Abstract: Beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a self-regulating flow rate control means (5). It comprises: A pressurized container (30, 31) containing a beverage to be dispensed; A dispensing duct (1) defined by at least one wall and bringing in fluid communication the liquid beverage contained in the container through a first opening (1a) with the exterior via a valve (35) and out of a second opening (1b), for drawing beverage out of the container. At least a section (3) of the wall defining the dispensing duct is resiliently flexible and is such that its inner surface, facing the interior of the dispensing duct, is exposed to the pressure, P1, reigning in the duct at that level, and its outer surface, facing out of the duct is exposed to a pressure, P2, substantially equal to the pressure reigning in the container, the resiliently flexible section (3) being suitable for maintaining a substantially constant dispensing flow rate over a given range of operating pressure values, P2, in the container.

Abstract: Pressure regulating valve for controlling the pressure at which a pressurized propellant gas is injected into a container containing a liquid for driving said liquid out of the container, said valve comprising: A first and a second polymeric shells, the first shell comprising a gas inlet and outlet openings, and the second shell containing means for resiliency biasing. A polymeric membrane, clamped between the first and second shells, thus defining a first and a second chambers sealingly separated by the membrane. A joint between the first and second polymeric shells, strong enough to withstand the pressures reigning in either chamber and ensuring fluid tightness between the two chambers; wherein, all polymeric components of said pressure regulating valve are made of the same polymer class.

Abstract: Disclosed is a concentrator solar cell which guides concentrated sunlight to a solar cell. The concentrator solar cell has: a substrate which has a solar cell mounted thereon; a light guide member which is positioned in the top part of the solar cell in such a way that the lower end surface thereof faces the solar cell; and a support member which is provided across the upper part of the light guide member and is provided in a standing state on the substrate. The concentrator solar cell is a hermetically sealed structure due to the substrate, the light guide member, and the support member.

Abstract: A water treatment method uses a removable, disposable cartridge having an internal mesh structure. A permanent heater heats water fed to the cartridge. Precipitated solids collect on the mesh surface provided temperature and residence time are appropriately maintained. The heat breaks down the bicarbonate hardness of the water thereby depositing carbonates on the mesh surface and heavy metals will be codeposited due to the resultant change in pH. The cartridge has a head-space for collecting entrained gasses such as volatile organic compounds, chlorine and air. Water sterility is achieved by heating the water over an appropriate period of time. Turbidity is removed within the cartridge due to settling induced by the low fluid velocity controlled by a controller and by a filter provided at the outlet of the cartridge. The filter will become blocked when bicarbonate hardness is carried over forcing a user to replace a spent cartridge.

Abstract: A water treatment method uses a removable, disposable cartridge having an internal mesh structure. A permanent heater heats water fed to the cartridge. Precipitated solids collect on the mesh surface provided temperature and residence time are appropriately maintained. The heat breaks down the bicarbonate hardness of the water thereby depositing carbonates on the mesh surface and heavy metals will be codeposited due to the resultant change in pH. The cartridge has a head-space for collecting entrained gasses such as volatile organic compounds, chlorine and air. Water sterility is achieved by heating the water over an appropriate period of time. Turbidity is removed within the cartridge due to settling induced by the low fluid velocity controlled by a controller and by a filter provided at the outlet of the cartridge. The filter will become blocked when bicarbonate hardness is carried over forcing a user to replace a spent cartridge.

Abstract: A water treatment apparatus uses a removable, disposable cartridge having an internal mesh structure. A permanent heater heats water fed to the cartridge. Precipitated solids collect on the mesh surface provided temperature and residence time are appropriately maintained. The heat breaks down the bicarbonate hardness of the water thereby depositing carbonates on the mesh surface and heavy metals will be codeposited due to the resultant change in pH. The cartridge has a head-space for collecting entrained gasses such as volatile organic compounds, chlorine and air. Water sterility is achieved by heating the water over an appropriate period of time. Turbidity is removed within the cartridge due to settling induced by the low fluid velocity controlled by a controller and by a filter provided at the outlet of the cartridge. The filter will become blocked when bicarbonate hardness is carried over forcing a user to replace a spent cartridge.

Abstract: Methods for providing a low permeability coating on the interior of a refillable plastic container, such as a PET beverage bottle, include coating of a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) by depositing LCP monomers on the interior surface of the container and bi-axially orienting the monomers continuously while reacting the monomers to produce the polymer. The interior surface of the container may be pre-treated to produce free radicals which enhance the attachment of the monomers to the surface. Also, the surface may be post-treated to eliminate unsaturated radicals or free monomers. The application of the monomers to the interior surface of the container can be effected by condensing a gas blend of monomers, by spraying liquid monomers or by filling with liquid monomers and then emptying to leave a residual coating. The monomers are reacted by preheating them or by subjecting them to a heated inert gas.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for maintaining a desired (target) carbonation level in a carbonator, a control-signal originates from a reference standard of carbonated water close to the target carbonation level, which is sealed inside a pilot chamber of the regulator. The pilot chamber is exposed to the water temperature in the carbonator and is shaped and sized so as to promote rapid equalization of the temperature of the reference standard with that of the carbonated water. The pressure inside the pilot chamber is equal to the equilibrium vapor pressure, according to the temperature and carbonation level of the reference standard. This pressure is transmitted through a flexible membrane in one of the walls of the pilot chamber to a valve in the gas-supply line of the carbonator. This valve, therefore, balances the CO.sub.2 gas pressure within the carbonator with the equilibrium vapor pressure in the pilot chamber.