GB2167533A - Stabilizing valve - Google Patents

Abstract

In drink dispensing arrangements, for beer etc. in a public house it is desirable to ensure that as the drink is dispensed from the container unwanted influences such as airborne bacteria etc cannot enter the container. To effect this a stabilizing valve is fitted. This has a diaphragm (2) coupled to a piston valve (4) mounted in a pipe to a supply of an inert gas, usually carbon dioxide. The lower chamber of the valve extends to the cask. As the drink is drawn from the cask the diaphragm (2) moves downwards which causes the piston valve (4) to open. Gas passes through a port (6) through a centre tunnel in the valve spindle into the lower chamber. This continues until the pressure has equalized, when the diaphragm returns to rest and closes the valve. An inert gas blanket is provided and maintained over the remaining liquid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cask stabilising valve This invention relates to a cask stabilising valve for use with a drink dispensing arrangement.

The main feature of the present invention are set out in the claims attached hereto. The embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a sectional drawing of the invention showing the valve in the closed position.

The arrangement shown in Figure 1 was designed for use with beer, lager, cider,and wine etc.

as served in public houses. When the drink is drawn from the cask, using a hand pump or beer engine for instance, pressure in the cask is reduced. This causes a diaphragm 2 secured betwen the two portions of an outer casing 1 to be pushed down by atmospheric pressure, which acts on the upper face of the diaphragm 2 via an air inlet assembly 3.

The downward movement of the diaphragm moves a piston valve 4 from its seating, allowing the inert gas, usually carbon dioxide, to pass from gas inlet 5 and via a port 6 set into the piston valve 4 as drawn. This valve is seated by an 0 ring 7.

The gas passes via the port 6, which extends through the centre of the piston valve spindle into the cask via the lower chamber of the valve. This continues until the pressure is equalised in the two chambers of the valve, at which time the valve returns to its closed position under control of the diaphragm in conjunction with return spring 8.

The valve spindle and the diaphragm 2 are secured together by a lock nut and washer 9. Any excess gas in the lower chamber can escape via surge valve assembly 10.

An 0 ring 11 is fitted at the bottom of the piston assembly to prevent gas from leaking.

The lower section of the outer casing is so designed to fit into cask or cask venting assembly.

The return spring 8 is fitted to prevent the gas pressure at the inlet from opening the valve prematurely.

1. A stabilizing valve arrangement for use with a drink dispensing apparatus which relates to the dispensing of the drink being served, to admit a quantity of inert gas to the source of the drink so that the remaining drink in the source is covered by a blanket of inert gas.

2. A valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 when the inert gas is carbon dioxide.

3. A stabilizing valve arrangement which embodies two valve chambers separated by a diaphragm,a valve is coupled to the diaphragm, and which in the rest condition closes a pipe to which a gas supply is connected when the arrangement is in use. This pipe opens into one of the valve chambers, a port which is normally closed and which extends through the valve so as to open in the other of the two chambers, and a connection from this chamber which connects to a liquid container or cask. When the valve is in use and liquid is drawn from container the reduction in pressure in one chamber causes the diaphragm to open the valve whereupon gas passes via transfer port to the other chamber thus equalising pressure between the chambers which equalization causes valve to close via diaphragm.

4. An arrangement is claimed in respect of a port in one of the chambers which is open to atmosphere and which is protected from the ingress of foreign bodies by an air inlet assembly.

5. The stabilizing valve as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, has a surge valve to permit any excess of gas pressure over atmospheric pressure to escape.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cask stabilising valve This invention relates to a cask stabilising valve for use with a drink dispensing arrangement. The main feature of the present invention are set out in the claims attached hereto. The embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a sectional drawing of the invention showing the valve in the closed position. The arrangement shown in Figure 1 was designed for use with beer, lager, cider,and wine etc. as served in public houses. When the drink is drawn from the cask, using a hand pump or beer engine for instance, pressure in the cask is reduced. This causes a diaphragm 2 secured betwen the two portions of an outer casing 1 to be pushed down by atmospheric pressure, which acts on the upper face of the diaphragm 2 via an air inlet assembly 3. The downward movement of the diaphragm moves a piston valve 4 from its seating, allowing the inert gas, usually carbon dioxide, to pass from gas inlet 5 and via a port 6 set into the piston valve 4 as drawn. This valve is seated by an 0 ring 7. The gas passes via the port 6, which extends through the centre of the piston valve spindle into the cask via the lower chamber of the valve. This continues until the pressure is equalised in the two chambers of the valve, at which time the valve returns to its closed position under control of the diaphragm in conjunction with return spring 8. The valve spindle and the diaphragm 2 are secured together by a lock nut and washer 9. Any excess gas in the lower chamber can escape via surge valve assembly 10. An 0 ring 11 is fitted at the bottom of the piston assembly to prevent gas from leaking. The lower section of the outer casing is so designed to fit into cask or cask venting assembly. The return spring 8 is fitted to prevent the gas pressure at the inlet from opening the valve prematurely. CLAIMS

1. A stabilizing valve arrangement for use with a drink dispensing apparatus which relates to the dispensing of the drink being served, to admit a quantity of inert gas to the source of the drink so that the remaining drink in the source is covered by a blanket of inert gas.

2. A valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1 when the inert gas is carbon dioxide.

3. A stabilizing valve arrangement which embodies two valve chambers separated by a diaphragm,a valve is coupled to the diaphragm, and which in the rest condition closes a pipe to which a gas supply is connected when the arrangement is in use. This pipe opens into one of the valve chambers, a port which is normally closed and which extends through the valve so as to open in the other of the two chambers, and a connection from this chamber which connects to a liquid container or cask. When the valve is in use and liquid is drawn from container the reduction in pressure in one chamber causes the diaphragm to open the valve whereupon gas passes via transfer port to the other chamber thus equalising pressure between the chambers which equalization causes valve to close via diaphragm.

4. An arrangement is claimed in respect of a port in one of the chambers which is open to atmosphere and which is protected from the ingress of foreign bodies by an air inlet assembly.

5. The stabilizing valve as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, has a surge valve to permit any excess of gas pressure over atmospheric pressure to escape.