GB2117094A - Flow restrictor for beer line - Google Patents

Flow restrictor for beer line Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2117094A
GB2117094A GB08306076A GB8306076A GB2117094A GB 2117094 A GB2117094 A GB 2117094A GB 08306076 A GB08306076 A GB 08306076A GB 8306076 A GB8306076 A GB 8306076A GB 2117094 A GB2117094 A GB 2117094A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
plug member
body part
flow restrictor
tail end
restrictor according
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08306076A
Other versions
GB8306076D0 (en
Inventor
Terence Burns
James Blackshaw
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BRITISH SYPHON IND Ltd
Original Assignee
BRITISH SYPHON IND Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BRITISH SYPHON IND Ltd filed Critical BRITISH SYPHON IND Ltd
Priority to GB08306076A priority Critical patent/GB2117094A/en
Publication of GB8306076D0 publication Critical patent/GB8306076D0/en
Publication of GB2117094A publication Critical patent/GB2117094A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/12—Flow or pressure control devices or systems, e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K1/00—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces
    • F16K1/32—Details
    • F16K1/34—Cutting-off parts, e.g. valve members, seats
    • F16K1/36—Valve members
    • F16K1/38—Valve members of conical shape
    • F16K1/385—Valve members of conical shape contacting in the closed position, over a substantial axial length, a seat surface having the same inclination
    • 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
    • B67D1/14—Reducing valves or control taps
    • B67D2001/1494—Taps with means for adjusting the position of a compensator from outside

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Abstract

A flow restrictor for a beer line has a frusto-conical plug member (10) adjustably located in a frusto-conical flow passage in a body part. So that the flow restrictor will be effective over a wide range of temperature and pressure and rate of flow, the plug member (10) has at its wider end a circumferential groove (44) from which a plurality of inclined holes (46) communicate with a central outlet flow passage (48) through a tail end (24) of the plug member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flow restrictor for beer line The invention relates to a flow restrictor for a beer line.
It is usual to provide a flow restrictor in a delivery line for a carbonated beer because of the difficulty of dispensing such beers without the carbon dioxide coming out of solution. This is particularly necessary in a delivery line for a Larger type beer because of the necessity for storing such a beer under relatively high pressure but for dispensing it in a very gentle fashion. The presence of the restrictor in the flow line causes the fluid pressure to be relieved before the beer reaches the dispense tap in a manner favourable to the retaining of carbonation in the beverage. The arrangement is such that if conditions of temperature and pressure are such that normal dispensing of the beverage is causing turbulence and frothing the operator can immediately reduce the rate of flow by increasing the degree of restriction to obtain non-turbulent flow.
Flow restrictors which have previously been known have generally included a frusto-conical plug member adjustably located in a frusto-conical flow passage so that the flow of the beverage along the gradually widening annular space surrounding the plug member has restricted the flow of beverage and provided the required reduction of pressure in the beverage being dispensed. Such flow restrictors have generally worked quite well throughout a particular range of temperature and pressure and rate of flow but none have been entirely satisfactory over a very wide range of temperature and pressure and rate of flow. The invention has for its object to provide a flow restrictor which will be effective over a wider range of temperature and pressure and rate of flow than any such restrictor previously available.
According to the invention, there is provided a flow restrictor for a beer line, the restrictor including a plug member adjustable located in a cavity in a body part, said plug member having a frusto-conical portion located in a similarly tapered part of the cavity in the body part and having at its wider end a circumferential groove from which a plurality of inclined holes communicate with a central outlet flow passage through a tail end of the plug member. The combined cross-sectional areas of the plurality of inclined holes will preferably be the same as the cross sectional area of the central outlet flow passage through the tail end of the plug member.
At its narrower end the plug member will preferably be provided with a pointed nose portion having a somewhat steeper angle of taper than the remainder of said plug member. In addition, at least one longitudinally extending groove may be provided in the frusto-conical surface of the plug member, the groove being very shallow and very narrow, that is to say in the region of 0.010" deep and in the region of 0.01 5" wide. At its wider end the plug member will preferably have a connected cylindrical length having sealed but slidable engagement in a cylindrical portion of the cavity in the body part.
The tail end of the plug member may extend through an end cap of the body part, the end cap preferably being formed with diametrically opposed inturned lug elements adapted to hold captive an adjusting nut engaging a screwthreaded portion of the tail end of the plug member. In this case, the adjusting nut will preferably be of generally annular shape and knurled so that it can be adjusted by finger and thumb. In addiction, it will preferably also be provided with a plurality of radial holes in which a removable lever can be fitted for making a fine adjustment when the restrictor is in use and difficult to adjust because of the pressure of beer acting against the plug member.In this case also, the tail end portion of the plug member will preferably be formed with diametrically opposed flats to such a depth that said tail end portion is a close sliding fit between parallel surfaces of the inturned lug elements, the arrangement being such that the plug member is held against rotation when the adjusting nut is turned to move said plug member axially within the body part. The end cap of the body part will preferably be secured to the body part by screws which when removed allow the plug member to be removed from the body part for cleaning without effecting its adjustment relative to the end cap, the arrangement being such that the restrictor can be re-assembled at the same setting as before.
On the other hand, the tail end of the plug member by extend through an adjusting cap having threaded engagement with a screwthread formed on the adjacent end of the body part, said adjusting cap being axially fixed with respect to the tail end of the plug member so that adjustments of the adjusting cap relative to the body part result in the adjustment of the plug member within said body part. In this case, the adjusting cap will preferably be rotatable on the tail end of the plug member, and means may be provided for preventing rotation of the plug member within the body part, such means being constituted for example by a pin projecting radially from the tail end of the plug member and slidable engaging an axial slot in the body part.
In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through an assembled flow restrictor embodying this invention, Fig. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig.
1, Fig. 3 is a side view of a plug member forming a part of the assembled flow restrictor, and Fig. 4 is a view similar ot Fig. 1 and iilustrating a modified form of flow restrictor embodying the invention.
Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the flow restrictor there illustrated includes a plug member generally indicated 10 adjustably located in a cavity in a body part 12. The plug member has a frusto-conical portion 1 4 located in a similarly tapered part 1 6 of the cavity in the body part. At its wider end the plug member has a connected cylindrical length 1 8 having sealed but slidable engagement in a cylindrical portion 20 of the cavity in the body part by means of a pair of O-ring seals 22. A screwthreaded tail end 24 of the plug member, that is to say its downstream end, extends through a central aperture in an end cap 26 which is secured to the body part by four screws 28.
The end cap is formed with diametrically opposed inturned lug elements 30 adapted to hold captive an adjusting nut 32 of generally annular shape which engages the screwthreaded tail end of the plug member. (Said tail end portion is formed with diametrically opposed falts 34 to such a depth that as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the tail end portion is a close sliding fit between parallel surfaces 36 of the inturned lug elements, the arrangement being such that the plug member is held against rotation when the adjusting nut is turned to move said plug member axially within the body part). The adjusting nut is knurled so that it can be adjusted by finger and thumb when the restrictor is not under pressure.In addition, it is provided with four equally spaced radial holes 33 in which a removable lever (not shown) can be fitted for making a fine adjustment of the plug member when the restrictor is in use and difficult to adjust because of the pressure of beer acting against the plug member.
Referring now in particular to Fig. 1, an inlet flow passage 38 (to which an inlet conduit can be connected by means of a compression fitting 40) communicates with the narrower end of the cavity in the body part. It will be seen that at its narrower end the frusto-conical portion of the plug member has a pointed nose portion 42 having a somewhat steeper angle of taper than the remainder of said plug member and this serves to divide the beer flowing along the inlet flow passage so that it enters the annular space surrounding the plug member in a non-turbulent manner.At its wider end, the frusto-conical portion of the plug member has a circiimferential groove 44 from which three equally spaced inclined holes 46 communicate with a central outlet flow passage 48 extending through the tail end of the plug member. (An outlet conduit can be connected to said outlet flow passage by means of the compression fitting 50). The combined cross sectional areas of the three inclined holes 46 are the same or substantially the same as the cross sectional area of the central outlet flow passage 48. In addition, it will be seen from Fig. 3 that a further detail of the plug member is the presence of a longitudinally extending groove 1 9 in its frustoconical surface, said groove being very shallow and very narrow, that is to say in the region of 0.010" deep and 0.015" wide.
It has been found that a flow restrictor as just described can, throughout a very wide range of temperature and pressure conditions and rates of flow, be adjusted to give non-turbulent flow free from frothing at the dispense point. In addition, when it is desired to dismantle the restrictorfor cleaning purposes or for renewal of the O-ring seals, the end cap 26 can be withdrawn from the body part when the four screws 28 have been removed (and it will be seen that the adjusting nut is provided with notches at its periphery to give unimpeded access to said screws) so that the plug member can be removed from the body part. The flow restrictor can subsequently be re-assembled at the same setting as before.The presence of the shallow groove 19 in the frusto-conical surface of the plug member is thought to stabilise streamline flow of beer along the latter and in addition prevents the flow of beer from being closed off completely.
Referring now to Fig. 4, the flow restrictor there illustrated is generally similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3 except that in this case the plug member extends through an adjusting cap 52 which has threaded engagement with a screwthread 54 formed on the adjacent end of the body part (the end cap of the body part in this case having being omitted). The adjusting cap is axially fixed with respect to the plug member, being held in abutment with a shoulder formed on the tail end of the plug member by means of a circlip 56. Consequently, when the adjusting cap is axially adjusted relative to the body part this causes the plug member to be axially adjusted in position within said body part.The adjusting nut is free to rotate on the tail end of the plug member; consequently, the plug member is not caused to rotate as the adjusting cap is adjusted along the screwthread 54. In fact, means are provided for preventing rotation of the plug member within the body part, these means being constituted by a pin 58 projecting radially from the tail end of the plug member and slidably engaging an axial slot 60 in the body part.
Means are provided for preventing an excessive movement of the adjusting cap along the screwthread 54 in a direction tending to withdraw the plug member from the cavity in the body part.
These means are constituted by a spring steel ring element 62 which engages an annular seating within the adjusting cap and which binds against the end of the screwthread 54 and the end of the normal range of adjustment of the plug member.
Various other modifications may be made. For example, the inclined holes communicating with the central outlet flow passage in either one of the illustrated embodiments need not necessarily be three in number; they could be of a greater number than three, but their combined cross sectional areas will still preferably be the same as the cross sectional area of the outlet flow passage.
Furthermore, in the first described embodiment it may be found that a removable lever is not required to make fine adjustments of the plug member when the restrictor is in use; in these circumstances it would not be necessary to provide the adjusting nut with the four equally spaced radial holes 33. Similarly, in the flow restrictor illustrated in Fig. 4, since the knurled cap is of relatively large diameter and can be grasped firmly by the hand (unlike the adjusting nut of the Fig. 1 construction) it is unlikely that leverage will be required to make fine adjustments, nevertheless provision could be made for the fitment of a removable lever or a spanner to the knurled cap and/or the body part if required.

Claims (14)

1. A flow restrictor for a beer line, the restrictor including a plug member adjustably located in a cavity in a body part, said plug member having a frusto-conical portion located in a similarly tapered part of the cavity in the body part and having at its wider end a circumferential groove from which a plurality of inclined holes communicate with a central outlet flow passage through a tail end of the plug member.
2. A flow restrictor according to claim 1, in which the combined cross sectional areas of the piurality of inclined holes are the same as the cross sectional area of the central outlet flow passage through the tail end of the plug member.
3. A flow restrictor according to either one of the preceding claims, in which at its narrower end the plug member is provided with a pointed nose portion having a somewhat steeper angle of taper than the remainder of said plug member.
4. A flow restrictor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one longitudinally extending groove is provided in the frusto-conical surface of the plug member, the groove being very shallow and very narrow.
5. A flow restrictor according to claim 4, in which the at least one longitudinally extending groove in the frusto-conical surface of the plug member is in the region of 0.010" deep and in the region of 0.015" wide.
6. A flow restrictor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at its wider end the plug member has a connected cylindrical length having sealed but slidable engagement in a cylindrical portion of the cavity in the body part.
7. A flow restrictor according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tail end of the plug member extends through an end cap of the body part.
8. A flow restrictor according to claim 7, in which the end cap is formed with diametrically opposed inturned lug elements adapted to hold captive an adjusting nut engaging a screwthreaded portion of the tail end of the plug member.
9. A flow restrictor according to claim 8, in which the adjusting nut is of generally; annular shape and knurled so that it can be adjusted by finger and thumb.
10. A flow restrictor according to claim 9, in which the adjusting nut is also provided with a plurality of radial holes in which a removable lever can be fitted for making a fine adjustment when the restrictor is in use and difficult to adjust because of the pressure of beer acting against the plug member.
11. A flow restrictor according to any one of claims 8 to 10, in which the tail end portion of the plug member is formed with diametrically opposed flats to such a depth that said tail end portion is a close sliding fit between parallel surfaces of the inturned lug elements, the arrangement being such that the plug member is held against rotation when the adjusting nut is turned to move said plug member axially within the body part.
12. A flow restrictor according to any one of claims 7 to 11, in which the end cap of the body part is secured to said body part by screws which when removed allow the plug member to be removed from the body part for cleaning without effecting its adjustment relative to the end cap, the arrangement being such that the restrictor can be re-assembled at the same setting as before.
1 3. A flow restrictor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the tail end of the plug member extends through an adjusting cap having threaded engagement with a screwthread formed on the adjacent end of the body part, said adjusting cap being axially fixed with respect to the tail end of the plug member so that adjustments of the adjusting cap relative to the body part result in the adjustment of the plug member within said body part.
14. A flow restrictor according to claim 13, in which the adjusting cap is rotatable on the tail end of the plug member.
1 5. A flow restrictor according to claim 14, in which means are provided for preventing rotation of the plug member within the body part.
1 6. A flow restrictor according to claim 1 5, in which the means which are provided for preventing rotation of the plug member within the body part are constituted by a pin projecting radially from the tail end of the plug member and slidable engaging an axial slot in the body part.
1 7. A flow restrictor constructed, arranged an adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 3 to Fig, 4 of the accompanying drawings.
GB08306076A 1982-03-22 1983-03-04 Flow restrictor for beer line Withdrawn GB2117094A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08306076A GB2117094A (en) 1982-03-22 1983-03-04 Flow restrictor for beer line

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8208344 1982-03-22
GB08306076A GB2117094A (en) 1982-03-22 1983-03-04 Flow restrictor for beer line

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8306076D0 GB8306076D0 (en) 1983-04-07
GB2117094A true GB2117094A (en) 1983-10-05

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08306076A Withdrawn GB2117094A (en) 1982-03-22 1983-03-04 Flow restrictor for beer line

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2200615A (en) * 1987-01-22 1988-08-10 Portec Inc Suction actuated lifting apparatus
AT392138B (en) * 1985-05-03 1991-01-25 Gagarin Hoeeroemue Vallalat CONTROL VALVE FOR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
BE1015850A3 (en) * 2004-01-08 2005-10-04 Vervenne & Van Belle S A Flow controller for beer circuit has male and female components with conical surfaces that are adjusted relative to one another
EP3795874A1 (en) * 2016-02-17 2021-03-24 Flow International Corporation Regulator valve assembly and components thereof
RU2745710C2 (en) * 2016-06-06 2021-03-30 Фишер Контролз Интернешнел Ллс Locking elements of valve with curvilinear notches
GB2619505A (en) * 2022-06-06 2023-12-13 Fevertree Ltd Carbonated beverage dispenser

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB761932A (en) * 1954-07-29 1956-11-21 Ml Aviation Co Ltd Improvements in automatic control equipment for aircraft
GB888143A (en) * 1957-05-10 1962-01-24 Renault Improvements in or relating to fittings and valves having parts made of plastics material
GB1463303A (en) * 1973-09-10 1977-02-02 Young Ltd J Flow control devices
GB1492859A (en) * 1974-03-05 1977-11-23 Schlauchbootfab Scheibert H De Inflation valves for inflatable articles
GB2033544A (en) * 1978-09-13 1980-05-21 Gambro Dialysatoren Valves

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB761932A (en) * 1954-07-29 1956-11-21 Ml Aviation Co Ltd Improvements in automatic control equipment for aircraft
GB888143A (en) * 1957-05-10 1962-01-24 Renault Improvements in or relating to fittings and valves having parts made of plastics material
GB1463303A (en) * 1973-09-10 1977-02-02 Young Ltd J Flow control devices
GB1492859A (en) * 1974-03-05 1977-11-23 Schlauchbootfab Scheibert H De Inflation valves for inflatable articles
GB2033544A (en) * 1978-09-13 1980-05-21 Gambro Dialysatoren Valves

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT392138B (en) * 1985-05-03 1991-01-25 Gagarin Hoeeroemue Vallalat CONTROL VALVE FOR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
GB2200615A (en) * 1987-01-22 1988-08-10 Portec Inc Suction actuated lifting apparatus
BE1015850A3 (en) * 2004-01-08 2005-10-04 Vervenne & Van Belle S A Flow controller for beer circuit has male and female components with conical surfaces that are adjusted relative to one another
EP3795874A1 (en) * 2016-02-17 2021-03-24 Flow International Corporation Regulator valve assembly and components thereof
US11506289B2 (en) 2016-02-17 2022-11-22 Flow International Corporation Regulator valve assembly and components thereof
RU2745710C2 (en) * 2016-06-06 2021-03-30 Фишер Контролз Интернешнел Ллс Locking elements of valve with curvilinear notches
RU2745710C9 (en) * 2016-06-06 2021-10-28 Фишер Контролз Интернешнел Ллс Locking elements of valve with curvilinear notches
GB2619505A (en) * 2022-06-06 2023-12-13 Fevertree Ltd Carbonated beverage dispenser
WO2023237566A1 (en) * 2022-06-06 2023-12-14 Fevertree Limited Carbonated beverage dispenser
GB2619505B (en) * 2022-06-06 2024-06-05 Fevertree Ltd Carbonated beverage dispenser

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Publication number Publication date
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