Patent Grant
8757445
This invention claims the priority and benefit of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/321,341 filed Jan. 17, 2009 in the name of the same inventor, Jon Joseph Robinson, and entitled “COLD BLOCK WITH INTEGRAL BEER TAP” for which the entire applications including disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).
This invention relates generally to beverage taps.
In beverage dispensing technology, it is imperative for both sanitary and regulatory reasons to maintain consistent, stable and low temperatures in many products while they are being dispensed. Cooling has been shown to slow bacterial growth, which is important for beverages which must be kept cold at all times so as to maintain sanitary conditions and assist maintenance of sanitary conditions for the beverage, in keeping with food safety codes. The importance of this can be understood in the following terms: if a product cannot be maintained at the proper temperature in conformity with regulations on health and safety, then the product simply cannot be dispensed. Thus the entire shape of industries such as drinking, food management and entertainment can be altered by the practical limits of temperature control. Different products have different regulatory standards, for example, NSF 18 is applicable to general beverage technology, while NSF 20 is applicable to bulk milk dispensing.
A typical beverage dispensing tower is shown in
Thus standard designs do not hold beverage within the faucet body 106: there is beverage at 108 and the point of dispense is functionally at 108. To reiterate, the significant factor here is the ability to meet regulatory standards: business and other considerations must conform to this over-riding issue.
In other designs such as the Perlick “sanitary faucet” 106A or stout faucets such as 106B, the valve is reversed and beverage remains within the faucet, attempting to rely upon the conduction from the cold block to keep the external faucet cold.
The prior art “cold block” as used for many decades is a conductive block with channels running through it. The channels carry glycol coolant, which is kept separated from one or more product channels carrying the beverage. The channels of glycol can absorb large amounts of heat and carry it away to a heat exchanger such as a radiator located at a remote location. The aluminum or Kirksite composite (a zinc alloy typically having a modest amount of aluminum and copper) cold block has excellent heat transmission properties, heat rejected by the beverage as it passes through the cold block can easily enter the cold block and then be rejected into the glycol and away. If the valve location 108 is situated projecting near the cold block 120 (as some products by Perlick and others have had for 50 years or more) then the traditional arrangement keeps the beverage cold right to the point of dispense at valve part 108. The glycol channels in the prior art arrangements may run throughout cold block 120 in any of a wide range of ways, for example, the glycol channels may run right to the point of dispense at valve part 110 (except of course Perlick sanitary faucets, stout faucets and the like).
Other systems teach using glycol lines to cool the feed lines running up to the valves but with no true cold block (as in soft drink fountain systems).
Various types of systems have been proposed.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,188,751 and 7,140,514 issued Mar. 13, 2008 and Nov. 28, 2006 to Van Der Klaauw et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,556 issued Mar. 26, 2002 to Gagliano, U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,652 issued May 29, 2001 to Nelson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,259 issued Feb. 23, 1999 to Spillman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,787 issued Dec. 9, 1997 to Cleland et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,825 issued Jul. 23, 1996 to Ward, U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,445 issued Jun. 13, 1978 to Bevan, U.S. Pat. No. 2,450,315 issued Sep. 29, 1948 to Vetrano, U.S. Pat. No. 2,286,205 issued Jun. 16, 1942 issued to Grubb, U.S. Pat. No. 2,259,852 issued Oct. 21, 1941 to Hall show some typical examples of the prior art in the field.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,272,951 issued Sep. 25, 2007 to Kyees teaches that the cooling lines in a cold block may pass about the tap shank and/or socket fittings (not the tap heads themselves). The tap heads still project from the tower, as may be seen in
However, it is not generally known to actually place the traditional stout tap into the cold block itself, then run coolant lines all the way around the tap while staying entirely within the cold block. It is further not generally known to actually place a wide range of beverage taps into a cold block having coolant lines running all the way around tap within a temperature control block. It is further not generally known to actually place a portion control mechanism within a temperature control block.
Significantly, it is NOT known to provide a coolant chamber around the tap mechanism and within a temperature control block, thus providing highly stable temperatures right to very verge of dispensing of beverages such as milk, coffee, beer, or the like.
It would be desirable to provide a device which allows beverages to be maintained at a desirable determined temperature including when the beverage is within the actual tap itself, by placing the taps within the cold block.
The present invention teaches a beverage tower of the type having a cold block, or more broadly a temperature control block, with glycol recirculation, and further in which the stout-style of tap does not project from the block but rather is actually built into the cold block, so as to keep the entire beverage tap body cold. This tap embedded cold block presents a number of advantages over known prior art, most especially, the ability to maintain dairy products at a consistently safe temperature which meets regulatory approval.
By contrast, traditional systems, which tend to be useful strictly for beer technology, have one end of the tap or the valve seat of the tap located just beyond (exterior to) a cold block. By contrast, the present invention teaches that the entire stout tap or other similar tap (with the exception of parts such as a handle or a self-draining nozzle orifice) may be located within the cold block and is thus useful for many diverse beverages. Beverages like milk passing through the cold block thus are maintained consistently cold while waiting in the block.
To further increase the effectiveness of the design, not only are there coolant channels which wind in serpentine fashion about the beverage channels and the tap itself, but there may also be provided a coolant chamber. The coolant chamber may have the tap sealed within the coolant chamber and the coolant chamber may then itself be embedded within the cold block. It is axiomatic that the coolant lines and coolant chamber are hydraulically separated in all ways and at all points from the beverage channels.
The glycol lines within the cold block may optionally be arranged so as to pass around the tap in the cold block, even around the entire tap, with a 360 degree envelopment on all sides. This results in the tap remaining cooled so long as the glycol recirculation system keeps the block in which it is embedded cold. However, with the addition of a coolant chamber not only is 360 degree envelopment provided but in addition, a larger heat rejection capability is provided as well: the coolant mass in proximity to the tap valve is greater and thus provides faster cooling. This design does not sacrifice the temperature stability provided by the cold block, either, as the coolant itself is maintained in a cold condition by the thermal mass of the cold block.
Serpentine beverage supply channels (and of course glycol channels as well) may be employed so that the beverage passing through the beverage supply channels has a longer run and longer time in contact with the cooled conductive material of the cold block, though the invention is about the location of the tap and the ability to better maintain already cool beverages. This provides more time and contact opportunity to reject heat from the beverage to the block and assist in maintaining sanitary conditions for the beverage.
Heat rejected from the beverage into the coolant chamber is then rejected into the coolant within the chamber (or further rejected into the cold block) is then of course moved in the moving coolant or rejected again into the glycol in the glycol channels (which are entirely sealed from the beverage channels) and carried away by a glycol recirculation pump back to the glycol storage bath within the glycol refrigeration unit.
Tested versions (so far the versions with coolant lines passing about the tap) with straight beverage supply lines passing through the block to a tap entirely within the cold block have passed NSF 18. and NSF 20.
In addition, automated portion control may be achieved by embedding within not only the tap/valve but also the operating end (plunger end) of a solenoid, such as an electrical solenoid, or more realistically a gas operated solenoid, but any type may be employed.
Further in addition, the design may be used in multiple-tap beverage towers.
Finally, the present design may be used with a heating fluid instead of a coolant, resulting in the “cold block” becoming a “hot block” and providing thermal momentum to maintain a steady and constant high temperature. It will be understood that the terms “cold” and “cold block” used herein may refer to heat and the cold block may function as a hot block. If the broader term “temperature control block” is used, however, it will be understood that the block, while novel due to its aspects and elements, includes the term “cold block” and for the detailed description and claims of the invention, the two terms may be used interchangeably.
Thus the entire range of beverage towers can be used with the present invention, traditional, hand-operated, automated, multiple-tap, towers otherwise cooled, decorative towers and so on.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously, to provide a beverage dispensing device comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device wherein at least one of the beverage channel, and the coolant channel, is
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device wherein the first and second beverage supplies further comprise containers having therein one member selected from the group consisting of: milk, non-dairy products, carbonated and non-carbonated beer, other alcoholic beverages, syrups, water, coffee and tea, fruit juice and combinations thereof.
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device wherein at least one of the beverage channel, and the coolant channel, is
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device wherein at least one of the beverage channel, and the coolant channel, is
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed previously a beverage dispensing device further comprising:
While
Operation of the device in general terms may be partially understood with reference to
When beverage is to be dispensed, solenoid gas inlet 1026 alters the flow of gas so as to actuate solenoid 1012, which causes the flow of beverage to be enabled. Note that coolant flow through the coolant chamber (the interior) 1002 and beverage flow through tap beverage inlet 1016, the tab body 1000, past the solenoid plunger and out tap beverage outlet 1018 and tap outlet nozzle 1020 in fact may be entirely unrelated, may be related by automated temperature controls, or may be directly linked, so that actuation of one causes the flow of new coolant. In the presently preferred embodiment, the flow of coolant is dependent only upon temperature maintenance considerations and not upon flow of the beverage. As noted previously, the coolant and the beverage are entirely separate.
The tap body exterior 1004 of tap body 1000 of
The size and shape of the coolant chamber 1002 (interior) is obviously defined by the coolant chamber body (or exterior or wall) 1005, and this may be any shape chosen for cooling efficiency or the constraints of the beverage dispensing apparatus, such as size, shape and so on. It will be understood that the tap body 1000 is thus disposed within the coolant chamber 1002 while the coolant chamber body 1005 is in turn embedded within the cold block of aluminum or Kirksite or other suitable material. Note that any suitable material now known or later developed will fall within the scope of the appended claims. Beverage, as noted previously, enters through tap beverage inlet 1016 and exit through tap beverage outlet 1018.
However, this figure also depicts the cold block 1030, in which the coolant lines and the beverage lines and the coolant chambers and the taps within the coolant chambers are all embedded. Beverage feed line 1060 provides a beverage to a tap, since there are two beverage feed lines, two different beverages may be supplied. The serpentine beverage feed line 1060 becomes beverage cooling channel 1062.
In operation, the beverage passes through the channels on the way to the tap, and in so doing rejects heat from the fluid of the beverage into the cold block 1030, which in turn rejects the heat into the coolant lines.
One important difference between these two embodiments is that the chamber (which may be present in either type) is used in one case and not in the other. In embodiments in which the chamber is used, the coolant surrounding the tap body provides a faster and more direct heat exchange. However, the embodiments with no chamber may be simpler to manufacture. Both embodiments are preferred at this time, although the chambered embodiment may well turn out to be “more preferred” in the light of experience.
The cold block shape need not be a simple prism, it can be any advantageous shape.
In typical scenarios for PRIOR ART, Tower 102 has external to Tower top 104 a tap. This tap may be one of various types. Depicted herein are three types: General tap 106, Perlick Sanitary Tap 106A, and Stout Tap 106B. These are taken from PRIOR ART referenced previously in the “Background” of this disclosure and discussed there in detail.
Significantly, Valve Point of Dispense 108 and the following Tap Orifice (outlet) 112 are well outside of Cold Block 120. Cold Block Insulating Foam 122 is used for further cooling, but of course does not compensate for the unhygienic fact that there is always some small amount of beverage outside of the cold block, warming and growing pathogens, because these designs do NOT embed the tap truly within the cold block. What is actually embedded is a shank assembly or Embedded Shank Socket (optional) 124 and most but not all of the length of the Beverage Cooling Channel 126.
The disclosure is provided to allow practice of the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended claims.
This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2259852 | Hall | Oct 1941 | A |
| 2286205 | Grubb | Jun 1942 | A |
| 2450315 | Vetrano | Sep 1948 | A |
| 2612357 | Parks | Sep 1952 | A |
| 2771752 | Tennant | Nov 1956 | A |
| 2814184 | Johnson | Nov 1957 | A |
| 3469415 | Cornelius | Sep 1969 | A |
| 3556347 | Segal et al. | Jan 1971 | A |
| 4094445 | Bevan | Jun 1978 | A |
| 4730463 | Stanfill | Mar 1988 | A |
| 5537825 | Ward | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5564602 | Cleland et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5624056 | Martindale | Apr 1997 | A |
| 5694787 | Cleland et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
| 5873259 | Spillman | Feb 1999 | A |
| 6237652 | Nelson | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6360556 | Gagliano | Mar 2002 | B1 |
| 7140514 | Van Der Klaauw et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
| 7188751 | Van Der Klaauw et al. | Mar 2007 | B2 |
| 7272951 | Kyees | Sep 2007 | B2 |
| 8079230 | Frank et al. | Dec 2011 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130200105 A1 | Aug 2013 | US |
