Beer dispensing system

Claim 2

In a beer dispensing system the improvement comprising: a Perlick valve for normally preventing the flow of beer from a source to a dispensing area; means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a first predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a first predetermined quantity of beer, means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a second predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a second predetermined quantity of beer, a manually operable lever system independent of the valve opening means for actuating the Perlick valve to dispense foam, and means for restricting the extent to which the Perlick valve is opened by the manually operable lever system and thereby preventing the dispensing of liquid beer by means of the lever system.

Claim 3

The beer dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein the valve opening means include means for varying the predetermined periods of time and thereby adjusting the predetermined quantities of beer.

Claim 4

The beer dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein the valve opening means include a solenoid for opening the Perlick valve and electronic timing means for selectively operating the solenoid for the first and second predetermined periods of time.

Claim 5

In a beer dispensing system, the improvement comprising: a Perlick valve for normally preventing the flow of beer from a source to a dispensing area; means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a first predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a first predetermined quantity of beer; means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a second predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a second predetermined quantity of beer, said opening means comprising a solenoid for opening the Perlick valve and electronic timing means for selectively operating the solenoid for the first and second predetermined periods of time, said electronic timing means comprising first and second capacitors for storing voltage, and amplifier means operable in response to the voltage across said capacitors for driving the solenoid.

Claim 6

In a beer dispensing system, the improvement comprising: a Perlick valve for normally preventing the flow of beer from a source to a dispensing area; means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a first predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a first predetermined quantity of beer; means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a second predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a second predetermined quantity of beer, said opening means comprising a solenoid for opening the Perlick valve and electronic timing means for selectively operating the solenoid for the first and second predetermined periods of time, said electronic timing means comprising first and second capacitors for storing voltage, and amplifier means operable in response to the voltage across said capacitors for driving the solenoid.

Claim 7

In a beer dispensing system, the improvement comprising: a Perlick valve for normally preventing the flow of beer from a source to a dispensing area; means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a first predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a first predetermined quantity of beer; means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a second predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a second predetermined quantity of beer, said valve opening means comprising a solenoid for opening the Perlick valve and electronic timing means for selectively operating the solenoid for the first and second predetermined periods of time; and means for initially applying a voltage to operate the solenoid and for subsequently applyIng a lower voltage to operate the solenoid.

Claim 8

In a beer dispensing system, the improvement comprising: a Perlick valve for normally preventing the flow of beer from a source to a dispensing area; means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a first predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a first predetermined quantity of beer; means for automatically opening the Perlick valve for a second predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a second predetermined quantity of beer, said valve opening means comprising a solenoid for opening the Perlick valve and electronic timing means for selectively operating the solenoid for the first and second predetermined periods of time; and means for initially applying a voltage to operate the solenoid and for subsequently applyIng a lower voltage to operate the solenoid.

Claim 9

The beer dispensing system according to claim 1 further including override means for mechanically closing the Perlick valve notwithstanding the action of the valve opening means.

Claim 10

A fluid dispensing system comprising: a valve including a valve body for directing fluid from a source to a dispensing area, a valve stem slidably supported in the valve body for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, and an actuating lever connected to the valve stem and supported for pivotal movement about a first axis to move the valve stem between flow permitting and flow preventing positions; a second lever comprising a bell crank supported for pivotal movement about a second axis and including a first arm connected to the actuating lever and a second arm; a solenoid including a plunger connected to the second arm of the bell crank for selective actuation to pivot the levers and thereby control the flow of fluid through the valve; a third lever supported for pivotal movement between first and second positions; and a lost motion connection between the third lever and the bell crank for permitting pivotal movement of the bell crank under the actuation of the solenoid when the third lever is in one of its positions and for actuating the bell crank and the actuating lever to move the valve stem to the flow preventing position when the third lever is in the other of its positions.

Claim 11

A fluid dispensing system comprising: a valve including a valve body for directing fluid from a source to a dispensing area, a valve stem slidably supported in the valve body for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, and an actuating lever connected to the valve stem and supported for pivotal movement about a first axis to move the valve stem between flow permitting and flow preventing positions; a second lever comprising a bell crank supported for pivotal movement about a second axis and including a first arm connected to the actuating lever and a second arm; a solenoid including a plunger connected to the second arm of the bell crank for selective actuation to pivot the levers and thereby control the flow of fluid through the valve; a third lever supported for pivotal movement between first and second positions; and a lost motion connection between the third lever and the bell crank for permitting pivotal movement of the bell crank under the actuation of the solenoid when the third lever is in one of its positions and for actuating the bell crank and the actuating lever to move the valve stem to the flow preventing position when the third lever is in the other of its positions.

Claim 12

The fluid dispensing system according to claim 7 further including means for automatically actuating the solenoid for first and second predetermined periods of time and thereby dispensing first and second predetermined quantities of fluid through the valve.

Claim 13

A beer dispensing system comprising: a valve including a valve body for directing beer from a source to a dispensing area, and a valve stem slideably supported in the valve body for controlling the flow of beer therethrough; a first lever supported for pivotal movement about an axis between first and second positions and operatively connected to the valve stem of the valve for moving the valve stem through a predetermined distance from a position wherein beer is permitted to flow through the valve body to a position wherein beer is prevented from flowing through the valve body; a solenoid including a plunger connected to the lever for selective actuation to pivot the lever and thereby control the flow of beer to the valve; means normally positioning the valve stem in the flow-preventing position; a second independent lever for selective manual actuation to displace the valve stem from the flow-preventing position through a portion of the predetermined distance and thereby actuate the valve to dispense beer foam; and means for limiting the extent to which the valve is opened by the second lever and thereby preventing the dispensing of liquid beer by means of the second lever.

Claim 14

A beer dispensing system comprising: a valve including a valve body for directing beer from a source to a dispensing area, and a valve stem slideably supported in the valve body for controlling the flow of beer therethrough; a first lever supported for pivotal movement about an axis between first and second positions and operatively connected to the valve stem of the valve for moving the valve stem through a predetermined distance from a position wherein beer is permitted to flow through the valve body to a position wherein beer is prevented from flowing through the valve body; a solenoid including a plunger connected to the lever for selective actuation to pivot the lever and thereby control the flow of beer to the valve; means normally positioning the valve stem in the flow-preventing position; a second independent lever for selective manual actuation to displace the valve stem from the flow-preventing position through a portion of the predetermined distance and thereby actuate the valve to dispense beer foam; and means for limiting the extent to which the valve is opened by the second lever and thereby preventing the dispensing of liquid beer by means of the second lever.

Claim 15

In a beer dispensing system of the type including a valve body for directing beer from a source to a dispensing area, a valve stem slidably supported in the valve body for controlling the flow of beer therethrough, and a lever pivotally supported for selective actuation to move the valve stem from a normal flow preventing position to a flow permitting position, the improvement comprising: means connected to the actuating lever for automatically moving the valve stem a predetermined distance from the flow preventing position to the flow permitting position for a predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a predetermined quantity of beer; and a manually operable lever supported for pivotal movement independent of the actuating lever into engagement with a portion of the valve stem to selectively displace the valve stem from the flow preventing position toward the flow permitting position and through a predetermined portion of the predetermined distance and thereby dispensing foam through the valve body.

Claim 16

In a beer dispensing system of the type including a valve body for directing beer from a source to a dispensing area, a valve stem slidably supported in the valve body for controlling the flow of beer therethrough, and a lever pivotally supported for selective actuation to move the valve stem from a normal flow preventing position to a flow permitting position, the improvement comprising: means connected to the actuating lever for automatically moving the valve stem a predetermined distance from the flow preventing position to the flow permitting position for a predetermined period of time and thereby dispensing a predetermined quantity of beer; and a manually operable lever supported for pivotal movement independent of the actuating lever into engagement with a portion of the valve stem to selectively displace the valve stem from the flow preventing position toward the flow permitting position and through a predetermined portion of the predetermined distance and thereby dispensing foam through the valve body.