Patent Publication Number: US-8991653-B2

Title: Tapping head, tapping device and method for use of a tapping device

Description:
The invention relates to a tapping head. The invention relates in particular to a tapping head of the handle tapping head type, provided with a connecting head for a cask. 
     It is generally known that for beverage, in particular for beverage containing natural ingredients such as yeast, hops and/or extracts thereof, it is advantageous to cool them prior to and preferably also during tapping. The quality of the beverage is thereby preserved and/or improved, the taste for a consumer is positively influenced and moreover contamination and in particular growth of microorganisms in the tapping device is limited. 
     Tapping devices are known in which a cask is set up in a refrigerator, so that the beverage is cooled. Known furthermore are tapping devices in which a beverage line leading from the cask to a tapping column is cooled, such that beverage in the beverage line is kept cool. Combinations thereof are also possible. Such tapping devices, however, are not optimal. For instance, they are relatively sizeable and costly in use, do not always lead to the desired limitation of bacterial growth and may be energetically disadvantageous. 
     Casks are usually connected to a tapping device, in particular a beverage line, with the aid of a tapping head. Moreover, a cask may with the same tapping head be connected to a gas line, for pressurizing beverage in the cask during use. Such tapping heads are usually also referred to as handle tapping head. 
     The object of the invention is to provide a tapping head for use in a tapping device for beverage, where cooling of the beverage and/or the tapping device is applied. 
     In an aspect, a tapping head according to this description is characterized in that it is provided with a connecting head at an end of a housing. The tapping head is provided with a beverage channel which extends from a beverage line connection into the connecting head and/or a gas channel extending from a gas line connection into the connecting head. The tapping head is provided with at least one cooling chamber having an entrance and an exit, separate from the beverage channel and/or the gas channel, which cooling chamber is in thermal contact with the housing and is provided with a cooling line connection. 
     In another aspect, a tapping device according to the description is characterized in that it is provided with a tapping head which is connected to a cooling line of the tapping device, which cooling line is connected to a cooling system for beverage. 
     In a further aspect, a method according to this description is characterized in that for cooling beverage in a tapping device coolant is guided through a portion of a tapping head, which coolant is further used for cooling the beverage in at least a part of a beverage line connecting to the tapping head. 
     In a still further aspect, a method according to this description is characterized in that it is intended for adapting a tapping head for cooling. Such a method can comprise the following steps:
         uncoupling a beverage line and/or gas line from a beverage line connection and/or a gas line connection of a tapping head, respectively;   coupling a cooling chamber-containing part, provided with a beverage line intermediate piece and/or a gas line intermediate piece, with the beverage line connection and/or the gas line connection, respectively;   coupling the beverage line and/or the gas line, respectively, with the beverage line intermediate piece and/or the gas line intermediate piece.       

     The order of these steps, for that matter, may be adapted and should not be construed as a fixed order. 
     In the claims and description, further embodiments of the invention are described. 
    
    
     
       To clarify the invention, embodiments of a cooling device and method will be elucidated in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: 
         FIG. 1  shows schematically a tapping device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side elevation of a tapping head; 
         FIG. 3  shows schematically and partly sectioned in side elevation a cooling chamber-containing part for a tapping device according to  FIG. 1  or a tapping head according to  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows schematically and partly sectioned in side elevation an alternative embodiment of a cooling chamber-containing part for a tapping device according to  FIG. 1  or a tapping head according to  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a closing ring for a cooling chamber-containing part according to  FIG. 3  or  4 . 
     
    
    
     In this description, equal or corresponding parts have equal or corresponding reference numerals. The embodiments shown are shown for illustration only and should not be construed as limiting in any way. In this description, tapping head should be understood to mean at least, though not exclusively, a tapping head for connection of a beverage line to a cask. Such a tapping head may be a lever handle tapping head. Cask should herein be understood to mean at least, though not exclusively, a holder such as a container for holding beverage. This may be a cask to be used once, or more than once, such as a beer cask. Connecting should herein be understood to mean at least, though not limited to, bringing into fluid communication, for instance of two lines or of a space such as a chamber in a tapping head or inner space of a cask with a line, or coupling in such a way that such a fluid communication can be effected. 
     In  FIG. 1  there is schematically shown a tapping device  1 . This tapping device  1  is for instance suitable for tapping beer. In other embodiments, tapping devices may be provided for tapping other beverages and/or combinations of beverages. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a tapping device  1  is provided with a container  2  in which beverage such as beer is stored and a tap  3  with which beer can be dispensed. Tap  3  should herein be understood to mean at least, though not exclusively, a dispensing unit for beverage such as a faucet, a valve, an operating means for operating a valve or the like provided on a tapping hose, tapping line or like dispensing line. Provided between the container  2  and the tap  3  is a line assembly  4 . An embodiment thereof will be described in more detail hereinafter. A cooling device  5  may be provided between the container  2  and the tap  3 , for cooling the beer  6  that has been passed out of the container  2 , and/or a cooling medium. In this way, cooled beer  6  can be dispensed with the aid of the tap  3 . It will be clear that different containers  2  may be provided, as well as different taps  3 , while in each case at least one container  2  is connected with at least one tap  3 , via the same or different line assemblies  4  or parts thereof. In the container  6 , the beverage does not need to be cooled. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the line assembly  4  may be provided with a beverage line  7  and at least one cooling line  8 . The at least one beverage line  7  and the at least one cooling line  8  may be jointly included in a jacket  9 . The at least one beverage line  7  and the at least one cooling line  8  may be included in a collective line such as for instance a python type line assembly  4 . The jacket  9  may be a thermally insulating jacket. The beverage line  7  is connected by a first end  11  to the container  2  with the aid of a tapping head  10 , and connected by a second end  12  with the tap  3 . In an embodiment the beverage line  7  may be guided through the cooling device  5 , for instance in an in-line cooler, flow-through cooler, cooling bath, dip cooler, Peltier cooler, or like known cooling devices. In another embodiment the beverage line  7  may for instance be cooled by the cooling line  8 , which to that end has been guided through the cooling device  5 , as for instance shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In  FIG. 2  there is shown schematically and in side elevation a tapping head  10 , for use in a tapping device  1 , for instance in a tapping device  1  as shown in  FIG. 1 . This tapping head  10  may be substantially designed as a standard lever handle tapping head such as for instance, though not limited to, Sankey 2 or 3 lug, and/or plane-sliding tapping heads, UEC tapping heads and the like, for instance offered by MicroMatic, DSI and/or Celli, which has been adapted for the invention, as will be described in more detail in the form of an embodiment. Via the tapping head  10 , the beverage line  7  can be brought into fluid communication with the inside of the container  2 . Via the tapping head  10 , in an embodiment, also a gas line  13 , coupled to a gas cylinder  28  such as a CO 2  cylinder or like gas source, may be brought into fluid communication with the inside of the container, for pressurizing beverage therein. In an embodiment a pressure regulating device may be included in the inner space of the container  2 , for pressurizing the beverage and/or keeping the beverage pressurized. Examples of such pressure regulating devices are for instance given in NL 1 008 601, WO 00/35774, EP 1 688 814, EP 1 642 861 and in the non-prepublished patent applications of applicant, entitled Pressure regulator and tapping apparatus provided therewith. The tapping head  10  comprises a handle  14  with which a shaft  15  can be moved in axial direction. Upon downward movement, that is, in the direction of the container, as indicated by the arrow P, the shaft  15  opens a beverage valve and where applicable a gas valve of the container  2 . Beverage can then be guided, under pressure, out of the container. When the shaft  15  is moved back up, the beverage valve and where applicable the gas valve close again. Such a tapping head  10  and the use thereof are sufficiently known. 
     The tapping head  10  has a connecting head  16 , with which the tapping head  10  can be coupled with the container  2 . To that end, the connecting head  16  is adapted to the neck  17  of the container  2  and coupling means  18  arranged therein and/or thereon. The coupling means  18  may for instance, though not exclusively, be bayonet parts, screw thread, clamping means or the like. The connecting head  16  is then provided with complementary coupling means  19 . An example of the coupling means  18 ,  19  mentioned is for instance known as a Sankey two lug connection. Examples of other possible types have been mentioned hereinabove. A housing  20  is coupled to or integrally formed with the connecting head  16 . The shaft  15  is retained in the housing. The handle  14  is pivotably coupled to the housing  20  via a shaft  21 . The housing  20  comprises a first end piece  22 , for instance opposite the connecting head  16 , and a second end piece  23 , for instance on a side of the tapping head  10 . A beverage channel  24  extends through the housing  20 , from the connecting head  16  along and/or through the shaft  15  into the first end piece  22 . A gas channel  25  extends from the connecting head  16  along a part of the shaft  15 , through the housing  20 , into the second end piece  23 . The first end piece  22  is provided with a beverage line connection  26 , the second end piece with a gas line connection  27 . 
     In a use of a tapping head  10  as known from the prior art, the beverage line  7  is connected directly to the beverage line connection  26 , while the gas line  13  is then connected directly to the gas line connection  27 . To this end, the beverage line connection  26  is provided with first coupling means  29  and the beverage line  7  with complementary first, counter coupling means  30 , while the gas line connection  27  is provided with second coupling means  31  and the gas line  13  with second, complementary counter coupling means  32 . The first and second coupling means  29 ,  31  and counter coupling means  30 ,  32  can for instance form screw means, bayonet couplings, rapid couplings or like couplings known per se. As a non-limiting example, couplings  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32  are shown as applied in the tapping head  10  of a type described earlier. In an embodiment, the first and second coupling means  29 ,  31  are designed as internal thread, the first and second counter coupling means  30 ,  32  as complementary external thread. 
     In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , embodiments of connecting parts  33  are shown which may be included between, respectively, the gas line connection  27  and the gas line  13  and/or the beverage line connection  26  and the beverage line  7 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2  the connecting parts  33  are shown in the respective positions. The connecting part can form or comprise an uncouplable part, for instance uncouplable from coupling means  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32  and/or from a gas line, beverage line, gas line connection and/or beverage line connection. A connecting part  33  can comprise a cooling chamber  34 , provided with an entrance  35  and an exit  36 . A connecting part  33  can comprise a channel part  37 , which may extend between a first end  38  and a second end  39 . The first end  38  may be provided with a first counter coupling means  30  and the second end  39  with a corresponding first coupling means  29 , for positioning between the gas line connection  27  and the gas line  13 . The first end  38  may be provided with a second counter coupling means  32  and the second end  39  with a corresponding second coupling means  31 , for positioning between the beverage line connection  26  and the beverage line  7 . In an embodiment, the first and second coupling means  29 ,  31  may be compatible, while the first and second counter coupling means  30 ,  32  may likewise be compatible. In an embodiment, the first coupling means  29  may be substantially equal to the second coupling means  31 , while the first counter coupling means  30  may be equal to the second counter coupling means  32 . The connecting parts  33  may be universally applicable. In another embodiment, the coupling means  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32  may be so designed that there is a connecting part  33  for the gas line and one for the beverage line, which connecting parts  33  are not interchangeable. In another embodiment, there may be just a connecting part for the beverage line or for the gas line. In another embodiment, the respective line  7 ,  13  may be mounted on a coupling piece (not shown) which is provided with the respective counter coupling means  30 ,  32  and, for instance, is clamped tight in an end of the line  7 ,  13 . 
     The coupling means  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32  and possibly the standard coupling means provided on a beverage or gas line are preferably mutually couplable in different combinations and form first, second, and third coupling means. 
     The or each connecting part  33  comprises a cooling chamber  34  which extends along or around the channel part  37  and preferably is substantially ring-shaped. The entrance  35  and exit  36  may then be provided on opposite sides of the channel part  37 , for instance in an end face  40  of the connecting part  33 . The entrance  35  and exit  36  can for instance comprise a pipe section  41 ,  42  having a longitudinal axis L which is approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis L k  of the respective channel part  37  adjacent the cooling chamber  34 . A supply part  8 A of the cooling line  8  may be connected to the entrance  35 , a discharge part  8 B to the discharge  36 , such that the cooling line  8  forms a circuit closed upon itself, of which the cooling chamber  34  or different cooling chambers  34  form a part. In the circuit mentioned, a pump may be included for pumping round a cooling medium. In an embodiment, the coolant may be water. In another embodiment, the cooling medium may be or comprise glycol or a like antifreeze or freezing temperature-lowering fluid. The cooling chamber  34  of a connecting part  33  can be thermally coupled with the housing of the tapping head  10 , through coupling of the relevant coupling means. In an alternative embodiment, the connecting part  33  may be integrated with the housing and be in thermal contact therewith. The or each connecting part  33  may at least partly be manufactured from metal. 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a connecting part  33  is shown, comprising a base part  43 , a locking plate  44 , as for instance shown in  FIG. 5 , and a lock nut  45  with which the locking plate  44  is clamped against the base part  43 . The pipe sections  41 ,  42  may be mounted in the locking plate  44 , in openings  46 ,  47 , for instance by clamping, welding, gluing, screwing, or be integrated therewith. Provided between the openings  46 ,  47  is a third opening  48 , through which the channel part  37  can extend. A packing or like sealing may be provided between the locking plate  44  and the base part  43 . In the base part  43  the cooling chamber  34  has been left open as an annular recess, which is closed off by the locking plate  44 . In the embodiments shown, the base part  43  is provided with external thread  49 , while the lock nut  45  is provided with complementary internal thread  50 . By screwing the lock nut  45  onto the base part, the locking plate  44  is clamped tight and the cooling chamber  34  is sealed. The base part  43  is provided with the first end  38  with the first counter coupling means  30  or second counter coupling means  32 , being screw thread in the embodiments shown. The second end  39  of the channel part  37  is provided with a profiling, such that a line  7 ,  13 , such as for instance a plastic hose, can be clamped onto it and optionally may be secured with the aid of a clamp or other clamping means. The pipe sections  41 ,  42  may be comparably designed for coupling with a supply line  8 A and discharge line  8 B. In  FIG. 3  the channel part  37  is substantially straight, in the embodiment of  FIG. 4  the channel part is partly bent. 
     In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , both the beverage line connection and the gas line connection are provided with a connecting part  33 . As indicated, also just one of these connections may be provided with a connecting part  33 . Also, multiple connecting parts may be mutually coupled at one or more of the connections. 
     In  FIG. 1  the exit  36  of one cooling chamber  34  is coupled with the entrance  35  of the other cooling chamber  34 , so that they are included in series in the cooling circuit. However, they may also be coupled in parallel. Cooling medium that has been cooled in the cooling device  5  during use flows around the channel part  37  in the connecting part  33 , and takes care of cooling of the connecting part  33 . Through thermal contact between the respective connecting part  33  and the housing  20  of the tapping head  10 , the tapping head is cooled. When the tapping head  10  is coupled with the container  2 , in an embodiment, moreover, at least a part of the container  2  may be cooled. Beverage flowing through the tapping head  10  is thereby cooled. This has a positive effect on the quality of the beverage. Moreover, bacterial growth in and around the tapping head  10  is prevented or at least inhibited. In an advantageous embodiment, the tapping head  10  is largely surrounded by an insulating jacket  50 , in  FIG. 1  schematically represented in broken lines. The jacket  50  may for instance be formed from, or comprise, a foam body, for instance manufactured from polystyrene or mineral wool or other thermally insulating material, and may for instance have an average thickness of between 2 and 15 cm, more particularly between 3 and 10 cm. In an embodiment, the total thickness of the insulation jacket  50  may for instance be approximately 9 cm. Suitable materials and dimensions may naturally be simply chosen by a skilled person, depending for instance, but not exclusively, on the desired temperature of the tapping head, the cooling power of the cooling medium, the desired beverage temperature and other factors. The insulation jacket  50 , which insulates at least thermally, provides the advantage that influences, in particular temperature influences from outside, are limited, so that the temperature of the tapping head  10  can relatively easily be kept low, for instance below 10 degrees Centigrade, more particularly below for instance approximately 8 degrees, more particularly below approximately 6 degrees. Where required, the temperature may even be adjusted to and held below approximately 4 degrees Centigrade with the aid of the cooling medium. At least the connecting head is substantially free of the insulation jacket  50 . Moreover, the handle may be operated from outside the insulation jacket. In an alternative embodiment, the operating device for the shaft, instead of being remotely operable by a handle, may for instance be electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic. 
     The connecting parts  33  as shown in the figures are shown for illustration only. They may be built up and designed in many other ways. For instance, the cooling chamber  34  may have a different shape than a circular shape, the base part and the lock nut together can form the cooling chamber and the entrance and/or exit may be arranged at different positions with respect to the channel part  37 . The volume of the cooling chamber(s)  34  or the joint cooling chambers  34  may be at least approximately 50% of the volume of the beverage channel in the tapping head  10 . In an embodiment, this volume can be at least about 75% of the volume of the beverage channel in the tapping head, more particularly at least 100% thereof. 
     A tapping head  10  according to the invention may for instance be set up as follows. 
     An existing tapping head  10  may be uncoupled from a gas line  13  and/or a beverage line  7 . Thereupon, a connecting part  33  can be arranged in the exposed gas line connection and/or beverage line connection, by mounting the first end  38  therein. Next, the gas line  13  and/or beverage line  7  can be coupled with the respective second ends  38 . Moreover, the or each cooling line  8 ,  8 A,  8 B may be coupled with respective entrances and exits of the cooling chamber(s)  34  for forming the cooling circuit. An advantage of such a use of the invention may be that existing tapping heads  10  can be provided simply and relatively inexpensively with cooling means, while for cooling the cooling medium used for cooling, moreover, where desirable, use can be made of existing cooling means  5 . Incidentally, also, tapping heads  10  may be directly provided with a connecting part and/or cooling chamber in for instance a part of the housing, as long as there is thermal contact between the cooling chamber and at least one of a beverage channel and a gas channel in the tapping head and/or a connecting head of the tapping head. 
     With a device according to this description, beverage can be tapped from a container, while the beverage in the container does not need to be cooled, or only slightly so, and yet can be dispensed in a cooled state. Moreover, the hygiene and the quality of the beverage can be preserved. Especially with beverage containing for instance natural ingredients such as yeast, hops or the like, such as beer, to date the beverage was cooled in the container. Which may be cumbersome, for instance because of the cooling volume, capacity and energy consumption. Those disadvantages can now be reduced or eliminated. 
     The invention is not in any way limited to the embodiments shown and described in the description and drawings. Many variations thereon are possible within the framework of the invention outlined by the claims. For instance, multiple casks or other containers may be connected to a tapping device  1  according to the invention, other cooling means may be used and other types of containers, such as for instance cellar beer containers, BIC or BIB type containers or other types of containers, may be used. Also, other types of tapping heads may be used and provided with a connecting part  33  according to the invention. Furthermore, other types of beverage may be tapped with a tapping device according to the invention.