Dispensing system for carbonated beverages

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A CARBONATED BEVERAGE FROM A PRESSURIZED SOURCE THEREOF INTO A CONSUMER''S GLASS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING IN DIRECTLY CONNECTED SEQUENCE AN ELONGATED CONDUIT OF SMALL CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE AND IN WHICH THE PRESSURE EXISTENT IN THE BEVERAGE OF THE SOURCE IS SUBSTANTIALLY DISSIPATED DURING FLOW OF THE BEVERAGE THERETHROUGH, TERMINAL CONDUIT MEANS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE OUTLET END OF SAID ELONGATED CONDUIT AND BEING OF INCREASING CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA IN THE DIRECTION OF BEVERAGE FLOW, SAID AREAS BEING SO PROPORTIONED THAT SAID CONDUITS ARE COMPLETELY FILLED WITH LIQUID DURING DISPENSING FLOW, AND A DISPENSING VALVE CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET END OF SAID TERMINAL CONDUIT AND BEING OPERATIVE TO RECEIVE BEVERAGE THEREFROM, SAID VALVE HAVING A CAVITY THEREIN AND AN INLET PORT FOR CONNECTING SAID CAVITY WITH THE OUTLET END OF SAID TERMINAL CONDUIT MEANS, SAID INLET PORT HAVING A CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE OUTLET FROM SAID TERMINAL CONDUIT MEANS, AND SAID VALVE ALSO HAVING A DOWNWARDLY DISPOSED CONTROLLED OUTLET FOR SAID CAVITY OF A CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF SAID INLET PORT, THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT UPON OPENING OF SAID OUTLET PORT A POOL OF BEVERAGE REMAINS IN SAID CAVITY AND THE BEVERAGE FLOWS THROUGH SAID VALVE IN SUBSTANTIALLY A SOLID STREAM AND IS DISCHARGED FROM SAID CAVITY UNDER CONDITIONS OF FREE GRAVITY FLOW.