WO2009016399A2

WO2009016399A2 - Dispensing head and cleaning adaptor

Info

Publication number: WO2009016399A2
Application number: PCT/GB2008/050613
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Manser; Graham Hyde; Christopher Plummer
Original assignee: Alumasc Dispense Ltd
Priority date: 2007-07-31
Filing date: 2008-07-22
Publication date: 2009-02-05
Also published as: GB0918441D0; GB2464611A; GB2451471A; WO2009016399A3; GB0714881D0

Abstract

A beverage dispensing system comprising an input for a gas supply, an output for beverage dispense, an input for a cleaning fluid, a head for connection to a beverage source and pipe means for connecting the head to use the gas supply to dispense beverage from the beverage source to the dispensing output, wherein means are provided for connecting the cleaning fluid input to the system in such a way that when the cleaning fluid input is connected, the gas supply is automatically disconnected or diverted.

Description

Beverage Dispensing Apparatus

This invention relates to beverage dispensing apparatus.

Beverages such as beer or lager are generally dispensed from barrels or kegs stored remotely from a dispensing point (tap) and a dispensing system of pipes, pumps and so on is used to pump beverage from the remote barrels to the tap, from where the beverage is poured into glasses. It is important that the pipework must be regularly cleaned and this is usually done by periodically removing a dispense head from the beverage barrel or keg, connecting a source of cleaning fluid and pumping the cleaning fluid through the system to flush out and clean the system. The flushing out system must then be turned off and the dispense head placed back in position upon the keg.

The dispense head, which is connected to the keg, is normally connected to a gas supply line which causes pressurised beer to be supplied to a tap. During cleaning, the gas supply line must be switched off and the cleaning line attached. Problems can arise if the operator forgets to turn the gas ON and OFF when carrying out a line cleaning process.

The present invention arose in an attempt to provide an improved system for enabling line cleaning of a beverage supply line.

According to the present invention, in a first aspect, there is provided a beverage dispensing system comprising an input for a gas supply, an output for beverage dispense, an input for a cleaning fluid, a head for connection to a beverage source and pipe means for connecting the head to use the gas supply to dispense beverage from the beverage source to the dispensing output, wherein means are provided for connecting the cleaning fluid input to the system in such a way that when the cleaning fluid input is connected, the gas supply is automatically disconnected or diverted.

Preferably, the gas supply is disconnected or diverted so that the head, and therefore the dispense beverage output, either receives dispensing gas or cleaning fluid, and means are provided for ensuring the two cannot mix.

In a further aspect, the invention provides an adaptor for enabling cleaning fluid or dispense gas to be applied to a dispense head and dispense output, comprising an input and an output for dispensing gas, an input for cleaning fluid and further comprising means for receiving the dispense head such that when the dispense head is received the head is connected to receive cleaning fluid and the gas supply to the head is disconnected or diverted, and when the dispense head is removed from the adaptor, the gas supply is reconnected.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that when the dispensing head is not mounted or received on the adaptor, the dispensing gas is enabled to flow through the head and when the dispensing head is received by the adaptor, the dispensing gas is diverted to an auxiliary port.

The adaptor may includes a valve means actuated by the receiving of the dispense head and including a cam mechanism which, when actuated by insertion of the dispense head, causes the gas supply to be disconnected when the dispense head is received and reconnected when the dispense head is removed.

The apparatus may comprise a first plunger acted upon by the dispense head when this is received, the cam being associated with the first plunger and acting upon a second plunger which causes connection/disconnection of the gas supply.

The cam may be a sloping neck portion of the first plunger.

The plungers are preferably resiliently mounted such that insertion of the dispense head causes the first plunger, and therefore the second plunger, to move against a resilient force and resilient return force returns them to a first position upon removal of the dispense head.

The auxiliary port may be blanked or used to supply other remote apparatus.

The invention further provides a valve, adapted for use in an adaptor or system as described above.

The invention further provides dispensing apparatus including any one or more of the novel features or combinations of features described herein.

Embodiments of invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a beverage dispense and line cleaning system;

Figure 2 shows the system in more detail; Figure 3 shows an apparatus without a cleaning adaptor;

Figure 4 shows an apparatus with a cleaning adaptor;

Figure 5 shows a plan view; and

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view through an apparatus.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a beverage dispensing line and cleaning line is shown.

A dispense tap 1 (shown as a beer tap Ia in Figure 2) is connected via a pipeline to a dispensing head 2. When this is mounted upon a beer keg 3 or other source of beverage, and also receives as an input gas from a gas supply 4, it can be used to dispense beer from keg through to the beer tap 1 , from where the beer can be dispensed. The gas supply is fed from the gas supply tank 4 through a supply line 5, including a main regulator 6, a keg regulator 7 and a gas switch valve 8 through to an input of the head. A separate cleaning line 9 is provided which is connected to a source (not shown) of cleaning fluid and this is fed through a cleaning adaptor 10, mounted to the gas switch valve 8 and which has means for receiving the dispense head 2. Typically, the cleaning adaptor and gas switch valve are mounted on a wall, for example, and a dispense head can be moved from a first beer - A - dispensing position 2a upon a keg to a second cleaning position 2b mounted upon the cleaning adaptor/gas switch valve.

When in position 2a, mounted in a keg, which has been previously tapped so that the dispense head can receive beer or other beverage from the gas, the gas switch valve is such that gas enters through gas switch valve A and leaves through port B which directs the gas to the dispense head 2. The gas then causes uptake of beverage from the keg 3 which is then drawn to the dispense tap 1.

When the dispense head is positioned upon the cleaning adaptor/gas switch valve, a mechanism comes into play which diverts the gas flow to an auxiliary port C (shown in Figure 3) and which causes cleaning fluid from the cleaning line 9 to be diverted down line 20 to the dispense head and from there onwards to the tap to clean the beer line. Thus, the mechanism, by one action, is one that disconnects the pump gas from gas supply 4 from reaching the dispense head and enables cleaning fluid to reach the dispense head.

Figure 3 shows a gas valve body 31 showing gas inlet A, outlet B, by-pass port C, and a cleaning adaptor 32 cleaning fluid inlet and outlet D and E.

Figure 4 shows a similar diagram including a schematic dispensing head mounted thereon. Figure 5 shows a plan view thereof, illustrating parts A, B and C.

Figure 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the assembly.

As discussed, the mechanism is such that placing the dispense head upon the adaptor automatically turns the gas ON and OFF when carrying a line cleaning process. The valve also has an auxiliary port giving an option to control secondary devices.

The switch (shown in cross-section in Figure 6) operates in two planes. One plane is used to take up length and tolerance difference in the beer line cleaning adaptor as well as the dispense head which controls the gas switch operation. This is shown as plane X-X. The second plane Y-Y which is controlled by the first is operated in a controlled manner and used to switch ON/OFF gas flow to the dispense head. In doing so, when it switches gas flow away from the dispense head it redirects the gas flow to auxiliary port C which can be used to control secondary items or blanked off.

Referring to Figures 3 to 6, operation of the apparatus is described in more detail. The assembly shown in Figures 3 to 6 is most preferably mounted on a wall, with the gas valve 31 mounted on a wall and the cleaning adaptor body 32 mounted upon this. It may not necessarily be mounted on a wall, however, and can be mounted in any suitable position or left loose. A modified cleaning adaptor base is used to enable a gas switch plunger to pass through and make contact with the coupling head. In addition, one or more seals are used to prevent fluid loss.

The two body parts 31 and 32 are secured together, for example via bolts 33 to suitable holes. Figure 3 shows these parts. Figure 4 shows the parts with an additional coupling head 34 mounted upon the cleaning adaptor base 32 and which can receive the dispense head 2.

In normal use, the dispense head 2 is mounted upon a keg so that gas from the gas supply 4 passes through the gas switch valve 8 to a dispense head where it draws beer from the keg and pressurised beer is then applied via beer supply line 34 to the dispense tap 1. This is the position shown in Figure 1.

When it is required to clean the apparatus, the dispense head is removed from keg 3 in normal manner and is positioned on top of the coupling head 34. The dispense head includes a lever 2a (shown in Figure 2 schematically) which, when pushed down, causes the nozzle of the dispense head to push downwards through the adaptor 34 to force a gas valve plunger 35 downwardly (Figure 5). This, as shown in the figure, is essentially a piston which is slidable up and down and includes a narrowed portion 36, the narrowed portion being connected to the wider portion 37 by means of a slanted neck 38. This neck acts as a cam. One or more annular seals 39 enable the plunger 37 to displace longitudinally relative to the body of gas valve part 31 without fluid escaping. When the plunger 35 is depressed downwards, this downwards move forces a transversely arranged plunger 40 to move along its axis. In the example shown in Figure 6, it moves to the right. This happens by virtue of the plunger 35 being depressed downwards and therefore the slanted neck portion 38 acting as a cam forces the transverse plunger 40 to the right. This piston is used to divert gas flow from the gas input A. When the piston is not acted upon by the plunger, ie when it is in its left most position shown in Figure 6, gas enters through inlet A and leaves through out B to the dispense head and this is the position for normal beverage dispensing.

In the alternative 'cleaning' position, when the dispense head is mounted upon the apparatus, the transverse plunger 40 is moved to the right and this causes the gas to enter through port A and to be diverted to port C. Thus, in the cleaning position, gas does not flow outwards through port B and therefore does not flow into the dispense head. Instead, the gas flow is diverted to port C. This is an auxiliary port and this can either be blanked off which therefore effectively turns the gas supply off. Alternatively, the port may be connected to other apparatus (not shown) for other uses for which a pressurised gas supply is useful.

When the dispense head is mounted upon the apparatus and the gas supply is turned off (or diverted - according to whether port C is connected to any auxiliary apparatus or not) then the cleaning fluid which enters at port D is then taken up by the dispense head 2 and then flows through the dispense head and through the beer supply line 20 to beer tape Ia, cleaning all these items.

Thus, the functioning of the apparatus is that when a dispense head is mounted upon the modified gas valve assembly, cleaning fluid is automatically applied through the dispense head and the beverage dispense lines and output tap, and the gas supply is automatically shut off (or diverted). The invention therefore provides a very safe and effective way of ensuring this.

Note that other valve mechanisms beyond that shown in Figure 6 may be used to achieve this aim.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, when the dispense head is removed from the cleaning adaptor (ie in the direction opposite to direction F) then a series of compression spring 44, 45 which have been compressed, respectively, by downward movement of plunger 35 and transverse movement along its axis of plunger 40, then push their respective plungers back into the operating position shown in Figure 5 and gas is then allowed to flow from input A out through outlet B and back through the gas supply line to the dispense head.

As shown in Figure 6, when transverse plunger is in the position shown, a seal 60 is spaced away from a sealing plate. This enables gas to pass from port A to port B when the plunger is moved to the right in the figure the seal makes contact with the sealing plate. This closes the passage to port B and this causes the gas supply to be disconnected from output B and enables it to flow through to output C.

It is most preferable that, in the event of failure of any of the seals (such as seal 39) the gas is not allowed to come into contact with the cleaning fluid. The apparatus therefore includes a gas/fluid atmosphere safety vent hole covered by a cap 50. This is intended to 'pop-out' in the event of failure to allow gas and fluid to escape and prevent them coming into contact in the even of seal failure.

Claims

1. An adaptor for enabling cleaning fluid or dispense gas to be applied to a dispense head and dispense output, for dispensing beverages, comprising an input and an output for dispensing gas, an input for cleaning fluid and further comprising means for receiving the dispense head within the adaptor such that when the dispense head is received the head is connected to receive cleaning fluid and the gas supply to the head is disconnected or diverted.

2. An adaptor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein when the dispense head is remove from the adaptor, the gas supply is reconnected.

3. An adaptor as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, including a valve means actuated by the receiving of the dispense head and including a cam mechanism which, when actuated by insertion of the dispense head, causes the gas supply to be disconnected when the dispense head is received and reconnected when the dispense head is removed.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cleaning fluid is allowed to flow into the dispense head when the dispense head is received in the adaptor.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including a first plunger acted upon by the dispense head when this is received, the cam being associated with the first plunger and acting upon a second plunger which causes connection/disconnection of the gas supply.

6. An adaptor as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the cam is a sloping neck portion of the first plunger.

7. An adaptor as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein the plungers are resiliently mounted such that insertion of the dispense head causes the first plunger, and therefore the second plunger, to move against a resilient force and resilient return force returns them to a first position upon removal of the dispense head.

8. An adaptor as claimed in any of the preceding claims, including one or more seals for preventing mixing of the gas supply and cleaning fluid.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, including a safety vent.

10. A beverage dispensing system, including an adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim.

11. A beverage dispensing system comprising an input for a gas supply, an output for beverage dispense, an input for a cleaning fluid, a head for connection to a beverage source and pipe means for connecting the head to use the gas supply to dispense beverage from the beverage source to the dispensing output, wherein means are provided for connecting the cleaning fluid input to the system in such a way that when the cleaning fluid input is connected, the gas supply is automatically disconnected or diverted.

12. A dispensing system as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the gas supply is disconnected or diverted so that the head, and therefore the beverage dispense output, either receives dispensing gas or cleaning fluid.

13. A dispensing system as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, including means for ensuring the dispensing gas or cleaning fluid cannot mix within the dispensing head and dispense output.

14. A valve, adapted for use in an adaptor or system as claimed in any preceding claims.

15. A method of cleaning a beverage dispense line, comprising using an apparatus or adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim to cause cleaning fluid to flow down the line whilst a gas supply is disconnected/diverted.

16. Beverage dispensing and cleaning apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, any of the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of cleaning a beverage dispense line, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.