Method and system for dispensing carbonated beverages at increased speed
AssigneeQualFlow Systems Limited
InventorsJustin Lawler, Ciaran O'Morain, Ultan O'Morain
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Abstract
A system for dispensing beverages into a receptacle controls both the dispense flow rate of a carbonated beverage and also uses bottom filling of the receptacle to limit entrainment and bubble formation during the dispense process. More particularly, the present application provides for using two separate flow paths for dispensing beverage with a first path employed initially for a low flow rate and a second path employed thereafter to fill the receptacle.
Claims22
A system for dispensing a carbonated beverage from a beverage source through a dispense tap having a spout having an outlet, wherein the spout is configured for bottom filling of a beverage receptacle, the system comprising:
- a common path for carrying beverage from the beverage storage container to a first node;
- a first path comprising a first conduit for carrying beverage from the first node to the spout;
- a second path comprising a second conduit for carrying beverage from the first node to the spout,
- a valve arrangement actuable to allow beverage to flow through one or other or both the first and second paths;
- wherein the first path has a higher flow resistance than the second path, wherein the valve arrangement is positioned at the opposite end of the first and second paths to the first node.
A method of bottom filing a beverage receptacle comprising:
- providing a bottom fill spout into a beverage receptacle;
- operating a first valve to commence providing a beverage through a first flow path to the bottom fill spout;
- operating a second valve to commence providing the beverage through a second flow path to the bottom fill spout after the level of beverage in the beverage receptacle is above an outlet of the spout wherein the first valve is positioned between the first flow path and the bottom fill spout and the second valve is positioned between the second flow path and the bottom fill spout, wherein the first flow path has a higher flow resistance than the second flow path as a result of using one or both of
- a) a reduced cross sectional area along a first conduit at least partially defining the first flow path compared to the cross sectional area of a second conduit at least partially defining the second flow path;
- or
- b) a longer length of the first conduit with respect to the second conduit,
- such that the higher flow resistance is distributed substantially uniformly over the length of the first conduit so as to limit turbulent flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.