Fermentation cooling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017321173-A1
Application number	US-201615166651-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 27, 2016
Priority date	May 4, 2016
Publication date	Nov 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fermentation system having a vessel defining a chamber for holding liquids and including a lower aperture. An insulating jacket is disposed around the vessel. A cooling fluid is disposed between the insulating jacket and the vessel. The cooling fluid is in fluid communication with a fluid pump. A refrigerant line is wrapped around the vessel and is configured to cool the fluid and the vessel, resulting in cooling of liquids disposed in the chamber. A beverage line operably couples the lower aperture with a dispensing spigot. The beverage line is wrapped around the vessel and is at least partially submerged in the fluid. A sediment drain line is disposed below the lower aperture and configured to drain sediment that accumulates on a bottom of the vessel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fermentation system comprising:
a vessel defining a chamber for holding liquids and including a lower aperture; an insulating jacket disposed around the vessel; a cooling fluid disposed between the insulating jacket and the vessel, the cooling fluid being in fluid communication with a fluid pump; and a refrigerant line wrapped around the vessel and configured to cool the fluid and the vessel, resulting in cooling of liquids disposed in the chamber; a beverage line operably coupling the lower aperture with a dispensing spigot, the beverage line being wrapped around the vessel and at least partially submerged in the fluid; and a sediment drain line disposed below the lower aperture and configured to drain sediment that accumulates on a bottom of the vessel.

2 . The fermentation system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid includes a glycol solution.

3 . The fermentation system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel includes a conical bottom portion.

4 . The fermentation system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a collar disposed proximate the conical bottom portion of the vessel, the collar including a gasket in abutting contact with the insulating jacket.

5 . The fermentation system of claim 1 , wherein the insulating jacket includes expanded polystyrene.

6 . The fermentation system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a refrigerating unit in fluid communication with the cooling fluid and which cools and circulates the cooling fluid.

7 . The fermentation system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sediment collection device disposed on a bottom portion of the vessel.

8 . A fermentation system comprising:
a vessel defining a chamber for holding liquids and including a lower aperture; an insulating jacket disposed around the vessel; a fluid disposed between the insulating jacket and the vessel; and a refrigerant line wrapped around the vessel and configured to cool the fluid and the vessel, resulting in cooling of liquids disposed in the chamber; and a beverage line operably coupling the lower aperture with a dispensing spigot, the beverage line being wrapped around the vessel and at least partially submerged in the fluid.

9 . The fermentation system of claim 8 , wherein the dispensing spigot is operably coupled with one of a tap and a hot wort injection unit.

10 . The fermentation system of claim 9 , wherein the hot wort injection unit is configured to circulate wort through the beverage line, cooling the wort and injecting the wort into the chamber.

11 . The fermentation system of claim 8 , wherein the vessel includes an upper flange with a tap extending upwardly therefrom, the tap being operably coupled with the dispensing spigot.

12 . The fermentation system of claim 8 , wherein the vessel includes a conical bottom portion.

13 . The fermentation system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a refrigerating unit in fluid communication with the cooling fluid and which cools and circulates the cooling fluid.

14 . The fermentation system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a sediment collection device disposed on a bottom portion of the vessel.

15 . A fermentation system comprising:
a vessel defining a chamber for holding liquids; an insulating jacket disposed around the vessel; a fluid disposed between the insulating jacket and the vessel; a refrigerant line wrapped around the vessel and configured to cool the fluid and the vessel, resulting in cooling of liquids disposed in the chamber; and a sediment removal assembly disposed on a bottom of the vessel and which includes a rotatable sediment reservoir configured to expel excess sediment collected within the vessel.

16 . The fermentation system of claim 15 , wherein the vessel includes an upper flange with a tap extending upwardly therefrom, the tap being operably coupled with the dispensing spigot.

17 . The fermentation system of claim 15 , wherein the sediment removal assembly includes a stopper that moves linearly within the rotatable sediment reservoir when excess sediment is expelled.

18 . The fermentation system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a refrigerating unit in fluid communication with the fluid and which cools and circulates the fluid.

19 . The fermentation system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a sediment collection device disposed on a bottom portion of the vessel.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Glasgow Justin
• Murrin Ryan S
• Scherzer Michael J

Classifications

• C12C11/006 Primary

  Fermentation tanks therefor · CPC title

• F16K5/06

  with plugs having spherical surfaces; Packings therefor · CPC title

• C12C13/10

  Home brew equipment · CPC title

• C12C11/003

  Fermentation of beerwort · CPC title