US2316406A - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

April 13, 1943. R. T. CORNELIUS DISPENSING DEVICE Filed March 3l, 1941 Rcha'rd Cornelius Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNTED STATES "AT O F F l' CEL 8` Claims.

My invention relates to beer dispensing devices andhas for an object to provide a device in which a minimum amount of beer iskept in the conduits leading upto the faucet exteriorly of the cooling means to prevent a minimum` warming up of the iirst glass of beer drawn after the device hasbeen in disuse for an appreciable period of time.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a beer dispensing device in which gain of heat to the ybeer is greatly reduced.

Another object of the invention resides in using a thin wall ilexible feed tube for conducting the beer to the faucet and in employing a tubular standard to which the faucet is rattached and Within which the thin wall flexible feed tube and the connectionstherefor aredisposed.

Another object of the invention resides in attaching the .faucet to thestandard near the upper portion thereof so that the feed tube and connections are accessible through the open end of the standard.

Another object of the invention, resides in the specific construction for `closing the upper end of the standard.

A feature-of the invention resides in providing a basel on which the standard rests and in thepan ticular construction.for'mounting the standard on thebase and attaching thesame .to the counter on which the device is supported.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a length of hose between the feed tube and the tube leading iromthe source of beer supply to prevent conduction of. heat to .the latter.

An object of the invention resides in providing means for draining condensation accumulated on the standard `through the base and into the cooling cabinet.

Another 'object of the invention residesin the specific construction for attaching the faucet to the standard.

Other objects of the invention reside inthe novelv combination and arrangement ofV parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustratedand/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1v is-:an elevationalsectional view 'of aportion of a cooling cabinet' of a beer dispensing system together with my improved beer dispensing device mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the clampbar used for securing the cap to the standard.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are elevational views of, the collars used in securing the faucet tothe standard.

For the purposeA of; illustratingv the; application of my, invention Ihave shown; a portion of a cooling cabinet Ifffor a beer dispensing system which comprises; a4 top or counter -lI constructed with spacedi inner andv outer walls I2 and I3. At suitable intervals in the top kII are arranged separatorswhich hold the inner and outer walls I2 and. I3Y in spaced' relation. One; of these separators is indicated, aty 'I4 and consists of a block of wood; or some; similar suitable material of the proper dimensions.l Between the wallsA I-2 and IS is provided. sui-table insulatingl material I5 which retards, the transfer'of heat vfrom the exterior to the interior of. the cabinet. rIfhe interior of the cabinet is indicated bythe referenceA numeral I5 and contains the; cooling coils and a suitable cooling medium. Such construction being well knownVY in the art and forming no particular feature of the invention has not been illustrated in the drawing. Leading from the cooling coil of the heed dispensing system is a beer supply tube I1; which is connected to thedispensing device, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

My invention comprises a'. standard I8 which is tubular in form and which is preferably constructed of metal or someother suitable material.

rIfhe wall of` this tube is preferably quite .thin to prevent the storage of an appreciableamount of heat soas toreduce thetransfer of: heatfrom the exterior to thebeer to be dispensed. The standard Itis openat its ends. and is :closed at-its lower endrby meansofa closure I9 whichisformed with an. upwardly extending ilange 2| at its outer periphery and'withan inwardlyl extending threaded bosst22 atthe center; thereof. In the ange 2l is formed an aimularsroove 23. The standard I8 xencircles the Yfia-nge 2;I.y and has a bead 24 Vformed oni it. which is; rolled. into the groove- 23. By means ofthis construction'thestandard I8 is securely attached vto the-closure I9 Withoutthreading or solderingofthesame.

The .standard-'lads mountedin a base25 which may be` constructedof a mouldedfplastic material, orally' other. Suitable material. lIhis ybasehas a bottom 26 on which the closure I9 rests, and a flange-21: extending upwardly therefrom and encircling the` saidt standard at; the lovvermostl end of 'thesamel The base .25 in addition is constructed with a skirt 28-which projects outwardly therefrom and-which rests upon the outer wall I2 oi the `top I-I of cabinet II and supports the base and standard.

Thestandardl isheld attached to the top II of-4 cabinet I0 by -meansof a nipple 29 which. extendsthrough an opening 3I- in the separator I4 and similar openings 32 and-33inthe; outer and,

inner walls I2 and I3 of said top. The nipple 29 projects below the` inner wall I3 and is threaded at such locality as designated at 34. A washer 35 encircles the nipple 29 and bears against the underside of the inner wall I3. A nut 36 screwed upon the threads 34 of nipple 29 urges the washer 35 against the wall I3 and draws the closure I9 with the standard I8 downwardly against the base 25. By means of this construction the standard is rigidly attached to the top II without means visible from the exterior of the cabinet l0.

Attached to the upper end of the standard I8 is a faucet 31 which may be of any desired construction. Due to the fact the faucet forms no particular feature of the invention the same has not been shown in detail. This faucet com-- prises a body 38 having a neck 39 issuing therefrom and provided with an inlet passageway 4I into which beer is directed into the faucet. The said faucet is constructed with an operating handle 42 which controls the ow of beer from a nozzle 43. The neck 39 extends through an opening 44 in the uppermost portion of the standard I8 and is threaded at 45 to receive a clamp nut 48. The said neck is reduced in diameter so that a shoulder 41 is formed between the said neck and the body 38 of the faucet. Between this shoulder and the outer surface of the wall of the standard I8 is provided a collar 48 which is constructed at one end with a square surface 49 adapted to t up against the shoulder 41 and at its other end with a concave surface I adapted to t upon the exterior of the standard I8. A similar collar 52 having at one end a convex surface 53 and at its other end a square surface 54 encircles the neck 39 upon the interior of the standard I8. A lock washer 55 is disposed between the clamp nut 45 and the collar 52. When this nut is tightened the faucet is rigidly attached to the standard I8 with the inner end of the neck 39 projecting interiorly into the standard. In order to mount the faucet in proper position, the collar 48 is constructed with key ways 56 and the neck 39 with keys 51 which enter the same. Thus the faucet becomes vertically mounted and cannot be rotated when the clamp nut 46 has been tightened.

Beer is fed into the passageway 4I of faucet 31 by means of a thin wall flexible tube 58 of relatively small dimensions which extends through the bore 59 of nipple 29 and is disposed within the interior of the standard I8. This tube has a bend 6I near the upper end thereof forming a laterally extending portion 62. A tube connection 63 encircles the portion 82 of the tube 58 and is threaded into the neck 39. This fitting serves to attach the tube to the faucet so as to form a leak-tight connection therebetween. The upper end of the standard I8 is normally open and it will readily become apparent that the connection 63 and the tube 58 are accessible through the open end of the standard so as to permit of attaching the tube afterthe faucet has been installed.

The beer supply tube I1 is connected to the feed tube 58 in the following manner: Extending across the lower end of the nipple 29 is a head 64 which is formed with a passageway 65. The end of the tube I1 is formed with a flange 66. A flanged sleeve 61 engages the flange 66 of the tube. A nut 68 is screwed upon the threads 34 of nipple 29 and has a fiange 89 which engages the flange of the sleeve 61. By means of this construction the ange 66 is urged against a gasket 1I resting upon the end of the head 64.

When the nut 68 is suitably tightened a fluid tight connection is formed between the tube I1 and the bore 65 in the head 64. The head 64 has issuing upwardly from it and within the interior of the nipple 29 a hose connection 12. A short length of hose 13 is attached to this hose connection and also to the lower end of the feed tube 58. In this manner beer is conducted from the tube I1 and into the tube 28. The hose 13 insulates the tube 58 from the tube I1 so as to retard transfer of heat from the exterior to the interior of the cabinet I0 through tube 58.

The upper end of the standard I8 is closed by means of a cap 14 which may be constructed of a plastic material. This cap has a depending flange 15 which is formed with an annular rabbet 16 adapted to receive the upper end of the stand ard I8. At the center of the cap 14 is formed a boss 11 through which a wood screw 18 extends. For attaching the cap 14 to the standard I8, a cross bar 19 is employed which is shown in detail in Fig. 2. This cross bar is constructed from a strip of resilient metal which is normally bowed, as shown, and which is formed at its center with an opening 8I. The cross bar 19 is of a length slightly greater than the internal diameter of the standard I8 and is constructed with sharp ends 82 adapted to bite into the surface of said standard when pressure is applied. In attaching the cap 14 to standard I8 the screw 18 is started in the hole 8I which forms a thread along which the same may be screwed. The cap is then applied and the bar 19, if not already sufficiently bowed, is bowed enough to cause the ends 82 thereof to engage the interior surface of the standard I8. When the cap 14 is in position, screw 18 is screwed in a clockwise direction which moves the central portion of the cross bar 19 upwardly urging the ends 82 into firm engagement with the inner surface of the wall of the standard I8. Thus the cap is rigidly held attached to the standard without the use of threads or other means directly attached to the standard.

The use of metal for the standard I8 causes condensation to collect upon the exterior thereof. To dispose of such condensation an annular gutter 84 is formed in the upper edge of the flange 21 of base 25. This gutter has connected to it a number of grooves 85 which form passageways leading to a sump 88 within the lowermost portion of the said base. A number of drain pipes 81 are threaded into the base 25 and communicate with the sump 86. These drain pipes pass through openings 88 which are formed in the top I I and discharge into the interior of the cabinet I0. Where ice is used for cooling the coil of the beer dispensing system the discharge from the pipes 81 may be directed into the interior of the cabinet I0. If desired, the pipes 81 may be conducted to any other locality than the interior of the cabinet I0 to 'discharge the condensation exteriorly thereof.

To retard heat transfer from the standard I8 to the tube 58, insulation, such as indicated at 89 in Fig. 1, may be inserted in the space between the standard'IB and the tube 58. The said insulation may merely lie along the inner surface of the standard or, if desired, the entire space may be filled with suitable insulating material.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely simple and practical construction is provided for the dispensing of beer. With my invention the parts are easily accessible and may be readily inspected and cleaned whenever desired. In a beer dispensing device constructed in accordance with my invention only a small quantity of beer is contained' withini the conduits between the cooling cabinet and the faucet so that, when the device has stood for an appreciable length of time, the temperature of the beer in the first glass of beer drawn will not be greatly increased. Thus it becomes possible to serve the first glass of beer without throwing the same away as has heretofore been the custom. With my invention condensation accumulating upon the exterior of the standard is removed from the device. In the event that the drain grooves leading the condensation from the gutter become plugged the standard may be removed and these grooves are readily accessible for cleaning. With my invention a minimum heat loss occurs so that the beer may be kept at proper temperature and at a minimum cost.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a tubular standard constructed of relatively thin metal open at the top and bottom and having a lateral opening at the side thereof, a faucet having a part extending through said lateral opening and providing an inlet to the faucet within the standard, means for attaching the faucet to the standard, a closure for the lower end of the standard, said closure being constructed with a flange having a groove extending about the same on the side thereof adjacent the standard, a bead on said tube extending into said groove for attaching the standard to the lower closure, means for feeding the liquid to be dispensed to said part of the faucet, said means extending through said closure, and a cap for closing the upper end of the standard.

2. In combination, a tubular standard open at its ends and having a lateral opening at the side thereof, a faucet having a part extending through said lateral opening, means for attaching the faucet to the standard, a closure rigidly secured to said standard at the lower end thereof, a nipple attached to said closure and adapted to extend through a counter on which the standard is mounted, a base resting on the counter and supporting said closure, and a nut screwed on the nipple for drawing the nipple downwardly and holding the closure in engagement with the base, and a tube within said nipple connected to said faucet for feeding the liquid to be dispensed to the faucet.

3. In combination, a tubular standard open at its ends and having a lateral opening at the side thereof, a faucet having a part extending through said lateral opening, means for attaching the faucet to the standard, a closure rigidly secured to said standard at the lower end thereof, a nipple attached to said closure and adapted to extend through a counter on which the standard is mounted, a base resting on the counter and supporting said closure, a nut screwed on the nipple for drawing the nipple downwardly and holding the closure in engagement with the base, a tube within said nipple connected to said faucet for feeding the liquid to be dispensed to the faucet, said base having a flange extending upwardly therefrom and encircling the standard, said frange having a gutter formed therein encircling the vstandard and receiving the condensation collecting on" the standard-,'- and a drain extending through the counten-said base being formed with a passageway connectinglsaid gutter with said drain.

4. In combination, a tubular standard open at its ends and having a lateral opening at the side thereof, a faucet having a part extending through said lateral opening, means for attaching the faucet to the standard', a closure rigidly secured to said standard at the lower end thereof, a nipple attached to said closure and adapted to extend through a counter on which the standard is mounted, a base resting on the counter and supporting said closure, a nut screwed on the nipple for drawing the nipple downwardly and holding the closure in engagement with the base, a tube within said nipple connected to said faucet for feeding the liquid to be dispensed to the faucet, said base having a flange extending upwardly therefrom and encircling the standard, said fiange being constructed with a beveled inner edge forming a gutter extending about the standard and adapted to receive the condensation collecting on the standard, and a drain extending through the counter, said base being formed with a passageway communicating with said gutter and drain.

5. In combination, a tubular standard open at its ends and having a lateral opening at the side thereof, a faucet having a part extending through said lateral opening, means for attaching the faucet to the standard, a closure rigidly secured to said standard at the lower end thereof, a nipple attached to said closure and adapted to extend through a counter on which the standard is mounted, a base resting on the counter and supporting said closure, a nut screwed on the nipple for drawing the nipple downwardly and holding the closure in engagement with the base, a tube within said nipple connected to said faucet for feeding the liquid to be dispensed to the faucet, said base being formed with an annular guttter extending about the standard and adapted to receive the condensation collecting on the standard, and a drain leading away from said Abase and communicating with said gutter.

6. In combination, a tubular standard open at the top and having a lateral opening at the side adjacent the top, a faucet having a part extending through said lateral opening and providing an inlet to the faucet within the stand-V ard, means for attaching said faucet to the standard, a flexible tube within the standard for feeding a liquid to be dispensed to the faucet, connecting means for connecting the tube to said part of the faucet, a closure attached to the bottom of said tubular standard, conduit means connected to said closure, a fitting connected to said conduit means and a hose between said fitting and flexible tube.

7. In combination, a tubular standard open at its lower end, a faucet attached to said standard, a closure rigidly secured to the standard at the lower end thereof, means extending through said closure and said standard for feeding the liquid to be dispensed to the faucet, a base having a flange extending upwardly therefrom, said standard being received within said base with the closure resting on said base, said flange providing a gutter encircling the standard and receiving the condensation collected on the standard, a drain, said base being formed with a passageway connecting said gutter with said drain, and means for holding said standard in position on said hase.

8. In combination, a tubular standard open at its lower end, a faucet attached to said standard, a closure rigidly secured to the standard at the lower end thereof, means extending through said closure and said standard for feeding the liquid to be dispensed to the faucet, a base having a ange extending upwardly therefrom, said standard being received Within said 10 base with the closure resting on said base, said iiange providing a gutter encircling the standard and receiving the condensation collected on the standard, a drain, said base being formed with grooves providing passageways between said base and closure and connecting said gutter with said drain and means for holding said standard in position on said base.

RICHARD T. CORNELIUS.

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