Apparatus for Controlling the Temperature of a Liquid

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the temperature of water in a tank for cooling a liquid such as beer flowing in a multiple coil circuit submersible in the water in the tank. The apparatus comprises a tank, at least one divider for dividing the tank into at least two compartments. At least one compartment being a beer coil compartment for receiving the coils carrying the beer and at least one compartment being an ice compartment for receiving and storing ice from an ice making machine. Pump is provided for pumping water from the ice compartment into the at least one other compartment.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a liquid and in particular to an apparatus for controlling the temperature of water in a tank for cooling a liquid such as beer flowing in a multiple coil circuit submersible in the water in the tank.

The present system for cooling certain alcoholic beverages such as beer involves kegs of beer being stored and chilled in a cold room which has its own refrigeration system. The beer in the kegs is cooled down to a temperature of approximately 8° C. by the refrigeration system in the cold room. In order to reduce the temperature of the beer even further, a prior art system known as an ice-bank system is shown in Fig. A where the beer is passed through stainless steel coils (C) which are immersed in ice cold water (W) in a tank (T). When a bar person opens a beer tap in a bar, the beer leaves the stainless steel coils (C) and travels via a python which is a plurality of intertwined beer and water lines out through the open tap in the bar. In order to keep the beer cold as it travels along the python, cold water is pumped out of the water bath up through the python water line (PW). This water is fed into a u-bend and returns back down the python water line (PW) and back into the water tank (T).

Evaporator coils (E) are disposed around the periphery of the water tank (T) in communication with the water and are coupled to a remote condensing unit (RC). An expansion valve (V) controls the flow of refrigerant through the ice-bank evaporator coils (E). The main problem with the prior art system is that no heat can be removed from the water when the remote condensing unit (RC) is switched off. The remote condensing unit (RC) is generally controlled by a mechanical switch which is activated by the ice bank (I) becoming a certain thickness and extending to a certain point along the tank (T). The mechanical switch is located to prevent the ice bank (I) contacting and damaging the beer coils (C). The remote condensing unit (RC) comes back on when sufficient ice has melted. A second problem with this system is that the water returning from the python water line (PW) is significantly warmer and these two situations in tandem lead to the temperature of the water in the water tank (T) creeping up until the beer in the coils (C) reaches an unpleasant drinking temperature.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems outlined above in order to provide more effective control of the temperature of the water in a water tank in which beer coils are submersed to ultimately provide more effective control of the temperature of the beer.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for controlling the temperature of water in a tank for cooling a liquid such as beer flowing in a multiple coil circuit submersible in the water in the tank, the apparatus comprising a tank;

at least one divider for dividing the tank into at least two compartments;

at least one compartment being a beer coil compartment for receiving the coils carrying the beer;

and at least one compartment being an ice compartment for receiving and storing ice from an ice making means; and

pump means for pumping water from the ice compartment into the at least one other compartment.

Preferably, the tank is insulated.

Ideally, the at least one divider is insulated.

Ideally, the divider is formed to allow water to flow between the ice compartment and the at least one other compartment and to prevent the flow of ice from the ice compartment to the at least one other compartment.

Preferably, the ice compartment and the at least one other compartment are beer coil compartments.

Ideally, the ice is slush-ice.

Preferably, there is provided agitating means for agitating water from the tank around the beer coils.

Preferably, the agitating means is coupled to the pump means.

Ideally, the pump means are submersed in the water in the tank.

Preferably, the pump means has an associated temperature control means such as a thermostat to start or stop pumping when the water in the at least one beer coil compartment reaches a predetermined temperature.

Ideally, slush-ice making means are disposed adjacent the ice compartment for making and delivering slush-ice into the ice compartment.

Preferably, the slush-ice making means are disposed above the ice compartment.

Preferably, a feeder pipe for feeding water to the slush-ice making means is coupled to the pump means submersed in the water.

Ideally, a python pump means is submersed in the tank and is coupled to water carrying pipes of a python for pumping cold water alongside the beer being carried in beer carrying pipes of the python.

Preferably, the return water carrying pipes of the python deliver water into the slush-ice compartment.

Ideally, the slush-ice making means has a worm and a refrigeration unit.

Preferably, the slush-ice making means has an ice making electronic unit for controlling the generation and distribution of slush-ice. Advantageously, the ice making electronic unit is in communication with the electronic control unit of the apparatus which indicates that more ice is required when the amount of ice decreases to a predetermined minimal quantity.

In a first embodiment, the apparatus has a tank having three beer coil compartments each of which is formed for receiving a multiple coil circuit for carrying various different types of alcoholic beverages.

Ideally, a primary divider is mounted in the tank for dividing the ice compartment from the two beer coil compartments.

Preferably, a secondary divider is mounted in the tank and together with the walls of the tank and the primary divider forms the three beer coil compartments.

Ideally, the primary divider and the two secondary dividers are formed to allow water to flow between the beer coil compartments and the ice compartment but to prevent the flow of slush-ice from the ice compartment to any of the beer coil compartments.

Preferably, the height of the dividers is less than the height of the surrounding tank walls.

Ideally, the height of the dividers increases with distance from the ice compartment.

Advantageously, each beer coil compartment fills up to the top of the divider with water until the excess water overflows into the adjacent compartment and ultimately back into the ice compartment.

Preferably, an ice compartment pump is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumping water from the ice compartment into the other beer coil compartments.

Ideally, an agitating arrangement is provided for agitating water around the beer coils.

Ideally, in a first embodiment of agitating arrangement there is provided a compressor, the compressor having at least one outlet pipe with the at least one outlet pipe having at least one open end adjacent the beer coils in at least one of the beer coil compartment.

In an alternative second embodiment of agitating arrangement, a feeder pipe is coupled between the ice compartment pump means and a header having at least one outlet pipe extending there from, the at least one outlet pipe having its own valve, preferably a thermostatically controlled solenoid valve and its own air injector.

In both embodiments, there are three outlet pipes.

Preferably, a slush-ice making apparatus feeder pipe is also connected between a highest temperature beer coil compartment pump means and the slush-ice making apparatus for feeding water to the slush-ice making apparatus.

Ideally, a beer coil compartment feeder pipe is connected between the pump and its open end is at a level below the surface of the water in the tank.

Preferably, one pump located in the ice compartment pumps ice cold water into a second beer coil compartment and a separate second pump also located in the ice compartment pumps ice cold water into a third beer coil compartment.

Preferably, a python pump is submersed in the slush-ice/water mixture in the slush-ice compartment and is coupled to water delivery pipes of the python and water return pipes of the python return the water into the slush-ice compartment. Advantageously, the returned water does not increase the temperature of the water in contact with the beer coils which is a significant technical advance over the old ice-bank system shown in Fig. A and described in the introduction.

Preferably, a worm of the slush-ice making apparatus feeds flaked ice into the ice compartment of the tank.

Ideally, a motor of the ice compartment pump means is electronically or electrically controlled via thermostats located in the beer coil compartments.

Preferably, each of the solenoid valves of the second embodiment of agitating arrangement are individually thermostatically controlled which allows three separate water temperatures in the three separate beer coil compartments.

Preferably, the air injectors of the second embodiment of agitating arrangement operate when the corresponding solenoid valves are opened to agitate the ice cold water at an increased pressure around the surface of the immersed beer carrying coils. Advantageously, this enhances the cooling effect of the ice-cold water and further improves the efficiency of the cooling system.

Ideally, the python pump is controlled by its own temperature control device and is powered on when the water in the ice compartment reaches a predetermined temperature in the region of 5° C. The separate temperature control device for the python pump prevents warm water travelling up the water delivery pipes of the python if a fault occurs in the cooling system.

Preferably, an electronic control unit is incorporated for controlling the operation of the at least one pump motor in response to signals from at least one thermostat.

Ideally, the electronic control unit controls the operation of the compressor.

Preferably, the electronic control unit controls the operation of the solenoid valves.

Ideally, the electronic control unit controls the operation of the ice making electronic unit.

Additionally, the electronic control unit has a microcontroller and a control program stored thereon containing a set of instructions for monitoring and controlling the operation of the apparatus.

Preferably, the electronic control unit has communication means.

Ideally, the communications means allows two way communications between the electronic control unit and a remote monitoring station. Advantageously, the communications means facilitates remote diagnostics and/or repair of the electronic control unit and apparatus via landline and/or free space communications protocols.

Preferably, the free space communications protocols are selected from one of GPS, GPRS, GSM, MODE, 3G-UMTS, IEEE 802.11 WLAN.

Ideally, an external circuit pump means is mounted in the tank and is coupled to a heat exchanger mounted in a closed space distal to the tank.

Preferably, the heat exchanger is mounted in a bottle cabinet.

Alternatively, the heat exchanger is mounted in a cold room.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides an apparatus for cooling an enclosed space comprising a tank having an ice compartment for receiving ice from an ice making means, an external circuit pump means mounted in the ice compartment of the tank and being coupled to a heat exchanger mounted in the enclosed space.

Preferably, a fan is mounted proximal to the heat exchanger in the enclosed space. Advantageously, the fan blows air across the heat exchanger to uniformly distribute the cooling effect of the ice cold water flowing through the heat exchanger such as a finned coil.

Ideally, the enclosed space is a bottle cabinet.

Alternatively, the enclosed space is a cold room.

In a second embodiment of apparatus, there is provided a tank with a divider dividing the tank into an ice compartment and a beer coil compartment.

Ideally, a slush-ice compartment pump is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumping water from the slush-ice compartment into the beer coil compartment.

Preferably, an agitating arrangement is provided for the beer coil compartment for agitating water around the beer coils.

Ideally, the agitating arrangement is coupled to the slush-ice compartment pump and has four agitating heads spaced apart to agitate different portions of the beer coils. A slush-ice making apparatus feeder pipe is connected between the agitating arrangement and the slush-ice making apparatus.

Preferably, a thermostatically controlled valve is located on a feeder pipe between the agitating arrangement and the ice compartment pump.

Ideally, a beer coil compartment pump is also coupled to the feeder pipe and has a thermostatically controlled valve mounted on a secondary feeder pipe extending between the beer coil compartment pump and the feeder pipe.

Preferably, a python pump is submersed in the beer coil compartment and is coupled to water delivery pipes of the python and water return pipes of the python return the water into the ice compartment.

Ideally, an ice compartment pump control thermostat measures a predetermined water temperature being reached in the beer coil compartment of the tank and closes an electrical circuit to allow power to a motor of the ice compartment pump and to the valve to open it.

Preferably, a beer coil compartment pump control thermostat closes its electrical circuit at a predetermined temperature and the motor of the beer coil compartment pump is powered on and the valve is opened.

Ideally, an electronic control unit is incorporated to monitor the thermostats and control the operation of the pumps and valves based on signals from the thermostats and/or in response to a control program executing on the electronic control unit.

In a third embodiment, the apparatus has a tank with a divider dividing the tank into an ice compartment and beer coil compartment and an ice compartment pump is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumping water into the beer coil compartment.

Ideally, a beer coil compartment feeder pipe is teed and the open end of an underwater agitating pipe is located below the water in the beer coil compartment for agitating water around the portion of the beer carrying coils submersed in the water.

Preferably, a header feeding portion of the feeder pipe is also teed and header portion extends into a header and the other slush-ice making apparatus portion extends into the slush-ice making apparatus.

Ideally, the header feeding portion has a valve and the header portion also has a valve.

Preferably, a beer coil compartment pump is submersed in the water in the beer coil compartment of the tank and is coupled to the header.

Ideally, the header is coupled to an agitating arrangement having four agitating heads by an agitating arrangement feeder pipe and the water delivery pipes of the python extend from the header.

Preferably, the water return pipes of the python returns the water into the ice compartment.

Ideally, an electronic control unit is incorporated to monitor thermostats located in the beer coil compartment and to control the operation of the pumps and the valves in response thereto.

In all embodiments, a refrigeration system having an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor an expansion valve and refrigerant fluid is incorporated with all three embodiments and is electronically controllable.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, three embodiments of apparatus for controlling the temperature of a liquid in accordance with the invention. In the drawings:—

Fig. A is a schematic drawing of a prior art ice-bank system;

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of apparatus for cooling beer;

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of apparatus for cooling beer;

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a third embodiment of apparatus for cooling beer;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a fourth embodiment of apparatus for cooling beer; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of an apparatus for cooling an enclosed space.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1 there is shown an apparatus for cooling beer indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The apparatus 1 has an insulated tank 2 having three beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c each of which is formed for receiving a multiple coil circuit for carrying various different types of alcoholic beverages. The insulated tank 2 has an ice compartment and in this embodiment, a slush-ice compartment 4 for receiving slush-ice from a slush-ice making apparatus 5. A primary divider 6 is also insulated and is mounted in the tank 2 for dividing the slush-ice compartment 4 from the three beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c. Two secondary insulated dividers 12 and 14 are mounted in the tank 2 and together with the insulated walls of the tank 2 form the three beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c. The primary divider 6 and the two secondary dividers 12, 14 are formed to allow water to flow between the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c and the slush-ice compartment 4 but to prevent the flow of slush-ice from the slush-ice compartment 4 to any of the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b or 3c. The height of the dividers increases from the primary divider 6 to the secondary divider 14 to allow excess water to flow over the top of the dividers and back into the slush ice compartment 4. A slush-ice compartment pump 15 is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumping water from the slush-ice compartment 4 into the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c. An agitating arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 18 is provided for agitating water around the immersed beer coils of each of the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c. The agitating arrangement 18 is coupled to the slush-ice compartment pump 15 and comprises a separate feeder pipe 20a, 20b and 20c each feeding one of the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c respectively. Each of the feeder pipes 20a, 20b and 20c has its own valve, preferably a thermostatically controlled solenoid valve 21a, 21b and 21c and its own air injector 22a, 22b and 22c. A beer coil compartment feeder pipe 26 is connected between the pump 15 and its open end is at a level below the surface of the water in the tank 2.

A python pump 31 is submersed in the slush-ice/water mixture in the slush-ice compartment 4 and is coupled to water delivery pipes 32 of the python (not shown). Water return pipes 33 of the python return the water into the slush-ice compartment 4. Advantageously, the returned water does not increase the temperature of the water in contact with the beer coils which is a significant technical advance over the old ice-bank system shown in Fig. A and described in the introduction.

In use, a worm of the slush-ice making apparatus 5 feeds flaked ice into the slush-ice compartment 4 of the tank 2. A motor of the submersed slush-ice compartment pump 15 is electronically or electrically controlled via thermostats located in the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c and on demand, ice cold water is pumped through the feeder pipes 20a, 20b and 20c. Each of the solenoid valves 21a, 21b and 21c are individually thermostatically controlled which allows three separate water temperatures in the three separate beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c. The beer coil compartment feeder pipe 26 has a portion 35 which extends from the pump 15 and is teed into the feeder pipe 26. When a temperature above the desired temperature is measured by a thermostat submersed in any one of the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b or 3c an electrical circuit is completed and power is transmitted to the respective solenoid valve 21a, 21b or 21c to open the valve and to the motor of the pump 15. When the respective solenoid valve opens ice-cold water is pumped by the pump 15 into the respective beer coil compartment 3a, 3b or 3c via the respective feeder pipe 20a, 20b of 20c until the temperature of the water is lowered to the desired temperature. The air injectors 22a, 22b or 22c are pressure operated and come on when the corresponding solenoid valves 20a, 20b or 20c are opened to pump the ice cold water at an increased pressure onto the immersed surface of the beer carrying coils. This enhances the cooling effect of the ice-cold water and further improves the efficiency of the cooling system. The thermostat measures the desired cold temperature being reached and signals the relevant solenoid valve 21a, 21b or 21c to close and if desired turns the pump 15 off.

It will of course be appreciated that all of the solenoid valves 21a, 21b or 21c can be open at the one time or indeed all of the solenoid valves can be closed at the one time depending on the temperature of the water being measured by the thermostats in the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c. When all three valves 21a, 21b and 21c are closed the beer coil compartment feeder pipe 26 can act as a pressure relief for the pump 15 if the pump is running and will agitate the water in each of the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 3c without having a great effect on the temperature of the beer being carried in the coils. The python pump 31 is controlled by its own temperature control device and is powered on when the water in the slush-ice compartment 4 reaches a predetermined temperature in the region of 5° C. The separate temperature control device for the python pump 31 prevents warm water travelling up the water delivery pipes 32 of the python if a fault occurs in the cooling system.

An electronic control unit (not shown) can be readily incorporated for controlling the operation of the pump motors and the solenoid valves 21a, 21b and 21c in response to signals from the thermostats. Additionally, the electronic control unit has a microcontroller and a control program stored thereon containing a set of instructions for monitoring and controlling the operation of the apparatus 1. A landline and/or free space communications device is also readily incorporated into the electronic control unit for communication with a remote station.

Referring to the drawings and now to FIG. 2, there is shown a second embodiment of apparatus for cooling beer indicated generally by the reference numeral 101. The apparatus 101 has an insulated tank 102 with an insulated divider 106 dividing the tank 102 into a slush-ice compartment 104 and a beer coil compartment 103. The divider 106 is of similar construction to the divider 6 of FIG. 1. A slush-ice compartment pump 115 is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumping water from the slush-ice compartment 104 into the beer coil compartment 103. An agitating arrangement 118 is provided for the beer coil compartment 103 for agitating water around the beer coils immersed in the tank 102. The agitating arrangement 118 is coupled to the slush-ice compartment pump 115 and has four agitating heads 120 spaced apart to agitate the water around different portions of the immersed beer coils. A slush-ice making apparatus feeder pipe 125 is connected between the agitating arrangement 118 and the slush-ice making apparatus 105.

A thermostatically controlled valve 121 is located on a feeder pipe 122 between the agitating arrangement 118 and the slush-ice compartment pump 115. A beer coil compartment pump 151 is also coupled to the feeder pipe 122 and has a thermostatically controlled valve 152 mounted on a secondary feeder pipe 154 extending between the beer coil compartment pump 151 and the feeder pipe 122. A python pump 131 is submersed in the beer coil compartment 103 and is coupled to water delivery pipes 132 of the python (not shown). Water return pipes 133 of the python return the water into the slush-ice compartment 104.

In use, a slush ice compartment pump control thermostat measures a predetermined water temperature being reached in the beer coil compartment 103 of the tank 102 and closes an electrical circuit to allow power to a motor of the slush-ice compartment pump 115 and to the valve 121 to open it. The pump 115 pumps ice-cold water into the feeder pipe 122 through the open valve 121 and out through the four agitating heads 120 around the beer coils immersed in the water in the tank 102. When sufficient ice-cold water has been pumped around the beer coils in the beer coil compartment 103, the temperature of the water in the tank 102 starts to fall. When a predetermined temperature of water has been reached the thermostat opens the electrical circuit and the motor of the slush-ice compartment pump 115 is powered off and the valve 121 is shut. At this temperature a beer coil compartment pump control thermostat closes its electrical circuit and the motor of the beer coil compartment pump 151 is powered on and the valve 152 is opened. Pump 151 pumps the water in the beer coil compartment 103 through secondary feeder pipe 154, via valve 152 into feeder pipe 122 and out through the four agitating heads 120 around the immersed beer carrying coils. This continues until the water in the beer coil compartment 103 of the tank 102 reaches a predetermined temperature at which point the beer coil compartment pump 151 shuts down and the valve 152 closes by action of their associated thermostat. At this temperature, the slush-ice compartment pump 115 is powered on by the slush-ice compartment pump control thermostat closing the electrical circuit and the cycle continues as explained above. In this way the temperature of the water in the beer coil compartment 103 is accurately controlled. Additionally, water is pumped by both pumps 115, 151 to the slush-ice making apparatus 105 via the slush-ice making apparatus feeder pipe 125. An electronic control unit is readily incorporated to monitor the thermostats and control the operation of the pumps and valves based on signals from the thermostats and/or in response to a control program. A landline and/or free space communications device is also readily incorporated into the electronic control unit for communication with a remote station.

Referring to the drawings and now to FIG. 3, there is shown a third embodiment of apparatus for controlling the temperature of a liquid indicated generally by the reference numeral 201. The apparatus 201 has an insulated tank 202 with an insulated divider 206 dividing the tank into a slush-ice compartment 204 and beer coil compartment 203. A slush-ice compartment pump 215 is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumping water into the beer coil compartment 203. The beer coil compartment feeder pipe 222 is teed and the open end of an underwater agitating pipe 223 is located below the water in the beer coil compartment 203 for agitating water around the portion of the beer carrying coils submersed in the water. A header feeding portion 225 of the feeder pipe 222 is also teed and header portion 228 extends into a header 227 and the other slush-ice making apparatus portion 229 extends into the slush-ice making apparatus 205. The header feeding portion 225 has a valve 231 and the header portion 228 also has a valve 232.

A beer coil compartment pump 241 is submersed in the water in the beer coil compartment 203 of the tank 202 and is coupled to the header 227. The header 227 is coupled to an agitating arrangement 218 having four agitating heads 220 by an agitating arrangement feeder pipe 242 and the water delivery pipes 233 of the python (not shown) extend from the header 227. The water return pipes 234 of the python returns the water into the slush-ice compartment 204.

In use, when a predetermined water temperature is reached in the beer coil compartment 203, a thermostat closes an electric circuit and the motor of the slush-ice compartment pump 215 is powered on and valves 231 and 232 are opened. Ice-cold water is pumped through the feeder pipe 222 and into the underwater agitating pipe 223 into the water in the beer coil compartment 203 to swirl the water around the portion of the beer carrying coils submersed in the water. Ice-cold water also passes along the header portion 228 into the header 227 via valves 231 and 232 and into the slush-ice making apparatus 205 via the slush-ice making apparatus portion 229. The ice-cold water is pumped through the header 227 and into the agitating arrangement 218 and out through the four agitating heads 220. The ice-cold water is sprayed around the portions of the beer carry coils which are immersed in water in the tank 202.

A beer coil compartment pump thermostat reacts to another water temperature being reached by closing another electric circuit which sends power to the motor of the beer coil compartment pump 241 and the pump 241 pumps water up the water delivery pipes 233 of the python and back down the water return pipes 234 into the slush-ice compartment 204. An electronic control unit (not shown) can be readily incorporated to monitor the thermostats and to control the operation of the pumps 215, 241 and the valves 231 and 232 in response thereto. A landline and/or free space communications device is also readily incorporated into the electronic control unit for communication with a remote station. A refrigeration system having an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor an expansion valve and refrigerant fluid is incorporated into the slush-ice making apparatus of all embodiments and is electronically controllable.

Referring to the drawings and now to FIG. 4 there is shown a third embodiment of an apparatus for cooling beer. The apparatus is similar to the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 in that it has an insulated tank 2 having three beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 4 each of which is formed for receiving a multiple coil circuit for carrying various different types of alcoholic beverages. The tank 2 has an ice compartment 4 which also performs the function of a beer coil compartment so the primary divider 6 has been removed from the apparatus of FIG. 1. The slush-ice compartment 4 is formed for receiving slush-ice from a slush-ice making apparatus 5. Two secondary insulated dividers 12 and 14 are mounted in the insulated tank 2 and together with the insulated walls of the tank 2 forms the three beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 4. The two secondary dividers 12, 14 are formed to allow water to flow between the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 4 but to prevent the flow of slush-ice from the slush-ice compartment 4 to any of the other two beer coil compartments 3a or 3b. The height of the dividers increases from the secondary divider 12 to the secondary divider 14 to allow excess water to flow over the top of the dividers and back into the slush ice compartment 4. A slush-ice compartment pump 15 is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumping water from the slush-ice compartment 4 into the beer coil compartment 3b. A second slush-ice compartment pump 515 is submersed in the slush-ice/water combination for pumping water from the slush-ice compartment 4 into the beer coil compartment 3a. An agitating arrangement is provided for agitating water around the immersed beer coils of each of the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 4. The agitating arrangement comprises a compressor 19 with three separate feeder pipe 20a, 20b and 20c each feeding one of the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b and 4 respectively. The compressor 19 is controlled to blow air into the feeder pipes 20a, 20b and 20c even when no water is being pumped. A slush-ice making apparatus feeder pipe 25 is connected between beer coil compartment pump 615 and the slush-ice making apparatus 5 for feeding water to the slush-ice making apparatus 5.

A python pump 31 is submersed in the slush-ice/water mixture in the slush-ice compartment 4. Water return pipes 33 of the python return the water into the slush-ice compartment 4. Advantageously, the returned water does not increase the temperature of the water in contact with the beer coils in 3a or 3b which is a significant technical advance over the old ice-bank system shown in Fig. A and described in the introduction.

In use, a worm of the slush-ice making apparatus 5 feeds flaked ice into the slush-ice compartment 4 of the tank 2. A motor of the submersed slush-ice compartment pumps 15 and 515 is electronically or electrically controlled via thermostats located in the beer coil compartments 3a, and 3b and on demand, ice cold water is pumped through the feeder pipes 220a and 220b. The volumetric flow rate of ice cold water to be pumped from the ice compartment 4 to the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b to bring the compartments temperature from a measured temperature to the desired temperature when beer is flowing through the submersed coils is empirically measured during testing and the pumps are selected based on their ability to produce these flow rates. When a temperature above the desired temperature is measured by a thermostat submersed in any one of the beer coil compartments 3a, 3b an electrical circuit is completed and power is transmitted to the motor of the respective pump 15, 515. The compressor comes on at predetermined times when liquid is flowing through the coils to agitate the water around the immersed surface of the beer carrying coils. This enhances the cooling effect of the ice-cold water and further improves the efficiency of the cooling system. The thermostat measures the desired cold temperature being reached and signals the respective pump 15, 515 to turn off.

The python pump 31 is controlled by its own temperature control device and is powered on when the water in the slush-ice compartment 4 reaches a predetermined temperature in the region of 5° C. The separate temperature control device for the python pump 31 prevents warm water travelling up the water delivery pipes 32 of the python if a fault occurs in the cooling system.

An electronic control unit (not shown) can be readily incorporated for controlling the operation of the pump motors in response to signals from the thermostats. Additionally, the electronic control unit has a microcontroller and a control program stored thereon containing a set of instructions for monitoring and controlling the operation of the apparatus. A landline and/or free space communications device is also readily incorporated into the electronic control unit for communication with a remote station.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an apparatus 51 for cooling an enclosed space such as a bottle cabinet or a cold room is shown having a tank 52 with an ice compartment 54 for receiving ice from an ice making machine 55. An external circuit pump 56 is mounted in the ice compartment 54 of the tank 52 and is coupled to a heat exchanger 57 such as a finned coil mounted in the enclosed space. A fan 58 is mounted proximal to the heat exchanger 57 in the enclosed space. Advantageously, the fan 58 blows air across the heat exchanger 57 to uniformly distribute the cooling effect of the ice cold water flowing through the heat exchanger 57 throughout the enclosed space of the bottle cabinet or the cold room.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the temperature of water in a tank for cooling a liquid such as beer flowing in a multiple coil circuit submersible in the water in the tank, the apparatus comprising a tank, at least one divider dividing the tank into at least two compartments, at least one compartment being a beer coil compartment to receive the coils carrying the beer and at least one compartment being an ice compartment to receive and store ice from an ice making means, the ice making means being disposed above the ice compartment and pump means to pump water from the ice compartment into the at least one other compartment to control the temperature of water in the at least one other compartment to control the temperature of water in the at least one other compartment.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ice compartment and the at least one other compartment are beer coil compartments.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein agitating means are provided for agitating water from the tank around the beer coils.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the agitating means is coupled to the pump means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump means are submersed in the ice compartment of the tank.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump means has an associated temperature control means to switch the pump on and off when the water in the at least one beer coil compartment reaches a predetermined temperature.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ice making means is a slush-ice making means disposed adjacent the ice compartment.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a feeder pipe for feeding water to the ice making means is coupled to the pump means submersed in the water in the tank.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a python pump means is submersed in the tank and is coupled to water carrying pipes of a python for pumping cold water alongside the beer being carried in beer carrying pipes of the python.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein return water carrying pipes of the python deliver water into the ice compartment.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ice making means has an ice making electronic unit for controlling the generation and distribution of ice.

12. An apparatus as claimed in an claim 1, wherein the height of the at least one divider is less than the height of surrounding tank walls.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the agitating means has a compressor, the compressor having at least one outlet pipe with the at least one outlet pipe having a perforated end adjacent the beer coils in at least one of the beer coil compartments.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the python pump is controlled by its own temperature control device.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein an electronic control unit is incorporated for controlling the operation of the pump means in response to signals from the temperature control means.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the electronic control unit controls the operation of the compressor.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the electronic control unit has a microcontroller and a control program stored thereon containing a set of instructions for monitoring and controlling the operation of the apparatus.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the electronic control unit controls the operation of the ice making electronic unit.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electronic control unit has communication means.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the communications means allows two way communications between the electronic control unit and a remote monitoring station.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an external circuit pump means is mounted in the tank and is coupled to a heat exchanger mounted in an enclosed space distal to the tank, the pump means pumping water through the heat exchanger.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the heat exchanger is mounted in a bottle cabinet.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the heat exchanger is mounted in a cold room.

24-25. (canceled)