EP0191105B1

EP0191105B1 - Cylinder device

Info

Publication number: EP0191105B1
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: 1989-10-18
Also published as: AU4438685A; DE3573825D1; JPS60260800A; EP0191105A1; EP0191105A4; AU586975B2; WO1985005669A1

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

This invention relates to a bombe device having a sealing plate unstoppering means comprising a pointed-end member adapted to the sealing plate of a bombe filled with a liquefied carbon dioxide or similar high-pressure fluid. The bombe device of the present invention may be advantageously employed with a pouring out or dispensing device adapted to pour out beer, cola orthe like beverage stored in a vessel.
Typical dispensing devices for beverages such as beer or cola stored in a vessel allow high pressure gas such as carbon dioxide to be injected into the vessel, so that beverage is forced out from the vessel through a dispensing pipe under the pressure of the injected gas.
With such a dispensing device (known from e.g. JP-Y2-51-51456), the high pressure gas is obtained from the bombe attached to the holder which itself is provided on the dispensing device. The bombe, filled with the compressed and liquefied carbon dioxide and hermetically closed, may be opened by unstoppering means provided in the holder. The unstoppering means typically comprises an operating rod provided with a pointed-end member and reciprocally mounted within the holder. As the rod is reciprocated, the pointed-end member pierces the sealing plate provided on the bombe, thus forming a 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 gas, respectively. The gas discharged through the orifice is conveyed into the cask through the injection pipe from the holder to act on the beverage stored therein and dispense it through the dispensing pipe.
It will be noted that, with the above described dispensing device, the bombe, being releasably mounted, is replaced by a new one when the high pressure gas is exhausted. Thus, the pointed-end member of the operating rod must bore a new discharge orifice in the sealing plate every time the bombe is exchanged.
This repeated boring of a discharge orifice by the pointed-end member is likely to lead to breakage or deformation of the pointed-end member. However, as the opening and closing means are provided in the holder of the dispensing device, it is difficult for the manufacturer to design the pointed-end member so that it can be replaced easily, and it is also difficult for the user to make a periodic exchange operation of the pointed-end member.
Thus, in the case when the means for unstoppering the bombe is provided on 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 unreliable 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.
The present invention may also provide a bombe device wherein the sealing plate unstoppering means including the pointed-end member may be replaced simultaneously with the bombe replacement so that the sealing plate can be unstoppered by a fresh pointed-end member, free from deformation or breakage.
Additionally, the present invention may provide a bombe device wherein the discharge orifice formed in the sealing plate of the bombe may be sealed by the guide member supporting the pointed-end member, thus effectively preventing leakage of the high pressure gas after unstoppering the sealing plate.
According to the present invention, there is provided a bombe device comprising a bombe filled with pressurised fluid and having a sealing plate at one end; a tubular housing section surrounding the end of the bombe having the sealing plate; and a sealing plate unstoppering unit mounted within the housing section and having a pointed member for piercing the sealing plate, characterised in that an opening is provided at the end of the housing section far from the sealing plate, and at least one axially extending passage is formed in the unstoppering unit so as to provide fluid communication between the sealing plate and the opening.
It is possible with this arrangement to use a new unstoppering means for each bombe and hence to unstopper the sealing plate by an unstoppering unit free from deformation or breakage.
The present invention may also make it possible reliably to preventthe 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.
For a better understanding of the present invention, embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a bombe device according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the sealing plate unstoppering means employed in the bombe device;
Fig. 3 is a transverse section showing the sealing plate unstoppering means;
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2 and showing the state in which the discharge orifice has been formed in the sealing plate of the bombe by the pointed-end member of 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 second embodiment of the bombe device of the present invention; and
Fig. 7 is a transverse section showing another embodiment of the bombe device of the present invention.

The bombe device of the present invention is includes a bombe 1 in the form of a cylinder in which a high pressure fluid 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, carbon dioxide in the compressed and liquefied state, and provided with a sealing end plate 3.
The bombe housing 2 comprises a front part 4 and a rear part 5 abutting and connected to each other. These parts 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 parts 4 and 5 are connected together by screwing their threaded portions to each other with their inner wall surfaces intimately abutting and securing bombe 1.
The front part 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 dispensing device. The cylindrical section 6 also provides a housing section 8 for accommodating an unstoppering unit 7 for unstoppering the sealing plate 3 provided on the bombe 1. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the unstoppering unit 7 comprises a guide member 9, slidably mounted as a valve body on the inner wall of the housing section 8, and a pointed-end member 10 disposed at the centre of the guide member 9 so that the point faces the sealing plate 3.
The guide member 9 is formed of a synthetic resin which resists deformation under the cooling effect of the carbon dioxide gas from the bombe 1 and exhibits a sealing effect to the discharge orifice 11 when the guide member 9 is pressed against the sealing plate 3. On the outer periphery of the guide member 9 there is a plurality of recesses 13 extending axially along the guide member 9 for conducting the gas towards an opening 12 of the bombe housing 2. The foremost part of the guide member 9 is tapered for forming a highly resilient portion 14 for abutment against the sealing plate 3.
The pointed-end member 10 is pressed into and held by the guide member 9 and has its pointed end projecting through the centre of the abutment portion 14 formed at the end face of the guide member 9 so as to confront the sealing plate 3. The bottom end face 10a of the pointed-end member 10 is intended to be flush with the bottom end face 9a of the guide member 9. In use, the end face of the operating rod 15 of the dispensing device abuts these end faces 9a, 10a. 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 beyond the abutment portion 14 towards the sealing plate 3 will always be constant regardless of the force applied to the sealing plate 3.
A helical compression spring 16 is installed between the sealing plate 3 and the guide member 9. The 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 shoulder 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 threaded mounting portion of the bombe housing 2 to the holder. During the screwing operation the foremost part of the operating rod 15 is gradually introduced through the opening 12 for pressing 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 the sealing plate 3 to form a discharge orifice 11 in it. The rotation of the bombe housing 2 causes the operating rod 15 and the bombe to rotate with respect to each other. Since, however, the sealing plate unstoppering unit 7 is separate from the operating rod 15, the rotational movement of the rod 15 is not imparted to the unstoppering unit, which may therefore perform a pure translatory movement with respect to the sealing plate 3. As a result, no torsional load is applied to the pointed-end member 10, leaving the discharge orifice 11 accurately conforming to the profile of the acute pointed end member 10.
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 carbon dioxide is prevented 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 this closure portion 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 spring 16, opening the discharge orifice 11 and permitting discharge of the gas.
By reciprocation of the operating rod 15 in this manner, the discharge orifice 11 is opened or closed by the unstoppering unit 7 to permit discharge of the gas as the occasion may demand.
When the gas in the bombe 1 is used up, the bombe device together with the bombe housing 2 is replaced by a new one so that the gas will be obtained from the new bombe unit.
In this manner, with the bombe device of the present embodiment, the sealing plate unstoppering means 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 an unstoppering unit 7 and the associated pointed-end member 10 on, for example, the dispensing device with which the bombe device is to be used so that the dispensing device itself may be simpler in structure, while it becomes possible to provide for interchangeability between 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 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 as it 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 this 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 a press fit into the mounting member so as to be affixed thereto as by riveting or welding.
On the outer periphery of the mounting member 18, as before, there is formed a threaded portion for attaching the bombe unit to the holder of the dispensing unit. The inside of the mounting member 18 likewise forms a housing section within which the unstoppering unit 7 is slidably disposed. The pointed-end member 10 provided in the unstoppering unit 7 is manipulated against the resilience of the 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 this bombe unit, since the bombe device 1 and the mounting member 18 are secured to each other, there can be no play between them so that the shape of the discharge orifice 11 is always optimum. In addition, there is no risk that the bombe 1 may be shifted under the pressure of the sliding unit 7 against the sealing plate 3 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 recesses 13 of the guide member 9 for restricting the rotation of the unstoppering unit 7. In this manner, the pointed-end member 10 acts on the sealing plate 3 at an approximately constant 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 described 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. Alternatively, the mounting members 18 may be affixed by engagement with a threaded portion provided on the foremost part of the bombe 1. Since the mounting member 18 may in this case be formed by moulding, it may be fabricated easily, while the connection between the bombe 1 and the mounting 18 may also be effected easily.

Claims

1. A bombe device comprising:

a bombe (1) filled with pressurised fluid and having a sealing plate (3) at one end;

a tubular housing section (8, 18) surrounding the end of the bombe having the sealing plate (3); and

a sealing plate unstoppering unit (7) mounted within the housing section (8, 18) and having a pointed member (10) for piercing the sealing plate;

characterised in that:

an opening (12) is provided at the end of the housing section (8, 18) far from the sealing plate (3), and

at least one axially extending passage (13) is formed in the unstoppering unit (7) so as to provide fluid communication between the sealing plate (3) and the opening (12).

2. A bombe device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the unstoppering unit (7) comprises a guide member (9) slidably disposed within the housing section (8, 18) and holding the pointed-end member (10) so that it projects out of the end face of said guide member (9) facing the sealing plate (3).

3. A bombe device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the guide member (9) is formed of synthetic resin.

4. A bombe device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the guide member (9) tapers towards the sealing plate and ends in an abutment portion (14).

5. The bombe device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the unstoppering unit (7) is biased in a direction away from the sealing plate (3) by a spring (16) installed between the sealing plate (3) and the unstoppering unit (7).

6. A bombe device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each axial passage (13) is in the form of a recess on the periphery of the unstoppering unit (7) and the housing section (18) is formed with a rib-like projection (19) adapted for engaging in each recess (13).

7. A bombe device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the axial passage is in the form of a through-hole in the unstoppering unit (7).

8. A bombe device as claimed in any preceding claim and including a two-part bombe housing (2), wherein the housing section (8) is formed as a tubular member integral with one part (4) of the bombe housing (2), which is connected to the other part (5) to form the bombe housing (2) in which the bombe (1) is accommodated.

9. A bombe device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the housing section (18) is formed as a tubular member fitted to the end of the bombe (1) carrying the sealing plate (3).

10. A bombe device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing section (8, 18) is provided with a means for releasable attachment to a dispensing device.

11. A bombe device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the attachment means comprises a screw thread on the periphery of the housing section (8, 18).

12. A bombe device as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the opening (12) is adapted to receive an operating rod (15) from the dispensing device to act on the unstoppering unit (7).