GB2163531A

GB2163531A - Apparatus for use in dispensing beverages

Info

Publication number: GB2163531A
Application number: GB08519731A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Little; Paul Betteridge; Peter Thomas Foster
Original assignee: Bass PLC
Current assignee: Bass PLC
Priority date: 1984-08-07
Filing date: 1985-08-06
Publication date: 1986-02-26
Also published as: GB2163531B; GB8519731D0; IE56759B1; IE851947L; GB8420102D0

Abstract

A beer dispenser has an initial valve (28, 29) and a final valve (16, 19) which are opened successively as an operating handle (40) is moved from a vertical off position, in which both valves are closed, to a horizontal position in which both valves are open. In an intermediate position of the handle only the initial valve is open, and this provides a restricted flow of beer causing the production of a head of beer prior to the dispensing of the final valve of the bulk of a glass of beer, and this ensures that a predetermined head is produced for each operation of the handle. The initial valve may be a spool valve (28, 29), Fig. 1, or a disc valve (42, 43), Fig. 3, and in both cases the valve member (25; 42) of the initial valve is slidably housed within the valve member (17) of the final valve and controls a by-pass passage (31; 44) in that valve member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for use in dispensing beverages This invention relates to apparatus for use in dispensing beverages and is in particular concerned with apparatus for use in dispensing beer and other beverages of the kind capable of forming a head.

A known type of apparatus for use in dispensing beer comprises a manually operable valve for controlling the flow of beer from a source of beer under pressure to a dispense outlet. The valve is provided with an operating handle that can be moved from a central off position to each of two on positions: a first on position and a second on position. The handle is spring-biased to its off position.

When the handle is in the off position no beer can flow to the dispense outlet. When the handle is in the first on position beer can flow freely to the dispense outlet and is substantially undisturbed in its flow so that there is little froth or foam formed during dispense.

When the handle is in its second on position, however, the flow of beer is restricted and the beer is considerably disturbed with the result that the beer tends to form a froth or foam. The arrangement is such that in being moved from either on position to the other on position the handle has to pass through its central off position. The intention is that beer should be dispensed in the following manner.

A glass is held beneath the dispense outlet and the handle is moved to its first on position allowing relatively foam-free beer to flow into the glass. When the glass is almost full the handle is moved to its second on position so that froth or foam is dispensed on top of the relatively foam-free beer and forms a head. A disadvantage of that known type of apparatus is that there is no obligation on the person using the valve to move the handle to its second on position and thus to cause a head to be formed on the beer.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus such that the disadvantage outlined above can be overcome.

According to one aspect the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in dispensing beverages of the kind capable of forming a head, which apparatus comprises valve means for controlling the flow of beverage under pressure to a dispense point and capable of assuming an off position, an initial on position and a final on position, the valve means being such that when it is in its off position no beverage passes through it, when it is in its initial on position beverages can flow through it but is caused to form froth or foam, and when it is in its final on position beverage can flow through it substantially undisturbed so that little or no froth or foam is formed in use, and control means for the valve means such that (at least in normal use) it is necessary for the valve means to assume its initial on position in passing from its off position to its final on position.

When apparatus in accordance with the present invention is in normal use, the valve means is moved from its off position and temporarily assumes its initial on position causing a quantity of froth or foam to be dispensed into a glass or other vessel. The valve means is then moved to its final on position, causing a quantity of relatively undisturbed beverage to be dispensed. As this occurs the previously dispensed froth or foam floats on top of the relatively undisturbed beverage so as to form a head on that beverage. In this way the person dispensing the beverage cannot, at least in normal use, avoid producing a head on the beverage in the glass or other vessel.

When the valve means is moved to its off position from its final on position the arrangement is preferably such that (at least in normal use) it is necessary for the valve means to pass through its initial on position. In this way an additional quantity of froth or foam is dispensed.

The valve means is preferably biased towards its off position.

The valve means preferably comprises an initial valve and a final valve, each of which can assume a closed position in which no beverage can be dispensed through it and an open position in which beverage can be dispensed through it, the arrangement being such that when the valve means is in its off position both valves are in their closed positions, when the valve means is in its initial on position the initial valve is open but the final valve is closed, and when the valve means is in its final on position the final valve is open.

The arrangement may be such that when the valve means is in its final on position both the initial and final valves are open, the arrangement being such that owing to the fact that the resistance to flow afforded by the initial valve when it is open being significantly greater than the resistance to flow afforded by the final valve when that is open, almost no beverage flows through the initial valve when both valves are open together so that virtually no froth or foam is then formed by beer passing through the initial valve.

The control means of the apparatus preferably comprises a manual control movable from an off position, in which the valve means is in its off position, through an initial position, in which the valve means is in its initial on position, to a final position, in which the valve means is in its final on position.

The control means preferably includes a control member which, when the valve means is moved from its off position to its initial on position, causes the initial valve to move from its closed position to its open position, and then, when the valve means is moved from its initial on position to its final on position causes the bodily movement of the open initial valve and the movement of the final valve from its closed position to its open position.

The control member may be connected for operation by the manual control.

The valve member of the initial valve is preferably housed substantially within the valve member of the final valve and controls restricted flow of beverage through a by-pass passage in the final valve member which bypasses the closed final valve, the initial valve member being connected to the control member and there being a lost-motion connection between the initial valve member and the final valve member, the arrangement being such that initial operation of the control member causes the initial valve member to move relative to the final valve member to open the initial valve, and following take-up of the lost motion the final valve member is moved to open the final valve.

The lost motion connection is preferably arranged to be adjustable to enable the amount of lost motion to be varied, thereby to alter the timing between the opening of the initial valve and the opening of the final valve.

The initial valve member in one preferred form of the apparatus in accordance with the invention is a spool valve member which controls restricted flow of beverage through a port in the wall of the bore of the final valve member in which the spool is slidably housed.

In a second preferred form of the apparatus in accordance with the invention the initial valve member is an elastomeric disc valve member carried by the free end of an operating rod which is slidably guided in the final valve member, the disc valve member co-operating with a valve seat surrounding one end of the by-pass passage in the final valve member.

According to a second aspect of the invention, when a valve seat of the valve means of apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention is intended to be provided on a housing of the apparatus, and a housing of an existing apparatus for dispensing beverages is already provided with a suitable valve seat, we provide a conversion kit for converting the existing apparatus,the conversion kit comprising the remaining components of the valve means, and the control means in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, for use in combination with the existing housing.

Two forms of apparatus embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a part section of a first form apparatus intended for use in dispensing beer showing valve means of the apparatus in an off position; Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing valve means of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in an initial on positon; and Figures 3 and 4 are views corresponding respectively to Figs. 1 and 2 but of a second form of apparatus intended for dispensing beer.

Externally the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 resembles apparatus widely used for dispensing beer, but internally it differs in that it incorporates two valves instead of one. The apparatus has a tubular body 1 which, in use, is so mounted that its axis is vertical. A tubular inlet pipe 2 extends horizontally from the body 1, at a location spaced from the ends of the body 1. In use an end portion 3 of the inlet pipe 2 further from the body 1 is mounted on a fixed support, and a supply tube is attached to the end of the inlet pipe, beer under pressure being supplied through the supply tube.

An upper part 4 of the body 1 is formed with an upper bore 5, and a lower part 6 of the body is formed with a lower bore 7, which is of greater internal diameter than the upper bore 5. The interior of the inlet pipe 2 communicates with the lower bore 7. The uppermost part 8 of the body 1 is externally screw-threaded, and a cap 9 with a complementary internal screw-thread is screwed onto that part 8 of the body 1. A plug 10 of stepped cylindrical shape within the cap 9 fits in th bore 5 in the uppermost part 8 of the body 1. The plug 10 is formed with an axial through bore 11. The lowermost part 12 of the body 1 is internally screw-threaded and is engaged by a complementary external screwthread on an upper end portion 13 of a tubular dispense nozzle 14.The dispense nozzle 14 has a bore 15, most of which is somewhat narrower than either of those in the body 1; but an upper end portion of the bore 15 in the nozzle 14 is flared outwards and upwards to provide a frusto-conical valve seat 16 which smoothly merges with the lower bore 7 in the body 1 and with the narrower bore 15 in the remainder of the nozzle 14.

The body 1 and nozzle 14 constitute a housing for the movable valve components.

The valve seat 16 constitutes the seat of a final valve which also includes a substantially cylindrical valve member 17 which is disposed inside the body 1 and is coaxial with the body. At its lower end the valve member 17 has a circumferential groove 18 which houses an O-ring 19 which seals against the valve seat 16 when the valve member 17 is in a lowermost or closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer diameter of the 0ring 19, however, is of smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the lower bore 7 in the body 1 so that when the valve member 17 is raised to an upper position or open position beer can flow from the inlet pipe 2, into the lower bore 7, around the O-ring 19 and into the nozzle 14. Near its upper end the valve member 17 is formed with a second circumferential groove 20, which houses a second 0being 21.This second O-ring 21 seals against the upper bore 5 of the body 1 at all times and prevents beer escaping upwards from the lower bore 7. A helical compression spring 22 above the valve member 15 and co-axial with the body 1 bears on the top 23 of the valve member 17 and on an undersurface 24 of the plug 10, thus urging the valve member 15 into its closed position.

A cylindrical operating rod 25 extends through the bore 11 in the plug 10 and through a cylindrical, axial bore 26 in the valve member 17 and is a sliding fit in the bores 11 and 26. At its lower end the rod 25 has an outwardly directed circular flange 27 which extends radially outwards beneath the valve member 17 but is of smaller diameter than the valve member 17. A radial hole 28 of relatively small diameter is formed through the valve member 17 at a height about half way between the O-rings 19 and 21. The outer end of the hole 28 is always disposed in the lower bore 7 in the body 1, even when the valve member 17 is in its open position.A circumferential groove or gallery 29 is formed in the operating rod 25 at a location such that when the flange 27 on the operating rod 25 abuts the undersurface of the valve member 17, as shown in Fig. 2, the gallery 29 is aligned with the radial hole 28 in the valve member 17. The operating rod 25 and valve member 17 together constitute the components of an initial valve, and when they are in the relative positions shown in Fig. 2 the ini tial valve is open. However, the operating rod 25 can be lowered relatively to the valve member 17 so that the gallery 29 is no longer aligned with the radial hole 28 in the valve member 17, and the rod 25 thus blocks the inner end of the radial hole 28. In this position, as shown in Fig. 1, the initial valve is closed.Inside the operating rod 25 a radial hole 30 extends from the base of the gallery 29 to the axis of the rod 25 where it meets the upper end of an axial hole 31 which extends through the rod 25 and is open at its lower end. The radial and axial holes 29 and 31 in the rod 25 are of relatively small diameter.

The initial valve is urged towards its closed position by a helical compression spring 32 which acts between the undersurface 24 of the plug 10 and a shoulder 33 on the operating rod 25 at a level spaced a little above the valve member 17. This spring 32 is coaxial with the first-mentioned spring 22 and is of smaller diameter than the first-mentioned spring 22.

The operating rod 22 extends upwards through a hole 34 in the middle of the cap 9 and an upper end portion 35 of the rod 25, above the cap 9, is pivotally connected to a block 36 which engages the upper surface 37 of the cap 9. The upper end portion 35 of the rod 25 projects into a downwardly opening slot 38 in the block 36, and a horizontal pivot pin 39 extends through aligned holes in the block 36 and the upper end portion 35 of the rod 25. An operating handle 40 is fixed to the block 36. The block 36 is so shaped that when the handle 40 is upright as shown in Fig. 1 the operating rod 25 is in a lowermost position relative to the body 1 and both valves are closed.Portions of the block 36 to one side of the rod 25 are rounded to form a cam surface 41 which can engage the upper surface 37 of the cap 9 as the block 36 is rotated through 90 from the off position shown in Fig. 1. As the handle 40 is moved from an upright position to a horizontal position the operating rod 25 is pulled upwards against the action of the helical compression springs 22 and 32.

During a first stage of this movement the rod 25 moves upwards but the valve member 17 remains unmoved in its closed position.

The initial valve is thus opened as shown in Fig. 2. When this occurs beer flows through the inlet pipe 2 into the body 1 of the apparatus, through the radial hole 28 of the valve member 17 into the gallery 29, through the radial hole 30 in the operating rod 25 and then through the axial hole 31 in the operating rod 25, so that it by-passes the closed final valve and is discharged into the nozzle 14. As the beer leaves the axial hole 31 in the operating rod 25 the pressure to which it has been subjected is suddenly lowered with the result that the beer is highly disturbed and gas that was dissolved in it comes out of solution thereby converting the beer into a froth or foam. In normal use froth or foam is squirted from the rod 25, down the nozzle 14 and into a glass held beneath the nozzle.

During a second stage of movement of the handle from the position shown in Fig. 2 the operating rod 25 continues to move upwards.

As this occurs the flange 27 on the rod 25 lifts the valve member 1 7 upwards and thus moves the main valve from its closed to its open position. When this occurs beer can flow smoothly from the lower bore 7 in the body 1 into the nozzle 14 so that little or no froth or foam is formed.

It will be appreciated that during the first stage of movement only the spring 32 acting on the operating rod 25 is compressed but that during the second stage both spring 22 and 32 are compressed. This enables any one operating the apparatus to sense readily when only the initial valve is open as shown in Fig.

2 and thus makes it easy for the operator to retain the rod 25 in that position for a short while, if desired, so as to increase the quantity of froth or foam produced. However it is found that this is not usually necessary.

The block 36 is so shaped that when the handle 40 is in its horizontal position the force exerted by the springs 22 and 32 is unable to rotate the block 36 back to its original position. The operator therefore has to exert no retaining force when the final valve is fully open. As open as the handle 40 has been moved back through a small angle from its horizontal position, however, the springs 22 and 32 act to return the handle 40 to its vertical position and thus cause both the valves to be closed.

Parts of the apparatus described are similar to corresponding parts of apparatus currently in use but containing only one valve, which is equivalent to the final valve. In particular the known apparatus has a similar body, inlet pipe and nozzle. Moreover the external shape of the valve member is the same as that described above. It is therefore possible to provide a conversion unit for converting apparatus of the design currently used into apparatus of the kind described above, the conversion unit comprising a valve member 17 and the associated O-rings 19 and 21, an operating rod 25, springs 22 and 32, cap 9, plug 10, block 36 and handle 40. The conversion unit can be installed merely by unscrewing the cap of the original apparatus, lifting out the associated parts and then replacing them with the conversion unit and screwing up the cap.

The normal operation of the apparatus has been described above, but it should be noted that even if the handle 40 is moved from its vertical to its horizontal position in one quite rapid movement a quantity of foam or froth is formed that is adequate to yield a satisfactory head. Further, when the handle 40 is allowed to return to its vertical position under the action of the springs 22 and 32 some more froth or foam is produced, thereby adding to the head.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a second form of apparatus which in some respects is identical to that of Figs. 1 and 2 but which employs a different arrangement for the initial valve. Parts corresponding to those of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 have been given corresponding reference numerals in Figs. 3 and 4.

The body 1 and dispense nozzle 14 are identical to those of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2, and the final valve is similarly constituted by a frusto-conical valve seat 16 at the upper end of nozzle 14 and by an O-ring 10 housed in a groove 18 in the valve member 17.

As distinct from the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus of Figs. 3 and 4 employs an initial valve comprising a rubber disc 42 co-operating with a valve seat 43 surrounding the upper end of an axial passage 44 which extends through the lower end of valve member 7 to communicate directly with the interior of nozzle 14.

The valve seat 43 is provided by the planar lower end wall of bore 26 in which the enlarged lower end portion 45 of operating rod 25 is received with radial clearance to permit restricted flow of beer between the inner ends of radial passages 28 and the lower end of bore 26, when the initial valve is open. The disc 42 is a tight fit in a recess 46 of substantially complementary shape formed in the lower end of rod 25, the lower end of disc 42 protruding slightly from recess 46 to. effect a seal with seat 43 when the handle 40 is in the off position shown in Fig. 3.

The operating rod 25 is slidably guided with respect to valve member 17 and retained captive thereto by an externally threaded sleeve 47 which is threadedly secured in a complementarily threaded counterbore 48a to bore 26, the sleeve 47 having an integral radially outwardly extending flange 48 at its upper end which is sealed to the upper end of valve member 17 by an O-ring 49 beneath the flange 48. A cylindrical portion 50 of the rod 25 of intermediate diameter to that of ends 35 and 45 is a sliding fit within the bore of sleeve 47 and is sealed thereto by an O-ring 51 received in an external annular recess in portion 50. The step between portion 50 and upper end 35 provides the abutment for the lower end of spring 32.

The operation of the apparatus of Figs. 3 and 4 is similar in many respects to that of Figs. 1 and 2. When the operating handle 40 is in the off position shown in Fig. 3 both the initial and final valves are ciosed, the disc 42 being held firmly engaged with valve seat 43 by the action of spring 32, and the O-ring 19 being held firmly against seat 16 by spring 22. During a first stage of movement of the handle 40 from the upright, off position to a horizontal, fully on position the rod 25 moves upwards to raise disc 42 from valve seat 43 thereby to permit restricted flow of beer from inlet 2 to bore 15 by way of passages 28 and passage 44 which by-pass the final valve, the restricted size of these passages, as with the initial valve of Figs. 1 and 2, resulting in frothing or foaming of the beer delivered during this first stage of movement. During this first stage of movement the final valve 19, 16 remains closed, as shown in Fig. 4, but on further movement of the handle 40 from the position shown in Fig. 4 towards a horizontal position the valve member 17 is raised by the engagement between the rod end portion 45 and the lower end of the sleeve 47.

The amount of foam or froth produced in the first on position can be varied by limiting or extending the travel of the slidable operating rod 25 within the valve member 17, that is the amount of the lost motion in the lost motion connection between the two valve members. This is accomplished by means of the externally threaded sleeve 47 being screwed down to a greater or lesser extent within the complementarily threaded counterbore 48a.

The remainder of the opening and closing sequence of the operation of the apparatus of Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in dispensing beverages of the kind capable of forming a head, the apparatus comprising valve means for controlling the flow of beverage under pressure to a dispense point and capable of assuming an off position, an initial on position and a final on position, the valve means being such that when it is in its off position no beverage passes through it, when it is in its initial on position beverage can flow through it but is caused to form froth or foam, and when it is in its final on position beverage can flow through it substantially undisturbed so that little or no froth or foam is formed in use, and control means for the valve means such that, at least in normal use, it is necessary for the valve means to assume its initial on position in passing from its off position to its final on position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the arrangement is such that when the valve means is moved to its off position from its final on position, it is necessary for the valve means to pass through its initial on position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the valve means is biased towards its off position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the valve means comprises an initial valve and a final valve, each of which can assume a closed position in which no beverage can be dispensed through it and an open position in which beverage can be dispensed through it, the arrangement being such that when the valve means is in its off position both valves are in their closed positions, when the valve means is in its initial on position the initial valve is open but the final valve is closed, and when the valve means is in its final on position the final valve is open.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the arrangement is such that when the valve means is in its final on position both the initial and final valves are open, the arrangement being such that owing to the fact that the resistance to flow afforded by the initial valve when it is open is significantly greater than the resistance to flow afforded by the final valve when that is open, almost no beverage flows through the initial valve when both valves are open together.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the control means comprises a manual control movable from an off position, in which the valve means is in its off position, through an initial positon, in which the valve means is in its initial on position, to a final position, in which the valve means is in its final on position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the control means includes a control member which, when the valve means is moved from its off position to its initial on position, causes the initial valve to move from its closed position to its open position, and then, when the valve means is moved from its initial on position to its final on position causes the bodily movement of the open initial valve and the movement of the final valve from its closed position to its open position.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 as appended to claim 4 in which the valve member of the initial valve is housed substantially within the valve member of the final valve and controls restricted flow of beverage through a by-pass passage in the final valve member which bypasses the closed final valve, the initial valve member being connected to the control member and there being a lost-motion connection between the initial valve member and the final valve member, the arrangement being such that initial operation of the control member causes the initial valve member to move relative to the final valve member to open the initial valve, and following take-up of the lost motion of the lost motion connection the final valve member is moved to open the final valve.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the lost motion connection is adjustable to enable the amount of lost motion to be varied, thereby to alter the timing between the opening of the initial valve and the opening of the final valve.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 in which the initial valve member is a spool valve member which controls restricted flow of beverage through a port in the wall of the bore of the final valve member in which the spool is slidably housed.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 in which the initial valve member is an elastomeric disc valve member carried by the free end of an operating rod which is slidably guided in the final valve member, the disc valve member co-operating with a valve seat surrounding one end of the by-pass passage in the final valve member.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which a valve seat of the valve means is provided on a portion of a housing of the apparatus, the housing comprising a beverage inlet and a beverage outlet, and the valve seat being positioned in the flow path in the housing between the inlet and the outlet.

13. A conversion kit for use with a housing of an existing beverage dispensing apparatus to provide a converted apparatus as claimed in claim 12, the housing comprising a beverage inlet and a beverage outlet, and a valve seat provided on a portion of the housing positioned in the existing flow path in the housing between the inlet and outlet, the kit comprising the remainder of the valve means and the control means as specified in claim 12.

14. Apparatus for use in dispensing beverages substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

15. Apparatus for use in dispensing beverages substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A conversion kit for use with a housing from an existing beverage dispensing apparatus, the housing being substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the kit comprising the remaining components of the valve means and the control means of the apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A conversion kit for use with a housing from an existing beverage dispensing apparatus, the housing being substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the kit comprising the remaining components of the valve means and the control means of the apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.