1. A self regulating and constant pressure maintaining beverage dispenser assembly comprising a dispensing device and a beverage container, said beverage container defining an inner space, said inner space constituting:
a beverage space filled with carbonated beverage and communicating with said dispensing device for allowing dispensing of said carbonated beverage; and
a head space communicating with said beverage space and filled with CO2 having an initial pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure when subjected to a specific temperature of 2\xb0 C.-50\xb0 C.;
said beverage dispenser assembly further comprising at least one carbonisation canister communicating with said head space via a hydrophobic labyrinth and comprising a particular amount of adsorption material having adsorbed a specific amount of CO2, said particular amount of adsorption material being inherently capable of regulating the pressure in said head space and capable of preserving the carbonisation of said carbonated beverage in said beverage space by releasing CO2 into said head space via said hydrophobic labyrinth or by adsorbing CO2 from said head space via said hydrophobic labyrinth, said specific amount of CO2 being sufficient for allowing said head space to increase in volume and substituting said beverage space when said carbonated beverage having said specific temperature is being dispensed from said container by using said dispensing device and maintaining at least a pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure in said head space during the complete substitution of said beverage space by said head space.
2. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said head space and said canister have an initial pressure of less than 2 bar above the atmospheric pressure.
3. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said head space, after the complete substitution of said beverage space by said head space, has a pressure of at least 0.5 bar above the atmospheric pressure.
4. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said beverage space initially occupies at least 70% of said inner space.
5. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said beverage space has a volume of 0.5-50 litres.
6. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said carbonisation canister allows said adsorption material to adsorb CO2 when said beverage container is being heated above said specific temperature for avoiding any substantial increase of the pressure in said head space.
7. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said carbonisation canister allows said adsorption material to release CO2 when said beverage container is being chilled below said specific temperature for avoiding any substantial decrease of the pressure in said head space.
8. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic labyrinth comprises a gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane.
9. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said beverage container and said dispensing device consist entirely of a material selected from the group consisting of disposable polymeric materials and combustible polymeric materials.
10. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said beverage container is made of flexible material.
11. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mass of said particular amount of adsorbing material amounts to approximately 1%-10% of the initial mass of said carbonated beverage in said beverage space.
12. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said adsorption material comprises activated carbon.
13. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein said specific amount of CO2 initially adsorbed by said adsorbing material is equal to 1-3 times the volume of said carbonated beverage in said beverage space at atmospheric pressure.
14. The beverage dispenser assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said head space and said adsorption material further includes an inert gas being substantially non-reacting to said beverage and said CO2.
15. A carbonisation canister for use in a beverage container according to claim 1, said beverage container when filled defining a head space and a beverage space for accommodating a carbonated beverage, said carbonisation canister having a specific density of less than 50% of the specific density of said beverage and defining a centre of gravity, said carbonisation canister comprising:
an outer wall,
a first opening,
a second opening being located opposite said first opening,
a channel interconnecting said first and second openings, said channel being substantially straight and including said centre of gravity of said carbonisation canister,
an inner chamber located between said channel and said outer wall, said inner chamber comprising a particular amount of adsorption material having adsorbed a specific amount of CO2, said particular amount of adsorption material being inherently capable of regulating the pressure in said head space and capable of preserving the carbonisation of said carbonated beverage in said beverage space by releasing CO2 into said head space, said specific amount of CO2 being sufficient for allowing said head space to increase in volume and substituting said beverage space when said carbonated beverage having said specific temperature is being dispensed from said container by using said dispensing device and maintaining at least a pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure in said head space during the complete substitution of said beverage space by said head space, and
a hydrophobic labyrinth providing gaseous communication between said inner chamber and said head space for said adsorbing material to adsorb CO2 from said head space or release CO2 into said head space, said hydrophobic labyrinth having an entrance in said channel approximately at the centre of gravity of said carbonisation canister.
16. A method for producing a self-regulating and constant pressure maintaining beverage dispenser assembly, comprising:
providing a flexible and compressible beverage container having an opening and defining an inner space for filling and accommodating a carbonated beverage, said inner space and said beverage container being variable between a compressed state and an uncompressed state, wherein, when filled with carbonated beverage, said inner space defines a beverage space and a head space;
providing a dispensing device communicating with said beverage space;
providing at least one carbonisation canister comprising a particular amount of adsorption material, said adsorption material being capable of adsorbing a specific amount of CO2, said specific amount of CO2 being sufficient for during beverage dispensing at a specific temperature of 2\xb0 C.-50\xb0 C. and an initial pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure allowing said head space to substitute said beverage space while maintaining at least a pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure in said head space, said adsorption material being separated from the outside of said canister by a hydrophobic labyrinth, said hydrophobic labyrinth being initially sealed by a burst membrane having a specific burst pressure;
introducing said carbonisation canister into said beverage container;
introducing carbonated beverage through said opening into said inner space thereby establishing said beverage space and said head space, said beverage space communicating with said head space and said head space communicating with said carbonisation canister;
causing said beverage container and said inner space to assume said compressed state and substantially eliminating said head space; and
introducing a pre-determined amount of CO2 at a specific pressure profile into said inner space while causing said beverage container to assume said uncompressed state for re-establishing said head space having said initial pressure and communicating with said carbonisation canister and said beverage space while said specific pressure profile at least at some instance exceeding said bursting pressure of said burst membrane for causing said burst membrane to rupture and said adsorption material in said canister to adsorb said specific amount of CO2.
17. A method for producing a self-regulating and constant pressure maintaining beverage dispenser assembly, comprising:
providing a flexible and compressible beverage container having an opening and defining an inner space for filling and accommodating a carbonated beverage, said inner space and said beverage container being variable between a compressed state and an uncompressed state, wherein, when filled with carbonated beverage said inner space defines a beverage space and a head space;
providing a dispensing device communicating with said inner space;
providing at least one carbonisation canister comprising a particular amount of adsorption material, said adsorption material being pre-loaded with a specific amount of CO2, said specific amount of CO2 being sufficient for during beverage dispensing at a specific temperature of 2\xb0 C.-50\xb0 C. and an initial pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure allowing said head space to substitute said beverage space while maintaining at least a pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure in said head space, said adsorption material being separated from the outside of said canister by a hydrophobic labyrinth, said hydrophobic labyrinth being initially sealed by a burst membrane having a specific burst pressure;
introducing said carbonisation canister into said beverage container;
introducing carbonated beverage through said opening into said inner space thereby establishing said beverage space and said head space, said beverage space communicating with said head space and said head space communicating with said carbonisation canister;
causing said beverage container and said inner space to assume said compressed state and substantially eliminating said head space; and
introducing a pre-determined amount of CO2 at a specific pressure profile into said inner space while causing said beverage container to assume said uncompressed state for re-establishing said head space having said initial pressure and communicating with said carbonisation canister and said beverage space while said specific pressure profile at least at some instance exceeds said bursting pressure of said burst membrane for causing said burst membrane to rupture.
18. A method for producing a self-regulating and constant pressure maintaining beverage dispenser assembly by providing a pressurised chamber having an initial CO2 pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the outside ambient pressure, said method comprising the following steps to be performed within said pressurised chamber:
providing a beverage container having an opening and defining an inner space for filling and accommodating a carbonated beverage, wherein, when filled with carbonated beverage, said inner space defines a beverage space and a head space;
providing a dispensing device communicating with said inner space;
providing at least one carbonisation canister comprising a particular amount of adsorption material, said adsorption material being pre-loaded with a specific amount of CO2, said specific amount of CO2 being sufficient for during beverage dispensing at a specific temperature of 2\xb0 C.-50\xb0 C. and said initial pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure allowing said head space to substitute said beverage space while maintaining at least a pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure in said head space, said adsorption material being separated from the outside of said canister by a hydrophobic labyrinth;
introducing said carbonisation canister into said beverage container through said opening; and
introducing carbonated beverage through said opening into said inner space thereby establishing said beverage space and said head space, said beverage space communicating with said head space and said head space communicating with said carbonisation canister.
19. A method for producing a self-regulating and constant pressure maintaining beverage dispenser assembly, comprising:
providing a flexible and compressible beverage container having an opening and defining an inner space for filling and accommodating a carbonated beverage, said inner space and said beverage container being variable between a compressed state and an uncompressed state, wherein, when filled with carbonated beverage, said inner space defines a beverage space and a head space;
providing a dispensing device communicating with said inner space;
providing at least one carbonisation canister comprising a particular amount of adsorption material, said adsorption material being pre-loaded with a specific amount of CO2, said specific amount of CO2 being sufficient for during beverage dispensing at a specific temperature of 2\xb0 C.-50\xb0 C. and an initial pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure allowing said head space to substitute said beverage space while maintaining at least a pressure of 0.1-3 bar above the atmospheric pressure in said head space, said adsorption material being separated from the outside of said canister by a hydrophobic labyrinth, said canister being initially kept in a CO2 atmosphere at said initial pressure;
introducing carbonated beverage through said opening into said inner space thereby establishing said beverage space and said head space, said beverage space communicating with said head space;
causing said beverage container and said inner space to assume said compressed state and substantially eliminating said head space;
introducing a pre-determined amount of CO2 at a specific pressure profile into said inner space while causing said beverage container to assume said uncompressed state for re-establishing said head space having said initial pressure and communicating with said beverage space; and
introducing said carbonisation canister into said head space while permanently keeping said carbonisation canister at said CO2 atmosphere at said initial pressure.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A ceramic-and-plastic composite, comprising:
a ceramic article;
a nano-silicon containing coating bonded on a surface of the ceramic article and partially permeating into the ceramic article;
a glue layer bonded with the nano-silicon containing coating; and
at least a plastic article bonded to the glue layer.
2. The composite as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a silane coupling agent layer formed between the nano-silicon containing coating and the glue layer, the silane coupling agent layer bonding to the nano-silicon containing coating and the glue layer.
3. The composite as claimed in claim 2, wherein the nano-silicon containing coating is a nano silicon dioxide coating.
4. The composite as claimed in claim 3, wherein the nano-silicon containing coating comprises a permeating part and a non-permeating part, the permeating part permeates into the ceramic article near the surface of the ceramic article, and the non-permeating part adheres to the surface of the ceramic article.
5. The composite as claimed in claim 4, wherein the permeating part has a thickness of about 1 \u03bcm to about 3 \u03bcm, the non-permeating part has a thickness of about 1 \u03bcm to about 3 \u03bcm.
6. The composite as claimed in claim 2, wherein the silane coupling agent layer comprises epoxy groups, the glue layer comprises amino functional groups, the epoxy groups react with the amino functional groups forming a crosslinked structure at the interface of the silane coupling agent layer and the glue layer.
7. The composite as claimed in claim 4, wherein the non-permeating part of the nano-silicon containing coating comprises Si\u2014OH groups at the surface of the non-permeating part, the silane coupling agent layer also comprises Si\u2014OH groups, the Si\u2014OH groups of the nano-silicon containing coating condensation react with the Si\u2014OH groups of the silane coupling agent and form Si\u2014O\u2014Si groups at the interface of the silane coupling agent layer and the nano-silicon containing coating.
8. The composite as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glue layer has a thickness of about 38 \u03bcm to about 52 \u03bcm.
9. An electronic device, comprising:
a main body; and
a ceramic-and-plastic composite assembling with the main body, the ceramic-and-plastic composite comprising:
a ceramic article;
a nano-silicon containing coating bonded on a surface of the ceramic article and partially permeating into the ceramic article;
a glue layer bonded with to the nano-silicon containing coating; and
at least a plastic article bonded to the glue layer.
10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a silane coupling agent layer formed between the nano-silicon containing coating and the glue layer, the silane coupling agent layer bonding to the nano-silicon containing coating and the glue layer.
11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the nano-silicon containing coating is a nano silicon dioxide coating.
12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the nano-silicon containing coating comprises a permeating part and a non-permeating part, the permeating part permeates in the ceramic article near the surface of the ceramic article, and the non-permeating part adheres to the surface of the ceramic article.
13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the permeating part has a thickness of about 1 \u03bcm to about 3 \u03bcm, the non-permeating part has a thickness of about 1 \u03bcm to about 3 \u03bcm.
14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the silane coupling agent layer comprises epoxy groups, the glue layer comprises amino functional groups, the epoxy groups react with the amino functional groups forming a crosslinked structure at the interface of the silane coupling agent layer and the glue layer.
15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the non-permeating part of the nano-silicon containing coating comprises Si\u2014OH groups at the surface of the non-permeating part, the silane coupling agent layer also comprises Si\u2014OH groups, the Si\u2014OH groups of the nano-silicon containing coating condensation react with the Si\u2014OH groups of the silane coupling agent and form Si\u2014O\u2014Si groups at the interface of the silane coupling agent layer and the nano-silicon containing coating.
16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the glue layer has a thickness of about 38 \u03bcm to about 52 \u03bcm.
17. A ceramic-and-plastic composite, comprising:
a ceramic article; and
at least a plastic article integrally coupled to the ceramic article;
wherein the composite further comprises a nano-silicon containing coating formed on and coupled to the ceramic article, a silane coupling agent layer bonded with the nano-silicon containing coating, and a glue layer bonded with the silane coupling agent layer, the nano-silicon containing coating partially permeates into the ceramic article, the at least a plastic article directly bonds with the glue layer.