Universal and aesthetically elegant bucket dispenser
阅读说明:本技术 通用的和美观精致的桶分配器 (Universal and aesthetically elegant bucket dispenser ) 是由 罗伯特·莱瓦 蒂莫西·克劳福德 胡安·德尔加多 于 2014-10-23 设计创作,主要内容包括:本发明涉及一种桶分配器,所述桶分配器用于分配和容纳包含在桶中的饮料,所述分配器包括上柱体、桶隔间和龙头。分配器允许用户以最少的调节从一个类型的饮料切换至另一类型的饮料,同时保持悦目的且紧凑的设计。(The present invention relates to a keg dispenser for dispensing and containing a beverage contained in a keg, comprising an upper column, a keg compartment and a tap. The dispenser allows a user to switch from one type of beverage to another with minimal adjustment while maintaining a pleasing and compact design.)
1. A beverage dispensing device comprising:
an upper cylinder, the upper cylinder comprising:
one or more arcuate doors around the upper cylinder that pivot around the exterior of the upper cylinder on a central pivot placed on a vertical axis of the beverage dispensing apparatus;
a spigot that is concealed when the one or more arcuate doors around the upper cylinder are closed; and
a barrel compartment;
wherein the vertical axis is located at the center of the beverage dispensing device, and
wherein the upper cylinder rests on the lower cylinder, and wherein a perimeter of the upper cylinder is less than a perimeter of the lower cylinder, and wherein the one or more arcuate doors pivot about an exterior of the upper cylinder at the perimeter of the lower cylinder.
2. The beverage dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:
a cavity, wherein the cavity contains CO2A tank wherein said CO2The slot is reversed.
3. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 1,
wherein the faucet can be positioned higher or lower on the upper cylinder at the discretion of the user.
4. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 1,
wherein the tap accommodates two dispensing lines and is capable of dispensing two or more beverages.
5. The beverage dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:
a flash cooler, wherein upon dispensing, the flash cooler is activated to dispense the liquid at a cooler temperature than the temperature at which the liquid is stored.
6. The beverage dispensing device of claim 1,
the one or more arcuate doors automatically pivot open or close to expose or conceal the faucet and bucket compartments at the discretion of the user.
7. The beverage dispensing device of claim 6, wherein the one or more arcuate doors open under control of one or more motors.
8. The beverage dispensing device of claim 7, wherein the one or more motors are activated by a mechanical mechanism.
9. The beverage dispensing device of claim 7 wherein the one or more motors are activated by an electrical mechanism.
10. The beverage dispensing device of claim 7 wherein the one or more motors are remotely controlled by way of a remote control.
Technical Field
There are generally two types of keg dispensers that are readily available for home use. In its simplest form, one type of bucket dispenser is a box-type refrigerator having a cylindrical arrangement at the top. A "cylinder," as commonly referred to in the beer industry, is a cylindrical tube having an outer diameter of about four inches and an inner diameter of about three inches. The column is typically disposed on top of a freezer housing that includes a conduit that connects the tub to a faucet. The conduit also restricts the flow of air through the column. The faucet is also connected to the column. In addition to the unsightly appearance, this configuration also makes it difficult to adequately cool the section of the conduit that is housed within the column. This known device suffers from a long-lasting foaming because beer that is not properly cooled has a tendency to foam excessively when dispensed into a drinking container. To combat this problem, some high end residential units utilize a separate blower that forces cool air directly into the column to minimize foaming. However, this additional hardware adds to the cost of the unit, thereby preventing the average consumer from purchasing the unit.
A second type of dispenser is an improved refrigerator having a tap directly connected to the refrigerator door. This type is not manufactured. Instead, it is typically sold as a kit to be installed by the purchaser and requires drilling into the front door of a standard residential refrigerator, defaulting the standard residential refrigerator and possibly damaging the refrigerator and possibly invalidating the manufacturer's warranty. A further problem of the known device is that the ordinary person lacks basic knowledge of how the drinking fountain works, thus making the fragmented kit system problematic. Further, it is disadvantageously observed by some that another aspect of the device is that the tap and the drip tray protrude from the front of the refrigerator door, both hard to see and proving possibly dangerous (i.e. due to snagging of clothing or injury by impact of force).
Although there may be other means for dispensing kegs, due to the higher cost of the equipment, installation and the higher required maintenance associated with running the apparatus, dispense kegs are typically stocked for commercial use; dispense buckets are not convenient for use in a residential environment.
Ideally, the drum dispenser should be less or no problematic in the direction of product loss due to foaming, be easy to operate and maintain, and should be aesthetically pleasing.
Background
It should be noted that the following discussion relates to various publications by author and the year of publication. And certain publications are not admitted to be prior art to the present invention by virtue of their recent publication date. The discussion of this disclosure herein is given for a more complete background and is not to be construed as an admission that this disclosure is prior art for patentability termination purposes.
U.S. patent No. d 469,787 to Wicker discloses a bucket cooler that is decorated in design, wherein the dispenser has a front portion with a cylindrical profile to wrap around the bucket. However, the distributor column is still positioned outside the top of the housing, thus operating as a typical bucket cooler with the distributor column on top of the housing.
U.S. patent No. d 352,296 to Westendorf illustrates a bucket cooler in the shape of a bucket. Although decorative, the design is not used for functional purposes.
U.S. patent No.6,502,415 to Chiusolo et al discloses a cooling system that requires the use of water and ice circulated in a conduit through a stirrer to keep the beer from foaming. This is a device that is used only in off-grid environments where conventional refrigeration is not available. U.S. patent No.4,225,059 to Kappos, U.S. patent No.3,865,276 to Thompson, and U.S. patent No.2,223,152 to Nagin also describe methods for situations where typical refrigeration technology is not available or preferred. Both of these types of systems lack a refrigeration unit, thus making them unsuitable for everyday residential or commercial use.
U.S. patent No.7,237,390 to Nelson discloses a portable cooling unit for use during social gathering. While the system provides the desired results for events that last for several days, the system is not used for typical home use, where the buckets may last for weeks or months before being consumed. This is because the system of Nelson cannot cool the entire keg, thus resulting in beer spoilage in a shorter period of time. The system also lacks the ability to hide the faucet from the public.
Another problem with current keg dispensers is the shear size of the unit. Primarily, the bucket dispenser is designed to accommodate the larger 1/2 buckets, with the larger 1/2 buckets typically being used in a commercial environment. This gives the appearance of a pub or a joint room in the location of which the bucket dispenser is housed. There are also more and more kegs used for dispensing technical or specialty beer. These barrels are considered to be small 1/4 or small 5 gallon barrels. These smaller buckets, generally referred to as "long buckets," are also enjoyed by an increasing number of home brewers. There are currently no known cylindrical dispensers designed specifically for these elongated buckets. Another major problem that has prevented the use of drinking dispensers increasingly for domestic use is the lack of a dispenser for dispensing, for example, CO2Gas outlets for nitrogen, beer gas, etc., and filling the tank is a contributing factor in deciding not to purchase a drawer for home use.
There is thus a current need for an apparatus that provides long buckets, typically 1/2 buckets, and an increasing number of smaller buckets ranging from less than 1 gallon to 15.5 gallons or more, while maintaining a compact size. In particular, there is a need for an apparatus that is easier to maintain and operate and ensures proper cooling and thus avoids the foaming problems that are so common in known keg dispensers. The apparatus must also incorporate more convenient methods to manage the various gases used to advance and maintain the integrity of the product being dispensed. There is also a need for a drum dispensing device comprising an outer housing shaped to fit in an arrangement in a home or trendy sports bar.
Disclosure of Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a beverage dispensing apparatus that includes a keg compartment and an upper column having one or more upper doors and a tap that is concealed when the doors are closed. In one embodiment, the bucket compartment is cooled by a cooling unit. The cooling unit may operate based on adiabatic cooling of a compressed refrigerant and/or include a thermoelectric cooler based on the peltier effect. In one embodiment, the tub compartment may include a door having a drip tray disposed in an upper end thereof. The tub compartment may be disposed below the upper column. Alternatively, the tap may be provided on the front portion of the upper column.
In one embodiment, the faucet is not disposed on the top surface of the dispensing apparatus. Optionally, the upper cylinder is not cylindrical. The upper cylinder may have at least two different radii of curvature. The upper column may include two upper doors, and the bucket compartment may include only one door. Optionally, the upper column may include a cooling air inlet having a cross-sectional area of at least 24 square inches with at least a terminal end of the line located therein. The cooling air inlet may be communicably coupled to the interior of the tub compartment and not coupled to ambient air when the door of the tub compartment is closed and the upper door is open. Alternatively, the cooling air inlet may be in communication with ambient air when the door of the bucket compartment is open, but not when the door is closed.
In one embodiment, the faucet may be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and/or the faucet may include a quick-connect faucet handle. Alternatively, a plurality of taps may be provided. The bucket compartment may include an inner dimension that accommodates a plurality of elongated buckets. Alternatively, a vent may be provided in the upper column and may communicate with a region formed between one or more upper doors and the upper column.
Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a beverage dispensing apparatus that includes a keg compartment and an upper column having one or more upper doors and a tap that is concealed when the doors are closed; and a dispenser having an elongated cylindrical shape.
Embodiments of the present invention also relate to beverage dispensing apparatus having a generally cylindrical shape; a cooling tub compartment; a first faucet communicably coupled to the bung; a second faucet communicably coupled to a water source; and the tap may be secured in a tap compartment forming a substantially cylindrical shaped portion.
Embodiments of the present invention also relate to a beverage dispensing apparatus having a cartridge including a compartment and an upper column having a tap, wherein an exterior of the upper column is recessed from an exterior of the cartridge compartment forming a notch shape.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages with minimal foaming by suitably maintaining the temperature of the carbonated beverage in a desired range. The apparatus preferably includes an enhanced column that provides a greater flow of chilled air to the draw and drink line in the column. This embodiment may also optionally provide a faucet that may be concealed when not in use. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a relatively small footprint and thus requires less floor space than conventional bucket dispensers. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dispensing a drink, such as beer, cider, soda, ginger beer, sashimi beer, wine or any other beverage that can be used in conventional drink systems.
One embodiment of the present invention includes a bucket dispenser. The drum dispenser preferably includes a cylindrical housing having a diameter of about 10 inches to about 24 inches, and more preferably about 13 inches to 15 inches. A smaller diameter shell, approximately 13 "to 15", may accommodate one-sixth of a bucket, a 5 gallon bucket of a full length, or a smaller bucket, while a larger diameter shell, approximately 15 "to 17", may accommodate 1/4 full length buckets, one-sixth of a full length bucket, a full length 5 gallon bucket, or a smaller bucket. Alternatively, larger diameters may be used and will provide the desired results, including the ability to accommodate one or more half full length buckets, 5 gallon long buckets, and/or 1/4 long buckets. Alternatively, the housing may have a single door or two doors that are wide and tall enough for one or more buckets to be inserted into the housing. One or more doors may optionally accommodate the tub in an upright position.
In one embodiment, the bottom of the housing preferably houses a refrigeration unit. Alternatively, the refrigeration unit may be provided elsewhere and/or in the housing. In one embodiment, a portion of the housing may have a slot therein. Alternatively, the notch may be formed between a substantially vertical surface on which the faucet is mounted and a substantially horizontal surface on which the drip tray is formed.
Alternative embodiments of the present invention provide a locking mechanism, thus providing the user with the ability to hide or use a key to lock the apparatus for dispensing and containing the drum.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a drink dispenser having the appearance of a water cooler with or without the ability to dispense water from a water line or refillable water container. Despite the use of this embodiment, the water dispensing nozzle can be located outside the dispenser where it is readily available to the owner of the dispenser.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides the dispenser with the appearance of a can or bottle shaped beverage container. In this embodiment, the appearance may be adapted to mimic existing products, such as commercially available single use size canned products that are commercially available to dispense beverages, thus establishing brand recognition and product identification in the consumer.
An aspect of embodiments of the present invention provides utilization of various colors for a drawing dispenser. Since drinking beverages is sometimes associated with watching professional and college sports on television, this will prove useful in showing team spirit.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a faucet that includes a quick connect and quick release mechanism (e.g., the mechanism may optionally be similar to those used to connect air tools to air hoses). Alternatively, the locking mechanism may be encased and/or adapted to enter into the quick connect housing such that the usual means for handle connection of a faucet is prevented from use.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides one or more doors that pivot about a center point to cover the dispenser surface and faucet. The pivot point may be horizontal or vertical, depending on preference. This type of door construction may be advantageous because it may replace an outward opening such as a typical hinged door, allowing the door to rotate about or on the dispenser, thus helping to eliminate the possibility of shielding a pedestrian and hanging himself or his clothing on the door, causing injury or damage to himself, his clothing, or property.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a door that is automatically opened by a mechanical or electrical mechanism. The door may be opened by any means including remote control, touch, sound, button, sound, movement, etc. The automatic door may be positioned at the dispenser face or at the tub entrance. If two or more doors are utilized, it may be preferable that two or more doors open simultaneously for each individual location.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides any type of valve, preferably a ball valve, positioned between the keg coupling and the tap. It may be preferred that the valve be placed closest to the tap for obvious reasons. It is also preferred that the valve can be opened by an electrical mechanism and controlled by some type of control means, such as a keypad, touch pad, digital display, card reader, fingerprint or web scanner, voice recognition or any other control means. The purpose of the valve may be to close the flow of beverage to the tap, keeping any useless users from accessing the liquid contained therein. The valve may preferably open quickly and may operate in conjunction with a manual valve located at the tap, or exclusively by removing the valve located at the tap, so that liquid is dispensed each time the valve is opened. Another benefit of this configuration is the ability to connect multiple sipping lines to a single faucet. This is preferably done by mounting the valve as close as possible to the tap and/or at a higher level than the tap, so that minimal beverage remains in the line after each beverage is dispensed. By installing a key, switch or any type of display including, but not limited to, an LCD, analog or digital display, the user may allow switching between their beverage selections by entering their selection, which in turn may open the corresponding valve and, depending on the configuration, the product may be dispensed immediately or the user may open the faucet for dispensing. Another preferred aspect of the configuration may be to contain the processor and some type of connection to the internet through hardware or an internal computer network, either through a physical connection or a wireless connection, such as WIFI, to allow the administrator to monitor and limit or allow use of the dispenser. In this configuration, the end user may be given some type of password, token, magnetic card, key code, user ID, or any other method of identifying the user. The administrator can then monitor, limit, permit, manage, and control the usage of the dispenser.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a flash heater or cooler placed in the dispenser. For obvious reasons, the snap device may be best placed closest to the faucet. The purpose of the device may be to heat or cool the liquid to a temperature preferred by the consumer at the time of consumption. This may be preferred by keeping the entire contents of the keg at the same temperature at all times, as this may save energy and some liquids may deteriorate at higher temperatures, while alcohol may be separated from water in alcoholic beverages below the cooling temperature. This is especially true for cooled brewed coffee, which is stored in a cooled environment and can be used to cool to ice or be heated prior to consumption.
Yet another element may include components of the evaporator assembly to operate below the barrel space between the bottom distributor wall and insulation to further cool the bottom of the barrel and remove any heat from the compressor that would otherwise reach the barrel or barrel compartment.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a sheet having an external inlet for a gas containerA separate cavity, wherein the slot can be introduced and connected to the regulator without the use of a tool, such as a crescent wrench, an open end box wrench, or any other type of tool. It may be preferred that the cavity be isolated and insulated from the rest of the cooling cavity. The connector may be of any type, including a quick connector, twist and lock, threaded connector, or any other type of connector. The inlet to the chamber may be preferred but not limited to the upper section of the distributor. The tank can hold any number of gases including CO2(carbon dioxide), argon, nitrogen/CO also known as beer gas2A mixture or any other gas used to propel the liquid contained in the drum. The gas cylinder may preferably be inverted in the cavity and may have a tube running from an outlet nozzle through the centre of the slot to the opposite end, so that when the slot is inverted, only gas, but not liquid, is expelled during operation. Due to liquid CO2This is important as it can adversely affect the taste of the beverage being dispensed and can damage the regulator and other equipment.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides for electronically regulating CO2Of pressure, CO2For dispensing the liquid stored in the drum dispenser and to some extent carbonated in the liquid. This may be advantageous as different types of liquids require different pressures for storage and dispensing.
And yet another embodiment of the present invention provides for the use of a digital scale connected to the display of the dispenser to provide an estimated level of liquid contained in the barrel. Another approach may be to incorporate a density scanner or flow meter into the dispenser.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides the ability for the dispenser to dispense suda water. Soda water is very popular among many people and is easily manufactured by all the necessary equipment already included in the dispenser.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides the ability of the dispenser to dispense a cartridge with sachets. The cartridge, typically with a sachet, is dispensed by relying on filling the void between the cartridge housing and the sachet to apply pressure to the sachet. These kegs are more conducive to home use because any gas can be used to force and propel the kegs and product, including using daily atmospheric compressed air from any compressor, and reducing the need for the user to purchase different gases when dispensing different beverages. These kegs may use a modified coupling, so that the aspirated air may not interact with the liquid being dispensed, and may have a separate connection for dedicated air, in addition to the coupling for dispensing the beverage.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a compressor formed in the distributor. Preferably, the compressor is adjustable, operates quietly and can operate at pressures of about 1 psi and greater. The compressor may preferably be located in the same area as the refrigerant compressor, but need not be, and may be housed anywhere inside or outside the distributor housing. The compressor may be operated with or without a holding tank and may be housed in the refrigerant compressor using a manifold to save space if desired. It may be preferred that the compressor operates under standard a/C power outlet and can be operated by D/C power if required, and the outlet can be connected directly to any standard power outlet or connected in an electrical circuit integrated into the dispenser. The compressor may be regulated by a standard pressure regulator, but it may be preferred that this functionality be integrated into the processor of the dispenser so that the compressor may be controlled electronically by the user.
Still another embodiment of the present invention provides the use of a manifold and a plurality of sources of gas for propelling and/or protecting the liquid held in the barrel. By providing the user with choices and an easy way to switch between those choices, the dispenser can be made easier to operate and thus more helpful. Different gases require different regulators to control the output pressure of the cell. For example, if the user needs to dispense wine using nitrogen, and then use CO2Switch to beer, the user may then have nitrogen regulator to CO2Switching of the regulator. Preferably, but not necessarilyIt is important that these regulators are digital. Not only is this task awkward and time consuming, it can require tools each time a switch is made and can result in damage to the regulator and hose. A better approach would be to install the manifold with inlet and outlet valves that would allow the user to switch between at least two sources of gas or air. When the user needs to switch from beer back to wine, he can simply turn off the signal from the CO2The valve of the tank and the valve from the nitrogen tank is opened. Preferably, at least two chambers are provided to accommodate different gases, preferably using digital instrumentation and regulators, if possible in conjunction with a compressor for normal air, but one chamber may suffice.
And another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of sensing when a drum container is out of product and automatically stopping the dispensing process. This may be advantageous due to splashing and exudation caused by the product coming out, which in turn causes the previously splashed product to soil the whole body of the user. One way to eliminate this problem is to incorporate a FOB (beer foaming) detector into a dispenser that is currently available for sale in a bailer exclusive store. Another and more preferred method may be to have a sensor somewhere between the keg coupling and the tap which, when used in conjunction with a valve behind the tap as previously described, may cause the valve to automatically close. It may also be preferred to include a warning mechanism in the form of a light or in combination with any display that can show when product is flowing.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention, as well as other ranges of applicability of the invention, will be set forth in part in the detailed description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
Drawings
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. For example, while the figures illustrate only circular and oval cross-sectional shaped housings, the desired results may be achieved with virtually any cross-sectional shape capable of accommodating at least one barrel of any size. Wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a door thereof is connected with an inner hinge device and wherein a drip tray is provided in a top portion of the lower door thereof;
FIG. 2A is a drawing illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which a pair of top doors are open and the doors of the bucket compartment are closed;
FIGS. 2B and 2C are drawings illustrating embodiments of the invention; wherein the faucet can be concealed in the housing when not in use;
fig. 2E and 2D are drawings respectively illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the dispenser has a bottom door, rather than a top door, and in which the dispenser does not have any doors.
3A, 3B, and 3C are drawings illustrating the flow of chilled air in a dispenser, respectively, with cooling units according to embodiments of the invention disposed at the bottom and top of the dispenser;
fig. 4A and 4B are drawings illustrating a difference in size between a conventional column and a reinforcing column according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a rotatable faucet according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 6A and 6B are drawings illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention incorporating a water dispensing faucet;
FIGS. 7A and 7B are drawings illustrating a dispenser capable of accommodating a plurality of faucets and kegs with a door of the housing closed and opened, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8A is a perspective front view illustrating a dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention with a door of the dispenser closed;
8B-8D are top views illustrating a dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a single 1/2 bucket, two 1/4 elongated buckets, and three elongated one-sixth buckets or elongated 5 gallon buckets are provided separately;
FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating an upper column of a dispenser according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the faucet includes a removable handle; and is
Fig. 10A-10G illustrate perspective front, front and rear, left and right side, and top and bottom views, respectively, of a decorative embodiment of a drum dispenser according to an embodiment of the invention.
11A-11C illustrate a 3-dimensional perspective and side view, respectively, of a bucket dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention in which an upper door pivots about a dispenser column.
Fig. 12A and 12B illustrate front perspective and side views, respectively, of a bucket dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the door pivoted on the dispenser column.
Fig. 13A and 13B illustrate the ability of the faucet assembly to move up and down on the slide mechanism.
Detailed Description
As used in the specification and claims, the terms "scooper" and/or "keg" are used for simplicity and are intended to include any and all pressurized containers and/or pressurizable containers capable of containing a beverage and/or ingredients of a beverage.
As used in the specification and claims, the term "line" and "lines" is intended to include any structure, device, product, and/or component for transporting and/or distributing a fluid, including, but not limited to, pipes, tubes, hoses, connectors, and the like.
As used in the specification and claims, the term "column" can be used interchangeably with the term "tower", each term intended to include the housing and/or portions thereof, through which the dipline connecting the faucet to the tub passes, and is not limited to any particular shape.
The terms "a", "an", and "the" mean one or more.
Referring now to fig. 1 and 2A-C, an embodiment of a
The
By placing the
In one embodiment, the
Optionally, the
Optionally, the
In one embodiment, one or more holes 121 (see fig. 2A) may be provided through the
As shown in FIG. 2D, in one embodiment, the
Fig. 3A and 3B and 3C schematically illustrate the flow of cooled air in the
In an embodiment of the present invention, in which the
Fig. 3C is an embodiment depicting an enlargement of the upper column so that the
Fig. 4A illustrates a conventional
As shown in fig. 5,
Referring now to fig. 6A and 6B,
Referring now to fig. 7A and 7B, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a foam-
Fig. 8A illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of a
Referring now to fig. 9, in one embodiment, the
Fig. 11A, 11B and 11C illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention in which the
CO preferably located in the upper part of the distributor housing2The cavity would be designed to be easily accessible and easy to install and remove the CO2A slot or
Fig. 12A and 12B show a further embodiment of the invention, where the
Fig. 13A and 13B illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein a faucet 1301 is able to slide up and down on a sliding assembly 1302 as a release mechanism 1303 is depressed and locked into place. The release mechanism and the slide assembly may be constructed of any available components. This configuration may be advantageous in allowing a more compact design of the dispenser and at the same time allowing the use of a taller glass or water tank. Although not shown, some benefits may be that the entire upper column may telescope up and down and may provide at least the same benefits as the faucet can move up and down.
The cooling
With the ability to quickly connect and disconnect the
Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides the user with the ability to monitor the temperature and/or the remaining amount of beverage remaining in the keg. The temperature may be monitored via the use of one or more temperature sensors, and the one or more temperature levels may be displayed on a display 929 (see fig. 9), which display 929 may optionally include a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, or another electrical display device. The remaining capacity of the bucket may optionally be determined by a pressure sensor which compares the actual weight of the bucket and its contents to the weight of the empty bucket. The barrel fluid level may be displayed on the
Referring now generally to the figures, in one embodiment, the hinges for one or
Fig. 10A-10G illustrate perspective front, front and rear, left and right side, and top and bottom views, respectively, of a decorative embodiment of a drum dispenser according to an embodiment of the invention.
While the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all cited documents, applications, patents, and publications, and corresponding applications, cited above and/or in the attached documents, are hereby incorporated by reference.
- 上一篇:一种医用注射器针头装配设备
- 下一篇:一种基于升降机的液体沥青装车系统及工艺