling technique in which the outlet port of the nozzle is proximate to a bottom of the open container in order to dispense the carbonated beverage. Preferably, the carbonated beverage is maintained in a pressurized state within the nozzle until immediately prior to opening the valve in order to maintain appropriate carbonation of the beverage. It is preferred that ice be added after the nozzle is located proximate the bottom of the open container. The ice dispenser includes a funnel located concentrically around the nozzle in order to supply ice around the nozzle into the open container. In order to avoid excessive foaming, it is important that the temperature of the carbonated beverage be chilled to approximately the surface temperature of the ice being added into the open container.

Abstract: An automated open container holder automatically raises and lowers an open container in a carbonated beverage dispensing system. The holder is preferably a cantilevered horizontal platform which is driven vertically relative to an outlet port of a dispensing nozzle via an electronically controlled actuator during the dispensing cycle. The dispensing nozzle is designed to bottom fill the open container, and it is desirable that the outlet port of the nozzle be located proximate to a bottom of the open container at least until the outlet port is submerged. The container holder as well as the open container are selectively positioned in accordance with a preselected pouring profile such that for a given dispensing temperature, pressure and flow profile, the container holder selectively positions the open container. This allows the vendor or supplier to program a preferred or several preferred presentations for the beverage depending on the timing of preselected turbulence during the pour.

Abstract: A system for dispensing carbonated beverages into an open container uses a bottom filling technique in which the outlet port of the nozzle is proximate to a bottom of the open container when dispensing is initiated. Specialized valve configurations and operation techniques are implemented in order to achieve enhanced flow characteristics of the carbonated beverage dispensing into the open container. Preferably, the valve head has a distribution surface in which a portion of the distribution surface near a proximal end of the valve head slopes more steeply downward than the portion of the distribution surface that is located towards the distal end of the valve head. With this configuration, the valve head gently redirects the flow trajectory of the carbonated beverage existing the nozzle from a substantially downward trajectory to a more horizontal umbrella like trajectory. It has been found that such a trajectory provides particularly favorable results.

Abstract: Carbonated beverages are dispensed by an apparatus that includes a tank mounted for holding the beverage at atmospheric pressure. An inlet tube is provided to supply beverage beneath the surface of the beverage already in said tank. An nozzle projects from said tank for a length at least as great as the depth of a serving container into which beverage will be dispensed. A valve member movably located in an outlet of the nozzle and has a conical shape. The valve member is moved by an actuator between a closed position in which the outlet of the nozzle is sealed against beverage flow, and an open position in which beverage can flow from the nozzle. The conical shape of said valve member disperses the beverage in a 360 degree pattern around the outlet to reduce beverage foaming. A shell encloses the tank and forms a cavity therebetween through which chilled air circulates to maintain the beverage in the tank at a desired serving temperature.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser fills a container with a beverage by controlling beverage flow through a nozzle with a valve. A mechanism reads an indicia printed on the container which identifies a volume for that container. The volume information is sent to a controller which responses by activating the valve to dispense a quantity of beverage that corresponds to the volume indicated by the indicia. Thus the beverage dispenser is able to automatically fill containers of different sizes by reading each containers volume indicating indicia. The indicia also may indicate a unique serial number assigned to each container. In that case, the controller stores data in memory which identify serial numbers of containers into which beverage has been dispensed previously and the dispensing is inhibited if the server attempts to refill one of those containers.