Beer dispensing instrumentalities and method
First Claim
1. A control instrumentality to govern communication of a dispensing device with a container holding liquid under pressure, characterized by:
- A. means defining a chamber through which liquid from the container must flow to reach a dispensing device, said chamber having inlet and outlet means in upstream and downstream portions thereof, respectively, to provide for such flow;
B. first valve means adjacent to the chamber outlet means to govern flow of liquid out of the chamber;
C. means to govern actuation of said valve means between open and closed positions, comprising detector means sensitive to the presence and amount of liquid in the chamber for effecting opening of said valve means in consequence of liquid in the chamber above a predetermined level, and to effect closure of said valve means in consequence of decrease in the amount of liquid in the chamber to a lower level that leaves it only partially filled with liquid;
D. second valve means to control communication between the chamber and the inlet means;
E. and means to effect closure of said second valve means in consequence of drop in pressure at the inlet means to a valve below that prevailing at the outlet means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of dispensing beer out of a single faucet from one, or from a number of kegs separately connected by suitable ducts with a header communicating with the faucet. A control valve device for each keg has a chamber forming a part of its duct. Float valves, one in each chamber, are operable upon decrease in the amount of fluid in their chambers to interrupt communication between the chamber outlets and the header. Differential pressure actuated valve means in each chamber functions to interrupt communication between its interior and the chamber inlet in response to decrease in pressure at said inlet.
95 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control instrumentality to govern communication of a dispensing device with a container holding liquid under pressure, characterized by:
- A. means defining a chamber through which liquid from the container must flow to reach a dispensing device, said chamber having inlet and outlet means in upstream and downstream portions thereof, respectively, to provide for such flow;
B. first valve means adjacent to the chamber outlet means to govern flow of liquid out of the chamber;
C. means to govern actuation of said valve means between open and closed positions, comprising detector means sensitive to the presence and amount of liquid in the chamber for effecting opening of said valve means in consequence of liquid in the chamber above a predetermined level, and to effect closure of said valve means in consequence of decrease in the amount of liquid in the chamber to a lower level that leaves it only partially filled with liquid;
D. second valve means to control communication between the chamber and the inlet means;
E. and means to effect closure of said second valve means in consequence of drop in pressure at the inlet means to a valve below that prevailing at the outlet means.
- A. means defining a chamber through which liquid from the container must flow to reach a dispensing device, said chamber having inlet and outlet means in upstream and downstream portions thereof, respectively, to provide for such flow;
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2. The control instrumentality of claim 1, further characterized by:
- A. said inlet and outlet means comprising opposing valve seats in top and bottom portions, respectively, of the chamber;
B. said detector means comprising a float member in said chamber;
C. and said first and second valve means comprising valve members carried by the float member, at top and bottom portions thereof, for cooperation with said valve seats.
- A. said inlet and outlet means comprising opposing valve seats in top and bottom portions, respectively, of the chamber;
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3. The control instrumentality of claim 2, further characterized by:
- A. said chamber having walls defining a valve body;
B. and means on the body by which said float member can be manually lifted to effect opening of the outlet means.
- A. said chamber having walls defining a valve body;
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4. The control instrumentality of claim 2, further characterized by manually operable means for venting the upper portion of the chamber.
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5. A control instrumentality to govern communication of a dispensing device with a plurality of containers holding liquid under pressure, characterized by:
- A. means defining a plurality of chambers, one for each container, through which liquid from its container must flow to reach a dispensing device, each chamber having inlet and outlet ports in upstream and downstream portions thereof, respectively, to provide for such flow;
B. means providing a common header connecting said outlet ports, through which liquid can flow to a dispensing device;
C. first valve means adjacent to the outlet port of each chamber, between said chamber and the header;
D. means to govern actuation of said first valve means between open and closed positions, comprising detector means sensitive to the presence and amount of liquid in the chamber, for effecting opening of said first valve means in consequence of filling of the chamber with liquid, and to effect closure of said first valve means in consequence of a predetermined decrease in the amount of liquid in said chamber;
E. and second valve means for each chamber, adjacent to its inlet port, to effect closure thereof in consequence of drop in pressure at said inlet port to a value below that prevailing in the header.
- A. means defining a plurality of chambers, one for each container, through which liquid from its container must flow to reach a dispensing device, each chamber having inlet and outlet ports in upstream and downstream portions thereof, respectively, to provide for such flow;
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6. The control instrumentality of claim 5, further characterized by:
- A. said inlet and outlet ports of each chamber comprising opposed upper and lower valve seats, respectively;
B. said detector means comprising a float member in each chamber;
C. and said first and second valve means comprising valve members carried by each float member, at top and bottom portions thereof, for cooperation with the valve seats.
- A. said inlet and outlet ports of each chamber comprising opposed upper and lower valve seats, respectively;
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7. The control instrumentality of claim 6, further characterized by:
- A. manually operable means for effecting venting of the upper portions of each of each chambers;
B. and manually operable means for lifting the float member in one of said chambers from a position closing its outlet port to a position at which its outlet port is open.
- A. manually operable means for effecting venting of the upper portions of each of each chambers;
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8. In combination with the control instrumentality of claim 1:
- A. said container comprising a beer keg under carbon dioxide gas pressure;
B. a first duct connecting the outlet of said keg with the inlet means of said chamber;
C. a faucet from which beer can be dispensed;
D. a second duct connecting the faucet with the outlet means of the chamber;
E. and said first valve means, when closed, serving to prevent gas from entering said second duct.
- A. said container comprising a beer keg under carbon dioxide gas pressure;
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9. In combination with the control instrumentality of claim 5:
- A. a plurality of beer containers under carbon dioxide gas pressure;
B. a faucet common to said containers, from which beer therein can be dispensed;
C. a plurality of supply ducts, one for each container to connect the outlet thereof with the inlet port of its associated chamber;
D. a supply line connecting said header with the faucet;
E. and said second valve means of one of said chambers being actuatable to its inlet closing position under the influence of fluid pressure in the header at times when the container associated with said one chamber is being replaced by a full container.
- A. a plurality of beer containers under carbon dioxide gas pressure;
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10. The combination of claim 9, further characterized by means providing a signal to indicate when said outlet ports are closed by said first valve means.
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11. The combinations of claim 10, further characterized by:
- A. said first valve means for each chamber being located therein and having indicia thereon;
B. and each chamber having a transparent wall portion located to enable the indicia on said first valve means therein to be viewed when the latter is in its closed position.
- A. said first valve means for each chamber being located therein and having indicia thereon;
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12. A control instrumentality to govern communication of a dispensing device with a container holding liquid under pressure, characterized by:
- A. a body having a chamber with an inlet for connection with a container of liquid under pressure, and an outlet for connection with a dispensing device;
B. valve means adjacent to the outlet of said chamber for governing flow of liquid through the outlet;
C. means governing opening and closing of said valve means, comprising detector means influenced by the presence and the amount of liquid in the chamber, and adapted to effect opening of said valve means in consequence of liquid filling the chamber to a high level and to effect closure of the valve means in consequence of decrease in the volume of liquid in the chamber by an amount which leaves it only partially filled with liquid at a lower level;
D. and manually operable means for effecting venting of the chamber at a location adjacent to its inlet.
- A. a body having a chamber with an inlet for connection with a container of liquid under pressure, and an outlet for connection with a dispensing device;
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13. The control instrumentality of claim 12, further characterized by:
- A. said valve means comprising an electromagnetic valve which is closed except upon completion of an energizing circuit therefore;
B. and said detector means comprising a pair of electrodes which project into said chamber to provide for the establishment of an energizing circuit for said electromagnetic valve when liquid in the chamber completes an electrically conductive path between the electrodes.
- A. said valve means comprising an electromagnetic valve which is closed except upon completion of an energizing circuit therefore;
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14. The control instrumentality of claim 12, further characterized by:
- A. said valve means comprising an electromagnetic valve which is open except upon completion of an energizing circuit therefor;
B. and said detector means comprising a reed switch instrumentality having its contact end in said chamber, a float in the chamber, and a permanent magnet carried by said float to effect closure of the reed switch and establishment of an energizing circuit for the electromagnetic valve upon descent of the float to a predetermined low level in the chamber.
- A. said valve means comprising an electromagnetic valve which is open except upon completion of an energizing circuit therefor;
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15. The control instrumentality of claim 12, further characterized by:
- A. said valve means comprising an electromagnetic valve;
B. and an energizing circuit for said electromagnetic valve, controlled by said detector means.
- A. said valve means comprising an electromagnetic valve;
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16. The combination with a container of pressurized liquid, a faucet, and duct means communicating the faucet with the container, of control instrumentalities operable to interrupt communication of said container with the faucet when the volume of liquid in the container is reduced to a predetermined minimum, said control instrumentalities comprising:
- A. a valve body having a chamber forming a part of said duct means, and having inlet and outlet means opening to the chamber and respectively communicating with said container and with the dispensing means;
B. a valve seat in the chamber, between said inlet and outlet means;
C. valve means movable to and from engagement with said valve seat to thereby close off communication between the container and the dispensing means;
D. the chamber being filled with liquid when that length of the duct means connecting the chamber with the container is filled, and the volume of liquid in the chamber diminishing when said length of the duct means is no longer filled with liquid;
E. means responsive to a predetermined decrease in the volume of liquid in said chamber to effect seating of said valve means;
F. and means on the body providing for manually disengaging said valve means from its seat.
- A. a valve body having a chamber forming a part of said duct means, and having inlet and outlet means opening to the chamber and respectively communicating with said container and with the dispensing means;
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17. The combination of claim 16, further characterized by:
- A. other valve means in the chamber movable toward and from a position closing the inlet means thereof;
B. said other valve means being pressure responsive and being actuatable to closed position whenever pressure at the inlet means drops to a value below the pressure at the outlet means.
- A. other valve means in the chamber movable toward and from a position closing the inlet means thereof;
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18. In combination with a container of liquid under pressure and dispensing means for said liquid including duct means connectng the same with the container:
- A. means providing a chamber which is connected in said duct means to form a part thereof;
B. valve means in said duct means adjacent to the downstream side of said chamber, movable to and from a position closing said duct means;
C. means governing opening and closing motion of said valve means, comprising detector means located in said chamber to be influenced by the amount of liquid therein, and adapted to effect opening of said valve means in consequence of liquid filling said chamber and to effect closure of said valve means in consequence of a predetermined decrease in he amount of liquid in said chamber;
D. and manually operable means for effecting venting of the upstream side of said chamber.
- A. means providing a chamber which is connected in said duct means to form a part thereof;
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19. A method of controlling communication of a plurality of containers holding liquid under pressure with a common header from which the liquid can be dispensed, which method is characterized by:
- A. for each container, providing a chamber which has an inlet port in an upper portion thereof, an outlet port in a lower portion thereof, a buoyant valve device to close the outlet port when the liquid level in the chamber drops to a predetermined low, and to close the inlet port whenever outlet port pressure exceeds inlet port pressure;
B. ducting the inlet port of each chamber with the outlet of its container whereby liquid therefrom will be able to flow to the outlet port of its chamber as long as equal liquid pressures prevail at the inlet and outlet ports thereof;
C. and communicating the chamber outlet ports with the header, and with one another, whereby pressurized liquid in the leader will be capable of holding the valve device in one of said chambers in an inlet closing position at times when its associated container is being replaced by a full container and pressure is relieved at the inlet port of said one chamber.
- A. for each container, providing a chamber which has an inlet port in an upper portion thereof, an outlet port in a lower portion thereof, a buoyant valve device to close the outlet port when the liquid level in the chamber drops to a predetermined low, and to close the inlet port whenever outlet port pressure exceeds inlet port pressure;
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20. A method of dispensing liquid through a common dispensing means from a plurality of pressurized containers for said liquid, which method comprises:
- A. for each container, providing a control valve having a hollow body, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a movable valve member engageable with a seat to close off communication between the said ports;
B. ducting each container with the inlet port of its respective control valve so that the interior thereof is full of liquid as long as the ducting for said container is filled with liquid;
C. commonly connecting the outlet ports of said control valves with a supply line that leads to the dispensing means, so that as long as the movable valve member of one of said control valves is off its seat, pressurized liquid is available at the dispensing means;
D. and in response to reduction in the volume of liquid in the interior of each control valve, effecting seating of its respective valve member, so that with the emptying of the last to empty container, the dispensing means is no longer communicated with any of the containers but the supply line leading from the control valves to the dispensing means remains filled with liquid.
- A. for each container, providing a control valve having a hollow body, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a movable valve member engageable with a seat to close off communication between the said ports;
Specification