Patent Publication Number: US-2023135547-A1

Title: Systems and methods for defrosting frozen carbonated beverage systems

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 16/818,082, filed Mar. 13, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to frozen carbonated beverage systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for defrosting frozen carbonated beverage systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The Background and Summary are provided to introduce a foundation and selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Background and Summary are not intended to identify key or essential features of the potentially claimed subject matter, nor are they intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the potentially claimed subject matter. 
     The following U.S. Pat. and Patent Applications are incorporated herein by reference: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,649 discloses improvements in the electronic control of frozen carbonated beverage machines and defrost heaters therein. A control scheme is shown that provides for accurately determining the viscosity of a semi-frozen beverage as a function of the torque of a drive motor. The viscosity scale has a zero value when the beverage is known to be completely liquid. Viscosity is maintained within a narrow range based upon pre-defined three level low, medium and high viscosity sets, and wherein compressor short-cycling is eliminated. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,047 discloses a dual purpose carbonator/blending bottle connected to a source of beverage syrup, a source of potable water and to a source of pressurized carbon dioxide gas. The dual purpose bottle is retained within an ice bank water bath tank. A pair of ratio valves provide for metering the water and syrup at a desired ratio. A refrigeration system provides for cooling an evaporator located in the water tank for forming the ice bank thereon. The carbonated beverage then flows from the bottle into a freeze cylinder. A scraping mechanism within the cylinder provides for scraping frozen beverage from the inner surface of the cylinder. A control mechanism provides for controlling the refrigeration system and the cooling of both evaporators. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,239 discloses a carbonator tank that includes a liquid inlet, a gas inlet and a liquid outlet. A liquid level sensor includes a liquid level sensing portion extending along and within the interior of the carbonator and provides for determining a full and minimal liquid level therein. The liquid then flows into the carbonator interior and contacts a deflection plate and is deflected thereby so that such liquid flow does not disrupt the operation of the level sensing portion of the level sensor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,954 discloses improvements in electric defrost heaters used in frozen carbonated beverage machines. The frozen carbonated beverage machine includes freeze cylinders used to produce the frozen beverage. One or more tubes are secured in heat exchange relationship along the exterior of the freeze cylinder. Cartridge type heating elements are releasably insertable into the tubes to provide for defrosting of the beverage in the freeze cylinder. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,163,095, 8,196,423, 9,062,902, and 9,328,948 further relate to frozen carbonated beverage dispensing systems and various improvements thereto. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure generally relates to a system for dispensing a frozen beverage. The system includes a barrel having an inner wall and being configured to retain the frozen beverage therein. A mixing system causes mixing of the frozen beverage within the barrel. A cooling system cools the frozen beverage from radially outwardly of the inner wall. A melting system heats the frozen beverage from radially inwardly of the inner wall. The mixing system causes relatively larger ice crystals to move inwardly from the inner wall, and the melting system reduces a size of the relatively larger ice crystals. 
     Another embodiment generally relates to a method for melting a frozen beverage within a frozen beverage dispenser, where the frozen beverage being contained within inner walls of a barrel. The method includes mixing the frozen beverage within the barrel via a mixing system, where the mixing system causes relatively larger ice crystals to move inwardly from the inner wall. The method further includes controlling a cooling system to cool the frozen beverage from radially outwardly of the inner wall, and controlling a melting system to alternate between on and off states, where the melting system heats the frozen beverage from radially inwardly of the inner wall only in the on state, and where the melting system reduces a size of the relatively larger ice crystals. 
     Another embodiment generally relates to a system for dispensing a frozen beverage. The system includes a barrel having an inner wall extending between a front and a back and being configured to retain the frozen beverage therein. A mixing system causes mixing of the frozen beverage within the barrel, where the mixing system includes a beater bar rotatable within the barrel that when rotated causes the frozen beverage to flow from the front of the barrel towards the back along the beater bar and to flow from the back of the barrel towards the front along the inner wall of the barrel. A cooling system cools the frozen beverage from radially outwardly of the inner wall. A melting system heats the frozen beverage from radially inwardly of the inner wall. A control system controls the melting system to alternate between on and off states, where the frozen beverage is heated by the melting system only in the on state, where the mixing system causes relatively larger ice crystals to move inwardly from the inner wall, and where the melting system reduces a size of the relatively larger ice crystals. 
     Various other features, objects and advantages of the disclosure will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate embodiments for carrying out the disclosure. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and like components. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a sectional side view of an exemplary frozen carbonated beverage system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIGS.  2  and  3    depict schematic views of exemplary beverage production and refrigeration systems for frozen carbonated beverage systems according to the present disclosure, respectively; 
         FIG.  4    depicts an exemplary process flow for filling a frozen carbonated beverage system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    depicts an exemplary process flow for refrigerating a frozen carbonated beverage system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    depicts an exemplary control system for operating a frozen carbonated beverage system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a front view of an exemplary barrel for a system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIGS.  8 A- 8 C  are side views of barrels incorporating embodiments of heated beater bars according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is a side view of a barrel incorporating a heated grill according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS.  10 - 11 B  are side views of barrels incorporating remote heating according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DISCLOSURE 
     This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments of the present disclosure and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice or make and use the same. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the potential claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims. 
     The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for dispensing frozen carbonated beverages (FCBs), such as may be offered at a food or beverage service provider, a convenience store, or the like. It should be recognized that the presently disclosed systems and methods also apply to non-carbonated frozen beverages and food products, for example. An exemplary system  100  for producing and dispensing FCBs according to the present disclosure is shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   .  FIG.  1    shows an exemplary dispensing machine  99 , which prepares and stores a beverage within a barrel  122  that extends from a back  94  to a front  92 . A front plate  90  is coupled to the front  92  and includes a dispenser valve  166  for dispensing the frozen product from the barrel  122 . In certain examples, selections for the beverage to be dispensed are made using a user interface  109 . The content within the barrel  122  is cooled (or heated) based on the temperature of fluid flowing through the heat transfer coil  155  substantially encircling the outer perimeter of the barrel  122  in a conventional manner. 
     A motor  142  rotates a beater bar  144  and scraper blades  146  attached thereto, which are also collectively referred to as a mixing system. In systems  100  known in the art, the beater bar  144  is rotated at a fixed speed (i.e., 168 RPM). The motor  142  is coupled to the beater bar  144  via a motor coupling shaft  148  that passes through a rotary barrel seal  150 . An expansion tank  134  is also provided between supply lines  107  and a barrel inlet  140  defined within the barrel  122 . The power required for the motor  142  to rotate the beater bar  144  and the scraper blades  146  through the mixture contained within the barrel  122  is monitored by a control system  600  ( FIG.  6   , discussed below) having a processing system  610  and memory system  630 . This power consumption is then used to estimate the viscosity of product within the barrel  122 . 
     The system  100  includes a beverage production system  101 A ( FIG.  2   ) and a refrigeration system  101 B ( FIG.  3   ). In the beverage production system  101 A of  FIG.  2   , pressurized water  102 , syrup concentrate  104 , and CO2  106  (collectively, supply lines  107 ) are supplied to the system  100 . Pressures are monitored by “sold out” pressure switches  108  connected to each of the supply lines  107 . The pressure of the water  102  entering the system  100  is controlled by reducing the pressure through a regulator  110 , then increasing the pressure with a CO2 powered pump  112  to yield a consistent and known final pressure. The pressure provided by this CO2 powered pump  112  is a function of inlet CO2 pressure. 
     In a similar manner, pressure for the syrup concentrate  104  is supplied by a CO2 powered pump  114 , whereby pressure is again provided as a function of inlet CO2 pressure as controlled by a regulator. The resulting pressure of syrup concentrate  104  at the dispensing machine  99  ( FIG.  1   ) is a function of the pressure provided by the CO2 powered pump  114 , the distance in elevation between the pump  114  and the dispensing machine  99 , tubing diameters for the supply lines  107 , syrup concentrate  104  viscosity, the number of splices or joints in the supply lines  107 , and other factors. 
     Continuing with  FIG.  2   , the pressure of incoming CO2  106  is controlled by a regulator, which for certain systems  100  is set at 75 psig. Supply pressures may drop for multiple reasons. Since all supply lines  107  may incorporate the use of CO2  106  as described above (i.e., via CO2 powered pumps  112  and  114 ), a reduction in CO2  106  supply pressure can affect all supply lines  107 . This can occur when the contents of the CO2  106  tank are depleted, when there is an increased draw on the CO2  106  tank from other dispensing machines  99  or other devices sharing common CO2  106 , or an increased draw from a single dispensing machines  99 , such as if multiple barrels  122  are filled simultaneously as part of a standard maintenance activity, for example. 
     When one of the supply lines  107  is depleted, the pressure of that supply line  107  will drop below a “cut off” pressure as read by a pressure switch  108 . A control system  600  ( FIG.  6   ) receives inputs from the pressure switch  108  and compares these pressure values to “cut in” and “cut off” values. If the pressure is below the “cut off” pressure, the control system determines that the supply is “sold out.” The control system  600  then signals the need for the supply to be replenished until the supply pressure is determined to be above a “cut in” pressure as read by the pressure switch  108 . When the control system  600  determines that the pressure of the supply line  107  has surpassed the cut in pressure, the control system will no longer indicate that the supply line  107  is “sold out.” The fill process  168  for this beverage production system  101 A ( FIG.  2   ) is shown in  FIG.  4   , which is discussed further below. 
       FIG.  6    depicts an exemplary control system  600  for operating a system  100  according to the present disclosure. The control system  600  communicates with input devices  602  (which may include pressure switches  108 , for example), output devices  604  (such as the water valves  124 ), and/or a cloud  606  based network. In the exemplary control system  600  shown, an input/output (I/O) system  620  provides communication between the control system  600  and the input devices  602 , output devices  604 , and cloud  606 , which may each be bidirectional in nature. A processing system  610  within the control system  600  is configured to execute information received from the I/O system  620  and also from the memory system  630 . In the example shown, the memory system  630  includes an executable program  632  for operating the control system  600  and the system  100  more generally, as well as a data  634  module for storing such parameters as cut in and cut off pressures, as discussed above. 
     It should be recognized that certain aspects of the present disclosure are described and depicted, including within  FIG.  6   , in terms of functional and/or logical block components and various processing steps. It should be recognized that any such functional and/or block components and processing steps may be realized by any number of hardware, software, and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, certain embodiments employ various integrated circuit components, such as memory elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, or the like, which are configured to carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more processors or other control devices. The connections between functional and logical block components are also merely exemplary. Moreover, the present disclosure anticipates communication among and between such components being wired, wireless, and through different pathways 
     These functions may also include the use of computer programs that include processor-executable instructions, which may be stored on a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium. The computer programs may also include stored data. Non-limiting examples of the non-transitory tangible computer readable medium are nonvolatile memory, magnetic storage, and optical storage. As used herein, the term module may refer to, be part of, or include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a combinational logic circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a processor system (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code, or other suitable components that provide the described functionality, or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-chip. The term module may include memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor. The term code, as used herein, may include software, firmware, and/or microcode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, and/or objects. The term shared, as used above, means that some or all code from multiple modules may be executed using a single (shared) processor. In addition, some or all code to be executed by multiple different processors as a computer system may be stored by a single (shared) memory. The term group, as used above, means that some or all code comprising part of a single module may be executed using a group of processors. Likewise, some or all code comprising a single module may be stored using a group of memories as a memory system. 
     Furthermore, certain elements are shown as singular devices for the sake of clarity, but may be combined or subdivided differently to perform the same function. For example, the processing system  610  may represent a single microprocessor, or a group of microprocessors functioning as a system. This also applies to the input/output (I/O) system  620  and memory system  630 , which may also store information therein in greater or fewer groupings than is shown. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the control system  600  determines the barrel  122  pressure in step  202  via inputs received from the pressure switch  108 . The control system  600  then compares the barrel  122  pressure to the cut in and cut off values previous described. If the control system  600  determines that the pressure is below the cut off value, the control system  600  signals for the barrel  122  to be filled. To fill the barrel  122 , the water valves  124 , syrup valves  126 , and CO2 valves  128  are opened to allow water, syrup concentrate, and CO2 to simultaneously flow into the barrel  122  together. The water  102  and syrup concentrate  104  are generally kept at a consistent ratio, set by manually adjusting water flow controls  130  and syrup concentrate flow controls  131 . For beverage systems known in the art, water valves  124  and syrup valves  126  are controlled in tandem. Depending on the required amount of CO2, the CO2 valve  128  may open fully when the water valves  124  and syrup valves  126  are opened, or may open intermittently, such as via a specified duty cycle. 
     The water  102 , syrup concentrate  104 , and CO2  106  pass through the liquid side  132  of an expansion tank  134 . The expansion tank  134  is pressurized on the gas side  136  of an internal diaphragm  138 , which allows for expansion of the liquid contents of the machine during freezing without damaging the rest of the rigid components within the machine. Liquid product then enters the barrel  122  through a barrel inlet  140  ( FIG.  1   ). 
     Continuing with reference to  FIGS.  2  and  4   , the state of the fill process  168  continues in step  206  (whether filling or not filling) as long as the barrel  122  pressure is between the cut in and cut off values. However, if the pressure in the barrel  122  is determined to be at or above the cut in value in step  208 , the water valves  124 , syrup valves  126 , and CO2 valves  128  are all closed to stop the fill process  168  in step  210 . 
     A similar control process occurs with respect to the refrigeration system  101 B ( FIG.  3   ), which is shown in the refrigeration process  180  of  FIG.  5   . In particular, the viscosity of contents in the barrel  122  is used to determine whether the beverage requires more, less, or the same refrigeration at any given time. The viscosity is determined based on the power required by the motor  142 , which is read in step  250 . The control system  600  ( FIG.  6   ) then determines whether the viscosity falls below a stall value in step  252 , based on comparison to a table stored within the data  634  of the memory system  630 . If the viscosity is found to be greater than the stall value in step  252 , the motor  142  is stopped in step  264  and a defrost process is started to melt the excessive ice causing the excessive viscosity within the barrel  122 , ending at step  262 . 
     If alternatively the viscosity is determined in step  252  to be below the stall value, the process continues with determining an action in step  254  based on whether the viscosity is below, above, or between cut in and cut out values (also stored in the data  634  of the memory system  630 ). If it is determined in step  254  that the viscosity is below the cut in value (meaning low), refrigeration is engaged in step  256 , freezing additional content within the barrel  122  to increase the viscosity therein. If alternatively the viscosity is above a stored cut out value, refrigeration is discontinued in step  260  to prevent a further increase in viscosity. Finally, if the viscosity is determined in step  256  to be between the cut in and cut out values, the refrigeration process  180  continues the previous refrigeration step  258  and the process is repeated. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , the refrigeration system  101 B includes a compressor  154  and condenser  156  for the system  100 , as well as liquid line solenoid valves  158 , hot gas solenoid valves  160 , and expansion valves  162  for each barrel evaporator  164 . In this manner, the system  100  may supply refrigeration or heat to each barrel  122  independently. In freeze mode, the refrigeration system  101 B draws heat out of the barrel  122  through the evaporator until the viscosity of the product meets a specified cut out value, as discussed above. As beverages are dispensed, product is pushed out of the dispense valve  166  ( FIG.  1   ) by pressure within the barrel  122 . As the barrel  122  pressure drops below a specified minimum fill pressure, the fill process  168  ( FIG.  4   ) resumes until barrel  122  pressure reaches a specified maximum fill pressure. During the fill process  168 , liquid product enters the barrel  122  at ambient temperature through a barrel inlet  140  ( FIG.  1   ). Heat therefore enters the barrel  122  through conduction and friction. As previously stated, the viscosity of the product decreases until it meets a specified cut in value, caused by this heat, until refrigeration begins again. 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , during the refrigeration process  180  previously discussed, ice crystals  170  form on the inside wall  172  of the barrel  122  ( FIG.  1   ), which are scraped off the inside wall  172  by the scraper blades  146  coupled via supports  145  to the beater bar  144 . The present inventors have identified through experimentation and research that over time and through multiple refrigeration cycles, the ice crystals  170  in the barrel  122  grow in size and stick together to form larger ice crystals  174  and large ice formations  176 , degrading the smooth texture of the drink produced by the system  100 . As the barrel  122  contents rotate, higher density components are driven towards the perimeter of the barrel  122  via centripetal force, likewise forcing lower density components (such as the larger ice crystals  174  and large ice formations  176 ) towards the center of the barrel  122 . This in turn results in larger formations of ice  176  surrounding the beater bar  144 , leading to undesirable and/or inconsistent product. 
     After a specified time, the barrel  122  enters a defrost cycle where heat is added to the barrel  122  through the heat transfer coil  155  via the barrel evaporator  164  ( FIG.  3   ) for a set duration, or until the temperature of the evaporator outlet  178  reaches a specified temperature. In certain examples, the intention of this defrost cycle is to fully melt all product in the barrel  122 . From there, the refrigeration process  180  begins again until the viscosity of the product meets a specified cut out value, as discussed with respect to the process flow of  FIG.  5   . 
     The present inventors have identified that FCB systems presently known in the art are prone to several types of problems. For example, a problem arises when the pressure in a supply line  107  (such as water  102 , syrup concentrate  104 , or CO2  106 ) falls below a specified value. In this case, the dispensing machine  99  in certain systems  100  will disable the fill process  168  to prevent an improper mix of ingredients from entering the barrel  122 . Likewise, problems arise when the viscosity of the barrel  122  exceeds a specified safety value intended to prevent damage to the system  100 . In this case, the motor  142  is typically disabled and a defrost cycle begins to melt the excess ice that is presumed to be building up within the barrel  122 . 
     The present disclosure further relates to improved systems and methods for controlling the size of ice crystals in a frozen beverage products. In particular, the freezing and defrost cycles for FCB systems presently known in the art require frequent down time, and consequently a loss of beverage sales for system owners. As discussed above, systems presently known in the art conduct defrost cycles at a fixed interval, such as a certain period of time (for example, every 3 hours). 
     The current process for defrosting in systems known in the art is to control the size of ice crystals  170  by fully melting the contents of the barrel  122  to an entirely liquid, baseline state, then refreezing it. The inventors have identified that this has multiple disadvantages. First, the resultant product within the barrel  122  after the defrost cycle is not at the desired consistency, but must be refrozen as discussed above. Moreover, both the defrost cycle and refreezing cycle are energy-intensive processes. Additionally, acceptable beverages cannot be dispensed during at least the defrost cycle, resulting in lost sales from downtime. To minimize the duration of the defrost cycle, the full capacity of the compressor  154  ( FIG.  1   ) is dedicated to defrosting a single barrel  122 , whereas multiple barrels  122  may be present within the system  100 . Any diversional of this capacity to defrost multiple barrels  122  in tandem, or to continue refrigeration of other barrels  122  during this process, extends the duration of the defrost cycle and thereby increases the amount of time that a given barrel  122  is not available to dispense beverages. 
     Furthermore, in configurations that incorporate a remote condenser serving multiple FCB systems and/or other products, it is traditional to mount the compressor and condenser in a remote location to minimize the amount of heat and noise thereby produced. However, systems presently known in the art use hot gas for the defrost cycle, which preferences the compressor being inside the system. This reduces the opportunities for smaller, quieter equipment. This also creates the risk that, in error conditions, the contents of the barrel may be heated to dangerous temperatures, requiring further complication for additional safety measures. 
     The inventors have identified that with systems presently known in the art, the size of the ice formation is inconsistent within the barrel. The inventors further identified that this inconsistency is caused and/or exacerbated by treating and monitoring the contents within the barrel as if this content were uniform. Through experimentation and research, the inventors have developed the presently disclosed systems and methods for improving consistency within the barrel  122 . In general, these systems and methods relate to melting the largest pieces of ice formed within the barrel  122  of the system  100 , providing uniformity and the desired consistency for product being dispensed. 
     With reference to  FIG.  7   , the inventors have identified that over time, ice crystals  170  ( FIG.  7   ) coalesce and become larger ice crystals  174  and eventually larger formations of ice  176 . This growth is influenced by several factors, including the composition of the content within the barrel  122  (such as the percent sugar), the temperature inside the barrel  122 , the frequency and/or volume of drinks being dispensed from the barrel  122  and subsequently replaced by unfrozen product, the temperature of the unfrozen product entering the barrel  122 , and/or the speed of rotation of the barrel  122  being agitated by an agitator or beater bar  144 , for example. As discussed above, rotation of the barrel  122  over time causes higher density components (e.g., syrup concentrate  104 ) to migrate towards the inside wall  172  of the barrel  122 , and lower density components (i.e., ice crystals  170 ) towards the center of the barrel  122 , surrounding the beater bar  144 . This separation may be further impacted by the surface finish, material, or the geometry of the beater bar  144 , inside wall  172 , and/or other characteristics of the barrel  122  generally. 
       FIGS.  8 A- 11 B  depict various embodiments of systems  100  according to the present disclosure for improving the defrost cycle and, likewise, the consistency of the content within the barrel  122 . A first family of solutions generally relates to heating of the beater bar  144 , since the lower density ice crystals  170  migrate towards the beater bar  144  as previously described. In particular, the present inventors have identified that the ice crystals  170  surrounding the beater bar  144  can be melted by heating the beater bar  144 . As the ice crystals  170  melt, their corresponding densities increase. This allows the now-melted content to migrate away from the beater bar  144  upon further rotation, subsequently being replaced by lower density ice crystals  170  for the process to repeat. The defrost cycle is controlled by the control system  600  ( FIG.  6   ) in the manner previously described, which may operate based on time intervals, temperatures at one or more locations within the barrel  122 , viscosity readings at one or more locations within the barrel  122 , or combinations thereof. 
       FIGS.  8 A- 8 C  depict various embodiments for heating the beater bar  144  to accomplish this targeted melting process. In the embodiment of  FIG.  8 A , the beater bar  144  is heated via inductive power provided to heating elements therein. As shown, a first fixed coil  302  is coupled to an electrical source (not shown) within the system  100 , whereby the fixed coil  302  is located coaxially around a core  304 . The core  304  (which may also be the motor coupling shaft  148  of  FIG.  1   ) includes a second rotating coil  306  that is coupled to heating elements  308  within the beater bar  144 . In this manner, when alternating current (AC) is supplied to the fixed coil  302 , it induces AC current in the rotating coil  306  to thereby power the heating elements  308 . These heating elements  308  may be embedded in a cast or molded beater bar  144 , or applied over the surface of an otherwise known beater bar  144 , for example. This in turn melts the ice crystals  170  surrounding the beater bar  144  as previously discussed. In this manner, the embodiment of  FIG.  8 A  heats the beater bar  144  by functioning as a transformer. 
       FIG.  8 B  shows an alternate embodiment for heating of the beater bar  144 . In this embodiment, the beater bar  144  itself is heated through induction. A first fixed coil  302  is coupled to an electrical source (not shown) in the system  100  and is again located coaxially around the beater bar  144  in the same manner discussed above. However, in this embodiment, the beater bar  144  is or contains metal such that it is heated when the fixed coil  302  is energized. In this manner, the embodiment of  FIG.  8 B  heats the beater bar  144  by functioning as an induction heater. 
       FIG.  8 C  discloses a third embodiment for heating the beater bar  144  according to the present disclosure. In the example shown, the heating element  310  is provided as a fixed core that is received within the center of the beater bar  144 . In certain examples, the heating element  310  is fixed relative to the system  100  and is heated by a fixed coil  302  in the manner previously described. The heat from the heating element  310  then radiates outwardly to the beater bar  144  to accomplish the localized melting of ice crystals  170  desired. 
       FIG.  9    discloses an alternate type of embodiment that incorporates a heated grill  314  for melting ice crystals  170 , and specifically larger ice crystals  174  or larger formations of ice  176  ( FIG.  7   ). In the example shown, a flow pattern for the product is produced between the front  92  and the back  94  of the barrel  122  through the addition of blades  312  or other elements associated with beater bar  144  and/or inside wall  172 . In the example of  FIG.  9   , this flow provides for movement from the front  92  to the back  94  closer to the beater bar  144 , and from the back  94  to the front  92  closer to the inside wall  172  of the barrel  122 . 
     The grill  314  in the present embodiment is a coil of individual wires  315  coupled via connections  317  to a power source (not shown) to be heated, for example as a resistance based heater. The grill  314  in certain embodiments is similar to that of a conventional electric stove heating element, for example. The individual wires  315  are coiled to form a gap G therebetween (which may vary or be the same across the grill  314 ). The grill has an inner diameter ID and an outer diameter OD, which in the example of  FIG.  9    is smaller than a barrel diameter BD within the inner walls  172  of the barrel  122 . As the product flows through the barrel  122 , the grill  314  is positioned within the barrel  122  to capture larger ice crystals  174  above a specified size, consequently melting them. Specifically, the size of ice captured is selected based on the size of the gap G between individual wires  315 . In certain examples, the grill  314  is positioned near the rear of the barrel  122 . This grill  314  may be a heating element itself, or may retain the larger ice crystals  174  in proximity to a separate heating element (not shown). Melted product  316  then passes along the inside wall  172  of the barrel  122 , which subsequently refreezes as it proceeds towards the front  92  of the barrel  122 . By the time the product reaches the front  92  of the barrel  122 , it is optimally once again frozen product  318  ready for dispensing. 
       FIG.  10 - 11 B  depict another type of embodiment for melting larger ice crystals  174 , generally relating to a process of remote heating. Specifically, product may be forced to flow out of the barrel  122 , where it is melted and reintroduced to freeze again within the barrel  122 . As will be discussed further below, this may be accomplished as a continuous process, or as a cyclical or periodic process. The frequency and/or intensity of the process may be governed by various parameters, including the present operational state and/or settings of the system  100  (i.e., freezing, defrosting, etc.), the volume of beverage dispensed over a period of time, and the like. 
       FIG.  10    shows a first type of remote heating that includes a recirculating melt circuit  301 . Product is driven out of the barrel  122  via a barrel outlet  141  and into the circuit  301 , where it is melted and returned back to the barrel  122  via a barrel inlet  140 . This product may be driven through the circuit  301  by the flow  320  caused by the beater bar  144 , and/or by a separate pump  322 , for example. Once the product exits the barrel  122 , it is either partially melted (such as with a grill  314  or other heat device, and/or a filter designed to capture ice crystals  170  of a certain size), or be fully melted. Heat may be provided within the circuit  201  using the heat generated by the system  100  itself (such as from the motor  142 , condenser  156 , or other components within the system  100 ), or with separate heating elements. For example, a heat transfer region  303  of the circuit  301  may be positioned to transfer heat from the motor  142 . In certain examples, heat may also or alternatively be provided by running the circuit  301  such that a heat exchange occurs with warmer, unfrozen product. This provides the added benefit of also pre-cooling the liquid product used to fill the barrel  122  as beverages are dispensed. 
     In addition to selectively melting content within the barrel  122 , the inventors have further identified that by holding some portion of chilled product outside of the barrel  122 , additional capacity is realized for the overall system  100 . 
       FIGS.  11 A and  11 B  depict another embodiment providing remote heating for defrosting content within the barrel  122  according to the present disclosure. In the example shown, a cyclical melt is provided by drawing a volume of product out of the barrel  122  via the barrel outlet  141 , melting this volume, and then reintroducing the product to the barrel  122  to once again be refrozen (which may again be via the barrel outlet). In the example shown, a piston  324  is used to draw the product out of the barrel  122 , though other methods may be employed. In one embodiment, one side of a heat cylinder  334  is fluidly coupled to the barrel  122 , with the other side of the cylinder  334  being coupled via a three-way valve  326  to both a source of pressurized gas on the gas side  328  and to a vent  330  to atmosphere. A piston  324  is moveable within the heat cylinder  334  via pressure differential in a manner known in the art, for example. 
     In the embodiment shown, the gas side  328  of the cylinder  334  is vented to atmosphere to allow the pressure of the barrel  122  to drive the frozen product  332  to the product side of the cylinder  338  ( FIG.  11 A ). The product is then heated via a separate heating element as would be commercially available, and/or via heat transfer with the motor  142  and/or other elements, causing at least a partial melt thereof. After the product has been at least partially melted, the gas side  328  of the cylinder  334  is repressurized to the operating pressure of the barrel  122  such that the product is returned as liquid cylinder contents  340  back into the barrel  122  ( FIG.  11 B ). In alternate embodiments, a plurality of cylinders  334  may be utilized to cycle the product through the melting cycle process without any dispensing or filling of the barrel  122 . 
     The present inventors have further identified that the embodiment of  FIGS.  11 A- 11 B  offers the additional benefit of incorporating a variable volume storage reservoir, which has the potential for concurrently serving the purposes of the expansion tank  134  ( FIG.  1   ) previously discussed. In this manner, the expansion tank  134  could be eliminated from the system  100 , thereby reducing further expenses for implementing the presently disclosed systems and methods. 
     In the above description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different assemblies described herein may be used alone or in combination with other devices. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of any appended claims.