A tap having a body, a horizontal inlet, and primary and secondary downwardly-extending spouts, the tap having primary and secondary flow paths. The primary flow path is adapted to dispense a bulk portion of beverage and includes a horizontally oriented primary valve having a primary valve stem and
A tap having a body, a horizontal inlet, and primary and secondary downwardly-extending spouts, the tap having primary and secondary flow paths. The primary flow path is adapted to dispense a bulk portion of beverage and includes a horizontally oriented primary valve having a primary valve stem and a primary valve seal. The secondary flow path is adapted to dispense a foamed portion of beverage and comprises a flow restriction for inducing turbulence in a beverage flowing through the secondary flow path to produce foam, the secondary flow path including a horizontally-oriented secondary valve with a secondary valve stem and a secondary valve seal. The primary and secondary valves operate independently and have valve stems sliding on spaced apart axes. The primary valve is operatively connected to a handle oriented perpendicular to the horizontal inlet, such that, rotation of the handle in a substantially vertical plane causes the primary valve to open or close and actuation of the secondary valve, for example, by pushing a button operatively connected to the secondary valve stem, causes the secondary valve to open or close.
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A tap suitable for dispensing a gaseous beverage comprising a body, a horizontal inlet, and primary and secondary downwardly-extending spouts, the tap having primary and secondary flow paths; the primary flow path is adapted to dispense a bulk portion of beverage and co
The invention claimed is: 1. A tap suitable for dispensing a gaseous beverage comprising a body, a horizontal inlet, and primary and secondary downwardly-extending spouts, the tap having primary and secondary flow paths; the primary flow path is adapted to dispense a bulk portion of beverage and comprises a horizontally oriented primary valve, the primary valve comprising a primary valve stem which is axially-slidable relative to the horizontal inlet, between closed and open positions and a primary valve seal, the primary downwardly-extending spout being positioned downstream of the primary valve, such that, in a closed position of the primary valve, beverage entering the horizontal inlet is prevented from flowing through to the primary downwardly-extending spout; the secondary flow path is adapted to dispense a foamed portion of beverage and comprises a flow restriction for inducing turbulence in a beverage flowing through the secondary flow path so as to produce foam, the secondary flow path comprising a horizontally-oriented secondary valve comprising a secondary valve stem and a secondary valve seal which is axially-slidable relative to the horizontal inlet and a secondary valve seat between closed and open positions, the secondary downwardly-extending spout being positioned downstream of the secondary valve, such that in a closed position of the secondary valve, beverage entering the horizontal inlet is prevented from flowing through to the secondary downwardly-extending spout; wherein the primary valve is operatively connected to a handle oriented perpendicular to the horizontal inlet, such that, actuation of the handle in a rotational manner in a substantially vertical plane causes the primary valve to open or close, wherein actuation of the secondary valve causes the secondary valve to open or close, wherein the body of the tap defines a primary bore and a secondary bore, wherein the primary valve is located in the primary bore, wherein the secondary valve is located in the secondary bore, and wherein said primary valve stem is axially-slidable along a central axis of said primary valve stem, and said secondary valve stem is axially-slidable along a central axis of said secondary valve stem, wherein the central axis of said secondary vale stem is spaced apart from the central axis of said primary valve stem. 2. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary bores provide access routes of beverage to the respective primary and secondary spouts. 3. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tap further comprises a chamber adjacent the horizontal inlet. 4. A tap as claimed in claim 3, wherein beverage is prevented from leaving the chamber by way of the respective primary and secondary valves. 5. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary valve comprises the axially-slidable primary valve stem, the primary valve seal and a primary valve seat. 6. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary valve comprises the axially-slidable secondary valve stem, the secondary valve seal and a secondary valve seat. 7. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is operatively connected to the primary valve stem by way of the handle being pivotally mounted to the body of the tap, so that actuation of the handle causes a portion of the handle, which extends within the body of the tap and is located within a notch of the primary valve stem, to move the primary valve stem. 8. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the downwardly extending primary spout is oriented at greater than 90° to the axis of the horizontal inlet and extends in a direction away from the horizontal inlet. 9. A tap as claimed in claim 8, wherein the downwardly extending primary spout is oriented at between 115° and 125° to the axis of the horizontal inlet. 10. A tap as claimed in claim 9, wherein the downwardly extending primary spout is oriented at 120° to the axis of the horizontal inlet. 11. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the downwardly extending secondary spout is oriented at greater than 90° to the axis of the horizontal inlet of the tap and extends in a direction away from the inlet. 12. A tap as claimed in claim 11, wherein the downwardly-extending secondary spout is oriented at between 115° and 125° to the axis of the horizontal inlet. 13. A tap as claimed in claim 12, wherein the downwardly extending secondary spout is oriented at 120° to the axis of the horizontal inlet. 14. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the downwardly-extending secondary spout is provided with means for directing the secondary flow path so that beverage is dispensed at between 0° and 60° to the horizontal. 15. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the downwardly-extending secondary spout is provided with means for directing the secondary flow path and the means for directing the secondary flow path comprises a bend in the downwardly-extending secondary spout and an outlet having an axis at 0° to 60° to the horizontal. 16. A tap as claimed in claim 14, wherein the secondary flow path is dispensed substantially transversely to dispensed beverage in a receptacle. 17. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow restriction is an orifice plate having one or more holes therein. 18. A tap as claimed in claim 17, wherein the orifice plate has between two and eight holes therein. 19. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in use, the primary spout dispenses a beverage offset from the vertical into a receptacle. 20. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tap further comprises a variable flow device for altering beverage flow rate through the tap. 21. A tap as claimed in claim 20 further comprising adjustment means positioned on the body of the tap and adjacent the horizontal inlet; the variable flow device comprises a body fixable to the horizontal inlet of the tap, but upstream thereof, the variable flow device body comprising an enlarged flow path; the variable flow device further comprises a moveable floating torpedo situated within the enlarged flow path of the variable flow device body, the position of the floating torpedo being adjustable by way of the adjustment means of the tap being operatively connected to the floating torpedo; and wherein the variable flow device body and the floating torpedo have correspondingly-shaped surfaces which, when positioned apart from each other, allow a beverage to flow therebetween and into the horizontal inlet of the tap, and which, when positioned in a touching relationship, prevent beverage from flowing therebetween, such that the flow rate of beverage entering the horizontal inlet of the tap may be varied. 22. A tap as claimed in claim 21, wherein the correspondingly-shaped surface of the floating torpedo is substantially conical. 23. A tap as claimed in claim 21, wherein the correspondingly-shaped surface of the variable flow device body is substantially conical. 24. A tap as claimed in claim 21, wherein the floating torpedo is further provided with side pegs to maintain a centralised position thereof within the variable flow device body. 25. A tap as claimed in claim 21, wherein adjustment of the adjustment means allows the volume of a UK pint of beverage to be dispensed in between 6 and 22 seconds. 26. A tap as claimed in claim 25, wherein adjustment of the adjustment means allows the volume of a UK pint of beverage to be dispensed in between 8 and 12 seconds. 27. A tap as claimed in claim 21, wherein the flow rate of beverage can be shut off so as to allow cleaning of the tap and seals without having to turn off the flow of from the keg. 28. A tap as claimed in claim 21, wherein the adjustment means comprises a piece located in a screw thread of the body of the tap, such that the position of the piece can be altered by screwing the piece into or out of the body, the piece acts directly onto a rod which is operatively connected to the floating torpedo and acts in a way to alter the position of the floating torpedo within the variable flow device and, thus, alter the flow rate of beverage through the variable flow device. 29. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tap dispenses the volume of a UK pint in between 6 and 22 seconds. 30. A tap as claimed in claim 29, wherein the tap dispenses the volume of a UK pint in between 8 and 12 seconds. 31. A tap as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a button operatively connected to the secondary valve stem for causing the secondary valve to open or close. 32. A tap as claimed in claim 31, wherein the handle and the button may be operated independently of each other or at the same time. 33. A tap suitable for dispensing a gaseous beverage comprising a body, a horizontal inlet, and primary and secondary downwardly-extending spouts, the tap having primary and secondary flow paths; the primary flow path is adapted to dispense a bulk portion of beverage and comprises a horizontally oriented primary valve, the primary valve comprising a primary valve stem which is axially-slidable relative to the horizontal inlet, between closed and open positions and a primary valve seal, the primary downwardly-extending spout being positioned downstream of the primary valve, such that, in a closed position of the primary valve, beverage entering the horizontal inlet is prevented from flowing through to the primary downwardly-extending spout; the secondary flow path is adapted to dispense a foamed portion of beverage and comprises a flow restriction for inducing turbulence in a beverage flowing through the secondary flow path so as to produce foam, the secondary flow path comprising a horizontally-oriented secondary valve comprising a secondary valve stem and a secondary valve seal which is axially-slidable relative to the horizontal inlet and a secondary valve seat between closed and open positions, the secondary downwardly-extending spout being positioned downstream of the secondary valve, such that in a closed position of the secondary valve, beverage entering the horizontal inlet is prevented from flowing through to the secondary downwardly-extending spout; wherein the primary valve is operatively connected to a handle oriented perpendicular to the horizontal inlet, such that, actuation of the handle in a rotational manner in a substantially vertical plane causes the primary valve to open or close, wherein actuation of the secondary valve causes the secondary valve to open or close, and wherein, in use in said tap, said primary valve and said secondary valve are opened by movement of the respective primary and secondary valve stems in a direction opposite a fluid flow direction of the beverage entering the horizontal inlet.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
David Harvey GB; Duncan Murray GB; Jon Brown GB; George Wallen GB, Beverage dispenser.
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