US3329156A

US3329156A - Beverage dispensing system

Info

Publication number: US3329156A
Application number: US374616A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer C Pursifull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-06-12
Filing date: 1964-06-12
Publication date: 1967-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-04

Description

CO & v v

m m N E. C. PURSIF'ULL BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed June 12, 1964 FIG.3

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IN VEN TORL ELMER C. PURSIFULL a ea/we III. I

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3,329,156 BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM Elmer C. Pursifull, Hamilton County, Ohio (RR. 1, Willey Road, Harrison, Ohio 45030) Filed June 12, 1964, Ser. No. 374,616 Claims. (Cl. 137-212) This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing beverages such as beer and the like. The delivery truck driver usually delivers draft beer to the refrigerated cooler room of taverns and other beer dispensing establishments, in bulk containers such as barrels, half barrels, or the like. The bulk containers of beer are stored in the refrigerated cooler room of the establishment until needed to supply the establishments trade. It is customary to completely dispense the contents of one such container before commencing to dispense the contents of a succeeding container of like beverage. A pipe or other suitable conduit extends from the interior of the cooler to a faucet valve or spigot at the bar of the establishment. In the cooler, a hose or tube connects the dispensing conduit and a conventional dip-pipe o-r tap which is insertable into the bulk container. The tap usually withdraws liquid from the lower portion of the container and permits application of pressure to the upper surface of the liquid remaining therein.

When the contents have been dispensed from one such bulk container it is usual to bleed gas from the empty container to reduce the internal pressure to atmospheric levels and then remove the tap therefrom and tap another full container. Such tapping involves, among other things, the driving the bung or plug, which prevents escape of the contents from the container, into the container ahead of the dip pipe or tap and sealing the latter to the container to prevent uncontrolled escape of gas and liquid contents so that the liquid contents thereof may be withdrawn through the spigot at the bar into glasses, mugs, or the like.

Draft beer has for many years been dispensed in taverns and other public establishments by bartenders who were usually men. The operation of tapping a barrel or other bulk container of beer is of such nature that few women are able to perform it and it is an operation which may be required at irregular intervals, whenever the container of beer being dispensed is emptied. For this reason, few women have followed the occupation of bartender even though in recent years there has been a trend toward employment of increasing numbers of women in such establishments.

An object of this invention is to provide a dispensing system for draft beer which makes it possible to tap a plurality of barrels at a single time, as when the barrels are delivered to the refrigerated room, so that the delivery man can perform the tapping operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a dispensing system in which a series of tapped barrels can all be connected to the same dispensing faucet Without interference between barrels.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dispensing system for draft beer and the like in which each tapped barrel other than the one from which beer is being dispensed at a given time is closed up by a positively acting valve and in which operation of a simple valve requiring minimum strength for operation disconnects one barrel while connecting another barrel to the dispensing line.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a dispensing system in which the valves for closing off the beer dispensing line are spring operated and in which air or other fluid under pressure can be introduced into a valve cylinder to permit release of each valve, the fluid United States Patent 0 also being connected to the interior of the valve to pressurize the barrel.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description, and the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic view showing a beer dispensing system constructed in accordance with an embodirnent of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in transverse section of the head portion of one of the barrels of the dispensing system with the tapping arrangement attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a view in transverse section of one of the valves thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vieW in section taken on the line 44 in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of one of the air valves of the system in an alternate position.

In the following detailed description and the drawing, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In FIG. 1 is illustrated a beer dispensing system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. Barrels 10 and 10a can be placed in an appropriate refrigerated room (not shown in detail) in the usual fashion. Each barrel can be tapped at the time it is placed in the refrigerated room by means of tapping apparatus, which can be of the usual construction. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of barrel 10 includes an upwardly extending neck 12 having outwardly extending flanges 13 and 14 on which the tapping device is mounted. A ring 14 can engage the flanges 13 and 14 in a bayonet-type connection. A hollow housing 16 is held by the ring 14 in engagement with a gasket 17 to form a seal between the housing 16 and the neck 12. The housing 16 has a side arm 18 through which gas under pressure such as compressed air, carbon dioxide, or the like can be introduced to provide pressure in the upper end of the barrel 10. A dip tube 19 extends through the housing 16 and is sealed thereto by a ring gasket 21 held in place thereon by a cap 22. Each barrel is tapped in the usual fashion by driving the dip tube 19 downwardly into the barrel to the position shown in FIG. 1.

Connections from the barrels 10 are shown in FIG. 1. A gas under pressure such as compressed air is supplied by a source of compressed air 23 which can include a compressor and storage tank (not shown) and compressed air is supplied through

air valves

24 and 24a to the barrels 1t] and 10a respectively and to spring and air operated

valves

25 and 25a respectively. When beer is to be dispensed from a selected barrel, the valve associated therewith is disposed in the position at which the valve 24a is shown in FIG. 1. When the valve 24a is in this position, air under pressure, supplied to the valve 24a through a line 26, is directed to the valve 25a through a line 27 and to the side arm 18a through a line 28 and thence to the upper portion of the barrel 10a to pressurize the contents of the barrel.

The

valves

25 and 25a are connected to the barrels 10 and 10a, respectively, and also to a manifold 31. The manifold 31, in turn, is connected to a line 32 which leads to a conventional dispensing valve 33.

Details of construction of the valve 25 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The valve 24 includes a housing 36 having an inlet port 37 and an outlet port 38 therein. A valve plug 39 is normally held in the full line position of FIG. 3 by a spring 41 which engages a piston 42. The spring 41 and the piston 42 operate inside an air cylinder 43, which is mounted on and connected to the housing 36 by a yoke 44. Air under perssure can be introduced into the air cylinder 43 through the line 27. The line 27 (FIG. 4) connects with the interior of the air cylinder 43 through a passageway 46. When the air valve is in the position shown at 24a in FIG. 1, air pressure in the air cylinder raises the piston 42 (FIGS. 3 and 4) to release the plug 39 from its seat and raises the plug to the dot-dash line position of FIG. 3 and permits communication between the inlet port 37 and the outlet port 38. The inlet port 37 is connected to the dip tube 19a and the outlet port 30 is connected to the manifold 31 so that, when the valve 25a is open beer can be dispensed from the barrel 10a.

When one of the barrels has been emptied, the air valve associated therewith is turned to the position indicated in FIG. at which the

lines

27 and 28 are connected to a vent line 48. Thus, when the air valve is in this position, the vent line 48 is connected to the upper portion of the barrel to permit discharge of any remaining pressure therein, and, in addition, the vent line is connected to the air valve to permit closing thereof. Then the valve of the next barrel is turned to the ON position to permit dispensing of beer therefrom.

The barrels 1t) and a, the manifold 31, and the valves and 25a can all be located in a refrigerated room while the dispensing valve 33 and the

air valves

24 and 24a are located where readily available for operation by a waitress or bartender.

The beer dispensing system illustrated in the drawing and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

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

1. A system for dispensing a beverage from a plurality of containers thereof which comprises a manifold, a plurality of spring loaded normally closed valves connected to the manifold, a dip tube extending into each of the containers each of said valves including a body having a first port in communication with the manifold and a second port in communication with the dip tube extending into one of the containers, there being a valve seat surrounding the second port, a valve plug for closing the valve seat, a cylinder mounted on the body, a piston in said cylinder and connected to the plug, spring means urging the plug to closed position, the spring means being sufliciently strong to hold the valve plug in closed position against normal container pressure, a source of gas under pressure, line means for connecting said source to a cylinder of each of spring loaded valves for raising the plug thereof from the seat thereof, line means for connecting said source to the interior of each of the containers to maintain pressure therein, control valve means in said line means and constructed and arranged to admit fluid under pressure to a selected one only of the spring loaded valves and to the container associated therewith, and means connected to the manifold for dispensing the beverage, said control valve means comprising a separate multiway valve for each container, each multiway valve 'being constructed and arranged so that in a first position it supplies gas pressure to its container and associated spring loaded valve and in a second position it vents to atmosphere its container and associated spring loaded valve.

2. A system for dispensing a beverage from a plurality of containers thereof which comprises a manifold, a plurality of spring loaded normally closed valves connected to the manifold, a dip tube extending into each of the containers, each of said valves including a body having a first port in communication with the manifold and a second port in communication with the dip tube extending into one of the containers, there being a valve seat surrounding one of the ports, a valve plug for closing the seat, a cylinder mounted on the body, a piston in said cylinder and connected to the plug, spring means urging the plug to closed position, a source of gas under pressure, a line for connecting said source to the cylinder of each of the spring loaded valves for raising the plug thereof from the seat thereof, a line for connecting said source to the interior of each of the containers to maintain pressure therein, control valve means in said lines and constructed and arranged to admit fluid under pressure to a selected one only of the spring loaded valves and to the container associated therewith, and means connected to the manifold for dispensing the beverage, said control valve means comprising a separate multiway valve for each container, each multiway valve being constructed and arranged so that in a first position it supplies gas pressure to its container and associated spring loaded valve and in a second position it vents to atmosphere its container and associated spring loaded valve.

3. A system for dispensing beer-like beverage from a plurality of containers thereof which comprises a manifold, a plurality of spring loaded normally closed valves connected to the manifold, a dip tube extending into each of the containers, each of said valves including a body having a first port in communication with the manifold and a second port in communication with the dip tube extending into one of the containers, there being a valve seat surrounding the second port, a valve plug for closing the valve seat, a cylinder mounted on the body, a piston in said cylinder and connected to the plug, spring means urging the plug to closed position, the spring means being sufficiently strong to hold the valve plug in closed position against normal container pressure, a source of air under pressure, line means for connecting said source to the cylinder of each of the spring loaded valves for raising the plug thereof from the seat thereof, line means for connecting said source to the interior of each of the containers to maintain pressure therein, and control valve means in said line means and constructed and arranged to admit fluid under pressure to a selected one of the spring loaded valves and to the container associated therewith, and means connected to the manifold for dispensing the beverage, said control valve means comprising a separate multiway valve for each container, each multiway valve being constructed and arranged so that in a first position it supplies gas pressure to its container and associated spring loaded valve and in a second position it vents to atmosphere its container and associated spring loaded valve.

4. A system for dispensing a beer-like beverage from a plurality of containers thereof which comprises a manifold, a plurality of normally closed valves connected to the manifold, a dip tube extending into each of the containers each of said valves including a body having a first port in communication with the manifold and a second port in communication with a dip tube extending into one of the containers, there being a valve seat surrounding the second port, a valve plug for closing the valve seat, a cylinder mounted on the body, a piston in said cylinder and connected to the plug, means for urging the plug to closed position to hold the valve plug in closed position against normal container pressure, a source of gas under pressure, means for connecting said source to the cylinder of each of the said normally closed valves for raising the plug thereof from the seat thereof, means for connecting said source to the interior of each of the containers to maintain pressure therein, control valve means in said line and constructed and arranged to admit fluid under pressure to a selected one of the normally closed valves and to the container associated therewith, and means connected to the manifold for dispensing the beverage, said control valve means comprising a separate multiway valve for each container, each multiway valve being constructed and arranged so that in a first position it supplies gas pressure to its container and associated normally closed valve and in a second position it vents to atmosphere its container and associated normally closed valve.

5. A system for dispensing a beer-like beverage from a plurality of containers thereof which comprises a mani- 5 fold, a plurality of normally closed valves connected to the manifold, a dip tube extending into each of the containers, each of said valves including a body having a first port in communication With the manifold and a sec ond port in communication with a dip tube extending into one of the containers, there being a valve seat in said body, a valve plug for closing the valve seat, a fluid pressure responsive valve operator mounted on the body for raising the plug thereof from the seat therein, means for urging the plug to closed position to hold the valve plug on the valve seat against normal container pressure, a source of gas under pressure, control valve means comprising a separate multiway valve for each container, each multiway valve being constructed and arranged so that in a first position gas is supplied therethrough from said source to a respective one of said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,846 2/1903 Neubert 137212 X 2,482,778 9/ 1949 Joerren l37-212 2,818,121 12/1957 Clifford l37--209 ALAN COHAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING A BEVERAGE FROM A PLURALITY OF CONTAINERS THEREOF WHICH COMPRISES A MANIFOLD, A PLURALITY OF SPRING LOADED NORMALLY CLOSED VALVES CONNECTED TO THE MANIFOLD, A DIP TUBE EXTENDING INTO EACH OF THE CONTAINERS EACH OF SAID VALVES INCLUDING A BODY HAVING A FIRST PORT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE MANIFOLD AND A SECOND PORT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DIP TUBE EXTENDING INTO ONE OF THE CONTAINERS, THERE BEING A VALVE SEAT SURROUNDING THE SECOND PORT, A VALVE PLUG FOR CLOSING THE VALVE SEAT, A CYLINDER MOUNTED ON THE BODY, A PISTON IN SAID CYLINDER AND CONNECTED TO THE PLUG, SPRING MEANS URGING THE PLUG TO CLOSED POSITION, THE SPRING MEANS BEING SUFFICIENTLY STRONG TO HOLD THE VALVE PLUG IN CLOSED POSITION AGAINST NORMAL CONTAINER PRESSURE, A SOURCE OF GAS UNDER PRESSURE, LINE MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SOURCE TO A CYLINDER OF EACH OF SPRING LOADED VALVES FOR RAISING THE PLUG THEREOF FROM THE SEAT THEREOF, LINE MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SOURCE TO THE INTERIOR OF EACH OF THE CONTAINERS TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE THEREIN, CONTROL VALVE MEANS IN SAID LINE MEANS AND CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO ADMIT FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO A SELECTED ONE ONLY OF THE SPRING LOADED VALVES AND TO THE CONTAINER ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO THE MANIFOLD FOR DISPENSING THE BEVERAGE, SAID CONTROL VALVE MEANS COMPRISING A SEPARATE MULTIWAY VALVE FOR EACH CONTAINER, EACH MULTIWAY VALVE BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED SO THAT IN A FIRST POSITION IT SUPPLIES GAS PRESSURE TO ITS CONTAINER AND ASSOCIATED SPRING LOADED VALVE AND IN A SECOND POSITION IT VENTS TO ATMOSPHERE ITS CONTAINER AND ASSOCIATED SPRING LOADED VALVE.