US3389716A - Draft beer cleaning and flushing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1968 s. WILBURN DRAFT BEER CLEANING AND FLUSHING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19. 1965 FIG. I.

FIGS.

INVENTOR. SAM PSON WILBURN June 25, 1968 s, w U 3,389,716

DRAFT BEER CLEANING AND FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed July 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SAM PSON WlLBU RN ATTORNEYS United States Patent ffice 3,389,716 Patented June 25, 1968 3,389,716 DRAFT BEER CLEANING AND FLUSHING APPARATUS Sampson Wilburn, 2421 Poze Blvd, Thornton, Colo. 80229 Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 472,922 3 Claims. (Cl. 137240) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A semi-automatic cleaning and flushing apparatus for a draft beer system having valve means at the end of the wash line to completely isolate the wash line from the flowing beer, which valve means is adapted to seat before the tap is removed from the keg.

Draught or keg beer is perishable and must be kept cold, usually between +36 and +40 Fahrenheit. The dispensing apparatus through which the beer flows requires special attention at various times to prevent any organic action which will spoil the taste of the beer. Usually between each keg change the lines must be washed out and flushed to prevent any such action from taking place. A similar problem is also created if the beer is allowed to set in the lines for an extended period.

Draught beer is currently being sold in stainless steel barrels in which the beer is kept refrigerated and under pressure. There are two basic types of tapping apparatus, one being the top draw tap rod and the other the more recent bottom draw Golden Gate valve tap, both of which are illustrated in the drawings and will be discussed in the material following.

The earliest method used for cleaning the lines was merely to disconnect both ends and run water through the system. This method entailed special washing lines and couplings to connect onto the system. Another method was to remove the tap rods from several kegs and interconnect them in pairs to obtain circulation from one faucet to another. To make up and remove the necessary connections in the above method was very time-consuming and cumbersome. The methods were also very inflexible in that the lines could not be cleaned until the kegs were empty.

A more recent method has been developed to alleviate the problems, which method is the subject matter of my US. Patent No. 3,044,483. Briefly, it includes a built-in wash line which passes down through the center of the tap rod with a check valve at the end of the rod to pre vent the wash water from entering the keg. Water is introduced into the wash line, passing back up the tap rod and out through the tubing to the draw box. There are no special connecting or disconnecting operations. It is not necessary to remove the tap rod from the keg. The only disadvantage of the system is that as the beer is being used it has a tendency to slowly move up the open end of the wash line. After it sets in the line for a certain length of time it begins to stagnate. If the beer then passes back out the end of the wash line it will taint the taste of beer drawn from subsequent kegs.

In the bottom draw type kegs there is also a problem check valve at the end of the wash line to completely isolate the wash line from the flowing beer. The present invention has also eliminated the problem of spillage by constructing the check valve so that it seats before the tap is removed from the keg.

It is therefore the principal objective of the present invention to provide a novel and improved cleaning and flushing apparatus for the lines and rods of a draught beer installation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning and flushing apparatus which is integral with the beer dispensing installation so as to permit the cleaning without setting up and connecting separate flushing lines to the system.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning and flushing apparatus which is adapted to clean the entire conduct system from the base of the tap rod to the dispensing faucet without disconnecting the keg or any of the component parts thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integral cleaning and flushing apparatus in a tap beer installation which is completely isolated from the flowing beer when it is not in use.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide in a draught beer installation a tapping coupling which prevents any spillage of beer from the disconnected lines.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved cleaning and flushing apparatus for a draught beer installation which is semi-automatic, easy to install, simple to operate, reliable, low cost and durably constructed.

Other objects which will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereafter in connection with the description of the drawings that follows and in which;

FIGURE 1 is a perspective partially diagrammatic view of a bottom draw draft beer installtion illustrating the relative locations of the tap coupling, the tap lines and faucets, the gas line, and the wash line with its related components.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the tap coupling shown in solid line in locking engagement with its corresponding valve and in dotted line in the release position.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the coupling and valve in locking engagement taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view of the coupling and valve taken alonglines 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the Golden Gate type valve with the tap coupling removed.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side view of the engaging end of the tap coupling.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary end view of the engaging end of the tap coupling.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmenetary sectional view of applicants invention in a modified form.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGURE 1, a draft beer system is shown in simplified form and is generally identified byreference numeral 10. Various details of the system such as the coil box, refrigeration means, and gas source have not been shown in the interest of simplicity since they have no bearing on the present invention. In most commercial beer installations, more than one keg is used and these are connected in parallel with one another. These kegs are generally housed in a large refrigeration unit which is located remotely of the dispensing taps. In some installations the kegs are kept in the basement or in a separate rather than in the top center as does the older type tap rod fitting which is shown in FIGURE 8. Thecoupling 14 attaches to and opens avalve 16 which is mounted in the keg. Thevalve 16 is commonly known in the trade today as a Golden Gate type valve. Rcleasably attached to thecoupling 14 are two flexible lines. Thefirst line 18 carries the beer from the keg to the dispensingfaucet 20. In the drawing,line 18 is simply illustrated but in actual use sometimes its length is well over a few hundred feet. Usually the beer is run through a set of cooling coils immediately preceding the faucet which are not shown in the present drawings. Positioned below thefaucet 20 is acommon waste drain 22. Also connected to thecoupling 14 is a wash line 24 which carries the cleaning chemicals and flushing water through the lines of the system. Theopposite end 26 of the wash line is connected to a common water line. Thevalves 28 and 30 are kept closed while the flushing operation is not in use.Receptacle 32 contains the cleaning chemicals which are Washed through the system by openingvalves 28 and 30. The ends 34 of the recetpacle are removable so that a new charge of chemicals can be inserted after each cleaning operation. To begin the cleaning operation,faucet 20 andvalves 28 and 30 are opened. This releases water pressure throughend 26 of the wash line. The water passes through thereceptacle 32 carrying the chemicals and down the wash line 24. The dissolved chemicals pass through thetap coupling 14, up the beer line and out thefaucet 20.Valve 30 is left open until thebeer lines 18 are completely flushed of any trace of the cleaning chemicals.Valves 28 and 30 are then closed and the system is ready for use.Line 36 which attaches to the top of the keg by means of fitting 38, is an air line which supplies compressed air or gas to thekeg 12.

The novel andimproved tap coupling 14 attaches to thekeg 12 by means of aGolden Gate valve 16 as seen in detail in FIGURES 2 through 6. Thevalve 16 is mounted flush with thewall 40 of the keg, as can be seen in FIGURE 3. An end view of thevalve 16 with the tap removed is shown in FIGURE 5. Thevalve body 42 has a centrally disposed recessedopening 44 in its outer end which is adapted to accept the end or" thetap coupling 14.

Peripherally spaced in the opening are a pair of oppositely positionednotches 46 which permit the tabs 43 on thetap coupling 14 to enter theopening 44.

The valve entails a slidingplate 52 which covers avalve opening 50. Theoblong plate 52 is piovtally mounted at its center and held tightly against thevalve body surface 56 by means of a pin orvalve stem 54. Formed at the outward end of the valve stem is a diamond-shapedoperating lug 58. When the stem and plate are rotated 90 the valve is fully open. The valve is operated by a lug5S engaging opening 60 in the end of thetap coupling 14.

The improved tap coupling is substantially L shaped with the wash line connection branching off from the main passage. Theend portion 62 of the cou ling which engages the keg is the standard fitting used with a Golden Gate type valve. oppositely spaced around the periphery of theend portion 62 are a pair of wedge-shapedlocking tabs 48. As thetap coupling 14 is inserted in thevalve opening 44 thetabs 48 must be aligned with the correspondingnotches 46 in the opening. Once thetabs 48 are inside theflange 64 of the valve body, thetap coupling 14 is free to rotate into sealed engagement with the valve.

Because of the wedge shape of theflanges 64, as the coupling is rotated it is forced inward toward the valve. Arubber washer 68 carried on the coupling is pressed into sealing engagement with theshoulder 66 of the valve body, as can be seen in FIGURE 3. As thetap coupling 14 is introduced into thevalve opening 44 it is in the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 2. The coupling is rotated through a 90 are to its fully locked position as seen in full line in the same figure. As the coupling is inserted in thevalve opening 44 thelug engaging opening 60 engages the operating lug S8 of the valve stem. As thetap coupling 14 is rotated into sealing engagement thevalve 16 is opened at the same time. Conversely as the tap coupling is rotated for removal the valve is closed, which permits the tap to be engaged or disengaged when the keg is not empty. in the old tap rod type fittings once the keg was tapped the rod could not be removed until the keg was empty.

Thewash line 76 which intersects with the tap line 7t) has aenlarged intersection portion 72 which contains a two-way balltype check valve 74. In the prior art type wash lines, such as shown in Patent No. 3,044,483, there is only a one-way check valve to prevent the water from the wash line from entering the keg. The pres nt invention incorporates a second check valve in the wash line to prevent any beer from flowing into the wash line and creating the stagnation problem previously mentioned. Attention is again directed to the solid line position of thetap coupling 14 in FIGURE 2. Thewash line 76 is tilted downwardly at approximately a 20 angle from a horizontal plane. This angle is sufiicient to cause the hall in thecheck valve 74 to roll down and seat against thepassage opening 75 in the wash line. As the beer flows out of the keg and through thetap line 70 thewash line 76 is closed. When it comes time to disconnect the tap thecoupling 14 is rotated to the disconnect position, as indicated in dotted line in FIGURE 2. In this position thewash line 76 is tilted upward causing the ball in thecheck valve 74 to roll downward and seat in thetap line 70. This prevents any spillage of beer which is standing in the tap line as thetap coupling 14 is removed from the keg. The wash lines of the prior art in bottom draw type fittings are positioned axially down the center of the tap line. The check valve is also horizontally disposed and is therefore not seated when the fitting is disconnected. In these types of check valves a certain amount of beer will get around ball check valves before the flow causes it to seat. This undesirable feature is one of the problems the present invention corrects.

The cleaning and flushing operation is normally accomplished after the tap coupling is disconnected from the keg. As the dissolved chemicals enter thewash line 76 the ball check 74 has already seated in thetap line 70 preventing any of the Wash water from passing out the disconnected end of thecoupling 14. As thetap coupling 14 is connected to a new keg the ball check 74 again seats in the end of the wash line and the cycle is repeated.

FIGURE 8 sets forth a modified form of the persent invention for use in a conventional tap rod type draft beer installation. The tap rod apparatus generally designated byreference numeral 78, is centrally disposed in the top of abeer keg 80. Theremovable tap rod 82 extends downwardly to the bottom of keg at a point where the beer is drawn. Thetap rod 82 is held in the keg by means of areleasable sleeve coupling 84. The coupling includes anexpander ring 86 of rubber-like material which fits into theopening 88 in the keg. Thecoupling 84 is locked into sealed engagement with the keg by means of a threadedsleeve 90 which is tightened against the expander ring 21. Passing through thecoupling 82 to the interior of the keg is anair passage 92 which connects with an air pressure line 94. Thecoupling 82 includes asecond expander ring 96 which holds thetap rod 82 in sealing engagement when the threadedsleeve 98 is tightened against theexpander ring 96. At the upper end of thetap rod 82 is a right angle connecting head to which theflexible tap line 18a is connected. Also included in the connecting head 109 is a commonplug type valve 102 which is used to shut off the flow of the beer. All of the previously mentioned elements of the tap rod apparatus are conventional and well known in the trade.

Thewash line 104 passes down through the center of thetap rod 82 to approximately the bottom of the rod.

Positioned in theopening 106 at the bottom of the rod is aball check valve 108 which allows beer to enter the tap rod but prevents any of the wash water from entering the keg.Tabs 110 attached to the inside of therod 82 act as limit stops for the ball 103. Positioned at the bottom end of thewash line 104 is a secondball check valve 112 which prevents the beer from entering the wash line. Surrounding theball 112 is aWire guard 114 which keeps the ball in alignment with theopening 116 in the wash line. Theball 112 is constructed of a plastic or similar material which has a lighter density than beer. When the beer enters the tap rod theball 112 will float upward and seat in theopening 116 thus preventing the beer from entering the wash line.

It is understood that variations from the form of this invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and that drawings and specification are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

What is claimed is:

1. A tap coupling for use in connecting both a wash line and a beer dispensing line to a key having a shut-off valve, in a draft beer installation comprising: a body portion having means for releasably and rotatably connecting the coupling to the shut-ofi valve of the beer keg in a fluid-tight relation, 21 pair of intersecting first and second passages in said body both of which connect and form a common passage to the interior of the keg via the shut-off valve, a first valve seat located at the intersection of said passages, a second valve seat located in the second passage remote from the first valve seat, ball check means positioned within said second passage for movement therein between the first and second valve seats and being adapted to selectively close either said common passage to tlow into the keg via the shut-oil valve while permitting tluid to flow from said second passage into said first passage or close said second passage to flow out of the keg while permitting fluid flow from said keg through said first passage wherein the ball of said ball check means is adapted to be selectively gravity actuated into seating relation with either one of said first and second seats upon selected rotational positioning of said coupling with respect to the shut-off valve.

2. A tap coupling as set forth inclaim 1 including means on said body portion adapted to releasably connect with the beer keg shut ofi valve and move same between its open and closed positions by rotational movement of the fitting from a first position adapted to close the shut-off valve wherein the second passage is downwardly inclined toward said first valve seat causing the ball to seat in said first valve seat to a second position adapted to open the shut-off valve wherein the second passage is downwardly inclined toward the second valve seat causing the ball to seat therein.

3. A tap coupling as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said releasable connecting means is engaged by rotating said coupling from a first position wherein the second passage is downwardly inclined toward said first seat to a second position wherein the second passage is downwardly inclined toward the second seat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,120,865 6/1938 Kleman 137---238 2,237,014 4/ 1941 Stoehrer 137--238 X 2,314,100 3/1943 Panogopoulos 137-238 3,044,483 7/1962 Wilburn 137239 3,115,149 12/1963 Tonna 137--240 3,115,150 12/1963 Sariotti 13724O CLARENCE R. GORDON, Primary Examiner.

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