GB2294416A - Liquid dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In apparatus for dispensing liquids and comprising a supply line, an electric coil is associated with the line so as to produce a magnetic field within the line. In an embodiment, deposits in a supply fine 24 for dispensing beer, are reduced by placing an electromagnetic coil 40 around the line between a beer cask (18, Figure 1) and a dispensing tap (54, Figure 3). The coil may be supplied with AC or DC. The casks (18, 20, Figure 1) are tilted automatically by hydraulic rams (22) and a valve 30 allows for automatic changeover from one cask to the other. A pump 38 moves the beer continuously around the system through a coaxial pipe (34, Figure 3), the coil 40 and a cooler 42. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FLUID The present invention relates to the dispensation of fluid, for example beer.

In known systems for dispensing beer, a cask of beer is located at a distance from the station at which the beer is to be dispensed. A pipe couples the cask to a tap at the dispensing station so that beer can be transferred thereto under the action of a suitable pump.

It is necessary with such systems to clean the pipe at regular intervals so as to remove deposits from its internal surface. These deposits include undesirable chemicals deposited around the interior of the pipe over time and sediment from the cask, which is disturbed and mixed into the remaining beer when the cask is tilted to gain access to the last portions of beer therein.

The present invention seeks to provide improved fluid dispensing apparatus and a method of reducing deposits from the interior of a fluid circuit.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support mechanism for supporting a container of fluid, comprising a platform; a container carrier pivotally connected to the platform at a front end of the platform and including means for supporting a container on the carrier such that an outlet of the container is proximate the front end of the platform; and pivoting means operative to alter the angle of the carrier relative to the platform and thereby the degree of tilt of a container on the carrier.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid dispensing system for dispensing fluid from a plurality of containers to a common fluid dispensing station, comprising valve means including an inlet coupled to an outlet of each container, a common outlet and a valve element for coupling one of its inlets to its common outlet; and sensing means for sensing the level of fluid in the containers and operative to control the valve element so as to close a valve inlet associated with a first of the containers and to open a valve inlet associated with a second of the containers when the sensing means senses that the level of fluid in the first container is below a predetermined level.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid dispensing system for dispensing fluid from a fluid source to a dispensing station, comprising a fluid circuit between the source and dispensing station and a pump operative to pump fluid substantially continuously around the fluid circuit.

Preferably, the fluid circuit includes a fluid return path for returning non-dispensed fluid from the dispensing station back to the pump. The pump is preferably a low pressure pump.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluid dispensing system for dispensing fluid from a fluid source to a dispensing station comprising a fluid circuit between the source and dispensing station and a fluid return path for returning to the fluid circuit non-dispensed fluid from the dispensing station, a dispensing conduit for fluid to be dispensed and a return conduit for return fluid, wherein one of said conduits is disposed within the other of said conduits. Preferably, the dispensing conduit is disposed within the return conduit.

The present invention is also directed to the reduction of deposits on the interior surfaces of a fluid circuit.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a deposit reducing device for reducing deposits of unwanted chemicals on interior surfaces of a fluid circuit, comprising a pipe adapted to be coupled into the fluid circuit, a coil of electrical wire coiled around the pipe and a power source in use coupled to opposite ends of the coil and operative to produce a magnetic field around the coil and within the pipe.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of reducing deposits of unwanted chemicals on interior surfaces of a fluid circuit, comprising the steps of providing a coil of electrical wire around a conduit of the fluid circuit, and passing an electrical current through the coil so as to develop a magnetic field around the coil and into the conduit.

An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of cask supporting apparatus; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of fluid circuit and fluid flow control apparatus for use with the cask supporting apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of dispensing station for use with the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of deposit reduction apparatus for use in the fluid circuit of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a coil of the deposit reduction apparatus of Figure 4 fitted to a conduit of the fluid circuit of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is a side elevational view of various components of the deposit reduction apparatus of Figure 4.

The following description is directed to a dispensing system for dispensing beer from casks or other containers. It will be apparent that the system could be used for dispensing other types of fluid.

Referring to Figure 1, the embodiment of beer cask supporting apparatus shown includes a substantially horizontal support platform 10 which includes a front side 12. First and second cask carriers 14, 16 are pivotally connected to the platform 10 at hinge points located proximate the front side 12 of the platform. The carriers 14, 16 may be in the form of substantially flat panels having provided thereon any suitable structure (not shown) for holding casks 18, 20 in place on the carriers. A plurality of hydraulic rams 22 are disposed at the ends of the carriers 14, 16 remote from the hinges and are operable to vary the degree of tilt of the carriers 14, 16 relative to the platform 10.

The casks 18, 20 are of conventional form and are disposed on respective carriers 14, 16 such that their outlet ports are located at the front side of the platform 10. The outlet ports of the casks are connected to respective supply lines 24, 26.

Both supply lines 24, 26 extend from the casks into the platform 10, which houses part of a beer flow control system 28 (shown in Figure 2) which controls the flow of beer to and from a dispensing station.

Referring to Figure 2, the supply lines 24, 26 are coupled to respective inlets of a pressure operated change over valve 30, preferably a vacuum operated valve.

The valve 30 include a valve element operative to allow flow of beer from one of the casks 18, 20 through the valve 30 until that cask is substantially empty of beer, at which point the valve element is toggled to close the passage from the first cask and to open the passage from the second cask, thereby allowing flow of beer through the valve 30 from the second cask.

A first inlet of a fluid reservoir 32 is coupled to the outlet of the change over valve 30, while a second inlet thereof is coupled to a beer return line 34, described in further detail below. An outlet pipe 36 from the reservoir 32 leads to a low pressure pump 38 passed an electromagnetic device 40, described in further detail in connection with Figures 4 to 6.

From the pump 38, beer is passed through a cooler 42, of conventional type, to a dispensing pipe 44 which leads to the dispensing station. The dispensing pipe 44 passes through an aperture 46 in the return pipe 34 and then within the return pipe to the dispensing station in a "coaxial" arrangement. The return pipe 34, at its aperture 46, is sealed to the dispensing pipe in any suitable manner so as to make the return pipe 34 fluid tight.

As will be apparent from Figure 1, the flow control system 28 is located within the platform 28 such that only the supply lines 24, 26, the coaxial dispensing return pipes 34, 44 and other necessary electrical supply lines extend out of the platform 10. It will be appreciated that this is only a preferred arrangement.

Referring to Figure 3, the dispensing pipe 44 passes from the cooler to dispensing station 50, which includes a beer control unit 52 from which extends a dispensing tap 54, of conventional type. The control unit 52 includes a valve element 56, of known form, coupled to a valve control handle 58 which is operable to allow controlled dispensation of beer from the nozzle of tap 54.

A beer return path is provided within the control unit 50 for enabling the return of non-dispensed beer back into the flow control circuit 28. In connection with this, the return pipe 34 is coupled to a housing of the control unit 52 into which beer for return is collected.

The return pipe 34 is preferably of the same diameter to conventional beer dispensing pipes, thereby enabling the apparatus disclosed herein to be readily fitted to existing dispensing stations. In this case, the dispensing pipe 44 is of a relatively small diameter and is coupled to the tap 54 by any suitable means.

When it is desired to dispense beer, the handle 58 is rotated so as to open the control valve 56, thereby opening the passage from the dispensing pipe 44 to the tap 54. During this mode of operation, the pump 38 pumps beer out of the active cask 18, 20 through the valve 30, into the reservoir 32, passed the electromagnetic device 40 and then through the cooler 42 to the dispensing pipe 44. At the same time, the pump 38 causes return beer collected in the housing of the dispensing station 50 to be pumped through the return pipe 34 to the reservoir 32 to be mixed with beer from the active cask 18, 20.

As a result of the use of a low pressure pump, it is possible to provide continuous flow of beer to and from the dispensing station 50, thereby always keeping the beer in motion. This can significantly reduce deposits on the interior of the pipes of the fluid circuit.

During dispensation of beer from the active cask, the hydraulic rams 22 associated therewith slowly extend so as to increase gradually the level of tilt of the carrier 14, 16 relative to the platform 10, thereby to move the beer in the cask slowly towards the cask outlet. Such slow tilting of the cask 18, 20 causes little disturbance to sediment in the cask, which as a result remains in the cask rather than escaping into and eventually clogging the pipes of the fluid circuit. Furthermore, a significantly larger proportion of beer in the cask can be dispensed than with the prior art.

As soon as the beer level in the active cask drops below a certain level, the valve element of valve 30 toggles to close off that passage from that cask and to open the passage from the other cask. Thus, supply of beer can be maintained without having to disconnect and connect the casks manually to the fluid circuit. Moreover, the supply of beer can be stopped before any sediment is drawn out of the cask.

Any suitable mechanism could be used to operate the rams, for example a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure within the fluid circuit, a timing mechanism, a fluid meter coupled at a suitable point in the fluid circuit, weight sensing means coupled to measure the weight of the cask, or any other suitable mechanism.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6, the electromagnetic device 40 includes a coil 60 which, as can be seen in Figure 5, is coiled around the pipe 36. The two ends of the coil 60 are coupled to opposing polarities of a power supply (not shown), which may be an a.c or d.c. supply.

Coupled electrically in parallel with the coil 60 is a series arrangement of a light emitting diode 62 and resistor 64 for indicating operation of the electromagnetic device 40.

The coil 60 is housed in a stainless steel sleeve 66, which includes plastics end caps 68 to provide complete protection for the coil 60 from the environment. The steel sleeve 66 includes an aperture therein through which the light emitting diode 62 extends.

When a supply is coupled through the coil 60, a magnetic field is created having is centre point substantially at the centre of the pipe 36 and in use within fluid passing through the pipe. It has been found that this device can substantially reduce the amount of unwanted chemicals deposited on the interior of the conduits of the fluid circuit. Tests have shown that the reduction of such deposits can be such that the fluid circuit need only be cleaned once a month, rather than two to three times per week as with the prior art.

It is not necessary for the electromagnetic device 40 to be placed on the pipe 36. It can be equally effective in other parts of the fluid circuit, as will be apparent to and readily determinable by the skilled person.

In an alternative embodiment, the carriers 14, 16 could be disposed above one another, the flow control system 28 being placed in any suitable location. It will also be apparent that the flow of fluid through the pipes 34, 44 could be reversed, with relatively simple modification of the fluid circuit.

In another embodiment, the change over valve 30 includes more than two inlets and is capable of switching to its outlet fluid from more than two fluid containers.

Claims (9)

1. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a supply of liquid connected to a dispensing point via a supply line, in which a coil of electrically conductive wire is associated with the supply line, and a power source is coupled to the coil to produce a magnetic field around the coil and within the supply line.

2. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the power source is arranged to supply alternating current through the coil.

3. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the coil of wire encircles the supply line.

4. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to Claim 3, in which the coil of wire is supported on a former which is mounted on the supply line.

5. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to Claim 4, in which the coil of wire is contained within a stainless steel sleeve.

6. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to Claim 3, in which the coil of wire is incorporated in the wall of a flexible pipe which carries liquid through the supply line.

7. A method of reducing deposits of unwanted material on interior surface of a supply line which connects a supply of liquid to a dispensing point in liquid dispensing apparatus, which comprises providing a coil of electrically conductive wire in association with the supply line, and coupling a power source to the coil to produce a magnetic field around the coil and within the supply line.

8. Liquid dispensing apparatus substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

9. A method of reducing deposits in liquid supply apparatus, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.