US 6,672,484 B2 · Integrated heat exchanger and liquid dispensing unit

Abstract

An integrated heat exchanger and liquid dispensing unit 10 for flash cooling beer includes a main body 12 provided with an internal flow path 14 having an inlet 16, an outlet 18, and a void 20 in fluid communication therebetween. The void 20 is formed from four cylindrical chambers 22a-22d that are interlinked so as to be in mutual fluid communication with each other. Chambers 22 are formed in a thermal insulating block 26 held within the main body 12. Conduits 30c-30d are disposed within chambers 22a-22d respectively. Each conduit has an inlet 32 and an outlet 34. The outlet 34 is connected directly to a dispensing tap 36. The heat transfer fluid 45 passes through the fluid flow path 14 and thus flows through and about the conduits 30. Beer enters through inlet 32, passes through the conduit 30 and is dispensed through tap 36. The beer is cooled by virtue of a heat exchange with the fluid 45 flowing through the chambers 22.

Claims42

Dependent claims

An integrated heat exchanger and liquid dispensing unit for the flash cooling or heating and dispensing of a liquid, said unit including at least:

a main body including a block of thermal insulating material, the main body having an internal fluid flow path having an inlet, an outlet and a void disposed in fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet said void being formed in said block;
a conduit, at least a length of which is disposed in said void, said conduit having an inlet to admit a liquid into said conduit and an outlet at an end of said length to expel the liquid;
and,
a dispensing valve coupled to said outlet of said conduit and supported on said main body for dispensing said liquid;
said fluid flow path is adapted to flow a heat transfer fluid in direct contact with said length of said conduit to effect heat transfer between said heat transfer fluid and a liquid passing through said conduit, changing the temperature of said liquid while said liquid is dispensed directly from the main body via the dispensing valve.

2 more elements

An integrated heat exchanger and liquid dispensing unit for flash cooling or heating and dispensing of a liquid, said unit including at least:

a main body including a block of thermal insulating material, the main body having an internal fluid flow path having an inlet, an outlet and a void disposed in fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet, said void being formed in said block;
a conduit, at least a length of which is disposed in said void, said conduit having an inlet to admit a liquid into said conduit and an outlet at an end of said length to expel the liquid;
a dispensing valve coupled to said outlet of said conduit and supported on said main body for dispensing said liquid;
said fluid flow path is adapted to directly pass a heat transfer fluid in direct contact with said length of said conduit to effect heat transfer between said heat transfer fluid and a liquid passing through said conduit, changing the temperature of said liquid while said liquid is dispensed directly from the main body via the dispensing valve;
and
wherein said void includes a plurality of chambers, said chambers being in mutual fluid communication with each other so that said heat transfer fluid admitted through the inlet of the fluid flow path must flow through all of said chambers to exit through the outlet of said fluid flow path and said conduit is one of a plurality of separate conduits, each conduit having a length disposed in a corresponding chamber.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated heat exchanger and liquid dispensing unit

Life of this patent

Integrated heat exchanger and liquid dispensing unit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42