JP2000191095A - Carbonated beverage discharging method, and its discharging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform the discharging of a carbonated beverage by continuously moving a discharging cock to a discharging location after moving the discharging cock to a liquid distribution location. SOLUTION: When a discharging cock 10 is tilted to a liquid distribution location I, and a contact head 12 is depressed downward, a spool 52 is depressed while resisting to a spring 31, and the upper section of a beer valve 33 is opened, and a beer distribution path La and a channel Lb communicate with each other. Then, the cock 10 is tilted to a discharging location II, and when the contact head 12 further depresses a frame 20 downward, the spool 52 is further depressed while resisting the spring 31, and continuing to the opening of the upper section of the beer valve 33, a sealed state between a ring 52b and the internal surface of the spool 52 is broken, and carbon dioxide is led into a container 100 through a gas distribution chamber 32. By this constitution, the gas pressure in the container increases, and beer flows to the distribution paths La, Lb, and further Lc, and is discharged from a discharging port in the end. In the meantime, when the operation is completed, the discharging cock 10 is raised in the reverse direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for pouring carbonated beverages such as beer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a restaurant or the like, there is a dispensing apparatus in which carbonated drinks such as beer are stored and stored in a barrel-like container, and a proper amount is poured out of the barrel using gas pressure. . Such a dispensing device is a large one generally called a dispenser device, and a barrel and a large gas cylinder are separately prepared. The gas cylinder and the barrel are connected by a gas hose, and the barrel and the dispenser device are connected by another hose that carries beer containing gas. The dispenser device is provided with a pouring cock for a pouring operation, and operates the pouring cock to pour beer into a container such as a mug.

[0003] However, such a dispensing device has a large configuration and is unsuitable for a store having a small area or when using while storing a small amount of carbonated beverage. Therefore,
A small barrel in which a small gas cylinder is integrally incorporated is prepared, and a small barrel is detachably connected to the barrel to perform pour-out, which has already been proposed and commercialized. There is also a type in which a gas cylinder is built in the pouring device side.

In such a dispensing apparatus, carbon dioxide gas is generally used for dispensing, and a gas cylinder for that purpose is filled with liquefied carbon dioxide gas. The gas pressure generated from this gas cylinder is a very high pressure of 60 to 80 kgf / cm ² at room temperature, and it requires careful attention. Further, since such a high-pressure gas cannot be used as it is for beer pouring, a pressure reducing valve for reducing the pressure is used. In general, the pressure reducing valve has a double structure to reduce the pressure. The pressure is reduced from the above pressure to about 5 kgf / cm ^{2 in} the first stage, and the pressure to be introduced into the barrel in the second stage is about 2 to 4 kgf. / C
The pressure is reduced to m ² .

[0005]

However, not only the gas cylinder filled with high-pressure gas but also the pressure reducing valve has a heavy structure for withstanding high pressure. In particular, the pressure reducing valve is composed of a plurality of complicated parts. Its shape is larger. In addition, it is necessary to equip a safety device because it is dangerous in case of failure. As a result, the dispensing device was expensive and large.

It is conceivable to use a compressed carbon dioxide gas having a low pressure in place of the liquefied carbon dioxide gas as described above, but no satisfactory dispensing device has been proposed at this time.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a spout cock and a spout connected to a container storing a carbonated beverage and a compressed gas cylinder. A method for dispensing the carbonated beverage by a dispensing device that performs dispensing by gas pressure, wherein the operation of the dispensing cock causes the carbonated beverage in the container and the spout to be in communication with each other. And after the first step, the gas of the compressed gas cylinder is guided into the container by operating the pouring cock, and the carbonated beverage is discharged out of the container from the spout. And a second step.

The gas in the compressed gas cylinder is generally a compressed carbon dioxide gas, a compressed nitrogen gas or a compressed air gas which can be easily handled and obtained, and the gas pressure is about 6.0 to 10.9 kgf / cm in absolute gas pressure. ^2. On the other hand, the gas pressure in the container is about 1.7 to 3.0 kgf in absolute gas pressure.
/ Cm ² is desirably set. If the gas pressure of the gas cylinder is 10.9 kgf / cm ² or less, handling is easy, and the gas pressure in the container is about 1.7 to 3.0 kgf / cm ^2.
If the above-described operation of the spout cock is performed while maintaining the above condition, a preferable pouring operation can be performed.

The invention of such an apparatus is a dispensing apparatus which is connected to a container storing carbonated beverage, has a dispensing cock and a spout, and has a compressed gas cylinder for dispensing by gas pressure. The spout is connected to the carbonated beverage in the container via a liquid flow passage, and the gas of the compressed gas cylinder is connected to the inside of the container via a gas flow passage, and the spout cock Are the initial position before the pouring operation, the liquid flow position where only the liquid flow path is opened following the initial position, and the gas flow path while maintaining the liquid flow path open following the liquid flow position. Is configured as a carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus having a dispensing position for performing the opening of the beverage.

Here, the gas of the compressed gas cylinder is a compressed carbon dioxide gas, a compressed nitrogen gas, a compressed air gas or the like, and the gas pressure is about 6.0 to 10.9 kgf / cm ² in absolute gas pressure. Gas pressure is about 1.7 from absolute gas pressure
It is preferable to use a carbonated beverage dispenser set at 3.0 kgf / cm ² . Then, the gas pressure in the container is about 1.7 to 3.0 kgf / cm ^{2 in} absolute gas pressure,
If the volume of the container relative to the volume of the compressed gas cylinder is determined in accordance with the ratio of the gas pressure in the container to the gas pressure of the compressed gas cylinder, a preferable dispensing device with a simpler configuration is obtained. For example, when the absolute gas pressure of the compressed gas cylinder used is about 8 kgf / cm ² and the absolute gas pressure in the container is about
In the case of ² kgf / cm ² , the volume of the container may be set to about 4 times the volume of the compressed gas cylinder (8/2) according to Boyle's law. In order to reduce the pressure, a single-stage pressure reducing valve can be adopted, and this pressure reducing valve can be configured with an orifice structure.

In the present apparatus, compressed gas is used, and the spout cock is moved to the liquid flow position, which is the first stage, and then moved to the spout position, which is the second stage. Thus, the preferable carbonated beverage can be easily poured out.
Here, since the liquefied gas is not used unlike the conventional apparatus, the dispensing apparatus is reduced in size and weight, and there is little danger unlike the conventional apparatus.

In particular, in the present invention, in consideration of the possibility that the gas pressure becomes excessive when the gas pressure in the container is increased when the compressed gas is employed, the pour lever is operated as described above, and the carbonated beverage is constantly operated. By opening the gas flow passage only in a state where the flow path is opened, the problem is prevented from occurring, and the dispensing device is simplified and compact.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. here,
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a pouring device of the present invention, which is connected to a container (barrel) storing beer as a carbonated beverage, and shows a state in which a pouring cock is at an initial position before pouring. FIG.
Similarly, the figure shows the state of the spout cock at the liquid circulation position (I) before the spout operation. FIG. 3 similarly shows a state in which the dispensing cock is in the dispensing operation position (II). The gas pressure mentioned here is an absolute gas pressure.

First, referring to FIG. 1, a pouring device 1 is connected to an upper part of a keg 100 storing beer.
A spout cock 10 for performing a spout operation is provided above the connection device 1.
Is provided. When the cock 10 is rotated around the shaft 11, it is rotated together with the cock 10 to abut on a frame 20 provided at a lower portion thereof, and a contact head 12 for pressing the frame 20 downward is provided. .

Here, the pouring cock 10 is placed in an initial position before operation, a liquid circulation position (II) in which only the liquid flow passage described below is opened following the initial position, and the liquid circulation position following the liquid circulation position. (Beer) Dispensing position where the gas flow path described below is opened while maintaining the flow path open (III)
Is operated. As the cock 10 is operated from the initial position to the liquid circulation position (II) and the pouring position (III), the contact head 12 also changes its position so that the frame 20 is pressed downward. Has become.

FIG. 1 shows a base portion 105 of the barrel 100, and a beer pouring down tube 30 extending below the base portion 105 toward the bottom of the keg.
A gas flow chamber 32 surrounding the outer periphery and having a large number of holes is formed in the upper part of the gas flow chamber. A coil spring 31 is provided inside the down tube 30.
Urges the beer valve 33 above it upward. When the beer valve 33 is urged upward as described above, the beer flow passage La extending upward from the down tube 30 is closed.

Further, above the beer valve 33,
The dispensing cylinder 50 that serves as the connection part of the dispensing device 1 is
Connected within 105. Inside the pouring cylinder 50, a spool 52 is vertically movably connected. O-rings 52a and 52b are fitted vertically on the outer periphery of the spool 52. The O-rings 52a and 52b are in contact with the inner wall of the pouring cylinder 50 so that the spool 52 can move up and down while maintaining the sealing performance. ing. On the other hand, the inside of the spool 52 penetrates vertically and forms a part of the beer passage L.
Lb is formed, and the lower side is the down tube 30 described above.
Can be connected to a beer flow passage La extending upward from the upper side, and the upper side can be connected to a beer flow passage Lc extending to a spout (not shown).

Further, the upper end of the spool 52 is in contact with a frame pillar which is suspended from the center of the frame 20 via an elastic member, and the lower end is in contact with the outer periphery of the head of the beer valve 33. Has become. Therefore, before the pouring operation, the upward pressing force of the spring 31 in the down tube 30 is applied to the beer valve 33 and the spool 52.
To urge the frame 20 upward.

The discharge cylinder 50 is provided with a pressure reducing valve 70 connected via a gas flow passage 60 extending from the compressed gas cylinders G1 and G2. The pressure reducing valve 70 is arranged so that the wall of the discharge cylinder 50 communicates with the inside and outside. The opening inside the cylinder 50 is formed by the O-rings 52a, 52b.
It is a position facing the space. Further, inside the pressure reducing valve 70, an orifice structure 72 provided with a small opening in a plate material arranged to close the gas flow passage 60 is provided.

Here, the pressure of the gas charged into the compressed gas cylinder is generally up to about 10.9 kgf / cm ² , which can be easily handled and requires no special procedure, and is preferably about 8 to 9 kgf / cm 2. It is in the range of ² . On the other hand, the gas pressure in the container is set to be about 1.7 to 3.0 kgf / cm ² . In order to set the pressure in the container in such a range, the volume of the container relative to the volume of the compressed gas cylinder may be determined according to the ratio of the gas pressure in the container to the gas pressure of the compressed gas cylinder. For example, when the gas pressure of the compressed gas cylinder used in this example is about 8 kgf / cm ² and the gas pressure in the container is about 2 kgf / cm ^2, and the volume of the compressed gas cylinder is about 600 ml in total of G1 and G2, , (8/2)
X 600 ml, which is a 2.4 liter container. Of course,
Conversely, after determining the size of the container, the gas cylinder pressure and its volume can also be determined.

Then, by operating the dispensing cock as described below in a state of passing through the pressure reducing valve having a simple structure for reducing the pressure of the gas cylinder, it is possible to dispense a preferable beer. . First, FIG. 1 described above is before the pouring operation, and the upward pressing force of the spring 31 in the down tube 30 urges the frame 20 upward through the beer valve 33 and the spool 52, The flow paths La and Lb are closed by a beer valve 33 and an elastic member 34. On the other hand, the carbon dioxide gas also reaches the pressure reducing valve 70 on the gas flow passage 60 side, but is sealed by the upper and lower O-rings 52a and 52b and stays on the periphery of the spool 52.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a state in which the pouring cock 10 is tilted down to the liquid circulation position (I) before complete pouring, and the contact head 12 pushes the frame 20 downward by a predetermined amount. Can be As a result, the spool 52 is pushed down against the spring 31, and the upper part of the beer valve 33 is opened. Therefore, the beer flow path La and the flow path Lb in the spool 52 are communicated from the down tube 30 as indicated by the black arrow. At this time, the O-ring 52b of the gas flow passage is still in a sealed state with the inner surface of the spool 52, and the passage into the container 100 is kept closed.

Next. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the pouring cock 10 is continuously lowered to the pouring position (II), and the contact head 12 further pushes the frame 20 downward by a predetermined amount. This causes the spool 52 to oppose the spring 31,
After being further depressed and the upper part of the beer valve 33 being opened, the sealing state between the O-ring 52b and the inner surface of the spool 52 is broken, and carbon dioxide gas flows through the gas flow chamber 32 as shown by a white arrow. After that, it is introduced into the container 100. Thereby, the gas pressure in the container increases, and the beer flows to the beer flow paths La, Lb, and Lc, and is finally poured out from the spout.

On the other hand, when the operation is completed, the pouring cock 10 is raised in the opposite direction. As is clear from this, from the start to the end of the pouring, the beer flow path is always open when the gas flow path is opened, so that the inside of the container is not abnormally high in pressure. .

[0025]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a conventionally large and expensive dispensing apparatus can be reduced in size and simple in construction. Further, since the compressed carbon dioxide gas is used instead of the liquefied carbon dioxide gas, safety is enhanced and peripheral equipment can be simplified. In addition, the cock of the dispensing device is set to the predetermined condition, the initial position before the dispensing operation, the liquid circulation position for opening only the liquid circulation passage, and the opening of the gas circulation passage together with the liquid circulation position for the ejection position. The pouring operation can be easily carried out simply by operating in order.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a pouring device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a pouring cock is at an initial position before a pouring operation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the dispensing device, showing a state in which a dispensing cock is at a liquid circulation position before dispensing.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the dispensing device, showing a state where a dispensing cock is at a dispensing position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Dispensing device 10 Dispensing cock La, Lb, Lc Liquid flow passage G1, G2 Gas cylinder 60 Gas flow passage 70 Pressure reducing valve 100 Container

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. connected to a container storing a carbonated beverage,
A method for dispensing the carbonated beverage by a dispensing device having a dispensing cock and a dispensing port and having a compressed gas cylinder and dispensing by gas pressure, comprising: A first step of placing the carbonated beverage and the spout in communication with each other, and, following the first step, guiding the gas of the compressed gas cylinder into the container by operating the spout cock;
A second step of discharging the carbonated beverage out of the container from the outlet. 2. The gas pressure of said compressed gas cylinder is 6.0 to 1
0.9 kgf / cm ^2, carbonated beverage extraction method according to claim 1 Gas pressure in the vessel that is set from 1.7 to 3.0 kgf / cm ^2. 3. A dispensing device connected to a container for storing carbonated beverages, having a dispensing cock and a spout, and having a compressed gas cylinder for performing dispensing by gas pressure. Via a channel, is connected to the carbonated beverage in the container, the gas of the compressed gas cylinder is connected to the inside of the container via a gas flow passage, and the discharging cock is provided before the discharging operation. An initial position, a liquid flow position where only the liquid flow path is opened following the initial position, and a gas flow path opened while maintaining the liquid flow path open following the liquid flow position. And a discharge position. 4. The gas pressure of the compressed gas cylinder is 6.0 to 1
0.9 kgf / cm ^2, carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the gas pressure in the container is set from 1.7 to 3.0 kgf / cm ² 5. The gas pressure in said container is 1.7 to 3.0 kgf / c.
The volume of the container with respect to the volume of the compressed gas cylinder is determined according to the ratio of the gas pressure in the container to the gas pressure of the compressed gas cylinder so that m ² is obtained. A carbonated beverage dispensing device according to the above. 6. The carbonated beverage injection according to claim 3, wherein a single-stage pressure reducing valve is provided in the gas flow passage to reduce the gas pressure of the compressed gas cylinder. Output device. 7. The carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pressure of said pressure reducing valve is constituted by an orifice structure.