Abstract: Liquids to be dispensed as “frozen” or “slush” beverages are rapidly cooled to a suitable target viscosity or percentage of frozen, by maintaining a flow of liquid nitrogen through one or more heat exchangers, counterflowing the beverage to be cooled from a reservoir to a dispenser, and controlling the flow of liquid nitrogen to achieve the target viscosity or percentage of frozen of the beverage to be dispensed.

Abstract: A water dispenser mounted on a door of a refrigerator freezer that is provided with a spigot that is movable between inner and outer dispensing positions. The dispenser includes a dispenser housing having a dispensing cavity and the spigot is movably mounted in the top of the dispensing cavity. When the spigot is in the inner dispensing position water can be dispensed into a container positioned in the dispensing cavity. In the outer dispensing position the spigot can dispense water into a container positioned outside the dispensing cavity. The dispenser housing can be provided with a movable tray in the bottom of the dispensing cavity. The movable tray can be withdrawn to support a container under the spigot in the inner dispensing position and extended to support a container under the spigot in the outer dispensing position.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser provides numerous inventive features in its refrigeration system, diluent delivery system, concentrate delivery system, mixing and dispensing system, and control system. The refrigeration system employs a plate heat exchanger to provide on demand refrigeration of an intermittent water flow. The diluent delivery system includes a flowmeter/solenoid/check-valve assembly. The concentrate delivery system employs a positive displacement pump. The mixing and dispensing system includes a mixing nozzle that has a locking feature such that an elevated blocking surface directly faces the inlet of pressurized diluent to create turbulence. The control system receives package-specific information from a scanner and diluent flow rate information from the flowmeter, and then determines the pump speed in order to set a desired mix ratio.

Abstract: A frozen food appliance for making and dispensing frozen food products comprising a base, a removable container adapted to be chilled in a conventional freezer and then replaced into the base, a dispensing nozzle and associated control lever, an automatic scraper, auger and paddle for delivering frozen food product from the container and out of the dispensing spout, and a toppings dispenser for automatically delivering toppings to the frozen food product while or after the frozen food product is being dispensed.

Abstract: A dispenser for relative rapid cooling or heating of the contents of a liquid storage container provides a receptacle for receiving the liquid storage container therein and positioning a thermal transfer portion of the liquid storage container in thermal conductive relationship with a thermal conduction pad associated with the receptacle. Thermal energy is effectively and efficiently transferred from the thermal conduction pad to the liquid in the liquid storage container. The thermal conduction pad is controlled to provide and maintain the desired temperature to the liquid. The liquid is dispensed directly from the container. Various types of containers can be used in the dispenser, with a special bag-in-box container having a inner container and outer box with thermal conduction windows in the box to provide good heat transfer between the thermal conduction pads and the inner container constituting an aspect of the invention. A special rigid container can also be used.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system is characterized by a beverage dispenser and a beverage dispensing tower located remote from the beverage dispenser. The beverage dispenser has a cold plate and the tower has a heat exchanger. To deliver chilled beverage components to and for dispensing by the tower, a closed-loop water circulating circuit extends between and includes a fluid chilling circuit of the cold plate and a heat exchange circuit of the heat exchanger. The closed-loop circuit is fluid coupled to a beverage valve of the tower to deliver chilled water to the valve, and a supply of beverage syrup is fluid coupled to the tower valve through a fluid chilling circuit of the heat exchanger for delivery of chilled syrup to the valve for mixing with chilled water in the dispensing of a beverage from the tower valve.

Abstract: The system 10 of the preferred embodiment includes a sensor 12 to detect temperature; a user interface 14 that includes a display 16 to output the detected temperature, controls 18 to receive a target temperature, and an alert 20 to signal the user when an event occurs; and a base 22. The system 10 of the preferred embodiment has been specifically designed to grasp the neck of a wine bottle of any various size, detect the temperature of the wine, compare the detected temperature to the target temperature, and signal the user when the detected temperature is equivalent to the target temperature.

Abstract: A soft serve ice cream vending machine is disclosed. The vending machine includes a machine cabinet; a door pivotably connected to he machine cabinet; the door including a cup dispensing slot and an ice cream dispensing slot; a product dispensing button connected to the door; a cup dispenser adapted to dispense a cup and connected to the door; a money acceptor connected to the door; a flexible product container connected to a freezer engine adapted to receive a product, the freezer engine having an outlet proximate to the ice cream dispensing slot; a venturi air valve connected to the freezer engine; a spigot control device connected to the freezer engine and to the product dispensing button, whereby upon engagement of the product dispensing button the spigot control device engages the freezer engine for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process respectively an apparatus for filling a container with articles such as food, in particular meat, and a process respectively an apparatus for cooling articles and is characterised by repeating the following steps: (A) a first portion of the articles is conveyed with a conveying means, in particular a conveyor belt, having a conveyor outlet and is discharged into a container at a lower conveying speed such that a first portion accumulates in the container at the first location closer to the conveyor outlet; and (B) thereafter, a second portion of the articles is conveyed by the conveying means and is discharged into a container at a higher conveying speed, such that the second portion accumulates in the container at the second location further away from the conveyor outlet; as well as a process respectively an apparatus for cooling articles using said process and said apparatus for filling; as well as the articles processed by said processes respectively said apparatus.

Abstract: A water dispenser is provided for dispensing hot water, cold water, and carbonated water, all of which is filtered. The dispenser includes a housing defining a front dispensing face, a rear face, opposite side walls and a bottom wall. A filter is mounted in the housing and has a rear end connectable to a source of water and a front end accessible at the front face of the housing to facilitate replacing the filter. A dispensing faucet is disposed at the front face of the housing. A hot water tank is located at one side of the housing and has an inlet for receiving filtered water from the filter and a hot water outlet near the dispensing faucet for delivering hot water thereto. An ice bank assembly is located at an opposite side of the housing and has an inlet for receiving filtered water from the filter and a cold water outlet near the dispensing faucet for delivering cold water thereto. A compressor is mounted on the bottom wall of the housing and is coupled to one end of the ice bank evaporator.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system is characterized by an ice/beverage dispenser and a remote beverage tower. The dispenser has a cold plate, a carbonator pump and a carbonator tank and the tower has a carbonator tank. To chill the tower carbonator tank, a closed loop fluid circuit extends between and heat exchange couples the dispenser cold plate and the tower carbonator tank. The dispenser carbonator pump can be used to circulate water through the closed loop circuit or a carbonator pump for the tower can be used for the purpose. A valve arrangement is provided for and as part of the dispenser cold plate to conveniently enable the dispenser to be switched between stand-alone operation and operation as a base unit for the remote tower. Arrangement is also made to cause ice agitation at the dispenser in response to drinks dispense at the remote tower to maintain a supply on the cold plate.

Abstract: A combination of a machine for making and dispensing a flowable ice product such as e.g. soft ice-cream, ice cream slush, in particular milk shake, and a package for the flowable ice product. The machine for making and dispensing the flowable ice product comprises an ice product making assembly including a cooler or freezer unit, and a dispenser unit for dispensing the ice product The dispenser unit is connected to the ice product making assembly and to outlet means of the machine. The flowable ice product can be fed from the outlet means of the machine to the package for the flowable ice product. The package is a collapsible pouch comprising inlet means.

Abstract: A bottled beverage dispenser includes a bottle receiving space for receiving a bottle having an opening to an interior containing a liquid. A fitting is sealed to the opening of the bottle. The fitting has an inlet passage and an outlet passage—each for communicating with the bottle interior. A dip tube extends from the outlet passage to a bottom portion of the bottle interior. An air pump is connected to the inlet and operates to pump air into the bottle interior above the liquid. A tap is connected inline with the dip tube and is user-activated to dispense liquid from the bottle interior.

Abstract: The invention described herein is a beverage cooler, equipped with an external valve or spigot in fluid communication with an internal bag or bladder, the bladder containing the beverage to be dispensed. The bag is typically connected to the external spigot by a length of hose or other conduit. The bag or bladder includes a fitting, and the hose includes a complimentary fitting that allows the bag to be attached to the conduit for dispensing of the beverage, and subsequent removal from the conduit or hose when the bladder is empty. Once the bag is connected, ice can be placed in the cooler to keep the beverage cold.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an device and method for controlling a dispenser for a refrigerator.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a dispenser in a front panel of the door. The door has an outer door pan with an outer door cavity and an inner liner having an inner liner cavity. An angled ice chute may be placed through both the inner liner cavity and the outer door cavity to move ice to the dispenser. The inner liner has more storage space over conventional ice chute dispensers. The dispenser may have a housing that positions a control panel and water outlet forward the front panel.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a forward projecting dispenser that extends forward a front panel of the door. The door has an outer door pan with an outer door cavity and an inner liner having an inner liner cavity. An ice chute may be placed through both the inner liner cavity and the outer door cavity to move ice to the forward projecting dispenser. The dispenser may have a housing that positions a control panel and water outlet forward the front panel. The dispenser may extend to the door handle of the refrigerator or beyond the handle. The distance the dispenser extends forward the front panel of the door is minimized using a slight diagonal rear side of the dispenser housing.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a water supplier, fluid director and fluid director access door. The fluid director is removable. The fluid director access door enables users to remove, clean and replace the fluid director.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes water storage tank (17) disposed at a higher place inside the door, water feeder (16) placed on a front face of the door, and water feeding tube (18) coupling tank (17) to feeder (16). Tube (18) slants upward from water feeder (16) to storage tank (17).

Abstract: A refrigerator including a dispenser to extract water is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage chamber, a door opening and closing the storage chamber, and a dispenser disposed to discharge water, the dispenser including a button installed to be movable in a backward and forward moving direction, a switch pressed to cause water to be discharged, and a lever rotatably installed sideward with respect to the forward/backward moving direction of the button having one end disposed at a rear side of the button and an other end disposed on the switch and performing a seesaw movement sideward as the button moves in the forward/backward moving direction to press the switch. Thus, the dispenser can be formed to have a small thickness in a forward/backward direction.

Abstract: A refrigerator with at least one openable door has a hinge at a pivoting edge of the door allowing the door to open about the pivoting edge. A water dispenser, positioned on the door, has a paddle which is moved horizontally by a user to cause water to be dispensed. The paddle engages a toggle that is attached to the dispenser housing, causing the toggle to rotate into engagement with a microswitch. The microswitch is mounted on a user interface control board which communicates with a power supply electronic control board. The power supply control board operates a water dispenser solenoid valve to cause water to flow to the dispenser when the toggle engages the microswitch. An endcap is secured to an edge of the door adjacent to the pivoting edge. A first conduit extends from the water dispenser to an end within the endcap. A second conduit extends from within the cabinet to an end exterior of the cabinet and within the endcap. An end connector is provided to receive the ends of the first and second conduits.

Abstract: A water dispenser mounted on a door of a refrigerator freezer that is provided with a spigot that is movable between inner and outer dispensing positions. The dispenser includes a dispenser housing having a dispensing cavity and the spigot is movably mounted in the top of the dispensing cavity. When the spigot is in the inner dispensing position water can be dispensed into a container positioned in the dispensing cavity. In the outer dispensing position the spigot can dispense water into a container positioned outside the dispensing cavity. The dispenser housing can be provided with a movable tray in the bottom of the dispensing cavity. The movable tray can be withdrawn to support a container under the spigot in the inner dispensing position and extended to support a container under the spigot in the outer dispensing position.

Abstract: A fuel filling apparatus is provided. The fuel filling apparatus comprises an overfilling protective valve arranged in a fuel gas supply path for supplying a fuel gas to an automobile. The overfilling protective valve further comprises a fuel gas path, a valve unit for opening and closing the fuel gas path by a valve body, a valve body displacement means for displacing the valve body according to a filling pressure of the fuel gas, and a temperature modulating unit for modulating a temperature of the valve body displacement means. Even though a difference between the temperature of the fuel gas and the operation temperature of the overfilling protective valve is large, the temperature of the valve body displacement means can be maintained within the preset temperature range by the temperature modulating unit and the overfilling protective valve can be exactly operated under the preset pressure.

Abstract: An assembly for maintaining an adequate volume and optimal temperature of semi-frozen beverages contained within a plurality of dispensing units. The assembly includes a chilled water source for providing water cooled to a temperature just above freezing, a plurality of valves and a plurality of water conduits, a plurality of additive sources and additive conduits, and a plurality of beverage conduits. Each beverage conduit is in fluid communication with one valve of the plurality of valves and a vessel of one of the at least one beverage dispensing modules, each of the valves is adapted to mix said chilled water and additive in a desired ratio and deliver an additive-chilled water mixture to said vessel of one of said at least one beverage dispensing modules.

Abstract: A refrigerator dispenser includes an ice dispensing actuator, an ice dispensing chute, an ice dispensing housing positioned within a refrigerator door cavity and configured to define an ice dispensing cavity through which ice dispensed by the ice dispensing chute passes, a liquid dispensing chute positioned closer to a front surface of a refrigerator door than the ice dispensing housing, and a liquid dispensing actuator positioned on the ice dispensing housing and configured to receive input to inspire dispensing of liquid through the liquid dispensing chute.

Abstract: A beverage dispense font incorporating a portable cooling device is provided wherein the portable cooling device cools an outer housing of the dispense font in order to encourage ice formation on the dispense font. Unique visual effects can be obtained with ice formation on the outer housing of the dispense font, and the portable cooling device therefore enables independent cooling of the outer housing without redesign or modification of the existing glycol cooling system used to cool the dispensed beverage. The portable cooling device can be inherently small in size due to relatively minimal cooling capacity requirements for cooling just the outer housing of the dispense font. The dispense font and portable cooling device may be moved from location to location thereby greatly enhancing the capability to provide a frozen-appearing dispense font to many locations.

Abstract: A beverage blending system with dispenser is disclosed. The system can include a hopper or tank to retain an ice and fluid mixture, a grinder to fragment the ice to a predetermined particle size, a pump to re-circulate the ground mixture back into the tank and a screen to strain the mixture such that the pump can re-circulate solid particles that are less than the predetermined particle size back to the top portion of the tank.

Abstract: Devices designed to aid the cooling of liquids in a flexible fluid container such as a bag being dispensed over time, generally through use of a dispenser which penetrates the membrane of the bag with at least one spike. The devices are cooling packs, adapted and sized to allow interaction with the fluid in the bag, while generally inhibiting damage to the pack from the spike. The devices are designed especially to cool liquid beverages such as water, without need to include an electromechanical cooling system in the dispensing device.

Abstract: A water circulation system for distributing bottled fluid to a remote location.

Abstract: A dispenser for a refrigerator is provided that increases a usable space of a storage compartment of the refrigerator. The dispenser includes a chute which receives contents from an inside of the refrigerator and discharges the contents to an outside through an opening provided on an end of the chute. A cover selectively opens or shuts the opening. A first unit causes the cover to slide relative to the opening so as to open or shut the opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drink dispenser (1) provided with a chamber (2) with an opening for accommodating a container (13) containing carbonated drink.

Abstract: Refrigeration devices that have a water dispensing system to dispense water to an exterior water dispenser from a water supply line have need of a water vessel for storing water under pressure within the refrigeration device until dispensed. The water vessel has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply line and an outlet for dispensing water to the exterior water dispenser. A plurality of pressure resistant walls are formed between the inlet and the outlet to form an internal volume to reservoir water within the water vessel. The water vessel is constructed to reservoir water within the vessel under hydrostatic pressure from the water supply line until dispensed through the outlet when requested by the exterior water dispenser and/or the icemaker.

Abstract: A system and method that portably stores, refrigerates, and dispenses a viscous, semi-solid food product. Cannoli cream is held in a hopper that is removably received inside an insulated and cooled portion of the portable dispenser housing. The portion that receives the hopper is lined with evaporator coils from a refrigeration unit or cold packs. A piston driven mechanism is housed in the dispenser, the piston drive functioning to pump cannoli cream from the hopper through a dispenser nozzle.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a cooling arrangement having a refrigerant dispenser. In an illustrated example, the dispenser includes an aerosol container containing the refrigerant and a dispensing valve fitted to a fixing cup which crimps onto the aerosol container. The aerosol container is at least partly housed inside an outer jacket, and a dispensing channel is engaged on the dispensing valve. A cover is mounted on top of the dispensing channel. The cover has an inside face that is impermeable to the refrigerant and at least part of the cover, preferably an outside face of the cover, is made of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 1 Wm?1K?1. A method of applying a cosmetic product to a body surface is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling beverage flow includes a dispensing tube having a distal end. The apparatus also includes a ball plug configured for linear reciprocal motion between a first position and a second position so that the ball plug abuts the distal end of the dispensing tube in the first position and is separated from the distal end of the dispensing tube in the second position. A flow rate controller for compensation of flow in a fluid dispensing system includes a body portion and a first set of flow restricting nodes and a second set of flow restricting nodes formed in the body portion. The controller also includes a first channel formed in the body portion and configured to receive and partially surround a portion of a first fluid conduit such that the first fluid conduit is in contact with the first set of flow restricting nodes.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser for dispensing a carbonated beverage from a beverage source into a receptacle. The dispenser includes a first housing defining an interior volume and having a first surface closer to the beverage source and a second surface further from the beverage source. The dispenser also includes a beverage cooler including a second housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, and sides defining an interior volume. A first circuit is disposed within the interior volume of the second housing and forms a first set of fluid flow paths. A second circuit is disposed within the interior volume of the second housing and forms a second set of fluid flow paths in parallel with the first set of fluid flow paths. A third circuit is disposed within the interior volume of the second housing and forms a third set of fluid flow paths in parallel with the first and second sets of fluid flow paths, wherein, the first, second, and third circuits defines an inlet and an outlet.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.

Abstract: An ice harvesting prevention mechanism, including an actuator, is provided for an ice maker. The ice maker is arranged to make, harvest and dispense ice to an ice bucket located in an ice receiving position. An ice harvesting prevention device is arranged to prevent dispensing of ice in a first position of the actuator and to permit dispensing of ice in a second position of the actuator. The ice bucket itself, or a movable button carried on the ice bucket, may engage the actuator, when the ice bucket is placed in the ice receiving position, to move the actuator from the first position to the second position. The button may be moved to an “off” position to prevent engagement with the actuator, thereby preventing dispensing of ice when the ice bucket is in the ice receiving position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having an ice making apparatus installed at a cooling chamber door that opens/closes a cooling chamber. The refrigerator includes a body having a cooling chamber therein, a cooling chamber door to open/close the cooling chamber, and an ice making apparatus installed in the cooling chamber door to make ice. An ice making evaporator is provided in the ice making apparatus to independently supply the ice making apparatus with cooling air and an ice making evaporator chamber, in which an ice making evaporator is installed, is provided adjacent to the cooling chamber door while being partitioned from the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A dispensing device (1) for a dispensing machine to supply liquid food products that have a high degree of viscosity such as dairy products in which the product is stored in a container that has an outlet tube in order to be connected to the dispensing device (1), that is fitted with geared motor (3) on the inside from which a motor shaft (4) protrudes and which is fitted to a rotating roller (5) that has a multitude of “idler roller” (6) separated from each other but connected to said roller (5), and a space between the “idler roller” and the external body (2) having been provided, in such a way that the outlet pipe (13) passes through the space between the “idler roller” and the external body (2), in such a way that in its working position the roller (5) turns supplying the product by means of impulses, whilst in its rest position the outlet tube (13) is held tightly by applying pressure of the idler rollers (6) against it.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing system is characterized by an ice/beverage dispenser and a remote beverage tower. The dispenser has a cold plate, a carbonator pump and a carbonator tank and the tower has a carbonator tank. To chill the tower carbonator tank, a closed loop fluid circuit extends between and heat exchange couples the dispenser cold plate and the tower carbonator tank. The dispenser carbonator pump can be used to circulate water through the closed loop circuit or a carbonator pump for the tower can be used for the purpose. A valve arrangement is provided for and as part of the dispenser cold plate to conveniently enable the dispenser to be switched between stand-alone operation and operation as a base unit for the remote tower. Arrangement is also made to cause ice agitation at the dispenser in response to drinks dispense at the remote tower to maintain a supply on the cold plate.

Abstract: A multiple-temperature beer dispensing system (10) (and related methods) is provided in which a plurality of beer sources (12) are coupled to a plurality of taps (16). Heat exchangers (18) may be disposed between one or more of the beer sources (12) and one or more of the taps (16). Beer temperatures may be controlled with a controller (30), sensors (32) and valves (34). Also provided is system (50) that allows a single tap (16n) to dispense beer at more than one temperature. Also provided is a controlled temperature storage chamber (100) and a tube bundle (70).

Abstract: Handheld extruder welding device for welding thermoplastic synthetic materials, including an extruder screw, a drive system for the extruder screw in an axial extension of the extruder screw, and a hot air unit with a blower, where the blower and the drive system are integrated in a housing including several parts, and where a cooling body with air inlets is located on the housing on the screw side. This cooling body transfers the axial and radial forces between the drive system and the screw cylinder and supports the housing. In this handheld extruder welding device, all drive components are integrated in one housing which makes it suitable for robust use and a long service life. Its design with a cooling body as the support base for the entire device represents a special function.

Abstract: A method of visually enhancing water cooler having a base unit which receives an inverted water bottle. A first step involves providing an annular tank having an annular bottom with a transparent exterior sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom making the contents of the annular tank visible and an interior sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom which defmes a cylindrical central cavity. The cylindrical central cavity is selectively sized to slide over an inverted water bottle. A second step involves sliding the annular tank over the inverted water bottle of the water cooler, until the inverted water bottle is positioned within the cylindrical central cavity of the annular tank with the bottom of the annular tank resting upon the base unit. A third step involves filling the annular tank with a visual attraction viewable through the transparent exterior sidewall.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a table for supplying a liquid for drinking which can accurately measure the amount of discharged liquid for drinking. The invention provides a table for supplying liquid for drinking provided with a table, a liquid discharging server installed in the table, and a liquid storage tank for supplying liquid for drinking to the liquid discharging server, in which a measuring mechanism for measuring the discharging liquid amount is provided, and the measuring mechanism has a function of measuring only in a state in which a forward liquid passage reaching the liquid discharging server is filled with the liquid for drinking. In accordance with the invented table, since the customer can discharge the liquid for drinking to the container on the spot by himself or herself, no waiting time is generated and the required amount of liquid can be injected so as to obtain an economical effect.

Abstract: A hydrogen station includes gas storage equipment for storing hydrogen, a dispenser for charging hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage equipment into a hydrogen tank of a vehicle, and a blower. When charging hydrogen, the blower blows air towards a radiator of the vehicle parked at a predetermined vehicle parking area of the hydrogen station. The current flow of the blower is adjusted in accordance with the heat load on the radiator.

Abstract: A cold plate for a beverage chilling apparatus comprising a plurality of beverage conducting tubes sinuously arranged within a cast aluminum jacket. Interleaved between the beer conducting tubes are coolant conducting lines arranged in heat exchanging relation. The coolant lines are derived from a main coolant line pumping coolant to the cold plate, where a coolant inlet is divided into two separate smaller intermediate coolant segments at a first stage. Each intermediate glycol segment is then subdivided at a second stage into four heat exchanging coolant lines. At each subdivision of the coolant fluid conducting system, a pair of smaller lines equal distance from a feed line and having a smaller diameter than the feed line are incorporated using a two-for-one splitter so that each stage doubles the number of lines from the previous stage.

Abstract: A method for producing a desired amount of ice crystal formation in a beverage comprising the steps of cooling said beverage to a temperature below its ordinary freezing temperature at atmospheric pressure to form a cooled beverage; maintaining said beverage at a pressure sufficient to inhibit freezing of said beverage; dispensing said cooled beverage into a vessel; obtaining a cooled surface, having a temperature sufficiently low to cause flash freezing of a portion of said cooled beverage which comes into contact therewith; and presenting said cooled surface to said beverage for a time sufficient to form a desired amount of said ice crystals in said beverage. An apparatus is provided for carrying out the method.