GB2154986A

GB2154986A - Liquid flow control apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2154986A
Application number: GB08405642A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Johnston
Original assignee: MICROFLOW
Current assignee: MICROFLOW
Priority date: 1984-03-03
Filing date: 1984-03-03
Publication date: 1985-09-18
Also published as: GB8405642D0

Abstract

The flow of beer pumped from a keg (5) by a pump (3) to a tap (17) is controlled by a flow control unit (2) which incorporates a timer (22) and pressure switch (23). Under normal operation, the required quantity of beer is dispensed through the tap (17) in the requisite time. As the beer flows pressure in the line to the tap falls. This is detected by pressure switch (23) which operates to switch on the pump (3) until the requisite line pressure is reached when the switch operates to switch the pump off. If the pump (3) operates for longer than a certain time indicating a fault or empty keg (5), the timer operates to switch the pump off to prevent damage to the pump. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Liquid flow control apparatus The present invention relates to a liquid flow control apparatus. It is particularly, but not exclusively, intended for the supply of a beverage such as beer.

In such apparatus the beer is pumped to a free flow tap, the flow through which is controlled by a solenoid operated valve. If pumps in such apparatus are permitted to operate when a fault is present in the flow lines or when the beer supply has been terminated damage to the motor can result. An object of the invention is to reduce the risk of such damage occurring.

According to the present invention there is provided a flow control apparatus comprising a tap, electrically operable means for controlling the flow of liquid through the tap, means for delivering liquid from a source to the tap and a timer and associated device for rendering the means for delivering inoperative a certain time after operation of the means for controlling to open the tap.

In a preferred embodiment the electrically operable means for controlling liquid flow comprises a solenoid operated valve associated with a free flow tap. The means for delivering liquid from a source (usually a beer keg) to the tap comprises a pump advantageously operated by an electric motor. The device associated with the timer comprises a solenoid operated switch the contacts of which are disposed in the supply to the electric motor. The timer receives its supply transformed down from the mainssupply. An indicator lamp indicates when the solenoid operated valve is open. The supply to the solenoid of the valve and to the indicator lamp is also from the transformed down supply. In this way those parts of the apparatus likely to be contacted by an operative in normal use can be supplied from a supply of low, as opposed to mains voltage, thus increasing safety.Operation of the timer and associated device after a timed period prevents unnecessary lengthy and possibly damaging operation of the motor and pump.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagram of a beer flow control apparatus, and Figure 2 shows an electric circuit diagram for the apparatus for Figure 1.

The apparatus comprises a bar head unit 1, a flow control unit 2, a pump 3 driven by a motor 4, and a beer keg 5. A beer line 6 connects the keg 5 to the inlet 7 of the pump 3 and a beer line 8 connects the outlet 9 of the pump 3 to the inlet 10 of the flow control unit 2. A further beer line 1 5 connects the outlet 1 6 of the flow control unit to the inlet of a free flow tap 1 7 which forms part of the bar head unit 1.

The flow control unit incorporates a relay 21, a timer 22 and a pressure switch 23. In addition to the tap 17, the bar head unit comprises a solenoid operated bar valve 30, which controls liquid flow through the tap, an indicator lamp 31 and a switch 32.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described, with additional reference to the circuit diagram of Figure 2. In the normal mode of operation, the tap 1 7 of the bar head unit 1 is operated by switching on the switch 32. This completes the circuit to the lamp 31, which then illuminates, and which energises the solenoid to open the bar valve. Beer then flows from the tap 1 7. As flow proceeds, the pressure in line 1 5 drops thus activating pressure switch 23. This in turn causes the supply circuit to the motor 4 to be completed thus operating the pump 3 which pumps beer from the keg 5 via lines 6, 8 and 15 to the tap 17.

Flow continues until the switch 32 is switched off thus de-energising the solenoid to close the beer valve 30 and switching the lamp 31 off. The pressure switch then opens as the pressure in line 1 5 once again rises and this switches the motor 4 and pump 3 off.

The time that the switch 32 is closed, and thus the tap 1 7 open, is timed by means of the timer 22 which forms part of the flow control unit 2. When the apparatus is operating satisfactorily, the required quantity of liquid will be dispensed in less than a certain time (for example less than two minutes). If the switch is still operating after that time then a fault or empty keg is indicated. If pump 3 continues to operate under these circumstances, the motor 4 could be damaged. The timer 22 is therefore set to deactivate the system, and in particular switch off the motor 4, after a period of operation slightly longer than the certain time.For this purpose, the timer is associated with a solenoid operated switch (the solenoid is referenced 40 and the switch 41) the switch 41 of which is disposed in the live line of the supply 43 to the motor 4 (the motor is not shown in Figure 2) and which opens after the above mentioned period of operation to switch off the motor 4. When the switch 32 is operated again the timer 22 is reset.

It will be appreciated that all the control lines carry voltage at only 24 volts whereas the power supply line to the motor is 240 volts, the 24 volt supply being transformed down from the 240 volts supply via transformer 50. This provides an advantageous safety feature since in normal operation an operative would generally only come into contact with the bar head unit.

The above embodiment has been described by way of example only and many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus comprising a tap, electrically operable means for controlling the flow of liquid through the tap, means for delivering liquid from a source to the tap and a timer and associated device for rendering the means for delivery inoperative a certain time after operation of the means for controlling to open the tap.

2. A flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the electrically operable means for controlling liquid flow comprises a solenoid operated valve associated with a free flow tap.

3. A flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the means for delivering liquid from a source to the tap comprises a pump.

4. A flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the pump is operated by an electric motor.

5. A flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the device associated with the timer comprises a solenoid operated switch, the contacts of which are disposed in the supply to the electric motor.

6. A flow control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the timer is adapted to receive a supply transformed down from the mains supply.

7. A flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, or in any of claims 3 to 6, when appendant directly or indirectly to claim 2, in which an indicator lamp is provided to indicate when the solenoid operated valve is open.

8. A flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the indicator lamp and the solenoid operated valve is adapted to receive a supply transformed down from the mains supply.

9. A flow control apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.