GB2166212A

GB2166212A - Cleansing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2166212A
Application number: GB08427421A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Thomas Hughes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-10-30
Filing date: 1984-10-30
Publication date: 1986-04-30
Also published as: GB2166212B; GB8427421D0

Abstract

Cleansing apparatus for use in cleansing flow lines between a drink dispensing station (22) and a remotely located drink storage location (25), which apparatus comprises an outlet flow line (11) for connection to a drinks flow line (26) to be cleansed, a first inlet flow line (9) for connection to a source (6) of cleansing liquid, a second inlet flow line (10) for connection to a source (7) of rinsing liquid, power operated valve means (8) connecting said first and second inlet flow lines to said outlet flow line such that by operation of the valve means (8), a path for liquid flow may be opened from a selected one of said first and second inlet flow lines to said outlet flow line, and manually operated remote control means (2) for operating said valve means from the drink dispensing station (22). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleansing Apparatus The present invention relates to cleansing apparatus and in particular to cleansing apparatus for use in cleaning flow lines between a drink dispensing station and a remotely located drink storage location.

In the bars of public houses and hotels and similar establishments, drinks sold in large quantities such as beer and cider are conventionally stored in a cellar remote from the bar counter and are dispensed through "pumps" at the bar connected to barrels containing the drinks in the cellar. The "pumps" may be hand pumps by which the drink in question is actually pumped up to the bar counter from the cellar. Alternatively, the drinks may be dispensed under the pressure of a pressurised gas, in practice carbon dioxide, and the "pump" has no genuine pumping action of its own but is essentially a valve. Bar pumps of this latter type will be referred to in this specification as "pressure heads".

It is necessary periodically to clean the flow lines leading between the pumps or pressure heads and the location in which the barrels are stored.

This has in the past been carried out by the barmen going down to the cellar and connecting the flow line leading to the pump or pressure head first of all to a source of cleansing fluid. In the case of cleaning a flow line to a pressure head, the source of rinsing fluid must itself be pressurised. The barman then goes back up to the bar counter and operates the pump or pressure head to pass cleansing fluid through the system and to waste until he is satisfied that the system is sufficiently clean. This may involve going back down to the cellar to change to a fresh supply of cleansing liquid if the original supply is exhausted during the process. When the cleansing stage is completed, the barman has to go back down to the cellar and disconnect the vessel of cleansing liquid and connect the flow line to a suitable source of rinsing water.In the case of a flow line leading to a pressure head, this again must be pressurized. The barman then must go back up to the bar counter and again operate the pump or pressure head to pass sufficient rinsing water through the system to completely clear the cleansing solution. Where there are several pumps to be dealt with this process must to a large extent be repeated for each one. The whole procedure is extremely time consuming and involves a substantial number of trips between the bar counter and the cellar or other remote location at which the drinks are stored.

An automatic apparatus has been proposed for overcoming this problem but has been found not to be satisfactory in use. The use of such an automatic apparatus is generally being discontinued in this trade.

The apparatus in question comprised a tank of cleansing solution and a tank of rinsing water each connected to a common outlet via a motorised valve and a pump. The motorised valve controlled which of the cleansing solution and the rinsing water was pumped to the outlet. Similarly, a return line for fluids pumped through this system was provided with a motorised valve to control the connection of the return line. In use, a flow line to a pressure head to the bar counter to be cleaned was connected to the outlet of the apparatus, connections were made between a pair of pressure heads in the bar counter and the flow line from the second pressure head was connected to the return line of the apparatus.

Under the operation of an automatic controller, cleansing solution was pumped for a period up to the first pressure head through its responsive flow line, transferred to the second pressure head and returned to the apparatus. The valves were then operated to circulate water through the same system to rinse the flow lines and pressure heads.

Provision was made for connecting a number of pairs of pressure heads in this way. Such an apparatus had the drawback that it could only deal with the cleansing of pressure heads rather than hand pumps since during cleansing the pressure heads had to be placed in an open condition so that there was a free flow path therethrough. This cannot be done with a hand pump. Secondly, the apparatus has proved very unreliable in use because of the tendency for one or more connections not to be made properly when the apparatus is setup leading to leakage of the cleansing solution of the rinsing water and consequent damage to the premises.The apparatus is designed to work unattended overnight and a long period of operation is necessary because the cleaning operation, being automatic and unmonitored, must be adequate to deal with the most contaminated system likely to be encountered and the apparatus treats all of the flow lines in the same manner. Accordingly, the cleaning is unnecessarily thorough for many flow lines in order to be sure of being adequate for the worst contaminated.

The present invention relates to cleansing apparatus useful for the purposes described above and designed to provide the advantages of the terms of control of attended operation whilst avoiding the necessity for the making of large numbers of connections and large numbers of visits to the drink storage location.

The present invention provides cleansing apparatus for use in cleansing flow lines between a drink dispensing station and a remotely located drink storage location, which apparatus comprises an outlet flow line for connection to a drinks flow line to be cleansed, a first inlet flow line for connection to a source of cleansing liquid, a second inlet flow line for connection to a source of rinsing liquid, power operated valve means connecting said first and second inlet flow lines to said outlet flow line such that by operation of the valve means a path for liquid flow may be opened from a selected one of said first and second inlet flow lines to said outlet flow lines, and manually operated remote control means for operating said valve means from the drink dispensing station.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a pump for pumping liquid from a selected one of the first and second inlet flow lines through the outlet flow line.

The provision of such a pump allows the cleaning of flow lines to pressure heads. In the absence of such a pump, the apparatus may be used for the cleansing of lines to hand pumps.

Preferably, pressure sensor means is provided upstream of the pump connected to disable the pump if the pressure upstream of the pump rises above a preset limit. This may be used to switch off the pump automatically if the or all the pressure heads being cleaned are closed.

In orderthat both hand pumps and pressure heads may be dealt with by the one system, the outlet flow line is preferably branched at or upstream of the valve means and the pump is located in one of said branches.

Preferably, there is a non return valve in the outlet flow line or in a or each branch thereof. The provision of such non-return valves serves to prevent back flow of cleansing solution to contaminate rinsing water after the valve has switched from one to the other.

Preferably, there is a manifold having a plurality of connection points for connecting to drink flow lines to be cleansed connected to the outlet flow line orto a or each branch thereof. Such a manifold may allow any desired number of hand pumps and/or pressure heads to be cleansed at one time. All of the flow lines to be cleansed may be connected in a single visit to the drink storage location. Preferably, each connection point of the manifold is provided with a shut off valve.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the outlet flow line is branched at or upstream of the valve, one branch at least contains a pump for circulating cleansing liquid and rinsing liquid through the flow lines connected thereto in use and one branch at least does not contain a pump. Each branch preferably connects to a manifold as described above.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a storage tank for cleansing liquid connected to the first inlet flow line.

Preferably, the storage tank for cleansing liquid is provided with a liquid level sensor for providing a signal when the liquid level falls below a predetermined level. This may be used to trigger some form of alarm to the user and/or to switch off the pump where one is present in the apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a storagetankfor rinsing liquid, normally water. This is preferably provided with a connection to a water supply and means for maintaining a steady level in the storage tank such as a ball-cock. The storage tank for rinsing liquid is connected to tile second inlet flow line. Alternatively, the second inlet flow line may be connected directly to a water supply such as a water main, optionally using a flow restrictor to reduce the effective mains pressure.

For use in connection with the preferred embodiment described above, the manually operated remote control preferably comprises separate controls for switching the power operated valve to connect either the cleansing liquid or the rinsing liquid to the output flow line and further comprises means for activating and deactivating the pump. The manually operated remote control preferably also comprises an alarm signal means connected to the level sensing device incorporated in the solution tank, where one is provided, so that the operator may be alerted to a running down of the level of this tank.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to the invention installed in a bar cellar, Figure 2 is a block diagram of the cleansing apparatus shown in Figure 1 excluding the manifolds, Figure 3 is a wiring diagram for the remote control unit of the system illustrated in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is wiring diagram of the main portion of the apparatus of Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, cleansing apparatus according to the invention comprises a main unit (1) installed in the cellar or other drink storage location ofthe premises concerned and a manually operated remote controller (2) linked to the main unit (1) by a cable (3). Naturally, in place ofthe cable (3) the remote controller (2) may communicate with the main apparatus (1) by other means such as a coded infra-red signal beam. The cable (3) from the remote controller (2) connects to an electrical control circuit (4) of the main apparatus (1), more fully illustrated in Figure 4.

The main apparatus (1) comprises a housing (5) containing a cleansing solution tank (6) and a rinsing water tank (7). The tanks (6 and 7) are each connected to a motorised valve (8) by a respective inletflow line (9,10). An outlet flow line (11) leads from the valve (8) and has two branches (12, 13).

Branch (12) connects directly to an outlet manifold (14) having a plurality of connection points (15) each equipped with a manually operated shut-off valve (not shown). Branch (13) accommodates a pump (16) therein for pumping liquid away from the motorisedvalve (8). Branch (13) upstream ofthe pump (16) communicates with an outlet manifold (17) having a plurality of connection points (18) similar to the connection points (15).

Awater inlet (19) is provided to rinsing water tank (7) controlled by a ball-cock valve (20). A level sensing switch (21 ) is provided toward to bottom of the cleansing solution tank (6).

The remaining items illustrated do not form part of the apparatus according to the invention.

A bar counter (22) mounts a plurality of drink dispensing "pumps" of which a pressure head (23) is illustrated. The outlet from the pressure head (23) over-hangs a drain (24). The pressure head (23) is connected normally to barrels (25) in the cellar by a flow line (26).

When the apparatus according to the invention is to be used, the line (26) is connected to the manifold (17) at a connection point (18) as shown in the drawing. Hand pumps on the bar counter would be connected similarly but to manifold (14).

It should be noted that to change from dispensing drinks to cleaning the bar equipment all that is required is to disconnect barrels (25) and to reconnect the flow lines (26) to the manifold. Using the remote controller (2) from the bar counter, it is then possible to operate the main unit (1) first of all to pump cleansing solution (6) to the manifold (17) and hence up the flow line (26) and through the pressure head (23) to be disposed of down drain (24). When the line (26) is judged to be adequately clean, the remote controller can be used to operate motorised valve (8) so that water instead of cleansing solution is pumped through line (26) until it is adequately rinsed.Similarly, whilst the motorised valve (8) connects the manifolds to the cleansing solution (6), it is possible for hand pump lines to be cleansed by operation of the hand pumps to draw cleansing solution through manifold (14) and through their flow lines equivalent to line (26).

Once again, operation of the motorised valve by means of the remote controller (2) enables one to switch from cleansing solution to rinsing water for such time as is necessary to rinse the system.

Only one further visit to the cellar is then required to disconnect the cleansing apparatus and connect the barrels.

It should be observed that using the apparatus according to the invention, all the pumps of a bar may be cleaned and reconnected by only two visits to the cellar. The cleaning of each pump or pressure head individually may be continued only for so long as is necessary for that particular pump so that the cleansing operation can be conducted in atime which permits it to be continuously attended, thus avoiding the risk of damage arising through a badly made connection.

The apparatus of Figure 1 is illustrated in greater detail in the remaining Figures. The pipework connections between the cleansing solution tank (6), water tank (7), motorised valve (8), pump (16) and the outlet branches (12,13) are clearly shown in Figure 2. Also as shown in Figure 2, non-return valves (28,29,30) are provided in outlet flow line branch (12), outlet flow line branch (13) and the connection between the water tank (7) and the motorised valve (8) respectively to prevent back flow which might give rise to mixing of cleansing solution into the water tank or into a clean line connected to one of the outlet flow line branches.

Further, a pressure switch (27) is provided in the outlet flow line branch (13) upstream of the pump (16). This is connected such that when a predetermined pressure is achieved in the line (13), the pump (16) is disabled. By this means, the pump stops automatically if all of the pressure heads (23) are shut.

Figure 3 and 4 show the electrical wiring required for the remote controller and electrical circuit (4) of the apparatus respectively. The two are shown interconnected by a low voltage five core cable. The remote controller (2) is provided with a single three position switch (31) having the positions (a) "off", (b) "turn on pump and switch motorised valve to cleansing solution tank" and (c) "turn on pump and turn motorised valve to water tank". Indicator lights (32, 33, 34, 35) are respectively wired to indicate that the. unit as a whole is powered up, that the motorised valve is switched towards the cleansing solution tank, that the cleansing solution tank requires recharging and that the motorised valve is switched toward the water tank.

As shown in Figure 4, the unit is adapted to be mains powered and a transformer (36) is employed to provide a low voltage (24 volt) supply to the remote controller (2). Signals from the remote controller (2) are used to operate two relays (37, 38) to make connections of the mains voltage to operate the components of the main unit.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to specific characteristics of the embodiment particularly described, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the invention. In particular, provision can be made for the use of different kinds of cleaning solution in sequence by providing further cleaning solution tanks and by providing a motorised valve capable of switching more lines. Also, the motorised valve (8) may be replaced by a pair of open/shut motorised valves in the lines (9, 10).

Claims

1. Cleansing apparatus for use in cleansing flow lines between a drink dispensing station and a remotely located drink storage location, which apparatus comprises an outlet flow line for connection to a drinks flow line to be cleansed, a first inlet flow line for connection to a source of cleansing liquid, a second inlet flow line for connection to a source of rinsing liquid, power operated valve means connecting said first and second inlet flow lines to said outlet flow line such that by operation of the valve means a path for liquid flow may be opened from a selected one of said first and second inlet flow lines to said outlet flow line, and manually operated remote control means for operating said valve means from the drink dispensing station.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a pump for pumping liquid from a selected one of the first and second inlet flow lines through the outlet flow line.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, comprising pressure sensor means provided upstream of the pump connected to disable the pump if the pressure upstream of the pump rises above a preset limit.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the outlet flow line is branched at or upstream of the valve means and the pump is located in one of said branches.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there is a non return valve in the outlet flow line or in a or each branch thereof.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a manifold having a plurality of connection points for connecting to drink flow lines to be cleansed connected to the outlet flow line or to a or each branch thereof.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein each connection point of the manifold is provided with a shut off valve.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the outlet flow line is branched at or upstream of the valve, one branch at least contains a pump for circulating cleansing liquid and rinsing liquid through the flow lines connected thereto in use and one branch at least does not contain a pump.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 wherein each branch connects to a manifold.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the apparatus comprises a storage tank for cleansing liquid connected to the first inlet flow line.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the storage tank for cleansing liquid is provided with a liquid level sensor for providing a signal when the liquid level falls below a predetermined level.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the apparatus further comprises a storage tankforrinsing liquid.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the manually operated remote control preferably comprises separate controls for switching the power operated valve to connect either the cleansing liquid or the rinsing liquid to the output flow line and further comprises means for activating and deactivating the pump.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the manually operated remote control also comprises an alarm signal means connected to the level sensing device incorporated in the solution tank so that the operator may be alerted to a running down of the level ofthistank.

15. Cleansing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.