GB2506113A

GB2506113A - Dispensing tap for a beverage

Info

Publication number: GB2506113A
Application number: GB201216707A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Sleddon
Original assignee: INDI PARTNERS Ltd
Current assignee: INDI PARTNERS Ltd
Priority date: 2012-09-19
Filing date: 2012-09-19
Publication date: 2014-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-19
Also published as: GB2506113B; GB201216707D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a dispense tap for dispensing a fluid such as a beverage. The tap comprises a tap body 1 having a supply channel 2 connectable to a fluid supply and a dispense channel 4 for delivering fluid into a receptacle, e.g. a glass. The tap further comprises a valve assembly (6, Fig.3) between the supply channel and dispense channel, the valve assembly comprising a fixed plate (8, Fig.8) abutting a rotatable plate 7. The fixed plate has a supply through hole 13 and a dispense through hole 14. The rotatable plate has a trough (16, Fig.5) and the rotatable plate is moveable between a dispense position in which the trough overlaps the supply through hole and the dispense through hole and a non-dispense position in which the trough does not overlap both through holes. The axis of the rotation of the rotatable plate is at substantially 90 degrees to the supply channel and/or dispense channel.

Description

Dispense tap This invention relates to a dispense tap for dispensing a fluid. In particular, this invention relates to a dispense tap having a valve assembly for controlling the flow of beverage through the tap into a receptacle.

Background

It is known to dispense a fluid such as a beverage from a dispense tap e.g. in a bar or pub. Many known dispense taps include a large number of moving parts often sealed using 0-rings. The large number of moving parts and the perishable 0-rings means that the life of each tap is limited before repair or replacement is required.

In many known beverage fonts having dispense taps, the product (beverage) inlet line is substantially horizontal and the product (beverage) dispense line/nozzle is substantially vertical. This means that the beverage has to be deflected through 90 degrees during its passage through the dispense tap. Deflections in a flow path can lead to undesirable de-carbonation of carbonated beverages.

In GB2466319, a font for dispensing two or more beverages is described. The font has two valve assemblies at either end of a cylindrical manifold, each valve assembly having an actuating disc with an elongated radial channel which is moved to align with a through hole in the centre of a bearing disc and an off-set through hole to allow flow of beverage through the valve assembly. This font has a valve actuation mechanism which comprises an outer sleeve surrounding the manifold which is connected to the actuating disc and which has a lever for moving the sleeve. The flow path for each beverage through the manifold and valve assembly is rather contorted -the flow path enters the manifold radially, turns axially towards the valve assembly, does a 180 degree turn in the valve assembly exiting the valve assembly in a direction parallel to the manifold axis and the turns radially to exit the manifold. This flow path is necessary because the axis of rotation of the actuating disc is perpendicular to the inlet and outlet flow paths. This contorted path may cause undesirable de-carbonation of carbonated beverages.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a dispense tap which has a simple structure resulting in an extended lifetime without repair or replacement and which provides a smooth fluid flow path to minimise de-carbonation of carbonated beverages.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a tap for dispensing a fluid, said tap comprising a tap body having a supply channel connectable to a fluid supply and a dispense channel for delivering fluid into a receptacle, the tap further comprising a valve assembly between the supply channel and dispense channel, said valve assembly comprising a fixed plate abutting a rotatable plate, said fixed plate having a supply through hole and a dispense through hole and said rotatable plate having a trough, the rotatable plate being moveable between a dispense position in which the trough overlaps the supply through hole and the dispense through hole and a non-dispense position in which the trough does not overlap both through holes, wherein the axis of the rotation of the rotatable plate is at substantially 90 degrees to the supply channel andlor dispense channel.

The supply channel, valve assembly and dispense channel provide a fluid flow path through the tap, the valve assembly providing for fluid communication between the supply channel and dispense channel. By providing the axis of the rotation of the rotatable plate at substantially 90 degrees to the supply channel and/or dispense channel, it is possible to reduce the number of deflections in the fluid flow path thus ameliorating the undesirable de-carbonation of carbonated beverages by providing a smooth flow through the dispense tap.

Preferably, the axis of the rotation of the rotatable plate is at substantially 90 degrees to both the supply channel and dispense channel. This maximises the smooth flow through the dispense tap.

The supply and/or dispense channel(s) preferably have no deflections within the tap body i.e. the supply channel and dispense channel are preferably linear within the tap body. If deflections are present in the supply and/or dispense channel(s), the supply channel and/or dispense channel proximal the valve assembly is at substantially 90 degrees to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate.

Preferably, the supply channel proximal the valve assembly is recessed into the surface of the fixed plate which is remote from the rotatable plate i.e. the supply channel proximal the valve assembly is partly defined by the fixed plate (and preferably partly by the tap body). In other embodiments, the supply channel may be completely contained within the fixed plate.

Preferably, the dispense channel proximal the valve assembly is recessed into the surface of the fixed plate which is remote from the rotatable plate i.e. the dispense channel proximal the valve assembly is partly defined by the fixed plate (and partly by the tap body). In other embodiments, the dispense channel may be completely contained within the fixed plate.

Accordingly, in preferred embodiments, the surface of the fixed plate remote from the rotatable plate preferably has a supply channel recess which extends to the supply through hole and a dispense channel recess which extends from the dispense through hole.

Preferably, the supply channel recess and dispense channel recess are each of uniform depth. This facilitates formation of the recesses.

By providing a recessed supply channel and dispense channel which extend across the surface of the fixed plate remote from the rotatable plate to/from the through holes, the flow path deflection is minimised. The beverage passes through the tap body to the supply through hole and is diverted for a short distance sideways (through the fixed plate) before sweeping through the trough in the rotatable plate and then back sideways again through the dispense through hole to the dispense channel. The deflection of the flow path as it passes through the valve assembly is minimal.

Preferably, the axis of the supply through hole in the fixed plate is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate i.e. the supply through hole extends through the fixed plate from a surface remote from the rotatable plate to the surface abutting the rotatable plate. In this manner, the supply through hole provides the shortest possible fluid flow path through the fixed plate. Such a supply through hole is also much simpler to form than a supply through hole that passes obliquely through the fixed plate.

Preferably, the axis of the dispense through hole in the fixed plate is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate i.e. the dispense through hole extends through the fixed plate from a surface remote from the rotatable plate to the surface abutting the rotatable plate. In this manner, the dispense through hole provides the shortest possible fluid flow path through the fixed plate. Such a dispense through hole is also much simpler to form than a dispense through hole that passes obliquely through the fixed plate.

The trough in the rotatable plate is preferably circumferentially elongated i.e. it extends in an arc around the circumference of a concentric circle within the rotatable plate. In these embodiments, both of the supply through hole and the dispense through hole extend through the fixed plate offset from the centre of the plate i.e. offset from the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate. In the dispense position, the circumferentially elongated trough overlaps the offset supply and dispense through holes. In the non-dispense position, the circumferentially elongated trough may overlap one of the offset through holes but not both so that no fluid can pass through the valve assembly.

Providing a circumferentially elongated trough for connecting two off-set through holes, results in a smooth flow path which minimises deflections. Providing off-set through holes leaves the centre of the fixed plate free to provide a bearing surface onto which the rotatable plate can bear (e.g. under spring pressure) to maintain a tight seal between the two plates.

By providing a recessed supply channel and dispense channel which extend across the surface of the fixed plate remote from the rotatable plate to/from the axial through holes, the flow path deflection is minimised. The beverage passes through the tap body to the supply through hole and is diverted for a short distance parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate before sweeping through the circumferentially elongated trough in the rotatable plate and then back through the fixed plate parallel to the axis of rotation through the dispense through hole to the dispense channel.

The deflection of the flow path from a simple arced path as it passes through the valve assembly is minimal.

The supply channel is preferably substantially horizontal when the dispense tap is in use. The dispense channel is preferably substantially vertical when the dispense tap is in use. Using a circumferentially elongated trough in the rotatable plate allows the smooth transition from a horizontal fluid flow path to a vertical fluid flow path in a smooth arc about the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate. This smooth arc help minimise de-carbonation of carbonated beverages.

Where the supply channel is horizontal in use and/or the dispense channel is vertical in use, the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate in use is substantially horizontal.

By providing a substantially horizontal supply channel, the dispense tap of the present invention can be retro-fitted to many existing fonts as these typically have a horizontally-arranged fluid supply line.

Furthermore, most existing fonts have drip trays positioned below the tap thus accommodating vertical dispense into a receptacle from the tap and thus the vertical dispense channel also facilitates retrofitting to existing fonts.

Most preferably, the tap body is substantially L-shaped with the supply channel extending through one branch of the body, the dispense channel extending through another branch of the body and the valve assembly being housed at the apex between the two branches.

Such an L-shaped body, which may be moulded in plastics material, provides a simple and compact dispense tap. If the tap body is formed of injection-moulded plastics material, the fixed plate may be moulded into the tap body. This eliminates the need for seals which are prone to failure.

Preferably, the fixed plate is a modified lens shape i.e. a lens shape having right-angled apices. This helps moulding of the fixed plate into the tap body as the fixed plate is linear at the portions adjacent the apices where it is moulded into the tap body.

Preferably, the fixed plate and rotatable plate are formed of ceramics material with the abutting surfaces being highly polished. This provides for a fluid tight seal between the surfaces. The fixed plate and rotatable plates are also preferably biased towards each other by a spring.

The dispense tap preferably further comprises a valve actuation mechanism for rotating the rotatable plate. Preferably, the actuating mechanism comprises a lever which is moveable in an arc about the axis of rotation of the rotatable valve.

Preferably, the lever comprises an extension element which extends from the lever to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate such that movement of the lever in an arc about the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate causes rotation of the rotatable plate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross section through the line C-C shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a simplified cross-section at 90 degrees to the line C-C shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rotatable plate of the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of the rotatable plate of the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the fixed plate of the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a plan view of the fixed plate of the first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 9 shows the fixed plate over-laying the rotatable plate.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view and side view respectively of a first embodiment of the dispense tap of the present invention for dispensing a fluid e.g. a beverage. Figure 3 is a cross section through the tap along the line C-C shown in Figure 2 and Figure 4 is a simplified cross section through the tap at 90 degrees to the line C-C shown in Figure 2.

The tap comprises a tap body 1 which is substantially L-shaped with a substantially horizontal, linear supply channel 2 extending within a first branch 3 of the tap body, the supply channel being connectable to a fluid supply (not shown) and a substantially vertical, linear dispense channel 4 extending within a second branch 5 of the tap body for delivering fluid into a receptacle (not shown). A valve assembly 6 is provided between the supply channel 2 and dispense channel 4 and allows fluid communication therebetween.

The valve assembly 6 comprises a rotatable plate 7 abutting a fixed plate 8.

The rotatable plate 7 is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The rotatable plate is a disc. The surface 15 which is in abutment with the fixed plate 8 has a circumferentially elongated trough 16.

The rotatable plate 7 is rotatable about an axis of rotation which extends axially through the centre of the disc.

The fixed plate is shown in Figures 7 and 8. The fixed plate 8 is a modified lens shape with right angles at its apices 9, 9'. The tap body 1 is formed of injection moulded plastics material and the fixed plate 8 is moulded into the tap body thus obviating the need for seals. The linear portions adjacent the apices 9, 9' provide for a secure moulding into the tap body 1.

The fixed plate 8 is formed of ceramics material and the surface in abutment with the rotatable plate 7 is highly polished.

The surface 10 remote from the rotatable plate 7 is provided with a supply channel recess 11 and a dispense channel recess 12. These recesses are of uniform depth and they partly define the support channel 2 and dispense channel 4 respectively proximal the valve assembly 6, the remainder of each channel proximal the valve assembly being defined by the tap body 1. The supply channel 2 including the supply channel recess 11 and the dispense channel 4 including the dispense channel recess 12 are at 90 degrees to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate.

The fixed plate 8 has a supply channel through hole 13 which extends axially through the fixed plate 8 at the end of the supply channel recess 11. The fixed plate has a dispense channel through hole 14 which extends axially through the fixed plate 8 at the start of the dispense channel recess 12. These through holes 13, 14 are off-set from the centre of the plate and are parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate 7.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of the fixed plate 7 superimposed on the rotatable plate 8. In this Figure the elongated trough 16 overlays the dispense through hole 14 but not the supply through hole 13. This means that there is no fluid communication between the supply channel recess 11 portion of the supply channel 2 and the dispense channel recess 12 portion of the dispense channel 4.

To bring the supply channel 2 and dispense channel 4 into fluid communication, the rotatable plate is rotated to bring the circumferentially elongated trough 16 into alignment with both the supply through hole 13 and the dispense through hole 14.

When the trough 16 is aligned with both through holes 13, 14, the fluid can move in a curved path 17 shown in dotted lines in Figure 9 from the supply through hole 13 to the dispense through hole 14.

Both the fixed plate 7 and rotatable plate 8 have a central aperture 18, 18' for housing a valve actuation mechanism 19. The valve actuation mechanism 19 is for rotating the rotatable plate 7 and comprises a lever 20 which is movable through an arc about the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate 7.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lever 20 is connected by an extension piece 21 to a rotatable block 22 formed of plastic material. The rotatable plate 7 is moulded into the rotatable block 22. The rotatable block 22 has a projection 23 which passes through the apertures 18, 18' in the rotatable plate 7 and the fixed plate 8. The projection receives a fixing screw (not shown) in a bore 24 which secures the rotatable block to an end plate 25. The end plate 25 presses against a spring 26 which biases the tap body 1 housing the fixed plate 7 against the rotatable plate 8 ensuring a tight friction fit between the two plates 7, 8.

When the lever 20 is moved through an arc about the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate 7, the extension piece 21 transfers this rotation to the rotatable block 22 which causes rotation of the rotatable plate.

As discussed above, the rotatable plate 7 is moveable between a dispense position (not shown) in which the trough 16 overlaps the supply through hole 13 and the dispense through hole 14 and a non-dispense position (shown in Figure 9) in which the trough 16 does not overlap both through holes.

The supply channel 2, valve assembly and dispense channel 4 provide a fluid flow path through the dispense tap.

When the rotatable plate 7 is in the dispense position with the trough 16 overlaying the supply hole 13 and the dispense through hole 14, fluid e.g. beverage flows through the supply channel 2 including the supply channel recess 13 without any flow path deflections. The flow path is at 90 degrees to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate 7. The flow path then steps sideways briefly as it passes axially through the fixed plate 8 via the supply through hole 13. The flow path then continues in an arc about the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate 7 within the circumferentially elongated trough 16. After passing back through the fixed plate 8 via the dispense through hole 14, the flow path continues at 90 degrees to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate 7 within the dispense channel recess 12.

This arrangement allows the flow path to change from a horizontal path to a vertical path in a smooth arc (within the circumferentially elongated trough 16). The deflections through the valve assembly are minimal and occur over a very short length of the flow path (upon entry into and exit from the supply and dispense through holes 13, 14). The smooth fluid flow through the tap body minimises de-carbonation of carbonated beverage.

The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A dispense tap for dispensing a fluid, said tap comprising a tap body having a supply channel connectable to a fluid supply and a dispense channel for delivering fluid into a receptacle, the tap further comprising a valve assembly between the supply channel and dispense channel, said valve assembly comprising a fixed plate abutting a rotatable plate, said fixed plate having an supply through hole and a dispense through hole and said rotatable plate having a trough, the rotatable plate being moveable between a dispense position in which the trough overlaps the supply through hole and the dispense through hole and a non-dispense position in which the trough does not overlap both through holes, wherein the axis of the rotation of the rotatable plate is at substantially 90 degrees to the supply channel and/or dispense channel.
2. A dispense tap according to claim 1 wherein the axis of the rotation of the rotatable plate is at substantially 90 degrees to both the supply channel and dispense channel.
3. A dispense tap according to claim 2 wherein the supply channel is substantially horizontal in use and the dispense channel is substantially vertical in use.
4. A dispense tap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tap body is substantially L-shaped with the supply channel extending through one branch of the body, the dispense channel extending through another branch of the body and the valve assembly being housed at the apex.
5. A dispense tap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the axis of the supply through hole in the fixed plate is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate and the supply through hole extends through the fixed plate from a surface remote from the rotatable plate to the surface abutting the rotatable plate.
6. A dispense tap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the axis of the dispense through hole in the fixed plate is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate and the dispense through hole extends through the fixed plate from a surface remote from the rotatable plate to the surface abutting the rotatable plate.
7. A dispense tap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the trough in the rotatable plate is circumferentially elongated.
8. A dispense tap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixed plate comprises a supply channel recess and/or a dispense channel recess extending at 90 degrees to the axis of rotation of the rotatable plate and extending to/from the respective supply/dispense through hole.
9. A dispense tap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixed plate and the rotatable plate are formed of ceramics material.
10. A dispense tap substantially as any one embodiment herein described with reterence to the accompanying figures.