GB2201948A

GB2201948A - Beer dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2201948A
Application number: GB08804883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Morgan; Neil John Morgan
Original assignee: PEKTRON Ltd
Current assignee: PEKTRON Ltd
Priority date: 1987-03-06
Filing date: 1988-03-01
Publication date: 1988-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-01
Also published as: GB8705325D0; GB2201948B; GB8804883D0

Abstract

A beer dispensing apparatus has a dispense handle (10) at an outlet and an electric pump for moving beer through a flow line to the dispense outlet. A flow valve (12) is in circuit with a variable resistance (14) so mechanically connected with the handle (10) that movement of the latter varies the resistance. By means of a suitable electrical circuit movement of the handle (10) opens the valve (12) and a drive signal which varies in proportion to the movement of the handle (10) is sensed through an optical link and controls the speed of a beer pump motor (16), again in proportion to the change of position of the handle (10). The circuit also provides for restoring pressure in the flow line for a pre-set short period of time after a pre-set delay. The apparatus properly simulates a traditional beer dispense. <IMAGE>

Description

Liquid Dispensing Apparatus This invention is concerned with apparatus for dispensing liquids and is particularly concerned with the dispensing of beverages such as beer.

Beer has traditionally been drawn from a cellar to a dispensing outlet in a bar by means of a hand-driven arrangement having the form of a suction pump. However, in the present day, some carbonated liquids are not suited to dispensing by such traditional means. Also when a suction pump is used the amount of lift is limited by atmospheric pressure such that, after a maximum lift of about 32 feet, a partial vacuum would exist.

As an alternative to the traditional suction pump dispense, devices have been proposed which have a traditional pull handle, wherein the movement of the handle switches on a pump in the cellar by electrical or hydraulic means. Such devices however do not adequately simulate a traditional pull handle because dispensing is achieved by pulling the handle and holding the handle still while beer continues to flow.

According to the present invention there is provided liquid dispensing apparatus comprising manually movable means at the outlet of a liquid flow line, means for automatically moving liquid through the line to the outlet for dispense, and means for controlling operation of the liquid moving means in accordance with the rate of change of position of the manually movable means.

Preferably the liquid moving means comprises an electric pump. The control means may include a variable resistance in electrical circuit with the pump and so mechanically connected with the manually movable means that the resistance is varied in proportion to the amount of movement of the latter. The manually movable means is preferably pivotally supported at one end, whereby the resistance is varied in proportion to the pivotal angle of the manually movable means.

Desirably there is provided means for automatically operating the liquid moving means for a pre-set period of time following movement of the manually movable means in a non-dispense position, whereby to restore pressure in the liquid flow line. The liquid moving means is operated for the pre-set period preferably after a pre-set delay.

Preferably also a valve is operatively associated with the manually movable means so as to close the flow line outlet when the manually movable means is in a non dispense position.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, apparatus for dispensing a liquid such as beer comprises a flow line extending between a beer supply, normally in a cellar, and a dispense outlet at the location of a bar.

At the dispense outlet there is provided a handle 10 pivotally arranged for traditionally pulling through an angle downwardly from a substantially upright non-dispense position. In the flow line there is located a valve 12, for example a solenoid valve, movable between a closed position, preventing flow of beer to the outlet, and an open position allowing flow of beer. The valve 12 is in electrical circuit with a variable resistance 14 in the form of a potentiometer which is so mechanically connected with the handle 10 that movement of the latter varies the resistance.

In the cellar there is provided a beer pump driven by a motor 16 connected to a mains supply. The motor 16 is in circuit with the valve 12 and the resistance 14. When switched on, the motor 16 pumps beer from a supply (not shown) through the flow line to the outlet.

In the circuit there is also connected an amplifier 18 which senses the change in resistance 14 determined by movement of the handle 10 and passes, along a line 19, a voltage signal proportional to the rate of change of the incoming signal controlled by the resistance 14 to an opto coupler drive amplifier 20. The amplifier 18 is also connected by a line 21 to a circuit 22 and passes a non-zero signal to the circuit 22 when the handle 10 is in a position other than the non-dispense position. The circuit 22, when a signal is received from the amplifier 18, provides, along a line 23, a signal which opens the solenoid valve 12. The circuit 22 also is connected by a line 25 to the drive amplifier 20 to pass a signal thereto when the solenoid valve 12 is closed.

The power supply is provided by a circuit 24 which is connected to the mains via a 24 volt transformer 26. A ramp generator 28 is connected across the power supply circuit 24 and is connected also to the drive amplifier 20 by a line 29. The amplifier 20 provides a drive signal when signals are received both from the amplifier 18 and the generator 28 along the lines 19,29 and the drive signal drives an opto transmitter 30 which has an optical link with an opto receiver 32. The latter provides an optically isolated signal proportional to the drive signal in order to switch on the pump motor 16 via a triac motor drive and filter circuit 34. The optical link provides electrical isolation between the mains and low voltage circuitry.

In this way, the change of position of the handle 10 provides a varying signal from the amplifier 18 and this in turn provides a varying drive signal controlling the speed of the beer pump. Thus the faster the handle 10 is moved, the faster the beer is dispensed and there is therefore properly simulated a traditional beer dispense. The circuit switches the beer pump off when the handle 10 is moved back to the upright non-dispense position. It will be appreciated that the valve 12 is opened when the amplifier 18, on movement of the handle 10, passes an appropriate signal to the circuit 22 along line 21.

When the handle 10 is moved back to a non-dispense position no signal is then transmitted by the amplifier 18 to the drive amplifier 20 but the circuit 22 then passes a signal along line 25 to the drive amplifier 20 and this signal together with the signal from the generator 28 along line 29 is sufficient to produce a drive signal which switches on the pump motor 16 for a pre-set short period of time, for example 4 to 2 second. As at this time the solenoid valve 12 is closed, operation of the beer pump restores pressure in the line. The use of the valve 12 which closes when the handle 10 is in a non-dispense position avoids dribbling or dispense of beer due to residual carbon dioxide pressure in the line.

The re-pressurising of the beer in the line takes place only after a pre-set period after movement of the handle 10 back to the non-dispense position. This allows as many pulls of the handle 10 as is required before repressurising takes place. This is desirable where more than one pull of the handle 10 is required to dispense for example a pint of beer.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example another suitable arrangement may be provided for sensing movement of the handle and transmitting a suitable signal. Also it is to be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the dispensing of beer but may be used in the dispensing of other beverages, for example wine.

Claims

Claims :

1. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising manually movable means at the outlet of a liquid flow line, means for automatically moving liquid through the line to the outlet for dispense, and means for controlling operation of the liquid moving means in accordance with the rate of change of position of the manually movable means.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the liquid moving means comprises an electric pump.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the control means comprises a variable resistance in electrical circuit with the pump and so mechanically connected with the manually movable means that the resistance is varied in proportion to the amount of movement of the latter.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the manually movable means is pivotally supported at one end, wherebythe resistance is varied in proportion to the pivotal angle of the manually movable means.

5. Apparatus according to Claim, 3 or 4, wherein the electrical circuit includes an optical link between a signal emitter and a signal receiver, the latter being electrically connected to the pump.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, including means for automatically operating the liquid moving means for a pre-set period of time following movement of the manually movable means in a non-dispense position, whereby to restore pressure in the liquid flow line.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the liquid moving means is operated for the pre-set period after a pre-set delay.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein a valve is operatively associated with the manually movable means so as to close the flow line outlet when the manually movable means is in a nondispense position.

9. Liquid dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

10. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.