DE102020102112A1 - Device for removing a liquid from a container with an integrated propellant gas section - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (20) for removing a liquid from a container (10), which has a liquid section (11) for receiving a liquid, preferably a drink, and a gas section (12) for receiving a propellant gas, preferably carbon dioxide, with a gas valve section (14) on the container side ), wherein the device (20) has: a mounting section (24) which is set up to realize a mechanical and functional connection of the device (20) to the container (10) in an assembled state; and an extraction-side gas valve section (25) which, in the assembled state, is connected to the container-side gas valve section (14) in such a way that they together form a gas passage (30a) which enables the propellant gas to be extracted from the gas section (12); characterized in that the gas valve section (25) on the extraction side is designed to be movable, preferably pivotable, relative to the mounting section (24).

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a device for removing a liquid from a container, which has a liquid section for holding a liquid, preferably a drink, and a gas section for holding a propellant gas, preferably carbon dioxide, with a gas valve section on the container side. The invention also relates to a system comprising such a container and a mounted device for removing the liquid from the container.

Background of the invention

Various types of containers are used for the transport and storage of liquids, in particular beverages such as beer, soft drinks and the like, for example reusable barrels such as so-called “kegs”. The mostly cylindrical barrels have a valve in the center on the upper side, which can be connected to a dispensing system for drawing off the liquid.

The dispensing system includes a dispensing head that feeds a propellant gas (mostly carbon dioxide) into the keg. The propellant gas creates an overpressure in the barrel, which means that when the tap is opened, the contents are pushed out through a pipe inside the barrel and can thus be tapped or removed. Since part of the propellant gas always escapes when the liquid is drawn off, which is quite desirable in the case of beverages containing carbon dioxide and, for example, for foam formation in beer, propellant gas must be added from an external container during the course of the liquid withdrawal. Barrels and dispensing systems of this type go, for example, from the EP 3 447 024 A1 and the DE 601 15 023 T2 emerged.

The provision of the propellant gas requires that a separate gas container, such as a gas bottle, must be connected to the gas supply of the dispensing head via a pressure reducing valve. In order to avoid this additional work step, which also harbors the risk of a faulty connection, it was proposed to integrate the gas container in the barrel. This can be achieved by welding a high-pressure container for liquefied gas into the barrel, cf. DE 89 07 059 U1 . Alternatively, an additional chamber for the propellant gas can be provided in the barrel by means of a partition wall, as it is from the DE 201 15 158 U1 emerges.

One advantage of integrated propellant gas containers is that the dispensing head can be installed quickly and easily, since there is no need to connect a propellant gas container separately. However, it can happen that the gas connection is not reliably made or is not reliably maintained due to manufacturing tolerances, for example due to a slight change in the curvature of the top of the barrel in the course of the spigot, so that gas can inadvertently escape despite any sealing precautions or a defect in the gas connection is the result .

Presentation of the invention

Based on the known prior art, one object of the invention is to improve the applicability and reliability of a device for withdrawing a liquid from a container.

The object is achieved with a device with the features of claim 1 and a system with the features of the quasi-independent claim 11. Advantageous developments follow from the subclaims, the following presentation of the invention and the description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

The device, also referred to herein as a “removal device”, is used to remove a liquid from a container which has a liquid section for receiving a liquid and a gas section for receiving a propellant gas. Particularly preferred liquids are beverages, such as, for example, water, beer, soft drinks, sparkling wine, wine, mixed drinks or the like. The propellant gas can be present as liquid gas in the gas section. The propellant gas, preferably carbon dioxide, serves for any enrichment of the liquid and to support the transport of the liquid out of the container by putting the liquid section under pressure. For this purpose, the container has a gas valve section on the container side, which is used to remove the propellant gas from the gas section.

The gas section and the liquid section are preferably provided as separate chambers in the container. The container itself is, for example, a barrel, preferably a reusable barrel.

The device according to the invention has an assembly section which is set up in order to realize a mechanical and functional connection of the device to the container in an assembled state. The assembly section can be shaped and set up in such a way that the removal device is mounted or mountable on the upper portion of the container, for example on the lid of a possible barrel. In this way, the removal device forms, so to speak, one modular hood, whereby the overall system of container and removal device can be made particularly compact and the assembly of the removal device can be carried out easily. The removal device therefore does not have to encompass the entire container or large parts of it. The assembly section can be part of a housing of the removal device or form such a housing. The assembly section is preferably set up in such a way that assembly is only possible in a well-defined position and orientation in order to ensure correct connection to a liquid / gas valve section of the container and to the gas valve section on the container side.

The device according to the invention furthermore has a gas valve section on the extraction side which, in the assembled state, is connected to the gas valve portion on the container side in such a way that they jointly form a gas passage which enables the propellant gas to be extracted from the gas section.

According to the invention, the gas valve section on the withdrawal side is designed to be movable, preferably pivotable. The mobility can be seen relative to stationary sections of the extraction device or of the container in the assembled state, such as relative to the assembly section or housing of the extraction device.

Since the gas valve section on the extraction side is designed to be movable by a certain amount, manufacturing tolerances that occur during the manufacture of the container and / or the extraction device can be compensated for. This ensures a gas-tight and reliable connection. Furthermore, inaccuracies in the assembly of the extraction device as well as any changes in the shape and nature of the container wall in particular can be compensated for in the course of the use of the extraction device, so that there is always a reliable coupling of the gas valve section on the container side with the gas valve section on the extraction side, without any leakage or closure there is a defect in the gas valve.

The gas valve section on the extraction side preferably comprises a connection section which is designed to enter into a mechanical connection with the gas valve section on the container side in the assembled state, and a housing section which is stationary relative to the mounting section and in which the connection section is accommodated with play so that the connection section is movable relative to the housing section , preferably pivotable. In this way, the above-mentioned compensation for deviations from different causes can be implemented in a simple and reliable manner in terms of mechanical engineering.

The connection section preferably comprises a connection-side flange and the housing section comprises a housing base with a recess through which the connection section passes in sections, the recess forming a housing-side flange which is in contact with the connection-side flange and cooperates to realize the mobility of the connection section. This ensures that, despite the play of the connection section in the housing section, the basic position and location of the connection section is maintained in order to ensure that the removal device can be easily and reliably installed.

The flange on the connection side and / or the flange on the housing side preferably has a non-planar, for example spherical shell-shaped, contact surface. The “contact surface” here means that surface of a flange that is in contact with the other flange. In this way, well-defined degrees of freedom of the permissible mobility, in particular pivotability, of the connection section can be implemented in a structurally simple and reliable manner.

The gas valve section on the extraction side preferably has a spring, for example a spiral spring, which is set up to press the connection section against the housing base. The spring has a stabilizing effect here, so that the pivoting of the connection section takes place against a certain resistance. The spring also has a centering effect, so that the connection section is preloaded into a central, for example vertical, position, which simplifies the assembly of the removal device.

The connection section is preferably designed to be displaceable in the plane of the housing bottom. A possible compensating movement can thus be implemented by changing the position of the connecting section. This can be achieved by appropriately dimensioning the recess in the housing base and the flanges.

The connection section is preferably mounted in the housing section in such a way that it can be pivoted, at most by an angle α, the pivotability in this case particularly preferably comprising at least two degrees of freedom. In this way, the spatial alignment of the connection section can be regulated, which is particularly useful for compensating for the possible tolerances and deviations (manufacturing-related, assembly, changes in the course of use) addressed here. The pivotability includes here at least one degree of freedom, ie it takes place about a pivot axis; however, it preferably comprises at least two degrees of freedom, so that the connection section can be tilted by a certain amount in all directions like a ball-bearing joystick. The pivotability or tiltability can be made structurally simple in that, as mentioned above, the flanges do not lie flat on top of one another, but rather at least one of the flanges has a non-flat, for example spherical-shell-shaped, contact surface.

The extraction device preferably also has a liquid / gas connection which, in the assembled state, is connected to a liquid / gas valve section of the container, ie the liquid / gas connection and the liquid / gas valve section are mechanically connected and in fluid communication in the assembled state, whereby a withdrawal of the liquid from the liquid section of the container is made possible directly via the withdrawal device. In other words, the extraction device synergistically takes on the function of a tap head; a separate tap head is not required.

The extraction device is preferably set up to connect the gas valve section on the container side via the gas valve section on the extraction side to a gas part of the liquid / gas valve section in the assembled state, whereby propellant gas can be supplied to the liquid portion of the container if necessary, preferably during each extraction process by actuating a tap actuation means of the extraction device . In this way, the liquid in the container is always kept under sufficient pressure to enable the liquid to be withdrawn or tapped.

The extraction device is preferably designed to connect a liquid part of the liquid / gas valve section to a dispensing valve of the extraction device in the assembled state, whereby liquid enriched with propellant gas can be withdrawn from a dispensing opening of the device as required. In this way, the dispensing device can be used like a conventional dispensing system, it being a modular and compact alternative.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a system which has: a container which has a liquid section for holding a liquid, preferably a beverage, and a gas section for holding a propellant gas, preferably carbon dioxide, with a gas valve section on the container side; and a device for removing a liquid from the container according to one of the embodiments described above. The extraction device is mounted on the container in such a way that the extraction-side gas valve section is connected to the tank-side gas valve section in such a way that they jointly form a gas passage which enables the propellant gas to be extracted from the gas section.

The features, technical effects, advantages and exemplary embodiments that have been described in relation to the extraction device apply analogously to the system comprising extraction device and container

For the reasons mentioned above, the container preferably comprises a liquid / gas valve section, which is arranged, for example, centrally in a lid or an upper section of the container, as well as a tube which is in fluid connection with the liquid / gas valve section and into the interior of the liquid portion of the container protrudes.

The gas section of the container is preferably separated from the liquid section by a bell-shaped partition wall, whereby the container is separated into two chambers in a structurally stable manner, which are also easily accessible through the removal device.

The container is preferably a barrel, in particular a reusable barrel. The container can have the design of a so-called “keg”, which makes it compatible with existing systems and devices, for example for cleaning and filling the container.

In addition, further advantages and features of the invention can be seen from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments. The features described therein can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the above features, provided that the features do not contradict one another. The description of preferred exemplary embodiments takes place with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure list

• 1 ein System mit einem Behälter und einer montierten Entnahmevorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 2a eine Teilansicht eines Gasventils mit einem behälterseitigen Gasventilabschnitt und einem entnahmeseitigen Gasventilabschnitts in einem ersten Zustand; und
• 2b eine Teilansicht eines Gasventils mit einem behälterseitigen Gasventilabschnitt und einem entnahmeseitigen Gasventilabschnitts in einem zweiten Zustand.

Preferred further exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Show:

• 1 a system with a container and a mounted removal device according to an embodiment;
• 2a a partial view of a gas valve with a container-side gas valve portion and a discharge-side gas valve portion in a first state; and
• 2 B a partial view of a gas valve with a container-side gas valve section and a withdrawal-side gas valve section in a second state.

Detailed description of preferred exemplary embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar or identically acting elements are provided with identical reference symbols in the figures, and a repetitive description of these elements is in some cases dispensed with in order to avoid redundancy.

the 1 shows a cross section through a system 1 with a container 10 and a device mounted thereon 20th for removing a liquid from the container 10 . The device 20th is also referred to herein as a "removal device".

The container 10 has a liquid section 11 for receiving a liquid to be stored and, if necessary, dispensed or tapped, as well as a gas section 12th on, which contains a propellant gas or compressed gas, which is preferably as liquid gas in the gas section 12th is present.

Particularly preferred liquids are beverages, such as, for example, water, beer, soft drinks, sparkling wine, wine, mixed drinks or the like. The propellant gas, preferably carbon dioxide, is used for any enrichment of the liquid and to support the transport of the liquid out of the container 10 as detailed below.

It should be noted that the container 10 is also suitable for absorbing other liquids, such as paints, and other propellant gases, such as nitrogen.

The container 10 has a cylindrical shape in the present embodiment, the gas section 12th through a bell-shaped partition 13th from the liquid section 11 is separated. This is how the gas section is 12th in the container 10 integrated so that a separate propellant gas container, such as a gas cylinder or a disposable cartridge, can be dispensed with.

Of course, the gas section 12th be designed differently, provided that it is ensured that from the outside, ie from outside the container 10 , via a gas valve section on the container side 14th can be accessed. The tank-side gas valve section 14th penetrates through the wall of the container 10 and thus allows access to the gas section 12th . The tank-side gas valve section 14th can be a stand-alone valve to open and close access to the gas section 12th be or such together with components of the removal device 20th form.

The container 10 further includes a liquid / gas valve portion 15th on, which is preferably centrally in the upper section, ie in the lid of the container 10 is arranged. The liquid / gas valve section 15th can be a stand-alone valve to open and close the access to the liquid section 11 be or such together with components of the removal device 20th form. The liquid / gas valve section 15th is with a pipe 16 connected in fluid communication going into the interior of the liquid section 11 of the container 10 protrudes.

The extraction device 20th , which also functions here as a “tap head”, has a liquid / gas connection 26th on, which in the assembled state is in fluid communication with the liquid / gas valve section 15th connected is.

The extraction device 20th In the assembled state, it also connects the gas valve section on the container side 14th with a gas part of the liquid / gas valve section 15th , creating the liquid section 11 propellant gas can be supplied if necessary, preferably during each removal process by actuating a tap actuation means 21 the removal device 20th . In the present exemplary embodiment, the dispensing actuation means is a lever, but it can also be a switch, a button on a display, a rotary knob or the like. The extraction device 20th in the assembled state further connects a liquid part of the liquid / gas valve section 15th with a nozzle 22nd the removal device 20th . The nozzle 22nd becomes when the dispensing actuation means is actuated 21 opened / closed, whereby liquid enriched with propellant gas from a tap or a tap opening 23 flows out if necessary and can thus be removed.

The extraction device 20th has a mounting section 24 on over which the removal device 20th with the container 10 is mechanically and functionally connectable. The mounting section is preferably 24 shaped and set up so that the removal device 20th as in the present embodiment on the upper portion of the container 10 mounted or mountable. In this way, the removal device forms 20th in a sense a modular lid or a modular hood, which makes the system 1 can be made particularly compact and the assembly of the removal device 20th is easy to do. The extraction device 20th does not have to cover the entire container 10 or include large parts of the same. the Mounting section 24 can be part of a housing of the extraction device 20th be or train one. The mounting section is preferably 24 set up in such a way that assembly is only possible in a well-defined position and orientation in order to ensure correct connection to the liquid / gas valve section 15th and the gas valve section on the container side 14th to ensure.

The extraction device 20th has a discharge-side gas valve section 25th on, the one in the assembled state with the gas valve section on the container side 14th is in fluid connection and with this jointly a gas passage 30a or a gas valve 30th with such a gas passage 30a trains. The gas valve 30th is in the 2a and 2 B shown enlarged.

With reference to the 2a comprises the extraction-side gas valve section 25th of the gas valve 30th a connection section 31 , a preferably cylindrical member that is adapted to engage with the tank-side gas valve portion 14th enter into a reliable mechanical and fluid-tight connection.

For this purpose, the connection section comprises 31 preferably a cylindrical receiving section 31a , the fluid-tight receiving of a cylindrical counterpart of the container-side gas valve section 14th is set up. The receiving section 31a can expand towards the container side in order to simplify the introduction of the container-side counterpart and to enable self-centering.

The gas valve section on the extraction side 25th further comprises a gas channel 32 that is the connector section 31 or an operating section arranged therein 33 penetrates, preferably centrally and concentrically. The gas duct 32 can be flowed through with gas, through which the propellant gas from the gas section 12th removable and the liquid / gas valve section 15th is feedable.

The connection section 31 further includes the above-mentioned operating section 33 , which in the present embodiment is in the gas valve section on the container side 14th penetrates in order to actuate, in particular to open, a valve located therein (not visible in detail in the figures). The operating section 33 can by penetrating into the container-side gas valve section 14th the valve in the assembled state of the extraction device 20th open permanently, or the actuation section 33 can be switchable to the gas valve 30th to open and close as required. In the present exemplary embodiment, the actuating section is 33 a cylindrical member that is concentrically inserted into the connector section 31 is introduced and from the gas duct 32 is penetrated.

The gas valve section on the extraction side 25th also has a housing portion 34 in which the connection section 31 is recorded. The housing section 34 serves to stabilize and hold the connection section 31 in the removal device 20th , whereby there is some play, so that a displacement and / or pivoting of the connection section 31 is possible by a certain amount, as described in detail below.

The housing section 34 has a case back 34a with a recess 34b through which the connection section 31 occurs in sections. Through the recess 34b a flange on the housing is created 34c with a flange on the connection side 31b cooperates.

The gas valve section on the extraction side 25th according to the present embodiment further comprises a spring 35 on that is set up to the connector section 31 against the case back 34a pretension or press. To this end, the spring 35 be designed as a spiral spring, the connection section 31 Surrounded spirally and so against the housing section 34 as well as the flange on the connection side 31b support that the connection-side flange 31b against the flange on the housing side 34c is pressed.

The connection section 31 is so in the housing section 34 stored so that it is pivotable by an angle α, ie a maximum of up to the angle α. The pivotability comprises at least one degree of freedom, ie it takes place about a pivot axis; however, it preferably comprises at least two degrees of freedom, so that the connection section 31 how a joystick can be tilted in all directions by a certain amount. The pivotability or tiltability can be produced in that the flanges 31b , 34c do not lie flat on top of each other, but at least one of the flanges 31b , 34c has a non-planar, for example spherical shell-shaped, contact surface.

The pivotability of the connection section 31 goes most clearly from a comparison of the 2a and 2 B emerged.

The spring 35 has a stabilizing effect here, so that the pivoting of the connection section 31 takes place against a certain resistance. The spring 35 also has a centering effect, so that the connection section 31 is biased in a central, for example vertical position.

As an alternative or in addition to pivoting, the connection section can be displaced 31 be realized so that a shift along the housing bottom 34a as a compensatory movement is possible. This can be done by appropriately dimensioning the recess 34b as well as the flanges 31b , 34c will be realized.

In other words, the extraction-side gas valve section 25th is in the assembled state of the removal device 20th Set up movable by a certain amount, thereby manufacturing tolerances that occur in the manufacture of the container 10 and / or the removal device 20th occur, can be compensated and thus a gas-tight and durable connection is guaranteed. Furthermore, inaccuracies in the assembly of the removal device 20th as well as any changes to the shape and quality, in particular of the container wall, in the course of using the removal device 20th are compensated, so that there is always a reliable connection of the gas valve section on the container side 14th and the extraction-side gas valve section 25th is guaranteed without a leak or a defect in the gas valve 30th comes.

As far as applicable, all of the individual features shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined with one another and / or exchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

List of reference symbols

1

System (combination of container and mounted removal device)

10

container

11

Liquid section

12th

Gas section

13th

partition wall

14th

Tank-side gas valve section

15th

Liquid / gas valve section

16

pipe

20th

Extraction device

21st

Dispensing actuation means

22nd

Nozzle

23

Tap opening

24

Mounting section

25th

Gas valve section on the extraction side

26th

Liquid / gas connection

30th

Gas valve

30a

Gas passage

31

Connection section

31a

Receiving section

31b

Connection-side flange

32

Gas duct

33

Operating section

34

Housing section

34a

Case back

34b

Recess

34c

Flange on the housing side

35

feather

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• EP 3447024 A1 [0003]
• DE 60115023 T2 [0003]
• DE 8907059 U1 [0004]
• DE 20115158 U1 [0004]

Claims (14)

Device (20) for removing a liquid from a container (10), which has a liquid section (11) for receiving a liquid, preferably a drink, and a gas section (12) for receiving a propellant gas, preferably carbon dioxide, with a gas valve section (14) on the container side ), wherein the device (20) has: a mounting section (24) which is set up to realize a mechanical and functional connection of the device (20) to the container (10) in an assembled state; and an extraction-side gas valve section (25) which, in the assembled state, is connected to the container-side gas valve section (14) in such a way that they together form a gas passage (30a) which enables the propellant gas to be extracted from the gas section (12); characterized in that the gas valve section (25) on the extraction side is designed to be movable, preferably pivotable, relative to the mounting section (24). Device (20) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the extraction-side gas valve section (25) has a connection section (31) which is designed to enter into a mechanical connection with the container-side gas valve section (14) in the assembled state, and a housing section (34) which is stationary relative to the assembly section, in which the connection section (31) is accommodated with play, so that the connection section (31) is movable, preferably pivotable, relative to the housing section (34). Device (20) after Claim 2 , characterized in that the connection section (31) has a connection-side flange (31b) and the housing section (34) has a housing base (34a) with a recess (34b) through which the connection section (31) passes in sections, the recess ( 34b) a housing-side flange (34c) is formed which is in contact with the connection-side flange (31b) and cooperates to realize the mobility of the connection section (31). Device (20) after Claim 3 , characterized in that the connection-side flange (31b) and / or the housing-side flange (34c) has a non-flat, preferably spherical shell-shaped, contact surface. Device (20) after Claim 3 or 4th , characterized in that the gas valve section (25) on the extraction side has a spring (35), preferably a spiral spring, which is set up to press the connection section (31) against the housing base (34a). Device (20) according to one of the Claims 3 until 5 , characterized in that the connection section (31) is displaceable in the plane of the housing bottom (34a). Device (20) according to one of the Claims 2 until 6th , characterized in that the connection section (31) is mounted in the housing section (34) in such a way that it can be pivoted, at most by an angle α, the pivotability preferably comprising at least two degrees of freedom. Device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also has a liquid / gas connection 26 which, in the assembled state, is connected to a liquid / gas valve section (15) of the container. Device (20) after Claim 8 , characterized in that it is set up to connect the gas valve section (14) on the container side via the gas valve section (25) on the discharge side to a gas part of the liquid / gas valve section (15) in the assembled state, whereby the liquid section (11) of the container (10 ) propellant gas can be supplied if necessary, preferably during each removal process by actuating a tap actuation means (21) of the removal device (20). Device (20) after Claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that it is set up to connect a liquid part of the liquid / gas valve section (15) to a nozzle (22) of the extraction device (20) in the assembled state, whereby liquid enriched with propellant gas from a tap opening (23) of the device (20) can be removed as required. System (1) comprising: a container (10) which has a liquid section (11) for receiving a liquid, preferably a drink, and a gas section (12) for receiving a propellant gas, preferably carbon dioxide, with a gas valve section (14) on the container side; and a device (20) for withdrawing a liquid from the container (10) according to one of the preceding claims; in which the device (20) is mounted on the container (10) so that the extraction-side gas valve section (25) is connected to the container-side gas valve section (14) so that they together form a gas passage (30a) which allows the propellant gas to be extracted from the gas section (12) allows. System (1) according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the container (10) has a liquid / gas valve section (15), which is preferably arranged centrally in a lid of the container (10) and a tube (16) which is in fluid communication with the liquid / gas valve portion (15) and protrudes into the interior of the liquid portion (11) of the container (10). System (1) according to Claim 11 or 12th , characterized in that the gas section (12) of the container (10) is separated from the liquid section (11) by a bell-shaped partition (13). System (1) according to one of the Claims 11 until 13th , characterized in that the container (10) is a barrel, preferably a reusable barrel.

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