US3470891A - Apparatus for washing beer kegs or like containers - Google Patents

Description

M. RUDDICK Oct. 7, 1969 APPARATUS FOR WASHING BEER KEGS 0R LIKE CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 2. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l Invenlor M U KE' Run \ck y Uld'lwu Attorney;

d-Aum Oct. 7, 1969 M. RUDDICK 3,470,891

APPARATUS FOR WASHING BEER KEGS 0R LIKE CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenlor Mmmc: Runmr-K llorneys United States Patent 3,470,891 APPARATUS FOR WASHING BEER KEGS 0R LIKE CONTAINERS Maurice Ruddick, Kent, England, 'assignor to Burnett & Rolfe Limited, Strood, Rochester, Kent, England, a British company Filed Feb. 2, 1968, Ser. No. 702,726 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 7, 1967,

Int. Cl. B08b 3/10, 9/00; B67d 5/32 US. Cl. 13457 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic washing machine for washing beer kegs or like containers of the kind which has ahead for connection to a bung hole of the container with two ducts extending through it, one for the supply of washing liquid to the container under the control of a shut-01f valve and the other for the drainage of the washing liquid from the container, is provided with a timing device and a measuring device, which measures the quantity of Washing liquid supplied to the container, together with a device which produces a signal if the rate of supply of the washing liquid as determined by the timing and measuring device is less than a predetermined minimum.

This invention relates to automatic washing machines for washing metal beer kegs or like containers which are now generally used for holding beer and other potable liquids. v

The usual form of machine for this purpose has a head for connection to a bung hole or like opening in the container with two ducts extending through it. One duct is for the supply of washing liquid to the container and is provided with a shut-off valve which controls the flow of washing liquid and the other duct is for the drainage of washing liquid from the container. The head is applied to the bung hole or other opening of the container, usually with the container in an inverted position with the opening downwards and the washing cycle then takes place. This cycle includes a number of periods of supply of washing liquid to the container separated by periods in which the liquid previously supplied is drained out. The drainage of the liquid through the drainage'duct is brought about by the supply of air or steam under pressure through the head. The air or steam may be supplied through the same duct as the washing liquid or through a separate, third duct provided through the head.

In previous automatic washing machines for washing such containers, the volume of washing liquid supplied through the head has been controlled by only pressure and time. The washing liquid is supplied at a pre-determined pressure and the shut-01f valve controlling the supply through the head has been opened for a pre-determined time. Usually the washing liquid is supplied through a spear which extends from the opening of the container upwards towards the bottom of the container. This spear or possibly even the washing liquid supply duct through the head may be obstructed and in consequence the time for which the washing liquid is supplied gives no indication of the volume of liquid supplied, because, owing to the obstruction, the rate of flow consequent upon the predetermined pressure may be very small and no proper washing therefore takes place. Equally, however, it is not satisfactory merely to measure the volume of washing liquid supplied because if the rate of flow is too small there will be' no satisfactory washing action.

' According to this invention an automatic washing machine for washing beer kegs or like containers having a 3,470,891 Patented Oct. 7, 1969 head for connection to a bung hole or like opening in the container with two ducts extending through the head, one for the supply of Washing liquid to the container under the control of a shut-off valve and the other for the drainage of washing liquid from the container is provided with a timing device and a measuring device, which measures the quantity of washing liquid supplied to the container together with a device which produces a signal if the rate of supply of washing liquid as determined by the timing and measuring devices is less than a pre-determincd minimum.

The preferred arrangement is that the timing device is set in operation as the shut-off valve is opened to admit washing liquid and the timing device causes the signal to be produced if more than a pre-determined time interval elapses for the flow of a pre-determined quantity of liquid measured by the measuring device. Alternatively, however, the timing device may be arranged to open the valve for a pre-determined time interval and the signal is produced if less than the pre-determined quantity of liquid has flowed into the container during this time interval.

The signal may be an alarm signal or give some other indication to an operator of the machine that the machine is not functioning satisfactorily, or alternatively, the signal may operate a control which automatically shuts down the machine to enable the trouble to be investigated. The arrangement thus ensures that not only has a pre-determined volume of washing liquid been supplied to the container in any cycle of operation, but also that the flow has been at a suflicient rate to give a satisfactory washing action.

The measuring device may be a conventional form of flow meter fitted with a timing device arranged to produce a signal if the time required for the flow through of the pre-determined volume of liquid is too great, but such flow meters are expensive and unnecessarily elaborate because an exact measure of the volume of washing liquid as it flows is unnecessary.

A simple and inexpensive device which will perform the necessary function comprises, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, a tank for the washing liquid carried on a spring mounting so that it moves upwards and downwards in dependence upon the weight of washing liquid in it, the tank having a washing liquid inlet provided with a shut-off valve and an outlet leading to the shut-ofi valve controlling the liquid supply through the head, an air pressure connection for the supply to the tank of air under pressure to force out washing liquid through the head, the air pressure connection having a valve for allowing the supply of air to the tank or venting the tank and a control device which is sensitive to the upward and downward movement of the tank and is conne'cted to the timing device to cause the signal to be produced if the upward movement of the tank corresponding to the removal from it of the pre-determined quantity of liquid takes longer than the pre-determined time interval.

The various valves, that is the shut-off valve controlling the flow of washing liquid through the head, the shut-off valve in the washing liquid inlet to the tank and the valve in the air connection to the tank may all be pneumatically ope-rated and in this case the means sensitive to the movement of the tank is also pneumatic. Preferably, though, the air supply to the three valves to open and close them is controlled indirectly by electrically-operated valves which are in turn controlled by the means sensitive to the movement of the tank. The means sensitive to the movement of the tank then comprises two sticthes operated by a member which moves with the tank. One switch is operated when the tank is empty, or substantially so, and is thus at the top of its movement and the other switch is operated by the downward movement to the tank brought about by the supply to it of the pre-determined quantity of washing liquid.

The electrically-operated valves are preferably actuated by a sequence controller which is in turn controlled in part by the two switches. The sequence controller then brings about a cycle of operations in which first the shutoff valve in the washing liquid inlet to the tank is opened and the tank is vented to atmosphere through the valve in the air pressure connection so that washing liquid flows into the tank until the predetermined quantity is reached whereupon the second switch is operated and causes the controller to close the inlet valve; the valve in the air pressure connection subsequently being operated to connected the tank to the supply of air under pressure and the shut-off valve controlling the supply of liquid through the head is opened and the timing device is started.

An example of an automatic washing machine constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a circuit diagram showing the washing head with the washing liquid supply and drainage pipes connected to it, a measuring tank for the washing liquid together with the pneumatic and electrical circuits for controlling the various valves in the machine; and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation to a larger scale of the measuring tank together with its liquid supply and delivery connection and air supply connection.

In FIGURE 1, liquid supply and drainage pipes are shown in double lines, pneumatic connections are shown in chain-doted lines and electrical connections in single full lines.

The machine includes a washing head 1, which is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 1 applied to a hung hole 2 of a metal beer keg 3. The head 1 has a washing liquid supply duct 4 and a drainage duct 5 extending through it. The duct 4 is connected at its inlet end to a washing liquid supply pipe 6 and it leads to a projecting spigot 7 which, when the head 1 is applied to the bung hole 2, engages with a spear 8 within the keg 3. The drainage duct 5 is connected to a drainage pipe 9.

The washing liquid supply pipe 6 leads through a pneumatically operated shut-off valve 10 to a pipe 11 the upper part of which is flexible and is connected to a liquid measuring tank 12. A source of washing liquid 13 is connected through a pipe 14 and a pneumatically operated shut-off valve 15 to the pipe 11 through which it also communicates with the tank 12.

As is shown in detail in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the tank 12 has a mounting bracket 16 at its righthand side and this bracket is connected through a horizontal pivot pin 17 to a further bracket 18 which is fixed to a stationary support frame 19. The tank 12 is further supported towards its lefthand side by a coiled compression spring 20 the lower end of which is located on a spigot 21 which is fixed on the frame 19 and the upper end of which is located by a further spigot 22 and acts on a plate 23 fixed to the tank 12.

A continuation of the plate 23 forms an arm 24 which projects between a lower microswitch 25 and an upper microswitch 26. The microswitches 25 and 26 are both fixed to an upright plate 27 by bolts which pass through slots in the plate and by loosening the bolts, the microswitches 25 and 26 can be adjusted in position upwards and downwards.

In the centre of the bottom of the tank 12 is a spigot 28 to which the pipe 11, which is a flexible hose pipe, is fixed by a clip 29. The lower end of the hose pipe 11 leads through a length of rigid piping to the valve 10 which has a union 30 to which the pipe 6 (which is not sown in FIG- URE 2) is fixed. The pipe 14 is connected to the length of rigid pipe at the bottom of the pipe 11 and leads to the valve 15 which has a union 31 which is connected to the detergent supply header 13, which is not shown in solenoid-operated valve 39 with a pipe 40 which also com municates with the air supply 37 through the pipe 36. The solenoid-operated valve 39 is electrically connected through a lead 41 to a sequence controller 42 which incorporates a timing device. The sequence controller and timer 42 consists of conventional solid-state electronic circuits with an electrically operated timer, but instead it may equally well consist of control circuits with electro-mechanical relays and an electrical timer or it may consist of a conventional mechanical sequence controller driven by an electric motor.

The valves 10 and 15, which are also pneumatically operated, are indirectly controlled by the sequence controller 42 in just the same way as the valve 34. Thus the valve 10 is connected by a pneumatic pipe 43 through a solenoid-operated valve 44 and a pipe 45 to the air supply 37. The solenoid-operated valve 44 is connected to the controller 42 by an electric lead 46. When the valve 44 is energized by the controller 42, it is opened and air is supplied under pressure from the supply 37 to the valve 10 to open the valve. Similarly, the valve 15 is connected through an air supply pipe 47 to a solenoidoperated valve 48 which is in turn connected by a pipe 49 to the pipe 45 which leads to the air supply 37 and by an electric lead 50 to the controller 42.

The microswitches 25 and 26 are also connected, by leads 51 and 52 respectively, to the sequence controller 42 and the timer which it incorporates. Finally the sequence controller is connected through an electrical lead 53 to an alarm signal 54.

When a keg, such as the keg 3, which is to be washed has been connected to the head 1 as shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the sequence controller 42 with its timer together with the measuring tank 12 and the switches 25 and 26 which are actuated by movement of the tank 12 operate together in the following manner:

Initially the tank 12 is empty and the solenoid valves 39, 44 and 48 are denergized and closed. Closure of the valve 39 shuts off air to the pipe 38 and the valve 34 is thus in such a position that the tank 12 communicates with the atmosphere through the pipes 33 and 35. The valves 44 and 48 shut off the supply of air to the valves 10 and 15 respectively so that these are held closed. With the tank 12 empty, it is pushed upwards by the spring 20 about the pivot 17 and this holds the switch 26 closed.

The sequence controller 42 then energizes the valve 48 which opens and allows air under pressure to be supplied to the valve 15 so that this is in turn opened. Washing liquid then flows from the supply 13 through the pipe 14, the valve 15 and the pipe 11 into the tank 12. The tank 12 continues to fill until a pre-determined quantity of liquid has entered it and this quantity is just sufiicient to compress the spring 20 to such an extent that the arm 24 closes the switch 25. The closure of the switch 25 causes the controller 42 to de-energize the solenoid-operated valve 48 and this closes the valve 15.

Subsequently the controller 42 energizes the solenoidoperated valve 39 so that this valve is opened and air is supplied to the valve 34 through the pipe 38. This changes over the valve 34 so that the tank 12, instead taneously, or immediately afterwards, the solenoidoperated valve 44 is energized and this causes air to be supplied to the valve so that this valve is opened. The air under pressure in the tank 12 thus forces the washing liquid through the pipe 11 and thence through the pipe 6 and the duct 4 into the spear 8 from where it issues into the keg 3.

At the same instant as the solenoid-operated valve 44 is energized to open the valve 10 and start the flow of washing liquid from the tank 12, the electrically driven timer incorporated in the controller 42 is started and it operates for a pre-determined time interval.

As soon as the pre-deterrnined quantity of washing liquid has been expelled from the tank 12, the tank is moved upwards by the spring 20 sufiiciently far to cause the arm 24 to close the switch 26. Provided that this happens whilst the timer is still operating, that is provided that it happens within the pre-determined time interval, the sequence controller de-energises the valve 44 so that the valve 10 is closed and it de-energises the valve 39 and causes the valve 34 to vent the tank 12 to atmosphere once again through the pipe 35. The whole system is thus returned to its initial state ready for a subsequent cycle of operations.

However, if the timer comes to the end of its predetermined time interval before the switch 26 is closed owing to some washing liquid remaining in the tank 12, the circuits within the sequence controller 42 cause the alarm 54 to operate and the machine operator closes down the machine since this is an indication that there is a blockage in the washing liquid supply to the keg 3 and this is then cleared.

I claim:

1. In an automatic washing machine for washing beer kegs and like containers, said machine comprising a head for connection to an opening in the container, means defining two ducts through said head, one for the supply of washing liquid to said container and the other for the drainage of washing liquid from said container and a shut-off valve controlling the flow of liquid through said liquid supply duct, the improvement comprising a timing device operatively connected to measure the opening time of said shut-ofi valve, a measuring device operatively connected to measure the quantity of water supplied through said head to said container and a device operatively connected to said timing device and said measuring device to produce a signal if the rate of supply of Washing liquid as determined by said timing and measuring devices is less than a pre-determined minimum.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for opening said shut-01f valve and means for setting said timing device in operation as said shut-ofl? valve is opened, said timing device causing said signal to be produced if more than a pre-determined time interval elapses after the opening of said valve for the flow of a pre-determined quantity of liquid measured by said measuring device.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said measuring device comprises a tank, spring means mounting said tank for upward movement in dependence upon the weight of washing liquid in said tank, means defining a washing liquid inlet to said tank, a shut-01f valve in said inlet, outlet means extending from said tank to said shutolf valve controlling the supply of liquid to said inlet duct in said head, an air pressure connection for the supply to said tank of air under pressure to force out washing liquid through said outlet means and through said duct in said head, valve means in said air pressure connection, said valve means being operable to permit the supply of air tosaid tank or to vent said tank to atmosphere, a control device which is sensitive to said upward and downward movement of said tank and means connecting said control device with said timing device to cause said signal to be produced it upward movement of said tank corresponding to the removal from said tank of said predetermined quantity of liquid takes longer than said predetermined time interval.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, further comprising pneumatic means operating said shut-off valves and electrically-operated valve means controlling said pneumatic means.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means electrically controlling said valve means in said air pressure connection and wherein said control device which is sensitive to said movement of said tank comprises first and second electrical switches and a member connected to said tank for operating said switches in response to upward and downward movement of said tank.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first switch is operated by said member when said tank is empty and is at the top of its movement and said second switch is operated by downward movement of said tank and said member brought about by the supply through said inlet means of said pre-determined quantity of washing liquid.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a sequence controller and means connecting said sequence controller to said electrically operated valve means, said sequence controller being operative to bring about a cycle of operations in which first said shut-off valve in said washing liquid inlet means is opened and said valve means in said air pressure connection vents said tank to atmosphere whereby washing liquid flows into said tank until said pre-determined quantity is reached whereupon said second switch is operated by said member and causes said sequence controller to close said shut-01f valve in said inlet means, said valve means in said air pressure connection subsequently being operated by said controller to connect said tank to said supply of air under pressure and said shut-off valve controlling said supply of liquid through said head is opened and said timing device is started.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means mounting said tank comprises pivot means on one side of said tank and spring means at the opposite side of said tank and said member which operates said switches comprising an arm projecting laterally from said tank at the side of said tank adjacent said spring means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,386 6/1926 Lewis 134-166 2,565,150 8/1951 Stageberg 134-57 XR. 2,694,402 11/1954 Phillips et a1. 134-113 XR 3,018,922 1/1962 Williamson 222- XR 3,252,623 5/1966 Corbin et al 222-70 XR DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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