IE84085B1 - Cooled beverage dispensing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cooled beverage dispensing equipment for over-the—counter single-beer—line dispense delivery systems is described, comprising an insulated outer tube member (4) mountable to stand above a counter and having an inlet end and a dispense end, a beer line (1) running inside the outer tube member (4), a chilled coolant supply line (2) and a chilled coolant outflow line (3) also running inside the outer tube member (4), a terminal component of metal at the dispense end of the other tube member (4), the terminal component having a means to mount a beer tap in communication with the beer line (1), a chamber (9) defined inside the terminal component, the chamber (9) being inside the outer tube member and being connected to the chilled coolant supply line (2) and chilled coolant outflow line (3) so that the chilled coolant is circulated through the terminal component (11), and insulation (12) inside the outer tube member surrounding the beer line and the two chilled coolant lines, the terminal component being uninsulated so that condensation can form on the outside of the tube at the terminal component.

Description

Title Cooled beverage dispensing equipment Field of the Invention This invention relates to beverage dispensing equipment, particularly for dispensing draught beers, from any type of pressurised container, including kegs and bulk beer vats.

Background to the Invention It is known in the art that draught beer systems are optimised when the beer is maintained at its preferred temperature (one to four degrees centigrade, depending on the brand and brewery preference) from the keg container to the draught beer dispense tap. In existing draught beer systems the beer temperature is controlled through a series of stages; first of all the keg is stored in a cold-room/cellar where re-circulated air conditioning maintains the desired storage temperature. Secondly the keg is pressurised, by means of dispense gas, forcing the beer through beer lines inside the cold-room into an insulated beer line wrap (containing multiple beer lines). This wrap maintains the cold room temperature and transfers the beer a short distance to a “Beer Chiller” (a chilled water bath containing stainless steel product coils which chill the beer to a desired temperature). Thirdly the beer exits the Beer Chiller into a “Draught Beer Python” (an insulated beer line wrap containing additional cooling lines which are charged by the chilled water from the beer chiller and pumped through re—circulating cooling lines in parallel to the draught beer, ensuring that the beer temperature is maintained as it travels, from the temperature controlled cold-room, the required distance to the draught beer dispense tap). The beer then exits the insulated draught beer python and is transferred via a single insulated beer line to the draught beer dispense tap.

In many instances this insulation is inadequate and ambient temperature has a negative effect on the beer temperature, wanning the beer to an undesired condition.

It is undesirable to allow the beer to warm as it negatively affects the presentation of the beer when pouring, in that the natural gases suspended in the beer solution are being maintained by temperature and equilibrium of dispense pressure (sustained by the dispense gas pressurising the keg and beer line to the beer dispense tap). The result is that when the beer dispense tap is opened to pour beer, the natural gases suspended in the beer solution break out at an accelerated rate causing the beer to froth in the glass, creating beer which is un-presentable and disposed of as waste.

This problem has recently been exacerbated due to a changing demand in the style of counter—mounted beer delivery systems which locate the draught beer dispense taps. Traditionally illuminated branded counter mounts, T—Bar towers, under counter coffin boxes and over counter coffin boxes were the main forms of delivery systems and in most cases had short lengths of beer line, less than 6 inches (1 5cm) which, due to adequate space provision, could be well insulated. More recently a new style of counter mounted delivery system is preferred which incorporates the use of ninety degree bent narrow diameter tube, less than two inches (5cm) in diameter, where only a single product is delivered through each tube. These delivery systems are called “Swan—Neck Towers” and are so defined herein. They are frequently designed in excess of eighteen inches (45cm) long. They comprise a standing tube portion mountable on a counter so as to extend substantially vertically, a bent portion turning through 90 degrees or a similar angle, and a dispense end portion extending substantially horizontally. They do not contain any form of chilled re-circulation, meaning that the beer temperature is particularly susceptible to ambient temperature changes.

DE 29 27 320 A (Stute) describes a beer tap having a cooling chamber through which a coolant flows. The ring-shaped cooling chamber is arranged on the feed connecting piece for the tap. As shown in the drawing, this connecting piece is behind the vertical substrate on the front of which the tap is mounted. The chamber has a coolant inlet opening and a coolant outlet opening with a dividing wall between them.

There is a heat insulating tube over the cooling chamber as well as the coolant lines and the beverage line.

EP 0 919 519 Al (Wilman Marine Ltd) describes a heat exchanger for a beverage dispensing tap comprising a toroidal chamber adapted to extend about a flow passage forming part of the tap. As described the tap has a generally tubular portion, forming part of the beverage flow path, which also acts as a stand-off so that the tap can be spaced a convenient distance from a wall or the like extending in a generally vertical plane. The chamber comprises an inner cylindrical wall, an outer cylindrical wall having a frustoconical portion, and a filler ring forming the opposite end. The filler ring is provided with a pair of ports forming an inlet and an outlet for the flow of coolant through the chamber. However no coolant lines or beverage supply lines are shown or described and there is no teaching concerning insulation of these lines.

US Patent 5,564,602 Cleland et al. describes a heat exchanger dispensing tower housing an elongate stainless steel balance tube connected with the beer line and an elongate glycol tube connected to means to chill glycol (a liquid anti-freeze heat exchange medium). Both the balance tube and the glycol tube are bent into elongate sinuate coil form. An elongate vertical heat sink or heat-storing body of aluminium is cast about the tubes, and thermal insulation material is provided about the body and within an outer shell of stainless steel. A beer dispensing valve extends horizontally from the vertical wall of the tower. The balance tube carrying the beer is bent through 90 degrees to connect with the dispensing valve but the shell ofthe tower housing the sinuate glycol tube is vertical.

None of the above-mentioned prior art documents is concerned with swan-neck towers or with the physical constraints imposed by them. Nor does any of these prior art documents provide any teaching about condensation or the restriction of it to a selected part of the dispensing equipment.

Object of the Invention The present invention concerns the use of these “Swan Neck Towers” where it is currently not possible to control the beer temperature as the physical constraints of the existing designs do not allow for the opportunity to install re—circulating cooling lines.

There is therefore a need for a form of dispense equipment through which chilled coolant can be circulated, to ensure that the beer temperature is maintained at the desired dispense temperature, as close as possible to the beer dispense tap.

There is an increasing demand for beers to be cooled before dispense, and customers want to see that the beer being dispensed is properly cooled. Conventional swan-neck towers have no means of re-circulating chilled coolant. In these cases there is no possibility to either maintain chilled beer or achieve the condensation feature ofthe apparatus according to the present invention. It is also an object of the invention to restrict condensation on the outside of the tube to the substantially horizontal dispense end portion of the swan-neck tower and the beer tap attached to it.

Summag of the Invention The invention provides a cooled beverage dispensing equipment for over—the- counter single—beer—line dispense delivery systems, comprising: (i) an outer tube member mountable to stand above a counter and being a single tube extending from an inlet end to a dispense end, the outer tube member being bent at an angle of 90 degrees or a similar angle to form a swan-neck tower as hereinbefore defined, (ii) a beer line running inside the outer tube member, (iii) a chilled coolant supply line and a chilled coolant outflow line also running inside the outer tube member, (iv) a terminal component of metal at the dispense end of the outer tube member, the terminal component having (a) means to mount a beer tap in communication with the beer line, (b) a chamber defined inside the terminal component, the chamber being located entirely inside the outer tube member and being connected to the chilled coolant supply line and the chilled coolant outflow line so that chilled coolant is circulated through the chamber inside the terminal component, and (v) insulation inside the outer tube member surrounding the beer line and the two chilled coolant lines, the terminal component being uninsulated so that condensation can form on the outside of the outer tube member surrounding the terminal component.

The present invention provides a chamber at the locating point of the beer dispense tap so that chilled coolant can be circulated through this chamber to maintain the beer at the desired dispense temperature. With an installation of multiple swan neck towers, the cooling can be achieved by directing a chilled coolant line into each individual swan neck tower; the multiple swan neck towers can then be connected in series by looping this chilled coolant line.

Suitably the chilled coolant is chilled water. The person skilled in the art will be aware that the water may contain glycol, for example in an amount of about 25% by weight. Other conventional coolants or liquid anti-freeze heat exchange media may also be used.

According to one aspect the present invention provides a cooled beverage dispensing equipment for over-the—counter single—beer-line dispense delivery systems, comprising: (i) an outer tube member mountable to stand above a counter and being a single tube having an inlet end and a dispense end, the outer tube member being bent at an angle of 90 degrees or a similar angle to form a swan—neck tower as hereinbefore defined, (ii) a beer line running inside the outer tube member, (iii) a chilled water supply line and a chilled water outflow line also running inside the outer tube member, (iv) a terminal component of metal at the dispense end of the outer tube member, the terminal component having (a) means to mount a beer tap in communication with the beer line, (b) a chamber defined inside the terminal component, the chamber being located entirely inside the outer tube member and being connected to the chilled water supply line and the chilled water outflow line so that chilled water is circulated through the terminal component, and (v) insulation inside the outer tube member surrounding the beer line and the two chilled water lines, the terminal component being uninsulated so that condensation can form on the outside of the outer tube member surrounding the terminal component.

In each of the aspects of the invention, the chamber suitably surrounds the beer line, for example the chamber is annular. This assists in uniform cooling of the beer line and the terminal component.

The terminal component may comprise two pieces providing concentric sleeve portions which define the chamber in a space between them. The two pieces may suitably be soldered together, but it will be apparent to the skilled person that another attachment system such as adhesive can be used.

As the chamber is defined by metal portions, this allows for thermal conductivity resulting in the formation of condensation on the outer surface of the tube member at the terminal component only. Such a feature demonstrates to consumers that the beer is being cooled adequately prior to dispense.

Preferably the main tube member has a diameter in the range from l to 2 inches (2.5 to 5cm).

Preferably, the swan neck tower of the present invention has a height above the counter mounting of about at least 6 inches (l5cm), particularly above about 12 inches (30cm), suitably above about 15 inches (37.5cm) and more particularly up to or above about 18 inches (45cm).

Preferably the main tube member and the terminal component are comprised of a metal such as copper, brass or stainless steel. The main tube member and the terminal component may be of different metals.

The terminal component of the cooling apparatus of the present invention further comprises a fastening threading on the interior thereof, positioned at the locating point of the beer tap. Such threading allows for connection of the dispense tap or a dispense tap shank adaptor, as well known among those skilled in the art.

The terminal component may suitably be permanently fixed in the main tube member. It will be apparent to the skilled person that any convenient fixing svstem such as a solder or adhesive may be used. Alternatively, the terminal component may be removably carried in the main tube member.

Brief Description of the Drawings Two variants of an embodiment of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a swan—neck tower, showing a partly cut-away section at the point where the beer dispense tap is located and a second cut-away section indicating the location of the beer line, the chilled water inlet and outlet, and the location of foam insulation.

Fig. 2 is a sectioned view on the line A-A, in Fig. 1, indicating how the beer line and the chilled water lines are encapsulated within the tube.

Fig. 3 is a section view on the line B-B, in Fig. 1, indicating how the reservoir is formed as an annular chamber, within the two component parts, which are the beer dispense tap location piece and the chilled water inlet and outlet piece.

Fig. 4 is a further diagrammatic sectioned view of the two component parts of the terminal component ie. the dispense tap location piece and the chilled water inlet and outlet piece, creating the annular chamber which acts as a reservoir for capturing and re- circulating the chilled water.

Fig. 5 is a partly cut-away side elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing a variant ofthe swan—neck tower of the invention, and further showing a beer tap mounted on the tower; Fig. 6 is a sectioned view on the line A-A in Fig. 5, similar to Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a sectioned view on the line B-B in Fig. 5; Fig 8. is a sectional top view on the line C—C in Fig. 5.

Detailed Description of the Drawings The swan neck tower comprises a main tube 4, with a counter flange 5 and a fastening threaded barrel 6. The threaded barrel 6 can be inserted into any counter bar (by drilling of a suitable hole) and fastened in situation by means of a typical flange nut.

As shown in Fig. l, the swan-neck tower comprises the standing tube portion 4a mountable on the counter so as to extend substantially vertically, the bent portion 4b turning through 90 degrees, and the dispense end portion 4c extending horizontally.

At the dispense end, the main tube 4 carries a terminal component in the form of a permanently fixed dispense beer tap location piece 1 1, which is attached, by means of soldering, to an outer sleeve 17. The location piece ll and sleeve 17 when soldered together form an annular chamber 9, which acts as a reservoir by capturing and re- circulating the chilled water. Chilled water enters and exits this reservoir by means of two permanently soldered barbed fittings, depicted as chilled water inlet 7 and chilled water outlet 8 connected to supply line 2 and outlet line 3 respectively.

This water chilled annular chamber, which forms the reservoir 9, is further clarified in Fig. 4, where the dispense beer tap location piece 11 is shown to be attached to the outer sleeve 17 in two places. The location piece 11 comprises a front disc portion having substantially the same diameter as the main tube 4, and a cylindrical portion of reduced diameter extending rearwardly therefrom. The outer sleeve 17 has an outside diameter marginally less than the inside diameter of the main tube 4, and an inside diameter substantially greater than that ofthe cylindrical portion ofthe location piece 11, so that the chamber is formed between them, the chamber being inside the main tube 4, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4. The front part of the location piece 1 l is internally screw-threaded (see Fig. 1) so that a beer tap of conventional type (not shown) can be attached thereto in communication with the beer line. The outer sleeve l7 has a rear flange which is drilled to allow for the chilled water inlet 7 and the chilled water outlet 8 to be soldered permanently in place.

The chilled water inlet 7 and chilled water outlet 8, are connected by means of a barbed profile to the chilled water lines 2 and 3 respectively. These chilled water lines allow cooling water to be circulated into and out of the reservoir 9, indicated in Fig. 1 by direction arrows in water supply line 2 and water outlet line 3. These water lines can be connected to a water chiller line by means of conventional hose fittings at water inlet l5 and water outlet l4.

As shown in Fig. 2, the beer line 1 is positioned to rest against the chilled water supply line 2. Fig. 2 indicates how the insulation 12 captures (encapsulates) the beer line 1 and the two chilled water lines 2 and 3 inside the tube 4 ensuring that no condensation can form on the outside of the tube up to the dispense beer tap location piece ll. As shown in Figs.l and 2, the insulation 12 is tubular and surrounds the beer line 1 and the two chilled water lines 2 and 3. As indicated above, the insulation 12 extends up to the terminal component, i.e. it extends around the bent portion 4b of the tube.

As shown in Fig. 3, the beer line passes unabated through the dispense beer tap location piece 1 1 and is attached to the tap by means of conventional tap fastening.

As shown the beer line can be connected at 16 by conventional hose fitting means to the beer line exiting the beer line python and immediately partake of the cooling achieved in the parallel water line inlet 15. The beer line 1, is then supported in situation and parallel to the water supply line 2 and the water outlet line 3 continuing to the point where the beer dispense tap is located. Beer flows through the hollow location piece 1 1 receiving secondary chilling from the chamber reservoir 9 prior to exiting into the beer dispense tap at 10. The beer line is insulated throughout this process by means of the foam insulation 12, which furthermore ensures that condensation on the outside of the tube 4 is restricted to the un-insulated terminal component ll. Condensation, which is desirable for aesthetic reasons, can be seen on the outside of the tube at the terminal component and also on the beer tap because the cooled terminal component also cools the beer tap attached to it.

Figs. 5-8 show a variant ofthe swan-neck tower of Figs. 1-4. The same reference numerals are used.

The swan neck tower comprises a main tube 4, with a counter flange 5 and a fastening threaded barrel 6. The threaded barrel 6 can be inserted into any counter bar (by drilling ofa suitable hole) and fastened in situation by means ofa typical flange nut 6a.

As shown in Fig. 5, the swan-neck tower comprises the standing tube portion 4a mountable on the counter so as to extend substantially vertically, the bent portion 4b turning through 90 degrees, and the dispense end portion 4c extending horizontally.

At the dispense end, the main tube 4 carries a terminal component 20 in the form of a dispense beer tap location piece 1 1, which is attached, by means of soldering or adhesive, to an outer sleeve l7 . The terminal component may be permanently fixed inside the dispense end portion 4c ofthe tube, e.g. by soldering or by adhesive, or it may be temporarily and removeably installed inside the end portion 4c and held in place by a fixing such as a screw. The location piece I l and sleeve 17 when attached together form an annular chamber 9, which acts as a reservoir by capturing and re-circulating the chilled coolant. Chilled coolant enters and exits this reservoir by means of two permanently soldered or adhered barbed fittings, depicted as chilled coolant inlet 7 and chilled coolant outlet 8 connected to supply line 2 and outlet line 3 respectively.

This coolant chilled annular chamber, which forms the reservoir 9, is further clarified in Fig. 8, where the dispense beer tap location piece l l is shown to be attached to the outer sleeve 17 in two places. As a variant from Figs. 1-4, the location piece ll does not have a front disc portion having substantially the same diameter as the main tube 4. Instead the front disc portion 21 has an outside diameter marginally less than the inside diameter ofthe main tube 4 and fits slidingly within the dispense end ofthe tube.

The front disc portion has a cylindrical portion 11a of reduced diameter extending rearwardly therefrom. The outer sleeve 17 has an outside diameter marginally less than the inside diameter of the main tube 4 (aligned with the front disc portion 21 of the location piece 1 1), and an inside diameter substantially greater than that of the cylindrical portion 1 la of the location piece 11, so that the chamber is formed between them, the chamber being inside the main tube 4. The front part ofthe location piece 1 I is internally screw—threaded at 18 so that a beer tap 23 of conventional type can be attached thereto in communication with the beer line. The outer sleeve 17 has a rear flange 17a which is drilled to allow for the chilled coolant inlet 7 and the chilled coolant outlet 8 to be soldered permanently in place.

The chilled coolant inlet 7 and chilled coolant outlet 8 are connected by means of a barbed profile to the chilled coolant lines 2 and 3 respectively. These chilled coolant lines allow coolant to be circulated into and out of the reservoir 9. The coolant lines 2 and 3 can be connected to a coolant supply line by means of conventional hose fittings at coolant inlet 15 and coolant outlet 14.

As shown in Fig. 6, the beer line 1 is positioned against the chilled coolant supply lines 2 and 3. Fig. 6 also indicates how the insulation 12 captures (encapsulates) the beer line 1 and the two chilled coolant lines 2 and 3 inside the tube 4 ensuring that no condensation can form on the outside of the tube up to the terminal component 20.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the insulation 12 is tubular and surrounds the beer line l and the two chilled coolant lines 2 and 3. As indicated above, the insulation 12 extends up to the terminal component, i.e. it extends around the bent portion 4b of the tube and into the dispense end portion 4c.

As shown in Fig. 7, the beer line passes unabated through the dispense beer tap location piece I 1. It is attached to a shank portion 25 of the tap 23 by means of conventional tap fastening 24. The shank portion 25 is externally screw-threaded to engage with internal screw-threading 18 on the terminal component 20. A threaded flange nut 22 is also applied to secure the connection between the tap and the dispense end of the swan—neck tower, the flange nut having a rim which embraces the outer tube member 4.

As shown the beer line can be connected at 16 by conventional hose fitting means to the beer line exiting the beer line python and immediately partake of the cooling achieved in the parallel coolant lines 2 and 3. The beer line 1 is then supported in situ and parallel to the coolant supply line 2 and the coolant outlet line 3, continuing to the point where the beer dispense tap 23 is located. Beer in the beer line at 10 flows through the hollow location piece 11 receiving secondary chilling from the chamber reservoir 9 prior to exiting into the beer dispense tap 23. The beer line is insulated throughout this process by means of the foam insulation 12, which furthermore ensures that condensation on the outside of the tube 4 is restricted to the zone around the un- insulated terminal component l l. Condensation, which is desirable for aesthetic reasons, can be seen on the outside of the tube at the terminal component and also on the beer tap because the cooled terminal component 20 also cools the beer tap 23 attached to it. Condensation forms on the horizontal dispense end portion 4c of the tube and provided that good insulation is present in the bent portion 4b there should be little or no condensed moisture running down the standing portion 4a of the tower to soak the counter.

The words “comprises/comprising” when used in the following claims are used to specify the presence of the stated features, integers, or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, components or groups thereof.

Claims (10)

Claims

1. Cooled beverage dispensing equipment for over—the—counter single-beer—line dispense delivery systems, comprising: (i) an outer tube member mountable to stand above a counter and being a single tube extending from an inlet end to a dispense end, the outer tube member being bent at an angle of 90 degrees or a similar angle to form a swan-neck tower as hereinbefore defined, (ii) a beer line running inside the outer tube member, (iii) a chilled coolant supply line and a chilled coolant outflow line also running inside the outer tube member, (iv) a terminal component of metal at the dispense end of the outer tube member, the terminal component having (a) means to mount a beer tap in communication with the beer line, (b) a chamber defined inside the terminal component, the chamber being located entirely inside the outer tube member and being connected to the chilled coolant supply line and the chilled coolant outflow line so that chilled coolant is circulated through the chamber inside the terminal component, and (v) insulation inside the outer tube member surrounding the beer line and the two chilled coolant lines, the terminal component being uninsulated so that condensation can form on the outside of the outer tube member surrounding the terminal component.

2. Dispensing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the chamber surrounds the beer line.

3. Dispensing equipment according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the outer tube has a diameter in the range of l to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm).

4. Dispensing equipment according to any ofthe preceding claims wherein the terminal component comprises two pieces providing concentric sleeve portions which define the chamber in a space between them.

5. Dispensing equipment according to any of the preceding claims wherein the coolant is water.

6. Cooled beverage dispensing equipment for over-the-counter single-beer—line dispense delivery systems, comprising: (i) an outer tube member mountable to stand above a counter and being a single tube having an inlet end and a dispense end, the outer tube member being bent at an angle of 90 degrees or a similar angle to form a swan-neck tower as hereinbefore defined, (ii) a beer line running inside the outer tube member, (iii) a chilled water supply line and a chilled water outflow line also running inside the outer tube member, (iv) a terminal component of metal at the dispense end of the outer tube member, the terminal component having (a) means to mount a beer tap in communication with the beer line, (b) a chamber defined inside the terminal component, the chamber being located entirely inside the outer tube member and being connected to the chilled water supply line and the chilled water outflow line so that chilled water is circulated through the terminal component, and (v) insulation inside the outer tube member surrounding the beer line and the two chilled water lines, the tenninal component being uninsulated so that condensation can form on the outside of the outer tube member surrounding the terminal component.

7. Dispensing equipment according to claim 6 wherein the chamber surrounds the beer line.

8. Dispensing equipment according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the outer tube has a diameter in the range ofl to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm).

9. Dispensing equipment according to any of claims 6-8 wherein the terminal component comprises two pieces providing concentric sleeve portions which define the chamber in a space between them. 15

10. Cooled beverage dispensing equipment substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in