Other

Control Technology Corporation

Charles S Turner

James C Gray

Donald J McNeal

Donald G Cheshier

A beverage dispensing means includes a pressurized beverage container, a flow meter connected between the pressurized container and a faucet. A valve assembly is attached to the faucet for opening and closing the faucet responsive to an electromechanical actuator. A programmable controller in response to differential pressure indicating signals produced by the flow meter determines the flow rate incrementally and the incremental quantities are accumulated for comparison with a preselected programmed quantity for pouring a preselected quantity of the beverage and actuates the electromechanical actuator for the time necessary to pour the selected amount of beverage. The flow meter includes a line segment of known length, size and material. The known length provides a measurable pressure difference owing to the drag therein as opposed to the measurable pressure difference obtained from the head of a manometer type flow meter. Thus, a substantially larger difference pressure measurement is obtainable. A differential pressure transducer is connected to passageways connected to line segment ports located at beginning and ending points of the line segment for measuring the pressure differential and outputting electrical signals indicative thereof for use by the programmable controller in determining continuously during the pouring time the quantities for a preselected amount of the beverage. The valve assembly includes a valve stem sleeve attached between the faucet ends. The sleeve includes at the end adjacent to the faucet a seal expander for wiping clean during valve cleaning the portion of the valve stem exposed to the beverage during valve opening. This prevents seepage of the beverage into the valve sleeve where it can solidify to stick the valve.

Computerized beverage dispensing system

A computerized beverage dispensing system in a first embodiment includes a fitting connected to a tap having a thermoelectric heat pump cooled nozzle and an electrically controlled valve, hereinafter valve. A computerized controller is connected to the fitting and tap. The fitting has a constricted passage through which the beverage flows under pressure and pressure and temperature transducers for measuring the pressure difference across the constricted passage and the temperature thereof. The computerized controller includes a pressure to time look up table used for timing valve operation. If abnormal pressure or temperature occurs the valve is cut off unless an override circuit is activated. A front/back display shows messages programmed into the computerized controller. A modified fitting has a Pitot tube measuring the velocity flow for the pressure transducer for use with a velocity/time look up table for timing valve on time. In a second embodiment a counter initially counts the time to dispense a volume of the beverage; adjustment for volume changes is made thereafter by incrementing the time up or down as necessary to dispense the initial volume of the beverage. A third embodiment uses the count and adjust technique for beverage dispensing volume control, together with system entry being controlled by a code entry matching a stored code. After entry a normal/program (purge) key switch at normal controls the normal system operation and at program/purge secures the system from all but the key carrier for programming and/or purging.

Computerized beer dispensing system

Disclosed is a standby power supply system appropriate to supply a set of signal amplifiers within a cable television network. The standby power supply normally operates off of utility company power and alternatively operates from a battery power supply during power failures. Circuitry is disclosed to use battery power during failure mode operation to generate a pulse width modulated alternating current of substantially constant true rms voltage and of substantially constant frequency. Circuitry is also disclosed to cycle charge the battery supply to a desired voltage and then stop the charging cycle and begin timing normal mode operation until another charging cycle. Further, isolating circuitry is disclosed to remove much of the load on the battery supply during normal mode operation. Various safety provisions including soft start provisions, a high current cut off, a low voltage cut off, and protection for the amplification stages is included. Finally, various types of status monitoring equipment are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Charles S Turner