Beverage infuser
Thorough mixing of nitrogen with a beverage to provide a visually interesting and tasty drink is achieved by passing the nitrogen and beverage together through a mixing manifold that is inexpensive to manufacture and easily cleaned and sanitized.
1. An infuser for introducing a gas into a beverage comprising:
a) a first inlet adapter coupled to and in fluid communication with a first container holding a supply of a beverage;
b) a second inlet adapter coupled to and in fluid communication with a second container holding a supply of a gas;
c) an outlet adapter coupled to and in fluid communication with a faucet controlled by a valve; and
d) a manifold assembly comprising:
i) a first channel splitter having an inlet port coupled to said first inlet adapter and at least two outlet ports;
ii) a second channel splitter having a second inlet port coupled to said second inlet adapter and a least two outlet ports;
iii) a t-connector having at least four ports, a first of said ports of the t-connector coupled to the outlet adapter;
iv) a first fluid channel having a first end coupled to a first of the two outlet ports of the first channel splitter and a second end coupled to a second of said ports of the t-connector, said first fluid channel comprising a one-way check valve, a reducer and an expander;
v) a second fluid channel having a first end coupled to a first of the two outlet ports of the second channel splitter and a second end coupled to a third of said ports of the t-connector, said second fluid channel comprising a one-way check valve, a reducer and an expander; and
vi) a third fluid channel comprising a third channel splitter having at least two inlet ports and at least one outlet port, a first branch comprising a one-way check valve extending between a second of the outlet ports of the first channel splitter and a first of the inlet ports of the third channel splitter, a second branch comprising a one-way check valve extending between a second of the outlet ports of the second channel splitter and a second of the inlet ports of the third channel splitter, and a merged section extending between the outlet port of the third channel splitter and a fourth of said ports of said t-connector, said merged section including a reducer and an expander.
2. The infuser of claim 1 wherein the second inlet adapter is coupled to the second container by a pipeline including a regulator.
3. The infuser of claim 1 wherein the second inlet adapter is coupled to the second container by a pipeline comprises a valve adapted to control the flow of a gas from the second container to the second inlet adapter.
4. The infuser of claim 1 wherein the first container is in fluid communication with the second container via a pipeline adapted to transfer a gas from the second container to the first container.
5. The infuser of claim 4 wherein the pipeline comprises a regulator.
6. The infuser of claim 5 wherein the pipeline comprises a valve for controlling the flow of a gas from the second container to the first container.
7. The infuser of claim 1 wherein said manifold is contained within a housing.
8. The infuser of claim 1 wherein the manifold is assembled from a plurality of push fit components.
9. The infuser of claim 1 wherein said gas is nitrogen.
10. The infuser of claim 1 wherein said infuser has a plurality of manifolds.
11. The infuser of claim 1 wherein said manifold further comprises:
viii. a fourth channel splitter having an inlet port coupled to said first inlet adapter and at least two outlet ports;
ix. a fifth channel splitter having an inlet port coupled to said second inlet adapter and a least two outlet ports;
x. a second t-connector having at least four ports, a first of said ports of the second t-connector coupled to the outlet adapter;
xi. a fourth fluid channel having a first end coupled to a first of the two outlet ports of the fourth channel splitter and a second end coupled to a second of said ports of the second t-connector, said fourth fluid channel comprising a one-way check valve, a reducer and an expander;
xii. a fifth fluid channel having a first end coupled to a first of the two outlet ports of the fifth channel splitter and a second end coupled to a third of said ports of the second t-connector, said fifth fluid channel comprising a one-way check valve, a reducer and an expander; and
xiii. a sixth fluid channel comprising a sixth channel splitter having at least two inlet ports and at least one outlet port, a first branch comprising a one-way check valve extending between a second of the outlet ports of the fourth channel splitter and a first of the inlet ports of the sixth channel splitter, a second branch comprising a one-way check valve extending between a second of the outlet ports of the fifth channel splitter and a second of the inlet ports of the sixth channel splitter, and a merged section extending between the outlet port of the sixth channel splitter and a fourth of said ports of said second t-connector, said merged section including a reducer and an expander.