GB473901A - Improvements in apparatus for dispensing liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

473,901. Valves. BARNES, F. J. T. April 21, 1936, No. 11421. [Class 135] [Also in Group XVIII] An apparatus for dispensing liquids, particu larly for retailing highly gaseous beverage such as lager beer, comprises a closed vessel to which the liquid is supplied under pressure, with means for maintaining a substantially constant low pressure within the vessel while the liquid is being charged into and dispensed therefrom. The vessel comprises a glass cylinder 10 mounted on a joint-ring 11 in a base 12 and clamped through a second joint-ring 13 by a closure 14 to which pressure is applied by a screw 22 working in a yoke 20 carried by links 18 pivoted on the base 12. The top surface of the base is formed as a valve face provided with a port 32 coupled to a supply pipe 29, and a port 27 communicating with a dispensing pipe 26. A valve 33 seated on the base has an extension 34 provided with an actuating handle 53, a spring 58 being fitted to maintain the valve in constant contact with the valve face. The valve is bored to receive a fluid balanced piston 49 connected at its upper end to a float 51 and having ports 52, which, when the vessel is empty, communicate with an annular groove 40 in the bore of the valve 33, this groove opening through a port 37 into a vertical passage 36. A pair of diametrically opposite ports 42, through the wall of the valve 33, place the bore of the valve in constant communication with the interior of the vessel 10. A further port 43 in the wall of the valve 33 opens into a vertical passage controlled by a valve 45 having a stem 46 and loaded by a spring 48 so that the valve 45 will not open unless the pressure in the vessel exceeds a minimum value, e.g. 1 lb. per square inch. A second vessel comprising a glass cylinder 72, Fig. 1b, clamped, through joint washers, between plates 70, 71 by screws 73, communicates by way of a pipe 61 with the upper end of the vessel 10 and by way of a pipe 64, provided with a cock 65, with the lower end of the vessel 10, the pipes 61, 64 extending nearly to the bottom of the vessel 72. A valve casing 77 mounted on the plate 70 houses a relief valve 80 making line contact at 87 with a rubber valve seat 88 and having a skirt portion 90 guided in the valve seat, the latter being grooved at 91 to increase its resilience. The valve 80 is held to its seat by a spring 86 adjustably loaded by a nut 83 controlled by a knob 84. Perforations 92 in the wall of the skirt portion, and 93 in the valve casing, allow gas to pass from the vessel 72 through the passage 79, to atmosphere, when excess pressure within the vessels 10, 72 causes the valve 80 to lift. A pipe 59 opens at its lower end into the valve casing 77, and at its upper end into the upper part of the vessel 10. When dispensing, the valve 33 is rotated by the handle 53 to align the passage 36 and port 32, whereupon liquid flows through the supply pipe into the vessel 10 by way of the ports 37, groove 40 and ports 52, 42. The liquid rising in the vessel raises the float 51 and piston valve 49, eventually cutting off the supply at a required level. The movement of the valve 33 to supply-position also brings the valve 45 into alignment with the port 27 so that dispensing takes place through the pipe 26. A groove 98 in the valve face ensures that, on movement of the valve 33, the vessel is placed under pressure from supply, before the dispensing valve can open. Excessive froth in the vessel 10 passes through the pipe 61 to the vessel 72, yielding liquid, which is drained at intervals by a cock 94, and gas, which returns through the pipe 59 to the vessel 10. Liquid remaining in the vessel 10 after a dispensing operation, can be drained therefrom by the cock 65, and this fitting can be used also for circulating a cleaning fluid through the vessels. Stops are provided to limit the " on " and " off " movement of the handle 53. The relief valve 80 is set to maintain a pressure of about 4 pounds per square inch in the vessels 10, 72.