JP7346209B2 - Beverage heat exchanger - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage heat exchanger that is used, for example, in a beverage serving device that pours a beverage into a container such as a glass or a cup to cool or heat the beverage to be served.

Conventional beverage dispensing devices hold a bottle containing a beverage such as wine with the opening facing downward, and pour a glass's worth of beverage from the bottle into the glass. known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 3601823

When the beverage serving device serves the beverage at a predetermined temperature, the entire bottle containing the beverage is cooled, so it is necessary to form a space to accommodate the bottle, which increases the size of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage heat exchanger that, when applied to a beverage serving device, can prevent the device from increasing in size and is easy to maintain such as cleaning. It is in.

In order to achieve the above object, the beverage heat exchanger of the present invention is a beverage heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a beverage and a heat medium, and is provided with a beverage inlet on the upper end side for allowing the beverage to flow into the beverage heat exchanger. A beverage distribution pipe that is provided with a beverage outlet on the lower end side that allows the beverage to flow out, and a beverage flow path that allows the beverage to flow spirally around a central axis that extends in the vertical direction; and the beverage distribution pipe that extends spirally. on the central axis side thereof, a heating medium distribution tube for circulating a heating medium spirally along the beverage distribution tube, and the beverage distribution tube is detachably attached to the heating medium distribution tube.

According to the present invention, when the beverage is distributed downward by its own weight, heat can be exchanged between the spirally distributed beverage and the heating medium, so the heat transfer area can be increased without increasing the vertical dimension. It becomes possible to increase the size of the device, and it becomes possible to suppress the increase in size of the device. In addition, the heating medium distribution pipe is arranged on the central axis side with respect to the spiral beverage distribution pipe, and the beverage distribution pipe is detachable from the heating medium distribution pipe. It is easy to attach and detach, making maintenance work such as cleaning the beverage distribution pipe easier.

1 is a schematic diagram of a beverage serving device showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a beverage heat exchanger. It is a sectional view of a beverage heat exchanger. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a beverage heat exchanger.

1 to 4 show one embodiment of the present invention.

The beverage heat exchanger of the present invention holds a bottle B containing a beverage such as wine with the opening facing downward, and injects the beverage equivalent to one glass G from the bottle B into the glass G. This is applied to a beverage serving device 1 that serves beverages.

As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage serving device 1 includes a beverage extraction section 10 for injecting a beverage from a bottle B into a glass G, and a beverage cooling section 20 for cooling the beverage extracted in the beverage extraction section 10. , is equipped with.

The beverage extractor 10 has a beverage flow path 11 that communicates between a nozzle 10a for injecting a beverage into a glass G and a bottle B.

A beverage heat exchanger 30 (described later) of the beverage cooling unit 20 is connected to the beverage flow path 11 . On the upstream side of the beverage heat exchanger 30 in the beverage distribution direction in the beverage flow path 11, a first on-off valve 11a is provided to open and close the beverage flow path. Further, on the downstream side of the beverage heat exchanger 30 in the beverage distribution direction in the beverage distribution path 11, a second on-off valve 11b is provided to open and close the beverage flow path. Further, between the first on-off valve 11a in the beverage flow path 11 and the beverage heat exchanger 30, nitrogen gas is supplied for pressure-feeding the beverage stored in the beverage heat exchanger 30 toward the nozzle 10a. One end of a gas supply path 11c serving as a pressurized gas supply section is connected thereto. Further, a nitrogen cylinder 12 serving as a pressurized gas supply section in which nitrogen gas is stored is connected to the other end of the gas supply path 11c. The gas supply path 11c is provided with a three-way valve 11d, and by switching the flow path of the three-way valve 11d, one end of the gas supply path 11c communicates with the nitrogen cylinder 12 side, or with the beverage flow path 11 and gas. It is switched to the installation space of the beverage providing device 1 outside the supply path 11c. The three-way valve 11d also controls the inflow of air from the installation space to the gas supply path 11c, with one end side of the gas supply path 11c communicating with the installation space of the beverage serving device 1, and controls the flow of air into the gas supply path 11c. A check valve 11e that allows gas to flow out from the installation space 11c is connected.

The beverage cooling unit 20 includes a compressor 21, a condenser 22, an expansion valve 23, and a beverage heat exchanger 30 of the present invention that functions as an evaporator. A compressor 21, a condenser 22, an expansion valve 23, and a beverage heat exchanger 30 are sequentially connected to the beverage cooling unit 20 through copper pipes, and the compressor 21 is driven to cool refrigerants such as fluorocarbons, alternative fluorocarbons, and carbon dioxide. A refrigeration cycle is constructed by circulating the

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the beverage heat exchanger 30 includes a beverage distribution pipe 31 in which a beverage flow path is formed for distributing a beverage, and a refrigerant distribution pipe 32 as a heat medium distribution pipe for distributing a refrigerant. , and a heat exchanger plate 33 provided between the beverage flow pipe 31 and the refrigerant flow pipe 32.

The beverage distribution pipe 31 is made of a pipe member such as a stainless steel pipe or a silicone resin, and is formed to extend spirally around a central axis S extending in the vertical direction. The beverage distribution pipe 31 is provided with a beverage inlet 31a at its upper end that allows the beverage to flow in, and a beverage outlet 31b at its lower end that allows the beverage to flow out. In the beverage flow pipe 31, vertically adjacent beverage channels extend in a spiral shape with a predetermined interval between them. The beverage flow pipe 31 is attachable to and detachable from the beverage flow path 11 of the beverage extraction section 10, for example, via a one-touch joint (not shown) that can be separated and connected.

The refrigerant flow pipe 32 is made of, for example, a copper pipe, and is formed to extend spirally along the beverage flow pipe 31 on the radially inner side (center axis S side) of the spirally extending beverage flow pipe 31, and is formed on the lower end side. The refrigerant is made to flow from the top toward the top end. The refrigerant inflow side end 32a of the refrigerant flow pipe 32 extends upward from the lower end side of the radially inner side (central axis S side) of the refrigerant flow pipe 32 that extends spirally. Further, the refrigerant outflow end 32b of the refrigerant flow pipe 32 extends upward from the upper side of the refrigerant flow pipe 32 adjacent to the refrigerant inflow end 32a.

The heat transfer plate 33 is made of, for example, a copper plate or a stainless steel plate formed into a cylindrical shape, and is formed integrally with the refrigerant flow pipe 32 by, for example, brazing, with the refrigerant flow pipe 32 in contact with the inner peripheral surface. has been done. Further, the beverage distribution pipe 31 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger plate 33 as a separate body that can be separated from the heat exchanger plate 33 .

In the beverage serving apparatus 1 configured as described above, the operation of serving a beverage will be explained using FIG. 1.

First, in order to enter a standby state before serving a beverage, the first on-off valve 11a is opened, the second on-off valve 11b is closed, and the three-way valve 11d connects one end of the gas supply path 11c to the beverage serving device 1. The installation space shall be in communication with the installation space. As a result, the gas in the beverage flow path 11 is discharged into the installation space, and the beverage flowing out from the bottle B flows into the beverage flow path 11. Thereafter, one glass G of beverage is caused to flow into the beverage flow path 11 from the bottle B, and the first on-off valve 11a is closed. As a result, the beverage for one glass G is stored in the beverage distribution pipe 31 of the beverage heat exchanger 30. Here, the beverage stored in the beverage distribution pipe 31 is measured by measuring the time it takes for the beverage to flow into the beverage distribution channel 11, or by directly measuring the flow rate of the beverage with a flow meter provided in the beverage distribution channel 11. By doing this, the amount for one glass G is measured.

The beverage stored in the beverage flow pipe 31 is cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow pipe 32 of the beverage heat exchanger 30.

Next, when providing a beverage, the first on-off valve 11a is closed, the second on-off valve 11b is opened, and the one end side of the gas supply path 11c and the nitrogen cylinder 12 side are communicated by the three-way valve 11d. The state is as follows. As a result, the beverage stored in the beverage distribution pipe 31 flows through the beverage distribution pipe 31 by its own weight, and is also pressure-fed by the nitrogen gas flowing into the beverage distribution channel 11 via the gas supply path 11c. It flows through the flow pipe 31 and is injected into the glass G from the nozzle 10a.

When the pouring of the beverage into the glass G is completed, the first on-off valve 11a is opened, the second on-off valve 11b is closed, and the one end side of the gas supply path 11c and the installation space of the beverage serving device 1 are connected by the three-way valve 11d. The first on-off valve 11a is closed, and a standby state is entered.

Moreover, the beverage distribution pipe 31 of the beverage serving apparatus 1 may be attached and detached in order to perform maintenance work such as cleaning the beverage distribution pipe 31 of the beverage heat exchanger 30. When removing the beverage distribution pipe 31 from the beverage serving device 1, the beverage inlet 31a and the beverage outlet 31b of the beverage distribution pipe 31 are disconnected from the beverage distribution passage 11, and as shown in FIG. 32 and the heat exchanger plate 33, and remove the beverage flow pipe 31 from the refrigerant flow pipe 32 and the heat exchanger plate 33. Moreover, the removed beverage distribution pipe 31 is attached to the refrigerant distribution pipe 32 and the heat exchanger plate 33 by fitting the refrigerant distribution pipe 32 and the heat exchanger plate 33 from below and moving them upward. It will be done.

As described above, according to the beverage heat exchanger of the present embodiment, the beverage inlet 31a through which the beverage flows is provided at the upper end, and the beverage outlet 31b through which the beverage flows out at the lower end. Beverage distribution pipe 31 in which a beverage flow path is formed for distributing beverages in a spiral manner around an extending central axis S; A refrigerant flow pipe 32 is provided, and the beverage flow pipe 31 is detachably attached to the refrigerant flow pipe 32.

As a result, when the beverage is distributed downward by its own weight, it is possible to exchange heat between the beverage and the refrigerant that are distributed in a spiral manner, thereby increasing the heat transfer area without increasing the vertical dimension. This makes it possible to suppress the increase in size of the device. Further, the refrigerant distribution pipe 32 is arranged on the central axis side with respect to the spiral beverage distribution pipe 31, and the beverage distribution pipe 31 is detachable from the refrigerant distribution pipe 32, so that the beverage can be distributed to the refrigerant distribution pipe 32. It becomes easy to attach and detach the pipe 31, and maintenance work such as cleaning the beverage distribution pipe 31 becomes easy.

Further, a cylindrical heat transfer plate 33 is provided between the beverage distribution tube 31 and the refrigerant distribution tube 32, and the beverage distribution tube 31 is in contact with one surface and the refrigerant distribution tube 32 is in contact with the other surface. ing.

As a result, when the beverage distribution tube 31 is attached to the refrigerant distribution tube 32 and the heat exchanger plate 33, even if the beverage distribution tube 31 is misaligned with respect to the refrigerant distribution tube 32 in the central axis S direction, It becomes possible to reliably exchange heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow pipe 32 and the beverage flowing through the beverage flow pipe 31, and it becomes possible to prevent a decrease in heat exchange efficiency.

Further, the heat exchanger plate 33 is formed integrally with the refrigerant flow pipe 32.

Thereby, the refrigerant flow pipe 32 and the heat exchanger plate 33 can be handled as one component, so it is possible to reduce the number of assembly steps.

Further, nitrogen gas is supplied to the beverage distribution pipe 31 to forcefully feed the beverage inside the beverage distribution pipe 31.

This allows the beverage in the beverage distribution pipe 31 to flow out from the nozzle 10a using nitrogen gas in addition to the weight of the beverage, so it is possible to shorten the time required to serve the beverage.

Further, in the beverage flow pipe 31, vertically adjacent beverage flow paths are spaced apart from each other and extend in a spiral shape.

Thereby, it becomes possible to increase the gradient of the spirally extending beverage flow path in the beverage distribution pipe 31, and it becomes possible to reliably and quickly pour the beverage flowing through the beverage distribution pipe 31 into the glass G.

Further, both ends 32a and 32b of the refrigerant flow pipe 32 are arranged on the upper end side, and the beverage flow pipe 31 is attached to and removed from the lower end side of the refrigerant flow pipe 32.

Therefore, when removing the beverage distribution pipe 31, the beverage distribution pipe 31 can be removed by separating both ends of the beverage distribution pipe 31 from the beverage distribution passage 11 and moving them downward relative to the refrigerant distribution pipe 32. This makes it possible to improve the efficiency of maintenance work.

In the above embodiment, wine is shown as the beverage to be cooled by the beverage heat exchanger, but the beverage is not limited to this. Beverages to be cooled by the beverage heat exchanger may be beverages such as Japanese sake, coffee, and black tea.

Further, in the above embodiment, the beverage is cooled by exchanging heat between the beverage and the refrigerant in the beverage heat exchanger, but by causing the refrigerant to radiate heat in the beverage heat exchanger, The beverage may also be heated.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, refrigerants such as fluorocarbons, fluorocarbon substitutes, and carbon dioxide are used as the heat medium that exchanges heat with the beverage in the beverage heat exchanger. A liquid such as a liquid or a coolant may be used as the heat medium.

Further, in the embodiment described above, nitrogen gas is used as the gas for forcefully feeding the beverage from the beverage distribution pipe, but the gas is not limited to nitrogen gas. The gas used to forcefully feed the beverage from the beverage distribution pipe is not limited to nitrogen gas, but is effective in maintaining the quality of the beverage provided by a gas that is inert to the beverage and capable of preventing deterioration of the beverage. Furthermore, a mixture of multiple types of gas may be used as long as the gas can prevent the deterioration of the beverage.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, both ends 32a and 32b of the refrigerant flow pipe 32 are arranged on the upper end side, and the beverage flow pipe 31 is attached and detached from the lower end side of the refrigerant flow pipe 32. It is not limited. Both ends of the refrigerant flow pipe may be arranged at the lower end, and the beverage flow pipe may be attached and removed from the upper end of the refrigerant flow pipe.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the beverage for one glass G is stored in the beverage distribution pipe 31 while removing the gas in the beverage distribution channel 11 via the three-way valve 11d provided in the gas supply channel 11c. shown, but is not limited to this. In the case of a beverage extraction unit that does not have the three-way valve 11d in the gas supply path 11c, while a glass of beverage is flowing into the beverage distribution pipe 31, the second opening/closing switch provided at the lower end side of the beverage distribution path 11 By opening the valve 11b, the first on-off valve 11a and the second on-off valve 11b are simultaneously closed when a glass G of beverage has entered the beverage distribution pipe 31 while removing the gas in the beverage distribution passage 11. Beverage may be stored in the beverage distribution pipe 31 by the following. Here, the beverage flow pipe 31 is formed to have an inner diameter and an overall length such that the inner volume is larger than that of a glass G (for example, 100 ml) to prevent the beverage from leaking.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the refrigerant flow pipe 32 for circulating the refrigerant in a spiral shape along the beverage flow pipe 31 is arranged on the central axis S side of the spirally extending beverage flow pipe 31. A spirally extending beverage flow pipe may be arranged on the central axis side of the refrigerant flow pipe that extends in a spiral shape. In this case, since it is possible to increase the slope of the beverage flow path in the beverage distribution pipe, it is possible to reliably and quickly pour the beverage flowing through the beverage distribution pipe into the glass. In addition, if a beverage distribution pipe that extends spirally is arranged on the central axis side of the refrigerant distribution pipe, the diameter of the spiral winding will become smaller, and the capacity of the beverage that can be stored in the beverage distribution pipe may become smaller. However, by increasing the number of turns of the beverage distribution pipe, it is possible to secure the required beverage capacity. In this case, by locating it on the central axis side of the refrigerant flow pipe, it is possible to improve the heat retention ability of maintaining the temperature of the beverage.

Further, in the embodiment, the beverage is stored in the beverage distribution pipe 31 and cooled by exchanging heat between the beverage stored in the beverage distribution pipe 31 and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant distribution pipe 32. shown, but is not limited to this. The beverage is cooled by exchanging heat between the beverage flowing through the beverage distribution pipe 31 and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant distribution pipe 32 without storing the beverage in the beverage distribution pipe 31. Good too.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Beverage extraction part, 11... Beverage distribution path, 11c... Gas supply path, 11d... Three-way valve, 12... Nitrogen cylinder, 30... Beverage heat exchanger, 31... Beverage distribution pipe, 31a... Beverage inlet, 31b... Beverage outlet, 32... Refrigerant flow pipe, 32a... Refrigerant inflow side end, 32b... Refrigerant outflow side end, 33... Heat transfer plate, S... Central axis.

Claims (7)

A beverage heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a beverage and a heat medium,
A beverage inlet for allowing the beverage to flow in is provided on the upper end side, a beverage outlet for causing the beverage to flow out is provided on the lower end side, and a beverage channel is formed for circulating the beverage in a spiral shape around a central axis extending in the vertical direction. a beverage distribution pipe;
A heat medium flow pipe that circulates a heat medium in a spiral shape along the beverage flow pipe on the central axis side of the spirally extending beverage flow pipe,
The beverage heat exchanger, wherein the beverage flow pipe is detachably attached to the heat medium flow pipe. A cylindrical heat transfer plate is provided between the beverage distribution tube and the heat medium distribution tube, and has one surface in contact with the beverage distribution tube and the other surface in contact with the heat medium distribution tube. The beverage heat exchanger according to claim 1. The beverage heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the heat transfer plate is integrally formed with the heat medium flow pipe. The beverage heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a pressurized gas supply unit that supplies gas to the beverage distribution pipe and pressurizes the beverage within the beverage distribution pipe. The beverage heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the beverage flow pipe, the beverage channels that are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction extend in a spiral shape with a space between them. Both ends of the heat medium flow pipe are arranged on one end side in the vertical direction,
The beverage heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the beverage flow pipe is attached to and removed from the other end of the heat medium flow pipe in the vertical direction. A beverage serving device comprising the beverage heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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