GB2314148A

GB2314148A - Beverage python

Info

Publication number: GB2314148A
Application number: GB9612354A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Johnson
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 1996-06-13
Filing date: 1996-06-13
Publication date: 1997-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-13
Also published as: ITMI971386A1; IE970437A1; ITMI971386A0; GB2314148B; GB9612354D0; IT1292143B1

Abstract

A python for conveying a beverage eg beer comprises within a thermally insulating sheath (21) a ring of outer tubes (22) carrying recirculating fluid surrounding a group of product inner tubes (23). There may be a centre tube (24) also carrying recirculating fluid. A thermally insulating component (25) extends between the outer ring of tubes and the product tubes. The component (25) may be in the form of a continuous sleeve of elastomeric material, typically foamed nitrile rubber. The centre tube (24) may also be surrounded by a sleeve of thermally insulating material.

Description

Beverage transport system This invention relates to beverage transport systems. It has particular application in the transport of beverages which are drunk cool or cold and which need to be stored in a location remote from the beverage dispense point. Examples of beverages such as these are beers, lagers and drinks made by diluting syrups with carbonated or still water, such water typically being chilled.

Beverage transport systems which comprise a bundle of flexible tubes, typically within an outer sleeve, are known as pythons. Such a python, in this case for transporting beer from a store to a bar, is known for example from British patent 2 166 833 A published in 1986.

With increasing consumer demand for drinks of this type to be served at even cooler temperatures, and with hotel and bar layouts often requiring beer dispense points remote from the drinks storage area, there is a need for pythons with improved characteristics.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide a python for conveying a beverage from a storage and/or cooling location to a dispense point, said python comprising a bundle of flexible plastics tubes surrounded by a thermally insulating sheath, said tubes being divided into groups, a first group of which comprises tubes for conveying beverage, and a second group of which comprises tubes for conveying a recirculating fluid, at least a portion of the second group forming a ring around said first group, said python incorporating a discrete thermally insulating component which extends within said ring and surrounds said first group.

In addition to the discrete thermally insulating component mentioned in the preceding paragraph, there may be one or more further discrete thermally insulating components within the thermally insulating sheath. Such a further discrete insulating component may for example surround a central flexible plastics tube.

The discrete thermally insulating component which surrounds said first group of tubes may also surround a number of the tubes which comprise the second group.

Tubes of the first group are typically made of food grade plastics, whereas tubes of the second group may comprise plastics materials which are not food grade.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cut-away section illustrating the general principles of python systems; Figure 2 shows a cross-section of one example of a python in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a cross-section of a third embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 1, the general components of known pythons are illustrated. An outer sheath 11, typically of thermally insulating plastics foam material, surrounds a bundle of tubes. An outer ring of tubes 12 may for example carry a recirculating cooling fluid such as glycol, whilst an inner ring of tubes 13 carry one or more different beverages from a store to a dispense point. There may be a central tube 14 and this may carry either a coolant or a beverage to be dispensed.

Figure 2 shows a python having an outer sheath 21 made of flexible thermally insulating material. Within outer sheath 21 are located a number of flexible plastics tubes. An outer ring of tubes 22 are adapted to carry a recirculating fluid, which fluid may either be precooled within the store or may carry a recirculating fluid at the store temperature or at a temperature determined by the mains supply of water to the store. The outer ring of tubes 22 are typically made of non-food grade plastics. An inner ring of tubes 23 are made of food grade plastics, e.g. medium density polyethylene or EVA. Within the ring of tubes 23 is a central tube 24 which may be adapted to carry either a recirculating fluid, e.g. it may be connected with tubes 22, or it may carry a beverage to be dispensed.

Surrounding the inner ring of tubes 23 is a discrete thermally insulating component 25 in the form of a continuous ring of elastomeric material, typically foamed nitrile rubber.

The inner ring of beverage tubes 23 comprises a first group of tubes. The outer ring of tubes 22 which convey recirculating fluid comprise a second group. The tubes of either group and the central tube 24 may have outer sleeves of thin reflective polyester tape.

In Figures 3 and 4 like numerals are used in respect of like components to those of Figure 2.

Figure 3 illustrates a configuration which is different from Figure 2 in that its central tube 24 is surrounded by a further discrete thermally insulating component 26, typically made of foamed nitrile rubber material similar to that of sleeve 25.

In Figure 4, a discrete thermally insulating component 27 surrounds not only tubes 23 forming the first group, but also alternate tubes of the ring of tubes 22 which comprise the second group of tubes.

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 can be modified to incorporate a further discrete thermally insulating component similar to that shown at 26 in Figure 3 and surrounding the central tube 24.

Claims

1. A python for conveying a beverage from a storage and/or cooling location to a dispense point, said python comprising a bundle of flexible plastics tubes surrounded by a thermally insulating sheath, characterised in that said tubes are divided into groups, a first group of which comprises tubes for conveying beverage, and a second group of which comprises tubes for conveying a recirculating fluid, at least a portion of the second group forming a ring around said first group, said python incorporating a discrete thermally insulating component which extends within said ring and surrounds said first group.

2. A python as claimed in claim 1 in which there is one or more further discrete thermally insulating components within the thermally insulating sheath.

3. A python as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 which includes a discrete insulating component surrounding a centrally located flexible plastic tube.

4. A python as claimed in any preceding claim in which the discrete thermally insulating component which surrounds said first group of tubes also surrounds a number of the tubes which comprise the second group.

5. A python as claimed in any preceding claim in which the tubes of the first group are made of food grade plastics.

6. A python as claimed in any preceding claim in which tubes of the second group are made of plastics materials which are not food grade.

7. A python as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.