WO2016015117A1

WO2016015117A1 - Pre-refrigeration system and method for tanks of beverage dispensing devices

Info

Publication number: WO2016015117A1
Application number: PCT/BR2015/050099
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gustavo Lazzaris De BONA; Alisson Costa Da SILVA
Original assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
Priority date: 2014-07-28
Filing date: 2015-07-24
Publication date: 2016-02-04
Also published as: BR102014018460A2; UY36233A; AR101321A1; BR102014018460B1

Abstract

The present invention pertains to the technological field of electric household appliances and relates to a pre-refrigeration method and system for tanks of beverage dispensing devices, more specifically for machines for making and providing instant carbonated beverages, the system essentially comprising at least a pre-refrigeration pipe (5) which cooperates with the outer surface of the tank (1), the pre-refrigeration pipe (5) comprising an end which cooperates with the at least one water inlet for water from the local water supply network, while the opposite end cooperates with at least one branch which cooperates with the at least one refrigeration coil (3), and at least one mouthpiece which cooperates with the tank (1); the at least one refrigeration coil (3) cooperating with the inside area of the tank (1).

Description

"PRIOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR

DRINK DISPENSER RESERVOIRS "

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a water pre-cooling system and process that supplies household appliance reservoirs, more specifically apparatus for the automatic preparation of instant beverages. The invention in question is therefore intended to provide a more optimized operation which results in a significant improvement in system efficiency and the quality of the dispensed product, completely unprecedented as compared to that employed in apparatus known in the current state of the art.

Background of the Invention

As is well known, the range of equipment that enables users to instantly prepare products for immediate consumption has grown over the last few years, and among such niche equipment are those also intended for beverage preparation. carbonated beverages, the fundamental principle of which is based on the use of capsules that store various beverage or flavoring inputs and which, at the time of preparation, have their contents removed and mixed with carbonated water that is stored in a reservoir located inside. .

Those skilled in the art know that for the carbonation process carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) must be in contact with water; however, it is necessary that such water be frozen or, more precisely, at a low temperature which preferably should be 4 ° C. Therefore, for a carbonated beverage preparation apparatus to function properly it must be able to cool the water to be used.

It is also known that normally water at room temperature is at 32 ° C. Therefore, when the reservoir of a carbonated beverage preparation apparatus is filled with chilled water at 4 ° C and the user requires the preparation and dispensing of one or more drinking glasses, the reservoir water volume decreases and therefore must be rapidly supplemented. To this end, apparatus known in the state of the art automatically releases water at room temperature (32 ° C) which, being much hotter than the water already stored in the reservoir, eventually mixes with it and raises it. significantly its temperature, since such remaining water had been previously cooled and was ready for carbonation. As a result, whenever there is a water replenishment in the tank of these appliances it is necessary to perform the entire cooling process again before the water can be carbonated and ready for a new dispensing operation. Therefore, it is observed that there is a constant rework that results in high energy consumption and wear of the components involved.

In addition, it is important to clarify that with the current technique, it takes approximately one hour to properly cool all water stored in a reservoir of approximately one liter capacity, so that if the user requests the preparation of a drink during During this cooling period, it may not be at the most recommended temperature and / or does not have the desired carbonation, which eventually interferes with the final quality of the dispensed product.

Objectives of the invention

In view of the above, it is the principal object of the present invention to disclose a system and process for pre-cooling the water supply of the reservoir of a beverage preparation and dispensing apparatus, so as to have greater efficiency in the system. carbonation capable of ensuring that the beverage to be prepared is always in the best possible quality conditions.

Therefore, it is one of the main objects of the present invention to disclose a pre-cooling system that significantly reduces the water temperature during the journey between the local network supply point. or public and the entry into the reservoir of the beverage dispensing apparatus.

Accordingly, it is also one of the main objects of the invention to disclose a system which significantly reduces the time required to cool the reservoir contents of such equipment to maximize its efficiency and ensure the desired minimum quality standard for the products they have prepared.

Summary of the Invention

The above-mentioned objectives are achieved by a pre-cooling system for beverage dispenser apparatus reservoirs, more specifically for carbonated instant beverage preparation and dispensing apparatus comprising at least one cooperating reservoir with at least one entry point. of water from the local mains, with at least one evaporator and at least one cooling coil, the reservoir also cooperating with at least one carbonation tower and at least one water level sensor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said system further comprises at least one pre-cooling pipe cooperating with the outer surface of the reservoir, said pre-cooling pipe comprising a cooperating end with at least one point. inlet water from the local supply network, and its opposite end cooperates with at least one cooperating tap with at least one cooling coil, and with at least one nozzle cooperating with the reservoir; wherein the at least one cooling coil cooperates with the inner region of the reservoir.

Preferably at least one pre-cooling pipe is made of polyvinyl chloride - PVC, and has substantially all of its length in contact with the outer surface of the reservoir.

Said system therefore comprises means for causing room temperature water from a water inlet point from the local feeder to be cooled to a contained temperature. within the range of 8 ° C to 12 ° C, said means comprising at least one pre-cooling pipe cooperating with the outer surface of the reservoir.

The objectives pursued are also achieved through a pre-cooling process for beverage dispenser reservoirs comprising the following steps:

- identifying, by means of at least one level sensor located inside the reservoir, the water level stored inside the reservoir;

[0016] - If the at least one level sensor identifies that the reservoir is empty or not fully filled, the water inlet valve from the local mains is actuated.

[0017] - passage of water from the local supply network through the pre-cooling pipe that surrounds the reservoir's external wall, causing heat transfer from the water through the contact of the pre-cooling pipe with the frozen reservoir walls;

[0018] - introduction of water from the pre-cooling pipeline into the reservoir.

Preferably the process in question further comprises at least one lead connecting the pre-cooling pipe to the at least one cooling coil located within the reservoir, and during any request for dispensing pure chilled water is used. directly from the cooling coil that was fed through at least one bypass.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will be described in detail on the basis of the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pre-cooling system for beverage dispenser apparatus reservoirs object of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a partially sectioned perspective view. the reservoir provided with the pre-cooling system shown in Figure 1, but including the representation of the evaporator tubes and the chilled water coil;

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the section illustrated in Figure 2 to clarify the understanding of the water path in the system of the present invention, and

[0024] Figure 4 shows a state of the art reservoir in which the system evaporator is located around the outer surface of said reservoir.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The object of the present invention will be further described and explained on the basis of the accompanying drawings, which are merely exemplary and not limiting in nature, as adaptations and modifications can be made without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. claimed protection.

The present invention relates to a pre-cooling system for beverage dispenser apparatus reservoirs, more specifically for carbonated instant beverage preparation and dispensing apparatus comprising a cooperative reservoir 1 having an evaporator 2 and cooling coils. 3, the reservoir 1 also cooperating with a carbonation tower 4.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying figures, the outer perimeter of said reservoir 1 also cooperates with a pre-cooling pipe 5, which is intended to promote cooling of the water supplying the apparatus before it enters reservoir 1 in order to prevent the temperature difference between the water from the local feed system and the water already inside reservoir 1 from causing the latter to heat up, which was previously cooled and brought to suitable for the carbonation process. The system therefore aims to preserve the cooling work that had already been done and thereby optimize the operation of the components involved and the equipment as a whole. It should be clarified that the pre-cooling pipe 5 basically comprises a hose coiled in the outer region of the reservoir 1 which, since it already contains internally chilled water, will promote, by conduction, the cooling of the water circulating through the said pipe. pre-cooling 5 - which may preferably be produced from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a material that has low thermal conductivity and, therefore, cannot transmit in a short time the heat of water passing through it to the reservoir 1. However, since the pre-cooled piping 5 remains in permanent contact with the frozen surface of the reservoir 1, consequently said piping 5 remains at a low temperature, which is eventually transferred to the circulating water therein.

In the tests performed, it was observed that said pre-cooling pipe 5 causes the water that enters its interior at an average temperature of 32 ° C to be, when effectively entering the reservoir 1, at a temperature of about 10 ° C - that is, significant cooling occurs during travel. It is important to note that room temperature water circulating through said pipe 5 also ends up having a certain impact on reservoir temperature 1, however tests have shown that while water circulating in the pre-cooling pipe 5 has a reduced temperature of 32 ° C. ° C to 10 ° C, the reservoir only has a temperature rise from 4 ° C to 6 ° C, ie with a much lower and virtually harmless impact to compromise the temperature of the water stored in it.

It is noted, therefore, that the benefit of using the pre-cooling system object of the present invention is very great, as it requires much less effort to make the water entering reservoir 1 reach the proper carbonation temperature - which it is about 4 ° C. In this regard, it should be noted that in the current state of the art - whereby replacement water enters the tank at an ambient temperature of 32 ° C and thus significantly impacts the temperature of the remaining water - it takes about one hour to adequately cool the water of reservoir 1 after filling, and by means of Using the system presented here, a reduction of about 50% in this cooling time was noted.

It is also important to remember that in the beverage preparation and dispensing apparatus in question the chilled water and the carbonated water do not necessarily have separate reservoirs - in the present invention the chilled water is separated from the carbonated one; Chilled water is in the pre-cooling pipe 5 and coil 3, while carbonated water is inside reservoir 1 around coil 3, but chilled water feeds the carbonation tank to be carbonated. Thus, the pre-cooling pipe 5 will flow into the reservoir 1, but whenever pure chilled water is required to be dispensed, a bypass will cause the water to enter a coil 3 located inside the reservoir 1 and thereafter follow through. middle of a duct 6, to the dispensing point. Thus, it is understood that the pre-cooling system of the present invention also enables that the eventual need for use and / or dispensation of pure cold water will not cause significant impact on carbonated water, totally unprecedented when compared to what occurs. with similar apparatuses known in the present state of the art.

It should also be clarified that some reservoirs of the current state of the art are known - such as the one illustrated in the attached figure 5 - which are externally surrounded by a pipe which, however, comprises the evaporator 100 of the system, therefore. Inside, only refrigerant gas passes through. In systems such as this, water is fed directly into the reservoir 1 by means of a tube 200, the outlet being made by a second tube 300.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance to realize that the functionality of the pre-cooling system of the present invention, despite having apparently similar visual characteristics to the reservoir illustrated in Figure 5, has a totally different constructive shape and functionality, as it surrounds reservoir 1 is a pre-cooling pipe 5 in which The water supply to the appliance circulates, and the evaporator is internal to the reservoir 1 to help even the cooling of the water to be carbonated contained inside it. Moreover, in the present state of the art represented in Figure 5 attached the water inlet is made by the upper part of the reservoir, and it is at room temperature (32 ° C bristle) when it is introduced and mixed with water previously stored in the reservoir. reservoir 1. With the system of the present invention, the water to be introduced into the reservoir 1 is pre-cooled and, upon mixing with the previously stored water, is at a temperature of about 10 ° C.

[0035] The development of the system in question also sought to make maximum use of the external area of reservoir 1 so that it was possible to have a very long pre-cooling piping 5 to effectively enable the cooling of the circulating water, so that the cooling of the Water is no longer made exclusively within reservoir 1 as in the current art. With this, it is possible that the user removes some glasses of ice water from the device and, soon after, can request the preparation of glasses of carbonated drinks without this successive operation entails reduction of the quality of the prepared and dispensed product due to eventual irregularity in temperature and carbonation of water. In this sense, it is also worth mentioning that in similar ones known in the current state of the art, whenever dispensing a glass of ice water from the reservoir is requested, the filling with water at room temperature is automatically triggered, and this means that at that moment The system blocks the removal of carbonated product until the internal temperature reaches a certain minimum acceptable value. With the system of the present invention, such blockages no longer occur and therefore several beverage glasses can be ordered consecutively quickly, practically and with full quality.

The present invention also relates to a pre-cooling process for beverage dispenser apparatus reservoirs which basically comprises the following steps:

[0037] - Identification by means of a level 7 sensor located inside reservoir 1, the level of water stored inside it;

[0038] - If the level 7 sensor identifies that the reservoir 1 is empty or not completely full, the water inlet valve from the local supply network shall be actuated;

[0039] - passage of water from the local supply network through the pre-cooling pipe 5 surrounding the outer wall of the reservoir 1, causing heat transfer from the water through the contact of the pre-cooling pipe 5 with the frozen walls. from reservoir 1;

[0040] - introduction of water from pre-cooling pipe 5 into reservoir 1.

It should be clarified that said process further involves a valve that interconnects the pre-cooling piping 5 to a coil 3 located within the reservoir, so that in the event of a user's request for pure chilled water dispensing, it is used directly. the water from the coil 3 without, therefore, using or interfering with the carbonated water stored inside the reservoir 1.

Therefore, in a completely new and effective manner, the object of the present invention solves the drawbacks of the current state of the art regarding the optimization of water cooling operations in instant beverage preparation and dispensing apparatus reservoirs. , mainly carbonated.

Claims

1 . Pre-cooling system for beverage dispenser reservoirs, more specifically for carbonated instant beverage preparation and dispensing apparatus, comprising at least one cooperating reservoir (1) with at least one water inlet from the local water network, with at least one evaporator (2) and at least one cooling coil (3), the reservoir (1) also cooperating with at least one carbonation tower (4) and at least one water level sensor ( 7), characterized by the fact that said system further comprises:

- at least one pre-cooling pipe (5) cooperating with the outer surface of the shell (1),

wherein said pre-cooling pipe (5) comprises a cooperating end with at least one water inlet point from the local supply network, and its opposite end cooperating with at least one cooperating branch with at least one coil of coil. cooling (3), and with at least one nozzle cooperating with the reservoir (1);

wherein the at least one cooling coil (3) cooperates with the inner region of the reservoir (1).

System according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one pre-cooling pipe (5) is made of polyvinyl chloride - PVC.

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one pre-cooling pipe (5) has substantially all of its extension in contact with the outer surface of the reservoir (1).

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for causing room temperature water from a local water supply entry point to be cooled to a temperature within the range of 8 ° C. ° C to 12 ° C, said means comprising at least one pre-cooling pipe (5) cooperating with the outer surface of the reservoir (1).

5. Pre-cooling process for beverage dispensing apparatus reservoirs, more specifically for carbonated instant beverage preparation and dispensing apparatus comprising at least one cooperating reservoir (1) with at least one water inlet point from the mains at least one evaporator (2) and at least one cooling coil (3), the reservoir (1) also cooperating with at least one carbonation tower (4) and at least one level sensor. water (7), characterized by the fact that said process comprises the following steps:

- identifying, by means of at least one level sensor (7) located inside the reservoir (1), the water level stored inside the reservoir (1);

- If the at least one level sensor (9) identifies that the reservoir (1) is empty or not fully filled, the water inlet valve from the local supply network is actuated;

- passage of water from the local supply network through the pre-cooling pipe (5) surrounding the outer wall of the reservoir (1), causing heat transfer from the water through contact of the pre-cooling pipe (5) with the frozen walls of the reservoir (1);

- introducing water from the pre-cooling pipe (5) into the reservoir (1).

A process according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one lead connecting the pre-cooling pipe (5) to at least one cooling coil (3) located within the reservoir (1). ), and during any request for dispensing pure chilled water, water from the cooling coil (3) that was fed through at least one branch is used directly.