Beverage dispensing unit with openable pinch valve
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B67D-001/00
B67D-001/04
B67D-001/06
B67D-001/08
B67D-001/12
B67D-001/14
출원번호
US-0398387
(2013-04-26)
등록번호
US-9580289
(2017-02-28)
우선권정보
EP-12166357 (2012-05-02)
국제출원번호
PCT/EP2013/058690
(2013-04-26)
국제공개번호
WO2013/164258
(2013-11-07)
발명자
/ 주소
Peirsman, Daniel
Van Hove, Sarah
Van Rompaey, Johan
출원인 / 주소
Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A.
대리인 / 주소
Levy & Grandinetti
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
2
초록▼
A dispensing unit for dispensing a beverage from a pressurized container having a tapping column fixed to and extending normal to the top surface of a top plate with an opening and forming an elbow is disclosed. The column has an elongated inner channel bringing in fluid communication the support pl
A dispensing unit for dispensing a beverage from a pressurized container having a tapping column fixed to and extending normal to the top surface of a top plate with an opening and forming an elbow is disclosed. The column has an elongated inner channel bringing in fluid communication the support plate with a tapping pinch valve located in a tapping head at the elbow. The tapping pinch valve has jaws for receiving in pinching relationship the outlet end of the dispensing line and controlling flow of liquid by varying the distance between the jaws from a closed to an open position. A flexible dispensing line, having inlet and outlet ends, extends in the channel. The outlet end engages the pinch valve, and the inlet end connects to a keg. A device for opening the channel includes the pinch valve so a distance larger than the open position separates the jaws.
대표청구항▼
1. A dispensing device for dispensing a beverage out of a pressurized container, comprising: (a) A first, at least partially flexible, beverage dispensing line, comprising an inlet end and an outlet end the inlet end being provided with connecting device for coupling said inlet end to a container co
1. A dispensing device for dispensing a beverage out of a pressurized container, comprising: (a) A first, at least partially flexible, beverage dispensing line, comprising an inlet end and an outlet end the inlet end being provided with connecting device for coupling said inlet end to a container containing a liquid to be dispensed, and the outlet end comprising a flexible portion, and(b) a tapping unit comprising:a support plate defining in use a substantially horizontal plane, comprising a top surface and a bottom surface and an opening connecting said top and bottom surfaces, a tapping column comprising an elongated portion fixed to, and extending substantially perpendicular to said top surface and forming an elbow at a top of the tapping column, and comprising an elongated inner channel bringing in fluid communication the opening of the support plate with a tapping pinch valve located in a tapping head positioned at or adjacent the elbow at the opposite top end of the tapping column and opening to ambient atmosphere facing towards the support plate, said tapping pinch valve comprising first and second jaws suitable for receiving in pinching relationship the flexible portion of the outlet end of said dispensing line and for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough by varying the distance between the first and second jaws from a first, closed position, d0, wherein the flexible portion of the dispensing line is squeezed and no liquid can flow therethrough to a second, open position, d1, wherein the dispensing line is not squeezed completely and liquid can flow through the line, wherein said column comprises a device for opening a portion of the channel spanning from some point of the elongated portion up to and including a portion of the elbow and the pinch valve, such that the first and second jaws can be separated from one another by a distance substantially larger than the one corresponding to the open position, d1. 2. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said opening device comprises a movable panel fixed to the column with a fixing device, which, in closed position, covers an opening of the channel extending from said fixing device to at least the valve head and, in open position, exposes said opening to the user. 3. The dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the inlet end of the dispensing line is such that the inlet end can be run through the channel and support plate opening from the top to the bottom surfaces thereof, and the outlet end thereof can be engaged between the first and second jaws of the pinch valve upon closing the channel portion including the pinch valve. 4. The dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the opening device comprises a safety device designed such that: (i) when the movable panel is closed in a dispensing configuration, the channel diameter, Dflow, is greater at all points than the diameter of the dispensing tube,(ii) when the movable panel is completely open allowing loading/unloading of the dispensing tube, the diameter, Dload, of the channel is larger at all points than the dimensions of the connecting device, thus allowing the insertion/removal of dispensing tube into/from the channel; and(iii) when the movable panel is slightly ajar, a diameter, Dseal, of the channel is such that the dispensing tube is pinched, thus blocking any flow of liquid therethrough. 5. The dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein the connecting device of the dispensing line comprises at least one of a bayonet, a threaded nut, a pin, or a resilient snap-fit. 6. The dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein a point defining a bottom level of the elongated portion of the channel which can be opened is separated from the elbow of the column by at least 50% of the total length of the elongated portion of the column. 7. The dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein the tapping head enclosing the pinch valve comprises two half shells hinged together such that the tapping head can be opened to separate the two jaws from one another by a distance greater than, d1. 8. The dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein the support plate is the top of a housing containing a source of pressurized gas connected to the inlet of a second, pressure line, an outlet thereof comprising a connecting device for coupling said inlet end to said container containing the liquid to be dispensed, the height of said housing being not more than 250 mm. 9. The dispensing device according to claim 8, further comprising a cooled compartment closed on the top by the support plate and comprising a refrigerating device, a device for holding said container and a source of pressurized gas connected to the inlet of a second, pressure line, an outlet thereof comprising a connecting device for coupling said outlet end to said container containing the liquid to be dispensed. 10. The dispensing device according to claim 9, comprising a device for easily displacing the tapping unit from one place to the other, including wheels. 11. The dispensing device according to claim 10, wherein the source of pressurized gas is a container containing pressurized gas, a gas compressor, gas adsorbed on a solid carrier, gas from a net, or any combination thereof. 12. The dispensing device according to claim 11, further comprising: (c) a container comprising a closure provided with a first, dispense opening and a second gas opening suitable for receiving the inlet end of the dispense line and the outlet end of the gas line. 13. The dispensing device according to claim 12, further comprising: (d) a connecting device for coupling the inlet of the dispensing line and the outlet of the pressure line to the corresponding dispense and gas openings. 14. The dispensing device according to claim 11, wherein the beverage to be dispensed and contained in the container is beer, a carbonated malt based beverage, including non-alcoholic beer, or cider. 15. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet end of the dispensing line is such that the inlet end can be run through the channel and support plate opening from the top to the bottom surfaces thereof, and the outlet end thereof can be engaged between the first and second jaws of the pinch valve upon closing the channel portion including the pinch valve. 16. The dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the opening device comprises a safety device designed such that: (i) when the movable panel is closed in a dispensing configuration, the channel diameter, Dflow, is greater at all points than the diameter of the dispensing tube,(ii) when the movable panel is completely open allowing loading/unloading of the dispensing tube, the diameter, Dload, of the channel is larger at all points than the dimensions of the connecting device, thus allowing the insertion/removal of dispensing tube into/from the channel; and(iii) when the movable panel is slightly ajar, a diameter, Dseal, of the channel is such that the dispensing tube is pinched, thus blocking any flow of liquid therethrough. 17. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device of the dispensing line comprises at least one of a bayonet, a threaded nut, a pin, or a resilient snap-fit. 18. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein a point defining a bottom level of the elongated portion of the channel which can be opened is separated from the elbow of the column by at least 50% of the total length of the elongated portion of the column. 19. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the tapping head enclosing the pinch valve comprises two half shells hinged together such that the tapping head can be opened to separate the two jaws from one another by a distance greater than, d1. 20. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the support plate is the top of a housing containing a source of pressurized gas connected to the inlet of a second, pressure line an outlet thereof comprising a connecting device for coupling said inlet end to said container containing the liquid to be dispensed, the height of said housing being not more than 250 mm.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Lo Vincent (Racine WI) Vos Kenneth D. (Racine WI) Suchla Germane M. (Racine WI), Pressurized container-dispensers and filling method.
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