GB2375524A

GB2375524A - Beverage dispense tap

Info

Publication number: GB2375524A
Application number: GB0100832A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Oakley; Roger John Hyde
Original assignee: STANDARD CO Ltd AG
Current assignee: STANDARD CO Ltd AG
Priority date: 2001-01-12
Filing date: 2001-01-12
Publication date: 2002-11-20
Also published as: GB0100832D0

Abstract

A tap for dispensing beverages, comprising an inlet 10, an outlet 11, a valve 12 for allowing beverage to flow from the inlet to the outlet; a solenoid 13 for opening and closing the valve, the solenoid being an integral part of the tap; wherein the inlet is adapted to make mechanical and fluid connection to a standard tap connection on a font. It further provides beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a font, T-bar or pillar having an outlet socket, and a tap comprising an inlet, an outlet, a valve for enabling flow between the inlet and outlet and a solenoid for operating the valve, wherein the fluid connection of the tap to the font, T-bar or pillar is made at the socket.

Description

BEVERAGE DISPENSE TAP This invention relates to a beverage dispense tap. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to a dispensing tap for beer or similar beverages.

Keg beers (which term includes lagers, ales and other types of brewed alcoholic beverages) are typically dispensed via connecting tubing to a manually operated beer tap mounted on to a dispense pillar, T-bar or font. The manual beer tap is mounted on the outside of the dispense pillar, T-bar or font (hereinafter, generally termed as'font'), as shown in Figure 1. In the figure, a manual beer tap 1 is connected via a standard screw threaded connection 2 to a font 3. A dispensing pipe 4 extends from the rear of the tap down through the font and into a keg or other container of beer which is generally stored in a cellar of a licensed premises. An operating lever 5 is manipulated to dispense an unmetered quantity of beer from the spout.

Alternatively, metered dispensing is used. For this, a valve is opened, by a solenoid mechanism for example, for a sufficient time to dispense a metered quantity of the beverage, such as half a pint (0. 284 litres).

Figure 2 shows the same font as in Figure 1, but this time shows, for illustrative purposes only, a standard solenoid type tap 6 for metered dispensing superimposed onto it.

It will not fit. In particular, such solenoid valves are invariably bulky and will not fit into the font. Furthermore, the dispensing point or spout 7 is generally a piece of tubing and this tends to destroy the'design balance'of the pillar or font. Accordingly, it is normal to design a different font for such solenoid operated dispense tap, or to make a single design which allows for the space required by the solenoid. This is not ideal and leads to an unsatisfactory design. Furthermore, a special fitting is required to enable the solenoid type dispenser to fit within the font.

The present invention arose in an attempt to provide an improved solenoid operated

beverage dispenser.

According to the present invention there is provided a tap for dispensing beverages, comprising an inlet, an outlet, a valve for allowing beverage to flow from the inlet to the outlet; a solenoid for opening and closing the valve, the solenoid being an integral part of the tap; wherein the inlet is adapted to make mechanical and fluid connection to a standard tap connection on a font.

Preferably, the solenoid lies, in use, in a position where it does not interfere with said connection.

The solenoid preferably is arranged within a housing of the tap.

Preferably, the solenoid and outlet are disposed in a plane which is approximately 90 to the plane of the inlet.

The beverage is preferably beer.

According to the invention in a second aspect there is provided beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a font, having an outlet socket, and a tap comprising an inlet, an outlet, a valve for enabling flow between the inlet and outlet and a solenoid for operating the valve, wherein the fluid connection of the tap to the font, T-bar or pillar is made at the socket.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a presently available beverage dispensing apparatus; Figure 2 shows the incompatibility of presently available metered dispensing apparatus with presently available fonts; Figure 3 shows a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows a cross through a dispensing tap.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a dispensing tap, for dispensing beer or similar beverages, comprises an inlet 10, at a generally 900 angle to an outlet or spout 11. Between the two, a valve 12 is operated by means of a solenoid 13 which causes a plunger 14 to rise and fall to cause the valve to selectively allow the passage of beverage between the inlet 10 and outlet 11. The solenoid is controlled through control wires 15, preferably from a remote situated button or other actuator (not shown). The solenoid mechanism is integral with the tap and is encased within a housing 16 and which may be formed of plastics or metal material for example which forms the casing for the tap.

The inlet 10 is provided with a standard fitting for fitting into a standard socket 7 of a font, T-bar or dispense pillar. That is, the inlet is provided with a standard sized and pitched external screw thread which mates with a co-operating internal screw thread in socket 16. A pipe 4 extends internally through the font in normal manner and direct to inlet 10. Thus, in embodiments of the invention the'design balance'is maintained with manual taps and the metered tap may be simply substituted by a manual tap if required. Aesthetic design is not compromised.

Thus, mechanical and fluid connection of the tap to the font are made at the socket 16.

The electronic control may be via a control unit 17 which may comprise an integrated circuit or printed circuit board.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit is adapted to boost power momentarily on energising the solenoid, which maximises the force available to draw the valve up against the pressure of beer or other beverage within the beer pipe. Once the initial pressure is overcome, a lower maintaining force is sufficient to keep the valve in the dispensing position, so, after the initial momentary power boost, the power level is

reduced to a level sufficient to hold the valve in the up position until the desired amount of beverage is dispensed. Typically, the system is arranged so that one depression of an actuation button actuates the solenoid for enabling the dispensing of one half a pint (0.284 litres) in the UK. The solenoid is then deactuated and the valve lowers again to cease dispensing.

In other embodiments, control may be such that a first actuation of a control means actuates the solenoid, to begin dispensing, and a second actuation releases it, ie a nonmetered arrangement. Alternatively, a control button, lever or other means may require continued pressing, pulling, etc to dispense, and once this manipulation finishes, dispensing ends.

The spout and/or body of the tap is preferably of construction and configuration which is often standard for manual dispensing taps. It thereby allows any of a standard range of manual tap accessories to be added. For example, these may comprise orifice plates, sparklers, special spouts, extended spouts for use with Angram sparklers and so on.

Claims

1. A tap for dispensing beverages, comprising an inlet, an outlet, a valve for allowing beverage to flow from the inlet to the outlet; a solenoid for opening and closing the valve, the solenoid being an integral part of the tap; wherein the inlet is adapted to make mechanical and fluid connection to a standard tap connection on a font.

2. A tap as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the solenoid lies, in use, in a position where it does not interfere with said connection.

3. A tap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the solenoid is arranged within a housing of the tap.

4. A tap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the solenoid and outlet are disposed in a plane which is approximately 90 to the plane of the inlet.

5. Beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a font, T-bar or pillar having an outlet socket, and a tap comprising an inlet, an outlet, a valve for enabling flow between the inlet and outlet and a solenoid for operating the valve, wherein the fluid connection of the tap to the font, T-bar or pillar is made at the socket.

6. A tap or beverage dispensing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the solenoid is controlled from a remote actuator.

7. A tap or beverage dispensing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spout and/or body of the tap are of standard construction and configuration.

8. A tap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, any of Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A beverage dispenser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, any of Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.