IES69322B2

IES69322B2 - Fob detector with improved cleaning facility

Info

Publication number: IES69322B2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Seamus C Dunne; Simon R Miller
Original assignee: Seamus C Dunne; Simon R Miller
Priority date: 1996-05-03
Filing date: 1996-05-03
Publication date: 1996-09-04
Also published as: GB2326218A; AU2401997A; WO1997042123A1; IES960332A2; GB2326218B; GB9821331D0

Abstract

A fob detector for use in the supply line between a pressurized beverage container and a dispenser comprising: (i) a chamber (1) defined by a wall (2), a base component (8) and a top component (11); (ii) a liquid inlet pipe (4) for receiving liquid beverage under pressure from the container, the inlet pipe having a liquid inlet aperture (3) in the chamber close to the top component (11) of the detector; (iii) a liquid outlet aperture (5) in the base component (8) for discharging the liquid beverage via a main outlet pipe (6) to a dispenser supply line (49); (iv) a vent aperture (14) for venting gas from the chamber and a vent valve (12) for opening and closing the vent aperture; (v) a cleaning outlet pipe (43) for discharging cleaning materials from the chamber, the cleaning outlet pipe being aligned with the liquid inlet pipe (4) and having a mouth separated from the liquid inlet aperture (3) by a small gap (9) such that liquid beverage supplied to the inlet pipe can flow into the chamber but a cleaning pellet (46) forced under pressure through the liquid inlet pipe passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe (43); and (vi) a stop fitting (44) for closing the cleaning outlet pipe (43) during supply of liquid beverage to the chamber and for closing the main outlet pipe (6) during discharge of cleaning materials.

Description

This invention relates to a fob detector for use in the supply line between a pressurized beverage container and a dispensing means, particularly for beers.

One of the problems encountered when dispensing draught beers, and especially draught stout, occurs when the pressurized container from which the beer is to be dispensed is nearly empty and there is a build up of the fob or froth which constitutes a considerable wastage. Several pints of fob must be cleared from the dispensing system before the next full beer container can be connected to the system. It is known to use a fob detector in-the beer line between the container and the dispensing point - see British Patent Specification No. 1,357,953 of Porter-Lancastrian Limited. Irish Patent Specification No. 47813 (the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference) describes apparatus for use in inhibiting dispense of fob comprising a chamber having an inlet aperture for receiving liquid beverage under pressure from a supply source, and an outlet aperture for discharging such liquid beverage to a dispensing means, the outlet aperture being surrounded by a seating, a float movable within the chamber relative to the seating, the float being buoyant in the liquid beverage but not in fob and being arranged to make sealing engagement with the seating when the chamber is empty or substantially empty of liquid beverage, and means - 1 S69 3 2.2 to displace the float from the seating. The chamber is provided with a vent communicable with the top of the chamber and closable by a valve unit.

In the known fob detectors, the inlet aperture is at the top of a vertical inlet pipe which extends upwardly through the chamber, above the float, while the outlet aperture is at the base of the main chamber below the float, and connects with a horizontal outlet pipe.

It is desirable to be able to clean the beverage supply line between the pressurized container and the dispenser on a regular basis e.g. twice a week. One cleaning method which has been adopted involves the use of a cylindrical pellet of soft plastics foam which is inserted into the supply line and forced through it by pressure.

The pellet pushes any residues in the supply line in front of it as it travels. However when the pellet reaches the inlet aperture of a fob detector it becomes trapped in the chamber and cannot continue its journey through the remainder of the supply line from the outlet of the fob detector to the dispenser.

It is an object of the present invention to solve this problem.

The present invention provides a fob detector for use in the supply line between a pressurized beverage container and a dispenser comprising: (i) a chamber defined by a wall, a base component and a top component, (ii) a liquid inlet pipe for receiving liquid beverage under pressure from the container, the inlet pipe having a liquid inlet aperture in the chamber close to the top component of the detector, - 2 (iii) a liquid outlet aperture in the base component for discharging the liquid beverage in a main outlet pipe to a dispenser supply line, (iv) a vent aperture for venting gas from the chamber and a vent valve for opening and closing the vent aperture, (v) a cleaning outlet pipe for discharging cleaning materials from the chamber, the cleaning outlet pipe being aligned with the liquid inlet pipe and having a mouth separated from the liquid inlet aperture by a small gap such that liquid beverage supplied to the inlet pipe can flow into the chamber but a cleaning pellet forced under pressure through the liquid inlet pipe passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe, and (vi) a stop fitting for closing the cleaning outlet pipe during supply of liquid beverage to the chamber.

Preferably the cleaning outlet pipe is mounted in a bore in the top component which is co-axial with the liquid inlet pipe.

In the preferred embodiment, the mouth of the cleaning outlet pipe is surrounded by a chamfered lip.

Suitably the gap between the top of the liquid inlet pipe and the mouth of the cleaning outlet pipe is in the range from 1.75 to 2.25mm, measured in the axial direction.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fob detector according to the invention, partly in section on the line A-A in Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the fob detector of Figure 1. - 3 Figure 3 is a projection of a cleaning pellet.

A As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fob detector comprises a cylindrical chamber 1 defined by a wall 2 of transparent material, a r base component 8 and a top component 11 held together by two vertical bolts 47. The inlet aperture 3 is at the top of a vertical inlet pipe 4 extending upwardly through the chamber. The inlet pipe 4 is connected by a beer line (not shown) to a pressurised beer keg (not shown). The outlet aperture 5 is formed in the base component 11 and connects with a horizontal main outlet pipe 6. The main outlet pipe 6 is connected by a beer line (not shown) to a dispensing means such as a tap (not shown). The float 7 sits into the outlet aperture 5 when there is not sufficient liquid in the chamber 1 to keep the float 7 buoyant.

A lift handle 10 is provided to lift the float 7 away from the outlet aperture when the main chamber 1 has refilled with liquid. The float 7 is guided by the two vertical bolts 47 and inlet pipe 4 which are accommodated in grooves in the float 7.

The top of the main chamber is closed by the top component 11, on which is secured a vent valve unit 12 having a handle 28 and a horizontal vent outlet 14. The valve unit is described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/932.184 filed on 22 February 1995 by Seamus C. Dunne.

The inlet pipe 4 extends upwardly in the chamber to the extent that the top of the pipe, defining the inlet aperture, is adjacent to the lower main surface 39 of the top component 11, leaving a gap 9 of the order of 2mm ±0.1 (measured vertically) between them. The top component 11 has a peripheral skirt which surrounds the wall 3 but this is not to be regarded as the lower main surface of the top component. The top component 11 is penetrated by a vertical screw-threaded bore 40 whose lower end defines a cleaning aperture 41. Both the bore 40 and the cleaning aperture 41 are co-axially aligned with the inlet pipe 4. The cleaning aperture 41 is surrounded by an annular chamfered lip 38 which forms an upwardly converging entrance to the bore 40. The upper surface of the lip 41 forms a step 42. - 4 An externally screw-threaded cleaning outlet pipe 43 is screwed into the bore 40 until its lower end is seated on the step 42. The cleaning outlet pipe has the same internal diameter as the inlet pipe 4 and is aligned therewith.

The cleaning aperture 41 is the mouth of the cleaning outlet pipe.

A releasable cap fitting 44 is provided for closing the upper end of the cleaning outlet pipe 43 or the main outlet pipe 6. A releasable sleeve fitting 45 is provided for connecting the main outlet pipe 6 or the cleaning outlet pipe 43 to the supply line to the dispenser. Both of these fittings are of commercially available type, e.g. from John Guest Limited.

In normal use, the main outlet pipe 6 is connected to the dispenser supply line by the sleeve fitting 45, and the top of the cleaning outlet pipe 43 is closed by the cap fitting 44. Beer flows upwardly through the inlet pipe 4. When it reaches the inlet aperture 3 the beer flows through the gap 9 into the chamber. Some of the beer may pass upwardly into the cleaning outlet pipe 43 but it cannot escape because of the cap fitting 44. While beer is flowing the float 7 is lifted and the beer leaves the fob detector through the main outlet pipe 6 in the normal manner.

When it is desired to clean the supply lines, the flow of beer is stopped. The cap fitting 44 is removed from the cleaning outlet pipe 43 and is interchanged with the sleeve fitting 45 carrying the dispenser supply line. Thus the main outlet pipe 6 is closed by the > cap fitting 44 and the cleaning outlet pipe is connected to the dispenser supply line. . A plastic foam pellet 46 is then driven by j pressure through the supply line from the end which is normally connected to the beverage container. The pellet is driven by liquid detergent under pressure and the liquid detergent also serves to clean the supply lines. The pellet passes upwardly through the inlet pipe - 5 4. When it reaches the inlet aperture 3 the pellet passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe 43, guided by the chamfered lip 38. As ♦ the chamber 1 is sealed by the float 7 and the cap fitting 44 on the main outlet pipe 6, the cleaning outlet pipe 43 provides the only ? passage for the pellet and the pressurized detergent behind it. The pellet is thus driven into the dispenser supply line and continues its journey to the far end thereof, followed by the pressurized liquid detergent.

When cleaning of the supply line is completed, the cap fitting 44 and sleeve fitting 45 are interchanged again and the flow of beer can be started again by use of the lift handle 10 to lift the float 7.

In accordance with conventional practice, the fob detector itself should be stripped down and cleaned at longer time intervals e.g. every 4-5 weeks.

The apparatus of the invention permits the cleaning pellet and the liquid detergent to pass straight through the aligned pipes, avoiding any risks of sharp corners, infection pockets, restricted passage at joints or problems of leaks.

Claims

CLAIMS 51. A fob detector for use in the supply line between a pressurized beverage container and a dispenser comprising; (i) a chamber defined by a wall, a base component and a top component, (ii) a liquid inlet pipe for receiving liquid beverage under pressure from the container, the inlet pipe having a liquid inlet aperture in the chamber close to the top component of the detector, (iii) a liquid outlet aperture in the base component for discharging the liquid beverage via a main outlet pipe to a dispenser supply line, 20 (iv) a vent aperture for venting gas from the chamber and a vent valve for opening and closing the vent aperture, (v) a cleaning outlet pipe for discharging cleaning materials from the chamber, the cleaning outlet pipe being aligned with the 25 - liquid inlet pipe and having a mouth separated from the liquid inlet aperture by a small gap such that liquid beverage supplied to the inlet pipe can flow into the chamber but a cleaning pellet forced under pressure through the liquid inlet pipe passes directly into the cleaning outlet pipe, and (vi) a stop fitting for closing the cleaning outlet pipe during supply of liquid beverage to the chamber.
2. A fob detector according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning outlet 35 pipe is mounted in a bore in the top component which is co-axial with the liquid inlet pipe. - 7
3. A fob detector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the mouth of the cleaning outlet pipe is surrounded by a chamfered lip. ·
4. A fob detector substantially as described herein with reference * to the accompanying drawings.