GB2028434A - Beverage Dispensing By Direct- gas Pressure - Google Patents
Beverage Dispensing By Direct- gas Pressure Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2028434A GB2028434A GB7833495A GB7833495A GB2028434A GB 2028434 A GB2028434 A GB 2028434A GB 7833495 A GB7833495 A GB 7833495A GB 7833495 A GB7833495 A GB 7833495A GB 2028434 A GB2028434 A GB 2028434A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- carbon dioxide
- pressure
- container
- gas
- source
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04F—PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED; SIPHONS
- F04F1/00—Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped
- F04F1/06—Pumps using positively or negatively pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
Abstract
A beverage dispensing system has a container from which beverage is to be dispensed by admission thereto of a gaseous mixture of air (or nitrogen) and carbon dioxide from passage 31. Air under pressure is admitted to the system on demand, from compressor 7. Carbon dioxide from tank 11 communicates with the container through a normally closed diaphragm valve 14 which is open in response to differential pressure derived from the flow of air from compressor 7 through a restrictor 30. The spool 19 is biased by the pressure of carbon dioxide from tank 11 to a condition in which it normally closes communication between the carbon dioxide source and the container. The restrictor 30 and a restrictor 34 in the CO2 line control the ratio of air to CO2. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
A Beverage Dispensing System
This invention relates to a beverage dispensing system.
More particularly, the invention concerns the dispensing of a beverage from a bulk container such as a cask or a keg by the admission of gas under pressure to the container.
According to the present invention there is provided a beverage dispensing system comprising a bulk container from which the beverage is to be dispensed by pressure of a gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and a second gas comprising nitrogen; a source of said second gas under pressure which communicates on demand with the container; a source of carbon dioxide under pressure which is capable of communication with the container by way of valve means and wherein said valve means is responsive to gaseous pressure in the system whereby upon said second gas being demanded for dispensing beverage from the container the subsequent development of pressure of said second gas in the system causes the valve means to be actuated to open communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the container and upon the demand for said second gas ceasing the valve means closes communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the container.
The invention was primarily developed for the dispensing of fermented liquor such as beer, lager, ale or stout which will usually, but not invariably, be carbonated. By the system of the present invention the second gas can consist of nitrogen which is derived, for example, from a pressurised cylinder and supplied to the system by way of an appropriate reducing valve for the dispensing of, for example beer, from a cask. A mixture of carbon dioxide gas and a second gas which consists of, or is preferably primarily of, nitrogen is used to alleviate excessive carbonation of the beer (which can result by the use of carbon dioxide on its own at sufficient pressure to dispense the beer from the container).
Consequetly the nitrogen gas content can be regarded as being provided to dilute the carbon dioxide content. The supply of a gaseous nitrogen and carbon dioxide mixture is relatively expensive as compared with the supply of carbon dioxide on its own. It is preferred therefore that the second gas is air and the system of the present invention envisages the use of the nitrogen content of air as a diluent for the carbon dioxide to avoid excessive carbonation in the beverage. A source of pressurised air is obtainable relatively inexpensively, for example from an air compressor.
To alleviate the aforementioned excessive carbonation of the beverage in the container it is a feature of the invention that the source of carbon dioxide is maintained out of communication with the beverage until a flow of pressurised gas is required; with this in mind the valve means is provided which normally closes communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the container but which valve means is responsive to flow of the air or other second gas when demanded from its source for dispensing so that a variation in pressure on the valve means effected by the flow of air or other second gas for dispensing causes the valve means to open communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the container and dispensing is effected by the pressurised mixture of carbon dioxide and the air or other second gas comprising nitrogen which is admitted to the container.When the demand for the air or other second gas ceases there is again a variation in pressure on the valve means which results in such means again closing communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the container.
More particularly, the invention provides a beverage dispensing system comprising a bulk container from which the beverage is to be dispensed; a source of air under pressure from which pressurized air is available for admission to the container on demand for dispensing the beverage; a source of carbon dioxide under pressure from which pressurised carbon dioxide is capable of communication by way of valve means with the container for dispensing of the beverage as a gaseous mixture with said air under pressure; said valve means being responsive to variations in pressure derived from the flow of air which is provided on demand for dispensing so that said valve means is actuated to open communication between the carbon dioxide source and the container by pressurised air being demanded for dispensing of the beverage from the container and by a mixture of air and carbon dioxide gas under pressure and is actuated to close communication between the carbon dioxide source and the container by pressure variation which results when the demand for pressurised air ceases for dispensing.
The valve means is desirably biased to a normally closed condition where the source of carbon dioxide is closed to communication with the container so that when actuated by the demand of air or other second gas under pressure for dispensing the valve is displaced against its biasing to open communication between the carbon dioxide source and the container.
Preferably the valve means is pressure biased to its closed condition by the pressure of carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source which is arranged to be in constant communication with the valve means. The source of carbon dioxide will usually be a storage bottle from which the carbon dioxide supply is derived through a reducing valve. In a preferred construction the valve means comprises two chambers located on opposite sides of a diaphragm of which one chamber communicates with the passage through which air or other second gas is to be delivered on demand to the container and the second chamber communicates with the passage through which carbon dioxide is to be delivered to the container.
Incorporated in such valve means is a valve member which is responsive to displacement of the diaphragm to open and close communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the second chamber. This valve member is biased to a normally closed condition where it closes communication between the carbon dioxide source and the second chamber (and thereby the container). Upon air or other second gas pressure developing in the system to meet a demand for dispensing such pressure can develop in the first chamber to cause a pressure differential across the diaphragm which effects in displacement of the latter and adjustment of the valve member in a sense to open communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the second chamber (and thereby the container).For so long as a sufficient pressure differential exists across the diaphragm between the first and second chambers or the valve member attains a balanced or modulating position, the valve member will be displaced from its normally closed condition to maintain carbon dioxide supply to the container together with the air or other second gas supply.
Upon a cease in the demand for air or other second gas pressure the pressure differential across the diaphragm decreases until, theoretically, the pressure in each chamber is substantially the same since both chambers communicate with the container. To ensure rapid return of the valve member to its normally closed condition however this member is biased as aforementioned. This latter biasing can be provided by a spring or other resilient component but preferably it is biased into its normally closed condition by carbon dioxide under pressure derived from the source with which the valve member is in constant communication. For gas pressure biasing the valve member is conveniently in the form of a spool which is axially displaceable in a housing of the valve means and is coupled to the diaphragm for such displacement in response to displacement of the diaphragm.The spool has axially opposed faces with different effective areas of which the face with the larger effective area is in constant communication with the source of carbon dioxide and the face with the smaller effective area communicates with the second chamber so that as the pressure in the second chamber progressively equalises with the pressure in the first chamber, the pressure differential across the valve member will conveniently cause such member to move into its closed condition and rapidly shut-off communication between the carbon dioxide source and the container.
When the second gas is air its source is preferably an air compressor, compressed air from which is supplied to the system through a nonreturn valve. The compressor can be arranged to have a delivery commensurate with the rate at which beverage is drawn from the container and can be actuated in response to operation of a tap or other valve which is opened to draw beverage from the container.Preferably however operation of the compressor (or admission into the system of another second gas, such as nitrogen from a
pressurised bottle) is controlled by a pressure switch which is responsive to gas pressure in the
head of the container so that when this pressure falls below a predetermined valve (as will occur
upon dispensing of the beverage) the compressor
is actuated (or admission of another second gas is
effected) automatically and cuts out upon the
predetermined gas pressure in the cask being
attained. Usually restrictors will be provided one
in each of the air (or other second gas) and carbon dioxide lines downstream of the valve means to provide desired pressure drops in the pressure lines and a desired pressure differential across the valve means.If required, the aforementioned restrictors can be adjustable to vary the ratio in which carbon dioxide and air (or other second gas) are supplied to the container.
One embodiment of a beverage dispensing system constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which:
Figure lisa diagrammatic illustration of the system;
Figure 2 diagrammatically shows a gas flow blending part of the system in Figure 1 which part incorporates the valve means, and
Figures 3A and 3B illustrate in part section operation of a valve member which is comprised in the valve means of Figure 2.
The system as shown in Figure 1 is intended for dispensing beer or stout 1 from a cask 2 whereby gas under pressure is supplied into the headspace 3 of the cask to dispense the beverage, by way of, a riser tube 4 and a control tap 5, through a nozzle 6.
The gas for pressurising the headspace 3 is formed by a mixture of gaseous carbon dioxide and air of which the air is pressurised by a compressor 7 into which it is drawn through a bacterial filter 8 for supply through an air passage line 9 to a gas flow blending part of the system 10. The carbon dioxide supply is from a pressurised bottle 11 through a pressure regulator 1 2 and a carbon dioxide passage line 1 3 to the blender 10.
The gas flow blender 10 incorporates valve means shown generally at 14 (see Figure 2) comprising a housing 1 5 within which is mounted a diaphragm 1 6. Formed on one side of the diaphragm and within the housing 1 5 is a first chamber 17 while a second chamber 18 is formed within the housing 1 5 on the opposite side of the diaphragm. Connected through the chamber 18 by a spool rod 19 to the diaphragm 1 6 is a spool 20 which is axially displaceable (in response to displacement of the diaphragm 1 6) within an aperture or bore 21 in a partition wall 22 of the housing 1 5. Formed between the partition wall 22 (on the side thereof remote from the chamber 18) and the housing 15 is a subchamber 23 which is in constant communication with the carbon dioxide supply by way of the passage 13.
As shown in Figures 3A and 3B the spool 20 is capable, by its axial displacement, of opening and closing communication (by way of the aperture 21) between the chamber 18 and the subchamber 23. The spool 20 has a head 24 which projects into the sub-chamber 23 and this head, when the spool is in its closed condition, abuts an annular seal 25 mounted in a rebate in the partition wall 22. The spool 20 is stepped to taper progressively from the head 24 to its rod 1 9 so that in its closed condition a cylindrical body part 26 of the spool is a close sliding fit in the bore 21.
By this tapered configuration the spool 20 provides a differential pressure operated type valve and has axially opposed faces 27 and 28 with different effective areas of which the face 27 on the head 24 and which opens to the subchamber 23 is of larger effective area than the face 28 which opens to the chamber 18.
The air line 9 from the compressor 7 communicates by way of a non-return valve 29 and a restrictor 30 with a pressure line 31 which opens into the headspace 3 of the cask. At a position downstream of the valve 29 and upstream of the restrictor 30 the air line 9 is in constant communication by way of a branch line 32 with the chamber 17. The chamber 18 of the valve means 14 is in constant communication by way of a carbon dioxide line 33 and a restrictor 34 with the pressure line 31 and thereby with the headspace 3.
Operation of the compressor 7 is controlled by a pressure switch 35 (Figure 1) which is responsive by way of pressure line 36 to gas pressure in the line 31 and thereby in the headspace 3 so that when the pressure in the headspace falls below a predetermined value the pressure switch 35 is actuated automatically to operate the compressor 7 so that a required gaseous mixture of air and carbon dioxide is supplied on demand to the headspace 3 (in a manner which will be described hereinafter) until pressure in the cask attains the predetermined value which causes the compressor to be shut off.
In operation of the system and with the pressure in the headspace 3 at a predetermined value the spool 20 of the valve means is in its closed condition as shown in Figure 3A. Upon a
reduction in pressure in the headspace 3, as will occur when the tap 5 is opened to dispense beer from the cask, a sufficient reduction in pressure causes operation of the compressor 7 and the compressed air which is demanded flows by way of non-return valve 29 through air line 9. A
pressure drop is effected in the air line 9 by the
restrictor 30 and consequently there is an air
pressure increase upstream of the restrictor 30
and in the chamber 17.Upon initial flow of air
through the line 9 pressure in the chamber 17 is
greater than that in chamber 1 8. Since the force
resulting from air pressure in chamber 1 7 on the
large area of the diaphragm 1 6 is greater than the
opposing force which will be developed by carbon
dioxide pressure in the sub-chamber 23 on the
smaller area end face 27 of the spool, the diaphragm flexes to displace the spool 20 axially downwardly in Figures 2 and 38 to open communication between the sub-chamber 23 and chamber 18. Consequently carbon dioxide flows by way of line 33 and restrictor 34 to mix with air from the line 9 in passage 31 prior to entering the
headspace 3.Upon opening of the valve means as
shown in Figure 3B and the admission of carbon dioxide under pressure into the chamber 1 8 such pressure can increase due to the restrictor 34 until the pressure in chamber 18 is substantially the same as that in chamber 1 7 and the effect is to close the valve means to the condition shown in Figure 3; however, for so long as the compressor 7 is operating and air pressure develops in chamber 1 7 the practical effect is for the spool 24 to reach a balanced or modulating position relative to the bore 21 as shown in Figure 3B where communication is maintained between the sub-chamber 23 and the chamber 18 so that the supply of carbon dioxide is maintained (together with the supply of air under pressure) shortly following operation of the compressor 7.
By appropriate adjustment or selection of the restrictors 30 and 34 the ratio of flow rates as between the air and carbon dioxide can be proportioned as required (in a typicai case it is envisaged that this latter proportion will be in the order of 40% carbon dioxide to 60% air).
When the gas pressure in the headspace 3 attains its predetermined value (which is likely to occur shortly following closure of the dispensing tap 5) and the demand for compressed air is satisfied the pressure switch 35 shuts off the compressor 7. The pressure in air line 9 downstream of the valve 29 consequently reduces and the pressures in chambers 1 7 and 1 8 of the valve means 14 become substantially equal. On this latter point it will be noted from
Figure 2 that both chambers 17 and 18 are in constant communication, by way of restrictors 33 and 34 respectively, with the headspace 3 and eventually the pressure in chambers 1 7 and 18 will be substantially equal to the pressure in the headspace.Consequently the diaphragm 1 6 will tend to revert to its normal, unstressed, condition and axially displace the spool 24 in a sense which progressively closes the bore 21. To ensure that communication between the sub-chamber 23 and chamber 1 8 by way of bore 21 closes rapidly the final displacement of the spool 20 into the bore 21 is assisted by the differential opposed face construction of the spool whereby the pressure of carbon dioxide in the sub-chamber 23 which reacts on the larger end face 27 provides a greater closing force on the spool than the opening force on the spool which results from the gas pressure in the chamber 18 reacting on the smaller end face 28; this latter force difference effected by the carbon dioxide pressure on the end face 27 also acts to firmly retain the spool in its closed condition (as shown in Figure 3A where the spool head 24 abuts the seal 25).
If required spring or other resilient biasing means can be provided between the spool 20 and the housing 1 5 to bias the spool into its closed condition.
Claims (12)
1. A beverage dispensing system comprising a container from which the beverage is to be dispensed by pressure of a gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and a second gas comprising nitrogen; a source of said second gas under pressure which communicates on demand with the container; a source of carbon dioxide under pressure which is capable of communication with the container by way of valve means and wherein said valve means is responsive to gaseous pressure in the system whereby upon said second gas being demanded the subsequent development of pressure of said second gas in the system causes the valve means to be actuated to open communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the container and upon the demand for said second gas ceasing the valve means closes communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the container.
2. A system as claimed in Claim 1 in which the second gas is air.
3. A system as claimed in either Claim 1 or
Claim 2 in which the valve means is biased to a normally closed condition where the source of carbon dioxide is closed to communication with the container so that when said valve means is actuated by the demand for said second gas under pressure the valve means is displaced against its biasing to open communication between the carbon dioxide source and the container.
4. A system as claimed in Claim 3 in which the carbon dioxide source is in constant communication with the valve means and said valve means is pressure biased to its closed condition by pressure of carbon dioxide from said carbon dioxide source.
5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said valve means comprises two chambers located on opposite sides of a displaceable diaphragm, a first of said chambers communicating with first passage means through which said second gas is delivered on demand to the container and the second of said chambers communicating with second passage means through which carbon dioxide is to be delivered to the container; said valve means further comprising a displaceable valve member which is responsive to displacement of the diaphragm to open and close communication between the source of carbon dioxide and the second chamber and which is biased to a normally closed condition where it closes communication between the carbon dioxide source and the second chamber, and means for developing a pressure differential across the diaphragm upon said second gas pressure developing in the system to meet a demand for said second gas which pressure differential effects in displacement of the diaphragm and adjustment of said valve member against its
biasing to open communication between the
source of carbon dioxide and the second chamber.
6. A system as claimed in Claim 5 in which the
means for developing a pressure differential
across the diaphragm comprises restrictor means
located in said first and second passage means
respectively downstream of said first and second
chambers.
7. A system as claimed in either Claim 5 or
Claim 6 in which the valve member is in constant communication with the carbon dioxide source and is biased to its closed condition by pressure of carbon dioxide from said source.
8. A system as claimed in Claim 7 in which the valve member comprises a spool which is axially displaceable in a housing of the valve means and is coupled to the diaphragm for such displacement in response to displacement of the diaphragm; said spool having axially opposed faces with different effective areas of which the face with the larger effective area is in constant communication with the source of carbon dioxide and the face with the smaller effective area communicates with the second chamber so that gas pressure reacting on said opposed faces from the carbon dioxide source and from within the second chamber respectively provides a biasing force on the valve member to urge it to its normally closed condition when a demand for said second gas ceases.
9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which admission into the system of said second gas is controlled by pressure switch means which is responsive to gas pressure in the container whereby when said gas pressure falls below a predetermined value admission of said second gas is effected automatically and when said gas pressure attains a predetermined value said admission ceases automatically.
10. A system as claimed in Claim 2 or in any one of Claims 3 to 9 when appendant to Claim 2 in which the air is derived from a compressor and by way of non-return valve means.
11. A beverage dispensing system comprising a bulk beer container from which the beverage is to be dispensed; a source of air under pressure from which pressurised air is available for admission to the container on demand for dispensing the beverage; a source of carbon dioxide under pressure from which pressurised carbon dioxide is capable of communication by way of valve means with the container for dispensing of the beverage as a gaseous mixture with said air under pressure; said valve means being responsive to variations in pressure derived from the flow of air which is provided on demand for dispensing so that said valve means is actuated to open communication between the carbon dioxide source and the container by pressurised air being demanded for dispensing of the beverage from the container with a mixture of air and carbon dioxide gas under pressure and is actuated to close communication between the carbon dioxide source and the container by pressure variation which results when the demand for pressurised air ceases.
12. A beverage dispensing system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7833495A GB2028434B (en) | 1978-08-16 | 1978-08-16 | Beverage dispensing by direct-gas pressure |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7833495A GB2028434B (en) | 1978-08-16 | 1978-08-16 | Beverage dispensing by direct-gas pressure |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2028434A true GB2028434A (en) | 1980-03-05 |
| GB2028434B GB2028434B (en) | 1982-07-07 |
Family
ID=10499086
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7833495A Expired GB2028434B (en) | 1978-08-16 | 1978-08-16 | Beverage dispensing by direct-gas pressure |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2028434B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4549563A (en) * | 1982-06-29 | 1985-10-29 | L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude | Gas mixers |
-
1978
- 1978-08-16 GB GB7833495A patent/GB2028434B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4549563A (en) * | 1982-06-29 | 1985-10-29 | L'air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude | Gas mixers |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2028434B (en) | 1982-07-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |