GB2148862A - Vessel cleaning - Google Patents

Abstract

The interior surfaces of beer kegs are cleaned ultrasonically with the spiers in the kegs. Cleaning liquid is forced into the keg through one path in the spier with another path either open to atmosphere with the keg upright or open to ambient with the keg inverted in which case ambient may be cleaning liquid in a tank. Apparatus delivers kegs 10 to an arrester where the keg is filled with cleaning fluid, moved sideways to a platform above an annular tank 50 containing ultrasonic generators and filled with cleaning liquid, lowered into the tank, indexed round the tank using crank 56 and index wheel 59, removed from the tank, and emptied. Apparatus in which upright kegs are moved in a line and moved sequentially sideways to cleaning stations is also described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vessel cleaning This invention relates to vessel cleaning and it is primarily concerned with the ultra-sonic cleaning of the inside surfaces of beer kegs.

A beer keg typically comprises a pressure vessel having a top aperture into which is secured a service spier. The upper end of the spier is of coaxial form so as to provide inner and outer flow paths. Below the coaxial upper end, the spier extends downwardly as a pipe to very near the bottom of the keg. The upper end of the spier has a valve member which closes both inner and outer flow paths. The valve member is automatically opened when a suitable adaptor is fitted so that gas pressure can be supplied above the surface of beer in the keg via the outer flow path and so that beer can leave the keg via the inner flow path.

The recent known art in the field of keg cleaning is displayed in British specifications 2107685 and 2110196. The common element of this art is the substitution of the service spier with a venting spike which is inserted through the aperture of the keg with the keg inverted. This spike serves to evacuate the keg and allow entry of cleaning fluid, and subsequently, after cleaning, to expel the cleaning fluid. This involves removal of the service spier which, if removed carelessly before the keg is fully depressurised, can be dangerous.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a beer keg is ultrasonically cleaned with the introduction and removal of cleaning fluid by making a connection for said fluid to one flow path of the spierwhilst allowing the other flow path to remain open to ambient.

In a preferred way of carrying the invention into effect the connection is made to the inner path with the keg inverted and ambient, is that provided by cleaning liquid in a receptacle or container e.g. a tank.

In an alternative way of carrying the invention into effect cleaning liquid is pumped into the inner path with the keg not inverted and the outer path is open to atmosphere.

In one form only part of the keg is inverted in liquid, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the liquid exterior to the keg.

The method may comprise moving successive kegs in a path of movement to spaced locations, moving the kegs laterally sequentially from the locations to ultrasonic cleaning means for cleaning the exterior and/or interior surfaces of the kegs, said sequential movement starting during the feeding.

Each keg may be moved laterally during feeding of the next keg.

The invention also includes a method of cleaning the inside surface of a beer keg in which cleaning fluid is supplied to the interior of the keg through the keg spier, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the keg containing the liquid.

According to another aspect of the invention, apparatus for cleaning the inside surfaces of beer kegs comprises means for delivering kegs with spiers in to a cleaning fluid supply station, means at the supply station for supplying cleaning fluid to the interior of the keg through the spier, means for applying ultrasonic energy to the cleaning fluid in the keg, and means for removing the fluid from the keg.

There may be means for transferring the keg from the supply station to a container for cleaning liquid, and means applying ultrasonic energy to the liquid in the container.

There may be means for moving the keg laterally from the supply station to a spaced location, and means at said spaced location for lowering the keg into the container.

There may be means for indexing the container about an upright axis for moving the keg in the container to a removal location. The apparatus may include means for removing the keg from the container at the removal station, and means for emptying the keg through the spier when removed from the container.

There may be means for delivering an upright keg to a container for cleaning liquid with only a part of the keg in the liquid, means for supplying cleaning fluid to the inside of the keg through the spier, means for supplying ultrasonic energy to the liquid in the container, and means for removing the liquid from the keg.

One form of apparatus has means for moving successive kegs in a path of movement to spaced locations and means for moving the kegs laterally sequentially from the spaced locations to cleaning stations, said sequential movement starting during the feeding.

There may be means for moving each keg laterally during feeding of the next keg.

The invention also includes a method of cleaning hollow vessels comprising moving successive vessels in a path of movement to spaced locations, moving the vessels laterally sequentially from the locations to ultrasonic cleaning means for cleaning the interior and/or exterior surfaces of the vessels, said sequential movement starting during the feeding.

The first vessel may be moved laterally during feeding of the second vessel.

The invention includes apparatus for performing this method.

The invention may be performed in various ways and some specific embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation; Figure 2 is an enlargement of the part on Figure 1 indicated by the circle II; Figure 3 is a plan view of apparatus for cleaning in an automated manner; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation as viewed in the direction of arrow 4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of part of beer keg cleaning apparatus; and Figure 6 is a side view of a keg cleaning station.

In Figure 1 a beer keg 10 (inverted) has a top aperture 11 into which is secured a service spier 12.

The upper (lower as shown) end of the spier is of coaxial form so as to provide inner and outerflow paths 13, 14 respectively. A pipe connection 15 makes a sealing connection 16 with the inner path 13. The outerflow path 14 is temporarily open to ambient air as the sealing connection 16 is made manually. The keg is next lowered into a tank 17 of cleaning fluid 18 until the aperture 11 goes below the surface of the cleaning fluid. At this point a vacuum is applied at pipe 15 so that cleaning fluid enters the keg. The velocity of entry is typically about 150 litres/min and this is adequate to sweep out any residual air or gas from the keg so that all internal surfaces of the keg are wetted. As the keg fills with cleaning fluid the keg loses buoyancy and is allowed to sink as indicated by the dotted outline in Figure 1.

The tank contains ultrasonic generators, which have not been shown, and these are powered when the keg is fully immersed. In this way both the inner and outer surfaces of the keg are cleaned. When the cleaning operation is completed, pipe 15 is pressurised to expel the cleaning fluid. The keg becomes buoyant and can be removed to a rinsing station and the next keg subjected to the cleaning process. In this arrangement it is seen that the outer path 14 is open to an ambient consisting of cleaning fluid.

In Figure 2 the outer path through the spier 12 is by way of a cup 20 having a series of apertures 21. The inner path is via apertures 22 in the blanked-off end of the spier. A sealing valve member 23 seals to flange 24 at the end of the cup 20. The flange 24 is screw-fitted into the aperture 11. The valve member 23 also seals to the closed-off end 1 2a of the spier 12.

A spring 25 drives the sealing member 23 into sealing contact. The sealing is also supplernented by internal pressure in the keg.

An adapter 26 is provided having a neck 27 which presses with sealing engagement on to the sealing member 23.

The adaptor has blades 28, such as being formed as a trilobe, which engage in recesses defined by parts 29 on the aperture 11. When the adapter is pressed and latched at 28/29 the valve member 23 is depressed so that the inner flow path 13 is exposed to the pipe 15 and the outer flow path 14 is exposed to ambient.

The arrangement described above is an elementary manual form. It could be automated. It could be used in conjunction with machinery as described in the above-mentioned specifications.

The invention allows the cleaning of kegs which have irremovable spiers as well as those having removable spiers. No hazards are involved with the cleaning.

Figures 3 and 4show automatic apparatus for effecting the cleaning.

Kegs 10 (represented by circles in Figure 3) to be cleaned are advanced inverted along a track 41 until they reach an escapement 42. The service spiers of the kegs have not been removed. The kegs are stopped at an arrestor 43 and held by the forked arms 44 of a head 45 which is connected with a rodless actuator 46 which can move the kegs in the direction of arrow 47.

A static annular trough 50 is filled with cleaning fluid 51. The trough is contained within a loadcarrying framework 52. A vertical shaft 53 has an upper bearing 54 and a lower bearing 55 in the framework. The shaft has a crank 56 which is connected to the shaft via a sprag clutch 57. The arm 56 has an operating cylinder 58. The shaft carries an indexing wheel 59 which can be engaged with a roller 60 at the end of the rod 61 of a cylinder 62. The shaft has keyed to it six equi-angularly spaced arms 63 (only one being shown) which terminate at a plate 64 having two angularly spaced circular platforms 65, each of which can be raised and lowered by a respective pair of operating cylinders 66. The direction of movement of the shaft 53, arms 63 and platforms 65 is indicated by the arrow 67.The cylinders 66 are serviced by an inlet line 68 via a static/rotary coupling 69. A pipe 70 (Figure 2) terminating at a known Burnette & Rolfe spier coupling 71 is provided to fill the keg 10 with cleaning fluid when stopped at the arrestor 43.

The trough 50 has immersed ultrasonic heads (not shown). A second rodless actuator 72 is provided at the keg discharge zone to move kegs as indicated by arrow 76. At this zone there is also provided a second Burnette & Rolfe coupling 73 and a reciprocating hook 74 which can engage below the kegs and move them onto a track 75.

In operation, the kegs pass through the escapement 42 and arrive at the arrestor 43 where they are filled with cleaning fluid. They are then moved by the actuator 46 to platforms 65 and the cylinders 66 are powered to lower the kegs on their platforms into the trough 50 of cleaning fluid. The roller 60 is retracted from the indexing wheel 59 and the cylinder 68 is powered repeatedly to advance the kegs round the trough. The roller 60 re-engages in the successive next index points on the wheel 59.

When the trough has been filled with kegs the keg 1 OA which has moved the full length of the trough can now be removed to above the coupling 73 where it is emptied of cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid passes back into the trough. At the same time the next keg (lOB) for cleaning can be filled with cleaning fluid and advanced to the trough and so on until all the kegs are cleaned.

A rinsing station can be associated with the apparatus or rinsing can be performed at a remote station.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 5,6 kegs 10 for cleaning are fed in succession in the direction of arrow A to waiting stations WI, W2 --------- W16 on a support 80. When a keg is present on each of the waiting stations, the kegs are transferred simultaneously by lifting apparatus shown at 81 to cleaning stations C1 to C16. Each cleaning station comprises a tray 82 containing liquid 84, the bottom ends of the kegs being held in the liquid clear of the floor 85 of the tray 82 so that only a part of the keg is immersed. Cleaning fluid is then forced into the keg through the spier 86 through a coupling to fill the keg. Ultrasonic generators indicated at 87 in the tank liquid are then energized and the interior surface of the keg is cleaned. Gas under pressure is then supplied to the spier through another coupling to expel the cleaning fluid and the kegs are then transferred by lifting apparatus 81 to respective conveyors 88 for transport to stations at which the exterior surfaces are ultrasonically cleaned, the kegs are rinsed and refilled with beer. The couplings are moved into and out of operative position by suitable means.

The arrangement described for Figures 5,6 is an elementary manual form. It could be automated.

In a modified arrangement the lifting apparatus transfers each keg from the respective waiting station to the cleaning station when the keg arrives at the waiting station, instead of transferring the kegs together when the last of the series of kegs is delivered to waiting station W16.

When the kegs, or the last of a series of sixteen, have been moved from the waiting stations, a fresh lot of kegs is delivered on arrow A for cleaning.

Claims (17)

1. A method in which the inside surface of a beer keg having a spier is ultrasonically cleaned with the introduction and removal of cleaning fluid by making a connection for said fluid to one flow path of the spierwhilst allowing the other flow path to remain open to ambient.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the connection is made to the inner path with the keg inverted and ambient is provided by cleaning liquid in a container.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which cleaning liquid is pumped into an inner path with the keg not inverted and the outer path is open to atmosphere.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, in which only part of the keg is immersed in liquid, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the liquid exterior to the keg.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3 or Claim 4, comprising moving successive kegs in a path of a movement to spaced locations, moving the kegs laterally sequentially from the locations to ultrasonic cleaning means for cleaning the exterior and/or interior surfaces of the kegs, said sequential movement starting during the feeding.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, in which each keg is moved laterally during feeding of the next keg.

7. A method of cleaning the inside surface of a beer keg in which cleaning fluid is supplied to the interior of the keg through the keg spier, and ultrasonic energy is applied to the keg containing the liquid.

8. A method of cleaning the inside surfaces of beer kegs substantially as hereinbefore described.

9. Apparatus for cleaning the inside surfaces of beer kegs comprising means for delivering kegs with spiers in to a cleaning fluid supply station, means at the supply station for supplying cleaning fluid to the interior of the keg through the spier, means for applying ultrasonic energy to the cleaning fluid in the keg, and means for removing the fluid from the keg.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, including means for transferring the keg from the supply station to a container for cleaning liquid, and means applying ultrasonic energy to the liquid in the container.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, including means for moving the keg laterally from the supply station to a spaced location, and means at said spaced location for lowering the keg into the container.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, including means for indexing the container about an upright axis for moving the keg in the container to a removal location.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, including means for removing the keg from the container at the removal station, and means for emptying the keg through the spier when removed from the container.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, including means for delivering an upright keg to a container for cleaning liquid with only a part of the keg in the liquid, means for supplying cleaning fluid to the inside of the keg through the spier, means for supplying ultrasonic energy to the liquid in the container, and means for removing the liquid from the keg.

15. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 14, including means for moving successive kegs in a path of movement to spaced locations and means for moving the kegs laterally sequentially from the spaced locations to cleaning stations, said sequential movement starting during the feeding.

16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, including means for moving each keg laterally during feeding of the next keg.

17. Apparatus for cleaning the interior surfaces of beer kegs substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4, or Figures 5 and 6, of the accompanying drawings.