GB2453603A

GB2453603A - A beverage dispensing system

Info

Publication number: GB2453603A
Application number: GB0721051A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richie Byrne
Original assignee: C & C Group PLC
Current assignee: C & C Group PLC
Priority date: 2007-10-08
Filing date: 2007-10-25
Publication date: 2009-04-15
Also published as: IE20070723A1; GB0721051D0

Abstract

A beverage dispensing system 10, in particular for alcoholic beverages such as cider or the like, includes a dispensing head 12 preferably in the form of a conventional tap, and a pair of supply lines 18, 20 feeding first and second beverages to the tap, with mixing means in the form of a coupling 24 disposed between the supply lines and the tap in order to effect mixing of the two beverages prior to being dispensed from the tap. The system 10 further comprises a pair of coolant lines 28 which extend from coolant reservoir 22 and preferably comprises regulating means 38 fitted into the first supply line 18. The internal diameters of the first and second supply lines may differ to ensure the desired ratios of the first and second beverages are dispensed.

Description

1 2453603 A beverage dispensin2 system

Field of the invention

The present invention is concerned with a beverage dispensing system, and in particular a beverage dispensing system which enables the simultaneous dispensing of two beverages in a single pour.

Summary of the invention

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing head; first and second supply lines for delivering a first and a second beverage to the dispensing head; and means for mixing the first and second beverages onorto he.ina 1v tis4 frcn the head.

Preferably, the mixing means comprises a coupling connected between the dispensing head and the first and second supply lines, in which coupling the contents of the first and second supply lines converge.

Preferably, the mixing means comprises a pair of inlets into which the first and second supply lines are located, and an outlet in fluid communication with the dispensing head.

Preferably, the mixing means comprises means for regulating the flow into the coupling from the first and/or second supply lines.

Preferably, the system comprises a feed line extending between the mixing means and the dispensing head.

Preferably, the regulating means comprises a flow regulator on one or other of the first and second supply lines.

Preferably, the system comprises means for cooling the first and/or second beverages before being dispensed from the dispensing head.

Preferably, the cooling means comprises a coolant reservoir for creating ice crystals in the first and/or second beverage; and coolant lines for circulating coolant in order to cool the contents of the first and/or second supply lines.

Preferably, the dispensing head comprises a tap having a nozzle from which the combined first and second beverages are dispensed.

Preferably, the system comprises tninking for carrying the first and second supply lines, the coolant lines, and the feed line.

Preferably, the mixing means is arranged to mix the first and second beverages in a ratio of 1 i.-�.. � .d.

Preferably, the first and second supply lines have different internal diameters.

As used herein, the term 7irst and second beverages" is intended to cover two different beverages as well as two different forms of the same beverage, for example the same beverage at two different temperatures, carbonated and non-carbonated versions and foamed and non-foamed versions of the same beverage.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which; FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of a beverage dispensing system according to an embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the system illustrated in Figure 1.

Detailed description of the drawings

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated an embodiment of a beverage dispensing system according to the present invention, generally indicated as 10.

In the embodiment illustrated and described hereinafter, the system 10 is adapted to be mounted about a conventional bar B, although it will be appreciated from the description of the system 10 that it could be configured for use in other locations or applications.

The system 10 comprises a dispensing head 12 which in the embodiment illustrated is suitably secured to the top of the bar B, and is known in the art as a "countermount". The dispensing head 12 comprises a tap 14 having a nozzle 16 from which in use a beverage such as cider or beer is dispensed. The internal configuration and operation of the dispensing head 12 is well known in the art and will not therefore be described in further detail hereinafter.

The system 10 further comprises a first supply line 18 and a second supply line 20 which extend, in the embodiment illustrated, from a conventional coolant reservoir 22 towards the dispensing head 12. It will however be understood by a person skilled in the art, from the following description, that the supply lines 18, 20 could extend directly from respective kegs (not shown) or the like, or indeed other cooling or processing equipment (not shown).

The coolant reservoir is known in the art, and is adapted to create ice crystals in the beverage of the first supply line 18, which is thus refreshing when consumed and provides the beverage with an appealing taste and mouth feel. As the coolant reservoir 22 is known in the art, the internal configuration and operation will not be described hereinafter.

The first and second supply lines 18, 20 may be formed from any suitable material, preferably flexible, and most preferably a flexible plastic conventionally used for such applications. The first and second supply lines 18, 20 are connected or plumbed into mixing means in the form of a coupling 24, within which the contents from the first and second supply lines 18, 20 converge. A feed line 26 then extends from the coupling 24 into the dispensing head 12 and into fluid communication with the nozzle 16. The tap 14 provide a marnially operated valve (not shown) which selectively permits the flow of fluid from the feed line 26 and out of the nozzle 16, as is well known in such a "countermount" dispensing head 12. The coupling 24, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, thus enables the mixing of the first and second beverages carried by the first and second supply lines 18, 20 thereby enabling the dispensing from the nozzle 16 of the two beverages in combination via a single pour.

The system 10 further comprises a pair of coolant lines 28 which also extend from the coolant reservoir 22. The coolant lines 28 could however be provided as part of a separate cooling system (not shown) available for this purpose. The pair of coolant lines 28 extend alongside the first and second supply lines 18, 20, and alongside the feed line 26, and preferably within a trunking 30 or other suitable conduit carrying all of the above mentioned lines. While not illustrated the coolant reservoir preferably comprises a conventional heating exchanger (not shown) arranged to pump conventional coolant 1) WVWlU UIC euuiaiu lilies 40. 1 HC LUoiaHi IUICS 40 tueieiure SCrVe U) t.11i11 LLIC uvveruges in the Iine 18, 20, 26 to a desired serving temperature.

Referring now in particular to Figure 2, the coupling 24 in the embodiment illustrated comprises a pair of inlets 32 into which the first and second supply lines 18, 20 are suitably secured, and an opposed outlet 34 into which the feed line 26 is suitably secured. The interior of the coupling 24 defines a space in which the flow from the first and second supply lines 18, 20 converges before entering the feed line 26. It will of course be appreciated that any other suitable form may be provided for the coupling 24, once the mixing functionality of same is retained.

The system 10 preferably comprises a connector 36 in each coolant line 28 and located at or adjacent to the coupling 24. Each connector 36 serves as a point at which each coolant line 28 may be split. The trunking 30 is also preferably provided with a gap therein, surrounding the coupling 24 and connectors 36. In this way the section of each of the above-mentioned lines 26, 28 that are connected to the dispensing head 12 may be separated from the lower portion of the lines and the reservoir 22 and associated cooling equipment. This is achieved by separating the feed line 26 from the coupling 24 and separating the coolant line 28 at each of the connectors 36. In this way, the dispensing head 12 and associated sections of lines, or the reservoir 22 and related components may be individually cleaned/serviced/replaced.

Referring again to Figure 1, the mixing means of the system 10 preferably comprises regulating means in the form of a flow regulator 38 fitted into the first supply line 18. It will however be appreciated from the following description that the regulator 38 could alternatively be fitted to the second supply line 20. The regulator 38 is adapted to regulate the volume of flow through the first supply line 18, in order to allow the beverage dispensed from the head 12 to have a range of ratios of the beverages supplied through the first and second supply lines 18, 20. Thus, for example, the regulator 38 may be configured such that the beverage dispensed from the head 12 contains a ratio of 1:2 of the beverages from the first and second supply lines 18, 20.

I i'l., n,,,nn,l +l.ws,,aI.. tsc 4pn a,,,1,n,n,,I,, inan 1 0)fl...,,, L.0 el,sn,nIfl+al., -"b'' 1# �yS&S%t.bS_ �S=*fl �&4%e., * S.P, %t aaflJ ftS different beverages, or may be different forms of the same beverage. For example the first supply line 18 could contain a significantly cooler version of the same beverage pumped through the second supply line 20. Similarly, the first supply line 18 could supply a carbonated version of a particular beverage, while the second supply line 20 supplies a non-carbonated version of the same beverage. In the embodiment described above the beverage fed through the first supply line 18 is a version of the beverage fed through the second supply line 20, but with ice crystals formed therein. When this "iced" version is mixed with the beverage in the second supply line 20, and the mixture pour from the dispensing head 12, the resulting drink contains a "head" of the "iced" version due to the lower density of the "iced" version which thus rises to the top of the drink.

In the embodiment illustrated, in order to ensure the desired ratios of the first and second beverage in the final mixture dispensed, the internal diameter of the first and second supply lines is different. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the internal diameter of the first supply line is 3.5mm while the internal diameter of the second supply line is 4mm. It will of course be understood that these diameters can be varied as required.

The dispensing system 10 of this embodiment of the invention thus allows two beverages or two different forms of the same beverage to be mixed and dispensed in a single action.

Claims

Claims 1. A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing head; first and second supply lines for delivering a first and a second beverage to the dispensing head; and means for mixing the first and second beverages prior to being dispensed from the head.

2. A beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 in which the mixing means comprises a coupling connected between the dispensing head and the first and second supply lines, in which coupling the contents of the first and second supply lines converge.

3. A beverage dispensing system according to claim I or 2 in which the mixing means comprises a pair of inlets into which the first and second supply lines are located, and an outlet in fluid communication with the dispensing head. I.)

4. A beverage dispensing system according to claim 2 or 3 in which the mixing means comprises means for regulating the flow into the coupling from the first and/or second supply lines.

5. A beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim comprising a feed line extending between the mixing means and the dispensing head.

6. A beverage dispensing system according to claim 4 or 5 in which the regulating means comprises a flow regulator on one or other of the first and second supply lines.

7. A beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim comprising means for cooling the first and/or second beverages before being dispensed from the dispensing head.

8. A beverage dispensing system according to claim 7 in which the cooling means comprises a coolant reservoir for creating ice crystals in the first and/or second beverage; and coolant lines for circulating coolant in order to cool the contents of the first and/or second supply lines.

9. A beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim in which the dispensing head comprises a tap having a nozzle from which the combined first and second beverages are dispensed.

10. A beverage dispensing system according to any of claims 5 to 9 comprising trunking for carrying the first and second supply lines, the coolant lines, and the feed line.

12. A beverage dispensing system according to any preceding claim in which the mixing means is arranged to mix the first and second beverages in a ratio of approximately 1:2.

iS 13. A bvvvl4gc disiihg systcii acc din tc y prc:dig c!i i which th r5 and second supply lines have different internal diameters.