EP1642862B1 - 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 according to the preamble of claim 1, which can be filled with liquid and sealed pressure-tight and removed from the liquid. Examples of such containers are barrels, small barrels (party kegs) or cans in which CO ₂ -containing liquids, in particular drinks, are filled 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 gastronomy 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 handling 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 integrate an aerosol can containing CO ₂ bound to activated carbon under low pressure into the party keg and to build up a CO ₂ pressure in the headspace of the keg which equalizes or exceeds the partial pressure of the CO ₂ dissolved in the beer. The disadvantage is the large volume of the can. Activated carbon is also a rather expensive storage medium.

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 next chamber of the pressure bag is activated, and then it drops gradually. This is reflected in an irregular Zapfverhalten. The tapping behavior varies between taking the beer out with a powerful jet and a mere trickle.

The publication EP 1 642 861 A1 the priority European patent application no. 05 01 18 96.7 and the BE 1 004 018 A3 are relevant to a container with an insert that can be sealed under seal in an opening of the container and a CO ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone, a pressure control valve for outputting CO ₂ thereof and an externally accessible rotary knob, which is against an axially guided slide vorschraubt, by its operation, the CO ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone can pierce with a piercing needle.

Thanks to its low construction volume, the use of the EP 1 642 861 A1 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 -pressure gas source can be designed so that a with the user familiar with the operation of a conventional pressure balance valve hardly notices a difference. The user has no direct contact with a high-pressure CO ₂ cartridge that he may not be comfortable with. 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 source of pressurized gas of the insert contain about 16 grams of CO ₂ under a pressure of about 80 bar. The reduction and precise control of the pressure at which the headspace of the Container issued CO ₂ is, to the construction of a CO ₂ compressed gas source in the form of a compact insert considerable requirements. The pressure is typically between 0.5 and 0.9 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 -Druckgasquelle after the EP 1 642 861 A1 makes sure that neither one nor the other happens.

In the container after the EP 1 642 861 A1 the piercing needle is structurally combined with a valve member of the pressure control valve. In its control function can be intervened undesirably, when the user presses the knob again. This is completely unnecessary, in the container after the EP 1 642 861 A1 but not excluded.

The object of the invention is that of the EP 1 642 861 A1 to secure known container against manipulation of the knob, so that can not be interfered with in the control function of the pressure control valve.

This object is achieved in that the first time the rotary knob is exceeded after exceeding a predetermined angle of rotation for piercing the CO ₂ -Highdruckpatrone the slider on the knob to jump back axially, lock and lock the knob against repeated actuation is suitable.

In a preferred embodiment, the piercing needle is structurally combined with a valve member of the pressure regulating valve, which can be adjusted axially between a sealing position and a passage position on a valve seat of the pressure regulating valve. The slider jumps back from the piercing needle.

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 CO ₂ high pressure cartridge is at its neck of small diameter over the circumference against the wall of the Chamber sealed. 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 can be dispensed both into a headspace of the container above the liquid level in it, as well as via a check valve directly into the liquid.

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 or in the liquid itself. 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 chimney is added to the container as a separate part. It is clipped on after pulling out the tap.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. The only figure shows a CO ₂ source of compressed gas in longitudinal section.

The CO ₂ compressed gas source is designed as an insert which fits through the bunghole of a container into the container and closes the bunghole tight. The source of CO ₂ gas may be substituted for the Bunghole closure with pressure compensation 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 passes through internal pressure and gravity effect, 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 compressed 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 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 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 out in front of a recessed into the housing 10 knob 24, upon actuation of the CO ₂ cartridge 14 is pierced. The knob 24 has a steep external thread 26, with which it is screwed into a complementary internal thread of the housing 10.

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 of the pressure control valve from. The valve seat 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. He stands with the piercing needle 34 face against face in flush contact. The piercing needle 34 is guided with a central spigot 42 in a fitting opening of the slider 40.

Knob 24 and slide 40 are in the circumferential direction extending webs 46 in abutment. There are two opposing webs 46 are provided, which have radial end faces and a circumferential length of approximately 90 °. Between the webs 46 are Lükken, in which the webs 46 of the other part fit in the manner of a rectangular toothing. Upon actuation, the knob 24 screws against the slide 40, which is axially adjusted.

Between the knob 24 and slider 40, a helical compression spring 48 is clamped. The helical compression spring 48 is located around a central, peg-shaped projection 50 on the side facing away from the piercing needle 34 outside of the slider 40 and a central, axial plunger 52 on the inside of the knob 24 around. The helical compression spring 48 biases the slider 40 against the piercing needle 34.

The membrane 36 defines a working space downstream of the valve seat 38 of the pressure regulating valve. The working space has a lateral outlet opening, in front of which an elastic O-ring 58 is located. The O-ring 58 has the function of a check valve. It prevents liquid from entering the insert.

For piercing the CO ₂ cartridge 14, the knob 24 is rotated by approximately 90 °. The slider 40 is adjusted by the screw feed of the knob 24 axially inwards. The piercing needle 34 is taken along with elastic deformation of the membrane 36 axially inwardly. The valve member lifts off the valve seat. After piercing, a very small valve chamber standing CO ₂ filled in front of the head of the CO ₂ cartridge 14 under high pressure.

After completed 90 ° rotation or over-rotation of the knob 24, the slider 40 jumps against the force of the helical compression spring 48 axially outward. He is to be actuated by the piercing needle 34, which is axially reset by the elastic re-deformation of the diaphragm 36. The helical compression spring 48 is tensioned. The pressure control valve is closed and a small amount of high pressure CO ₂ admitted into the working space. The CO ₂ pressure forces on the membrane 36 contribute to the needle-actuated spring-back of the slider 40 at. The slider 40 engages with its webs 46 in the complementary gaps of the knob 24, and it blocks the knob 24 against repeated actuation.

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 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 O-ring 58 in front of the outlet port loads.

List of reference numbers

10

casing

12

chamber

14

CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge

18

cover

20

collar

22

poetry

24

knob

26

external thread

34

piercing

36

membrane

40

pusher

42

Spigot

46

web

48

Helical compression spring

50

approach

52

tappet

58

O-ring

Claims (12)

1. A container which can be filled with fluid and can be sealed in a pressure-tight manner and from which fluid can be discharged, with an insert which can be located while being sealed in an opening in the container, and which has a CO₂ high-pressure cartridge (14), a pressure-regulating valve for dispensing CO₂ therefrom and a control knob (24) which is accessible from the outside and which turns forward against an axially guided slide member (40), by the actuation of which the CO₂ high-pressure cartridge (14) can be pierced with a tap needle (34), characterised in that when actuated for the first time the control knob (24) after exceeding a predetermined angle of rotation for tapping the CO₂ high-pressure cartridge (14) the slide member (40) is suitable to spring back axially against the control knob (24), snap into place and lock the control knob (24) against further actuation.
2. A container according to Claim 1, characterised in that the tap needle (34) is combined structurally with a valve member of the pressure-regulating valve, which can be displaced axially on a valve seat of the pressure-regulating valve between a sealing position and an open position, and in that the slide member (40) springs back actuated from the tap needle (34).
3. A container according to Claim 2, characterised in that when the CO₂ high-pressure cartridge (14) is tapped the slide member (40) comes into flush contact end face against end face with the tap needle (34).
4. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that immediately prior to the tapping the tap needle (34) occupies a sealing position directly behind the valve seat of the pressure-regulating valve.
5. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it has a fluidtightly sealed chamber (12) in which the CO₂ high-pressure cartridge (14) has a snug fit with its head towards the opening.
6. A container according to Claim 5, characterised in that on its neck of small diameter the CO₂ high-pressure cartridge (14) is sealed over its circumference against the wall of the chamber (12).
7. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the insert occupies an upper opening of the container.
8. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the opening is a bunghole through which the container can be filled with fluid, and in that the insert functions as a bunghole stopper.
9. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a pressure bag can be connected to the insert, which can be inflated by the CO₂ dispensed.
10. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that at the bottom it has an outlet tap.
11. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that at the top it has a tap to which a riser pipe leads, which extends as far as the bottom of the container.
12. A container according to Claim 11, characterised in that on the outside of the tap there is provided an outlet plug with a hose connection.

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