Beverage container provided with a dispensing valve with improved operating means and anti-drip means

• US 20050230437A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heineken Technical Services B.V.
• Original Assignee: Heineken Technical Services B.V.
• Inventors: Vlooswijk, Johannes Jacobus Thomas, Sillince, Mark Erich
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/402.150
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0412 the whole dispensing unit being fixed to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0456 Siphons, i.e. beverage containers under gas pressure without supply of further pressurised gas during dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0801 of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0829 Keg connection means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1256 Anti-dripping devices drip trays B67D1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1405 Control taps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0089 operated by lever means

Abstract

Beverage container (3) provided with a dispensing valve (7) and a dispensing channel (31) connected to said dispensing valve, wherein an operating arm (41) is provided which, in a position of rest, includes an angle with a plane at right angles to a longitudinal axis (L) of the dispensing valve, wherein a pressure body (19) is provided between the pivoting arm (41) and said valve (7), such that upon a pivotal movement of the arm from said position of rest the pressure body (19) is moved and the valve is opened by the pressure body.

Claims

1. A beverage container, provided with a dispensing valve and a dispensing channel connected to said dispensing valve, wherein an operating arm is provided including, in a position of rest, an angle with a plane at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the dispensing valve, wherein a pressure body is provided between the pivoting arm and said valve, such that, upon a pivotal movement of the arm from said position of rest, the pressure body is moved and the valve is opened by the pressure body, characterized in that the pressure body is provided with a connecting means for coupling it to the valve, such that a channel in the pressure body on the one hand, is in fluid communication with a passage of the valve and, on the other hand, is or can be brought in fluid communication with the dispensing channel, wherein a housing part is arranged at least partly over the pressure body and is secured on the container, wherein the pivoting arm is pivotally connected to the housing part and has a pressure surface abutting the pressure body, at least during pushing down of the pressure body in or towards a position opening the valve.

2. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a stem provided with a connecting channel closed at a first end, wherein in the outer wall of the stem a number of passage openings are provided for forming a fluid communication of the connecting channel with the surroundings, wherein the passage opening or the passage openings jointly have a passage surface being approximately as large as or smaller than the passage surface of the connecting channel, while preferably between 2 and 4 passage openings are provided, in particular 2 passage openings.

3. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure surface contains a bent lower face of the pivoting arm which abuts a top side of the pressure body, wherein the lower face is located other than concentrically relative to a pivot axis of the pivoting arm.

4. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the riser, the valve and the dispensing channel are dimensioned such that during use a pressure drop occurs thereacross between approximately 0.4 and 1.5 bar, preferably between approximately 0.55 and 1.1. bar and more in particular approximately 0.7 bar.

5. A beverage container according to claim 4, wherein across the valve at least approximately one-third, preferably at least half of the pressure drop occurs.

6. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for, immediately after the dispensing of beverage and the closing of the dispensing valve, allowing air into the dispensing channel adjacent the dispensing valve for equalizing pressure and allowing residual beverage in the dispensing channel to flow away.

7. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the arm, for opening the valve, can and must perform a pivotal movement, preferably in the direction directed towards the dispensing channel and/or the pivoting arm, for opening the valve, can make a pivotal movement through and angle of more than 5 degrees, preferably an angle between 15 and 90 degrees, more preferably needs to make a pivotal movement through an angle between 10 and 25 degrees, preferably approximately 15 degrees, wherein the maximum stroke of the pivoting arm is preferably limited for the respective angle or needs to make a pivotal movement through an angle between 75 and 100 degrees, preferably approximately 90 degrees, wherein the maximum stroke of the pivoting arm is preferably limited for the respective angle.

8. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure body is detachable from the valve, such that it can be used with several beverage containers and/or can be cleaned separately from the beverage container, wherein preferably the dispensing channel is connected to the pressure body and/or to the pivoting arm and is detachable together therewith.

9. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein in the container a pressure device is provided in which a pressure gas is received under excess pressure, wherein a control device is provided with which said pressure gas is dispensed into the container in a dosed manner, such that within the container a relatively constant excess pressure relative to the surroundings is maintained.

10. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting arm comprises an outer surface, preferably somewhat convex onto which recognition means are included for identification of the beverage received in the container.

11. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein upstream of the valve a riser is provided, wherein in the flow-path for the beverage, except from near and in the dispensing valve, only bends are included with a bending radius which is larger than at least twice the largest cross section of the passage surface at a respective bend wherein preferably said bending radius is more than 3 times, preferably more than 5 times and more in particular more than 7 times said largest cross section.

12. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the pressure drop across the dispensing channel is between approximately 0.3 and 0.1 bar, preferably less than 0.2 bar.

13. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing channel adjacent a free end thereof widens to some extent.

14. A beverage container according to claim 1, wherein, near the valve, the dispensing channel is provided with an opening which, with the valve closed, is open and with the valve open, is closed, such that during dispensing of beverage through the dispensing channel beverage is prevented from flowing through said opening, while, upon closing of the valve, said opening is cleared and air can flow through the opening into the dispensing channel.

15. A beverage container according to claim 14, wherein under the opening, on the container, at least on the housing, a closing means is provided for closing said opening, wherein preferably said closing means comprises a deformable body against which the dispensing channel is pushed upon opening of the valve, thereby closing the opening.

16. A dispensing device for use with a beverage container according to claim 1.

17. A dispensing device according to claim 16, wherein the dispensing device is provided with clamping means with which the dispensing device can be clamped onto a curled edge provided around the valve.

18. A beverage container, provided with a dispensing valve and a dispensing channel connected to said dispensing valve, wherein an operating arm is provided, wherein a pressure body is provided between the operating arm and said valve, such that, upon movement of the operating arm, the pressure body is moved and the valve is opened by the pressure body characterized in that the riser, the valve and the dispensing channel are dimensioned such that during use a pressure drop occurs thereacross between approximately 0.4 and 1.5 bar, preferably between approximately 0.55 and 1.1 bar and more in particular approximately 0.7 bar.

19. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein across the valve at least approximately one-third, preferably at least half of the pressure drop occurs.

20. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the operating arm includes in a position of rest an angle with a plane at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the dispensing valve, and comprises a pressure surface, wherein the pressure surface contains a bent lower face of the pivoting arm which abuts a top side of the pressure body, wherein the lower face is located other than concentrically relative to a pivot axis of the operating arm.

21. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein means are provided for, immediately after the dispensing of beverage and the closing of the dispensing valve, allowing air into the dispensing channel adjacent the dispensing valve for equalizing pressure and allowing residual beverage in the dispensing channel to flow away.

22. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the arm, for opening the valve, can and must perform a pivotal movement, preferably in the direction directed towards the dispensing channel and/or the pivoting arm, for opening the valve, can make a pivotal movement through an angle of more than 5 degrees, preferably an angle between 15 and 90 degrees, more preferably needs to make a pivotal movement through an angle between 10 and 25 degrees, preferably approximately 15 degrees, wherein the maximum stroke of the pivoting arm is preferably limited for the respective angle or needs to make a pivotal movement through an angle between 75 and 100 degrees, preferably approximately 90 degrees, wherein the maximum stroke of the pivoting arm is preferably limited for the respective angle.

23. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the pressure body is detachable from the valve, such that it can be used with several beverage containers and/or can be cleaned separately from the beverage container, wherein preferably the dispensing channel is connected to the pressure body and/or to the pivoting arm and is detachable together therewith.

24. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein in the container a pressure device is provided in which a pressure gas is received under excess pressure, wherein a control device is provided with which said pressure gas is dispensed into the container in a dosed manner, such that within the container a relatively constant excess pressure relative to the surroundings is maintained.

25. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the pivoting arm comprises an outer surface, preferably somewhat convex onto which recognition means are included for identification of the beverage received in the container.

26. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein upstream of the valve a riser is provided, wherein in the flow-path for the beverage, except from near and in the dispensing valve, only bends are included with a bending radius which is larger than at least twice the largest cross section of the passage surface at a respective bend wherein preferably said bending radius is more than 3 times, preferably more than 5 times and more in particular more than 7 times said largest cross section.

27. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the pressure drop across the dispensing channel is between approximately 0.3 and 0.1 bar, preferably less than 0.2 bar.

28. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein the dispensing channel adjacent a free end thereof widens to some extent.

29. A beverage container according to claim 18, wherein, near the valve, the dispensing channel is provided with an opening which, with the valve closed, is open and with the valve open, is closed, such that during dispensing of beverage through the dispensing channel beverage is prevented from flowing through said opening, while, upon closing of the valve, said opening is cleared and air can flow through the opening into the dispensing channel.

30. A beverage container according to claim 29, wherein under the opening, on the container, at least on the housing, a closing means is provided for closing said opening, wherein preferably said closing means comprises a deformable body against which the dispensing channel is pushed upon opening of the valve, thereby closing the opening.

31. A dispensing device for use with a beverage container according to claim 18.

32. A dispensing device according to claim 31, wherein the dispensing device is provided with clamping means with which the dispensing device can be clamped onto a curled edge provided around the valve.