Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/07—Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
  • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
  • B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
  • B08B9/032—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing
  • B08B9/0321—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages by the mechanical action of a moving fluid, e.g. by flushing using pressurised, pulsating or purging fluid
  • B08B9/0325—Control mechanisms therefor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D2210/00—Indexing scheme relating to aspects and details of apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught or for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
  • B67D2210/00028—Constructional details
  • B67D2210/00047—Piping
  • B67D2210/0006—Manifolds

Definitions

• the present invention relates to cleaning of beer lines.
• the word "beer” includes ales, lagers, porters and stouts.
• the present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for cleaning beer lines.
• Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of apparatus according to the present invention as installed in a licensed premises
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a manifold of the apparatus of Figure 1.
• the apparatus shown therein comprises a manifold.
• the manifold consists of a solid block having a main, large diameter central channel or conduit 1 and three small diameter channels or orifices FOl, FO2 and FO3 opening into the central channel.
• the apparatus shown therein comprises a water reservoir 2 connected through a line to one end of the central channel 1 of the manifold.
• a shut-off valve V5 is provided in the line.
• the other end of the central channel 1 is connected to a pump P, which in turn is connected through a one-way valve V6 to one end of a ring main.
• the channels FOl and FO2 of the manifold are connected to respective lines provided with respective valves FV2 and FV3, these lines being connected to a common line provided with a valve FV1 and connected to a detergent bottle.
• a filter F is provided at the inlet of the common line from the interior of the detergent bottle.
• the channel FO3 is connected to a pressure switch PS4.
• the water reservoir is connected through a valve 3 to water mains.
• Beer dispense lines run from the cellar to main and subsidiary bars of the licensed premises.
• the ring main is connectable, intermediate its ends, to ends of beer dispense (or dispensing) lines.
• the ring main is provided with connectors or sockets engagable with connectors or sockets at the ends of the dispense lines in the cellar.
• Each dispense line is provided with a respective valve, such as valve V7, and, at its end in one of the bars, is provided with a dispense pump or tap.
• the ring main is also connected, at its end remote from the pump P, to two parallel lines 18 and 19.
• the line 18 is provided with a manually operable valve 18.
• the line 19 is provided with a purge unit 20 consisting of a solenoid valve FV4.
• Sensors and switches are associated with the reservoir and the detergent bottle, and with an operator interface in the cellar and in the main and subsidiary bars. All the sensors, switches and valves (except the valve in the line 18) of the apparatus are interfaced with a sequential program of a programmable logic controller (PLC), provided on a control panel in the cellar, by means of discrete input (DIN) and discrete output (DOT) channels.
• PLC programmable logic controller
• the control panel is provided with a keypad and a display both connected to the PLC.
• the operator interface consists of command units (CU) provided in the cellar and in bars. Switches operated by the command unit in the cellar are shown towards the left of Figure 1. Switches operated by the command units in the bars are shown towards the lop right corner of Figure 1.
• a cleaning programme or other programme can be selected on the control panel, whereby the PLC causes the same programme to be run on initiation of successive programmes until a different programme is selected.
• the desired cleaning programme is selected having regard to build up for different products, delays in cleaning and other factors.
• barrels, casks or kegs (hereinafter referred to as "barrels") of various beers (products) in the cellar are connected to the dispense pumps in the bars via a respective connector or socket on each barrel and a corresponding connector or socket on each of the beer dispense lines.
• a drainage connection in the form of a hose or waste pipe, in one of the bars, is attached to the dispense pump of the dispense line from the barrel.
• the hose or waste pipe is connected to a bar drain.
• the dispense pump of the dispense line is opened, and in the cellar the barrel is disconnected from its dispense line and the beer dispense line of the empty barrel is engaged with the corresponding connector on the ring main thereby to connect the ring main to the dispense line.
• a button is then pushed on any one of the command units to initiate a cleaning cycle in accordance with a selected cleaning programme to clean the beer dispense line of the emptied barrel.
• Cleaning programmes which may be selected include a standard cleaning cycle, an increased detergent cleaning cycle and an extended cleaning cycle (with or without increased detergent). Such programmes may include provision for selection of a single beer line to be cleaned or for cleaning of multiple beer lines.
• the apparatus operates as described below, under the control of the PLC to effect the standard cleaning cycle or the increased detergent cleaning cycle, each of which takes about five minutes.
• Pressure in the main channel 1 of the manifold is monitored through the channel FO3 by the pressure switch PS4.
• the water reservoir is filled with water from the water mains.
• shut off valve V5 and the valve, such as valve V7, in the dispense line to be cleaned are opened (the valves in the other dispense lines remaining closed throughout the cleaning cycle) and the ring main and the dispense lines are rinsed by pumping water, by means of the pump P, from the water reservoir through the shut-off valve V5, the manifold, and the dispense line to the bar drain, whereby the connected dispense line is rinsed, the line being cleared of any debris, and yeast deposits in the line loosened.
• valves such as valve V7
• valve FV4 in the dispense lines and the valve FV4 closed
• the valves FV1 and FV3 open momentarily, with the pump P operating, whereby the lines from the detergent bottle to the manifold are pressurized.
• the pressure drives water briefly back through the filter F to dislodge any crystals of detergent that would otherwise cause the filter to become clogged and reduce flow of detergent solution in subsequent steps of the cleaning cycle.
• valve FV1 and the valve, such as the valve V7, in the dispense line to be cleaned are opened and in the increased strength detergent cleaning cycle, but not in the standard cleaning cycle, the valve FV2 is also opened, whereby liquid detergent is drawn from the detergent bottle through the orifice FOl and, if the valve FV2 is opened, through the orifice FO2 into the manifold where it mixes with water being drawn through the central channel of the manifold by the pump from the water reservoir to the ring main and thence to the beer dispense line.
• the valve FV1 is opened the detergent mixed with the water in the central channel forms a detergent solution of normal strength
• the valve FV2 is additionally opened the detergent mixed with the water in the central channel forms a relatively concentrated (e.g.
• the PLC determines, in accordance with the cleaning programme selected whether or not both valves FVl and FV2 are opened to enhance cleaning.
• the diameters of the small diameter channels FOl and FO2 in the manifold are determined such that, with the pressure drops pertaining, the relative flows of water and detergent into the manifold will yield detergent solution of the desired concentration (within a specified tolerance).
• valves FV2 and FV3 open for a short period.
• the pump thereby draws water from the reservoir to flush out the central channel and the small diameter channels FOl and FO2 of the manifold.
• the pump P is switched off.
• the one-way valve V6 prevents reverse flow of detergent solution from the beer dispense lines and the ring main towards the pump and the ring main and the beer dispense line are left to soak in still (non- flowing) detergent solution for a specified period, such as three minutes. Second dispense line rinse
• valve FV4 With the pump P remaining switched on, the valve FV4 is opened and the dispense lines are isolated by closure of the valves, such as valve V7.
• the pump P pumps water from the reservoir 2 and thereby flushes residual traces of detergent solution from the ring main. Rinse water is pumped, by the pump from the reservoir through the ring main and the valve FV4 to the cellar drain to clear any residual detergent solution from the ring main.
• each of the first dispense line rinse, the second dispense line rinse and/or the ring main rinse may be for a longer period of time than in the standard cleaning cycle.
• the cellar connector of the cleaned dispense line is then manually removed from the ring main and connected to a new barrel.
• the remaining rinse water in the dispense line is emptied through the waste pipe until beer is seen in a site glass on the tap connection.
• the waste pipe is then removed and beer can then be served.
• the water reservoir ensures that once a cleaning cycle has begun it cannot be interrupted due to any interruption in the mains water supply.
• the short duration of the cleaning cycle makes it practicable for beer dispense lines to be cleaned as respective barrels become empty. By cleaning each beer dispense line only when the respective barrel has emptied the normal beer loss or wastage of beer remaining in the beer dispense lines is avoided.
• the extended cleaning cycle takes about ten minutes.
• the extended cleaning cycle comprises like steps to the standard cleaning cycle and/or increased detergent cleaning cycle. It includes the steps described above up to and including the Soak period, followed by a shorter rinse (in the manner described above) of the dispense line, and then repetition of the Detergent Injection Step, the Manifold Back Flush Step, the Soak period, and then finally a rinse (in the manner described above) of the dispense line for an extended period of time.
• More than one of the beer dispense lines from the same barrel may be cleaned simultaneously as described above, if desired, by selection of the appropriate multiple line programme on the keypad.
• the valve in the line 18 is normally kept closed but opens at the end of each cleaning cycle to drain the ring main.
• the PLC is programmable for lines needing more intense cleaning and rinsing between barrels to avoid fobbing, and cleaning lines when barrels are not empty.
• a line requires cleaning but the barrel is not empty, beer can be dispensed until the line is empty without further beer being supplied from the barrel.
• the barrel is then disconnected from the dispense line and a cleaning cycle as described above is initiated.
• the push button unit in the cellar enables staff not normally involved in operating the apparatus to stop the apparatus in an emergency or to start the cleaning cycle in accordance with the selected cleaning programme.
• the display unit will indicate the stage a programme being carried out has reached and indicates audibly and visibly warnings of malfunctions.
• the PLC will cause an alarm to be sounded if a malfunction occurs and may slop the programme continuing.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Manufacturing Of Printed Wiring (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=26315779

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2000
  • 2000-07-19 ES ES00946144T patent/ES2254199T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-07-19 WO PCT/GB2000/002766 patent/WO2001005526A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2000-07-19 GB GB0017705A patent/GB2352279B/en not_active Revoked
  • 2000-07-19 CA CA002379829A patent/CA2379829A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-07-19 AU AU60024/00A patent/AU6002400A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-07-19 EP EP00946144A patent/EP1202823B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-07-19 AT AT00946144T patent/ATE307684T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-07-19 CN CN00812545A patent/CN1372495A/zh active Pending
  • 2000-07-19 DE DE60023508T patent/DE60023508T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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