IES20000891A2

IES20000891A2 - Cooled beverage dispensing equipment

Info

Publication number: IES20000891A2
Application number: IE20000891A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Simon Robert Miller; Seamus C Dunne
Original assignee: Simon Robert Miller
Priority date: 2000-11-06
Filing date: 2000-11-06
Publication date: 2001-10-31
Also published as: GB2379728A; GB2363191A; IE20040515A1; GB2379728B; GB0120765D0; IE20010959A1; GB2363191B; GB0222429D0

Abstract

Cooled beverage dispensing equipment for over-the-counter single-beer-line dispense delivery systems is described, comprising an insulated outer tube member (4) mountable to stand above a counter and having an inlet end and a dispense end, a beer line (1) running inside the outer tube member (4), a chilled water supply line (13a) and a chilled water outflow line (13b) also running inside the outer tube member (4), a terminal component (11) of metal at the dispense end of the outer tube member (4), the terminal component (11) having a means to mount a beer tap in communication with the beer line (1), and a chamber (9) defined inside the terminal component, the chamber (9) being connected to the chilled water supply line (13a) and chilled water outflow line (13b) so that the chilled water is circulated through the terminal component (1). <Figure 1>

Description

This invention relates to beverage dispensing equipment, particularly for dispensing draught beers, from any type of pressurised container, including kegs and bulk beer vats.

Background to the Invention It is known in the art that draught beer systems are optimised when the beer is maintained at its preferred temperature (one to four degrees centigrade, depending on the brand and brewery preference) from the keg container to the draught beer dispense tap. In existing draught beer systems the beer temperature is controlled through a series of stages; first of all the keg is stored in a cold-room/cellar where re-circulated air conditioning maintains the desired storage temperature. Secondly the keg is pressurised, by means of dispense gas, forcing the beer through beer lines inside the cold-room into an insulated beer line wrap (containing multiple beer lines). This wrap maintains the cold room temperature and transfers the beer a short distance to a “Beer Chiller” (a chilled water bath containing stainless steel product coils which chill the beer to a desired temperature). Thirdly the beer exits the Beer Chiller into a “Draught Beer Python” (an insulated beer line wrap containing additional cooling lines which are charged by the chilled water from the beer chiller and pumped through re-circulating cooling lines in parallel to the draught beer, ensuring that the beer temperature is maintained as it travels, from the temperature controlled cold-room, the required distance to the draught beer dispense tap). The beer then exits the insulated draught beer python and is transferred to a single insulated beer line to the draught beer dispense tap. In many instances this insulation is inadequate and ambient temperature has a negative effect on the beer temperature, warming the beer to an undesired condition.

It is undesirable to allow the beer to warm as it negatively affects the presentation of the beer when pouring, in that the natural gases suspended in the beer solution are IE000891 being maintained by temperature and equilibrium of dispense pressure (sustained by the dispense gas pressurising the keg and beer line to the beer dispense tap). The result is that when the beer dispense tap is opened to pour beer, the natural gases suspended in the beer solution break out at an accelerated rate causing the beer to froth in the glass, creating beer which is un-presentable and disposed of as waste.

This problem has recently been exacerbated due to a changing demand in the style of counter-mounted beer delivery systems which locate the draught beer dispense taps. Traditionally illuminated branded counter mounts, T-Bar towers, under counter coffin boxes and over counter coffin boxes were the main forms of delivery systems and in most cases had short lengths of beer line, less than 6 inches (15cm) which, due to adequate space provision, could be well insulated. More recently a new style of counter mounted delivery system is preferred which incorporates the use of ninety degree bent narrow diameter tube, less than two inches (5cm) in diameter, where only a single product is delivered through each tube. These delivery systems are called “Swan Neck Towers” and are frequently designed in excess of eighteen inches (45cm) long. They do not contain any form of chilled re-circulation, meaning that the beer temperature is particularly susceptible to ambient temperature changes.

Object of the Invention The present invention concerns the use of these “Swan Neck Towers” where it is currently not possible to control the beer temperature as the physical constraints of the existing designs do not allow for the opportunity to install secondary re-circulating cooling lines. There is therefore a need for a form of dispense equipment through which chilled water can be circulated, to ensure that the beer temperature is maintained at the desired dispense temperature, as close as possible to the beer dispense tap.

There is an increasing demand for beers to be cooled before dispense, and customers want to see that the beer being dispensed is properly cooled. Conventional swan neck towers have no means of re-circulating chilled water. In these cases there is IE000891 no possibility to either maintain chilled beer or achieve the condensation feature of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Summary of the Invention The invention provides a cooled beverage dispensing equipment for over-thecounter single-beer-line dispense delivery systems, comprising: (i) an insulated outer tube member mountable to stand above a counter and having an inlet end and a dispense end, (ii) a beer line running inside the outer tube member, (iii) a chilled water supply line and a chilled water outflow line also running inside the outer tube member, (iv) a terminal component of metal at the dispense end of the outer tube member, the terminal component having (a) means to mount a beer tap in communication with the beer line, (b) a chamber defined inside the terminal component, the chamber being connected to the chilled water supply line and the chilled water outflow line so that chilled water is circulated through the terminal component.

The present invention provides a chamber at the iocating point of the beer dispense tap so that chilled coolant can be circulated through this chamber to maintain the beer at the desired dispense temperature. With an installation of multiple swan neck towers, the cooling can be achieved by directing a secondary water chiller line into each individual swan neck tower; the multiple swan neck towers can then be connected in series by looping this secondary water chiller line.

Suitably the chamber surrounds the beer line, for example the chamber is annular. This assists in uniform cooling of the beer line and the terminal component.

Preferably the terminal component is uninsulated.

The terminal component may comprise two pieces providing concentric sleeve portions which define the chamber in a space between them.

IE000891 As the chamber is defined by metal portions, this allows for thermal conductivity resulting in the formation of condensation on the outer surface of the terminal component only. Such a feature demonstrates to consumers that the beer is being cooled adequately prior to dispense.

Preferably the main tube member has a diameter in the range from 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5cm). The tube may be straight or bent, either at an angle of ninety degrees or similar.

Preferably, the swan neck tower of the present invention has a height above the counter mounting of about at least 12 inches (30cm), suitably above 15 inches (37.5cm).

Preferably the main tube member and the terminal component are comprised of a metal such as copper, brass or stainless steel.

The terminal component of the cooling apparatus of the present invention further comprises a fastening threading on the interior thereof, positioned at the locating point of the beer tap. Such threading allows for connection of the dispense tap.

Brief Description of the Drawings One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a swan-neck tower, showing a partly cut-away section at the point where the beer dispense tap is located and a second cut-away section indicating the direction and location of the beer line, the chilled water inlet and outlet, and the location of foam insulation.

Fig. 2 is a sectioned view A-A, from Fig. 1, indicating how the beer line and the chilled water lines are encapsulated within the tube.

IE000891 Fig. 3 is a section view B-B, from Fig. 1, indicating how the reservoir is formed as an annular chamber, within the two component parts, which are made up of the beer dispense tap location piece and the chilled water inlet and outlet piece.

Fig. 4 is a further diagrammatic sectioned view of the component parts that make up the dispense tap location piece and the chilled water inlet and outlet piece, creating the annular chamber which acts as a reservoir for capturing and re-circulating the chilled water.

Detailed Description of the Drawings The swan neck tower comprises a main tube 4, with a counter flange 5 and a fastening threaded barrel 6. The threaded barrel 6 can be inserted into any counter bar (by drilling of a suitable hole) and fastened in situation by means of a typical flange nut.

At the dispense end, the main tube 4 carries a terminal component in the form of a permanently fixed dispense beer tap location piece 11, which is attached, by means of soldering, to an outer sleeve 17, which when soldered together form an annular chamber 9, which acts as a reservoir by capturing and re-circulating the chilled water. Chilled water enters and exits this reservoir by means of two permanently soldered barbed fittings, depicted as chilled water inlet 7 and chilled water outlet 8 connected to supply line 13 a and outlet line 13b respectively.

This water chilled annular chamber, which forms the reservoir 9, is further clarified in Fig. 4, where the dispense beer tap location piece 11, is shown to be attached to the outer sleeve 17 in two places. The location piece 11 comprises a front disc portion having substantially the same diameter as the main tube 4, and a cylindrical portion of reduced diameter extending rearwardly therefrom. The outer sleeve 17 has an outside diameter marginally less than the inside diameter of the main tube 4, and an inside diameter substantially greater than that of the cylindrical portion of the location piece 11, so that the chamber is formed between them. The front part of the location piece 11 is internally screw-threaded (see Fig. 1) so that a beer tap of conventional type (not shown) can be attached thereto in communication with the beer line. The outer sleeve 17 has a ΙΕ000891 rear flange which is drilled to allow for the chilled water inlet 7 and the chilled water outlet 8 to be soldered permanently in place.

The chilled water inlet 7 and chilled water outlet 8, are connected by means of a barbed profile to the chilled water lines 13. These chilled water lines allow cooling water to be circulated into and out of the reservoir 9, indicated by water inlet direction 2 and water outlet direction 3. These water lines can be connected to a secondary water chiller line by means of conventional hose fittings at water inlet 15 and water outlet 14.

As shown in Fig. 2, the beer line 1 is positioned to rest against the chilled water supply line 2 as the maximum efficiency of cooling will be from the secondary cooler to the reservoir. Fig. 2 also indicates how the insulation captures (encapsulates) the beer line 1, and the two chilled water lines 2 and 3 inside the tube 4 ensuring that no condensation can form on the outside of the tube up to the dispense beer tap location piece 11.

As shown in Fig. 3, the beer line passes unabated through the dispense beer tap location piece 11 and attaches itself to same by means of conventional tap fastening.

As shown the beer line can be connected at 16, by conventional hose fitting means to the beer line exiting the beer line python and immediately partake of the secondary cooling achieved in the parallel water line inlet 15. The beer line 1, is then supported in situation and parallel to the water inlet 2 and the water outlet 3 continuing to the point where the beer dispense tap is located 11. Beer flows through the hollow chamber 11 receiving secondary chilling from the chamber reservoir 9 prior to exiting into the beer dispense tap at 10. The beer line is insulated throughout this process by means of the foam insulation 12, which furthermore ensures that condensation is restricted to the un-insulated terminal component 11. Condensation, which is desirable for aesthetic reasons, can be seen on the terminal component and also on the beer tap because the cooled terminal component also cools the beer tap attached to it. If desired, the terminal component and possibly the tap can be given an “iced-over” appearance.

The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

1. Cooled beverage dispensing equipment for over-the-counter single-beer-line dispense delivery systems, comprising: (i) an insulated outer tube member mountable to stand above a counter and having an inlet end and a dispense end, (ii) a beer line running inside the outer tube member, (iii) a chilled water supply line and a chilled water outflow line also running inside the outer tube member, (iv) a terminal component of metal at the dispense end of the outer tube member, the terminal component having (a) means to mount a beer tap in communication with the beer line, (b) a chamber defined inside the terminal component, the chamber being connected to the chilled water supply line and the chilled water outflow line so that chilled water is circulated through the terminal component.

2. Dispensing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the chamber surrounds the beer line.

3. Dispensing equipment according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the terminal component is uninsulated.

4. Dispensing equipment according to any of the preceding claims wherein the terminal component comprises two pieces providing concentric sleeve portions which define the chamber in a space between them.

5. Cooled beverage dispensing equipment substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.