GB2586187A - A gas infusion capsule - Google Patents

Abstract

A gas infusion capsule 20 has at least two liquid beverage product lines 14A, 14B and a coolant send line 19 and coolant return line 21 running through it. There is also at least one gas inlet 23 and at least two gas infusers, each in line with and corresponding to a liquid beverage product line respectively and each operating on a supply of gas received from the gas inlet. The carbonation unit may be part of a dispensing system (figure 1) for dispensing different types of pre-mixed drinks such as cocktails. The pre-mix drinks may be of the bag in box type. The coolant flow and return lines may pass through the carbonator 20 from a cooler (18, figure 1) to a dispensing head (22, figure 1) for the drinks.

Description

A gas infusion capsule The invention relates to a gas infusion capsule for a draught beverage dispense system. The capsule is part of a wider system that includes one or more "bag-in-box" (BiB) storage containers that supply beverage, via a cooling system and gas infuser, to a draught dispensing tap, e.g. in a bar-top commercial environment. The beverage contained in the BiB may be of any type, but the present invention is particularly suited to delivery of premixed cocktails.

Background to the invention

Draught dispensing systems in a commercial environment can take many different forms. A common solution is to pump beverage from a large container such as a keg, e.g. located in a basement, to a bar-top dispense tap via a supply line. For the dispense of smaller volumes of beverage, so-called Bag-in-Box containers may be used, i.e. a type of container for the storage and transportation of liquids consisting of a strong bladder (or plastic bag), often made of several layers of metallised film or other plastics, seated inside a box of corrugated fibreboard or the like. The bag usually has a simple plastic tap that, for commercial use, may be connected to a supply line of a dispenser, via a pump, which drains the contents (deflating the bag) when the dispenser is activated, until empty. A replacement BiB is then connected to the supply line while the empty container is removed and separated for recycling, disposal, etc. Supply of smaller volumes of specialty drinks such as cocktails in a chilled form can be problematic in a commercial environment. Pre-mixed drinks may need to be supplied in single unit packages that take time to pour into a glass. Furthermore, some beverages require additional steps in the dispense process in order to optimise the product experience, such as additional chilling and carbonation and/or nitrogenation that infuses bubbles/fizz into the beverage to form a foamy head. Where a creamy nitrogenated head is required the package must either have special features (e.g. a "widget") or the dispense line must have an infuser.

Summary of the invention

The invention seeks to provide a gas infusion device for a draught dispense system, particularly suited for specialty drinks such as cocktails, that effectively utilises small volume containers while achieving the required delivery of product to meet consumer expectations.

In a broad aspect of the invention a gas infusion device or capsule is provided according to claim 1. The system associated with the invention includes a first product line for connection to a beverage storage container, the first product line being configured to have beverage pumped therethrough (e.g. using a pump such as a gas pump pressurised by an air compressor or, alternatively or in addition, an electric pump) toward a cooler, into a carbonator (i.e. a gas infusion device performing carbonation and/or nitrogenation), up to a dispenser for dispense thereof; wherein the section of the first product line leaving the cooler is accompanied by a cooling line carrying coolant that also passes through the carbonator, up to the dispenser, whereat the coolant returns through the gas infuser back into the cooler.

The compressor may supply pressure to both a gas pump, situated in line between the storage container and cooler, and the carbonator. Thus, in this form the "carbonator" is supplied by gas from the atmosphere, which is primarily nitrogen; hence the product passing through the carbonator is infused with nitrogen into solution which forms smaller bubbles upon dispense through a creamer plate at the dispenser. This results in a creamy head forming from the beverage dispensed into a glass for serving. In alternative forms the carbonator may be connected to a concentrated source of carbon dioxide gas (e.g. in a canister), to be infused with the gas for creating fizz upon dispense. There may be a separate compressor for the pump(s) and carbonator. In the case of carbonation, no creamer plate is required, just a straight through nozzle.

The carbonator device may be positioned in any orientation (e.g. vertical, horizontal or angled) and is preferably positioned in-line close to the dispense fount where it maximises the effectiveness of the infusion technology (due to shorter distance travelled to dispense), maintaining consistency of both delivery and temperature.

In one form there are at least two product lines. Each line requires a carbonator and pump in line therewith. The lines may share a cooler and associated coolant send line extending from the cooler to a "capsule" (e.g. a combined carbonator unit having a carbonator for each product line), up to the dispenser for delivery back to the cooler in a return coolant line.

In one form the coolant is driven to the dispense tap (i.e. within a python) by an electric recirculation pump situated in the cooler. The pump is powered as part of the total cooler unit and also agitates/stirs the coolant in a bath of the cooler to achieve a more even temperature throughout for surrounding the stainless steel coils that hold the product being cooled.

The capsule features, at a first end, two product inlets (one for each product line), two coolant water connection points (a send and return flow) and an air/nitrogen/gas inlet.

Internally the capsule includes two carbonators, e.g. each fed by a split line from the air/nitrogen/gas inlet if necessary. In another form there may be two or more gas inlets, one for each carbonator, which enables the possibility of supplying, for example, both carbon dioxide and nitrogen separately.

The carbonation stage is in contact with the sent and returning coolant to maintain low temperature of the products passing therethrough. The capsule casing preferably includes two gas adjustment valves accessible at the casing wall, for adjusting gas flow into the respective carbonators. At a second end of the capsule there are two product outlets and two coolant water connection points corresponding to the first end inlets and coolant water connection points.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a draught dispense system; Figures 2 and 3 illustrate views of inlet and outlet ends respectively of a carbonator capsule housing according to the invention; Figures 4 and 5 illustrates side views of internal components of the carbonator capsule device; and Figure 6 illustrates a second example of draught dispense system.

Detailed description of the invention

Advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate various aspects and embodiments of the invention. However, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise details of the embodiments, with variations apparent to a skilled person deemed also to be covered by the description.

Furthermore, terms for components and materials used herein should be given a broad interpretation that also encompasses equivalent functions and features. Descriptive terms should also be given the broadest possible interpretation; e.g. the term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of such that interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner. Any directional terms such as "vertical", "horizontal", "up", "down", "upper" and "lower" are used for convenience of explanation and are not intended to be ultimately limiting if an equivalent function can be achieved with an alternative dimension and/or direction as broadly interpreted according to a doctrine of equivalents. Furthermore, the present description refers to embodiments with particular combinations of features, however, it is envisaged that additional combinations and cross-combinations of compatible features between embodiments will be possible.

Indeed, isolated features may function independently from other features and not necessarily be implemented as a complete combination.

Figure 1 illustrates a draught dispense system 10 incorporating the invention, scaled to be locatable underneath a bar/countertop 11, e.g. on various levels of shelves 12.

A pre-mixed beverage is supplied to the system in a specified volume, e.g. by a Bag-in-Box container 13(A and B). In the illustrated embodiment there are two beverage types deliverable by the system at any one time; therefore, components associated exclusively with a first beverage are denoted "A", e.g. BiB 13A contains the first beverage, delivered through a first product line 14A via a first pump 15A; while components associated with the second beverage are denoted "B", e.g. BiB 13B contains the second beverage, delivered through a second product line 14B via a second pump 15B.

Product lines 14A and 14B exit respective pumps 15A and 15B, pressurised by an air line 16 from a compressor 17, and pass through a common cooler 18. The beverages are cooled by the, e.g. stainless steel coils of the, cooler which is set at sub-zero temperatures (Celsius).

Up until the cooling stage the respective beverages are still/flat (i.e. containing no significant dissolved gas/fizz) as stored and supplied in a BiB containers (albeit in a pre-mixed state as opposed to concentrate form). The respective product lines 14A and 14B leave the cooler 18 (driven by respective pumps) and are preferably enclosed within a chilled and insulated trace cooling loom, i.e. the four illustrated lines are encased in a python. The trace cooling loom carries both BiB liquids (14A, 14B) and a coolant (e.g. water+glycol) send line 19 to a nitrogenating capsule/carbonator 20. The liquid of either product line is chilled but still flat when it enters the capsule 20.

The coolant is driven from the cooler (e.g. within a python) by an electric recirculation pump situated in the cooler. The cooler also includes agitation means to stir the coolant in a bath of the cooler to achieve a more even temperature throughout for surrounding the stainless steel coils that hold the product being cooled.

Referring to Figure 2, product enters at a base end of the gas infusion device, e.g. a capsule 20, alongside the coolant send line 19 and a water return line 21. The send and return lines enable a recirculation of coolant that maintains contact with the carbonator device, continuing through the capsule to exit at its second end (Figure 3), toward a dispensing tap 22. The send line 19 transitions to become return line 21 within the fount of the dispensing tap 22. In one form the coolant may leave cooler 18 at approximately -5 Celsius degrees in order to provide an in-glass drink temperature near 0 Celsius degrees.

In one form, each product line 14A and 14B enters an individual carbonator at an inlet end.

A suitable carbonator device is supplied by Rotarex of Luxembourg.

Air or nitrogen enters the capsule at a base air inlet 23, which is supplied by the air compressor 17 (via line 16), also supplying the gas pumps in the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1. The single air supply splits inside the capsule and feeds each carbonator separately. Alternatively, the device could be arranged such that the supply is made into two separate inlets for each carbonator, to allow for a mix of gas supplies (e.g. CO2 + N2).

Referring to the internal view of Figures 4 and 5, an inline valve, e.g. a needle valve 24, is used to adjust and set the required gas level for each individual product. The needle valves 24 will be accessible from the outside of the capsule 20, through the wall of the housing seen in Figures 2 and 3.

In the illustrated form a check valve, e.g. one-way valve 25, is fitted to each supply between the needle valve and the carbonator to prevent liquid entering the needle valves or gas supply pipework and causing blockage, etc. Air (predominantly N2) enters the carbonator and is blended homogeneously with the product of the dedicated line 14A or 14B.

A nitrogen infused product exits the carbonator, at which point the tubing diameter is immediately reduced. For example, the diameter of a beverage line may be 3/8" Outside Diameter (e.g. 8 to 12 mm) prior to the carbonator, whereat upon exit it reduces to 3/16" OD (3 to 6 mm). The tubing diameter is then maintained to the dispense tap. These tube dimensions are standard sizes used in the beer dispense industry, used merely as a likely

practical example.

By way of summary, the system described herein may exhibit the following features and advantages, alone or in combination: * a capsule position close to the dispensing tap and/or the tubing size between the capsule and the tap being reduced to micro bore and kept to a short distance, e.g. of less than one meter, assists to prevent any turbulent dispense and undesirable breakup of the liquid; * liquid is prechilled prior to nitrogenating/carbonation which aids the absorption process, particularly in the case of carbonation; * adjustment settings, via valves 24, are made closer to the tap 22 (i.e. as a consequence of under bar positioning), therefore, adjustments are visible quicker in the dispensed beverage; * the system does not require to "flushing" of existing liquid in order to see the change in gas adjustment; * the carbonator devices (e.g. as supplied by RotarexTm) are chilled via a cooling water recirculation line internally, thus maintaining a chilled temperature when the system is between uses and the liquid is held static within the carbonators; * the capsule unit (e.g. comprising two or more carbonator devices) being positioned underneath the dispensing tower/font 22 allows, in future applications, a draught cocktail option to be easily installed onto long draw systems where product storage is located further away from the bar (cellar or storeroom etc.); * the capsule (and assoiated carbonators devices) is insulated and, therefore, chilled liquid serving temperature is maintained internally and protected from external high ambient temperatures; * the capsule (and its associated carbonators) is separate from the BiB pumps positioned upstream; * the "in-line" positioning of the capsule and compact design gives more flexibility for installation and is easier for a service technician or installer to install or maintain into an existing outlets infrastructure; * adjustments to gas levels (e.g. made via a needle valve) are preferably positioned on the capsule for both products (carbonator devices) and not separate; * The inlet connection ports of the capsule are preferably configured to match the product trace cooling used to transport the product chilled from the cooler to the tap, thereby providing seamless connection and avoiding hotspots; * The outlet connection ports of the capsule are preferably configured to match the trace cooling tubing of the beer fount (22) which maintains the temperature of the product after carbonation between the capsule and the dispense taps.

As mentioned above, the exemplary configuration of capsule unit (i.e. comprised of a plurality of carbonators) will enable the potential to dispense from longer draw systems, e.g. where the liquid is to be stored at a distance from the bar (such as in a cellar). This freedom allows installation in an existing pub dispense system; delivering the liquid via a pump from the cellar, travelling through the existing python/beer tubing and cooled in the remote cooler (as with beer).

Figure 6 illustrates an example of long draw system where multiple products, each supplied in a BiB container (e.g. 13A and 13B), would remain flat/still until entering the capsule 20 in the proximity of the bar, where it is infused and then travels a short distance to the tap 22 in small bore tubing. The distance from the containers to the carbonator device will vary but have no impact on the drink infusion, provided sufficient pressure is maintained over the distance.

According to Figure 6, a separate air compressor 17 supplies carbonator 20, to that of pumps 15A and 15B.

Particular features of a preferred form of the beverage dispense system (10) can be summarised as: comprising a first and second product line (14A, 14B) taken from a bag-inbox package (13A, 13B) of pre-mixed beverage. The beverages are pumped (15A, 15B) through a cooler (18) and then into a gas infusion device (20) where the beverages are each infused with gas. A section of the product lines downstream of the cooler are located in proximity to a cooling line (19) carrying coolant from the cooler that also passes through the gas infusion device and on toward an outlet dispenser device (22). The coolant returns into the cooler via a return line (21). Therefore, product is maintained at a chilled temperature when at rest in the gas infusion device, awaiting dispense.

Claims (5)

1. Claims: 1. A gas infusion capsule, comprising: at least two product inlets, each corresponding to a liquid beverage product respectively; a coolant send inlet; a coolant return outlet; at least two product outlets, corresponding to the two liquid beverage products supplied through the at least two product inlets; a coolant send outlet; a coolant return inlet; at least one gas inlet; at least two gas infusers, each in line with and corresponding to a liquid beverage product respectively and each configured for operating on a supply of gas received from the gas inlet.
2. 2. A gas infusion capsule according to claim 1, wherein each gas infuser is supplied gas by a split line from the gas inlet or separate gas inlets.
3. 3. A gas infusion capsule according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least two gas adjustment valves, for adjusting gas flow into a respective gas infuser.
4. 4. A gas infusion capsule according to claim 3, wherein the at least two gas adjustment valves are needle valves.
5. 5. A gas infusion capsule according to any preceding claim, further comprising a check valve, fitted to each product line between the adjustment valve and the gas infuser for preventing liquid contacting the valves or gas inlet.