METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A BEVERAGE CHILLED CONDITION

Abstract

A mobile beverage dispenser comprises a wheelable platform having mounted thereon a chillable chamber connected to a refrigerated cooling coil for removing heat from a beverage in a bulk storage container placed therein for cooling; and a beverage dispensing tap connectable to the container in fluid communication with the beverage, and mounted in thermally conductive relationship with the chillable chamber, whereby the chamber when chilled removes heat from the dispenser in preparation for dispensing of the beverage, by virtue of the conductive relationship.

Claims

1-37. (canceled)

38. A mobile beverage dispenser comprising: a. a wheelable platform having mounted thereon a refrigeration plant, adapted for removing heat from a bulk storage container being borne on the platform and containing a beverage for cooling; and b. a beverage dispensing tap, connectable to the container, in fluid communication with the beverage, and mounted in thermally conductive relationship with the refrigeration plant, whereby the refrigeration plant removes heat from the dispenser in preparation for dispensing of the beverage.

39. The dispenser of claim 38 wherein the refrigeration plant comprises a receptacle wherein the container is receivable for cooling an external surface thereof.

40. The dispenser of claim 39 wherein the refrigeration plant comprises an evaporative cooling coil operatively located against and in thermally conductive relationship with a wall of the receptacle.

41. The dispenser of claim 40, wherein the cooling coil is located on the outside of the receptacle wall.

42. The dispenser of claim 41, wherein the dispensing tap includes a tubular conduit passing through the receptacle wall.

43. The dispenser of claim 42, wherein the refrigeration plant further comprises a refrigerant expansion chamber connected in thermally conducting relationship with the tubular conduit.

44. The dispenser of claim 43, wherein tubing through which refrigerant from the refrigerant plant flows is configured for selectively bypassing the expansion chamber.

45. A method of dispensing a chilled beverage, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing chiller apparatus including: i. a chilling receptacle adapted for receiving therein in cooling relationship a bulk storage beverage container containing a beverage for dispensing, and ii. a conduit connected to a dispensing tap, wherein the conduit and tap are in thermally conductive relationship with the chilling receptacle, b. operating the apparatus to cause the receptacle to be cooled and to draw heat from the conduit and tap, c. placing the beverage container in the receptacle and allowing the container and its contents to cool, d. connecting the container and tap in fluid communication, e. operating the tap to dispense cooled beverage through the tap via the pre-cooled conduit.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the chiller apparatus comprises a refrigerated cooling coil arranged in thermal contact with an outside surface of a wall of the receptacle.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the conduit passes through the wall of the receptacle.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the chiller apparatus further comprises a refrigerant expansion chamber connected in thermally conducting relationship with the conduit.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the chamber comprises a U-shaped tube having an inlet and an outlet respectively for receiving and discharging refrigerant.

50. The method of claim 48, including causing refrigerant selectively to bypass the expansion chamber when cooling of the conduit is not required.

51. The method of claim 45, including mounting the chilling apparatus on a wheeled platform.

52. A mobile beverage chiller comprising a chillable receptacle mounted on a wheelable platform, the receptacle adapted for receiving a bulk beverage dispensing container, a chilling device operatively mounted in thermally conductive contact with the receptacle, and beverage dispensing tap operatively connectable to the container and in thermally conductive relationship with the receptacle.

53. The chiller of claim 52, wherein the receptacle comprises a sleeve into which the container is operatively locatable for chilling.

54. The chiller of claim 52, wherein the chilling device includes an evaporative cooling system located outside the receptacle.

55. The chiller of claim 52, wherein the dispensing tap is in thermally conductive contact with a refrigerant expansion chamber connected to the chilling device.

56. The chiller of claim 55, wherein the expansion chamber comprises a U-shaped tube having legs between which the conduit is located to pass.

57. The chiller of claim 18, including a controllable bypass circuit operable to cause refrigerant to bypass the chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0060] In order that the disclosure may be readily understood, and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures. Thus:

[0061] FIG. 1 shows in perspective front view, a mobile dispenser unit in a preferred embodiment of this disclosure.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the unit of FIG. 1 with its pulling handle shown partly extended by stippled lines.

[0063] FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of unit of FIG. 1 with the housing removed to show internal components.

[0064] FIG. 4 is a perspective front view of unit of the unit of FIG. 3 showing a beverage canister withdrawn from the chiller sleeve.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an expansion chamber for cooling the conduit leading to the dispensing tap of the apparatus of FIG. 1, shown in (a) in perspective and in (b) in end elevational views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0066] The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the presently disclosed embodiments. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure are not necessarily references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one.

[0067] Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may apply to certain embodiments but not necessarily to others.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of this disclosure, the mobile dispensing unit is generally denoted by the number 10 and shown in perspective view with a body defined by a protective housing 12 mounted by fastening means (not shown) over a platform 14. The fastening means may be of any suitable known kind, for example inter-engaging clip formations. The platform is rendered mobile by means of wheels 16 mounted to an enclosed axle assembly 18 at its rear end 20. Height adjustable stabilising feet (not shown) may be fitted below platform 14 adjacent the unit's front end 22. Weight adjustment may be by means of a screw-threaded connection between the feet and a threaded socket in the base.

[0069] For use in relocating the unit, an extensible handle 24 of known kind is fitted slideably within the housing (see FIG. 2) to be located forward of rear housing wall 26. As shown by directional arrow H, the handle may be extracted from its normally stowed position in FIG. 1, so that the handgrip crossbar portion 28 stands proud of housing 12 on supporting legs 30 which are withdrawn from a stowed location in the housing for supporting portion 28 for use. A user may then find it convenient to tilt the housing rearwardly by means of the extended handle so that the forward portion of the platform and any supporting feet are clear of the supporting ground or floor surface and the unit is ready to be rolled to a new location on wheels 16.

[0070] It will be appreciated that the wheels in other embodiments may be of different configuration and need not be connected to a common axle. The handle assembly may also take on a different form. It is found however that the crossbar form is advantageous for the dispenser unit of the disclosure, because of the weight of the beverage container within (when relatively full) and of the refrigeration plant, which will be described in further paragraphs. Instead of a crossbar, the handle may take the form of a T-bar on a single withdrawable leg, or of two separate handgrips on withdrawable separate legs. The form of the handle should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the disclosure.

[0071] In this embodiment, the housing is shown in a generally blocky shape with a protruding front step 34. It has external moulded formations 36 providing a decorative aspect while strengthening the general structure of the housing to be suitable for potentially robust handling. The mouldings may take other shapes within the scope of the disclosure.

[0072] Protruding from the upper front face 38 of the housing are a beverage dispensing tap 40 and a removable drip tray assembly 42 located directly below it, but sufficiently spaced from the tap to allow interposition of a beer glass, mug or similar receptacle thereon for filling from the tap. Tap 40 is opened and closed by means of a pull handle 44 of known operation. Alternative forms of tap operating devices may be substituted without departing from the scope of this disclosure. An example of an alternative tap is a rotatable faucet that opens and closes a ball valve, butterfly or needle-type valve and the like.

[0073] The drip tray assembly has a covering grid 46 located above a catchment basin 48, which is removably fitted in a mating formation for ease of emptying the basis.

[0074] Housing 12 has a removable lid 50 equipped with twin recesses 52 suitable for holding a beverage container such as a glass. A recess 54 is located at the front lip of the lid to enable an operator or user of the unit to insert one or more of their finger tips to prise the lid up and away from the generally vertical, supporting front 38, sides 56, 58 and rear 26 panels of the housing, to allow access to the interior components of FIG. 3, as indicated by directional arrows L.

[0075] In an alternative embodiment, the lid may be hingedly connected to one of the vertical panels of the housing without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The lid may be rendered lockable by fitting a locking mechanism, for example a latch or magnetic retention device, or it may be provided with a suitable device for receiving a removable external locking device such as a padlock or combination lock.

[0076] To provide ventilation for the refrigeration plant installed within housing 12, ventilation grilles 60, 62 are provided on either side 56, 58.

[0077] Rear panel 26 has a port 64 for receiving tubing from an externally mountable additional or optional carbon dioxide supply cylinder or an external fluid feeder line (not shown). Also on the rear panel, situated near platform 14 is cover plate 66 for an on/off switch alongside a power cord socket, which is connected to the refrigeration plant circuitry to provide on/off functionality, for example while the apparatus is being wheeled to a selected dispensing location. Located adjacent tap 40 on front wall panel 38 is a slot 68 for mounting a digital thermostat display with adjustable temperature control, to provide an output of temperature within the chilled receptacle 80 of FIG. 4.

[0078] The internal components of the dispensing apparatus are described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in which housing 12 has been removed, exposing platform 14 and an internal rear bulkhead panel 70, behind which the handle support legs 30 are stowed in a gap provided between panel 70 and rear wall 26, when the handle is not extended. The gap provides a layer of air that helps thermally insulate the interior of the housing from ambient conditions outside. The housing may be removed in the normal operating life of the unit for servicing, repairs or cleaning and the like.

[0079] With reference to FIG. 4, the bulk container for the beverage is in the form of a canister 72, which is able to be disconnected from the dispensing conduit 78 (shown in FIG. 5) at a standard coupling 74, so that it can be withdrawn from chilled receptacle 80 and replaced if required, for example if empty or for replacement with a canister containing a different beverage.

[0080] Securely mounted to platform 14 is the chillable, to become chilled, receptacle 80 of generally cylindrical, sleeve-like proportions. The proportions are such that canister 72 fits substantially snugly inside when inserted from above. However, canister 72 does not fit tightly against the inner surface 82 of receptacle 80, so that ease of withdrawal is ensured.

[0081] An evaporative cooling coil 84 is wound around the outer surface of receptacle 80 to be in substantially thermal conductive relationship therewith. Receptacle 80 is preferably made of copper, but can be made from another material having superior thermal conductivity. The heat from the receptacle is conducted to the coil to cause evaporation of the refrigerant therein according to conventional refrigeration principles. The coil is shielded from receiving external incident heat by covering it and receptacle 80 with an insulating blanket 90, shown being partially applied in FIG. 4 by being wound in strip form around the receptacle and coil. The blanket may be made of any suitable insulating material, for example of the kind provided for insulating piping, or it may be a substantially rigid cylinder of polystyrene walls or similar.

[0082] The chiller apparatus includes a refrigeration plant installed on platform 14, below the step portion 34 of housing 12 in FIG. 1. The refrigeration plant further includes a condenser 86, a compressor 88, a motor-driven cooling fan (not shown) mounted behind the compressor, a controller unit 92 including a microprocessor, and a filter and dryer unit 94, operatively connected for treating the refrigerant in the cooling circuit, according to known designs. The plant is powered by direct current received from an on-board rechargeable battery (not shown). In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus is adapted for receiving alternating current from a mains supply (110V or 220/240V) and includes a transformer and rectifier. In a further embodiment, the cooling plant may be adapted to be powered from a direct current source of 12V, 18V, 24V and the like. It will be appreciated that the disclosure allows for the use of various power supply solutions without being limited to the one described in this embodiment.

[0083] To provide frothing gas to the beverage being dispensed, a bottle 96 containing carbon dioxide is mounted to bulkhead 70. A tube 98 provides a conduit for carbonizing gas, for example carbon dioxide, released from the bottle to pass into canister 72 through an entry port (not shown) located on the cap, but obscured in FIG. 4 by oppositely located handles 104. The rate of release is accurately controllable by manually operable needle valve 102. Bottle 96 is disconnectable and replaceable when empty. As indicated by directional arrow D in FIG. 4, the canister 72, once disconnected from the conduit to dispensing tap connection 76 (see FIG. 5), can simply be lifted from copper sleeve 80 using handle formations 104 for easy replacement.

[0084] A further cooling arrangement that is included in the preferred embodiment and that operates to cool tap nozzle 40 and the dispensing tube immediately connected to it, is depicted schematically in FIG. 5 and designated generally by the numeral 100. The arrangement shown is not evident in the previous figures, as it is mounted within housing 12 to lie adjacent the outlet to tap nozzle 40 between cylinder wall 80 and housing wall 38. FIG. 5 shows the fluid dispensing tube that extends from its proximal end 78 to a threaded distal connector portion 76 that extends from tap assembly 40, 44 in conventional manner. From tap 40, dispensing line 76,78 bolts through front wall 38 of outer housing 12, into a mating threaded sheath 124, to establish fluid connection with beverage delivery tube 40. Proximal end 78 of tube 76 is connected to outlet coupling 74 atop canister 72 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Copper sheath 124 passes between and is welded to the legs of a U-shaped hollow dryer and fluid expansion tube 122.

[0085] Expansion tube 122 is made of copper for optimal thermal conductivity and heat transfer from sheath 124 and has an expanding inlet 106 and a reducing outlet 108 connected respectively to feeder tube 110 and discharge tube 112. Tube 122 may have a flattened cross-sectional axial profile resembling an oval, so that it extends a greater distance along sheath 124 than its height that extends radially away from the sheath axis. This shape and geometry may be optimised to provide optimal heat transfer contact area.

[0086] Feeder tube 110 is connected to cooling coil 84 to receive refrigerant from compressor 88 through a three-way solenoid valve 114, operated via electronic controller 116 and discharge tube 112 connects back to compressor 88 to return heated and evaporated refrigerant.

[0087] Controller 116 is manually operable by a human operator by means of a toggle switch 32, connected to it by wiring 118 and to the power supply of the apparatus. The switch is located below the temperature indicator slot 68, as shown in FIG. 1, but could be placed at any convenient location on the exterior of the housing. The switch is operable to allow selective cooling of tube 76, 78 and tube 40 by means of U-tube 122. Under conditions when cooling is not required, solenoid valve 114 is operated to open bypass line 120 and close fluid flow to inlet 106, diverting refrigerant directly to return line 112 leading back to compressor 88. Refrigeration of line 76, 78, 40 may not be required when nozzle 40 is sufficiently cool not to require further cooling or under humid conditions when tap 44 and nozzle 40 are liable to ice up. Bypassing refrigerant does not flow back into U-tube 122 through reducing outlet 108 because of the suction caused by the partial vacuum generated by the compressor in the return line. The bypassing action allows a frozen tap mechanism to thaw if necessary

[0088] In a further embodiment, controller 116 is in electronic communication via wiring 118 with the processor housed in the controller unit 92 (FIGS. 3 and 4) to allow automatic selective cooling of tube 78 and tube 40 by means of U-tube 122. Temperature sensors are installed on tap mechanism 40, 44 to establish a feedback loop for managing operation of the solenoid valve and the cooling effect generated by U-tube 122.

[0089] Throughout this specification, plural instances may implement components, operations, or structures described as a single instance. Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of the individual operations may be performed concurrently. Structures and functionality presented as separate components in example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the subject matter herein.

[0090] In various embodiments, a hardware module may be implemented mechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware module may comprise programmable logic or circuitry (e.g. as encompassed within a general-purpose processor or other programmable processor) that is temporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. It will be appreciated that the decision to implement a hardware module mechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and time considerations.

[0091] As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0092] Some embodiments may be described using the expression “coupled” and “connected” along with their derivatives. For example, some embodiments may be described using the term “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. The term “coupled,” however, may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

[0093] In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the disclosure. This description should be read to include one, or at least one, and the singular also includes the plural, unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

[0094] Thus, while particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein. Various modifications, changes and variations, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims.