EP3110710B1 - Système de stockage et de distribution sélective d'un moins une quantité de fluide - Google Patents

Système de stockage et de distribution sélective d'un moins une quantité de fluide Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3110710B1
EP3110710B1 EP15751333.4A EP15751333A EP3110710B1 EP 3110710 B1 EP3110710 B1 EP 3110710B1 EP 15751333 A EP15751333 A EP 15751333A EP 3110710 B1 EP3110710 B1 EP 3110710B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dispensing
pressure
operable
container
pressurized
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP15751333.4A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3110710A4 (fr
EP3110710A1 (fr
Inventor
Harold OTTO
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Bevolution Systems LLC
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Bevolution Systems LLC
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Publication date
Priority claimed from US14/183,647 external-priority patent/US10870565B2/en
Application filed by Bevolution Systems LLC filed Critical Bevolution Systems LLC
Priority to EP22192238.8A priority Critical patent/EP4112490A1/fr
Publication of EP3110710A1 publication Critical patent/EP3110710A1/fr
Publication of EP3110710A4 publication Critical patent/EP3110710A4/fr
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0003—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/04—Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
    • B67D1/0462—Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0003—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid
    • B67D1/0009—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply
    • B67D1/001—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
    • B67D1/0011—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed based on the timed opening of a valve
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0003—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid
    • B67D1/0009—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply
    • B67D1/001—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
    • B67D1/0012—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being a single liquid the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed based on volumetric dosing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/07—Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0857—Cooling arrangements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0889—Supports
    • B67D1/0894—Supports for the vessel to be filled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/12—Flow or pressure control devices or systems, e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
    • B67D1/1252—Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/07—Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus
    • B67D2001/075—Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0801—Details of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
    • B67D2001/0827—Bags in box
    • B67D2001/0828—Bags in box in pressurised housing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a system for storing and selectively dispensing at least a portion of a liquid, and more particularly to systems for selectively dispensing liquids (such as wine or similar beverages) stored in a pressurized environment by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient pressure to the pressurized environment to dispense a portion of the stored liquid in accordance with a desired dispensing regime.
  • liquids such as wine or similar beverages
  • BTG "by-the-glass”
  • Stand-alone bars and lounges have traditionally offered limited wine selections, but in view of the aforementioned trends, they were likewise faced with the same obstacles as the restaurants. Finally, wine bars were forced to deal with the challenge of keeping a sufficiently wide ranging BTG selection by their very nature.
  • WinB products To address the disadvantages of the use of bottled wine in commercial establishments, various companies proposed utilization of larger volume / less expensive "wine bags” (often offered in a "wine-in-bag” / “bag-in-box” format - hereinafter "WinB products”).
  • WinB products have different disadvantages when used in commercial establishments, which in some cases can make them less desirable than bottled wine under many circumstances.
  • WinB products have only found very limited acceptance in all but a few smaller establishments. To date there has not been a suitable solution offered that would enable commercially practical use of wine-in-bag products in virtually all restaurant bar (and similar) environments.
  • Prior art document EP2154103A1 discloses a modular beverage dispensing assembly having a number of beverage storage units, each for supplying a pressurized beverage and in turn having an airtight pressure container housing a collapsible removable cartridge containing the beverage; and an electric compressor for feeding pressurized gas into the pressure container of each beverage storage unit, to crush the removable cartridge inside the pressure container.
  • Prior art document GB2146705A discloses a unit for dispending beverage having one or more pressure vessels each having an outlet for communication to the dispensing tap, each vessel accommodates a flexible bag containing the beverage having gas in solution.
  • the vessels are pressurized through connection by an air compressor in the unit or from an existing fluid line and the pressurization serves to ensure dissolution of the gases in the beverage and also to expel the beverage from the bags.
  • Patent application SIN 14/055,876 published as US2014097201 and entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING AND SELECTIVELY DISPENSING LIQUIDS", has provided various embodiments of an advantageous inventive Pressurized Liquid Storage and Dispensing (“PLSMPD”) system, that not only readily addresses and solves the drawbacks and disadvantages of all previously known wine (and other liquid) preservation and dispensing solutions, but that also provides a number of heretofore unseen advantages, when utilized in connection with WinB products to dispense wine.
  • PLSMPD Pressurized Liquid Storage and Dispensing
  • the PLSMPD system of the '876 application is capable of transporting/dispensing wine locally, or to significantly remote dispensing locations, at extremely high speed and with a great deal of accuracy and precision, without spillage.
  • the '876 application PLSMPD system's rapid transport of the wine also subjects the wine to controlled oxygenation (which when properly administered, is widely considered to enhance the positive attributes of most wines).
  • This highly desirable feature of the novel PLSMPD system is particularly advantageous in view of the fact that in many wine bars fine dining establishments, quite a bit of time is spent to "aerate" the wine prior to serving it -- a process which would be rendered unnecessary if the inventive system is deployed.
  • the rapid transport aspect of the '876 application PLSMPD system's is not only beneficial in terms of time savings for accurate pours, but also enhances the quality of the dispensed wine.
  • the '876 application PLSMPD system is highly (and easily) configurable to ensure rapid highly accurate metered pours over a wide range of distances through the use of predefined pressure vs. time algorithms to automatically manage pour rate accuracy for one or more predetermined desired pour sizes.
  • the '876 application did not specifically address the full range of special advantages and additional capabilities that are possible with the deployment of the novel PLSMPD system (or equivalent thereof) in a commercial establishment environment (such as a restaurant, bar, or equivalent, and/or in a hotel, cruise ship, or other hospitality environment).
  • the inventive system for storing, preserving, managing, and selectively dispensing beverages remedies the flaws and drawbacks of all previously known wine storage and dispensing solutions (and especially larger-scale commercial solutions), regardless of their configuration, by storing a plurality of beverages (such as various wines, etc.) in a pressurized environment (which may he remotely located, and/or environmentally controlled) to ensure that the stored beverage does not come into contact with air, and then by selectively dispensing a portion of the stored beverage, in accordance with a desired configurable dispensing regime (which may be configured and controlled locally, remotely, and/or via a computerized system), by utilizing a controlled source of pressure force to apply a sufficient degree pressure to the pressurized environment to expel the desired volume of the beverage in a pressurized stream directed to a remote dispensing / pouring interface (for example located in a desired area of a bar, restaurant, or other hospitality establishment) through a liquid delivery system (which may comprise one or more separate systems, for example directed
  • the system of the present invention is configured for use with compressible wine-in-bag (“WinB”) product containers placed into at least one pressurized chamber (serving as the pressurized environment) and interfaced with a liquid delivery system connected one or more dispensing components (such as shown and described in various embodiments of the novel pressurization-based liquid dispensing technology disclosed in the above-incorporated '876 application as a Pressurized Liquid Storage and Dispensing system (which is hereby referred to as the "PLSMPD system”).
  • WinB compressible wine-in-bag
  • PLSMPD system Pressurized Liquid Storage and Dispensing system
  • the inventive system is scalable for deployment as a flexible multi-area electronically-controlled beverage dispensing infrastructure, operable to interface with various hospitality (e.g., restaurant) management systems (for example, implemented with one or more embodiments and optional features of a more robust PLSMPD system, such as is shown in FIG. 3A , and described in greater detail below in connection therewith).
  • hospitality e.g., restaurant
  • FIG. 3A a more robust PLSMPD system
  • FIG. 1 the system for storing, preserving managing, and selectively dispensing beverages, is shown as a storage, preservation, management, and metered pour dispensing (“SPMMPD") system 1 (for the sake of convenience only, and not by way of any limitation, hereinafter referred to as the “Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1).
  • SPMMPD storage, preservation, management, and metered pour dispensing
  • Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 for the sake of convenience only, and not by way of any limitation, hereinafter referred to as the "Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1).
  • Wine Cannon is used herein for ease of reference only, and does not in any way restrict or limit the various inventive system embodiments and components thereof.
  • the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 is preferably configured for use with one or more pressurized storage / preservation (“PSP") systems that are each operable to store one or more WinB (or equivalent) products therein in a pressurized environment, and that are also operable to launch, in response to control signals, predetermined amounts of the stored wines to one or more remote dispenser pour units (as hereinafter described), through corresponding dispensing conduits, to enable each dispenser pour unit to rapidly serve precisely metered pours.
  • PSP pressurized storage / preservation
  • the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 comprises at least a portion of the following components, elements, and/or features:
  • the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 may be operated from local controls positioned at various locations where the beverages stores in the PSP systems are dispensed, preferably the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 may be controlled, configured, and operated, through a centralized Beverage Service Management (“BMS") control system 6 (for example comprising at least one data processing system (and related applicable components) operable to execute one or more configurable application programs and/or program modules).
  • BMS Beverage Service Management
  • the BMS control system 6, that may be readily configured for use with various embodiments of the system of the present invention may be a standalone system, or it may be integrated with an existing hospitality management system (for example in a large restaurant and/or in hotel or other sufficiently large venue facility), and while certain operations and backoffice functions thereof are preferably restricted to a secure local or a secure web-accessible control interface, the day to day dispensing functions and related tasks may be operated (and optionally configured) from one or more control system interfaces (shown in FIG.
  • BMS sys interfaces 7 to 7-2) which may comprise display-equipped data processing systems (e.g., touch screen panels, computer stations, etc.) located at waiter stations, at a bar, etc.), and/or which may comprise conventional mobile data processing / communication devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets, etc.) supplied with appropriate software application programs ("Apps"), preferably comprising graphical user interfaces (GUIs).
  • Apps software application programs
  • GUIs graphical user interfaces
  • the Beverage Service Management (“BMS") System - may comprise a centralized or a distributed data processing system with communication, data interchange, and data acquisition features, implemented as at least one of: a computer executing one or more application programs and having a (preferably) graphical user interface, a dedicated controller (or set of specialized controllers) for interfacing with and managing various components of the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 (such as the plural PSP systems, the dispenser pour units, etc.), and/or as a hybrid platform in which a mobile data processing device (such as a smart phone or a tablet) may be utilized as the control and user interface, with the remainder of the functions being managed and implemented through one or more secondary data processing systems, and/or specialized controllers.
  • the BMS control system 6 may comprise one or more of the following features/functions:
  • each PSP system utilized in the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system may comprise one or more of the following:
  • each of the PSP systems 2a, 2b, or 2c may comprise the pressurized container A coupled to a controllable pressure system D of the PLSMPD system 9 of FIG. 2 , with, or without, the dispense control E, or it may comprise the pressurized canister / cartridge 16 coupled to the pressurization system 18 of the PLSMPD system 10A of F!G. 3A, with, or without, the control systems 20a, 20b, or it may comprise the PLSMPD system 10B of FIG. 3B , with, or without, the control system 20a-1, or it may comprise the PLSMPD system 10C of FIG. 3C , with, or without, the control system 20a-2.
  • PSP systems may comprise and utilize compressible liquid volumes (such as WinB products) of a variety of different types, styles, varietals, and brands of beverages, such as different red wines R1 - R(x), white wines W1 - W(z), Ports or other cordials P(y), etc.
  • compressible liquid volumes such as WinB products
  • one or more of the PSP systems may be provided with temperature and/or other environmental (e.g., humidity) control systems (e.g., environmental control systems 2a-1, 2b-1) for proper maintenance of the stored beverages.
  • the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 may comprise and utilize PSP systems of various configurations.
  • Exemplary embodiments of PSP systems that may be advantageously utilized may include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following PSP system exemplary embodiments:
  • the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 may comprise a centralized stabilized pressure source (for example positioned in a remote location) connected to plural sealed outlets in a facility (such as an Events or Banquet hall or an exterior area), enabling portable and/or mobile PSP systems to be deployed proximally to such outlets without the need for portable pressure sources, so that when connected thereto, the PSP systems may share and utilize the centralized stabilized pressure source, and provide dispensing functionality through local dispenser pour units (which for example may be configured as simplified "gun-type" pour components).
  • a centralized stabilized pressure source for example positioned in a remote location
  • a facility such as an Events or Banquet hall or an exterior area
  • the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 may be used with PSP systems located in a remote PSP area 2 (e.g., PSP systems, 2a, 2b, and optionally 2c), which is preferably a location that is environmentally appropriate for long term storage of wine and other beverages (such as a basement or a cellar),
  • a remote PSP area 2 e.g., PSP systems, 2a, 2b, and optionally 2c
  • the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 may also be used in conjunction with one or more locally positioned PSP systems, such as a PSP system 2-1.
  • the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 also comprises a plurality of dispenser pour units 4a, 4b, and, optionally, 4-1 located in one or more dispensing areas 3, and optionally may also comprise at least one dispenser pour unit 4-2, located in a different area of the operating establishment.
  • Each dispenser pour unit 4a - 4-2 is operable to:
  • the dispenser pour units 4a, 4b, etc. may range from simple gun-type hand-operated dispensers positioned at the end of one or more liquid delivery conduits connected to the remote PSP systems, to a more robust and fullfeatured dispenser pour unit such as an exemplary embodiment of the novel dispenser pour unit configured for optimal use in connection with the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1, illustrated as a dispenser pour unit 100 in FIG. 4 along with various components thereof.
  • the delivery / dispense control / and optional routing of the various beverages R1 - R(n), W1-W(z) and P(y) from the PSP systems 2a - 2c in PSP area 2, and from other locations (e.g., from PSP system 2-1), to the various corresponding dispenser pour units 4a to 4-2, may optionally be accomplished by a dispense control system 5 (and optionally by one or more optional additional dispense control systems 5-1, 5-2) which may be configured to perform all necessary PSP system control functions (and thus eliminate the need for individual control local systems at each PSP system), and/or which may be configured to communicate with and selectively operate one or more control systems local to one or more corresponding PSP systems. Examples of configuration and operations of such systems are provided below, and are also set forth in connection with descriptions of dispense control E of the PSP system 9 of FIG. 2 , and dispense controls 20a, 20b of the PSP system 10A of FIG. 3A .
  • the dispense control system 5 may comprise one or more "enhancement” components, each operable to selectively apply one or more predefined enhancements to one or more dispensing conduits selectively connectable therewith.
  • enhancement components that may be provided and utilized in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to:
  • a liquid e.g., wine
  • a pressurized environment under regulated pressure sufficient to maintain it in an anaerobic state
  • the liquid may be stored in a compressible bag disposed inside a sealed pressurized chamber
  • the liquid can be selectively dispensed through a normally locked dispensing conduit connected to its pressurized environment, while maintaining the anaerobic status of the remaining liquid, maintaining a predetermined level of pressure on the stored liquid, that is sufficient to expel the stored liquid in response to the dispensing conduit being selectively unlocked for as long as the conduit is open, in accordance with one or more predetermined dispensing profiles.
  • Each such profile may comprise dispensing parameters that include, but that are not limited to, the volume of liquid to be dispensed, the distance the dispensed liquid will need to travel along the conduit to a dispensing system / interface to be poured, etc.
  • the pressurization system component of the PLSMPD system compensates for the gradual decrease in the volume of the stored liquid such that system performance is maintained after multiple dispensations.
  • a mechanical pump requires that a liquid-filled bag (e.g., a WinB product) be placed in a holding vessel, with the nozzle positioned on the bottom of the bag, and because the mechanical pump does not pull the liquid (e.g., the wine) from its container (e.g., the bag), it can never fully empty the contents of the bag, resulting in ongoing losses of valuable products (and creating additional difficulties in depleted bag disposal.
  • a liquid-filled bag e.g., a WinB product
  • the mechanical pump does not pull the liquid (e.g., the wine) from its container (e.g., the bag)
  • it can never fully empty the contents of the bag, resulting in ongoing losses of valuable products (and creating additional difficulties in depleted bag disposal.
  • dispensing WinB products is a very intermittent process, subjecting the pump to constant starts/stops greatly increases its wear/tear and leads to a sizable reduction in the pump's useful life.
  • the various embodiments of the novel PLSMPD system that is preferable for use in conjunction with the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 of FIG. 1 , not only readily address and solve the drawbacks and disadvantages of all previously known liquid transport solutions, but also provide a number of heretofore unseen advantages, particularly when utilized in connection with WinB products to dispense wine.
  • the PLSMPD system is capable of transporting/dispensing wine locally, or to significantly remote dispensing locations at extremely high speed and with a great deal of accuracy without spillage.
  • the novel systems' rapid transport of the wine across a suitable distance also subjects the wine to controlled oxygenation (which when properly administered, is widely considered to enhance the positive attributes of most wines).
  • This highly desirable feature of the PLSMPD system is particularly advantageous in view of the fact that in many wine bars / fine dining establishments, quite a bit of time and effort is spent to "aerate" the wine prior to serving it -- a process which would be rendered unnecessary if the inventive system is deployed. Therefore, when used with WinB products, the rapid transport aspect of the PLSMPD system is not only beneficial in terms of time savings for accurate pours, but also enhances the quality of the dispensed wine.
  • the PLSMPD system is highly (and easily) configurable to ensure rapid highly accurate pours over a wide range of distances through the use of predefined pressure vs. time algorithms to automatically manage pour rate accuracy for one or more predetermined pour sizes. Control and tuning of such algorithms may be made at one or more of the following system components, as a matter of design choice:
  • FIG. 2 disclosing a system and method for storing and selectively dispensing liquids hat may be readily implemented in the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system of FIG. 1 , is shown as a Pressurized Liquid Storage and Metered Pour Dispensing ("PLSMPD”) system 9.
  • PLSMPD Pressurized Liquid Storage and Metered Pour Dispensing
  • the PLSMPD system 9 includes a pressurized container A (e.g., an airtight high-pressure seal rated tank, vessel or equivalent) for storing a compressible liquid volume C (e.g., a flexible WinB product) within a pressurized environment B), a controllable pressure system D (e.g., a compressor, a compressed air (or other gas) tank, or an air pump connected to an air pressure stabilizer and an air pressure regulator) that is connected to the pressurized environment B through a pressure delivery conduit (e.g. tubing or piping) G-1.
  • the controllable pressure system D may be readily selected from a variety of devices / systems operable to generate and maintain the pressurized environment B within the desired parameters.
  • the controllable pressure system D can utilize non-air gas, or another fluid.
  • the pressure force for the controllable pressure system D may be generated through gravity, preconfigured compressed air / gas container, or through other non-pumping means.
  • the pressurized container A may be configured such that the compressible liquid volume C is implemented directly in the pressurized environment B, without being encased in a compressible flexible container.
  • a dispensing conduit G-2 (which may be plastic or metal tubing, or equivalent), would be directly connected to the pressurized container A (as opposed to being connected to the liquid volume C interface), while the controllable pressure system D would be selected and configured to provide direct pressurization to the compressible liquid volume C, for example by volumetric compression of the internal region of the pressurized container A (e.g., by hydraulic / piston-like compression thereof) to generate and maintain the pressurized environment B within the necessary / desired parameters.
  • the dispensing conduit G-2 may include one or more in-line 1-way check valves to minimize the amount of liquid that remains therein after each time the PLSMPD system 9 dispenses the liquid therethrough.
  • the PLSMPD system 9 also includes a local dispensing control system E (e.g., a solenoid valve coupled to a dispensing controller (which may range from a solid state electronic control to a computerized system operable to independently control multiple solenoid valves)), that is connected to the compressible liquid volume C via the conduit G-2.
  • the local dispensing control system E is also connected to a corresponding dispenser pour unit (which may be one of the , via a dispensing conduit G-3 (which may likewise comprise plastic or metal tubing, or equivalent).
  • the dispensing conduit G-3 may be positioned within a hollow protective housing G-3', enabling the easy removal and replacement of dispensing conduit G-3 when needed.
  • the local dispensing control system E may be connected to the controllable pressure system D, such that it may be operable to provide any necessary control functions, such as pressure maintenance / regulation, or, when activated (for example, from the BMS control system 6 through a link therewith), the local dispensing control system E may instruct the controllable pressure system D to briefly increase the level of pressure in the pressurized environment B for all or a portion of the duration of a dispensing period to provide additional force and velocity to liquid being expelled from the liquid volume C (for example if a corresponding dispenser pour unit is particularly distant from the pressurized container A).
  • any necessary control functions such as pressure maintenance / regulation
  • the local dispensing control system E may instruct the controllable pressure system D to briefly increase the level of pressure in the pressurized environment B for all or a portion of the duration of a dispensing period to provide additional force and velocity to liquid being expelled from the liquid volume C (for example if a corresponding dispenser pour unit is particularly distant from the pressurized container A).
  • the PLSMPD system 9 is operable through selective activation of the local dispensing control system E (through a remote signal from an external controller (e.g., the BMS control system 6)), and/or via an activation signal from a dispenser pour unit connected thereto (e.g., by a button, pressure, IR or equivalent switch).
  • the local dispensing control system E opens the path therethrough for the conduit G-2, causing the pressurized liquid to be immediately expelled from the liquid volume C, through the local dispensing control system E and the conduit G-3 to be poured at the corresponding dispenser pour unit (e.g., such as dispenser pour unit 4a - 4-2 of FIG. 1 ).
  • a dispensing profile may be as simple as a predetermined group of settings fully or partially locked into the PLSMPD system 9, that control pressurization, duration of the dispensing period, and other parameters. Or, in more sophisticated preferable implementations of the inventive PLSMPD system 9, a particular dispensing profile may be selectively issued from, and/or modified by, the BMS control system 6 (for example regulating the volume of each dispensed metered pour depending on a customer order, and/or that may provide instructions for additional operations).
  • the dispensed wine can be diverted and then retrieved from (e.g., via an additional set of solenoid valves) a parallel wine aeration and/or accelerated aging system, prior to being poured.
  • the implementation of deployment profiles in the inventive PLSMPD system 9 is preferably supported by at least one predefined pressure vs. time algorithm that may be executed by the local dispensing control system E to automatically manage pour rate accuracy for one or more predetermined pour sizes, at a corresponding dispenser pour unit.
  • the remote controller may include a mobile device with a corresponding software application comprising a graphical user interface, installed thereon.
  • the pressurized container A (and optionally the conduits G-2, G-3, and the local dispensing control system E) may be positioned in a temperature controlled environment T that is suitable for temperature stable storage of the liquid being dispensed from the liquid volume C.
  • the temperature controlled environment T may be passive (such as a cellar/basement), active (such as a refrigerated housing (or refrigerated jacketing or coils positioned around the pressurized container A), or a cold plate (or equivalent), or ice or equivalent freezable cold elements, positioned proximally to the pressurized container A (such under the bottom thereof), or a combination of one or more of the above (such as a climate controlled wine cellar).
  • a temperature control component may be positioned surrounding the liquid volume C (such as a cooling jacket around a wine bag).
  • the PLSMPD system 9 may be positioned on a mobile cart (not shown) or on an equivalent mobile platform, wherein the controllable pressure system D may comprise one or more air tanks, wherein the corresponding dispenser pour unit may comprise a dispensing gun (as described above), and wherein the dispensing control system may comprise a mobile device supplied with a corresponding user-controlled application.
  • the controllable pressure system D may comprise one or more air tanks
  • the corresponding dispenser pour unit may comprise a dispensing gun (as described above)
  • the dispensing control system may comprise a mobile device supplied with a corresponding user-controlled application.
  • FIG. 3A an exemplary embodiment of the inventive system for storing and selectively dispensing liquids, is shown as a Pressurized Liquid Storage and Dispensing (“PLSMPD”) system 10A
  • the PLSMPD system 10A illustrates multiple alternate embodiments of the PLSMPD system 9 of FIG. 1 , highlighting the highly configurable and scalable properties of the system and method of the present invention (for example showing that the novel system can be readily utilized with multiple WinB products within a single pressurized container. and may comprise the capability of rapidly and accurately transporting the liquid from each stored compressible liquid volume to a common remote dispensing system, or to a plurality of proximal and/or dispersed dispensing systems.
  • the PLSMPD system 10A as described below in connection with FIG. 3A , also demonstrates its capability to employ a wide range of pressurization, liquid transport, and dispensing options.
  • the PLSMPD system 10A includes a pressurized container 22a (e.g., an airtight high-pressure seal rated tank, vessel or equivalent), for storing a compressible liquid volume 28 (e.g., a flexible WinB product) within a pressurized environment 22b.
  • the compressible liquid volume 28 includes a volume interface 32 (e.g., a nozzle or equivalent) for accessing the liquid stored therein, preferably configured for a sealed/airtight connection to a releasable coupling 30 (such as a connector / compression filling), that in turn connects the compressible liquid volume 28 to a conduit 44a/44b.
  • a pressurized container 22a e.g., an airtight high-pressure seal rated tank, vessel or equivalent
  • the compressible liquid volume 28 includes a volume interface 32 (e.g., a nozzle or equivalent) for accessing the liquid stored therein, preferably configured for a sealed/airtight connection to a releasable coup
  • the pressurized container 22a may be configured as a pressurized canister / cartridge 16, having the various pressurized container interfaces 40a, 40b (and optionally 40c), positioned, sized and configured to align with and "plug in”, or otherwise securely couple to corresponding pressurization and liquid delivery conduits when placed into a correspondingly configured "docking station” or equivalent (i.e., such as in connection with PSP systems 2a, 2b, and 2c of FIG. 2 ).
  • the releasable coupling 30 may comprise a "universal adapter" component, operable to enable the adaptive releasable coupling 30 to form a secure sealed (but releasable) connection with virtually any variation of the volume interface 32.
  • a novel adaptive releasable coupling that would be particularly advantageous for use as the adaptive releasable coupling 30, are described in greater detail in the commonly assigned U.S. patent application US2013056504 .
  • the releasable coupling 30 also comprises a releasable sealed connector element operable to form a releasable connection with the conduit 44a so that it the conduit 44a can be readily disconnected if replacement or either component is necessary.
  • the sealed connector element of the releasable coupling 30 comprises a releasable adaptive pressurized filling that increases in strength and reliability in response to an increase in the pressure that is exerted in the PLSMPD system WA (e.g., such as a pressurized "0-Ring" fitting).
  • the use of such releasable adaptive pressurized fillings would be advantageous in all components of the PLSMPD system 10A in which connections with various conduits are made (in pressure container interfaces 40a and 40b (and in optional pressure container interface 40c), in an optional splitter 52 (e.g. a I-way diverter valve), and in numerous other connections (not specifically identified in FIG. 3A ) involving the various pressurization conduits 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d, and the various liquid transport conduits 44a, 44b, and 44c).
  • the pressure container interface 40b and the optional pressure container interface 40c comprise 1-way check valves (or combination control and 1-way check valves).
  • liquid transport conduits 44a, 44b, and 44c may be of any sterile materials, preferably, they may be composed of flexible material that will enable the PLSMPD system 10A to take advantage of the "hammer effect" to increase the speed of the liquid being dispensed therethrough.
  • the various conduits utilized in connection with the PLSMPD system 10A comprise reliable, preferably flexible, tubing or equivalent, which may be composed from plastic (and related materials -- e.g., polymers, etc.), or from suitable metal.
  • all conduits utilized in the PLSMPD system 10A may have uniform characteristics, whether employed for pressurization or for liquid transport functions (in which case when used for beverage dispensing, the conduits must be composed from non-reactive food-safe materials) -- thus simplifying the PLSMPD system 10A maintenance and upkeep (i.e., since replacement conduits for either purpose may be readily cut and deployed as needed).
  • conduits utilized in the PLSMPD system 10A may have different characteristics, depending on whether they are employed for pressurization (e.g., conduits 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d), or for liquid transport functions (e.g., conduits 44a, 44b, and 44c).
  • the pressurization conduits do not need to be food-safe and play be more robust (such as through use of metal tubing), while the liquid transport conduits must be composed from non-reactive food-safe materials.
  • Utilizing flexible materials for the liquid transport conduits 44a, 44b, and 44c enables the PLSMPD system 10A to take advantage of the "hammer effect" to increase the speed of the liquid being dispensed therethrough.
  • the liquid transport conduits 44b and 44c may also each include one or more corresponding controllable valves 46a, or 46b, 46c, respectively, which may be controllable 1-way valves, conventional 1-way check valves, or a combination thereof.
  • one or more diverter valves may be included in one or more of the liquid transport conduits 44b and 44c to minimize the amount of liquid that can remain therein following each time the PLSMPD system 10A dispenses the liquid.
  • one or more additional compressible liquid volumes 50 may also be stored inside the pressurized container 22a, and also subjected to the pressurized environment 22b during PLSMPD system 10A operation.
  • the size and quantity of such additional compressible liquid volume(s) 50 may be selected as a matter of design choice (e.g., based on the size of the selected pressurized container 22a, etc.).
  • one of the at least one additional compressible liquid volumes 50 may be filled with a cleaning solution operable for cleaning and sanitizing the liquid transport conduits 44b and 44e, with the interface element 40c comprising a controllable l-way diverter valve and being positioned in-line in conduit 44a, such that when activated (for example by the local control system 48a), the PLSMPD system 10A operation results in the cleaning solution from the compressible cleaning solution volume 50 passes through the same conduits, valves and related components as the main liquid being dispensed therethrough, thus ensuring that the PLSMPD system 10A remains clean and hygienic.
  • the protocol for activation of the cleaning function can be configured and issued by the BMS control system 6, and can occur automatically in accordance with a predefined schedule, and/or automatically after a certain number of dispensing cycles, and can also be activated manually.
  • the pressurized container 22a preferably comprises an access component 22c (such as an airtight lid or other cover), that when opened, enables installation, removal, and/or replacement of the compressible liquid volume 28 (and/or of the additional compressible liquid volume(s) 50), and that when sealed, enables a controllable pressure system 18 to generate and maintain the desired pressurized environment 22b during PLSMPD system 10A operation.
  • an access component 22c such as an airtight lid or other cover
  • controllable pressure system 18 is one of the key aspects of the present invention, in that the controllable pressure system 18 is not only operable to manage the pressurized environment 22b in the pressurized container 22a within desired parameters (especially as the compressible liquid volumes are depleted during PLSMPD system 10A operation), but also because its operation supports the deployment and utilization of the above-described dispensing profiles by one or more dispensing systems (e.g., by a local control system 48a of a dispensing system 20a, and/or by an optional local control system 48b of an optional dispensing system 20a).
  • a local control system 48a of a dispensing system 20a e.g., by a local control system 48a of a dispensing system 20a, and/or by an optional local control system 48b of an optional dispensing system 20a.
  • the controllable pressure system 18 includes a pressure source 34 (such as a compressor, an air pump, or equivalent thereof) connected, via pressurization conduit(s) 42a, 42b, to a pressure regulator 38a, that is operable to control the operation of the pressure source 34 to adjust the pressurized environment 22b, as needed, via a pressurization conduit 42c that forms a pressurized seal with the pressure container interface 40a. Seal (not check-valve bi-direction)
  • the pressure regulator 38a operates automatically in accordance with its settings and parameters.
  • a pressure regulator 38b (having equivalent functionality to the pressure regulator 38a), or its features may be integrated into the pressure source 34, instead of using the pressure regulator 38a (or in addition thereto, for example for enabling backup/failsafe system operation, e.g., in case the pressure regulator 38a fails).
  • controllable pressure system 18 also includes a pressure stabilizer 36 positioned between pressurization conduits 42a and 42b, operable to "store” pressurization generated by the pressure source 34, and thereby to support the operation of the pressure regulator 38a by serving as an interim "on-demand” source of pressure for the pressure regulator 38a without needing to intermittently activate/engage the pressure source 34.
  • the pressure stabilizer 36 may serve as an interim pressure source for another pressure regulator of another PLSMPD system (not shown) via the pressurization conduit 42d, such that the other PLSMPD system may share the pressure source 34 and the pressure stabilizer 36 with the PLSMPD system 10A.
  • controllable pressure system 18 may be readily selected from a variety of devices / systems operable to generate and maintain the pressurized environment 22b within the desired parameters.
  • the controllable pressure system 18 can utilize non-air gas, or another fluid, such as compressed air and/or compressed CO 2 tanks.
  • the pressure force for the controllable pressure system 18 may be generated through gravity, via one or more preconfigured compressed air / gas container, or through other non-pumping means, and/or through introduction of CO 2 into the pressure regulator 38a.
  • the PLSMPD system 10A also includes the dispensing control system 20a, which may comprise:
  • the dispensing control system 20a is also connected to a dispensing system 14a, via the liquid transport conduit 44c.
  • the PLSMPD system 10A may include one or more optional dispensing control system(s) 20b, having a local control system 48b and a controllable valve 46c (each of which may be provided in any of a variety of configurations described above in connection with the local control system 48a, and the controllable valve 46a).
  • the optional dispensing control system 20b is connected to a dispensing system 14b (for example a dispenser pour unit of the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1), and is operable to dispense the liquid from the compressible liquid volume(s) 50 therethrough.
  • one or more stand-atone controllable valve(s) 46b may be provided that are controllable by the dispensing control system 20a (and/or by the dispensing control system 20b, if present), without need for a dedicated control system therefor.
  • the standalone controllable valve 46b may be used in conjunction with the additional compressible liquid volume 50 and the optional splitter 52, to execute rapid metered pours from the compressible liquid volume 50 to the dispensing system 14a, while the dispensing control system 20b is operable to simultaneously execute rapid metered pours from the compressible liquid volume 50 to the dispensing system 14b.
  • the above functions can be implemented utilizing a Y-adapter manifold.
  • the dispensing control system 20a (and/or of the dispensing control system 20b) may be connected to the controllable pressure system 18 (or to individual component(s) thereof), such that it may be operable to provide any necessary control functions, such as pressure maintenance / regulation,
  • the dispensing control system 20a when activated (for example, from the dispensing system 14a through a link therewith), the dispensing control system 20a may instruct the controllable pressure system 18 to briefly increase the level of pressure in the pressurized environment 22b for all (or for a portion of the duration of a dispensing period) to provide additional force and velocity to liquid being expelled from the compressible liquid volume 28 (for example if the dispensing system 14a is particularly distant from the pressurized container 22a), thus temporarily modifying the predefined pressure vs. time algorithm(s).
  • the pressurized container 22a may be positioned in a temperature controlled environment 54 that is suitable for temperature stable storage of the liquid being dispensed from the compressible liquid volume 28 (and/or from the compressible liquid volume 50).
  • the temperature controlled environment 54 may be passive (such as a cellar/basement), active (such as a refrigerated housing (or refrigerated jacketing or coils positioned around the pressurized container 22a), or a cold plate (or equivalent), or ice or equivalent freezable cold elements, positioned proximally to the pressurized container 22a (such under the bottom thereof), or a combination of one or more of the above (such as a climate controlled wine cellar).
  • an individual temperature control component such as a cooling jacket around a wine bag
  • any liquid volume stored in the pressurized container 22a that requires lower temperatures for optimal storage e.g. the liquid volume 28 and/or 50).
  • the PLSMPD system 10A operates in a manner substantially similar as described above in connection with the PLSMPD system 9 of FIG. 2 , with respect to its activation, the use of various dispensing profiles (e.g., one or both of the dispensing control systems 20a, 20b be utilize the same, overlapping or different dispensing profiles).
  • FIG. 3B a further exemplary embodiment of the inventive system for storing and selectively dispensing liquids, is shown as a Pressurized Liquid Storage and Dispensing (“PLSMPD”) system 10B.
  • the PLSMPD system 10B is a first alternate embodiment of the PLSMPD system 10A of FIG. 3A (comprising elements 18-1, 20a-1, 22a-1, and 22b-1, corresponding to their counterpart elements 18, 20a, 22a, and 22b shown in FIG.
  • the PLSMPD system 10B may comprise a system cleaning / sanitizing feature, implemented as a compressible cleaning / sanitizing solution volume 62, that can be utilized to clean any of the dispensing conduits 66a - 66c, when the control system 20a-1 selectively activates each individual A/B - Open/Close solenoid 64a - 64c, one at a time, to close off a corresponding stored to connect the compressible cleaning / sanitizing solution volume 62 to each corresponding dispensing conduit 66a - 66c, and to perform cleaning / sanitization by running a cleaning cycle therethrough.
  • the control system 20a-1 causes A/B - Open/Close solenoids 64a - 64c to select the connections to the compressible liquid volumes (WinB product) 60a - 60c),
  • a local carbonator component 68 operable through the control system 20a-1 may be provided with selective connectivity to one or more of the dispensing conduits 66a - 66c, having the functionality described above in connection with the dispense control system 5 of FIG. 1 .
  • a further exemplary embodiment of the inventive system for storing and selectively dispensing liquids is shown as a Pressurized Liquid Storage and Dispensing (“PLSMPD”) system 10C.
  • the PLSMPD system 10C is a first alternate embodiment of the PLSMPD system 10A of FIG. 3A (comprising elements 18-2, 20a-2, 22a-2, and 22b-2, corresponding to their counterpart elements 18, 20a, 22a, and 22b shown in FIG.
  • the PLSMPD system 10C may comprise a system cleaning / sanitizing feature that can be utilized to clean the dispensing conduit 66a-2, if the compressible liquid volume 60a-2 comprises a cleaning / sanitizing solution.
  • the cleaning feature may be activated when the control system 20a-2 selectively activates the A/B - Open/Close solenoid 64a-2 to connect the compressible cleaning / sanitizing solution volume 60a-2 to the dispensing conduit 66a-2, and to perform cleaning / sanitization by running a cleaning cycle therethrough.
  • the control system 20a-2 causes A/B - Open/Close solenoid 64a-2 to select the connection to the compressible liquid volume 60a-2.
  • each of the various dispenser pour units that may be utilized in connection with the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 of FIG. 1 (such as any of the dispenser pour components 4a to 4-2 of FIG. 1 ), may comprise any apparatus, device or system suitable for dispensing beverages (e.g., wine), preferably via rapid metered pours, into an appropriate container (e.g., a wine glass), when one of the dispensing functions of the Wine Cannon SPMMPD system 1 is activated.
  • a dispenser pour unit may be a simple spout, a gun-type hand-operable manual dispenser (such as a dispenser pour unit 206 shown in FIG.
  • the wine glass 4B may comprise a vertically elongated housing comprising an opening sized and configured to receive a wine glass therein, such that the wine glass can be positioned beneath a pour element to ensure that the dispensed liquid enters, and remains entirely within, the wine glass during the dispensing process (such as an exemplary dispenser pour unit 100 of FIG. 4A ),
  • a dispenser pour component (such as any of the dispenser pour components 4a to 4-2 of FIG. 1 ) is shown, in multiple views, as a dispenser pour unit 100.
  • the dispenser pour unit 100 can be readily configured to comprise a variety of advantageous features and functions, that may be located, disposed, and/or otherwise positioned, in whole or in part in one of several dispenser pour unit (“DPU") regions A to C (as shown, by way of example only, in FIG. 4A ), and which may include, but which are not limited to, at least one or more of the following:
  • DPU dispenser pour unit
  • a multi-pour nozzle 250 may comprise any reasonable number of nozzle elements ranging from 2 to 9 (or more), determined as a matter of design choice.

Landscapes

  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Système pour stocker et distribuer de façon sélective au moins une partie d'un volume de liquide, comprenant :
    deux récipients compressibles scellés ou plus (28) comprenant chacun une région intérieure d'une grandeur de volume prédéterminée opérationnelle pour être sensiblement remplie par le volume de liquide en son sein, et comprenant chacun en outre une interface de volume (28) pour accéder au volume de liquide stocké en son sein et un composant de couplage libérable (30) opérationnel pour recevoir une connexion afférente scellée libérable ;
    un récipient pressurisable creux (16), comprenant :
    une partie de logement creuse (22a) qui comporte une ouverture scellable hermétiquement (22c) et au moins deux interfaces de logement scellées en termes de pression (40b, 40c), la partie de logement creuse (22a) étant un réservoir rigide, étanche à l'air, nominalement scellé en termes de haute pression (22a) ; et
    une partie d'accès (22c) de la partie de logement creuse (22a) opérationnelle pour ouvrir et fermer de façon libérable la partie d'accès (22c) pour former un scellement hermétique avec l'ouverture scellable hermétiquement (22c) lorsqu'elle est fermée, l'ouverture scellable hermétiquement (22c) étant dimensionnée et configurée pour recevoir le récipient compressible scellé (28), dans lequel la partie de logement (22a) est dimensionnée et configurée pour stocker le récipient compressible scellé (28) en son sein, de telle sorte que lorsque les récipients compressibles scellés (28) sont disposés à l'intérieur de celle-ci, le récipient pressurisable creux (16) soit opérationnel pour maintenir les récipients compressibles scellés (28) à l'intérieur dans un environnement pressurisé (22b) ;
    un système de distribution (14a) qui comprend au moins deux conduits de distribution (44a, 44b, 44c) comportant chacun une première extrémité et une seconde extrémité, le système de distribution (14a) comprenant en outre au moins deux soupapes (46a, 46b), chacune des au moins deux soupapes (46a, 46b) pouvant ouvrir et fermer de façon sélective l'un des au moins deux conduits de distribution (44a, 44b, 44c), la première extrémité de chacun des conduits de distribution (44a, 44b, 44c) étant connectée à l'un différent des composants de couplage libérables (30), les conduits de distribution (44a, 44b, 44c) étant chacun couplés par l'intermédiaire de l'une des au moins deux interfaces de logement scellées en termes de pression (40b, 40c) à l'intérieur de la partie de logement creuse (22a) du récipient pressurisable creux (16), la seconde extrémité de chacun des conduits de distribution (44a, 44b, 44c) étant couplée au système de distribution (14), chacun des conduits de distribution (44a, 44b, 44c) pouvant former une connexion libérable avec le composant de couplage libérable respectif (30) du récipient compressible scellé respectif (28) à l'intérieur de la partie de logement creuse (22a) ;
    un système de pression régulée (18), qui est connecté au récipient pressurisable creux (16) via un conduit de pressurisation (42c) qui forme un scellement pressurisé avec une interface de récipient de pression (40a), le scellement pressurisé n'étant pas une soupape antiretour bidirectionnelle, le système de pression régulée (18) étant opérationnel pour exercer et maintenir un premier niveau de pression dans l'environnement pressurisé (22b) pour permettre une compression du récipient compressible (28) pour réduire la grandeur de volume prédéterminée d'une région interne pour qu'elle corresponde sensiblement à une grandeur du volume de liquide stocké en son sein, et qui suffit en outre pour amener au moins une partie du volume de liquide à être expulsée au travers d'au moins l'un des récipients compressibles (28), au travers du composant de couplage libérable respectif (30) et au travers du système de distribution (14a) sous la forme d'un déversement de liquide lorsque le système de distribution (14a) a été ouvert et aussi longtemps qu'il le reste ; et
    un système de commande (20a) opérationnel pour ouvrir et fermer de façon sélective le système de distribution (14a).
  2. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le système de commande (20a) fonctionne conformément à au moins un profil de distribution prédéfini qui comprend au moins une valeur de volume distribué du déversement de liquide, pouvant être sélectionnée parmi une pluralité de valeurs de volume distribué prédéterminées ; et/ou dans lequel le volume de liquide comprend une boisson alcoolisée qui est placée dans au moins l'un des récipients compressibles (28).
  3. Système selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le système de commande (20a) inclut un composant d'aération, le volume de liquide comprend la boisson alcoolisée qui est placée dans au moins l'un des récipients compressibles (28), et dans lequel, lorsque la boisson alcoolisée comprend du vin, le composant d'aération est opérationnel pour injecter de l'oxygène à l'intérieur d'au moins un des conduits de distribution (44a, 44b, 44c) pour assurer un niveau d'aération au volume de liquide expulsé.
  4. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la partie d'accès (22c) comprend un élément parmi : un élément à charnière verrouillable opérationnel pour former un scellement hermétique avec l'ouverture scellable (22c) de la partie de logement (22a), et un couvercle à vis ; et/ou dans lequel le système de distribution (14a) comprend une pluralité de systèmes de distribution (14a), et dans lequel le système de commande (20a) est en outre opérationnel pour sélectionner l'un des systèmes de distribution pluriels (14a), et pour connecter le système de distribution pluriel sélectionné (14a) à au moins l'un des composants de couplage libérables (30) de récipient compressible par l'intermédiaire de l'interface de logement scellée en termes de pression (40b) de récipient pressurisé.
  5. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le système de pression régulée (18) comprend au moins une source de pression (34), et au moins un composant de régulation de pression.
  6. Système selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le système de pression régulée (18) comprend en outre au moins un composant de stabilisation de pression (36) ; et/ou dans lequel l'au moins une source de pression (34) comprend au moins un élément parmi : un compresseur, un réservoir rempli d'un gaz pressurisé, une source haute pression régulée à la baisse, une pluralité de réservoirs pressurisés en cascade, une pompe manuelle et une pompe automatique.
  7. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le système de distribution (14a) est positionné à une distance prédéterminée du récipient pressurisé creux (16).
  8. Système selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le composant de verrouillage opérationnel de façon sélective pour bloquer et débloquer le conduit de distribution (44a, 44b, 44c) en réponse à un signal de fermeture et d'ouverture correspondant en provenance du premier moyen de commande ; et/ou dans lequel le conduit de distribution (44a, 44b, 44c) comprend en outre au moins une soupape antiretour positionnée entre les première et seconde extrémités de celui-ci, chacune étant opérationnelle pour bloquer l'écoulement de liquide dans une direction de la première extrémité.
  9. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le système de distribution (14a) est positionné à proximité du récipient pressurisable creux (16) ; et/ou comprenant en outre un système de refroidissement à proximité du récipient pressurisé creux (16), lequel est opérationnel pour maintenir au moins une température souhaitable à l'intérieur de la partie de logement creuse (22a).
EP15751333.4A 2014-02-24 2015-02-24 Système de stockage et de distribution sélective d'un moins une quantité de fluide Active EP3110710B1 (fr)

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US14/183,647 US10870565B2 (en) 2011-09-02 2014-02-24 Scalable modular system and method for storing, preserving, managing, and selectively dispensing beverages
PCT/US2015/017386 WO2015127470A1 (fr) 2014-02-24 2015-02-24 Système modulaire évolutif et procédé de stockage, de conservation, de gestion et de distribution sélective de boissons

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EP22192238.8A Division EP4112490A1 (fr) 2014-02-24 2015-02-24 Système modulaire évolutif et procédé de stockage, de conservation, de gestion et de distribution sélective de boissons

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JP7201606B2 (ja) * 2017-03-10 2023-01-10 カールスバーグ ブルワリーズ アグシャセルスガーブ 飲料分配システム、飲料分配アセンブリ、飲料分配システムの動作方法、および圧力チャンバ
EP3862313A1 (fr) * 2020-02-10 2021-08-11 Riprup Company S.A. Désinfection efficace d'un distributeur de boissons
US11542149B2 (en) 2020-11-06 2023-01-03 Versabev, Inc. Scalable modular system and method for storing, preserving, managing, and selectively dispensing beverages
WO2023034462A1 (fr) * 2021-08-31 2023-03-09 Versabev, Inc. Système modulaire évolutif et procédé de commande de robinet et de distribution sélective de boissons

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EP2154103B1 (fr) * 2008-08-07 2011-04-20 ELECTROLUX PROFESSIONAL S.p.A. Assemblage modulaire de distribution de boissons

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2015218607A1 (en) 2016-10-06
AU2015218607B2 (en) 2019-07-11
EP3110710A4 (fr) 2018-03-21
WO2015127470A1 (fr) 2015-08-27
EP4112490A1 (fr) 2023-01-04
ES2928788T3 (es) 2022-11-22
EP3110710A1 (fr) 2017-01-04

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