EP2030944A2

EP2030944A2 - Extractor device adapted for insertion into an opening of a beverage container and beverage container provided with extractor device

Info

Publication number: EP2030944A2
Application number: EP08161179A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ken Riis
Original assignee: Micro Matic AS
Current assignee: Micro Matic AS
Priority date: 2007-07-31
Filing date: 2008-07-25
Publication date: 2009-03-04
Also published as: JP2009046197A; JP5339808B2; EP2030944A3

Abstract

The extractor device (1) is adapted for insertion into an opening of a beverage container and comprises a housing (2) having a beverage passage (11), in which a valve body (13) is displaceable between a closed position and an open position. The valve body is biased against its closed position, and a down tube (10) extends from the housing in order to lead beverage from the lower part of the beverage container into the beverage passage. The extractor device (1) is provided with a friction increasing coating (29) suitable for preventing unauthorized removal of the extractor device from the opening of the beverage container after insertion into the opening,

Description

The present invention relates to an extractor device adapted for insertion into an opening of a beverage container, such as a beer keg, in which the beverage may be pressurized, the extractor device comprising a housing having a beverage passage, in which a valve body is displaceable between a closed position, in which the valve body abuts a valve seat and thereby closes the beverage passage, and an open position, in which beverage may flow through the beverage passage, the valve body being biased against its closed position, and a down tube extending from the housing in order to lead beverage from the lower part of the beverage container into the beverage passage.
WO 95/21120 (Micro Matic A/S) describes a pressurized container provided with a gas and liquid valve being mounted in a neck ring fixed on the container. A security device comprises a slot arranged between the valve and the neck ring for relieving the overpressure in the container when demounting the valve, thereby preventing that the valve may be shot out into the room with great force when it looses its engagement with the neck ring.
WO 99/25643 discloses an extractor device having a housing directly welded into the top of a barrel. However, welding may be a cumbersome procedure, as the connection has to be pressure proof. Furthermore, the welded connection causes difficulty in the case that the extractor device has to be demounted from the barrel, for instance in order to perform occasional inspection or repair.
The object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-mount extractor device, whereby the risk of pressure-related accidents is substantially reduced, but whereby the occasional access to the inside of the beverage container is still possible at a factory location without undue burden.
In view of this object, the extractor device is provided with a friction increasing coating suitable for preventing unauthorized removal of the extractor device from the opening of the beverage container after insertion into the opening.
In this way, a connection of a relatively permanent character is easily provided, thereby preventing unauthorized disconnection of the extractor device from the beverage container by the user, and thereby preventing accidents related to the unintended relief of pressure from the container. However, the character of the friction increasing coating may be chosen so that dismounting of the extractor device from the opening of the beverage container is readily possible by application of suitable forces by appropriate tools or machinery at a factory location, whereby the friction of the connection may be overcome.
In a structurally particularly advantageous embodiment, the housing is adapted for insertion into a neck of the beverage container, and the housing has a circumferential face provided with the friction increasing coating and adapted to abut a corresponding circumferential face of the neck.
In an embodiment, the friction increasing coating is provided on a thread of the housing adapted for engagement with a thread of the beverage container. Thereby, the thread may carry the load resulting from the pressure in the beverage container, and the friction increasing coating therefore only has to fulfil the function of preventing that the threaded connection is unscrewed unintentionally. Consequently, even a rather weakly friction increasing coating may be employed, so that the occasional dismantling of the extractor device from the beverage container at a factory location is facilitated.
In an embodiment, the combination of the friction increasing coating and the design of the thread of the housing is chosen so that the torque necessary for loosening the thread connection after mounting of the extractor device into the opening of the beverage container is at least 100 Nm, preferably at least 180 Nm and most preferred at least 230 Nm. Thereby, unauthorized removal of the extractor device from the opening of the beverage container is effectively prevented.
In an embodiment, the pitch of the thread is at least 7, preferably at least 10, and most preferred at least 12 threads per inch. Thereby, in combination with the friction increasing coating, unauthorized removal of the extractor device from the opening of the beverage container is effectively prevented.
In an advantageous embodiment, the friction increasing coating is an adhesive.
In an embodiment, the adhesive is a varnish-like precoating system on base of microencapsulated epoxy-acrylate. The adhesive functions as a locking and sealing element when the capsules are ruptured by shear and/or pressure stress and the adhesive is allowed to cure. Therefore, the extractor device may be precoated with the adhesive in order to be mounted on a beverage container at a later stage. The adhesive properties will not work before the mounting, whereby the capsules are ruptured.
In an embodiment, the housing is provided with a sealing ring abutting a radially extending ring face of the housing and being adapted to abut a corresponding radially extending ring face of the beverage container, and a ring-formed projection protrudes from the ring face of the housing and is adapted to abut the corresponding radially extending ring face of the beverage container, the height of the ring-formed projection thereby defining the maximum compression of the sealing ring in the mounted state of the extractor device on the beverage container. Because the height of the ring-formed projection defines the maximum compression of the sealing ring, it is prevented that the sealing ring is loaded excessively. Furthermore, the need for regular retensioning of the thread connection between the housing and the beverage container is eliminated, whereby it is avoided that the sealing ring is systematically deteriorated during use. Additionally, it is prevented that the thread connection is unintentionally retensioned, whereby, in the case that an adhesive is employed, the adhesive connection could otherwise by broken.
In an embodiment, the height of the ring-formed projection is at least 10 per cent, preferably at least 15 per cent, and most preferred at least 20 per cent, smaller than the height of the sealing ring. Thereby, at suitable precompression of the sealing ring is ensured.
In an embodiment, the housing is provided with at least one leg adapted to extend into the beverage container in the mounted state of the extractor device on the beverage container, the leg being provided with a barb or the like and being adapted to deflect resiliently during insertion of the extractor device into the opening of the beverage container, so that the barb may grip under an edge of the beverage container in the mounted state of the extractor device on the beverage container. Thereby, the extractor device is additionally secured against unauthorized dismantling from the beverage container. The barb or the like can only be brought out of engagement with the edge of the beverage container by removing the valve body and introducing a special tool through the beverage passage. When the valve body is removed, the pressure in the beverage container is relieved, and the extractor device may therefore safely be removed.
In an embodiment, the leg, at an end opposite the housing, connects with a radially extending, annular plate surrounding the down tube. Thereby, a tool inserted through the beverage channel may abut and press the annular plate downwards, whereby the leg or legs may be deformed in such a way that the barb or the like is brought out of engagement with the edge of the beverage container, so that the extractor device may be removed from the beverage container.
In an embodiment, the housing is provided with at least two lugs adapted to cooperate with a tool for screwing the housing into a neck of a beverage container, but being so tapered that a tool cannot grip the lugs properly and that unscrewing of the screw connection between the housing and the neck is therefore impeded. Thereby, it may be further prevented that the thread connection is unintentionally disconnected.
In an embodiment, the valve seat is comprised by a sealing element adapted to be inserted and removed in the mounted state of the extractor device on the beverage container. Thereby, the sealing element may be replaced without removing the extractor device from the beverage container, so that the proper functioning of the extractor device may be ensured throughout its service life without complicated disassembly of the device.
The present invention further relates to a beverage container comprising an extractor device as described above.
The invention will now be explained in more detail below by means of examples of embodiments with reference to the schematic drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a partial axial section of the extractor device according to the invention, mounted in a neck of a beverage container,
Fig. 2 is a detail of Fig. 1 on a larger scale,
Fig. 3 is a partial axial section of the extractor device shown in Fig. 1, shown before mounting of the device in a neck of a beverage container,
Fig. 4 is a detail of Fig. 3 on a larger scale,
Fig. 5 is a partial axial section of the extractor device shown in Fig. 1, whereby the plane of the section is angled to the section in Fig. 1,
Fig. 6 is a top view of the extractor device shown in Fig. 1, and
Fig. 7 is a detail of Fig. 5 on a larger scale.

Fig. 1 shows an extractor device 1 according to the present invention. The extractor device 1 comprises a housing 2 having an inner beverage passage 11 and an outer thread 3 screwed into a corresponding inner thread 4 of a neck 5 forming part of a not shown beer keg. The lower edge of the neck 5 may suitably be welded onto a top wall of the beer keg. A down tube 10 extends downwards from the housing 2 to an area at the bottom of the beer keg, when the extractor device 1 is mounted in the beer keg, so that beer may be led up through the down tube 10 to the beverage passage.
The housing 2 has an inner seat 6, against which a sealing ring 7 is biased by means of an outer compression spring 8. An upper collar 12 of the down tube 10 is resting on a lower face of the sealing ring 7, and the upper end of the outer compression spring 8 rests on the lower side of the collar 12, so that the down tube 10 is maintained in its position on the sealing ring 7, and so that the sealing ring 7 is pressed against the inner seat 6. The lower end of the outer compression spring 8 is supported by a radially, annular plate 9 surrounding the down tube 10 and being carried by a number of legs 22 extending downwards from the housing 2.
A valve body 13 in the form of a cap is, by means of an inner compression spring 15, biased against a valve seat 14 formed by the sealing ring 7. An upper end of the inner compression spring 15 abuts the lower side of the cap forming the valve body 13, and a lower end of the inner compression spring 15 rests on an internal recess 16 of the down tube 10.
In a manner well-known in the art, an end of a not shown beer tube of a dispenser head may be pressed against and seal against an internal annular face 17 of the sealing ring 7, whereby the sealing ring 7 will be displaced in a downward direction, thereby opening an annular channel for a pressure medium, such as CO₂, supplied via the dispenser head, between the sealing ring 7 and the inner seat 6 of the housing 2. Furthermore, a not shown beer piston of said dispenser head may be pressed against the valve body 13, thereby displacing the valve body 13 from its closed position shown in Fig. 1 to its open position, in which beer, by means of said pressure medium, may be pressed up through the central opening of the sealing ring 7 and into the dispenser head.
The sealing ring 7 may by means of a not shown tool, well-known in the art, be removed up through the inner beverage passage 11 of the housing 2 and thereby be replaced by a new sealing ring, similarly insertable through the inner beverage passage 11. Therefore, there is no need to remove the extractor device 1 from the beer keg on a regular basis. Before mounting the extractor device 1 in the neck 5 of the beer keg, the outer thread 3 of the housing 2 of the not mounted extractor device 1 shown in Fig. 3 is provided with a friction increasing coating 29. The friction increasing coating prevents unauthorized removal of the extractor device 1 from the neck 5 of the beverage container after that the outer thread 3 of the housing 2 has been screwed into the inner thread 4 of the neck 5 of the beverage container. Of course, according to the invention, the friction increasing coating 29 could also be applied to the inner thread of the neck 5, instead of the outer thread 3 of the housing 2, or it could be applied to both the outer thread 3 of the housing 2 and the inner thread of the neck 5.
The friction increasing coating 29 may advantageously be an adhesive, although the coating may be made of any kind of material suitable to increase the friction of the connection. For instance, if a thread connection is precoated with nylon or the like, the friction of the threaded connection may be increased. If, for instance, the adhesive "precote 85" (registered trade mark) available from omniTECHNIK Mikroverkapselungs GmbH is applied to a thread having a diameter of approximately 2 inches and a pitch of 12 to 16 threads per inch, the torque necessary for loosening the thread connection after mounting of the extractor device into the neck of the beverage container may be about 200 to 300 Nm. When the threads are connected with this adhesive, the microcapsules contained in the precote layer are ruptured by pressure or shearing stress. Liquid components are set free and cure together with the binder system which results in the desired locking and sealing effect. Of course, any other suitable adhesive could be used in order to provide a high torque connection according to the invention.
According to the invention, the thread connection between the housing 2 the neck 5 may also be replaced by, for instance, a bayonet coupling other kinds of mechanical couplings or connections, whereby the friction increasing coating may be applied to one or both of two complementary faces of two respective coupling parts before connection. If, however, a thread connection is employed, and the friction increasing coating is applied to the extractor device, it is additionally an advantage that the extractor device may be employed with existing kegs having a neck with an internal thread.
Referring to Fig. 4 showing a detail of Fig. 3, the housing 2 is provided with a sealing ring 18 abutting a radially extending ring face 19 of the housing and being adapted to abut a corresponding radially extending ring face 20 of the neck 5 of the beverage container; see Fig. 2. A ring-formed projection 21 protrudes from the outer periphery of the ring face 19 of the housing 2 and is adapted to abut the corresponding radially extending ring face 20 of the neck 5. As it may be seen from Fig. 4, the height of the sealing ring 18 is lager than the height of the ring-formed projection 21. Consequently, the ring-formed projection 21 defines the maximum compression of the sealing ring 18 in the mounted state of the extractor device on the beverage container; see Fig. 2. The height of the ring-formed projection 21 may suitably be about 15 per cent smaller than the height of the sealing ring 18 in the compressed state of the sealing ring, whereby a good sealing effect may be obtained.
Referring to Fig. 5 and 7, the legs 22 may be provided with a barb 23 or the like and may be adapted to deflect resiliently during insertion of the extractor device 1 into the opening of the beverage container, so that the barb may grip under an edge 24 of the neck 5 or a not shown similar edge of the beverage container in the mounted state of the extractor device 1 on the beverage container. As indicated in Fig. 5, the barb 23 may extend by the distance d under the edge 24. Thereby a further safety against unauthorized unscrewing of the extractor device 1 may be provided. As indicated in Fig. 7 by means of arrows 25, the barb 23 may be brought out of engagement with the edge 24 during unscrewing of the extractor device by imparting a permanent deformation to the legs 22 by means of a not shown special tool pressing with a force F in a downward direction on the annular plate 9, thereby deforming the legs 22.
Referring to Fig. 6, the housing 2 may be provided with at least two lugs 26 adapted to cooperate with a not shown tool for screwing the housing 2 into the neck 5 of the beverage container. The tool may abut the face 28. The lugs have a tapered face 27 impeding unscrewing of the screw connection between the housing and the neck.

Claims

An extractor device (1) adapted for insertion into an opening of a beverage container, such as a beer keg, in which the beverage may be pressurized, the extractor device comprising a housing (2) having a beverage passage (11), in which a valve body (13) is displaceable between a closed position, in which the valve body abuts a valve seat (14) and thereby closes the beverage passage, and an open position, in which beverage may flow through the beverage passage, the valve body being biased against its closed position, and a down tube (10) extending from the housing in order to lead beverage from the lower part of the beverage container into the beverage passage, characterized in that the extractor device (1) is provided with a friction increasing coating (29) suitable for preventing unauthorized removal of the extractor device from the opening of the beverage container after insertion into the opening.
An extractor device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2) is adapted for insertion into a neck (5) of the beverage container, and in that the housing has a circumferential face provided with the friction increasing coating (29) and adapted to abut a corresponding circumferential face of the neck.
An extractor device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the friction increasing coating (29) is provided on a thread (3) of the housing (2) adapted for engagement with a thread (4) of the beverage container.
An extractor device according to claim 3, characterized in that the combination of the friction increasing coating (29) and the design of the thread (3) of the housing (2) is chosen so that the torque necessary for loosening the thread connection after mounting of the extractor device into the opening of the beverage container is at least 100 Nm, preferably at least 180 Nm and most preferred at least 230 Nm.
An extractor device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the pitch of the thread (3) is at least 7, preferably at least 10, and most preferred at least 12 threads per inch.
An extractor device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the friction increasing coating (29) is an adhesive.
An extractor device according to claim 6, characterized in that the adhesive is a varnish-like precoating system on base of microencapsulated epoxy-acrylate.
An extractor device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) is provided with a sealing ring (18) abutting a radially extending ring face (19) of the housing and being adapted to abut a corresponding radially extending ring face (20) of the beverage container, and in that a ring-formed projection (21) protrudes from the ring face (19) of the housing and is adapted to abut the corresponding radially extending ring face (20) of the beverage container, the height of the ring-formed projection thereby defining the maximum compression of the sealing ring in the mounted state of the extractor device on the beverage container.
An extractor device according to claim 8, characterized in that the height of the ring-formed projection (21) is at least 10 per cent, preferably at least 15 per cent, and most preferred at least 20 per cent, smaller than the height of the sealing ring (18).
An extractor device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is provided with at least one leg (22) adapted to extend into the beverage container in the mounted state of the extractor device (1) on the beverage container, the leg (22) being provided with a barb (23) or the like and being adapted to deflect resiliently during insertion of the extractor device into the opening of the beverage container, so that the barb may grip under an edge (24) of the beverage container in the mounted state of the extractor device on the beverage container.
An extractor device according to claim 10, characterized in that the leg (22), at an end opposite the housing, connects with a radially extending, annular plate (9) surrounding the down tube (10).
An extractor device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) is provided with at least two lugs (26) adapted to cooperate with a tool for screwing the housing into a neck (5) of a beverage container, but being so tapered that unscrewing of the screw connection between the housing and the neck is impeded.
An extractor device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve seat (14) is comprised by a sealing element (7) adapted to be inserted and removed in the mounted state of the extractor device on the beverage container.
A beverage container comprising an extractor device according to any one of the preceding claims.