Fluid line apparatus

Abstract

Fluid line apparatus comprising a container, a line, a line end valve, pressurization means and control means, in which the line connects the container to the line end valve, in which a first function of the pressurization means is to pressurize the container such that fluid in the container is forced in the direction of the line end valve, in which a second function of the pressurization means is to pressurize the line such that fluid in the line is forced in the direction of the container, in which in use the control means controls the application of the pressurization means to the container and the line such that when fluid is to be dispensed from the apparatus it is forced towards the line end valve, and when the line is to be cleared of fluid, said fluid is forced towards the container, and in which fluid returning to the container is subjected to a filtering means.

1 . Fluid line apparatus comprising a container, a line, a line end valve, pressurisation means and control means, in which the line connects the container to the line end valve, in which a first function of the pressurisation means is to pressurise the container such that fluid in the container is forced in the direction of the line end valve, in which a second function of the pressurisation means is to pressurise the line such that fluid in the line is forced in the direction of the container, in which in use the control means controls the application of the pressurisation means to the container and the line such that when fluid is to be dispensed from the apparatus it is forced towards the line end valve, and when the line is to be cleared of fluid, said fluid is forced towards the container, and in which fluid returning to the container is subjected to a filtering means.  
   
   
       2 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  in which the pressurisation means comprises a first pressurisation means adapted to pressurise the container such that fluid in the container is forced in the direction of the line end valve, and a second pressurisation means adapted to pressurise the line such that fluid in the line is forced in the direction of the container.  
   
   
       3 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  in which the second pressurisation means comprises a positive pressurisation means disposed at the line end valve end of the line.  
   
   
       4 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  in which line valve means are disposed on the line adjacent the container, in which the line valve means are adapted to direct fluid along the line towards the line end valve when the first pressurisation means is applied, and in which the line valve means are further adapted to direct fluid to the filtering means then into the container when the second pressurisation means is applied and the line is to be cleared of fluid.  
   
   
       5 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  in which a return fluid branch line is provided, which return fluid branch line extends from a junction point on the line adjacent the container, in which the filtering means are disposed on the return fluid branch line, and in which the line valve means comprises a two way valve disposed at the junction point which is adapted to open the line and shut the return fluid branch line when fluid is to be dispensed from the apparatus, and to close the line and open the return fluid branch line when fluid is to be returned to the container.  
   
   
       6 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  in which the return fluid branch line comprises a loop line which extends from said junction point to a second junction point on the line between said junction point and the container, and in which the line valve means comprises a second two way valve disposed at the second junction point which is adapted to open the line and shut the return fluid branch line when fluid is to be dispensed from the apparatus, and to close the line and open the return fluid branch line when fluid is to be returned to the container.  
   
   
       7 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  in which the line valve means further comprises a one way valve disposed on the line between said junction point and the second junction point, which one way valve is adapted to only allow fluid to pass along the line in the direction of the line end valve.  
   
   
       8 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  in which the fluid is a liquid.  
   
   
       9 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  in which when fluid in the line is to be forced towards the line end valve the first pressurisation means applies a greater pressure to the container than the second pressurisation means applies to the line.  
   
   
       10 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  in which when fluid in the line is to be forced towards the container the second pressurisation means applies a greater pressure to the line than the first pressurisation means applies to the container.  
   
   
       11 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  in which when fluid in the line is to be forced towards the line end valve the first pressurisation means is applied to the container and the second pressurisation means is not applied to the line.  
   
   
       12 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  in which when fluid in the line is to be forced towards the container the second pressurisation means is applied to the line and the first pressurisation means is not applied to the container.  
   
   
       13 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  in which the fluid is an effervescent liquid, and in which the first pressurisation means is a source of pressurised gas, which is connected to the container by a gas line.  
   
   
       14 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  in which the second pressurisation means is a source of pressurised gas which is connected to the line adjacent the line end valve.  
   
   
       15 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  in which a stop valve is provided on the gas line, in which a gas exhaust valve is provided on the gas line between the stop valve and the container, and in which when the first pressurisation means is to be reduced or removed from the container in use the stop valve closes the gas line and the gas exhaust valve opens the portion of the gas line between it and the container to atmosphere in order to reduce the pressure in the container.  
   
   
       16 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  in which the gas exhaust valve is connected to one or more restrictor valves and a silencer, such that the pressure in the container can only be reduced at a pre-determined rate, which pre-determined rate is below that which would agitate the effervescent liquid.  
   
   
       17 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 16  in which a line end stop valve is provided between the second pressurisation means and the line, and in which when the second pressurisation means is to be removed from the line in use the line end stop valve isolates the second pressurisation means, and the line end valve is opened to reduce the pressure in the line.  
   
   
       18 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  in which the control means is adapted such that when fluid is to be dispensed from the apparatus after the line has been cleared, the container is re-pressurised with the first pressurisation means at a pre-determined rate, which pre-determined rate is below that which would agitate the effervescent liquid  
   
   
       19 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  in which a flow restrictor valve is provided between the first pressurisation means and the container, which flow restrictor valve is adapted to facilitate re-pressurisation of the container at said predetermined rate.  
   
   
       20 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  in which fluid sensor means are provided on the line which provide data to the control means on the quantity of fluid forced into the container in use, and in which the control means uses said data to operate the fluid line apparatus such that only fluid which was in the line is forced into the container.  
   
   
       21 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 20  in which the fluid sensor means comprises a fluid flow sensor, a fluid presence optronic senor and a fluid conductivity sensor, in which the fluid presence optronic sensor is adapted to signal to the control means when it senses a returning fluid, in which the fluid flow sensor is adapted to measure the quantity of fluid returning to the container in use, and in which the fluid conductivity sensor is adapted to identify the electric resistance of the fluid.  
   
   
       22 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  in which a return fluid branch line is provided, which comprises a loop line extending from a junction point on the line adjacent the container, to a second junction point on the line between said junction point and the container, in which the fluid conductivity sensor is disposed on the line end valve side of said junction point, in which the fluid flow sensor is disposed between the fluid conductivity sensor and said junction point, and in which the fluid presence optronic sensor is disposed between the container and the second junction point.  
   
   
       23 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  in which the control means is provided with a database of information, which information comprises the quantity of fluid which can be contained in the line, and the electric resistance of the fluid in the line, and in which the control means is adapted to stop the apparatus from forcing fluid into the container if the quantity of fluid measured by the fluid flow sensor in use and/or the electric resistance of the fluid measured by the fluid conductivity sensor in use is substantially different from said information in the database.  
   
   
       24 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 23  in which the information in the database is recorded from the fluid sensor means during a test line drain.  
   
   
       25 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 20  in which the fluid sensor means also provide data to the control means on the quantity of fluid forced from the container in use.  
   
   
       26 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  in which the filtering means is a 0.2 micron filter disposed in the path of returning fluid.  
   
   
       27 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  in which a cleaning fluid line is connected to the line adjacent the line end valve, and a drain is connected to the line between the filtering means and the container, in which when the line is cleared of fluid in use a cleaning fluid is introduced to the line from the cleaning fluid line, is forced along the line by the pressurisation means, and is directed to the drain thereby to clean the line.  
   
   
       28 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the pressurization means for forcing the cleaning fluid, which pressurization means may be the same pressurization means as pressurizes the container or a second, different pressurization means, is associated with the cleaning fluid line or is associated with the end stop valve for forcing the cleaning fluid through the line and filtering means as well as drying the line and filtering means concurrent with and following the ejection of the cleaning fluid via the drain.  
   
   
       29 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  in which the line is removable from the container, such that when line is cleared of fluid in use it is removed for cleaning.  
   
   
       30 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  in which the apparatus comprises a stand-by mode in which the line valve means prevents fluid returning to the container when the second pressurisation means is applied, such that fluid in the line is pressurised by the second pressurisation means.  
   
   
       31 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  in which the second pressurisation means comprises a vacuum pump means disposed at the container end of the line.  
   
   
       32 . Fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  in which the fluid is beer, and the container is a beer keg.  
   
   
       33 . A filtering unit module for use with fluid line apparatus comprising a container, a line, a line end valve, pressurisation means and control means, in which the line connects the container to the line end valve, in which a first function of the pressurisation means is to pressurise the container such that fluid in the container is forced in the direction of the line end valve, in which a second function of the pressurisation means is to pressurise the line such that fluid in the line is forced in the direction of the container, in which in use the control means controls the application of the pressurisation means to the container and the line such that when fluid is to be dispensed from the apparatus it is forced towards the line end valve, and when the line is to be cleared of fluid, said fluid is forced towards the container, and in which fluid returning to the container is subjected to a filtering means, in which the filtering unit module comprises a self contained unit adapted to be fitted between a container and a line of fluid line apparatus with which it is used, in which the filtering unit module comprises line valve means and the filtering means of said apparatus, in which the line valve means are adapted to direct fluid to said line in the direction of a line end valve of said apparatus when the pressurisation means of said apparatus performs its first function, and in which the line valve means are further adapted to direct fluid to the filtering means then into the container of said apparatus when the pressurisation means of said apparatus performs its second function and the line is to be cleared of fluid.  
   
   
       34 . A filtering unit module as claimed in  claim 33  in which the filtering unit module comprises a main line which forms part of the line of said apparatus, and a return fluid branch line which extends from a junction point on said main line to the container of said apparatus, in which the filtering means is disposed on the return fluid branch line, and in which the line valve means comprises a two way valve disposed at the junction point which is adapted to open the main line and shut the return fluid branch line when fluid is to be dispensed from said apparatus, and to close the line and open the return fluid branch line when fluid is to be returned to the container of said apparatus.  
   
   
       35 . A filtering unit module as claimed in  claim 34  in which the return fluid branch line comprises a loop line which extends from said junction point to a second junction point on the main line between said junction point and the container of the apparatus, and in which the line valve means comprises a second two way valve disposed at the second junction point which is adapted to open the main line and shut the return fluid branch line when fluid is to be dispensed from said apparatus, and to close the main line and open the return fluid branch line when fluid is to be returned to the container of said apparatus.  
   
   
       36 . A filtering unit module as claimed in  claim 35  in which the line valve means further comprises a one way valve disposed on the main line between said junction point and the second junction point, which one way valve is adapted to only allow fluid to pass along the main line in the direction of the line end valve of said apparatus.  
   
   
       37 . A filtering unit module as claimed in claims  33  in which the pressurisation means of the fluid line apparatus with which it is used comprises a source of pressurised gas, which is connected to the container by a gas line, in which the filtering unit module is adapted to be fitted between said source of pressurised gas and said container and comprises a main gas line which forms part of the gas line of said apparatus, in which a two-way gas stop valve is disposed on said main gas line which is adapted to open the main gas line when fluid is to be dispensed from said apparatus.  
   
   
       38 . A filtering unit module as claimed in  claim 37  in which the gas stop valve is adapted to close the main gas line when fluid is to be returned to the container of said apparatus.  
   
   
       39 . A filtering unit module as claimed in  claim 33  in which the filtering unit module comprises fluid sensor means and interface means, in which the interface means are adapted to connect to the control means of said apparatus such that data can be sent to said control means, and in which the fluid sensor means are adapted to provide such data to said control means on the quantity of fluid forced into the container of said apparatus in use.  
   
   
       40 . A filtering unit module as claimed in  claim 39  in which the fluid sensor means comprises a fluid flow sensor and a fluid presence optronic senor, in which the fluid presence optronic sensor is adapted to signal to the control means of said apparatus when it senses a fluid in the main line, in which the fluid flow sensor is adapted to measure the quantity of fluid returning through the main line to the container of said apparatus in use and to communicate such measurements to said control means.  
   
   
       41 . A filtering unit module as claimed in  claim 40  in which the filtering unit module comprises a main line which forms part of the line of said apparatus, and a return fluid branch line which comprises a loop line which extends from a junction point on said main line to a second junction point on the main line between said junction point and the container of the apparatus, in which the fluid flow sensor is disposed on the main line on the line side of said junction point, and in which the fluid presence optronic sensor is disposed on the main line between the second junction point and the container of said apparatus.  
   
   
       42 . A filtering unit module as claimed in  claim 40  in which the fluid sensor means further comprises a fluid conductivity sensor which is adapted to identify the electric resistance of fluid passing though the main line and to communicate such measurements to the control means of said apparatus.  
   
   
       43 . A filtering unit module as claimed in  claim 42  in which the fluid conductivity sensor is disposed on the main line between the fluid flow sensor and the line of said apparatus.  
   
   
       44 . Fluid line draining apparatus for use with fluid line apparatus comprising a container, a line, a line end valve and pressurisation means, in which the line connects the container to the line end valve and the pressurisation means pressurises the container such that fluid in the container is forced along the line towards the line end valve, in which the fluid line draining apparatus comprises second pressurisation means, control means, filtering means and connection means, in which in use the pressurisation means, control means and filtering means are connected to fluid line apparatus with which the fluid line draining apparatus is used by means of the connection means, and in which in use the control means controls the application of the pressurisation means of said fluid line apparatus to the container of said fluid line apparatus and the application of the second pressurisation means to the line of said fluid line apparatus such that when fluid is to be dispensed from said fluid line apparatus it is forced in the direction of the line end valve of said fluid line apparatus, and when the line of said fluid line apparatus is to be cleared of fluid, said fluid is forced in the direction of the container of said fluid line apparatus, and in which fluid returning to the container of said fluid line apparatus is subjected to the filtering means.  
   
   
       45 . A multiple fluid line apparatus comprising pressurization means, control means and two or more containers, each provided with a line, a line end valve and a filtering means, in which the lines connect the containers to their line end valves, in which a first function of the pressurization means is to pressurize the containers such that fluid in the containers is forced in the direction of their line end valves, in which a second function of the pressurization means is to pressurize the lines such that fluid in the lines is forced in the direction of the corresponding containers, in which in use the control means controls the application of the pressurization mean to the containers and the lines such that when fluid is to be dispensed from one or the other of the line end valves, it is forced along the corresponding line, and when one or the other of the lines is to be cleared of fluid, said fluid is forced towards the corresponding container, and in which fluid returning to any container is subjected to a filtering means, and wherein the control means is such that the operation of each fluid line is independent of the other.  
   
   
       46 . A multiple fluid line apparatus as claimed in  claim 45  wherein each fluid line further comprises a filtering unit module adapted to be fitted between a container and its corresponding line, in which the filtering unit module comprises line valve means and the filtering means of said apparatus, in which the line valve means are adapted to direct fluid to said line in the direction of the line end valve of said fluid line when the pressurization means of said apparatus performs its first function, and in which the line valve means are further adapted to direct fluid to the filtering means then in to the container of said fluid line when the pressurization means of said apparatus performs its second function and the line is to be cleared of fluid.  
   
   
       47 . A multiple fluid line apparatus as claimed in claim  50  wherein the pressurization means comprises two separate pressurization means, one for pressurizing the containers and the second, which is associated with the line end valve, for pressurizing the lines such that fluid in the lines is able to be forced in the direction of the containers.