WO1997042123A1

WO1997042123A1 - Fob detector with improved cleaning facility

Info

Publication number: WO1997042123A1
Application number: PCT/IE1997/000033
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seamus Conor Dunne; Simon Robert Miller
Original assignee: Seamus Conor Dunne; Simon Robert Miller
Priority date: 1996-05-03
Filing date: 1997-05-01
Publication date: 1997-11-13
Also published as: GB2326218A; AU2401997A; IES960332A2; GB2326218B; IES69322B2; GB9821331D0

Abstract

A fob detector for use in the supply line between a pressurized beverage container and a dispenser comprising: (i) a chamber (1) defined by a wall (2), a base component (8) and a top component (11); (ii) a liquid inlet pipe (4) for receiving liquid beverage under pressure from the container, the inlet pipe having a liquid inlet aperture (3) in the chamber close to the top component (11) of the detector; (iii) a liquid outlet aperture (5) in the base component (8) for discharging the liquid beverage via a main outlet pipe (6) to a dispenser supply line (49); (iv) a vent aperture (14) for venting gas from the chamber and a vent valve (12) for opening and closing the vent aperture; (v) a cleaning outlet pipe (43) for discharging cleaning materials from the chamber, the cleaning outlet pipe being aligned with the liquid inlet pipe (4) and having a mouth separated from the liquid inlet aperture (3) by a small gap (9) such that liquid beverage supplied to the inlet pipe can flow into the chamber but a cleaning pellet (46) forced under pressure through the liquid inlet pipe passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe (43); and (vi) a stop fitting (44) for closing the cleaning outlet pipe (43) during supply of liquid beverage to the chamber and for closing the main outlet pipe (6) during discharge of cleaning materials.

Description

FOB DETECTOR WITH IMPROVED CLEANING FACILITY

Technical Field

This invention relates to a fob detector for use in the supply line between a pressurized beverage container and a dispensing means, particularly for beers.

Background Art

One of the problems encountered when dispensing draught beers, and especially draught stout, occurs when the pressurized container from which the beer is to be dispensed is nearly empty and there is a build up of the fob or froth which constitutes a considerable wastage. Several pints of fob must be cleared from the dispensing system before the next full beer container can be connected to the system. It is known to use a fob detector in the beer line between the container and the dispensing point - see British Patent Specification No. 1,357,953 of Porter-Lancastrian Limited. Irish Patent Specification No. 47813 (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference) describes apparatus for use in inhibiting dispense of fob comprising a chamber having an inlet aperture for receiving liquid beverage under pressure from a supply source, and an outlet aperture for discharging such liquid beverage to a dispensing means, the outlet aperture being surrounded by a seating, a float movable within the chamber relative to the seating, the float being buoyant in the liquid beverage but not in fob and being arranged to make sealing engagement with the seating when the chamber is empty or substantially empty of liquid beverage, and means to displace the float from the seating. The chamber is provided with a vent communicable with the top of the chamber and closable by a valve unit.

In the known fob detectors, the inlet aperture is at the top of a vertical inlet pipe which extends upwardly through the chamber, above the float, while the outlet aperture is at the base of the main chamber below the float, and connects with a horizontal outlet pipe.

It is desirable to be able to clean the beverage supply line between the pressurized container and the dispenser on a regular basis e.g. twice a week. One cleaning method which has been adopted involves the use of a cylindrical pellet of soft plastics foam which is inserted into the supply line and forced through it by pressure. The pellet, which is compressed inside the supply line by the applied pressure, pushes any residues in the supply line in front of it as it travels. However when the pellet reaches the inlet aperture of a fob detector of known type it becomes trapped in the chamber and cannot continue its journey through the remainder of the supply line from the outlet of the fob detector to the dispenser. The fob detector must be opened to remove the pellet from the chamber.

It is an object of the present invention to solve this problem and to provide a fob detector which facilitates the passage of a cleaning pellet from the pressurized container to the dispenser.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a fob detector for use in the supply line between a pressurized beverage container and a dispenser comprising: (i) a chamber defined by a wall, a base component and a top component,

(ii) a liquid inlet pipe for receiving liquid beverage under pressure from the container, the inlet pipe having a liquid inlet aperture in the chamber close to the top component of the detector,

(iϋ) a liquid outlet aperture in the base component for discharging the liquid beverage in a main outlet pipe to a dispenser supply line,

(iv) a vent aperture for venting gas from the chamber and a vent valve for opening and closing the vent aperture,

(v) a cleaning outlet pipe for discharging cleaning materials, the cleaning outlet pipe being aligned with the liquid inlet pipe such that liquid beverage supplied to the inlet pipe can flow from the liquid inlet aperture into the chamber but a cleaning pellet forced under pressure through the liquid inlet pipe passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe, and

(vi) a stop fitting for closing the cleaning outlet pipe during supply of liquid beverage to the chamber.

Preferably the stop fitting is also suitable for closing the main outlet pipe during discharge of cleaning materials.

Preferably the cleaning outlet pipe is mounted in the top component, suitably in a bore which is co-axial with the liquid inlet pipe. Generally the cleaning outlet pipe is for discharging cleaning materials from the fob detector, more particularly from the chamber, including cleaning materials passing directly from the liquid inlet pipe to the cleaning outlet pipe within the chamber as defined in (i) above.

In one aspect the present invention provides a fob detector having features (i) to (iv) and (vi) as defined above and having: (v) a cleaning outlet pipe for discharging cleaning materials from the chamber, the cleaning outlet pipe being aligned with the liquid inlet pipe and having a mouth separated from the liquid inlet aperture by a small gap such that liquid beverage supplied to the inlet pipe can flow into the chamber but a cleaning pellet forced under pressure through the liquid inlet pipe passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe.

In the preferred embodiment, the mouth of the cleaning outlet pipe is surrounded by a chamfered lip.

Suitably, any gap between the liquid inlet pipe and the cleaning outlet pipe, more particularly the gap between the top of the liquid inlet pipe and the mouth of the cleaning outlet pipe, is in the range from 1.75 to 2.25mm, measured in the axial direction. If desired, the gap may be outside this range and in particular may be greater than 2.25mm, depending upon the length of the cleaning pellet. Normally in use the pellet bridges the gap without any risk that the pellet may pass through the gap into the chamber. Suitably the gap, measured in the axial direction, is not greater than one half the length of the pellet, when compressed. Pellets may be cut from bulk plastic foam in desired dimensions, e.g. having a length (uncompressed) in the range 35 to 45mm, resulting in a length under cleaning pressure in the range 5 to 8mm, particularly 6-7mm.

In an alternative embodiment, the liquid inlet pipe and the cleaning outlet pipe may be joined or integrated as a continuous in-line pipe, with one or more liquid apertures in the wall of the pipe, most suitably close to the top component of the fob detector, to allow liquid beverage to flow from the liquid inlet pipe into the chamber.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fob detector according to the invention, partly in section on the line A-A in Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the fob detector of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a projection of a cleaning pellet.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a slightly modified embodiment, partly in section on the same line as in Figure 1, showing the fob detector set up for beverage to flow through it.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the embodiment of Figure 4, showing the fob detector set up for cleaning.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

As shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 the fob detector comprises a cylindrical chamber 1 defined by a wall 2 of transparent material, a base component 8 and a top component 11 held together by two vertical bolts 47. The inlet aperture 3 is at the top of a vertical inlet pipe 4 extending upwardly through the chamber. The inlet pipe 4 is connected by a beer line 48 (see Figures 4 and 5) to a pressurized beer keg of conventional type (not shown). The outlet aperture 5 is formed in the base component 11 and connects with a horizontal main outlet pipe 6. The main outlet pipe 6 is connected by a beer line 49 (see Figure 4) to a dispensing means such as a tap of conventional type (not shown). The float 7 sits into the outlet aperture 5 when there is not sufficient liquid in the chamber 1 to keep the float 7 buoyant. A lift handle (not shown) of known type is provided to lift the float 7 away from the outlet aperture when the main chamber 1 has refilled with liquid. The float 7 is guided by the two vertical bolts 47 and inlet pipe 4 which are accommodated in grooves in the float 7.

The top of the main chamber is closed by the top component 11, on which is secured a vent valve unit 12 having a handle 28 and a horizontal vent outlet 14. The valve unit is described in U.S. Patent 5,564,459 of Seamus C. Dunne.

The inlet pipe 4 extends upwardly in the chamber to the extent that the top of the pipe, defining the inlet aperture, is adjacent to the lower main surface 39 of the top component 11, leaving a gap 9 of the order of 2mm + 0.1 (measured vertically) between them. The top component 11 has a peripheral skirt which surrounds the wall 3 but this is not to be regarded as the "lower main surface" of the top component. The top component 11 is penetrated by a vertical bore 40 whose lower end defines a cleaning aperture 41. Both the bore 40 and the cleaning aperture 41 are co-axially aligned with the inlet pipe 4. The cleaning aperture 41 is surrounded by an annular chamfered lip 38 which forms an upwardly converging entrance to the bore 40. The upper surface of the lip 41 forms a step 42.

A cleaning outlet pipe 43 is mounted in the bore 40 with its lower end seated on the step 42. The pipe 43 may be externally screw-threaded, in which case it mates with internal screw threads on the wall defining the bore 40 (see Figure 1). Alternatively the pipe 43 may have an external configuration such as knurling and/or it may be retained in the bore by adhesive (see Figures 4 and 5). The cleaning outlet pipe has the same internal diameter as the inlet pipe 4 and is aligned therewith. The cleaning outlet pipe is for discharging cleaning materials from the chamber, including cleaning materials passing directly from the liquid inlet pipe to the cleaning outlet pipe within the space defined by the wall 2, base component 8 and top component 11. The cleaning aperture 41 is the mouth of the cleaning outlet pipe.

A releasable cap fitting 44 is provided for closing the upper end of the cleaning outlet pipe 43 (see Figure 4) or the main outlet pipe 6 (see Figure 5) . A releasable sleeve fitting 45 is provided for connecting the main outlet pipe 6 (see Figure 4) or the cleaning outlet pipe 43 (see Figure 5) to the supply line 49 to the dispenser. A similar fitting 50 is used for connecting the inlet pipe 4 to the beer line 48. All of these fittings may be of commercially available type, e.g. from John Guest Limited of Horton Road, West Brayton, Middlesex UB78JL, England. Instead of being push-on fittings as illustrated, they may be threaded fittings which can be screwed on to the respective pipe ends.

In normal use, the main outlet pipe 6 is connected to the dispenser supply line 49 by the sleeve fitting 45, and the top of the cleaning outlet pipe 43 is closed by the cap fitting 44 (see Figure 4). Beer flows upwardly through the inlet pipe 4. When it reaches the inlet aperture 3 the beer flows through the gap 9 into the chamber. Some of the beer may pass upwardly into the cleaning outlet pipe 43 but it cannot escape because of the cap fitting 44 (see Figure 4). While beer is flowing the float 7 is lifted and the beer leaves the fob detector through the main outlet pipe 6 and flows to the supply line 49 to the dispenser in the normal manner.

When it is desired to clean the supply lines, the flow of beer is stopped. The cap fitting 44 is removed from the cleaning outlet pipe 43 and is interchanged with the sleeve fitting 45 carrying the dispenser supply line 49. Thus the main outlet pipe 6 is closed by the cap fitting 44 and the cleaning outlet pipe 43 is connected to the dispenser supply line 49 via the sleeve fitting 45. A plastic foam pellet 46 is then driven by pressure through the supply line from the end which is normally connected to the beverage container. The pellet is driven by liquid detergent under pressure and the liquid detergent also serves to clean the supply lines. As shown in Figure 3, the pellet 46 is cylindrical in shape and has a diameter such that under compression it fits within the pipes 4 and 43 and the supply lines connected thereto (see Figure 5). The pellet passes upwardly through the inlet pipe 4. When it reaches the inlet aperture 3 the pellet passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe 43, guided by the chamfered lip 38. As shown in Figure 3, the pellet 46 has a length such that under compression it bridges the gap 9 and cannot pass via the gap into the chamber 1. As the chamber 1 is sealed by the float 7 (see Figure 5) and the cap fitting 44 on the main outlet pipe 6, the cleaning outlet pipe 43 provides the only passage for the pellet and the pressurized detergent behind it. The pellet is thus driven into the dispenser supply line 49 and continues its journey to the far end thereof (i.e. the end which is normally connected to the dispenser), followed by the pressurized liquid detergent.

When cleaning of the supply line is completed, the cap fitting 44 and sleeve fitting 45 are interchanged again so that the cap fitting 44 is replaced on the cleaning outlet pipe 43 to close it, and the sleeve fitting 45 connected to the dispenser supply line 49 is replaced on the main outlet pipe 6 so that beer can flow from the fob detector to the dispenser. The flow of beer can then be started again by use of the lift handle to lift the float 7.

In accordance with conventional practice, the fob detector itself should be stripped down and cleaned at longer time intervals e.g. every 8-12 weeks.

The embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 is the same as that of Figures 1 and 2 except that the cleaning outlet pipe 43 is mounted in the bore 40 without screw-threaded engagement. The externally knurled pipe 43 is pressed into and adhesively retained in the bore 40.

The apparatus of the invention permits the cleaning pellet and the liquid detergent to pass straight through the aligned pipes, avoiding any risks of sharp corners, infection pockets, restricted passage at joints or problems of leaks.

Claims

1. A fob detector for use in the supply line between a pressurized beverage container and a dispenser comprising;

(i) a chamber (1) defined by a wall (2), a base component (8) and a top component (11) ,

(ii) a liquid inlet pipe (4) for receiving liquid beverage under pressure from the container, the inlet pipe having a liquid inlet aperture (3) in the chamber (1) close to the top component (11) of the detector,

(iϋ) a liquid outlet aperture (5) in the base component (8) for discharging the liquid beverage via a main outlet pipe (6) to a dispenser supply line (49),

(iv) a vent aperture (14) for venting gas from the chamber and a vent valve (12) for opening and closing the vent aperture, characterized by:

(v) a cleaning outlet pipe (43) for discharging cleaning materials, the cleaning outlet pipe (43) being aligned with the liquid inlet pipe (4) such that liquid beverage supplied to the inlet pipe (4) can flow from the liquid inlet aperture (3) into the chamber (1) but a cleaning pellet (46) forced under pressure through the liquid inlet pipe (4) passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe (43), and

(vi) a stop fitting (44) for closing the cleaning outlet pipe (43) during supply of liquid beverage to the chamber (1).

2. A fob detector according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning outlet pipe (43) is mounted in a bore (40) in the top component (11) which is co-axial with the liquid inlet pipe (4).

3. A fob detector according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning outlet pipe (43) has a mouth (41) separated from the liquid inlet aperture (3) by a small gap (9) such that liquid beverage supplied to the inlet pipe (4) can flow into the chamber (1) but a cleaning pellet (46) forced under pressure through the liquid inlet pipe (4) passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe (43).

4. A fob detector according to claim 3 wherein the mouth (41) of the cleaning outlet pipe (43) is surrounded by a chamfered lip (38).

5. A fob detector according to claim 3 wherein the gap (9) between the top of the liquid inlet pipe (4) and the mouth (41) of the cleaning outlet pipe (43) aligned therewith is in the range from 1.75 to 2.25mm, measured in the axial direction.

6. A fob detector according to claim 5 where the gap is of the order of 2 + 0.1mm.