Patent Description:
Conventional coupler devices are arranged for fluidly connecting a beverage chamber of a beverage container, e.g. a beer keg, to a dispensing line. Once connected, the dispensing of the beverage from the container can be controlled by a dispenser, such as a faucet, which is arranged at a downstream end of the dispensing line.

Coupler devices typically include a housing with a fluid conduit extending therethrough between an inlet and an outlet, the coupler inlet being connectable to a container outlet. The fluid conduit of various conventional coupler devices extends, in use when coupled to a container, vertically.

Beverage containers can be interchanged, for example to replace an empty container with a full one. Hence, conventional coupler devices are detachably couplable to the beverage containers. In order to prevent a reflux flow of beverage in the dispensing line once a container has been decoupled, a conventional one-way valve is provided at the vertically extending beverage conduit of conventional coupler devices. The conventional one-way valve includes a valve seat and a valve ball that is disposed within the vertical beverage conduit of the coupler device. The valve ball is received by the seat to seal the beverage conduit, and is pushed upward by a beverage flow from the container towards the dispenser. The vertical extension of the beverage conduit ensures a biasing of the valve ball towards the valve seat under influence of gravity.

However, in coupler devices where, in use when coupled to a container, the beverage conduit extends horizontally instead of vertically a conventional one-way valve does not reliably prevent a reflux flow, particularly because the valve ball cannot be biased towards the valve seat by gravity. Hence, such coupler device is provided with a manually operable shut-off valve that is to be closed manually prior to decoupling the coupling device from the container. A coupler device according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is disclosed in <CIT>.

It is an object to provide an improved coupling device for preventing a reflux flow while being easy to use by a user. It is a further or another object to provide a lower cost coupling device and/or to provide a coupling device that can be used more hygienically.

According to the invention, a coupler device is provided for fluidly connecting a beverage chamber of a beverage container to a beverage dispensing line. The coupler device comprises a housing with a coupling organ for detachably coupling the housing to the beverage container; a beverage conduit extending through the housing between an inlet which is configured for being connected to a first dispensing line part attached to the beverage container and an outlet which is configured for being connected a second dispensing line part attached to a dispenser; and a broach element movably arranged relative to the housing for broaching the beverage container in order to fluidly connect the beverage chamber to the first dispensing line part. In use of the coupler device when coupled to the beverage container, the beverage conduit includes a horizontally extending beverage conduit section that defines a horizontal flow path for the beverage, wherein, at the beverage conduit section, the coupler device comprises a reflux valve arranged for preventing a reflux flow of beverage through the beverage conduit from the outlet to the inlet of the coupler device. The reflux valve includes a movable valve element which is movable relative to the beverage conduit section along the horizontal flow path for enabling a beverage pressure surge in the dispensing line to travel across the valve. Hence, a pressure surge, also known as water hammer caused by a closing of the dispensing line at the dispenser, propagating in reverse flow direction, i.e. from the dispenser back towards the beverage container, is not bounced off the reflux valve but is instead enabled to propagate across the reflux valve to be absorbed by the beverage container. The beverage chamber of the beverage container often includes gas-filled headspace into which the beverage held by the container is able to expand. Hence, the beverage container may act as a surge tank. By allowing the pressure surge to propagate across the reflux valve, exposure to peak loads on the reflux valve is reduced, and hence the durability of the coupler device as well dispensing line components can be increased.

It has particularly been found that a pressure change in the beverage dispensing line caused by a rapid closure of the dispensing line by the dispenser can be mitigated in most dispensing systems by allowing a volume of beverage of about <NUM> to reflux. Hence, the reflux valve may be arranged for allowing a reflux of beverage of at least <NUM>. To limit the amount of spillage of beverage after decoupling the coupler device from the container, the reflux valve may also be arranged for allowing a reflux of beverage of at most <NUM>.

Optionally, the movable valve element is movable between an upstream end and an opposite downstream end of the beverage conduit section, and wherein a volume of the beverage conduit section between the opposite ends of the beverage conduit section minus a volume of the movable valve element is at least <NUM>. The movable valve element is therefore movable by such an amount that a volume of at least <NUM> of beverage is able to reflux back towards the beverage container. The volume of the beverage conduit section between the opposite ends of the beverage conduit minus the movable valve element is preferably at most <NUM> to prevent excess beverage to spill once the coupler device is decoupled from the container.

Optionally, the movable valve element comprises a closure body which is movably arranged within the beverage conduit section and movable along the horizontal flow path relative to the beverage conduit section between an opening position for allowing a flow of beverage through the beverage conduit section from the inlet to the outlet, and a closing position in which the closure body occludes a through flow opening of the beverage conduit section to prevent a reflux flow of beverage through the beverage conduit section from the outlet towards the inlet.

Optionally, the closure body is spherically shaped. Hence, the closure body can be received at the closing position regardless its rotational orientation.

Optionally, the beverage conduit section comprises an axial guide for guiding a movement of the closure body along a central horizontal axis of the conduit section between the opening position and the closing position. The axial guide ensures the closure body, e.g. a closure ball, to be aligned with the beverage conduit section, such that the closure body is reliably moved back into the closing position upon a reflux flow of the beverage.

Optionally, the beverage conduit section comprises an upstream subsection where an upstream seat is provided for receiving the closure body in the closing position; and a downstream subsection where a downstream seat is provided for receiving the closure body in the opening position.

Optionally, a volume of the beverage conduit section between the upstream seat and the downstream seat minus a volume of the closure body is at least <NUM>, and preferably at most <NUM>. Hence, the closure body can be arranged to travel from the opening position to the closure position by such an amount that a volume of at least <NUM> of beverage is able to reflux back towards the beverage container.

Optionally, the upstream subsection has a constant cross section being substantially equal to a cross section of the closure body and the downstream section has a cross section larger than the cross section of the closure body.

Preferably the closure body has a cross section diameter of between <NUM> - <NUM> and the upstream subsection has a cross section diameter of between <NUM> - <NUM>. More preferably the closure body has a cross section diameter of between <NUM> - <NUM> and the upstream subsection has a cross section diameter of between <NUM> - <NUM>. Most preferably the closure body has a cross section diameter of approximately <NUM> and the upstream subsection has a cross section diameter of approximately <NUM>. A closure body with a relative small cross section diameter requires a small opening size of the inlet of the beverage conduit for a leak tight closing of the opening by the closure body. A cross section diameter of the closure body below <NUM> in use causes the opening size to be too small resulting in too high flow pressures of the beverage flow when dispensing. A closure body with a relative large cross section diameter moves slower through the beverage conduit. A cross section diameter of the closure body above <NUM> in use moves too slowly in the closing position, resulting in beverage spillage upon decoupling of the coupling device from the beverage container.

Preferably the cross section diameter of the upstream subsection is between <NUM> - <NUM> greater than the cross section diameter of the closure body. More preferably the cross section diameter of the upstream subsection is between <NUM> - <NUM> greater than the cross section diameter of the closure body. Good results were obtained with these sizes of closure body and upstream subsection and size differences between the closure body and the upstream subsection with respect to leak tight sealing of the beverage conduit after first allowing a reflux of beverage of at least <NUM> upon closing of the dispensing line. Diameter size differences between the closure body and the upstream subsection greater than <NUM> result in a too large liquid volume refluxing around the closure body upon closing of the dispensing line causing the closure body to move to slowly in the closing position. Diameter size differences between the closure body and the upstream subsection smaller than <NUM> result in too little liquid volume refluxing around the closure body upon closing of the dispensing line causing undesirable high liquid pressure in the beverage conduit and the dispensing line.

Optionally, the downstream seat comprises a central through flow opening for allowing a flow of beverage therethrough. Hence, the closure body can be pushed from the opening position towards the closing position by the reflux flow of beverage.

Optionally, the closure body is unbiasedly arranged within the beverage conduit section and movable between the opening position and the closing position by a beverage flow through the beverage conduit section. Particularly for carbonated beverages, and more particular for malt-based beverages such as beers, biasing springs that may be provided in the dispensing line promote turbulence which causes the beverage to excessively froth when dispensed.

Optionally, the movable valve element comprises a check valve assembly, the check valve assembly being movable within the beverage conduit section along the horizontal flow path and comprising a plunger member being in a fluid-tight sliding engagement with a beverage conduit section wall and having an aperture for allowing a flow of beverage therethrough, and a valve closing member configured for allowing a flow of beverage through the aperture of the plunger member from the inlet to the outlet in an open state of the check valve assembly and for preventing a reflux flow of beverage through the aperture from the outlet to the inlet in a closed state of the check valve assembly.

Optionally, the check valve assembly is spring-loadedly coupled to the beverage conduit section. For example, the check valve assembly may be biased in a neutral position to be returned thereto.

Optionally, a spring is arranged in the beverage conduit section between a downstream spring engagement surface of the plunger member and an upstream spring engagement surface of the coupling device at an upstream end of the beverage conduit section.

Optionally, the spring includes a helical spring having a central through flow opening wherein an outer diameter of the helical spring corresponds to a diameter of the beverage conduit section.

According to another aspect, a system is provided comprising a beverage container having a beverage chamber for containing a beverage, particularly a malt-based beverage such as beer, and a coupler device as described herein, the container having a container outlet provided with a sealing member arranged to enable opening of the beverage outlet, the broach element of the coupling device being configured, when coupled to the container, for opening the container outlet by movement of the broach element in a vertical direction transverse to the horizontal direction in which the beverage conduit section of the coupler device extends.

Optionally, the system comprises a first tube forming the first dispensing line part, the first tube being attached to the beverage container outlet at a upstream end of the first tube; and a second tube forming the second dispensing line part, the second tube being attached to a dispenser at a downstream end of the second tube, wherein the coupler device is configured for coupling its inlet to a downstream end of the first tube, and for coupling an its outlet to an upstream end of the second tube.

It will be appreciated that any of the aspects, features and options described herein can be combined, it will particularly be appreciated that any of the aspects, features and options described in view of the coupler device apply equally to the system, and vice versa.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:.

<FIG> shows an exemplary coupler device <NUM>. The coupler device comprises a housing <NUM> with a coupling organ <NUM> for coupling the housing <NUM> to a beverage container, such as a beer keg. The beverage container includes a container body that delimits a beverage chamber for holding a beverage. A broach element <NUM>, e.g. a broach piston, is provided in the housing <NUM> for broaching the beverage container. The broach element <NUM> may for example be arranged to open a container seal of the beverage container. The broach element <NUM> is movable relative to the housing <NUM> in a vertical direction (Y-direction in <FIG>). The broach element <NUM> can be actuated using a broach lever <NUM>, for moving the broach element <NUM> downwardly to broach the beverage container, and upwardly to release the be broach element <NUM> from the container.

In this example, the coupler device <NUM> comprises a gas conduit having a gas inlet port <NUM> for connecting a gas tube thereto. The gas conduit extends in this example through the coupler housing <NUM> between the gas inlet port <NUM> and a gas outlet port which is connectable to a gas inlet of the beverage container.

The coupler device <NUM> comprises a beverage conduit <NUM> that extends between an inlet <NUM> provided at an inlet side <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and an outlet <NUM> provided at an outlet side <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The beverage conduit <NUM> particularly comprises a beverage conduit section <NUM> that extends in a horizontal direction (X-direction in <FIG>), transverse to the vertical direction.

<FIG> show a detailed cross sectional view of the beverage conduit <NUM> of a coupler device, particularly of the coupler device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The inlet <NUM> is configured for being releasably connected to a first tube that forms the first dispensing line part. The first tube is in this example attached to the beverage container outlet at a upstream end of the first tube. The outlet <NUM> is configured to be connected to a second tube that forms a second dispensing line part. The second tube is attached to a dispenser, e.g. a faucet, at a downstream end of the second tube. The second tube may be for example be permanently connected to the beverage conduit outlet of the coupler. Prior to broaching the beverage container, a downstream end of the first tube can be connected to the inlet, to create a fluid connection between first tube and the second tube via the beverage conduit <NUM> of the coupler device <NUM>. Hence a dispensing line is formed between the beverage chamber and the dispenser.

The beverage conduit <NUM> includes a beverage conduit section <NUM> that extends horizontally to form a horizontal flow path for the beverage. In this example, for ease of use, the entire beverage conduit <NUM> extends horizontally.

At the beverage conduit section <NUM>, the coupler device <NUM> comprises a reflux valve arranged for preventing a reflux flow of beverage through the beverage conduit <NUM> from the outlet <NUM> back towards the inlet <NUM>. The reflux valve comprises a movable valve element <NUM>. The movable valve element <NUM> is movable relative to the beverage conduit section <NUM> along the horizontal flow path defined by the conduit section <NUM>. The coupler device <NUM> is arranged for enabling a beverage pressure surge in the dispensing line to travel across the reflux valve.

In particular, in use, the beverage held by the container flows through the dispensing line, via the beverage conduit of the coupler device, to the dispenser at the end of the second dispensing line when the dispenser is opened. After having dispensed a beverage, e.g. after having drafted a beer beverage, the dispenser is closed to stop the flow of beverage from the container. Due to the inertia of the flowing beverage, the sudden closing of the dispenser causes the beverage to exert a force on the closed dispenser, which causes a pressure buildup upstream of the dispenser. The pressure buildup results in a pressure surge being propagated along the dispensing line in the reverse flow direction, i.e. from the dispenser back towards the beverage container. This is also know as water hammer, or hydraulic shock.

By allowing the movable valve element to move in the reverse flow direction, the pressure surge is able to propagate across the valve element 84towards the beverage container. The beverage container may act as a surge vessel to absorb the pressure surge. A pressure upstream and a downstream side of the moving valve element <NUM> can accordingly be leveled.

The coupler device <NUM> is particularly arranged to allow a beverage volume of at least <NUM> to reflux prior to closing of the reflux valve and/or whilst the reflux valve is closed. A volume of about <NUM> is found to be appropriate to level out any residual pressure differences that may be resultant from the pressure surge.

The movable valve element may comprise a closure body. In the example shown in <FIG>, the movable valve element <NUM> is embodied as a closure body, particularly as a spherical shaped closure body. The spherically shaped closure body <NUM> is movably arranged within the beverage conduit section <NUM> and movable along the horizontal flow path defined by the beverage conduit section <NUM> between an opening position for allowing a flow of beverage through the beverage conduit section <NUM> from the inlet <NUM> to the outlet <NUM>, and a closing position in which the closure body <NUM> occludes a through flow opening of the beverage conduit section to prevent a reflux flow of beverage through the beverage conduit section from the outlet <NUM> towards the inlet <NUM>. <FIG> shows the closure body being in the closing position, and <FIG> shows the closure body being in the opening position.

The coupler device <NUM> comprises an upstream seat <NUM> for receiving the closure body <NUM> in the closing position; and a downstream seat <NUM> for receiving the closure body <NUM> in the opening position. The beverage conduit section may delimit a volume of at least <NUM> between the upstream seat <NUM> and the downstream seat <NUM>. The upstream seat <NUM>, which has a central through flow opening <NUM>, is arranged at an upstream subsection 83A of the beverage conduit section <NUM>. The upstream subsection 83A has a constant cross section which corresponds to a cross section of the closure body <NUM>. It will be appreciated that some lateral play can be provided between the conduit section wall and the closure body <NUM> for allowing the closure body to move in the flow direction of the conduit section <NUM>. The play may for example be between <NUM> and <NUM>. The downstream seat <NUM> is arranged at a downstream subsection 83B of the beverage conduit section <NUM>. The downstream subsection 83B has a cross section larger than the cross section of the closure body <NUM>, for allowing the beverage to flow around the closure body <NUM> while the closure body is being held by the downstream seat <NUM>.

The coupler device <NUM> comprises an axial guide <NUM> arranged for guiding the closure body <NUM> in motion along a center line of the horizontal beverage conduit section <NUM>. The guide <NUM> prevents the closure body <NUM> from moving offset from the horizontal flow path defined the conduit section <NUM>, to ensure a reliable return of the closure body <NUM> to the upstream seat <NUM>. The guide <NUM> is particularly provided where the cross section of the closure body <NUM> is smaller than the cross section of the beverage conduit section, in this example in the downstream subsection 83B.

The closure body <NUM> is particularly unbiasedly provided in the beverage conduit section <NUM>. Hence, the closure body <NUM> is moved between the closing and opening positions under influence of the beverage flow.

<FIG> shows another, e.g. alternative, example of a reflux valve provided in the beverage conduit section <NUM> of the coupler device <NUM>. Here, the movable valve element <NUM> is embodied as a check valve assembly, which comprises a plunger member <NUM> being in a fluid-tight sliding engagement with a wall of the beverage conduit section <NUM>. The plunger member <NUM> comprises an aperture <NUM> for allowing the beverage to flow therethrough. The check valve assembly also comprises and a valve closing member <NUM> configured for allowing a flow of beverage through the aperture <NUM> from the inlet <NUM> to the outlet <NUM> of the beverage conduit in an open state of the check valve assembly <NUM> and for preventing a reflux flow of beverage through the aperture <NUM> from the outlet <NUM> back to the inlet <NUM> in a closed state of the check valve assembly <NUM>.

The coupler device <NUM> also comprises a spring <NUM> in this example, for biasedly coupling the check valve assembly <NUM> to the beverage conduit <NUM>. The spring <NUM> is in this example arranged in the beverage conduit section <NUM> at an upstream side of the check valve assembly <NUM>, between a downstream spring engagement surface of the plunger member <NUM> and an upstream spring engagement surface of the coupling device <NUM>.

The check valve assembly <NUM> is arranged to move along the horizontal flow path defined by the beverage conduit section <NUM>, in the reflux flow direction, i.e. towards the inlet <NUM> of the beverage conduit <NUM>. The axial displacement of the check valve assembly <NUM> may account for a pressure difference resultant from the pressure surge. In use, a stroke volume of the movable check valve assembly <NUM> may be at least <NUM>. Hence, for example, a volume of the beverage conduit section <NUM> minus a volume of the check valve assembly may be about <NUM>.

Herein, the invention is described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

However, other modifications, variations, and alternatives are also possible. The specifications, drawings and examples are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than in a restrictive sense.

Claim 1:
Coupler device (<NUM>) for fluidly connecting a beverage chamber of a beverage container to a beverage dispensing line, the coupler device (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) with a coupling organ (<NUM>) for detachably coupling the housing (<NUM>) to the beverage container;
a beverage conduit (<NUM>) extending through the housing (<NUM>) between an inlet (<NUM>) which is configured for being connected to a first dispensing line part attached to the beverage container and an outlet (<NUM>) which is configured for being connected to a second dispensing line part attached to a dispenser; and
a broach element (<NUM>) movably arranged relative to the housing (<NUM>) for broaching the beverage container in order to fluidly connect the beverage chamber to the first dispensing line part;
wherein, in use of the coupler device (<NUM>) when coupled to the beverage container, the beverage conduit (<NUM>) includes a horizontally extending beverage conduit section (<NUM>) that defines a horizontal flow path for the beverage; and wherein,
at the beverage conduit section (<NUM>), the coupler device (<NUM>) comprises a reflux valve arranged for limiting a reflux flow of beverage through the beverage conduit (<NUM> from the outlet (<NUM>) to the inlet (<NUM>) of the coupler device (<NUM>),
characterised in that:
the reflux valve comprises a movable valve element (<NUM>) which is movable relative to the beverage conduit section (<NUM>) in a reflux flow direction along the horizontal flow path for enabling a beverage pressure surge in the dispensing line to travel across the valve.