GASEOUS LIQUID DISPENSER AND METHOD OF PROVISION OF A GASEOUS LIQUID

Abstract

A collapsible bag for use in dispensing gaseous fluids, the collapsible bag including three collapsible enclosures. Two of the collapsible enclosures have respective fluid paths extending from internal to external of the outer enclosure. The configuration of the food quality of an inner enclosures and the integrity of the third outer enclosure and as well as the relative volume of one inner enclosure to the outer enclosures effects the dispensing mechanism of the pressure which allows transfer of the pressure without fluid interaction to another of the at inner collapsible enclosures and selective dispensing.

Claims

1.-67. (canceled)

68. A collapsible bag comprising: at least three collapsible enclosures, wherein one of the at least three collapsible enclosures forms an outer enclosure and at least two of the at least three collapsible enclosures are within the outer enclosure, and wherein each of the at least two collapsible enclosures have respective fluid paths extending from external of the outer enclosure.

69. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein the at least two collapsible enclosures are adjacent each other within the outer enclosure.

70. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein a first enclosure of the at least two collapsible enclosures is within a second enclosure of the at least two collapsible enclosures and both are within the outer enclosure.

71. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein a first enclosure of the at least two collapsible enclosures is sized to have an expanded volume similar to an expanded volume of the outer enclosure wherein pressure gas applied into first enclosure will displace liquid in second enclosure for exiting along fluid path to external of the outer enclosure.

72. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein at least part of each of the fluid paths are at least partially concentrically aligned.

73. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein the at least three collapsible enclosures collapse flat, the collapsible bag being substantially flat, when the at least three collapsible enclosures are collapsed, and has end seams at opposing ends such that when full makes a substantially pillow shape.

74. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein the outer enclosure has an integrity to hold a pressure within of <60 psi wherein the pressure can be received in at least one of the at least three collapsible enclosures and the integrity of the outer bag allows transfer of the pressure without fluid interaction to another of the at least three collapsible enclosures.

75. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein the fluid paths of the at least two collapsible enclosures extend to external of the outer enclosure at a common outlet of the outer enclosure.

76. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein the fluid paths are formed at least partly by a valve.

77. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein the fluid paths are formed to receive a valve.

78. A collapsible bag according to claim 68 wherein the fluid paths are formed integral with a valve.

79. A collapsible bag according to claim 75 wherein the valve is a multi-pathway valve forming a plurality of separate pathways with each pathway forming at least part of one of the fluid paths, wherein at least part of the fluid paths formed by the valve are at least partially concentrically aligned.

80. A collapsible bag according to claim 79 wherein the valve forms part of the first fluid path leading to the first enclosure forming a beer compartment of flexible bag; and forms part of the second fluid path leading to the second enclosure forming a pressure compartment of flexible bag.

81. A collapsible bag according to claim 80 wherein a first enclosure of the at least two collapsible enclosures is sized to have an expanded volume similar to an expanded volume of the outer enclosure wherein pressure gas applied into the first fluid path into the first enclosure will displace liquid in the second enclosure for exiting along second fluid path to external of the outer enclosure and connection to a dispenser.

82. A collapsible bag according to claim 79 wherein the valve includes: a. a lower body part having two peripheral openings fluidly connectable into two separate expandable compartments; b. an upper body mounted into a top part of the lower body and having two outlets connecting to two flow paths each fluidly connected to respective two separate expandable compartments when the upper body is connected to the lower body; c. a first passage for feeding a pressure gas into a flexible pressure bag adjacent to or surrounding a liquid bag holding the gaseous drink to be dispensed; and d. a second passage for selectively feeding the gaseous drink from the liquid bag, wherein the multichannel valve is configured inline allowing the pressure gas to be fed through the first passage to pressure bag to apply pressure to sides of the liquid bag and allowing dispensing of the liquid through the second passage.

83. A valve according to claim 82 wherein the lower body can be mounted on at least one collapsible bag having a first flexible compartment for holding beer and a second flexible compartment forming the two separate expandable compartments, and the upper body can be attached to the lower body.

84. A collapsible bag for use in dispensing gaseous drink wherein the bag includes: a. an outer flexible compartment having a substantially constant maximum volume at a maximum pressure; b. at least a first inner flexible compartment for receiving and holding liquid; c. at least a second inner flexible compartment acting as a pressure bag for selectively receiving pressured gas and by controlling the flow of pressurised gas into the second inner compartment for exerting pressure on the first flexible compartment to cause flow of the beer from the collapsible bag; and d. a connection to a valve means for controlling the flow of liquid and/or pressured gas.

85. A collapsible bag according to claim 84 wherein the flexible compartments are integral and substantially overlying and similarly sized in footprint.

86. A collapsible bag according to claim 84 wherein the collapsible bag when collapsed is substantially flat and has end seams at opposing ends such that when full makes a substantially pillow shape.

87. A dispenser for use in dispensing a gaseous drink from at least one collapsible bag comprising: a. a chamber for receiving at least one collapsible bag having a first flexible compartment for holding gaseous drink; b. a first channel for selective fluid connection to the at least one collapsible bag; c. a delivery port fluidly connected to the first channel for providing selective delivery of gaseous drink from the at least one collapsible bag; d. a second channel for selective connection to a second flexible compartment of the at least one collapsible bag; and e. a least one pressure means connectable by the second channel to the second flexible compartment of the at least one collapsible bag for exerting pressure on the first flexible compartment to cause flow of the gaseous drink to the delivery port, wherein the dispenser can selectively allow provision of a user defined delivery amount of gaseous drink by control of the delivery port.

88. A dispenser according to claim 87 wherein the at least one pressure means is fluidly independent of the gaseous drink.

89. A dispenser according to claim 87 wherein a part of the first channel includes a heat transfer portion passing through a cooling mechanism to effect a cooling of the delivered gaseous drink.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0118] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0119] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a collapsible beer bag in a flatform without an advertising box but with a multichannel valve attached in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0120] FIG. 2 is a beer dispenser in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention that can be readily relocatable;

[0121] FIG. 3 is collapsible bag for use in a beer dispenser of FIG. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0122] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of fluid pathway operation of the beer bag of FIG. 2 with reference to a multichannel valve in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0123] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a collapsible bag in flatform with a multichannel valve for use in a beer dispenser of FIG. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0124] FIG. 6 is a collapsible beer bag in a constructed form able to be full of beer and in an advertising box matching the beer and with a multichannel valve attached in accordance with an embodiment of the invention for use in a dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0125] FIG. 7 is a collapsible beer bag in an advertising box with only a first part of a multichannel valve attached in accordance with an embodiment of the invention for use in a dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0126] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic cutaway of FIG. 7 showing the internal bags within the external bag with all attached to the multichannel valve attached in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0127] FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded diagrammatic view of a collapsible beer bag in a flatform with a multichannel valve attached in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0128] FIG. 10 is a side elevation exploded diagrammatic view of a collapsible beer bag in a flatform with a multichannel valve attached in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0129] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a multichannel valve attached to flatform of collapsible bag being detail B of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0130] FIG. 12 is a cutaway view of a multichannel valve in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0131] FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic flow diagram of the method of supplying of beer for dispensing using the collapsible bag in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

[0132] FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic flow diagram of the method of supplying of beer for dispensing of the supplied beer in the collapsible bag in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0133] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[0134] Referring to FIG. 1 there is one form of the collapsible bag 15 comprising at least three collapsible enclosures 21, 22 and 23. One of the at least three collapsible enclosures forms an outer enclosure 23 and at least two of the at least three collapsible enclosures 21, 22 are within the outer enclosure 23. Each of the at least two collapsible enclosures 21, 22 have respective fluid paths extending from internal 34, 37 to external 32, 35 of the outer enclosure 23.

[0135] Preferably the at least two collapsible enclosures are adjacent each other as in FIG. 3 within the outer enclosure. However as in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 4, an alternative form is a first enclosure 21 of the at least two collapsible enclosures is within a second enclosure 22 of the at least two collapsible enclosures and both are within the outer enclosure 23.

[0136] The first enclosure 21 of the at least two collapsible enclosures is sized to have an expanded volume similar to an expanded volume of the outer enclosure wherein pressure gas applied into first enclosure 21 will displace liquid in second enclosure 22 for exiting along fluid path to external of the outer enclosure 23.

[0137] The collapsible bag has at least part of each of the fluid paths having at least partially concentrically aligned. In this way a single multipath valve 29 can be attached.

[0138] Therefore as shown in FIG. 1, the collapsible bag 15 has the at least three collapsible enclosures 21, 22, 23 which collapse flat. In this way the bag is flat when transported, filled in enlarged form and flat when used and being sent for re-using and refilling. Clearly this is in the form where the valve 29 is a snap in valve and can be attached later. The collapsible bag is substantially flat, when the at least three collapsible enclosures are collapsed, and can have end seams 50 at opposing ends such that when full makes a substantially pillow shape.

[0139] The outer enclosure has an integrity to hold a pressure within. This outer enclosure can include high tensile synthetic fibre such as Kevlar. The outer enclosure can has an integrity to hold a pressure within of <60 psi. and preferably within of substantially in the range of 35 to 50 psi. The inner enclosure includes an inner layer of FDA approved food safe polyethylene such as Mylar.

[0140] The configuration of the collapsible bags and the integrity of the outer enclosure and food quality of an inner enclosure as well as the relative volume of one inner enclosure to the outer enclosures effects the dispensing mechanism of the pressure which can be received in at least one of the at least three collapsible enclosures and the integrity of the outer bag allows transfer of the pressure without fluid interaction to another of the at least three collapsible enclosures. More particularly it also aids in maintaining gaseous pressure of the fluid being dispensed without coming into contact with the fluid.

[0141] It can be seen that most beneficially and most inventively is for the valve 29 to be a multi-pathway valve forming a plurality of separate pathways with each pathway forming at least part of one of the fluid paths. In particular, at least part of the fluid paths formed by the valve are at least partially concentrically aligned.

[0142] The collapsible bag with the valve forms part of the first fluid path leading to the first enclosure forming a beer compartment of flexible bag; and forms part of the second fluid path leading to the second enclosure forming a pressure compartment of flexible bag. The first enclosure of the at least two collapsible enclosures is sized to have an expanded volume similar to an expanded volume of the outer enclosure wherein pressure gas applied into the first fluid path into the first enclosure will displace liquid in the second enclosure for exiting along second fluid path to external of the outer enclosure and connection to a dispenser.

[0143] Referring to the drawings there is shown a beer dispenser 10 that can be readily relocatable. The beer dispenser 10 includes a body having a top dispensing section 11 above a chamber 12 for receiving at least one collapsible bag 15. The dispensing section 11 and the chamber 12 form an L-shape so as to provide a platform 14. A glass can be placed on the platform and fit under a delivery port 20 protruding from an upper portion of the dispensing section. The delivery port can be in the form of a levered tap such as a beer tap.

[0144] Below the chamber 12 for receiving at least one collapsible bag 15 is a power supply section 13 for holding the pressure supply 16 and/or the power supply 14 so as to provide effective operation to the dispenser.

[0145] The at least one collapsible bag 15 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 comprises an outer bag 23 in which is a liquid bag 21 and a pressure bag 22. The liquid bag 21 can contain a quantity of liquid such as beer and therefore form a beer bag. The pressure bag 22 is able to receive gas under pressure and thereby exert pressure on the alongside beer bag 21. The outer bag 23 controls the maximum expansion of the beer bag 21 and pressure bag 22 to control excess pressure and to effectively transfer the expansion pressure of the pressure bag 22 to the beer bag 21 while being fluidly separated.

[0146] In the particular preferred form of FIG. 4 the liquid bag 21 is inside the pressure bag 22 which is inside the outer bag 23. In this way the pressure bag 22 allows pressure to be applied to all sides of the liquid bag 21 and also allows use of a multichannel valve 29 to be configured inline without having two separate ports.

[0147] The multichannel valve 29 has separate channels which are used to access separately the pressure bag 22 and the beer bag 21. The multichannel valve 29 has a first portion 30 that is attached to the various bags of the outer bag 23, beer bag 21 and pressure bag 22. The multichannel valve 31 has a second portion 31 that is external to the bags and provides external ports 32 and 33. Preferably the second part of the multichannel valve 31 is snap fit into the first part 30 in a removable manner.

[0148] The multichannel valve 29 has a first fluid pathway from the external port 32 which feeds to internal channel 33 through the centre of the multichannel valve 29 and through to outlet 34 within the beer bag 21. To control flow there is a valve body 44 within this pathway.

[0149] The multichannel valve 29 has a second fluid pathway from the external port 35 which feeds to internal channel 36 through the outer circumferential part of the multichannel valve 29 and through to a peripheral outlet 37 within the pressure bag 22.

[0150] A particular important element of the multichannel valve is that only one valve structure is required and the three bags 21, 22 and 23 can be attached to the multichannel valve in an operative manner.

[0151] The dispenser 10 is able to receive one or a plurality of collapsible bags 15 with a beer bag containing beer within a chamber 12. However the dispenser 10 might in another form not include a dispenser body but only the dispenser connections.

[0152] The dispenser 10 includes a connection of a first channel 18 for selective fluid connection of the at least one collapsible bag 15 and more particularly of the beer bag 21 of the at least one collapsible bag 15 by way of the external port 32 of the multichannel valve 29. A delivery port 20 is fluidly connected to the other end of the first channel 18 for allowing selective delivery of beer from the at least one collapsible bag 15 through the first channel 18.

[0153] A part of the first channel 18 can be a heat transfer portion 19 which can be helical pathway for passing through or adjacent a cooling substance or cooling structure. In this way the beer when dispensed from the delivery port 20 is chilled.

[0154] The dispenser 10 includes a connection of a second channel 17 for selective fluid connection of the at least one collapsible bag 15 and more particularly of the pressure bag 22 of the at least one collapsible bag 15 by way of the external port 35 of the multichannel valve 29. A pressure supply 16 is fluidly connected to the other end of the second channel 17 for allowing exertion of pressure of the pressure bag 22 against the beer bag 21 for selective delivery of beer from the at least one collapsible bag 15 through the first channel 18.

[0155] The pressure supply 16 can be a pressurized gas cylinder such that it releases harmless air but under pressure when connected to the inlet 35 for feeding through outlet 37 into the pressure bag 22. Clearly the pressurized gas cylinder can include a check valve for selective opening and selective provision of pressured gas to the second channel 17 to the inlet 35.

[0156] In operation the pressurized gas from the pressure supply 16 is fed through the second channel 37 into the pathway into the pressure bag 22. At the same time by passing through the internal channel 36 between the inlet 35 and the outlet 37 in the pressure bag the pressured gas opens the valve 44. In this way the other pathway is open from the beer bag 21 through the internal central channel 33 and out the outlet 32 connected to the first channel 18 through the heat transfer portion 19 to the delivery port 20. The pressure provided by the pressurized gas of the pressure supply exerts pressure on the alongside beer bag 21 within the confines of the outer bag 23 to force the beer from the beer bag 21 to the delivery port 20. This pressured beer remains at the delivery port for as long as the pressure supply is connected to the pressure inlet 35 of the multichannel valve 29.

[0157] In use the delivery port 20 being a levered tap stops delivery of the pressured beer until the lever is bent to open the delivery port and allow dispensing of the beer preferably into glasses on or above the dispensing platform 14.

[0158] With reference to the drawings the multichannel valve 29 can be seen in more detail in FIGS. 8 to 12. The valve has two parts. A first part 30 is attached to the collapsible bag 15 but it is attached to the particular beer bag 21, pressure bag 22 and restraining outer bag 23 in such a way to allow the flow paths as shown in FIG. 3. The two parts 30, 31 of the valve 29 also allow for transport without connection of the second part 31 in the form of FIG. 6 (with possibly a snap in top closure—not shown) and have the second part 31 being snapped into the first part when ready for use such as in FIG. 5.

[0159] The first part 30 of the valve 29 includes a valve body 44 having a central passage that aligns with a central passage 33 of the top body portion 56 having the outlet 32. The first part 30 also includes a valve plug 45 for interacting with the valve body 44 to selectively close the central channel.

[0160] A further portion of the first part includes a skirt 51 extending from a central body encircling the central passage 33. A second skirt 52, which is spaced relative to the first skirt 51, is mounted parallel thereto and extends from a body which also encircles the central passage 33 but is inner to the body of the first skirt 51. The relative spacing of the second skirt to the first skirt 51 provides a radially extending pathway 37 fluidly separate to the inner central channel.

[0161] The second part 31 of the valve 29 includes a top body portion 56 having a central channel 33 fitting to a middle body portion 54 and having the first external outlet 32 with its channel 33 extending radially at 90 degrees to the main vertical central channel. Around the middle body portion 54 is a body that encircles the central channel 33 of the top body portion 56 and which has an outer wall that forms one wall of an annular ring passage. A ring body that includes the other external outlet 35 extending radially outward has at an inner side a wall that opposes the wall of the middle body portion 54 and completes the annular ring passage. This passage connects from the other external outlet 35 through annular channel and connecting downwards to fluidly connect with the radially extending outlet 37 between the two skirts 51 and 52.

[0162] Therefore, the multichannel valve 29 with first and second parts 30, 31 form a first fluid pathway leading from outlet 32 through central channel 33 down to central outlet, pass valve 44 to central outlet 34. It also forms a second fluid pathway

[0163] The connection of the beer bag 21, pressure bag 22 and outer bag 23 forming the collapsible bag 15 are achieved by connection to the first and second skirts 51, 52. The pressure bag 22 has a round top opening that fits around the central body of the first skirt 51 and is attached to the top surface of the annular plate of the first skirt. The bottom surface of the

[0164] In the form shown in FIG. 4 the beer bag 21 is within the pressure bag 22 which is within the containing bag 23 with the pressure being fed into external outlet 35 through annular ring channel 36 out outlet 37 along first fluid path. The first enclosure of the at least two collapsible enclosures is sized to have an expanded volume similar to an expanded volume of the outer enclosure wherein pressure gas applied into the first fluid path into the first enclosure will displace liquid in the second enclosure for exiting along second fluid path to external of the outer enclosure and connection to a dispenser.

[0165] In the form shown in FIG. 3 the beer bag 21 and pressure bag 22 are adjacent but both within the outer bag 23 to retain the inner bags but be still fed through the two separate fluid pathways.

Interpretation

Embodiments

[0166] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[0167] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0168] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

[0169] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

[0170] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

[0171] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as “forward”, “rearward”, “radially”, “peripherally”, “upwardly”, “downwardly”, and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including

[0172] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[0173] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

[0174] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[0175] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0176] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the beverage and drink service industries.