GB1378692A - Beer dispensing - Google Patents

Abstract

1378692 Dispensing beverages WHITBREAD & CO 22 May 1973 [24 May 1972] 24481/72 Heading A4T [Also in Division H2] A dispensing system for dispensing a carborated beverage e.g. beer from a bulk container 4a into a drinking vessel, the system comprising a dispensing tap 9a connected by a pipe 11, 17 to the container, and an ultrasonic generator and transducer 8 coupled to the pipe so that, in use, ultrasonic vibrations generated by the transducer pass from the transducer to the beverage as the latter is being dispensed. As shown in Fig.1, four dispensing valves 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b are coupled by pipes to respective containers 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b which are pressurized by means of a single carbon dioxide cylinder 1. Stainless steel pipes 11 are secured e.g. by adhesive, to the resonant horn member 14 of the transducer 8 the pipes being connected by plastics pipes 17 to the container and the dispensing valve; in a modification the stainless steel pipes are dispensed with and the plastic pipes clamped to the horn member by plates (50, 55) Fig.7 (not shown). In use, when a valve is opening a mercury-type switch (20-23) Fig.2 (not shown) is closed thereby energizing both a timer (24) and ultrasonic generator (25), the timer being set so that the transducer applies vibrations to the pipes for a short period, e.g. one second, as compared with the dispensing time e.g. six seconds; the four valves and associated switches may be connected to individual timers which may be set to different times. The current for the electrical devices is taken from a step-down transformer. In a further modification, the beer may be fed through a metering device before dispensed.