EP3546422A1 - Device, sanitary fitting and method for filling a container with a carbonated liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for filling a container (2) with a carbonated liquid, comprising: - a container connection (3) for connecting the container (2) to the device (1), - at least one liquid line (4) via which the carbonated liquid from a liquid source (5) in the container (2) is conductable, and- at least one pressure relief valve (6), with a target pressure in the liquid line (4) during filling of the container (2) is adjustable.Zudem is a sanitary fitting with a corresponding device and a method for filling a container with a carbonated liquid.

Description

The present invention relates to a device, a sanitary fitting and a method for filling a container with a carbonated liquid. In particular, the invention serves to provide carbonated beverages in containers, such as bottles.

Are known devices, sanitary fittings and methods by means of which in a Karbonatortopf (drinkable) liquids, such as tap water, are mixed under high pressure with carbon dioxide (CO2). This so-called carbonation of liquids serves, in particular, to increase a refreshing effect by stimulating taste sensory cells when drinking. The carbonated liquid may then be filled into a container, such as a beverage bottle. For this purpose, the carbonated liquid is supplied from the Karbonatortopf via a liquid line to the container. When filling the container, the pressure in the liquid line and / or in the container may decrease, so that the CO2 at least partially escapes from the liquid again. It is therefore known to initially increase the pressure in the container with CO2 prior to filling with the carbonated liquid in order to prevent foaming of the carbonated liquid and / or escape of the CO2 during the subsequent filling of the container with carbonated liquid. The disadvantage here, however, is the high CO2 consumption. Furthermore, a bottleneck may be formed in the liquid line in order to increase the pressure in the liquid line in front of the constriction by the flow resistance generated when filling the container. However, this is not enough to ensure a high level of CO2 in the carbonated liquid after it has been poured into the container.

The object of the invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and in particular to provide a device, a sanitary fitting and a method for filling a container with a carbonated liquid with a high CO2 content in the carbonated liquid can be achieved with low CO2 consumption.

This object is achieved with a device, a sanitary fitting and a method according to the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in any technologically meaningful manner and define further embodiments of the invention. In addition, the features specified in the claims are specified and explained in more detail in the description, wherein further preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.

• einen Behälteranschluss zum Anschließen des Behälters an die Vorrichtung,
• zumindest eine Flüssigkeitsleitung, über die die karbonisierte Flüssigkeit von einer Flüssigkeitsquelle in den Behälter leitbar ist, und
• zumindest ein Überdruckventil, mit dem ein Solldruck in der Flüssigkeitsleitung beim Befüllen des Behälters einstellbar ist.

A device for filling a container with a carbonated liquid, which has at least the following components, contributes thereto:

• a container port for connecting the container to the device,
• at least one fluid conduit via which the carbonated fluid can be conducted from a fluid source into the container, and
• at least one pressure relief valve, with which a desired pressure in the liquid line during filling of the container is adjustable.

The device can be, for example, a dispensing device, such as a sanitary fitting, an outlet for such a dispensing device, or an adapter that can be connected to such a dispensing device. Such sanitary fittings serve in particular the demand-oriented provision of a mixed water at a tapping point, a sink, a sink, a shower and / or a bathtub. For this purpose, the sanitary fitting is regularly fed a cold water with a cold water temperature and a hot water with a hot water temperature. The cold water temperature is in particular a maximum of 25 ° C (Celsius), preferably 1 ° C to 25 ° C, more preferably 5 ° C to 20 ° C and / or the hot water temperature in particular at most 90 ° C, preferably 25 ° C to 90 ° C, particularly preferably 55 ° C to 65 ° C. The cold water and the hot water are then miscible by the sanitary fitting, for example by means of a mixing valve or a thermostatic cartridge to a mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature. In addition, with the proposed sanitary fitting or the device a container, such as a beverage bottle, a decanter or a drinking vessel, can be filled with a carbonated liquid.

For this purpose, the device has a container connection for connecting the container to the device. By means of the container connection, the container can in particular be detachably fastened to the device. For this purpose, the container connection may be formed, for example, in the manner of a bayonet closure, screw closure, snap closure or clamp closure. Furthermore, a seal may be provided in the region of the container connection, so that the container can be connected to the device in a liquid-tight and / or gas-tight manner. This allows the device and the container to form a closed system. Alternatively, the container connection can also be designed in the manner of an outlet opening of the dispensing device or sanitary fitting, from which the carbonated liquid from the dispensing device or the sanitary fitting can flow into the container. Thus, the container need not necessarily be attachable to the container port, but is positionable relative to the container port only so that the carbonated liquid can flow into the container via the container port. This means in particular that the container, for example by a user, can be positioned or held at a distance relative to the container connection, so that the carbonated liquid can flow out of the container connection into the container through a free space.

Furthermore, the device comprises at least one liquid line, via which the carbonated liquid can be conducted from a liquid source into the container. At the liquid source can it may, for example, be a reservoir for the carbonated liquid or a carbonating device for carbonating a liquid, for example in the manner of a carbonator pot. By means of the carbonation device, the liquid can be supplied under high pressure, in particular CO2, so that the CO2 dissolves in the liquid. The at least one fluid conduit preferably extends from the fluid source through the reservoir port into the reservoir. Alternatively, the at least one fluid line can extend from the fluid source to the outlet opening of the dispensing device or sanitary fitting.

In addition, the device has at least one pressure relief valve, with which a desired pressure in the liquid line during filling of the container is adjustable. For this purpose, the at least one pressure relief valve may be at least partially closed, as long as a line pressure in the liquid line is less than the target pressure. The at least one pressure relief valve may be arranged in the liquid line and / or in a vent line for venting the container. Furthermore, the at least one pressure relief valve may have a closing element loaded with a spring force, wherein the spring force is adapted to the desired target pressure and / or (variably) adaptable. The target pressure may be, for example, 1 bar to 20 bar, preferably 1 bar to 8 bar. Alternatively, the pressure relief valve can also be controlled electronically. For this purpose, the line pressure in the at least one fluid line can be measurable, for example, by means of a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is connected to a control in terms of data. When the target pressure is reached, the controller at least partially opens the at least one overpressure valve, so that the target pressure in the at least one fluid line is essentially maintained. Before filling the container prevails in the container in particular an ambient pressure of, for example, about 1 bar. At the beginning of a filling process, the pressure in the liquid line increases by the (static) pressure in the liquid source or opening of a valve of the liquid source and / or by pumping the carbonated liquid through the liquid line with a pump. Upon reaching the target pressure, the at least one pressure relief valve may at least partially open. If the at least one overpressure valve is arranged in the liquid line, the liquid line is replaced by the at least one Relief valve at least partially released upon reaching the target pressure, so that the carbonated liquid can flow through the liquid line into the container and / or the line pressure in the liquid line does not rise above a maximum allowable pressure. If the at least one pressure relief valve is arranged in the vent line, the carbonated liquid flows through the liquid line into the container, so that the pressure in the liquid line and the container due to compression of the air in the container and / or at least partial degassing of the carbonated liquid in the container rises until the pressure reaches the setpoint pressure. Upon reaching the target pressure, the at least one pressure valve opens at least partially, so that the pressure in the liquid line and / or in the container does not rise above a maximum allowable pressure. In particular, the closing element of the at least one overpressure valve yields upon reaching the setpoint pressure, so that the liquid line and / or the venting line is at least partially released. If the line pressure in the liquid line and / or the pressure in the container falls below the target pressure during filling of the container or after filling the container, the at least one overpressure valve closes at least partially, so that the line pressure in the liquid line or the pressure in the liquid line Container is held or increases again up to the target pressure. With the at least one pressure relief valve, the line pressure in the liquid line and / or the pressure in the container during the filling of the container with the carbonated liquid in particular (essentially) can be kept constant. Thus, it can be ensured with the at least one pressure relief valve that a line pressure in the liquid line and / or the pressure in the container during filling of the container with the carbonated liquid substantially corresponds to the desired pressure, so that degassing of the carbonated liquid can be prevented. The carbonated liquid can be filled into the container with low CO2 consumption and high CO2 concentration. After the container has been filled, the container can be removed or detached from the container connection and can be used, for example, as a carafe.

The at least one pressure relief valve may have a closing element that is acted upon by a spring element with a closing force such that the at least one pressure relief valve opens at a setpoint pressure that is lower than a pressure in the liquid source. In this way it can be ensured that the pressure in the fluid source is sufficient to open the at least one pressure relief valve.

The target pressure may be at least 0.1 bar lower than the pressure in the liquid source. In particular, the target pressure may be 0.5 to 1 bar lower than the pressure in the liquid source. This can ensure that the flow through the liquid line is not too high, so that turbulence of the carbonated liquid can be prevented.

The at least one pressure relief valve may be arranged in a vent line of the container. The vent line in particular connects a receiving space of the container for the carbonated liquid with an environment of the device. For this purpose, the vent line preferably extends from the receiving space of the container through the container port to the environment of the device. Through the vent line, air and / or CO2 from the receiving space in the environment or atmosphere can be derived. If the device is designed in the manner of an adapter, the venting line may be partially formed in the adapter and partly in the dispensing device. The at least one pressure relief valve can be arranged in this case in the adapter or the dispensing device.

Furthermore, the at least one pressure relief valve may be arranged in the fluid line. In particular, the at least one pressure relief valve is arranged at one end of the liquid line, with which the liquid line opens into the container or the outlet opening of the dispensing device or sanitary fitting. Preferably, the at least one pressure relief valve is arranged along the liquid line at most 10 cm (centimeters) upstream of the end of the liquid line or the outlet opening in the liquid line.

The at least one pressure relief valve may close when a line pressure in the fluid line is lower than the target pressure.

The at least one pressure relief valve can open when a line pressure in the fluid line reaches the target pressure.

• ein Armaturengehäuse mit einem Auslauf,
• eine Flüssigkeitsquelle für eine karbonisierte Flüssigkeit, und
• eine hier vorgeschlagene Vorrichtung.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a sanitary fitting which has at least the following components:

• a valve body with a spout,
• a fluid source for a carbonated fluid, and
• a device proposed here.

With regard to the details of the sanitary fitting reference is made to the description of the device.

1. a) Bereitstellen der karbonisierten Flüssigkeit in einer Flüssigkeitsquelle,
2. b) Befüllen des Behälters mit der karbonisierten Flüssigkeit aus der Flüssigkeitsquelle über zumindest eine Flüssigkeitsleitung, und
3. c) Einstellen eines Solldrucks in der Flüssigkeitsleitung mithilfe zumindest eines Überdruckventils.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method of filling a container with a carbonated liquid comprising at least the following steps:

1. a) providing the carbonated liquid in a liquid source,
2. b) filling the container with the carbonated liquid from the liquid source via at least one liquid line, and
3. c) setting a target pressure in the liquid line by means of at least one pressure relief valve.

Regarding the details of the method, the description of the device can be referred to.

Fig. 1:

eine Sanitärarmatur mit einer ersten Ausführungsvariante einer Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2:

eine zweite Ausführungsvariante einer Vorrichtung in einer Seitenansicht; und

Fig. 3:

die Vorrichtung in einer Schnittdarstellung.

The invention and the technical environment will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the figures show particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, but this is not limited thereto. The same components are provided in the figures with the same reference numerals. They show by way of example and schematically:

Fig. 1:

a sanitary fitting with a first embodiment of a device;

Fig. 2:

a second embodiment of a device in a side view; and

3:

the device in a sectional view.

The Fig. 1 shows a sanitary fitting 9 with a first embodiment of a device 1 in a schematic representation. The sanitary fitting 9 has a fitting housing 10, with which the sanitary fitting 9 is attached to a support 23, which is here a worktop. Furthermore, the sanitary fitting 9 comprises a mixing valve 14 to which a cold water source 16 cold water and from a hot water source 15 via a hot water pipe 26 hot water can be fed. By means of the mixing valve 14, the cold water and the hot water to a mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature is miscible. The mixed water temperature is adjustable via a lever 12 by a user of the sanitary fitting 9. The mixed water is from the mixing valve 14 via a mixed water line 27 through an outlet 11 of the valve body 10 to an outlet opening 13 of the sanitary fitting 9 feasible. Furthermore, the sanitary fitting 9, the device 1, which includes a liquid source 5. The liquid source 5 is formed here in the manner of a Karbonatortopfs. The liquid source 5 is via the cold water line 24 from the cold water source 16 cold water and a CO2 line 25 CO2 from a CO2 source 17, which is here a pressure vessel fed. The cold water can be enriched by the liquid source 5 under pressure with CO2 and passed as a carbonated liquid via a liquid line 4 through the outlet 11 of the valve body 10 to a container port 3, here in the form of the outlet opening 13 is formed and through which the carbonated liquid in a container 2 can be filled. In the liquid line 4, a pressure relief valve 6 is also arranged, which comprises a shooting element 21 for at least partially closing the liquid line 4 and a spring element 22, with which the nonwoven member 21 can be acted upon by a closing force. When starting a filling operation, the carbonated liquid is provided in the liquid source 5. After opening a valve, not shown here, the carbonated liquid flows from the liquid source 5 through the liquid line 4 in the direction of the relief valve 6. This increases a line pressure in the liquid line 4 until reaching a target pressure at which the closing force of the spring element 21 of the pressure relief valve 6 is overcome, so that the closing element 21 of the pressure relief valve 6, the liquid line 4 at least partially releases. After the (automatic) opening of the pressure relief valve 6 upon reaching the target pressure in the liquid line 4, the carbonated liquid continues to flow via the liquid line 4 in the direction of the outlet opening 13, through which the carbonated liquid flows into the container 2. By the pressure relief valve 6, the line pressure in the liquid line 4 is set substantially constant during the filling of the container to the target pressure.

The Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a device 1 in a side view. The device 1 has a connecting means 8, which is designed here in the manner of a bayonet closure. By means of the connecting means 8, the device 1 is releasably attachable to a dispensing device or sanitary fitting 9, not shown here. In particular, the device 1 with the connecting means 8 can be fastened to a mousseur 18, which is arranged, for example, on or in an outlet opening 13 of the sanitary fitting 9. The second embodiment of the device 1 is thus designed in the manner of an adapter which can be fastened via the connecting means 8 to a dispensing device or sanitary fitting 9.

The Fig. 3 shows the second embodiment of the device 1 in a sectional view. The device 1 has a housing 19, to which a container 2 can be fastened detachably via a container connection 3, which is designed here in the manner of a bayonet closure. Farther The device 1 has a liquid line 4, via which a carbonated liquid can be conducted from a liquid source 5, not shown here, into the container 2. The liquid line 4 extends through the housing 19. In addition, the device 1 comprises a pressure relief valve 6, which is arranged in a vent line 7. The vent line 7 also extends through the housing 19 and connects a receiving space 29 of the container 2 for the carbonated liquid with an environment 28 of the device 1. When starting a filling process prevails in the receiving space 29 of the container 2 initially an ambient pressure of about 1 bar , The carbonated liquid flows via the liquid line 4 into the receiving space 29 of the container 2, whereby the pressure in the liquid line 4 and the receiving space 29 increases by compressing the air in the receiving space 29 and at least partially outgassing the carbonated liquid in the receiving space 29. Upon reaching the target pressure in the liquid line 4 and the container 2, a closing force of a spring element 22 is overcome on a closing element 21 of the pressure relief valve 6, so that the closing element 21, the vent line 7 at least partially releases. As a result, the air and / or the CO2 can escape from the receiving space 29 via the vent line 7 in the environment 28, so that the target pressure in the liquid line 4 and / or the receiving space 29 of the container 2 is set (substantially) constant to the target pressure. The pressure relief valve 6 is here additionally manually actuated via a valve operating lever 20. The pressure relief valve 6 is formed here in the manner of a proportional valve, which allows a steady transition between a closed position and an open position. In this way, a sudden drop in the pressure in the liquid line 4 and the receiving space 29 can be avoided, which could otherwise lead to an undesirably strong foaming of the carbonated liquid in the receiving space 29 of the container 2.

By the present invention, a carbonated liquid can be filled in a container with a low CO2 consumption with a high concentration of CO2 in a container.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

contraption

2

container

3

container terminal

4

liquid line

5

liquid source

6

Pressure relief valve

7

vent line

8th

connecting means

9

plumbing fixture

10

fitting housing

11

outlet

12

lever

13

outlet opening

14

mixing valve

15

Warm water source

16

Cold water source

17

CO2 source

18

mousseur

19

casing

20

Valve actuating lever

21

closing element

22

spring element

23

carrier

24

Cold water line

25

CO2 line

26

Hot water pipe

27

Mixed water pipe

28

Surroundings

29

accommodation space

Claims (10)

Device (1) for filling a container (2) with a carbonated liquid, comprising at least: a container connection (3) for connecting the container (2) to the device (1), - At least one liquid line (4) through which the carbonated liquid from a liquid source (5) in the container (2) is conductive, and - At least one pressure relief valve (6), with which a target pressure in the liquid line (4) during filling of the container (2) is adjustable. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure relief valve (6) has a closing element (21) which is acted upon by a spring element (22) with a closing force such that the at least one pressure relief valve (6) opens at a desired pressure , which is lower than a pressure in the liquid source (5). Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the target pressure is at least 0.1 bar lower than the pressure in the liquid source (5). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one pressure relief valve (6) in a vent line (7) of the container (2) is arranged. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one pressure relief valve (6) in the liquid line (4) is arranged. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one pressure relief valve (6) closes when a line pressure in the liquid line (4) is lower than the target pressure. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one pressure relief valve (6) opens when a line pressure in the liquid line (4) reaches the target pressure. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a connecting means (8), with which the device (1) is releasably attachable to a sanitary fitting (9). Sanitary fitting (9), at least comprising: a fitting housing (10) with an outlet (11), a liquid source (5) for a carbonated liquid, and - A device (1) according to one of the preceding claims. A method of filling a container (2) with a carbonated liquid, comprising at least the following steps: a) providing the carbonated liquid in a liquid source (5), b) filling the container (2) with the carbonated liquid from the liquid source (5) via at least one liquid line (4), and c) setting a target pressure in the liquid line (4) by means of at least one pressure relief valve (6).

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