AU742358B2 - Apparatus for cooling kegs containing liquids - Google Patents

Description

.r S F Ref: 427133

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL [31] Application No(s) P07854 Brad Bernard Robinson 4 Wistaria Street Dolans Bay New South Wales 2229

AUSTRALIA

Brad Bernard Robinson Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Apparatus for Cooling Kegs Containing Liquids APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country

AU

[32] Application Date 11 July 1997 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815 Apparatus for Cooling Kegs Containing Liquids Technical Field The present invention relates to apparatus for cooling kegs containing liquids such as beer.

Background of the Invention Conventional systems which are designed to cool beer in situations where full beer dispensing facilities are not available or practical, for example at parties or at outdoor *venues, generally include a box in which is housed a length of tubing, the tubing being connectable to a keg of beer positioned outside the box, the box being filled with ice io and/or water to cool the tubing and the beer inside the tubing prior to dispensing. Such conventional systems suffer from the disadvantage that the cool boxes, particularly if located outside and subjected to sunlight, do not tend to cool the beer to an acceptable S•temperature over an extended period of time, particularly as the keg in which the majority of the beer is stored is not cooled by the box.

9 5 Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the o above disadvantages. The applicants have appreciated that there is a need for a portable oooo• apparatus which enables beer to be cooled and dispensed from kegs efficiently and without the need for access to an electrical power outlet.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein an apparatus to cool a container having a liquid to be dispensed, said apparatus including an outer housing encompassing a cavity to receive said container; a container receiving member located in said cavity and having a chamber to receive said container, said member cooperating with said housing so that part of said cavity is located between said member and housing; a heat exchanger tube to be connected to said container to receive the liquid therefrom, said tube having a length extending through said part of said cavity portion; liquid dispensing means connected to said tube and adapted to dispense liquid from said tube; and wherein [R:\LIBTT]02939.doc:tyb said member has at least one aperture so that ice located in said part of said cavity to cool liquid passing through said tube is inhibited from entering said chamber but permits water from the part of said cavity to enter said chamber to aid in cooling said container.

Preferably, in the above apparatus, the container receiving member is at least partly formed of mesh.

In the above apparatus preferably the container receiving member has an open top through which said container can be moved relative to said container receiving member, and said housing has a lid which is open to expose said container receiving member so that said container may be moved relative to said container receiving member.

Preferably, in the above apparatus, said housing is formed of insulating material.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above and one side of an apparatus for cooling a keg and the liquid contained therein, the apparatus being in the closed configuration; Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with side tables attached; Figure 3 is a perspective view from above and one side of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of the apparatus of Figure 1, the apparatus being in the partially open configuration; 20 Figure 5 is a view from above of the apparatus of Figure 4 having cushioning means inserted; Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of the apparatus of Figure 4 with the cushioning means removed; and Figure 7 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figures 1 to 7 show an apparatus 1 for cooling liquids, for example beer, stored in a keg. The apparatus 1 includes a cooling unit 2 having two side panels 4 and 5, a front panel 6, a rear panel 7 and a base panel 8, all of which have a substantially square or rectangular periphery. Each panel 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 is formed from an insulating material, for example 50mm foam sandwich panelling, and has two side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge.

[R:\LB1TrI02939.doc:tyb Two right-angle strips 9, preferably made of non-ferrous metal, are secured o the outer faces 10 of each side panel 4, 5 adjacent the side edges of each side panel 4, Each right-angle strip 9 extends along the length of each side panel 4, 5, between the top edge and the bottom edge. The front and rear panels 6 and 7 are attached in a similar manner to the respective right-angle strips 9 such that the planes of the two side panels 4, are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the planes of the front and rear panels 6, 7. Once all the panels 4 to 8 have been secured they form the cooling unit 2 having a substantially square or rectangular cross-sectional periphery. The strips 9 are secured to the panels by means of a plurality of rivets 11 which extend 10 through the strips 9 and the panels 4 to 8.

S

S

S

S

S

S

[R:\LIBTT]02939.doc:tyb

II

-3- Two further right-angle strips 13 are secured to each inner face 14 of each side, front and rear panel 4, 5, 6, 7, by means of rivets which extend through an aperture in the respective right angle strips 13 and through a corresponding aperture in the respective panels. The rivets are located in a region adjacent the top and side edges of the respective panels, as shown in Figure 5. The right angle strips 13 extend along the length of and adjacent to the side edges of the panels 4, 5, 6 and 7, and between the top edge and bottom edge of the respective panels to provide further attachment of the front and rear panels 6, 7 to the side panels 4, 5. A U-shaped member 15, preferably formed from non-ferrous metal, is secured to each of the top and bottom edges of the side, front and rear panels 4 to 7. The U-shaped members 15 extend longitudinally from one side edge of each panel to the other side edge of the panel and are secured thereto by means of rivets 16. The base panel 8 has a further right-angle strip 17 which S.is preferably made from non-ferrous metal, which extends around the peripheral edge of the base panel 8 and is secured to the outer face of the base panel and the outer faces 10 of the side, front and rear panels 4 to 7 by means of rivets 21.

A further insulation panel 18, preferably also made of 50 mm foam sandwich panelling, having a substantially square or rectangular periphery forms the lid of the cooling unit 2. The lid 18 has a U-shaped member 22, preferably formed of nonferrous metal, which is secured by means of rivets around the peripheral edge of the lid 20 and to the outer and inner faces 23, 24 of the lid. The lid 18 is attached to the cooling unit 2 by means of a hinge 25 secured, using a plurality of rivets, to the U-shaped member 22 along an edge of the lid panel 18 and the top edge of the rear panel 7. A rubber seal 28, to seal the lid 18 to the cooling unit 2 in the closed configuration, extends around the inner periphery of the U-shaped member 22 on the inner face 23 of the lid panel 18 which, when the lid is in the closed position forms the inner face. The outer face 24 of the lid panel 18 may have a rubberised layer attached to it. A tray 26, having a foraminous inner tray, is attachable to the unit 2 such that it is located above a portion of the outer face 24 of the lid 18. In use, glasses may be placed on the tray 26 once filled to permit any excess liquid to drain away prior to the glass being passed to the recipient. A handle 20 is attached to the outer face 10 of each side panel 4, 5 to permit easy handling of the unit 2.

The front panel 6 of the cooling unit 2 has an upper section 32 and a lower section 33. The upper section 32 is hingedly attached to the lower section 33. The lower section 33 is attached to the base panel 8 and both side panels 4, 5 along its bottom edge and side edges respectively. The lower section 33 has a substantially Ushaped cut-out portion and the upper section 32 is hingedly attached to the lower section 33 along the base 36 of the U-shaped cut-out portion. The upper section 32 is moveable through an angle of about 1800 between a position where the outer face 34 is in a plane substantially coplanar with the plane of the lower section 33 where it may be IN:\LIBTT]01 182:PVH held in position by means of a catch 35 to a position where the plane of the upper section 32 is substantially parallel to the plane of the lower section 33. Part of the catch 35 is located on the U-shaped member 15 on the top edge of the lower section 33 of the front panel 6 and the other part of the catch is located on the U-shaped member 37 along the top edge of the upper section 32.

Two plugs 90 and 91 are located in the lower section 33 of the front panel 6 which extend through the front panel and into the inside of the cooling unit 2 and, when open, permit water contained therein to be drained out of the unit. The first plug 90 is located below the second plug 91 on the front panel 6. The first plug 90 is designed to act as a drain through which water inside the cooling unit 2 may pass when the plug is opened. The second plug 91 acts as an overflow. Further details regarding the use of the plugs 90 and 91 are set out below.

A tray 30 is attachable to the outer face 34 of the lower section 33 of the front panel 6 along the U-shaped member of the base 36 of the U-shaped cut-out portion and 15 includes a foraminous removable inner tray 31 which permits the drainage of excess liquid therethrough, into the base of the tray 30 where it may be removed.

°A first tap 37 through which beer or other liquids may be dispensed is attached to the U-shaped member along the edge of the lid panel 18 of the cooling unit 2 at a position along the edge of the lid panel 18 adjacent the front panel 6, in the closed 20 configuration, such that when the lid is in the closed position, the first tap 37 is positioned over the tray i' Two side tables 42, made for example from plywood, are detachably mountable to the side panels 4, 5 of the cooling unit 2, one table 42 being attachable to and removable from each side panel 4, 5 of the unit 2. Two support struts 44, made for example from an alloy, are hingedly connectable to and extend from the under face 43 of each table 42 to the right-angle strip 17 of the base panel 8 adjacent and along the bottom edges of the two side panels 4, 5. Around the peripheral edges of the tables 42 is secured a right angle strip 45 which extends above the planes of the under and upper faces 43, 49 and protects the sides of the tables and also acts to prevent glasses on the table being inadvertently knocked off the table.

The interior of the unit is shown in Figures 4 to 6. A top plate 46 which is made, for example, from a non-ferrous metal checker plate with reinforcing ribs 47, is secured to the cooling unit 2 as follows. A substantially triangular non-ferrous metal plate (not shown) is welded to each inner right angle strip 13 at a point along the length of the right angle strip 13. The substantially triangular metal plates each have an aperture therein. The top plate 46 is positioned such that the under face (not shown) of the top plate 46 rests on the substantially triangular metal plates and apertures extending through the top plate 46 are aligned with the apertures in the metal plates. Stays including four galvanised threaded metal rods extend through the apertures in the top [N:\LIBTT] 182:PVH plate 46 and the metal plates on which the top plate 46 rests and the ends 61 of the stays which extend through the aforementioned apertures and above the plane of the top plate 46 are held in place with a nut 48 which abuts a washer (not shown) adjacent the upper face 45 of the top plate 46. A further nut and washer (not shown) are positioned on each of the stays 60 adjacent the lower face of the top plate 46. The stays 60 are described in more detail below. The top plate 46 is secured such that the plane of the upper face 45 of the top plate 46 is substantially level with the plane of the base 36 of the U-shaped cut-out portion in the lower section 33 of the front panel 6 to which the upper section 32 is attached. A circular aperture 50 is located substantially centrally in the top plate 46 and has a diameter large enough to permit a standard keg of beer or the like to pass therethrough. Four, preferably substantially triangular apertures 51 having, for example, rounded corners, are located one towards each corner of the top plate 46.

A keg supporting basket 52 is secured to and suspended from a downwardly extending collar 53 which extends from the top plate 46 and around the periphery of the 15 circular aperture 50 in the top plate 46. The basket 52 extends from the collar 53 attached to the top plate 46 towards the base panel 8. The basket 52 has a base plate 54, two side members 56 and two mesh members 58. The upper edges of the side and mesh members 56,58 are attached to the collar 53, for example by welding or using **rivets. The base plate 54 includes a substantially circular, preferably non-ferrous 20 metal, plate having an upwardly extending collar 59 which extends around the periphery of the base plate 54 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base plate 54. The base plate preferably is spaced around 30 to 40 mm from the base panel.

The stays 60 extend down to the collar 59 of the base plate 54. The other end 62 of each of the stays 60 forms a hook which extends through an aperture 63 in the collar 59 and provides additional support to the basket 52 and keg positioned therein in use. The depth of the basket 52 may be adjusted by altering the length of the stays extending above the top plate 46 according to the position of the nuts 48 along the length of the stays The side members 56 and mesh members 58 are secured to the base plate 46 around the periphery of the collar 59, for example by welding or using rivets, and define a basket 52 having a substantially cylindrical peripheral shape. The two side members 56 are spaced from each other and the mesh members 58 span the distance between the side members 56.

A cushion 66 is positionable on the base plate 54, as shown in Figures 4 and to sit between the base plate 54 and the keg when placed in the cooling unit 2 in use.

A conventional keg connection piece 70 for attachment to the appropriate fitting on top of the keg in use is connected to a first tube 71 through which beer may pass and a second tube 72 which extends through a grommeted aperture 73 in one of [N:\LIBTT]O1 182:PVH the side panels 4, 5 to a gas regulator 74 which in turn is connectable to a carbon dioxide supply, for example a cylinder outside the cooling unit 2.

The first tube 71 extends through a grommeted aperture 76 in the top plate 46 and into the cavity formed between the basket 52 and the rear panel 7 of the cooling unit 2. The end of the first tube 71 which is not connected to the keg connection piece is connected to the top end of the heat exchanger tube 75. Preferably the first and second tubes 71, 72 are formed for example of plastics material and the heat exchanger tube 75 is formed of stainless steel. The heat exchanger tube 75 is coiled to form a coiled section including, for example four or five rings around the outer periphery of the basket 52 such that the uppermost coil is slightly below the level of the upper overflow plug 91. The heat exchanger tube 75 includes a first substantially straight section, the coiled section mentioned above and a second substantially straight section.

One end of the first substantially straight section is connected to one end of the first tube 71, using for example a stainless steel clamp, and the other end of the first substantially straight section is integral with the coiled section. The second substantially straight section extends from the lowermost coil in the coiled section and upwards towards the top plate 46 of the cooling unit 2. A third tube 80 is attached to the free end of the second substantially straight section of the heat exchanger tube at a point below the lower face of the top plate 46, using for example a stainless steel clamp, and the third tube 80 extends through a grommeted aperture 101 in the top plate 46. The free end 105 of the third tube 80 is attached to the stem 106 of a T piece. The °third tube 80 is saddled and riveted to the inner face of the rear panel 7 between the top edge of the rear panel and the upper face of the top plate 46.

One arm 82 of the T piece is connected to a fourth tube 83 and the other arm 85 of the T piece is connected to a fifth tube 84. The fourth and fifth tubes 83 and 84 are saddled and riveted to the inner face of the rear panel 7 to support the tubes. The fourth tube 83 extends through a grommeted aperture 89 in the lower section 33 of the front panel 6 at a point adjacent the joining point of the U-shaped section extending along the top edge of the front panel and the outer right angled section 11 extending along the side edge of the front panel 6. The free end of the fourth tube 83 is connected to a first liquid dispensing tap 37 which is supported in a holder 88 connected to the U-shaped section extending along the sides of the U-shaped cut-out in the lower portion 33 of the front panel 6. The lower end of the tap holder 88 is positionable over the drip tray 30. An elasticised cord 100 is attached to the fourth tube 83 such that the first liquid dispensing tap 37 is retractable, the length of the fourth tube 83 being such that the first liquid dispensing tap 37 may be moved to a suitable position for dispensing liquid into the glass and then the excess tubing retracted into the interior of the cooling unit 2 by means of the elasticised cord 100 once the tap 37 has been used and reinserted into the tap holder 88.

IN:\LIBTTO01182:PVH The fifth tube 84 extends from one arm 85 of the T piece through a grommeted aperture 109 in the lid panel 18 of the cooling unit 2 and to a second liquid dispensing tap 39. The fourth and fifth tubes 83 and 84 may be formed for example of plastics material. The fifth tube 84 may be saddled and riveted to the under face 23 of the lid panel 18 to support the tube in the cooling unit 2.

In use, the tray 30 is removable from the front panel 6 enabling the upper section 32 of the front panel 6 to be unlatched so that it can be folded down such the plane of the upper section 32 is substantially parallel to the plane of the lower section 33 of the front panel 6. The keg may then be lifted and inserted into the keg supporting basket 52 and its fall into position is cushioned by the cushion 66. The keg connection piece 70 is then connected to the appropriate fitting on the top of the keg and the carbon dioxide gas supply is connected outside the unit 2 via the regulator 74. Once the keg has been inserted, the upper section 32 of the front panel 6 may be moved to the closed position where it is held in position by the catch 35. The lower plug 90 is closed and the upper plug 91 opened and then ice may be inserted through the triangular apertures 51 in the top plate 46 to a desired level, for example up to the lower face of the top plate 46. Water which has preferably been cooled is introduced into the cooling unit 2 through the substantially triangular apertures 51 in the top plate 46 until water overflows through the upper plug 91. The upper plug 91 is then closed and the lid 18 of the unit 2 may then be closed. The unit 2 is thereby insulated. The tables 42 and trays 30,26 may be attached, if desired.

The keg itself is cooled by the ice and water mixture, and, as the ice melts the iced water may flow through the apertures in the mesh members 58, to cool the keg further, however, the mesh members 58 act as a barrier to inhibit the ice itself from 25 falling into the keg basket 52. As the water level rises in the unit due to the melting of the ice, excess water may be drained through the upper plug 91.

Beer to be dispensed flows out of the keg under pressure from the gas supplied to the keg through the second tube 72, through the keg connection piece 70 and into the first tube 71 where it is also cooled as the tube 71 is surrounded by the ice and water mixture. The beer may be dispensed to a glass positioned below the desired tap 37, 39.

As the ice melts, further ice and/or water may be added, if desired, through the triangular apertures 51 in the top plate 46. As discussed above, the mesh members 58 of the keg supporting basket 52 permit cold water to surround the keg but inhibit ice from falling into the basket which would need to be removed prior to inserting a replacement keg. The side members 56 act as guide surfaces when the keg is inserted into the basket 52.

The lid 18 of the unit 2 is permitted to open to a predetermined position by means of wires 102 which are attached to and extend between the side panels of the cooling unit 2 and side edges of the lid 18.

[N:\LIBTTO1182:PVH To summarise, the cooling apparatus embodying the present invention has a number of advantages, most notably, the unit is portable and cools both the beer keg and beer dispensing tube(s) without the need for connection to an electrical power outlet or refrigeration unit to operate the cooling unit 2. This has the result that the cooling unit 2 is "ozone friendly".

Various modifications may be made, for example, castors may be attached to the lower face of the base panel 8 to assist in moving the unit 2 to the desired location.

Also, the stays 60 may be in the form of adjustable tension rods. Also, the unit 2 may be used as a keg storage area as well as a cooling unit.

A thermometer (not shown) may be mounted in or on the cooling unit 2 to monitor the temperature of the unit 2. Also, additional panels, for example metal checker plate panels may be attached to and extend over the external surface area of one or more of the front, rear, side, base and lid panels of the cooling unit 2 to protect the panels. Such additional panels may be attached by means of rivets.

99000: A bracket (not shown) may be attached to the outer face of one of the side panels 4, 5 and the carbon dioxide supply canister may be mounted on the bracket or attached thereto, to prevent the canister from being knocked over.

Various methods may be used to seal the internal surface area of the cooling unit 2, for example, the panels may be siliconed to keep the unit water tight, alternatively, a watertight sealant may be painted onto the inner faces 14 of the panels forming the unit 2 to ensure the unit is watertight.

The cooling apparatus described may be modified to accommodate a plurality of kegs, each keg being positionable in a separate basket 52.

[N:\LIBTT]01182:PVH

Claims (5)

1. An apparatus to cool a container having a liquid to be dispensed, said apparatus including an outer housing encompassing a cavity to receive said container; a container receiving member located in said cavity and having a chamber to receive said container, said member cooperating with said housing so that part of said cavity is located between said member and housing; a heat exchanger tube to be connected to said container to receive the liquid therefrom, said tube having a length extending through said part of said cavity portion; liquid dispensing means connected to said tube and adapted to dispense liquid from said tube; and wherein said member has at least one aperture so that ice located in said part of said cavity to cool liquid passing through said tube is inhibited from entering said chamber but permits water from the part of said cavity to enter said chamber to aid in is5 cooling said container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container receiving member is at least partly formed of mesh. Sh s

3. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2 wherein said container receiving member has an open top through which said container can be moved relative to said container 20 receiving member, and said housing has a lid which is opened to expose said container receiving member so that said container may be moved relative to said container receiving member.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said housing is formed of insulating material.

5. An apparatus for cooling a keg, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 1 November, 2001 Brad Bernard Robinson Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBTT]02929.doc:tyb