Beverage dispensing apparatus comprising self-regulated flow control means

摘要

Beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a self-regulating flow rate control means (5). It comprises: A pressurized container (30, 31) containing a beverage to be dispensed; A dispensing duct (1) defined by at least one wall and bringing in fluid communication the liquid beverage contained in the container through a first opening (1a) with the exterior via a valve (35) and out of a second opening (1b), for drawing beverage out of the container. At least a section (3) of the wall defining the dispensing duct is resiliently flexible and is such that its inner surface, facing the interior of the dispensing duct, is exposed to the pressure, P1, reigning in the duct at that level, and its outer surface, facing out of the duct is exposed to a pressure, P2, substantially equal to the pressure reigning in the container, the resiliently flexible section (3) being suitable for maintaining a substantially constant dispensing flow rate over a given range of operating pressure values, P2, in the container.

主权项

1. A beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing a beverage comprising:
a pressurized container containing a beverage to be dispensed; a dispensing duct defined by at least one wall and bringing in fluid communication the liquid beverage contained in the container through a first opening with the exterior via a valve and out of a second opening, for drawing beverage out of the container;wherein:
at least a section of the at least one wall defining the dispensing duct is resiliently flexible and is such that its inner surface, facing the interior of the dispensing duct, is exposed to the pressure, P1, reigning in the duct at that level, and its outer surface, facing out of the dispensing duct is exposed to a pressure substantially equal to the pressure, P2, reigning in the container, the resiliently flexible section being deformable such as to maintain a substantially constant dispensing flow rate over a given range of operating pressure values, P2, in the container by reducing the cross-section area of the dispensing duct with increasing pressure gradient, ΔP2-1, across the flexible wall section of the ducts, wherein the apparatus further comprises: a blind duct opening at the interior of the container and sharing at least a wall with the dispensing duct including the flexible section thereof; and wherein the flexible section is not located within the container.