GB2362204A

GB2362204A - Cask beer dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2362204A
Application number: GB0111053A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chris Sladen; Michael Robinson
Original assignee: T & R Theakston Ltd
Current assignee: T & R Theakston Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-04
Filing date: 2001-05-04
Publication date: 2001-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-04
Also published as: GB2362204B; GB0010815D0; GB0111053D0; GB2361986A

Abstract

A cask beer dispensing apparatus is provided comprising one or more product flow tubes (6) extending between one or more casks and one or more handpulls (19) at a dispensation point. A cooler located remote from the dispensation point is provided to cool the cask beer in the product flow tubes to a predetermined temperature. Each product flow tube is located coaxially within a coolant flow tube in a python (5) for a substantial proportion of the distance between the cask and the dispensation point. In addition each handpull comprises an associated beer cylinder (18) through which the cask beer is manually pumped, wherein each beer cylinder comprises a coolant-filled jacket to maintain the cask beer within a predetermined tolerance range of the predetermined temperature. In a second embodiment, the beer may be transported from the cellar using an uncooled python. The beer passes to a bar-mounted refrigeration cooler unit.

Description

2362204 COOLING APPARATUS Many beverages, including beers, lagers, soft

drinks, wines and spirits are beneficially served at low temperatures. With some beverages, a particular dispensation temperature is desired. If the temperature of the beverage is too high or too low, the quality and taste of the beverage may be affected adversely. It is common for institutions such as Public Houses and bars to dispense such beverages, in particular beers, lager and soft drinks by means of dispense taps remote from the point of storage of the beverage. The dispensing systems may be pressurised systems which use a pressurised gas to transport the beverage or a non-pressurised system which uses a mechanical hand pump known as a beer engine or handpull to transport the beverage.

However, for cask beers a existing pressurised systems are unsuitable. Pressurised systems use small bore pipes and high pressures which if used for a cask beer would result in high levels of beer frothing and waste.

It is common for the beverage to be stored in a cellar or a separate room where it is cooled before being transferred to the point of dispensation at the bar. Commonly, this transfer is achieved by means of a pipe called a "python", which consists of one or more tubes each of which carries a flow of a particular beverage from the storage point to the dispense tap.

Another problem with known methods of storing and dispensing beverages is that the temperature of the beverage dispensed can vary to a large degree especially at lower dispense temperatures, depending, for instance, on the utilisation level of the cooling means in the cellar. Also, the absolute temperature at which the beverage is dispensed is affected by the temperature of the room in which the beverage is stored and the environment through which the beverage is transported from the storage point to the dispense point. These effects may be exaggerated by the changing rate of dispensing beverages with standard systems. For instance, with most dispensing systems beverage is left sitting in the tubes and pipes of the system inbetween dispensing operations. If there is some time between dispensing operations the stationary beverage may become very much hotter or colder than desired depending on where the beverage comes to rest. Beverage within the cooling means will become too cold whilst beverage contained in a python within the bar environment may become too hot. This leads to the dispensation temperature of individual beverages varying by unacceptable amounts. In particular, for cask beers if the temperature is too hot the beer will be undesirable to the customer and if too cold the beer will develop a 'chill haze' which is also undesirable to the customer.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which enables cask beers to be stored, transported, dispensed and drunk by consumers at predetermined, preferred temperatures and within a known tolerance of temperature range.

According to the present invention there is provided a cask beer dispensing apparatus comprising one or more product flow tubes extending between one or more casks and one or more handpulls at a dispensation point, and a cooler located remote from the dispensation point to cool the cask beer in the product flow tubes to a predetermined temperature, wherein each product flow tube is located coaxially within a coolant flow tube for a substantial proportion of the distance between the cask and the dispensation point, and wherein each handpull comprises an associated beer cylinder through which the cask beer is manually pumped, wherein each beer cylinder comprises a coolant-filled jacket to maintain the cask beer within a predetermined tolerance range of the predetermined temperature.

There is also provided a cask beer dispensing apparatus comprising one or more product flow tubes extending between one or more casks and one or more handpulls at a dispensation point, and a cooler located in proximity to the dispensation point through which the one or more product flow tubes pass to cool the cask beer in the product flow tubes to a predetermined temperature, wherein each handpull comprises an associated beer cylinder through which the cask beer is manually pumped, wherein each beer cylinder comprises a coolant-filled jacket to maintain the cask beer within a predetermined tolerance range of the predetermined temperature.

There is also provided a method of dispensing cask beer comprising the steps of operating a handpull to manually pump cask beer from a cask to a dispensation point, passing the cask beer through a cooler located remote from the dispensation point so as to cool the cask beer in the product flow tubes to a precise predetermined temperature, transporting the cask beer to the dispensation point along a product flow tube located coaxially within a coolant flow tube for a substantial proportion of the distance between the cask and the dispensation point, and passing the cask beer through a beer cylinder associated with the handpull and having a coolant-filled jacket so as to maintain a dispensation temperature of the cask beer at between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius.

There is also provided a method of dispensing cask beer comprising the steps of operating a handpull to manually pump cask beer from a cask to a dispensation point, passing the cask beer through a cooler located in proximity to the dispensation point so as to cool the cask beer in the product flow tubes to a precise predetermined temperature, transporting the cask beer to the dispensation point along a product flow tube, and passing the cask beer through a beer cylinder associated with the handpull and having a coolant-filled jacket so as to maintain a dispensation temperature of the cask beer at between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the bar area of a first embodiment of dispensing system according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the cellar area of the dispensing system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional drawing of a python for use in the dispensing system of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of dispensing system according to the present invention.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a system for transporting and dispensing a beverage is provided. The system is specifically adapted for use in dispensing beers such as cask beers.

In order to dispense cask beer in a pub, bar or similar establishment, the cask beer is pumped by means of a mechanical action created manually by bar staff pulling a handpull from a storage point, for example a cellar, to the bar area on demand. For cask beers it has been found to be undesirable to use pressurised pumping systems for technical reasons and unacceptable for consumer reasons.

The cask beer, stored in casks 1, is pumped via one or more product flow tubes 6 to a cooler 4, which is also typically sited in the cellar.

The cooler 4 is of the type incorporating a water-bath (as opposed to an ice-bath) which immerses the product flow tubes 6 and cools the beer therein.

The water-bath in the cooler 4 is itself cooled by means of a separate line cooler 7 which recirculates coolant through the water-bath via pipes 8. In one example, the line cooler 7 contains coolant at between 1 and 2 degrees Celsius. A control valve 9 at one end of the pipes 8, preferably at the cooler 4 end, controls the flow rate of coolant through the cooler 4 and consequently the temperature of the waterbath and hence the degree of cooling imparted to the beer. For cask beer it is important that the cooling imparted to the beer is not too fast or too deep otherwise a chill haze will be formed.

The cask beer stored in the cellar is typically at a temperature of 12 to 16 degrees Celsius and thus the beer entering the cooler 4 is within this temperature range.

For cask beer the water-bath is maintained at a temperature of approximately 10 degrees Celsius.

The cask beer is then manually pumped from the cooler 4 to the bar area along a pipe 5 known as a 'Lpython' which is provided with means for cooling/maintaining the beer at the desired temperature in the product flow tubes 6 during transport, as shown in Figure 3. The python 5 typically comprises three product flow tubes 6 (although only two are shown in Figure 1 for clarity) and a coolant flow tube 120. The coolant flow tube has 'outward' sections 121 running between the waterbath of the cooler 4 and a point near a bar-mounted pull-tap 17 in the bar area and an 'inward' section 122 which runs between a point near the pull-tap 17 and the cooler 4. The coolant comprises water from the water-bath in the cooler 4. The outward and inward sections 121, 122 are connected at the far end of the python 5 such that the water coolant flowing along the outward sections 121 is recirculated via the inward section 122 to the water-bath in the cooler 4 (so as not to over-chill the beer). No coolant is lost from the system, thus saving on energy and cost.

Each product flow tube 6, as shown in Figure 3, runs co-axial with, and inside an outward section 121 such that the water coolant flowing in the outward section 121 of the coolant flow tube 120 flows around the product flow tube 6 at all points, thereby cooling/maintaining the temperature of the beer in the product flow tube 6. In addition, the python also comprises insulation 13 and an outer cover 14. The insulation 13 serves to insulate the relatively high temperature 'inward' section of the coolant flow tube 120 from the relatively low temperature 'outward' section of the coolant flow tube 120 and the product flow line 6. The outer cover 14 serves to lend the python structural integrity and to protect it from damage.

The co-axial cooled python 5 may be manufactured either by sliding one tube within another or by extruding the co-axial tubes in one piece.

The product flow tube 6 and coolant flow tube 120 may be manufactured from MDPE (medium density polyethylene). In one embodiment of the present invention, the product flow tube 6 has an external diameter of 9.5mm and an internal diameter of 6.7mm. within a coolant flow tube 120 having an external diameter of 18mm and an internal diameter of 13mm.

The ability of the python 5 of the present invention to maintain the cask beer at the required temperature at which it leaves the cooler 4, is much greater than in arrangements where the product flow tube 6 and coolant flow tube 120 are juxtaposed so that they lie side by side within the python. The cooling of the product flow tubes 6 in such known pythons is very variable and depends for example on the packing arrangement of the python and the consequent distance of any product flow tube 6 from the coolant flow tube 120. The encapsulation of the product flow tube 6 in the coolant flow tube 120 provides consistent cooling of the cask beer and a more efficient thermal coupling between the beer and the coolant.

The python may carry more than one type of beverage and may service more than one dispense tap.

In this case, the python would comprise a product flow tube 6 for each type of beverage.

As shown in Figure 1, a separate bar-mounted handpull 19 incorporating a pull-tap 17 is provided in the bar area for connection to each product flow tube 6. A check valve 20 is provided in each product flow tube 6.

To ensure the desired temperature is maintained during all possible dispense conditions (slow, fast, five pints at once, first pint after overnight non use) a water jacketed beer cylinder 18 is provided in close proximity to the handpull 19 and pull-tap 17 through which the cask beer passes. The beer cylinder typically has a capacity of between 0.3 and 0.5 pints.

The coolant flow tube 120 is diverted via the jacket of the cylinder 18 such that water enters the jacket of the cylinder 18 via the outward section 121 of the coolant flow tube 120 and is discharged from the jacket via the inward section 122 of the coolant flow tube 120. In this way the cask beer is subject to active temperature maintenance right up to the point where the beer enters the bar mounted handpull 19 and pull-tap 17. In this way the temperature of the cask beer can be consistently maintained at between a minimum and maximum temperature which are typically 9 degrees Celsius and 11 degrees Celsius respectively, as opposed to existing systems which can deliver as low as 4 degrees Celsius or as high as 25 degrees Celsius depending on the flow conditions. In particular the water jacketed beer cylinder 18 maintains the temperature of cask beer left in the beer cylinder for prolonged periods of time, for example overnight. Without such an active temperature maintenance the first pint or two drawn from the handpull will be too hot and therefore wasted.

The system may be adjusted to dispense beer at a variety of temperatures. For cask beers the dispensing temperature is preferably set to be 10 degrees Celsius. In practice the beer in the product flow tubes 5 and the coolant flow tube 120 of the python 5 will be subject to some temperature rise due to temperature exchange with the surroundings. Therefore the system is preferably set-up to apply a degree of lover-cooling'. In other words the water- bath temperature in the cooler 4 is set be slightly lower than the desired discharge temperature. The actual discharge temperature in use is monitored and the temperature of the water-bath is adjusted accordingly until the actual discharge temperature equals the desired temperature.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 4, the cask beer is manually pumped from the storage point in the cellar to the dispensation point in the bar area via a standard, non-co-axial python 25. The beer in the product flow tubes 6 is then diverted via a small barmounted refrigerated cooler unit 26. Beer exiting the cooler unit 26 is then passed to the handpull 19 via a water jacket beer cylinder 18 as described in the first embodiment in order to maintain the necessary active temperature maintenance. As in the first embodiment it is important that the cooler 26 does not cool the cask beer too quickly or too deeply so as to avoid chill haze.

As in the first embodiment beer in the cellar is typically stored at between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius.

After transiting the uncooled python 25 the temperature is typically between 10 and 24 degrees Celsius due to temperature exchange with the surroundings (which may be in either direction). The cooler unit 26 is able to cool the beer to a consistent desired temperature, which is preferably 10 degrees Celsius for cask beers.

As in the first embodiment the actual degree of cooling by the cooler unit 26 may be adjusted dependant on the measured discharge temperature of the cask beer to ensure that the discharge temperature equals the desired temperature.

Claims

Claims:

1. A cask beer dispensing apparatus comprising one or more product flow tubes extending between one or more casks and one or more handpulls at a dispensation point, and a cooler located remote from the dispensation point to cool the cask beer in the product flow tubes to a predetermined temperature, wherein each product flow tube is located coaxially within a coolant flow tube for a substantial proportion of the distance between the cask and the dispensation point, and wherein each handpull comprises an associated beer cylinder through which the cask beer is manually pumped, wherein each beer cylinder comprises a coolant-filled jacket to maintain the cask beer within a predetermined tolerance range of the predetermined temperature.

2. A cask beer dispensing apparatus comprising one or more product flow tubes extending between one or more casks and one or more handpulls at a dispensation point, and a cooler located in proximity to the dispensation point through which the one or more product flow tubes pass to cool the cask beer in the product flow tubes to a predetermined temperature, wherein each handpull comprises an associated beer cylinder through which the cask beer is manually pumped, wherein each beer cylinder comprises a coolant-filled jacket to maintain the cask beer within a predetermined tolerance range of the predetermined temperature.

3. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cooler further comprises a thermostatically controlled coolant bath, through which each product flow tube passes.

4. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the coolant-bath is cooled by a line cooler.

5. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cooler uses water as a coolant.

6. A method of dispensing cask beer comprising the steps of operating a handpull to manually pump cask beer from a cask to a dispensation point, passing the cask beer through a cooler located remote from the dispensation point so as to cool the cask beer in the product flow tubes to a precise predetermined temperature, transporting the cask beer to the dispensation point along a product flow tube located coaxially within a coolant flow tube for a substantial proportion of the distance between the cask and the dispensation point, and passing the cask beer through a beer cylinder associated with the handpull and having a coolant-filled jacket so as to maintain a dispensation temperature of the cask beer at between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius.

7. A method of dispensing cask beer comprising the steps of operating a handpull to manually pump cask beer from a cask to a dispensation point, passing the cask beer through a cooler located in proximity to the dispensation point so as to cool the cask beer in the product flow tubes to a precise predetermined temperature, transporting the cask beer to the dispensation point along a product flow tube, and passing the cask beer through a beer cylinder associated with the handpull and having a coolantfilled jacket so as to maintain a dispensation temperature of the cask beer at between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius.

8. A cask beer dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.