Patent ID: 12187595

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS.1through7thereof, a new monitoring and control assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS.1through7, the fluid line monitoring and control assembly10generally comprises a controller12, a valve14, and a flow meter16. The valve14and the flow meter16are communicatively engaged to the controller12and are configured to be insertable in-line with a conduit18connecting a storage vessel20to a dispensing tap22. The conduit18may comprise a beer line24used to connect the storage vessel20, such as a keg26, brite tank (not shown), or the like, to the dispensing tap22. The valve14is configured to selectively close the conduit18to prevent flow of a beverage through the conduit18. The valve14may comprise a solenoid valve84, as shown inFIG.2, or other type of actuated on-off valve, such as, but not limited to, pneumatic valves, hydraulic valves, electric valves, spring valves, and the like.

The flow meter16is configured to detect at least one parameter indicative of each of a liquid state and a foam state of the beverage and to generate a first signal and a second signal, respectively, corresponding thereto. As in the prior art, the first signal can be used to by the controller12to quantify the volume of the beverage that has flowed through the conduit18. What is not anticipated in the prior art is utilization of a change from the first signal to the second signal as an indication of the beverage being in the foam state. It is anticipated the first signal and the second signal may take the same form, such as a voltage reading, but be of differing magnitude, stability, frequency, and the like. For example, a first signal generated by the flow meter16may comprise a substantially stable voltage reading when the beverage is in the liquid state. A second signal generated by the flow meter16may comprise an increased, a decreased, a variable, or a fluctuating voltage reading when the beverage is in the foam state. The change from a substantially stable voltage reading to an increased, a decreased, a variable, or a fluctuating voltage reading can provide a basis for the controller12to actuate the valve14to prevent the conduit18from filling with the beverage in the foam state.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art of monitoring and control assemblies, the monitoring and control assembly10is intended for use with carbonated beverages, such as, but not limited to, beer, soda, and the like. Carbonated beverages should be interpreted, in the context of this disclosure, to include any liquid in which any gas is dissolved under pressure. For example, either carbon dioxide alone or as a mixture with nitrogen are used with beer.

The flow meter16may comprise a thermal mass flow meter28, a mechanical flow meter, a pressure based flow meter, a variable area flow meter, an optical flow meter, a vortex flow meter, a sonar flow meter, an electromagnetic flow meter, an ultrasonic doppler flow meter, a Coriolas flow meter, a laser doppler flow meter, or the like. With these types of flow meters14, the first signal can be correlated to a volume of the beverage in the liquid state passing through the conduit18, allowing the controller12to quantify the volume of the beverage dispensed at the dispensing tap22.

Flow meters14are routinely incorporated into beverage dispensing assemblies30and can be positioned anywhere in a conduit18between the storage vessel20and the dispensing tap22. A constraint of the present invention, in that the flow meter16also is acting as a Foam on Beer detector54, is that the flow meter16should be positioned as closely as possible to the storage vessel20. While a single valve14positioned proximate to the flow meter16may be sufficient in many configurations to prevent foaming of the beverage within the conduit18, other configurations may require a primary valve32positioned proximate to the flow meter16and a secondary valve34positioned proximate the dispensing tap22.

The thermal mass flow meter28comprises a microelectromechanical system sensor36, which is configured for thermopile sensing. The thermal mass flow meter28may be configured to measure liquid flow rates of between 0.0 and 10.0 liters/minute. A typical flow rate for beer in a beer line24is two ounces per second, which allows a pint of beer to be poured in eight seconds. This corresponds to a flow rate of 3.55 liters/minute.

Output from the thermal mass flow meter28is in the form of a voltage reading. Parameters that vary between the liquid state and foam state of the beverage, and which influence the voltage reading, include, but are not limited to, density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, and specific heat. With foam flowing past the microelectromechanical system sensor36, the voltage reading observed differs from that obtained for with liquid. Specifically, with beverage in the liquid state flowing past the microelectromechanical system sensor36at a rate of approximately 3.55 liters/minute, the voltage is substantially constant at approximately 3.3-3.6 volts, whereas with foam flowing past the microelectromechanical system sensor36, the voltage reading fluctuates rapidly. This change in signal can be used as the basis for the controller12to actuate the valve14.

Foam in line programming code38is positioned on the controller12and enables the controller12to selectively actuate the valve14to close the conduit18upon receipt of the second signal. The valve14is configured to terminate flow of the beverage in the foam state past the valve14. The present invention anticipates the foam in line programming code38comprising an algorithm40enabling the controller12to evaluate the first signal generated by the flow meter16for a change, or changes, in the first signal to determine if the beverage passing through the conduit18has changed from the liquid state to the foam state.

The controller12also may comprise a transceiver42, which is configured to communicate wirelessly with an electronic device52. The electronic device52may be part of a network. The transceiver42, along with dispensing programming code44and volume calculation programming code46positioned on the controller12, enables the monitoring and control assembly10to seamlessly replace both flow meters14and Foam on Beer detectors54which are incorporated into prior art beverage dispensing assemblies30. The dispensing programming code44enables the controller12to selectively actuate the valve14upon dispensing of a selected volume of the beverage from the dispensing tap22. The volume calculation programming code46enables cumulative integration of the first signal to determine a total volume of the beverage that has passed through the conduit18, thus allowing a volume of the beverage remaining in the storage vessel20to be calculable from an initial volume of the beverage positioned in the storage vessel20.

In a configuration wherein the primary valve32is positioned proximate to the flow meter16and the secondary valve34is positioned proximate the dispensing tap22, the transceiver42would also serve to communicate signals from the controller12to the secondary valve34via a receiver48that is communicatively engaged to the secondary valve34. Also in this configuration, the primary valve32can be of the normally-open type and the secondary valve34of the normally-closed type.

The fluid line monitoring and control assembly10may comprise a three-way valve56, which is positioned in-line with and proximate to the flow meter16. The three-way valve56is configured to bleed gas and foam, which may be positioned in the conduit18between the flow meter16and an empty storage vessel20. The three-way valve56allows the conduit18to be filled with beverage after the conduit18has been disconnected from the empty storage vessel20and connected to a storage vessel20containing the beverage. The three-way valve56will be of use if the flow meter16cannot be positioned proximate to the storage vessel20.

The valve14, the flow meter16, and the controller12may be coupled to a housing58and positioned in an interior space60defined by the housing58. The flow meter16is fluidically engaged to the valve14within the housing58. The housing58may be configured to be mountable to a surface, such as an interior wall of a cold room. Thus configured, an inlet connector62and an outlet connector64are engaged to and extend from the housing58, as shown inFIG.1. The inlet connector62is engaged to the flow meter16and is configured to engage the conduit18so that the conduit18is in fluidic communication with the flow meter16. The outlet connector64is engaged to the valve14and is configured to engage the conduit18so that the conduit18is in fluidic communication with the valve14. Each of the inlet connector62and the outlet connector64may comprise a hose barb fitting66, as shown inFIG.2, or other types of fitting, such as, but not limited to, push-to-connect fittings, threaded fittings, and the like. The three-way valve56may be engaged to and positioned between the flow meter16and the outlet connector64, as shown inFIG.2.

The housing58also may be configured to be mountable to an outlet68of the storage vessel20or to a keg tap70engaged to the outlet68. For example, the inlet connector62may comprise a threaded connector72, as shown inFIG.3, which is rotationally engaged to the housing58and which is compatible with a threaded end74of the probe50of the keg tap70. In this configuration, a minimal volume of space is available between the keg26and the flow meter16, thereby limiting space that can fill with foam. As shown inFIG.3, the outlet connector64comprises a shank82, such as a G5/8 shank having threading identical to that of a probe50, which is common to keg taps70used in the United States, allowing the housing50to be readily inserted into an existing setup comprising a keg26, a keg tap70, and a beer line24. The shank82allows the beer line24to be readily decoupled for line cleaning purposes.

The present invention also anticipates the valve14being engaged to the inlet connector62and the flow meter16being engaged to the outlet connector64, as this would entail only a small increase in the space that can fill with foam.

The fluid line monitoring and control assembly10may comprise an indicator76and a switch78, which are engaged to the housing58and which are operationally engaged to the controller12. The controller12is enabled to actuate the indicator76when the second signal is received. The indicator76informs the operator that the storage vessel20is empty and requires changing. Once the storage vessel20has been changed, the switch78is configured to be switched to signal the controller12to deactuate the indicator76and to open the valve14.

The present invention anticipates the controller12being powered by at least one of a battery (not shown) and a power cord80, which should be interpreted to mean that the controller12is powered by one or more batteries, a power cord80, or a combination thereof. The present invention anticipates the power cord80being integral (permanently connected) to the housing58and the controller12, or connectable by means of a connector (not shown). The present invention also anticipates the housing58having multiple connectors coupled thereto, would allow connection of the power cord80and use of tethering cords (not shown) for tethering of multiple fluid line monitoring and control assemblies10.

The present invention anticipates the fluid line monitoring and control assembly10being a component of a beverage dispensing assembly30, which may comprise one or more electronic devices52for interfacing with a user of the beverage dispensing assembly30and another electronic device52for interfacing with an operator of the beverage dispensing assembly30. Beverage dispensing assemblies30are well known to those skilled in the art of beverage dispensing and include a wide variety of configurations, all of which depend on flow meters16, valves14, and most of which incorporate Foam on Beer detectors54. A beverage dispensing assemblies30incorporating the fluid line monitoring and control assembly10offers several advantages and improvements. Many existing beverage dispensing assemblies30require expensive and bulky flow meters16, which are positioned at some length from the keg26and which are not enabled to replace a Foam on Beer detector54. The solenoid valve84and the thermal mass flow meter28, under control of the controller12, eliminate the need for Foam on Beer detectors54. The fluid line monitoring and control assembly10also reduces the number of connections required for the beverage dispensing assembly30, providing cost benefits and improving sanitation. Another existing option for use in beverage dispensing assemblies30is a dedicated and expensive keg tap, which incorporates a flow meter16but which is not enabled to function as a Foam on Beer detector54. One configuration of the fluid line monitoring and control assembly10allows it to be threadedly engaged directly to an existing keg tap70, thus reducing cost and eliminating loss of beer from the beverage line between the keg tap70and the flow meter16.

In one example of use, the housing58is threadedly engaged to the threaded end74of the probe50using the threaded connector72. The beer line24is attached to the outlet connector64, positioning the solenoid valve84and the thermal mass flow meter28in-line with the beer line24extending to the dispensing tap22, as shown inFIG.4. As beer flows through the thermal mass flow meter28, a steady voltage reading is sent to the controller12, which determines the volume of beer dispensed at the dispensing tap22. When foam begins to pass through the thermal mass flow meter28, a fluctuating voltage reading is communicated to the controller12, positioning the controller12to actuate the solenoid valve84to stop beer in the foam state from flowing into the beer line24. With the beverage dispensing assembly30in this state, if the dispensing tap22is opened, beer in the beer line24can release carbon dioxide, causing in the beer line24to drip from the dispensing tap22and become flat. Thus, if opening of the dispensing tap22is allowed in a particular beverage dispensing assembly30, installation of a secondary valve34proximate to the dispensing tap22will prevent release of carbon dioxide and flat beer in the beer line24. The emptying of the keg26is communicated to the electronic device52so that the operator can change out the empty keg26.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.