GB2423980A

GB2423980A - Beverage dispense

Info

Publication number: GB2423980A
Application number: GB0609748A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Robert Davis
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 2003-07-02
Filing date: 2004-07-02
Publication date: 2006-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-02
Also published as: GB0609748D0; GB2404651A; GB2423980B; GB2404651B; GB0414916D0

Abstract

A beverage dispense system has a beverage source 2 connected to a remote dispense tap 3 by a supply line 4. A solenoid valve 15 provided in the vicinity of the tap 3 controls flow of beverage to the dispense tap 3 and a flow turbine 13 monitors the volume of beverage dispensed such that the solenoid valve 15 closes when a pre-determined volume of beverage has been dispensed.

Description

BEVERAGE DISPENSE

This invention relates to beverage dispense and in part1\iar, though not exclusively, to the dispense of beer, lager, cider or the like beverages.

Where the invention is described hereinafter for the dispense of beer it will be understood that this is for convenience only and that the invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

It is common practice when dispensing beer to propel the beer from a reservoir, e.g. a keg, at a remote location, e.g. a cellar, to a dispense tap, e.g. in a bar. The beer may be cooled by passage through a cooler and then maintained in a cooled condition between the cooler and the dispense tap by means of a so-called "python". Essentially a python comprises one or more beverage lines in close contact with coolant lines for circulating coolant through the python. For example, the coolant lines may contain chilled water to maintain the beverage(s) at the desired temperature. The beer is usually dispensed in 1/2 pint and pint measures into a glass positioned under the tap.

In one system, calibrated metering pumps are used to dispense accurately measured volumes of beer to comply with legal requirements for the dispense of " pint and pint measures and prevent dispense of "short" measures. Metering pumps are expensive and require regular maintenance of checking to ensure that they are dispensing the required measure(s). Furthermore, systems employing metering pumps can only dispense a metered volume each time a dispense is actuated and it is not possible with this system to top-up the dispensed beverage, for example, if the bar staff spill some of the contents of the glass or if some of the dispensed volume is lost as a result of a head being formed during dispense that spills over the top of the glass. Correcting such short measures requires dispense of a metered volume in another glass that is then used to top up the beverage with the remainder usually being thrown away. This is wasteful.

In another system, the user manually controls the volume of beer dispensed by opening/closing the dispense tap. This requires the user to judge accurately when the required volume has been dispensed, either against a measure line on the glass or when the glass is filled to the top.

Such visual checking and control of the measure of beer dispensed is awkward and can result in over-filling and/or spillage which is wasteful.

Moreover, when the keg requires changing, beer remaining in the flow line can de-gas if the dispense tap is left open causing fobbing in the flow line which has to be cleared when the new keg is fitted and is again wasteful.

With increasing demand on profitability, there is a need for a beverage dispense system that can dispense the required measure(s) of beer in a reliable manner that avoids wastage and is relatively inexpensive to install and maintain.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing problems and disadvantages of existing beverage dispense systems.

According to one aspect of the invention, we provide apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a source of beverage, a dispense tap remote from the source, a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, a valve arranged to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, the valve having an open position to allow flow of beverage to the dispense tap and a closed position to prevent flow of beverage to the dispense tap, and means for closing the valve to maintain beverage in the flow line when the beverage source needs to be replaced.

By this invention, the flow line between the beverage source and the valve is prevented from emptying by closing the valve if the dispense tap is open when the beverage source needs to be changed. In this way, formation of fob in the flow line that has to be removed when the new beverage source is connected can be prevented in a simple and effective manner.

In one preferred arrangement, the valve is closed in response to detection of fob by a fob monitor. Preferably, the valve is positioned close to the dispense tap and the fob monitor is positioned close to the beverage source, for example a keg. In this way, substantially the entire flow line between the valve and fob monitor remains full of beverage when the beverage source is changed and beverage waste is reduced.

Alternative means for detecting when the beverage source needs to be changed and closing the valve may be employed. For example, means for monitoring the level of beverage in the keg such as an ultrasonic level detector, or means for monitoring the weight of the keg, or means for detecting the presence of gas in the flow line from the keg such as an optical detector.

In one embodiment, the valve is an electrically operable on/off solenoid valve that is operable independently of the dispense tap, for example by connecting to a power supply, and is held open using a reduced voltage to conserve power consumption and prevent overheating.

In this arrangement, a light source for a counter top fitting such as a font may be connected to the power supply and control means provided so that the valve is opened when the light source is switched on to illuminate the font and is closed when the light source is switched off. In this way, the volume of beverage dispensed when the valve is held open is controlled by the user opening and closing the dispense tap.

In another embodiment, the valve is an electrically operable solenoid valve that is opened in response to opening of the dispense tap at the start of a dispense and is closed at the end of the dispense. For example, a pressure switch responsive to the fluid pressure may be provided between the dispense tap and the valve such that, when the dispense tap is opened, a pressure drop is detected causing the valve to open. Alternatively, a contact switch may be provided having a pair of contacts on relatively movable parts of the dispense tap, such that, when the dispense tap is opened, the switch changes state causing the valve to open. The pressure switch is particularly useful when retro-fitting the system to an existing dispense tap while the contact switch may be preferred when replacing the dispense tap with a dispense tap incorporating the appropriate switch contacts on relatively movable parts of the tap such as the tap body and tap handle.

In one arrangement, the valve is closed in response to closing of the dispense tap and the volume of beverage dispensed is controlled manually by the user opening and closing the dispense tap. In another arrangement, the valve is closed automatically in response to dispense of a predetermined volume of beverage. For example, a flow meter may be provided in the supply line to close the valve when the required volume of beverage has been dispensed.

In each of these embodiments, re-set means is preferably provided to enable the valve to re-open after it has been closed to prevent the flow line emptying in response to detection of insufficient beverage for dispense. In this way, dispense of beverage is prevented if the dispense tap has been left in the open position.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a method of dispensing a beverage comprising providing a source of beverage, providing a dispense tap remote from the source, providing means to propel the beverage along a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, providing an on/off valve in the vicinity of the dispense tap to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, and closing the valve to maintain beverage in the flow line when the beverage source needs to be replaced.

The valve may be separate from the dispense tap and arranged at or close to the dispense tap. Alternatively, the valve may be incorporated in the dispense tap. A separate valve may be retro-fitted to an existing system to prevent formation of fob in the flow line when the beverage source, for example a keg or barrel, is empty and needs to be replaced. A valve built-in to the dispense tap may be employed for new systems or when replacing the dispense tap of an existing system.

According to a third aspect of the invention, we provide apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a source of beverage, a dispense tap remote from the source, a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, an on/off valve positioned to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, means for opening the on/off valve in response to opening the dispense tap, and means for closing the on/off valve.

By this invention, opening the dispense tap causes the on/off valve to open permitting flow of beverage to the tap for dispense. For example, the on/off valve may be opened by switch means responsive to opening the dispense tap.

In one embodiment, the switch means includes a pair of switch contacts on relatively movable parts of the dispense tap such that, opening the dispense tap, opens the contacts causing the on/off valve to open to permit flow of beverage to the tap for dispense.

In another embodiment, the switch means includes a pressure switch provided between the dispense tap and the on/off valve such that, opening the dispense tap releases the pressure of the beverage between the tap and the on/off valve and the switch means responds to the pressure drop to open the on/off valve to permit flow of beverage to the tap for dispense.

In both embodiments, the switch means may be responsive to closing the dispense tap to close the on/off valve. For example, closing the dispense tap may close the switch contacts causing the on/off valve to close.

Alternatively, the pressure switch may be responsive to an increase in pressure between the tap and the valve on closing the tap to close the on/off valve.

In another embodiment, a flow monitor measures the volume of beverage flowing through the flow line and causes the on/off valve to close when a pre-determined volume has been dispensed, say " a pint. With this embodiment, the user can open the tap to start a dispense and the valve will automatically close without the user having to close the dispense tap.

Preferably, the valve will not re-open until the dispense tap has been closed. For example, where the switch means is responsive to the pressure between the dispense tap and the on/off valve, the on/off valve may cycle between the open and closed positions to allow the pressure to build up between the on/off valve and the tap until the switch means causes the on/off valve to stop cycling and remain closed. In this way, sufficient pressure is re-established between the tap and valve for the pressure switch to open the valve when the dispense tap is next opened.

The above embodiments allow topping-up of dispensed beverage to be easily achieved by manually opening the dispense tap to dispense the required volume of beverage. If the tap is then closed, the on/off valve is again closed, either by closing the switch contacts on relatively movable parts of the dispense tap or by the increase in pressure detected by the switch means between the flow tap and the on/off valve.

As a result, where the flow monitoring means causes the valve to close, the flow monitoring means does not have to be calibrated and the dispense of a legal measure is not dependent on the accuracy of the flow monitoring means since any underfill can be corrected by the user topping- up to dispense the required legal measure. Accordingly, the benefits of measured dispense can be achieved without the cost of installing and maintaining expensive metering pumps or the like which have to be accurately calibrated to dispense the legal measure as there is no facility for topping-up with such pumps.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, we provide a method of dispensing a beverage comprising providing a source of beverage, providing a dispense tap remote from the source, providing a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, providing an on/off valve in the flow line in the vicinity of the dispense tap to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, opening the on/off valve in response to opening the dispense tap to dispense beverage and closing the on/off valve at the end of a dispense.

The apparatus and method according to the third and fourth aspects of the invention may be used in combination with the means for detecting when the beverage source needs to be changed to maintain beverage in the flow line when the beverage source is being changed.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, we provide apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a source of beverage, a dispense tap remote from the source, a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, an on/off valve positioned in the flow line at or near to the dispense tap to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, switch means for switching the on/off valve between open and closed conditions, and means for monitoring flow of beverage through the flow line in response to actuation of a beverage dispense and operable to close the on/off valve when a pre-determined volume of beverage has been dispensed.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, we provide a method of dispensing a beverage comprising providing a source of beverage, providing a dispense tap remote from the source, providing a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, providing an on/off valve in the flow line in the vicinity of the dispense tap to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, providing switch means for switching the on/off valve between open and closed conditions, and providing means for monitoring flow of beverage through the flow line in response to actuation of a beverage dispense and operable to close the on/off valve when a predetermined volume of beverage has been dispensed.

The apparatus and method according to the fifth and sixth aspects of the invention may be used in combination with the means for detecting when the beverage source needs to be changed to maintain beverage in the flow line when the beverage source is being changed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention we provide a kit for installation in a flow line between a beverage source and a beverage tap for dispensing a beverage according to any of the preceding aspects of the invention.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention we provide a beverage dispense system comprising a manually operable dispense tap, a flow line connecting the dispense tap to a remote beverage source, and means for detecting when the beverage source is empty or substantially empty and preventing dispense of beverage if the dispense tap is open to maintain beverage in the flow line.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals are used throughout to indicate similar parts and wherein: Figure 1 shows schematically apparatus for dispensing a beverage according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows schematically a modification to the apparatus of Figure 1 according for dispensing a beverage according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 shows schematically a modification of the apparatus of Figure 2 for dispensing a beverage according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the apparatus 1 shown comprises a source 2 of beer, for example a keg, connected to a remote dispense tap 3 by a flow line 4. The dispense tap 3 may be located in a bar or other suitable point of dispense.

The dispense tap 3 has an inlet 5 connectable to a counter tap fitting (not shown) such as a font, an outlet nozzle 6 for dispensing beer into a receptacle, e.g. a glass, placed under the nozzle 6, and a manually operable handle 7 for opening/closing a dispense valve (not shown) positioned within the tap body between the inlet 5 and nozzle 6.

The beer is propelled from the keg 2 to the tap 3 in response to actuation of a dispense under the pressure of gas from cylinder 8 set by a regulator 9. In this embodiment, the flow of beer is assisted by a pump 10 in the flow line 4. For some applications the pump 10 may not be required.

The flow line 4 also includes a fob monitor 11 for detecting when the keg needs changing and shutting-off the dispense as described later to keep the flow-line 4 filled with beer.

The flow line 4 may include a cooler (not shown) for cooling the beer to a desired dispense temperature and may pass from the cooler to the tap 3 in a python to maintain the beer at the required dispense temperature.

As described thus far, the apparatus is of conventional type for manual dispense of beer with portion control provided by the bar staff opening/closing the tap 3 until the glass contains a legal measure, say " pint or full pint. Such portion control can be difficult to achieve with accuracy from one dispense to the next and this can lead to wastage from over-filling to ensure the customer receives a legal measure. As a result, yield control is poor and this can reduce profitability.

In accordance with the present invention, a combined on-off solenoid valve and pressure switch assembly 12 is located in the flow-line 4 adjacent to the tap 3. The pressure switch is responsive to the pressure of the beer between the on-off solenoid valve and the tap 3 to control opening/closing of the solenoid valve as described later.

In addition, a flow turbine 13 is positioned in the flow line 4 upstream of the combined solenoid valve/pressure switch assembly 12. The turbine 13 is connected to an electronic control system 14 such as a programmable microprocessor which is also connected to the fob monitor 11 and to the combined solenoid valve/pressure switch assembly 12.

In use, the pressure switch is responsive to the pressure of beer between the tap 3 and the solenoid valve to open and close the solenoid valve at pre-determined pressures.

When the tap 3 is opened to initiate a dispense cycle, the pressure of beer between the tap 3 and the solenoid valve drops and, when the pressure falls below the pre-determined pressure, the pressure switch causes the solenoid valve to open.

Beer is pumped from the keg 2 through the flow line 4 by the pump 10 and is dispensed from the nozzle 6 into a glass positioned below the nozzle 6. The flow turbine 13 monitors the volume of beer flowing through the flow line 4 and, when a pre-determjned volume has been dispensed, say " pint, causes the solenoid valve to close.

The solenoid valve will then pulse between the open and closed positions to dispense very small volumes of beer, say less than icc. Tithe user has closed the tap 3, these pulses cause the pressure to build up between the tap 3 and the solenoid valve until the pressure switch causes the solenoid valve to stop pulsing and remain closed. The bar staff can then initiate another dispense cycle by opening the tap 3, for example if dispense of a pint is required. In a modification, the bar staff may be able to select dispense of a pint in one operation by means of a switch operable by any suitable means such as a push button such that the solenoid valve is closed after dispense of a pint.

If the user has left the tap 3 open, the control system 14 will cause the solenoid valve to close if no build up of pressure is detected by the pressure switch after a pre-determined number of pulses, for example 15 pulses. The control system may then generate a visual and/or audible warning that the tap 3 has been left open and/or lock-out the system requiring a manual re-set via any appropriate means such as a re-set switch operable by a push button or the like.

On completion of a dispense, the bar staff can top-up the glass if required by opening the dispense tap 3 to dispense the required additional volume of beer and then closing the tap 3. The solenoid valve will still be open as the turbine 13 has not seen dispense of a full portion but the pressure increase detected by the pressure switch after closing the tap 3 will cause the solenoid valve to close ready for the next dispense.

The fob monitor 11 detects when the keg 2 requires changing and causes the solenoid valve to close so that the beverage supply line 4, which can be several metres long, cannot empty and remains filled with beer between the fob monitor 11 and the solenoid valve. In this way when the keg 2 is changed, the beer remaining in the flow line 4 does not de-gas to cause fobbing and the system is ready to dispense beer without requiring repriming which can result in a large volume of beer being wasted. This is of particular benefit when several dispense taps are connected to a common keg and the fob monitor is operable to close on-off valves associated with each dispense tap so as to keep the beverage supply lines to all the dispense taps filled with beverage while the keg is changed.

The fob monitor may comprise any device capable of detecting when the keg requires changing.

As will now be appreciated the turbine 13 does not have to be accurately calibrated to ensure dispense of a legal measure as the dispensed volume can be topped-up if required by operation of the dispense tap 3 in the normal manner. However, the bar staff are not required to control the main part of the dispense as this is effected automatically by the electronic control system 14 in response to the pressure detected by the pressure switch and the volume of beer flowing through the flow line 4 detected by the turbine 13.

In this way, the apparatus combines the ease and low cost of a manually controlled dispense tap with the benefits of a measured dispense without requiring expensive calibrated metering pumps.

The electronic control system 14 together with the turbine 13 and combined solenoid valve/pressure switch assembly 12 can be provided in both new and existing dispense systems. Thus, the parts can be retro- fitted to an existing dispense line for example within the counter-top fitting or below the counter top. Preferably, the solenoid valve is located close to the dispense tap 3 to reduce the volume of beer between the valve and the tap 3 to allow pressure changes to be rapidly detected by the pressure switch.

Various modifications (not shown) can be made to the apparatus as described. Thus, we may incorporate the pressure switch/solenoid valve assembly 12 in the tap body. We may also incorporate the turbine 13 in the tap body. We may provide the pressure switch and solenoid valve in a single assembly 12 or as separate parts for installation independently. We may combine the turbine 13 with the pressure switch/solenoid valve assembly 12 to provide a single component for installation in the fluid line 4. Alternatively, we may combine the turbine 13 with either one or other of the pressure switch or solenoid valve. The pressure switch, onoff valve and turbine 13 may be of any suitable type for the intended purpose and may be replaced by any equivalent part(s) that provides the same function.

As will be understood the above apparatus provides the following features and advantages.

* Retro-fitting to existing manual tap systems * Portion control * Top up facility * Fob detection - system lockout facility * Can be built into font (room allowing) * Can be fitted inline The apparatus may also lend itself to the provision of a pirate lock-out facility in which the solenoid valve is closed if the system detects the presence of beer which the retailer is not authorised to dispense. For example, beer may be provided with a non- harmful, non-tasting tag that can be used to detect and permit dispense of authorised stock. In this way, brewers may be able to enhance the control of dispense of their beer and prevent publicans buying-in and dispensing unauthorised (pirate) stock.

It will also be appreciated that the electronic control system can be programmed to provide a variety of other functions including data relating to stock control, periods of high/low demand, total volume dispensed, number of top-ups, and other information useful to the publican and/or brewer. Such information may be accessed locally or remotely via

suitable interfaces.

The system may include an over-ride when it is desired to pass cleaning fluid through the flow line to clean the system so that the tap can be left open and the turbine does not register the volume of cleaning fluid. In this way the stock control facility provided by the turbine is not affected when the system is cleaned.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a modification to the apparatus of Figure 1 in which the flow turbine 13 (Figure 1) for portion control on an individual dispense basis is omitted and the electronic control circuitry 14 is combined with the solenoid valve/pressure switch assembly 12 that may be fitted in a counter top fitting such as a font (not shown) to which the tap 3 is connected.

In this system, the portion control on an individual dispense basis is provided manually by user actuation of the dispense tap 3 and the fob monitor 11 is operable to monitor the flow of beverage so that the on-off solenoid valve of the assembly 12 is closed when the keg 2 requires changing and is prevented from being opened by actuation of the dispense tap 3 until the keg 2 has been changed and the system has been re-set, for

example by a switch.

In this way, the beverage supply line 4 remains filled with beverage between the fob monitor 11 and the solenoid valve/pressure switch assembly 12 and cannot be emptied if the user opens the tap 3 while the keg 2 is changed. As a result, the undesirable formation of fob in the beverage supply line 4 that has to be removed when the new keg is connected can be prevented.

* Retro-fits to existing manual tap systems * Fob detection - system lockout facility, preventing line emptying * Can be built into font (room allowing) * Can be fitted inline * Pirate product lockout facility (when linked to pirate detection system) * Can be used on multi-tap system when connected to a single keg Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a modification of the apparatus of Figure 2 in which the pressure switch/solenoid valve assembly 12 is replaced by an on/off solenoid valve 15.

In this system, the on/off solenoid valve 15 is connected via the control circuit 14 to a power supply, for example a 24 volt transformer 16 for the power supply to a light source for illuminating the font (not shown). The control circuit 14 controls the power to the valve 15 so that it opens when the light source is switched on and closes when the light source is switched off and is held open with a reduced voltage to prevent overheating. As a result, the solenoid valve 15 does not open and close each time the tap 3 is opened and closed and portion control on an individual dispense basis is provided manually by user actuation of the dispense tap 3.

As with previous embodiments, the fob monitor 11 is operable to monitor the flow of beverage so that the on-off solenoid valve 15 is closed when the keg 2 requires changing and is prevented from being opened by actuation of the dispense tap 3 until the keg 2 has been changed and the system has been re-set, for example by a switch.

* Retro-fits to existing manual tap systems * Fob detection - system lockout facility, preventing line emptying * Can be built into font (room allowing) * Can be fitted inline * Pirate product lockout facility (when linked to pirate detection system) * Can be used on multi-tap system when connected to a single keg It will be understood that the invention is notlimited to the embodiments above- described. For example, switch means for the on/off solenoid valves 12,15 may be provided by a pair of switch contacts on relatively movable parts of the dispense tap such that the valve is opened and closed in response to opening/closing movement of the dispense tap. This arrangement may be employed when replacing an existing dispense tap with a dispense tap having built-in switch contacts.

Furthermore, it will be understood that features of the embodiments may be employed separately or in combination with features of any other embodiments Moreover, the invention includes features equivalent to features of any of the embodiments and having the same function or purpose. Furthermore, the invention includes modifications and improvements to any of the embodiments that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a source of beverage, a dispense tap remote from the source, a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, an on/off valve positioned to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, means for opening the on/off valve in response to opening the dispense tap, and means for closing the on/off valve in response to dispense of a pre-determined volume of beverage.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a flow meter is provided in the supply line to close the on/off valve when the pre-determined volume of beverage has been dispensed without closing the dispense tap.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the on/off valve can only be reopened after dispensing the pre-determined volume of beverage when the dispense tap has been closed.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein means is provided to disable the closure means when cleaning the flow line.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein means is provided to monitor dispense of beverage for stock control.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the on/off valve is closed to prevent beverage dispense in response to detection of unauthorised beverage.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the dispense tap is operable to open and close a dispense valve for controlling dispense of beverage.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the dispense tap is manually operable.

9 Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the means for opening the on/off valve comprises switch means responsive to opening the dispense tap.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein, the switch means is responsive to closing the dispense tap to close the on/off valve.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein, the switch means includes a pair of switch contacts on relatively movable parts of the dispense tap.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein, the switch contacts have an open state and a closed state configured to open the on/off valve when the dispense tap is opened to permit flow of beverage to the tap, and to close the on-off valve when the dispense tap is closed to prevent flow of beverage to the tap.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein, the switch means includes a pressure switch provided between the dispense tap and the on/off valve.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the pressure switch is configured to open the on/off valve when the dispense tap is opened to permit flow of beverage to the tap, and to close the on-off valve when the dispense tap is closed to prevent flow of beverage to the tap.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the pressure switch is responsive to pressure of the beverage between the on/off valve and the dispense tap such that the switch means responds to a pressure drop when the dispense tap is opened to open the on/off valve and, the switch means responds to a pressure increase when the dispense tap is closed to close the on/off valve.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein, the on/off valve is arranged to cycle between the open and closed positions to allow the pressure to build up between the on/off valve and the tap until sufficient pressure is re-established between the tap and on/off valve.

17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the on/off valve is provided at or adjacent to the dispense tap.

18. A method of dispensing a beverage comprising providing a source of beverage, providing a dispense tap remote from the source, providing a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, providing an on/off valve to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, and providing means for monitoring flow of beverage through the flow line in response to actuation of a beverage dispense and operable to close the on/off valve when a pre-determined volume of beverage has been dispensed.

19. Apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a source of beverage, a dispense tap remote from the source, a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, an on/off valve positioned to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, means for opening the on/off valve in response to opening the dispense tap, and means for closing the on/off valve.

20. A method of dispensing a beverage comprising providing a source of beverage, providing a dispense tap remote from the source, providing a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, providing an on/off valve in the flow line in the vicinity of the dispense tap to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, opening the on/off valve in response to opening the dispense tap to dispense beverage and closing the on/off valve at the end of a dispense.

21. Apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising a source of beverage, a dispense tap remote from the source, a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, an on/off valve positioned in the flow line at or near to the dispense tap to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, switch means for switching the on/off valve between open and closed conditions, and means for monitoring flow of beverage through the flow line in response to actuation of a beverage dispense and operable to close the on/off valve when a pre-determined volume of beverage has been dispensed.

22. A method of dispensing a beverage comprising providing a source of beverage, providing a dispense tap remote from the source, providing a flow line from the source to the dispense tap, providing an on/off valve in the flow line in the vicinity of the dispense tap to control the flow of beverage to the dispense tap, providing switch means for switching the on/off valve between open and closed conditions, and providing means for monitoring flow of beverage through the flow line in response to actuation of a beverage dispense and operable to close the on/off valve when a pre-determined volume of beverage has been dispensed.