Anheuser-busch Inbev S.a.

Johan Van Rompaey

Daniel Peirsman

Sarah Van Hove

Stijn Vandekerckhove

A roving beverage dispensing device has a beverage container in a cooled compartment and a flexible beverage dispensing line with connecting means coupling its inlet end to the container. A pressure line is releasably connected to the container and to a source of pressurized gas. An elongated tapping column fixed to the top of the compartment comprises elongated inner channel bringing in communication the interior of the compartment with tapping valve element suitable for receiving a portion of the outlet end of the dispensing line and for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough. The largest diameters of the dispensing line and the connecting means are sufficiently small so that the dispensing line can be introduced from the top end of the tapping column through the elongated channel into the compartment and connected to the container.

Roving beverage dispensing unit

A stopcock controls the flow of a liquid under pressure through a dispensing tube with an upstream portion separated by the stopcock from a downstream portion. The stopcock includes a housing portion with a chamber defined by a housing peripheral wall surrounding a longitudinal z-axis. The housing peripheral wall has an inner surface of revolution with a housing inlet opening connectable to the upstream portion of the dispensing tube. The stopcock includes an outlet connector connectable to the downstream portion of the dispensing tube and comprising an outlet opening. A plug defined by a plug outer peripheral wall snugly fitting the inner surface of revolution of the housing peripheral wall. The plug can rotate within the chamber about the longitudinal z-axis. The plug has a through-channel extending from an upstream opening located on the plug outer peripheral wall, to a downstream opening, such that the plug can be rotated about the longitudinal z-axis from a flow position to a sealed position, wherein, the plug outer peripheral wall comprises a seal protrusion topped by a ridge and forming a closed loop defining a blank area of the plug outer peripheral wall, such that, in the sealed position, the housing inlet opening of the housing peripheral wall faces the blank area and is circumscribed within the seal protrusion. The plug outer peripheral wall has a flow protrusion topped by a ridge circumscribing the upstream opening such that, in the flow position, the inlet opening of the cylindrical chamber peripheral wall is circumscribed by the flow protrusion, wherein said flow protrusion preferably shares a common portion of protrusion with the seal protrusion.

Stopcock for beverage dispenser

A beverage dispensing device including a base having a support plate is disclosed. The device has a peripheral wall jutting out of the bottom of the support plate and extending along the perimeter of the support plate defining with the bottom surface an inner volume of the base. A source of pressurized gas is lodged in the inner volume of the base, with a device for connecting the source of pressurized gas to the interior of a beverage container outside the inner volume of the base. An elongated tapping column extends normal to the top surface of the base, having an elongated inner channel bringing in fluid communication the inner volume with a tapping valve head located at the opposite top, outlet end of the tapping column. The height of the peripheral wall allows the beverage dispensing device to dispense beverages when standing on the top surface of a counter.

Compact beverage dispensing unit

A tap for dispensing a beverage has a housing defining a channel for dispensing and a dispensing valve arranged in the housing. The valve is operable by a handle and connected via a tap drive shaft and a gear transmission to a valve drive shaft. The gear transmission has at least two cooperating gear wheels. The gear transmission could have a variable gear ratio. A method for manufacturing a tap for dispensing a beverage is disclosed.

Tap for dispensing a beverage

A dispensing unit for dispensing a beverage from a pressurized container having a tapping column fixed to and extending normal to the top surface of a top plate with an opening and forming an elbow is disclosed. The column has an elongated inner channel bringing in fluid communication the support plate with a tapping pinch valve located in a tapping head at the elbow. The tapping pinch valve has jaws for receiving in pinching relationship the outlet end of the dispensing line and controlling flow of liquid by varying the distance between the jaws from a closed to an open position. A flexible dispensing line, having inlet and outlet ends, extends in the channel. The outlet end engages the pinch valve, and the inlet end connects to a keg. A device for opening the channel includes the pinch valve so a distance larger than the open position separates the jaws.

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Leuven, Belgium

Johan Van Rompaey