Dispensing head for potable liquid

Abstract

 A dispensing head for a potable liquid is generally of T-bar configuration, comprising an insulated casing (6a,6b) from which spigots (8a,8b,8c,8d) project. The dispensing head comprises three cooling members (10,12a and 12b), conveniently of aluminium, provided with passages (22,30) connected to inlet and outlet fittings (36), through which cooling fluid may be fed, and passages (20,26) connected to an inlet fitting (51) through which potable liquid may be fed, prior to being dispensed through one or more of the spigots (8).

Description

Description of Invention

[0001] This invention is concerned with dispensing heads for potable liquids, particularly as are used in retail premises, to dispense soft drinks, beers and lagers. Such dispensing heads are hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified.

[0002] Conventionally, a dispensing head of the kind specified comprises an inlet fitting, to which a supply of potable liquid may be connected, and a conduit extending to a dispensing tap, from which the potable liquid may be dispensed. Conventionally, in dispensing systems which are provided with temperature control means, cooling means is provided to retain beverage in the supply cool. However, conventionally it has not been the practice to provide specific cooling means for the dispensing head itself, as a result of which on occasion beverage may be dispensed from the head for consumption which is at a temperature higher than that which is desired.

[0003] This problem is exacerbated in dispensing heads which are designed for dispensing a plurality of beverages, or being provided with a plurality of dispensing taps for dispensing a single beverage, such as are found on bar counters, which tend to be relatively bulky, and which tend to become warm in the atmosphere in which they are normally found.

[0004] According to this invention there is provided a dispensing head for potable liquid, the dispensing head comprising an inlet to which a supply of potable liquid may be connected and an outlet through potable liquid may be dispensed, wherein the dispensing head is provided with cooling means comprising a cooling member in heat conducting relationship with passages through which potable liquid flows between the inlet and the outlet, said cooling means comprising means by which cooling fluid may flow in heat conducting relationship with the cooling member.

[0005] Preferably, the cooling member is provided with one or more channels within which pipes for the potable liquid or the cooling fluid may be located. For example, the cooling member may be provided with a single channel within which a plurality of pipes may be located, and/or a plurality of bores through which the potable liquid or cooling fluid may be caused to flow.

[0006] Preferably, said plurality of bores are interconnected whereby cooling fluid may be caused to circulate repeatedly through the cooling member, and conveniently the dispensing head is provided with a plurality of outlets, and wherein the cooling member is provided with a plurality of channels within each of which a pipe may pass from the inlet to one of the outlets.

[0007] Preferably, the dispensing head comprises a plurality of such cooling members, for example, three cooling members arranged in T-bar configuration, each cooling member comprising a plurality of bores through which potable liquid or cooling fluid may be caused to flow.

[0008] Preferably, the bores are interconnected, one of said bores being adapted to be connected to a supply of cooling fluid whereby cooling fluid may be caused to flow through all the cooling members.

[0009] Preferably, each cooling member comprises a channel within which a conduit for potable liquid may be located, preferably a plurality of conduits for the potable liquid being located in each such channel.

[0010] Preferably, at least one of the cooling members comprises a plurality of channels disposed circumferentially around the exterior of the member.

[0011] Preferably, the cooling members are secured together, preferably within an insulated housing.

[0012] Preferably, the cooling member or one of the cooling members at least is formed as an extrusion, conveniently of aluminium. Alternatively the cooling member may be cast, and subject to a post-casting machining operation, such as boring.

[0013] There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a dispensing head which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, the dispensing head having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

[0014] In the accompany drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an inner part of the dispensing head which is the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing an insulated casing of the dispensing head having been removed;

FIGURE 3 is the view shown in Figure 2, with the dispensing conduits having been omitted for the purpose of clarity; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are perspective views showing cooling members of the dispensing head, which are also illustrative of the invention in certain of its aspects.

[0015] The dispensing head which is the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1, being generally in T-bar configuration, comprising an insulating split casing 6a, 6b from which spigots 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d project. When the structure shown in Figure 1 is installed within the housing, the spigots are each connected to a dispensing tap, through which beverage may be caused to flow.

[0016] The dispensing head which is shown in Figure 2 with the insulating casing having been removed, to reveal three cooling members 10, 12a and 12b, more clearly shown in figures 4 and 5, which are conveniently of extruded aluminium.

[0017] The cooling member 10 is generally cylindrical in profile, being provided on its circumferential surface with six longitudinally-extending passages afforded by channels 20a to 20g, and two longitudinally-extending passages afforded by bores 22a, 22b extending generally centrally within the cooling member.

[0018] Conversely, the cooling members 12a and 12b are of U-shape in cross-section, comprising a passage afforded by a deeper central channel 26, and protruding ears 28, through which passages afforded by elongate bores 30 extend.

[0019] As is best seen from Figure 3, the elongate bores 22 of the cooling member 10 and 30 of the cooling members 12a and 12b are utilised for the circulation of cooling fluid, involving the use of inlet and outlet fittings 36a, 36b attached to the lower end of the cooling member 10, a first transfer connection 38a which connects the bore 22a to the bore 30, a second transfer connection 40a which connects the bore 30a to the bore 30b, a third transfer connection 42 which connects the bore 30b of the cooling member 12b to the bore 30b of the cooling member 12a, a fourth transfer connection 44 which connects the bore 30b of the cooling member 12a to the bore 30a thereof, and a fifth transfer connection 38b, which connects the bore 30a of the cooling member 12a to the bore 22b of the cooling member 10.

[0020] In this way, cooling fluid may be flowed through the cooling members, to retain them at a desired low temperature.

[0021] Conveniently, the beverage to be dispensed is flowed in heat conductive relationship with the cooling members by the use of conduits, enabling the conduits to be removed easily from the dispensing head, for (for example) cleaning purposes. In the embodiment shown, four conduits 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are utilised, one extending to each of the four spigots, and thus to an associated dispensing tap. Conveniently, the conduits for the beverage are connected to "John Guest" fittings at their remote ends, enabling them conveniently to be connected to a supply of the beverage concerned.

[0022] In accordance with common practice, the conduits may be connected to separate supplies, for the dispensing by the head of different beverages.

[0023] The conduits 50 are easily located in one of the channels 20 of the cooling member 10, conveniently being press-fitted therein, to ensure good heat conductive contact therewith, and subsequently into the channel 26 of one of the transverse cooling members 12a or 12b.

[0024] Whilst in the preferred embodiment three cooling members which are conveniently produced by an extrusion operation from aluminium are secured together within the insulated casing 6, as an alternative the three cooling members may be formed in one piece, conveniently cast from a convenient metal, and subject for example to a machining operation to produce the longitudinally-extending bores. It is thus appreciated that in this context, the term "member" in relation to the cooling members, does not necessitate that the member is not structurally integral with another member.

[0025] By the use of the invention above described, a convenient construction of dispensing head is provided, which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to install, by the use of which dispensed beverage may be retained cool despite periods of non-use of the dispensing head, reducing significantly tendency for beverage to be dispensed by the head at an unacceptably high temperature.

[0026] The invention may be utilised in the cooling of beers and lagers, for soft drinks, whether pre-mixed or post-mixed. Where pre-mixed, a supply of pre-mix may be connected to one or more of the liquid inlets 50, and where post-mix, either syrup, or carbonated water, or both may be connected to one of the inlet fittings 50.

[0027] As will be appreciated, the cooling member 10 is provided with six exterior channels 20, within each of which a conduit for beverage may be located, and the channel 26 of the cooling members 12 is sufficiently deep to carry three conduits, enabling the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings to be utilised in the assembly of a dispensing head having six dispenser units. Of course if desired, the cooling member 10 may be provided with eight or more elongate channels 20, enabling a greater number of conduits to be retained cooled thereby.

[0028] Whilst most conveniently in the preferred embodiment the cooling fluid is fed through the bores provided in the cooling members, and the beverage to be dispensed is flowed through conduits maintained in heat conductive relationship with the cooling members, it is within the scope of this invention that these be reversed, and the beverage be flowed through the bores, and the cooling fluid through conduits located within the channels provided in the cooling members.

[0029] In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of" and "comprising" means "including or consisting of'.

[0030] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A dispensing head for potable liquid, the dispensing head comprising an inlet (51) to which a supply of potable liquid may be connected and an outlet (8) through which potable liquid may be dispensed, wherein the dispensing head is provided with cooling means comprising a cooling member (10,12) in heat conducting relationship with passages (20,26) through which potable liquid flows between the inlet and the outlet, said cooling means comprising means (22,30,36) by which cooling fluid may flow in heat conducting relationship with the cooling member.

2. A dispensing head according to claim 1 wherein the cooling member (10,12a,12b) is provided with one or more channels (20,26) within which pipes (50) for the potable liquid or the cooling fluid may be located.

3. A dispensing head according to one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the cooling member (12a,12b) may be provided with a single channel (26) within which a plurality of pipes (50) may be located.

4. A dispensing head according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cooling member (10,12) is provided with a plurality of bores (22,30) through which the potable liquid or cooling fluid may be caused to flow.

5. A dispensing head according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of bores are interconnected whereby cooling fluid may be caused to circulate repeatedly through the cooling member.

6. A dispensing head according to claim 5 comprising a plurality of outlets (8), and wherein the cooling member (10) is provided with a plurality of channels (20) within each of which a pipe may pass from an inlet (51) to one of the outlets.

7. A dispensing head according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of cooling such members.

8. A dispensing head according to claim 7 comprising three cooling members arranged in T-bar configuration, each cooling member comprising a plurality of bores through which potable liquid or cooling fluid may be caused to flow.

9. A dispensing head according to claim 8 wherein the bores are interconnected, one of said bores being adapted to be connected to a supply of cooling fluid whereby cooling fluid may be caused to flow through all the cooling members.

10. A dispensing head according to claim 9 wherein said bores extend longitudinally through the member.

Drawing