EP0191105A1

EP0191105A1 - Cylinder device

Info

Publication number: EP0191105A1
Application number: EP19850902673
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yukio Kabushikigaisha Towa Japan Makino
Original assignee: TOWA JAPAN KK; Mitsubishi Corp
Current assignee: TOWA JAPAN KK; Mitsubishi Corp
Priority date: 1984-06-05
Filing date: 1985-06-05
Publication date: 1986-08-20
Also published as: WO1985005669A1; AU586975B2; DE3573825D1; AU4438685A; EP0191105B1; JPS60260800A; EP0191105A4

Abstract

A cylinder device consisting of a cylindrical holding means (8,18) provided at a front end portion, in which a seal member (3) is provided, of a cylinder (1) which is filled with a liquefied carbon dioxide or some other high-pressure gas, and a seal member opening means (7) provided in the holding means (8, 18) so as to be opposed to the seal member (3). The seal member opening means (7) in this cylinder device is formed by firmly fitting a seal member opening pointed member (10) in a guide member (9), which Is provided slidably in the holding means (8) formed in the front end portion of the cylinder (1), in such a manner that the pointed member (10) projects from the front end surface of the guide member (9). A gas discharge hole is made in the seal member (3) by slidingly moving the seal member opening means (7).

Description

Technical Field

This invention relates to a bombe device having a sealing plate unstoppering means comprising a pointed-end member piercing a discharge orifice in the sealing plate provided to a bombe filled with a liquefied carbonic acid gas or the like high-pressure gas. The bombe device of the present invention may be advantageously employed with a pouring out or dispensing device adapted to pour out bear, cola or the like beverage stored in a vessel.

Background Art

Heretofore, there are known pour out or dispensing devices adapted to pour out beverage such as beer or cola stored in the vessel, wherein the high pressure gas such as carbonic acid gas is injected into the vessel and the beer or the like beverage is forced out of a dispensing pipe under the pressure of the injected gas.
With such dispensing device, the high pressure gas is obtained from the bombe attached to the holder in turn provided to the dispensing device. That is the bombe filled with the compressed and liquefied carbonic acid gas and hermetically closed may be opened by unstoppering means provided to the holder. The unstoppering means comprises an operating rod provided with a pointed-end member and reciprocably mounted within the holder. As the rod is reciprocated, the pointed-end member may pierce the sealing plate provided to the bombe for forming the discharge orifice in the sealing plate. The discharge orifice is closed and opened with the forward and reverse movement of the operating rod to inhibit and permit the discharge of the carbonic gas therethrough, respectively. The carbonic acid gas discharged through the orifice is conveyed into the cask through the injection pipe connecting to the holder to act on the beer stored therein to dispense the beer through said dispensing pipe.
It will be noted that, with the above described dispensing device, the bombe is releasably mounted and exchanged with a new one with consumption in the high pressure gas. Thus, the pointed-end member of the operating rod bores the discharge orifice in the sealing plate every time the bombe is exchanged.
When the discharge orifices are repeatedly bored by the pointed-end member, rupture or deformation of the pointed-end member may be caused frequently. When the opening and closing means are provided to the holder of the dispensing device, it is difficult for the manufacturer to design the pointed-end member so as to be replaced easily, while it is also difficult for the user to make as periodic exchange operation of the pointed-end member.
Thus, in the case when the means for unstoppering the bombe is provided to some other component than the bombe itself, it is rather difficult to exchange the opening and closure means in association with the bombe replacement with the resulting hindrance in the formation of the optimum discharge orifice and the resulting unstable opening and/or closure operation.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate the above drawback of the prior-art device and to provide a bombe device whereby the unstoppering of the bombe can be performed reliably.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a bombe device wherein the sealing plate unstoppering means including the pointed-end member is replaced simultaneously with the bombe replacement so that the sealing plate can be unstoppered by the pointed-end member that is free of deformation or breakage.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a bombe device wherein the discharge orifice formed in the sealing plate provided to the bombe may be closed by the guide member supporting the acute-end member for preventing leakage of the high pressure gas after unstoppering the sealing plate.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention resides in a bombe device comprising a bombe filled with a high pressure gas such as liquefied corbonic acid gas and a sealing plate unstoppering unit having a pointed-end member for boring a discharge orifice in the sealing plate of the bombe. This arrangement makes it possible to use a new unstoppering means for each bombe and hence to unstopper the sealing plate by an unstoppering unit free of deformation or injury.
The present invention also makes it possible to prevent the leakage of the high pressure gas following unstoppering by providing the unstoppering means with means for closing the discharge orifice once formed in the sealing plate.

Brief Description of the Invention

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the bombe device according to the presesnt invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the sealing plate unstoppering means employed in the bombe device. Fig. 3 is as transverse section showing the sealing plate unstoppering means. Fig. 4 is as longitudinal section showing the state in which the discharge orifice has been formed in the sealing plate of the bombe by the pointed-end member provided to the unstoppering means. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section showing the state in which the discharge orifice has been opened. Fig. 6 is a side view, shown partially in section and showing a modified embodiment of the bombe device of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a transverse section showing another modified embodiment of the bombe device of the present invention.

Best Mode for Executing the Invention

For explaining the present invention in more detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawings showing certain preferred embodiments of the invention.
The bombe device of the present invention is comprised of a bombe 1 in which a high pressure gas is hermetically contained and which is accommodated within a bombe housing 2 adapted to be detachably fitted to, for example, the holder of a dispensing device.
The bombe 1 is filled with, for example, carbonic acid gas in the compressed and liquefied state, and provided with a sealing end plate 3.
The bombe housing 2 is comprised of a front side half 4 and a rear side half 5 abutted and connected to each other. These halves 4 and 5 are formed of synthetic resin and are profiled to conform to the outer peripheral shape of the bombe 1. In addition, these halves 4 and 5 are connected together by screwing their male threaded portions to each other with their inner wall surfaces intimately abutting to and securing to bombe 1.
The front side half 4 of the bombe housing 2 has a cylindrical end section 6. In the outer wall surface of the cylindrical section 6, there is formed a threaded portion for attachment of the bombe to the injection device. Within the cylindrical section 6, there is formed a housing section 8 for accommodating an unstoppering unit 7 for unstoppering the sealing plate provided to the bombe 1. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the unstoppering unit 7 is comprised of a guide member 9 slidably mounted as the valve body within the inner wall of the housing section 8 and a pointed-end member 10 disposed at the center of the guide member 9 in opposition to the sealing plate 3.
There is also provided a threaded portion for attachment to the dispensing device, while, within the cylindrical section 6, there is formed a housing section 8 for accommodating an unstoppering unit 7 for unstoppering the sealing plate provided to the bombe 1. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the unstoppering unit is comprised of a guide member 9 slidably mounted as the valve body within the inner wall of the housing section 8, and a pointed-end member 10 disposed at the center of the guide member 9 in opposition to the sealing plate 3.
The guide member 9 formed of a synthetic resin least liable to be deformed under the cooling effect of the carbonic acid gas from the bombe 1 and exhibiting a sealing effect to the discharge orifice 11 when the guide member 9 is pressured to the sealing plate 3. On the outer periphery of the guide member 9, there are,formed a plurality of recesses 13 axially of the guide member 9 for conducting the carbonic acid gas towards an opening 12 of the bombe housing 2. The foremost part of the guide member 9 is gradually tapered for forming a highly resilient portion 14 for abutment against the sealing plate 3.
The pointed-end member 10 is presset into and held by the guide member 9 and has its pointed end projecting through the center of the abutment portion 14 formed at the end face of the guide member 9 in a confronting relation to the sealing plate 3. The bottom end face 10a of the pointed-end member 10 is placed so as to be flush with the bottom end face 9a of the guide member 9. To these end faces 9a, 10a abuts the end face of the operating rod 15 of the dispensing device. In this manner, the pointed-end member 10 is positionally regulated by the end face of the operating rod 15 so that the bottom end face 10a will be flush with the bottom end face 9a of the guide member 9 and the distance the foremost part of the pointed-end member projects towards the sealing plate 3 will always be constant despite the impact force applied to the sealing plate 3.
A compression coil spring 16 is installed between the sealing plate. 3 and the guide member 9. The coil spring 16 urges the unstoppering unit 7 in the direction of the opening 12. In the vicinity of the opening 12, there is formed a restricting portion 17 for preventing the unstoppering unit 7 from disengaging from the bombe housing 2.
The bombe unit constructed in the above described manner is affixed to the dispensing unit by screwing the theaded mounting portion of the bombe housing 2 to the aforementioned holder. During such affixing or screwing operation, the foremost part of the operating rod 15 is gradually introduced through the opening 12 for pressuring and actuating the unit 7 against the force of the spring 16. This causes the foremost end of the pointed-end member 10 to pierce through the sealing plate 3 to form a discharge orifice 11 in the sealing plate 3. At this time, theading the bombe housing 2 causes the operating rod 15 and the bombe unit to make a relative rotation with respect to each other. Since the sealing plate unstoppering unit 7 is separated from the operating rod, 15, the rotational movement of the rod 15 is not imparted to the unstoppering unit, which may perform a translatory movement to impinge on the sealing plate 3. As a result, no torsional load is applied to the pointed-end member 10, while the discharge orifice 11 accurately conforming to the profile of the acute pointed end member 10 is formed in the sealing plate.
With the discharge orifice 11 thus formed, the discharge orifice 11 remains closed by the pointed-end member 10 and the abutting portion 14 of the guide member 9, so that the carbonic acid gas is inhibited from discharging via the discharge orifice. The foremost part of the guide member 9 forming the abutting portion 14 is slightly flexed by its own resiliency to take up the machining tolerance of the holder on the bombe unit to provide for positive sealing of the discharge orifice 11.
When the operating rod 15 is manipulated from such closure state of the discharge orifice 11 in the retracting direction, as shown in Fig. 5, the sliding member 7 is moved away from the sealing plate 3 by the operation of the coil spring 16 to open the discharge orifice 11 to permit discharging of the carbonic acid gas.
As the operated rod 15 is reciprocated in this manner, the discharge orifice 11 is opened or closed by the unstoppering unit 7 to permit discharge of the carbonic acid gas as the occasion may demand.
In the case when the carbonic gas in the bombe 1 is used up, the bombe device together with the bombe housing 2 is replaced by new ones so that the carbonic acid gas will be obtained from the new bombe unit.
In this manner, with the bombe device of the present embodiment, the sealing plate provided to the bombe 1 may be easily and positively replaced at the same time that the bombe 1 is replaced. Thus the unstoppering of the bombe 1 is always performed by the sharp pointed-end member 10 of the new unstoppering unit 7, so that the discharge orifice is always correct in shape, while the opening or closure of the discharge orifice 11 is positively performed by the operation of the above described sealing plate unstoppering unit.
It becomes also unnecessary to provide the unstoppering unit 7 and the associated pointed-end member 10 to, for example, the dispensing device with which the bombe device is to be used so that the dispensing device may be simpler in structure, while it becomes possible to provide for interchangeability between the bombe units with different capacities.
Also, in the present example, since the bombe 1 is contained in and held by the bombe housing 2, the bombe device can be assembled easily. Since the bombe housing 2 can be fabricated from high workability material, such as synthetic resin, manufacture of the bombe unit is exiremely facilitated.
In addition, since the outer surface of the bombe 1 is covered by the bombe housing 2, it is also possible to prevent water droplets from adhering to the outer surface of the bombe 1 that is cooled by the discharged carbonic acid gas.
In the above embodiment, the bombe housing 2 is provided to cover the bombe 1 in its entirety. However, as an alternative, the bombe device may comprise a bombe 1 and a mounting member 18 attached to the foremost part of the bombe 1, as shown in Fig. 6.
In the present bombe device, the mounting member 18 is in the form of a cylinder formed e.g. of metal. The foremost part of the bombe 1 has press fit into the mounting member so as to be affixed thereto as by siveting or welding.
On the outer periphery of the mounting member 18, there is formed a threaded portion for attaching the bombe unit to the holder of the dispensing unit. In the inside of the mounting member 18, there is formed a housing section 8 within which the unstoppering unit 7 is slidably disposed. The pointed-end member 10 provided to the unstopering unit 7 is manipulated against the resilience of the coil spring 16 by the operating rod 15 inserted through the opening 12 in the mounting member 18 for forming a discharge orifice 11 in the sealing plate, which discharge orifice may be opened or closed as described above.
In the so-designed bombe unit, since the bombe device 1 and the mounting member 18 are secured to each other, there occurs no play therebetween so that the formed discharge orifice 11 is always optimum. In addition, there is no risk that the bombe 1 may be shifted under the pressure of the sealing plate 3 and the sliding unit 7 with consequent gas leakage during closure of the discharge orifice.
In the above described bombe device, the sealing plate unstoppering unit 7 is slidably and rotatably mounted in the cylindrical end section 6 of the bombe housing 2 or in the housing section 8 of the mounting member 18. However, as shown in Fig. 7, there may be provided in the housing section 8 a plurality of rib-like projections 19 engaging in the recessed 13 of the guide member 8 for restricting the rotation of the unstoppering unit 7. In this manner, the pointed-end member 10 acts on the sealing plate 3 at the approximately equal angular position for maintaining a uniform shape of the discharge orifice 11 in order to provide for more positive opening or closure of the discharge orifice 11.
Although a preferred form of the bombe device of the present invention has been discribed above, it is to be noted that the present invention is not restricted thereto but may comprise a number of modifications. For example, through-holes may be provided in place of the recesses 13 in the guide member of the unstoppering unit 7 for conducting the high pressure gas. Alternataively, the mounting members 18 may be affixed by engagement with the threaded portion provided to the foremost part of the bombe 1. Since the mounting member 18 may be formed by molding in this case, the mounting member 18 may be fabricated easily, while the connection between the bombe 1 and the mounting member 18 may also be effectd easily.

" Industrial Utilizability

As described hereinabove, the bombe unit of the present invention may be used as dispensing means for the dispensing device for powring out beer, cola or the like beverage from the storage vessel.

Claims

1. A bombe device wherein tubular housing means 8, 18 are provided at the end side of the bombe 1 filled with high-pressure gas where the sealing plate 3 is provided, and wherein a sealing plate unstoppering unit 7 is provided within said housing means 8, 18 in opposition to said sealing plate 3.

2. The bombe device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said unstoppering unit 7 comprises a guide member 9 slidably disposed within the housing means 8, 18 and a pointed-end member 10 adapted for unstoppering the sealing plate, said pointed-end member projecting at the end part thereof out of the end face of said guide member 9.

3. The bombe device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the guide member 9 is formed of synthetic resin and has a tapered abutment portion 14 at the foremost part thereof for abutment on the sealing plate.

4. The bombe device as claimed in claim 2 wherein axially extending recesses 13 for gas circulation are formed on the outer periphery of the guide member 9.

5. The bombe device as claimed in claim 1 wherein axial through-holes for gas circulation are formed on the outer periphery of the guide member 9.

6. The bombe device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said unstoppering unit 7 is biassed in a direction away from the sealing plate 3 by a spring 16 installed between the sealing plate 3 and the guide member 9.

7. The bombe device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said housing means 8, 18 are formed with rib-like projections adapted for engaging in the recesses 13 in the guide member 9.

8. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said housing section 8 is formed as a tubular member integral with the foremost part of a forward side half 4 which is connected to a rear side half 5 to form the bombe housing 2 in which the bombe 1 is accommodated.

9. The bombe device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the housing means 18 in formed as a tubular member fitted to the end side to which the sealing plate 3 of the bombe 1 is affixed.

10. The bombe device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said housing means 8, 18 is provided with an opening 12 into which the operating rod 15 adapted to act on the sealing plate unstoppering unit 7 is introduced.