GB2368335A

GB2368335A - A method of creating a head on a carbonated beverage by reducing pressure

Info

Publication number: GB2368335A
Application number: GB0116632A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Iain Wallace Anderson; Wendy Gladys Box; Peter Thomas Foster; Rachel Joanna Galt; Stuart William Molzahn; David Edwin Quain; Stephen Paul Smith; Robert Alan Wright
Original assignee: Bass Machine Holdings Ltd; Brandbrew SA
Current assignee: Bass Machine Holdings Ltd; Brandbrew SA
Priority date: 2000-07-08
Filing date: 2001-07-09
Publication date: 2002-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-09
Also published as: GB0116632D0; GB2368335B

Abstract

A method of dispensing a draught beverage comprises dispensing the beverage 20 into a vessel 2 and then reducing the pressure above the beverage 20. This may done by having a cover 14 which has a fluid tight seal with the vessel 2 arranged above the beverage 20, the beverage 20 being introduced at the bottom of the vessel 2 by a nozzle 8 which extends through a hole in the cover 14. When the vessel 2 is filled to the desired level the vessel 2 and the cover 14 are moved apart, creating a partial vacuum and causing the dissolved gas in the beverage to form bubbles. Alternatively, the beverage 20 may be introduced into a vessel made of self-sealing material by inserting a hollow needle (32, fig.4) through the bottom of the vessel 2. Another embodiment comprises dispensing the beverage into an open vessel (54, fig.6) which is held within a sealed enclosure (42, fig.6), the pressure within the enclosure (42, fig.6) being reduced after the beverage has been dispensed.

Description

DISPENSING A BEVERAGE

This invention concerns dispensing a draught beverage.

The beverage concerned is of the type (hereinafter called the type referred to) comprising a water content and a dissolved gas content.

The gas content may comprise carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen.

According to a first aspect of the invention a method of dispensing a draught beverage comprises dispensing a draught beverage of the type referred to into a vessel wherein at least a partial vacuum is established above the beverage in the vessel so that emergence of the dissolved gas content into the beverage as bubbles is encouraged.

According to a second aspect of the invention a method of dispensing a draught beverage of the type referred to comprises introducing the draught beverage into a vessel by bottom filling thereof, the vessel having a cover making a fluid-tight seal therewith, said cover being lifted upwardly in the vessel by the effect of the increasing volume of beverage, and, when the vessel is filled to a desired amount, causing a relative movement between said cover and vessel whereby at least a partial vacuum between cover and beverage is created or increased whereby gas dissolved in the beverage is encouraged to form bubbles therein.

The encouragement to form gas bubbles may promote formation of a head on the beverage.

The beverage may be cooled prior or during its introduction into the vessel. The aforesaid formation of bubbles may provide nucleation sites in the beverage whereat ice may form in the beverage at said sites.

The vessel may be a drinking vessel, for example a glass.

To bottom fill the vessel a beverage dispensing nozzle may reach to or substantially to the bottom of the vessel from above. The cover may have an aperture making a fluid-tight sliding fit on the nozzle, and around its periphery the cover can make a fluid-tight sliding fit with the inner wall surface of the vessel maintained along substantially a sufficient height of the vessel to enable it to be filled to the desired extent with the cover still in fluid-tight relationship. The relative movement between cover and vessel to create said partial vacuum between the cover and the beverage can be an upward movement of the cover relative to the stationary vessel, or a downward movement of the vessel relative to a stationary cover, or simultaneous movement of cover and vessel in opposite directions.

Alternatively the vessel may be formed with a bottom or base panel or a lower side wall region panel formed of resilient material, for example a rubber or plastics material capable of self-sealing to a fluid-tight seal when a needle puncturing the panel is removed. A hypodermic type needle may form a draught beverage delivery nozzle introduced into the bottom of the vessel to bottom fill the latter provided with an aforesaid cover which has no need of the aforesaid aperture. After filling, vessel and needle are separated.

The draught beverage may be cooled prior to delivery into the vessel, for example using beverage cooling means in a beverage dispensing system which may convey beverage from a supply of beverage to the dispense nozzle at a tap or font, at, for example, a drinks bar.

The beverage may be non-alcoholic or alcoholic. For example, an alcoholic beverage may be beer, for example a lager, or an ale, stout or porter, or the alcoholic beverage may be cider.

According to a third aspect of the invention a method of dispensing a draught beverage comprises dispensing said draught beverage of the type referred to into an open vessel, and said vessel being within a sealed enclosure in which the pressure surrounding the vessel in the enclosure is reduced relative to atmospheric pressure so that emergence of the dissolved gas content into the beverage as bubbles is encouraged.

This promotion of the formation of gas bubbles in the beverage may promote the formation of a head of the beverage. Also if the beverage is dispensed in a cooled state (for example at a temperature below the normal freezing point of water, for example down to say substantially - 4 C or-6 C the formation of the gas bubbles may form nucleation sites in the beverage encouraging spontaneous formation of ice in the beverage.

The vessel may be a drinking vessel, for example a glass.

A partial vacuum may be established in the enclosure after the vessel is placed therein and an entrance to the enclosure sealed.

Reduction in pressure in the enclosure may occur before, and/or in the course of, and/or after the beverage is dispensed.

Reduction in pressure in the enclosure may be initiated, for example, automatically by an act of closing the enclosure and/or by an act of initiating a demand for dispense of beverage into the vessel. Said demand may be operation of a control switch or valve whereby apparatus in response supplies the beverage to the vessel.

The beverage may be non-alcoholic or alcoholic. For example, an alcoholic beverage may be a lager, or an ale, stout or porter, or the alcoholic beverage may be cider.

Attention is drawn to two International patent applications, namely International Application No. PCT/GB99/03824 (published under No.

WOO1 ! 36582) and International Application No. PCT/GB99/01551 (Published under No. WO99/60092). Any individual feature or any combination of such features of any beverage disclosed in either of those International Applications, and any method or apparatus or part of any method or apparatus disclosed in either of those International applications may be utilised in the dispense or serving of beverage which is the subject of this current application.

Aspects of the invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figures 1 to 3 show, diagrammatically partly in section, successive stages in one embodiment of a method according to first and second aspects of the invention; Figures 4 and 5 show, diagrammatically and partly in section successive stages in another embodiment of a method according to first and second aspects of the invention, and Figure 6 shows, diagrammatically, a beverage dispenser used in performance of a method according to first and third aspects of the invention.

In Figure 1 a cylindrical glass 2 sits on a supported longitudinal shelf 4 hinged at 6. The glass 2 receives a downwardly projecting draught beverage supply nozzle 8 long enough for the lower tip 10 almost to reach the bottom 12 of the glass. A piston or cover 14 is a fluid tight sliding fit around its periphery in the glass and has an opening 16 which is a fluidtight sliding fit along the nozzle 8. The cover 14 has a handle 18.

Beverage 20 from a suitable supply enters the glass 2 below cover 14 in a bottom filling mode and starts to lift the cover up the glass and nozzle as shown in Figure 2. The beverage has a water content and a dissolved gas content and may be a beer, for example a lager.

When the glass 2 is sufficiently filled, the glass is held and can be moved away from the nozzle 8 as in Figure 3 when the shelf 4 is hinged down.

This movement of the glass 2 can be accompanied by a lifting action applied to the cover using the handle 18 so the relative movement between glass and cover initially causes a partial vacuum to exist above the beverage until the cover and glass separate. Whilst the partial vacuum prevails it encourages dissolved gas in the beverage to bubble out to assist in forming a foam head 22 and the bubble may act as nucleation sites promoting formation of ice in the beverage.

In Figure 4 a drinks bar counter 30 has an upwardly projecting hypodermic type needle nozzle 32 connected by tubing 34 to a suitable supply of beverage. A cylindrical glass 2A has a bottom 36 formed of resilient material which has a self-sealing fluid tight seal property when punctured and the puncturing cause removed. The glass 2A is placed over needle 32 which penetrates into the glass through the bottom 36 just above which is the cover 14 (having no aperture 16).

The glass 2A can be bottom filled with the beverage 20 through the needle 32 to lift the cover 14 up the glass interior. When the glass 2A is

filled sufficiently it can be lifted off the needle and the bottom 36 selfseals (Figure 5). The cover 14 can be pulled out of the glass 2A causing creation of a partial vacuum as the cover and glass go towards a situation where they part.

In Figure 6 a beverage dispenser 40 includes a hollow cabinet body 42 having a draught beverage inlet 44 with a dispense nozzle 44A, an outlet 46 connected to a vacuum pump 48, an air inlet 50 and a pivotally mounted salable entrance face 52.

In use, the side panel or face 52 is pivoted away from the cabinet body 42 so as to allow a drinking vessel 54, typically a glass, to be placed therein through the open side.

The face 52 is then pivoted into abutment with the cabinet body 42 and sealed thereto in an airtight manner. The sealing of the face 52 to the body 42 can be effected by means of clips or alternatively by a vacuum (as detailed below). Either a direct face seal or an'0'ring type seal can be used.

Beverage 56 containing water and dissolved gas is dispensed into the glass 54 via the beverage inlet 44 by the opening of a valve 58. A partial vacuum is established within the body 42 by use of the pump 48 to withdraw air from the cabinet 42.

This vacuum has the effect of causing the dissolution of the gases dissolved within the beverage. The vacuum can be established either during or after dispensing of the beverage 56.

The gas evolved from the beverage 56 can cause a'head'60 on the beverage or, if the beverage 56 is cooled sufficiently can act as nucleation sites for ice formation.

The vacuum is relieved by the switching off of the pump 48 and the opening of an inlet valve 62 connected to the air inlet 50.

The face 52 is pivoted away from the body 42 and the glass containing the beverage 56 can be removed.

It will be appreciated that the cabinet body 42 may be made of a transparent material, e. g. perspex. The glass 54 may be mounted upon a rotatable platform and may additionally or alternatively be illuminated during dispensing of the beverage.

The pump 48 may be a rotary vane pump.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing a draught beverage comprising dispensing a draught beverage of the type referred to into a vessel wherein at least a partial vacuum is established above the beverage in the vessel so that emergence of the dissolved gas content into the beverage as bubbles is encouraged.

2. A method of dispensing a draught beverage of the type referred to comprising introducing the draught beverage into a vessel by bottom filling thereof, the vessel having a cover making a fluid-tight seal therewith, said cover being lifted upwardly in the vessel by the effect of the increasing volume of beverage, and, when the vessel is filled to a desired amount, causing a relative movement between said cover and vessel whereby at least a partial vacuum between cover and beverage is created or increased whereby gas dissolved in the beverage is encouraged to form bubbles therein.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, in which the beverage is introduced into the vessel through a nozzle extending downwardly into the vessel.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, in which a lower end of the nozzle is adjacent to a bottom of the vessel.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the cover is a substantially fluid-tight sliding fit on the nozzle.

6. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 5 in which the cover acts as a piston in a substantially cylindrical interior of said vessel.

7. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6, in which the cover is manually movable relatively to the vessel.

8. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 7, in which the cover has a handle at a side thereof remote from a or the bottom of said vessel.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 3 or on any one of Claims 4 to 8 when appended to Claim 3, in which the vessel whilst being filled is supported by means movable to allow separation of the vessel and nozzle.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 2, in which the beverage is introduced into the vessel through a bottom of the vessel.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 2, in which the beverage is introduced into the vessel through a lower part of the vessel, which lower part comprises self-sealing material pierced by a hollow needle conveying said beverage into the vessel, the needle and the vessel being separable so the material automatically self-seals the needle puncture in the material.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, in which said self-sealing material is provided at a bottom of the vessel.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, in which the needle projects upwardly with its pointed end uppermost.

14. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13, in which the self-sealing material is resilient.

15. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 14, in which the self-sealing material is a rubber or a plastics material.

16. A method of dispensing a draught beverage comprising dispensing draught beverage of the type referred to into an open vessel, and said vessel being within a sealed enclosure in which the pressure surrounding the vessel in the enclosure is reduced relative to atmospheric pressure so that emergence of the dissolved gas content into the beverage as bubbles is encouraged.

17. A method as claimed in Claim 16, in which reduction in pressure in the enclosure occurs before, and/or in the course of, and/or after said beverage is dispensed into the vessel.

18. A method as claimed in Claim 16 or in Claim 17, in which reduction in pressure in the enclosure is initiated automatically by an act of closing the enclosure and/or by an act of initiating a demand for dispense of beverage into the vessel.

19. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 18, in which a partial vacuum is established in the enclosure after the vessel is placed therein and an entrance, to allow passage of said vessel, is sealed.

20. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 19, in which a or the partial vacuum within the enclosure is relieved before the enclosure is opened to allow the vessel containing beverage to be removed from the enclosure.

21. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the beverage is cooled prior to introduction into said vessel.

22. A method as claimed in Claim 21, in which the beverage is cooled so that it issues into the vessel at a temperature below the freezing point of water.

23. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the vessel is a drinking vessel.

24. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the vessel is a glass.

25. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the beverage is non-alcoholic or alcoholic.

26. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the beverage is a beer or cider.

27. A method as claimed in Claim 26, in which the beer is lager.

28. A method of dispensing a draught beverage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or to Figures 4 and 5, or to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.