US20020029775A1 - Method and device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers - Google Patents
Method and device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers Download PDFInfo
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- US20020029775A1 US20020029775A1 US09/951,736 US95173601A US2002029775A1 US 20020029775 A1 US20020029775 A1 US 20020029775A1 US 95173601 A US95173601 A US 95173601A US 2002029775 A1 US2002029775 A1 US 2002029775A1
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- Prior art keywords
- steam
- nozzle
- bottled water
- water dispenser
- opening
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
- A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
- A61L2/02—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using physical phenomena
- A61L2/04—Heat
- A61L2/06—Hot gas
- A61L2/07—Steam
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
- B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
- B08B3/026—Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B2230/00—Other cleaning aspects applicable to all B08B range
- B08B2230/01—Cleaning with steam
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method of sanitizing bottled water dispensers and a device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of sanitizing a bottled water dispenser with steam and a device for sanitizing a bottled water dispenser with steam.
- Bottled water dispensers are found in enormous numbers throughout the world to provide a safe and healthy source of drinking water. Such dispensers are commonly found in, for example, workshops, offices, reception rooms, stores, and other public areas, as well as private residences. As the public grows more health conscious and increasingly aware of the benefits of consuming purified drinking water, the number of bottled water dispensers continues to grow.
- a bottled water dispenser can develop bacteria, algae, and other impurities inside the fluid passageways of the dispenser. Absent regular cleaning and sanitizing of the fluid passageways, such impurities can end up in the drinking water dispensed from the dispenser.
- bottled water dispensers come in many varieties. Most dispensers are designed to accept plastic containers (e.g., 5 gallon bottles) containing spring or purified water that are installed on the dispenser in an inverted orientation. Although the designs of bottled water dispensers currently on the market widely vary, most dispensers include certain standard water-contacting components that require regular cleaning and sanitizing. For example, conventional dispensers generally include a reservoir designed to maintain a supply of water ready to be dispensed from the reservoir via an outlet conduit including a faucet (i.e., dispensing valve). Indeed, some dispensers include a reservoir designed to maintain water at multiple temperatures. Such reservoirs often include a cooling element designed to maintain water at a chilled temperature in a particular section of the reservoir.
- a faucet i.e., dispensing valve
- the reservoir may also include a separate section for maintaining water at room temperature (i.e., cook temperature).
- Some dispensers further include a heating element to provide hot water in a particular section of the reservoir.
- Water dispensers designed to dispense water of multiple temperatures generally have a reservoir divided into several sections and have an outlet conduit including several faucets (i.e., hot, cold, and/or cook faucets)
- Bottled water dispensers also generally include a receiving component that provides an inlet conduit to enable flow of water from an interior of the inverted water bottle into the reservoir and to enable flow of air from the reservoir into the interior of the inverted water bottle.
- the receiving component supports at least a portion of the weight of the inverted water bottle, while in other dispensers the weight of the inverted water bottle is supported by other components, such as a cover plate of the dispenser.
- the receiving component is often equipped with a no-spill system designed to provide a substantially contamination-free flow path for water from the inverted water bottle to the water reservoir.
- Such systems generally permit a user of the water dispenser to install and remove a filled water bottle without spilling water from the water bottle.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,152 discloses an exemplary no-spill system, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- the receiving component of many no-spill systems may include a feed probe designed to couple with a special closure on the water bottle to provide a contamination-free flow path from the interior of the water bottle to the reservoir.
- the receiving component may also include a seal member to provide a seal between the receiving component and an interior of the reservoir. By sealing the receiving component with the interior of the reservoir, the no-spill system helps to prevent air-born impurities from contaminating the water in the reservoir.
- Such no-spill systems often also include a separate air conduit that enables outside air to communicate with the reservoir and the interior of the inverted water bottle.
- the air conduit may include a conventional air filter to prevent air-born impurities from entering components of the water dispenser via the air conduit.
- water-contacting components should be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis.
- water-contacting components can include at least the inlet conduit, the reservoir, and the outlet conduit including the faucets.
- the air conduit should also be regularly cleaned and sanitized when included on the particular dispenser.
- One conventional technique for cleaning bottled water dispensers is a washing method.
- the components requiring cleaning are removed from the dispenser and cleaned in a washing machine approved for commercial kitchens.
- This method has numerous disadvantages.
- the washing method is labor intensive since components of the dispenser have a tendency to become stuck and are often difficult to remove and reinstall.
- the washing method may not be practicable to remove the air conduit from the dispenser to wash it.
- Another conventional cleaning technique is a chemical method.
- the components requiring cleaning may be removed from the bottled water dispenser.
- the components may then be cleaned with a bactericidal chemical and rinsed with pure water.
- the chemical method is labor intensive, has a risk of contamination of the components during reinstallation, and may not be satisfactory for dispensers having air conduits. Also, it may be difficult to know when the bactericidal chemical has been completely rinsed from the components.
- the possibility of failing to adequately rinse chemicals from the dispenser components is a significant downside to this method since a primary purpose of the bottled water dispenser is to provide pure and natural water, free of contaminants.
- An additional cleaning method is a swap-out method.
- the components requiring cleaning are removed and replaced with new components.
- This method is labor intensive, environmentally unfriendly, and costly since the used components are often discarded.
- this method like the previous two, has a risk of contamination of the components during reinstallation.
- Yet another cleaning method is an ozonation method. This method involves flushing the fluid passageways of the dispenser with ozonated water. However, this method requires special equipment and sometimes is not completely effective.
- the invention includes a method of sanitizing a bottled water dispenser with steam.
- the method may include transporting a portable boiler to a location of a bottled water dispenser.
- the method also may include generating steam in the portable boiler at the location of the bottled water dispenser, and flowing steam through an outlet of the portable boiler.
- the method may further include flow coupling the outlet of the portable boiler with an opening of the bottled water dispenser, wherein the opening leads to a fluid flow path of the bottled water dispenser.
- the method may additionally include flowing steam into the fluid flow path through the opening of the bottled water dispenser, and maintaining steam flow through at least a portion of the fluid flow path for a time period sufficient to sanitize the portion of the fluid flow path.
- the method may further include transporting the portable boiler to a location of a different bottled water dispenser, and sanitizing at least a portion of a fluid flow path of the different bottled water dispenser.
- the method may include flow coupling an outlet of a portable boiler with a nozzle, flow coupling a reservoir of a bottled water dispenser with an adapter configured to removably seal with an opening of the reservoir, and flow coupling the nozzle with an inlet of the adapter.
- the invention includes a device for sanitizing a bottled water dispenser with steam.
- the device may include a housing and a heating element configured to generate steam in the housing.
- the housing and the heating element could be a portion of a portable boiler.
- the device may further include an outlet of said housing configured to dispense steam from said housing.
- the device may also include a nozzle adapted to engage an opening of a bottled water dispenser leading to a fluid flow path. The nozzle is optionally designed to flow couple the outlet of the housing with the opening of the bottled water dispenser to thereby cause a sanitizing steam environment within the fluid flow path of the bottled water dispenser.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a device for sanitizing a bottled water dispenser
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the nozzle and the guard illustrated in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the nozzle and the guard illustrated in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the guard shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;
- FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the guard shown in FIG. 4A cut along line A-A;
- FIG. 4C is a schematic view of a first side of the guard shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B;
- FIG. 4D is a schematic view of a second side of the guard shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4 C;
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of an adapter for coupling with a bottled water dispenser
- FIG. 6 is an exemplary illustration of a prior art bottled water dispenser for use in connection with the invention.
- FIG. 7 is a view of the prior art bottled water dispenser of FIG. 6 with the water bottle removed;
- FIG. 8 is a view of a receiving component of the prior art bottled water dispenser of FIGS. 6 and 7;
- FIG. 9 is a partial-schematic cross-sectional view of a nozzle and a receiving component of the prior art bottled water dispenser shown in FIGS. 6 - 8 ;
- FIG. 10 is a view of a second embodiment of an adapter for coupling with a bottled water dispenser.
- FIG. 11 is a view of a third embodiment of an adapter for coupling with a bottled water dispenser.
- FIG. 1 shows a view of a device 100 and a receiving component 40 of a bottled water dispenser.
- the device 100 may include a boiler 110 for generating steam and a steam tube 120 .
- the boiler 110 may be portable. Alternatively, the boiler 110 could be provided at a particular location, and the bottled water dispenser could be transported to the boiler 110 .
- the portable boiler 110 may be, for example, a portion of a portable wallpaper stripper.
- the portable boiler 110 may include a housing 130 and a heating element configured to generate steam in the housing 130 .
- the heating element may be, for example, a 2,300 Watt electrical heating element provided in the housing 130 .
- the steam generated by the portable boiler 110 may be about 100° C., although the actual temperature of the steam may vary depending on the local atmospheric pressure.
- the steam could also be slightly superheated (i.e., higher temperature than boiling water).
- the housing 130 may include an outlet 140 configured to couple (directly or indirectly) with the steam tube 120 .
- the housing 130 may also includes a fill opening 160 and a closure 162 on the fill opening 160 to facilitate filling of the housing 130 with liquid water.
- the housing 130 may be filled with up to about 4 liters or more of liquid water for conversion to steam.
- the amount of time required for the portable boiler 110 to begin producing steam may vary.
- the portable boiler 110 may take up to approximately 15 minutes to begin producing steam.
- the portable boiler 110 may be capable of generating steam in a matter of seconds.
- the portable boiler 110 also may optionally include a pressure relief valve 150 to prevent pressure from building up in the housing 130 .
- the steam tube 120 has a first end 122 and a second end 124 .
- the first end 122 may be designed to couple with the outlet 140 of the portable boiler 110 .
- the steam tube 120 may be a flexible hose; however, the steam tube could also be a rigid or semi-rigid tube.
- the device 100 may not include a steam tube 120 and the outlet 140 of the portable boiler 110 may be configured to flow couple with an opening of a bottled water dispenser without use of a steam tube.
- FIGS. 6 and 7 are views of an exemplary prior art bottled water dispenser that could be used in accordance with the invention.
- bottled water dispensers come in many varieties and the example shown in the drawings and described herein is merely for illustrative purposes.
- the dispenser 10 may include a cabinet 20 and a cover plate 30 on an upper portion of the cabinet 20 .
- the dispenser 10 may also optionally include a receiving component 40 coupled with a reservoir of the dispenser 10 .
- the reservoir may hold a supply of water for dispensing.
- the dispenser 10 may be configured to dispense water directly from a water bottle through a conduit optionally capable of heating or cooling the water prior to dispensing.
- FIG. 8 shows a view of the receiving component 40 removed from the dispenser 10 .
- the receiving component 40 may include a seal member 92 for sealing the receiving component 40 with an interior of the reservoir of the dispenser 10 .
- the receiving component 40 may also include a tubular feed probe 50 having openings 52 .
- the receiving component 40 also optionally includes an air filter 60 on an end of an air conduit 62 enabling air flow between the reservoir and outside of the dispenser 10 .
- the dispenser 10 may further include an outlet conduit enabling flow of water from the reservoir.
- the outlet conduit may include a first outlet conduit 70 and a second outlet conduit 72 .
- the first outlet conduit 70 may include a first dispensing valve 74 .
- the first outlet conduit 70 may be coupled with a section of the reservoir configured to provide chilled water.
- the second outlet conduit 72 may include a second dispensing valve 76 .
- the second outlet conduit 72 may be coupled with a section of the reservoir configured to provide one of hot water and room temperature water.
- FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a nozzle 200 and a guard 300 , similar to the nozzle and the guard illustrated in FIG. 1.
- the nozzle 200 may be configured to direct steam flowing from the steam tube 120 in at least a portion of a fluid flow path of the bottled water dispenser 10 .
- the fluid flow path of the dispenser 10 may include at least the reservoir, the feed probe 50 , the first and second outlet conduits 70 , 72 , and the air conduit 62 .
- the fluid flow path may include various combinations of these components, and/or other components of the bottled water dispenser.
- the nozzle 200 may be optionally adapted to couple with one or more of the feed probe 50 , the first and second outlet conduits 70 , 72 , and the outlet end of the air conduit 62 .
- the nozzle 200 may include a first portion 210 and a second portion 220 .
- the first portion 210 includes a first end 212 of the nozzle 200
- the second portion 220 includes a second end 222 of the nozzle 200 .
- the first portion 210 may be tapered so that the first portion 210 has a smaller cross-section adjacent to the first end 212 of the nozzle 200 .
- the second portion 220 may be tapered so that the second portion 220 has a smaller cross-section adjacent to the second end 222 of the nozzle 200 .
- the first end 212 of the nozzle 200 may be configured to couple with the second end 124 of the steam tube 120 .
- the second end 222 of the nozzle 200 may be configured to couple with the receiving component 40 of the dispenser 10 .
- FIG. 9 shows a partial-schematic cross-sectional view of the nozzle 200 flow coupled with the feed probe 50 of the receiving component 40 .
- the second portion 220 of the nozzle 200 has an inner wall 226 having a diameter greater than a diameter of an outer wall 54 of the feed probe 50 .
- the inner wall 226 and the outer wall 54 define a gap 56 .
- the nozzle 200 may be adapted to direct steam flowing from the nozzle 200 into the gap 56 and into the openings 52 of the feed probe 50 to thereby sanitize the outer wall 54 and an interior 58 of the feed probe 50 .
- the gap 56 may be about 3 mm so as to assure that the nozzle 200 does not contact the probe 50 and thereby cause contamination between the nozzle 200 and the probe 50 .
- the nozzle 200 may also be adapted so that steam flowing from the nozzle 200 provides a pressure in the gap 56 sufficient to force steam from the gap 56 into the openings 52 of the feed probe 50 .
- the nozzle 200 may be sized so that the feed probe 50 fits at least substantially inside the second portion 220 of the nozzle 200 and the second end 222 of the nozzle 220 is able to contact a bottom surface 82 of a cylindrical portion 80 of the receiving component 40 .
- the nozzle 200 may optionally include a seal member 290 (e.g. O-ring) on the second portion 220 sized to seal against a wall 84 of the cylindrical portion 80 .
- the device 100 may include an adapter designed to couple with the nozzle 200 for sealing against the wall 84 .
- the adapter could be an annular member including an O-ring groove machined along a circumference with an O-ring in the groove.
- the adapter may be adapted to couple with both the nozzle 200 and the wall 84 of the cylindrical portion 80 .
- the adapter and the nozzle 200 may be a single piece of unitary construction.
- the nozzle 200 may be configured to seal with a wall 86 of the receiving component 40 .
- the device 100 may include an adapter 700 sized to couple with the wall 86 of the receiving component 40 .
- the adapter 700 may include an annular part 702 having an inlet 704 for receiving the nozzle 200 .
- the inlet 704 may include a groove 706 for receiving a seal member that may be on the nozzle 200 .
- the annular part 702 may also include a groove 708 capable of including a seal member for sealing with the wall 86 .
- the annular part 702 of the adapter 700 may be sized to removably couple with an interior of a reservoir of a bottled water dispenser.
- the device 100 may also include a guard 300 configured to protect a hand of an operator of the device 100 from contact with high temperature steam flowing from the nozzle 200 .
- the guard 300 may include a receiving portion 310 adapted to receive the second end 124 of the steam tube 120 .
- the guard may also include a cylindrical portion 320 having a first end 322 and a second end 324 .
- the first end 322 may include the receiving portion 310
- the second end 324 may include an opening.
- An exterior of the cylindrical portion 320 may advantageously provides a gripping part for an operator of the device 100 .
- the cylindrical portion 320 may be tapered from a larger cross-section adjacent to the second end 324 to a smaller cross-section adjacent to the first end 322 .
- the receiving portion 310 may include a tubular member 330 extending through the first end 322 of the cylindrical portion 320 .
- the tubular member 330 has an inlet end 332 and an outlet end 334 .
- the inlet end 332 may be adapted to couple with the second end 124 of the steam tube 120 .
- the outlet end 334 may be adapted to couple with the first end 212 of the nozzle 200 .
- the inlet end 332 may include a threaded section 336 adapted to couple with a corresponding threaded section on the second end 124 of the steam tube 120 .
- FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment for coupling the nozzle 200 and the guard 300 .
- the outlet end 334 of the tubular member 330 may be optionally adapted to couple with the second end 222 of the nozzle 200 .
- the device 100 may be used to apply steam from the first end 212 of the nozzle 200 to, for example, the cabinet 20 of the dispenser 10 .
- Applying steam from the first end 212 of the nozzle 200 may advantageously provide a higher velocity stream than the second end 222 .
- the higher velocity stream may be useful for cleaning, for example, the exterior of the dispenser 10 .
- the guard 300 may also include a shield member 340 on the cylindrical portion 320 .
- the shield member 340 may extend in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of flow of steam from the second end 124 of the steam tube 120 when the steam tube 120 is coupled with the tubular member 330 of the guard 300 .
- the shield member 340 may provide an operator of the device 100 with additional protection from the steam.
- the guard 300 may be configured so that an air barrier is formed between an interior 326 of the cylindrical portion 320 of the guard 300 and an exterior 240 of the nozzle 200 when the guard 300 and the nozzle 200 are coupled together.
- the air barrier may provide a layer of thermal insulation between the cylindrical portion 320 and the nozzle 200 to further protect an operator of the device 100 from heat generated by the steam.
- the guard may further include one of more slots 350 and the nozzle may further include one or more tabs 230 to facilitate coupling of the nozzle 200 and the guard 300 .
- the slots 350 and the tabs 230 may be configured so that the tabs 230 fit into the slots 350 to couple the guard 300 and the nozzle 200 .
- the tabs 230 may lock in the slots 350 when an operator inserts the tabs 230 into the slots 350 and turns the nozzle 200 relative to the guard 300 .
- FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an adapter 400 removably coupled with a reservoir 500 .
- the reservoir 500 is a schematic representation of a reservoir of the type commonly provided in bottled water dispensers.
- the adapter 400 may be used in connection with sanitizing bottled water dispensers that do not include a no-spill system or other inlet components capable of easily coupling with the nozzle 200 to create a steam environment in the fluid flow path of the bottled water dispenser.
- the adapter 400 may be configured to removably seal with an opening of the reservoir 500 . (See also, the adapter 700 of FIG. 11 described supra.)
- the adapter 400 may include an annular member having an O-ring groove machined along the circumference.
- the adapter 400 may further include a seal member 420 for sealing with an interior of the reservoir 500 .
- the seal member 420 may be an O-ring sized to fit in an O-ring groove machined along the circumference of the adapter 400 .
- the adapter 400 may also include an inlet 410 configured to couple with the second end 222 of the nozzle 200 .
- the adapter 400 and the nozzle 200 may be a single piece of unitary construction.
- FIG. 10 is a view of an adapter 600 for removably coupling the nozzle 200 with one of the dispensing valves 74 , 76 of the bottled water dispenser 10 .
- the adapter 600 may include an annular member 602 having a first portion 604 for receiving the dispensing valves 74 , 76 and a second portion 606 for receiving the nozzle 200 .
- the first portion 604 may include a groove 608 capable of including a seal member (e.g., O-ring). When the groove 602 includes a seal member, the seal member may be configured to provide a substantially sealed connection between the adapter 600 and the dispensing valves 74 , 76 .
- a seal member e.g., O-ring
- the second portion 606 may also include a groove 610 for receiving a seal member that may be on the nozzle 200 .
- the second portion 606 may be configured so that the nozzle 200 can be press-fit into the second portion 606 .
- the adapter 600 and the nozzle 200 may be a single piece of unitary construction.
- the present invention includes a method of sanitizing the bottled water dispenser 10 with steam.
- the method may include transporting the portable boiler 110 to a location of a bottled water dispenser 10 .
- a distributor of bottled water may transport the portable boiler 110 to a customer having a bottled water dispenser requiring sanitizing.
- the bottled water dispenser 10 could be transported to a boiler at a particular location.
- the method may also include generating steam in the portable boiler 110 , and flow coupling the outlet 140 of the portable boiler 110 with an opening of the bottled water dispenser 10 leading to a fluid flow path of the bottled water dispenser.
- the portable boiler 110 could be flow coupled to any one of the feed probe 50 , the first outlet conduit 70 , the second outlet conduit 72 , and the air conduit 62 .
- the method may further include flowing steam into the fluid flow path of the dispenser 10 through one of the openings set forth above, and maintaining steam flow through at least a portion of the fluid flow path for a time period sufficient to sanitize the portion of the fluid flow path.
- steam may be flowed through an opening in the reservoir, through the openings 52 of the feed tube 50 , through one of the first and second outlet conduits 70 , 72 , and/or through the air conduit 62 .
- the steam flow may be maintained in one or more of the reservoir, the feed tube 50 , the first and second outlet conduits 70 , 72 , and/or the air conduit 62 for a time period sufficient to sanitize therein.
- a minimum time period for maintaining steam flow is at least twenty seconds. In another embodiment, the minimum time period for maintaining steam flow is at least three minutes.
- the method may further include transporting the portable boiler 110 from the location of the bottled water dispenser 10 to a location of a different bottled water dispenser, for sanitizing the fluid flow path of the different bottled water dispenser.
- the method may include using the device 100 provided with various combinations of the optional features of the device 100 described above to sanitize a bottled water dispenser.
- the method may include sanitizing a bottled water dispenser having a feed probe 50 of known outer diameter using the portable boiler 110 with the nozzle 200 flow coupled thereto.
- the nozzle 200 may be adapted so that the inner wall 226 has a diameter greater than a diameter of the outer wall 54 of the feed probe 50 (i.e., internal diameter of nozzle 200 is greater than external diameter of feed probe 50 ).
- the method may include flow coupling the nozzle 200 and the openings 52 of the feed probe 50 by placing the feed probe 50 at least partially inside the nozzle 200 so that a gap 56 exists between the outer diameter of the feed probe 50 and an inner diameter of the nozzle 200 .
- the method may further include flowing steam into the gap 56 and into the openings 52 of the feed probe 50 to thereby sanitize the exterior and interior of the feed probe 50 .
- the exterior and interior of the feed probe 50 may be sanitized simultaneously.
- the method may also include flowing steam into the gap 56 to increase pressure in the gap 56 so that steam is forced from the gap 56 into the openings 52 of the feed probe 50 .
- the method may further include flow coupling the nozzle 200 and the feed probe 50 by placing the nozzle 200 over the feed probe 50 so that the second end 222 of the nozzle 200 contacts the bottom surface 82 of the cylindrical portion 80 .
- the nozzle 200 may be tapered so that an inner diameter of the nozzle 200 adjacent to the second end 222 of the nozzle 200 is only slightly larger than the outside diameter of the probe 50 .
- the nozzle 200 may include a seal member for providing a seal 280 between the outer wall 54 and the inner wall 226 adjacent to the second end 222 of the nozzle 200 .
- the nozzle 200 may have a larger inner diameter a short distance from the second end 222 , so that the gap 56 exists between the outer wall 54 and the inner wall 226 .
- Providing the seal member 280 may facilitate a pressure increase in the gap 56 to force steam into the openings 52 of the feed probe 50 .
- the method may include assembling certain parts of the device 100 .
- the operator of the device 100 may couple the portable boiler 110 with the steam tube 120 .
- the steam tube 110 may be coupled with both the guard 300 and the nozzle 200 .
- the operator may fill the housing 130 of the portable boiler 110 with water.
- the operator may fill the housing 130 with hot water from the dispenser to decrease the amount of time required for the portable boiler 110 to begin producing steam.
- the steam may be provided in the fluid flow path of the dispenser for at least twenty seconds, and may be provided for three minutes or more. Temperature in the fluid-contacting components may reach a minimum of from about 75° C. to about 100° C. to assure that the components are sanitized (i.e., algae, bacteria, and/or other live contaminants are killed and/or removed).
- the air filter 60 may be removed from the air conduit 62 and at least one of the dispensing valves 74 , 76 may be opened.
- the dispensing valves 74 , 76 may be maintained in an open position by using a specially designed clip and/or any other suitable device. Removing the air filter 60 and opening the dispensing valves 74 , 76 may facilitate the flow of steam throughout the fluid flow path.
- the method may include coupling the nozzle 200 with one of the dispensing valves 74 , 76 to provide steam in one of the first and second outlet conduits 70 , 72 via an adapter such as the adapter 600 shown in FIG. 10.
- the dispensing valves 74 , 76 may be maintained in the open position using a suitable clip or other device. Steam provided in the outlet conduit (e.g., first and second outlet conduits 70 , 72 ) may be allowed to flow into the reservoir, and from the reservoir into the air conduit 62 and the feed probe 50 .
- the method may include coupling the nozzle 200 with the outlet end of the air conduit 62 .
- the air filter 60 may be removed before coupling the nozzle 200 with the air conduit 62 .
- steam may be provided in the air conduit 62 and allowed to flow into the reservoir, and from the reservoir into the feed probe 50 and into the first and second outlet conduits 74 , 76 .
- the method may include sanitizing a bottled water dispenser that does not include a receiving component including a feed probe 50 .
- this embodiment of the method may include flow coupling the outlet 140 of the portable boiler 110 , flow coupling the reservoir 500 with the adapter 400 to removably seal the adapter 400 with the reservoir 500 , and flow coupling the nozzle 200 with the inlet 410 of the adapter 400 .
- the adapter 400 may be removed from the reservoir 500 .
- This embodiment of the method may alternately include use of the adapter 700 of FIG. 11 when the adapter 700 is sized to removably couple with an interior of a reservoir of a bottled water dispenser.
- the method may include flow coupling the second end 222 of the nozzle 200 with the outlet end 334 of the tubular member 330 , and applying steam from the first end 212 of the nozzle 200 to an exterior of the dispenser 10 (e.g., the cabinet 20 and cover plate 30 ) to clean and sanitize the exterior of the dispenser 10 .
- the exterior of the dispenser 10 may be sanitized either before or after sanitizing the components defining the fluid flow path.
- a water bottle 90 installed on the dispenser 10 may be removed from the dispenser 10 (see FIG. 6). The operator may then drain water from the reservoir, and sanitize the device according to one of the embodiments of the method described above. The operator may also replace one or more parts on the water dispenser 10 . For example, the operator may replace the air filter 60 with a new air filter and/or replace the receiving component 40 with a new receiving component. After the sanitizing is complete, the operator may reinstalls a water bottle (either same or new) on the dispenser 10 .
- the dispenser 10 may advantageously allow bottled water distributors and others to conduct dispenser sanitizing on site, without the use or harsh chemicals or the need to substantially disassemble the dispenser.
- the method may be used in connection with a water dispenser that dispenses water from sources other than a water bottle.
- the method may include sanitizing a drinking fountain and/or a point-of-use water dispenser.
- Such dispensers may be permanently plumbed into a water source or may have a reservoir that is manually filled with water.
- the method may include sanitizing a potable liquid dispenser that dispenses a liquid other than water.
- the potable liquid dispenser may dispense a fruit drink.
- Couple means linked together in some respect.
- the term “couple” is not intended to require direct physical contact between components coupled.
- the term “flow couple” means placed in flow communication.
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Abstract
Description
- This application is a continuation of co-pending PCT International Application No. PCT/US01/01980, filed Jan. 22, 2001, and a continuation-in-part of co-pending PCT International Application No. PCT/NO01/00018, filed Jan. 19, 2001, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a method of sanitizing bottled water dispensers and a device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of sanitizing a bottled water dispenser with steam and a device for sanitizing a bottled water dispenser with steam.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- Bottled water dispensers are found in enormous numbers throughout the world to provide a safe and healthy source of drinking water. Such dispensers are commonly found in, for example, workshops, offices, reception rooms, stores, and other public areas, as well as private residences. As the public grows more health conscious and increasingly aware of the benefits of consuming purified drinking water, the number of bottled water dispensers continues to grow.
- To assure that water obtained from such dispensers is free of contamination, it is important to regularly clean and sanitize components of the bottled water dispenser coming into contact with the water. In particular, over time, a bottled water dispenser can develop bacteria, algae, and other impurities inside the fluid passageways of the dispenser. Absent regular cleaning and sanitizing of the fluid passageways, such impurities can end up in the drinking water dispensed from the dispenser.
- Conventional bottled water dispensers come in many varieties. Most dispensers are designed to accept plastic containers (e.g., 5 gallon bottles) containing spring or purified water that are installed on the dispenser in an inverted orientation. Although the designs of bottled water dispensers currently on the market widely vary, most dispensers include certain standard water-contacting components that require regular cleaning and sanitizing. For example, conventional dispensers generally include a reservoir designed to maintain a supply of water ready to be dispensed from the reservoir via an outlet conduit including a faucet (i.e., dispensing valve). Indeed, some dispensers include a reservoir designed to maintain water at multiple temperatures. Such reservoirs often include a cooling element designed to maintain water at a chilled temperature in a particular section of the reservoir. The reservoir may also include a separate section for maintaining water at room temperature (i.e., cook temperature). Some dispensers further include a heating element to provide hot water in a particular section of the reservoir. Water dispensers designed to dispense water of multiple temperatures generally have a reservoir divided into several sections and have an outlet conduit including several faucets (i.e., hot, cold, and/or cook faucets)
- Bottled water dispensers also generally include a receiving component that provides an inlet conduit to enable flow of water from an interior of the inverted water bottle into the reservoir and to enable flow of air from the reservoir into the interior of the inverted water bottle. In some dispensers, the receiving component supports at least a portion of the weight of the inverted water bottle, while in other dispensers the weight of the inverted water bottle is supported by other components, such as a cover plate of the dispenser. In modern dispensers, the receiving component is often equipped with a no-spill system designed to provide a substantially contamination-free flow path for water from the inverted water bottle to the water reservoir. Such systems generally permit a user of the water dispenser to install and remove a filled water bottle without spilling water from the water bottle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,152 discloses an exemplary no-spill system, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- The receiving component of many no-spill systems may include a feed probe designed to couple with a special closure on the water bottle to provide a contamination-free flow path from the interior of the water bottle to the reservoir. The receiving component may also include a seal member to provide a seal between the receiving component and an interior of the reservoir. By sealing the receiving component with the interior of the reservoir, the no-spill system helps to prevent air-born impurities from contaminating the water in the reservoir. Such no-spill systems often also include a separate air conduit that enables outside air to communicate with the reservoir and the interior of the inverted water bottle. The air conduit may include a conventional air filter to prevent air-born impurities from entering components of the water dispenser via the air conduit.
- To maintain a sanitary, contamination-free fluid flow path inside the bottled water dispenser, all water-contacting components should be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis. As mentioned above, such water-contacting components can include at least the inlet conduit, the reservoir, and the outlet conduit including the faucets. The air conduit should also be regularly cleaned and sanitized when included on the particular dispenser. Indeed, conventional techniques for cleaning and sanitizing components of bottled water dispensers have proven to be time consuming, labor intensive, environmentally unfriendly, and generally unsatisfactory.
- One conventional technique for cleaning bottled water dispensers is a washing method. In this method, the components requiring cleaning are removed from the dispenser and cleaned in a washing machine approved for commercial kitchens. This method has numerous disadvantages. For example, the washing method is labor intensive since components of the dispenser have a tendency to become stuck and are often difficult to remove and reinstall. Additionally, in bottled water dispensers with air conduits, it may not be practicable to remove the air conduit from the dispenser to wash it. Moreover, there is a risk of contamination of the components when reinstalling them into the dispenser.
- Another conventional cleaning technique is a chemical method. In this method, similar to the washing method, the components requiring cleaning may be removed from the bottled water dispenser. The components may then be cleaned with a bactericidal chemical and rinsed with pure water. Like the washing method, the chemical method is labor intensive, has a risk of contamination of the components during reinstallation, and may not be satisfactory for dispensers having air conduits. Also, it may be difficult to know when the bactericidal chemical has been completely rinsed from the components. The possibility of failing to adequately rinse chemicals from the dispenser components is a significant downside to this method since a primary purpose of the bottled water dispenser is to provide pure and natural water, free of contaminants.
- An additional cleaning method is a swap-out method. In this method, the components requiring cleaning are removed and replaced with new components. This method is labor intensive, environmentally unfriendly, and costly since the used components are often discarded. Moreover, this method, like the previous two, has a risk of contamination of the components during reinstallation.
- Yet another cleaning method is an ozonation method. This method involves flushing the fluid passageways of the dispenser with ozonated water. However, this method requires special equipment and sometimes is not completely effective.
- In light of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an improved method and device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers.
- In accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a method of sanitizing a bottled water dispenser with steam. The method may include transporting a portable boiler to a location of a bottled water dispenser. The method also may include generating steam in the portable boiler at the location of the bottled water dispenser, and flowing steam through an outlet of the portable boiler. The method may further include flow coupling the outlet of the portable boiler with an opening of the bottled water dispenser, wherein the opening leads to a fluid flow path of the bottled water dispenser. The method may additionally include flowing steam into the fluid flow path through the opening of the bottled water dispenser, and maintaining steam flow through at least a portion of the fluid flow path for a time period sufficient to sanitize the portion of the fluid flow path.
- In an aspect, the method may further include transporting the portable boiler to a location of a different bottled water dispenser, and sanitizing at least a portion of a fluid flow path of the different bottled water dispenser.
- In another aspect, the method may include flow coupling an outlet of a portable boiler with a nozzle, flow coupling a reservoir of a bottled water dispenser with an adapter configured to removably seal with an opening of the reservoir, and flow coupling the nozzle with an inlet of the adapter.
- In an additional aspect, the invention includes a device for sanitizing a bottled water dispenser with steam. The device may include a housing and a heating element configured to generate steam in the housing. For example, the housing and the heating element could be a portion of a portable boiler. If the device includes a housing, the device may further include an outlet of said housing configured to dispense steam from said housing. The device may also include a nozzle adapted to engage an opening of a bottled water dispenser leading to a fluid flow path. The nozzle is optionally designed to flow couple the outlet of the housing with the opening of the bottled water dispenser to thereby cause a sanitizing steam environment within the fluid flow path of the bottled water dispenser.
- It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
- The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,
- FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a device for sanitizing a bottled water dispenser;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the nozzle and the guard illustrated in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the nozzle and the guard illustrated in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the guard shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;
- FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the guard shown in FIG. 4A cut along line A-A;
- FIG. 4C is a schematic view of a first side of the guard shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B;
- FIG. 4D is a schematic view of a second side of the guard shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and4C;
- FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of an adapter for coupling with a bottled water dispenser;
- FIG. 6 is an exemplary illustration of a prior art bottled water dispenser for use in connection with the invention;
- FIG. 7 is a view of the prior art bottled water dispenser of FIG. 6 with the water bottle removed;
- FIG. 8 is a view of a receiving component of the prior art bottled water dispenser of FIGS. 6 and 7;
- FIG. 9 is a partial-schematic cross-sectional view of a nozzle and a receiving component of the prior art bottled water dispenser shown in FIGS.6-8;
- FIG. 10 is a view of a second embodiment of an adapter for coupling with a bottled water dispenser; and
- FIG. 11 is a view of a third embodiment of an adapter for coupling with a bottled water dispenser.
- Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
- In accordance with the invention, there is provided a device for sanitizing a bottled water dispenser with steam. FIG. 1 shows a view of a
device 100 and a receivingcomponent 40 of a bottled water dispenser. Thedevice 100 may include aboiler 110 for generating steam and asteam tube 120. Theboiler 110 may be portable. Alternatively, theboiler 110 could be provided at a particular location, and the bottled water dispenser could be transported to theboiler 110. Theportable boiler 110 may be, for example, a portion of a portable wallpaper stripper. Theportable boiler 110 may include ahousing 130 and a heating element configured to generate steam in thehousing 130. The heating element may be, for example, a 2,300 Watt electrical heating element provided in thehousing 130. The steam generated by theportable boiler 110 may be about 100° C., although the actual temperature of the steam may vary depending on the local atmospheric pressure. The steam could also be slightly superheated (i.e., higher temperature than boiling water). - The
housing 130 may include anoutlet 140 configured to couple (directly or indirectly) with thesteam tube 120. Thehousing 130 may also includes afill opening 160 and aclosure 162 on thefill opening 160 to facilitate filling of thehousing 130 with liquid water. In an embodiment, thehousing 130 may be filled with up to about 4 liters or more of liquid water for conversion to steam. Depending on the type of portable boiler, as well as the amount and temperature of the liquid water added to thehousing 130 of theportable boiler 110, the amount of time required for theportable boiler 110 to begin producing steam may vary. For example, theportable boiler 110 may take up to approximately 15 minutes to begin producing steam. Alternatively, theportable boiler 110 may be capable of generating steam in a matter of seconds. Theportable boiler 110 also may optionally include apressure relief valve 150 to prevent pressure from building up in thehousing 130. - In an embodiment of the
device 100 including thesteam tube 120, thesteam tube 120 has afirst end 122 and asecond end 124. Thefirst end 122 may be designed to couple with theoutlet 140 of theportable boiler 110. Thesteam tube 120 may be a flexible hose; however, the steam tube could also be a rigid or semi-rigid tube. Alternatively, thedevice 100 may not include asteam tube 120 and theoutlet 140 of theportable boiler 110 may be configured to flow couple with an opening of a bottled water dispenser without use of a steam tube. - FIGS. 6 and 7 are views of an exemplary prior art bottled water dispenser that could be used in accordance with the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that bottled water dispensers come in many varieties and the example shown in the drawings and described herein is merely for illustrative purposes.
- The
dispenser 10 may include acabinet 20 and acover plate 30 on an upper portion of thecabinet 20. Thedispenser 10 may also optionally include a receivingcomponent 40 coupled with a reservoir of thedispenser 10. The reservoir may hold a supply of water for dispensing. Alternately, thedispenser 10 may be configured to dispense water directly from a water bottle through a conduit optionally capable of heating or cooling the water prior to dispensing. - FIG. 8 shows a view of the receiving
component 40 removed from thedispenser 10. The receivingcomponent 40 may include aseal member 92 for sealing the receivingcomponent 40 with an interior of the reservoir of thedispenser 10. The receivingcomponent 40 may also include atubular feed probe 50 havingopenings 52. The receivingcomponent 40 also optionally includes anair filter 60 on an end of anair conduit 62 enabling air flow between the reservoir and outside of thedispenser 10. - The
dispenser 10 may further include an outlet conduit enabling flow of water from the reservoir. In the embodiment shown, the outlet conduit may include afirst outlet conduit 70 and asecond outlet conduit 72. Thefirst outlet conduit 70 may include afirst dispensing valve 74. Thefirst outlet conduit 70, for example, may be coupled with a section of the reservoir configured to provide chilled water. Thesecond outlet conduit 72 may include asecond dispensing valve 76. Thesecond outlet conduit 72, for example, may be coupled with a section of the reservoir configured to provide one of hot water and room temperature water. - FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a
nozzle 200 and aguard 300, similar to the nozzle and the guard illustrated in FIG. 1. Thenozzle 200 may be configured to direct steam flowing from thesteam tube 120 in at least a portion of a fluid flow path of thebottled water dispenser 10. In an embodiment, the fluid flow path of thedispenser 10 may include at least the reservoir, thefeed probe 50, the first andsecond outlet conduits air conduit 62. Alternately, the fluid flow path may include various combinations of these components, and/or other components of the bottled water dispenser. Thenozzle 200 may be optionally adapted to couple with one or more of thefeed probe 50, the first andsecond outlet conduits air conduit 62. - In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the
nozzle 200 may include afirst portion 210 and asecond portion 220. Thefirst portion 210 includes afirst end 212 of thenozzle 200, and thesecond portion 220 includes asecond end 222 of thenozzle 200. Thefirst portion 210 may be tapered so that thefirst portion 210 has a smaller cross-section adjacent to thefirst end 212 of thenozzle 200. Thesecond portion 220 may be tapered so that thesecond portion 220 has a smaller cross-section adjacent to thesecond end 222 of thenozzle 200. Thefirst end 212 of thenozzle 200 may be configured to couple with thesecond end 124 of thesteam tube 120. Thesecond end 222 of thenozzle 200 may be configured to couple with the receivingcomponent 40 of thedispenser 10. - FIG. 9 shows a partial-schematic cross-sectional view of the
nozzle 200 flow coupled with thefeed probe 50 of the receivingcomponent 40. In an embodiment, thesecond portion 220 of thenozzle 200 has aninner wall 226 having a diameter greater than a diameter of anouter wall 54 of thefeed probe 50. When thefeed probe 50 is placed at least partially inside thesecond portion 220 via an opening in thesecond end 222, theinner wall 226 and theouter wall 54 define agap 56. Thenozzle 200 may be adapted to direct steam flowing from thenozzle 200 into thegap 56 and into theopenings 52 of thefeed probe 50 to thereby sanitize theouter wall 54 and an interior 58 of thefeed probe 50. In one embodiment, thegap 56 may be about 3 mm so as to assure that thenozzle 200 does not contact theprobe 50 and thereby cause contamination between thenozzle 200 and theprobe 50. - The
nozzle 200 may also be adapted so that steam flowing from thenozzle 200 provides a pressure in thegap 56 sufficient to force steam from thegap 56 into theopenings 52 of thefeed probe 50. Thenozzle 200 may be sized so that thefeed probe 50 fits at least substantially inside thesecond portion 220 of thenozzle 200 and thesecond end 222 of thenozzle 220 is able to contact abottom surface 82 of acylindrical portion 80 of the receivingcomponent 40. - In an embodiment, the
nozzle 200 may optionally include a seal member 290 (e.g. O-ring) on thesecond portion 220 sized to seal against awall 84 of thecylindrical portion 80. Thedevice 100 may include an adapter designed to couple with thenozzle 200 for sealing against thewall 84. For example, the adapter could be an annular member including an O-ring groove machined along a circumference with an O-ring in the groove. The adapter may be adapted to couple with both thenozzle 200 and thewall 84 of thecylindrical portion 80. Alternatively, the adapter and thenozzle 200 may be a single piece of unitary construction. - In another embodiment, the
nozzle 200 may be configured to seal with awall 86 of the receivingcomponent 40. For example, referring to FIG. 11, thedevice 100 may include anadapter 700 sized to couple with thewall 86 of the receivingcomponent 40. Theadapter 700 may include anannular part 702 having aninlet 704 for receiving thenozzle 200. Theinlet 704 may include agroove 706 for receiving a seal member that may be on thenozzle 200. Theannular part 702 may also include agroove 708 capable of including a seal member for sealing with thewall 86. Alternatively, theannular part 702 of theadapter 700 may be sized to removably couple with an interior of a reservoir of a bottled water dispenser. - Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and4A-4D, the
device 100 may also include aguard 300 configured to protect a hand of an operator of thedevice 100 from contact with high temperature steam flowing from thenozzle 200. Theguard 300 may include a receivingportion 310 adapted to receive thesecond end 124 of thesteam tube 120. The guard may also include acylindrical portion 320 having afirst end 322 and asecond end 324. Thefirst end 322 may include the receivingportion 310, and thesecond end 324 may include an opening. An exterior of thecylindrical portion 320 may advantageously provides a gripping part for an operator of thedevice 100. Thecylindrical portion 320 may be tapered from a larger cross-section adjacent to thesecond end 324 to a smaller cross-section adjacent to thefirst end 322. - In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the receiving
portion 310 may include atubular member 330 extending through thefirst end 322 of thecylindrical portion 320. Thetubular member 330 has aninlet end 332 and anoutlet end 334. Theinlet end 332 may be adapted to couple with thesecond end 124 of thesteam tube 120. Theoutlet end 334 may be adapted to couple with thefirst end 212 of thenozzle 200. Theinlet end 332 may include a threadedsection 336 adapted to couple with a corresponding threaded section on thesecond end 124 of thesteam tube 120. - FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment for coupling the
nozzle 200 and theguard 300. In this embodiment, theoutlet end 334 of thetubular member 330 may be optionally adapted to couple with thesecond end 222 of thenozzle 200. By coupling thesecond end 222 of thenozzle 200 with thesecond end 124 of thesteam tube 120 via thetubular member 330, thedevice 100 may be used to apply steam from thefirst end 212 of thenozzle 200 to, for example, thecabinet 20 of thedispenser 10. Applying steam from thefirst end 212 of thenozzle 200 may advantageously provide a higher velocity stream than thesecond end 222. The higher velocity stream may be useful for cleaning, for example, the exterior of thedispenser 10. - The
guard 300 may also include ashield member 340 on thecylindrical portion 320. Theshield member 340 may extend in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of flow of steam from thesecond end 124 of thesteam tube 120 when thesteam tube 120 is coupled with thetubular member 330 of theguard 300. Theshield member 340 may provide an operator of thedevice 100 with additional protection from the steam. - As shown in FIG. 2, the
guard 300 may be configured so that an air barrier is formed between an interior 326 of thecylindrical portion 320 of theguard 300 and anexterior 240 of thenozzle 200 when theguard 300 and thenozzle 200 are coupled together. The air barrier may provide a layer of thermal insulation between thecylindrical portion 320 and thenozzle 200 to further protect an operator of thedevice 100 from heat generated by the steam. - The guard may further include one of
more slots 350 and the nozzle may further include one ormore tabs 230 to facilitate coupling of thenozzle 200 and theguard 300. Theslots 350 and thetabs 230 may be configured so that thetabs 230 fit into theslots 350 to couple theguard 300 and thenozzle 200. For example, thetabs 230 may lock in theslots 350 when an operator inserts thetabs 230 into theslots 350 and turns thenozzle 200 relative to theguard 300. - FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an
adapter 400 removably coupled with areservoir 500. Thereservoir 500 is a schematic representation of a reservoir of the type commonly provided in bottled water dispensers. Theadapter 400 may be used in connection with sanitizing bottled water dispensers that do not include a no-spill system or other inlet components capable of easily coupling with thenozzle 200 to create a steam environment in the fluid flow path of the bottled water dispenser. Theadapter 400 may be configured to removably seal with an opening of thereservoir 500. (See also, theadapter 700 of FIG. 11 described supra.) For example, theadapter 400 may include an annular member having an O-ring groove machined along the circumference. Theadapter 400 may further include aseal member 420 for sealing with an interior of thereservoir 500. For example, theseal member 420 may be an O-ring sized to fit in an O-ring groove machined along the circumference of theadapter 400. Theadapter 400 may also include aninlet 410 configured to couple with thesecond end 222 of thenozzle 200. In an alternate embodiment, theadapter 400 and thenozzle 200 may be a single piece of unitary construction. - FIG. 10 is a view of an
adapter 600 for removably coupling thenozzle 200 with one of the dispensingvalves bottled water dispenser 10. Theadapter 600 may include anannular member 602 having afirst portion 604 for receiving the dispensingvalves second portion 606 for receiving thenozzle 200. Thefirst portion 604 may include agroove 608 capable of including a seal member (e.g., O-ring). When thegroove 602 includes a seal member, the seal member may be configured to provide a substantially sealed connection between theadapter 600 and the dispensingvalves second portion 606 may also include agroove 610 for receiving a seal member that may be on thenozzle 200. Alternatively, thesecond portion 606 may be configured so that thenozzle 200 can be press-fit into thesecond portion 606. In an embodiment, theadapter 600 and thenozzle 200 may be a single piece of unitary construction. - In another embodiment, the present invention includes a method of sanitizing the
bottled water dispenser 10 with steam. The method may include transporting theportable boiler 110 to a location of abottled water dispenser 10. For example, a distributor of bottled water may transport theportable boiler 110 to a customer having a bottled water dispenser requiring sanitizing. Alternatively, thebottled water dispenser 10 could be transported to a boiler at a particular location. The method may also include generating steam in theportable boiler 110, and flow coupling theoutlet 140 of theportable boiler 110 with an opening of thebottled water dispenser 10 leading to a fluid flow path of the bottled water dispenser. When sanitizing thedispenser 10, theportable boiler 110 could be flow coupled to any one of thefeed probe 50, thefirst outlet conduit 70, thesecond outlet conduit 72, and theair conduit 62. The method may further include flowing steam into the fluid flow path of thedispenser 10 through one of the openings set forth above, and maintaining steam flow through at least a portion of the fluid flow path for a time period sufficient to sanitize the portion of the fluid flow path. For example, steam may be flowed through an opening in the reservoir, through theopenings 52 of thefeed tube 50, through one of the first andsecond outlet conduits air conduit 62. Optionally, the steam flow may be maintained in one or more of the reservoir, thefeed tube 50, the first andsecond outlet conduits air conduit 62 for a time period sufficient to sanitize therein. In an embodiment, a minimum time period for maintaining steam flow is at least twenty seconds. In another embodiment, the minimum time period for maintaining steam flow is at least three minutes. - In an embodiment, the method may further include transporting the
portable boiler 110 from the location of thebottled water dispenser 10 to a location of a different bottled water dispenser, for sanitizing the fluid flow path of the different bottled water dispenser. - In another embodiment, the method may include using the
device 100 provided with various combinations of the optional features of thedevice 100 described above to sanitize a bottled water dispenser. - In a further embodiment, the method may include sanitizing a bottled water dispenser having a
feed probe 50 of known outer diameter using theportable boiler 110 with thenozzle 200 flow coupled thereto. Thenozzle 200 may be adapted so that theinner wall 226 has a diameter greater than a diameter of theouter wall 54 of the feed probe 50 (i.e., internal diameter ofnozzle 200 is greater than external diameter of feed probe 50). The method may include flow coupling thenozzle 200 and theopenings 52 of thefeed probe 50 by placing thefeed probe 50 at least partially inside thenozzle 200 so that agap 56 exists between the outer diameter of thefeed probe 50 and an inner diameter of thenozzle 200. The method may further include flowing steam into thegap 56 and into theopenings 52 of thefeed probe 50 to thereby sanitize the exterior and interior of thefeed probe 50. In an embodiment, the exterior and interior of thefeed probe 50 may be sanitized simultaneously. The method may also include flowing steam into thegap 56 to increase pressure in thegap 56 so that steam is forced from thegap 56 into theopenings 52 of thefeed probe 50. The method may further include flow coupling thenozzle 200 and thefeed probe 50 by placing thenozzle 200 over thefeed probe 50 so that thesecond end 222 of thenozzle 200 contacts thebottom surface 82 of thecylindrical portion 80. - In an embodiment, the
nozzle 200 may be tapered so that an inner diameter of thenozzle 200 adjacent to thesecond end 222 of thenozzle 200 is only slightly larger than the outside diameter of theprobe 50. For example, thenozzle 200 may include a seal member for providing aseal 280 between theouter wall 54 and theinner wall 226 adjacent to thesecond end 222 of thenozzle 200. In this embodiment, thenozzle 200 may have a larger inner diameter a short distance from thesecond end 222, so that thegap 56 exists between theouter wall 54 and theinner wall 226. Providing theseal member 280 may facilitate a pressure increase in thegap 56 to force steam into theopenings 52 of thefeed probe 50. - In still another embodiment, the method may include assembling certain parts of the
device 100. For example, the operator of thedevice 100 may couple theportable boiler 110 with thesteam tube 120. Thesteam tube 110 may be coupled with both theguard 300 and thenozzle 200. The operator may fill thehousing 130 of theportable boiler 110 with water. When sanitizing a dispenser configured to provide hot water, the operator may fill thehousing 130 with hot water from the dispenser to decrease the amount of time required for theportable boiler 110 to begin producing steam. - In an embodiment, the steam may be provided in the fluid flow path of the dispenser for at least twenty seconds, and may be provided for three minutes or more. Temperature in the fluid-contacting components may reach a minimum of from about 75° C. to about 100° C. to assure that the components are sanitized (i.e., algae, bacteria, and/or other live contaminants are killed and/or removed).
- In another embodiment, prior to providing steam in the fluid flow path, the
air filter 60 may be removed from theair conduit 62 and at least one of the dispensingvalves valves air filter 60 and opening the dispensingvalves - In still another embodiment, the method may include coupling the
nozzle 200 with one of the dispensingvalves second outlet conduits adapter 600 shown in FIG. 10. When employing this embodiment of the method, the dispensingvalves second outlet conduits 70, 72) may be allowed to flow into the reservoir, and from the reservoir into theair conduit 62 and thefeed probe 50. - In yet another embodiment, the method may include coupling the
nozzle 200 with the outlet end of theair conduit 62. Theair filter 60 may be removed before coupling thenozzle 200 with theair conduit 62. After coupling thenozzle 200 and theair conduit 62, steam may be provided in theair conduit 62 and allowed to flow into the reservoir, and from the reservoir into thefeed probe 50 and into the first andsecond outlet conduits - In still another embodiment, the method may include sanitizing a bottled water dispenser that does not include a receiving component including a
feed probe 50. Referring to FIG. 5, this embodiment of the method may include flow coupling theoutlet 140 of theportable boiler 110, flow coupling thereservoir 500 with theadapter 400 to removably seal theadapter 400 with thereservoir 500, and flow coupling thenozzle 200 with theinlet 410 of theadapter 400. After flowing steam from thenozzle 200 into thereservoir 500 via theadapter 400, theadapter 400 may be removed from thereservoir 500. This embodiment of the method may alternately include use of theadapter 700 of FIG. 11 when theadapter 700 is sized to removably couple with an interior of a reservoir of a bottled water dispenser. - Referring to FIG. 3, in another embodiment, the method may include flow coupling the
second end 222 of thenozzle 200 with theoutlet end 334 of thetubular member 330, and applying steam from thefirst end 212 of thenozzle 200 to an exterior of the dispenser 10 (e.g., thecabinet 20 and cover plate 30) to clean and sanitize the exterior of thedispenser 10. The exterior of thedispenser 10 may be sanitized either before or after sanitizing the components defining the fluid flow path. - In another embodiment, after transporting the
device 100 to the location of thebottled water dispenser 10, awater bottle 90 installed on thedispenser 10 may be removed from the dispenser 10 (see FIG. 6). The operator may then drain water from the reservoir, and sanitize the device according to one of the embodiments of the method described above. The operator may also replace one or more parts on thewater dispenser 10. For example, the operator may replace theair filter 60 with a new air filter and/or replace the receivingcomponent 40 with a new receiving component. After the sanitizing is complete, the operator may reinstalls a water bottle (either same or new) on thedispenser 10. Thedispenser 10 may advantageously allow bottled water distributors and others to conduct dispenser sanitizing on site, without the use or harsh chemicals or the need to substantially disassemble the dispenser. - Although the method provided herein has been described primarily in connection with a bottled water dispenser, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the method may be used in connection with a water dispenser that dispenses water from sources other than a water bottle. For example, the method may include sanitizing a drinking fountain and/or a point-of-use water dispenser. Such dispensers may be permanently plumbed into a water source or may have a reservoir that is manually filled with water.
- In an additional embodiment, the method may include sanitizing a potable liquid dispenser that dispenses a liquid other than water. For example, the potable liquid dispenser may dispense a fruit drink.
- As used herein, the term “couple” means linked together in some respect. The term “couple” is not intended to require direct physical contact between components coupled. The term “flow couple” means placed in flow communication.
- It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure and methodology of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention covers modifications and variations of this invention, provided that they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims (28)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US09/951,736 US20020029775A1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2001-09-14 | Method and device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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NO20000335 | 2000-01-21 | ||
NO20000335A NO311078B1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2000-01-21 | Thermal disinfection apparatus for fox-delivering equipment and method of disinfection |
PCT/NO2001/000018 WO2001052908A1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2001-01-19 | Steam sanitizer for water coolers |
PCT/US2001/001980 WO2001052909A1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2001-01-22 | Method and device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers |
US09/951,736 US20020029775A1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2001-09-14 | Method and device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers |
Related Parent Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/NO2001/000018 Continuation-In-Part WO2001052908A1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2001-01-19 | Steam sanitizer for water coolers |
PCT/US2001/001980 Continuation-In-Part WO2001052909A1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2001-01-22 | Method and device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers |
Publications (1)
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US20020029775A1 true US20020029775A1 (en) | 2002-03-14 |
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ID=26649197
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/951,736 Abandoned US20020029775A1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2001-09-14 | Method and device for sanitizing bottled water dispensers |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20020029775A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2010091920A1 (en) | 2009-02-10 | 2010-08-19 | Unilever Nv | Beverage vending method and device |
WO2011160975A1 (en) | 2010-06-25 | 2011-12-29 | Unilever Nv | Beverage vending method and apparatus |
WO2016197242A1 (en) * | 2015-06-09 | 2016-12-15 | Andrei Yui | Top-loading bottled water dispensers with hot water sanitizing features |
-
2001
- 2001-09-14 US US09/951,736 patent/US20020029775A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2010091920A1 (en) | 2009-02-10 | 2010-08-19 | Unilever Nv | Beverage vending method and device |
WO2011160975A1 (en) | 2010-06-25 | 2011-12-29 | Unilever Nv | Beverage vending method and apparatus |
WO2016197242A1 (en) * | 2015-06-09 | 2016-12-15 | Andrei Yui | Top-loading bottled water dispensers with hot water sanitizing features |
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