Multi-purpose valve for a beverage system
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.
1 . A beverage system comprising:
a mixing chamber in which a carbonated fluid is formed by mixing a liquid and carbon dioxide; and
a valve configured to receive the carbonated fluid from the mixing chamber and to receive residual carbon dioxide from the mixing chamber, wherein the valve includes main body with a lead screw and a spool disposed therein, wherein the spool is threadedly engaged with the lead screw, the valve having:
a first state in which the carbonated fluid cannot flow through the valve and the residual carbon dioxide cannot flow through the valve,
a second state in which the carbonated fluid cannot flow through the valve and the residual carbon dioxide can flow through the valve, and
a third state in which the carbonated fluid can flow through the valve and the residual carbon dioxide can flow through the valve.
2 . The beverage system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to move from the first state to the second state, from the second state to a selected one of the first and third states, and from the third state to the second state.
3 . The beverage system of claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to control the movement of the valve from the first state to the second state, from the second state to the selected one of the first and third states, and from the third state to the second state.
4 . The beverage system of claim 1 , wherein, with the valve in the third state, the carbonated fluid is configured to flow through the valve and be dispensed into a beverage container from a carbonation system that includes the valve and the mixing chamber; and
with the valve in either the second state or the third state, the residual carbon dioxide is configured to flow through the valve and be vented from a carbonation system that includes the valve and the mixing chamber.
5 . The beverage system of claim 1 , wherein the valve defines a first flow path therethrough along which the carbonated fluid is configured to pass through the valve with the valve in the third state;
the valve defines a second flow path therethrough along which the residual carbon dioxide is configured to pass through the valve with the valve in either the second state or the third state; and
the first and second flow paths do not cross or overlap.
6 . The beverage system of claim 1 , wherein the lead screw is configured to rotate relative to the main body, thereby causing the spool to move linearly relative to the main body and move the valve from the first state to the second state, from the second state to a selected one of the first and third states, or from the third state to the second state.
7 . The beverage system of claim 1 , further comprising a motor configured to drive the rotation of the lead screw.
8 . The beverage system of claim 6 , further comprising a processor configured to control the motor.
9 . The beverage system of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of sensors operatively coupled with the processor;
wherein the processor is configured to control the motor based on whether or not a signal is received from each of the plurality of sensors.
10 . The beverage system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of seals disposed in the main body and extending circumferentially around the spool.
11 . The beverage system of claim 1 , wherein an interior of the main body defines a stepped shape of varying diameters; and
an exterior of the spool defines a stepped shape of varying diameters corresponding to the stepped shape of the main body.
12 . The beverage system of claim 1 , wherein the main body defines a first inlet for the carbonated fluid, a first outlet for the carbonated fluid, a second inlet for the residual carbon dioxide, and a second outlet for the carbon dioxide.
13 . The beverage system of claim 11 , further comprising a flexible seal disposed in the first outlet.
14 . The beverage system of claim 11 , wherein:
with the valve in the first state, the spool is configured to prevent the carbonated fluid from entering the first inlet and passing through the valve to the first outlet and is configured to prevent the residual carbon dioxide from entering the second inlet and passing through the valve to the second outlet,
with the valve in the first state, the spool is configured to prevent the carbonated fluid from entering the first inlet and passing through the valve to the first outlet and is configured to allow the residual carbon dioxide to enter the second inlet and pass through the valve to the second outlet, and
with the valve in the first state, the spool is configured to allow the carbonated fluid to enter the first inlet and pass through the valve to the first outlet and is configured to allow the residual carbon dioxide to enter the second inlet and pass through the valve to the second outlet.
15 . The beverage system of claim 1 , wherein the mixing chamber is configured to receive the liquid from a liquid source in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and to receive the carbon dioxide from a gas source in fluid communication with the mixing chamber.
16 . A method for a beverage system, comprising:
causing the valve of the beverage system of claim 1 to move from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the third state.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein a processor of the beverage system of claim 1 controls a motor of the beverage system of claim 1 to cause the valve to move from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the third state.
18 . A method for a beverage system, comprising:
forming a carbonated fluid in a mixing chamber of a carbonation system; and
after the formation of the carbonated fluid, changing a state of a valve of the carbonation system such that residual carbon dioxide in the mixing chamber is allowed to enter and pass through the valve for venting out of the carbonation system, and thereafter changing the state of the valve again such that carbonated fluid in the mixing chamber is allowed to enter and pass through the valve for dispensing out of the carbonation system into a beverage container, wherein the valve includes main body with a lead screw and a spool disposed therein, wherein the spool is threadedly engaged with the lead screw.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein a processor of the carbonation system controls the formation of the carbonation fluid and controls the changing of the state of the valve.