EP2279786B1 - Device and method for gassing a liquid - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The device according to the invention is in any case applicable to the carbonation of liquids such as water. However, other gases may also be used, such as N ₂ O, and / or other liquids, such as fruit juices, wines, water with syrup, or liquids with additives, in particular flavors, colors or sweeteners.

For the carbonation of liquids, especially water, there are already different devices.

A known for decades device for the production of soda water are siphon bottles. The bottle is filled with water, a riser pipe with gasket inserted into the bottle and a siphon head screwed onto the bottle. Then a pressurized gas container, usually a CO ₂ capsule, inserted into the capsule holder of the siphon head and the capsule holder screwed onto the siphon head until the entire capsule contents has flowed into the bottle. The carbonation is carried out by shaking the siphon, resulting in a better mixing between water and CO ₂ . Then the capsule holder is unscrewed and disposed of the empty CO ₂ capsule. To remove the soda water, a lever that releases an opening for dispensing the soda water is attached to the siphon head.

Simplifications have already been proposed for the siphon bottles: in the EP 0867 219 A1 For example, the capsule holder for the CO ₂ capsule is omitted, this is pressed directly into an opening of the siphon head and thereby opened after the siphon head has been sealed to the bottle. The CO ₂ capsule projects out of the siphon head. But even in this case, it takes several steps, namely the dense Close the bottle with the siphon head, open the CO ₂ capsule and shake the device to create the carbonated liquid.

Other devices, such as those of EP 1 378 484 A1 , use their own housing, which serves both as a holder for a gas cylinder (instead of a CO ₂ capsule) and for the bottle for the liquid to be carbonated. Although several bottles can be fumigated with this device due to the gas bottle one behind the other, but this device is not space-saving and not easy to handle in terms of gas-tight connection of the bottles to the housing.

The US 2 336 708 A shows a holder which is screwed to a bottle and having an opening which is adapted to receive pressure vessels. If the holder is screwed to the bottle, a piercing pin is driven into the pressure vessel, which opens it and allows its contents to flow into a liquid in the bottle.

The FR 333 458 A relates to a device for gassing liquids, in which a head for receiving compressed gas containers is provided and can be screwed to a bottleneck. By screwing the head and bottleneck a piercing pin is driven into the pressurized gas container, whereby a gassing of the liquid in the bottle is possible.

The DE 104 671 C shows a serving as a vessel closure hollow body for preventing a blasting of a liquid container in the saturation of liquid with gas using a gas capsule. Here, the hollow body is screwed by means of a thread with a bottle while a mandrel is driven into the gas capsule.

The US-A-4,867,209 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for shake-free carbonation of a liquid which is both space-saving and with as few steps as possible, both the connection to a container, in particular a bottle, as well as the gassing of the liquid and which also provides the energy necessary to change the state of aggregation of the carbon dioxide.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1.

This relates to a device for carbonating a liquid, which is located in a container, in particular a bottle, with a head that is sealingly but with defined vent connectable to the container and is supported by this alone (and not by a Housing which surrounds the container), wherein the head has at least one receptacle with opening device for a compressed gas container and the pressurized gas contained in the pressurized gas container is transferred through the head into the container, wherein receiving and opening device are arranged in the head, that in the device inserted pressurized gas container is opened by connecting the head to the container.

According to the invention it is provided that on the side facing the container of the head, a tube which is filled with a heat-conducting and storing material, such as metal granules, in particular aluminum granules, is attached to the head, that the compressed gas passes through the tube into the container ,

Since the device according to the invention essentially consists of a head which is connected to the container and is supported by it alone, it is in any case more space-saving than a housing into which the container must be placed.

Characterized in that receiving and opening device are arranged in the head, that the pressurized gas container is opened by connecting the head to the container, it requires only one step to make the connection of the head to the container and to aerate the liquid. The connection of the head with the container and the opening of the gas cylinder take place simultaneously.

As a rule, the container will be a bottle, that is to say a container tapering towards the filling or pouring opening and forming a neck. This also serves to store the carbonated liquid and can be provided after unscrewing the head with a cap. To the container or the bottle no further housing is provided.

An embodiment of the invention, which sets the relative position between the head and container particularly simple, is that the head for connection to the container has an internal thread which can be screwed onto a corresponding external thread of the container.

Characterized in that the head has a slide which can be opened to insert a compressed gas container into the receptacle and to remove from this, it is ensured that the compressed gas container is enclosed by the head and the position of the gas cylinder in the head can be well fixed.

To accomplish the opening of the gas cylinder as simple as possible when connecting the head to the container, it can be provided that the opening device has a piercing pin for opening the pressurized gas container, which is arranged between receiving the compressed gas container and container.

This can be carried out so that the piercing pin is mounted in a component which rests on the same when placing the head on the container, in particular on the top of the bottle neck, and when connecting the head to the container in the direction of receiving the Gas cylinder is moved. The dimensions of the component are dimensioned so that the piercing pin pierces the inserted gas cylinder at the earliest when the head and container are tightly interconnected.

It is advantageous if the head is essentially rotationally symmetrical and the longitudinal axis of the inserted compressed gas container, the longitudinal axis of the piercing pin of the opening device and the longitudinal axis of the head coincide. From the screwing, which is exerted between the head and container results in an axial force, which is used simultaneously for piercing and sealing of the capsule and for generating a defined tightness between the head and bottle. The vertical component of the closing force, which acts in the longitudinal axis of the head, is directly available as a uniform piercing force on the piercing pin.

To provide the energy that is necessary to change the physical state of the carbon dioxide, it is provided that on the side facing the container of the head, a tube which is filled with a heat-conducting and storing material, such as metal granules, in particular aluminum granules, so on Head is attached, that the compressed gas passes through the pipe into the container.

The tube should, when the head is tightly connected to the container, up to a defined height, which for

Obtaining optimal fumigation, especially carbonation, is required to protrude into the container.

Thus, once the compressed gas has reached the container does not escape through the pipe, it can be provided that at that end of the tube, which faces away from the head, a valve is mounted, which opens and the compressed gas flowing through the pipe in the interior of the Pass container as soon as a predetermined starting pressure is reached.

In order to protect the valve against contamination, it can be provided that the valve, in particular the valve chamber, against liquids from the outside, namely from the container, penetrating liquids by seals, in particular 0-rings is protected. Pollution of the valve by additives (flavors, dyes or sweeteners) in the liquid of the container can thus be counteracted.

Of course, it will be useful for safety reasons to provide that the head has a device for discharging the pressure occurring in the container after the introduction of the compressed gas, for example in the form that this device as a vent slot between the head, in particular the component (Pipe connection) for storing the piercing pin, and container is executed.

The invention also encompasses a correspondingly designed container, in particular a bottle, in such a way that the apparatus and container are tightly connectable to one another, in particular screwable.

For this purpose, a corresponding closure cap can be provided with which the container can be tightly closed, in particular screwed, as soon as the head is unscrewed again after the carbonization.

The device according to the invention can be used according to the following method, namely that in a first step a pressurized gas container is inserted into the receptacle of the head and fixed therein, for example by means of a slide,
in a second step, the head is sealed to the container, but with a defined vent, connected, in particular screwed,
in a third step, after the liquid has been gassed and the pressure in the container has been reduced, the head is detached from the container, in particular unscrewed,
in a fourth step, the pressurized gas container is removed from the receptacle of the head, in particular by opening the slide.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt durch die Längsachse einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, die auf eine Flasche aufgesetzt ist,

Fig. 2

einen Längsschnitt durch die Längsachse einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, die auf eine Flasche aufgeschraubt ist,

Fig. 3

eine geschlossenes Ventil im Rohr 9 gemäß Fig. 1

Fig. 4

eine geöffnetes Ventil im Rohr 9 gemäß Fig. 2

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the schematic figures. It shows:

Fig. 1

a longitudinal section through the longitudinal axis of a device according to the invention, which is mounted on a bottle,

Fig. 2

a longitudinal section through the longitudinal axis of a device according to the invention, which is screwed onto a bottle,

Fig. 3

a closed valve in the pipe 9 according to Fig. 1

Fig. 4

an open valve in the pipe 9 according to Fig. 2

In the Fig. 1 and 2 a device according to the invention is shown. In Fig. 1 the head is placed only on the top of the bottle neck of the bottle 15, in Fig. 2 the head is already tightly connected to the bottle 15.

The head according to the invention comprises the parts 2 to 7 and 22 to 27. In the receptacle, which can also be referred to as capsule holder 2, there is room for a CO ₂ capsule 1. The capsule-centered slide 3 can be along the longitudinal axis of the substantially rotationally symmetrical Head are pushed in the direction of bottle 15 until it connects to the cover 5. In Fig. 1 the slider 3 is shown in the open position, the CO ₂ capsule 1 is being inserted. In Fig. 2 is the slider 3 in the closed position and the position of the CO ₂ capsule 1 in the head defined by the capsule holder 2.

Below the capsule holder 2, the opening device for the CO ₂ capsule 1 is provided. This consists of a piercing pin 23, which can pass through a baffle plate 24. The baffle 24 is used - see Fig. 2 - As a stop for the CO ₂ capsule 1 when the slide 3 is closed. The baffle plate 24 is secured by a retaining ring 25 against lateral displacement and rests on the pen holder 22, which holds the piercing pin 23. The piercing pin 23 protrudes on the top of the pin holder 22.

The pen holder 22 is located in a recess of the component 26 and is sealed relative to this by means of an O-ring 7. Component 26 in turn serves on the one hand as a pipe connection for the tube 9 on the head and on the other hand with a flange-like extension in the region below its center as a support of the head on the bottle 15. The pipe connection 26 is by means of a flange-like extension of his Top on a firmly connected to the head stop 27.

The pipe connection 26 is sealed by means of an O-ring 4 against the inside of the head. The pipe connection 26 protrudes with its lower part into the pipe 9 and is sealed off from the pipe 9 by means of a further O-ring 6. Between pipe connection 26 and granules 21, a filter 8 is arranged in the tube 9, which preferably consists of sintered PE (polyethylenes), on the one hand to prevent the granules 21 penetrates into the gas path present in the head (possible blockage) and on the other hand to prevent in that any particles penetrating through the opening of the piercing unit affect the granules 21 in their function and mode of action.

Another filter 10 (also preferably made of sintered PE) is disposed below the granules 21 on the valve seat 12 to prevent the escape of the granules 21 through the underlying gas path and thereby avoid a possible malfunction of the valve. The tube 9 is namely closed on its underside by a valve which is arranged in the tube 9. The valve seat 12 is connected to the tube 9 and is sealed by means of an O-ring 20 against the inside of the tube 9. In the valve seat 12, the nozzle 18 is surrounded by a spring 17 and is held by means of nozzle fixation 14, which in turn is connected to valve seat 12, wherein between the valve seat 12 and nozzle fixation 14, an O-ring 31 is attached to the nozzle chamber and the therein Protect spring 17 from possible ingress of the liquid to be fumigated. The nozzle 18 is sealed off from the valve seat 12 by means of an O-ring 13. At the top of the nozzle 18, the valve piston 19 is inserted, which is sealed by means of O-ring 11 relative to the valve seat 12. At the bottom of the nozzle 18 is an O-ring 32, which is a Tightness against liquid / moisture ingress between the nozzle 18 and nozzle fixation 14 guaranteed to prevent contamination of or the ingress of liquid to be fumigated in the nozzle chamber and spring 17. The spring 17 presses the nozzle 18 and the valve piston 19 against the valve seat 12. The spring 17 is dimensioned so that the valve opens only at a predetermined starting pressure of the compressed gas and closes again at a predetermined pressure.

The container 15 is formed as a bottle, here made of PET plastic, and protected at the bottom by a so-called base cap 16, which forms a secure footing. The container is filled with a liquid, in particular water, and optionally with additives added to the liquid, in particular flavors, dyes or sweeteners 29, wherein the liquid leaves a space for gas 30.

The pressurized gas container 1 is designed as a CO ₂ capsule, for example, commercially available 8 grams of CO ₂ capsules can be used, but also differently dimensioned and / or filled (eg with N ₂ O) capsules.

In Fig. 3 the valve is off Fig. 1 , namely with closed nozzle 18, shown enlarged, in Fig. 4 the valve is off Fig. 2 , namely with open nozzle 18, shown enlarged.

The device according to the invention is used as follows: the bottle 15 is filled with water or another liquid up to a predetermined filling mark. The slide 3 with capsule centering is opened and a CO ₂ capsule 1 is inserted into the capsule holder 2. The slide 3 is closed and thereby the CO ₂ capsule 1 centered.

The head is screwed onto the bottle 15, whereby on the one hand the CO ₂ capsule 1 is opened by the piercing pin 23 and on the other hand, the frictional connection between the head and Bottle 15 ensures the seal, wherein the vent slot 28 provides a defined venting of the interior of the bottle 15.

When screwing component (pipe connection) 26 is pressed with pin holder 22 in the direction of CO ₂ capsule 1 and thus the piercing pin 23 in the CO ₂ capsule 1. Liquefied gas (CO ₂ ) flows through piercing pin 23, pin holder 22, component (pipe connection ) 26 and filter 8 in the tube 9. There is a cooling of the gas by the expansion and an aggregate state change from liquid to gas instead.

The energy required for the state of aggregation is supplied through the granules 21, usually aluminum granules, located in the tube 9. The granulate 21 gives off heat to the gas and cools down itself. At the same time, energy is again supplied to the granules 21 from outside through the water 29, the granulate 21 serves as a heat exchanger. This ensures that a plurality of bottles 15 filled with liquid, in particular water, optionally with the liquid, in particular flavors, dyes or sweeteners, can be produced in succession with almost the same carbonization.

Due to the gas flowing into the tube, an increase in pressure takes place in the tube 9. When the starting pressure is reached, the valve piston 19 of the nozzle 18 opens against the spring 17. The pressure difference between the tube 9 and the interior of the bottle 15, the gas is accelerated and flows through nozzle 18, which represents a defined cross section, in the water 29th , while a carbonation takes place.

That gas 30 which does not dissolve in the liquid escapes from the water 29 into the gas space of the bottle 15. In this case, the pressure in the bottle 15 increases, which in turn leads to a better carbonization of the liquid. The gas 30 in the gas space is defined by a vent, namely by means of vent slot 28 in the sealing area head bottle, delivered to the atmosphere until the pressure in the bottle 15 is reduced. At the same time, the pressure in the pipe 9 drops and the nozzle 18 closes by the spring force of the spring 17th

The head can now be unscrewed from the bottle 15, the residual gas contained in CO ₂ - capsule 1 and pipe 9 is discharged through the housing of the slider 3 to the atmosphere. The empty CO ₂ capsule 1 is removed from the capsule holder 2, it is already a new CO ₂ - capsule 1 are inserted.

From the bottle 15, a ready-to-drink carbonated liquid, in particular soda water, can be removed, for the storage of the carbonated liquid, a matching cap with seal can be screwed onto the bottle 15.

The device according to the invention (head and tube 9) is generally about as high as the bottle 15, the diameter of which is generally lower than that of the bottle 15.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

CO ₂ capsule

2

Capsule holder (holder)

3

Slider with capsule centering

4

O-ring between pipe connection 26 and inside of the head

5

cover

6

O-ring between pipe connection 26 and pipe 9

7

O-ring between pin holder 22 and pipe connection 26

8th

Filter between pipe connection 26 and granules 21

9

pipe

10

Filter between granules 21 and valve seat 12

11

O-ring between valve piston 19 and valve seat 12

12

valve seat

13

O-ring between nozzle 18 and valve seat 12

14

nozzle fixing

15

bottle

16

Basecap

17

feather

18

jet

19

plunger

20

O-ring between valve seat 12 and tube 9

21

granules

22

pen holder

23

Aufstechstift

24

flapper

25

retaining ring

26

Component (pipe connection)

27

attack

28

venting slot

29

water

30

gas

31

O-ring between nozzle fixation 14 and valve seat 12

32

O-ring between nozzle fixation 14 and nozzle 18

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus for gassing, especially carbonating, a liquid, especially water, with additives being added to the liquid, especially flavours, colouring agents or sweetening agents, especially in concentrated form, with the liquid being disposed in a container, especially a bottle (15), comprising a head which can be connected with the container (15) in a sealing manner but with defined venting, and is carried by said container alone, with the head having at least one receiver (2) with an opening apparatus (22 to 25) for a compressed-gas container (1) and the compressed gas contained in the compressed-gas container (1) being transferable through the head into the container (15), with the receiver (2) and the opening apparatus (22 to 25) being arranged in the head in such a way that a compressed-gas container (1) inserted into the apparatus is opened by the tight connection of the head with the container (15), characterized in that a tube (9) which is filled with a heat-conducting and heat-storing material such as a metal granulate (21), especially aluminium granulate, is fastened to the head on the side of the head facing the container (15) in such a way that the compressed gas reaches the container (15) through the tube (9).
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the head comprises an internal thread for the connection with the container (15), which thread can be screwed onto a corresponding external thread of the container (15).
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the head comprises a slide (3) which can be opened in order to insert a compressed-gas container (1) into the receiver (2) or to remove the container from said receiver.
4. An apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the opening apparatus (22 to 25) comprises a puncture pin (23) for opening the compressed-gas container (1), which puncture pin is arranged between the receiver (2) for the compressed-gas container (1) and the container (15).
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the puncture pin (23) is mounted in a component (26) which during the positioning of the head on the container (15) rests on said container, especially on the upper side of the bottleneck, and is moved during the connection of the head with the container (15) relative to the head in the direction of the receiver (2) of the compressed-gas container (1).
6. An apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the head is arranged in a substantially rotationally symmetrical way, and the longitudinal axis of the inserted compressed-gas container (1), the longitudinal axis of the puncture pin (23) of the opening apparatus (22 to 25) and the longitudinal axis of the head coincide with each other.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that when the head is tightly connected with the container (15) the tube (9) protrudes into the container up to a defined height which is required for achieving optimal gassing, especially carbonization.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that a valve (12 to 14, 17 to 19) is attached to the end of the tube (9) facing away from the head, which valve opens and allows the compressed gas flowing through the tube (9) to pass into the interior of the container (15) once a predetermined starting pressure has been reached.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the valve (12 to 14, 17 to 19), and the valve chamber in particular, is protected against liquids penetrating from the outside, especially from the container (15), by means of seals, especially 0-rings (31 and 32).
10. An apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 9,
    characterized in that the head comprises a device (28) for relieving the excess pressure occurring in the container (15) after the introduction of the compressed gas.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that
    this device is arranged as a vent slot (28) between the head, especially the component (26) for bearing the puncture pin (23), and the container (15).
12. An apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 11, and
    container, especially bottle (15), characterized in that the apparatus and the container (15) can be tightly connected with each other, especially screwed together with each other.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that a
    sealing cap is provided with which the container (15) can be tightly closed, especially screwed together.
14. A method for carbonizing a liquid disposed in a container,
    especially a bottle (15), by means of an apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in a first step a compressed-gas container (1) is placed in the receiver (2) of the head and is fixed therein by means of a slide (3) for example, the head is tightly connected with the container (15) in a second step, but with defined venting, especially by screwing together, and in a third step, once the liquid has been gassed and the excess pressure in the container (15) has been removed, the head is detached from the container, especially screwed off the same, and in a fourth step the compressed-gas container (1) is removed from the receiver (2) of the head, especially by opening the slide (3).

Images