Flow circuit for carbonated beverage machine

Abstract

Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. Carbonating gas can be provided to a tank via the tank outlet, thereby purging at least a portion of a dispense line leading from the tank to a dispensing station. A single pump may be used to deliver liquid to the tank, e.g., for carbonation, and to pump pressurized air to dispense liquid from the tank. A water trap may help remove moisture from carbonating gas.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of making a beverage, the method comprising:
 receiving a cartridge having a beverage medium at least partially within a beverage making machine;   delivering precursor liquid to a carbonation tank, the carbonation tank having an outlet fluidically coupled to a dispense line;   delivering carbon dioxide gas under pressure to the carbonation tank;   carbonating the precursor liquid in the carbonation tank with the carbon dioxide gas;   delivering the carbonated precursor liquid from the carbonation tank to the dispense line, the dispense line associated with a flow of the beverage medium from the cartridge; and   purging the dispense line using the carbon dioxide gas.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein delivering the carbon dioxide gas comprises delivering the carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation tank via the outlet. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the outlet is disposed at a bottom portion of the tank. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein delivering the carbon dioxide gas comprises delivering the carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation tank via a carbonating gas supply line fluidically coupled to the dispense line. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein purging the dispense line occurs in response to delivering the carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation tank. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein delivering carbon dioxide gas comprises releasing the carbon dioxide gas from a source of pressurized carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the source of pressurized carbon dioxide comprises a molecular sieve arranged within the cartridge. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising mixing carbonated precursor liquid with the beverage medium at an exit of the dispense line to form the beverage. 
     
     
         30 . A method of making a beverage, the method comprising:
 receiving a cartridge having a beverage medium at least partially within a beverage making machine;   delivering a precursor liquid to a carbonation tank, the carbonation tank having an outlet fluidically coupled to a dispense line;   delivering a carbon dioxide gas under pressure to the carbonation tank;   carbonating the precursor liquid in the carbonation tank with the carbon dioxide gas; and   flowing the carbonated precursor liquid from the carbonation tank through the dispense line and to the cartridge to mix the carbonated precursor liquid with the beverage medium.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein mixing the carbonated precursor liquid with the beverage medium occurs at least partially within the cartridge. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising inducing a flow of the beverage medium from the cartridge. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein inducing the flow comprises:
 rupturing an internal sealed volume of the cartridge; and   introducing a pressurized fluid to the internal sealed volume.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the pressurized fluid comprises the carbonated precursor liquid from the carbonation tank. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein receiving the cartridge comprises enclosing the cartridge within a cartridge holder, the cartridge holder configured to fluidically couple the cartridge to a flow path of the beverage making machine. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein delivering carbon dioxide gas comprises releasing the carbon dioxide gas from a pressurized cylinder. 
     
     
         37 . A method of making a beverage, the method comprising:
 receiving a cartridge having a beverage medium at least partially within a beverage making machine;   delivering precursor liquid to a carbonation tank, the carbonation tank having an outlet fluidically coupled to a dispense line;   delivering carbon dioxide gas under pressure to the carbonation tank;   selectively carbonating the precursor liquid in the carbonation tank with the carbon dioxide gas by controlling at least one of a flow rate or a pressure of the carbon dioxide gas into the carbonation tank; and   flushing the dispense line with the selectively carbonated precursor liquid from the carbonation tank, the dispense line associated with a flow of the beverage medium from the cartridge.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising mixing the selectively carbonated precursor liquid with the beverage medium to form the beverage having a carbonation level of between 1 and 5 volumes. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the method further comprises detecting a parameter of the carbonation tank; and   selectively carbonating ceases when the parameter reaches a threshold value.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising chilling the carbonation tank. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the operation of delivering the carbon dioxide gas to the carbonation tank purges the dispense line.