METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TREATING A TAP INSTALLATION

Abstract: Method to treat a tap installation, in particular to remove at least a number of living organisms from at least a part of said tap installation (1) and to fight them, characterised in that it consists of producing vibrations in the tap installation (1), in particular in the liquid (3-8) contained therein.

Description: Method and device for treating a tap installation. The present invention concerns a method and a device to treat a tap installation, in particular to remove a number of living organisms, in particular bacteria and fungi, from at least a part of said tap installation, and to fight them, as well as to prevent the formation of lactic acids, which can give a bad taste to the drinks . In the first place, the invention is meant to be applied in installations for drawing beer, but in a more general way it is not excluded to apply it to installations for tapping other beverages, such as cola and other soft drinks, where one must also prevent the lines from going sugary and from closing up. Traditionally, a tap installation consists of a pressure installation to put the liquid in a beer barrel under pressure, and a line which can be connected to the beer barrel and which is connected to a tap. Further, such a conventional tap installation also comprises a cooler, which usually consists of a vessel filled with liquid, a cooling circuit to cool the liquid and a line part extending through the vessel, usually in the shape of a serpentine, which is part of the above-mentioned tap line. It is known that tap installations, in particular for drawing beer, very easily lead to the formation of bacteria, fungi and lactic acids, and consequently have to be cleaned every six to seven weeks. Conventionally, this is done by rinsing the line with water, whereby a sponge or such is also pressed under pressure through the tap line. In order to reduce the surface tension of the scouring water, and thus to obtain that the scouring water penetrates more easily into cavities on the place of connections and such in the tap line, detergents are added to it. Even when adding these detergents, it cannot be excluded that fungi and bacteria start lodging in the tap line, in particular in the microstructure of the walls of the tap line, and stay there. In order to prevent the contamination by bacteria and fungi and to be able to meet the prevailing health regulations, the present tap installations must be cleaned every six to seven weeks . It is clear that the conventional cleaning of tap installations, which is usually done by qualified personnel of the breweries, is an expensive matter. Moreover, there is a disadvantage in that the tap installation has to be taken in use again after every cleaning, whereby the beer which is first tapped is usually lost as its quality is not fit, which naturally implies a loss. Nor is it excluded that the detergents end up in the beer. The invention aims a method and a device for treating a tap installation, whereby this tap installation is cleaned in a manner which differs from the conventional manner, is preserved from contaminations such as bacteria and fungi respectively, as well as of unwanted substances such as lactic acids, crystallised sugars and such. In particular, the invention aims a method and a device whereby the above-mentioned disadvantages are excluded. To this end, the invention concerns a method for treating a tap installation, in particular for removing at least a number of living organisms from at least a part of said tap installation and for fighting them', characterised in that it consists of producing vibrations in the tap installation, in particular in the liquid contained therein, so that at least a number of the living organisms which are found there are suppressed, and preferably also the formation of certain substances, such as said lactic acids, is prevented. By using vibrations according to the present invention, the above-mentioned organisms can be destroyed in no time, without the tap circuit having to be interrupted to this end. The laborious conventional cleaning process can be entirely or partly omitted. Moreover, by providing every tap installation concerned with its own device for producing said vibrations, qualified personnel is no longer required to clean the tap installation. Such a permanent installation also offers the advantage that it can be used in a precautionary way, either continuously or only a few hours a day, so that the growth and development of fungi and bacteria is permanently opposed. It should be noted that vibrations are easily transmitted in liquid, hence also in the beer or such which is found in tap line, as well as in any possible cooling liquid if the tap installation is equipped with a cooler, as is usually the case. Thanks to the good transmission of the vibrations in the liquid, it is possible to obtain a very large efficiency with a relatively small capacity. Preferably, vibrations are used which suppress the bacteria and fungi which are usually found in tap installations, in particular vibrations which cause resonance vibrations in the bacteria and fungi, as a result of which they are damaged and die . In particular, use is preferably made of vibrations in the ultrasonic range. In the case of tap installations for beer, particularly good results are obtained when vibrations are applied in the frequency range of 21 to 40 kHz. A very effective suppression is obtained when vibrations having different frequencies are generated. According to the most preferred embodiment, the frequency will be periodically altered. By changing the range of the frequency, various frequencies get a chance to act, so that resonance vibrations are produced in all the aimed organisms . Preferably, different frequencies are applied in steps, so that at least every frequency concerned gets a chance to act for a specific length of time, so that the organisms are subjected with great certainty for a certain length of time to the vibrations they resist the least. According to the most preferred embodiment, the periodic change also contains a period during which the vibrations are interrupted. This creates so to say a shock effect. Indeed, the inventor found that the organisms concerned can resist this even less. Preferably, the length of the periodic change is at least 5 seconds, and better still about 10 seconds. Use is preferably made of vibrations which consist of a square wave, or which approach a square wave. The square wave can hereby have a local deformation, preferably in the shape of a protruding lip in the waveform, better still a lip which connects to one or both flanks of the square wave, in particular in the shape of what is called an overshoot. A large quantity of harmonics are created by this lip, so that the range of frequencies with which the organisms are fought is even considerably increased. In the case of a conventional tap installation, which is equipped with a cooler containing a cooled vessel filled with a liquid through which the tap line extends, the above-mentioned vibrations are preferably induced in the liquid contained in said vessel. This vessel is an ideal place to accommodate the vibrating source. Moreover, the liquid mass guarantees an optimal transmission of the vibrations towards the tap line, after which these vibrations are felt over several metres in the tap line. In principle, the vibrations could also be induced in a reservoir according to the invention which is especially filled with liquid to this aim, through which the tap line extends, without this reservoir having any particular function as such. Further, it is clear that it is not excluded to induce the vibrations on other places in the tap installations, either or not combined with vibrations which can be induced in the tap installation as mentioned above. Thus, for example, it is possible to connect additional vibration installations on the tap line, preferably in the shape of transducers, which is particularly indicated in case of a particularly long tap line . The invention also concerns a device to realise the above- described method, characterised in that it mainly consists of a vibration generator and at least one vibration source coupled thereto which is fit to co-operate with a tap installation to thus induce the generated vibrations in the tap installation. Preferably, the vibration generator is provided with an electronic circuit which makes it possible to generate vibrations of the above-described frequencies and/or waveforms . This device is preferably built-in permanently, coupled to the tap installation respectively, but it is not excluded to provide a mobile tap installation with which tap installations to be cleaned can be treated. It is clear that the invention also concerns tap installations which are equipped with such a device, in particular tap installations for beer. In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiment of the invention is described, in particular of a tap installation which is equipped with a device according to the invention, as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 schematically represents a tap installation according to the invention; figure 2 represents a schematic section to a larger scale of the part indicated by F2 in figure 1; figure 3 represents a waveform of the vibrations which are preferably applied. Figure 1 represents a tap installation 1 which traditionally consists of a pressure installation 2 to put the beer 3 contained in a beer barrel 4 under pressure; a cooler 5 and a tap 6. The beer 3 is hereby conducted from the beer barrel 4 to the tap 6 via the cooler 5 by means of a tap line 7. The cooler 5 consists of a vessel 9 filled with water 8; a cooling circuit 10 to cool the water 8; and a line part extending through the vessel 9 in the cooled water 8, in the shape of a serpentine 11, which is part of the above- mentioned tap line 7. The invention is special in that the tap installation 1 is provided with a device 12 to induce vibrations in the tap installation 1, such that bacteria and fungi are destroyed, and the development thereof is counteracted respectively. The device 12 mainly consists of a vibration generator 13 and at least one vibration source 14 which is fit to co- operate with the tap installation 1. The vibration generator 13 consists of a circuit which makes it possible to generate electric vibrations which are transformed in acoustic vibrations at the vibration source 14. It is clear that this vibration generator 13 preferably has an electronic nature and is built such that vibrations are produced as explained in the introduction. On the basis of the information mentioned in the introduction regarding the nature and form of the vibrations, any professional will know how the electronic circuit is built . That is why the exact construction of such a circuit is not described in detail . In principle, the vibration source 14 may be of any nature whatsoever. Preferably, however, as represented in figures 1 and 2, a vibration source 14 will be used having the shape of a vibration unit which is mounted in the cooler 5 of the tap installation 1. In particular, said vibration ' source 14 preferably consists, as represented, of a loudspeaker 15 and a conducting channel 16 for the vibrations mounted underneath it, which conducting channel 16 extends into the water 8. In this manner is ensured that the produced vibrations are optimally induced in the water 8, and thus also in the tap installation 1. Since the tap line 7 is situated in the water 8 over a relatively large length, in the shape of said serpentine 11, a large contact surface is consequently obtained to transmit the vibrations, namely the entire contact surface between the water 8 and the serpentine 11. The loudspeaker 15 is preferably a crystal loudspeaker, which offers the advantage that it is easy to produce ultrasonic tones therewith, and that it is well resistant to moisture. As mentioned in the introduction, additional vibration sources, 17 and 18 in the example, can be provided, for example when the effect of the vibration source 14 is expected to be insufficient . These vibration sources 17 and 18 preferably consist of transducers which are fixed by means of suitable coupling means to transmit the vibrations to the tap line 7, or to elements which are part thereof. The vibration sources 17 and 18 are preferably fed by means of one and the same vibration generator 13. As represented, the device 12 can be easily mounted in an existing tap installation 1. The vibration generator 13 can be provided in a housing and can be fed by means of a simple connection to the mains by means of an ordinary plug 19 in a wall socket . The connection between the vibration generator 13 and the vibration sources 14, 17 and 18 can be easily realised with for example what is called a loudspeaker cable . For clarity's sake, figure 3 represents another embodiment of the waveform 20 which is preferably applied and which, as already explained in the introduction, consists of a square wave with a lip 21 in the shape of an overshoot. The working of the device 12 can be easily derived from what precedes and consists in that, when the vibration generator 13 is switched on, vibrations, preferably of the above-mentioned frequency and waveform, are produced via the vibration source 14-17-18 and are induced in the tap line 7, where they are transmitted up to the beer barrel 4, as well as to the tap 6. The vibrations kill the bacteria and fungi and prevent the formation of any new nidi of bacteria and fungi . In the case of tap installations l for beer, the formation of lactic acids is also prevented in this manner, so that the beer will not get a buttery taste. In the case of tap installations 1 for sugary soft drinks, it also prevents the lines from going sugary. The device 12 is preferably permanently switched on. It should be noted that a device 12 with a small capacity, for example of 7 Watts, may suffice. It is clear, however, that the device can also be switched on periodically. It should be noted that the invention is meant to keep tap installations 1 free of living organisms, or at least to fight them. Not only organisms within the tap line 7 are concerned, but also organisms in other places where liquid can be found, i.e. both in the beer barrel 4 and in the water 8, or in any other cooled liquid through which the tap line 7 is guided. It should be noted that the water 8 'had to be salted water, i.e. brine, in the embodiments known until now, in order to prevent the formation of algae in the vessel 9, this in order to prevent an unpleasant smell being formed after a while due to the presence of such algae. The use of such salted water is disadvantageous in that all the materials which come into contact with it, among others the serpentine 11, are affected. According to the present invention, also the algae are suppressed and destroyed by means of the above-mentioned vibrations, so that water 8 can be used without any salt or other means being added to it, which offers the advantage that the material can be prevented from being affected, or that this can be at least minimised. The present invention is by no means limited to the above- described embodiment represented in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such a method and device, as well as the above-mentioned tap installation, can be made in all sorts of variants while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims: Claims . 1. Method to treat a tap installation, in particular to remove at least a number of living organisms from at least a part of said tap installation (l) and to fight them, characterised in that it consists of producing vibrations in the tap installation (1) , in particular in the liquid (3-8) contained therein. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that vibrations are applied which fight the bacteria and fungi which are traditionally found in tap installations (1) , in particular which cause resonance vibrations in these bacteria and fungi, as a result of which they are damaged. 3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that use is made of vibrations in the ultrasonic range and/or in a range which is close to the ultrasonic range. 4. Method according to claim 3 , characterised in that at least use is made of vibrations in the frequency range of 21 to 40 kHz. 5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that vibrations having different frequencies are generated. 6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that the frequency is periodically changed, preferably in steps. 7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the periodic change also contains a period during which the vibrations are interrupted. 8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the length of the periodic change is at least 5 seconds, and better still about 10 seconds. 9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that use is made of vibrations which consist of a square wave, or which approach a square wave. 10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that the square wave is provided with a local deformation, preferably in the shape of a protruding lip (21) in the waveform (20) , better still a lip (21) which connects to one or both flanks of the square wave, in particular in the shape of what is called an overshoot. 11. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a tap installations (1) is applied which is provided with a vessel (9) filled with a liquid (8) , for example water, through which the tap line (7) extends, and in that the above-mentioned vibrations are induced in the tap installation (1) via the liquid (8) of the above-mentioned vessel (9) . 12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that the additional vibration sources (17-18) are connected onto the tap line (7), preferably in the shape of transducers. 13. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vibration generator (13) is permanently switched on. 14. Device for realising the method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it mainly consists of a vibration generator (13) and at least one vibration source (14-17-18) coupled thereto- which is fit to cooperate with a tap installation (1) to thus induce the generated vibrations in the tap installation (1) . 15. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that, as a vibration source (14) , it has at least one vibration unit which can be provided in the conventional vessel (9) of the cooler (5) of the tap installation (1) . 16. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that the vibration unit consists of a crystal loudspeaker (15) with a conducting channel (16) for the vibrations mounted underneath it, with which the vibration unit can be immersed in the water (8) or such. 17. Device according to any of claims 14 to 16, characterised in that, as a vibration source (17-18) , it contains at least one transducer, as well as coupling means to connect this transducer onto the tap line (7) of the tap installation (1) , to thus generate vibrations in the liquid to be tapped, in particular the beer, via this tap line (7) . 18. Tap installation, characterised in that it is equipped with a device (12) as described in any of claims 14 to 17. 19. Tap installation according to claim 18, characterised in that it is a tap installation (1) for beer. 20. Tap installation according to claim 18 or 19, characterised in that it contains a cooler (5) with a vessel (9) which contains a cooled liquid (8) through which the tap line (7) extends, whereby said liquid (8) is free of any aggressive additives, such as salt or such, and preferably consists of pure water.

Inventors: THOMAS HILAIRE FERNAND ACHILLE, THOMAS, HILAIRE, FERNAND, ACHILLE
Applicants: THOMAS HILAIRE FERNAND ACHILLE, THOMAS, HILAIRE, FERNAND, ACHILLE
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B67D1
IPC codes: A61L2, B67D1