U.S. patent number 3,896,972 [Application Number 05/377,219] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-29 for remote liquid distribution system.
Invention is credited to Howard K. Arnold, Samuel W. Neidore.
United States Patent |
3,896,972 |
Neidore , et al. |
July 29, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Remote liquid distribution system
Abstract
A remote liquor dispensing system includes a rack for supporting
bottles of liquor in an inverted position, a gravity feed manifold
separated from the rack and a series of flexible tubes connecting
the bottles to the manifold. Each flexible tube screw connects to
the bottle at one end, and dips into one of the upstanding inlet
ducts of the manifold. A slidable collar fitted on the flexible
tube covers the corresponding inlet duct and determines the
position of the end of the flexible tube in the manifold.
Inventors: |
Neidore; Samuel W. (Encino,
CA), Arnold; Howard K. (Venice, CA) |
Family
ID: |
23488233 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/377,219 |
Filed: |
July 9, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/136;
222/145.4; 222/181.2; 222/144.5; 222/145.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D
3/00 (20130101); B67D 2001/0818 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B67D
3/00 (20060101); B67D 1/00 (20060101); B67d
005/60 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/143,145,129,129.1,129.4,330,379,1,136,334,132,188,400.7,400.8
;251/561A,602 ;285/302 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Knowles; Allen N.
Assistant Examiner: Marmor; Charles A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Flam & Flam
Claims
Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown
or described, we make the following claims:
1. In a remote liquor distribution system for supplying a bar
dispenser mechanism from a plurality of individual liquor
bottles:
a. a fluid motor for supplying liquor under pressure to a conduit
cooperable with a dispenser mechanism;
b. said fluid motor having an inlet;
c. a vented manifold having a feeder channel and a series of
upwardly extending inlet ducts each communicating with the feeder
channel;
d. means connecting the feeder channel to the motor inlet;
e. means separate from the manifold for supporting a plurality of
liquor bottles in an inverted position; and
f. a plurality of flexible conduits for connecting the inlet ducts
to the bottles with the bottles in spaced relationship thereto,
each conduit being detachably connected both to the bottle and the
inlet duct;
g. said supporting means relieving said conduits from the entire
weight load of said bottles;
h. each flexible conduit being telescopically received in the
corresponding inlet duct, each conduit carrying a stop engageable
with the end of the inlet duct to determine the vertical position
of the end of the flexible conduit in the manifold correspondingly
to determine the order in which the bottles are placed on-line
relative to said feeder channel.
2. The remote liquor distribution system as set forth in claim 1 in
which said stop is cup-shaped to surround the end of the
corresponding inlet duct.
3. In a remote liquor distribution system for supplying a bar
dispenser mechanism from a plurality of individual liquor
bottles:
a. a fluid motor for supplying liquor under pressure to a conduit
cooperable with a dispenser mechanism;
b. said fluid motor having an inlet;
c. a vented manifold having a feeder channel and a series of
upwardly extending inlet ducts each communicating with the feeder
channel;
d. means connecting the feeder channel to the motor inlet;
e. means separate from the manifold for supporting a plurality of
liquor bottles in an inverted position; and
f. a plurality of flexible conduits for connecting the inlet ducts
to the bottles with the bottles in spaced relationship thereto,
each conduit being detachably connected both to the bottle and the
inlet duct;
g. said supporting means relieving said conduits from the entire
weight load of said bottles;
h. each flexible conduit being provided at one end with a screw cap
detachably cooperative with said liquor bottles, the other end of
said flexible conduit being telescopically received in the
corresponding inlet duct for free angular movement therein upon
angular movement of the conduit for attachment and detachment of
the screw cap.
4. In a remote liquor distribution system for supplying a bar
dispenser mechanism from a plurality of individual liquor
bottles:
a. a fluid motor for supplying liquor under pressure to a conduit
cooperable with a dispenser mechanism;
b. said fluid motor having an inlet;
c. a vented manifold having a feeder channel and a series of
upwardly extending inlet ducts each communicating with the feeder
channel;
d. means connecting the feeder channel to the motor inlet;
e. means separate from the manifold for supporting a plurality of
liquor bottles in an inverted position; and
f. a plurality of flexible conduits for connecting the inlet ducts
to the bottles with the bottles in spaced relationship thereto,
each conduit being detachably connected both to the bottle and the
inlet duct;
g. said supporting means relieving said conduits from the entire
weight load of said bottles;
h. each conduit being telescopically received in the corresponding
inlet duct, each conduit carrying a stop engageable with the end of
the inlet duct to determine the vertical position of the end of the
flexible conduit in the manifold correspondingly to determine the
order in which the bottles are placed on-line relative to said
feeder channel, each flexible conduit being receivable in any one
of the inlet ducts; said stop being slidable along the length of
the conduit.
5. In a remote liquor distribution system for supplying a bar
dispenser mechanism from a plurality of individual liquor
bottles:
a. a fluid motor for supplying liquor under pressure to a conduit
cooperable with a dispenser mechanism;
b. said fluid motor having an inlet tube;
c. means supporting said fluid motor so that said inlet tube is
slightly upwardly inclined to the horizontal;
d. a vented manifold having a feeder channel and a series of
upwardly extending inlet ducts each communicating with the feeder
channel;
e. said manifold having a part detachably connected to said inlet
tube whereby said manifold is supported thereon;
f. a rack for supporting a plurality of liquor bottles in an
inverted position;
g. said supporting means also supporting said rack;
h. a plurality of flexible conduits for connecting the inlet ducts
to the bottles with the bottles in spaced relationship thereto;
i. a screw cap for each conduit and attached at one end thereof for
engaging the corresponding bottle, the other end of the flexible
conduit being telescopically received in the corresponding inlet
duct;
j. a flanged cap for each conduit and slidably mounted on the other
end thereof for determining the vertical position of said other end
in the manifold correspondingly to determine the order in which the
bottles are placed on-line relative to the feeder channel, the
flange overlying the corresponding inlet duct to protect it from
entry of foreign particles.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to liquid feeders, and more particularly to
liquid feeders for remote dispensing of liquor, such as at a
commercial bar.
DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART
Liquor dispensing systems utilizing remotely stored liquor have
become quite popular. Desirably, the system is charged with an
adequate supply of bar liquor for the expected days' run.
Thereafter the bartender need not open bottles of the commonly used
liquor; need not remove and reinsert pouring spouts; and need not
burden the trash barrel with empty bottles. Of course less
frequently used liquors or brands must be stored close at hand.
Nevertheless very substantial economies result by using a remote
liquor dispensing system.
Liquor control laws preclude filling a large vat; individual
bottles must be used. Half gallon sizes or other conveniently
handled sizes must be manifolded. Gravity feed manifolds for the
present purposes have been devised that supply a fluid motor which
sends the liquor to its dispensing station. Of course one manifold
motor system is provided for each type liquor to be dispensed. More
than one dispensing head may be served by one motor.
One of the problems that seems characteristic of many known
manifold systems is that the paper seals on the inverted bottle are
moistened by the liquor. Consequently there is a danger that the
paper will clog or foul the mechanism. Even if strainers are used,
frequent cleaning and disassembly by maintenance personnel is
required. Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to
provide a manifold system in which the outside of the neck of the
bottle is isolated from fluid.
Another problem of many systems is that they are cumbersome to
recharge. Thus a series of bottles are all supported upon the
manifold. Upending the bottle to establish connection of the
manifold may result in spillage. The manifold may be subjected to
shocks and stresses, disturbing the other bottles. Shutoff valves
are commonly used in such an arrangement. Accordingly a second
object of the present invention is to provide a manifold structure
that is free of these problems.
In the existing manifold mechanisms, bottles are strung out in a
line, side-by-side. Consequently the manifold must be long enough
to allow for the center-to-center distance between bottles. A bulky
structure results. In this organization, the sequence of on-line
bottles is fixed according to the position along the manifold. Thus
another object of this invention is to provide a compact manifold
in which the sequence of on-line bottles can be selected.
Yet another problem encountered in manifold systems is sanitation.
Complicated structures are necessarily difficult to keep clean.
Accordingly, yet another object is to provide a structure of this
character which is simple and uncomplicated, capable of being
maintained clean, and which, by virtue of its characteristics
shields the manifold inlet ducts from entry of contaminating
particles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing objects are achieved by physically separating the
inverted bottles from the cooperating manifold structure. The
inverted bottles are mounted on a rack without imposing any load
upon the manifold itself. The bottles connect to the manifold by a
series of flexible tubes. One end of the tube mounts a screw cap
that is connected to the bottle when the bottle is in an upright
rather than inverted position, thereby eliminating spillage. The
other end of the tube slidably carries a stop collar designed to
engage the edge of any one of the manifold inlet ducts and to cover
the end of the duct. In order to connect a filled bottle to the
system, the flexible tube for the empty bottle is first removed
from the manifold inlet duct and unscrewed from the bottle which is
removed from the rack. The conduit is then screwed on the full
bottle and bent double to close the conduit. The bottle is then
upended and placed in the supporting rack. The remote end of the
conduit is inserted into the inlet duct as fluid is allowed to flow
to the level of the conduit end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference
to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate
corresponding parts in the several figures. These drawings, unless
described as diagrammatic, or unless otherwise indicated, are to
scale.
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a remotely situated storage
rack, manifold and pump, there being diagrammatically illustrated
in FIG. 1, a distributor and a series of dispensing heads.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the rack, manifold
and pump.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the storage rack.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to
line 44 of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following detailed description is of the best presently
contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention
since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended
claims.
FIG. 1 illustrates, by way of example, several hand-held dispensing
heads 10 that are remotely supplied with "bar" liquor, that is, the
basic liquors served, such as vodka, gin, scotch wiskey, bourbon
whiskey, etc. In place of hand-held dispensing heads, individual
bracket mounted dispenser valves could be provided, and which
commonly incorporate devices for metering and controlling the
volume of liquor dispensed.
The dispensing heads are all served by a common distributor 12. The
various liquors are all supplied to the distributor 12 by conduits
14. A bundle of conduits 16 extend from the distributor to each
dispensing head 10. An alternate often desirable arrangement from
the standpoint of bar management is to provide a set of supply
conduits 14 directly to the corresponding dispensing head whereby
each bar station is independent.
One of the conduits 14, labelled, by way of example, "GIN" is
serviced by a supply 18 of bottled liquor and a motor 20 interposed
between the supply 18 and the conduit 14. The bottled liquor supply
18 is supported by a rack 22 which is designed to hold the
individual bottles in inverted position. In the present instance,
in order to achieve a compact arrangement, the rack supports the
bottles in a back row and a front row. The bottles in the back row
are accessible upon removal of the corresponding bottle in the
front row. The rack is made of wire protected by rubber coating or
tubing. The rack includes partition members to keep the bottles in
proper place. The rack is shown attached by screws 24 to a cabinet
wall 26.
In order to connect the bottles to the motor 20, a manifold 28 is
provided. The manifold includes a series of closely spaced inlet
ducts 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40. While the inlet ducts are shown
arranged in line, a different arrangement is possible. The inlet
ducts all connect with a common feeder channel 42 that communicates
with an inlet tube 44 carried by the fluid motor 20. The manifold
also includes a shielded vent duct 46 that exposes the channel 42
to atmospheric pressure for gravity feed of liquor to the motor
inlet tube 44.
The manifold may be constructed in any one of a variety of ways. In
the present instance, a series of plastic tees 48, 50, 52, 54, 56
and 58 are provided along with an ell 60. The straight portions of
the tees are held in end to end relationship by the aid of five
connector sleeves 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 while another sleeve 72
cooperates with the end ell 60. The upstanding portions of the tees
48 to 58 receive the inlet ducts 30 to 40. The parts may be welded
together. The end tee 48 attaches the manifold to the motor inlet
tube 44 for support thereby. In lieu of individual connector
sleeves and tees, the manifold could be constructed as two
symmetrical halves free of internal shoulders.
The motor 20 is also mounted on the cabinet wall 26. The inlet tube
extends at a slight angle to the horizontal whereby the entire
feeder channel 42 is correspondingly inclined. Since the channel
being bented, liquid is allowed to flow by gravity to the motor
20.
Each bottle supported on the rack 22 connects with the feeder
channel by the aid of a flexible tube made of rubber like material
or of suitable plastic. One end of each of the flexible tubes
carries a screw cap designed to fit the bottle. The other end of
the tube projects into the corresponding manifold inlet duct. The
extent to which each tube 74 projects into the inlet duct is
determined by a cap 76 slidably mounted on the corresponding
flexible tube 74. The caps 76 have flanges that overlie the ends of
the inlet ducts and thus protect the inlet ducts from entry of
foreign particles.
When the caps 76 are all equally spaced from the ends of the
corresponding conduits, the ends of the flexible conduits as shown
in FIG. 4 will be progressively higher due to the incline of the
manifold. Assuming the bottles are all full and connected as shown,
then the liquid level will rise so long as the ends of the flexible
conduits do not contact the liquid. The liquid level thus rises
until the highest flexible tube is contacted, in this instance, the
one farthest to the left as viewed in FIG. 4. As liquor is demanded
by the system, the level in the manifold drops until a vent passage
is established to the bottle whereupon liquid flows until shutoff
is accomplished by interruption of the vent and contact of the
lower end of the tube with the liquid surface. When the supply in
the end bottle is exhausted, the liquid level drops until a vent is
established to the next bottle to be on-line. In the position
illustrated in FIG. 4, the first two bottles are empty and their
tubes are above the liquid surface. The third bottle is on-line
while the fourth, fifth and sixth bottles are untapped but ready to
go on-line.
At the end of the day's run, presumably not all of the bottles will
be empty. Before the start of the next day's run, the empty bottles
will be replaced. This is easily accomplished by removing the
flexible conduits for the empty bottles, unscrewing the caps and
replacing them on upright bottles. Thereupon, the flexible tube is
bent to close its passage while the bottle is turned upside down
and placed in the rack 22. Before the bend in the tube is released,
the end is inserted into one of the inlet ducts.
If only three bottles are required, three of the inlet ducts can be
closed by a cap like the caps 76, thereby maintaining sanitary
conditions. The system is entirely flexible; the manifold can in
turn be easily supported on the motor 20; paper tax seals on the
bottles are remote from liquid, and will not inadvertently enter
the system; the sequence of on-line service of the bottles can be
selected as desired.
* * * * *