Tapping device and container therefor, and method for the manufacture thereof

• US 20040069368A1
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heineken Technical Services B.V.
• Original Assignee: Heineken Technical Services B.V.
• Inventors: van Duuren, marius Corstiaan, Bax, Bart Jan, van der Klaauw, Guido Petrus Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 7,661,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/82
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0406 with means for carbonating the beverage, or for maintaining its carbonation B67D1/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/06 Mountings or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in or on shop or bar counters shop or bar counters per se A47F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0861 the evaporator acting through an intermediate heat transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0868 the cooling fluid being a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0872 Aesthetics, advertising
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1405 Control taps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00047 Piping
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00049 Pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00062 Pipe joints
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00133 wheeled

Abstract

A tapping device (1) for beverage, comprising a cooling device and a tapping rod (8) with a tapping cock (14), the tapping rod comprising a first (50) and a second (52) channel, which channels are in fluid communication with each other adjacent the tapping cock (14), while at least during use a tapping line (48) extends through the second channel, which tapping line is coupled at one end with a container (6) for beverage and at the other end can cooperate with the tapping cock.

Claims

1. A tapping device for beverage, comprising a cooling system and a tapping rod with a tapping cock, the tapping rod comprising a first and a second channel, which channels are in fluid communication with each other adjacent the tapping cock, while at least during use a tapping line extends through the second channel, which tapping line is coupled at one end with a container for beverage and at the other end can cooperate with the tapping cock.

2. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein a guide tube extends through the tapping rod at least as far as a point adjacent the tapping cock, such that between the guide tube and the tapping rod the first channel is formed, which surrounds the guide tube at least partly, while during use the tapping line extends through the guide tube, and between the tapping line and the guide tube the second channel is formed, which surrounds the tapping line at least largely.

3. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second channel extends at least to a point adjacent, and preferably into, the cooling means.

4. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein forcing means are provided for forcing a cooling medium through the channels.

5. A tapping device according to claim 4, wherein the guide tube, at least the second channel, terminates in the cooling device, the forcing means being arranged for passing cooled air as cooling medium through the channels.

6. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein forcing means are arranged for recirculating air cooled in the cooling device, from the cooling device through the channels along the tapping line.

7. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the forcing means comprise a reduced pressure chamber which is in fluid communication with the first channel.

8. A tapping device according to claim 7, wherein the reduced pressure chamber is in fluid communication with suction means, in particular a fan for creating a reduced pressure in the reduced pressure chamber, while cooling means are provided for cooling air sucked in from the channels by the suction means and passing on same to the cooling device, in particular a refrigerator space.

9. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and the second channel are in fluid communication with each other in the tapping cock.

10. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein sucking means are provided for sucking air into the cooling device from the surroundings, a compressor and an evaporator, as well as a pressure vessel, while at least the compressor, the pressure vessel and the evaporator are arranged for at least partly drying sucked-in air.

11. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the part of the tapping line extending in the guide tube is designed as a flexible hose, adapted to be coupled to the tapping cock.

12. A tapping device according to claim 11, wherein the tapping cock is arranged for cooperation with the hose, such that the tapping cock and the hose form a hose cock, while the hose can be pressed shut by means of the tapping cock.

13. A tapping device according to claim 11, wherein the hose is provided with a valve, the tapping cock being arranged for cooperation with the valve, such that the valve can be opened and closed by means of the tapping cock for the purpose of clearing the fluid passage from the hose to the surroundings.

14. A tapping device according to any one of claims 11-13, wherein at least the guide tube and the tapping line are so designed that the tapping line can be led into the guide tube from a lead-in end of the guide tube and can be passed through the guide tube into the tapping cock, to be coupled thereto, the lead-in end preferably extending in a refrigerator as cooling device.

15. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide tube extends through a reduced pressure chamber into a cooling device, designed as a refrigerator, while the part extending in the refrigerator is provided with a lead-in opening, in particular funnel-shaped, for introducing cooled air and the tapping line.

16. A tapping device according to claim 15, wherein the part extending in the refrigerator is at least partly of swiveling design, such that the free end thereof is positionable within the refrigerator, in particular directed to a door of the refrigerator, regardless of the position of the guide tube with respect to the refrigerator.

17. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide tube comprises at least one bend between the cooling device and the tapping cock, in which bend the guide tube has a cross section with at least a long axis and a short axis, the long axis being located in the plane of the respective bend.

18. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tapping rod is fixedly connected with a refrigerator as cooling device, while the refrigerator is disposed under a platform and the tapping rod extends through the platform and a wall of the refrigerator.

19. A tapping device according to claim 18, wherein the tapping rod is fixedly connected with the guide tube, while the guide tube extends through the reduced pressure chamber and is secured against the underside thereof for fixing the tapping rod.

20. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling device is provided with at least two set-up positions for containers for beverage, to be dispensed through the tapping line, while at least if the cooling device is closed, separation means are provided between the set-up positions for at least partially thermally insulating containers set up in the set-up positions.

25. A tapping device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the tapping line located adjacent the tapping cock, at least prior to use for dispensing the beverage, in particular prior to and during feed-through of the tapping line through the guide tube, is provided with a covering cap with a rounded top, which covers at least the passage of the tapping line.

26. A method for arranging a tapping device, in particular according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a tapping rod with at least one guide tube extending therethrough and a tapping cock connecting to the guide tube, is mounted on the upper side of a tapping platform, such that the tapping rod and the guide tube extend to a point under the tapping platform, at least are accessible from there;

wherein a fluid communication is formed between an open end of the guide tube located under the tapping platform and an open end, likewise located under the tapping platform, of a first channel formed between the guide tube and the tapping rod and surrounding the guide tube at least partly, which fluid communication is formed via the guide tube and the first channel, mutually coupled in, at least near, the tapping cock;

wherein a tapping line is positioned in the guide tube, from said open end thereof at least to a point adjacent the tapping cock, which tapping line is coupled to the tapping cock, for cooperation therewith.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein under the tapping platform a refrigerator is set up, whereafter the desired position of the tapping rod on the tapping platform is determined, an opening is provided in the tapping platform and a corresponding opening is provided in the top of the refrigerator, and subsequently the tapping rod with the guide tube is inserted through said openings and is secured, preferably against both the tapping platform and against the refrigerator.

28. A method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein a reduced pressure chamber is connected with said open end of the channel, such that when a reduced pressure is created in the reduced pressure chamber, air is sucked in through the guide tube and the first channel.

29. A method according to any one of claims 26-28, wherein an at least partly flexible hose is used as tapping line, which is introduced from the open end of the guide tube and is passed through the guide tube into the tapping cock, and the hose is laid in the tapping cock, for cooperation with an operating mechanism of the tapping cock.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein a hose is used having, adjacent the leading end, a valve, which valve is coupled with the operating mechanism, such that the valve can be opened and closed with the operating mechanism.

31. A method according to any one of claims 26-30, wherein suction or blowing means are incorporated in the refrigerator, by which air cooled in the refrigerator is forced through the guide tube and the first channel, for cooling beverage flowing through the tapping line.

34. A container for beverage, suitable and intended for use in a tapping device according to any one of claims 1-25 or a method according to any one of claims 26-31, the container being provided with a primary valve with coupling means, for coupling to a source for a pressure fluid, while an at least partly flexible tapping hose is connected with the primary valve.

35. A container for beverage according to claim 34, wherein the tapping hose is provided, adjacent an end remote from the container, with a valve which can be repeatedly opened and closed.

21. A tapping device comprising a tapping rod with a tapping cock and a tapping line, the tapping line being at least partly of flexible design, the tapping rod comprising a guide tube having a first end terminating adjacent the tapping cock and having an opposite, second end terminating near, at least beyond, an end of the tapping rod, said second end being arranged for introducing a first end of the tapping line, such that this first end can be passed through the guide tube to the tapping cock, the second end of the tapping line being adapted to be coupled with a container for beverage and the first end of the tapping line being capable of cooperating with the tapping cock.

22. A tapping device according to claim 21, wherein the tapping line is substantially wholly flexible.

23. A tapping device according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the tapping line, adjacent the first end, comprises a valve body capable of cooperating with the tapping cock, such that through operation of the tapping cock the valve body can be moved between an opened position and a closed position.

24. A tapping device according to claim 23, wherein the guide tube has such dimensions that the valve body can be passed therethrough with some clearance, both in the direction of the tapping cock and in the opposite direction.

32. A method for manufacturing a tapping rod, wherein a guide tube is laid in a molding die and subsequently a tapping rod is formed in the molding die around the guide tube, such that a fixed positioning of the guide tube in the tapping rod is obtained.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein a metal guide tube is laid in, around which is cast a metal tapping rod, in particular stainless steel.