JP2019218142A - Beverage discharge cock, valve rod, and beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a beverage discharge cock, a valve rod, and a beverage dispenser advantageous in forming fine creamy foam.SOLUTION: A beverage discharge cock 1 comprises: a valve main body 10 including a hole 12 and a valve seat 14 arranged in an end portion of the hole; a valve rod 20 slidably arranged in the hole, and including a valve body 25 that forms a first valve V1 together with the valve seat of the valve main body, and a first seal 24; and a movable part 30 slidably arranged in the hole, and including a second seal 32 facing the first seal, the second seal forming a second valve V2 together with the first seal of the valve rod. The valve rod includes a first channel 21 extending through the valve body, and one or more second channels 22 extending from the first seal to the first channel. The second channel 22 includes a first portion, and a second portion arranged between the first seal 24 and the first portion. The diameter of the second portion is smaller than the diameter of the first portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage pouring cock, a valve stem, and a beverage dispenser.

  In pouring a sparkling beverage such as beer, it is important that the wood grain (texture) forms fine and creamy foam. In Patent Literature 1, a plurality of foaming holes are provided in a valve stem to reduce the diameter of the foaming hole without reducing the flow rate of beer flowing in the circulation hole, thereby forming a fine-grained creamy foam. It is described.

JP-A-9-2590

  The idea of the invention described in Patent Document 1 is basically to reduce the diameter of the foaming hole as much as possible, while also reducing the flow rate of beer flowing in the flow hole by suppressing the foaming. It is understood that the purpose is to increase the number of holes.

  The inventor of the present invention has conducted experiments on the expectation that the bubble density can be improved by reducing the diameter of the bubble opening hole. However, even if the diameter of the bubble opening hole is reduced, the improvement of the bubble density is recognized. I couldn't. Specifically, the present inventor reduced the diameter of the foaming hole to 1.2 mm, 1.0 mm, 0.7 mm, and 0.5 mm, and evaluated the change in the foam density due to this. No remarkable effect was observed on the improvement of the foam density by reducing the pore diameter. Moreover, the bubble density obtained when the diameter of the bubble opening hole was the smallest 0.5 mm in the evaluation was obtained when the diameter of the bubble opening hole was 1.2 mm or 1.0 mm. It was lower than the foam density. The evaluation of the foam density was performed by taking an image of the foam collected by the container using a microscope, cutting out a 1 mm square area from the obtained image, and counting the number of bubbles in the area.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a beverage pouring cock, a valve stem, and a beverage dispenser which are advantageous for forming a fine-grained creamy foam.

  A first aspect of the present invention relates to a beverage dispense cock attached to a beverage supply source, wherein the beverage dispense cock has a valve body having a hole and a valve seat disposed at an end of the hole, A valve body having a first seal together with the valve seat of the valve body, and a valve stem having a first seal; and a valve stem slidably disposed in the hole. A movable portion forming a second valve together with the first seal of the valve stem, the valve stem penetrating the valve body. A first flow path extending from the first seal to the first flow path, and the second flow path includes a first portion, the first flow path, and the second flow path. A second portion disposed between the seal and the first portion, wherein the diameter of the second portion is the first portion; Smaller than the diameter.

  A second aspect of the present invention relates to a valve stem incorporated in a beverage pouring cock attached to a beverage supply source, wherein the valve stem has a valve body and a seal, and the valve stem includes the valve body. And a first flow path extending through the seal and one or more second flow paths extending from the seal to the first flow path, wherein the second flow path includes a first portion and the seal. And a second part disposed between the first part and a second part, wherein a diameter of the second part is smaller than a diameter of the first part.

  A third aspect of the invention relates to a beverage dispenser, wherein the beverage dispenser comprises a beverage dispense cock attached to a beverage supply, the beverage dispense cock comprising a hole and a valve disposed at an end of the hole. A valve body having a seat, a valve body slidably disposed in the hole and forming a first valve together with the valve seat of the valve body, and a valve stem having a first seal; A movable portion forming a second valve together with the first seal of the valve stem, the movable portion comprising: a second seal facing the first seal; The rod has a first flow path extending through the valve body, and one or more second flow paths extending from the first seal to the first flow path, wherein the second flow path is , A first portion and a second portion disposed between the first seal and the first portion. And a portion, smaller than the diameter of diameter of said first portion of said second portion. The beverage dispenser may further include a cooling unit that cools the beverage.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a beverage dispensing cock, a valve stem and a beverage dispenser which are advantageous for forming a fine-grained creamy foam.

The figure which shows the structure (state at the time of standby) of a drink pouring cock. The figure which shows the structure (state at the time of pouring) of a drink pouring cock. The figure which shows the structure (state at the time of foaming) of a drink pouring cock. The figure which shows the structure of the valve stem incorporated in a drink pouring cock. The figure which shows the 2nd flow path of a comparative example. The figure which shows the 2nd flow path of embodiment. The figure which shows an evaluation result. The figure which shows the schematic structure of a drink pouring device.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 8 shows a beverage dispensing apparatus 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The beverage dispensing device 100 includes a beverage dispenser 101, a supply head 102, and a pressure regulator 104. The pressure regulator 104 is attached to a valve of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 105. The pressure regulator 104 reduces the pressure of the carbon dioxide supplied from the carbon dioxide cylinder 105 and supplies the reduced pressure to the supply head 102 via the hose 107. The supply head 102 is attached to a valve of a beverage transfer container (eg, a barrel) 103 as a beverage supply source. The supply head 102 extrudes a beverage such as beer in the beverage transfer container 103 with the pressure of carbon dioxide gas and supplies the beverage to the beverage dispenser 101 via a hose 108. The beverage dispenser 101 has a beverage dispensing cock 1, cools a beverage supplied from the beverage transfer container 103 via a supply head 102 and a hose 108 by a cooling unit, and supplies a beverage such as a beer mug through the beverage dispensing cock 1. Pour into beverage serving container 106.

  1 to 3 show a beverage pouring cock 1. FIG. 1 shows a state during standby, FIG. 2 shows a state during pouring, and FIG. 3 shows a state during foaming. The beverage dispensing cock 1 includes a housing 50 attached to the body of the beverage dispenser 101, a valve body 10, a valve stem 20, a movable part 30, a lever 40, and a spring 60.

  The valve body 10 has a hole 12 and a valve seat 14 disposed at an end of the hole 12. Further, the valve body 10 has a foaming port 80 for discharging foam of the beverage. The valve body 10 may be configured as an integral part of the housing 50. The valve stem 20 is slidably disposed in the hole 12 of the valve body 10. The valve stem 20 has a valve body 25 that forms a first valve V1 together with the valve seat 14 of the valve body 10, and a first seal 24. The first valve V1 is a valve for controlling the dispensing of beverage such as beer. The movable part 30 is slidably disposed in the hole 12 of the valve body 10. The movable part 30 has a second seal 32 facing the first seal 24 of the valve stem 20. The second seal 32 constitutes a second valve V2 together with the first seal 24 of the valve stem 20. The second valve V2 is a valve for controlling the supply (foaming) of the foam of the beverage. The valve stem 20 has a first flow path 21 extending through the valve body 25 and one or more second flow paths 22 extending from the first seal 24 to the first flow path 21. The housing 50 includes a spout 70 for pouring the beverage. As shown in FIG. 1, during standby, the first seal 24 of the valve stem 20 and the second seal 32 of the movable portion 30 are in contact. During standby, the valve body 25 of the valve stem 20 is in contact with the valve seat 14 of the valve body 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the beverage is poured, the lever 40 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2, whereby the movable unit 30 moves rightward in FIG. Since the second seal 32 of the movable portion 30 is in contact with the first seal 24 of the valve stem 20, when the movable portion 30 moves rightward in FIG. 2, the valve stem 20 also moves rightward accordingly. . As a result, a gap (flow path) is formed between the valve seat 14 of the valve body 10 and the valve body 25 of the valve rod 20, and the beverage supplied from the body of the beverage dispenser 101 is supplied to the valve seat 14 and the valve body 25. Is discharged to the spout 70 through the gap between them, and is discharged through the spout 70.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when foaming the beverage, the lever 40 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3, whereby the movable unit 30 moves leftward in FIG. 3 while compressing the spring 60. . When the movable part 30 moves to the left, a gap (flow path) is formed between the first seal 24 of the valve rod 20 and the second seal 32 of the movable part 30, and the gap is supplied from the main body of the beverage dispenser 101. The beverage is sent out to the gap between the first seal 24 and the second seal 32 via the first flow path 21 and the second flow path 22 of the valve stem 20. At this time, the beverage becomes foamy. The foamed beverage is extruded through the foaming port 80.

  FIG. 4 shows the valve stem 20 in an enlarged manner. The beverage pouring cock 1 or the valve stem 20 of the present embodiment is characterized by the structure of the second flow path 22. FIG. 5 shows a comparative example of the second flow path 22. The portion indicated by A 'is a portion obtained by enlarging the portion indicated by A. FIG. 6 shows the second flow path 22 in the beverage pouring cock 1 or the valve stem 20 of the present embodiment. The portion indicated by B 'is a portion obtained by enlarging the portion indicated by B.

  In the comparative example shown in FIG. 5, the second flow path 22 has a constant diameter φ. On the other hand, the second flow path 22 of the present embodiment has a first portion 221 and a second portion 222 disposed between the first seal 24 and the first portion 221. The diameter φ2 of the second portion 222 is smaller than the diameter φ1 of the first portion 221. The second portion 222 functions as an orifice for reducing the diameter of the second flow path 22. That is, the second flow path 22 of the present embodiment has an orifice. Providing the orifice in the second flow path 22 increases the flow velocity of the beverage in the orifice (the second portion 222), and is efficiently pushed out into the gap between the first seal 24 and the second seal 32. Fine bubbles are formed. Further, by providing the first portion 221 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the second portion 222, a decrease in the flow rate of the beverage can be suppressed.

  By providing an orifice in the second flow path 22, it is possible to form a finer and creamier foam than in the comparative example, as described later. The number of the second flow paths 22 is preferably, for example, one of 1, 2, 3, and 4, but is not limited thereto. The axial direction of the second flow path 22 is typically a direction crossing the axial direction of the first flow path 21.

  FIG. 7 shows the effect of providing an orifice (second portion 221) in the second flow path 22. The “bubble density ratio” in FIG. 7 is an index indicating the effect of providing the orifice (second portion 221) in the second flow path 22. In the present embodiment when the bubble density in the comparative example is 100%. The bubble density of such a sample is expressed in%. In addition, since the experiment was performed over a plurality of days, the bubble density of the comparative example was measured every experiment day, and the bubble density ratio of the sample according to the present embodiment was calculated with the bubble density being 100%.

  The evaluation of the foam density was performed by taking an image of the foam collected by the container using a microscope, cutting out a 1 mm square area from the obtained image, and counting the number of bubbles in the area. A high foam density may be considered to mean a finer and creamier foam. The evaluation based on the foam density is excellent as an objective evaluation. In the comparative example, the length L (in the axial direction) of the second flow path 22 was 6.25 mm, the diameter φ of the second flow path 22 was 1.0 mm, and the number of the second flow paths was one.

  In the present embodiment, the length L2 (in the axial direction) of the second portion of the second flow path 22 is set to 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, and the sum of the length of the second portion 222 and the length of the first portion 221 is obtained. The length L of a certain second channel 22 was set to 6.25 mm. In the present embodiment, the diameter φ2 of the second portion 222 (orifice) is 0.5 to 0.8 mm, and the diameter φ1 of the first portion 221 is 2.0 mm. In the present embodiment, the number of the second flow paths 22 is set to 1 to 4. Each of the effects shown in FIG. 7 exceeds 100%, and a foam density higher than the foam density in the comparative example is obtained.

  Although not shown in FIG. 7, the bubble density is insensitive to the diameter φ1 of the first portion 221 at least when the diameter φ1 of the first portion 221 is in the range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. It is presumed that good results are obtained even when the diameter φ1 of the first portion 221 is out of the range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the bubble density is insensitive to the length L of the second flow path 22 at least when the length L of the second flow path 22 is in the range of 5 mm to 8 mm. It is presumed that good results are obtained even when the length L of the second flow path 22 is out of the range of 5 mm to 8 mm.

  According to the result shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable that the length L2 of the second portion 222 is in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Further, the diameter φ2 of the second portion 222 is preferably in the range of 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm, and more preferably in the range of 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm. Further, the number of the second flow paths 22 (the second portions 222) is preferably one of 1, 2, 3, and 4. The number of the second flow paths 22 (the second portions 222) is two, the length L2 of the second portions is in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, and the diameter φ2 of the second portions 222 is 0. Preferably, it is in the range of 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm.

  The axial direction of the second flow path 22 is typically a direction that intersects the axial direction of the first flow path 21, and the axial direction of the second flow path 22 intersects the axial direction of the first flow path 21. Preferably, the angle is in the range of 20 ° to 60 °. The axial direction of the second portion 222 is preferably equal to the axial direction of the first portion 221.

1: Beverage pouring cock, 10: Valve body, 12: Hole, 14: Valve seat, 20: Valve stem, 21: First flow path, 22: Second flow path, 24: First seal, 25: Valve body , 30: movable part, 32: second seal, 40: lever, 50: housing, 60: spring, 70: spout, 80: foam port, 100: beverage pouring device, V1: first valve, V2: 2nd valve, 221: 1st part, 222: 2nd part

Claims (23)

A beverage dispensing cock attached to the beverage supply source,
A valve body having a hole and a valve seat disposed at an end of the hole;
A valve body slidably disposed in the hole, the valve body constituting a first valve together with the valve seat of the valve body, and a valve stem having a first seal;
A movable portion that is slidably disposed in the hole and faces the first seal, the movable portion forming a second valve together with the first seal of the valve stem; Prepare,
The valve stem has a first flow path extending through the valve body, and one or more second flow paths extending from the first seal to the first flow path,
The second flow path has a first portion, and a second portion disposed between the first seal and the first portion, wherein the diameter of the second portion is larger than the diameter of the first portion. small,
A beverage dispensing cock characterized by the following. The length of the second portion is in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm;
The beverage pouring cock according to claim 1, wherein: A diameter of the second portion is in a range of 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm;
The beverage pouring cock according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: A diameter of the second portion is in a range of 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm;
The beverage pouring cock according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The number of the second flow paths is one of 1, 2, 3, and 4,
The beverage pouring cock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The number of the second flow path is 2, the length of the second portion is in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, and the diameter of the second portion is in a range of 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm. Is,
The beverage pouring cock according to claim 1, wherein: The length of the second flow path is in the range of 5 mm to 8 mm,
The beverage pouring cock according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: A diameter of the first portion is in a range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm;
The beverage pouring cock according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The axial direction of the second flow path is a direction that intersects the axial direction of the first flow path.
The beverage pouring cock according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The angle at which the axial direction of the second flow path intersects with the axial direction of the first flow path is within a range of 20 ° to 60 °.
The beverage pouring cock according to claim 9, wherein: The axial direction of the second portion is equal to the axial direction of the first portion;
The beverage pouring cock according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: A valve stem incorporated into a beverage dispense cock attached to a beverage supply,
The valve stem has a valve body and a seal,
The valve stem has a first flow path extending through the valve body, and one or more second flow paths extending from the seal to the first flow path,
The second flow path has a first portion, and a second portion disposed between the seal and the first portion, wherein a diameter of the second portion is smaller than a diameter of the first portion.
A valve stem characterized by the above. The length of the second portion is in the range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm;
The valve stem according to claim 12, wherein: A diameter of the second portion is in a range of 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm;
The valve stem according to claim 12 or 13, wherein A diameter of the second portion is in a range of 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm;
The valve stem according to claim 12 or 13, wherein The number of the second flow paths is one of 1, 2, 3, and 4,
The valve stem according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that: The number of the second flow path is 2, the length of the second portion is in a range of 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, and the diameter of the second portion is in a range of 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm. Is,
The valve stem according to claim 12, wherein: The length of the second flow path is in the range of 5 mm to 8 mm,
The valve stem according to any one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that: A diameter of the first portion is in a range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm;
The valve stem according to any one of claims 12 to 18, characterized in that: The axial direction of the second flow path is a direction that intersects the axial direction of the first flow path.
The valve stem according to any one of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that: The angle at which the axial direction of the second flow path intersects with the axial direction of the first flow path is within a range of 20 ° to 60 °.
The valve stem according to claim 20, characterized in that: The axial direction of the second portion is equal to the axial direction of the first portion;
The valve stem according to any one of claims 12 to 21, characterized in that:   A beverage dispenser comprising the beverage pouring cock according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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