Patent Abstract:
An underground beverage chase system is provided for receiving a plurality of tubing installed therethrough for delivering food and beverage material from at least one location to at least another location through the underground chase system. The chase system includes various conduits including straight portions and those having enlarged radial bends which are fused together to form a leak-free system. The conduits are made from a high density polyethylene (HDPE) material.

Full Description:
[0001]    The subject application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application S. No. 60/289,607 filed on May 8, 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Presently, underground beverage conduit systems are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe. These pipes extend from one location such as a refrigerated storage area, to a second location such as a drink dispensing counter. Polyvinyl chloride pipe has been found to be unsuitable in these applications because it is subject to cracking under stress which can allow water to seep into the conduit potentially contaminating the beverage chase way. This type of failure requires expensive replacement necessitating closing down the establishment to remove the underground piping from beneath the floor of the building for replacement.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    It would be desirable to provide an underground beverage chase system that would eliminate the problems associated with polyvinyl chloride pipe. The present invention provides a chase system for receiving a plurality of conduits installed therethrough for delivering material from at least one location through the underground chase system to at least one second location. The beverage chase system according to the present invention includes various fittings having enlarged radial bends to permit easier installation of preassembled tubing bundles. Preassembled tubing bundles can have limited flexibility and are easier to install through large radial elbows or the like. The leak proof underground alternative to PVC according to the present invention is made from a high density polyethylene (HDPE) material. A fusion bonding process is used to connect the various fittings to one another. A sump can optionally be provided connected to the underground portion of the pipe to allow for evacuation of any accumulated fluids.  
           [0004]    Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic view of an underground beverage chase system according to the present invention; and  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a fusion coupling over adjacent conduit ends; and  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conduit having a fusion coupling thereon. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0009]    Presently the food and beverage industry has used specialized transmission tubing and piping for the distribution of food and beverages for human consumption. The special transmission lines transfer food stuff from a bulk storage/backroom area to a point of sale or use location. Typical transmission lines extend for approximately 10 feet to approximately 4,500 feet. The transmission tubes and piping are typically installed in a conduit or chase way as containment for the distribution system. In many applications, the containment chase way or conduit for the tubes and piping is installed underground by direct burial under a concrete building slab. The most frequently used materials for the conduit or chase way has been polyvinyl chloride pipe in sizes generally ranging from 2 inches to 8 inches in diameter. The primary problem associated with using PVC pipe for these applications in the food and beverage industry is that the PVC product as a result of its composition is brittle and prone to crack and fissure under stress. The stress applied to cause this failure is generally caused from ground shifting, soil conditions, building settling, or improper installation and back fill, or thermal expansion and contraction of the PVC pipe. Once the PVC pipe has failed, it will frequently collect ground water or seepage from under a bar or keg cooler or kitchen area. The ground water or seepage will, in a short time according to beverage experts, permeate the transmission lines and will sour and/or spoil the product being transferred from storage areas to the point of sale or use.  
         [0010]    The present invention provides high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe as a chase way or conduit  10  for underground/burial applications. More specifically, the present invention uses high density polyethylene conduit  10  for the installation and containment of distribution lines  12  and systems for food and beverage transfer, or for any other consumable product for the food service and beverage industries. The distribution lines  12  and systems may also include coolant lines to accompany the lines carrying the consumable product. The distribution lines  12  are generally referred to as bundles or trunklines which are enclosed in a thick foam insulated tubular member  22 . One or more of the insulated trunklines may be encapsulated or housed within the high density polyethylene conduit  10 .  
         [0011]    The high density polyethylene material conduit  10  is flexible and not subject to cracking, fissures, or failure under strain due to ground shifting, soil conditions, building settling, or improper installation and backfill, or thermal expansion and contraction, even when fixed in placed at both ends. The high density polyethylene conduit  10  when used as a buried system, by virtue of the continuous contact with the backfill material  14  and the reduction in temperature fluctuation, needs no special consideration with respect to thermal expansion and contraction. High density polyethylene piping has been deemed safe for potable water, and, therefore, is safe for applications in the food service and beverage industries. The high density polyethylene lines  10  provide a conduit or chase way for use in the distribution of beverages from a central storage location  18  to the point of sale or use, such as a dispensing unit. The high density polyethylene conduit  10  is installed underground by direct burial, beneath the concrete slab  16  of the building or buildings, or between buildings to house the central storage location  18  and/or the point of sale or use  20 . The high density polyethylene conduit  10  will provide a system resilient under stress and alleviate the problems previously associated with PVC piping thereby eliminating ground water contamination, seepage and other problems and failures associated with polyvinyl chloride piping. The underground chase way according to the present invention can be used for the distribution of beverages, ice, or any other food stuffs.  
         [0012]    The conduit that comprises the high-density polyethylene chase way may include both straight sections  30  and enlarged, radial bend sections  32 . Both sections of conduit will generally range from 2 inches to 8 inches in diameter, although other diameter conduits could be available. The enlarged bend sections will form a 90° bend in 24 inch, 30 inch, 36 inch or 48 inch radii as standard sizes, although other sizes are available. The enlarged radial bend sections  32  of the conduit  10  allow for the easy routing and enclosing of the dispensing lines  12  for the beverage and food service industries. The inside surfaces  34  of the conduits  10 , whether a straight section  30  or enlarged, radial curved section  32 , have smooth interiors  34  so that the beverage distribution trunklines enclosed within the insulating tubing  22  can be conveyed through the conduits  10  without causing damage to the trunkline or individual lines  12 .  
         [0013]    The individual sections of the conduits  10  are connected with fusion couplings  40 . A fusion coupling  40  is placed over one end section  36  of a conduit  10  so that when another conduit  10  is abutted next to the first conduit, the fusion coupling  40  can be placed directly over each adjacent end section  36 . The fusion coupling  40  is constructed with resistance wiring  42  located along portions of the inner surface of the fusion coupling  40 . When a DC current is placed in contact with the fusion coupling  40 , the resistance wiring  42  causes the melting of the fusion coupling  40  into the high-density polyethylene conduit  10  to fuse the coupling  40  in a sealing formation to the high-density polyethylene conduit  10 .  
         [0014]    Because condensation of the beverage lines, as well as a potential rupture of one of the beverage lines  12 , can cause liquid to accumulate within the chase way or conduit  10 , it is preferred to having a pump system including a drain or sump  44  at a lower section of the chase way  1 . The drain or sump  44  will communicate via a conduit line  46  to a pump  48 . The pump  48  can be activated by a pressure switch  50  or other conventional means to siphon the liquid accumulating in the sump  44  from the chase system  1  through the conduit  46  and then into a sewage conduit or drain  52  which also communicates with the pump  48 .  
         [0015]    In the event that a distribution or beverage line  12  within the chase way  1  or conduit  10  ruptures, it has been difficult, if not nearly impossible, to flush or clean the underground, below grade, chase ways  1  or conduits. The high density polyethylene conduit  10 , according to the present invention can optionally include a flushing system and clean out system along with the pump out drain system. The chase way  1  can be flushed by connecting a fresh water source  54  to the fitting  56  at either or both ends of the chase way  1  and initiating the pump system. The pump  48  will remove the waste water or spilled fluids to the sewage line  52 . This system can also be fitted with a device  58  to introduce a cleaning agent appropriate to the material being flushed from the system and the distribution or beverage lines.  
         [0016]    Materials used for the manufacture of the HDPE pipe and fittings for use in the present invention have the following physical properties:  
                                                   TEST   NOMINAL       PROPERTY   UNIT   METHOD (1)     VALUE (2)                     Material designation   —   PPI/ASTM   PE3408       Cell classification   —   D3350   345464C       Density   gm/cc   D1505   0.957       Flow rate   gm/10 min.   D1238   8.5               (190/21.6)       Flexural modulus   psi   D790   136,000       Tensile strength @ yield   psi   D638   3,500       ESCR   Failure %/hrs.   D1693   F 0  &gt; 10,000       ESCR compressed ring   Failures %/hrs.   F1248   F 0  &gt; 10,000       Carbon Black (UV Protec-   %   D1603   2-2.5       tion)       Elastic modulus   psi   D638   125,000       Brittleness temperature   ° F.   D746   &lt;−180       Melting point   ° F.   D789   261       Vicat softening temperature   ° F.   D1525   255       Hardness   Shore D   D2240   64       Thermal expansion   in/in/° F.   D696   1.1 × 10 −4         Volume resistivity   ohm-cm   D991   2.6 × 10 16         HDB @ 73.4° F.   psi   D2837   1600       Molecular weight category           Extra high       Molecular weight average       GPC   330,000                                  
 
         [0017]    While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law. Other conventional components may be used to complete the chase way, and especially where the chase way extends aboveground. The conventional components may include the end caps  60  at the termination points of the high density polyethylene lines  10 , as well as the fittings  56  to the fresh water source  54  and cleaning agent source.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1