US2302008A

US2302008A - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: US2302008A
Application number: US299933A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl L Daun
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-10-18
Filing date: 1939-10-18
Publication date: 1942-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1959-11-17

Description

Nov. 17, 1942. C. L DAUN DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, 1939 2 :meets-Sheet 1 INV ENT OR. ABL L. DAUN ATTORNEY.

BY l W Nov. 17, 1942. C, L DAUN 2,302,008

DI SPENS ING DEVICE Filed Oct'. 18. 1939 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 A: 5gg/11111' rllllullnllllflll/L INVENTOR CARL L. .DUN

WWQW

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 1.7, 1942 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSIN G DEVICE Carl L. Daun, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application October 18, 1939, Serial No. 299,933 1 12 claims. (ci. 22a- 3) This invention relates to the method of and means for cooling liquids, and although capable of highly advantageous use in cooling and dispensing` carbonated beverages such as beer, may

also be employed for cooling various other liquids. A

One of the objects of the invention is to provide for very rapid and efficient cooling of the liquid. For example, in connection with the cooling and dispensing of beer, the cooling action is attained during the passage of the beer through 1 0 the tap rod, although this distance is usually not more than twenty-eight inches in length, and it is necessary at times to effect a temperature drop of twenty degrees or more.

Another object of the invention is to so cir- -1 5 culate the refrigerant that it operates' `with maximum efficiency to effect cooling of the liquid,

and incidentally its circulation is insured.

Generally speaking, the present invention proposes to form the liquid to be cooled into a tubu- 20 lar, usually a cylindrical film, and then to cool both surfaces of the iilm. This may be advantageously accomplished by forming and flowing the film through a film-forming conduit constituted of two closely spaced, thin metal walls of high thermal conductivity and circulating the refrigerant or cooling medium through jackets surrounding both the inner and outer walls of the film-forming conduit, the refrigerant or coolin contact first with the inner surface of the inner wall and then in contact with the outer surface of the outer wall.

Where the invention is employed for the purpose of cooling beer, the film-forming conduit and the jackets therefor and their connections (which constitute the refrigerant or cooling medium means), are all incorporated in a tap rod construction, which as is well known, is inserted through a tap bushing in the head of the beer barrel or keg and extends down through the beer to a low point in the barrel. A tap rod constructed in accordance with the present invention would be made up generally of three metal tubes, usually concentric, the tubes being thin-walled and of high thermal conductivity. Combinedv with the tubes is means to provide an inlet from a low point in the barrel to the space between the inner and intermediate tubes and means at the upper ends of the tubes for conveying the cooled beer from the space between the inner and intermediate tubes to a dispensing faucet. Means `is also combined with the inner tube, intermediate and outer tubes'to cause refrigerant first Yto pass down throughthe inner tube, then to cross over into and flow up through the space vbetween the intermediate and outer tubes, and

finally return to the refrigerating unit. The space between the inner and intermediate tubes through which the beer flows is very slight, being of the order of .003 of an inch, so that when the beer ows through this space it is formed into a cylindrical film, the surfaces of which engage or are in contact with the chilled metal walls defining the space.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in diametrical vertical section, and partly in side elevation, showing a tap rod embodying the present invention and of the type adapted for the direct draw of the beer.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing a slight modification of the structure.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the device embodied in the tap rod of the` partly in diametrical vertical section, showing ing medium in flowing through said jackets being 30 still another modification of the invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentaryview partly in elevation and partly in section further illustrating the cross-over construction employed between the inner tube and the space between the intermediate and outer tubes.

Figures 6, 7, and 8 are views in section taken onl lines 6 6, 1 1, and 8--8, respectively .of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view in elevation illustrating the manner in which the tap rod embodying the present invention is combined with a beer keg.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that in all embodiments of the invention the tap rod employed for carrying out the cooling method, and designated as a whole at T, is made up generally of an inner tube l0, an intermediate tube Il, and an outer tubular structure designated generally at l2. In all forms of the invention the inner and intermediate tubes l0 and Il are constituted of a single length of tubing, and this is true of the outer tube also in the form of the invention shown in Figure 4. However, in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the outer tubular structure l2 is made up of a number of sections suitably connected together. In the particular construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the outer tubular structure I2 comprises a lower tube section I3, a short intermediate tube section I4, a fitting l5 connecting the sections I3 and I4, and a tting I 6 connected to the section I4.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 3, the tting I6 is connected to the lower end of the upper section Il of the outer tube structure I2, which upper section is of the same diameter as the intermediate and lower sections.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the fitting I6 is connected to the lower end of the short connecting section I8 of the outer tube structure, which in turn connects to a coupling I9 between it and the lower end of an enlarged chamber 26, the chamber 2|!y being also of tubular form, but of larger diameter than that of the other sections of the outer tube structure I2.

The construction employed at the lower end of the tap rod is the same in Figures 1 `to 3 and is shown in Figure 1 only. As there illustrated, the space I2` between the intermediate and outer tubes is closed at the lower ends of the tubes by a bushing 2| which iits within the lower end of the outer tube, and has an inwardly directed ilange 22 abutting the lower end of the intermediate tube I I. This bushing 2| is sweated or soldered to the tubes I I and I 2. The portion of the bushing 2| below its flange 22 is provided with internal threads, which engage in the assembly,

with external threads provided on the reduced upper end of an inlet tip 23. The inlet tip 23 has inlet openings 24 therein, is equipped with a screen 25, and establishes communication between the low point of the barrel and the space I6 between the inner and intermediate tubes IE! and II.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, the ends of the inner tube Il) have

crossovers

26 and 26 combined therewith which Serve as plugs to block off communication between the interior of the inner tube Ii) and the space I Il between the inner and intermediate tubes, and also form elbow-like ttings to establish communicaopen end tted in and soldered to its end of the` inner tube It. The outer end of each body portion 21 is closed by an integral and pointed end wall 28. Intermediate its ends each body portion 21 is pro-vided with an integral ported lateral projection 29 which is tted in and soldered to av correspondingly formed slot provided in the adjacent portion of the intermediate tube II. In the forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 3 the ports of the projections 29 open into the space I2 and establish free communication between this space |2 and the interior of the inner tube Id. The same is substantially true of the construction shown in Figure 2, save that the port of the upper projection 29 opens into the interior of the chamber 26, which is, in effect, an enlarged extension of the space I2.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 a barrier ring 36 is interposed between and soldered t-o the' section I 4 of the outer tubular structure I2 and the intermediate tube I I topre- For this purpose these cross-overs 26 and:

vent short-circuiting of the refrigerant and to cause the refrigerant flowing in through inlet ftting I6 to rise in the space IZ above the barrier ring 30, then pass through the upper cross-over 26 into the inner tube lil, down through the inner tube II), laterally through the lower crossover 26, and up through the space I2 below the barrier ring 30 to the return tting I5.

The construction of the upper end of the tap rod is varied in accordance with the type of apparatus with which it is employed. As shown in Figure 1, the space between the intermediate and outer tubes at the upper end thereof is blocked by intertting therewith and soldering thereto the reduced lower end of a pipe section 3|. The interior of the lower end of the pipe section 3| is in y open communication with the space or passageway I A faucet 32 is suitably coupled, as at 33, to the upper end of the pipe section 3|.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the faucet 32 connects with the space I6 be tween the intermediate and inner tubes by means of a connecting nipple 34. A ring 34' is tted between the upper end of tube and expansion chamber 2E] and is soldered thereto to close off the upper ends of these parts.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 3, pipe section 3| is employed, but connects with a beer cock 35 as this structure is adapted for basement draw.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 4, a single tting is employed to establish communication with the refrigerant lines and with the beer dispenser. This may take the form of a casting, designated at 453, and having an upper refrigerant line connecting nipple 4| and a lower refrigerant line connecting nipple 42 and an intermediate nipple 43 for connection with the beer dispenser. The upper end of the outer tube I2 is connected with and soldered to the lower end of this casting 43 and has open communication with the nipple 42. The intermediate tube |I has its upper end seated in and soldered to a ported partition 43 formed in casting 40 and disposed below the beer dispensing connection 43. The upper end of the inner tube IB is seated in and soldered to a ported partition 44 which is also integral with casting 4)V and is disposed just below the nipple 4|.

The casting 40 thus provides the structure to replace ttings I5 and I6 and cross-over 26 in the other forms of the invention. Between the lower end of the inner tube I6 and the intermediate tube I I a cross-over 26a is provided as before. In this instance, however, the cross-over 26a is formed by slotting the lower portion of the inner tube ||l and extruding or fianging out the margin ofv its slot, the flange of the slot `of the tube II) being fitted in and soldered to aV correspondingly formed slot in the tube ||V as before. Also, an inlet tip, designated at 23', of substantially the ,same construction as the inlet tip 23, is provided at the lower end of the tap rod. The inlet tip 23' is threadedly connected to a bushing 2 I which is combined with and soldered to the tubes and I2 in substantially the same manner as bushing 2|, but differs slightly in construction from the corresponding bushing 2| shown in Figure l, in

that the flange 22 is omitted, and in that the tip 23, which is threaded to the bushing 2| as before, also holds in place a disc-like strainer 25 which has its peripheral portion abutting against the lower end of the tube II, and a downwardly facing shoulder presented by the portion of the bushingll' located above its internally threaded action of the apparatus.

portion. |'he lower end of the v'inner Ytube IIl'in this form of the invention is closed by a, plug 45.

As 4illustrated in Figure `9, a tap rod T'embodying the present invention is inserted in the usual way-in the container or keg C, the convention tap fitting F being employed as usual between the tap rod T and the tap bushing (not shown).

The portion of the tap rod that extends down into the container extends to the low point in the barrel, as usual.

In all forms of the invention, the beer in flowing from the barrel flows out through the space I between the thin-walled metal tubes I0 and II of high thermal conductivity, and in passing ing or chilling the outer surface of the film in, In this way the beer being drawnl the space I0. is effectively cooled.

Furthermore, in passing up through the space I2 the refrigerant chills the outer tubular structure l 2. A portion at least of this structure I2 is immersed in the beer in a keg or barrel. As a consequence there is around the outside of the portion of the tubular structure I2 immersed in beer, a column of beer which is being continuously cooled. As this column of beer is cooled it falls and other warmer beer comes into Contact with the portion of the tubular structure I2 immersed in the beer. Thus, the beer in the keg is continuously cooled and gently circulated.

Another feature of importance is the fact that the refrigerant is so circulated as to be brought into heat interchanging relation with the beer being dispensed before exerting any cooling effect on the body of the beer in the keg. In fact, the refrigerant flowing down through the inner tube I0 is effectively insulated from the beer in the keg. This enhances the action and also insures circulation of the refrigerant since it is not deprived of enough heat to boil or vaporize in the inner tube I0. While there is an upilow of the refrigerant in the space I2 from the refrigerant inlet fitting I to the upper cross-over 26, there is no demand for any substantial refrigerating action since the refrigerant is merely protecting the previously cooled beer in the space III. The beer being dispensed is cooled during the downflow of the refrigerant inthe inner tube III and its upflow in the lower portion of space I2' on its Way to the return tting I5. And in some constructions, as shown in Figure 4 for example, there is no upllow of the refrigerant in space I2' at all. The advantage of having the enlarged chamber 20 is to insure a more even, efficient There is always adjacent the tap rod a supply of refrigerant suicient for the demands placed upon the tap rod. In other words, the chamber 20 provides in the tap rod a reservoir for a reserve supply of refrigerant to take care of peak demands and to pro- 'vide for uniform, eilicient cooling action at all times. Furthermore, the refrigerant chills the wall of the metal chamber 20 and forms a, frost thereon, which enhances the attractiveness of the It is to be understood that'any suitable cooling medium may be circulated through the tap rod. In some instances cold water may be used as the cooling medium. Preferably, however, the fittings I5 and I6 in the one instance, or the nipples 4I and 42 in the other, are connected up to a mechanical refrigerating unit. Some suitable form of a Vapor compression machine may be employed, and while any refrigerant may be employed, Freon has been used to good advantage.

Similarly, any suitablel metal or alloy may be employed for the tubes I 0, II, and I 2. It is essential that these tubes be thin Walled and of high thermal conductivity, and also chemically inert to beer or other liquid being cooled. Tubes constituted of tinned copper may be advantageously used.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the control which is had over the temperature of the beer or beverage in the keg or container. The mechanical refrigerating system with which the present invention is used may be regulated to accurately control or predetermine the temperature of the refrigerant in the passageway I2 between the intermediate and outer tubes. By maintaining the temperature in the passage-way I2 at the proper value, the temperature of the beer in the keg may be regulated accordingly. For example, in some instances it may be desirable to maintain the temperature of the refrigerant in the passage-way I2 at 28 F. This, of course, will bring the temperature of the beer surrounding and contacting with the outer tube to approximately the same temperature. As the beverage surrounding and in contact with the outer tube has its temperature lowered it will of course fall or move downwardly in the keg, thereby producing a gentle and continuous circulation of the beverage in the container to maintain it not only cool but also to age it and improve it as to palatability and other respects. It is to be understood, of course, that depending upon the conditions encountered the temperature of the refrigerant in the passage-way I2 may be raised or lowered as desired. The essential feature, in so far as this phase of the invention is concerned, is the fact that the refrigerant in a closed circuit is circulated through the tap rod in contact with the outer tube or wall thereof.`

While I have shown and described several constructions in which the invention may be advantageously embodied, it is to be understood thatk the constructions shown have been selected merely for the purpose o-f illustration or example, and that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. A tap rod for dispensing carbonated beverages from a container and comprising an inner thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity, an intermediate thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity surrounding and in closely spaced relation to the inner tube and coacting therewith to define an intermediate passageway of film-forming dimensions, an outer tubular structure surrounding and in spaced relation to the intermediate tube and coacting therewith to denne an outer passageway, crossover connections between the ends of the inner tube and said outer passageway, means for closing the lower end of the outer passageway, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod providing for communication between a low point ln the container and the intermediate passageway, means for closing the upper end of the outer passageway, a conduit leading from the upper end of the intermediate passageway, and means for circulating a refrigerant down through the inner tube and up through the outer passageway.

2. A tap rod for dispensing carbonated beverages from a container and comprising an inner thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity, an intermediate thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity surrounding and in closely spaced relation to the inner tube and coacting therewith to denne an intermediate passageway of film-forming dimensions, an outer tubular structure surrounding and in spaced relation to the intermediate tube and coacting therewith to denne an outer passageway, cross-over connections between the ends of the inner tube and said outer passageway, means for closing the lower end of the outer passageway, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod providing for communication between a low point in the container and the intermediate passageway, means for closing the upper end of the outer passageway, a conduit leading from the upper end f the intermediate passageway, inlet and return ttings connected to longitudinally spaced'portions of the outer passageway and adapted to be co-nnected to supply and return lines of the refrigerating system, and a barrier in the outer passageway intermediate said ttings.

3. A tap rod for carbonated beverages comprising an inner thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity, an intermediate thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity, an outer tubular structure surrounding and in spaced relation to the intermediate tube, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes being relatively slight and of film-forming dimensions, means connecting the inner tube and the intermediate tube at points longitudinally spaced along said tubes to establish communication between the interior of the inner tube and the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, andL closing off communication between the interior of the inner tube and the space between'the inner and intermediate tubes, means for closing off the space between the intermediate tube and the outer tubular structure at the lower ends thereof, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod communicating with the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, means for closing the space between the intermediate and outer tubes at the upper ends thereof, a conduit leading from the upper end of the space between the inner and lintermediate tubes, and means for circulating refrigerant down through the inner tube and then up through the space between the intermediate and outer tubes.

4. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising three concentric thinwalled metal tubes of high thermal conductivity, means combined with the lower ends of the tubes to provide an inlet from a low point in the container to the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, means combined with the inner, intermediate and outer tubes to convey a refrigerant down through the inner tube, then over into the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, and then up to a return line, and means adapted to convey the cooled beverage from the upper end of the space between the inner and intermediate tubes to the point where it is to be dispensed, the space between the .inner and intermediate tubes being relatively slight and of film-forming dimensions whereby the beverage in flowing through said space is formed into a cylindrical nlm and subjected as such to the cooling effect of the refrigerant exerted through the wall of the inner tube and the wall of the intermediate tube on both surfaces of the cylindrical iilm.

5. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising three concentric tubes, means connecting the inner tube and the cylindrical space between the intermediate tube and the outer tube at points axially spaced along said tubes and closing of communication between the interior of the inner tube and the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, means to close the ends of the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, means adapted to establish communication between the low point of the container and the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, means adapted to establish communication between the upper end of the space between the inner and intermediate tubes and a dispenser, means for supplying refrigerant to the upper end of the inner tube, means for conveying away refrigerant from the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes being relatively slight and of nlm-forming dimensions whereby the beverage in flowing through said space is formed into a cylindrical film and subjected as such to the cooling effect of a refrigerant exerted through the wall of the inner tube and the wall of the intermediate tube on both surfaces of the cylindrical film.

6. A tap rod for containers for carbonated beverages comprising an inner thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity, an intermediate thin-walled metal tube of high thermal conductivity, an outer tubular structure surrounding and in spaced relation to the intermediate tube, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes being relatively slight and of film-forming dimensions, means connecting the inner tube and the intermediate tube at points longitudinally spaced along said tubes to establish communication between the interior of the innerV tube and the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, and closing off communication between the interior of theiinner tube and the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, means for closing off the space between the intermediate tube and the outer tubular structure at the ends thereof, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod providing for communication between the low point in the container and the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, a conduit leading from the upper end of the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, inlet and return ttings connected to longitudinally spaced portions of the outer tubular structure and adapted to be connected to the supply and return lines of a refrigerating system, and a barrier in the space between the intermediate and outer tubes and located between said ttings, said outer tubular structure having an enlarged section on the supply side of said barrier providing a reservoir for the refrigerant supply to the tap rod.

'7. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising two tubes of high thermal conductivity disposed one within the other and deiining between them a nlm-forming conduit for the liquid to be cooled, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod providing for communication between a low point in the container and one end of said conduit, means for jacketing the outer tube, and means for circulating a cooling medium down through said inner tube and up through said jacket.

8. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising three tubes of high thermal conductivity disposed one within the other and in spaced relation, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes being relatively slight and of film-forming dimensions, cross-over connections establishing communication between the ends of the inner tube and the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, an inlet tip at the lower end of the tap rod providing for communication between a low point in the container and the space between the in ner and intermedi'- ate tubes, a conduit leading from the upper end of the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, inlet and return ttings connected to longitudinally spaced ports of the outer tube and adapted to be connected to the supply and return lines of a refrigerating system, and a barrier in the space between the intermediate and outer tubes and located between said ttings.

9. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising three concentric thinwalled metal tubes of high thermal conductivity, means combined with the lower ends of the tubes to provide an inlet from a low point in the container to the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, means combined with the inner, A

Cil

intermediate and outer tubes to convey a refrigerant down through the inner tube, then over into the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, and then to a return line, and means adapted to convey the cooled beverage from the upper end of the space between the inner and intermediate tubes to the point where it is to be dispensed.

l0. A tap rod for a container for carbonated beverages comprising three tubes of high thermal conductivity disposed one within the other and in closely spaced relation, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes serving as a passage through which the beverage is passed, an inlet tip at the lower end o'f the tap rod and providing for communication between a low point in the container and one end of said passage, means combined with the inner, intermediate, and outer tubes to convey a refrigerant down through the inner tube, then over into the space between the intermediate and cuter tubes, and then to a return line, and means adapted to convey the cooled beverage from the upper end of said passage to a point where it is to be dispensed.

11. A device for cooling and dispensing carbonated beverages comprising a container for the beverage and a tap rod combined with the container and having a portion extending down through the beverage to a low point in the container, said tap rod comprising three tubes of high thermo conductivity disposed one within the other and in closely spaced relation, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes serving as a pasage through which the beverage is dispensed, an inlet tube at the lower end of the tap rod and providing for communication between a low point in the container and one end of said passage, and means combined with the inner, intermediate and outer tubes to convey a refrigerant down through the inner tube and then over and up through the space between the intermediate and outer tubes.

12. A tap rod of the character described cornprising three tubes of high thermo conductivity disposed one within the other and in spaced relation, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes being relatively slight and of iilmforming dimensions, cross-over connections establishing communication between the ends of the inner tube and the adjacent portions of the space between the intermediate and outer tubes, an inlet tip at the lower end cf the tap rod communicating with the space between the inner and intermediate tubes, inlet and return ttings connected to longitudinally spaced portions of the outer tube and adapted to be connected to the supply and return lines of a refrigerating system, and a barrier in the space between the intermediater and outer tubes located between said fittings.

CARL L. DAUN.