GB2164921A - Beer dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A beer dispensing system for use with an installation including a delivery tap (11) a valve (15) and a supply conduit (13), includes a manually actuable operating means (30) operatively connected with said valve (15) by control means (29) adapted to open said valve (15) in response to pivotal movement of the means (30) in one direction and close valve (15) upon cessation of such pivotal movement and on or during movement in the opposite direction. The beer is actually delivered by the head pressure in the cask but the present arrangement simulates an old-fashioned beer pump. The control means (29) may comprise a hydraulic cylinder feeding fluid via lines (37) or (38,39) to move a diaphragm which moves the spool of valve (15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing of beer The invention concerns the dispensing of beer, and has more particular reference to the simulation of a conventional beer pump and beer drawing process in dispensing beer from pressurised bulk containers thereof.

In order accurately to reproduce the action of drawing beer using a beer pump it is necessary that progressive movement of the operating handle in delivering beer be operated against a continuing but sensibly uniform restraint and that the return movement likewise be against a restraint, albeit of a materially lesser magnitude.

In such simulated beer pumps as have been proposed the delivery action falls far short of that necessary properly to simulate the operation of a beer pump, and the object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement the operation of which more closely mirrors the age-old beer drawing process.

According to the present invention there is proposed, in or for a beer dispense system comprising an outlet tap in fluid flow connection with a source of beer and a valve intermediate said tap and source for controlling flow therebetween, a manually actuable operating means operatively connected with said valve and control means sensitive to motion of the operating means, the control means being adapted to open said valve and maintan the same in open condition on and during movement of the operating means in one direction and to permit automatic closure of the valve on cessation of movement in said one direction and on and during movement of the operating means in the reverse direction.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment thereof and in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a beer dispense system constructed in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section through the valve of Fig. 1, shown to a larger scale.

Referring now to the drawings, a beer dispense system comprises a dispense tap 11 in fluid flow connection with a bulk source 12 of beer through feed and delivery lines 13, 14, there being a valve 1 5 intermediate the feed and delivery lines whereby the flow of beer therebetween is controlled.

The valve 15 comprises a multipart body 16 having a stepped bore 1 7 thereto providing a valve seat 18 intermediate inlet and outlet ports 19, 20, respectively, and a valve member 21 resiliently loaded into engagement with the seat 18 by a compression spring 22 interposed between a shoulder 23 in the bore 1 7 and a cap 24 abutting the back of the valve member 21. The end face of the cap 24 has an aperture 25 centrally thereof to receive a lug 26 extending axially from the back of the valve member 21 of location purposes. The cap 24 is clearance in the bore 1 7 to provide a flow path for the beer from the inlet port 19 to the region of the valve seat 18.The valve further includes a valve rod 27 in axial alignment with the valve member 21 and in engagement with the front face of such valve member, axial movement of the valve rod 27 in a manner hereafter to be disclosed against the restraint of compression spring 22 lifting the valve member 21 from the valve seat 18 to allow flow of beer past the valve seat 18 to the outlet port 20.

In accordance with the invention, a manually actuable operating means 28 and a contral means 29 are provided for operation of the valve 15, the control means 29 being sensitive to motion of the operating means 28 and being adapted to control the condition of the valve 15 according to such motion.

The operating means 28 comprises a handle 30 mounted for limited pivotal motion about an horizontal axis 31, motion in a first, or dispense, direction being limited by abutment of a radial arm 32 supporting the handle 30 with a stop 33 provided on a fixed housing 34.

The control means 29 includes a doubleacting hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 35 the opposite ends of whioh are in fluid flow connection with one side of a diaphragm 36 (Fig. 2) provided in valve 15, the diaphragm 36 bearing on that end of valve rod 27 remote from valve member 21 and the condition of the valve 15 accordingly being determined by the fluid pressure applied to the diaphragm.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the upper end of the piston and cylinder unit 35 is connected directly with the space above the diaphragm in valve 15 by pipe 37, whilst the lower end of unit 35 is connected to such space through pipes 38, 39 and a flow restrictor 40, restrictor 40 serving to permit unrestricted flow towards the diaphragm from the lower end of unit 35 but restricting flow in the reverse direction.

Operating handle 30 is connected with piston rod 41 of the piston and cylinder unit 35 by a connecting rod 42, such that pivotal movement of the handle through its range of permitted movement will move fluid to and from the opposite sides of the piston 43 of piston and cylinder unit 35.

In operation, movement of the operating handle 30 in simulation of the drawing of beer by a beer pump serves to increase the fluid pressure acting on the diaphragm 36 due to the restricted flow of hydraulic fluid to the underside of piston 43, and thus displaces valve member 21 from valve seat 18, the fluid pressure at the diaphragm 36 being determined by the load applied at the operating handle 30 and by the extent to which fluid flow is restricted by the restrictor 40. By suitable adjustment of the restrictor 40 a requisite rate of movement of the operating handle 30 can be attained. On completion of the delivery movement of the operating handle 30, which movement can be less than the full range of permitted movement if desired, the operating handle 30 can be moved in the opposite direction against the lesser restriction of a free flow of fluid through the hydraulic system, the restrictor 40 being unidirectional in character.

By means of the arrangement as herein described, we are able accurately to simulate the drawing of beer by a conventional beer pump in that a progressive movement of the operating handle against a restraint is necessary to maintain beer flow whilst the return movement of such handle is effected against a resistance, albeit of lesser proportions.

Claims (8)

1. A beer dispense system comprising an outlet tap in fluid flow connection with a source of beer and a valve intermediate said tap and source for controlling flow therebetween, a manually actuable operating means operatively connected with said valve and control means sensitive to a motion of the operating means, the control means being adapted to open said valve and maintain the same in open condition on and during movement of the operating means in one direction and to permit automatic closure of the valve on cessation of movement in said one direction and on and during movement of the operating means in the reverse direction.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means is constituted by a hydraulic circuit which includes a pump connected to the operating means, a chamber facing a diaphragm which can actuate the valve and a flow path connecting the pump and chamber and containing a uni-directional flow restrictor.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diaphragm is arranged so that upon being influenced by increased pressure in said circuit due to actuation of the pump, it moves in a direction to open the valve.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the pump is a piston/cylinder arrangement, the piston being connected to the operating means.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operating means is in the form of a pivoted mernber which is connected to the piston by means of a connecting rod.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the operating means is a column upstanding from a housing adapted to be secured to a bar or like dispensing structure, the column being mounted for pivoting about a generally horizontal axis.

7. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the flow-restrictor is variable by means of a control knob or the like to vary the actual and/or relative strengths of forces which the system generates to oppose pivoting movement of the column in each of two directions.

8. A system for dispensing beer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.