EP0997692B1 - Flushing device for drinking container - Google Patents

Abstract

The rinsing device has a reception space (1) for receiving at least one drinking glass and a supply line system (8), for direct supply of a cryotechnical medium to this space, for rinsing the drinking glass. The glass may be received within a cylindrical reception space, to which the cryotechnical medium is supplied in liquid or gas mode at a controlled pressure and/or temperature via at least one jet outlet (3a,3b). The cryotechnical medium may contain nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

Description

The invention relates to a flushing device for flash cooling Drinking vessels and / or for storing liquid suitable vessels, especially of glasses, which form a space for receiving at least one drinking vessel and a line system for direct supply of a kzyotechnisches medium in the room.

There is often a need for it to be chilled or accurate to drink tempered drinks. To the drinks after filled into a drinking vessel for as long as possible hold, in the private as well as in the business area, mainly in the catering trade to this day three methods for cooling drinking vessels applied.

On the one hand there is the possibility of taking the drinks under Use ice cubes to keep chilled. However, this has sometimes the disadvantage that the drink when melting the Watered down ice cubes and thus the desired, i.e. original taste of the drink negatively affected becomes. The ice cubes melt the faster, the more warmer the glass at the time of filling Was drink. Such a case often occurs, for example then a when in catering establishments at peak times or a high throughput of glasses takes place during high activity and glasses rinsed or cleaned with warm or hot water be filled with drinks while still warm and have to be used again.

On the other hand, there is the possibility of placing the drinking vessels in front their reuse over a period of time to be kept frozen. This avoids that give the pre-cooled glasses their own heat to the drink can, but the cooling process itself is special time consuming and in the case of one as mentioned above high throughput of required glasses only to a limited extent feasible. In addition, normal refrigerators or conventional cooling devices are susceptible to contamination.

Another option is also closed Ice cube bags or containers to cool the beverage to use. So with the help of the coated ice cube when the ice melts a watering down of the beverage be prevented. Particularly needed in the catering trade it does not last when using such ice cube bags due to hygiene regulations of a reliable and thus very intensive cleaning of the bag after it Use to pre-essentially all germs on the bag remove or kill a reuse.

Document GB-A-2 307 976 discloses a flushing device for chilling glasses, which comprises a space for receiving a glass and a conduit system for direct supply of a cryotechnical medium into the space. This rinsing device has a timer for regulating the quantity of coolant to ensure that the temperature of the cooled glasses is checked.

The invention is therefore based on the object Cooling drinks while avoiding the above problems shown in the simplest way time and to ensure cost-saving. It would be of great advantage even if with a high glass throughput to achieve constant beverage temperature efficiently and would be effective to keep for as long as possible.

The solution to the problem is surprisingly simple by a flushing device for drinking vessels with the features of claim 1 to achieve.

Are drinking vessels with an inventive Flushing device, the space for receiving at least one Drinking vessel and / or at least one for storing Provides a suitable liquid and a Line system includes with which a cryogenic medium can be fed directly into the space for drinking vessel intake can, flushed, it is possible for the first time, essentially regardless of the specified drinking vessel temperature Drinkware to a desired temperature in no time cool down and thus for a subsequently filled Drink a long-lasting and constant cooling guarantee.

The shock-cooled glasses do not give own warmth more from the drink and a watering down, as is the result of cooling with ice cubes effectively prevented. Another advantage is that by the Saving previously necessary refrigerators for time-consuming Cooling the glasses a significant reduction otherwise, such as the electricity consumption Cost can be achieved.

In practice, the technical gases in particular Nitrogen and carbon dioxide as for the invention suitable media for cryotechnical applications. This is partly due to the fact that these gases are odorless and tasteless. Depending on the field of application flushing device according to the invention and the thus present Environmental conditions regarding in particular Provision of pressure and temperature is provided the supply of the cryotechnical media in gaseous or to allow liquefied state.

Includes the flushing device according to the invention a control device, preferably with at least one operating device, depending on Art of the glass to be rinsed with the cryotechnical medium defined control of the Temperature and advantageously the pressure of the medium to be supplied can be ensured. This allows damage-free cooling during the Flushing process depending on the different Coefficient of thermal expansion of different drinking vessel or types of glass are always ensured.

In order for the drinking vessel and / or for the storage of Suitable vessels liquid the gentle effect during to further increase the cooling process is expedient provided outlet openings reaching into the receiving space of the feed system to form a nozzle to a Cooling as evenly as possible over the entire drinking vessel to obtain.

In a particularly preferred development, the Recording space in the form of an upwardly open cylinder, in particular in the form of a chalice with a coaxial therein trained guide element for the drinking vessel and outlet nozzles on the inner wall of the cylinder and / or on To arrange the guide element radially aligned nozzles to the controlled and evenly distributed over the drinking vessel To ensure the outflow of the cryotechnical medium.

This is expediently arranged on the inside Guide element one with the cable feed under Using a valve related Trigger device assigned when a pre-definable contact pressure, which when putting on a Drinking vessel can be generated via the guide element, the rinsing process and thus the feeding of the kroytechnischen Triggers medium.

In an alternative, equally preferred embodiment is intended to accommodate preferably in one loadable frame arranged drinking vessels one completely lockable room with on the inner walls, the Ceiling and / or floor arranged inwards aligned outlet nozzles of the cryotechnical medium supply line system to provide. In practice here has the use of at least one propeller-like rotating body, on which outlet nozzles are arranged, proven to be useful.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention is provided, the flushing device according to the invention for Cooling for drinking vessels with another feeding system for supplying water. This is it possible both in one and the same flushing device cleaning rinse with water as well as rinse with the carry out cryotechnical medium. The Flushing device expediently a switching device with which a predefined activation of the Water supply system is controllable. So can advantageously, for example, a water rinse Rinse with the cryotechnical medium before or also can be connected in parallel.

Another embodiment of the invention Flushing device includes a feed system for feeding Water, which is the inner wall of the receiving body, the Guide element and / or another with at least one Exit opening provided rod-shaped or helical assign running guide element.

Forms of embodiment of the invention are also preferred Flushing device in which the water supply system and the line system for feeding the cryotechnical medium have a contact area, so that during a Water already fed through the flushing process Line system for supplying the cryotechnical medium and / or cooled directly by the cryotechnical medium can be.

The invention is based on two preferred Embodiments with reference to the accompanying Drawings described in detail.

Fig. 1

eine teilweise aufgebrochene Ansicht einer ersten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform der Spülvorrichtung mit einem zylinderförmigen Aufnahmeraum,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer beispielhaften Anordnung einer koaxialen Leitungsführung zum Zuführen des kryotechnischen Mediums und von Wasser,

Fig. 3

eine teilweise aufgebrochene perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform der Spülvorrichtung.

Fig. 4

eine schematische Prinzipskizze einer zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform der Spülvorrichtung mit einem verschließbaren Aufnahmeraum.

Show it:

Fig. 1

FIG. 2 shows a partially broken open view of a first embodiment of the flushing device according to the invention with a cylindrical receiving space,

Fig. 2

1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary arrangement of a coaxial line routing for supplying the cryotechnical medium and water,

Fig. 3

a partially broken perspective view of another embodiment of the washing device according to the invention.

Fig. 4

is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the washing device according to the invention with a lockable receiving space.

In the following, reference is first made to FIG. 1, which sketchy in a partially broken illustration Flushing device according to the invention with an open at the top cup-shaped receiving body 1 on a Base plate 2 is arranged, exemplifies.

The cup 1 preferably has an inner wall 1b of its Coat arranged, not to scale, sketchy indicated outlet nozzles 3a and one in a cavity 1a, which is surrounded by the chalice 1, essentially in the middle arranged guide element 4 for a to be rinsed Drinking vessel. On the guide element 4 are radial aligned needle-like hollow rods 4b attached. there are preferably at the end of the rods 4b outlet openings 3b attached so that the guide element essentially the shape of a nozzle tree. The longitudinal axis of the Nozzle boom 4 essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the Goblets 1. The rods 4b are preferably of the same length, can but also in a particularly preferred embodiment have different lengths, the rods 4b so may be appropriate that their length along the longitudinal axis of the guide element 4 from one of the base plate 2 facing end of the guide element 4 decreases. The guide element 4 provided with rods 4b of this type particularly preferred embodiment is approximately the same Shape of a fir or spruce.

The outlet openings 3b can also preferably be on Shell surfaces of the preferably cylindrical rods 4b be provided. The outlet nozzles 3a and 3b are through a pipe system, not shown, via a Supply connection line 5 with a cryogenic medium Containing container, in the present example one Carbon dioxide bottle connected. The outlet nozzles 3a, 3b ensure a controlled outflow of the gas, so that damage to drinking vessels usually excluded are.

The outlet openings 3a, 3b are common according to the invention connected to a pipe system. Preferably, however each of the outlet openings 3a, 3b also has its own Supply line connected in connection with a Source of the cryotechnical gas stands.

The nozzle tree 4 of the present embodiment is in the essentially hollow and is therefore part of the Line system for those arranged on the nozzle tree Outlet nozzles 3b used. The outlet nozzles on the Nozzles 3a are arranged on the inner wall 1b of the cup shell for example using on an outer wall of the Chalices along hoses running with the pipe system connected. There is also the possibility of the chalice 1 double-walled with a space to accommodate a Form part of the media feed and close the inner wall perforate and / or to provide nozzles.

It should be noted that the arrangement of both Outlet nozzles 3a on the inner wall 1b of the adhesive shell as also the outlet nozzles 3b in the nozzle tree is essentially freely selectable and the nozzle tree 4 each can be designed very differently as required. It should also be mentioned that the number and the size of Outlet openings very different depending on the application is, for example, a large, central one arranged nozzle outlet should be sufficient.

An upper, preferably plate-like section 4a of the nozzle tree 4 used in the exemplary embodiment is spring-mounted in a known manner and opens a valve assigned to the line system when the contact pressure is exerted in the direction of arrow v , whereupon the carbon dioxide to the outlet nozzles 3a and 3b when the pressure bottle is switched on arrives and exits there into the cavity surrounded by chalice 1.

For the cooling rinsing of a drinking vessel or a vessel suitable for storing liquid with carbon dioxide, this is thus put upside down over the nozzle tree 4, the nozzle tree 4 ensuring the safe and defined guidance of the drinking vessel during the rinsing process. The actual rinsing process for cooling the drinking vessel is initiated when, with the bottom of the drinking vessel placed over the nozzle tree, pressure is exerted on the nozzle tree in the direction of arrow v .

By using the cryotechnical gas it is reduced cooling a glass when using a Flushing device according to the invention for a short period of about a second.

To further damage the glass to be rinsed to be excluded, especially if different glass or Drinking vessels are to be rinsed, is the one in the base plate 2 Gas supply system control unit housed with an assigned control unit 6, which in the present Example has four push buttons 7a to 7d, is operated.

As seen in Fig. 1, are on the keys 7a to 7d each the units of measurement, such as "0.1 1", "0.2 1 "," 0.33 1 "and" 0.5 1 - 1 1 ". The units of measurement point to different lens sizes or types and / or bottle sizes such as a "champagne glass", a "wine glass", a "beer glass" and / or a "water bottle", a "juice bottle", a "beer bottle" for which Flushing the gas flowing out of the Outlet openings 3a, 3b each to be dosed differently is. Thus, by means of the push buttons 7a to 7d Control unit the pressure of the escaping gas and its Flow parameters on the individual vessel type or individual lens size can be preset to match the through the escaping gas evoked degree of shock cooling to the different coefficients of thermal expansion to be able to react to different types of vessels. It has shown that this is a substantially complete damage-free cooling process carried out in the shortest possible time can be.

The inventive goblet 1 is with the Function of the trigger mechanism, the control unit and if necessary, the delivery system as a whole via an on / off switch arranged on the base plate 2 12 can be switched on or off.

It is also within the scope of the invention in addition to The gas supply system previously described is that of FIG. 1 shown preferably designed as a hollow cylinder To connect chalice 1 to a water supply and To provide outlet nozzles for the outflow of water, which correspond to the outlet nozzles 3a and 3b for the gas. It is also provided outlet nozzles that flow out trained accordingly by both gas and water are to be provided. This is conveniently done Outflow of water before the outflow of gas to a cleaning water purging before cooling gas purging perform. However, water is also provided in parallel to let the gas flow out, so that a thin layer of ice on the beverage container is accessible.

So the pressure sensitive trigger mechanism of the inside the cup 1 arranged nozzle tree 4 on the expert known way to be formed in two stages. Is at Reaching the first stage only the outflow of water guaranteed and only when more force is applied through the vessel or glass placed over the nozzle tree 4 Outflow of the cryotechnic medium is triggered for the Operator of the rinsing process, which initially cleans with water of the drinking vessel and a subsequent cryotechnical one Rinsing process to cool down the drinking vessel in just one Short-term operation can be carried out. Preferably leaves such an operation can be carried out in a few seconds.

As a result, time saved in this way can also strong demand for chilled drinks usually always a high beverage throughput can be guaranteed.

For applications where it is desirable to use drinking vessels cooling already while rinsing the water sees that The invention further proposes to provide a delivery system, in which the gas-carrying lines and / or hoses 8 and water-carrying lines and / or hoses 9 Have contact areas, which already cooling the Water before flowing out to rinse the drinking vessel is made possible. This can be gas and water-bearing Lines and / or hoses 8 and 9 over predetermined Sections adjacent to each other or next to each other run or be guided coaxially, such as for example indicated in Fig. 2. It can depending on the application, both the internal cable gas-carrying line 8 or the gas-carrying hose, which or of a water-carrying line 9 or one water-carrying hose is surrounded. But it can also water pipe or hose be surrounded on the inside by the gas-carrying line 8.

Unless freezing at the appropriate temperatures takes place, the gas can also be dissolved in water, so that the supply of water and gas at least partially done together in one line. However, it was on it noted that to avoid possible freezing a heating device assigned to the line system can be provided. In practice this is suitable in particular the known use of a thin one Heating wire, which in the simplest way in the Integrated pipe system and / or at least this partially arranged at predefined locations can.

In a further embodiment of the The guide element is preferably a helix 13 educated. The longitudinal axis of the helix 13 extends preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chalice 1. Thereby the vessels into a space 13a surrounded by the coil brought. The vessels are preferably from one to the other Helix 13 attached mounting plate 13c added. On Inside of spiral turns, that of the spiral surrounding space 13a are preferably located one or more outlet openings 3b. The Outlet openings 3b correspond in terms of their function those of the embodiment according to Fig. 1. The feeds and connections are designed as described above. According to FIG. 3, in addition to the outlet nozzles 3b Helix 13 also outlet nozzles 3a on the inner wall 1b of the Chalice jacket attached and with the appropriate Supply lines to be connected to one cryogenic medium and / or water are supplied too can. The cryotechnical gas can in the in Fig. 3rd shown embodiment of the invention by the Outlet openings 3a and / or 3b flow out after one preferably attached to the base plate 2 Actuator is triggered.

4 sketches an example of an embodiment of the Flushing device according to the invention, in contrast to that 1 shown upwardly open rinsing cup 1 a preferably with a flap 14, preferably gas-tight closable receiving body 15 includes the hollow body is trained. The receiving body 15 is in one preferred embodiment of the present invention cuboid design. It should be mentioned that same or 4 functionally similar components with reference to FIG. 1st are assigned the same reference numerals.

In the interior 16 of the receiving body 15 are on the inside 17 from side walls 18 rail-like struts 19th provided to a support frame, not shown, which can be loaded with glasses to be rinsed into the interior 16 of the receiving body 15 to be able to insert, like this for example, from flushing devices is known, the water use as an essential detergent. On the inside, preferably on the inside 20 of one of the flaps 14 opposite rear wall 21 are similar to that in FIG. 1st illustrated rinsing cup 1 outlet nozzles 3a for flowing out arranged by gas and / or water and accordingly with the associated line system connected. To be even Ensuring inflow on the inside of the vessel is in 4 shows an example of a rotatably mounted on the floor preferably propeller or fan-like rotating body 22 provided with outlet nozzles 3b arranged thereon.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the Support frame should be designed so that it on his Support struts and / or its holding drinking vessels serving supporting parts has outlet openings 3b with are connected to the pipe system. About the pipe system the outlet openings are above corresponding Supply lines connected to a cryotechnical Medium can be supplied. The support frame can preferably be designed as a basket, such as in a Dishwasher is used.

In contrast to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the rinsing process in the embodiment according to FIG. 4 not designed by manual application of force, but via a selectable washing program that is the same as with conventional Flushing devices over a not shown in FIG Operating board is selected. For example a program can be provided, which follows a conventional hot water rinsing with a short rinse cryotechnical media provides for immediate use the otherwise warmed up drinking vessels or others To allow dishes after they have cooled.

Depending on the application-specific environmental conditions provided the supply of the gas in gaseous or in liquid state. Crucial for a supply in the liquid state is particularly the Providing the required low temperatures and / or sufficient pressure.

In addition to carbon dioxide, which is a color, odorless and taste-neutral cryotechnic medium in practice has proven particularly successful, including in particular the Use of nitrogen provided. But it is also conceivable use other gases for cooling.

The invention also includes embodiments, each depending on the area of application, additionally with a deduction and / or Suction device for released gas are designed to if necessary a quality impairment for the Users, especially if the Rinsing device to exclude.

The invention is not based on those described Embodiments limited, in many ways and Can be modified according to the claims. So it is also conceivable that only one outlet opening 3a, 3b on the inner wall 1b of the Chalice 1 and / or in the cavity is attached. According to the invention, outlet openings 3a, 3b of different geometric shapes, i.e. round, angular or oval outlet openings.

The outlet openings 3a, 3b can also be different be great. It goes without saying that when using smaller outlet openings 3a, 3b, the number of which is increased and in the case of larger outlet openings 3a, 3b, the number thereof can be reduced.

The coil 13 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 can also be designed so that the vessels or glasses on the outside the coil 13 can be put over. It goes without saying that the outlet openings 3b also on the outside of the Spiral turns are attached. The outflow can also occur of the cryogas or water also by means of a Fig. 1 described pressure sensitive trigger mechanism can be achieved.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the outlet nozzles can both on the inside of the floor and / or ceiling and / or Inside of the side walls as well as additionally in the Carrier frame may be attached. But you can also either in the carrier frame or on the inner walls of the receiving body to be appropriate.

The rotating body 22 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can also be designed as a round rotating body. The Rotating body 22 can also be designed in a different form. So it can be designed as a spiral, with the Outer surfaces of the spiral arms, the outlet openings 3b may be appropriate. But it is also possible that To design rotary body 22 so that it is the vessels to be cooled bears, with an elevated edge surround be attached to prevent the glasses from slipping outwards.

Within the scope of the invention it is also provided that the chalice 1 with a different cross section. So is also a square, preferably square, goblet cross-section conceivable. It is understood that the shape of the chalice, the respective vessels to be cooled can be adapted. For the cup can be made smaller vessels with a lower height whereas elongated vessels such as e.g. Sparkling wine or Champagne glasses or bottles a narrower rather taller designed cup can be selected. Likewise, in the frame of the invention the different vessel sizes in shape and type and way of attaching the outlet nozzles 3b to the Guide element 4 are taken into account. You can in 1, the rods 4b are omitted and the outlet openings 3b also directly on one Jacket of the guide element 4 may be attached. Similarly it is also conceivable, on the helix 13 of FIG. 3 rods 4b to provide, on the outer sides of the outlet openings 3b are attached.

It is understood that the invention is all of these different Contains chalice variants, and that the connections and Supply lines, especially designed for the cryogenic medium are that the different goblets are combined or can be exchanged for each other.

The flushing device according to the invention can be used for cooling and / or rinsing of vessels from different Materials are designed. So glasses can also be made Porcelain existing dishes such as cups and / or bottles are rinsed and / or cooled with it.

Claims (16)

1. A flushing device for shock cooling of drinking vessels and/or liquid-storing vessels, particularly glasses, comprising

   a chamber (1a, 16) for holding at least one drinking vessel and

   a pipe system (8) for directly supplying a pyrotechnic medium to the chamber (1a, 16),

   characterised by a control means for defined control of the temperature of the supplied pyrotechnic medium.
2. A flushing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipe system is adapted to supply nitrogen.
3. A flushing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipe system is adapted to supply carbon dioxide.
4. A flushing device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the pipe system is adapted to supply the medium in a gaseous and/or liquid state.
5. A flushing device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the control device is designed for defined control of the pressure of the supplied medium.
6. A flushing device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pipe system (8) for supplying the medium has at least one outlet opening (3a, 3b), particularly nozzle-shaped.
7. A flushing device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised by a receiving member (1) surrounding a cavity (1a) and comprising an internal axially extending guide element (4) for the drinking vessels and/or the liquid-storing vessels, wherein an inner wall of the receiving member (1) and/or the guide element (4, 13) has at least one outlet opening (4b, 3a, 3b) and is a part of the pipe system (8).
8. A flushing device according to claim 7, characterised in that the guide element is rodshaped (4) or helical (13).
9. A flushing device according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the guide element (4) comprises a pressure-sensitive triggering means (4a) connected to the pipe system (8) by a valve.
10. A flushing device according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised by a closable receiving chamber (16) for drinking vessels and/or for liquid-storing vessels and by outlet openings (3a, 3b) on the inner walls and/or a lid and/or a bottom of the receiving chamber (16).
11. A flushing device according to claim 10, characterised in that the receiving member (5) has a rotatably mounted rotary member (22) formed with outlet openings (3b).
12. A flushing device according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterised by a supply system (9) for water, wherein the supply system (9) is associated with the inner wall (1b) of the receiving member (1), the guide element (4) and/or with another rodshaped or helical guide element formed with at least one outlet opening (3b).
13. A flushing device according to claim 12, characterised by a change-over means for predefined selection of the pipe system (8) for supplying the pyrotechnic medium and/or the water supply system (9).
14. A flushing device according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the water supply system (9) and the pipe system (8) for supplying the pyrotechnic medium have a contacting area.
15. A flushing device according to any of claims 12 to 14, characterised by a heating means associated with the pipe system (8) and/or the water supply system (9).
16. A flushing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a discharge and/or suction means is provided for liberated gas.

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