EP3348517B1

EP3348517B1 - Valve structure for a pet keg

Info

Publication number: EP3348517B1
Application number: EP17853533.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sergey Vladimirovich KNYAZEV
Original assignee: Obschestvo S Orgranichennoy Otvetstvennostiu "kazansky Zavod "europlast"
Current assignee: Obschestvo S Orgranichennoy Otvetstvennostiu "kazansky Zavod "europlast"
Priority date: 2016-09-22
Filing date: 2017-10-02
Publication date: 2020-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-02
Also published as: UA122909C2; WO2018056870A1; EP3348517A1; EP3348517A4; EA201800194A1; RU2640988C1; EA033500B1

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to corking constructions intended for polyethylene terephthalate tanks (hereinafter referred to as a "PET keg") and installed on PET keg necks for dispensing, storage and transportation of beverages in a PET keg under pressure.

Description of the Prior Art

PET kegs equipped with valve constructions are used for storage and dispensing of beverages, for example, such as beer. These valve constructions have several channels ensuring flow of liquid and gas. When filling a PET keg, which is usually filled upside down, a beverage is filled through the first channel of the valve construction, while the gas, which is forced out from the keg, comes out through the second channel. During dispensing, the gas, i. e. nitrogen or carbon dioxide, is injected into a PET keg through the first channel to force out the beverage content from a PET keg through the second channel. The beverage content is dispensed using a dispensing head attached to the valve construction on spring-loaded elements of the valve construction with subsequent opening of channels, one of which is used to supply inert gas under overpressure, and the other is used to dispense the beverage content which is forced out by the gas. The sealing element of the valve construction is intended to maintain the pressure in the PET keg during removal (dismantling) of the dispensing head. As a rule, in the case of dispensing and storage of beer, the overpressure makes about 2.5-3.0 bars. Said pressure is the operating pressure of a PET keg. A PET keg, however, withstands the pressure of about 7-8 bars.
In the case of violation of specifications of production, storage and use of a PET keg filled with beverage content, overpressure above the maximum permissible value may occur in a PET keg leading to rupture thereof. This problem poses serious threat to people located in close proximity to the PET keg.
A container made of plastics material is known, for example, a PET keg for beverages with a connecting fitting with a seal (patent of the Russian Federation RU2466085 C1 ), wherein the connecting fitting and/or the seal and, consequently, a keg head are structurally designed such that after a certain opening operation, the subsequent automatic closing operation in practice is not carried out completely or is not completed for a non-closable opening remains during the said subsequent automatic closing operation. Said opening ensures that the pressure is reduced in the interior. This means that it is no longer possible for an overpressure to build up in the interior and the potential danger of container rupture consequently no longer applies. The connecting fitting, however, includes a stopper with a predetermined breaking point for the spring-loaded seal. The seal has a predetermined breaking point or is designed with the possibility of deformation during a closing operation to form an opening.
Said type of valve prevents a PET keg from destruction not for the entire period of use but only after the previous opening operation with the subsequent automatic closing operation making the further use of a PET keg impossible after opening thereof, i.e. the dispensing head can be put on only once. With the dispensing head removed, the sealing of a PET keg is reduced and it can not be further used, thus making the rest of the product worthless. It should be noted, that it is often necessary to remove the dispensing head when using the PET keg in order to fully empty it, for example, if a failure of the dispensing head or the overall dispensing system has been detected, or if routine sanitation treatment of the dispensing system is being conducted. It should also be noted that the prior art solution does not ensure that the valve prevents a PET keg and product therein from destruction during storage and transportation.
A valve for a container according to patent of the Russian Federation for a utility model RU117417U is known with a body made in the form of a sleeve, having a hollow stem mounted therein, an annular gate, spring and cover with the means of connection to connect with the container neck; where the first end of the stem is made open and connected to the bottom of the body, protruding from it, and the second end of the stem is made closed and equipped with a flange; in addition, the stem forming has at least one window; an annular gate which can slide along the tube is installed on the stem between the bottom of the body and the flange of the stem, the central opening of which has an annular shoulder designed such that it can engage with the flange of the stem, and the spring is installed between the annular gate and the bottom of the body; in addition, the body forming has at least one window; the cover, however, is made in the form of a bushing with the means of connection on the interior surface thereof and with an annular shoulder in the channel thereof designed such that the annular shoulder can engage with the annular gate. (It has been taken as a prototype).
According to the prototype, the construction is assembled on the neck of the container by stages. The assembly procedure consists of the placement of the body on the neck of the container using a shoulder provided on the body and a recess provided on the neck of the container, and subsequent installation of other elements, which is completed by the installation of the cover secured with the exterior surface of the neck using a threaded connection or latch assembly. The known construction of the valve does not solve the problem of exceeding overpressure occuring in the case of violating the specifications of production, storage and use of PET kegs filled with beverage content. A valve construction according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 0 890 545 A1 . Other valve constructions are known from WO 95/23112 A1 or EP 0 056 295 A1 .

Summary of the Invention

The technical object of the claimed invention is to create a flexible easily producible valve construction for a PET keg providing high reliability, sealing and the possibility of functioning as a relief valve if overpressure inside a PET keg exceeds the maximum permissible value.
The technical result consists in obtaining a reliable, easily producible and safely operated valve for a PET keg.
The technical result is achieved by the fact that the valve construction for a PET keg comprising a valve casing with a central opening and the means of connection with the keg neck, a hollow stem, valve element, spring, annular flange; with the first end of the stem made open, and the second end made closed having an annular shoulder; with at least one window in the stem forming, and the valve element installed on the stem and able to slide along thereof, having a central opening or hole with an annular recess designed such that it can engage with the annular shoulder of the stem and the annular shoulder on the exterior surface made such that it can engage with the valve element; and the spring is installed between the valve element and the annular flange; and the valve casing, however, is made in the form of a mushroom and connected to the annular flange using a threaded connection intended for direct installation of the valve on a keg neck; openings for gas flow are provided at the bottom of the annular flange; an annular gasket is provided between the flange and cylindrical surface of the mushroom leg of the valve casing to seal off the connection of the valve casing with a PET keg neck; the valve element is made such that it can function both as a relief valve and as an actuation indicator made of polymeric material with 40-60 Shore hardness.
The distinction of the claimed invention from the prototype is the fact that the claimed invention can ensure the functioning of the valve element as a valve when dispensing beverages in the normal mode of operation, as a relief valve when overpressure in a PET keg is above the maximum permissible value, and as an actuation indicator of the relief valve.
The claimed invention is illustrated by the following drawings:

Fig.1 - valve construction (with a latch assembly) in section;
Fig.2 - valve construction with a threaded connection in section;
Fig.3. - detail drawing of the elements of valve construction with a latch assembly;
Fig.4 - detail drawing of the elements of valve construction with a threaded connection.
Fig.5 - cross-sectional view of the valve casing base.

The valve construction comprises the valve casing (1) made in the form of a mushroom with a central opening or hole, the hollow stem (2) installed therein along the longitudinal axis, the valve element (3), the spring (4) and the annular flange (5) providing upward pressure thereto (Fig. 1, 2).
The valve casing (1) comprises the base (7) which may be made both in the form of a circle and in the form of a truncated equilateral triangle having vertices constrained by a circle (see Fig. 5), the flange (8), and the cylindrical leg (9). Reinforcement ribs (10) are provided at the joint of the base (7) and the external annular surface of the flange (8). Both the latch assembly (Fig.3) and threaded joint (Fig.4) may be used to connect the valve construction with a PET keg neck. The vanes (11) on the flange (8) are intended to ensure latch engagement with a PET keg neck. The female thread (21) on the flange (8) is intended to ensure a threaded connection with a PET keg neck. The surface of the valve casing has the shoulders (12) to ensure producibility when installing the valve construction on threaded keg necks. The valve casing (1) has a central opening with the annular shoulder (6) engaging with the annular recess (16) of the valve element (3). The annular gasket (20) with a circular cross section is provided in the area between the cylindrical mushroom leg (9) and the flange (8) of the valve casing (1) to ensure the sealing of connection of the valve construction with a PET keg neck.
The stem (2) is made hollow and has the form of a tube. The first end of the stem is made open and passes through the opening of the annular flange (5), protruding from it. The second end of the stem (2) is made closed and has the shoulder (13). At least one window (14) is provided in the upper part of the hollow stem (2).
The valve element (3) having the central opening with the annular recess (15) designed such that it can engage with the shoulder (13) of the hollow stem (2) is installed on the stem (2) and can slide along thereof.
The spring (4) installed between the annular flange (5) and the valve element (3) ensures upward pressure of the valve element (3) to the annular shoulder (6) of the valve casing (1). The sealing ring (17) is installed between the valve element (3) and the spring (4) to prevent from pressing-through of material surface of the former.
The ring flange (5) is fastened to the valve casing (1) using a threaded connection. The ring flange (5) has the centering vanes (18) and openings for the flow of liquid or gas.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

The valve parts are manufactured using polymeric materials, in particular the valve casing, tube and annular flange of the valve construction are made of polyacetal, and the valve element (3) is made of polymeric materials with 40-60 Shore hardness depending on the required actuation pressure, such as: thermoelastoplast (TEP), or rubber based on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, or silicone.
The claimed valve construction is installed on the neck (19) of the PET keg. Fastening, however, may be implemented using a threaded connection with the female thread (21) or using a latch assembly formed by the vanes (11).
When using the latch assembly, the vanes (11) enter the groove between the annular shoulders on the exterior surface of a PET keg neck.
When using a threaded joint, fastening is made by means of the female thread (21) on the flange (8).
Filling of liquid into the PET keg as well as dispensing of liquid therefrom is ensured by the valve construction installed on a PET keg neck. A dispensing tube is connected to the open end of the hollow stem (2) ensuring dispensing of beverage content.
The PET keg is filled as follows:
The dispensing head of the dispensing line (not shown) has one or several shoulders which apply pressure onto the open surface of the spring-loaded valve element (3) on the side of the valve casing (1). This initiates opening of the first annular channel between the valve element (3) and the mushroom of the cover (9) as well as the second channel formed by the internal channel of the hollow stem with the open window (14) on the forming thereof. A PET keg is filled with beverage content by means of the second channel, while the gas in the PET keg is forced out through the first channel. After relief of pressure applied to the valve element (3) from the side of the dispensing head, the valve element returns to the initial position, thus blocking the channels. A PET keg filled with beverage content is stored and transported with the valve element (3) closed.
The dispensing of liquid from a PET keg is made in the reverse order: the shoulders of the dispensing head (not shown) apply pressure onto the open surface of the spring-loaded valve element (3) from the side of the valve casing (1). This initiates opening of the first annular channel between the valve element (3) and the mushroom of the cover (9), as well as the second channel formed by at least one window (14) on the forming of the hollow stem (2). The keg is supplied with inert gas under overpressure through the first annular channel from an external container, which forces out the liquid in the keg through the tube, hollow stem (2) attached thereto, and window (14) on the forming of the hollow stem (2).
If the overpressure in the PET keg is above the maximum permissible value under transportation, storage and operation conditions, the valve element (3) is irretrievably pressed out of the valve construction such that it is above the end surface of the valve casing (1) to relieve overpressure, thus preventing the destruction (rupture) of the PET keg.
The pressed-out valve element observed visually warns the consumer of valve actuation and unfit of the beverage content for consumption. In addition, the pressed-out valve element does not allow to attach the dispensing head to the valve construction, thus preventing possible use of a PET keg with beverage content unsuitable for consumption.
Considering that the PET keg rupture pressure makes 7-8 bars, and the working pressure makes 2.5-3.0 bars, the maximum permissible value pressure in the PET keg shall be maintained within 4-6 bars.
Tests of the construction of the claimed invention were carried out:

Example 1.

The valve element was made of TEP with 54±2 Shore hardness. The construction withstood the operating pressure of up to 4.5 bars. Upon reaching the pressure of P=6 bars, the valve actuated in 60-120 minutes at the ambient temperature of 25-26°C.

Example 2

The valve element was made of TEP with Shore hardness of 47±2 pieces. The construction withstood the operating pressure of up to 4.0 bars. Upon reaching the pressure of P=5.5 bars, the valve actuated in 30-60 minutes at the temperature of 25-26°C.

Example 3

The valve element was made of EPDR with 47±2 Shore hardness. The construction withstood the operating pressure of up to 4.0 bars. Upon reaching the pressure of P=5.5 bars, the valve actuated in 50-180 minutes at the temperature of 25-26°C.

Example 4

The valve element was made of silicone with 50±2 Shore hardness. The construction withstood the operating pressure of up to 4.5 bars. Upon reaching the pressure of P=6 bars, the valve actuated in 60-120 minutes at the temperature of 25-26°C.

Example 5

The valve element was made of silicone with 41±2 Shore hardness. The construction withstood the operating pressure of up to 3.5 bars. Upon reaching the pressure of P=5.5 bars, the valve actuated in 5-15 minutes at the temperature of 25-26°C.
The claimed invention offers the following advantages:

ensuring safe storage and usage of PET kegs due to functioning as a relief valve when overpressure in a PET keg is above the maximum permissible value and preventing from the destruction (rupture) of the PET keg;
indicating valve actuation due to irretrievable pressing-out of the valve element when the pressure in a PET keg is above the maximum permissible value;
preventing from consumption of an unsuitable beverage due to the fact the dispensing head can not be connected to the valve construction with a pressed-out valve;
producibility of the construction due to separate assembly of the elements of the valve construction, installation thereof in an assembled conditions, and consequent filling of the PET keg on an automated production line;
flexibility due to possible usage of the valve construction for various types of necks and dispensing heads changing only the valve casing of the valve construction;
ensuring reliability and sealing due to the threaded connection of the valve casing and annular flange as well as sealing of a PET keg neck along the edge thereof when connecting with the valve construction.

Claims

A valve construction for a PET keg comprising a valve casing (1) with an annular shoulder (6) surrounding a central opening or hole of the valve casing, the valve casing comprising means of connection with a keg neck (19), a hollow stem (2), a valve element (3), a spring, an annular flange (5); wherein the first end of the stem (2) is open and the second end of the stem (2) is closed with an annular shoulder (13) protruding from the stem; the stem having at least one window (14) therein; wherein the valve element (3) is installed surrounding the stem (2) and is slidable along it, wherein the valve element (3) defines a hole therein surrounded by an annular recess (15) that is configured for engaging with the annular shoulder (13) of the stem and wherein the annular shoulder (6) of the valve casing (1) is configured for engaging with the valve element (3); and wherein the spring is installed between the valve element (3) and the annular flange (5); characterized in that the valve casing (1) is made in the form of a mushroom comprising a mushroom stem (9) of cylindrical surface and is connected to the annular flange (5) by a threaded connection; in that gas flow openings are provided at the bottom of the annular flange (5); in that an annular gasket (20) is provided between the annular flange (5) and the cylindrical surface of the mushroom stem (9) of the valve casing (1), said annular gasket (20) sealing the connection of the valve casing (1) and the neck (19) of said PET keg; in that the valve element (3) is made of a polymeric material with 40-60 Shore hardness; and in that, when overpressure in a PET keg is above a maximum permissible value, the valve element (3) is irretrievably pressed out and protrudes above the end surface of the valve casing (1), thereby forming an internal channel for relieving overpressure and preventing the attachment of a dispensing head to the valve construction.
A valve construction for a PET keg of claim 1 characterized in that the valve element (3) is made of thermoelastoplast, or rubber based on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, or silicone.
A valve construction for a PET keg of claim 1 characterized in that the external surface of the valve casing (1) is made in the form a circle or a truncated equilateral triangle having vertices constrained by a circle.
A valve construction for a PET keg of claim 1 characterized in that the means of connection of the valve casing (1) with the keg neck is made threaded.
A valve construction for a PET keg of claim 1 characterized in that the external surface of the valve casing (1) is made with shoulders to increase the producibility of installation thereof on a threaded neck.
A valve construction for a PET keg of claim 1 characterized in that the means of connection of the valve casing (1) with the keg neck is represented by a latch assembly.