IE47813B1 - An apparatus for the dispensing of carbonated beverages - Google Patents

Description

This invention concerns apparatus for the dispensing of carbonated beverages, particularly a device for inhibiting fob in the dispensing of draught beers and stout.

One of the problems encountered when dispensing draught beer, and especially draught stout, is when the pressurized container from which the beer or stout is to be dispensed is nearly emptied there is a build up of fob or froth which constitutes a considerable wastage. Several pints of fob must be cleared from the dispensing system before the next full container can be connected to the system. It is an object of the present invention to overcome this problem, and effectively eliminate unnecessary wastage. In the prior art, where apparatus using an outlet float valve mechanism has been employed, for example as described in British Patent Specification No. 1,357,953, there has been some difficulty in ensuring the effective operation of the mechanism, and it is an object of the present invention to improve this operation. '15 · According to the present invention there is provided a device, for use in inhibiting dispense of fob, comprising a chamber having an inlet aperture for - 2 3NSDOCID: receiving carbonated liquid beverage from a supply source, and an outlet aperture for discharging such liquid beverage to a dispensing means the outlet aperture being surrounded by a seating, a float movable within the chamber relative to the seating, the float being buoyant in the liquid beverage but not in fob and being arranged to make sealing engagement with the seating when the chamber is empty or substantially empty of liquid beverage, and means to displace the float from the seating, said float displacement means being disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of the chamber, in a side wall thereof. In one embodiment, the internal wall or walls of the chamber are provided with baffles to influence the flow of liquid in the chamber and to guide the float up and down above the seating. Normally the outlet aperture is at or near to the bottom of the chamber, and there is preferably a vent communicable with the top of the chamber, and closable by valve means. Preferably the chamber is cylindrical and, if present, the baffles are suitably arranged vertically. There may suitably be 3-6 baffles. In a first embodiment, there are three baffles mounted equiangularly around the chamber, and the inner edges of the baffles define a cylindrical space in which the float moves up and down.

Advantageously, the walls of the chamber and the baffles are constructed from transparent plastics material, preferably acrylic resin material, so that the level of the liquid beverage may be seen. The top and bottom components of the chamber and the inlet and outlet are preferably constructed from a strong metal alloy, preferably nickel/tin coated brass. The float preferably comprises a solid spherical body suitably of plastics material such as polytetraf1uoro25 ethylene, or it may be hollow, but must have the property of floating on the surface of the liquid beverage while not being affected by the level of fob.

The float displacement means preferably comprises a spring loaded plunger.

BNSDOCID: 47813B I > 478 13 Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying figures in which:Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1 in the direction indicated by the line AA' in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 3 in the direction indicated by the line BB' in Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the device comprises a cylindrical chamber 1, enclosed by a wall 2 of transparent acrylic resin material sold under the Registered Trade Mark PERSPEX, a metal top component 3 and a bottom component 4. Three elongate screws 5, threaded only at their extremities, pass through the base plate 6, bottom component 4, along the outer surface of chamber wall 2, through top component 3, and retaining nuts 7 which hold all components rigidly together. Seals are provided by rubber 0-rings 24 situated in reamed recesses where the annular end faces of wall component 2 engage into each of the top and bottom components 3 and 4. An inlet port 8 projects outwardly from the bottom component of the chamber near its base and is suitably bevelled at its outermost end so that a tube (not shown) leading from the supply source may be sealingly connected to it. An outlet passage 9 allows communication from the base of the chamber to a threaded outlet port 10, which may be connected by suitable means to the dispensing point (not shown). A spherical float 11, rests on a concave seating 12 formed in the base of the chamber at the opening of the outlet passage 9, thereby closing off communication - 4 INSDOCID: clE. 47813B I > between the chamber and the outlet passage when the chamber is empty. The outlet passage 9 is coaxial with the chamber 1. A plunger rod 13 extends in horizontally through the side wall opposite the float when in its seated position so as to make contact with the float when the push-button 15 is urged home to the retaining collar nut 14, the plunger rod returning to its first position by the action of a spring 16. Seals are provided by a washer 17 and a rubber o-ring 18, set into a groove on the plunger rod 13 and another sealing ring may be provided on the head of the plunger rod.

A vent valve 19 connects with the chamber through the top component 3, and by turning the milled turnscrew 20 in an anticlockwise direction, this causes the valve to open allowing communication between the chamber and vent port 21 (on the far side of the device in Figure 1). The main seal is provided by a rubber o-ring 25 on the head of the valve inside the chamber.

Three vertical baffles 22 project radially inwards from the inside wall of the chamber, extend approximately two-thirds down the length of the chamber, and are disposed equidistant from each other and have a curved lower edge so as to prevent the float from lodging under the baffles when the liquid level rises accordingly. The width of the baffles (in a radial direction) is such that the inner edges of the baffles define a notional circle which is slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the float. In addition the size and spacing of the baffles in relation to the size of the float is such that the float cannot fit into the space between any two baffles and the chamber wall. In order that the whole device may be fixed to a vertical surface, for instance a cellar wall, a back plate 23 is provided which is welded to the base plate 6.

In operation, the baffles act to prevent a vortex in the liquid from forming, as this tends to draw the float downwards towards the seating and may even close INSDOCID: 47813B I off the outlet passage which would be undesirable. At the same time the baffles act as a guide for the float as it moves up or down according to the liquid level in the chamber. In the event of fobbing when the supply source has become exhausted, the liquid level will fall and the float will move downwards towards the seating and engage with it, thus isolating the chamber, and cutting off the supply of beer or stout at the dispensing point. As the pressure is also cut off, fob will not be carried forward to the dispensing point. Upon connection of the device to a fresh supply source, the vent valve is opened manually to release C0a from the chamber, leaving behind the small ,0 liquid fraction of the fob. The chamber is then filled with beer or stout from the fresh supply source which is under pressure and sufficient to hold the float in position against the outlet port. The float is then unseated from the outlet passage by actuating the displacement plunger which allows the dispensing of beer or stout to be continued.

,. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, which show a second embodiment of the 1 b invention, there is provided a device similar in most respects to the first embodiment described above, but with the following modifications: (a) The chamber 31 is not provided with any baffles. (b) The spherical float 41 is of a lower specific gravity than the float 11 in Figure 1. (c) The plunger rod 43 is slidable within a collar 44a which is an externally screw-threaded hollow shank integral with a retaining collar nut 44.

By unfastening the collar nut 44, the whole plunger assembly may be removed intact from the bottom component 34 of the device. Sealing between the rod and the collar is provided by an 0-ring held in a groove around the rod. (d) A rigid hook 56 projects from the face of the collar nut 44 to clear the push-button 55 of the plunger, the hooked portion being bent in a horizontal plane. A similar rigid hook 57 projects radially from the edge of the push - 6 3NSDOCID: button 55, the hooked portion being bent parallel to the edge of the push button 55. The hooks 56, 57 are formed in such a way that when the pushbutton 55 of the plunger is depressed, and then rotated sufficiently to engage the two hooks with one another, the hooks interlock, thus retaining the plunger in a depressed position if desired, for example during rinsing operations when it is necessary to keep the float off the seating 12. (e) The vent valve 49 is movable within a collar 58a which is an externally screw-threaded hollow shank integral with a retaining nut 58. By unfastening the retaining nut 58, the whole vent assembly may be removed intact from the top component 33 of the device. (f) The top component 33, and the bottom component 34 are each provided with an internally threaded aperture to receive the externally threaded shank portions 58a and 44a of the respective retaining nuts 58 and 44 already described.

The lower specific gravity of the spherical float 41 minimises the effect of the float being sucked down towards the outlet passage should a vortex form in the liquid contained in the chamber, so that the provision of baffles as in the first embodiment is not absolutely necessary.

It is an advantage of the second embodiment of the invention to have the facility of fitting or removing intact the plunger and vent assemblies from the bottom and top components of the device, thus allowing easier assembly or replacement of parts.

The invention is not restricted to the exact description of the embodiment described above, and in particular there may be a by-pass conduit interconnecting the outlet passage with the chamber when a valve is opened. When the float is engaged with the outlet, and the chamber is full of liquid, instead of unseating the float by means of a plunger, the by-pass valve could be opened thus - 7 3NSDOCID: 47813B I > permitting an equalisation of pressure in the outlet passage and inside the chamber so that the float would rise to the top of the chamber in the normal fashion.

The float itself may be of any shape compatible with the seating and suitable for movement up and down within the chamber or between the baffles, and/or formed from different materials, and likewise the chamber, which may also be suitably modified to be connected to various dispensing systems.

The plunger and the vent valve, though operated manually in the preferred embodiment, could be operated by other means and/or remote from the device itself.

As an alternative to the three baffles of the first embodiment, there may be four baffles spaced at equal intervals around the inside chamber walls.

The back plate 23, in either embodiment, may have two inverted-keyhole slots, by means of which the device may be easily attached to and removed from two pegs or screws projecting from a wall.

The back plate 23 is parallel to the axis of the chamber which is arranged vertically. The plunger projects horizontally at right angles to the back plate and the wall on which it is mounted. It is therefore very simple to depress the plunger by pushing with one hand on the button 55 in the direction towards the wall. This is an easier and quicker operation than that required to operate a plunger which extends upwardly at an angle through the bottom of the chamber. If an upwardly pushing movement were required to operate the plunger, one could not safely hang the device on pegs or screws by means of slots in the back plate, because an upward movement could tend to unseat the back plate.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for use in inhibiting dispense of fob comprising a chamber having an inlet aperture for receiving carbonated liquid beverage from a supply source, and an outlet aperture for discharging such liquid beverage to a 5 dispensing means, the outlet aperture being surrounded by a seating, a float movable within the chamber relative to the seating, the float being buoyant in the liquid beverage but not in fob and being arranged to make sealing engagement with the seating when the chamber is empty or substantially empty of liquid beverage, and means to displace the float from the seating, said float 10 displacement means being disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of the chamber, in a side wall thereof.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the internal wall or walls of the chamber are provided with baffles to influence the flow of liquid in the chamber and to guide the float up and down above the seating. 15

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the outlet aperture is at or near to the bottom of the chamber.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the chamber is provided with a vent communicable with the top of the chamber and closable by a valve unit which is in screw-threaded engagement with the chamber top component. 20

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the float displacement means is a spring-loaded plunger.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the float displacement means is provided with a catch to override the spring and hold the plunger in its displacing position. BNSDOCID: 47813B I >

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the float displacement means is a unit which is in screw-threaded engagement with the chamber wall.

8. Apparatus for use in inhibiting dispense of fob substantially as 5 described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.