GB2355054A

GB2355054A - Liquid dispenser with automatic shut-off

Info

Publication number: GB2355054A
Application number: GB9919793A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Andrew Reed
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-21
Filing date: 1999-08-21
Publication date: 2001-04-11
Also published as: GB9919793D0

Abstract

A system used to dispense liquids, primarily beer, which reduces the head formation on pouring and automatically stops the flow of liquid from the dispenser. The apparatus has a fluid outlet 2, a manually operated actuating lever 6, a pump 4 in supply pipework 5, a container holder 7 and a sensor 14 that is responsive to the position of the container holder 7. The holder 7 moves according to the weight of liquid in the container. Preferably the container holder 7 has a pivot 11 and the outlet is adjacent the pivot 11. Preferably the container 8 will move from an inclined start position to a vertical position when the container 8 is full. The container holder 7 may have a cup-shaped base 9 and an upstanding arm 10 for supporting the container 8. The actuating lever 6 may have a latching action which is released when the container is full. The sensor 14 stops the pump 4 when the container holds a predetermined quantity.

Description

2355054 LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing a liquid, particularly alcoholic beverages such as beers and lagers.

BACKGROUND

Automatic pumping arrangements are known which dispense a predetermined quantity of a beverage and thereby ensure that the customer does not receive a short measure. However, it is usually necessary to hold the glass or other container as the beverage is dispensed. Also, when such an arrangement is used to dispense beverages which tend to froth the head forming on the beverage can overflow so that the customer may still receive a short measure.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of liquid dispensing apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

2 The present invention proposes apparatus for dispensing a liquid, comprising:

- an outlet; - manually-operable actuating means; - a pump which is responsive to the actuating means to commence transferring liquid to the outlet; - support means for supporting a container to receive liquid from the outlet and moveable according to the weight of liquid in the container; and - sensor means responsive to the position of the support means to stop the pump when the container holds a predetermined quantity of liquid.

The container preferably has a base, a side wall and an open mouth for receiving the dispensed liquid. The support means is preferably mounted for pivotal movement as the container fills with liquid and preferably supports the container such that the container moves from an inclined position to an upright position. The outlet is preferably positioned adjacent to the pivot point such that, when the container is in an inclined position, the liquid runs down the inside of the container wall.

The sensor means may be purely mechanical in operation or it may comprise an electrical switch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

3 Figure 1 is a side view of a beer tap in accordance with the invention with an empty beer glass in place; Figure 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but showing the glass being filled; and Figure 3 is another similar view of the beer tap with the beer glass in a full condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstlyto Fig. 1, the illustrated tap is intended to dispense alcoholic beverages which tend to produce a head when dispensed such as beers and lagers. The tap has a body 1 which is arranged to conduct beer to a downwardly-directed outlet 2. The beer will normally be stored in a barrel 3 in a cellar for example, and an electric pump 4 is arranged to transfer beer from the barrel to the tap 1 via pipework 5, in known manner. The tap body 2 carries a manually operable lever 6 which is mounted in the traditional position immediately above the outlet 2. When the lever 6 is moved manually in a forward direction as indicated by the arrow it operates a switch within the body 1 to actuate the pump 4 and commence delivery of beer through the outlet 2. The lever may be arranged to latch in this position so that delivery of beer will continue after the lever is released. Alternatively an electrical latching circuit may be provided to continue operation of the pump when the lever is released.

A cradle 7 for a beer glass 8 is pivotally mounted from the tap body 1. The 4 cradle includes a shallow cup-shaped base 9 for receiving the base of the glass 8 and an upstanding arm 10 which is shaped to support the side of the glass, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of the arm 10 is coupled by a pivot 11 to a bracket 12 which is secured to the tap body 1 positioning the pivot 11 just behind the outlet 2. The pivotal connection incorporates a coil spring 13 which acts between the arm 10 and bracket 12 to tilt the arm 10 forwardly and downwardly to a stop-limited position shown in Fig. 1. Thus, when the glass is placed in the cradle 7 as shown, the rear of the open mouth of the glass is disposed directly below the outlet 2.

When beer starts to flow from the outlet 2 on actuation of the lever 6 it almost immediately encounters the side of the glass and hence runs down the side to the bottom of the glass. Moreover, as the glass fills the additional weight of beer starts to overcome the action of the spring 13 so that the cradle and glass slowly tilt to bring the arm 10 towards a vertical position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. This slow tilting of the glass ensures that an unacceptable head does not form on the dispensed beer.

When the weight of beer in the glass is sufficient to bring the glass into the upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the cradle operates a microswitch 14 which causes the pump 4 to stop. If the lever is arranged to latch and thereby maintain operation of the pump as discussed above, the microswitch 14 can be replaced by a mechanical release to allow the lever 6 to return to the rest position.

A screw adjustment (not shown) is provided to adjust the tension in the spring and thereby ensure that the microswitch 14 will trigger at the point when a full pint has been dispensed.

It will be appreciated that a standard beer-dispensing tap can easily be adapted to operate as described, although the additional components could also be incorporated into a tap during manufacture.

The tap is largely automatic in operation and can be left unattended to fill the glass, thereby freeing busy bar staff to deal with other matters and serve other customers. In addition, provided the cutoff point is correctly set, a full pint will be dispensed without formation of a significant head.

Claims

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present

in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

6 CLAIMS Apparatus for dispensing a liquid, comprising: an outlet; manual ly-operable actuating means; a pump which is responsive to the actuating means to commence transferring liquid to the outlet; - support means for supporting a container to receive liquid from the outlet and movable according to the weight of liquid in the container; and - sensor means responsive to the position of the support means to stop the pump when the container holds a predetermined quantity of liquid.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the support means is mounted for pivotal movement as the container fills with liquid.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, in which the support means supports the container such that the container moves from an inclined position to an upright position.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the outlet is positioned adjacent to the pivot of the support means.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the support means includes a shallow cup-shaped base for receiving the container and an upstanding arm which is shaped to support the side of the container.

7 6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the actuating means has a latching action and the sensor means is arranged to mechanically release the actuating means.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5, in which the sensor means includes an electrical switch which is arranged to stop the pump.

8. Apparatus for dispensing a liquid which is substantially as described with reference to the drawings.