NZ215898A - Gasifying system for beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Description

i * • -4/ s- ■ K ' // 215898 No.: Date: r jrity Date(s): Complete Specification Class: # <7 .P. ijofy .<?$ .. y9-2?*- P.O. Journal, No: .... /.3&&.

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 19S3 C„..

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM SI vie, ARTHUR GUINNESS SCN AND COMPANY (GREAT BRITAIN) LIMITED, a British Ccnfjany of Park Royal Brewery, London, NW10 7RR, Great Britain hereby declare the invention for which ^ / we pray that a patent may be granted to jae/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - followed by page la ( ■■■■■■ "J' 215398 -la- TECBNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND ART This invention relates to a beverage dispensing system and is particularly concerned with such a system wherein a gas selected from carbon dioxide, nitrogen (or other inert gas) and air is injected into the beverage during dispensing, for example to form or assist in the formation of a head or froth on the beverage as dispensed and to ensure that the dispensed beverage nay have a dissolved gas content according to consumer preference. The present invention was primarily developed for use in the dispensing of fermented beverage such as beer, lager, stout, wine and cider but may be used to advantage in the dispensing of non*fermented beverage or so-called soft drinks.

Our G.B. Patent Specification No. 1,063,753 0 .O discloses a system in which the beverage is dispensed through a supply passage under control of a valve, the beverage being derived from a bulk container. An injector is provided for introducing 5 gas under pressure into the beverage in the supply passage remotely from the bulk container and during dispensing so that such Injected gas forms or assists in the formation of fine bubbles to develop a head of foam on the dispensed beverage. The 10 beverage in the bulk container may have gas dissolved therein and be withdrawn from that container with a headspace of that gas; alternatively the beverage in the bulk container may, for practical purposes, be considered as having no gas dissolved 15 therein so it is substantially flat. In either event the gas which is injected into the beverage during dispensing may ensure that the beverage as dispensed will have a gas content which, for a particular beverage, is regarded as desirable in providing the 20 flavour and head characteristics required of that beverage. Accordingly, it is desirable that the injector admits consistent predetermined quantities of 21 5898 I, t the gas to the beverage being dispensed to ensure that the system, once set up for a particular beverage, will provide predetermined and constant characteristics for the beverage as dispensed. In our prior proposal the gas was introduced to the beverage by way of a needle valve and an injector nozzle - the former serving to adjust the gas pressure to the nozzle; however, experience has shown that with this arrangement the beverage as dispensed could have inconsistent characteristics, possibly resulting from an inconsistency in the flow of the gas which was introduced (perhaps due to the coarseness in the control of the needle valve and the inconsistent gas flow characteristics through that valve). Accordingly, there is still a requirement for a relatively simple and inexpensive beverage dispensing system by which one or more of an inert gas, nitrogen/air and carbon dioxide gases can introduced into the beverage during dispersing and. which alleviates the disadvantages of the prior proposals. f • . .7 "V" . ■ f i- ■■ . - ^ v - 1 5898 - M - It is an object of the present invention to satis fy i this requirement.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION & ADVANTAGES According to the present invention there is 5 provided a beverage dispensing system comprising valve means controlling dispensing of the beverage through a supply passage which is intended to be connected to a bulk source of the beverage, and gasifying means for introducing at least one of nitrogen (or other inert 10 gas), carbon dioxide and air gases into said beverage In the supply passage remote from the bulk source and during dispensing of the beverage, said gasifying means having an inlet for connection to a source of the gas under pressure; a capillary rest-15 rictor through which said gas is to be directed to the supply passage and a non-return valve through which gas emanating from the restrictor is introduced to the beverage.

By "inert gas" as used throughout this 20 Specification is meant a gas other than carbon dioxide with the following properties (i) it does not itself react chemically with the beverage; 2 I 5898 I. « (ii) when applied to, or dissolved in, the beverage it does not promote or develop bacteriological reactions; (iii) it is not harmful to the consumer; (iv) it does not impair the normal taste of the beverage.

Accordingly nitrogen may be regarded as an inert gas; an example of another inert gas which may be considered suitable for the purpose of the present invention is argon.

The capillary restrictor provides a simple, inexpensive and convenient means for reducing the pressure and flow of gas which is to be introduced to the beverage whereby relatively high pressure gas from the source thereof is reduced in its flow '• I ,-J » ••• "WMWm ., ' 215898 t • rate to relatively small consistent quantities for introduction into the beverage by way of the non return valve. The source of gas under pressure will likely be a storage bottle, a ring main which is often 5 available on retail premises (especially for carbon dioxide) or a compressor for air and in each case the pressure of the gas which is derived from such source should be substantially constant. Preferably, although the gas source should be at constant 10 pressure, this pressure is adjustable for the purpose of setting up the system in accordance with the characteristics of the capillary restrictor, non return valve and the beverage flow rate to ensure that a correct proportion of gas can be introduced 15 consistently into the beverage during dispensing to provide the required characteristics of that beverage when dispensed.

The capillary restrictor is preferably constructed in tubular form, one end of which tube communicates with 20 the gas source and 'the other end of which communicates with the non-return valve.

The non-return valve is primarily intended to n 1 0 20 : '( ' ■' 215898 alleviate the back Flow of beverage from the supply passage into the capillary restrictor where such beverage,when subjected to the gas flow,can dry out and obturate the capillary restrictor.

The non-return valve conveniently comprises a resilient diaphragm which normally closes an aperture through which the gas is introduced into the beverage but which diaphragm is displaced under the pressure of such gas to open that aperture and admit the gas to the beverage during dispensing. Preferably the gas which is introduced to the beverage is controlled so that its introduction is effected only during such times as the beverage is being dispensed.

Preferably the supply passage immediately downstream of the position at which the gas is \ introduced into the beverage includes means, such | as baffles or a labyrinthine mixer,by which the ! beverage is subjected to turbulence to promote the rate at which the introduced gas is absorbed by the beverage. The supply passage preferably also ' includes small apertures or restrictors through . V 215898 8 - which the beverage is dispensed downstream of the position at which the gas or gases are introduced (particularly where the introduced gas is, or comprises, nitrogen), which small apertures or restrictors subject the beverage to cavitation and assist in liberating the dissolved gas from the beverage to form or assist in the formation of a froth or head on the dispensed beverage.

The gas may be introduced into the beverage in the supply passage upstream or downstream of the valve means which controls the dispensing of the beverage. Preferably such introduction is effected at a position adjacent to the valve means, the latter usually being in the form of a manually controlled dispensing tap.

For the majority of beers, lagers, stouts, wines, ciders or soft drinks which may be dispensed from a bulk container,the gas which is introduced thereto by way of the capilliary restrictor and during the dispensing operation will be carbon dioxide. However, *i"pr some fermented beverages, particularly stout, the gas which is introduced during the dispensing will 'be nitrogen or air (relying upon the 215S98 9 high nitrogen content in air as discussed in our G.B. Patent Specification No. 1,063,753).

The bulk source of the beverage when coupled to the system may be in a rigid container such as a cask or keg or may be in a flexible container which collapses under atmospheric pressure as the beverage is withdrawn therefrom in accordance with the disclosure in our New Zealand Patent Specification No. 215899. passage for withdrawing beverage from the bulk source and preferably such pump is intended to be operated only during dispensing of the beverage.

As was previously mentioned, the bulk source of the beverage may have gas (usually carbon dioxide) dissolved therein. When the beverage emanates from a cask, keg or other rigid container and has gas dissolved therein, the headspace of the container may communicate with a source of that gas under pressure to ensure that the dissolved gas content of the beverage in the container remains substantially cons tant.

A pump can be provided in the supply DRAWINGS - • \, 215898 f • One embodiment of a beverage dispensing system constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which: Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a typical set up of the system in a bar or other retail outlet for the beverage; Figure 2 is a part section of the gasifying means and control or dispensing valve incorporated in the system of Figure 1; and Figures 3 and 4 respectively illustrate, in part section, modified forms of gasifying means and control or dispensing valves suitable for use in the system of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The system shown in Figure 1 is primarily intended for dispensing stout from a cask 1. The stout within the cask has approximately one volume of carbon dioxide gas dissolved in each volume of that 215898 « « 11 - o stout at atmospheric pressure and 15°C. To maintain the concentration of carbon dioxide in the stout as the cask is emptied the headspace of the cask communicates with a pipe 2 through which carbon dioxide under pressure is supplied from a ring main 3 on the premises. In practice the ring main 3 nay supply carbon dioxide at approximately 20 lba per square inch which is reduced in pressure at an appropriate reducer M in the pipe 2 to approximately 1 or 2 lbs per square inch for admission to the cask headspace.

The stout from the cask 1 is dispensed by way of a supply pipe 5 through a standard form of dispensing tap 6 having an outlet nozzle 7 and 15 including a manually adjustable valve by which dispensing is controlled. The pipe 5 communicates with the stout in the cask through a dip tube and the stout is withdrawn by operation of a pump 8 driven by an electric motor 9. The supply pipe 5 20* passes through a cooler 10 by which the stout is intended to be cooled to an appropriate temperature for consumption. 215898 - 1 2 - Incorporated in the supply pipe 5 is a gasifying unit indicated generally at 1-1 which is best seen in Figure 2 and conveniently forms part of the n mounting for tile tap 6 on a bar counter unit indicated at 12.

In the present example the stout is intended to be dispensed with a dissolved gas content of carbon dioxide and nitrogen with the nitrogen"gas being derived from the admission of air to the stout 10 during its dispensation as discussed in our G.B. Patent No- 1,063,753. Usually the nitrogen gas will be admitted to the extent of approximately 0.002 to 0.1 volumes into each volume of stout which is to be dispensed, the latter being dispensed 15 with the previously mentioned carbon dioxide content.

The gasifying unit 11 has a housing 13 within which is formed an air chamber 14 communicating with an air pipe 15. Air under pressure is introduced into chamber 14 by way of the pipe 15 from an 20 air pump 16 having an air intake 17 and driven by the motor 9 simultaneously with the beverage pump 8. Located within the chamber 1H is a capillary # 2158 9 8 restrictor tube 18 one end 19 of which tube opens to the chamber 14 and the other end 20 of which is in sealed communication with a non return valve 21.

O An air filter 22 is provided between the air pipe 15 and the air inlet 19 of the capillary tube. In practice, the tube is likely to have a bore in the range of approximately 0.05 to 0.4 millimetres diameter and a length in the range of approximately 25 to 1000 millimetres. The non return valve 21, capillary tube 19 and 10 filter 22 are mounted in the housing 13 within a sleeve member 23.

The non return valve 21 is formed by a hollow spigot 24, the interior chamber 25 of which is in sealed communication with the tube end 20. The 15 spigot 24 projects from the sleeve member 23 into the supply pipe 5 and is provided with ports 26 through which air is intended to be introduced into the stout in the pipe 5. Received on the spigot 24 is a resilient sleeve 27 of, for example, rubber 20 which normally closes the ports 26. It will be noted that the spigot 24 is provided with an external annular localised enlargement or "belly" o r • . v, ■ - 215898 - 1J| - j. to retain the resilient sleeve 27 thereon. The spigot member 24 together with the sleeve 27 are received in the bore of the sleeve member 23 as a push or press fit so that the resilient sleeve 27 5 provides a convenient means of sealing around the exterior of the spigot member 24 and between the air chamber 14 and the beverage in the supply pipe 5. It will be apparent from the aforegoing that the structure of the non return valve 21 is similar to 10 that of the well known conventional bicycle tyre valve so that air under pressure in the interior chamber 25 can displace the sleeve 27 to open the ports 26 and admit air into the beverage in the passage 5.

Mounted on the housing 13 to continue the supply passage 5 downstream of the ports 26 is an extension tube 28 within which is located a flanged and recessed plug 29 forming a labyrinthine passage part 30 for the flow of stout through the supply pass-20 age and by which that stout is subjected to turbulence prior to flowing to the standard dispensing tap 6. ■3> yr, •" # 215898 ~ 1 5 ~ The tap 6 has a conventional on/off valve which is 'operated by a handle 31 to control dispensing of the stout through the standard nozzle 7. Conven-'iently the tap 6 is removably mounted on the extension 5 tube 28 and the latter is removably mounted on the housing 13 so that by removal of the tap it is a simple matter to replace or cleanse the plug 29 and by removal of the tubular extension 28 it is a simple matter to remove the sleeve member 23 for 10 replacement, cleansing or servicing of the filter disc, capilliary tube and non return valve.

In use of the dispensing system the motor 9 is driven from an electrical supply 32 through a control unit 33 which is responsive to a pressure switch 34 15 in the pump 8. With the motor 9 running to drive both the stout pump 8 and air compressor 16 and with the dispensing tap 6 open, stout is withdrawn from the cask 1 through the supply pipe 5 (whilst the stout in the cask is maintained with a head of 20 carbon dioxide under pressure). This stout flows into the Housing 13 and therefrom by way of the '\j) labyrinthine mixer to be dispensed through the nozzle 7. 215898 r> it* Simultaneously with such flow, air under pressure in the passage 15 flows into the chamber 14, through * the filter disc 22 and then by way of the capillary tube and non return valve 21 to be introduced into 5 the stout by way of the ports 26. Consequently the mixture of stout and air is subjected to turbulence within the passage part 30 to promote the absorption of the air within the stout for dispensing purposes. The nozzle 7 may include 10 an aperturedplate (not shown) of standard form through which the stout is dispensed, such apertures in the plate subjecting the stout to cavitation and assisting in liberating the dissolved gases, particularly the nitrogen content,for promoting 15 the development of a head or froth on the stout when dispensed into an open topped container.

Following a dispensing operation and when the tap 6 is closed, the motor 9 continues to drive the pumps 8 and 16 for a short period until the 20 pressure of stout within the supply passage 5 between the pump 8 and tap 6 increases sufficiently to actuate the pressure switch 3^ arid impart a signal to the control unit 33 causing the motor 9 to be O \.: 'V f ■ 215898 - 1 7 - de-activated. Upon a further dispensing operation when the tap 6 is open, pressure within the supply passage 5 is relieved causing the pressure switch 3^ to re-activate the motor 9 and drive the pumps 8 and 16.

It will be apparent that during a dispensing operation the air under pressure from the compressor 16 is subjected to a considerable pressure drop in flowing through the capillary restrictor tube 18 to the non return valve for admission to the stout and the capillary tube provides a convenient and inexpensive means for accurately determining the relatively small volume of air which is to be introduced into each volume of stout. Although the capillary tube alleviates the coarseness of the air flow from the compressor 16, the air compressor is adjustable at 1 6ji to vary the air pressure to the pipe 15 - this adjustment usually being necessary only in setting up the system for the particular characteristics of the stout and the components in the system prior to dispensing for retail purposes.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the cask, control units, carbon dioxide supply and pumps are 2 1 5898 - 18 conveniently located in a cellar of the premises and that the electric motor pumpscontrol unit and carbon dioxide pressure reducer may be installed as a conveniently compact unit. 5 The modification shown in Figure 3 primarily concerns the arrangement of the gasifying means 11 and the structure of the non return valve 21. In Figure 3 the end 20 of the capilliary tube 18 is in sealed communication with the interior of a hollow 10 resilient diaphragm 35 of conical form. The apex 36 of the diaphragm is formed as a slot-like aperture which is normally closed under the resilience of the diaphragm. This diaphragm 35 serves as a non return valve whereby air under 15 pressure from the tube 18 can flow through the slot 36 and by way of a restrictor plate 37 into a chamber part 5a^ of the supply passage 5 for mixture with the beverage in that passage. When the air supply pressure in pipe 15 is reduced the slot 36 closes 20 to alleviate the back flow of beverage through the plate 37 into the capillary tube.

In this modification an apertured restrictor 215898 plate 38 is provided in the supply passage 5 immediately downstream of the position at which the air is introduced to the beverage. The restrictions in the plate 38 tend to create turbulence in the 5 passage part 5a to promote the absorption of the air within the beverage and also subject the beverage in passing therethrough to cavitation to promote the development of the head or froth. ""The location of the cavitation plate in the position 38 as shown 10 is in addition to such a plate on the nozzle of the tap 6 as previously discussed.

It will be apparent that in both arrangements shown in Figures 2 and 3 the non return valve 21 alleviates the flow of beverage from the supply 15 passage into the capillary tube and thereby the likelihood of this beverage drying out under the air stream and obturating the capillary tube.

The modification shown in Figure has a similar gasifying arrangement 11 to that shown in 20 Figure 3 but in Figure 4 the air is introduced at a position downstream of the on/off valve in the tap 6 and an apertured cavitation plate is conveniently located in the nozzle 7 as previously 215898 discussed.

It will be realised that if the system as above described and illustrated is to be used for the dispensing of a beverage in which, for example, carbon dioxide is to be introduced through the gasifying means 11 then the pipe 15 will be connected to an appropriate source of such gas, for example to the outlet from the pressure reducing valve 4. Also it may not be essential for all beverage containers to be provided with a carbon dioxide headspace, for example if the cask 1 is replaced by a flexible container which is intended to collapse under atmospheric pressure as the beverage is withdrawn to maintain such beverage substantially without headspace in the manner discussed in our New Zealand Patent Specification No. 215899.

Claims (21)

-Ty..;, -1/ - "7 . _ - I — mi' ,M ■ -21- 2l539d WHAT t/.WE CLAIM IS: t

1. A beverage dispensing system comprising valve means controlling dispensing of the beverage through' « supply passage which is intended to be connected to a bulk source of the beverage.and gasifying means for introducing at least one of nitrogen (or other inert gas as herein defined),

carbon dioxide and air gases Into said beverage in the supply passage remote from the bulk source and during dispensing of the beverage, said gasifying means having an inlet for connection to a source of the gas under pressure; a capillary restrictor through which said gas is to be directed to the supply passage and a non return valve through which gas emanating from the restrictor is introduced to the beverage.

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2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which means is provided for adjusting the pressure of gas to the capillary restrictor.

3. A system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 5 2 in which the supply passage downstream of the position at which the gas is introduced has means for subjecting the beverage to turbulence to promote the rate at which the introduced gas is absorbed by the beverage.

10 4. A system as claimed in claim 3 in which the means for subjecting the beverage to turbulence comprises baffle means or a labyrinthine mixer in the supply passage.

5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding 15 claims in which the supply passage has small apertures or restrictors through which the beverage is dispensed downstream of the position at which the gas is introduced, said apertures or restrictors assisting in the liberation of the dissolved gas 20 from the beverage for the formation of a head or froth.

6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the gasifying means is located to

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introduce the gas at a position in the supply passage upstream of the valve means. ,

7. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the supply passage communicates

5 with a bulk source of the beverage in a rigid container.

8. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the supply passage communicates with~a bulk source of the beverage in a flexible container

10 which collapses under atmospheric pressure as the beverage is withdrawn therefrom to maintain the beverage substantially without headspace in the container.

9. A system as claimed in either claim 7 or claim 15 8 in which the beverage in the container has carbon dioxide dissolved therein.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 when appendant to claim 7 in which the container communicates with a source of carbon dioxide under pressure which

20 maintains carbon dioxide at a predetermined pressure in the headspace of that container.

11. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding

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claims in which a pump is provided for supplying the beverage through the supply passage on demand.

12. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the gas which is introduced to the o

5 beverage is air and said inlet communicates with an air compressor from which air under pressure is supplied on demand.

13- A system as claimed in claims 11 and 12 in which the pump and ai,r compressor are driven 10 simultaneously from a common motor which motor is actuated when demanded for dispensing of the beverage. 1H. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the capillary restrictor is of tubular form one end of which tube communicates 15 with said inlet and the other end of which is in sealed communication with the non-return valve.

15. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a filter is provided through which the gas flows to the capillary restrictor. 20

16. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the non-return valve comprises a 7 , resilient diaphragm which normally closes an

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aperture through which the gas is introduced in the beverage and which diaphragm is displaced under the pressure of such gas to open said aperture and admit the gas to the beverage during dispensing. 5

17. A system as claimed in claim 16 in which the non return valve comprises a hollow member into which the gas is directed from the capilliary restrictor, said hollow member having a port through which the gas is to flow from the interior thereof 10 into the beverage, and wherein the resilient diaphragm is of sleeve form mounted on the hollow member to normally close said port.

18. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the capilliary restrictor and non

15 return valve are carried in a housing to be readily removable from the system for servicing or replacement.

19. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and comprising a bulk source of fermented

20 beverage selected from beer, lager, stout, wine and cider.

20. A beverage dispensing system substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2

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of the accompanying illustrative drawings.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20 when modified substantially as herein described with reference O to Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying

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5 illustrative drawings.

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By hej/their authorised Agents —: A. J. PARK & SON.

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