GB2304855A

GB2304855A - Cleaning the interior of tubes

Info

Publication number: GB2304855A
Application number: GB9616533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Julio Iglesias
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-01
Filing date: 1996-08-06
Publication date: 1997-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-06
Also published as: GB9616533D0; GB2304855B

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning the interior of an alcoholic beverage dispense tube (13) comprising, a first closable container (30) for containing a cleaning liquid, said first container (30) having an outlet (33) adapted to detachably connect one end of said beverage dispense tube (13) thereto and a second closable container (not shown) for containing water. The second closable container has an outlet adapted to detachably connect one end of said beverage dispense tube (13) thereto, so that, in use, by sequential connection of said one end of said tube (13) to said first (30) and second containers, the interior of said tube (13) is cleaned. Each container has a vented lid (31) to prevent contamination of the cleaning fluid and water.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF TUBES The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to cleaning the interior of tubes which transport or convey liquids. In particular, the present invention relates to improvements in or relating to cleaning the interior of tubes which transport or convey beverages.

Alcoholic beverages such as beer or lager are usually stored in barrels, for example, casks or kegs which are located in a cellar.

As illustrated in Fig I, in order to draw a beverage such sIS beer from a barrel 10, located in a cellar 11, a tube 13 is connected at one end to a hand pump 14 and at the other end to a tap 12 located on said barrel 10. On operating the hand pump 14 said beverage is drawn from said barrel 10 via said tap 12, through said tube 13 and eventually emerges from a nozzle (not illustrated) at the hand pump 14. Said beverage can then be collected in a container, such as a glass, so that it may be consumed.

Tubes which dispense alcoholic beverages such as beer and lager need to be cleaned regularly to prevent the build up of beerstone, which act as a harbour for bacteria and yeast.

At present, and with reference to Fig. 2, which schematically illustrates the apparatus currently utilised to clean said tubes which transport or convey an alcoholic beverage such as beer, the tube 13 is disconnected fiom the tap 12 on said barrel 10 and immersed in a bucket 20 containing a cleaning liquid 21. On operating the hand pump 14 the cleaning liquid 21 is drawn through the tube 13 until such time as the cleaning liquid 21 emerges from said nozzle, located at said hand pump 14. When it is ascertained that no beer remains in said tube 13, i.e.

only cleaning liquid 21 is emerging2 from the nozzle, the tube 13, now containing the cleaning liquid 21, is left immersed in said bucket 20 for a couple of hours, that is, depending on the type of cleaning liquid utilised. After a couple of hours said cleaning liquid 21 is then removed from said bucket 20 and said bucket 20 is then filled with water. The tube 13 is then immersed in said bucket 20 and on operating the hand purnp 14 the water is drawn fi-om said bucket 20 through the tube 13, thereby rinsing the cleaning liquid 21 from said tube 13.Once it is ascertained that said cleaning liquid 21 has been removed from said tube 1;, i.e. only water is emerging from said nozzle, located on said hand pump 14, the tube 13 is removed from said bucket 20 and is then reconnected to said tap 12 located on said barrel 10. On operating the hand pump 14 beer is then drawn from said barrel 10 through the tube 13 until such time as only beer emerges from said nozzle.

The main disadvantage of such an apparatus and method is that due to the volume of said beer dispense tubes compared to the volume of said bucket. the bucket has to be constantly refilled with cleaning liquid or water during the cleaning of said beer dispense tubes, which involves several trips to the cellar which are time consuming. Sloreover, the beer dispense tubes tend to fall out of the bucket and onto the cellar floor. Not only is this unhygenic, but the person wilo has to clean said tubes has to constantly check that the tubes have not fallen out of the bucket which means several visits to the cellar are neccessary, which, are time consuming.Furthermore, since the bucket is not sealed, debris may fall into the bucket and as a result thereof, may be drawn through and subsequently become lodged within the interior of said tube. This is not only unhygenic, but may block the flow of liquid through the tube.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method of cleaning tubes which tansport or convey liquids, such as beverages, which at least minimise the disadvantages outlined above. In particular, the cleaning apparatus of the present invention is sealed and hence, reduces the likelihood of debris being drawn into the pipes. Moreover, the tube is actually releasably connected to the apparatus of the present invention and therefore, reduces the likelihood of the the tube from falling onto the cellar floor.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid, said tube, in use, being connected at one end to a container containing said liquid and at the other end to delivery means for delivering said liquid, wherein said apparatus comprises;; a first closable container for containing a cleaning liquid, saicl first container having an outlet adapted to detachably connect said one end of said tube thereto and including closing means for closing said first closable container, and a second closable container for containing water, said second container having an outlet adapted to detachably connect said one end of said tube thereto and including closing means for closing said second closable container, so that, in use, by sequential connection of said one end of said tube to said first and second closable containers, the interior of said tube is cleaned.

In a preferred embodiment the first and second closable containers are stainless steel or plastic tanks.

Further preferably, the first and second closable containers are closed by a vented lid.

Further preferably, the first and second closable containers have a plurality of outlets adapted to detachably connect respective said one end of a plurality of tubes, so that more than one tube can be attached to said first and second closable containers at time.

Further preferably, the second closable container is in communication with a water mains and the water level in said second closable container is controlled bv a ball valve.

Further preferably. the apparatus of the present invention is used to clean the interior of tubes carrying a beverage wherein the tube is connected at one end to a container containing said beverage and to a hand pump at the other end.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid, said tube, in use, being connected at one end to a container containing g said liquid and at the other end to delivery means for delivering said liquid, comprising the steps of, disconnecting said one end of said tube from said container and detachably connecting said one end of said tube to an outlet on a first closable container containing cleaning liquid; opening said outlet on said first closable container; drawing said cleaning liquid through said tube by operating said delivery means and capping said delivery means once the liquid previously in the tube has been replaced by said cleaning liquid; allowing the cleaining liquid to remain in the tube for a selected time depending on the nature ofthe cleaning liquid used; closing said outlet on said first closable container and disconnecting said one end of said tube from said first closable container and detachably connecting said one end of said tube to an outlet on said second container containing water; opening said outlet on said second container;; uncapping said delivery means and drawing said water through said tube until such time that the cleaning liquid has been removed from the interior of said tube and then closing the outlet on the second closable container and disconnecting said one end of said tube from said outlet on said second container, and reconnecting said one end of said tube to said container containing said liquid.

In a preferred embodiment said cleaning liquid is Greenallstine cleaning liquid which is manufactured by FDA Technical Services Ltd.

Further preferably, the cleaning liquid is left in the tube for aplrroximately 2 hours.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of reference to Figs. 3 & 4 ofthe accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a known beverage transporting tube in communication with a barrel; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the conventional apparatus utilised to clean beer dispensing tubes; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the tube when attached to the first closable container of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a schematic digram illustrating the tube when attached to the second closable container of the present invention.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 & 4, and in accordance with the present invention, the beer dipsense tube cleaning apparatus comprises a first tank 30 and a second tank 40 which are mounted on the wall of a cellar 11.

The first tank 30 having taps 33 and is closed by a vented lid 3 1. The second tank 40 having taps 43 and is closed by a vented lid 4 1. Said second tank 40 is in communication with the water mains 46 and the level of water 44 in said second tank 40 is controlled by a ball valve 45.

In order to clean the beer dispense tubes 13 in accordance with the present invention, the beer dispense tube 13 is disconnected from said tap 1 2 located on said barrel 10 and the disconnected end of said beer dispense tube 13 is connected to the tap 33 located on the first tank 30. The first tank 30 is then filled with cleaning liquid 32 and is closed with a vented lid 31. The tap 33 is then opened and the cleaning liquid 32 is drawn through said beer dispense tube 13 by utilsing the hand pumps 14. Once it is ascertained that the beer has been removed from the beer dispense tube 13, i.e. only cleaning liquid 32 is emerging from the nozzle, the nozzle is then capped.Depending on the amount of cleaning liquid remaining in the first tank 30, the tap 33 may be closed to prevent the cleaning solution from coming back down the tube 13 into the first tank 33, thereby resulting in air gaps in the beer dispense tube 13 which is unfavourable. The beer dispense tube 13 remains attached to the first tank 30 for a couple of hours depending on the type of cleaning liquid utilised, that is, bayed on the manufacturers recommendations.

After a couple of hours, the tap 33 is closed, that is, if they it has not already been closed and the beer dispense tube 13 is then disconnected from the tap 33. The disconnected end of said beer dispense tube 13 is then connected to the tap 43 located on the second tank 40. Said second tank 40 is then filled with water 44 from the water mains 46 and the level of water 44 in the second tank 40 is controlled by the ball valve 45. The tap 43 are then opened and on removing the cap from the nozzle located on the hand pump 14, water from the second tank 40 is drawn through the beer dispensing tube 13 by operating tlie hand pump 14, thereby rinsing the beer dispense tube 13 and removing any cleaning liquid 33 from the beer dispense tube 13.Once it is ascertained that the cleaning fluid soluiton has been removed from the beer dispense tube 13, i.e. only clear water 43 emerges from the nozzle, tlie tap 43 is closed and the beer dispense tube 13 is disconnected therefrom. The disconnected end of the beer dispense tube 13 is then reconnected to the tap 12 located on said barrel 10 and the beer is then drawn through said beer dispense tube 13 until such time as only beer emerges from the nozzle.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 & 4,the first tank 30 and the second tank 40 have a plurality of taps 33 and 43 respectively. This enables more than one of said beer dispense pipes 13 being cleaned at a time by the apparatus of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to the cleaning of beer dispense tubes it is to be understood that it can also be used to clean other tubes which dispense alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, as well as any other liquid or gas carrying tubes.

Claims

CLAlhlS:

1. An apparatus for cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid, said tube, in use, being connected at one end to a container containing said liquid and at the other end to delivery means for delivering said liquid, wherein said apparatus comprises; a first closable container for containing a cleaning liquid, said first container having an outlet adapted to detachably connect said one end of said tube thereto and including closing means for closing said first container; and a second closable container for containing water, said second closable container having an outlet adapted to detachably connect said one end of said tube thereto and including closing means for closing said second closable container; so that, in use, by sequential connection of said one end of said tube to said first and second containers, the interior of said tube is cleaned.

2. An apparatus for cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first closable container and said second closable container are stainless steel or plastic tanks.

3. An apparatus for cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid as claimed in claim I or 2. wherein said closing means on said first and second closable containers is a vented lid.

4. An apparatus for cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first and second closable containers have a plurality of outlets adapted to detachably connect respective one end of a plurality of said tubes thereto, so that more than one tube can be attached to said first and second closable containers at a time.

5. An apparatus for cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said second closable container is in communication with a water mains and the water level in said second closable container is controlled by a ball valve.

6. An apparatus for cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said tube conveys a beverage and is connected at one end to a barrel and the other end to a hand pump.

7. An apparatus for cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 & 4.

8. A method of cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid, said tube, in use, being connected at one end to a container containing said liquid and at the other end to delivery means for delivering said liquid. comprising the steps of; disconnecting said one end of said tube from said container and detachably connecting said one end of said tube to an outlet of a first closable container containing cleaning liquid, opening said outlet on said first closable container; drawing said cleaning liquid through said tube by operating said delivery means and capping said delivery means once the liquid previously in the tube has been replaced by said cleaning liquid; allowing the cleaning liquid to remain in the tube for a selected tinie depending on the nature of the cleaning liquid used;; closing said outlet on said first closable container and disconnecting said one end of said tube from said first closable container and detachably connecting said one end of said tube to an outlet on said second closable container containing water; opening said outlet on said second closable container; uncapping said delivery means and drawing said water through said tube until such time that the cleaning liquid has been removed from the interior of said tube.

closing said outlet on said second closable container and then disconnecting said one end of said tube from said outlet on said second closable container; and reconnecting said one end of said tube to said container containing said liquid.

9. A method of cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid as claimed in

claim 8, wherein said cleaning liquid is Greenall(line cleaning liquid

10. A method of cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein said cleaning liquid remains in the tube for two hours.

11. A method of cleaning the interior of a tube for holding or conveying liquid, substantially as hereinbefore described and exemplified.