what is a widget?

Question

i've just found a little ball inside my can of guinness which my mate has called a widget. what i want to know is what is a widget and why is it in my guinness?

Answer 1

I found the US patent by Guiness beer foam device. No mention of widget perhaps it is in the original patent in Britian.

US4832968: Beverage package and a method of packaging a beverage containing gas in solution
[ Derwent Title ]

Country: US United States of America
Inventor: Forage, Alan J.; Seer Green, United Kingdom
Byrne, William J.; Mount Merrion, Ireland

Assignee: Arthur Guinness Son & Company Limited, Dublin, Ireland
other patents from ARTHUR GUINNESS SON & COMPANY LIMITED (38515) (approx. 3)
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Published / Filed: 1989-05-23 / 1986-10-08
Application Number: US1986000916656

IPC Code: Advanced: B65B 31/00; B65D 25/02; B65D 79/00;
U.S. Class: Current: 426/112; 053/079; 053/127; 426/115; 426/124; 426/131; 426/394; 426/398; 426/407;

Abstract: A beverage package and a method of packaging a beverage having gas (preferably at least one of carbon dioxide and inert (nitrogen gases) in solution has a non-resealable container 1 within which is located a hollow pod 4 having a restricted aperture 7 in a side wall. The container is charged with the beverage 8 and sealed. Beverage from the main chamber of the container enters the pod 4 (shown at 8a) by way of the aperture 7 to provide headspaces 1a in the container and 4a in the pod 4. Gas within the headspaces 1a and 4a is at greater than atmospheric pressure. Preferably the beverage is drawn into the hollow pod by subjecting the package to a heating and cooling cycle. Upon opening the container 1 by draw ring/region 13, the headspace 1a is vented to atmosphere and the pressure differential resulting from the pressure in the pod headspace 4a causes gas/beverage to be ejected from the pod (by way of the aperture 7) into the beverage 8. Said ejection causes gas to be evolved from solution in the beverage in the main container chamber to form a head of froth on the beverage. The pod 4 is preferably formed by blow moulding and located as a press fit within the container 1 which latter is preferably a can, carton or bottle.


Primary / Asst. Examiners: Richman, Barry S.; McMahon, Timothy M.
First Claim:
Show all 35 claims We claim: 1. A beverage package comprising a sealed, non-resealable, container having a primary chamber containing beverage having gas in solution therewith and forming a primary headspace comprising gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric; enclosure means defining a secondary chamber having a volume less than said primary chamber; restrictor means defining a restricted orifice, said secondary chamber communicating with the beverage in said primary chamber through said restricted orifice; said secondary chamber containing beverage supplied thereto from the beverage in the primary chamber and having a secondary headspace therein comprising gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric so that the pressures within the primary and secondary chambers are substantially at equilibrium; said container is openable to expose the primary headspace to atmospheric pressure, and wherein the secondary chamber is arranged so that upon opening of the container the pressure differential caused by the decrease in pressure at the primary headspace causes beverage in the secondary chamber to be ejected by way of the restricted orifice into the beverage of the primary chamber and said ejection causes gas in the solution to be evolved and form, or assist in the formation of, a head of froth on the beverage.





How does the widget in a beer can work?

It is in your can of Guinness becuase Guinness bRewery wants you to have a real ale experience. It is a device that creates a proper head to your guinness. Soon other Brewers will be using their own versions.

To answer this question first we need to discuss what makes beer fizzy and how a head forms.
Most beers are carbonated with carbon dioxide (CO2). When the beer is in the can some of this CO2 is dissolved in the beer and some is at the top of the can. The CO2 that is dissolved in the beer is what makes it fizzy. When the can is closed the pressure inside is higher than the pressure outside, so that when you open the can the sudden drop in pressure and the agitation of pouring causes some of the CO2 to bubble out of solution, forming a head on your beer.

A stout like Guinness has a creamier, longer lasting head than a canned lager beer. In addition, Guinness is less fizzy than a regular lager beer. Guinness is canned with a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Nitrogen is not absorbed into the beer nearly as well as carbon dioxide, so even though a can of Guinness may be at the same pressure as a can of lager, it contains less CO2 (and is therefore less fizzy) because the nitrogen makes up some of the pressure.

Because a beer like Guinness contains less dissolved CO2, if you poured it from a can with no widget, the head not be very thick because most of the CO2 would stay dissolved.

The purpose of the widget is to release the CO2 from some of the beer in the can to create the head. The widget is a plastic, nitrogen-filled sphere with a tiny hole in it. The sphere is added to the can before the can is sealed. It floats in the beer, with the hole just slightly below the surface of the beer.


The Guinness Widget. Note the cavity near the center of the ball, the tiny hole is located within the cavity.




Just before the can is sealed a small shot of liquid nitrogen is added to the beer. This liquid nitrogen evaporates during the rest of the canning process and pressurizes the can. As the pressure increases in the can, beer is slowly forced into the sphere through the hole, compressing the nitrogen inside the sphere.

When you open the can, the pressure inside immediately drops, the compressed gas inside the sphere quickly forces the beer out through the tiny hole into the can. As the beer rushes through the tiny hole, this agitation causes the CO2 that is dissolved in the beer to form tiny bubbles that rise to the surface of the beer. These bubbles help form the head.

Answer 2

Draught Guinness in cans maintains the characteristic creamy head and smooth taste of real Guinness through the use of the innovative in can system. This is commonly called the "widget", as was pioneered by Guinnesss in the late 1980's

The Widget is a small piece of plastic with a minute hole punched into it. The Widget is placed inside the can during the first stage of the packaging process. Guinness spent several years, and tried dozens of prototype widgets before coming up with the right shape, weight and density of plastic found in today's In-Can System.

Once the can is filled with Guinness from the holding vats, it is sealed. Once sealed and chilled, the Guinness inside the can becomes naturally pressurized, and this pressure forces around 1% of the Guinness inside the Widget. The Widget has a small chamber inside which is specifically designed to hold a small amount of Guinness which flows in through a very small opening in the underside of the widget.

When the can is opened, the contents reach normal atmospheric pressure. The 1% of Guinness which is held inside the chamber of the Widget is forced out through the small opening in the Widget as the pressure inside and outside the can equalize. The effects is to produce millions of tiny bubbles which rise to the surface and form the familiar, creamy head

When used in cans of Draught Guinness the Widget creates an exact replication of the process that occurs when Guinness is served from the beer tap at your local public house. Thus you can be sure of enjoying a smooth, creamy pint anywhere. Guinness spent from 1984 - 1988 designing the Widget, with a further 18 months of testing the final prototypes. From concept to final production, £5 million was spent on the project and the first Widget-based canning system was installed in Runcorn, Cheshire. Since its introduction, a number of other brewers have started using widgets, spawning a wave of "take home" draught beers.

Answer 3

The "floating widget" found in cans of beer is a hollow sphere, 3 cm in diameter. The can is pressurised by adding liquid nitrogen, which vaporises and expands in volume after the can is sealed, forcing gas and beer into the widget's hollow interior through a tiny hole – the less beer the better for subsequent head quality. In addition some nitrogen dissolves in the beer which also contains dissolved carbon dioxide. The presence of dissolved nitrogen allows smaller bubbles to be formed with consequent greater creaminess of the subsequent head. This is because the smaller bubbles need a higher internal pressure to balance the greater surface tension, which is inversely proportional to the radius of the bubbles. Achieving this higher pressure is not possible just with dissolved carbon dioxide because the much greater solubility of this gas compared to nitrogen would create an unacceptably large head. When the can is opened, the pressure in the can drops, causing the pressurised gas and beer inside the widget to jet out from the hole. This agitation on the surrounding beer causes a chain reaction of bubble formation throughout the beer. The result, when the can is then poured out, is a surging mixture in the glass of very small gas bubbles and liquid, just as is the case with certain types of draught beer such as draught stouts. In the case of these draught beers, which also contain before dispensing a mixture of dissolved nitrogen and carbon dioxide, the agitation is caused by forcing the beer under pressure through small holes in a restrictor in the tap. The surging mixture gradually settles to produce a very creamy head. The original widget was patented in the UK by Guinness.

The word "widget" as applied to this device is a trademark of the Guinness brewery

Answer 4

What Ho,
The widget is a fine invention.
It contains within a thin membrane some compressed carbon dioxide gas, the stuff in big cylinders found in pub cellars when having a draught Guinness.
When opening the can, the difference in atmospheric pressure causes the membrane of the widget to burst thus releasing CO2 into the stuff. captured to be released as fizz, basically.
If a tin is then truly re-cyclable with a spent widget inside I do not know.
If you need a laugh with a widget, put the tin on a barbie.
The result is alarming.
But a waste of Guinness.

Bob

Answer 5

A small plastic ball or other shape that will release gas when the can is opened,,the ball will allow the gasses to escape when the pressure of the cans contents are released,this gas will mix with the contents and cause the liquid to pour and settle in the same way as if it were drawn from the keg in a pub,,a smooth head a creamy consistency

Answer 6

A widget is a plastic ball that contains NO2 and when you open the can it releases to the gas to keep the beer from getting conbonated. It also aids the pouring process.

Answer 7

It's a good name for something that you use on a computer. When people hear your screaming WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDGET all that's going to come to mind is yahoo widgets.

Answer 8

A widget is a magical ball of many mysteries and surprises. in the guiness it makes it gassy .. in the toilet it makes the systern flow , it has the ability to multiply a thousand fold in a bean bag, it has many uses in toys and games... this my friend is a widget. it stands for

w.. wonderful

i.. into everything

d.. does the job

g.. gloriously useful

e.. every body uses us

t.. terrific in every way

I know this is a load of old rubbish, but i had fun lol xx

Answer 9

It is there to release nitrogen into the beer when the can is opened and poured. Thus giving it a smoother creamier finish. Most brewers view it a cheating, and that is why you don't see it in the higher end stouts.

Here is a link to the wiki page all about it.

Answer 10

basically mate it keeps your beer good so its a creamy pint and its tasty and tastes the way its meant to. and i hate lager and beer but i know cos my dad used to get em out of the can and flick em at people...