GB2279064A - Meters - Google Patents

Abstract

A beer meter formed of shells 21 produced by injection moulding. Each shell having an inlet/drain 24 with a grate (27, figure 2) to prevent ballooning of a sweeping diaphragm. Furthermore, the shell has a groove matrix 26 to facilitate final evacuation of fluid as the diaphragm approaches the shell wall. The diaphragm also includes a thickened area (82 figure 8) to enhance final evacuation of liquid by stimulating a ripple effect. The thickened area also providing resistance to fraying and puncture of the diaphragm. <IMAGE>

Description

Meters The present invention relates to meters and more particularly, but not exclusively, to meters used to provide measured dispense of beer.

There is a type of meter referred to as a positive displacement meter due to its manner of operation. Such meters are quite reliable and depend upon displacement of a swept volume to provide measured dispense. The swept.volume being the dispensed volume.

Positive displacement type meters generally either have a piston or a diaphragm to sweep the volume. This piston may be either driven by an external device or like a diaphragm type positive displacement meter by inward flow of fluid.

Figure 1 illustrates a prior meter block 1 for a diaphragm type positive displacement meter. This meter is marketed by IMI Cornelius (UK) Limited as the CELLARMATIC (RTM) beer meter.

Two meter blocks 1 are secured together in use through respective seal surface 2 to define a spherical hollow. Each block 1 provides half of the hollow. A diaphragm is also secured between the blocks 1 upon the seal surfaces 2. The diaphragm is arranged to be displaceable from a position where it abuts the hollow surface of one block 1 to a position where it is about the hollow surface of the other block 1. Thus, a typical spherical hollow has a volume of a half pint so two sweeps of the hollow provides for dispense of one pint.

In order to allow liquids such as beer to enter the hollow a set of entry jets 3 are provided.

These entry jets extend from an injection stem 4. It will be appreciated that the liquid is jetted into the hollow through the jets 3. The force of this flow of liquid pushes the diaphragm into the other block 1 until it abuts a hollow surface.

The driving force of liquid consequently pushes liquid on the other side of the diaphragm out of the hollow through jets 3 and the stem 4. The blocks 1 being coupled to valves and solenoids to allow alternate switching such that liquid can be dispensed.

It will be appreciated that as the diaphragm nears the hollow surface the jets are progressively closed off by the diaphragm making it more difficult to force liquid through the remaining holes. Thus, concentic drain grooves 5 are provided to facilitate evacuation of liquid. However, even with grooves 5, it is usual to require a liquid pressure of 10 psi or more to effect liquid displacement through jets in the other block 1. Furthermore, near the end of displacement, the displacement pressure required for a reasonable dispense velocity may be 20 psi or more.

It will be understood that the diaphragm is susceptible to fraying upon the grooves 5.

Furthermore, each block 1 must be machined and so is expensive to manufacture. In addition, the blocks 1 are made of perspex to allow machining but are thus susceptible to chipping and cracking if dropped or subject to hostile treatment. Finally, there is a trend towards less pumping and gaseous beers thus the potential displacement pressure available is reduced.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a meter block for beer dispense that substantially relieves the above problems.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention there is provided a meter block shell for measured dispense of beer, the shell having a single inlet/drain arranged to injet or receive beer propelled by deformation of a diaphragm held in use between two meter block shells caused by in flow of beer upon the otherside of the diaphragm, the shell also having a groove matrix to assist diaphragm lift-off from the shell wall and/or evacuation of final volumes the beer, the inlet/drain including a grate to substantially prevent diaphragm ballooning into the inlet/drain.

Preferably, the shell is injection moulded.

According to the second aspect of the present invention there is a diaphragm for a meter dispenser, the diaphragm having a thickened area arranged within a thinner body area of the diaphragm, the thickened area being arranged in use to be located over a meter drain such that the body area is deformed first thus causing a ripple effect squeezing liquid toward the drain as the thickened area remains more resiliently displaced from the drain. Preferably, the thickened area is integrally moulded into the diaphragm upon manufacture or is a patch adhered to the diaphragm.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a beer meter comprising two meter shells defining a hollow with a diaphragm therebetween, each shell having a respective inlet/drain arranged to allow liquid into the hollow and deform the diaphragm such that liquid is forced out of the other shell through its inlet/drain, the diaphragm having a thickened area arranged in a thinner body area, the thickened area being arranged to be about the inlet/drain when the diaphragm is deformed such that said thickened area remains more resiliently displaced from the inlet/drain than the body area from the shell wall and so evacuation of the final volumes of the liquid from the hollow is facilitated.

Preferably, the inlet/drain has a grate.

Preferably, each shell is injection moulded.

Preferably, the diaphragm thickened area is integrally moulded during manufacture or created by a patch adhered to the diaphragm-body area.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 2 is an end-view of a first meter block; Figure 3 is a cross-section of the first meter block illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan illustation of a meter port from the meter block illustrated in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is an end-view of a second meter block; Figure 6 is a plan illustration of a meter port from the second meter block illustrated in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the second meter block illustrated in Figure 5; and, Figure 8 illustrates a diaphragm in accordance with the present invention.

Consider Figures 2, 3 and 4. A first meter block 21 is injection moulded and thus does not have the block appearance of prior meter blocks. The meter block 21 has its functional features essentially moulded and thus there is only minimal, if any, machining required.

The block 21 has a body wall 23 which defines the spherical hollow 22 which is the swept volume of the meter. The block may be made of polycarbonate, polystyrene or similar structurally suitable materials.

It will be appreciated that two meter blocks can be welded, glued or secured together to form a hollow by mechanical means.

The principal features of the block 21 are the inlet/drain 24, the diaphragm seal lips 25 and a surface groove matrix 26. All of these features can be achieved by injection moulding. However, the inlet/drain 24 includes a grate element 27 in order to prevent ballooning into the inlet/drain 24 by the diaphragm when pressured by fluid in flow through inlet in the opposite block and this grate 27 may be more conveniently provided as a separate insert. In any event, it may be desirable to remove the grate 27 for cleaning purposes.

The inlet/drain 24 comprises a single spout of a large cross-sectional area compared to previous meter jets consolidated area. Thus, the inlet/drain 24 provides less resistance to liquid flow and so less displacement pressure is generally required to displace the sweeping diaphragm (not shown). However, in order to ensure even when the diaphragm is in near abutment with the hollow 22 wall that liquid can flow the groove matrix 26 is provided. This matrix 26 allows the last volumes or dregs of liquid to pass to the inlet/drain 24 whilst also ensuring good lift-off when fluid flow is reversed.

As described previously, two blocks or shells 21 are brought together and secured with a diaphragm between. The lips 25 act to grip or pinch the diaphragm.

The inlet/drain 24 is connected to a valve system which allows reversal of fluid flow such that the diaphragm sweeps across the hollow 22 forcing the liquid held therein through the drain 24. The hollow 22 is alternately charged and discharged by opposing fluid flows. The discharged fluid is passed down a pipe after the meter.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a similar meter shell 51 and elements to that depicted in Figures 2, 3 and 4. However, the shell 51 has ribs 52 which allow deeper grooves in a groove matrix 53 to be provided and also strengthen the shell- 51 such that it may be formed of weaker materials. Alternatively, the shell 51 may have a shell wall 54 which is thinner than the shell 21 depicted in Figures 2 and 3.

The shell 51 again has an inlet/drain 55, a diaphragm lip 56 and grate 57 to prevent diaphragm ballooning.

Two shells 51 are brought together to form a spherical hollow with a diaphragm between. This diaphragm again alternately sweeps the hollow such that it is charged and discharged either side of the diaphragm. The inlet/drain 55 is coupled to a valve and pipe system to facilitate alternate fluid flow.

It will be appreciated that the shape of the grate 25 or 27 is solely determined by the necessity of fitting into the inlet/drain 24 or 55 and preventing the diaphragm ballooning down the inlet/drain. Thus, the grate 25 or 27 is located as near as possible to the spherical hollow. Figures 4 and 6 illustrates two grate configurations however it will be appreciated that there are a large number of alternatives.

Figure 8 illustrates a diaphragm 81 in accordance with the present invention. Although, it will be appreciated that a simple bi-directional diaphragm could be used with the blocks or shells 21 or 51 shown in Figures 2 to 7, the diaphragm 81 illustrated in Figure 8 has a particular advantage.

Namely, the diaphragm 81 has a thickened area 82 in comparison with body area 83 of the diaphragm 81.

In use the thickened area 82 is arranged to be located over the inlet/drain 24 or 55. Thus, when pressurised by liquid flow the body area 83 is more readily deformed. The thickened area 83 consequently is more rigid and so remains displaced from abutment with the shell wall 23 or 54 until later in the sweep cycle. This creates a ripple effect that urges the liquid toward the inlet/drain 24 or 55. Typically, the thickened area 82 is twice as thick as the body area 83. Thus, the force A necessary to cause abutment in the body area 83 may be half the force B necessary to deform the thickened area 81.

In order to locate the diaphragm in the lips 25 or 56, the diaphragm 81 has a rolled or a ribbed area 84. This rolled area 84 has sufficient strength to ensure the diaphragm 81 remains in position.

An additional advantage of the thickened layer 82 is that the diaphragm 81 in more resistant to scuffing about the drain/inlet and grate. Thus, the diaphragm is less likely to fail due to puncture or fraying.

The diaphragm 81 preferably has a bi-lateral operation ie is not biased to one form such that it is resistant to being deformed inside out. Thus, there is a hinge area 85 about the rolled area 84 in order that the body area 3 may conveniently switch over as the diaphragm is deformed.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. A beer meter comprising two meter shells defining a hollow with a diaphragm therebetween, each shell having a respective inlet/drain arranged to allow liquid into the hollow and deform the diaphragm such that liquid is forced out of the other shell through its inlet/drain, the diaphragm having a thickened area arranged in a thinner body area, the thickened area being arranged to be about the inlet/drain when the diaphragm is deformed such that said thickened area remains more resiliently displaced from the inlet/drain than the body area from the shell wall and so evacuation of the final volumes of the liquid from the hollow is facilitated.

2. A beer meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet/drain has a grate to prevent ballooning of the diaphragm into the inlet/drain.

3. A beer meter as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each shell is manufactured by injection moulding a plastics material.

4. A beer meter as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the diaphragm thickened area is integrally moulded during fabrication of the diaphragm.

5. A beer meter as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the diaphragm thickened area is a patch adhered to the diaphragm.

6. A beer meter as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein each shell has a groove matrix to facilitate liquid evaculation and diaphragm lift-off.

7. A beer meter as claimed in claim 6 wherein each shell includes ribs to facilitate deep grooves in the groove matrix and/or improve mechanical strength.

8. A beer meter as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the diaphragm includes a rolled area to faciliate its resilient location between the shells.

9. A beer meter as claimed in any proceeding claim wherein the diaphragm includes a hinged area about it periphery to faciliate displacement of the diaphragm between shells in operation.

10. A beer meter substantially is hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures 2 to 8.

11. A meter block shell for measured dispense of beer, the shell having a single inlet/drain arranged to injet or receive beer propelled by deformation of a diaphragm held in use between two meter block shells caused by in flow of beer upon the otherside of the diaphragm, the shell also having a groove matrix to assist diaphragm lift-off from the shell wall and/or evacuation of final volumes the beer, the inlet/drain including a grate to substantially prevent diaphragm ballooning into the inlet/drain.

12. A diaphragm for a meter dispenser, the diaphragm having a thickened area arranged within a thinner body area of the diaphragm, the thickened area being arranged in use to be located over a meter drain such that the body area is deformed first thus causing a ripple effect squeezing liquid toward the drain as the thickened area remains more resiliently displaced from the drain.

13. A diaphragm as claimed in claim 12 wherein the thickened area is integrally formed in the diaphragm.

14. A diaphragm as claimed in claim 12 wherein the thickened area is formed by an adhered patch to the diaphragm.

15. A diaphragm substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 8.