Cooling system for beverage dispensing systems

• US 10,101,082 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metadesign, LLC
• Original Assignee: Metadesign, LLC
• Inventors: Sinko, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Duke, Emmanuel
• Application Number:
  US14/734,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20150354886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0867 the cooling fluid being a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0884 Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00104 Cooling only
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 15/00 Devices not covered by group F25D11/00 or F25D13/00, e.g. non-self-contained movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/02 for circulating liquids, e.g. brine
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/006 specially adapted for cooling receptacles, e.g. tanks

Abstract

A cooling system for a beverage dispensing system includes a cooling jacket for placement around a beverage container, such as a keg. The cooling jacket includes a main body having a top edge, an opposite bottom edge, an inner surface and an opposing outer surface. The main body is configured for placement around a side of the container. The main body has a first interior space for receiving the container, wherein the main body is formed of a first insulation material. The cooling jacket also includes an openable and closeable upper body that is for placement above and over a top of the container. The upper body is coupled to the main body such that is lies thereabove. The upper body is formed of a second insulation material. The upper body has a means for closing the upper body for completely enclosing the container within the cooling jacket.

Claims

1. A cooling jacket for a container holding a beverage comprising:

an outer shell configured so as to define a top portion and a bottom portion separated from the top portion;

a main body disposed within the bottom portion and having a top edge, an opposite bottom edge, an inner surface and an opposing outer surface, the main body being configured for placement around a side of the container, the main body having a first interior space for receiving the container, wherein the main body is formed of a first insulation material; and

an openable and closeable upper body that comprises a pocket formed in the top portion of the shell and is for placement above and over a top of the container, the upper body being bendable relative to the main body about an interface between the upper body and the main body such that the upper body lies above the main body, the upper body of including a second insulation material that is separate and distinct from the first insulation material, the upper body having a closure for closing the upper body for enclosing a top of the container that is located within the cooling jacket;

wherein the main body includes a cooling line that has a free first end for receiving coolant and a free second end for returning the coolant, the free first and second ends extending above and being accessible along the top edge of the main body, while being spaced from the upper body.

2. The cooling jacket of claim 1, wherein the main body is formed of a foam panel structure and the upper body is formed of loose insulation material.

3. The cooling jacket of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises an elastomeric foam insulation and the upper body comprises polyester fiberfill insulation material.

4. The cooling jacket of claim 1, wherein the coolant comprises a glycol composition.

5. The cooling jacket of claim 1, further including a temperature sensor disposed along the inner surface and including a first temperature sensor line that terminates in a first temperature connector that is accessible along the main body.

6. The cooling jacket of claim 5, wherein the free first end includes a first connector and the second free end includes a second connector, each of the first connector, second connector and first temperature connector comprises a quick connector.

7. The cooling jacket of claim 1, wherein at least a substantial portion of the cooling line lies within a bottom half of the main body.

8. The cooling jacket of claim 7, wherein the cooling lines comprises two parallel line sections that terminate in the free first and second ends and extend vertically relative to the main body and a plurality of coiled sections that extend horizontally relative to the main body.

9. The cooling jacket of claim 8, wherein the coiled sections are exclusively located in the bottom half of the main body.

10. The cooling jacket of claim 8, wherein the bottom half of the main body includes a recessed portion in which the coiled sections are disposed.

11. The cooling jacket of claim 1, wherein the means for closing the upper body comprises a cinching means.

12. The cooling jacket of claim 11, wherein the cinching means comprises a drawstring.

13. The cooling jacket of claim 1, wherein at least a substantial portion of the cooling line lies within one half of the main body as measured from the top edge to the bottom edge, the one half of the main body that is free of the cooling lines extends from the top edge to the bottom edge.

14. The cooling jacket of claim 1, wherein the main body and upper body are configured to enclose a keg which comprises the container.

15. The cooling jacket of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a cooling line assembly comprising a first cooling line manifold and a second cooling line manifold, each of the first and second cooling line manifolds includes a plurality of side ports, a first open end and a closed second end, the cooling line assembly further including a plurality of cross conduits that are fluidly connected at their ends to the side ports of the first and second cooling line manifolds.

16. The cooling jacket of claim 1, further including a jacket extension which comprises an elongated body having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side having a first extension fastener formed therealong and the second side having a second extension fastener formed therealong, the first extension fastener configured to matingly attach to a complementary jacket fastener formed on one of the free ends of the jacket, the second extension fastener configured to matingly attach to another complementary jacket fastener formed on the other free end of the jacket.

17. The cooling jacket of claim 1, wherein the cooling line includes a coolant control valve for controlling flow of the coolant through the cooling line of the jacket body.