ES2398895T3 - Device and procedure for gassing a liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for gassing, especially carbonizing a liquid, especially water, in which additives, especially flavourings, colorants or sweeteners, especially in concentrated form, may be added to the liquid, and in which the liquid is in a container, especially a bottle (15) with a head that can be joined to the container (15) in a sealed manner, but with defined drainage, being supported only by it, and in which the head has at least one housing (2) with an opening device (22 to 25) for a compressed gas container (1) and the compressed gas contained in the compressed gas container (1) can be passed into the container (15) through the head, and in which the housing (2) and the opening device (22 to 25) are arranged in the head in such a way that a compressed gas container (1) inserted in the device is opened by the tight connection of the head with the container (15), characterized in that, on the east side of the head nted towards the container (15), a tube (9) filled with a heat-conducting and heat-accumulating material, for example a metal pellet (21), especially an aluminum pellet, is attached to the head in such a way that the compressed gas reaches the container ( 15) through the tube (9).

Description

Device and procedure for gassing a liquid

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

The device according to the invention can be applied in any case to carbonize liquids such as water. However, other gases such as N2O and / or other liquids such as fruit juices, wines, water with syrup or liquids with additives, especially flavoring, coloring or sweeteners, can also be used.

To carbonize liquids, especially water, there are already different devices.

A device known for decades to make soda are siphon bottles. The bottle is filled with water, a lifting tube with gasket is inserted into the bottle and a siphon head is screwed onto the bottle.

15 Next, a pressurized gas tank, generally a CO2 capsule, is inserted into the siphon head capsule holder and the capsule holder is screwed onto the siphon head until the entire contents of the capsule have entered the bottle. The carbonization is carried out after stirring the siphon, which produces a better mixture between water and CO2. Then the capsule holder is unscrewed and the empty CO2 capsule is removed. To extract the soda, a lever is provided on the head of the siphon that leaves an opening for the exit of the soda free.

For the siphon bottles simplifications have already been proposed: in EP0867219A1 for example the capsule holder for the CO2 capsule is suppressed, it is pressed directly to an opening of the siphon head opening after the siphon head has been attached tightly with the bottle. CO2 capsule

25 protrudes from the siphon head. But also in this case, several steps are required, namely the sealed closure of the bottle with the siphon head, the opening of the CO2 capsule and the agitation of the apparatus to generate the carbonized liquid.

Other devices, such as those of EP1378484A1, use their own housing that serves both as a support for a gas cylinder (instead of a CO2 capsule) and for the bottle for the liquid to be carbonized. Although with this device, several bottles in a row can be gassed by the gas cylinder, this device does not save space and is not easy to handle as regards the gas-tight connection of the bottles to the housing.

35 US 2336708 A shows a support that can be screwed with a bottle and has a suitable opening to accommodate the pressure vessel. When the support is screwed with the bottle, a piercing pin is inserted into the pressure vessel that opens it and allows its contents to enter a liquid located in the bottle.

Document FR 333458 A refers to a device for gassing liquids in which a head is provided to house containers of compressed gas and which can be joined by threaded connection with a bottleneck. By means of the threaded connection between the head and the bottleneck, a piercing pin is inserted into the compressed gas container, which allows the liquid located in the bottle to be gassed.

45 DE 104671 C shows a hollow body that serves as a container closure to prevent the bursting of a liquid container during saturation of a liquid with gas using a gas capsule. The hollow body is joined by threaded connection with a bottle by means of a thread and during this a spike is introduced into the gas capsule.

US-A-4867209 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention aims to provide a device for carbonizing a liquid without agitation, which not only saves space but also establishes with the least number of steps both the union with a container, especially a bottle, as the gassing of the liquid, and that It also provides the energy necessary to modify the state of aggregation of carbon dioxide.

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

This refers to a device for carbonizing a liquid located inside a container, especially a bottle, with a head that can be connected with the container tightly, but with defined purge, being supported only by it (and not by a housing that wrap the container), in which the head has at least one housing with an opening device for a compressed gas container, and in which the compressed gas contained in the compressed gas container can be passed to the container through the head , and in which the housing and the opening device are arranged in the head such that a container of compressed gas inserted in the device is opened by the union of the head with the container.

65 According to the invention, it is provided that on the side of the head, oriented towards the container, a tube filled with a thermoconductive and heat accumulating material is attached to the head, for example a metal granulate, especially an aluminum granulate, in such a way that the compressed gas reaches the container through the tube.

Since the device according to the invention is substantially composed of a head that joins with the container 5 being supported only by it, in any case it saves more space than a housing in which the container has to be placed.

Since the housing and the opening device are arranged inside the head such that the compressed gas container is opened by the union of the head with the container, only one step is necessary to establish the union of the head with the bowl and gas out the liquid. The union of the head with the container and the opening of the container of compressed gas are carried out simultaneously.

Generally, the container will be a bottle, namely a container that narrows towards the filling and emptying opening, that is, forming a neck. It serves at the same time to conserve the carbonized liquid and after

15 unscrewing the head can be provided with a closure cap. No other housing is provided around the container or bottle.

An embodiment of the invention that fixes in a particularly simple way the relative position between the head and the container, consists in that the head has for the union with the container an internal thread that can be screwed onto a corresponding external thread of the container.

Since the head has a slide that can be opened to insert a container of compressed gas into the housing or remove it from the housing, it is guaranteed that the container is wrapped by the head and that the position of the container of compressed gas can be properly fixed within head.

25 In order to make the opening of the compressed gas container as simple as possible during the union of the head with the container, it can be provided that the opening device has a piercing pin for opening the compressed gas container, which is arranged between the housing for the compressed gas container and the container.

This can be done in such a way that the piercing pin is housed within a component that during the placement of the head on the container lies on it, especially on the upper side of the bottleneck and that during the union of the head with the container moves with respect to the head towards the housing of the compressed gas container. Component measurements are sized

35 such that the piercing pin pierces the inserted compressed gas container at the earliest when the head and the container are tightly connected to each other.

It is advantageous that the head is substantially rotationally symmetrically configured and that 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. Due to the twisting torque exerted between the head and the container, an axial force results which, at the same time, is used to pierce and seal the capsule and to generate a defined seal between the head and the bottle. The vertical component of the closing force acting on the longitudinal axis of the head is also available directly as a homogeneous drilling force in the drilling pin.

45 To provide the energy that is necessary to modify the state of aggregation of carbon dioxide, it is provided that, on the side of the head facing the container, a tube filled with a thermoconductive and thermoaccumulative material, for example a metal granulate , especially an aluminum granulate, is fixed to the head in such a way that the compressed gas reaches the container through the tube.

When the head is tightly connected with the container, the tube must be peeked inside the container to a defined height, necessary to achieve optimum gassing, especially optimum carbonization.

So that, once it has reached the container, the compressed gas does not escape again through the tube, you can

55 provide that at that end of the tube that is opposite the head an open valve is arranged and that upon reaching a predefined start pressure it allows the compressed gas circulating through the tube to pass inside the container.

To protect the valve from dirt, it is possible to provide that the valve, especially the valve chamber is protected by seals, especially O-rings, against the infiltration of liquids from the outside, namely from the container. In this way, it can be counteracted fouling of the valve by additives (flavorings, dyes or sweeteners) in the liquid of the container.

Obviously, for security reasons it will be convenient for the head to have a device to let the

65 overpressure that occurs in the container after the introduction of the compressed gas, for example in such a way that said device is made as a purge slot between the head, especially the component (tube connection) for the accommodation of the piercing pin , and the container.

The invention also comprises a correspondingly configured container, especially a bottle, such that the device and the container can be attached, especially screwed together, in a staked manner.

5 For this, a corresponding closing lid can be provided with which the container can be sealed tightly, especially by threaded connection, when the head is unscrewed after carbonization.

The device according to the invention can be used according to the following procedure, namely, in such a way that in a first step a container of compressed gas is inserted into the head housing and is fixed therein for example by means of a slide, and in a Second step, the head is tightly connected with the container, especially by threaded connection, but with a defined purge, and in a third step, after the liquid has been leaked and the overpressure in the container reduced, the head is released from the container, especially unscrewing, and in a fourth step, the compressed gas container is removed from the head housing, especially by means of the

15 slide opening.

Now, the invention is described in detail with the help of schematic figures. Sample:

Figure 1, a longitudinal section along the longitudinal axis of a device according to the invention, placed on a bottle,

Figure 2, a longitudinal section along the longitudinal axis of a device according to the invention screwed into a bottle,

25 Figure 3, a closed valve in the tube 9 according to Figure 1,

Figure 4, an open valve in the tube 9 according to Figure 2.

A device according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. In figure 1, the head is only placed on the upper side of the neck of the bottle 15, and in figure 2, the head is already tightly connected with the bottle 15.

The head according to the invention comprises parts 2 to 7 and 22 to 27. In the housing that can also be designated by capsule holder 2, there is space for a CO2 capsule 1. The slide 3 with capsule centering

35 can slide along the longitudinal axis of the head that is substantially rotationally symmetrical, in the direction of the bottle 15, until it is in contact with the coating 5. In Figure 1, the slide 3 is shown in the open position in the moment when the CO2 capsule 1 is being inserted. In Figure 2, the slide 3 is fixed in the closed position and the position of the CO2 capsule 1 inside the head is fixed by the capsule holder 2.

The opening device for the CO2 capsule 1 is provided below the capsule holder 2. This consists of a piercing pin 23 that can pass through a deflection plate 24. The deflection plate - see Figure 2 - serves as a stop for the CO2 capsule 1 when the slide 3 is closed. The deflection plate 24 is secured by a clamping ring 25 against the lateral slide and lies on a pin holder 22 that holds the

45 drill pin 23. The drill pin 23 protrudes from the top side of the pin holder 22.

The spigot holder 22 is located in a cavity of the component 26 and is sealed with respect to it by an O-ring 7. The component 26 in turn also serves on the one hand also for the connection of the tube 9 to the head and, on the other hand, with a flange widening in the area below its center, for head contact on the bottle 15. The tube connection 26 lies, by a flange widening on its upper side, on a stop 27 firmly attached to the head.

The tube connection 26 is sealed with respect to the inner side of the head by an O-ring 4. The tube connection 26 is shown with its lower part inside the tube 9 and is sealed with respect to the tube 9

55 by means of another O-ring 6. Between the tube connection 26 and the granulate 21, within the tube 9 a filter 8 is arranged which is preferably composed of sintered PE (polyethylenes), on the one hand to prevent the granulate 21 from entering the gas path existing in the head (possible obstruction) and on the other hand to prevent particles that may enter through the opening of the drilling unit from damaging the operation and mode of action of the granulate 21.

Another filter 10 (also preferably composed of sintered PE) is disposed below the granulate 21 on the valve seat 21 to prevent the exit of the granulate 21 by a gas path located below and, thus, a possible malfunction of The valve. It is that the tube 9 is closed on its lower side by a valve disposed within the tube 9. The valve seat 12 is connected with the tube 9 and sealed by a O-ring 20 with respect to the inner side of the tube 9. In the valve seat 12, the nozzle 18 is wrapped by a spring 17 and is held by a nozzle fixation 14 which in turn is connected to the valve seat 12, being disposed between the valve seat 12 and the nozzle attachment 14 an annular gasket 31 to protect the nozzle chamber and the spring 17 located therein against the possible infiltration of the liquid to be gassed. The nozzle 18 is sealed with respect to the valve seat 12 by an O-ring 13. On the upper side of the nozzle 18 the valve plunger 19 is inserted which is sealed with respect to the 5 valve seat 12 by an O-ring 11. On the lower side of the nozzle 18 there is an O-ring 32 which guarantees the tightness against the entry of liquids / moisture between the nozzle 18 and the nozzle fixation 14 to prevent fouling or infiltration of liquid to be gassed into 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 sized such that the valve does not open until there is a predefined start pressure of the compressed gas and does not return to close until there is a predefined pressure.

The container 15 is configured as a bottle, in this case of PET plastic, and at the bottom it is protected by a so-called bottom cover 16 which constitutes a secure support surface. The container is filled with a liquid, especially water, and possibly additives added to the liquid, especially flavorings, dyes or

15 sweeteners 29, leaving the liquid free a space for gas 30.

The compressed gas container 1 is configured as a CO2 capsule and, for example, commercially available CO2 capsules can be used, but also otherwise sized and / or filled CO2 capsules (for example N2O).

In figure 3, the valve of figure 1, namely with the nozzle 18 closed, is represented in an enlarged manner, and in figure 4 the valve of figure 2 is represented in an enlarged manner, namely, with the nozzle 18 open

The device according to the invention is used as follows: the bottle 15 is filled with water or other liquid until

25 a predefined fill mark. The slide 3 opens with centering of the capsule and a CO2 capsule 1 is inserted into the capsule holder 2. The slide 3 is closed and thus centered by the CO2 capsule 1.

The head is screwed onto the bottle 15, whereby, on the one hand, the CO2 capsule 1 and opened by the piercing pin 23 and, on the other hand, the non-positive connection between the head and the bottle 15 guarantees the sealing, guaranteeing the purge groove 28 a defined purge of the interior space of the bottle 15.

During unscrewing, the component (tube connection) 26 is pressed with the pin holder 22 in the direction towards the CO2 capsule 1 and, therefore, also the piercing pin 23 is pressed into the CO2 capsule 1. The gas Liquefied (CO2) flows to tube 9 through drill pin 23, spike holder 22,

35 the component (tube connection) 26 and the filter 8. During this there is a cooling of the gas due to the expansion and a change in the state of aggregation of liquid to gas.

The energy necessary for the change of state of aggregation is supplied through the granulate 21 located inside the tube 9, generally an aluminum granulate. The granulate 21 emits heat to the gas and is cooled by it. At the same time, power 21 is re-supplied to the granulate from outside through water 29; the granulate 21 serves as a heat exchanger. In this way, it is guaranteed that bottles 15 filled with a liquid, especially water, especially with additives added to the liquid, especially flavorings, dyes or sweeteners, can be manufactured successively with the same carbonization.

45 There is an increase in pressure inside the tube for the gas entering the tube 9. Once the starting pressure is reached, the valve piston 19 of the nozzle 18 opens against the spring 17. Due to the difference in pressure between the tube 9 and the interior space of the bottle 15 the gas accelerates and flows into the water 29 through the nozzle 18 which constitutes a defined cross section, and during this a carbonization occurs.

The gas 30 that does not dissolve in the liquid escapes from the water 29 to the gas space of the bottle 15. During this, 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 emitted into the atmosphere by a defined purge, namely, through a purge groove 28 in the sealing zone between the head and the bottle, until the overpressure inside the bottle has been reduced 15. At the same time the pressure falls within the tube 9 and the nozzle 18 closes by the force of the spring 17.

55 Now, the head can be unscrewed from the bottle 15 and the remaining gas contained in the CO2 capsule 1 and the tube 9 is emitted into the atmosphere through the slide housing 3. The CO2 capsule 1 is removed from the capsule holder 2 and a new CO2 capsule 1 can now be inserted.

From the bottle 15 can be extracted a carbonized liquid ready to drink, especially soda, and to preserve the carbonized liquid, on the bottle 15 you can screw a suitable closing cap with gasket.

The device according to the invention (head and tube 9) generally has the same height as the bottle 15, whose diameter is generally smaller than that of the bottle 15.

65 List of reference signs

one.

 CO2 capsule

2.

 Capsule holder (accommodation)

3.

Sliding with capsule centering

Four.

 O-ring between tube connection 26 and the inner side of the head

10 5. Coating

6.

 O-ring between tube connection 26 and tube 9

7.

 O-ring between spike holder 22 and tube connection 26

8.

 Filter between tube connection 26 and granulate 21

9.

 Tube 20 10. Filter between granulate 21 and valve seat 12

eleven.

 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 30 15. Bottle

16.

 Bottom cover

17.

 Spring

18. Nozzle

19. Valve piston 40 20. O-ring between valve seat 12 and tube 9

twenty-one.

 Granulated

22

 Spike holder

23. Drill pin

24. Bypass plate 50 25. Clamping ring

26.

 Component (tube connection)

27.

 Stop, top, maximum as a noun, top as an adverb

28. Purge slot

29. Water 60 30. Gas

31.

 O-ring between nozzle fixation 14 and valve seat 12

32

 O-ring between nozzle fixation 14 and nozzle 18

Claims (13)

1. Device for gassing, especially carbonizing a liquid, especially water, in which additives, especially flavorings, dyes or sweeteners, especially in form may be added to the liquid 5 concentrated, and in which the liquid is in a container, especially a bottle (15) with a head that can be connected with the container (15) in a sealed, but with defined purge, being supported only by it, and in that the head has at least one housing (2) with opening device (22 to 25) for a compressed gas container (1) and the compressed gas contained in the compressed gas container (1) can be passed to the container ( 15) through the head, and in which the housing (2) and the opening device (22 to 25) are arranged in the head such that a container of compressed gas (1) inserted in the device is opened by the tight connection of the head with the container (15), characterized in that, on the side of the head facing the container (15), a tube (9) filled with a thermoconductive and heat accumulating material, for example a metal granulate (21), especially an aluminum granulate, is fixed to the head such that the compressed gas reaches the container (15) through the tube (9).

2.

 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that for the connection with the container (15), the head has an inner thread that can be screwed onto a corresponding external thread of the container (15).

3.

 Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the head has a slide (3) that can be opened to insert or remove a container of compressed gas (1) into or from the housing (2).

Four.

 Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the opening device (22 to 25) has a piercing pin (23) for opening the compressed gas container (1), which is arranged between the housing (2) for the compressed gas container (1) and the container (15).

5.

 Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the piercing pin (23) is housed in a component (26) which, during the placement of the head on the container (15) lies on it, especially on the upper side of the bottleneck and that during the union of the head with the container (15) moves with respect to the head in the direction of the housing (2) of the container of compressed gas (1).

6.

 Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the head is substantially rotationally symmetrically configured and that the longitudinal axis of the compressed gas container (1) inserted, the longitudinal axis of the piercing pin (23) of the device coincide opening (22 to 25) and the longitudinal axis of the head.

7.

 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the head is tightly connected with the container (15), the tube (9) looks inside the container to a defined height, necessary to achieve optimum gassing, especially carbonization optimal

8.

 Device according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that at the end of the tube (9), opposite the head, there is a valve (12 to 14, 17 to 19) that opens allowing the compressed gas to pass inside the container

(15) through the tube (9) when a predefined initial pressure has been reached. 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the valve (12 to 14, 17 to 19), especially the chamber 45, is protected by seals, especially annular seals (31 and 32), against the infiltration of liquids from outside, namely from the container (15).

10.

 Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the head has a device (28) for releasing the overpressure originated in the container (15) after the introduction of the compressed gas.

eleven.

 Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said device is made as a purge slot (28) between the head, especially a component (26) for housing the piercing pin (23) and the container (15).

A device according to one of claims 1 to 11 and a container, especially a bottle (15), characterized in that the device and the container (15) can be tightly connected to each other, especially by threaded connection.

13.

 Device according to claim 12, characterized in that a closure lid is provided with which the container (15) can be sealed tightly, especially by threaded connection.

14.

 Method for carbonizing a liquid located within a container, especially a bottle (15), by a device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, in a first step, a container of compressed gas (1) is inserted into the housing (2) of the head and fixed on it, for example by

65 a slide (3), and, in a second step, the head is connected tightly with the container (15), but with defined purge, for example by threaded connection, and, in a third step, after having been gassed the liquid and reduced the overpressure in the container (15), the head is released from the container, especially unscrewing, and in a fourth step, the compressed gas container (1) is removed from the housing (2) of the head, especially by the opening of the slide (3).