AU2008217363A1

AU2008217363A1 - Keg coupling

Info

Publication number: AU2008217363A1
Application number: AU2008217363A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Steenberg Poulsen
Original assignee: Micro Matic AS
Current assignee: Micro Matic AS
Priority date: 2007-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2008-08-28
Also published as: BRPI0807607A2; JP2010519143A; RU2009135036A; CN101631738A; WO2008101503A2; WO2008101503A3; US20100320238A1; DK200700267A; EP2117991A2

Description

WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 Keg Coupling Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dispensing device for a dispensing system to be used in connection with dispensing of a beverage. The dispens ing system comprises a beverage container comprising a beverage outlet, a 5 pressure medium, such as carbon dioxide (C02), which is adapted to force the beverage via the beverage outlet out of said beverage container. The pre sent invention further relates to a method for dispensing beverage from a dis pensing system comprising a dispensing device. Background of the Invention 10 A large number of systems and devices are known within the field of beverage dispensing. Typically, the beverage is stored in a container, such as a beer keg, which during use is connected to a dispensing system. The bev erage flows from the container through a dispensing line, which is typically fastened at some sort of tapping cock where the beverage is dispensed. The 15 flow of beverage may for instance be achieved by a higher than atmospheric pressure inside the container, forcing beer into the dispensing line. During use of the dispensing system, pressure is usually continuously applied to the inside of the container by means of a pressure medium. It is common to use C02 as the pressure medium. 20 The pressure medium is usually supplied to the beverage container from a gas cylinder via some sort of coupling device. Also, it is common that the coupling device connects to the beverage outlet of for instance a beer keg, whereby it serves to supply pressure medium such as C02 to the bever age container and beverage to the dispensing system. 25 When a beverage container such as a beer keg is connected to a dis pensing system by means of a coupling device, it is preferable if this can be carried out without leakage of pressure medium (i.e. C02) to the surround ings. In the current art, this is done by integrating sophisticated connection means in the coupling device. These connection means tend to be rather 30 complex and expensive, and in most cases the pressure medium leakage WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 2 during connection of the beverage container is merely limited, but not elimi nated. In some examples of prior art, the pressure medium flow is connected to the dispensing device first, and subsequently the beer flow is connected. One drawback of this is that it entails a risk of foaming once the beer flow is 5 connected, which is at best messy and at worst dangerous for the user in case the pressure is high enough to cause equipment failure. Hence, there is a need for a coupling device that is cheap and simple yet provides a satisfac tory prevention of pressure medium leakage and foaming. Another drawback of the current dispensing devices is that they are dif 10 ficult and expensive to clean. The many components, such as valves and pip ing, must be disassembled to ensure a proper cleaning, making the proce dure long and expensive. Also, since the hygiene is of high importance when it comes to handling of beverages, the risk of improper cleaning of the dis pensing device due to the time consuming procedure of disassembling the 15 device and cleaning all the grooves and notches of the dispensing device's components. In some examples of the current prior art, the cleaning proce dure is sought simplified by pumping small sponge balls through the dispens ing device. This is advantageous as it saves time, but unfortunately it does not work with those dispensing devices having valves incorporated to ensure 20 a satisfactory functionality, as the valves block the passage of the sponge balls. The dispensing devices of the current prior art are primarily made from stainless steel or other materials which do not contaminate the beverage to be dispensed. With the rising prices of raw materials, a need for dispensing 25 equipment using less material is becoming even more important to manufac turers of dispensing devices. Additionally, the complexity of the dispensing devices of the current art requires extensive machining during manufacturing, which is very costly - especially when using stainless steel. Hence, there is a need to provide a dispensing device with lower manufacturing costs, for in 30 stance by minimising the necessary amount of expensive materials per de vice. It is a requirement that the coupling of the beverage container to the dispensing system is as simple and fast as possible. In some examples of the WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 3 current art, the beverage container must be rotated into the coupling device, whereby the connection of beverage flow and pressure medium flow can be established either as a result of the rotation or by an additional user interac tion, for instance by the opening of valves. Regardless, this method has the 5 clear disadvantage that the beverage containers are usually quite heavy, making the coupling operation difficult and hazardous. Also, the troublesome coupling operation entails a larger risk of faulty connection of the beverage flow or the pressure medium flow, resulting in leakages to the surroundings. Hence, there is a need for a coupling device that provides an easy and safe 10 coupling operation. When the dispensing devices of the current art are detached from the beverage container after this is emptied, the user must ensure that the flow of C02 is disconnected prior to the detachment. If this step is forgotten, the pressure medium will flow to the surroundings upon detachment of the dis 15 pensing device, which is inconvenient, dangerous and costly. Hence, there is a need for a dispensing device which can not be detached from the beverage container without the flow of pressure medium being stopped. Summary of the Invention An object of the present invention is to wholly or partly overcome the 20 above disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. More specifically, it is an object to provide a dispensing device for a dispensing system to be used in connection with dispensing of a beverage, said system comprising a bever age container comprising an outlet, a pressure medium, such as C02, which is adapted to force the beverage via the outlet out of said beverage container, 25 in which said dispensing device comprises a coupling member, and said con nection of dispensing of beverage and said connection of said flow of said pressure medium to said container is effected by an essentially linear move ment of said coupling member, and in which said disconnection of dispensing of beverage and said disconnection of said flow of said pressure medium to 30 said container is effected by an essentially linear movement of said coupling member. An advantage of being able to connect and disconnect the flow of bev erage and pressure medium in the same movement is that it makes it possi- WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 4 ble to minimise or even eliminate the leakage of pressure medium to the sur roundings by designing the coupling member so that the beverage inlet and the pressure medium outlet are opened respectively closed simultaneously. The latter is facilitated by the essentially linear movement of the coupling 5 member. A further advantage is that the need to rotate or in other ways move the beverage container to connect and disconnect the flows of beverage and pressure medium is eliminated. The dispensing device according to the invention may be adapted to connect the dispensing of beverage from said container and the flow of said 10 pressure medium to said container at essentially the same time. Also, the dispensing device according to the invention may be adapted to disconnect the dispensing of beverage from said container and the flow of said pressure medium to said container at essentially the same time. An advantage of this is that it makes it possible to minimise or even eliminate the leakage of pressure 15 medium to the surroundings by the pressure medium outlet and the beverage inlet being opened respectively closed simultaneously. The dispensing device according to the invention may comprise a han dle member comprising a first end with a slide member extending from it, a second end, and a midsection, wherein said midsection is attached to said 20 coupling member in a rotatable joint. This is advantageous, as it makes it possible to convert movement of the handle member into movement of the coupling member. Furthermore, it enables conversion of the movement of the handle member into rotational movement of components comprised by the coupling member. 25 The dispensing device according to the invention may be mounted in a housing, said housing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said second end comprises a holder for said beverage container. The housing serves to hold the components of the dispensing device in place. The holder makes it possible to connect the dispensing device to a beverage container 30 and it also makes it possible to steer movement of the components of the dis pensing device relative to the beverage container. The housing may further comprise a groove in which said coupling member can carry out said essentially linear movement. This is advanta- WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 5 geous, as it makes it possible to steer the movement of the coupling member relative to the housing. The first end of said housing may comprise a closed track in which said slide member can slide in an essentially linear movement between a first ex 5 treme and a second extreme. This is advantageous, as it in cooperation with said rotational joint makes it possible to convert rotational movement of said handle member into linear movement of said coupling member. The dispensing device according to the invention may be so that said dispensing of beverage and said flow of said pressure medium to said bever 10 age container is connected when said slide member moves from said first extreme to said second extreme. The dispensing device according to the in vention may be so that said dispensing of beverage and said flow of said pressure medium is disconnected when said slide member moves from said second extreme to said first extreme. The slide member may move towards 15 said second extreme by rotation of said handle member around said rotatable joint in a first direction and wherein said slide member moves away from said second extreme by rotation of said handle member around said rotatable joint in a second direction. This is advantageous, as it enables the connection and disconnection of the two flows to be effected by rotation of the handle mem 20 ber via the conversion into linear movement of the coupling member. Hence, the cooperation of handle member, the rotational joint, the slide member and the coupling member makes it possible to achieve connection and disconnec tion of the two flows by a simple user interaction, i.e. by pressing a handle member. 25 The dispensing device according to the invention may comprise a compressible seal member and a tube member comprising a pressure me dium duct, a first end, and a second end, and the coupling member com prised by the dispensing device may comprise a beverage duct, a first end, a second end and a mid section, and said second end of said tube member 30 may be attached to said mid section of said engagement member, and said seal member may be located at said second end of said coupling member. An advantage of the compressible seal member is that it can be activated and deactivated by a linear interaction with another member, such as the coupling WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 6 member. An advantage of the tube member is that it enables an easy connec tion of the flow of pressure medium to the dispensing device. An advantage of the beverage duct is that it enables flow of beverage through the coupling member, which is advantageous when the flow of beer can be connected 5 and/or disconnected by a linear movement of the coupling member. The dispensing device according to the invention may comprise a bev erage duct extending from a beverage outlet at said first end of said coupling member to a beverage inlet at said second end of said coupling member, and wherein said beverage duct comprises a beverage valve. The beverage valve 10 may be essentially cylindrical and comprise a circular cross-section and a duct extending through said circular cross-section. The beverage valve may be rotatable around an axis being essentially orthogonal to said circular cross-section of said beverage valve. Furthermore, the beverage valve may be comprised by said rotatable joint. An advantage of the beer valve being 15 cylindrical and comprising a beverage duct is that it makes it possible to act as the rotational joint, whereby rotation of the handle member can effect opening or closing of the beer valve at the same time as the rotation of the handle member effects a linear movement of the coupling member. The pressure medium duct comprised by the dispensing device may 20 start at said first end of said tube member, it may pass through the attach ment of said second end of said tube member and said midsection of said coupling member, and it may end in a pressure medium outlet at said second end of said coupling member. The compressible seal member comprised by the dispensing device may in a non-compressed state close said pressure 25 medium outlet and it may in a compressed state not close said pressure me dium outlet. This is advantageous, as it makes it easier to make the linear movement of the coupling member effect connection or disconnection of the pressure medium flow from the dispensing device to the beverage container. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for 30 dispensing beverage from a dispensing system comprising a dispensing de vice according to the invention. Said method comprises connecting a pres sure medium nozzle to said dispensing device, connecting said dispensing device to a beverage container, and moving said coupling member in an es- WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 7 sentially linear movement. This method is advantageous, as it does not re quire any movement of the beverage container, and it is very simple to use, as all the user has to do to start the beverage dispensing is to effect a linear movement of the coupling. The simplicity of the method also has the advan 5 tage that it enables a simpler and thus cheaper design of the dispensing de vice. The method according to the invention may further comprise any of: ef fecting said essentially linear movement of said coupling member by rotating a handle member, effecting a beverage valve to open by said essentially lin 10 ear movement of said coupling member, effecting a beverage valve to close by said essentially linear movement of said coupling member, effecting a pressure medium outlet to open by said essentially linear movement of said coupling member, effecting a pressure medium outlet to close by said essen tially linear movement of said coupling member. 15 Brief Description of the Drawings The invention and its many advantages will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show some non-limiting embodiments and in which Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a dispensing system comprising a 20 dispensing device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view and a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a dispensing device according to the in vention, Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodi 25 ment of a dispensing device in an engaged state and in two disengaged states, Fig. 4 shows two perspective views of a dispensing device according to the invention, and Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of the components of a preferred em 30 bodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention. All the figures are highly schematic, not necessarily to scale, and they show only parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested.

WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 8 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a dispensing system 2 comprising a preferred embodiment of a dispensing device I according to the invention. The dispensing device 1 is connected to a source of pressure medium 5. In 5 section (a) of figure 1, the dispensing device 1 is about to be connected to the beverage outlet 6 of a beverage container 4 via a holder 17 comprised by the dispensing device 1. The connection of flow of beverage 3 from the container 4 to the dispensing device 1 is established by an essentially linear movement of the coupling member 7 comprised by the dispensing device 1. In section 10 (a) of figure 1, the coupling member 7 is about to carry out this essentially linear movement, and in section (b) of figure 1, the coupling member 7 has completed the essentially linear movement. At some point during the linear movement of the coupling member 7, the flow of beverage from the container 4 through the dispensing device 1 is initiated, and at the same point of the 15 movement, the flow of pressure medium 5 to the beverage container 4 is also initiated. By reversing the linear movement of the coupling member, i.e. by moving from the state shown in section (b) of figure 1 to the state shown in section (a) of figure 1, the flow of beverage from the container 4 through the dispensing device 1 is discontinued at some point of the movement, and at 20 the same point of the movement, the flow of pressure medium 5 to the bever age container 4 is also discontinued. The movement of the coupling member 7 can also, in other preferred embodiments, be exactly linear, or it can even follow an arc or a curve. In the preferred embodiment of the dispensing de vice 1 shown in figure 1, the essentially linear movement of the coupling 25 member 7 is effected by the rotation of a handle member 8 around a rotatable joint 13, where the rotational movement is converted to linear movement by means of a slide member 12 in the end of the handle member 8, which is constrained to a linear movement in a track 19 comprised by the housing 14. It is important to notice that the linear movement of the coupling member 7 30 can be effected in several other ways, for instance by being pushed from the above by a user. In another preferred embodiment, the track 19 can be arched or curved instead of being linear, whereby the conversion of the rota tional movement of the handle member 8 into linear movement of the cou- WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 9 pling member 7 can be geared so that the velocity of the coupling member's 7 movement relative to the housing 14 varies as a function of how far the han dle member 8 has been rotated around the rotational joint 13. Fig. 2 shows in section (a) a schematic cross-sectional view and in 5 section (b) a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a dispensing device 1 according to the invention. The dispensing device 1 comprises a coupling member 7 which comprises a beverage duct 27, a first end 28, a second end 29 and a mid section 30. Furthermore, the dispensing device 1 is mounted in a housing 14, which comprises a first end 15 and a second end 10 16. The holder 17 for the beverage container 4 (not shown) is situated in the second end 16. The housing 14 also comprises a groove 18 in which the coupling member 7 can slide back and forth in an essentially linear move ment. The dispensing device 1 according to the preferred embodiment shown 15 in figure 2 comprises a tube member 22 comprising a pressure medium duct 23. The tube member 22 is at its second end 25 attached to the midsection 30 of the coupling member 7. The pressure medium duct 23 extends from the first end 24 of the tube member 22, extends further to the second end 25 of the tube member 22 and into the coupling member 7, through which it ex 20 tends to a pressure medium outlet 34 at said second end 29 of the coupling member 7. In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 2, the pressure me dium duct 23 is adapted to fit the nozzle of a pressure medium hose in the sense that the portion of the duct 23 that extends through the tube member 22 has a larger cross-sectional area than that of the portion of the pressure 25 medium duct 23 that extends through the coupling member 7. At the point where the cross-sectional area changes is a pressure medium inlet 36. The pressure medium duct 23 can in other preferred embodiments also extend through other parts of the dispensing device 1, if for instance it is preferred to connect a nozzle of a pressure medium hose in a different part of the dis 30 pensing device 1. Also, the cross-sectional areas of the different portions of the pressure medium duct can in other preferred embodiments be different. In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 2, the pressure medium outlet 34 is covered by a compressible seal member 26 located at the second WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 10 end 29 of the coupling member 7, so that the pressure medium duct 23 is hermetically sealed when the compressible seal member 26 is in a non compressed state. When the compressible seal member is compressed, it does not cover the pressure medium outlet, thus making it possible for pres 5 sure medium to flow from the dispensing device to for instance a beverage container 4 (not shown). In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 2, the compressible seal member 26 is shaped as a torus-like pipe element circling the second end 29 of the coupling member 7, so that the compressible seal member 26 moves along with the coupling member 7. This has the effect that 10 the compressible seal member 26 can be compressed or decompressed if the movement of the coupling member causes it to impact an outside element, such as a beverage container 4 (not shown). Hence, in the preferred em bodiment, the compressible seal member enables a direct link between movement of the coupling member and the opening or shutting of the pres 15 sure medium outlet 34. In the preferred embodiment of the dispensing device 1 shown in figure 2, the dispensing device 1 comprises a handle member 8 comprising a first end 9 shaped as a two-legged fork with a slide member 12 extending from each leg of the fork. The slide members 12 are in the preferred embodiment 20 cylindrical and extend orthogonally from each of the legs of the fork of the first end 9. The slide members 12 each engage tracks 19 comprised by the mid section 40 of the housing 14. The tracks 19 are essentially linear, so that the slide members 12 can slide in essentially linear movements between first ex tremes 20 and second extremes 21 of the tracks 19. In the preferred em 25 bodiment, the tracks 19 are parallel with each other and orthogonal to the di rections in which the coupling member 7 can slide in the groove 18 of the housing 14. In another preferred embodiment, the tracks 19 can be arched, curved or angled, and they can also be unparallel with each other, and they can even not be orthogonal to the groove 18. Also, in another preferred em 30 bodiment the first end 9 can be a simple rod or a fork with more than two legs. The handle member 8 further comprises a midsection 11 which is at tached to the coupling member 7 in a rotatable joint 13. In the preferred em bodiment, the midsection 11 is comprised by the two fork-legs of the first end WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 11 9. The rotatable joint 13 is in a preferred embodiment a cylindrical element which extends from a first of the fork-legs of the midsection 11, through the coupling member 7, to a second of the fork-legs of the midsection 11. In an other preferred embodiment, the midsection 11 can be a simple rod or com 5 prise more than two fork legs. Also, in another preferred embodiment, the ro tational joint 13 can be another type of rotational joint, such as a ball bearing or any other suitable joint. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the handle member 8 comprises a second end 10, extending from the midsection 11 in an angle relative to the first end 9. The second end 10 is in the preferred 10 embodiment shaped as a handle which is convenient for a user to pull. In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 2, the coupling member 7 comprises a beverage duct 27 extending from a beverage outlet 35 at the first end 28 of the coupling member 7 to a beverage inlet 37 at the second end 29 of said coupling member 7. In the preferred embodiment, the beverage outlet 15 35 is adapted to a dispensing line from which the beverage 3 (not shown) can poured into for instance a glass. The beverage inlet 37 is in the preferred em bodiment adapted to the beverage outlet 6 of the beverage container 4 (not shown). In other preferred embodiments, the beverage outlet 35 and/or the beverage inlet 37 can be adapted to other types of beverage containers 20 and/or other types of dispensing lines. In the preferred embodiment, the bev erage duct 27 comprises a beverage valve 31 which is cylindrical with a duct 33 through its circular cross-section 32. The beverage valve 31 is arranged so that it, upon rotation around an axis 34 being essentially orthogonal to the circular cross-section 32, can change from a state where it blocks the bever 25 age duct 27 to a state where it does not block the beverage duct 27. In the latter, the duct 33 is aligned with the beverage duct 27, so that a passage of beverage 3 (not shown) through the coupling member 7 is possible. In other preferred embodiments, the beverage valve 31 can be of a shape different from cylindrical, such as conical or spherical. The beverage valve 31 com 30 prises a sealing member 41 (not shown) in order to ensure a proper blocking of the beverage duct 27.

WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 12 In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 2, the beverage valve 31 and the rotational joint 13 is the same component. This is very advantageous, as it creates a direct link between the opening and shutting of the beverage valve and the linear movement of the coupling member. 5 In other preferred embodiments of the invention, the rotational valve 31 can be replaced by other valve types, such as a compressible hose, a mag netic valve or any other suitable valve type. Additionally, other preferred em bodiments can comprise a valve that can be shut or opened as a result of activated respectively deactivated flow of pressure medium. 10 Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the preferred em bodiment of a dispensing device 1 from figure 2 in three different states. In section (a) of figure 3, the dispensing device I is shown in a disengaged state with the handle member in a top position, whereby the beverage valve 31 is closed so that beverage 3 (not shown) can not pass through the beverage 15 duct 27. Also, the compressible seal member 26 is in a non-compressed state, whereby the pressure medium outlet 34 is closed. In section (b) of figure 3, the preferred embodiment of the dispensing device I is shown in a state where it is connected to a beverage container 4. Prior to connecting the dispensing device 1 to the beverage container 4, a 20 nozzle 42 of a hose supplying pressure medium 5 to the dispensing system 2 is connected to the pressure medium inlet 36 comprised by the pressure me dium duct 23. This enables flow of pressure medium 5 through the pressure medium duct 23 all the way to the pressure medium outlet 34, which is sealed by the compressible seal member 26 as the dispensing device is not con 25 nected to the beverage container 4. Upon connecting the nozzle 42, the holder 17 of the housing 14 is slid onto a connection piece 43 comprised by the beverage container 4 so that a firm connection is established. Thereafter, the handle member 8 is rotated around the rotatable joint 13, whereby the slide members 12 (not shown) move from the extremes 20 towards the ex 30 tremes 21, both comprised by the track 19 (not shown). As explained in the above, the orthogonality between the track 19 (not shown) and the groove 18 makes it possible to convert the rotational movement of the handle member 8 into a linear movement of the coupling member 7 by means of the coopera- WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 13 tion of the slide members 12 (not shown), the rotational joint 13, and the track 19 and the groove 18. Hence, the rotation of the handle member effects an essentially linear movement of the coupling member 7. In other preferred em bodiments, a user can effect the linear movement of the coupling member 7 5 in other ways than by rotating a handle member 8, for instance by directly pushing the coupling member, by activating an automated means or by pull ing another intermediate part than a manual handle member 8. In yet other preferred embodiments, the track 19 can be curved to achieve a gearing of the conversion of the rotational movement of the handle member 8 into es 10 sentially linear movement of the coupling member 7. During the essentially linear movement of the coupling member to wards the beverage container 4, the compressible sealing member 26 en gages the connection piece of the beverage container 4, whereby the com pressible seal member 26 is compressed causing the pressure medium outlet 15 34 to be opened. At this point of the linear movement of the coupling member 7, the pressure medium outlet 34 is inside the beverage container 4 and the pressure medium 5 thus only flows to the inside of the beverage container 4 and not to the surroundings. When pressure medium 5 is flowing into the beverage container 4, the added pressure pushes beverage towards the bev 20 erage outlet 6. At the same point of the movement of the coupling member 7, the beverage outlet 6 is inside part of the beverage duct 27 located near the second end 29 of the coupling member 7, and the beverage now flowing from the inside of the beverage container 4 flows into the beverage duct 27 and not to the surroundings. At a point a bit further of the linear movement of the cou 25 pling member 7, the beverage valve 31 is opened as an additional result of the rotation of the handle member 8, whereby the beverage 3 (not shown) can flow through the entire beverage duct 27, out of the beverage outlet 35 and into a dispensing line (not shown). It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the coherence of when exactly the pressure medium valve 34 is 30 opened, exactly when the beverage valve 31 is opened, exactly when and how contact with the various parts of the beverage container 4 is achieved, can be altered in other preferred embodiments without deviating from the pre sent invention.

WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 14 Reversing the rotation of the handle member 8 effects a reversion of the linear movement of the coupling member 7 and the rotation also shuts the beverage valve 31. As the coupling member 7 moves away from the connec tion piece 43, the compressible seal member 26 moves back to its non 5 compressed state, whereby the pressure medium outlet 34 is covered by the compressible seal member again. The opening and shutting of the pressure medium outlet 34 is effected by the linear movement of the coupling member 7 and the contact with the connection piece 43 of the beverage container. Hence, if the dispensing de 10 vice 1 is not connected to the beverage container 4, the handle member 8 or the coupling member 7 can be moved without it resulting in undesired open ing of the pressure medium outlet 34, and the dispensing device 1 according to the invention thus prevents leakage of pressure medium to the surround ings caused for instance by faulty disconnection from a beverage container. 15 In section (c) of figure 3 is shown the preferred embodiment of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention in a state where it is not connected to a beverage container, but where the handle member 8 is rotated without the pressure medium outlet 34 being opened. It is clear for the person skilled in the art that the other preferred em 20 bodiments mentioned in the above can function in the same way as shown in figure 2. Fig. 4 shows two perspective views of the preferred embodiment from figures 2 and 3 of a dispensing device 1 according to the invention. In section (a) of figure 4, the dispensing device 1 is shown in a rear perspective, and in 25 section (b) of figure 4, the dispensing device 1 is shown in a front perspective without the housing 14 in order to better visualise the handle member 8 and the coupling member 7. Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of components of the preferred em bodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention. In figure 5, the 30 components are shown from side view perpendicular to that in figures 1-4. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the compressible seal member 26 comprises a helical spring, a ring of a flexible material and a ring of a rigid material. This combination is suitable for the coupling member 7 of the pre- WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 15 ferred embodiment of the invention. The handle member 8 of the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two fork legs and a handle, as shown in figure 5. The beverage valve 31 of the preferred embodiment comprises a cylindrical piece with a duct through its cross-section. The cylindrical piece is 5 enclosed in a seal member which can be a modified O-ring made from a flexible material. The person skilled in the art will see that a dispensing device according to the invention can easily be used with or adapted to other types of beverage containers 4 than that shown in figures 1-4, by for instance moving the bever 10 age inlet 37 and/or the pressure outlet 34 to match the beverage outlet and/or the pressure medium inlet of a specific container. Also, the person skilled in the art can easily adapt the compressible seal member 26 and/or the housing 14 and/or the coupling member 7 to fit other types of beverage containers that used as example in figures 1-4. 15 The materials to be used for the various components of the dispensing device according to the invention can easily be picked by the person skilled in the art. In most cases, applying stainless steel for rigid components and rub ber for flexible components is one example. Although the invention above has been described in connection with 20 preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be evident for a person skilled in the art that several modifications are conceivable without departing from the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A dispensing device (1) for a dispensing system (2) to be used in connection with dispensing of a beverage (3), said dispensing system (2) comprising a beverage container (4) comprising a beverage outlet (6), a pres 5 sure medium (5), such as C02, which is adapted to force the beverage (3) via the beverage outlet (6) out of said beverage container (4), wherein aid dis pensing device (1) comprises a coupling member (7), the connection of dis pensing of beverage (3) and the connection of the flow of said pressure me dium (5) to said beverage container (4) are effected by an essentially linear 10 movement of said coupling member (7), wherein he disconnection of dispens ing of beverage (3) and the disconnection of the flow of said pressure medium (5) to said beverage container (4) are effected by an essentially linear move ment of said coupling member (7), wherein said dispensing device (1) com prises a handle member (8) comprising a first end (9) with a slide member 15 (12) extending from it, a second end (10), and a midsection (11), wherein said midsection (11) is attached to said coupling member (7) in a rotatable joint (13), characterized in that said rotatable joint (13) comprises a beverage valve (31).

2. Dispensing device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein 20 said dispensing device (1) is adapted to connect the dispensing of beverage (3) from said beverage container (4) and the flow of said pressure medium (5) to said beverage container (4) at essentially the same time.

3. Dispensing device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said dispensing device (1) is adapted to disconnect the dispensing of bever 25 age (3) and the flow of said pressure medium (5) to said beverage container (4) at essentially the same time.

4. Dispensing device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein said dispensing device (1) is mounted in a housing (14), said housing (14) comprising a first end (15) and a second end (16), wherein said second end 30 (16) comprises a holder (17) for said beverage container (4).

5. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 4, wherein said housing (14) further comprises a groove (18) in which said coupling member (7) can carry out said essentially linear movement. WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 17

6. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 4, wherein said first end (15) of said housing (14) comprises a closed track (19) in which said slide member (12) can slide in an essentially linear movement between a first ex treme (20) and a second extreme (21). 5 7. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 6, in which said dispensing of beverage (3) and said flow of said pressure medium (5) to said beverage container (4) are connected when said slide member (12) moves from said first extreme (20) to said second extreme (21).

8. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 6, in which said dispensing 10 of beverage (3) and said flow of said pressure medium (5) is disconnected when said slide member (12) moves from said second extreme (21) to said first extreme (20).

9. Dispensing device (1) according to claims 4-8, wherein said slide member (12) moves towards said second extreme (21) by rotation of said 15 handle member (8) around said rotatable joint (13) in a first direction and wherein said slide member (12) moves away from said second extreme (21) by rotation of said handle member (8) around said rotatable joint (13) in a second direction.

10. Dispensing device (1) according to any preceding claim, said dis 20 pensing device (1) comprising a compressible seal member (26), and a tube member (22) comprising a pressure medium duct (23), a first end (24), and a second end (25), wherein 25 said coupling member (7) comprises a beverage duct (27), a first end (28), a second end (29) and a mid section (30), and said second end (25) of said tube member (22) is attached to said mid section (30) of said coupling member (7), and said compressible seal member (26) being located at said second end 30 (29) of said coupling member (7).

11. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 10, wherein said coupling member (7) comprises a beverage duct (27) extending from a beverage outlet (35) at said first end (28) of said coupling member (7) to a beverage inlet (37) WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 18 at said second end (29) of said coupling member (7), and wherein said bev erage duct (27) comprises a beverage valve (31).

12. Dispensing device according to claim 11, wherein said beverage valve (31) is essentially cylindrical comprising a circular cross-section (32) 5 and a duct (33) extending through said circular cross-section (32).

13. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 12, wherein said bever age valve (31) can rotate around an axis (34) being essentially orthogonal to the circular cross-section (32) of said beverage valve (31).

14. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 10, wherein said pressure 10 medium duct (23) starts at said first end (24) of said tube member (22), passes through the attachment of said second end (25) of said tube member (22) and said midsection (30) of said coupling member (7), and ends in a pressure medium outlet (34) at said second end (29) of said coupling member (7). 15 15. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 14, wherein said com pressible seal member (26) in a non-compressed state closes said pressure medium outlet (34) and wherein said compressible seal member (26) in a compressed state does not close said pressure medium outlet (34).

16. A method for dispensing beverage from a dispensing system (2) 20 comprising a dispensing device (1) according to any preceding claim, said method comprising: " connecting a pressure medium nozzle (42) to said dispensing device (1); " connecting said dispensing device (1) to a beverage container 25 (4); e moving said coupling member (7) in an essentially linear move ment.

19. Method according to claim 18 further comprising any of: e effecting said essentially linear movement of said coupling 30 member (7) by rotating a handle member (8); e effecting a beverage valve (31) to open by said essentially linear movement of said coupling member (7); WO 2008/101503 PCT/DK2008/000077 19 * effecting a beverage valve (31) to close by said essentially lin ear movement of said coupling member (7); e effecting a pressure medium outlet (34) to open by said essen tially linear movement of said coupling member 7; 5 0 effecting a pressure medium outlet (34) to close by said essen tially linear movement of said coupling member (7).

20. Use of a dispensing device according to any of claims 1 to 17 for dispensing other fluids such as chemicals, foodstuffs, oils etc.