초록 ▼

A beverage dispensing means includes a pressurized beverage container, a flow meter connected between the pressurized container and a faucet. A valve assembly is attached to the faucet for opening and closing the faucet responsive to an electromechanical actuator. A programmable controller in respon

A beverage dispensing means includes a pressurized beverage container, a flow meter connected between the pressurized container and a faucet. A valve assembly is attached to the faucet for opening and closing the faucet responsive to an electromechanical actuator. A programmable controller in response to differential pressure indicating signals produced by the flow meter determines the flow rate incrementally and the incremental quantities are accumulated for comparison with a preselected programmed quantity for pouring a preselected quantity of the beverage and actuates the electromechanical actuator for the time necessary to pour the selected amount of beverage. The flow meter includes a line segment of known length, size and material. The known length provides a measurable pressure difference owing to the drag therein as opposed to the measurable pressure difference obtained from the head of a manometer type flow meter. Thus, a substantially larger difference pressure measurement is obtainable. A differential pressure transducer is connected to passageways connected to line segment ports located at beginning and ending points of the line segment for measuring the pressure differential and outputting electrical signals indicative thereof for use by the programmable controller in determining continuously during the pouring time the quantities for a preselected amount of the beverage. The valve assembly includes a valve stem sleeve attached between the faucet ends. The sleeve includes at the end adjacent to the faucet a seal expander for wiping clean during valve cleaning the portion of the valve stem exposed to the beverage during valve opening. This prevents seepage of the beverage into the valve sleeve where it can solidify to stick the valve.

대표청구항 ▼

A computerized beverage dispensing system comprising: a first connector means for connection to a pressurized source of beverage; a flow meter means connected to the first connector means and having a preselected passageway length for providing a substantially increased pressure difference for measu

A computerized beverage dispensing system comprising: a first connector means for connection to a pressurized source of beverage; a flow meter means connected to the first connector means and having a preselected passageway length for providing a substantially increased pressure difference for measuring differential pressures of the beverage flowing there through and outputting signals representative thereof; a faucet means connected to the flow meter means including walls forming a passageway for dispensing the beverage; a valve assembly means connected to the faucet means for opening and closing the passageway; an electromechanical valve assembly actuator means connected to the valve assembly means for operating the valve assembly means; and a programmable controller including a first means connected to the flow meter means for receiving the differential pressure signals, second means responsive to the differential pressure signals for generating quantity amounts of the beverage for a duration necessary to dispense a preselected amount of the beverage and a third means for connecting a cut off signal to the electromechanical valve assembly actuator means when the preselected amount of beverage has been poured for controlling the valve assembly means to dispense the preselected amount of beverage through the faucet means.