US1985043A - Cooler - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1934.

F. L. LAPORTE COOLER Filed Apri l 24, 1955 FUNN m a adv 2 m m Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,985,043 cooLEa Francis 1.. Laporte, St. Louis, Mo. Application April 24, 1933, Serial No. 667,587

7 Claims.

My invention relates to coolers and more particularlv to coolers for beverage. Heretofore, coolers of this type usually have included therein a tank for brine or some other conductive 5 fluid and in which was positioneda cooling coil during such cleaning and then returned it to the'tank after the cleaning had been completed. Also, when the cooler is used for draught beverage it is necessary that a coil be provided in the cooler through which the beverage flows to be cooled. It is mandatory that the beverage coil be cleaned internally at frequent intervals and this cleaning is usually accomplished by passing live steam therethrough. It the conductive fluid remained inthe cooling tank during the cleaning operation the low temperature at which the beverage coil is held caused great condensation of the steam and a resultant collection of water in the coil and, likewise, the cooling fluid became warmed by contact with the beverage coil heated by the steam.- Both of these results should be avoided.

In the case of beer coolers these deficiencies are particularly objectionable because it is necessary that beer be maintained at a constant low temperature of about forty degrees Fahrenheit. When the beer coil was cleaned by steam and the surrounding fluid became warm, it was necessary to stop passing beerthrough the coil after cleaning until the cooling fluid and the coil had been cooled again to the desired temperature. This in effect meant that after each cleaning x the cooler was put out of use for an appreciable time. Likewise, in coolersheretofore used no simple expedient had been found to cause a mild agitation of the cooling fluid, although, it is known that such agitation eflectively increases the cooling efliciency oi the device. The objects of my invention are toprovide a cooler of the type described of simple and com- 50 pact construction and including means for quickly and easily removing the conductive fluid from the cooling tank during cleaning of. the parts of the device and to provide a cooler including means for agitating the conductive fluid In the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of my invention is shown and wherein similar characters are used to designate similar parts Fig. 1 is a top view of the 5 cooler embodying my invention: Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the cooler along the lines 22 of Fig. 1 together with the necessary ,appurte nances for its use; and Fig.3 is a detail of one of the parts.

Referring to the figures the cooler comprises a casing 1 which may be of any shape, but which,

preferably is round, as shown in Fig. 1, and which consists of a side wall 2, a bottom 3 welded or otherwise suitably attached to the lower end of the side wall and a removable top 4 preferably held firmly in place by means of bolts 5 threaded in lugs 6 formed at the upper end of the side wall.

Inside of the casing 1 and, preferably in the lower part thereof, is an auxiliary casing 8 which has the side walls thereof positioned awayfrom the side wall 2 of the casing -1 so as to form within said casing a cooling tank 9 for conductive fluid, as described above, and an a'uxiliary receptacle 10. The auxiliary casing 8 is fluid-tight, but is provided withopenings 11 preferably at the bottom thereof whereby communication is provided between the tank 9 and the receptacle for the purpose more fully hereinafter explained.

A cooling coil 12 is suspended from the top 4 on inlet and outlet pipes 13 and 13a, respectively, for a suitable cooling agent which circulates through the coil. Likewise, a beverage coil 14 is suspended from the top 4 on inlet and outlet pipes 15 and 15a, respectively, for the beverage which, in this embodiment, is supplied to the cooler from a barrel 16 or other suitable container, in the usual manner. It will be noticed that when the couplings 17 of the various coils are removed and the bolts 5 are turned out from their normal position the top 4 and the coils may be removed from the cooler as a unit.

Communicating with the interior of the auxiliary receptacle 10 is an air-line 18 through which air under suitable pressure may flowinto the auxiliary receptacle 10 under the conditions outlined below. The air line 18 may be connect- 7 ed to an air compressor, compressed air storage tank or other suitable source of supply. At a convenient point outside oh the cooler there is preferably provided a valve 19 which valve may be of any design and construction, but is preferably of the so-called three way type. as shown in detail in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

In the valve so shown the inlet duct connected to the air line leading to the source of supply is indicated at 20, the outlet duct connected to the airline leading to the auxiliary receptacle 10 is indicated at 21 and-a discharge duct leading to the atmosphere is indicated at 22. It will be evident that by moving the valve member 23 by means of'the handle 23a a passagemay be formed leading through the duct 21 from the atmosphere to the discharge opening 22 or the flow of air moving the valve incber to close all of the duct". The operation of my device is as follows:-

en the device is being used to cool bever age the as; tank 9 is-ed with a suitable conductive fluid; as indicated in Fig. 2, and t fluid is prevented from entering the 121;.

'22. As the air flows from the auxiliary receptacle the conductive'fluid in thtank 9 will enter said receptacle through the openin s 11. The receptacle 10 is preferably large enough vto ac= commodate all of the fluid from the tank 9 and, therefore, steam may be passed through the pipes 15 and 15a. and through the beverage coil with out causing serious condensation of the steam or without warming the conductive fluid. -When the cleaning has'been completed the valve 19 is adjusted so that air under pressure {mm the source-oi supply will flow through the ducts 20 and 21 and the line 18 into the auxiliary recap the cooling tank 9. As stated above,

tacle 10. The pressure of the air so supplied is -maintained at a point where it will be great enough to force the conductive fluid from the receptacle lothrough the openings 11 back to the valve 19 may then be moved to trap the air in the receptacle loand therefore maintain the conductive fluid in the tank 9, but it more efllcient stantly enters the receptacle 10 and this air willv cooling is desired the valve maybe adjusted so that a small amount of air under pressure conbubble upwardly through the fluid in the tank 9 to keep the fluid in constant agitation and thereby increase the efllciency of cool th fluid and the beverage coil.

While herein I have described only one emso bodiment .oi' my invention as shown in'thc ac- "the spirit of my invention as tank may flow when said tank .and means from said receptacle.-

compan'ying' drawing I do not intend to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement oi the various parts and relative position to one another maybe varied within wide limits without deviating irom included in the appended claims.

' What I claim as new and desire to secure by 1 Letters Patent, is:-

1. A cooler comprising a cooling tank for a conductive fluid, a cooling coll arranged in said tank-to co0l. said fluid, an auxiliary fluldreceptacle communicating withsaid tank and positioned and adapted whereby fluid irom said therefrom into said receptacle and said coll are to be cleaned, for forcing said fluid into said tank 2. A cooler comp 7 ing a cooling tank for a conductive fluid; a'cooling coll arranged in said tank to cool saidfluid, an auxiliary receptacle communicating with said tank and positioned and adapted whereby fluid from said tankmay flow therefrom into said receptacle whenlsaid and said coil are to be cleaned, and means,

tank

the beverage coil the cooling coil to,

because their size, shape.

nosacss w. the valve y be stohpfi for supp 1-1.: air tier pressme to said recontaclc to force said fluid from said receptacle into said tank.

,3. A cooler comprising a cos "mam" coo tank for a conductive fluid, a cooling coil arranged (in said tank to cool said fluid,

an any casing arranged in said cooler h: form an aary fluid receptacle below said cooling tank and m therewith whereby fluid from said tankmay flow there from into said receptacle when said tank and said coil are to be cleaned, and means ior iorcing said fluid into said tank from said receptacle. 4. A cooler comprising a casg in a. cooling tank for conductive fluid, a coo coil arranged in said tank to cool said fluid, an emailiary owing arranged in said primary one to to an auxiliary cooling receptacle below said cooling tank and communicating therewith whereby fluid from said tank may flowthereirom into said receptacleiwhen said tank and said *coil are to be cleaned, and t :m. for supplying air under pressure to said receptacle at the top' thereof to force said fluid from said receptacle back into said tank after said clean-i ing has been completed. 7 o 5. A cooler comprising a casing I ing tank for conductive fluid, a coo p11 ranged in said tank to cool said fluid, an auxiliary casing arranged in said primary casing to form an auxiliary coolingreceptacle below said cooling tank and communicating therewith whereby fluid from said tank may flow therefrom into said receptacle when said tank and said coil are to be cleaned, means for supplying air under, pressure to said receptacle at the top thereof to force said fluid from said receptacle back into said tank atter said cleaning has been completed, and means whereby the supply oi said airmay be continued so that air will bubble through and agitate said fluid when in said tank.

6. A cooler comprising a casing tog a cooling tank for a conductive fluid,said casing hav ing a removable top, a cooling coil suspended from said trip into -saidtank to cool said fluid,- a beverage coil suspended from saidfitop, an auxiliary casing'arranged in said cooler to iform an auxiliary fluid receptacle below said cooling tank and communicating therewith whereby fluid irom said tank may flow there rom into said receptacle, and means be cleaned to force said fluid from said receptacle been completed. I .7. A cooler comprising a casing forming a cooling tank for conductive fluid. said casing having a removable top, a cooling coil suspended from said top into said tank to 0001 said fluid, a beverage coll suspended from said top, an auxiliary casing'arranged in said cooler to form an auxiliary fluid receptacle below said cooling tank andcommunicating therewith whereby fluid from said tank may flow therefrom into said receptacle, means for supplying air under pressure to said receptacle at the top thereof when said tank is to be cleaned to force said fluid from said receptacle back into said tank after cleaning thereof has been completed, and

FRANCIS L. ,LAPORTE.

for supplying air under pressure to said receptacle when said tank is to

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