FR2772738A1 - Conservation and distribution of carbonated drinks - Google Patents

Abstract

Drink is conserved and dispensed from a device comprising pressurized (plastic) container (11) of drink and a cylinder (19) of carbon dioxide, connected to (11) preferably through a pressure reducer (21). Drink is drawn via pipe (15) from the container to a dispenser. A valve (23) is shut off when the drink is dispensed to separate the container and CO2 cylinder.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESERVATION AND
DISTRIBUTION OF SOFT DRINKS.

 The present invention relates mainly to a device and a method for preserving and dispensing carbonated drinks, in particular beer, for mainly domestic use.

 The carbonated drink, especially beer, is characterized by the dissolved presence of carbon dioxide (cl2), the conservation of which ensures perfect quality of the carbonated drink, during its dispensing time.

 It is known from professional and semiprofessional installations for the storage and distribution of beer under carbon dioxide pressure (cl2) ensuring good preservation of the beer, and in particular of the concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide.

 These installations have a space requirement and a significant weight hardly compatible with the domestic environment and require a technical qualification of the user and of the maintenance, in particular periodic cleaning.

 Attempts to provide domestic facilities for the conservation and distribution of beer under pressure do not offer draft beer with organoleptic qualities of preservation identical to those of professional installations or when approached, are complex industrialization or not presenting a security guarantee.

 Only professional or semiprofessional installations (mobile pressure draws), the latter being reserved for technically savvy people, make it possible to distribute one or more half (s) pressure meeting consumers' expectations Sparkling beer, no false taste, fine foam, cool temperature, all combined with the gesture of drawing a half.

 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an installation for the preservation and distribution of carbonated drinks, in particular beer, making it possible to deliver, by pressure draw, high quality glasses of beer such as coffee, while preserving the optimal concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the product.

 It is also the aim of the present invention to offer such an installation allowing prolonged storage of the drink, in particular of the beer.

 It is also an object of the present invention to offer such an installation having a small footprint.

 It is also an object of the present invention to offer such an installation having a small footprint allowing its installation in a domestic refrigerator or in a piece of furniture, preferably refrigerated, specific.

 It is also an object of the present invention to offer such an installation having a high degree of reliability and security.

 It is also an object of the present invention to provide an installation whose manipulation is easy for the user having a playful and festive appearance.

 It is also an object of the present invention to offer such an installation having a low cost price.

 These aims are achieved by an installation for the conservation and distribution of a carbonated drink, in particular beer comprising a pressurized tank containing the drink to be stored or distributed, a tank of pressurized carbon dioxide (CO2), means, advantageously provided with a pressure reducer, for connecting the source of carbon dioxide to the reservoir of the carbonated drink under pressure and means for drawing the carbonated drink comprising a pipe whose first end is immersed in the reservoir of carbonated drink and whose opposite end is connected to, or forms, the means for pouring the drink. Advantageously tap-type means ensure the hermetic confinement of the carbonated drink in its tank in closed condition while allowing the flow of this drink in open condition. Hermetic isolation means actuated during the opening of the beverage drawing valve isolates the reservoir of the beverage to be delivered from the source of pressurized carbon dioxide.

The main subject of the present invention is a method for preserving and dispensing carbonated beverages, characterized in that it comprises steps consisting in:
a) connect a soft drink packaging to a source of C 2 under pressure during a storage period
b) isolating the carbonated drink packaging from the C02 source;
c) open a tap connected to the soft drink packaging so as to dispense a desired quantity of soft drink;
d) close the tap;
e) connect the soft drink packaging to the pressurized CO2 source.

 The present invention also relates to a method characterized in that in step b) the isolation of the packaging of carbonated drink with respect to the source of CO2 is hermetic isolation.

 The present invention also relates to a method characterized in that the source of CO2 delivers, in steps a) and e), in the packaging of carbonated beverage, CO2 under pressure of conservation of the carbonated beverage contained in the packaging.

 The present invention also relates to a method characterized in that it further comprises, prior to steps b) and c), a step of cooling the packaging of carbonated beverage.

 The present invention also relates to a process characterized in that the packaging contains beer under pressure.

 The present invention further relates to a device for preserving and dispensing carbonated drink comprising a packaging of carbonated drink connected to a source of pressurized CO2 and a tap for dispensing carbonated drink, characterized in that it further comprises means for isolating the soft drink packaging from the source of pressurized CO2 during the opening of the soft drink dispensing valve.

 The present invention also relates to a device characterized in that said device is autonomous and of small volume so as to be able to take place in a domestic refrigerator.

 The present invention also relates to a device characterized in that it comprises a head capable of receiving a packaging of carbonated drink, said head comprising means ensuring almost simultaneously the isolation of the packaging of carbonated drink with respect to the source of CO2. under pressure and the opening of the soft drink dispensing tap.

 The present invention also relates to a device characterized in that the packaging contains beer.

 The present invention further relates to a device one characterized in that the packaging is a plastic bottle.

 The present invention also relates to a device characterized in that it comprises a handle provided with an eccentric for actuating a drawer ensuring almost simultaneously the isolation of the carbonated beverage packaging from the source of pressurized CO2 and opening the soft drink dispensing valve.

The invention will be better understood by means of the description below and the appended figures given as nonlimiting examples and in which
- Figure 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the method according to the present invention;
- Figure 2 has three views of the preferred embodiment of a domestic device for preserving and distributing a carbonated drink, in particular beer under pressure, according to the present invention
- Figure 3 is a schematic view of a professional beverage storage and distribution installation according to the present invention.

 In FIGS. 1 to 3, the same references have been used to designate the same elements.

 The Applicant has discovered that, surprisingly, the preservation of the qualities of draft beer during storage as well as preservation during the drawing of a glass can be reconciled by dynamic management of the pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2). applied to beer, as shown in the flow diagram in Figure 1.

 In 1, beer pressure is applied to maintain the equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) called conservation pressure.

The storage pressure allows the beer to retain its natural saturation with carbon dioxide (cl2). In known manner, the storage pressure increases with the storage temperature. The storage pressures expressed in overpressure relative to atmospheric pressure as a function of the temperature expressed in degrees C are given in Table 1.

Temperature
storage in 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
Preservation C02 pressure in 0.8 0.9 1.05 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.65 1.8 2 2.15 2.3 2.5 2.7 2.85 104 Pa
TABLE i
A decrease in pressure relative to the conservation pressure leads to a decrease in the concentration of carbon dioxide while an increase in pressure beyond the conservation pressure leads to an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide. For a carbonated drink optimally dosed, a variation in the pressure relative to the storage pressure leads to a reduction in the organoleptic qualities of the drink.

 We go in 3.

 In 3 on, advantageously performs cooling of the drink. In fact, most carbonated drinks are consumed fresh. Of course, the pressure of carbon dioxide applied in step 1 and maintained in step 3 corresponds to the storage temperature, that is to say, in most cases to the temperature obtained after cooling.

 We go to 5.

 In 5, when it is desired to draw a glass or several glasses of carbonated drink, in particular beer, the pressure of carbon dioxide is reduced or cut during or slightly before the draw.

 We go to 7.

 In 7, one or more glasses are drawn from the carbonated drink, in particular beer. The application of a moderate pressure, advantageously equal to atmospheric pressure to the beer during the drafting step ensures a flow with a moderate flow of the drink avoiding the formation of an overabundant foam which would adversely affect the desired quality.

 We go to 9.

 In 9, the pressure for conserving the carbonated drink is restored.

 In FIG. 2a, one can see a domestic device according to the present invention comprising on the one hand, a reservoir 11 of carbonated beverage under pressure and, on the other hand, a head 31 of drawing bringing together the functions of the elements ensuring the supply in beer and in C02 as well as the interconnections and switches necessary for obtaining according to the invention a quality draft beer. A source of pressurized carbon dioxide 19 advantageously comprises a metal cartridge comprising a quantity of carbon dioxide under pressure sufficient to ensure the preservation and distribution of the carbonated drink contained in the packaging 11. The cartridge 19 comprises for example 2 gr of carbon dioxide for a liter packaging or a cartridge 19 of 8 or 16 g of carbon dioxide for a packaging 11 of three liters. The cartridge 19 is connected to a multifunctional tap 33 by a pressure reducer 21, advantageously adjustable in pressure, so as to be able to adapt the pressure to the temperature of conservation of the carbonated drink.

The multifunctional tap 33 ensures simultaneously, or almost simultaneously, the closing of the arrival of carbon dioxide and the communication of the reservoir there with a spout 35. Advantageously, means not illustrated prevent the release of carbon dioxide in the event of separation of the head 31 from a packaging 11, for example empty. The means 13 for connecting the head 31 and the container 11 comprise for example a pair of male and female screw threads arranged, one on the head 31, the other on the container 11, associated with a projecting element 37 ensuring the perforation of a membrane 39, advantageously metallic, ensuring the closure of the packaging 11 before the container 11 is placed on the head 31.

 The packaging consists, for example, of a plastic bottle, a metal box, in particular of tinplate or aluminum or the like.

 The head 31 can be associated with a support, not shown, to increase the stability of the device according to the present invention.

 In Figure 2b we can see a head 31 according to the present invention disposed on the container 11 in the closed condition in which a channel 41 of the control slide 33 ensures the communication of the outlet of the regulator 21 with a channel 43 leading to the interior of the container 11. An operating device, advantageously a handle 45 similar to that fitted to professional taps for beer drafting devices is provided at its lower end with an eccentric device 47 allowing during forward rotation of the lever 45 along the arrow 49 ensuring the translation of the drawer 33 along the arrow 51 so as to, on the one hand interrupt the communication between the channels 41 and 43 and, on the other hand, establish communication via of a channel 53, between the channel 43 and a channel 55 of the pouring spout 35. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 2c, the device according to the present invention, at first provides the insulation h sealing of the cartridge 19 of carbon dioxide under pressure and, substantially simultaneously opening the tap for pouring the carbonated drink, in particular beer into a container, preferably a beer glass placed under the spout 35. The pressure residual inside the packaging is sufficient to ensure the flow of beer through the channels 43, 53 and 55 with a flow rate perfectly suited to obtaining a glass of quality soft drink. This is particularly true for draft beer, for which a too high flow rate causes excessive foaming extending substantially over the entire height of the beer glass.

 Advantageously, the head 31 includes elastic return means 57 bringing the drawers 33 from the open condition illustrated in FIG. 2c to the closed condition illustrated in FIG. 2b, the drawer translating in the direction opposite to the arrow 51 while the handle 45 rotates in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 49.

 For a domestic appliance, it is advantageous to be able to cool the packaging 11 and of the head 31 according to the present invention before its use, preferably without the use of specific refrigeration means. Thus, it is advantageous to miniaturize the head 31 according to the present invention so that this head, associated with the packaging 11, can take place in a domestic refrigerator. In the preferred version, the head assembly 31 packaging are likely to take place in a door of a domestic refrigerator intended to receive bottles of 1, 50 liter or 2 liters.

 It is understood that the implementation of other means of opening the tap ensuring the flow of the drink and the simultaneous confinement of carbon dioxide in its tank does not depart from the scope of the present invention. In particular, it is possible to use taps comprising rotary or other drawers.

 In FIG. 3, one can see an example of installation according to the present invention comprising a keg 11 of pressurized beer, connected by a connection device 13 and a pipe 15 to a tap 17 for drawing beer. A source of pressurized CO2, in particular a disposable CO2 cartridge or, as shown in the figure a bottle of liquid CO2, is connected to the barrel 11 by means of a pressure reducer 21, of a device 23 for hermetic insulation on command and a pipeline 25.

Advantageously, a device (not shown) cools the barrel 11 to the consumption temperature, for example equal to 4 "C.

 When the carbonated drink, in particular beer, is awaiting consumption in the barrel 11 (step 1, 3 in FIG. 1) the hermetic insulation means 23 are open so as to ensure that the drink is put in place gas contained in drum 11 at storage pressure. When drawing a glass 27, for example of beer, (steps 5 and 7 of FIG. 1), the opening of the tap 17 causes the closure of means 23 for hermetic insulation. In an advantageous embodiment, the tap 17 operates the means 23. For example, the tap 17 is a double tap, the pipe 25 passing through this tap. As a variant, the tap 17 sends a remote control signal 29 for closing the means 23. It is an electrical signal in the case where the means 23 comprise a solenoid valve. However, the implementation of a mechanical or hydraulic remote control does not depart from the scope of the present invention. Closing the tap 17 (step 9 in FIG. 1) causes the means 23 to open.

 Although the present invention advantageously applies to domestic installations, an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 2, the implementation of professional installation does not depart from the scope of the present invention. Such an installation, unlike conventional draft beer draft installations, is advantageously devoid of a pressure drop pipe. However, it is understood that an installation according to the present invention may include a pressure drop pipe, in particular in the case of an installation resulting from modifications to an existing installation, for example by installing a solenoid valve 23 and a tap 17 while ensuring the remote control.

 The present invention applies to the household appliance industry, the food industry and the soft drink industry, such as sodas, cider or the like.

 The present invention applies mainly to the beer industry

Claims (11)

 1. A method of preserving and dispensing carbonated drink, characterized in that it comprises steps consisting in:  a) connecting a packaging (11) of carbonated drink to a source (19) of pressurized CO2 during a conservation period  b) isolating the packaging (11) of carbonated drink from the CO2 source (19);  c) open a tap (17) connected to the packaging (11) of carbonated drink so as to dispense a desired quantity of carbonated drink;  d) close the tap (17);  e) connect the packaging (11) of carbonated drink to the source (19) of pressurized CO2.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in step b) the isolation of the packaging (11) of carbonated drink with respect to the source (19) of CO2 is a hermetic insulation.  3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the source (19) of CO2 delivers, in steps a) and e), in the packaging (11) of carbonated beverage, C02 under pressure of conservation of the carbonated drink contained in the packaging (11).  4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises, prior to steps b) and c), a step of cooling the packaging (11) of carbonated drink.  5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging (11) contains beer under pressure.  6 Device for preserving and dispensing carbonated drink comprising a packaging (11) for carbonated drink connected to a source (19) of pressurized CO2 and a tap (17) for dispensing carbonated drink, characterized in that it comprises in addition to means (23) for isolating the packaging (11) of carbonated drink with respect to the source (19) of pressurized CO2 during the opening of the tap (17) for dispensing carbonated drink.  7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said device is autonomous and of small volume so as to be able to take place in a domestic refrigerator.  8 Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a head (31) capable of receiving a packaging (11) of carbonated beverage, said head comprising means (33) ensuring almost simultaneously the isolation of the packaging ( 11) of carbonated drink relative to the source (19) of pressurized CO2 and the opening of the tap (17, 53, 55) for dispensing carbonated drink.  9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the packaging (11) contains beer.  10. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the packaging (11) is a plastic bottle  11. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a lever (45) provided with an eccentric for actuating a drawer (33) ensuring almost simultaneously the isolation of the packaging ( 11) of carbonated drink relative to the source (19) of pressurized CO2 and the opening of the tap (17, 53, 55) for dispensing carbonated drink.