WO2000056657A1

WO2000056657A1 - Self-contained mobile or fixed cool drink dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2000056657A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/000600
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Delcourt
Original assignee: Michel Delcourt
Priority date: 1999-03-19
Filing date: 2000-03-13
Publication date: 2000-09-28
Also published as: FR2791051A1; FR2791051B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device dispensing drinks containing carbon dioxide dissolved by a pressurised gas, comprising a reservoir (2) containing the drink, a source (3) of gas under pressure and means for cooling (4) the drink. Said device is in the form of a portable self-contained system comprising a lower part (8) forming a first housing receiving the drink reservoir (2), an upper part (10) forming a second housing receiving the source (3) of gas under pressure and the refrigerating means (4), and an aerial part (38) supporting the drink dispensing means (26) forming a cover (24) for the upper part (10). The lower and upper parts (8, 10) are delimited by a hollow body (7) provided at its base with wheels (37) and at its top with an cover (24) articulated thereto.

Description

INDEPENDENT MOBILE OR FIXED DISPENSER OF REFRIGERATED BEVERAGE

The technical sector of the present invention is that of beverage dispensers for drawing from a pressurized tank.

It is well known to make the draw of a drink such as beer, sodas, sparkling wines, lemonades or others by planning to introduce a pressurized gas into the tank above the drink which drives out this drink by a plunger to a tap. Gas expansion means are provided to regulate the operation of the apparatus. Refrigeration means can also be provided on the path of the drink between the tank and the tap to refresh it. Refrigeration systems are known which consist of a coil placed in a tank of chilled water. For more details, reference can be made to French patents 2,395,942 and 2,684,088 which describe fixed installations for dispensing beverages such as beer.

Distribution facilities are generally complex and fixed and therefore cannot be moved.

The object of the present invention is to provide a beverage dispensing device having a compact structure, compact and which is easily movable while offering an attractive aesthetic appearance.

The invention therefore relates to a beverage dispensing device containing carbon dioxide dissolved using a pressurized gas, of the type comprising a reservoir containing the beverage, a source of pressurized gas and a means of refrigeration of the drink, characterized in that it is in the form of a portable autonomous system comprising a lower part constituting a first housing receiving the beverage tank, an upper part constituting a second housing receiving the source of pressurized gas and the refrigeration means, and an aerial part supporting means for dispensing the beverage forming cover of the upper part, the lower part comprising a lateral access means allowing the replacement of the tank. Advantageously, the lower and upper parts are delimited by a hollow body provided at its wheel base and at its top with the cover hinged relative to the latter by a hinge, allowing access to the upper part. According to one characteristic, the refrigeration means delimits a thermally insulated enclosure ensuring wedging of the gas source in combination with the hollow body.

Advantageously, the cover is circular in shape and comprises complementary sealing means which adapt in the enclosure.

According to another characteristic, the complementary sealing means fit into the enclosure along a beveled edge. Advantageously, the dispenser comprises a coil placed in the enclosure connecting the beverage container on the one hand and a tap secured to the aerial part, the coil being provided with a flexible part allowing the movement of the cover relative to the upper part of the body.

According to yet another characteristic, the lower part is provided with a bottom in which the reservoir is positioned to constitute a wedging and positioning means thereof.

The cover is provided with a means for blocking the gas bottle ensuring its centering, constituted by a cutout capable of covering the upper part of this gas bottle.

The dispenser includes a flange disposed at the top for receiving a fixed or removable tray. The lower part has a lateral access means allowing the replacement of the beverage tank.

An advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that the dispensing device of the invention is made autonomous and can be easily transported or brought to the places of consumption near the consumers.

Another advantage of the invention lies in the arrangement of the various elements of the dispenser giving it a remarkable aesthetic appearance.

Yet another advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the dispenser can be easily transformed to be made mobile, for example in a trolley, or fixed, for example in a table for consumers or in a pedestal.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the additional description given below in relation to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the dispenser, - Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the means ensuring the mobility of the distributor,

- The figure illustrates an alternative embodiment. In Figure 1, there is shown a section of the device for dispensing any beverage using a pressurized gas. The drink can be of the beer, soda, sparkling wine or lemonade type, for example. The pressurized gas consists of carbon dioxide and nitrogen or air in known proportions to avoid any substantial change in the carbonation rate of the drink, for example for beer which is between 4.3 and 4 , 8 g of CO2 per liter depending on the type of beer. The dispensing device or distributor 1 comprises a beverage reservoir 2, a source of pressurized gas 3 and a means 4 for refrigerating the beverage coming from the reservoir.

The tank 2 is in the form of a container or a keg containing for example 30 liters of beer. The gas source 3 is constituted by a conventional cylinder supporting the desired pressure with a capacity of 12 liters for example. The refrigeration means 4 consists of an enclosure 5 in which a coil 6 is positioned. These different elements are assembled according to the invention in a compact manner to constitute a mobile and portable autonomous distributor in the following manner.

The structure of the dispenser is produced around a hollow body 7, for example of cylindrical shape, inside which the main elements are arranged. This body could be of another shape, for example oval, such as a barrel. The body 7 comprises a lower part 8 inside which the beverage container 2 is disposed. At the base of the lower part is formed a bottom 9 in which the reservoir 2 is placed, this bottom constituting a means of wedging and positioning the reservoir. Of course, this background has a shape adapted to the external surface of the tank, cylindrical for example. Thus, the tank 2 is held in position by its weight and the more or less tight adjustment obtained in the bottom 9. The body 7 also defines an upper part 10 receiving the gas bottle 3 and the enclosure 4. This enclosure 4 is shaped to occupy the space available in this upper part 10, either partially or completely.

The bottle 3 is conventionally provided with a tap 11 to which a connector 12a is connected, connected to a pressure reducer 13 itself connected by the connector 12b to the tank 2 by means of a withdrawal head 14 provided with a screwing handle 15 and a withdrawal sleeve 16. The sleeve 16 plunges into the tank 2 and is extended by a pipe 17 equipped with a metering device 18 used for counting. This dispenser 18 may include a safety valve to prevent theft of drink. The pipe 17 is connected to one end of the coil 6 located in the enclosure 4. This coil 6 is immersed in the enclosure 4 in an ice water bath which can be renewed if necessary. The bottom 19 of the enclosure is pierced to receive an emptying means 20. The other end of the coil 6 is connected to a flexible connector 21 connected to a tap 22 provided with its handle 23 for maneuvering. According to the invention, the upper part 10 of the body 7 supports an aerial part 24 forming a cover hinged relative to the latter by means of a hinge 25. The cover 24 supports a distribution column 26 on which the tap 22. The flexible connector 21 is disposed inside a bore 27 of the column 26 and is held there by a fixing means 28. The flexible connector 21 allows the cover 24 to be opened and closed and is provided to allow movement of the cover such that it completely frees the opening of the upper part 10. In this way, it is easy to replace the gas cylinder and to clean the cooling means. The cover 24 is provided with a complementary sealing means 29 adapting in the opening of the enclosure 4. In the figure, it can be seen that this means 29 is in the form of a bead with cooperating beveled edge with the edge also bevelled of the enclosure 4. There is also provided at the cover 24 a cutout 30 capable of covering the handle 31 of the valve 11 of the gas bottle 3 thus constituting a means of blocking the bottle when the cover 24 is folded down.

In the figure, it can be seen that the cover 24 is provided with a bowl 32 provided with a discharge 33 intended for recovering any excess drink.

The body 7 is provided at its upper part 10 with a collar 34 on which a plate 35 of annular shape of variable diameter can rest to constitute an autonomous table useful for the consumer (s). This plate 35 can be fixed or removable.

The lower part 8 of the body 7 is provided with a lateral opening 36 allowing access to the reservoir 2 for replacing it when it is empty. This opening 36 can be closed by one or two doors hinged relative to the body 7.

The bottom 9 of the body 7 is provided with rollers 37 making it possible to move the dispensing device 1 from one place to another. Of course, these wheels are equipped with a locking means. Thus, the dispenser can be moved from one point to another towards consumers without providing it with the table 35. This dispenser can of course be used at a fixed point and be equipped with a table of sufficient diameter to accommodate several consumers. In this case, the dispenser can be fitted with skids or else be fixed to the ground to form a pedestal. The device 1 is used in the following manner. After activating the valve 11 of the cylinder 3 of compressed gas, the tank 2 is pressurized. The opening of the tap 22 makes it possible to withdraw a given quantity of drink or else a metered quantity since the gas pressure discharges the drink through the sleeve 16 which is directed by the pipe 17 towards the coil 6 where it cools before being collected.

In Figure 2, there is shown the means ensuring the mobility of the dispenser according to the invention in a section made at its lower part. These means are constituted by a substantially circular base 40 delimiting a bowl 41 whose diameter corresponds substantially to the outside diameter of the barrel 7. This bowl constitutes a receptacle in which the dispenser is kept permanently when it is moved from one point to another. On this base 40, two reinforcements 42 and 43 are fixed intended to receive the front and rear wheels respectively. In the figure, only the rear wheels 45 and 46 are shown. They are integral with an axis 44 fixed to the reinforcement 43. The wheels 45 and 46 can be immobilized at any time by a locking means constituted by a pad 47 acting on each of the wheels. The pads are carried by a transverse shaft 48 actuated by a lever 49 by means of an axis 50. Of course, the shaft 48, the axis 50 and the lever 49 are joined by articulations which it does not have. is not necessary to detail more specifically. Figure 3 allows to see the detail of realization of these joints. We see the front wheel 51 mounted fixed or articulated relative to the reinforcement 42. The lever 49 is extended by a handle 52 for maneuvering. It can also be seen in the figure that the base 40 is provided on the side of the rear wheels with a reinforcement 53 allowing better positioning of the distributor. This reinforcement can also serve as a support at the foot of an umbrella sheltering consumers.

In Figure Jfy., There is shown an exploded view of the dispenser where we see the beverage keg 2 extracted from its housing 8 equipped with a gas inlet 66 and a supply line 67 of the coil 6. The bottle gas 3 is also extracted from its housing 10 and is equipped with an electronic control command 60 powered by an energy source 61, a rechargeable battery for example. A smart card reader 63 can also be provided to record the delivery of the drink. The compartment 5 containing the ice can be provided with an agitator 62 to harmonize the temperature. Finally, a turbine 65 associated with a solenoid valve can be integrated on the supply circuit of the tap 22 to improve the distribution of beverage doses.

Claims

1- Beverage dispensing device (1) containing carbon dioxide dissolved using a pressurized gas, of the type comprising a reservoir (2) containing the drink, a source (3) of pressurized gas and a means refrigeration (4) of the drink, characterized in that it is in the form of a portable autonomous system comprising a lower part (8) constituting a first housing receiving the beverage reservoir (2), an upper part ( 10) constituting a second housing receiving the source (3) of pressurized gas and the means (4) of refrigeration, and an aerial part (38) supporting distribution means (26) of the beverage forming a cover

(24) of the upper part (10). 2- Dispensing device (1) of drink according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower and upper parts (8, 10) are delimited by a hollow body (7) provided at its base with wheels (37) and at its top of the hinged cover (24) relative thereto by a hinge (25), allowing access to the upper part (10).

3- device for dispensing (1) drink according to claim 1, characterized in that the refrigeration means (4) defines an enclosure (5) thermally insulated ensuring a wedging of the gas source (3) in combination with the body hollow (7).

4- Dispensing device (1) of drink according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover (24) is circular and comprises complementary sealing means (29) adapting in one enclosure (4).

5- dispensing device (1) of drink according to claim 4, characterized in that the means complementary seals (29) fit into the enclosure (4) along a beveled edge.

6- Dispensing device (1) for drink according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a coil (6) placed in the enclosure (4) connecting the drink tank (2) on the one hand and a tap (22) integral with the aerial part (38), the coil (6) being provided with a flexible part (21) allowing the movement of the cover (24) relative to the upper part (10) of the body (7 ).

7- Dispensing device (1) of drink according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part (8) is provided with a bottom (9) in which the reservoir (2) is positioned to constitute a wedging and positioning means thereof.

8- Dispensing device (1) drink according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (24) is provided with a locking means (30) of the gas bottle (3) ensuring its centering , consisting of a cutout capable of covering the upper part of this gas bottle.

9- Dispensing device (1) of drink according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a collar (34) disposed at the level of the upper part (10) intended for the reception of a tray ( 35) fixed or removable.

10- Dispensing device (1) of drink according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part (8) comprises a lateral access means (36) allowing the replacement of the drink tank (2).