Energy and waste saving device for household beer chilling devices having remote dispensing lines
A beer dispensing system includes a kegerator under a countertop for holding a beer keg; a beer tower above the countertop and having a tap for dispensing the beer; a dispensing line between the keg and the tap for supplying beer from the keg to the tap; a drain line for draining beer in the dispensing line during non-use; a valve selectively movable between a first position connecting the dispensing line to the drain line and disconnecting the dispensing line to the tap, during non-use and a second position connecting the dispensing line between the keg and the tap and disconnecting the dispensing line to the drain line, during use of the beer dispensing system; and a mounting base mounted on and around the countertop for directing the dispensing line around the countertop for connection between the keg and the tap.
1 . A beer dispensing system comprising:
a refrigerated chamber for holding a keg of beer, wherein the refrigerated chamber is positioned below a countertop;
a beer tower having at least one tap for dispensing the beer from the keg, wherein the beer tower is positioned above the countertop;
a dispensing line extending between the keg in the refrigerated chamber and the at least one tap for supplying beer from the keg to the tap; and
a mounting base mounted on the countertop for directing the dispensing line around the countertop for connection between the keg and the at least one tap, without passing through the countertop,
wherein the mounting base includes a hollow upper housing that sits on top of the countertop and a guide wall downwardly extending from the upper housing at an edge of the countertop for guiding the dispensing line around the countertop, and
wherein the guide wall is an L-shaped wall that guides the dispensing line from the upper housing, down around the edge of the countertop and toward a gap between the refrigerated chamber and a lower surface of the countertop.
2 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a drain line for draining beer in the dispensing line during non-use of the beer dispensing system; and
a valve which selectively provides connections between:
a first position which connects the dispensing line to the drain line and disconnects the dispensing line to the tap, during non-use of the beer dispensing system and
a second position which connects the dispensing line between the keg and the tap and disconnects the dispensing line to the drain line, during use of the beer dispensing system.
3 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 2 , wherein the valve is a three way ball valve.
4 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 2 , further including a switch for electronically controlling movement of the valve between the first and second positions.
5 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 4 , wherein the switch is positioned on the beer tower.
6 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 4 , wherein the switch is wired directly to the ball valve for controlling the position of the ball valve between the first and second positions.
7 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 4 , wherein the switch is arranged to transmit a signal to be received by the ball valve for controlling the position of the ball valve between the first and second positions.
8 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 4 , wherein the valve is connected to the dispensing line at a position where the dispensing line immediately exits the refrigerated chamber.
9 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 2 , further including a secondary container positioned in the refrigerated chamber and connected with the drain line for receiving beer discarded from the dispensing line to the drain line.
10 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the upper housing includes a top wall having an opening therein, and the beer tower is positioned on and secured to the top wall in surrounding relation and in open communication with the opening.
11 . A beer dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting base is not secured to the countertop.