Abstract:
A device for beer keg transportation, cooling beer quickly, and dispensing it easily. The dispensing cart combines a handcart for transport of the keg, a heat exchanger for cooling the beer contained in the keg, and a bracket to contain a pressurized gas cylinder for charging the keg.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/168,354, filed May 29, 2015 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates beverage transport and dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for transporting, chilling, and dispensing a beverage contained in a bulk storage barrel. 
         [0003]    Currently, there exist dispensing carts for beer and other beverages contained in barrel, however these carts are primarily designed for retail type establishments, or formal environments. Such carts are difficult to be moved over uneven terrain without great effort and their cost makes them prohibitive for most consumers. 
         [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus for conveniently transporting across uneven terrain, quickly chilling, and dispensing beverages from a bulk storage barrel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a beverage dispensing cart includes a support platform adapted to support a vessel containing the beverage. The cart has at least one upright member having a first end attached to the support platform and a handle extending from a second end of the at least one upright member; a heat exchanger attached to the at least one upright member, the heat exchanger having an inlet adapted to be coupled to an outlet of the vessel; and a dispensing valve operatively coupled to an outlet of the heat exchanger. 
         [0006]    In other embodiments the cart includes a plurality of ground transport wheels operatively attached to a base portion of the cart. The heat exchanger further includes an insulated container having at least one sidewall defining a cavity therein. The heat exchanger may also include a coiled tube contained within the cavity, the coiled tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet extending through the sidewall and terminating in a shank, the outlet operatively coupled to the dispensing valve. The cart may also have a cylinder bracket adapted to receive a cylinder containing a pressurized gas. The ground transport wheels are selectively position able between a transport condition and a stowed condition. 
         [0007]    In other aspects of the invention, a beverage dispensing cart, has a support platform adapted to support a vessel containing the beverage; at least one upright member having a first end attached to the support platform and a handle extending from a second end of the at least one upright member; a cylinder bracket adapted to receive a cylinder containing a pressurized gas; a dispensing valve having an inlet and an outlet: and a delivery tube in fluid communication with the dispensing valve inlet and adapted to be connected to an outlet of the vessel. The cart may also be configured with a heat exchanger means operatively coupled between the dispensing valve and the delivery tube. The heat exchanger means may include an insulated container having at least one sidewall defining a cavity therein. The heat exchanger means may also include a coiled tube contained within the cavity, the coiled tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet extending through the sidewall and terminating in a shank, and the outlet operatively coupled to the dispensing valve. The coiled tube may be formed of a metallic material. IN preferred embodiments, the cart is equipped with a plurality of ground transport wheels operatively attached to a base portion of the cart. The ground transport wheels are operable between a transport position and a stowed position. 
         [0008]    In yet other aspects of the invention a beverage dispensing hand cart, includes a hand cart having a support platform adapted to support a barrel containing the beverage, the hand cart having at least one upright member having a first end attached to the support platform and a handle extending from a second end of the at least one upright member, a plurality of ground transport wheels operatively attached to a base portion of the cart; a cylinder bracket adapted to receive a cylinder containing a pressurized gas; a dispensing valve having an inlet and an outlet: a delivery tube in fluid communication with the dispensing valve inlet and adapted to be connected to an outlet of the barrel; and a heat exchanger means operatively coupled between the dispensing valve inlet and the delivery tube. The heat exchanger means may included an insulated container having at least one sidewall defining a cavity therein; and a coiled tube contained within the cavity, the coiled tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet extending through the sidewall and terminating in a shank, and the outlet operatively coupled to the dispensing valve. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a beverage transport and dispensing cart of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the cart. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the cart shown in open configuration and shown without ice for illustrative clarity. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a section detail view of the cart taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0014]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a transport and dispensing apparatus for serving beverages contained in a bulk storage vessel. More preferably, the beverage is dispensed in a chilled condition 
         [0015]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the beverage transport and dispensing apparatus of the present invention includes a cart  10  adapted to carry a beverage containment barrel  12 , such as a keg of beer. The cart  10  is configured with a support plate  11  extending forwardly from a lower portion of the cart  10  to support the barrel  12 . The barrel  12  is secured to the cart  10  via a clamp  14 , which may include a metallic band camp, nylon or woven fabric strap, a clamp that engages the rim of the barrel  12 . 
         [0016]    The cart  10  is provided with a plurality of ground transport wheels  13  for supporting the cart during transport conditions. The ground transport wheels  13  may be continuously engaged with a ground surface to support the cart  10  or they may be configured to selectively engage the ground during transport and disengaged from the ground during beverage dispensing or storage operations. 
         [0017]    At least one upright member  15  has a first end operatively attached to the lower portion of the cart  10  extends upwardly to a second end proximal to an upper portion of the cart  10 . A handle  17  is defined at the second end of the support member  15 . The handle  17  is configured to provide a gripping location for an operator to manipulate and position the cart  10  via the ground transport wheels  13 . The from 
         [0018]    The cart  10  may further include a dispensing valve  16 , or tap, operatively connected to the barrel  12  via tubing  26 . The tap  16  further includes a handle  32  to operate the tap  16  between a closed position and an open, fluid dispensing condition. For dispensing beverages, such as beer, it is often desirable to dispense the beverage in a chilled condition. According to some embodiments of the invention, the cart  10  may further include a cooling apparatus interposed between the beverage barrel  12  and the dispensing tap  16 . 
         [0019]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the cart  10  may further include a cooling apparatus configured to chill the liquid beverage as it is dispensed. In a preferred embodiment the cooling apparatus may include an insulated container  30  having at least one sidewall defining an interior cavity. A heat exchanger  34  may be contained within the interior cavity of the insulated container  30  and interposed between the tubing  26  and the tap  16 . 
         [0020]    Preferably, the heat exchanger  34  is formed as a coiled tube in fluid communication with the tubing  26  and the tap  16 . More preferably the heat exchanger  34  is formed from a coil of thermally conductive material, such as a metal. By way of example, depending on the inner diameter of the tubing, the coil may be formed from a length of tubing having a linear length of about 50 ft. The selected metal should be of a food and beverage grade material and be compatible with beverages being dispensed, such as stainless steel, or copper. A coupling shank  28  is configured to extend a first end of the coil  34  through the side wall of the insulated container  30  and a second end of the coil  34  is operatively coupled to an inlet of the tap  16 . The tap  16  may be attached to the sidewall of the insulated container  30 . 
         [0021]    The interior cavity of the insulated container  30  may be cooled by any suitable means. In a preferred embodiment, the interior cavity is adapted to receive a quantity of ice  36 , which may be water in a frozen condition, dry ice, reusable cold pack materials. More preferably the ice  36  is provided as an ice bath that may surround and chill the heat exchanger  34 . 
         [0022]    As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the beverage vessel  12  requires a source of pressure to be conveyed to the beverage contents  38  within the vessel  12  in order to convey the liquid  38  out of the vessel  12  for delivery to the tap  16 . The pressure source may be a hand pump, operatively coupled to an inlet of a barrel fitting  40  disposed at the top of the barrel  12 . Alternatively, the pressure source may be provided via a pressurized gas delivered to the barrel interior via the inlet  41  at fitting  40 . In further reference to  FIG. 4 , pressurized, liquids  38  within the barrel are conveyed through a delivery tube  42  extending between an outlet  44  of the fitting  40  and a bottom of the barrel  12   
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, the cart  10  of the present invention is configured with a mounting bracket  18 , adapted to receive a pressurized gas cylinder  20 . The pressurized gas cylinder  20  may be charged with, for example CO 2 , or any suitable beverage dispensing gas. The cylinder  20  is operatively connected to the inlet at fitting  40 . The cylinder may include a valve  21  for controlling the pressure and delivery of the gas to pressurize the liquid beverage  38  contained within the barrel  12 . A the cylinder  20  may also include a pressure gauge  22  to permit the operator to set a desired delivery pressure of the gas to the barrel  12  by adjustment of the valve  21 . 
         [0024]    In further reference to  FIG. 4 , in order to dispense a liquid beverage  38  from the barrel  12 , the operator would configure the pressurized gas in communication with the fitting inlet  41 , open valve  21  and set a desired delivery pressure by viewing gage  22 . With the tubing  26  connected to the barrel  12  and the heat exchanger shank  28 , the operator would manipulate handle  32  so that the liquid beverage  38  is conveyed through the barrel tube  42 , tubing  26 , the heat exchanger  34  and is dispensed from the tap  16 . 
         [0025]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.