Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US4111243?oq=U.S.+Patent+%23+5%2C723%2C324
Timestamp: 2018-03-23 23:52:41
Document Index: 559755556

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 29', 'art 29', 'art 29', 'art 39', 'art 39', 'art 43', 'art 46', 'art 29', 'art 43']

US4111243A - Beverage dispensing device - Google Patents
US4111243A
US4111243A US05699893 US69989376A US4111243A US 4111243 A US4111243 A US 4111243A US 05699893 US05699893 US 05699893 US 69989376 A US69989376 A US 69989376A US 4111243 A US4111243 A US 4111243A
US05699893
Charles P. Fetterman
CONSUMERS DIGITAL SYSTEMS CORP
A beer dispenser includes a timer-controlled automatic lever-operating mechanism which is mounted on a beer faucet by means of a quick-disconnect coupling. A lock is provided for preventing unauthorized removal of the lever-operating mechanism. When the lock is released, the device is quickly removed from the faucet for manual operation of the faucet or for cleaning the faucet. A trip lever behind the faucet spout actuates a timing circuit which opens the faucet valve for a preselected period. A manual switch in the device permits addition of a single small portion of beer, to replace head spillage.
This invention relates to beverage dispensing devices, and in particular to a draft beer dispenser.
One of the objects of this invention is to provide an automatic beer dispensing system which is easy to adapt to existing beer faucets, which is less subject to corrosion than previously known automatic dispensers, and which is easily cleaned.
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of beer dispensing system 1 in accordance with the present invention. The dispensing system 1 includes the usual beer keg 3, bottle of pressurized carbon dioxide 5, automatic pressure-regulating valve 7, and shut-off valve 9, all enclosed in a refrigerator cabinet indicated by the dotted line 11. As is well known in the art, the valve 7 provides a relatively uniform pressure within the keg 3, and therefore maintains a relatively uniform flow rate out of the keg 3. The outlet of the keg 3 is connected through tubing 13 to a beer dispensing faucet 15. The faucet 15 may be a standard beer faucet, illustratively a faucet sold by the Perlick Company, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., as its No. 308X. As is well known in the art and shown particularly in FIG. 7, the faucet includes a body casting 17 having a passageway through it, including a horizontal bore 19 having an inlet 21, an outlet spout 23 communicating with the horizontal bore 19, and a valve seat 25 adjacent the inlet 21. A valve assembly 27 is slidably mounted in the horizontal bore 19. The valve assembly 27 includes a cylindrical fitting part 29 which is snugly slidable in the forward part of the passageway 19, downstream of the spout 23. The valve assembly 27 also includes a connecting rod 31, integral with the fitting part 29, and a washer 33 secured to the rearward end of the rod 31 by a screw 35. The washer 33 forms a fluid-tight fit with the valve seat 25 when the valve assembly 27 is in its forward position, as shown in FIG. 7. The fitting part 29 is centrally relieved to form a thin web 37. At the forward end of the valve body 17, there is provided an externally-threaded vertical riser part 39, which communicates with the forward portion of the horizontal passage 19. A chamfered step 41 in the riser part 39 provides a seat for pivotally supporting a spherical pivot part 43 of a valve stem 45. At the lower end of the valve stem 45, a split spherical part 46 straddles the web 37 and engages the inner faces of the fitting part 29 of the valve assembly 27. The upper end of the valve stem 45 is threaded as shown at 47 to accept a knob, now shown in FIG. 7. An integral collar 49 on the valve stem 45 acts as a stop for the knob. The valve stem shown in FIG. 7 differs from the stems commonly used in previous commercial beer faucets in that a portion of the threads above the collar 49 is machined away. The spherical pivot part 43 of the valve stem 45 is held against the seat 41 by a friction ring 51, a washer 53 and a cap nut or bonnet 55.
1. An easily disassembled and cleaned dispensing device for automatically dispensing a pressurized beverage, said device comprising:
(a) a faucet body having a passageway therethrough, said passageway including a generally horizontal bore having an inlet, an inlet, an outlet spout communicating with said inlet and a valve seat in said horizontal bore between said inlet and said outlet spout;
(b) a valve assembly slidably mounted in said horizontal bore, said valve assembly including means cooperative with said valve seat for closing said passageway when said valve assembly is in a forward position;
(c) a generally vertical bore in said body communicating with said generally horizontal bore, said generally vertical bore including means forming a valve stem seat;
(d) a valve stem in said generally vertical bore, said valve stem including
(i) a lower part cooperative with said valve assembly to move said valve assembly from said forward position to a rearward position in which said passageway is open;
(ii) a central part pivotably mounted in said valve stem seat; and
(iii) an upper part extending above said faucet body;
(e) cap nut means mounted on said faucet body for holding and valve stem in said in said generally vertical bore;
(f) electrically operable means cooperative with said upper part of said valve stem for opening said passageway in said faucet body;
(g) housing means for carrying said electrically operable means, said housing means comprising a lower wall having slots therein; and
(h) coupling means on said faucet body for releasably mounting said housing means on said faucet body with said electrically operable means positioned to cooperate with said upper part of said valve stem, said coupling means being so proportioned and constructed as to permit removal of said cap nut means and removal of said valve stem from said generally vertical bore in said faucet body when said housing means are released and removed from said mounting means, said coupling means comprising a plurality of ears, each ear comprising a vertical riser part and a horizontal flap part, said ears extending through said slots in said lower wall of said housing means with said flap parts overlying said lower wall when said housing means are mounted on said faucet body, said ears and said slots forming a quick-disconnect coupling releasable by lateral movement of said housing means with respect to said faucet body.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said coupling means further comprise a mounting block held to said body by said cap nut means, said cap nut means being located within said housing means when said housing means are mounted on said faucet body, and further including lock means for preventing unauthorized release of said quick-disconnect coupling.
10. An easily disassembled and cleaned dispensing device for automatically dispensing a pressurized beverage, said device comprising:
(a) a faucet body having a passageway therethrough, said passageway including a generally horizontal bore having an inlet, an outlet spout communicating with said inlet and a valve seat in said horizontal bore between said inlet and said outlet spout;
(c) an externally threaded riser portion on said faucet body;
(d) a generally vertical bore in said body extending through said riser portion on said faucet body and communicating with said generally horizontal bore, said generally vertical bore including means forming a valve stem seat;
(e) a valve stem in said generally vertical bore, said valve stem including
(f) cap nut means mounted on said faucet body threaded riser portion for holding said valve stem in said generally vertical bore;
(g) electrically operable means cooperative with said upper part of said valve stem for opening said passageway in said faucet body;
(h) housing means for carrying said electrically operable means; and
(i) a mounting block including an opening therethrough, said externally threaded riser portion on said faucet body extending through said opening, said mounting block being held to said faucet body by said cap nut means, said mounting block comprising mounting means for releasably mounting said housing means on said faucet body with said electrically operable means positioned to cooperate with said upper part of said valve stem, said cap nut means being located within said housing means when said housing means are mounded on said mounting block.
11. The device of claim 10 further including timing means for controlling the length of time said electrically operated means operate said valve stem to open said passageway in said faucet body and wherein said electrically operable means carried by said housing means comprise switch means for activating said timing means, said mounting block carrying switch engagement means, said switch engagement means comprising a container-engaging portion extending behind said outlet spout, a generally vertical yoke part embracing said spout and carrying said container-engaging portion, a generally horizontal forwardly extending arm adapted to engage said switch means, and pivot means between said yoke part and said arm for pivotally mounting said switch engagement means to said mounting block, said engagement means being gravity biased out of engagement with said switch means and said container engaging portion being forwardly movable by the rim of a container to cause said arm to engage said switch means.
US05699893 1976-06-25 1976-06-25 Beverage dispensing device Expired - Lifetime US4111243A (en)
US05699893 US4111243A (en) 1976-06-25 1976-06-25 Beverage dispensing device
US4111243A true US4111243A (en) 1978-09-05
ID=24811365
US05699893 Expired - Lifetime US4111243A (en) 1976-06-25 1976-06-25 Beverage dispensing device
US (1) US4111243A (en)
US6648178B2 (en) 2001-11-28 2003-11-18 Jeffrey Grunewald Tap lock apparatus and methods of operation thereof
US6095372A (en) 2000-08-01 Beverage dispenser cabinet and holder