Beverage Tapping Line Cleaning Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tapping devices for beverages, such as beer, face contamination issues due to direct contact between the tapping line, tapping cock, and connecting device with the beverage, leading to quality degradation and potential health hazards, and current cleaning methods are time-consuming and result in significant beverage loss.
Innovation Solution
A tapping device with a cleaning element integrated into the container or connecting means that moves through the tapping line under beverage pressure, allowing for efficient cleaning without significant beverage loss, using a coupling element with a beverage passage that includes a cleaning element which is propelled through the line upon valve opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tapping line, tapping cock and connecting device are cleaned using conventional flushing methods, then contamination is removed, but significant beverage loss occurs and the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning element is extracted from the conventional flushing liquid method and implemented as a separate, dedicated cleaning component that travels through the tapping line. This extraction allows cleaning to occur without requiring large volumes of flushing liquid that would otherwise be wasted, thereby removing the harmful factor (beverage loss) while preserving the useful function (contamination removal).
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning element acts as an intermediary between the beverage and the cleaning process. Instead of directly flushing beverage through the system to clean it, the cleaning element mediates the cleaning action by physically contacting and removing contaminants from the tapping line interior surfaces, thereby achieving cleaning while minimizing beverage loss.
2Reliability
If conventional flushing with cleaning liquid is used, then the tapping line is cleaned, but the process takes relatively much time and requires rinsing with clean water
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning element is extracted from the multi-step flushing process and implemented as a standalone cleaning mechanism. This eliminates the need for sequential operations (flushing with cleaning liquid, then rinsing with clean water), thereby reducing cleaning time while maintaining effective contamination removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning element provides continuous cleaning action as it travels through the tapping line from one end to the other. This continuous mechanical cleaning action replaces the discontinuous multi-step chemical flushing and rinsing process, thereby reducing the total time required for cleaning while maintaining beverage quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tapping line is long, then beverage can be delivered to remote locations, but beverage loss increases significantly during flushing
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is extracted from the beverage flushing process and implemented through a dedicated cleaning element. This allows the tapping line to maintain its full length for remote beverage delivery without the penalty of proportional beverage loss during cleaning, as the cleaning element requires minimal fluid volume regardless of line length.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning element serves as an intermediary that can traverse the entire length of the tapping line without requiring large volumes of beverage or flushing liquid. This mediates the cleaning process to be independent of line length, thereby preserving the adaptability for remote delivery while eliminating the worsening factor of proportional beverage loss.
4Reliability
If frequent cleaning is performed to prevent contamination, then beverage quality is maintained, but beverage loss and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning element enables the tapping line to perform self-cleaning during normal beverage dispensing operations. As beverage flows through the line, it propels the cleaning element along the tapping line, allowing the system to clean itself without requiring separate cleaning operations. This self-service mechanism maintains beverage quality while preserving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning element enables continuous cleaning action during beverage dispensing, transforming the cleaning function from a separate, time-consuming operation into an integrated, continuous process. This allows frequent cleaning to occur without disrupting productivity, as the cleaning happens concurrently with normal beverage service.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables simple, time-efficient cleaning with minimal beverage loss, reducing the need for frequent cleaning operations and preventing contamination, thereby maintaining beverage quality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning element, which, upon broaching of a container, is located near a first end of the tapping line proximal to the container, and is movable through the tapping line under pressure of beverage from the container
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Tapping device for beverage, comprising at least one beverage container, a tapping line and a tapping cock, wherein the tapping line extends at least to adjacent the tapping cock and connecting means for connection of the tapping line to the at least one beverage container, wherein a cleaning element is provided in the beverage container or the connecting means, which cleaning element upon broaching of a beverage container is situated near an end of the tapping line proximal to the beverage container and is movable through the tapping line under pressure of beverage from the beverage container, while abutting against an inner side of the tapping line, such that beverage will propel the cleaning element in the tapping line, at least to near the tapping cock.