CA2609771A1 - Vessel having co2 compressed gas source - Google Patents

Abstract

The pressurized CO2 gas source is an insert which can be attached with sealing in an orifice of the vessel. The insert has a high-pressure CO2 cartridge (14), a pressure control valve for delivering CO2 therefrom and a rotary knob (24) accessible from the outside. The rotary knob (24) interacts with an axial pusher (40), actuation of which allows the high-pressure CO2 cartridge (14) to be pierced by a piercing needle (34).

Description

pcTIE.la20061005 089 1 Vessel having CO1 compr~.ssed gas source Description The invent-ion relates to a vessel. that can 1ae filled with liquid and closed in pressure-tight condi.tion, and from wh.ich liquid can be withdrawn. Examples of such vessels are drums, small drums (party kegs) or cans, in which CO~-containzng liquids, especially bevexages, are filled under pressure. In particular, it relates to party beer kegs.

There exist tap fittings that operate with high-pressure GOs cartridges and that can be used to tap such vessels in order to withdraw liquid therefrom by means of C02 pressure. This corresponds to the staridard tapping technique in gastronomy, wherein CO2 .from high-pressure CO2 boLtles is used and very good wholesomeness and shelf life of the beer are achieved.

In some consumer groups, however, tap fittings with COz high-pressure cartridges have not become popular. For persons who buy party beer kegs only occasionally, it is not worthwhile to procure an expensive tap fitting. Some people are even uncomfortable handling high-pressure COZ cartridges. Others worry about the replacement supply of cartr.;i.dgos.

There have therefore been developed party beer kegs equipped with an integrated outlet tap in the bottom region of thc keg, whereby the beer can he drawn by the internal pressure and gravity alone. UsUally air is admitted to the party keg above the liquid surface therein, in order to permit pressure equal.ization. This can be achieved by puncturing with a can opener. Howevor, other party beer kegs have an integrated outlet tap and a hand-operated air-admission valve in the top end plate of the keg, forming part of a bunghole closure (see VJO 99/23008 A1) _ A disadvantage of such party kegs is that the wSiolesomencss and srielf life of the beer are impaired by the ingress of air into the top space of the keg_ When a party keg of this type is tapped, the contents must be consumed quickly, so 'that the bc-er does not become flat and stale.

Several suggestions have been made as regards improving the shelf life of beer in a tapped party keg. For examp].c, WO 99/4%451 Al teaches integrating ari aerosol can that contains CO2 bound to active earbon under low pressure into the party keg and building up a CO-2 pressure in the top space of trLe keg sufficient to equal or e5cceed the partial pressure of the CO2 dissolvea in the beer. A disadvantage is the large volume of the can.

From DE 19952379 Al L-here is known a COa dispenser for party kegs in the form of a separa'te manual device, with which L'he party keg is pierced above the liquid surface therein in order to pump CO~ into the top space of the keg.
TYie dispenser contains a high-pressure CCZ cartridge and a pr.essure-regulating valve. Zt is intended for multiple uses arnd can be L=ransferred from party keg to party keg. Even if the CO2 consumption may be smaller than in the case of a tap fitting operating with COl, such a CO2 dispenser ulta.rnately raises similar concerns in consumer groups.

From practice it is also known that there can be introduced into the top space of a party beer keg a pressure bag, which expands when the pressure in the top space drops, thereby on the one hand filling the empty space being formed and on the other hand exerting a contact pressur.e on the liquid surface in the keg greater than the partial pressure of the CD2 dissolved in the beer. The pressure bag comprises multiple plies of plastic film that is impermeable to oY,ygen di'L"fusion. It has a plurality of chambers that eontain gas-formirig chemicals, such as baking powder and citric acid. The chambers are successively activated as the pressure drops in the top space of the party keg and are inflated by the gas evolved during the reaction of the chemicals.

A disadvantage of the lcnown pressure bag is the un.stcady application of pressure on the beer. The -o'ressure rises suddenly when the respective next chamber of the pressure bag is activated, and it then drops successively. This results zn irregular tap behavior. T'he tap behavior fluctuates betwecn discharge of the beer in a strong sLream and a mere trickle.

The object of the inventiori is to provide a vessel of the type mentioned hereinabove having an integrated compressed COZ gas source of small overall volume, ~rom which dischurged COz exerts a steady pressure on the liquid in the vessel and improves its shclf life and wholesomeness.

This object is achieved by a vessel having an insert that can be fixed in sealed manner in an opening of the vessel and a high-pressurc CG2 car.tridge, a pressure-regulating valve for discharging CQ2 therefrom and a control element that is accessible from the outside and that can be actuated to pierce the high-pressure CO2 cartridge with a piercing needle. The con-L'roI clement is a rotary knob, which cooperates with an axially guided slide for actuating the piercing needle.

By virtue of its small overall volume, the insert is suitable for replacing the bunghole closure with pressure-equalizing valve according to WO 99/23008 Al, without necessita'ting any substantial modifications to the shape and size of the respective vessel to be equipped therewith, such as a party beer keg_ The processes at a filling plant are altered slightly at most. The insert can be rnade of plastic materials, which for years have proved most suitable for a bunghole closure with pressure-equalizing valve and an outlet tap. The configuration of the control element as a rotary knob corresponds to that of the widely used pressure-equalizing valve according to WQ 99/23008 Al. The operation of the compressed COZ gas source is routinely so siraple that a user familiar with actuation of a conventional pressure-equalizing valve hardly notices any difference. The user does not directly handle a high-pressuxe CO2 cartridge, which would probably make him uncomfortable. The cartridgc is designed for one-time use in a single vessel and will be disposed of together therewith. In particular, the shelf life o~ beer in a tapped party kog will be extended by several days without concern by filling the top space with COz instead of air.

Commercial pierceable COZ cartridges in a size suitable for the inventive compressed CO~ gas source contain approximately 16 g of CO2 at a pressure of approximately 80 bar. The reduction and precise regulation of the pressure of the COn discharged into the top space of Lhe Vessel imposes considerable requirements on the construction of a compressed CO2 gas sourcc in the form of a compact insert. The pressure is r-ypically between 0.-11 and 0.7 ba.1r_ It ia equal to or slightly higher LTan the partial pressure of the CO2 dis=solved in the lic3uid.

Especially for beer, the CO~7 content is one of the factors that dotermiries the taste. The CO2 content varies from bccr variety to beer variety_ If the C02 pressure in the top space of the party keg is too low, COz escapes Lrom the becr. If the C02 pressure in the top space is too high, the beer becomes overcar.bonated and its taste and wholesomeness are impaired. The compressed C02 gas source described in detail hereinafter ensures Lhdt ricither one nor the other occurs.

zn a preferred embodiment, the rULary Icnob is mounted to rotatc in axial3.y fixed manner. The rotary knob and the slide are in contact with inclined surfaces extending in circumferential direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the inclined surfaces ri.~c with the same slope, in proportion to 'the circum~crential angle. The inclined surfaces merge into one another at step-like axial setbacks.

In a preferred embodiment, four inclined surfaces disposed in a square configuration are provided.

In a preferred embodiment, the slide comes into flush contact with the pa.erci.ng needle during piercing of the high-pressure CO2 cartridge, such that end face is against end face.

In a preferred embodiment, the piercing needle for piercing the high-pressuzn COZ cartridge is structural.ly combined with a valve member of tkie pressure-regulating valve, which is ax.ially adjustable between a sealing position erd a passing position at a v8ive seat of the pressure-regulating valve.

Iri a preferred errmbodiment, the pressure-regulating va7.ve has a laLeraT.
outle't opening, in front of which there i.s disposed an annular elastic sleeve having non-return functiori. The slF:evQ ensures that no liquid can enter the 9 nscrt .
An elastic 0-ring may also be used for the same purpose.

in a preferred embodiment, the piercing needle occupies a sealing position directly downstrc-am from the valve seat of the pressure-regulating valve just before piercing takes place. Thereby the volume of the valve space to which the maximum pressure of the high-pressure CO2 cartridge is admitted after it has been pierced is very small.

In a preferred embodiment, the vessel has a tightly sealed chamber, in which the head of the high-pressure C42 cartridge has a snug fit at the opening of the vessel. The tight seal of the chamber is preferred for hygiene reasons.

in a preferred embodiment, the chamber is closed with a bottom cover, wrich is welded or bolted to the wall of the chamber. The joint is tight. The high-pressure CO2 cartridge does not come into contact with the liquid constitu.ting the contents of the vessel.

In a preferred embodiment, the high-pressure CO2 cartridge is sealed against the wall of the chamber, around the circumference of its small dianleter nec.)c.
Thereby the axial lorces ta which the cartridge .i.s subjected during piercing are limited-In a preferred embocli.ment, the insert occupies a top opening of tYie vessel.
The Co? from the high-pressure CO2 caTtridge is discharged into a top space of the vessel above the liquid sur:Face therein.

I:n a preferred erfibodiment, the opening that rer.:eivc-:s the insrrrt is a bunghole, through which the vessel is fillcd with liquid. The insert functioris as t.he bunghole closure-The CO2 from the high-pressure CO2 cartridge can be discharged into the top space of the vessel dbove the liquid su_,'face thex'ein. However, it is also possible to c.onnr-,c:t a pressure bag to the insert. The pressure bag is pulled on by applying vacuum to the housing of the insert and is tightly heat-sealed to the housing. The pressure bag is ultimately ciisposed in d1 t'e4t contact with the housing of t1'ie insert in the interior of the vessel. It is inflated by the discharged CO2. Compared wiL.h the prior art pressure bag rnentioned hercinabove, the advantage is tYien achieved that the filling pres=surc- nf the pressure bag is constant, or in o'Lher words riq pressure fluctuations and irregulariLies in tapping behavior occur. The filling pressurc can bc set at_ a somewhat higher value thdn uhe partial pressure of the Cd2 dissolved in tl1e liquic,i, which pressure therefore remains completely unaffected and neutral as regards taste.

In the variant with the pressure bag, a compressed gas other than C02 may dJ.so be injected from a high-pressure cartridge.

In a preferred emL+odimen't;, the vessel has an outlet tap at the bottom.
Withdrawal of the 1iquid tl,.c-n takcs place by iriternal pressure and the effect of gravity. The COZ from the high-pressure CO2 cartridge prevents a reduced prpssure from developing in the top space of the vCssel. This is possa.,talc in the variatits with and without pressure bag.

In the variant with the pressure bag, Lhe vessel can have, insteaCl of the outlet tap, a top spigot to which there leads a riser line extending L'o the bottom of the vessel. The liquid is conveyed by the pressure of the CO?
discharged from the high-pxessure CO2 cartridge to the spi.got- Tapping aL
t.hc top of the vessel is more convenient than at the bottom.

In a preierred embodirnent, an ouLlet spout together with a hose connection is provided on Lhe outside of the spigot. The outlct spout is added. to the vessel as a scparate part. it is clipped onto the said vessel afl:er the spigot has been removed.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a compresscd CO;2 gas source in longitudinal section;
Fig. 2 shows the side view of a cut-away vessel containing thc compressed CO2 gas saurce, to which a pressure bog is connected, as a bunghole closure;
Fig. 3 shows the corresponding view of a vessel containing the compressed.
CO; gas source in a separate opening of the top enGl plate of the vessel; and Fi.g. 4 shows the corresponding view of a vessel containing the compressed CO2 gas source in an opening of the bottom end plate of the vessel.
The compressed COz gas sourc;e shown in Fig. 1 is constructed as an insert, which fits in the bunghole of a vessel, extends into the vesse.l. and tightly closes the bunghole. The compressed CO2 gas source can take the place of the bunghole closure with pressure-equalizing valve according to Wo 99/23008 Al.
The vessel is filled under pressu,re with COZ-Containing liquid through the bunghole usually disposed at the middlc= of its top end pla-te. Thereafter thc bunghole is tightly closed with the insert. To withdraw the liqu.icl, there Caii be used an integrated outlet tap, which is disposed on the side wall of the vessel at the height of thc bottom end plate thereof. The liquid flows out under the action of internal pressure and gravity, until. a reduced pressure is reached .in the top space of the vessel above the liquid surface therein. To adjust this correctly and mazntain it in controlled manner, the compressed Co1 gas source is activated. The compressed COz gas source injects CO2 into the top space of the vessel under a pressure that corresponds to the pa.r.tial pressure of the COz dissolved in the liquid or that slightly exceeds this partial pressure. Thereby steady emptying of the vessel ia ensured. No air is admitted into the top space of tYic vessel. The C02 content of the liquid remains constant.

e The insert has slender elongated shape, and for the inost part is radially symmetric relative to a central axis. It is made largely of plastic. Th.e plastic materials used for its manufacturc have proved effective for years for bunghole closures and outlet taps of relevant vessels. The two-component plastic injectiori-molding technique can be used for manu.facLure. The nard, inflexible plastic parts arc-, shown as hatched areas in the drawing, and the soft, elastic plastic parts are illustrated as so7.id black areas.

When the insert is in installed condition, closing the bunghole of the vessel., it projects with a housing 10 into the vessel. At its insidc end housing 10 has a chamber 12 for receiving a high-pressure C02 cartridge 14 in a snug rit, The head of cartridge 14, at the end face of which it can be pierced~ is proximal to the bunghole. Cartridge 14 has its smallest diameter at a straight cylindrical neck. Here it is sealed with a circumferer~'Lial seal 16 against the wall of housing 10.

The inside end of chamber 12 is olosed with a cover 18, which is welded or bolted to the wall of housing 10.

Elousing ]-0 is supported externally with a circumFerential collar 20 on the beaded rim of the bunghole. On collar 20 there is formed a seal 22, with which the inscrt seals the bunghole-2~L rotary knob 24 countersunk in housing 10 protrudes outwardly beyond collar 20, and can be actuated to pierce the CO2 cartridge. By means of a circumferential shoulder 26 tha=t projects radially outward, rotary knob 24 is mountcd in a circumferential groove of housing 10 to rotatG in axially f:ixcd manner.

A pull tab 30, which can 1De bent upward, is linked by a. film hinge 26 to the outer end face of rotary knob 24. Pull tab 30 is connected to rotary knob 29 via predetermined break points, which break in clearly visa.ble manner when first bent upward. Thc predetermined break points constitute a L-ainper-proor aeal.

To piercc- CO_ cartridge 14 there is used a piercing needle 34, which is structurally Combined with 'Lhe valve mernber of a pressure-regu-lating valve.
The valve member is mour,ted togethcr with an el-35tic diaphragm 36 at t_he center of the dris of housing 10. 'T'he tip of piercing needle 34 is dispased only a short distance from Llie end Lace of COz c:a.r.,tridg4 14.

During axial positioning movement of piercing needle 34 on CO2 cartridge 14, the valve member lifts from a valve seat 38 of the pressure-regulating valve.
Valve seat 38 is madc from elastic sealing mate.r.ial and molded onto housing 10.

Piercing needle 34 is urged by a slide 40, which is disposed between rotary knob 24 and piercing needle 34. Slide 40 is guid'd in longitudinal sliding relationship in houSing 10. For this purpuse Ltiei'e are used canis 42, which extend radially outward frora tho surfacc of slide 40 and engage in ax.i.al grooves 44 of housing 7Ø

Rotary knob 24 and slxde 40 are in contact with inclined surfaces 46 exteriding in circumferential ctirectiori. Four inclined surfaces 46 disposed in a square confiquraClon are provided, rising wi'th Lhe sdnie slope in proportion to the circumferential angle and merging into one another at step-like axi.al setbacks. Slide 40 is displaced axially by turning rptary knob 24.

A helical compression spring 48 is clamped between s1a.Ge 40 and piercing needle 34. The helical compression spring is disposed around a central, p.Lug like extensiori 50 on the outside of pierc.i.ng necdle 34 distal from diaphragm 36 and around a central., axial tappet 52 on the inside of 57.id4 40.
Extension 50 and tappet 52 havc plane end faces, which are di~posed opposite one another with a short distance betweei,. Before piercing takes place, therefore, slicle 40 is kept apart from piercing needle 34 by means of helical compression spring 98.

Diaphragm 36 bounds a working space 54 downstxeam from valve seat 38 of the pressure-regulating valve. Working space 54 has a lateral outlet opening 56, in front of which there is disposed an annular elastic sleeve 58_ S3,eeve 56 has the functior, of a non-return valve. It prevenL=s liquid from entering Lhe i,nsert.

To pierce C(~Z cartridge 14, pull tab 30 is bent upwurd and rotar.y knob 24 is turned by approximately 90 . S1ide 40 is moved axially inward against the force of helical compression spring 48. Its tappet 52 comes into flush contact with extension 50 of piercing needle 34, such that one end face is against the other end face. Piercing needle 34 is moved axially inward under elastic deformation of d.iaphragrn 36. Just before it achieves piercing, it occupies a sealing position on a seal 60 directly downstream from valve seat 38 of the pressure-regulating valve. 1'he valve member lifts from valve seat 38. Aftcr piercing, a very small valve space 62 upstream from the head of CO_ cartridge 14 fills with CO2 under high pressure.

After rotary knob 24 has turned a complete 90 or rnorc;!, slidG 40 springs axially back outward under the force ef helical conipression spring 48.
Piercing needle 34 is also retracted axia.lly by the elastic return deformation of diaphragm 36, the pressure-regulating valve is closed and a small amount of CO2 under high pressure is admitted into working space 54. Further opening and closing of the pressure-regulating valve is determined by an equilabrium of forces across diaphragm 36, established by the elastic properties of diaphraqrct 36, the spring constant of helical cempression spring 48 ar,d thc Co, pressure in working space 54. The de=termining factor for the pressure of the disoharged CO2 is the spring constant of helical compression spring 48.

Usually the user will activate the cgmpressed Co2 gas source when the internal pressure in the vessel has dropped so much that the stream of liquid emerging through the outlet tap is too weak. Howevez, thF compressed CU2 gas source can already be activated beforehand without difficulty even if the .'tnternal pr.essure in the vessel is still high. Intxoduction of CO2 into the top space of 'the vessel does not talce place as long as the high internal pressure is acting on sleeve 58 in front of out;let opening 56.

According to Fig. 2 to Fig. 4, sleeve 58 is cmitted. Instead, the compressed CO? gas source is connected to a pressure bag 66, which surrouncis housing 10 and can be inflated by the discharged CO2.

instead of an outlet tap, the vessel has an integrated spigot 68, which is disposed on the side wall of the vessel at the height of its top end plate. A
riser line 70 that ex.tends to the bottom end plate of the vessel, leads to spigot 68. Riser line 70 has surface holes 72 in the manner of a drainage line. An actuating part 74 and an outlet spout 76 together with a hose conncction are provided extE.x'nally on spigot 68.

In Fig. 2, the compressed COz gas source functions as a bunghole closure of a bunghole, which is disposed at the center of the top end plate of the vessel arid is used for filling the vessel. In Fig. 3, the compressed Co: gas source is seat-ed in a separate lateral opening of the top end pl.ate of the vessel, and in Fig. 4 it is seated in an opening of the bottom cnd plate of the vessel_ LiSt of reference numerals Housing 56 Outlet opening 12 Chamber 58 Sleeve 14 High-pressure CO; cartridge 60 Seal tor need,4e 16 Seal on cartridge 62 Valve spaca 18 Cover 66 Pressure bag Collar 68 Spigot 22 Seal on collar 70 Riser line 24 Rotary knob 72 Surface hole 26 Shouldcr 74 Actuating part 28 Film hinge 76 Outlet spout Pull tab 34 Piercirig need].e 36 Diaphragm 38 Valve seat Slide 42 Cam 44 Axial groove 46 Inclined surface 93 Helical compzession spring Fr.tension 52 Tappet 54 Wo.rking space

Claims (17)

1. A vessel that can be filled with liquid and closed in pressure-tight condition, and from which liquid can be withdrawn, which vessel has an insert that can be fixed in sealed manner in an opening of the vessel and a high-pressure CO2 cartridge (14), a pressure-regulating valve for discharging CO2 therefrom and a control element that is accessible from the outside and that can be actuated to pierce the high-pressure CO2 cartridge with a piercing needle (34), characterized in that the control element is a rotary knob (24), which cooperates with an axially guided slide (40) for actuating the piercing needle (34).

2. A vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary knob (24) is mounted to rotate in axially fixed manner, and in that the rotary knob (24) and the slide (40) are in contact with inclined surfaces (46) extending in circumferential direction.

3. A vessel according to claim 2, characterized in that the inclined surfaces (46) rise with the same slope, in proportion to the circumferential angle, and merge into one another at step-like axial setbacks.

4. A vessel according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by four inclined surfaces (46) disposed in a square configuration.

5. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the slide (40) comes into flush contact with the piercing needle (34) during piercing of the high-pressure CO2 cartridge (14), such that end face is against end face.

6. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the piercing needle (34) is structurally combined with a valve member of the pressure-regulating valve, which is axially adjustable between a sealing position and a passing position at a valve seat (38) of the pressure-regulating valve.

7. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pressure-regulating valve has a lateral outlet opening (56), in front of which there is disposed an annular elastic sleeve (58) or an O-ring having non-return function.

8. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the piercing needle (34) occupies a sealing position directly downstream from the valve seat (38) of the pressure-regulating valve just before piercing takes place.

9. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a tightly sealed chamber (12), in which the head of the high-pressure CO2 cartridge (14) has a snug fit at the opening.

10. A vessel according to claim 9, characterized in that the chamber (12) is closed with a bottom cover (18), which is welded or bolted to the wall of the chamber (12).

11. A vessel according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the high-pressure CO2 cartridge (14) is sealed against the wall of the chamber (12), around the circumference of its small diameter neck.

12. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the insert occupies a top opening of the vessel, and in that the CO2 from the high-pressure CO2 cartridge (14) can be discharged into a top space of the vessel above the liquid surface therein.

13. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the opening is a bunghole, through which the vessel can be filled with liquid, and in that the insert functions as the bunghole closure.

14. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a pressure bag (66), which can be inflated by the discharged CO2, is connected to the insert.

15 15. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it has an outlet tap at the bottom.

16. A vessel according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it has a top spigot (68), to which there leads a riser line (70) extending to the bottom of the vessel.

17. A vessel according to claim 16, characterized in that an outlet spout (76) together with a hose connection is provided on the outside of the spigot (68).