Beverage faucet cleaning system and connector therefor

Abstract

The beverage faucet cleaning connector 300 has two parts 302,306, e.g., one vertically slidable within the other. The first connector part 302 having an opening 304 for receiving an outlet nozzle 200.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a beverage faucet cleaning system and a connector for a beverage faucet cleaning system. BACKGROUND It is known to provide cleaning systems for beverage dispensers, for example beer dispensers. Such dispensers require regular cleaning that usually involves cleaning fluid being pumped or drawn through the dispenser, either into a bucket or into a pipe to recirculate it for reuse. Generally this is achieved by removing either the dispensing nozzles, ore the entire faucets from the dispenser for separate cleaning prior to the fluid being pumped through the pipes and remaining structure if the dispenser. Some systems have been proposed wherein the beverage dispensing nozzles are unscrewed from the dispenser and a pipe is screwed on in their place. The pipe may be attached between two adjacent dispensers with their nozzles removed to recirculate cleaning fluid exiting one dispensing tap back into another dispensing tap. These systems require substantial manual interaction in the removal of the dispensing nozzles which must all be cleaned separately. It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a beverage faucet cleaning system and a connector for a beverage faucet cleaning system, as claimed in the appended claims According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a beverage faucet cleaning system comprising: an outlet nozzle for a beverage faucet, the outlet nozzle having a first part of a retaining means on an outer surface thereof; and a beverage faucet cleaning connector comprising a first connector having a first connector part having a first opening therein, for receiving the outlet nozzle, and a second connector part having a second opening therein, said first and second openings in fluid communication with one another. The beverage faucet cleaning connector is provided with a second part of the retaining means, said second part of the retaining means configured to interact with the first part of the retaining means to retain said first connector on said outlet nozzle.The second connector part is moveable relative to the first connector part between a first position in which the second part of the retaining means is in a retaining position and a second position in which the second part of the retaining means is in a released position. The first part of a retaining means may comprise a groove extending around an outer surface of the outlet nozzle. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a beverage faucet cleaning connector for use in the system described herein, the beverage faucet cleaning connector comprising: a first connector having a first connector part having a first opening therein, for receiving the outlet nozzle, and a second connector part having a second opening therein, said first and second openings in fluid communication with one another, and a second part of a retaining means. The second part of the retaining means is configured to interact, in use, with a first part of the retaining means disposed on a beverage faucet outlet nozzle to retain said first connector on said outlet nozzle; and wherein the second connector part is moveable relative to the first connector part between a first position in which the second part of the retaining means is in a retaining position and a second position in which the second part of the retaining means is in a released position. The second opening may be formed in a sidewall of the second connector part. The second connector part may be slidably movable relative to the first connector part between the first position and the second position. The second connector part may be substantially disposed around the first connector part such that the first connector part is slidably movable within the second connector part. The second connector part may be movable, in use, between a lower position and an upper position and wherein the lower position is the first position and the upper position is the second position. In an arrangement the second connector part is resiliently biased towards the first position. In this manner the connector is biased towards a position in which the retaining means is in a retaining position. As such, when the connector is attached to the outlet nozzle it will retain itself thereon. Optionally the beverage faucet cleaning connector comprises a spring between the first connector part and the second connector part arranged to resiliently bias them away from each other and a restraining means to limit a maximum range of movement of the first connector part and the second connector part relative to one another. In an arrangement the first connector part and the second connector part may each be substantially cup shaped and the first connector part may extend into the second connector part. In such an arrangement the first connector part can have an annular seal disposed towards either end thereof to form seals between an outer surface of the first connector part and an inner surface of the second connector part to create a sealed central section therebetween. A chamber may be formed between an enclosed end of the first connector part and an adjacent end of the second connector part, and wherein a spring can be provided within the chamber to provide the resilient bias. Optionally the second connector part is provided with one or more vent holes in said adjacent end. This prevents pressure or vacuum being created in the chamber due to relative movement of the first connector part and second connector part. In an arrangement the restraining means may comprise a physical stop that passes through an opening in said adjacent end of the second connector part and which extends radially beyond the opening so as to limit the separation of the first connector part and second connector part. The restraining means may comprise a screw that engages with a blind screw thread in the first connector part. Optionally, tightening of the screw in the blind screw thread compresses the spring to provide said resilient bias and to connect the first connector part and the second connector part. The beverage faucet cleaning connector may further comprising one or more substantially spherical retaining elements located in a respective retention opening in a side wall of the first connector part, said one or more retaining elements each having a diameter dimension greater than a wall thickness of the first connector part such that they extend to one side thereof, the one or more retaining element movable within their respective retention opening such that they extend to one side or the other thereof. The second connector part can be dimensioned such that when it is in the first position an inner sidewall thereof urges the retaining element towards an inboard position in which it extends to an inner side of the sidewall of the first connector part. The retention openings in the sidewall of the first connector part are dimensioned large enough such that the retaining element can extend from an inner side thereof, but small enough to prevent the retaining element passing therethrough. The second connector part may be dimensioned such that when it is in the second position a recess is formed between the outer sidewall of the first connector part and the inner sidewall of the second connector part to permit the retaining element to move to an outboard position in which it extends from the outer sidewall of the first connector part. The recess is dimensioned such that the retaining element remains located in the retention opening and cannot exit the retention opening when the second connector part is in the second position. In this way the retaining element is retained between the first connector part and the second connector part. Movement of the second connector part between the first and second position urges the retaining element into the inboard position in which, in use, it locates and is retained in the first part of the retaining means provided on the outlet nozzle, which may be in the form of an annular grove therein, and a released position in which it is able to move out of the first part of the retaining element. In this manner the beverage faucet cleaning connector can be retained on the beverage nozzle. In an arrangement the first connector part is provided with a one or more fluid openings through the sidewall thereof between the annular seals disposed at either end, the one or more openings providing a fluid passage between an interior of the first connector part and an interior of the second connector part. The second opening may be formed in the sidewall of the second connector part and be in fluid communication with the first opening via said one or more fluid openings. Optionally the first connector part comprises a plurality of ribs extending inwardly therefrom and wherein the each said respective retention openings is provided in a rib. The fluid openings may optionally be provided in the sidewall of the first connector part between the ribs. In an arrangement an enclosed end of the first connector part may comprises a central projection extending therefrom and may comprise a flange extending from the substantially cup shaped first connector part adjacent an open end thereof. An annular seal may be disposed about the inner surface of the first connector part adjacent the first opening. The annular seal engages with the outer surface of the outlet nozzle when the outlet nozzle is received in the first connector part to create a fluid seal therebetween and thereby prevent fluid entering the cleaning connector via the outlet nozzle from exiting via the first opening. The beverage faucet cleaning connector may further comprise a second connector, substantially identical to the first connector, and a fluid conduit, wherein the fluid conduit extends between the second opening of the first connector and the second opening of the second connector. In this manner the connector can be quickly and easily connected between two outlet nozzles to create a recirculating fluid flow path that cleans not only the lines and dispenser but also the interior and a portion of the exterior of the outlet nozzle. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross section through an example beverage faucet cleaning system according to the invention in a disconnected state; Figure 2 shows a cross section through the example beverage faucet cleaning system of Figure 1 in a connected state; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a beverage faucet cleaning connector of the invention; Figure 4 shows a cross section through a first coupler part of a beverage faucet cleaning connector of the invention; Figure 5 shows a cross section through a second coupler part of a beverage faucet cleaning connector of the invention; Figure 6 shows a side view of another beverage faucet cleaning connector according to the invention; Figure 7 shows a cross section on “A”-“A” of Figure 1; and Figure 8 shows a cross section on of Figure 2, with the feature 310 removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A beverage faucet cleaning system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 8. With reference to Figures 1 and 5, a beverage faucet cleaning system 100 is shown. The beverage faucet cleaning system 100 includes an outlet nozzle 200 for a beverage faucet. The outlet nozzle 200 has a first part 202 of a coupler on an outer surface 204 thereof. The coupler is a retaining means and in the example embodiment has first and second coupler parts that interact with one another to couple them together, the first part 202 also referred to as the first part of a retaining means. The beverage faucet cleaning system 100 also includes a beverage faucet cleaning connector having a first connector 300. The connector 300 has a first connector part 302 having a first opening 304 therein, for receiving the outlet nozzle 200, and a second connector part 306 having a second opening 308 therein, said first 304 and second 308 openings in fluid communication with one another. The connector 300 also includes a second coupler part 310 (also referred to as a second part of the retaining means), the second coupler part 310 configured to interact with the first coupler part 202 to retain said first connector 300 on the outlet nozzle 200. As shown the second coupler part 310 may take the form of a ball, preferably a metal ball made of a corrosion resistant material, e.g. a suitable grade of stainless steel, or is provided with a non-corrosive covering or plating. The second connector part 306 is moveable relative to the first connector part 302 between a first position as shown in Figure 2 in which the second connector part 310 is in a retaining position and a second position as shown in Figure 1 in which the second connector part 310 is in a released position. As shown in the example embodiment, the first coupler part 202 of the retaining means has the form of a groove extending around an outer surface 204 of the outlet nozzle 200. The beverage faucet cleaning connector 300 for use in the beverage faucet cleaning system 100 is described below in more detail. As shown in the example figures, the second opening 308 is formed in a sidewall 312 of the second connector part 306. The second connector part 306 is slidably movable relative to the first connector part 302 between the first position and the second position. The second connector part 306 is substantially disposed around the first connector part 302 such that the first connector part 302 is slidably movable within the second connector part 306. The first opening 304 may be provided in an upper end of the coupler, i.e. an end that is the uppermost when connected to an outlet nozzle in use. The second connector part 306 is movable, in use, between a lower position, as shown in Figure 2, and an upper position, as shown in Figure 1, the lower position being the first position and the upper position being the second position. As such the lower position may be considered a position at which it is furthest away from the first opening 304 and the upper position may be considered a position at which it is closest to the first opening 304. The first connector part 302 is provided with a flange 360 extending therefrom adjacent the first opening 304. Although not essential to the design the flange 360 facilitates a user in moving the second coupler part relative to the first coupler part for attaching and removing the coupler 300 from the outlet nozzle 200. In the example embodiment the second connector part 306 is resiliently biased towards the first position. In this manner the first connector 300 is biased towards a position in which the retaining means is in a retaining position. As such, when the first connector 300 is attached to the outlet nozzle 200 it will retain itself thereon. The first connector comprises two springs 314 between the first connector part 302 and the second connector part 306 arranged to resiliently bias them away from each other. As can be seen in the figures, two small and symmetrically located springs are provided. It will be appreciated that other spring arrangements, for example one large spring or three or more, preferably evenly spaced, smaller springs may be used. The first connector 300 is provided with a restraining means, for example a restrainer 316 to limit a maximum range of movement of the first connector part 302 and the second connector part 306. In the example embodiment the first connector part 302 and the second connector part 306 are each substantially cup shaped and the first connector part 302 extends into the second connector part 306. In this arrangement the first connector part 302 has an annular seal 318 disposed towards either end thereof to form seals between an outer surface 320 of the first connector part 302 and an inner surface 322 of the second connector part 306 to create a sealed central section therebetween. The seals 318 are located in annular grooves 362 provided on the outer surface 320 of the first connector part 302. As can be seen, a chamber 324 is formed between an enclosed end 326 of the first connector part 302 and an adjacent end 328 of the second connector part 306. The springs 314 are provided within the chamber 324 to provide the resilient bias. The second connector part 306 is provided with one or more vent holes 330 in the adjacent end 328. These holes prevent pressure or vacuum being created in the chamber 324 due to relative movement of the first connector part and second connector part. In the example embodiment the restrainer 316 comprises a physical stop that passes through an opening 332 in said adjacent end 328 of the second connector part 306 and which extends radially beyond the opening so as to limit the separation of the first connector part 302 and second connector part 306. The restrainer 316 comprises a screw that engages with a blind screw thread 334 in the first connector part 302. The second connector part 306 has an abutment surface 336 around the opening 332 against which the head of the screw 316 abuts when it is tightened in the screw thread 334. Tightening of the screw 316 in the blind screw thread 334 compresses the springs 314 to provide said resilient bias and to connect the first connector part 302 and the second connector part 306. The screw thread 334 is provided in a boss 338 which extends from the enclosed end 326 of the first connector part 302 and, when assembled with the second connector part, extends into the opening 332. The screw 316 is tightened until it abuts the end of the boss 338. In this manner a constant spring compression can be achieved and the outside of the boss 338 guides the second connector part 306 as it slides relative to the first connector part 302 and maintains them centred relative to one another. It will be appreciated that although the restrainer 316 is described in the example embodiment as a screw any restrainer may be used. For example, the boss 338 may include a inwardly deformable spring clip that deforms to pass through the opening 332 and then returns to its original position, extending beyond the diameter of the opening 332 so as to join the first connector part 302 and the second connector part 306. The first connector 302 includes a number of substantially spherical retaining elements 340 each located in a respective retention opening 342 in a side wall 344 of the first connector part 302. The substantially spherical retaining elements 340 together forming the second coupler part 310. The one or more retaining elements 340 each have a diameter dimension greater than the wall thickness of the side wall 344 of the first connector part 302 such that they extend to one side thereof. The one or more retaining element 340 are movable within their respective retention opening 342 such that they extend to one side or the other thereof. The second connector part 306 is dimensioned such that when it is in the first position an inner sidewall 346 thereof urges the retaining elements 340 towards an inboard position in which they extend from an inner side of the sidewall 344 of the first connector part 302. The retention openings 342 in the sidewall 344 of the first connector part 302 are dimensioned large enough such that the retaining elements 340 can extend from an inner side thereof, but small enough to prevent the retaining elements 340 passing fully therethrough in that direction. The second connector part 306 is dimensioned such that when it is in the second position a recess 350, formed in its inner wall, aligns with the retention openings 342 to form a space between the outer sidewall 320 of the first connector part 302 the inner sidewall 346 of the second connector part 306 to permit the retaining elements 340 to move to an outboard position in which they extend from the outer sidewall 344 of the first connector part. In this way the retaining elements 340 are retained between the first connector part 302 and the second connector part 306. Movement of the second connector part 306 from the first position into the second position urges the retaining elements 340 into the inboard position in which, in use, they locate and are retained in the groove 202 provided on the outlet nozzle 200, and movement from the second position into the first position moves the first coupler into a released position in which the retaining elements 340 are able to move out of the groove 202. In this manner the first connector 300 can be retained on an outlet nozzle 200. The first connector part 302 is provided with a number of radially spaced fluid openings 352 through the sidewall 344 thereof between the annular seals 318 disposed towards its ends. The openings 352 provide a fluid passage between an interior of the first connector part 302 and an interior of the second connector part 306. The second opening 308 is formed as protrusion from the side of the second connector part 306. As shown in the example a the second opening 308 is provided as a barbed hose connector extending from the side wall of the second connector part 306 and is in fluid communication with the first opening 304 via the fluid openings 352. As shown, the first connector part 302 is provided with a number of ribs 354 extending inwardly therefrom to provide vertical areas of thicker side wall section and thinner sidewall section. The ribs are evenly spaced around the circumference of the first connector part 302 and are located such that the fluid openings 352 are substantially located between the ribs in the areas of thinner side wall and that each of the retention openings 342 is located in a rib 354. In this manner thicker sidewall sections are provided for the retention of the second coupler part 310. The spaces between the ribs 352 provide enlarged flow path areas for fluid passing from the outlet nozzle 200 to pass from the interior of the first coupler part 302 through the fluid openings 352 into the second coupler part. The ribs 354 are shown in more detail in Figure 7 and Figure 8 which show cross sections through the first connector 302. Figure? shows the cross section on line “A”-“A” of Figure 1 with second coupler parts 310 omitted and Figure 8 shows a cross section on line “B”-“B” of Figure 2 with the nozzle 304 and the second coupler parts 310 in place. As shown, the ribs 354 have thicker cross sections than the sections of the side wall 344 therebetween. The ribs 354 project inwardly from the sidewall 344 such the outer surface 320 of the first connector part 302 is substantially circular is plan section. As shown in Figure 7, the retention openings 342 are located in the ribs 354 so that the thicker material of the ribs 354 can better retain the second coupler parts 310. As can be seed, the retention openings 352 have a lip 366 at their inner edge which restricts the diameter of its opening on its inner side. The lips 366 provide a dimension therebetween which is lesser than the diameter of the second coupler part 310 to allow the second coupler parts 310 to project therefrom but to prevent them from passing therethrough. As shown the fluid openings 352 are located between the ribs 354 in the sidewall such that they are offset from and radially set back from the ribs 354. As shown in Figure 8, this creates a fluid passageway 368 between the nozzle 200 and the sidewall 344 in the area between the ribs 354. These passageways allow fluid exiting the bottom of the nozzle 200 to pass around the outer end surfaces of the nozzle 200, up through these passageways 368 and through the fluid outlets 352. In this manner fluid passing through the end of the nozzle 200 can circulate in the coupler up to the annular seal 358 (ss below). This increases the sanitising and cleaning of the interior and exterior surfaces of the nozzle in situ. Contrary to known couplers, this is advantageously realized by locating the second coupling parts 310 within the area through which fluid is passes which, in this application allows the cleaning of a greater area of the exterior of the nozzle. Furthermore it also results in the coupling mechanism being cleaned each use which prevents the build-up of contaminants in this area over time. At the enclosed end of the first connector 302 a central projection 356 extends in an inward direction. When the connector 300 is attached to the outlet nozzle 200 the central projection 356 is axially aligned therewith and has an outer diameter that is smaller that an internal diameter of the outlet nozzle 200. In this manner fluid exiting from outlet nozzle 200 impinges on and around the central projection 356 which assists is controlling the flow radially outwards and up around the outer surface of the end of the outlet nozzle 200 ensuring that it is fully cleaned all around the lower section of its outer surface 204. An annular seal 358 is provided which is located in a groove 364 in the inner surface of the first connector part adjacent the first opening 304. In use the annular seal 358 engages with an outer surface 204 of the outlet nozzle 202 when the outlet nozzle is received in the first connector part 302 to create a fluid seal therebetween to prevent fluid entering the cleaning connector 300 via the outlet nozzle 200 from exiting via the first opening 304. Referring to Figure 6, another beverage faucet cleaning connector is shown which includes a second connector 400, substantially identical to the first connector 300, and a fluid conduit 500. The fluid conduit 500 extends between the second opening of the first connector 300 and the second opening of the second connector 400. In this manner the beverage faucet cleaning connector can be quickly and easily connected between two outlet nozzles 200 to create a recirculating fluid flow path that cleans not only the lines and dispenser to which the outlet nozzles are connected but also the interior and a portion of the exterior of the outlet nozzles 200 to which it is connected. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1 A beverage faucet cleaning system comprising:an outlet nozzle for a beverage faucet, the outlet nozzle having a first part of a retaining means on an outer surface thereof; andbeverage faucet cleaning connector comprising a first connector having a first connector part having a first opening therein for receiving the outlet nozzle and a second connector part having a second opening therein, said first and second openings in fluid communication with one another, and a second part of a retaining means, said second part of the retaining means configured to interact with the first part of the retaining means to retain said first connector on said outlet nozzle; and whereinthe second connector part is moveable relative to the first connector part between a first position in which the second part of the retaining means is in a retaining position and a second position in which the second part of the retaining means is in a released position.2 The beverage faucet cleaning system of claim 1 wherein the first part of the ofthe retaining means comprises a groove extending around an outer surface of the outlet nozzle.3 A beverage faucet cleaning connector for use in the system of claim 1, thebeverage faucet cleaning connector comprising:a first connector having a first connector part having a first opening therein for receiving the outlet nozzle and a second connector part having a second opening therein, said first and second openings in fluid communication with one another, and a second part of a retaining means, said second part of the retaining means configured to interact, in use, with a first part of the retaining means disposed on a beverage faucet outlet nozzle to retain said first connector on said outlet nozzle; and whereinthe second connector part is moveable relative to the first connector part between a first position in which the second part of the retaining means is in a retaining position and a second position in which the second part of the retaining means is in a released position.4 The beverage faucet cleaning connector of claim 3 wherein the secondconnector part is slidably movable relative to the first connector part between the first position and the second position.5 The beverage faucet cleaning connector of claim 4 wherein the secondconnector part is movable, in use, between a lower position and an upper position and wherein the lower position is the first position and the upper position is the second position.6 The beverage faucet cleaning connector of any one of claims 3 to 5 whereinthe second connector part is resiliently biased towards the first position.7 The beverage faucet cleaning connector of any one of claims 3 to 6 whereinthe first connector part and the second connector part are each substantially cup shaped and wherein the first connector part extends into the second connector part, the first connector part having an annular seal disposed towards either end thereof to form a seal between an outer surface of the first connector part and an inner surface of the second connector part to create a sealed central section therebetween.8 The beverage faucet cleaning connector according to claim 6 and claim 7wherein a chamber is formed between an enclosed end of the first connector part and an adjacent end of the second connector part, and wherein a spring is provided within the chamber to provide said resilient bias.9 The beverage faucet cleaning connector according to claim 8 wherein thesecond connector part is provided with one or more vent holes in said adjacent end.10 The beverage faucet cleaning connector of any one of claims 3 to 9 whereinthe second part of the retaining means comprises one or more substantially spherical retaining elements located in a respective retention opening in a side wall of the first connector part, said one or more retaining elements each having a diameter dimension greater than a wall thickness of the first connector part such that they extend to one side thereof, the one or more retaining element movable within their respective retention opening such that they extend to one side or the other thereof.11 The beverage faucet cleaning connector according to claim 7, or any claimdependant thereon, wherein the first connector part is provided with a one or more fluid openings through the sidewall thereof between the annular seals disposed at either end, the one or more openings providing a fluid passage between an interior of the first connector part and an interior of the second connector part.12 The beverage faucet cleaning connector according to claim 10 wherein thesecond opening is formed in the sidewall of the second connector part and is in fluid communication with the first opening via said one or more fluid openings.13 The beverage faucet cleaning connector according to claim 10 or any claimdependant thereon wherein the first connector part comprises a plurality of ribs extending inwardly therefrom and wherein each said respective retention opening is provided in a rib.14 The beverage faucet cleaning connector according to claim 12 and claim 13wherein the fluid openings are provided in the sidewall of the first connector part between the ribs.15 The beverage faucet cleaning connector according to claim 7 or any claimdependant thereon wherein an enclosed end of the first connector part comprises a central projection extending therefrom.16 The beverage faucet cleaning connector according to claim 7, or any claimdependant thereon, comprising a flange extending from the substantially cup shaped first connector part adjacent an open end thereof.

17. The beverage faucet cleaning connector according to claim 7, or any claimdependant thereon, further comprising an annular seal disposed about the inner surface of the first connector part adjacent an open end of thereof18. A beverage faucet cleaning connector according to any one of claims 3 to 17further comprising a second connector, substantially identical to the first connector, and a fluid conduit, whereinthe fluid conduit extends between the second opening of the first connector and the second opening of the second connector.15

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