GB2257957A

GB2257957A - Control apparatus for dispensing fluids.

Info

Publication number: GB2257957A
Application number: GB9113128A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Johnson
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 1991-06-18
Filing date: 1991-06-18
Publication date: 1993-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-18
Also published as: GB2257957B; GB9113128D0

Abstract

In control apparatus for beverage dispense, wherein the apparatus is arranged to ensure proper ratio control between beverage and coolant or syrup and carbonated water, paddle elements 5, 7 are arranged in respective enclosures 1, 3, the paddle elements 5, 7 being coupled in order to ensure co-ordinated rotation such that paddle sweep results in correct proportion dispense between enclosures 1, 3. <IMAGE>

Description

Control Apparatus The present invention relates to fluid flow control apparatus and more particularly, but not exclusively, to relative fluid flow control in a beverage dispense system between a beverage and its coolant.

In order to present beverages, particularly beer, in the most favoured way it is usual to cool it. This is normally achieved using 'ice bank' technology where the beer is passed through a bank of chilled water including a refrigeration coil upon which an 'ice bank' is deposited. Furthermore, the beer is kept in thermal contact with chilled water on its passage to a dispensing tap with pipes of beer and chilled water running alongside each other in what is termed a 'python'.

A problem with the 'ice bank' and 'python' approach to beverage cooling is that it does not allow a great degree of range in dispensed beverage temperature for different beverage types and is rather inefficient.

A solution to this problem is to provide a heat exchanger at each beverage dispenser to independently final cool each beverage however these heat exchangers only give very accurate output temperature control if beverage flow rate and coolant temperature and flow rate are consistent.

The major causes of flow rate inconsistency are multi-tap dispense arrangements with a single beer pump and the use of sparkler or agitators to enhance beer appearance. Multi-tap dispense arrangements evidently have different beverage flow rates when differing numbers of taps are operated at once and sparklers/agitators present a variable construction on beverage flow.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide fluid flow control apparatus to achieve reasonable accuracy in relative beverage and coolant flow rates.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided fluid flow control apparatus for beverage dispense comprising, at least, first paddled means and second paddled means respectively coupled and arranged in respective first enclosure and second enclosure whereby rotation of the first and the second paddle means is co-ordinated and a substantially fixed ratio of liquid volume can be displaced between the first enclosure and the second enclosure.

Preferably, the first and second paddle members are coupled on a shaft or magnetically or electrically or electronic processor controlled.

Preferably, the fluid flow control apparatus is arranged to displace glycol or water and beer from the first and second enclosures.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: FIGURE 1 illustrates, in schematic view, fluid flow control apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and FIGURE 2 illustrates, in schematic view, a turbine assembly of fluid flow control apparatus in accordance with the present invention incorporating a magnetic coupling.

Referring to Figure 1, a first enclosure 1 for beer and a second enclosure 3 for coolant are defined in respective pipe channels (not shown). Within each enclosure 1, 3 are located paddled members 5, 7 which may be either a powered impeller to drive the beer and coolant through respective enclosures 1, 3 or a 'drag' brake on beer and coolant flow. The paddled members 5, 7 are linked by a shaft 9 to ensure rotation is mutual and co-operative. It is essential that the ratio of flow rates between the beer and coolant is fixed and constant thus the paddled members 5, 7 substantially fill respective enclosures 1, 3 and the respective volumes of these enclosures 1, 3 are related.

It will be understood that beer and coolant are pumped from the fluid flow control apparatus to a heat exchanger at the far or tap end of a drink dispense system. It has been found that if the relative ratio between enclosure 1 and enclosure 3 is 2:3 with an initial beer temperature of 12"C and a coolant of glycol at -4 C then, 2 litres of beer per minute can be dispensed at 60C with 3 litres of glycol per minute simultaneously passing through the heat exchanger to emerge at a temperature of 1"C.

An inherent feature of the present fluid flow control apparatus is that changes in beer flow rate, due to multi-tap operation or use of sparklers, are automatically compensated for by reduced rotation of the member 7 and so beer temperature is accurately maintained. Furthermore, if beer flow increases so will coolant flow in a similar fashion. It will thus be appreciated that the presentation temperature of the beer can be accurately set by choice of the fluid flow control apparatus enclosure 1, 3 volumes.

In Figure 2, an alternative approach to coupling a beer enclosure 21 and a coolant enclosure 23 is illustrated. This alternative coupling is non-contact using magnetic induction between concentric housing members 25, 26 to ensure mutual and co-operative rotation of respective paddled members 27, 28. The use of magnetic coupling removes the need for a bearing assembly 11 and seals 15 as illustrated in Figure 1 so reducing maintenance.

It will be understood that it would be a relatively simple task to alter the temperature of a beer by having a different ratio of beer and coolant enclosures or turbine arrangements.

It will be appreciated that the paddled or turbine members could be powered to pump both the beer and/or the coolant through a beverage dispense system. A trickle by-pass being used to maintain beverage temperature in the dispense head.

The coolant could be water or glycol.

It should be appreciated that, although the fluid flow control apparatus has been installed merely in respect of beverage cooling, the apparatus could also be of use in both pre-mix and post-mix beverage dispense apparatus where measure volumes of beverage components are mixed to produce the presented drink. As a result more than two paddled or turbine members may be accommodated upon the same shaft.

It will be understood that the flow flow control apparatus could be adapted to provide a volumetric counter or meter for stock control. In addition, the flow flow control apparatus could be used to pump one product using power/flow from a second product.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Control apparatus for beverage dispense comprising first paddle means and second paddle means respectively coupled and arranged in respective first enclosure and second enclosure whereby rotation of the first and the second paddle means is co-ordinated and a substantially fixed ratio of liquid volume can be displaced from the first enclosure and from the second enclosure.

2. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and the second paddle means are coupled on a common shaft to co-ordinate mutual rotation.

3. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and the second paddle means are magnetically coupled together to co-ordinate mutual rotation.

4. Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and the second paddle means are controlled through an electronic processor means to co-ordinate mutual rotation.

5. Control apparatus as claimed in any prededing claim wherein the apparatus is arranged to displace glycol or water coolant and beverages from respective first enclosure and second enclosure.

6. Fluid flow control apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.