Tap Attachment Expansion Device for Consistent Beer Carbonation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beer keg tapping systems often result in inconsistent carbonation levels, leading to excessive foaming at the start and stale beer towards the end, as the carbon dioxide content varies during the dispensing process.
Innovation Solution
A tap attachment for beer kegs featuring a gas-tight expansion device that maintains constant carbon dioxide levels by using an expansion device to generate pressure without direct CO2 contact, ensuring complete emptying and consistent carbonation throughout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carbon dioxide is applied directly to the beverage in the keg to generate pressure for dispensing, then the beverage can be pumped out effectively, but the carbonation level varies during dispensing causing excessive foaming at the start and staleness towards the end
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an expansion device as an intermediary between the gas supply and the beverage. Gas is supplied to the expansion device which then expands to generate pressure on the beverage indirectly, preventing direct contact between the pressure medium and the beverage. This intermediary mechanism maintains consistent carbonation levels while still achieving effective dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the pressure generation function from the beverage contact function. The expansion device handles gas expansion and pressure generation, while the beverage remains isolated in the keg. This segmentation allows independent optimization of pressure control and carbonation maintenance.
2Productivity
If the keg is emptied completely to maximize productivity, then more beverage can be dispensed, but the carbonation level decreases leading to stale taste
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion device serves as a mediator that allows the keg to be emptied completely while maintaining constant carbonation levels. By generating pressure through expansion rather than direct gas pressurization, the beverage quality remains consistent throughout the entire dispensing process, enabling complete keg utilization without staleness.
3Stress or pressure
If a gas supply pipe extends directly into the beverage container to apply pressure, then pressure can be applied effectively, but the beverage comes into contact with the pressure medium causing carbonation variation
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion device is positioned as an intermediary between the gas supply pipe and the beverage. The gas supply pipe connects to the expansion device which then expands to apply pressure to the beverage indirectly. This arrangement maintains effective pressure application while preventing direct contact between the pressure medium and beverage, thus stabilizing carbonation levels.
4Productivity
If the tap attachment is designed to allow beverage discharge, then complete emptying is achieved, but carbonation control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the discharge function from the carbonation control function. The tap attachment handles beverage discharge for complete emptying, while the expansion device independently manages carbonation control through regulated gas expansion. This segmentation enables both complete discharge and consistent carbonation maintenance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for complete emptying of the keg while maintaining optimal carbonation levels, preventing excessive foaming and staleness, ensuring a consistent beer quality throughout the dispensing process.
Implementation Method 1
Gas supplied from a gas source is passed through a gas channel into a gas-tight expansion device, arranged at the mouth of the gas channel, in which way the expansion device can be converted from a non-expanded state into an expanded state
Implementation Method 2
By further supplying gas to increase the partial volume occupied by the expansion device in the beverage keg, so that the beverage keg is completely emptied, increasing the pressure inside the beverage keg onto the beverage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides a dispensing attachment (1) designed for mounting on a predetermined beverage keg (10), as well as a combination with the beverage keg and a method for dispensing a beverage until complete emptying by means of the combined arrangement of dispensing attachment (1) and beverage keg (10). The dispensing attachment (1) comprises a base body (2) with a fastening element (2'), a connection device (15) for a gas source (16), a first valve arrangement (13), and a gas channel (5"), wherein the first valve arrangement (13) opens or closes the gas channel (5") between the connection device (15) and its outlet (50). The dispensing attachment (1) further comprises a second valve arrangement (3), a riser channel (8), and a tap (9) with an outlet (8') which is connected to the riser channel (8) via the second valve arrangement (3).The dispensing attachment (1) further comprises a gas-tight expansion device (4) that surrounds the gas channel (5") at its opening (50). The expansion device (4) is expandable by supplying gas from the gas source (16) and is designed such that, in the expanded state, it has a volume that corresponds at least to the internal volume of the predetermined beverage keg (10) onto which the dispensing attachment (1) is to be placed. A stabilizing device, designed as a gas supply pipe (5) with an internal channel (5') that extends the gas channel (5'), is surrounded by the expansion device (4) and stabilizes the expansion device (4) during expansion.