Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
  • F25D31/006—Other cooling or freezing apparatus specially adapted for cooling receptacles, e.g. tanks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
  • B67D1/0857—Cooling arrangements
  • B67D1/0858—Cooling arrangements using compression systems
  • B67D1/0861—Cooling arrangements using compression systems the evaporator acting through an intermediate heat transfer means
  • B67D1/0865—Cooling arrangements using compression systems the evaporator acting through an intermediate heat transfer means by circulating a cooling fluid along beverage supply lines, e.g. pythons
  • B67D1/0867—Cooling arrangements using compression systems the evaporator acting through an intermediate heat transfer means by circulating a cooling fluid along beverage supply lines, e.g. pythons the cooling fluid being a liquid
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
  • F25D31/002—Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for tapping beer having at least a tapvalve, a beertank and a beerpipe connecting the tapvalve with the beertank, to a beerpipe suitable for the use in such a device and to a closed cool-store for such a device containing the beertank.
• Installations of this kind are often used in pubs, restaurants and bars, situated in a building, for example in a hotel or a restaurant, as well as installed temporarily at events. In particular at said events it is often difficult to maintain the beer, drawn from temporary taps, sufficiently cool. Besides it is often difficult for the operator to estimate the real amount of beer which must be ready to serve for consumption, in particular to estimate how many glassesperhour have to be drawn.
• the barrels When using the usual barrel, with a content of + 50 litre, the barrels have to be replaced frequently.
• Beer is always conducted from the tank to the tap under a pressure of about 1.5 and 2.5 bar, no matter whether the beer is in a small barrel or in a large tank. in order to draw a glass of beer properly it is necessary to open and close the valves quickly.
• a shock-wave occurs inside the beerpipe. Besides the fact that the shock-wave causes a mechanical strain to the system, also the quality of the beer decreases.
• a shockdamping so called throttle-down spiral is installed between the tank and the tap-valves. The diameter and the number of windings of such a spiral depends on the pressure applied to the beer and on the distance between the throttle-down spiral and the reservoir and on the distance between the throttle-down spiral and the taps.
• Practise has shown that although a python as describedbefore provides an improvement, it does not guarantee that the beer, especially in cases of a larger distance between reservoir and tap, will come out of the tap sufficiently cool. This applies especially when a new supply barrel or supply tank is connected. It then takes quite a long time before the beer reaches the desired temperature.
• a device according to the invention for tapping beer has at least a tapvalve, a beer-pipe (python) enclosed in a jacket, which connects the tapvalve(s) with a beertank, which is installed inside a closed cool-store, and is characterized in that inside the cool-store next to the beertank(s) there is a hollow closed cooling-unit which is connected, maintaining a proper heat-conduction, to the outer surface of the beertank(s) and in which unit there is a pipe for a coolant, for example freon, as well as a beerpipe which can be connected at one side to the beertank and on the other side to the beerpipe in the python, and is at least partly formed as a throttle spiral inside the cooling-unit and whereby the space in the cooling-unit, as well as the space inside the jacket of the python form a part of
• the cooling water is being supplied through a supply pipe, installed inside the hollow cooling-unit or the python, which carries the water in the jacket of the cooling-unit or the python to the end of it (seen in the flow-direction), thus cooling according to the principle of opposite direction-flow.
• the circulation of cooling-water preferably is creat byusing apump.
• the cooling-water produced by this pump can be divided in two parallel branches, one flowing through the cooling-unit and the other flowing through the python.
• the closed cool-store according to the invention can be a closed container, for example made of stainless steel , in which the beertank(s) and cooling-unit are mounted.
• the beertanks are mostly made of stainless steel.
• Stainless steel has as a matter of fact almost no influence on beer when in contact with it.
• the good heat-conductive connection between the cooling-unit and the beertank can be realized in case the cooling-unit is installed in some distance from the beertank in the cool-store, by means of a material with a good heat-conductive property, for example an aluminium beam section, which is connected between the cooling-unit and the outer wall of the beertank.
• a material with a good heat-conductive property for example an aluminium beam section
• the cool-unit has to be connected, by means of two beam sections, for example aluminium beam sections, to the outer side of the tanks.
• cooling-unit formed in this way, are, as indicated above, a pipe for a coolant and the beerpipes, furnished with throttle-down-spirals, which are connected to both tanks.
• the space in the cooling-unit is connected to a water-inlet and a water-outlet whereby the cooling-water can be supplied resp. be carried off.
• this space is divided into an upper space and a lower space, each containing a beerpipe, each pipe provided with a throttle-spiral.
• the spaces in both parts are connected at one side together, so that the cooling-water can flow in both parts of the space in opposite directions.
• each of both parts of the separated spaces has a pipe for acoolant, for example freon.
• the pipe for the coolant, for example freon can have at its outer side surface-enlarging, for example wire-like, heat-conducting elements.
• This type of pipes is available on the market for example under the name "Spiro-elements”.
• the cool-store in which the beertanks are installed is isolated, preferably at its inner surface, with a heat-isolating material.
• the wet python contains preferably a stainless steel pipe.
• the jacket of the python can be made of synthetic material. Similar to the known so called “dry pythons" also the wet python has preferably a jacket of good heat isolating material.
• the closed cool-store which as said before preferably is made of stainless steel it is possible to place distribution boxes with different connection-ports for the cooling-water, the beer, the coolant and the wet python. These distribution boxes are provided with the necessary valves for switching on or off certain parts of the different circuits.
• the pressure at which the beer is supplied from the beertanks to the tapvalves can be produced by a compressor or with gasbottles.
• a compressor As beer is vulnerable to air, in general carbonic acid gas is used from the bottles. It is possible to use air supplied by a compressor to generate pressure in case of utilizing known plastic bags which are placed in the beertanks. The air pressure is then put between the metallic wall of the beertank and the plastic bag. A new clean bag has to be used each time the beertank i s filled.
• This plastic bag has to be placed in the tank air sealed.
• This manhole-lid preferably is made of transparant synthetic, for example acrylic resin.
• An arrangement according to this invention further has the special advantage that the space under the tapbox (bar) remains empty and also mounting the entire installation is very simple and so for example can also easily be carried out at events.
• the tapbox only the wet python has to be connected which at the other end has to be connected to the closed cooling-store.
• the tanks can be filled by using a supply pipe (hose), which can be connected in turn to the one or the other tank.
• hose supply pipe
• These tanks can be connected to the beertanks by a hose-connection.
• Fig. 1 to illustrate the principle of the invention, shows a drawing in outline of a complete device according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a preferred arrangement of a cool-store with two beer-tanks
• Fig. 3 shows a picture of an opened-up part of a wet python.
• FIG. 1 1 indicates a tapvalve which is connected to the beertank 3 by the beerpipe 2.
• This beertank 3 is installed inside the closed cool-store 4.
• This cool-store has a wall of for example stainless steel with an isolated inside surface.
• the cool-store is supported by legs 5 on the floor 6.
• Inside the cool-store is the hollow closed cooling-unit 7 which contains a pipe 9 for a coolant, for example freon, and is connected to a cooling installation 10, for example a compressor-cooling-system.
• the pipe 9 may, if desired, also have the form of a spiral and may be provided with surface-enlarging elements, for example a wire system which has a good heat conductingcontact with the surface of pipe 9.
• the beerpipe as shown in the drawing runs through the cooling-unit 7 and has partly the form of. a throttle-spiral 11.
• a supply-pipe for cooling water is shown, which is open at the end 13 and brings water into the cover of the cooling-unit 7. This cooling water is carried off at 14.
• the pipe of cooling-water 12 and the return 14 are connected to a pump for the cooling-water 16 by way of distributor-box 15.
• connection providing heatconduction between the cooling-unit 4 and the beertank 3 is obtained by the element 8, for example made of an aluminium beam section.
• the reason for choosing aluminium is that aluminium is a very good heat-conducting material.
• each tank can be connected with cooling-unit 7 by a good heat conducting connection according to part 8.
• the beerpipe 2 is running from the cooling-store 4 through the wet python 17 to the tapvalve 1.
• the cooling-water flows back in the distribution box and further to the pump 16.
• the python 17 is connected to box 15 by means of a flange.
• the python has such a construction, for example by using flexible cooling-water pipes and beerpipes, that the python can be installed at the most appropriate place. This is very important for temporary installations at events.
• the beer is supplied through the beerpipe 2 with the spiral part 11, to the tap 1, by means of pressure of, for example carbonic acid gas, from the equipment 21.
• the equipment 21 can be an aircompressor or contain bottles of carbonic acid gas. If, as mentioned before, a plastic bag is used inside the tank 3 the installation can function with air.
• the part 22 is a filling valve for the supply of beer from for example a tank-truck.
• the righthand part of the beerpipe 2 near the tank in the drawing lies outside the cooling-store 4. This beerpipe 2 can of course also be installed inside the cool-store.
• the number 23 indicates the manhole lid giving access to the interior of the tank 3. This is especially necessary if a plastic inner bag has to be used and for the cleaning of the tank.
• beer With the system as is described, beer will attain a very constant temperature at the tapvalve. As a result of the compact structure of the whole installation and because of the very effective cooling, the efficiency of this system is very high, which makes an energy-saving of 50% possible. For an arrangement using two beertanks of 500 litre it is sufficient to engage a cooling-compressor of 0.5 HPand a pump of 1.25 A to circulate the cooling-water.
• a big advantage of the described installation according to the invention is that, if the installation is already cooled, only a short interruption of drawing is needed, to refill the tank with fresh beer.
• Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a cool-store with two beertanks.
• the material of the wall of the cool-store is for example of stainless-steel, which has an isolation cover 25 at the inside surface.
• the two beertanks are indicated with the numbers 26 and 27.
• the cooling-unit is formed here by the space between beertanks 26 and 27. This space is closed at the top with a plate 28 and at the bottom with a plate 29. These plates are joined in fluid-tight manner to the beertanks, for example by welding. At both top-ends this space is also closed in fluid-tight manner, for example by a welding joint, with the plates 28 and 29 and with the wall of the beertanks 26 and 27.
• the space is divided into two sections by a partition 30.
• this partition does not reach the closing plate of the cooling-unit.
• a pipe for a coolant for example freon.
• a beerpipe of which the throttle-spiral is indicated with 32.
• the other space also has a beerpipe of which the throttle-spiral is indicated with 33.
• the cooling-water will be supplied by a pipe which is indicated with 34.
• the further arrangement of the installation can be substantially the same as shown in fig. 1.
• the operation of the device is also completely similar to the operation of the embodiment as shown in fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 shows a worked-open sketch of a wet python for the use of two beertanks and two taps.
• 36 is the jacket of the python, for example made of synthetic resin, for example polytheen. Round this jacket 36 is the isolation layer 37. Inside the jacket 36 are two beerpipes 38 or 39. Beer flows through these pipes, during drawing, in the direction of the arrows.
• a cooling- water supply-pipe is indicated which at the righthand side is connected with a pump for the cooling-water. At the lefthand side end this supply-pipe for cooling-water 40 is open so that the water can flow from pipe 40 into the space inside the jacket 36 from left to right.
• the jacket in the drawing 36 is cut short; in reality the jacket 36 is extended further to the left and is closed there.
• the beerpipe 40 ends at some distance before this closing.
• the beerpipes 38 and 39 are passed in fluid-tight manner through this closing plate.
• the cooling- water which flows to the right between the pipes 38, 39 and 40 and the jacket 36 is carried back to the pump- installation by a pipe which is not shown here, for example as shown in fig. 1.
• a tapdevice In a tapdevice according to the invention, many more parts are needed and sometimes legally prescribed, among other things for rinsing the installation, for measuring the pressure, for measuring the amount of consumed beer, etc. These are not shown in the drawing because they can be of conventional design. In most cases it also may be desired to mount a number of valves to make connections between the various parts of the system.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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ID=19844063

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• 1984
  • 1984-06-12 NL NL8401845A patent/NL8401845A/nl not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1985
  • 1985-06-11 EP EP19850902681 patent/EP0185699A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1985-06-11 AU AU43564/85A patent/AU4356485A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1985-06-11 DE DE19858590087 patent/DE8590087U1/de not_active Expired
  • 1985-06-11 WO PCT/NL1985/000020 patent/WO1986000064A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1985-06-11 ES ES544041A patent/ES8608446A1/es not_active Expired

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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