GB2414284A

GB2414284A - Automated beer line cleaning

Info

Publication number: GB2414284A
Application number: GB0411478A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Christophe John Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-22
Filing date: 2004-05-22
Publication date: 2005-11-23
Also published as: GB0411478D0

Abstract

An automated beer line cleaning system provides for the use of a pressure controlled flow of say water, delivered by peristaltic pump 4, to take over the role of the gas source, to force the remaining beverage in the system up to the dispensing tap so that the last amounts in the line can be dispensed instead of wasted. The pressure is controlled by pressure regulator 9 and pressure sensor 7. Once the lien is filled with water, on activation of a command button by the operator, the system will then commence the full cleaning in a sequence of flow and rest cycles as programmed into a dedicated programmable logic control unit (PLC). During this time the cleaning agent is injected into the flow by pump 17, the duration of the pump being controlled by the PLC, enabling accurate metering of the cleaning agent. At the end of the wash cycle the valve 6 is cycled to load and unload the pump 4, thus pulsing the flow and dislodging any obstinate debris. After this the PLC controls the rinse cycles to ensure thorough rinsing of all lines and components.

Description

The Automatic Beer Line Cleaner / Dispenser: This equipment is a

specialized, automated, beer line cleaning machine that has been designed to allow the Dispensing and Cleaning of the lines and distribution systems of beer sales equipment. It has been designed around the principle of allowing the operator to Dispense (sell) the beer in the line, before cleaning the line, rather than throw the beer away, as is presently common practice. The machine has further been designed to allow this operation to take place at any time the operator so chooses, not just when a particular keg is empty or requires changing. This means that the normal day to day operation of the bar may carry on whilst line cleaning is undertaken, removing the necessity to clean the lines during out of hours (closed) time, again presently common practice. Because the equipment is a fully plumbed in and specialized bar fittings are provided, to allow the beer taps to be connected directly to a dedicated drainage system, the need to handle jugs of water or chemical within the bar area is also removed.

The machine is designed around a specified GRP enclosure, containing the primary elements of the water tank, electronics control module (including the Programmable Logic Control unit), pumping and pressure control module and the chemical line cleaner containment module. On the front electronic control module there located the control buttons and indicator lights. This allows the differing features of the system to be selected and for the visual indication of fault or warning states. The front of the main case locates the chemical pump with its replaceable pump cartridge. External to the enclose there is a dedicated cleaning ring main where a number of correctly sized cleaning sockets that allow the connection of the individual beer lines to the system are located. At the end of this ring main there is a valve that allows the system to flush cleansing water to a local drain point.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: DRAWING 1/3. shows the arrangement of the hydraulic system and control elements.

DRAWING 2/3. shows the construction of the line cleaning chemical injector.

DRAWING 3/3. contains the drawings labelled Fig 1 to 5, theses detail: Fig 1 & 2. the chemical bottle stopper and the location of the chemical pipes and level probe.

Fig 3 the main section of the chemical probe.

Fig 4. a cross section of the main probe, showing the inner insulated rod.

Fig 5. the construction of the end tip of the probe.

With reference to DRAWING 1/3. water is draw into the system from the holding tank at 1 and via a non-return valve 2 and the main pump 4. During the Dispense mode selection, the water is passed via the flow sensor switch 5 and the distribution isolating non-return valve 8, onto the pressure reducing valve 9. This valve, 9, regulates the pressure of the water down stream of it, to a defined maximum pressure.

From this point the water passes through the machine case via a bulkhead connector I I and into the external plumbing ring main of the system. At this point the beer line that is to be cleaned will be connected to a suitable cleaning socket 12, and onto the beer distribution system. Hear the pressure of the water takes over the roll of the gas and associated pumps to allow the dispensing (sale) of the beer.

Between the distribution isolating non-return valve 8 and the outlet to the beer distribution system there is also located a pressure sensing switch 7. This monitors the pressure in the dispensing line during the dispensing phase.

Whilst the pump 4 is running, water is also supplied to a pressure reducing valve 15 and its associated pipe work. This valve regulates the flow down to a pre-determined rate and passes a small amount of water back to the inlet of pump 4 via the chemical injector assembly 3. This assembly is detailed in DRAWING 2/3. and comprises of a number of reducing bushes 22 & 23, allowing the chemical feed line 24, to be passed through the pump bypass pipe work 21, and directly into the water flow to the pump 4. I he purpose of this constant flow is to ensure the pre-dilution of the line cleaning chemical during the cleaning phase and ensure the injector supply line remains clean and free of contaminates all the time.

When the bar tap is opened, the pressure in the line between the valve 8 and the bar tap will fall. This drop in pressure will be recorded by the pressure switch 7 and will signal the pump 4 to start. Thus the water will flow through the above circuit and allow the beer to be dispensed.

When the bar tap is closed, after having dispensed a product, the flow in the line exiting the pump will cease. This stopping of the flow will be recorded by the flow switch 5. Having received this signal, the pump will then be turned off after a determined delay time.

This process will be repeated as many times as required, until all the beer required has been dispensed.

Once the line is emptied of product and filled with water the cleaning of the line can commence. This is actioned by the pressing of one of the clean system option buttons.

On this signal the pump 4 will once again be started but at this time a valve 10 will be energised. This will allow the water to not only flow though the valve 9, but also to bypass the valve via 10, thus the system will now have the full potential pressure and flow of the pump 4 available to it.

As the machine has now entered a cleaning phase, the control system will now commence the injection of line cleaning chemical into the water flow. Line cleaner is drawn from its container via supply line 20 and the peristaltic pump 17, to the chemical control valve 16. I he line cleaner is then diluted owing to the flow through the pressure reducing valve 15 and its associated pipe work. This dilution of line cleaner and water then flows onto the injector assembly 3 where it then enters the main suction flow of the pump 4. Water being drawn from the holding tank is prevented from contamination of this chemical addition owing to the presence of the non-return valve 2.

The required dilution strength of the line cleaning chemical is achieved by pulsing the operation of the chemical control valve 16 and the peristaltic pump 17. Thus it is possible to offer a number of cleaning programs by increasing the 'on' time of this network and increasing the amount of line cleaning chemical added to the system.

Once the machine has finished the cleaning phase of the line clean cycle, it now enters a rinsing phase. This first involves the shock pulsing of the distribution system. To achieve this feature a bypass across the main pump 4 is present. This takes the form of a bypass valve 6, allowing the flow of water directly from the pump outlet to the inlet, when the valve 6 is energised. Sequentially energising and de-energising this valve for a specified on and off cycle, for a period of time, produces the rapid loading and un- loading of the pump 4 and thus causes the shock pulsing of the water throughout the distribution system. This has the effect of dislodging any remaining particles of contaminate within the system.

A valve 13, located at the end of the external machine pipe work is now energised.

The purpose of this valve is to clear the machine system and external pipe work of any remaining contaminate before fully flushing the beer distribution system. The water in the external pipe work will pass through the valve 13 and directly to a local drain point 14, whilst this valve is energised.

Having now purged all the internal and external machine pipe work, the machine will now continue to pump clean water through the whole of the distribution system for a specified period of time, until the cycle ends.

Additional to all the above, there exists a valve 18. The purpose of this valve is to allow the priming of the peristaltic pump 17. When the responding front panel button is depressed, valve 18 opens and the peristaltic pump 17 is turned on. This will allow for a flow of cleaning chemical through 20 from the line cleaning chemical container and via the pump 17 and the valve l 8, back to the container via line 19. Thus, this will allow for the priming of the system with line cleaning chemical whenever the container of chemical is replaced. Indication of the need for this container to be replaced is achieved via the combined feed line and probe assembly as detailed in DRAWING 3/3.

The assembly in DRAWING 3/3. consists of a cast resin plug 28, securing the chemical pick-up line 20 and the prime return line 19. Also secured by the plug is the chemical level probe 27. This probe is a construction of a stainless steel tube and within this tube an insulated stainless steel wire 28. The end of the probe is insulated with a nylon cone arrangement 29 & 30, with the item 28 centred in the tube 27 by the insertion of a nylon centering plug 31. So as to ensure the electrical isolation of the core wire and to provide the calculated electrical resistance path for the conduction of the line cleaning chemical, the assembly is secured with the use of an epoxy agent 32.

At the top of the probe wires attach the probe to a level sensing relay, allowing a signal to be generated when the level in the container falls below a set point.

Claims

Claims: 1. A method of cleaning a pipeline through which a fluid such as

beer is to be delivered comprising: a) providing a pressure controlled flow of a fluid such as water to enable the dispensing and selling of the first fluid, b) providing a means by which a cleaning substance may be injected into the aforementioned flow via a combined mixing and injecting point, c) controlling the amount of the injected cleaning substance by a dedicated peristaltic pump and associated non-return and constant flushing pipe work system, d) supplying a means of allowing the flow such that when the cleaning solution is added the operating pressure of the system is greater that that in a), e) providing a means to enable the diluted cleaning solution within the pipe work to be pulsed such that the pressure will rapidly rise and fall whilst not interrupting the operation of the systems main pump, f) providing a timed flow of fresh water to the system to flush all trace of cleaning solution from within the pipeline.
2. A method as claimed in Claiml, wherein the flow of a liquid such as water is controlled and used to enable the dispensing or sale of the existing fluid within the pipeline not being restricted by time period.
3. A method as in Claim 1, wherein the cleaning substance is injected into the flow of liquid being delivered to the pipeline.
4. A method as in Claim 3, which includes providing a line from the cleaning substance container connected to a peristaltic pump, providing a flow of the substance though a valve and opening the valve and turning on the peristaltic pump intermittently to provide a desired mixture proportion of the cleaning substance to the liquid being delivered to the pipeline.
5. A method as in Claim 4, whereby a flow of liquid is to be passed into the exit point of the valve in the previous claim such that the connection between the valve and the injection point will always be flushed with fluid to keep the line flowing and that the pressure on this side of the valve will be greater than on the other side of the valve, without the peristaltic pump running, such that in the case of the valve seal failing there could be no leakage of cleaning substance into the aforementioned connecting line.
6. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, whereby a cleaning operation includes-a first stage in which the original fluid within the pipeline may be dispensed or discharged without reference to a time limit at a predetermined control pressure, this then followed by a cleaning cycle where a cleaning substance is injected into the flow of liquid to the pipe line and the flow continued for a length of time determined by the volume of the line, after which the flow within the line is pulsed to ensure the rapid rise and fall of the pressure within the line, before finally flushing the line with liquid devoid of any trace of the aforementioned cleaning substance. l
7. Apparatus as in Claim 6, further comprising of a pre programmed module allowing the selection of cleaning cycles whereby an alternate cycle may be selected allowing a concentration of the cleaning fluid greater than the first cycle, this owing to the extended time the peristaltic pump would be enabled for.
8. Means for cleaning a pipeline through which a fluid is delivered, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. t