This application claims benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. CN 201610887329.3, filed Oct. 11, 2016.
The applications and all patents, patent applications, articles, books, specifications, other publications, documents, and things referenced herein are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes. To the extent of any inconsistency or conflict in the definition or use of a term between any of the incorporated publications, documents, or things and the text of the present document, the definition or use of the term in the present document shall prevail.
The present invention relates to the technical field of beverage equipment, and particularly to a draft beer machine.
With the progress of the times, and the improvement of people's quality of life, people have a higher requirement for drinking beer. It has been difficult for canned or bottled beer to meet people's drink demand, and more and more people hope they could drink fresh, hygiene, palatable and pure draft beer. A draft beer machine is a device to cool the beer. Traditional draft beer machines are used in coordination with the carbon dioxide cylinder and casks. Beer at normal temperature is stored in the casks, and by applying the pressure from the carbon dioxide cylinder, the beer in the cask will be pressed out and flows into the draft beer machine. The draft beer machine will refrigerate the beer passing through it, and then beer flows out of the draft beer machine and arrives at the tap. People drink beer as soon as they open the tap.
One prior art device comprises a gas cylinder, a water purification device, a cleaning tank, a beer cask, a refrigeration system, a heat exchanger and a beer dispensing section. The gas cylinder is connected to the intake valve pipe of the cleaning tank, the gas cylinder is connected to the intake valve pipe of the beer cask, the water purification equipment is connected to the reversing valve pipe of the cleaning tank, and the reversing valve of the cleaning tank is connected to the reversing valve pipe of the beer cask. The reversing valve of the beer cask is connected to the heat exchanger pipe, the heat exchanger is connected to the pipe of the beer dispensing section, and the heat exchanger is placed inside the refrigeration system. This draft beer machine organically combines the cleaning management and refrigeration, and achieves refrigeration and cleaning quickly. This not only ensures the beer is cool, but also and more importantly ensures the freshness.
Although this draft beer machine can achieve the refrigeration of beer, it has the disadvantage of slow refrigeration speed. Specifically, this draft beer machine cools the water in the water tank by the compressor, and the beer pipe is located inside the water tank. Therefore, when beer passes through the beer pipe, it is cooled. Because it takes some time for the temperature of the water in the water tank to drop, when the draft beer machine is switched on, the discharged beer has not been cooled yet in fact. Therefore, it does not achieve a quick cool in the draft beer machine.
One objective of one embodiment of the present invention is to avoid the issues stated above in the prior art, and to provide a draft beer machine. The technical issue to be resolved by the present invention is how to provide a draft beer machine with high refrigeration efficiency.
The objective of one embodiment of the present invention can be achieved by the following technical proposal:
A draft beer machine comprises a cabinet, and there is a refrigeration circuit inside the cabinet, including a compressor, a condenser and refrigeration tubes. Beer pipes are also arranged inside the cabinet, and a beer tap is fixed to the outside of the cabinet. The outer end of the beer pipes is connected to the beer tap. It is characterized in that:
The refrigeration tube and the beer pipe are wound into a quick cooler of a round or an elliptic cylindrical shape, in a helical manner. The quick cooler comprises at least one mixing layer, which is formed by winding the refrigeration tube and the beer pipe into a round or elliptic cylinder, in an abreast and helical manner. In the same mixing layer, the adjacent beer pipe and refrigeration tube adheres to each other. The adjacent two mixing layers directly adhere or a thermal conductive medium is filled in between the two layers.
The draft beer machine has a refrigeration circuit, and achieves the refrigeration of beer in the beer pipe by the refrigeration circuit. The refrigeration circuit comprises conventional refrigeration units like a compressor, a condenser, a radiator, etc. The refrigeration units are connected to refrigeration tubes, and can continuously transfer cooling capacity to the refrigeration tubes. There is a beer tap connected to the outside of the cabinet, and the discharge of beer is controlled by the beer tap. In one embodiment of the present invention, the refrigeration tubes and the beer pipes are wound in a helical manner to form a quick cooler. It is ensured that the two of them, in an abreast and helical manner, are wound into at least one layer of mixing layer. Through the close adherence between the refrigeration tubes and the beer pipes, then, the cooling capacity is transferred between the refrigeration tubes and the beer pipes in the form of dry contact cooling. Also, compared to water cooling, dry contact cooling has an advantage of high efficiency of cooling capacity transfer, and can further expedite the refrigeration process to achieve a quick cooling effect, so as to fulfill the purpose of quick cooling of beer. Both of the quick cooler and the mixing layer may be round or elliptic cylindrical. Both shapes can present smooth flow transport everywhere on the refrigeration tubes and the beer pipes. This ensures that the fluid in the beer pipes and the refrigeration tubes flows fluently, can further ensure a uniform distribution of cooling capacity to improve the refrigeration efficiency, and prevents the tubes from being clogged by ice due to non-uniform local cooling capacity. The two adjacent layers directly adhere to each other, so the left side, the right side, the upper side, and the lower side of almost all beer pipes can adhere the refrigeration tubes and are enclosed inside the refrigeration tubes. This ensures a good refrigeration effect. Of course, a thermal conductive medium may be filled in between the two adjacent mixing layers, which can further expedite the efficiency of cooling capacity transfer and improves the refrigeration efficiency.
In the draft beer machine, a refrigeration layer is arranged inside the innermost mixing layer. The refrigeration layer is formed by winding the refrigeration tubes into a round or elliptic cylinder, in a helical manner. The refrigeration layer and the innermost mixing layer directly adhere or a thermal conductive medium is filled in between the two layers. In the present invention, the quick cooler is formed by wrapping several cylindrical mixing layers, so a cylinder-like cavity is formed inside the innermost mixing layer. This cavity is the core of the whole quick cooler, and much cooling capacity gathers here. By arranging a refrigeration layer, which is formed only by refrigeration tubes, inside the innermost mixing layer, the refrigeration fluid in the refrigeration tubes can fully absorb the cooling capacity inside the cavity to store cooling capacity. This avoids waste of cooling capacity, and transfers cooling capacity to beer through the refrigeration fluid, so as to fulfill the purpose of improving the refrigeration efficiency of beer. In addition, this refrigeration layer can ensure that the refrigeration tubes exist on the left side, the right side, the upper side, and the lower side of the beer pipe in the innermost mixing layer. This achieves refrigeration in all directions and ensures the refrigeration efficiency. The refrigeration layer is arranged in a round or an elliptic cylindrical shape, presenting smooth flow transport everywhere on the refrigeration tubes. This ensures that the fluid in the refrigeration tubes flows fluently, prevents the tubes from being clogged by ice due to non-uniform local cooling capacity and ensures a uniform distribution of cooling capacity to improve the refrigeration efficiency. The refrigeration layer and the innermost mixing layer directly adhere or a thermal conductive medium may be filled in between them, which can further expedite the efficiency of cooling capacity transfer and improves the refrigeration efficiency.
In the draft beer machine, a beer pipe layer is sleeved over the outside of the outermost mixing layer. The beer pipe layer is formed by winding the beer pipes into a round or elliptic cylinder, in a helical manner. The beer pipe layer and the outermost mixing layer directly adhere or a thermal conductive medium is filled in between the two layers. When a beer pipe layer is sleeved over the outside of the outermost mixing layer, the beer pipe layer can further prevents cooling capacity in its inner mixing layer from dissipating, and can ensure that the refrigeration fluid always has a low temperature, so as to achieve the quick refrigeration of beer. The beer pipe layer and the outermost mixing layer directly adhere or a thermal conductive medium may be filled in between them, which can further expedite the efficiency of cooling capacity transfer and improves the refrigeration efficiency.
In the draft beer machine, the quick cooler is formed by winding one refrigeration tube and at least two beer pipes. Each beer pipe is wound into each mixing layer continuously. Each beer pipe is successively wound into each mixing layer, so each beer pipe will be gradually refrigerated when passing each mixing layer. This ensures a long refrigeration route, and hence improves the refrigeration effect.
In the draft beer machine, each beer pipe is wound into the beer pipe layer. All beer pipes are wound into the beer pipe layer, which can ensure that the outermost beer pipe layer of the whole quick cooler achieves a good effect of sealing and cooling capacity storage for its interior mixing layer. This can fully take advantage of the residual cooling capacity in the mixing layer, prevents too much cooling capacity from dissipating to the outside of the quick cooler, and further improves the refrigeration effect.
In the draft beer machine, the beer pipe of the innermost mixing layer is used to connect to the cask, and the beer pipe of the beer pipe layer is connected to the beer tap. The refrigeration tube of the outermost mixing layer is connected to the condenser, and the refrigeration tube of the refrigeration layer is connected to the compressor. The refrigeration fluid which outflows from the condenser has a fairly low initial temperature. Namely, the end connected to the condenser is the inlet end of the refrigeration tube. In the present invention, the refrigeration tube in the outermost mixing layer is connected to the condenser, ensuring that the temperature in the outermost mixing layer is always fairly low. Namely, the inlet end of the refrigeration fluid in the quick cooler is located in the outermost mixing layer, and the outlet end is located in the innermost refrigeration layer of the whole quick cooler. Also, the inlet end of beer in the present invention is located in the innermost mixing layer, and the outlet end is located in the outermost beer pipe layer of the whole quick cooler. Therefore, the outlet end of beer is next to the inlet end of the refrigeration fluid, and the inlet end of beer is next to the outlet end of the refrigeration fluid. Beer and the refrigeration fluid form a relative counter-flow formation, ensuring that the outlet end of beer can always indirectly adhere to the refrigeration fluid with low cold. Namely, beer at this place has a fairly low temperature and this further improves the refrigeration efficiency of discharged beer.
In the draft beer machine, the quick cooler is formed by winding one refrigeration tube and one beer pipe. Of course, the quick cooler may also be formed by winding one beer pipe and one refrigeration tube. The refrigeration tube adheres both sides of each beer pipe inside the wound helical coil. The refrigeration effect is better.
In the draft beer machine, the thermal conductive medium is thermal conductive mud or aluminum powder. The thermal conductive mud can be kneaded into various shapes as required, and be filled in between two adjacent tube layers. This allows two tube layers to adhere tightly, reduces the thermal resistance and transfers cooling capacity quickly and effectively to refrigerate beer, so as to improve the refrigeration efficiency of beer. Aluminum powder has a fairly good thermal conductivity and it can effectively transfer cooling capacity, so it is applicable to this situation.
In the draft beer machine, a shell used to accommodate the quick cooler is arranged outside the quick cooler. The quick cooler is located inside the shell, and an insulation layer is set up between the quick cooler and the inner wall of the shell. By arranging a shell and placing the quick cooler in the shell, the dissipation of cooling capacity is further prevented, and it is ensured that much cooling capacity gathers in the shell and gets fully utilized. Also, the arrangement of the insulation layer can enhance the effect of insulation and cooling capacity storage and prevents cooling capacity from further dissipating, so as to further improve the refrigeration effect.
In the draft beer machine, there is a cold storage chamber inside the cabinet, used to hold the cask. The cold storage chamber has a single chamber structure, and the quick cooler is located in the cold storage chamber. The existing draft beer machines generally have a dual cavity structure. The cavity to hold the cask is separated from the cavity used for refrigeration. For example, the refrigeration cavity used for water tank refrigeration is separated from the cavity to hold the cask. Therefore, the excessive cooling capacity in the water tank cannot be fully utilized and hence the cooling capacity is wasted. However, in the present invention, by changing the structure, the whole draft beer machine is designed as a single cavity structure. The cask and refrigeration units like condenser and etc. are all arranged inside the cold storage chamber. Cooling capacity which is not fully absorbed and utilized yet by the quick cooler can disperse to the residual cavity of the cold storage chamber, and reduces the overall temperature of the cold storage chamber. It can refrigerate the cask placed in the cold storage chamber, improves the overall utilization of cooling capacity, and further improves the refrigeration efficiency.
Compared to the prior art, one embodiment of the present draft beer machine has the following advantages:
1. The refrigeration tubes and the beer pipes are wound in a helical manner to form a quick cooler. It is ensured that the two of them, in an abreast and helical manner, are wound into at least one layer of mixing layer. Through the close adherence between the two, then, the cooling capacity is transferred between them in the form of dry contact cooling. Also, compared to water cooling, dry contact cooling has an advantage of high efficiency of cooling capacity transfer, and can further expedite the refrigeration process to achieve a quick cooling function, so as to fulfill the purpose of quick cooling of beer.
2. By arranging the quick cooler and the mixing layers in a round or an elliptic cylindrical shape, smooth flow transport everywhere are presented on the refrigeration tubes and the beer pipes. This ensures that the fluid in the beer pipes and the refrigeration tubes flows fluently, can further ensure a uniform distribution of cooling capacity to improve the refrigeration efficiency, and prevents the tubes from being clogged by ice due to non-uniform local cooling capacity.
3. The two adjacent tube layers directly adhere or a thermal conductive medium may be filled in between two adjacent tube layers, which can further expedite the efficiency of cooling capacity transfer and improves the refrigeration efficiency.
The embodiments of this invention will be described below and the technical solutions of the invention will be further illustrated in connection with the accompanying figures. However, the present invention shall not be limited to these embodiments.
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Furthermore, in this embodiment, the beer pipe (5) of the innermost mixing layer (72) is used to connect to the cask (10), and the beer pipe (5) of the beer pipe layer (73) is connected to the beer tap (6). The refrigeration tube (4) of the outermost mixing layer (72) is connected to the condenser (3), and the refrigeration tube (4) of the refrigeration layer (71) is connected to the compressor (2). The refrigeration fluid which outflows from the condenser (3) has a fairly low initial temperature. Namely, the end connected to the condenser (3) is the inlet end of the refrigeration tube (4). In the present invention, the refrigeration tube (4) in the outermost mixing layer (72) is connected to the condenser (3), ensuring that the temperature in the outermost mixing layer (72) is always fairly low. Namely, the inlet end of the refrigeration fluid in the quick cooler (7) is located in the outermost mixing layer (72), and the outlet end is located in the innermost refrigeration layer (71) of the whole quick cooler (7). Also, the inlet end of beer in the present invention is located in the innermost mixing layer (72), and the outlet end is located in the outermost beer pipe layer (73) of the whole quick cooler (7). Therefore, the outlet end of beer is next to the inlet end of the refrigeration fluid, and the inlet end of beer is next to the outlet end of the refrigeration fluid. Beer and the refrigeration fluid form a relative counter-flow formation, ensuring that the outlet end of beer can always has a fairly low temperature and this further improves the refrigeration efficiency of discharged beer. Of course, with this arrangement, cooling capacity in the deeper refrigeration tube (4) becomes less and less, resulting in a worse refrigeration effect in the deeper interior. However, in this embodiment, an extra one refrigeration layer (71) is arranged inside the innermost mixing layer (72) to ensure an enhanced refrigeration effect.
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The structure and principle of this embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. The differences are:
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The structure and principle of this embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. The differences are:
The two adjacent tube layers do not directly adhere; instead, a thermal conductive medium is filled in between the two layers. The thermal conductive medium is thermal conductive mud. Namely, the thermal conductive mud is filled in between the beer pipe layer (73) and the outermost mixing layer (72), between the adjacent mixing layers (72), and between the innermost mixing layer (72) and the refrigeration layer (71). The thermal conductive mud can be kneaded into various shapes as required, and be filled in between two adjacent tube layers. This allows two tube layers to adhere tightly, reduce the thermal resistance and transfer cooling capacity quickly and effectively to refrigerate beer, so as to improve the refrigeration efficiency of beer. Of course, aluminum powder has a fairly good thermal conductivity and it can effectively transfer cooling capacity, so it is applicable to this situation.
The structure and principle of this embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. The differences are:
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The description of the preferred embodiments thereof serves only as an illustration of the scope of the invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes or supplements in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Although the terms of Cabinet (1), Cold Storage Chamber (11), Door (12), Compressor (2), Condenser (3), Refrigeration Tube (4), Beer Pipe (5), Beer Tap (6), Quick Cooler (7), Refrigeration Layer (71), Mixing Layer (72), Beer Pipe Layer (73), Shell (8), Insulation Layer (81), Evaporator (9), Cask (10), etc. are often used herein, it does not exclude the possibility to use any other terms. Using such terms is only to describe or explain the nature of the present invention more conveniently. Any additional restrictions are contrary to the scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201610887329.3 | Oct 2016 | CN | national |