IE20000873A1 - A Dispensing Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for use in dispensing a carbonated liquid such as beer that has a refrigerated storage compartment into which a beer keg is inserted, a dispensing tap located on the compartment and a hand pump extending from the compartment. The storage compartment maintains the beer at a constant temperature and can be located in public view as the keg is enclosed. The need for compressed gas cylinders is obviated by the provision of a hand pump and the upper serving plate can be used to hold glasses. <Figure 1>

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and more particularly to a portable beer dispensing apparatus.

Z o z A variety of beer dispensing mechanisms are known. In public bars, beer stored in kegs is dispensed under pressure through a cooler, to a tap. Pressurized gas cylinders containing nitrogen or carbon dioxide generally provide the force required. The cooler is often positioned in or near a cold room which is often a long distance from the dispensing tap ihis requires that the pipe work delivering the beer to the dispense tap must be heavily nsulated and or refrigerated. The insulation or refrigeration of the pipe may require ((structural changes to a premises and the cost of implementation and use are often high. I These costs arise from the provision of line insulation or refrigeration and increased 'wastage due to the long draw. To maintain the desired serving temperature, it is often j necessary for the kegs to be stored in a cold room. For the purposes of this specification, jthe term keg is taken to include metallic kegs, barrels or casks and similarly while reference is made throughout to beer it will be understood that the invention may equally be applied to any draught beverage.

While dispensing mechanisms of this type are highly suited for permanent or long term applications, problems arise in the provision of draught beer on an ad hoc basis. For example, setting up temporary beer taps at a party or barbecue is a time consuming and onerous job, both in terms of the transportation of the heavy equipment required and the detailed configuration involved. Further problems arise in ensuring the adequate provision of propellant gas and thus it is often necessary to transport and maintain stocks of auxiliary pressure bottles. Another difficulty with such installations appears during use when handling and disposing of waste beer from drip trays in which waste beer from the taps accumulates.

Notwithstanding the mechanical and logistical problems of temporary arrangements, there are often physical barriers to the implementation of longer-term systems. Often there is simply insufficient space for the cooler, gas bottles, taps, lines and glasses. This is ίίτεΐ-ί.

/Q1 Λ particularly true in locations, which have not previously served draught beverages. Where floor real estate is at a premium, such as in a busy restaurant systems of this type are not suitable because orientation and positioning of serving and seating stations has made no provision for beer taps, coolers and the glasses necessary for delivery. Additionally, cold rooms for storing kegs are not always available or are physically remote from serving stations.

A number of solutions have been proposed to overcome these problems. United States Patent Numbers 5,203,181 and 5,275,015 (Brossia et al), 4,802,344 (Livingston et al), 5,251,460 (De Marco et al) and 4,963,175 disclose a variety of jacket type arrangements, which may be fitted to a keg to maintain or reduce the temperature of the beer contained therein. While solutions of this type are very portable their application is limited. This is because the temperature of the beer can only be maintained for a relatively short period of time. This means that the beer is not adequately protected because if the full volume is not consumed while cold, the keg must be cooled again. These cooling and warming cycles have an adverse effect on the overall quality of the beer. GB 2 245 054 (Hughes et al) shows a method of cooling beer using a heat exchanger and currents of cool air directed towards a container. This ensures that the beer is not subjected to cooling and warming cycles but is not very portable.

United States Patent Number 4,835,985 (Ilvento) illustrates and improvement over these jacket type arrangements to which ice can be added and in which the keg supports a tap or pressure pump. While the apparatus described eliminates the need for pressurised dispensing gases and allows for the addition of volumes of ice to replace that which has melted, this must be done manually and the apparatus is difficult to fit. Furthermore, once in position the apparatus is difficult to move and there is a risk of ice becoming dislodged due to accidental contact or spilling as the ice is replenished. US 4,653,290 (Byrne) provides a partial solution to these problems by incorporating drawstrings in the jacket, which can be secured when ice has been added. This is only a partial solution and does not address the customer or consumer requirement that the beer be dispensed at a constant temperature.

United Kingdom Patent Application Number GB 2 230 918 (Guinness Ireland Group) over comes this problem by mounting a cooler, tap and pressurised gas bottle on top of a keg. While this solution undoubtedly delivers beer at a constant desired temperature there are a number of problems associated with its use. As the volume of beer in the keg reduces the stability of the base is compromised and there is a risk that the unit will topple. This is particularly true given the combined weight of the cooler and gas cylinder and the drawing motion on the tap as beer is dispensed. Changing the gas cylinder is somewhat awkward and the physical effort required to move a new keg into position and move the assembly onto the new keg is unduly onerous. Additionally, as the kegs used to transport beer are functional rather than aesthetically pleasing, the number of locations where the assembly can be located are limited.

To overcome the physical appearance limitations of the keg or cask UK Patent application GB 2 280 496 discloses an airtight refrigerated unit, which encloses the keg. This assembly allows beer or other liquid to be dispensed through a tap using gravity. While the beer is delivered at a desired temperature this is only suitable for certain type of liquids and certain kegs where the tap is correctly positioned and the liquid is suitable for natural dispensing. For example, the apparatus described could not be used for carbonated liquids.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, which will overcome the aforementioned problems.

Accordingly, there is provided an apparatus for use in dispensing a carbonated liquid such as beer, the apparatus comprising: a refrigerated storage compartment for receiving a beer keg; a dispensing tap located on the compartment and connected to the keg; and a hand pump mounted on the keg and extending upwardly through an opening defined by an upper serving plate of the compartment.

An apparatus in accordance with the invention has a number of advantages over those previously known. As the storage compartment is refrigerated the beer or similar liquid is maintained at a constant temperature thereby ensuring that beer dispensed is at the desired temperature. Additionally, as the keg is enclosed the apparatus can be located in public view. Furthermore, as the cooler is not mounted on top of the keg and is integral to the unit there is no risk of the device becoming unstable as beer is dispensed. By the relatively simple expedient of mounting a hand pump on the keg the need for compressed gas cylinders is obviated, thus the apparatus does not require maintenance of additional supplies. The upper serving plate can be used to support glasses and thus the unit can be easily located in a convenient position in a bar or restaurant and requires only a power outlet for refrigeration.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, the compartment is refrigerated to below 6oC. By ensuring the beer is chilled to below this temperature the concentration of carbon dioxide in the beer is not affected by the use of a hand pump rather than pressurised carbon dioxide gas despite the reduction in pressure.

Ideally, the opening is defined directly above a tapping point of the keg.

Preferably, the serving plate incorporates a guardrail. Conveniently, this prevents stored glasses from being accidentally damaged.

Ideally, the plate incorporates an integral drip tray.

In one arrangement, the drip tray has an associated overflow sump mounted within the storage compartment. Spilled or beer dripping from the tap can thus be collected in a bottle in the compartment and is easily removed. The drip tray integrally formed in this way also eliminates the risk of spillage due to accidental contact or tipping.

Preferably, the apparatus is mounted on lockable wheels to aid portability and stability.

In one arrangement, the apparatus incorporates connection means for optionally receiving a pressurised gas cylinder.

Preferably the door incorporates a lock to prevent malicious tampering and accidental injury arising from an accident with the pressurised keg.

An apparatus formed in accordance with the invention has a number of additional advantages. As the unit may be mounted on wheels, the keg, compartment, tap, pump and drip tray may be easily transported to a dispensing position as a single unit. This ensures that the apparatus is ideally suited for the catering industry where portable, compact and convenient temporary bar facilities are required. As there are no complex connections to be made the, unit is easy to use. As the line from the keg to the tap is very short there is minimal wastage of beer and there is no requirement for insulation or refrigeration of the pipes.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows, by way of example only, one embodiment of an apparatus in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a front view similar to that shown in Fig. 2 with a keg in position.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an apparatus in accordance with the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The apparatus 1 has a refrigerated storage compartment 2 having a base 3, an upstanding back wall 4 and two upstanding sidewalls 5. A door 6 provides a fourth wall and the door 6, the sidewalls 5 and the back wall 4 are covered by an upper plate 7. The compartment 2 is dimensioned to receive and enclose a beer keg 9. |g P ft η η Ί 7 η η η«ν A dispensing tap 10 is mounted on the upper plate 7 and a connection pipe 11 is connected to the keg 9. An opening 12 in the upper plate 7 is positioned directly above a dispensing point on the keg 9. A hand pump 15 is mounted on the keg 9 and extends upwardly through the opening 12 and out of the compartment 2.

Portion of the upper plate 7 defines a drip tray 21 beneath the dispensing tap 10 and the tray 21 is connected to a sump bottle 22 in the compartment 2 by a pipe 23. The upper plate 7 has a guardrail 25 running along portion of the perimeter of the plate 7.

In use, the door 6 of the compartment 2 is opened and the keg 9 inserted. The pump 15 is inserted into the opening 12 and connected to the keg 9. The pipe 11 is then connected to the pump 15 and the apparatus 1 is ready to dispense beer from the keg 9. Before beer is dispensed however, the keg 9 is chilled to 5oC. By chilling the beer to below this temperature the concentration of carbon dioxide in the beer is not affected by the use of the hand pump 15 rather than pressurised carbon dioxide gas despite the reduction in pressure.

To dispense beer from the keg 9 the hand pump 15 is operated to increase pressure in the keg 9 to the desired level. A glass (not shown) is taken from the upper plate 7 adjacent the guardrail 25 and positioned beneath the dispensing tap 10. The tap 10 is then activated and beer is drawn from the keg 9 through the pipe 11 out through the tap 10 and into the glass until full. Excess or drips of beer are collected in the tray 21 and routed to the sump bottle in the compartment 2 by the pipe 23.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details as herein described, which are given by way of example only, and that various alterations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for use in dispensing a carbonated liquid such as beer, the apparatus comprising: a refrigerated storage compartment for receiving a beer keg; a dispensing tap located on the compartment and connected to the keg; and a hand pump mounted on the keg and extending upwardly through an opening defined by an upper serving plate of the compartment.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 incorporating means for reducing and maintaining the temperature in the storage compartment below 6°C. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the opening is defined above a tapping point of the keg.

3. 4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the serving plate incorporates a guardrail. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the plate incorporates an integrally formed drip tray. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the drip tray has an associated overflow sump mounted within the storage compartment.

4. 7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the compartment is mounted on lockable wheels.

5. 8. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.