U.S. patent number 3,878,970 [Application Number 05/441,140] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-22 for beer dispensing instrumentalities and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Perlick Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to James E. Nezworski.
United States Patent |
3,878,970 |
Nezworski |
April 22, 1975 |
Beer dispensing instrumentalities and method
Abstract
A method of dispensing beer out of a single faucet from one, or
from a number of kegs separately connected by suitable ducts with a
header communicating with the faucet. A control valve device for
each keg has a chamber forming a part of its duct. Float valves,
one in each chamber, are operable upon decrease in the amount of
fluid in their chambers to interrupt communication between the
chamber outlets and the header. Differential pressure actuated
valve means in each chamber functions to interrupt communication
between its interior and the chamber inlet in response to decrease
in pressure at said inlet.
Inventors: |
Nezworski; James E. (Waukesha,
WI) |
Assignee: |
The Perlick Company, Inc.
(Milwaukee, WI)
|
Family
ID: |
23751707 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/441,140 |
Filed: |
February 11, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/61 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D
1/1245 (20130101); B67D 1/1243 (20130101); B67D
1/1247 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B67D
1/12 (20060101); B67D 1/00 (20060101); B67d
001/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/64,55,56,65,66,61,1,400.7,399 ;137/7,12,14,256,266 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Claims
The invention is defined by the following claims:
1. A control instrumentality to govern communication of a
dispensing device with a container holding liquid under pressure,
characterized by:
A. means defining a chamber through which liquid from the container
must flow to reach a dispensing device, said chamber having inlet
and outlet means in upstream and downstream portions thereof,
respectively, to provide for such flow;
B. first valve means adjacent to the chamber outlet means to govern
flow of liquid out of the chamber;
C. means to govern actuation of said valve means between open and
closed positions, comprising detector means sensitive to the
presence and amount of liquid in the chamber for effecting opening
of said valve means in consequence of liquid in the chamber above a
predetermined level, and to effect closure of said valve means in
consequence of decrease in the amount of liquid in the chamber to a
lower level that leaves it only partially filled with liquid;
D. second valve means to control communication between the chamber
and the inlet means;
E. and means to effect closure of said second valve means in
consequence of drop in pressure at the inlet means to a valve below
that prevailing at the outlet means.
2. The control instrumentality of claim 1, further characterized
by:
A. said inlet and outlet means comprising opposing valve seats in
top and bottom portions, respectively, of the chamber;
B. said detector means comprising a float member in said
chamber;
C. and said first and second valve means comprising valve members
carried by the float member, at top and bottom portions thereof,
for cooperation with said valve seats.
3. The control instrumentality of claim 2, further characterized
by:
A. said chamber having walls defining a valve body;
B. and means on the body by which said float member can be manually
lifted to effect opening of the outlet means.
4. The control instrumentality of claim 2, further characterized by
manually operable means for venting the upper portion of the
chamber.
5. A control instrumentality to govern communication of a
dispensing device with a plurality of containers holding liquid
under pressure, characterized by:
A. means defining a plurality of chambers, one for each container,
through which liquid from its container must flow to reach a
dispensing device, each chamber having inlet and outlet ports in
upstream and downstream portions thereof, respectively, to provide
for such flow;
B. means providing a common header connecting said outlet ports,
through which liquid can flow to a dispensing device;
C. first valve means adjacent to the outlet port of each chamber,
between said chamber and the header;
D. means to govern actuation of said first valve means between open
and closed positions, comprising detector means sensitive to the
presence and amount of liquid in the chamber, for effecting opening
of said first valve means in consequence of filling of the chamber
with liquid, and to effect closure of said first valve means in
consequence of a predetermined decrease in the amount of liquid in
said chamber;
E. and second valve means for each chamber, adjacent to its inlet
port, to effect closure thereof in consequence of drop in pressure
at said inlet port to a value below that prevailing in the
header.
6. The control instrumentality of claim 5, further characterized
by:
A. said inlet and outlet ports of each chamber comprising opposed
upper and lower valve seats, respectively;
B. said detector means comprising a float member in each
chamber;
C. and said first and second valve means comprising valve members
carried by each float member, at top and bottom portions thereof,
for cooperation with the valve seats.
7. The control instrumentality of claim 6, further characterized
by:
A. manually operable means for effecting venting of the upper
portions of each of each chambers;
B. and manually operable means for lifting the float member in one
of said chambers from a position closing its outlet port to a
position at which its outlet port is open.
8. In combination with the control instrumentality of claim 1:
A. said container comprising a beer keg under carbon dioxide gas
pressure;
B. a first duct connecting the outlet of said keg with the inlet
means of said chamber;
C. a faucet from which beer can be dispensed;
D. a second duct connecting the faucet with the outlet means of the
chamber;
E. and said first valve means, when closed, serving to prevent gas
from entering said second duct.
9. In combination with the control instrumentality of claim 5:
A. a plurality of beer containers under carbon dioxide gas
pressure;
B. a faucet common to said containers, from which beer therein can
be dispensed;
C. a plurality of supply ducts, one for each container to connect
the outlet thereof with the inlet port of its associated
chamber;
D. a supply line connecting said header with the faucet;
E. and said second valve means of one of said chambers being
actuatable to its inlet closing position under the influence of
fluid pressure in the header at times when the container associated
with said one chamber is being replaced by a full container.
10. The combination of claim 9, further characterized by means
providing a signal to indicate when said outlet ports are closed by
said first valve means.
11. The combinations of claim 10, further characterized by:
A. said first valve means for each chamber being located therein
and having indicia thereon;
B. and each chamber having a transparent wall portion located to
enable the indicia on said first valve means therein to be viewed
when the latter is in its closed position.
12. A control instrumentality to govern communication of a
dispensing device with a container holding liquid under pressure,
characterized by:
A. a body having a chamber with an inlet for connection with a
container of liquid under pressure, and an outlet for connection
with a dispensing device;
B. valve means adjacent to the outlet of said chamber for governing
flow of liquid through the outlet;
C. means governing opening and closing of said valve means,
comprising detector means influenced by the presence and the amount
of liquid in the chamber, and adapted to effect opening of said
valve means in consequence of liquid filling the chamber to a high
level and to effect closure of the valve means in consequence of
decrease in the volume of liquid in the chamber by an amount which
leaves it only partially filled with liquid at a lower level;
D. and manually operable means for effecting venting of the chamber
at a location adjacent to its inlet.
13. The control instrumentality of claim 12, further characterized
by:
A. said valve means comprising an electromagnetic valve which is
closed except upon completion of an energizing circuit
therefore;
B. and said detector means comprising a pair of electrodes which
project into said chamber to provide for the establishment of an
energizing circuit for said electromagnetic valve when liquid in
the chamber completes an electrically conductive path between the
electrodes.
14. The control instrumentality of claim 12, further characterized
by:
A. said valve means comprising an electromagnetic valve which is
open except upon completion of an energizing circuit therefor;
B. and said detector means comprising a reed switch instrumentality
having its contact end in said chamber, a float in the chamber, and
a permanent magnet carried by said float to effect closure of the
reed switch and establishment of an energizing circuit for the
electromagnetic valve upon descent of the float to a predetermined
low level in the chamber.
15. The control instrumentality of claim 12, further characterized
by:
A. said valve means comprising an electromagnetic valve;
B. and an energizing circuit for said electromagnetic valve,
controlled by said detector means.
16. The combination with a container of pressurized liquid, a
faucet, and duct means communicating the faucet with the container,
of control instrumentalities operable to interrupt communication of
said container with the faucet when the volume of liquid in the
container is reduced to a predetermined minimum, said control
instrumentalities comprising:
A. a valve body having a chamber forming a part of said duct means,
and having inlet and outlet means opening to the chamber and
respectively communicating with said container and with the
dispensing means;
B. a valve seat in the chamber, between said inlet and outlet
means;
C. valve means movable to and from engagement with said valve seat
to thereby close off communication between the container and the
dispensing means;
D. the chamber being filled with liquid when that length of the
duct means connecting the chamber with the container is filled, and
the volume of liquid in the chamber diminishing when said length of
the duct means is no longer filled with liquid;
E. means responsive to a predetermined decrease in the volume of
liquid in said chamber to effect seating of said valve means;
F. and means on the body providing for manually disengaging said
valve means from its seat.
17. The combination of claim 16, further characterized by:
A. other valve means in the chamber movable toward and from a
position closing the inlet means thereof;
B. said other valve means being pressure responsive and being
actuatable to closed position whenever pressure at the inlet means
drops to a value below the pressure at the outlet means.
18. In combination with a container of liquid under pressure and
dispensing means for said liquid including duct means connectng the
same with the container:
A. means providing a chamber which is connected in said duct means
to form a part thereof;
B. valve means in said duct means adjacent to the downstream side
of said chamber, movable to and from a position closing said duct
means;
C. means governing opening and closing motion of said valve means,
comprising detector means located in said chamber to be influenced
by the amount of liquid therein, and adapted to effect opening of
said valve means in consequence of liquid filling said chamber and
to effect closure of said valve means in consequence of a
predetermined decrease in he amount of liquid in said chamber;
D. and manually operable means for effecting venting of the
upstream side of said chamber.
19. A method of controlling communication of a plurality of
containers holding liquid under pressure with a common header from
which the liquid can be dispensed, which method is characterized
by:
A. for each container, providing a chamber which has an inlet port
in an upper portion thereof, an outlet port in a lower portion
thereof, a buoyant valve device to close the outlet port when the
liquid level in the chamber drops to a predetermined low, and to
close the inlet port whenever outlet port pressure exceeds inlet
port pressure;
B. ducting the inlet port of each chamber with the outlet of its
container whereby liquid therefrom will be able to flow to the
outlet port of its chamber as long as equal liquid pressures
prevail at the inlet and outlet ports thereof;
C. and communicating the chamber outlet ports with the header, and
with one another, whereby pressurized liquid in the leader will be
capable of holding the valve device in one of said chambers in an
inlet closing position at times when its associated container is
being replaced by a full container and pressure is relieved at the
inlet port of said one chamber.
20. A method of dispensing liquid through a common dispensing means
from a plurality of pressurized containers for said liquid, which
method comprises:
A. for each container, providing a control valve having a hollow
body, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a movable valve member
engageable with a seat to close off communication between the said
ports;
B. ducting each container with the inlet port of its respective
control valve so that the interior thereof is full of liquid as
long as the ducting for said container is filled with liquid;
C. commonly connecting the outlet ports of said control valves with
a supply line that leads to the dispensing means, so that as long
as the movable valve member of one of said control valves is off
its seat, pressurized liquid is available at the dispensing
means;
D. and in response to reduction in the volume of liquid in the
interior of each control valve, effecting seating of its respective
valve member, so that with the emptying of the last to empty
container, the dispensing means is no longer communicated with any
of the containers but the supply line leading from the control
valves to the dispensing means remains filled with liquid.
21. A method of controlling communication of a plurality of
containers holding liquid under pressure with a supply line from
which the liquid can be dispensed, which method is characterized
by:
A. constraining liquid from each container to flow through a
separate chamber having its outlet connected with the supply
line;
B. closing the outlet of each chamber at times when the level of
liquid therein reaches a predetermined low level above the chamber
outlet;
C. and closing the inlet of any one chamber at times when pressure
at said inlet falls to a value below the pressure of liquid at the
outlet of any other chamber.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing liquids from
pressurized containers thereof, and has more particular reference
to beer dispensing systems.
Multiple barrel beer dispensing systems are now in widespread use
because of their convenience to the bartenders and other persons
who dispense beer. With a number of barrels, or kegs, supplying a
common faucet, tapping need not be performed as frequently as when
but one barrel at a time is connected to the faucet. In fact, it is
often possible with multiple barrel dispensing to leave the tapping
chore to the delivery man who usually calls on his customers in
accordance with a prearranged schedule to substitute full kegs for
empties.
However, all multiple barrel dispensing systems in use in the past
have had serious disadvantages.
In the most widely used multiple barrel dispensing system
heretofore employed, the kegs were connected in series between the
dispensing faucet and the source of gas pressure. As a result, the
beer flowing from each keg to the adjacent downstream keg had to be
introduced into the latter through the gas passage of its tapping
device.
With tapping devices such that of the Taubenheim U.S. Pat. No.
3,596,810, satisfactory dispensing of beer from multiple barrel
series type dispensing systems was possible because the gas and
beer passages in those tapping devices were arranged concentrically
with respect to one another. This enabled the gas passage in those
tapping devices to have a cross sectional area large enough to
enable beer to flow through it without being unduly restricted.
The widely used Hoff-Stevens tapping devices of the Stevens, Jr.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,413, however, have the gas and beer passages
formed by side-by-side parallel bores, and as a result the gas
passage is too small to satisfactorily accomodate the flow of beer.
Consequently, connection in series of a number of beer kegs
equipped with Hoff-Stevens tapping devices so seriously reduced
beer dispensing rates as to render such a system completely
unacceptable, even with objectionably high gas pressure on the
endmost keg of the series.
It is this objection to the Hoff-Stevens tapping devices which led
to the development of a multiple keg beer dispensing system in
which the several kegs are individually connected with the source
of gas under pressure, and their beer passages are selectively and
separately connectable with a single faucet through an electrically
operated multiport distributor valve mechanism having manual
selector means remote therefrom but readily accessible to the
bartender at the dispensing station behind the bar. Thus, whenever
one keg becomes empty, the bartender actuates the selector means to
effect disconnection of the empty keg from the faucet and
connection of a full keg with the faucet.
But that selector valve system has a serious objection in addition
to its high cost. As in all single barrel dispensing systems, a
considerable amount of beer in the supply line leading to the
faucet is lost each time a keg connected therewith empties. When
that occurs, the supply line fills with an excessively foamy and
unsaleable product, and issue thereof from the faucet constitutes
the only warning that the empty keg must be replaced by a full one;
as through the selector valve of the new system.
The only way to purge the foam from the supply line was to draw
fresh beer from the newly connected keg. Since supply lines 100
feet or more in length are not uncommon, considerable time was
spent in such purging, along with the loss of a substantial amount
of beer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With these objections and observations in mind, it is a purpose of
this invention to provide an improved method of dispensing beer
from one or from a number of barrels thereof, the practice of which
method eliminates the objections to and disadvantages of past
dispensing systems as well as those presently in use.
More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a
beer dispensing system which features a novel control valve device
for each barrel of a beer dispensing system, which for the first
time makes possible the advantageous connection of a number of
barrels in parallel with the supply line leading to the dispensing
faucet.
It is another purpose of the invention to provide novel control
valve means by which one or a plurality of beer kegs can be
connected with a faucet in a system far superior to any heretofore
available.
With these observations and objectives in mind, the manner in which
the invention achieves its purpose will be appreciated from the
following description and the accompanying drawings, which
exemplify the invention, it being understood that changes may be
made in the precise method of practicing the invention and the
specific apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the
essentials of the invention set forth in the appended claims.
The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of
the embodiments of the invention constructed according to the best
modes so far devised for the practical application of the
principles thereof, and in which:
FIG. 1 somewhat diagrammatically illustrates a system which is
typical of the parallel type multi-keg beer dispensing method of
this invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view through one of the control valve
devices, taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the control valve devices which
make possible the parallel connection of a number of beer barrels
with a single faucet, indicating the valve devices as housed in a
single body;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the way in
which the control valves can be gang connected, with their outlets
providing a common delivery header; and
FIGS. 5 and 6 are modified types of control valve devices in which
solenoid type outlet valves are employed.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10
generally designates a walk-in cooler containing a battery of beer
kegs 11, 12 and 13. Ducts 14, one for each keg, connect the tapping
units 15 of the individual kegs with a common supply line 16
leading to a faucet 17. A dispensing system comprising three kegs
has been shown by way of example only, as this invention makes
possible connection of several more with the supply line, if
desired.
Carbon dioxide gas under pressure, from a cylinder not shown, is
supplied to the gas passage in each tapping unit through its nipple
18 and a tube 19 connecting the tapping unit with a common gas
supply line 20. A shut-off valve V is connected in each of the
tubes 19.
According to this invention, the kegs or barrels are communicated
with the beer supply line 16 leading to the faucet 17 through
control valve devices 25, one for each barrel, having a chamber 26
inits interior forming in effect a part of the duct 14 by which its
barrel is communicated with the beer supply line. Since these
control valve devices are identical, a description of one will
suffice for all.
The control valve device comprises a body 27 which, for example,
can be made of complementary upper and lower body sections 28 and
29, respectively, having telescoping parts held together by screws
30 and sealed against leakage by an O-ring 31. The body can, if
desired, be of rectangular or square cross section, and it is
elongated vertically, with its chamber 26 in an upright
position.
An inlet 33 opens laterally to the top of the chamber, and an
outlet 34 opens downwardly from its bottom into a crossbore 35 in
the lower portion of the body, which crossbore extends entirely
therethrough from one side of the body to the other.
As shown in FIG. 1 and indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2, the
several valve devices 25 are mounted in a holding bracket 36 which
is adapted for attachment to one of the walls 37 of the walk-in
cooler 10 at a location near the barrels, and in a way that leaves
a space 38 behind the bracket. The inlets 33 of the valve devices
open rearwardly toward the wall 37 to enable the ducts 14 from the
barrels to be run up through the space 38 and have concealed
connections (not shown) with the valve inlets 33.
It should be noted that the valve devices 25 have been illustrated
as separate self-contained units, much as sectional hydraulic
valves which are stacked together in a bank. However, they can also
comprise the desired number of valve mechanisms contained in a
housing common to all of them, as seen more or less
diagrammatically in FIG. 3.
In the present case, the valve bodies are confined by the walls of
the holding bracket 36 in snug side-by-side relationship, with
their crossbores 35 in register with one another. Annular couplers
39 seen best in FIG. 4, have their opposite axial ends received in
counterbores 40 to which the crossbores open. O-rings 41 encircling
the end portions of the couplers establish leakproof seals between
the crossbores of each pair of adjacent valve bodies.
The bores 42 of the couplers provide uninterrupted communication
between the crossbores, so that they can be said to cooperate in
the provision of an outlet manifold or header 43 common to all the
control valve devices.
The supply line 16 is coupled to the header at the right hand end
of the bank of valves by any suitable connecting means 44. The
counterbore in the other end of the header is closed by a removable
plug 45, held in place by the adjacent end wall 46 of the holding
bracket 36 or in any other suitable way.
From the description thus far, it will be seen that the kegs 11, 12
and 13 are connected in parallel with the beer supply line 16, so
that it is possible for beer from any one of the kegs to enter the
inlet 33 of its associated control valve device and flow down
through the chamber 26 therein to the outlet manifold 43 defined by
the crossbores 35 in the valve bodies and the connecting couplers
39.
Such flow through any one of the valve devices, however, can only
take place at times when the faucet 17 is opened, and a hollow
float member 47 in the valve chamber 26 is in what can be termed a
neutral or floating position, between upper and lower limits of
motion within said chamber. Preferably the float member has ears
47' projecting from its sides to engage the side wall of the valve
chamber and keep the float member centered therein.
The upper and lower limits of float motion are defined by the top
and bottom annular valve seats, 48 and 49, respectively, in each
chamber 26, through which beer entering the chamber must flow to
reach its outlet 34. An O-ring 50 encircling the upper portion of
the float 47 is engageable with the upper seat 48 to close off
communication between the inlet and outlet of its chamber. In like
manner, a similar O-ring 51 encircling the lower portion of the
float is engageable with the bottom seat 49 to disrupt
communication between the inlet and outlet of the chamber.
It will be noted that the valve seat 48 is defined by an upwardly
convergent conical wall surface in the upper portion of the chamber
26; and that the lower valve seat 49 is similarly defined by a
downwardly convergent substantially conical wall surface in the
bottom portion of the chamber.
At the time the beer dispensing system of this invention is
initially placed in use, beer under pressure in the kegs will not
flow through the chamber 26 of any of the control valve devices to
the beer supply line 16 for the reason that keg pressure at the
inlets of the control valve devices will hold the float valves 47
thereof downwardly in their outlet closing positions.
For this reason, at least one of the control valve devices must be
provided with a plunger mechanism 53 by which the float therein can
be manually lifted off of its lower seat 49. This plunger mechanism
comprises a plunger 54 which extends through a downwardly opening
hole 56 in the bottom of the valve body, coaxial with but smaller
in diameter than the outlet port 34. The outer end of the plunger
is fixed to the end wall of a cup shaped cap 56 having its side
wall telescopingly engaged over the side wall of a smaller cup 57
whose end wall is in engagement with the underside of the valve
body and has a central aperture therein to receive the plunger. A
spring 58 encircling the outer end portion of the plunger is
confined between the end walls of the two cups 56 and 57 to thereby
yieldingly urge the plunger downwardly to an inoperative position
defined by the engagement of a collar 59 on its inner end with the
shoulder formed by the function between the outlet port 34 and the
smaller diameter hole 55 through which the plunger passes.
A reduced upper end portion 60 on the plunger projects into the
outlet port 34 toward the underside of the float member 47, but
terminates a slight distance short of it when the float is in its
downward limit of motion engaging seat 49.
It will thus be seen that upward manual actuation of the cap 56
will engage the upper end portion 60 of the plunger with the float
member and lift it off of its seat 49. When this is done, beer from
the inlet 33 in that valve device whose float has been thus lifted
will flow into the chamber 26 thereof and beneath the float member
to the crossbore 35 thereunder, and hence to the outlet manifold
43. The plunger mechanism 53 can then be released, for the
pressures in the upper and lower (inlet and outlet) portions of all
the valve chambers 26 will at that time be equalized to allow the
float valves to assume floating positions intermediate their upper
and lower limits. This is to say that the buoyancy of the float
valve in each control valve device will then hold it in its neutral
position.
All three kegs are thus simultaneously in parallel with the outlet
manifold 43 and beer supply line 16. For well known reasons,
however, beer will first flow from and empty the keg 13 which is
closest to the faucet. The keg 12 next in line will be the second
to empty, and the keg 11 will be the last.
It is one of the features of the dispensing system of this
invention that the float valve in each of the control valve devices
will remain in its neutral position as long as beer fills, or is at
a high level in its chamber 26.
As soon as keg 13 empties, for example, the duct 14 connected
therewith will fill with a non-liquid gas and foam emulsion, and
the liquid level in the chamber 26 of its associated control valve
device will descend. When it reaches a low level designated L in
FIG. 3, its float valve will engage the lower seat 49 and close off
the chamber from the outlet manifold and supply line 16. It is
important to observe that this will occur before all of the liquid
beer has left the chamber 26.
This seated condition of the float valve can be observed, for
example, by having at least the lower section 39 of each valve body
made of clear plastic material, and by applying a suitable coloring
(red or orange) to the float member 47 therein. Merely by way of
example, the hollow float member has been shown as having a
cylindrical wall also of clear plastic, with an orange strip 61 of
paper or the like confined in its lower interior portion to be
readily visible therethrough.
When any float is in its lowermost position, its colored portion
can be seen through a suitable cut-out forming a window 62 in the
front wall of the holding bracket 36 in which the valve devices are
mounted.
As soon as the keg 13 is emptied, therefore, the float in its
associated control valve will close off the outlet of the chamber
therein, as shown in FIGS. 3. This prevents gas in the keg from
entering the supply line 16 and creating the foamy condition in the
beer in said line that heretofore rendered the beer unusable. Beer
from the second keg 12 will automatically then be dispensed as
required, without loss or deterioration of the beer in the supply
line 16.
Though not essential at this time, the tapping unit 15 can then be
removed from the keg 13 and installed in a fresh keg of beer.
During the time the empty keg 13 remains connected by its duct 14
with the chamber of its associated control valve, gas pressure from
the manifold 20 will act upon the float valve 47 in said chamber to
firmly hold it in its outlet closing position against the equal
pressure of beer in the crossbore 35 beneath the float valve. This
is possible because the area at the top of the float valve exposed
to gas pressure is substantially greater than the area at the
underside of the float valve exposed to pressure of beer in the
outlet manifold.
At the time the tapping unit is to be removed from the empty keg
13, the valve V in the gas line leading to that keg is first
closed. As a result, the upper chamber portion of the associated
control valve device will then no longer be communicated with the
source of gas under pressure. Consequently, the float valve will be
immediately driven upwardly to its inlet closing position in
response too the pressure of beer in the manifold 43. The upwardly
seated float valve will then prevent beer under pressure in the
manifold from reaching the inlet 33 of the control valve device
associated with the empty keg 13.
Upon replacement of the empty keg 13 with a fresh one, there will
be a small amount of foam in the short duct 14 connecting it with
the inlet of its control valve device. According to this invention,
such foam present in the duct 14 after the new keg has been
installed can be quickly eliminated by depression of a second
plunger mechanism 65 on the associated control valve device, there
being one required on the top of each. The plunger mechanism 65 is
generally like the mechanism 53 described earlier, except that
depression of its plunger 66 disengages a valve member 67 from a
seat against which it is spring urged, to thereby establish
communication between the upper or inlet portion of chamber 26 and
a vent port 68. The inner end 69 of the plunger is reduced in
diameter, and long enough that when depressed, it will force the
float valve off of its upper seat 48 for a purpose to be later
discussed.
The plunger mechanism 65 need only be held depressed for a second
or two, which is ordinarily long enough to enable pressurized
liquid from the new keg to expel the foam from its short duct 14
and from the upper portion of its valve chamber. As seen best in
FIG. 1, the vent ports 68 can, if desired, be connected with a
common waste line 70.
It is believed to be obvious from the description thus far, that
neither keg 12 nor 13, when emptied, need be at once replaced with
a fresh keg. The contents of the third one 11 of the three parallel
connected kegs will, of course, be available for dispensing from
the faucet when the kegs 12 and 13 become empty.
The valve devices described are constructed in a way that
facilitates cleansing thereof and of the ducts 14 and 16 connecting
therewith. For such cleansing, the kegs are disconnected from the
system, either by detachment of the outer components of their
tapping units 15 or by detachment of the ducts 14 from said outer
tapping components.
To clean the manifold and supply line 16, the plug 45 at the dead
end of the manifold can be replaced by an adapter to enable
cleansing liquid under pressure to be directed into the manifold.
When the faucet is then opened, cleansing liquid will flow through
the manifold and the duct 16, and discharge from the faucet.
If the faucet is then closed, depression of each of the plunger
mechanisms 65 in turn, will cause cleansing liquid in the manifold
to flow up through the associated valve chamber 26 for discharge of
part of the liquid through the vent port 68 and drain line 70, and
the remainder of the liquid through the associated duct 14,
providing the latter is disconnected from its keg. This, of course,
will enable the chambers 26, the drain line 70, and the ducts 14 to
be cleaned.
Such cleansing of the mechanism and ducts can also be accomplished
with the manifold plug 45 in place, by introducing the cleansing
liquid into the system through the faucet 17. If the outer tapping
components or "coupler" are of the type disclosed in the Taubenheim
U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,810 issued Aug. 3, 1971, they as well as the
ducts 14 connecting therewith can be cleansed in the manner
described providing the check valves in the couplers are held open
to allow cleansing fluid to discharge past them.
Inasmuch as thorough cleaning of the interior of each control valve
device will entail passage of cleansing liquid through its chamber
for a more or less extended period of time, the plunger mechanisms
65 are preferably provided with latch mechanisms, generally
designated 75, to enable them to be releasably held in depressed
condition.
Each such latch mechanism 75 has been shown as comprising a screw
76 threaded downwardly into the top of the valve body alongside the
cap 77 of the plunger mechanism. An upwardly facing ledge 78 on the
cap 77 is engageable under the head 79 on the screw to hold the
plunger mechanism in its depressed condition.
The head 79 of the screw is normally received in a depression 80 in
the side of the cap, which depression constitutes a localized
interruption in the ledge 78. For this reason, the cap must be
turned slightly after it has been fully depressed, to bring an
uninterrupted portion of its ledge under the screw head. To release
the plunger mechanism from the latch, it is only necessary to turn
the cap 77 to the position at which its depression 80 registers
with the head 79 of the screw. The spring acting upon the plunger
mechanism will then return it to its outward position at which it
closes off the chamber 26 from the vent port 68.
In cases where the components of two or more complete systems such
as illustrated in FIG. 3 require cleaning, their valve devices and
outlet manifolds can be cleansed simultaneouly by connecting the
latter either in series or in parallel with the source of cleaning
liquid under pressure.
It should here be emphasized that because the beer kegs are
connected in parallel with the beer supply line 16 and with the gas
pressure source, the dispensing system of this invention can
comprise more than the three kegs shown in the drawings by way of
example, as long as each keg has its own control valve device
25.
Moreover, the system of this invention is ideally suited for
dispensing beer from single keg installations. This follows from
the fact that the float valve in the control valve device for the
single keg will descend to its downwardly seated position as soon
as the level of beer in its chamber 26 drops to the level where it
will no longer "float" the valve. As mentioned earlier, this must
occur before all of the beer has left the chamber, to prevent the
beer in the supply line from becoming foamy and unusable, as it
does in conventional dispensing systems, with attendant loss of
profit, at the time the keg connected therewith becomes empty.
The modified embodiments seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 also provide for
dispensing of liquids under pressure, such as beer, in accordance
with the method of this invention. Briefly stated, this method is
characterized by flowing beer (or other liquid under pressure)
downwardly through a chamber to a faucet connected beer supply
line, and interrupting communication between the inlet and outlet
of the chamber at such times as the liquid therein falls to a
predetermined low level.
In FIG. 5, a control valve device 90 which will perform this
important step of the method in a single barrel installation, is
characterized by a normally closed electromagnetic valve 91 in the
outlet 92 from its chamber 93. The chamber has an inlet port 94 in
an upper portion thereof, to enable downward flow of beer
therethrough, providing the electromagnetic valve 91 is open.
The solenoid 95 of the valve 91 is energizable from a current
source 96 whenever a pair of electrodes 97, 98 is electrically
bridged by beer in the chamber 93. These electrodes are located
opposite one another, about one-half way between the inlet 93 and
outlet 92. When bridged in this manner, an energizing circuit is
completed for the solenoid 95 to effect opening of valve 91. This
enables beer to flow through a supply line connected with the
outlet 92, to a faucet for dispensing as desired.
The valve 91 will remain open as long as the chamber is filled with
beer. When the beer barrel empties, the level of beer in the
chamber 93 will fall until the electrodes 97, 98 are no longer
electrically bridged thereby. When that occurs, the energizing
circuit for the solenoid 95 is broken, and the valve 91 returns to
its normally closed position while there is still a small amount of
beer in the chamber. This is an important feature of the invention,
as it prevents foam formation in the supply line leading to the
faucet from the outlet 92 of the control valve device, and thus
assures against loss of the beer therein.
A plunger mechanism 65' is also mounted on the top of the valve
body, to provide for venting the upper portion of the chamber 93
for the reasons discussed hereinbefore.
It will be seen therefore, that the valve device 90 is like those
previously described in that its outlet is controlled by valve
means at the dictate of detector means (electrodes) under the
control of the liquid level in the chamber 93. The float in the
first described embodiment of the invention similarly constitutes
detector means having the same purpose.
The control valve device 190 of FIG. 6 also features an
electromagnetic valve 100 to control flow of beer through the
outlet 101 of the chamber 102 in the interior of the device. Again
in this case, a beer inlet port 103 opens to the top of the chamber
to enable beer to flow downwardly therethrough for discharge
through its outlet 101 providing the electromagnetic valve 100 is
open.
The valve 100 is of the normally open type, and it is adapted to
close upon establishment of an energizing circuit for its solenoid
104. The solenoid is in an energizing circuit controlled by a reed
switch 106, which extends coaxially down into the chamber 102 from
its top. The contacts of the reed switch are normally open, and are
closed by the field of a permanent magnet 107 here shown as mounted
in the bottom portion of a float 108 which encircles the envelope
of the reed switch.
Beer in the chamber 102 normally raises the float 108 to a level
such as shown, at which its magnet has no influence upon the
contacts of the reed switch. The switch thus remains open as long
as beer in the chamber is at a level well above the outlet 101.
The level of beer in the chamber will descend, as the beer keg
connected therewith becomes empty. At that time, the float 108 will
likewise descend, until its magnet 107 comes opposite the contact
ends of the arms in the reed switch. When that occurs, the switch
closes to energize the solenoid 104 and effect closure of the valve
100. Such closure of the valve 100 will again occur before the
level of beer in the chamber 102 drops far enough to cause foaming
of the beer in the outlet 101 and the supply line connecting the
same with a faucet.
Here again, the magnetically controlled reed switch constitutes
detector means on the order of the float type of level detector in
the first described embodiment of the invention; and a plunger
mechanism 65' is also provided to effect venting of the space in
the upper portion of the chamber 102, whenever necessary.
From the foregoing description, together with the accompanying
drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art
that this invention provides a vastly improved dispensing system
for beer and other liquids under pressure.
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