DEVICE FOR MANUALLY POURING FOAMING AND CARBONATED BEVERAGES

Abstract

The invention relates to the food industry, and specifically to commercial equipment, and can be used for dispensing beer and other foaming and carbonated beverages from an isobaric container. The device includes a drainage channel which is connected by means of a three-way flow switch to tubes for feeding gas and beverage, a unit for securing the neck of a plastic bottle to the open end of the drainage channel and a control valve which is connected to the drainage channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manually dispensing of foaming and carbonated beverages comprising a drainage channel (3) which is connected by means of a three-way flow switch (2) to tubes for feeding gas and beverage, a unit (4) for securing the neck of a plastic bottle (5) to the open end of the drainage channel (3), and a control valve (11) which is connected to the drainage channel (3); wherein the three-way flow switch (2) contains axially-symmetric cavities (13, 14) with seats, and installed in the seats, spring-loaded valves (15, 16), the stems of which are kinematically connected to a shaped surface (21) of the rotary element (22), which is rigidly connected to a control handle (23) for alternative opening of the valves (15, 16) or for sustaining said valves (15, 16) in their initial closed state; and the axially-symmetric cavities (13, 14) with seats are connected by means of inner channels (7, 8) to the drainage channel (3) and to the tubes for feeding gas and beverage, characterized in that the three-way flow switch (2) is installed in the housing of the apparatus and can be removed therefrom, the axially-symmetric cavities (13, 14) with seats for accommodating the blocking components of the valves (15, 16) are positioned in the inner channels (7, 8) of the flow switch (2), transversely relative to the channels (7, 8); portions of the stems (19, 20) of the valves (15, 16) with springs (17, 18) and the rotary element (22) are positioned outside the cavities of the inner channels (7, 8) of the flow switch (2), wherein the valves (15, 16) with stems (19, 20) and the rotary element (22) which comes into contact with the same are made of a thermoplastic material with an allowable compressive stress of 55-100 MPa, and a surface of the stems (19, 20) of the valves (15, 16) which comes into contact with the shaped surface (21) of the rotary element (22) is extended as a portion of a second-order curve.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that surface of the stems (19, 20) of the valves (15, 16) with a shaped surface of the rotary element (22) is arranged in the form of a portion of a spherical, elliptical or parabolic surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that rotary element (22) is arranged in the form of a ring located around its rotation axis, and its shaped surface (21) is located on the side of the rotary element, which is in contact with stems (19, 20) of the valves (15, 16).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that rotary element (22) and stems (19, 20) of the valves are manufactured of polyamide or polyacetal.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that rotary element (22) with shaped surface (21) includes a rotary element reset mechanism, also designed for bringing the valves (15, 16) to the closed state, arranged, for example, in the form of a torsion spring (37), the ends of which are fixed respectively on the rotary element (22) and on the rotary element pivot axle.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that rotary element (22) with shaped surface (21) is provided with a lock for fixing in positions: in initial position; with opened gas supply valve (16); with opened beverage supply valve (15).

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that position lock of the rotary element (22) is arranged in the form of a spring-loaded element (39) located in the housing of the flow switch (2), with possibility of positioning said element (39) in one of the three slots (40) arranged on the pivot axle or shaped surface (21) of the rotary element (22).

Description

[0018] The invention is illustrated with the following graphic materials. FIG. 1 represents a scheme of device for manually dispensing of foaming and carbonated beverages into PET bottle. FIGS. 2 and 3 represent side and front views of the device respectively. FIG. 4 represents section of the device by A-A plane on FIG. 2. FIG. 5 represents section of the device by B-B plane on FIG. 3. FIGS. 6 and 7 demonstrate correspondingly sections B-B and F-F on FIG. 4. FIG. 8 represents appearance of the rotary element with a shaped surface. FIG. 9 represents appearance of the flow switch with rotary element reset mechanism made, for example, in the form of a torsion spring. FIG. 10 represents a rotary element lock located in the housing of the flow switch with slots on the rotary element shaped surface. FIG. 11 represents a rotary element lock located in the housing of the flow switch with slots on the rotary element pivot axle. FIG. 12 represents flow switch section view by plane of FIG. 6.

[0019] Device for manually dispensing of foaming and carbonated beverages (FIGS. 1-5) comprises an aggregate housing 1 with a three-way flow switch 2, drainage channel 3 and a unit 4 for securing plastic bottle 5 neck to the open end 6 of the drainage channel 3, located around channel 3. Drainage channel 3 is connected to beverage supply fitting 9 and gas supply fitting 10 by means of intermediate channels 7 and 8 arranged in the flow switch 2. Control valve 11 is installed in the housing 1 and is connected by channel 12 to the container 5 cavity. Three-way flow switch 2 is located inside housing 1, with the possibility of its removal from the housing 1, and is fixed to the housing 1 with a screw connection.

[0020] Intermediate channels 7 and 8 of the flow switch 2 comprise axially-symmetric cavities 13 and 14 with seats and valves 15 and 16 installed in the seats with the return springs 17 and 18. Stems 19 and 20 of the valves 15 and 16 are kinematically connected to the shaped surface 21 of the rotary element 22. The rotary element 22 is rigidly connected to a control handle 23 for alternative opening of said valves 15, 16 or for sustaining valves 15, 16 in the initial closed state. The axially-symmetric cavities 13, 14 with seats for accommodating blocking components of the valves 15, 16 are positioned in the intermediate channels 7, 8 of the flow switching mechanism 2, transversely relative to the channels 7, 8. Portions of the stems (19, 20) of the valves (15, 16) with springs (17, 18) and the rotary element (22) are positioned outside the cavities of the inner channels (7, 8) of the flow switch (2). Valves (15, 16) with stems (19, 20) and rotary element (22) in contact with them, all are manufactured of a thermoplastic material with allowable compressive stress [] of 55-100 MPa. Surface of stems 19, 20 of the valves 15, 16 contacting with the shaped surface of the rotary element 22 is extended in the form of a portion of a second-order curve (described by equation R={square root over (x.sup.2+y.sup.2+z.sup.2)}), for instance, in the form of a portion of spherical, elliptical or parabolic surface.

[0021] Rotary element 22 and stems 19 and 20 of the valves 15 and 16 (or upper portion of said stems 19 and 20) can be manufactured of polyamide or polyacetal. Rotary element 22 with shaped surface 21 is arranged in the form of a ring located around upper cylindrical portion of the flow switch 2 body, and shaped surface 21 is located on the side of the rotary element 22, which is in contact with stems 19, 20 of the valves 15, 16. Flow switch 2 and rotary element 22 are closed by lid 24 from above.

[0022] Unit 4 for securing plastic bottle 5 neck to the open end 6 of the drainage channel 3 comprises an annular elastic element 25 attached to the end of the drainage channel 3 coaxially to its outlet opening, a cup 26 with control handle 27, and a socket 28 matching the size of the plastic bottle 5 neck. Cylindrical portion of the cup 26 is located around the open end of the drainage channel 3 and kinematically connected with housing 1 wall by means of a bayonet joint. A foam suppression unit 29 comprises a tap 30 with a through axial passage 31. Tap 30 has an outer cylindrical portion with a spiral groove 32 on the lateral surface. A shank of the tap 30 forms an annual cavity 33 between outer surface of the shank and the surface of the expanded end portion of the drainage channel 3. Diameter of the cylindrical portion of the tap 30 corresponds to the diameter of the end portion of the drainage channel 3. Annular cavity 33 of the drainage channel 3 is connected to the spiral groove 32, and axial channel 31 of the nozzle 30 is connected to control valve 11 by means of channel 12. CO2 gas pressure relief is accomplished with a fitting 34 connected by channel 35 to channel 12 of the control valve 11.

[0023] The beverage dispensing device includes unit 36 for connecting valve for dispensing beverage into small container (a glass or a mug). Rotary element 22 with shaped surface 21 comprises a mechanism for resetting rotary element 22 and bringing valves 15 and 16 into closed position. Rotary element 22 reset mechanism can be arranged, for example, in the form of a torsion spring 37. The ends of the torsion spring 37 are fixed respectively on the rotary element 22 and on the rotary element 22 pivot axle (at the upper cylindrical portion of the flow switch 2).

[0024] Rotary element 22 is provided with a lock for fixing it in positions: in initial position; with opened gas supply valve 16; with opened beverage supply valve 15. This lock is arranged in the form of an element 39 (a ball, a cylinder, or a cone) spring-loaded by the spring 38. Element 39 of the lock is located in the body of the flow switch 2, with possibility of being positioned in one of the three slots 40, arranged on the pivot axle of the rotary element 22 or its shaped surface 21.

[0025] Device for manually dispensing of foaming and carbonated beverages operates in the following way. The device for counterpressure filling plastic bottles 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is supposed to be installed, for example, on the bar counter, and fittings 9 and 10 are to be connected to the beverage supply tube from isobaric container and gas supply tube from a gas bottle, correspondingly. The device for manually pouring foaming and carbonated beverages according to the present invention can be used for filling with a beverage a mug (or a glass) by means of a valve (not shown) connected to unit 36 (see FIG. 3). The device under consideration also allows for filling plastic bottles 5 (see FIGS. 1-5). To do it, plastic bottle 5 is to be inserted into socket 28 of cup 26 of the unit 4, and by turning the handle 27 to be tightly connected to the open end of the drainage channel 3 by virtue of the elastic annular element 25. At this time control valve 11 is closed. Valves 15 and 16 of the flow switch 2 are set in closed position (control handle 23 is located in its neutral position opposite to the control valve 11). Then control handle 23 together with rotary element 22 of the flow switch 2 is to be turned by 45 counterclockwise, see FIG. 4) to open valve 16 and communicate cavity 14 with gas CO.sub.2 by channel 8, drainage channel 3, annular cavity 33 of the drainage channel 3, and spiral groove 32 to the internal volume of the plastic bottle 5. Upon that the CO.sub.2 gas under pressure from isobaric container enters the plastic bottle 5, the pressure in which rises up to the isobaric container pressure level. After that the control handle 23 together with rotary element 22 is to be turned by 105 in the opposite direction (clockwise) to communicate beverage fitting 9 through the cavity 13, channel 7 and drainage channel 3, annular cavity 33 of the drainage channel 3, and spiral groove 32 to the internal volume of the plastic bottle 5. Since pressure in the consumer plastic container equals the pressure in the isobaric container, beverage does not enter the said container 5. At opening of the control valve 11 gas CO.sub.2 through axial channel 31 and aperture of the control valve 11 is displaced from the plastic container 5 to atmosphere. It creates a pressure drop in the isobaric container and plastic container 5, whereby the beverage fills container 5. Passing through the spiral groove 32 of the cylindrical portion of the nozzle 30, the beverage under action of centrifugal forces in the form of a taper-shaped film flows onto the walls of the neck of plastic container 5, and then smoothly flows down by the walls, owing to which foaming is prevented. Besides, foam suppression is achieved by creating gas pressure in the dispensing system and above the beverage level in the plastic container 5, which exceeds the saturation pressure of the gas dissolved in the beverage. After filling the plastic container 5 to stop beverage inflow it is necessary to turn handle 23 together with rotary element 22 by an angle of 60 degrees (counterclockwise) to its initial position. The remainder of the gas in the neck of the bottle is removed through the axial channel 31 of the nozzle 30 and the aperture of the control valve 11 to atmosphere. Pressure in the plastic container 5 filled with beverage levels up to atmospheric pressure. After that, the handle 27 is to be rotated in the opposite direction to disconnect the open end of the drainage channel 3 from the neck of the plastic container 5. Container 5 is taken out of the device, plugged-up and conveyed to the consumer.

[0026] It follows from the description of the present application, that the claimed invention provides for the above-mentioned technical result, i.e. increases the durability, reliability and maintainability of the flow switch of the apparatus for manually dispensing of beverages.