GB2346679A

GB2346679A - Controlled cooling of beverages

Info

Publication number: GB2346679A
Application number: GB9902270A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Sharp; Porter Electronics Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-03
Filing date: 1999-02-03
Publication date: 2000-08-16
Also published as: GB9902270D0

Abstract

A cooling system for the dispensing of beverages at a controlled temperature in which a container (5) of the beverage close to the point of dispense is cooled by a flow of cooling water in a water jacket (6) around the container, the water flow being controlled by an electronic control unit (13) using a solenoid or motor operated valve (10) and a temperature probe (12) to sense the beverage temperature.

Description

CONTROLLED COOLING OF BEVERAGES This invention relates to temperature control systems for use in dispensing installations for beverages such as beers, where different beverages need to be maintained at different temperatures.

The conventional way of controlling the dispensing temperature is for the beverage to be conveyed through a pipe contained in an insulated jacket together with pipes containing circulating cooling water at the desired temperature. It is common practice for a number of beverage pipes to be contained in one insulated bundle, commonly called a'python', so that the circulating water can cool several beverages simultaneously.

This system has problems where different dispense temperatures are required for different beverages, for example lagers at about 5 degrees Celsius and ales at about 14 degrees Celsius. The cooling water normally comes from a device called an'ice bank'which supplies water at just above freezing point which may cool some beverages to well below the desired temperature. Systems do exist where separate pythons are used for diferent beverages, sometimes with electronic control of the temperature within the python. However, a problem still exists with the dispensing of cask ales using a hand pump or'beer engine'where the pump contains a quantity of beer which needs to be maintained at the right temperature, after it has left the python.

According to the present invention, an electronic control system can be applied to the flow of cooling water in a water jacket around the beer engine or other container to maintain the required temperature at the point of dispense, using a temperature sensing probe on the pump cylinder containing the beer as shown in the accompanying drawing. This has the advantage of being able to control a number of beer engines or dispensing taps, each to its own specific temperature, from one supply of cooling water. The same principle could be applied to pressure-fed beverages as well as hand-pumped ones by incorporating a small tank or container immediately below the dispensing tap, with a controlled cooling water jacket around the tank.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing Figure 1 which shows a schematic arrangement of a controlled chilling system according to the present invention.

The beer engine is mounted underneath the bar counter-top 1 with the pump handle 2 and the dispensing spout 3 above the counter-top. For clarity, the pumping mechanism is not shown in the drawing, and parts of the arrangement are shown in cross-section.

The beer enters through the pipe 4 into the pump cylinder 5 from which it is pumped out through the spout 3. The pump cylinder 5 is surrounded by the cooling water jacket 6 contained by the outer cylinder 7. Cooling water enters the water jacket 6 via the inlet pipe 8 and leaves via the outlet pipe 9. The cooling water supply can be common to a number of beer engines which are independently controlled in the manner described. The flow of cooling water is controlled by the valve 10 operated by the solenoid or motor 11. A temperature sensing probe 12 provides an electrical output which is dependent on the temperature of the beer in the pump cylinder 5. This electrical output is fed to the electronic control unit 13 where it is used to compare the temperature of the beer with the desired temperature which is set by the adjustment 14.

If the beer temperature is above the set temperature then the valve 10 is actuated to enable the Sow of cooling water. When the temperature of the beer has been reduced by the flow of cooling water to the desired temperature, then the control unit 13 will de-activate the valve to stop the flow of water. By this means, the temperature of the beer can be maintained at the desired value.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A cooling system for the dispensing of beverages wherein the dispensing tap includes a container of the beverage which is cooled by a water jacket including a means of controlling the flow of cooling water to maintain the beverage at the desired temperature, using a temperature probe to sense the beverage temperature and an electronic control system driving a solenoid or motor operated valve in the cooling water flow.
2. A cooling system as in Claim 1 wherein the cooled container of the beverage is also the pump cylinder used to dispense the beverage.
3. A cooling system as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the dispensing temperature is set by means of an adjustment on the electronic control unit.