EP1642861B1 - Container with pressurized CO2-gas source - Google Patents

Abstract

Container comprises an insert which is fixed with a seal in an opening of the container and a carbon dioxide high pressure cartridge (14) having a pressure regulating valve for releasing carbon dioxide and an adjusting part which can be accessed from the outside. Preferred Features: A needle (34) for clipping the high pressure cartridge is combined with a valve part of the pressure regulating valve and can be adjusted between a sealing position and an outlet position on a valve seat (38) of the pressure regulating valve. The pressure regulating valve has a lateral outlet opening (56) in front of which lies an annular elastic collar (58) or O-ring.

Description

The invention relates to a container which can be filled with liquid and pressure-sealed and removed from the liquid, according to the preamble of claim 1. Examples of such containers are barrels, small barrels (party kegs) or cans, in which CO ₂ -containing liquids, especially beverages, are bottled under pressure. It's all about party kegs for beer.

There are Zapfarmaturen working with CO ₂ high-pressure cartridges, with which such containers are tapped to remove liquid with CO ₂ pressure. This corresponds to the usual tapping technique in the catering industry with CO ₂ from CO ₂ high-pressure bottles, in which a very good digestibility and shelf life of the beer is achieved.

However, there are consumer groups in which dispensing faucets with CO ₂ high-pressure cartridges do not arrive. For only occasional buyers of party kegs beer, the purchase of a sophisticated tap fitting is not worthwhile. There are also people who are not comfortable with the handling of CO ₂ high-pressure cartridges. Others shy away from the need for supplies of cartridges.

There were therefore developed party kegs for beer, which have an integrated tap in the bottom area of the barrel through which the removal of the beer takes place solely by the internal pressure and gravity. Usually, the party keg is vented above the liquid level therein to provide pressure equalization. This can be done by piercing with a can opener. But there are also party kegs for beer with an integrated tap and a hand-operated vent valve in the barrel top, which is part of a bunghole closure (see. WO 99/23 008 A1 ).

A disadvantage of these party kegs is that the accessibility of air in the headspace of the barrel, the digestibility and shelf life of the beer is impaired. The contents of a partially opened party keg of this kind must be consumed quickly, so that the beer does not stand out and become stale.

There are various approaches to improving the shelf life of the beer in a partially opened party keg. So it is from the WO 99/47451 A1 It is known to incorporate an aerosol can containing CO ₂ bound to activated carbon under low pressure into the party keg and into the headspace of the barrel to build up a CO ₂ pressure that equalizes or exceeds the partial pressure of the CO ₂ dissolved in the beer. The disadvantage is the large volume of the can.

From the DE 199 52 379 A1 is a CO ₂ dispenser for party kegs in the form of a separate handset known, with the party keg is pierced above the liquid level in it to spend CO ₂ in the headspace of the barrel. The dispenser has a CO ₂ high pressure cartridge and a pressure control valve. It is intended for multiple use and can be implemented from party keg to party keg. Although CO ₂ consumption may be lower than that of a CO ₂ dispenser, such CO ₂ dispensers in consumer circles ultimately face similar concerns.

From practice it is also known to admit a pressure bag in the headspace of a keg for beer, which expands when the pressure in the head space drops, and thereby fills the forming cavity on the one hand and on the other a pressing pressure on the liquid level in the barrel which exceeds the partial pressure of the CO ₂ dissolved in the beer. The pressure bag consists of multilayer, oxygen-impermeable plastic film. He has several chambers containing gas-evolving chemicals, such as baking soda and citric acid. Depending on the pressure drop in the headspace of the keg, the chambers are successively activated and inflated by the gas evolving during the reaction of the chemicals.

A disadvantage of the known pressure bag is the unsteady pressure on the beer. The pressure increases abruptly when the respective next chamber of the sack is activated, and then it gradually decreases. This is reflected in an irregular Zapfverhalten. The tapping behavior varies between taking the beer out with a powerful jet and a mere trickle.

A container according to the preamble of claim 1, which can be filled with liquid and sealed pressure-tight and removed from the liquid is from the BE-A3-1 004 018 known. The container has an insert which can be sealed under seal in an opening of the container and a CO ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone, a pressure control valve for emitting CO ₂ thereof and an externally accessible actuator, by the operation of the CO ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone with piercing a piercing needle.

As an actuator is at the BE-A3-1 004 018 a push button or a screw means provided. The object of the invention is to improve operating safety and comfort of a container of the type mentioned.

In the case of this solution releasing container, the actuator is a knob which is axially intercepted and rotatably supported, and the knob and the slider are in the circumferential direction extending ramps in abutment.

The formation of the actuator as a knob corresponds to that of the widespread pressure equalization valve after the WO 99/23 008 A1 , The use of the integrated CO ₂ compressed gas source is thanks to its low Bauvolumens suitable, the bung closure with pressure compensation valve after the WO 99/23 008 A1 to replace, without the shape and size of each container to be equipped, for example, party beer keg, something essential would have to be changed. The processes at a bottling plant change at most slightly. The insert can be made of plastic materials that have been proven for a bunghole closure with pressure balance valve and a drain cock for some time well. The operation of the CO ₂ compressed gas source is designed so that a familiar with the operation of a conventional pressure equalization valve user hardly noticed a difference. The user has no direct Dealing with a CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge, which may not be appealing to him. The cartridge is intended for single use in a single container and will be disposed of with it. Especially with beer in a tapped party keg its durability is extended by filling the headspace with CO ₂ instead of air for easy hand several days.

Commercially available coatable CO ₂ cartridges in a suitable size for the CO ₂ compressed gas source according to the invention contain about 16 g CO ₂ under a pressure of about 80 bar. The reduction and the precise control of the pressure under which in the headspace of the container emitted CO ₂ , places considerable demands on the construction of a CO ₂ compressed gas source in the form of a compact insert. The pressure is typically between 0.5 and 0.7 bar. It is equal to or slightly higher than the partial pressure of dissolved in the liquid CO ₂ .

Especially with beer, the CO ₂ content is decisive for the taste. The CO ₂ content varies from beer to beer. If the CO ₂ pressure in the headspace of the keg is too low, CO ₂ escapes from the beer. If the CO ₂ pressure in the headspace is too high, overcarbonation of the beer takes place, which affects its taste and wholesomeness. The CO ₂ compressed gas source described in detail below ensures that neither one nor the other happens.

In a preferred embodiment, a piercing needle for piercing the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge is structurally combined with a valve member of the pressure control valve, which between a sealing position and a Open position on a valve seat of the pressure control valve is axially adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressure regulating valve has a lateral outlet opening in front of which there is an annular elastic sleeve with non-return function. The cuff ensures that no liquid gets into the insert. For the same purpose can also serve an elastic O-ring.

In a preferred embodiment of the slide comes when piercing the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge end face against face with the piercing needle in flush contact.

In a preferred embodiment, the piercing needle immediately before piercing takes a sealing position directly behind the valve seat of the pressure regulating valve. As a result, the volume of the valve chamber, which is acted upon by the puncture of the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge of the maximum pressure, very small.

In a preferred embodiment, the container has a sealed chamber in which the CO ₂ high pressure cartridge with the head to the opening of the container has snug fit. The tight closure of the chamber is preferred for reasons of hygiene.

In a preferred embodiment, the chamber is closed with a bottom lid which is welded or screwed to the wall of the chamber. The connection is tight. The CO ₂ high pressure cartridge does not come into contact with the liquid that is the contents of the container.

In a preferred embodiment, the high pressure CO ₂ cartridge is sealed at its small diameter neck circumferentially against the wall of the chamber. As a result, the axial forces are limited, which is subject to the cartridge during piercing.

In a preferred embodiment, the insert occupies an upper opening of the container. The CO ₂ from the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge is discharged in a head space of the container above the liquid level therein.

In a preferred embodiment, the opening occupied by the insert is a bunghole through which the container is filled with liquid. The insert acts as a bunghole closure.

The CO ₂ from the CO ₂ high pressure cartridge can be dispensed directly into the headspace of the container above the liquid level therein. But it is also possible to connect a pressure bag to the insert. The pressure bag is applied by applying vacuum to the housing of the insert and welded tightly to the housing.

The pressure bag comes to rest in direct contact with the housing of the insert inside the container. It is inflated by the spent CO ₂ . Compared to the above-mentioned pressure bag according to the prior art, there is the advantage that the filling pressure of the pressure bag is constant, so no pressure fluctuations and irregularities occur in Zapfverhalten. The filling pressure can be set slightly higher than the partial pressure of the CO ₂ dissolved in the liquid, which thus remains completely unaffected by taste.

In the variant with the pressure bag, instead of CO ₂ , another compressed gas from a high-pressure cartridge can also be used.

In a preferred embodiment, the container has an outlet tap at the bottom. The removal of the liquid thus takes place by internal pressure and gravity effect. The CO ₂ from the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge prevents a negative pressure in the headspace of the container. This is possible in the variants with and without pressure bag.

In the variant with the pressure bag, the container instead of the outlet tap at the top have a tap, to which a riser leads, which extends to the bottom of the container. The liquid is transported by pressure of the CO ₂ discharged from the CO ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone toward the tap. Tapping on top of the tank is more convenient than below.

In a preferred embodiment, a discharge chute with a hose connection is provided on the outside of the tap. The outlet chick is added to the container as a separate part. It is clipped on after pulling out the tap.

Fig. 1

eine CO₂-Druckgasquelle im Längsschnitt;

Fig. 2

die Seitenansicht eines aufgeschnittenen Behälters mit der CO₂-Druckgasquelle, an die ein Druckbeutel angeschlossen ist, als Spundlochverschluß;

Fig. 3

die entsprechende Ansicht eines Behälters mit der CO₂-Druckgasquelle in einer separaten Öffnung des Behälterobenbodens; und

Fig. 4

die entsprechende Ansicht eines Behälters mit der CO₂-Druckgasquelle in einer Öffnung des Behälterunterbodens.

The invention is explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a CO ₂ compressed gas source in longitudinal section;

Fig. 2

the side view of a cut container with the CO ₂ -pressure gas source, to which a pressure bag is connected, as a bunghole closure;

Fig. 3

the corresponding view of a container with the source of CO ₂ compressed gas in a separate opening of the container topsoil; and

Fig. 4

the corresponding view of a container with the CO ₂ -pressure gas source in an opening of the container base.

In the Fig. 1 shown CO ₂ -pressure gas source is designed as an insert which fits through the bunghole of a container into the container and closes the bunghole tight. The CO ₂ -pressure gas source can be replaced by the bung closure with pressure equalization valve after WO 99/23 008 A1 to step.

The container is filled under pressure with CO ₂ -containing liquid through the bunghole usually located in the middle of its topsoil. Then the bunghole is tightly sealed with the insert. To remove the liquid can serve an integrated drain cock, which is located at the bottom of the bottom of the container on the side wall. The liquid runs through internal pressure and gravity effect from, until in the headspace of the container above the liquid level in a negative pressure is reached. To properly set and maintain this, the CO ₂ compressed gas source is activated. The CO ₂ -pressure gas source feeds CO ₂ at a pressure into the head space of the container, which corresponds to the partial pressure of the dissolved CO ₂ in the liquid or slightly exceeds this partial pressure. This ensures a constant emptying of the container. There is no air in the headspace of the container. The CO ₂ content of the liquid remains the same.

The insert is of elongated-slender shape and mostly radially symmetric to a central axis. It consists mainly of plastic. The plastic materials used for its production have been proven for bunghole closures and outlet cocks of relevant containers for years. For the production, the two-component plastic injection molding technique offers. The hard, rigid plastic component is shown in dashed lines in the drawing, and the soft, elastic plastic component shown in full black.

The insert which is in the installed position and closes the bunghole of the container protrudes with a housing 10 into the container. The housing 10 has at its inner end a chamber 12 for the snug-fit recording of a CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge 14. The head of the cartridge 14, on whose end face it can be pierced, faces the bunghole. The cartridge 14 has its smallest diameter on a circular cylindrical neck. It is sealed here with a peripheral seal 16 against the wall of the housing 10.

The inner end of the chamber 12 is closed with a lid 18 which is welded or screwed to the wall of the housing 10.

The housing 10 is seated outside with a circumferential collar 20 on the beaded edge of the bunghole. At the collar 20, a seal 22 is formed, with which the insert seals the bunghole.

About the collar 20 is outside a recessed into the housing 10 rotary knob 24, upon actuation of the CO ₂ cartridge is pierced. The knob 24 is axially intercepted with a circumferential, radially outwardly projecting collar 26 in a circumferential groove of the housing 10 and rotatably supported.

On the outer front side of the knob 24 is hinged with a film hinge 28, a pull tab 30 which can be bent up. The grip tab 30 is connected with predetermined breaking points on the knob 24, which break open clearly visible when first bending up. The predetermined breaking points act as tamper evidence.

For piercing the CO ₂ cartridge 14 is a piercing needle 34, which is structurally associated with the valve member of a pressure control valve. The valve member is suspended with an elastic membrane 36 in the axial center of the housing 10. The tip of the piercing needle 34 is only slightly spaced from the end face of the CO ₂ cartridge 14.

In an axial adjusting movement of the piercing needle 34 on the CO ₂ cartridge 14 toward the valve member lifts from a valve seat 38 of the pressure control valve from. The valve seat 38 is formed from the elastic sealing material to the housing 10.

The piercing needle 34 is acted upon by a slider 40 which is located between the knob 24 and the piercing needle 34. The slider 40 is guided longitudinally displaceably in the housing 10. Serve from the jacket of the slider 40 radially outwardly projecting cam 42 which engage in axial grooves 44 of the housing 10.

Knob 24 and slide 40 are in the circumferential direction extending ramps 46 in abutment. There are four arranged in the quadrant ramps 46 are provided, which increase with the same slope proportional to the circumferential angle and merge into step-like axial recesses into each other. By turning the knob 24, the slider 40 is moved axially.

Between slide 40 and piercing needle 34, a helical compression spring 48 is clamped. The helical compression spring is located around a central, peg-shaped projection 50 on the outside of the piercing needle 34 facing away from the membrane 36 and around a central, axial plunger 52 on the inside of the slider 40. Lug 50 and plunger 52 have flat end faces which face each other with a small distance. Before piercing so the slider 40 is turned off with the helical compression spring 48 of the piercing needle 34.

The membrane 36 defines a working space 54 downstream of the valve seat 38 of the pressure regulating valve. The working space 54 has a lateral outlet opening 56, in front of which an annular elastic sleeve 58 lies. The sleeve 58 has the function of a check valve. It prevents liquid from entering the insert.

For piercing the CO ₂ cartridge 14, the grip tab 30 is bent up and the knob 24 is rotated by approximately 90 °. The slider 40 is adjusted against the force of the helical compression spring 48 axially inwards. His plunger 52 comes with the approach 50 of the piercing needle 34 face against face in flush contact. The piercing needle 34 is displaced axially inwardly under elastic deformation of the membrane 36. It takes a sealing position on a seal 60 directly behind the valve seat 38 of the pressure control valve immediately before piercing. The valve member lifts off from the valve seat 38. After piercing, a very small valve chamber 62 ₂ cartridge 14 filled in front of the head of the CO with highly pressurized CO _2.

After completed 90 ° rotation or over-rotation of the knob 24 of the slider 40 jumps under the force of the helical compression spring 48 axially outward. The piercing needle 34 is also reset axially by the elastic re-deformation of the diaphragm 36, the pressure regulating valve is closed and a small amount of high-pressure CO _{2 is introduced} into the working space 54. The further opening and closing of the pressure regulating valve is determined by an equilibrium of forces on the diaphragm 36, to which the elastic properties of the diaphragm 36, the spring constant of the helical compression spring 48 and the CO ₂ pressure in the working space 54 contribute. For the pressure of the output CO ₂ , the spring constant of the helical compression spring 48 is determining.

Generally, the user will activate the CO ₂ source of pressurized gas when the internal pressure in the container has dropped to the point where the jet of fluid exiting through the outlet cock becomes too weak. However, the CO ₂ -pressure gas source can be readily activated even before, if the internal pressure in the container is still high. A metering of CO ₂ in the headspace of the container does not take place as long as the high internal pressure on the sleeve 58 in front of the outlet port 56 loads.

According to Fig. 2 to Fig. 4 instead of the sleeve 58. Instead, the CO ₂ -pressure gas source is connected to a surrounding around the housing 10 pressure bag 66 which is inflated by the output CO ₂ .

Instead of an outlet tap, the container has an integrated tap 68, which is located at the top floor level of the container on the side wall. To the tap 68 performs a riser 70, which extends to the bottom of the container. The riser 70 has sheath holes 72 in the manner of a drainage line. Outside of the tap 68, an actuating part 74 and a discharge plug 76 is provided with a hose connection.

at Fig. 2 the CO ₂ -pressure gas source functions as a bunghole closure of a bunghole serving to fill the container in the middle of the container topsoil. at Fig. 3 sits the source of CO ₂ compressed gas in a separate lateral opening of the container top floor, and at Fig. 4 in an opening of the container bottom.

List of reference numbers

10

casing

12

chamber

14

CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge

16

Seal on cartridge

18

cover

20

collar

22

Seal on collar

24

knob

26

Federation

28

film hinge

30

grip tab

34

piercing

36

membrane

38

valve seat

40

pusher

42

cam

44

axial groove

46

ramp

48

Helical compression spring

50

approach

52

tappet

54

working space

56

outlet

58

cuff

60

Seal for needle

62

valve chamber

66

pressure bag

68

tap

70

riser

72

coat hole

74

actuating member

76

outlet spout

Claims (16)

1. Container, which can be filled with liquid and closed in pressure-tight condition, and from which liquid can be withdrawn, with an insert that can be fixed in sealed manner in an opening of the container and comprises 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), whereby the control element is a rotary knob (24), which cooperates with an axially guided slide (40) for actuating the piercing needle (34), 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 ramps (46) extending in circumferential direction.
2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the ramps (46) rise with the same slope, in proportion to the circumferential angle, and merge into one another at step-like axial setbacks.
3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by four ramps (46) disposed in a square configuration.
4. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, 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.
5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the piercing needle (34) is structurally combined with a valve member of the pressure-regulating valve, which is axially shiftable between a sealing position and a let-through position at a valve seat (38) of the pressure-regulating valve.
6. Container according to one of claims 1 to 5, 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.
7. Container according to claim 5 or 6, 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.
8. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has a tightly sealed chamber (12), in which the high-pressure CO₂ cartridge (14) has a snug fit with the head towards the opening.
9. Container according to claim 8, 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).
10. A vessel according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the high-pressure CO₂ cartridge (14) is sealed against the wall of the chamber (12), around the circumference of its smaller diameter neck.
11. Container according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the insert occupies an upper opening of the container, 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.
12. Container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the opening is a bunghole, through which the container can be filled with liquid, and in that the insert functions as the bunghole closure.
13. Container according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a pressure bag (66), which can be inflated by the discharged CO₂, is connected to the insert.
14. Container according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it has an outlet tap at the bottom.
15. Container according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it has a top spigot (68), to which there leads a riser line (70) extending to the bottom of the container.
16. Container according to claim 15, characterized in that an outlet spout (76) together with a hose connection is provided on the outside of the spigot (68).

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