GB2353516A - Manually operable pump dispenser with means for recirculating liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to prevent liquid in pipelines becoming stagnant, it is continuously circulated around the system when no liquid is being dispensed. The means of dispense is a manually operated hand pump 15, comprising a piston 12 slidable in a chamber 15. The liquid is recycled through the chamber 15 of the hand pump by recirculating pump 5. It enters port 16, flows through an annulus in the piston 12 and exits through port 17. When it is required to dispense liquid through the dispense outlet 9, a piston rod 18 moves a piston valve 13 to seat against the piston 12, which prevents recirculation of liquid through the annulus in the piston 12. Movement of the sealed piston 12 in the direction shown in fig. 3 lifts the valve 10 from its seat and forces liquid into chamber 8 and out of outlet 9. Thus operation of the hand pump 15 overrides the recirculation pump 5. If required, the liquid can be dispensed at a predetermined temperature or condition. A sensor 3 downstream of the recirculation pump 5 can detect if there is no liquid present in the system. A demand valve 10 is incorporated into the hand pump 15 which may be opened to allow liquid to pass through.

Description

2353516 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO RANDPUMPS THIS INVENTION RELATES TO

HANDPUMPS AND IN PARTICULAR TO HANDPUMPS FOR DISPENSING POTABLE LIQUIDS.

Handpumps are used extensively for the serving of beers, ciders and other beverages in public houses, bars and other licensed premises. In order to reduce the quantity of beverage in the line from the container to the handpump, pump or pressure assistance is now widely used. A common problem with these systems is that when the handpump has not been used f or some time, the beverage contained within the handpump and particularly the handpump cylinder gains undesirable heat from ambient temperature in the bar area. The effect of this heat warms to beverage until it is out of its manufacturers tolerance rendering the product flat, warm, cloudy and potentially harmful? Various devices have been offered as potential solutions:- Liquid Temperature Regulating Device GB2320318 and PCTIGB97/00288 is effective in bringing the beverage to within the proximity of the handpump at the correct temperature and in good condition. However it is not capable of influencing the condition or temperature of the drink residing in the handpump's cylinder. Beverage dispensing pump with cooling means GB2281283 is offered as a solution. It is effective to a certain amount as it has to receive its cooling liquid from an 2 ice bank or similar cooler, this invariably results in the coolant being at an inappropriate temperature for many beverages rendering them unpalatable. It also does nothing to address the problem of stagnation which will allow yeast, wild yeasts and bacteria to cultivate within the mechanism. Temperature stabilisation will slow cultures propagation but sub standard beverages would still be dispensed with risks to customers.

There is therefore a need for a means of circulating and recirculating beverage through the handpump cylinder mechanism in a system that is sealed from external elements during conditions when the handpump is not being operated.

The present invention provides a means for the beverage to circulate and recirculate if required at a pre-determined temperature and condition in a sealed condition until beverage is required to be served.

In one aspect the invention provides a hand-operable liquid means suitable for dispensing potable liquids which comprises a piston slidable in a cylinder, a piston valve which is urged onto the f ace of the piston when the pump is operable on its delivery stroke. On its return stroke the piston being slidable on the piston rod releases from the piston valve remaining in this situation until a further delivery stroke is made.

3 The opening of the piston valve so as to allow liquid to pass there through.

In one aspect the invention provides an inlet port and an outlet port permitting liquid to pass through the inlet port interconnected to chamber containing the outlet valve, liquid remaining there until dispense mode is operated. The cylinder means, so in operation liquid enters the inlet port to pass around the aperture between the piston and the piston valve the liquid to leave through the outlet port.

In one aspect of the invention, operating the handpump in its dispense mode urges the piston valve against the piston closing the non return valve from the pressure assisted inlet port. Flow from this particular inlet port ceases, increased pressure thus generated transfers to the pump outlet valve which is urged against its seat by for example a spring, this increased pressure in turn lifts the outlet valve off its seat thus allowing liquid to flow into for example a glass. Fluid flows from the outlet port being still pressurised is reversed allowing liquid to recharge the cylinder means.

The invention can be applied to hand-operable liquid pumping means with gas pressure or power pump assistance. A separate liquid pump recirculation means can allow liquid to flow through the cylinder means during periods of rest or non dispense mode.

4 The present invention provides a dispense means without a recirculating means by connecting inlet port and outlet port by a Y or Tee piece to a common pressurised supply means thus mitigating liquid flowing through the cylinder means during periods of inactivity.

In the event of a pressurised supply being not available the handoperated liquid means will operate as a conventional handpump means but the manual effort required to operate the dispense means would be increased.

In one embodiment of the invention the hand-operable liquid means comprises an inlet port situated on a cylinder end cap means, a piston slidable in a cylinder, and slidable on the piston rod allowing the piston valve to urge against the piston preventing flow from inlet port and non return valve, in turn increasing pressure with the discharge end of the cylinder means transferring this increased pressure to the outlet valve chamber thus overcoming the action of the spring allowing beverage, water or cleaning solution flow via the outlet spout. This then allows fresh beverage to flow under pressure from the outlet port to refill the cylinder means.

Returning the pump to its rest position releases the piston and piston valve allowing the piston and piston valve to travel through the beverage introduced leaving an annulus around the piston for beverage to enter through the inlet port and leave via the exit port to recirculate freely until handpump is energised, via recirculation pump means.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation partly in section of a hand operable potable liquid means in the return stroke at rest position.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation partly in section of a hand operable potable liquid means in the dispense mode.

Figure 4 shows a side elevation partly in section of a hand operated potable liquid means with single pressurised feed.

Referring firstly to figure 1 there is illustrated a beverage storage container 1, connected via a liquid feed tube 2, to an outlet spout 9, of a hand operated pump means 15. The liquid f eed tube 2, is divided by a tee piece within a pump means 5, and connected to a circulation tube 4, pressure feed to the system is controlled by sensor 3, pump means 5, circulates the 6 beverage around the tube 4, in the direction illustrated by the arrows in figure 1. Flow terminates at chamber 8, f ed by tube 7, outlet valve 10, is urged upon its seat by spring 11, preventing flow through outlet spout 9. Non return valve 6, is located following the output of the pump 5.

Should no beverage be detected by the sensor 3, pump 5, will cease to operate.

It should be emphasised that with the handpump piston 12, and piston valve 13, in the return position no flow from the container 1, takes place as each side of diaphragm 14, are under equal pressure. The pump 5, continues to circulate and recirculate the beverage around tube 4, and through handpump cylinder 15, through inlet port 16, leaving via outlet port 17, tube 4, can be located partly within a cellar environment giving off heat therefore maintaining the manufacturers recommended dispense temperature.

Referring now to figure 2, there is a feed from container 1, (not shown) via pump 5, (not shown) leaves by urging the valve against the spring in non return valve 6, allowing flow through tubes 4, and 7, into handpump means terminating in chamber 15, there being no means of escape but flow still exists into the handpump means entering through inlet port 17, continuing through piston 12, leaving via annulus between piston 12, and piston valve 13, to rejoin tube 4, at outlet 17, to be circulated and recirculated via pump.

7 Although not essential, it may be preferable to provide some means to override the pump 5, when dispensing the beverage through the dispense outlet spout 9, also to override the pump 5, when sensor 3, detects that no beverage is present in the system.

With reference to f igure 3, an embodiment is shown in which the body of the handpump means is in the dispense mode as illustrated by the direction arrow on the piston rod 18. Piston rod 18, slides through piston 12, urging piston valve 13, against piston 12, flow through the handpump means ceases.

Piston 12, piston valve 13, are carried along by piston rod 18, increasing pressure in tubes 4, and 7, urging non return valve 6, on to its seat temporarily staunching flow from pump 5, this increased pressure in chamber 8, urges spring 11, allowing beverage to flow from valve 10, through outlet spout 9, as desired thus discharging the contents of the handpump means. Movement of piston 12, and piston valve 13, combination results in a lowering of pressure at port 17, thus temporarily reversing the normal flow from tube 4, allowing pressurised beverage to refill the void between piston 12, piston rod 13, and diaphragm 14.

Returning piston rod 18, to its rest position slides the piston 12, until stop illustrated as a step on piston rod 18. allows 8 piston valve 13, to leave an annulus transferring beverage introduced from port 17, to the pump chamber 15. Pump 5, lifts the non return valve 6, off its seat, beverage is now free to pass through handpump means from port 16, to port 17, pressure is now reduced and equalised in chamber 8, allowing valve 10, to be urged onto its seat by spring 11, to close and flow from outlet 9, to cease. The handpump remains in this position until operation is required allowing beverage to continually be circulated and recirculated through the pump means.

It will be appreciated that the potable liquid is maintained at a preferred serving temperature without having to return the liquid to bulk storage which overcomes the limitations and illegalities of some prior art systems.

Figure 4 illustrates an arrangement whereby the handpump means is connected to a conventional single pressurised feed. The handpump means will operate satisfactorily, the arrangement can be used when beverage temperature and beverage condition are not a pre-requisite. Beverage enters by a single feed tube 4, under pressure until it is divided by Y piece 19, as illustration in figure 4(b) into the handpump means at port 16, port 17, and enters into chamber 8, from tube 7, once cylinder assembly 15, is filled and pressurised by beverage, the beverage remains stagnant until the handpump is activated. When handpump means is activated as illustrated in figure 4(a) piston rod 18, commences to slide urging piston valve 13, 9 against piston 12, increasing the pressure in tube 7, urging the non return valve 6, onto its seat, in turn urging spring 17, lifting valve 10, off its seat allowing beverage to flow via outlet spout 9, simultaneously the reduction in pressure between piston 12, piston valve 13, and diaphragm 14, allows fresh beverage to enter from tube 4, into port 17, ready for the next pump operation. Figure 4(b) illustrates the piston rod 18, being returned to its rest position allowing the transfer of beverage through piston 12, and the annulus between piston valve 13, whilst piston rod 18, piston 12, and piston valve 13, are slidable through cylinder assembly 15, this charging sequence being constantly repeated to suit demand.

In this mode as illustrated in f igure 4, in the absence of a pressurised supply a Y piece 19, a handpump means will still operate in a conventional lift pump principle manner.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), andlor all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and-of steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (11)

1 A hand-operable liquid pump means suitable for dispensing potable liquids which comprises a piston slidable in a cylinder with a means for circulating and recirculating liquid to pass through the cylinder continually.

2. A handpump means according to claim 1 in which a piston rod moves the piston valve to seat against a piston whilst in dispense mode through handpump means preventing recirculation.

3. A pump means according to claim 1. wherein means are provided for overriding the action of a recirculation pump when liquid is dispensed from the hand-operable liquid pump means.

4. A hand-operable liquid pump means suitable for dispensing potable liquids provides a means of circulating and recirculating liquid at, if required, a pre-determined temperature and condition sealed from external elements during conditions when the handpump is at rest, not being operated.

5. A pump means according to claims 3 or 4 further comprises a sensor wherein the recirculation pump means is responsive to a predeterminable signal to an on/off valve.

12

6. A handpump means according to claim 5, in which a demand valve is incorporated into the body of the handpump.

7. A pump means substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A handpump suitable for use in a system for dispensing potable liquid which is provided with a means for opening the demand valve so as to allow liquid to pass therethrough.

9. A handpump means according to any of claims 4 to 8 wherein the fluid control means is responsible to an actuation such as manually operating a pump handle for allowing or preventing flow of a potable liquid.

10. A pump means according to claim 9. wherein the handpump means provides a dispense mode f rom a pressurised supply in the event of recirculation means being not available.

11. A hand operable pump means according to claim 10, provides a dispense means in the absence of a pressurised supply.