US1663683A - Apparatus for cooling and dispensing carbonated liquids - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1928.

W. E. DOUGHTY APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND DISPENSING CARBONATED LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1 1926 atl'ozncw March 27, 1928. 1,663,683

w; E. DOUGHTY D LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND DISPENSING CARBONATE Filed Feb. 1 1926 (Juvenile r Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

NT E.

WILLIAM E. DOUGHTY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES. VERNOR COM- PANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND DISPENSING CARBONATED IiIQUIDS.

Application filed February 1, 1926. Serial No. 85,344.

The invention relates to beverage dispensing and refers more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages such as ginger ale.

. Under the present practice of dispensing ginger ale the beverage is prepared in carbonated condition and for convenience in transporting and storing is placed in suitable containers or tanks subjected to relatively high pressure. Ginger: ale in such condition is commonly known as high pressure ale. Heretofore, these tanks of high pressure ale were, before use, placed in an ice packing in order to cool the ale to the desired temperature for drinking. It is also general practice to run the high pressure ale into a settling tank or chamber before drawing off the ale for drinking, the ale in the settling chamber being under relatively low vpressure and known as low pressure ale.

From the settling chamber the low pressure ale is drawn ofi for drinking. Thus the settling chamber provides for relief of the greater amount of gas from the ale so that when the ale is drawn from the settling chamber it will not become unduly foamy, a condition which would result if the ale were drawn directly from the high pressure tank to the atmosphere.

Heretofore, the high pressure ale tanks and the settling chamber were packed in ice. \Vhere the demand for the ale is relatively large, considerable difficulty and inconvenience has been experienced in coolin down the ale to the desired temperature in keeping with the demand. It has been found for example, that from seven to eight hours is generally required to cool down a high pressure tank of ale of the ordinary ten gallon capacity. Thus, such a dispensing system is not of a flexible character since the supply of properly cooled ale cannot readily be maintained in keeping with a fluctuating demand.

Further. difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the ale at the desired tempera ture at the point of dispensing from the system. For example, during the passage of the ale from the settling'chamber, or other source of sup ly to the point of discharge from the dra t apparatus, the temperature and draft apparatus.

is raised by contact with the relatively warm piping and draft apparatus. Such raising of temperature is especially objectionable and noticeable during the summer months when the draft apparatus and piping leadmg therefrom to the settling chamber, or other source of supply of cool ale, becomes quite warm. When the ale is drawn intermittently under such conditions, the draft apparatus and piping becomes warm between dispensing periods so that unless the ale is drawn practically constantly it is considerably above the temperature of the ale in the settling chamber or other source of supply. a

One of the objects ofmy invention is to providea novel method and apparatus for dispensing ale characterized in its ability to efficiently and conveniently cool down a continuous supply of ale avoiding the aforesaid difficulties and objections.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for quickly cooling the ale to the desired temperature avoid- 75. ing the aforesaid difficulties and objections under the heretofore general practice of dispensing carbonated beverages.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the 30 ale is maintained at the desired low temperature during its passage from the supply, such as a settling chamber, to the point of dispensing avoiding the aforesaid difficulties due to contact of the ale with the piping Thus the draft apparatus may be located as far as desired from the source of ale and cooling apparatus.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combination and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. I

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 represents an elevation view partly in cross section and diagrammatic to some extent, illustrating one embodiment of 1 my invention;

, Figure 2 is an end elevation view showing the header and coils of the refrigerating unit and parts associated therewith;

Figure 3 is a detail view in section along 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional elevation view of the draft apparatus; and

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 illustrating a modified form of my invention.

In the drawings, reference character A represents a tank or refrigerating chamber having inner and outer walls and 11 respectively with a temperature insulating medium 12 therebetween, such as cork, for example. I

B represents a tank or container providing a source of the liquid to be dispensed described for purposes of illustration as ginger ale, the ale within the tank being carbonated in accordance with general practice and preferably under a relatively high pressure such as one hundred sixty pounds 'per square inch, for example. For convenience in handling, storage and shipment the tanks B may be of ten gallon size, for example, having a control valve 13 and coupling 14, the latter being adapted to detachably connect with a pipe or conduit 15. The latter pipe is passed through the tank A as shown in Figure 1.

For cooling the ale during its travel from the tank B or other source of supply to the point of dispensing I might provide a mechanical refrigerating unit C of the ordinary commercial type or other suitable construction. Such a unit includes a motor (not shown) and a thermostatically controlled switch (not shown) for cutting the motor in and out at the respective limits of Cooling fluid is circulated between the head er and unit C through pipes 18 and 19 astemperature desired. Thus when the temperature rises above a predetermined point the thermostat will act to cut in the motor and thus act to lower the temperature with the control mechanism (as will later be apparent) until the desired low temperature limit is reached, at which time the thermo-- stat will act to cut out the motor. Such operation for refrigerating units in general, is quite common and will be readily understood by one skilled in the art. 16 represents the header or boiler having the cooling coils 17 communicating therewith.-

will be readily understood. The pipe 15 is preferably formed with a header 20 and communicating therewith are a plurality of branch pipes 21, each of the latter pipes preferably being spirally coiled for a number of turns around the header 16 and cooling coil 17. The spiral coils of the branch pipes 21 preferably engagev adjacent cool-' ing coils 17 being nested closely therebetween whereby the heat of the coils 21 may Leeaees be dissipated by conduct-ion to the cooling coils 17.

The free ends of the branch pipes 21 .are connected with another header 22 which is preferably positioned substantially adjacent the bottom of the tank A, this point being the coolest in the tank as will later be apparent.

The tank A is preferably partially filled with a liquid 23 such as water, the level of the same being preferably above the header 16 as shown. Located below this water level and preferably at the point of connection between pipe 15 and header 20 is the usual refrigerating unit motor control bulb 24, the latter preferably contacting with header 20 or pipe 15 so as to be subjected to the temperature of the ale passing from the relatively warm source B to the cooling coils 21. Thus thebulb is located at a point in the refrigerating system where the inflowing ale is the Warmest, insuring the desired temperature at further points along the system. Also when ale is drawn from the system, relrtively warmer ale will flow to the header 16 to replace the ale drawn and with the bulb 241 located adjacent the pipe 15 or header 20 an extreme ly sensitive control for the motor is obtained, more so than if the bulb were located so as to be entirely surrounded by the water 23.

A further feature of my invention resides in providing means for preventing the formation of an insulating film of cold water immediately adjacent the boiler 16 and cooling coils 17 To this end, I have provided a propeller agitator or circulating propeller 25 mounted on a shaft 26, the latter being extended through a suitable packed bearing 27. 28 is a motor for rotating shaft 26 and willtake place down between the baffles,

serving to increase the rate of heat transfer to the cooling coils 17 and header 16 from the ,ale'in the ale circuit. With the-parts arranged substantially as shown in the drawings the coolest part of'the water 23 will be at the bottom of tank A preferably where the ale is conducted from header 22 as by pipe 31.

In operation of the system as thus far described, when the ale is conducted from the pipe 31 by any suitable device such as hereinafter set forth, ale to replace that conducted away will flow from the supply tank B to the header 20, whence it will be distributed to the branch pipes 21 for. cooling by circulation adjacent the cooling coils 17 and.

' the chamber A. I have found that with fifty feet of one-quarter inch block tin ale-conducting pipe within the chamber A, my device described above, can cool forty gallons of ale per hour, from 74 F. to 36 F. continuous flow. Such a capacity is suflicient for ordinary purposes and if added capacity is found desirable, the coils 21 or 1701' both of these coils may be increased. Preferably when added capacity or an increased rate of cooling of the ale is found desirable at any time, I have found it convenient to add cracked ice to the water 23. Such ice will not readily melt because of the relatively low temperature but will serve to readily and conveniently increase the rate of cooling of the ale.

I Preferably Within the chamber A and surrounded by the water 23 is'a settling chamber 1) adapted to receive the high pressure ale from the pipe 31 and to afford partial relief of the ale pressure. The ale from pipe 31 passes into the settling chamber D as at 32, the flow being controlled by a pressure regulator 33 of standard or other suitable construction. This regulator 33 may be set to permit flow of ale into chamber D when the pressure in the chamber falls below any predetermined pressur the latter being ordit he' head or distance the ale must flow vertically to the point of draft.

The latter point is indicated in the drawings by the draft apparatus E shown mountedon counter 35 forming the top of tank A although the draft apparatus may be positioned at any other desired point remote with respect to the tank A, as for example,

several floors above the tank. Thus for the relatively small head illustrated in the drawings, the pressure regulator 33 may be set to permit flow of the alc into the chamber 'D whenever the pressure therein falls below six pounds per square inch.

The ale flowing into the chamber 1) will become foamy, liberating a certain amount of the gas contained in the high pressure ale. In order to permit escape of this gas, to

v insure a relatively low pressure at-alltimes of the ale in the settling chamber, to afford a proper taste of the ale,; and to permit the .ale to readily settle to liquid form, the following construction is provided.

Threadedl'y engaging .an opening 34 in the top of chamber D preferably above the water line, is a primary valve casing 35 providing a gas chammer 36. The gas from the settlm'g chamber is free to pass to the chamber 36 through port 37 of plug 38, the

latter having an axial bore affording a sliding bearing for valve stem 39 of a primary valve 40, the latter controlling the escape of 46 registering with the port 41 affording passage of the gas from chamber 36 to a chamber 47 in the secondary valve casing, the passage of gas thereto being controlled by a secondary valve 48. normally seated by a spring 49. The gas in chamber 47 is free to escape through ports 50 and 51, the latter communicating, by reason of suitable pip-- ing, preferably .With' the atmosphere. The compression of spring 49. may be regulated by rotating the cap 52, forming an abutment for the spring, at the point of threaded engagement 53 with casing 44.

I have found it desirable, for example, to

arrange the spring 49 to act to seat the secondary valve 48 whenever the pressure of the gas in the settling chamber falls below two pounds per square inch, such pressure establishing a minimum for the ale in the settling chamber. When ale is drawn from the settling chamber the float, 42 lowers unseating valve 40. If the pressure in the settling chamber is less than six pounds per square inch, high pressure ale will flow into the chamber D past regulator 33 from pipe 31. Whenever the pressure of ale in chamber D is more than two pounds per square inch, and the valve 40 unseated, the excess pressure passes from chamber D to primary valve chamber 36 past valve 40 and ports 41 and 46 to the. secondary valve chamber 47 whence it acts to unseat secondary valve 48,

the gas then escaping to the atmosphere by worn so as to leak, liberating all the gas from the settled ale and thus leaving the ale with a flat undesirable taste. With my invention the escape of the" gas from the settling chamber is positively controlled by the height of the ale and when the valve 40 is unseated, then the valve 48 will op-' erate to liberate gas in excess of two pounds per square inch pressure. Even if the valve 48 should leak, there is always a relatively large amount of gas being liberated by the inflowing' high pressure ale and when the ale level rises, the valve 40 will positively close, thus trapping the remaining liberated gas from the ale in the settling chamber.

As shown in Figure 1, the settling chamber D 'is preferably located within the tank A and nearly entirely surrounded by the coolingwater 23. The propeller serves to maintain the temperature of the water in the vicinity of chamber D, the same as thetemperature in the vicinity of the cooling coils 17. 4

Theale from the chamber D is drawn off tothe draft apparatus E by a pipe 54 preferably communicating with the chamber at the bottom where the surrounding cooling water is of the lowest temperature. The draft apparatus E is best shown in Figure 4 and comprises the draft arm 55 terminating in the draw-off spout or nozzle 56 controlled by a valve 57. As aforesaid the regulator 33 may be set to correspond with the pressure necessary to force the ale up to the valve 57, the head being relatively low as shown in the drawings.

In order to maintain the ale in the draft arm 55 equal to that in the chamber D, I have provided means for circulating the cold ale from the settling chamber to the draft armso that as soon as valve 57 is opened, ale will be drawn from nozzle 56 at the temperature of the ale in the chamber D. To this end a circulating pipe 58 is connected preferably between the bottom of chamber D and a circulating pump F mounted on support 59 and actuated preferably by the shaft 26. This pump forces the ale through pipe 59' which has a portion 60, extending upwardly into the draft arm 55, open endedso as to pass the cold ale from chamber D to a .point adjacent the valve '57. Thus this Circulating pipe will causea continuous flow of cold ale upwardly through the pipe portion 60. and downthe temperature of meaeea passage from the source of supply to the dispensing nozzle.

Instead of employing the mechanical refrigerating unit C for cooling and maintaining the ale at the desired temperature, I may do away with such unit and produce the cooling by employing cracked ice as shown in Figure 5. In this modified form of my invention, the tank A as before, may contain the settling chamber D. The high pressureale is conducted by a pipe 15 preferably downwardly through the water 23 by the pipe portion 61 to a point substantially at the bottom of the tank. From this point thepipe is coiled upwardly as at 62 through the water to a point substantially adj acent the top of the water whence it passes through the pipe 63 to the settling chamber 1) as before. Ice, preferably? in cracked form, is introduced into tank A floating on the Water. The propeller agitator 25 driven from shaft 26 is encased in a screen 64 to prevent contact of the ice with the blades of the propeller. The pump F as before, may be driven from propeller shaft 26 for establishing the aforesaid circulation of cool'ale between the dispensing apparatus and the settling chamber.

I have found that the temperature of the water at the surface will be substantially 32 F. and at the bottom substantially 40 F. so that by vcausing the incoming ale to flow upwardly through coils 62 the relatively warm ale is introduced at the bottom of the tank while the relatively cold ale is taken off at the water surface where the lowest temperature of the water is realized. Furthermore, it will be noted that the circulating pipe 59' extends along the surface of the water further serving to maintain the desired low temperature of the ale drawn from the dispensing apparatus.-

While it is belived that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of my invention will be readily understood, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of the claims.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain a cooling liquid, means for conducting the beverage within the tank from a source of supply without the tank, a pipe connected to receive the beverage within the tank and arranged in a circuitous path below the level of the liquid in the tank, mechanical means for cooling the liquid, a settling chamber also located within the tank, means for conducting the cooled beverage from said circuitous pipe to a point within the settlingchamber, the liquid within the tank also serving to maintain the desired temperature of the beverage therewithin and {means for Circulating the cooling liquid in the tank around thesaid pipe and settling chamber. v 2. A carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus comprisinga tank adaptedito con tain a cooling liquld, a pipe for conducting the beverage within the tank from a source of supply, means for maintaining the liquid at predetermined cooling temperature comprising a header and cooling coils connected with the header, said header and coils being submerged in the liquid,lsaid pipe having a portion coiled around the header between adjacent coils of the header, and means for conducting the cooled beverage to a point without the tank.

3. A carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain a cooling liquid, a pipe for conducting the beverage within the tank from a source of supply, means for maintaining the liquid at predetermined cooling temperature com-- prising a header and cooling coils connected with the header, said header and-coils being submerged in the liquid, said pipe having a portion coiled around the header between adjacent, coils of the header and additional portions'extending longitudinally of and on opposite sides of the said header, means for I causing circulation of the liquid within the tank,'and means for conducting the cooled beverage to a point-without the tank.

4. 'A carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain a-cooling liquid, a pipe for conducting the beverage within the tank from a source.

of supply, means for maintaining the liquid at predetermined cooling temperature com;- prising a header and cooling coils connected with the header, said headerand coils being submerged in the liquid, said pipe hav-' ing a portion coiled around the-header between adjacent coils of the header, baflies positioned at opposite sides of said cooling coils, a propeller rotatable within. the tank below the surface of the liquid for circulating the liquid Within the tank,- and-means for conducting the cooled point without the tank.

5.'A carbonated beverage dispensing-apparatus comprising a tank adapted to contain a cooling liquid, a pipe for conducting the beverage within the tank from a source of supply, means for maintaining the liquid at predetermined cooling temperature com} prising a header and cooling coils connected with the header, said header and coils being submerged in the liquid, a control device for the last said means submerged in the liquid, said pipe having a coiled portion submerged in the liquid, and means for conducting the cooled beverage to a point without the tank.

6. A carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a tank adapted to conb'everage to v a.

7. A carbonated beverage dispensing ap- I paratus comprising a tank adapted to contain a cooling liquid, a pipe'for conducting the beverage within thetank from a source of supply, means for maintaining the liquid at predetermined temperature comprising a header and cooling coils connected with-the header, said header and coils being submerged in the liquid, a second header connected with the said pipe, a third header, a

series of pipes establishing branch connections between the second and third said headers, means for conducting the cooled beverage to a point without the tank, and means for establishing a circulation of the said liquid within the said tank.

8. An ale cooling and dispensing apparatus comprising a. tank adapted to contain a cooling liquid, a settling chamber within the tank, means for conducting high pressure ale from a source of supply through a path below the water level and into .the said chamber, means for cooling the ale during its travel to said settling chamber, means for conducting the settled low.pressure ale from the said chamber, said cooling means having a control device positioned adjacent the first said beverage conducting means for automa-tically actuating the same between pre- 7 determined temperature limits.

9. Ina beverage dispensing apparatus, a tank adapted to contain -a cooling medium, mechanical means for cooling the said cooling medium, including a cooling unit arran ed within the said tank, and a beverage conductor arranged within the said tank and surrounding the said cooling unit.

10. In a beverage dispensing apparatus,

a tank adapted to contain a cooling medium,

mechanical means for cooling the said cooling medium including a cooling unit arranged within the said tank, baflies on opposite sides of the said cooling unit; and a beverage conductor arranged between the said baflies-and adjacent the said cooling unit.

11. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, a

tank adapted to contain a cooling medium,- mechanical means for cooling the sand coolin'g medium including a header and coils connected to the said header, the said header and coils being arranged-within the said tank, and a beverage conductor surroundlng the said header and having portions nested tank, a'beverage conductor surrounding the between the said coils. said header and having portions arranged 12. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, between the said coils, and means for maina tank adapted to receive a cooling medium, taining a circulation of the cooling medium 5 mechanical means for cooling the said 0001- between the said coils and around the said ing medium including a header and coils beverage conductor. connected to the said header, the said header In testimony where f I affix my signature. and coils being arranged within the said N E DOUGHTY.

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