ZA200503853B - Method and means for dispensing a beverage. - Google Patents

Description

. 2 2085/0706 ¢ 3 2 - tur

METHOD AND MEANS FOR DISPENSING A BEVERAGE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of dispensing beverages and to a dispenser which chills beverages, both particularly suited to dispensing wine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wine and other beverages are often sold chilled and by the glass. This is particularly so in restaurants and bars, but also in other places.

In the case of wine, it is normally supplied in 5-litre bags for this purpose. The bags are generally contained in cardboard box packaging and have valve controlled outlets for pouring the wine. It is desirable for wines to be served at specific temperatures. White wines should be chilled, desirably, to a temperature of about 9 degrees Celsius and sometimes less. This is done by placing the bags in a refrigerator. EE

In the case of red wines, a temperature of about 15 degrees Celsius is desirable. While room temperature often suffices, this cannot be said for hotter regions. The option of placing the wine in a refrigerator is resorted to.

Unless a refrigerator has its temperature set for a specific wine, white or red, the wines are not chilled to a desirable temperature. It is also required that the wine be placed into a refrigerator some time before it is to be served.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel method of dispensing beverages and beverage dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a method of dispensing a beverage comprising passing the beverage through a flow passage to an outlet and chilling the beverage as it passes through the flow passage.

Further features of the invention provide for a plurality of beverages to be dispensed each through a separate flow passage and chilled to a different temperature; and for the, or each, beverage to be a wine.

In accordance with this invention there also is provided a beverage dispenser comprising a beverage inlet, valve controlled outlet and flow passage therebetween, with a refrigeration unit having an evaporator through which the flow passage passes and control means to regulate the temperature in the flow passage.

Further features of the invention provide for the dispenser to include a plurality of beverage inlets and outlets each with a respective flow passage therebetween, and a separate evaporator and control means for each flow passage; and for the refrigeration unit to have a single compressor and condenser connected to the evaporators. ~ a LCG 5/0 = 553

Further features of the invention provide for the control means to include a thermostat; and for the thermostat to be connected to a solenoid valve through which refrigerant passes to the evaporator.

Further features of the invention provide for the control means to include flow control means to control flow of refrigerant to the, or each, evaporator; and for the flow control means to be an expansion valve.

Further features of the invention provide for the control means to include a pressure switch connected to the outlet from the evaporator or evaporators to control the compressor.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention there is provided a beverage dispenser comprising a plurality of beverage dispensing systems, each having a receptacle for a beverage container, a beverage inlet connected to a valve controlled outlet by a flow passage, and a refrigeration unit having an evaporator for each dispensing system with temperature control means associated with each evaporator.

Further features of the invention provide for the refrigeration unit to have a single compressor and condenser connected to the evaporators; for the receptacle to be for a wine bag; and for control means as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein - TT

Figure 1: is a perspective view of a beverage dispenser; and

Figure 2: is a schematic view of the components of the dispenser shown in

Figure 1.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a beverage dispenser (1) in accordance with this invention is shown. A method of dispensing beverages will also be apparent from the following description of the dispenser (1).

The dispenser (1) is, in this embodiment, for wine and has a refrigeration unit (3) and three dispensing systems (5) supported for operation in an outer housing (7). Each dispensing system (5) has an inlet (9) connected to an outlet (11) by a stainless steel flow passage (13). Each outlet is controlled by a valve (15), which in this embodiment is a tap (15) on the front (17) of the housing (7).

A hinged panel (19) at the front (17) of the housing (7) provides access to a rearwardly inclined shelf (21). The shelf (21) is provided in the upper region of the housing (7). Four spaced apart flanges (23) extend upwardly from the forward edge of the shelf (21). The spaces between the flanges (23) provide three slots (25). The shelf (21) is sized to carry three conventional 5-litre bags of wine (not shown). The flanges (23) hold the bags in position on the shelf (21) with the outlet of each bag through a slot (25).

Each inlet (9) is adapted for connection to a standard valve controlled or tap outlet for a wine bag. This connection is made with the outlet of the wine bag open to feed the system (5). The flow of wine under the force of gravity through the system is accordingly controlled by the taps (15), which are located in the lower region of the housing (7).

The refrigeration unit (3) has a single compressor (27) and condenser (29) connected to three separate evaporators (31). A portion of each flow passage (13) passes through one of the evaporators (31) respectively. The evaporators (31) are provided with plates as heat exchange surfaces (not shown).

The beverage flows through the flow passage (13) which passes through the evaporator (31) in an opposite direction to that in which the refrigerant flows into the evaporators (31).

The refrigeration unit (3) is based on a closed evaporative cooling cycle. The cycle uses R134a refrigerant, but any other suitable refrigerant may also be used. A conduit (33) for the refrigerant connects the components of the refrigeration unit (3). The compressor (27) has an inlet valve (35) and an outlet valve (37) in the conduit (33). The outlet valve (37) controls flow of refrigerant to the condenser (29). The compressor (27) provides flow and high pressure for the refrigerant. The condenser (29) is provided with heat exchange surfaces (28) to cool the refrigerant and is itself air-cooled by a fan (30). The fan (30) can be seen through a mesh panel of the housing (7) in Figure 1.

From the condenser (29), the conduit (33) feeds into a receiver (39) and from the receiver (39) through a filter drier (41). After the filter drier (41), the conduit (33) separates into three branches (43). Each branch (43) is connected to one of the evaporators (31), respectively, and fitted with flow control means in the form of an expansion valve (45). From the evaporators (31), the conduit (33) leads back to the inlet valve (35) of the compressor (27).

The receiver (39) functions as a collection container which ensures supply of refrigerant to the expansion valves (45). The filter drier (41) removes moisture from the refrigerant to prevent damage to the compressor (27). These components and the purpose they serve are well known in the art.

Each expansion valve (45) includes an orifice designed for the desired flow and E - cooling of a specific beverage, a diaphragm coupled with a capillary tube and sensing phail. The arrangement ensures liquid expansion through the evaporators (31) by controlling the pressure at the evaporator (31) outlets to the conduit (33). While the components of the expansion valves (45) are not shown, they will be familiar to a suitably skilled person, who will also familiar to a suitably skilled person, who will also appreciate that equivalents to such flow control means (45) may also be used to serve the same purpose.

Each evaporator (31) is provided with control means (47) to regulate the temperature in the flow passage. The control means (47) includes a thermostat (49) connected to a solenoid valve (51) in the branch (43). The refrigeration unit (3) is also provided with a pressure switch (53) connected to conduit (33) between the evaporators (31) and the compressor (27) by passage (55). The thermostats (49) and solenoid valves (51) and the pressure switch (53) and compressor (27) are connected to an electrical supply (59) and to each other by electrical wiring (57).

In use, the wine bags are removed from their boxes and located on the shelf (21) with their taps extending through the bottom of slots (25) and connected to the inlets (9). The condenser (29) removes heat from the high-pressure high temperature refrigerant to surrounding air with the aid of the fan (30). The refrigerant which is in a high-pressure low temperature liquid state is then expanded through three separate expansion valves (45) and three evaporators (31).

The expansion process lowers the pressure of the liquid refrigerant to provide the refrigerant in a low pressure state. The lowering of pressure causes the liquid refrigerant to evaporate in the evaporators (31). This process withdraws heat from the beverage in the flow passage (13) as it passes the evaporator (31).

Each expansion valve (45) is selected to provide necessary cooling to the beverage in the flow passage (13) to bring it to the desired temperature and so too constitutes control means (47). The temperature will be preselected depending on the beverage. N

The beverage dispenser (1) will provide a continuous flow of about 20 ml per second. If the flow is stopped, the temperature of the beverage in the flow passage (13) will drop below the desired temperature. The thermostat (49), which is coupled to the evaporator (31) in question, will activate the solenoid valve (51) in the associated branch (43) stopping flow of the refrigerant to that control means (47) regulates the temperature of the beverage in the flow passage (13) and ensures that it is at the desired temperature when it is dispensed. This is effected for each evaporator (31) as required.

The pressure switch (53) measures the refrigerant pressure in the conduit (33) as it flows from the evaporators (31). The pressure switch (53) serves as additional protection against freezing of the beverage. It also protects the compressor (27) from too low an inlet pressure, which can damage this component.

The compressor (27) will be cut off if the temperature and thus pressure drops below a predetermined value. The cut off temperature will be selected above the freezing point of the specific beverage. This situation may be caused if one of the thermostats (49) or solenoid valves (51) of the control means (47) fails or if all three solenoids (51) are closed to maintain the desired temperature of the beverages. The pressure switch (53) will restart the compressor (27) once the pressure rises above a predetermined level again. This can either be under effect of the ambient temperature or when beverage flow is activated.

It will be appreciated that a pressure switch (53) arrangement can also be used as control means (47) for an evaporator (31). The necessary adaptations to provide control for each of a plurality of evaporators will be within the competence of a suitably skilled person.

In particular, it will be possible to use a pressure switch (53) and expansion valves (45) to control the temperature of the beverage to an approximate value in say two of the three flow passages. This arrangement will then provide the beverages at substantially the same temperature from the two passages. The respective temperatures will also be subject to the size of the orifice selected for the expansion valves (45) respectively. The third evaporator will then be the only one with a thermostat and solenoid as additional control means (47).

Other arrangements or combinations of the thermostats (49), expansion valves pressure switch (53) to provide control means (47) will also be within the competence of a suitably skilled person.

The beverage dispenser (1) chills a plurality of beverages from room temperature to a desired drinking temperature, which may vary for each, and provides a continuous flow of the beverages. No pre-cooling of the beverage is required before it is dispensed.

It will be appreciated that the dispenser (1) may also include an electric pump of a suitable type (not shown). This will avoid the necessity of an arrangement which depends on gravity for its flow. As a result, counter top mounted taps can be used to dispense wine, or some other beverage, from a dispenser mounted under the counter. The entire dispenser need not be supported by the counter surface. This will be particularly useful in bars. Such a pump can conveniently be provided along a flow passage (13).

In a further embodiment of the invention, a plurality of evaporators can be : provided to chill separate receptacles wherein the wine bags are stowed. The wine in each receptacle will be chilled and its temperature controlled by a dedicated evaporator and control means. The rest of the beverage dispenser will be substantially as the one already described with reference to the drawings. While this embodiment will not avoid the disadvantage of having to pre-cool the beverage, each beverage can still be dispensed and maintained at a desired temperature. Furthermore, with a plurality of evaporators run off a single condenser there is a saving in cost.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of variations may be made to the invention as herein described without departing from its scope.

For example, the beverage can be provided in any form of container to which the inlet is connectable or the dispenser can be provided with a receptacle into which the beverage is emptied. The invention will find application with any of a number of beverages.

Claims (14)

1. A method of dispensing a beverage comprising passing the beverage through a flow passage to an outlet and chilling the beverage as it passes through the flow passage.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which a plurality of beverages are dispensed each through a separate flow passage and chilled to a different temperature.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the, or each, beverage is a wine.

4. A beverage dispenser comprising a beverage inlet, valve controlled outlet and flow passage therebetween, with a refrigeration unit having an evaporator through which the flow passage passes and control means to regulate the temperature in the flow passage.

5. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 4 which includes a plurality of beverage inlets and outlets each with a respective flow passage therebetween, and a separate evaporator and control means for each flow passage.

6. A beverage dispenser comprising a plurality of beverage dispensing systems, each having a receptacle for a beverage container, a beverage inlet connected to a valve controlled outlet by a flow passage, and a refrigeration unit having an evaporator for each dispensing system with temperature control means associated with each evaporator.

7. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 6 in which the receptacle is for a wine bag.

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8. A beverage dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 in which the refrigeration unit has a single compressor and condenser connected to the evaporators.

9. A beverage dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8 in which the control means includes a thermostat.

10. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 9 in which the thermostat is connected to a solenoid valve through which refrigerant passes to the evaporator.

11. A beverage dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 10 in which the control means includes flow control means to control flow of refrigerant to the, or each, evaporator.

12. A beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 11 in which the flow control means is an expansion valve.

13. A beverage dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 12 in which the control means includes a pressure switch connected to the outlet from the evaporator or evaporators to control the compressor.

14. A beverage dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2, alone or in combination with Figure 1, irrespective of the number of dispensing systems. DATED THIS 13TH DAY OF MAY 2005 Waar. BOWMAN GILFILLAN (JOHN & KERNICK) FOR THE APPLICANT