GB2439555A

GB2439555A - Draught beverage cooler

Info

Publication number: GB2439555A
Application number: GB0612927A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald Lincoln Paczensky
Original assignee: STEPHANIE LILLIAN PACZENSKY
Current assignee: STEPHANIE LILLIAN PACZENSKY
Priority date: 2006-06-29
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2008-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-29
Also published as: GB0612927D0; GB2439555B

Abstract

A draught beverage cooler 10 comprises an insulated container 14 within which a heat exchange means 15 is located. The heat exchange means has an inlet conduit 16 and an outlet conduit; the outlet conduit passing through a wall of the insulated container to couple with a dispenser 12, where the dispenser may be a tap. Preferably, the inlet conduit passes through a wall of the insulated container which includes a coupling 19 for connection to a beverage container such as a keg. A gas bottle 20 may be provided to drive the flow of beverage; the gas bottle may be situated adjacent to the insulated container, or housed in a compartment within the insulated container, for connection to the beverage container. Preferably, the insulated container has a lid for access to the heat exchange means. The heat exchange means may comprise a coiled stainless steel pipe. Preferably, ice is loaded into the insulated container to cool the beverage flowing through the heat exchange means. In use, when a beverage from a keg K is connected to the inlet conduit via a pipe 18 it is refrigerated by the time it is dispensed at a tap 12.

Description

DRAUGHT BEVERAGE COOLER

The present invention relates to a draught beverage cooler, particularly for beer or other beverages that are stored in kegs.

Beverage cooling systems are well known. For example, in a public house it is common to connect a beer line to a keg that runs through a refrigerated heat exchanger toward a draught outlet tap. These refrigerated systems are relatively effective but are only viable on a commercial scale, i.e. in a public house where the installation and maintenance of such a system is justified.

Every conventional refrigeration system relies on electrical power in conjunction with the thermodynamic properties of chemicals well known to refrigeration technology.

Few options exist for cooling draught beverages from a keg in a home or small-scale event because electrical equipment to perform this task is expensive and impractical.

The present invention seeks to provide a draught beverage cooler that can be used at home or in situations where electrical power is not convenient or readily available.

In one broad aspect the present invention is a draught beverage cooler including an insulated container with a heat exchange means therein, the heat exchange means having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, the outlet conduit passing through a wall of the insulated container to connect with a dispenser.

In a preferred form a gas bottle is provided within a compartment of the container. In use the gas bottle is coupled, via a regulator, to the headspace of a keg or like beverage container to drive beverage into the inlet conduit toward the heat exchange means.

Furthermore, in use, the insulated container is adapted to receive ice or another suitable cooling medium to contact with or be located closely next to the heat exchange means, e.g. a coiled conduit, such that beverage passing from the inlet to the outlet is cooled.

In one form the insulated container includes a drain plug to remove melted ice water. Also, it is preferable the container has an insulated lid, e.g. on a hinge, to provide easy access to the interior for loading it with ice. The cooler should also be portable in the sense that the insulated container can be easily transported.

The cooler itself will be relatively lightweight, particularly in comparison to a full keg (usually 30L or 50L in volume, translating to roughly 30kg or 50kg respectively) In an alternative form of the invention, a smaller (5L or 1OL) keg can be used and inserted into the container and packed with ice, cooling both keg and heat exchanger. The coupler in this case can be installed for internal keg connection. The insulated container of the invention would be approximately the same size (as the embodiment without an internal keg); however, further forms of the invention could be scaled accordingly if larger internal kegs (e.g. 25L) were desirable.

The draught beverage cooler according to the present invention will hereinafter be described by reference to the accompanying drawings that illustrate a preferred embodiment wherein: -Figure 1 is a general view of the exterior of a draught beverage cooler according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a general view of the interior detail of the draught beverage cooler from Figure 1.

Figure 1 gives an overview of the appearance of an embodiment of the invention. The cooler 10 has the general configuration of a "chilly bin" or like insulated box. Cooler 10 has a lid 11 that would be hinged at a rear side (not shown); a dispenser tap 12 and a drain plug 13 are clearly visible.

As is well known in the art, a suitable material insulates the walls of cooler 10. Conventionally, this may be a relatively thick layer of polystyrene foam usually within a tougher outer and inner plastic skin (e.g. polyethylene) . Alternative forms of insulation are possible and the exact selection of materials does not limit the invention.

Figure 2 reveals the interior of cooler 10 by showing the walls in dotted detail. Also shown is a conventional keg of beverage K, e.g. beer, which may be purchased from a brewery, beer wholesaler or large office licence outlet.

Cooler 10 includes an interior compartment 14 which houses a heat exchange means 15 situated between an inlet conduit 16 and the dispenser tap 12. In the illustrated embodiment the heat exchange means is in the form of a length of stainless steel pipe 17 coiled up and housed within compartment 14 so as to maximise beverage residency time within the compartment and present a greater exposed surface area to heat exchange.

Other forms of heat exchanger may be employed as appropriate, i.e. a plate exchanger, which is interchangeable with the coiled pipe 17 illustrated.

Inlet conduit 16 is connected via a suitable pipe 18 to the beverage outlet of keg K. Ideally a suitable coupling 19 will be provided adjacent a sidewall of cooler 10 so it can be connected and disconnected as needed from keg K. Housed within a cooler wall is a gas cylinder 20 connectable via a regulator 21 and a coupling 22 to a gas pipe 23 that in turn is connected to keg K. In a known way, cylinder 20 delivers compressed gas (probably carbon dioxide) to a headspace in keg K which forces beverage through pipe 18 and into heat exchange means 15.

The integration of a relatively small gas cylinder 20, comparable in size to a "Soda Stream" (trade mark) gas cylinder, results in the cooler 10 being convenient and relatively lightweight. Conventional gas bottles that may be used for such an application tend to be very large (im tall!) and heavy. A key advantage of the present invention is that it is compact and lightweight, providing all the necessary equipment for chilled draught beverage delivery.

Once primed, dispenser tap 12 controls beverage flow through the cooler apparatus.

Beverage flowing through pipe 17 is cooled by filling compartment 14 with ice. Ice may be crushed or in cubes as practical to the end user. Preferably heat exchange means 15 (coiled pipe 17) is suitably located or mounted in spaced relation from the walls of compartment 14 so that ice can surround it effectively. This will ensure maximum cooling to reduce the temperature of the keg beverage to a desirable consumption temperature, e.g. 3 to 8 C.

Ice within insulated compartment 14 will last for many hours, particularly as no access is required during use.

Removing plug 13 can then drain melted ice water.

Gas cylinder 20 may be housed within a drawer type compartment or access panel 24, visible in Figure 1.

Cylinder 20 will require periodic refilling or replacement.

It is possible that alternative means could be used to drive beverage through the heat exchange circuit, such as a hand pump.

The general form of a keg coupler (denoted reference numeral 25) is well known in the art, such as those available from Micro Matic, Inc. (USA), Sankey or Grundy.

The present invention provides a simple portable form of draught beverage cooling and dispensing for use in a domestic situation or where a full refrigeration system is not practical. The cooler 10 is self-contained and can be quickly coupled to a new keg K when the first is empty.

Various modifications are possible in terms of size/shape and dispenser design. Furthermore, the invention can be constructed from known materials and uses a readily available coolant source, i.e. ice.

Ice packs may be specially designed to fit into position to optirnise heat exchange or a level indicator within compartment 14 may act as a guide for how much ice fill is required. For example, it may be desirable to serve some beverages cooler than others which would correspondingly require more ice to cover more of the heat exchange means within which the beverage flows.

Claims

What I Claim is: 1. A draught beverage cooler including an insulated

container with a heat exchange means therein, the heat exchange means having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, the outlet conduit passing through a wall of the insulated container to couple with a dispenser.

2. The draught beverage cooler of Claim 1 wherein the inlet conduit passes through a wall of the insulated container, including a coupling for connection to a beverage container (e.g. a keg) 3. The draught beverage cooler of Claim 1 or 2 wherein a gas bottle is provided adjacent or within the insulated container for connection to a beverage container (e.g. a keg) 4. The draught beverage cooler of Claim 3 wherein the gas bottle is housed in a compartment within the insulated container.

5. The draught beverage dispenser of any of the preceding claims wherein the heat exchange means is coiled pipe.

6. The draught beverage dispenser of Claim 5 wherein the coiled pipe is stainless steel.

7. The draught beverage dispenser of any of the preceding claims wherein the insulated container has a lid, for access to the heat exchange means.

8. Use of the draught beverage cooler according to any of the preceding claims wherein ice is loaded into the insulated container to cool beverage flowing through the heat exchange means.

9. A draught beverage cooler substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.