Multi-stream draught beer dispensing system

[0001] The preset invention relates to beer taps, and, more specifically, to a tap that allows multiple streams of draught beers to be dispersed from one tap handle.

[0002] Competition is fierce for draft beer in liquor venues because of the limited space for keg fonts. In many cases, large distributors, s.a., e.g., Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors, oligopolize the marketplace for keg fonts; hence, sales of lesser known bottled micro-brews are lost to the better known and less-expensive draught beers. A need is long felt for a system that provides greater selection of draft beers utilizing the same keg font space.

[0003] A search of the prior art reveals references that teach a single valve that controls, multiple fluid streams: U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,269 to Miller et al. teaches a “method and apparatus for multiple-channel dispensing of natural gas”, wherein the dispensing system supports multiple dispensing hoses from a single supply plenum; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,713 to Grill teaches a “tap assembly adapted for a fluid dispenser”, wherein a tap is adapted for a fluid mixture dispenser having a source of a first fluid and multiple sources of a second, pressurized fluid.

[0004] The present method of dispensing includes a floating transfer block which is moved to align an internal tube with selected fluid streams while it simultaneously seals others. U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,871 to Andersson et al. teaches a “fluid control apparatus and method” in which one valve assembly controls the flow of fluid from multiple sources. More specifically, a single pump serves a plurality of gasoline dispensing nozzles. A member rotates relative to a fixed valve unit with the arrangement being such that the rotation controls the flow of fluid through the assembly. The member is rotated to the position corresponding to the unit actuated.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,475 to Batschied et al. teaches a “tap for withdrawing fluid from a container, wherein the tapping process is effected by a rotary motion. An inner tube is guided in an outer tube to slide in an axial direction which can be rotated to let beer be tapped.

[0006] The following examples are samples of recently patented taps having novel features: U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,629 to Taylor-McCune teaches a “comestible fluid dispensing tap and method” having a draw-back valve that draws fluid upstream when it is closed; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,159 to Becker teaches a “beverage tap” having a special steel inner part securely pressed with a snug fit. A tubular, steel part of a spout is placed to its side in a liquid-tight matter. A fixture for a ball joint for the shutoff valve is held snuggly to fit to a side by means of a swivel nut.

[0007] Consequently, the present invention allows multiple streams of draught beers to be dispensed from one faucet.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tap that allows for multiple streams of draught beers to be dispersed from one tap handle.

[0009] It is an object that the present invention provides an opportunity to increase draught dispensing by 300%; namely, it is an object that lesser-known micro-brews are able to expand to draught markets that have often excluded them because of a limit to keg font space.

[0010] It is an object that the present individual keg fonts not take up additional space at a bar front; rather, multiple fluid stream lines associated with a single tap handle travel to separate, and individual inconspicuous pressurized containers.

[0011] It is therefore an object to maximize a selection of draft beer to patrons and thence a same in business opportunities to owners.

[0012] The present invention includes a single valve that associates with a shank to control multiple fluid streams. The valve utilizes a floating transfer block which seals off all but a selected fluid stream. When the tap handle selects a draft, the transfer block aligns with the beer stream selected so that beer can travel freely out of the faucet. When the tap handle is rotated from a home (non-flow) position, a rotation mechanism inside the valve allows the transfer block to properly align with the fluid stream associated with the rotation. The tap handle dispenses the beer when it is pulled downwards. The valve is self-clearing so that excess beer left therein is drained to prevent product mixing for a next use.

[0023] The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures:

1. Detailed Description of the Figures

[0024] FIG. 1a-b show a draught beer tap 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The exterior appearance of the beer tap 10 is similar to conventional beer taps: it comprises a tap handle 12 and a dispensing spigot 14. Most tap handles are pulled forward to dispense beer and they are replaced back to cease dispensing. The present tap handle 12 operates in a similar manner; however, it can be rotated, twisted, laterally offset or similarly manipulated beforehand to select a draught desired. The selection is made because the present invention is a tap 10 that allows multiple streams of draught beers to be dispensed from one tap handle 12. A valve main body 16 is placed between the tap handle 12 and the spigot 14 to control a flow of the selected draught. A multishank tap inlet 18 extends from a rear of the valve body 16 to house at least three fluid stream tubes (18a, 18b, third not shown) that travel to respective pressurized keg tanks.

[0025] An interior of a front of the valve main body 16 is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. A series of at least three fluid ports 20a, 20b, 20c extend horizontally through a solid portion of the main body 16 to serve as draught inlets. The ports 20a, 20b, 20c are spaced such that none are in vertical alignment; however, at least two of the three ports are in horizontal alignment. A shaft 22 to the tap handle 12 travels vertically through a collar 24 (see FIG. 3) at a top of the main body 16 and then through a hollow portion in the body before it terminates in a seat 26 (see FIG. 3) at a top of the solid portion. The solid portion is namely tucked towards a bottom rear of the main body 16 so that there is clearance available for a floating transfer block facing the front. Two opposing channel-grooves 28 (see FIG. 2a) in the shaft 22 receive a transfer block cam 30 (see FIG. 2b) that extends frontwards therefrom. The transfer block cam 30 is lifted slightly above a top surface of the solid portion.

[0026] The transfer block cam 30 travels through a correspondingly shaped aperture 36 on the transfer block 32. The transfer block 32 feature essentially controls the flow of selected draught because it blocks at least two of the three fluid stream ports 20a, 20b, 20c. FIG. 4 shows the transfer 32 assembled therein. The transfer block 32 comprises vertically aligned apertures 34a, 34b that correspond to the ports 20a, 20b, 20c. The present transfer block 32 can maintain four positions. In a first position, when the transfer block 32 is farthest right with respect to the valve main body 16, the top aperture 34a aligns immediate to a first of the two horizontal ports 20b; hence, the transfer block covers and blocks the remaining ports 20a, 20c while the bottom aperture 34b rests immediate to a solid wall of the solid portion. In a second position, when the transfer block 32 is farthest left with respect to the valve main body 16, the top aperture 34a aligns immediate to a second of the two horizontal ports 20a; hence, the transfer block covers and blocks the remaining ports 20b, 20c while the bottom aperture 34b rests immediate to the solid wall of the solid portion. In a third position, when the transfer block 32 is centered with respect to the valve main body 16, the bottom aperture 34b aligns immediate to the lowest port 20c; hence, the transfer block covers and blocks the remaining ports 20a, 20b while the top aperture 34a rests immediate to the solid wall of the solid portion. In a fourth and a final position, the transfer block 32 is in an intermediate position, wherein neither the top nor the bottom apertures 34a, 34b align immediate to any ports 20a, 20b, 20c; hence, the transfer block covers all ports while its apertures both rest immediate to the solid wall. This fourth position is achieved when the tap 12 is in the “home” or “off” position (when the shaft 22 is seated), so that draught beer is blocked from freely flowing out of the faucet 14 at all times. The adjacent abutment of the transfer block 32 to a solid wall of the main body 16 replaces the valve assemblies in conventional draught beer taps.

[0027] A uniquely shaped lock-groove 38 provides function to lock the transfer block 32 in the position associated with the selected fluid stream. The lock-groove is shown in the figure to comprise a shape of a downward facing letter “E”; however, it is not limited to any one shape. Each stem 40a, 40b, 40c of the letter is associated with one of the corresponding ports 20a, 20b, 20c. A corresponding indexing pin 42 is fixed to a rear surface of a front wall 44 of the valve main body 16 (shown in FIG. 5). The indexing pin 42 appears to travel about the lock-groove's channels; actually, the transfer block 32 floats to cause the lock-groove 38 to move about the fixed indexing pin. A large window 46 through the front wall 44 allows draft to travel from the ports to the spigot 14.

[0028] To move the transfer block 32 to the previously described first position, the lock groove 38 is moved to rest the indexing pin 42 at a bottom of the farthest right stem 40c. To move the transfer block 32 to the previously described second position, the lock groove 38 is moved to rest the indexing pin 42 at a bottom of the farthest left stem 40a. To move the transfer block 32 to the previously described third position, the lock groove 38 is moved to rest the indexing pin 42 at a bottom of the middle stem 40b. To move the transfer block 32 to the forth, “home” position, the lock groove 38 is moved to rest the indexing pin 42 along the horizontal branch of the letter “E” at a top of the lock groove 38.

[0029] If the indexing pin 42 were not fixed, such that it rather moved about a fixed lock groove, there would be risk that the pin would anytime fall downwards one of the stems and cause unwanted beer to flow from the faucet, but because the indexing pin 42 is fixed in the present invention, it actually rests in the horizontal branch of the lock groove 38 when the handle 12 of the system 10 is pushed furthest downwards such that its vertical movement is blocked.

[0030] It is important that the transfer block 32 has clearance to float vertically and horizontally within the valve main body 16; its length and height dimensions are smaller than those of the main body. The valve main body 16 must comprise a height at least as great as that of the transfer block 32 plus that of the lock groove 38. The valve main body 16 must comprise a length at least as great as that of the transfer block 32 plus that of the lock groove 38.

[0031] FIG. 6 shows the front wall 44 affixed to the valve main body 16 absent the faucet 14. The window 46 comprises a height long enough to expose both of the vertically aligned apertures 34a, 34b on the transfer block 32; however, one of the two apertures abuts a wall while the other rests immediate to a port 20a, 20b, 20c.

[0032] To ensure that different drafts associated with the various ports 20a, 20b, 20c don't mix such that their flavors are compromised, the present invention is self-draining.

[0033] When the transfer block 32 is readjusted to a different selection, the beer left in the previous fluid stream empties the port. If the top aperture 34a is moved from a first to a second of the horizontal aligned ports 20a, 20b, the beer for the first is not left stagnant in the short distance of the aperture. The apertures may, for example, be inclined inwards so all remaining beer drains towards the faucet 14.

2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

[0034] To operate the present embodiment, a first of at least three available drafts is selected. When the draught handle 12 is not in use, it rests in a “home” position and no aperture 34a, 34b on the transfer block is aligned with a port 20a, 20b, 20c; hence, the internal indexing pin 42 is resting in the horizontal branch of the lock-groove 48. To select a draft (and to internally move the lock-groove 38 about the fixed indexing pin 42), the bar tender rotates the shaft 22 (by means of the handle 12) towards the selected draught. The shaft 22 rotates about the transfer block cam 30, which urges the transfer block 32 to shift horizontally within the main body 16. When the indexing pin 42 aligns with the stem 40a, 40b, 40c associated with the select draft, the bar tender pulls the handle downwards so that the indexing pin can fall to a bottom of the stem and lock the transfer plate aperture 34a, 34b immediate to the fluid stream port that corresponds with the selection. As the transfer plate 32 is pulled upwards in response to a manipulation of the handle 12, the aperture 34a, 34b on the transfer plate 32 aligns immediate to a port 20a, 20b, 20c. The shaft 22 is moved from its resting seat while the indexing pin 42 locks the transfer block 32 from moving about. Draught freely flows from the fluid stream outwards the faucet 14. When a glass or a pitcher is filled, the tap handle 12 is pushed upwards such that it is returned to the home position. This causes the transfer block 32 to return to its blocking position and cease a flow of the selected draught. The beer remaining in the aperture to the transfer block 32 self drains and the process is repeated upon a next patron's order.

[0035] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and the embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that a scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and to their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.