GB1150045A - Cleaning Beer Lines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,150,045. Cleaning beer pipes. IN-PLACE ELECTRONICS Ltd. 26 Sept., 1967, No. 43822/67. Heading F2N. [Also in Division G3] A process for cleaning a line 14 adapted to convey beer from a source of beer 10 to be dispensed to a tap 16 comprises the steps of forcing beer present in the line back into the source of beer; preventing passage of beer from the source into the line; passing a predetermined amount of aqueous cleaning solution into the line to clean the line; passing water through the line to remove the cleaning solution therefrom; and passing air through the line to dry it. As shown, beer normally flows through line 10, a keg valve 12, and line 14 to the tap 16, the valve 12 having a poppet 120 which is movable, pneumatically, by a source of compressed air 26, to positions where the lines 10, 14 are connected to one another and where the line 10 is closed and the line 14 is connected to a further line 24 which includes a circulating pump 22 and a check valve 20 and is connectible, at its other end, to the tap 16. The compressed air line 26 is also connected through a valve 32 to the further line 24 which includes a drain line 40 having a drain valve 42 and a check valve 44, the lines 14, 24, pump 22, check valve 20, line 18, and tap 16 forming a closed circuit which can be fed selectively with compressed air through the line 26 and valve 32, with water under pressure through a line 28 and a valve 34, and with acleaning solution through a line 30, metering pump 36, and a check valve 38. The valves, pumps, connecting lines of the circuit, and a cam-operated timer of standard construction, are accommodated in a portable housing (210), Fig. 3, not shown, the valves 32, 34, 42 and the timer, not shown, being wired into an electrical circuit. In operation the line 18 is connected to the tap 16, which is opened, the unit (210), Fig. 3, not shown, is switched on at (234) and a sensor 126, which is located on the keg valve 12 and which senses changes in the electrical conductivity of fluids passing through the valve 12, ensures that compressed air from the line 26 is fed to the valve 12 so that it remains in the position shown, that is with the lines 10, 14 connected and the further line 24 cut off. The air valve 32 is then opened so that high-pressure air forces beer present in the line 14 back beyond the valve 12, the sensor 126, now in contact with air, reversing the valve 12 to block off the line 10 and place the lines 14, 24 in communication. The air valve 32 is then cut off. Valves 34, 42 now open so that water passes through line 18, tap 16, line 14, keg valve 12, lines 24, 40 and valves 42, 44 to waste, the position of the keg valve remaining unaltered. Valve 34 then closes, the check valve 44 preventing draining, and the metering pump 36 delivering a predetermined quantity of cleaning fluid, e.g. a sodium salt of ethylenediamine tetracetic acid, into the line 18 and the check valve 44 allowing an equivalent amount of water to be drained. The line 18 may contain a mixing chamber, not shown. Next the valve 42 is closed and the pump 22 circulates the cleaning fluid in the closed circuit 18, 14, 24 for a predetermined period. At the end of this period the pump 22 is switched off, the valves 34, 42 are opened so water is flushed through lines 18, 14, 24, and 40 to waste, if desired the pump 22 being left on initially to circulate water through the pump 22 and the check valve 20. Air is now injected into the system by opening the valve 32 so that water is forced out of the system which is dried, valves 42 and 32 then close, the tap 16 then being closed and the line 18 disconnected from it. The switch (234), Fig. 3, not shown, is then switched off so that the keg valve 12 returns to its initial position as shown and beer can be passed normally from the line 10 to the tap 16. Other lines in the apparatus, e.g. (224), (246), Fig. 3, not shown, can be removed and be reconnected in the cleaning system. The circulation pump 22 may be omitted in which case the cleaning solution is left for a period of time in contact with the line 14.