WO2008125932A2

WO2008125932A2 - Cooled tower for dispensing beverages

Info

Publication number: WO2008125932A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/000699
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giulio Guadalupi
Original assignee: Vin Service SRL
Current assignee: Vin Service SRL
Priority date: 2007-04-13
Filing date: 2008-03-26
Publication date: 2008-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-13
Also published as: ITMI20070760A1; WO2008125932A3

Abstract

There is described a refrigerated tower (10) for dispensing beverages that includes an inner cavity (15) in which a coolant fluid is made to circulate. The tower (10) is fastened to a bar counter by means of a sleeve (20), the free inner volume of which is placed in fluid communication with the inner cavity (15) of the tower (10).

Description

"COOLED TOWER FOR BREWING BEVERAGES"

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Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tower for brewing beverages and in particular to a refrigerated tower inside which a coolant fluid is made to circulate to form a film of ice on the outer surface of this tower. Background of the Invention

Towers of this type are provided with an inner cavity in which the coolant fluid, for example glycol or mixtures thereof, is made to circulate. In the upper part of the tower one or more dispensing taps are provided for one or more respective beverages.

The tower is fixed to a bar counter through a ring nut that is screwed onto an externally threaded sleeve, through which the inlet and outlet pipes of the fluid to cool the inner cavity of the tower are made to pass, together with one or more feed pipes for the respective beverages.

In known towers, the hydraulic seal of the coolant fluid present in the inner cavity of the tower is produced at the connection between tower and sleeve. In practice, a rubber cap is used between sleeve and tower, and the hydraulic seal is obtained due to expansion of the cap following clamping of the ring nut to mount the tower on the bar counter.

Nonetheless, this solution presents a drawback, due essentially to stagnation of the coolant fluid at the base of the tower. The lack of circulation of the coolant fluid at the base of the tower prevents a uniform film of ice from forming over the entire tower. Moreover this known solution makes maintenance and/or repair operations on the tower difficult to perform in the event of having to drain the tower of the coolant fluid contained therein.

Another drawback of known towers is represented by the fact that the sleeve and the fastening ring nut are generally made of metal, such as brass or the like. This unavoidably causes condensate to form on the sleeve and on the fastening ring nut and consequently the undesirable dripping of water under the bar counter. The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a refrigerated tower that allows the drawbacks of prior art to be overcome.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a refrigerated tower that facilitates maintenance and/or repair operations. Summary of the Invention

These objects are attained by the present invention through a tower for dispensing beverages, of the type having at least one inner cavity in which a coolant fluid is made to circulate, one or more taps for dispensing one or more beverages and at least one sleeve to fasten the tower to a bar counter, with inlet and outlet pipes for the coolant fluid in the inner cavity of the tower and one or more beverage feed pipes that pass through the sleeve, in which the free inner volume of the sleeve is placed in fluid communication with the inner cavity of the tower.

By also involving the free inner volume of the sleeve in the circulation of the coolant fluid, stagnation thereof at the base of the tower is prevented, thus allowing the desired film of ice to form over the whole tower.

According to a possible embodiment of the present invention, the coolant fluid inlet pipe flows into the tower in proximity of the connection area between the sleeve and the tower.

The fluid seal of the tower and of the sleeve is guaranteed by a closing cap inserted in the free end of the sleeve. This facilitates repair or maintenance operations during which the coolant fluid must be drained from the tower.

The sleeve according to the invention is preferably made of a plastic material. In this way, the sleeve does not ice and the formation of undesirable condensate under the bar counter is thus limited. Brief Description of the Drawings

Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the description below, provided with reference to the schematic drawings attached for non-limiting illustrative purposes, wherein:

- Figure 1 is an elevated side view of a tower according to a possible embodiment of the present invention installed on a bar counter;

- Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tower and of the sleeve of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is an exploded view of some components of the tower of Figure 1 ; and

- Figure 3 A is a top plan view of one of the components represented in Figure 3.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

Figure 1 represents a refrigerated tower 10 supporting a tap 1 for dispensing a beverage. The top of the tower 10 can also support a plate 5, optionally illuminated, which can be used to identify the beverage dispensed. The tower 10, generally made of metal, is installed on a bar counter 2 by means of a sleeve 20 that has a threaded outer surface onto which a fastening ring nut 12 is screwed. The free end of the sleeve 20 is closed by a cap 30 made of elastic material which is clamped by a fastening nut 23. The sleeve 20 according to the invention is preferably made of plastic material, such as ABS or the like, which allows the formation of undesirable condensate on the outer surface of the sleeve to be limited.

With reference also to Figure 2, it can be noted that the tower 10 presents an inner cavity 15 in which a coolant fluid, such as glycol or mixtures thereof, is made to circulate to form a film of ice on the outer surface of the tower 10. The tower 10 is supplied by a plurality of pipes 40 that pass through the through holes provided in the cap 30 (Figure 3A) and the sleeve 20. Besides the feed pipe(s) for the beverage(s), which are connected to one or more of the dispensing taps 1, a pair of pipes 41 and 42, used respectively to supply and drain the coolant fluid to and from the inner cavity 15 of the tower 10, also pass through the cap 30 and the sleeve 20.

According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the free inner volume 25 of the sleeve 20 is placed directly in fluid communication with the inner cavity 15 of the tower 10, thus allowing more effective circulation of the coolant fluid inside the tower 10. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the pipe 41 supplies the coolant fluid at the base of the tower 10, or in any case in proximity of the connection area between the tower 10 and the sleeve 20, while the outlet pipe 42 collects the coolant fluid in proximity of the upper part of the cavity 15 of the tower.

In the view of Figure 3, it can be seen that the mechanical and hydraulic connection between the sleeve 20 and the tower 10 is produced between a threaded end portion 21 of the sleeve that engages in a corresponding threaded seat 14 (Figure 2) produced in the base of the tower 10. An elastic gasket 22, for example an O-ring, ensures the hydraulic seal at the connection between sleeve and tower.

A closing cap 30 made of elastic material is inserted at the opposite end of the sleeve 20. The cap 30 is of the biconical type, i.e. formed by two opposed truncated-cone shaped portions.

As shown in the plan view of Figure 3 A, the cap 30 includes at least one pair of axial holes 31 and 32 for passage of the respective inlet 41 and outlet 42 pipes of the coolant fluid, as well as a further two axial holes 33 and 34 for passage of two feed pipes for the same number of beverages. A central axial hole, of smaller diameter, is also represented to allow passage of a wire or of an optical fibre for optional illumination of the plate 5 (Figure 1).

The cap 30 is clamped in the sleeve 20 by means of the lock nut 23 screwed onto the outer thread of the sleeve 20. Due to the biconical shape of the cap 30, tightening of the nut 23 also makes it possible to ensure the necessary hydraulic seal of the sleeve 20 and that the pipes 40 are held firmly in position.

Various modifications can be made to the embodiment described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the inlet pipe 41 of the coolant fluid can also flow into the sleeve 20. The cap 30 can also comprise a different number of axial holes with respect to that represented, as a function of the number of beverages to be dispensed and/or of the presence of a system to illuminate the plate 5.

Claims

1. A tower for brewing beverages, of the type having at least one inner cavity in which a coolant fluid is made to circulate, one or more taps to dispense one or more beverages and at least one sleeve to fasten said tower to a bar counter, the pipes to supply and drain said coolant fluid to and from the inner cavity of said tower and one or more feed pipes of said beverages passing through said sleeve, characterized in that the free inner volume of said sleeve is placed in fluid communication with the inner cavity of said tower.

2. A tower as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coolant fluid inlet pipe flows into said tower in proximity of the connection area between said sleeve and said tower.

3. A tower as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coolant fluid inlet pipe flows into said sleeve in proximity of the connection area between said sleeve and said tower.

4. A tower as claimed in claim 1, wherein a closing cap is provided, inserted to seal the free end of said sleeve.

5. A tower as claimed in claim 4, wherein said closing cap is a cap made of elastic material comprising two opposed truncated-cone shaped portions, and wherein a plurality of axial holes are provided for the passage of said pipes.

6. A tower as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said cap is clamped and maintained in a sealed condition by a lock nut screwed onto an externally threaded portion of said sleeve.

7. A tower as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is made of plastic material.