TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEMS,
This invention relates to temperature control systems for use in dispensing installations in maintaining different types of liquids at different temperatures, such liquids can be beverages such as beers, wines or soft drinks and the invention is particularly, but not exclusively, for use in the brewery or the soft drink industries in which problems in the dispensing of beer or soft drinks at the correct temperature are endemic. Beers, be it lagers or ales, are presently dispensed through one or more insulated pipe bundles, each of which is a series of pipes within an insulated jacket, with each pipe being in liquid communication with a supply of a particular beer, there oeing one or two pipes having a constant flow of water circulating through the or each said pipe bundle. An insulated pipe bundle is commonly called a 'python'. Lagers are generally required to be dispensed at between 6-3 degrees Centigrade whereas ales are between 10-13 degrees Centigrade. Breweries each normally have their ow particular temperatures within these ranges. These dispensing temperatures are difficult to achieve on a constant basis and various proposed methods of achieving constant dispensing temperatures have been made. While the temperatures of the beers leaving the containers can be controlled, there are, however, always a number of unknown variables in each dispensing installation, ie. between the respective containers and dispensing taps, that cause problems, for example the ambient air temperature, the length of the pythons, the type of cooler unit or type of pump used in the installation, and the rate at which the beverages are dispensed. Another problem is the existing configuration of the python ie. pipes carrying lager being next to the water circulation pipes with the ale carrying pipes being located on the opposite side of the lager pipes from the water pipes. The problems are that with a static time between each dispensing operation of say 15 minutes or more, the ale pipes will be chilled to a lower temperature than that required. Also, with a python of about 100 feet or more, the recirculating water that starts out at say 2 degrees Centigrade will pick up heat on its circulating journey and will actually start to warm up the lagers as it returns to the cooler. A object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the problems afore-stated.
Accordingly, the present invention is a temperature control system for dispensing installations in maintaining different types of liquids at different temperatures including feeding from container to dispenser each different type of liquid through pipe bundles insulated from each other, each bundle having a cold water pipe passing therethrough, the cold, water pipes being in circuit with a cold water supply, temperature monitoring means to ascertain the temperature of the liquid inside one or more of the bundles and to compare said temperature with a datum temperature, the means being in electrical circuit with a pump to feed water to one or each cold water pipe and with valve arrangements to control flow of water through the cold water pipes whereby in response to a signal issued after the temperature monitoring means detects a change in temperature, a respective valve arrangement is actuated to allow flow of cold water through the respective cold water pipe of the detected bundle or is actuated to close off said valve arrangement due to increase or decrease in temperature respectively, and power means to operate the circuit.
Preferably, one valve arrangement and two bundles are provided one to feed a liquid to be dispensed at a warmer liquid than the other through the other bundle, the colder bundle having a cold water pipe with flow and return portions therethrough, the cold water pipe of the warmer bundle having its inflow end connected through the valve arrangement to the dispensing end of the flow portion of the water pipe of the colder bundle and its outflow end connected to the discharge end of the return portion of the cold water pipe. Preferably also, the temperature monitoring means includes an.electronic temperature sensor controller - and a temperature sensing probe. The controller may preferably be provided with an indicator display panel. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a schematic arrangement of a temperature control system according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, a temperature control system for dispensing installations in maintaining two different types of liquids at different temperatures includes feeding from container to dispenser each different type of liquid through pipes 10, 12 in separate insulated bundles 14, 16. Each bundle 14, 16 is provided with a cold water pipe 18 passing therethrough. The pipes 18 are in circuit with a cold water supply (not shown). Bundle 16 is intended to feed a liquid to be dispensed at a warmer liquid, such as ale, than the other colder liquid, such as lager, through the other bundle 14. The colder bundle.14 has its cold water pipe 18 provided with flow and return portions 18A, 18B therethrough. The cold water pipe 18 of the warmer oundle 16 has, as shown, its inflow end connected through a valve arrangement 20 to the dispensing end of the flow portion 18A of the water pipe 18 of the colder bundle 14 and its outflow end connected to the discharge end of the return portion 18B of the cold water pipe 18.
Temperature monitoring means is provided to ascertain the temperature of the liquid inside bundle 16 and to compare said temperature with a datum temperature. The temperature monitoring means includes an electronic temperature sensor controller 22 with a temperature indicator display panel 24 and a temperature sensing probe 26 inserted into bundle 16 as shown. The temperature monitoring means is in electrical circuit with a pump 30 to feed cold water to pipe portion 18A and with a solenoid operated control valve arrangement 20 to control flow of water through the pipe 18 in bundle 16 whereby in response to a signal issued after the temperature monitoring means detects a change in temperature, the valve arrangement 20 is actuated to allow flow of cold water through the respective cold . water pipe 18 of the bundle 16 or is actuated to close off said valve arrangement 20 due to increase or decrease in temperature respectively.
Power means in the form of mains electricity, designated at 28, or electricity from a generator is provided to operate the circuit.
The system is fitted and operated as above- described.
In a modification, the two pipe bundles may be provided within one insulated jacket, the pipe bundles being separated from each other within the jacket by one or more layers of insulation.
It will be appreciated that more than two different liquids can be included in the dispensing installation, and depending on the temperatures of the liquids required, the lay-out, the interconnection of cold water pipes and number of valve arrangements will be determined.
Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention above- described.