FR2762378A1 - Filler for portable gas cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

The filler consists of a first coupling (4) for connecting it to a feed/outlet pipe (3), and a second coupling (6) for connecting it to the inlet/outlet (7) of the portable gas cylinder (2). It has an inner channel (9) for delivering the gas between the two couplings. It also has a tensioner (10) for applying the required pressure to the second coupling so that it cannot be released while gas is flowing through the inner channel. The tensioner comprises a U-shaped stirrup (13) with an aperture large enough to receive the head (8) of the cylinder, and a screw (12) which presses the head against the second coupling.

Description

 The present invention relates to a filling or flow member for filling a portable bottle adapted to receive and contain, with a view to releasing it later, an inert gas under pressure, such as CO2, from an inlet pipe. of said gas, or to release the gas contained in such a bottle by a starting pipe for said gas.

 The present invention also relates to a device for recharging liquid and pressurized gas in a portable installation for dispensing pressurized liquid, this device comprising such a filling member.

 The present invention also relates to a portable installation for dispensing a pressurized liquid adapted to be recharged with liquid and pressurized gas by means of such a device and comprising such a flow member.

 There is known a portable installation for dispensing a pressurized liquid, in particular a carbonated drink such as beer, this installation comprising a portable enclosure intended to receive a container adapted to contain said pressurized liquid, and a suitable portable bottle. containing a pressurized gas, means for detachably connecting the portable bottle via a pressure reducer to said container, means for detachably connecting said container to a pipe for distributing pressurized liquid provided with a valve.

 In certain known portable installations of this type, the bottle used for propelling the carbonated beverage under pressure is a small cartridge containing C 2 in the liquid state under a nominal internal pressure of 70 bars.

 These cartridges are equipped with a regulator.

The cartridge must imperatively be used in vertical position, the regulator being placed at the upper end of the cartridge, to guarantee that it is only gas which penetrates into the regulator.

 The actual conditions of use of such portable installations, which are generally contained in a bag carried on the back of a user, do not guarantee compliance with this condition, and generally do not respect the rules required for the use of pressure vessels.

 Portable installations of the aforementioned type are also known, comprising a portable bottle containing CO2 in the gaseous state, this bottle being filled from a source of CO2 constituted by a standardized manifold. The portable bottle is fixed in the bag without special protection. In addition, the filling of this portable bottle is carried out manually by applying force on the connection of the bottle the end of a hose connected to the manifold. The safety rules applicable for the use of pressure vessels are not observed either when using the portable installation or when filling the portable cylinder.

 These drawbacks are further aggravated by the fact that the users of known portable installations, who are also responsible for filling the portable CO2 bottle as well as the container containing the carbonated drink, are generally people who have not received any special training in use of pressure vessels.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of known installations and devices, and to propose a filling member, a recharging device comprising such a filling member, and a portable installation adapted to be recharged with liquid and gas under pressure by means of such a reloading device, of the aforementioned respective types, of simple and reliable structure and use, usable by persons who are not specialists in pressurized devices under conditions completely respecting the safety rules of said devices.

According to the present invention, the filling member of the aforementioned type is characterized in that it comprises
- A first connection element adapted to connect said filling member to a complementary connection element of the pipeline
- a second connection element, adapted to connect said filling member to a complementary connection element placed at the head of said portable bottle
- an internal gas passage connecting the first connection element to the second connection element
- Application means for applying substantially axially and removably, with a predetermined force, the complementary connection means of the bottle against the second connection element.

 A user of this filling member is thus obliged to set up a portable bottle with the application means after having connected this member to the gas inlet pipe.

 I1 is thus obliged to respect the safety rules imposed for the use of pressure vessels, even if he is not at all a specialist in these vessels.

 According to another version of the invention, the recharging device of the aforementioned type is characterized in that it comprises a filling member according to the first version of the invention.

 According to another version of the invention, the portable installation for distributing a pressurized liquid of the aforementioned type, adapted to be recharged with liquid and gas under pressure by means of a recharging device according to the second version of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a flow member according to the first version of the invention comprising a body fixed inside the enclosure and provided with application means for applying substantially axially and in a removable manner , with a predetermined force, the complementary connecting element placed at the head of said portable bottle against a corresponding connecting element of said body.

In the accompanying drawings, given only by way of nonlimiting example
- Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating an embodiment of the filling member according to the present invention
- Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, a bottle being in place on the filling member of Figure 1
- Figure 3 is a top view of Figure 2, the handle for controlling the venting of the internal passage is not shown for clarity of the figure
- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, the head of the bottle not being shown
- Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, the bottle comprising means for protecting the head of said bottle
- Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 corresponding to Figure 5
- Figure 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a portable installation for dispensing a pressurized liquid according to an embodiment of the present invention
- Figure 8 is an exploded view of the installation of Figure 7
- Figure 9 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the recharging device according to the present invention
- Figure 10 is a view diagramming various operations that can be performed with the device of Figure 9
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 illustrating an operation for transferring pressurized liquid from a storage tank to the container of FIG. 8.

 In the embodiment shown in Figures l to 4, there is shown a filling member l for filling a portable bottle 2 adapted to receive and contain, in order to release it later, an inert gas under pressure, such as CO2 from a pipe 3 for the arrival of said gas.

According to the invention, the filling member 1 comprises
- A first connection element 4, adapted to connect said filling member 1 to a complementary connection element 5 of the pipe 3
- A second connection element 6, adapted to connect said filling member 1 to a complementary connection element 7 placed at the head 8 of said portable bottle 2
- an internal gas passage 9 connecting the first connection element 4 to the second connection element 6
- Application means 10 for applying substantially axially and removably, with a predetermined force, the complementary connection means 7 of the bottle 2 against the second connection element 6 of said filling member 1.

 The application means 10 are arranged so as to be unblockable as long as the internal gas passage 9 of the filling member 1 is under gas pressure.

 The filling member 1 comprises means, shown diagrammatically by the handle 11, for controlling the venting of the internal passage 9, to allow the release of the application means 10 which are screw means 12.

 The application means 10 comprise a stirrup 13, the arms 14, 15 of which project from a central body 16 of the filling member 1 and are connected by a core 17. The arms 14, 15 and the core 17 provide between them and the central body 16 an opening 18 whose dimensions are sufficient to receive the head 8 of the bottle 2. The core 17 is crossed by a screw 12 adapted to press by means of a support element 19, on the head 8 of the bottle 2 to press the connection element 7 of the bottle 2 against the second connection element 6 of the filling member 1.

 Conventionally, the bottle 2 is adapted to contain an inert gas such as CO2 at a nominal pressure of 25 bars. When the internal passage 9 of the filling member 1 contains gas under a pressure of 25 bars, this pressure applied to the connection element 7 of the head 8 of the bottle 2 exerts a force which is transmitted to the screw 12 and which is such that it prohibits manual unscrewing of the screw 12. It is therefore necessary to maneuver the handle 11 to vent the internal passage 9 before being able to unscrew the screw 12 and release the bottle 2.

 In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, the bottle 21 is similar to the bottle 2 and further comprises means 22 for protecting the head 8. The protection means 22 include an annular base 23 surrounding the body 24 of the bottle 2, and two flanges 25 substantially parallel to each other and extending from the base 23 in the axial direction 26 of the bottle 2 on either side of the head 8 of the bottle 2.

 The annular base 23 is fixed to the body 24 of the bottle 2 by a heat-shrinkable sheath 27 substantially surrounding the body 24 of the bottle 2 preferably to the bottom 28 of the bottle 2.

 The entire bottle 2 is therefore protected by the sheath 27 and, more particularly, the head 8 is protected by the two flanges 25.

 This eliminates any risk of accident in the event of the bottle 21 falling.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the portable installation 31 for dispensing a pressurized liquid, in particular a carbonated drink such as beer, comprises a portable enclosure
(not shown) intended to receive a container 32 adapted to contain said liquid under pressure, and a portable bottle 2, 21 adapted to contain a gas under pressure. FIGS. 7 and 8 show only the bottle 2 without protective means 22 for the simplicity of the figure. The protective means 22, and in particular the flanges 25 are designed so as to allow the use of the bottle 21 thus protected with the filling member 1 and in the portable installation 31.

 The portable installation 31 comprises means for removably connecting the portable bottle 2 via a pressure reducer 33 to the container 32 and means for removably connecting the container 32 to a pipe 34 for dispensing pressurized liquid fitted with a valve 35.

 In the example shown, the pipe 34 is a flexible pipe having at its upstream end a quick connector 36 adaptable to a complementary quick connector 37 leaving the container 32. The regulator 33 is connected to the container 32 by a flexible pipe 38, the l the downstream end is provided with a quick connector 39 adapted to be fixed on a complementary quick connector 40 for entering the container 32.

 The valve 35 is, for example, a distribution valve equipped with a compensator system making it possible to vary the flow rate without changing the pressure. Such a tap is known in itself. The same applies to quick couplings 36, 37, 39, 40.

 The container 32 is for example a container with a capacity of approximately 10 to 12 liters adapted to contain a liquid under pressure. It has at its upper part the two quick couplings 37 and 40 mentioned above for the connection of the liquid beverage and CO2 gas circuits for the filling and liquid distribution operations (see below).

 The portable installation 31 comprises a flow member 70 for releasing the gas contained in a bottle 2, 21 through a pipe 38 for the start of said gas.

The debit member 70 comprises
a first connection element 46 adapted to connect said flow member 70 to a complementary connection element 47 of the gas flow pipe 38
- A second connection element 43 adapted to connect said flow member 70 to a complementary connection element 7 placed at the head 8 of said portable bottle 2, 21
an internal gas passage 48 connecting the first connection element 46 to the second connection element 43
application means 42 for applying substantially axially and removably, with a predetermined force, the complementary connection means 7 of the bottle 2, 21 against the second connection element 43.

 The flow member 70 comprises a body 41 fixed inside the enclosure and provided with application means 42 for applying substantially axially and removably with a predetermined force, the complementary connecting element 7 placed at the head 8 of the portable bottle 2 against a corresponding connection element 43 of the body 41.

 The application means 42 consist of a tilting locking system adapted to make the bottle 2 and the pressure reducer 33 integral during transport and use of the portable installation 31. The system 42 is actuated by a handle 44 and comprises ramp means 45 adapted to cooperate with corresponding means (not shown) of the head 8 of the bottle 2 to fix the bottle 2 on the body 41.

 In the example shown, the regulator 33 is arranged on the body 41 and is connected to the container 32 by a flexible pipe 38 provided with removable connection means 39 to said container 32 (see FIG. 8). The regulator 33 therefore forms part of the internal gas passage 48 which also includes a venting device shown diagrammatically at 49 in FIG. 8.

 FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the recharging device 51 for recharging the portable installation 31 described above with liquid and gas under pressure. The device 51 comprises a filling member 1 of the type described above. The device 51 is fixed, for example, on a flat support 50 facilitating the transport and the use of said device 51.

 The recharging device 51 further comprises a central duct 52 adapted to be connected by a pipe 53 to a gas source 54 adapted to supply gas under high pressure. This source is for example a commercial nurse filled with CO2. The conduit 52 communicates respectively with a first pressure regulator 55 adapted to be connected to the filling member 1 and to supply the latter with gas at the nominal filling pressure of the bottle 2, for example 25 bars. The conduit 52 also communicates with a second pressure regulator 56 adapted to be connected to a connection element 40 of the container 32 for entry into said container 32, to fill said container 32 at a first pressure called back pressure before filling with liquid of said container 32.

 Where appropriate, the central duct 52 communicates with a third pressure regulator 57 adapted to supply gas at a second pressure for transferring the liquid from a storage tank 58 to the container 32.

 Each regulator 55, 56, 57 is provided with a corresponding pressure gauge 55a, 56a, 57a, and with a valve or a tap, respectively 55b, 56b, 57b.

 The central duct 52 is also advantageously connected to a fourth pressure gauge 59 which, conventionally, indicates the pressure inside the manifold 54. This pressure in the manifold 54 is equal to approximately 100 bars as long as there is an equilibrium gas / liquid inside the manifold 54. The pressure indicated by the pressure gauge 59 drops as soon as there is no longer any liquid CO2 in the manifold 54, which constitutes an alert signal indicating that it will be necessary to quickly change said nurse 54.

 We will now explain below the mode of use of the filling member 1, the mode of use of the recharging device 51 and the mode of use of the portable installation 31.

 To fill a bottle 2, 21 by means of the filling member 1, the head 8 of the bottle 2 is fixed to the filling member 1 by means of the screw 12 and the stirrup 13 of the application means. 10. the screw 12 has been screwed in its screwing direction indicated by the arrow 60. The filling member 1 is connected by the gas inlet pipe 3 to the valve 55b placed at the outlet of the first expander 55. On opens the valve 55b (arrow 61) and the bottle 2 is filled with CO2 under a pressure of 25 bars.

When the bottle 2 is filled, the valve 55b is closed, the handle 11 is operated (arrow 62) to vent the internal passage 9 of the filling member 1. We can then unscrew the screw 12 to release the gas cylinder 2.

 Before filling the container 32 with pressurized liquid, for example beer, which is capable of foaming, the container 32 should be filled with gas at a back pressure of approximately 1.2 bar. To this end, the inlet quick connector 40 of the container 32 is connected to the second pressure reducer 56 by a flexible pipe 63 provided at its end on the side of the container 32 with a quick connector 64 and a product filling valve 65 (to see further).

 The tap 56b is opened and the container 32 is filled with gas under a pressure, for example of 1.2 bar.

 When this filling is finished, the valve 56b is closed.

 To fill the container 32 with pressurized carbonated beverage, for example beer, from a conventional installation shown diagrammatically at 71, for dispensing such a drink, the installation 71 is connected as shown in FIG. 10 by a pipe. flexible 72 provided at its end with a quick connector 73 to the quick connector 37 for leaving the container 32 and the handle 74 of the installation 71 is operated. The carbonated drink available under a pressure greater than the back pressure established at inside the container 32 fills the container 32 by expelling the gas contained therein, the gas escaping through the valve 65.

The filling of the container 32 continues until the appearance of foam by the filling valve 65, which indicates that the container 32 is substantially full.

 To fill the container 32 from a main tank 58, the procedure is shown in FIG. 11.

 The third regulator 57 is connected by a pipe 75 to a conventional withdrawal head 76 which is fixed on the tank 58, for example a keg containing beer or another carbonated drink. The outlet pipe 77 of the withdrawal head 76 is connected, by a flexible pipe 78 ending with a quick connector 79, to the quick outlet connector 37 of the container 32. The tap 57b is opened to send pressurized gas into the reservoir 58. this reservoir drives out the drink which passes through the pipe 78 to fill the container 32.

 As in the previous operation, the container 32 is full when foam comes out from the filling valve 65. It is then possible to install the bottle 2 full of gas and the container 32 full of carbonated drink within the enclosure of the installation. portable 31, which is usually a bag that can be carried on the back. The bottle 2 is fixed by the handle 44 of the application means 42 on the body 41 secured to the regulator 33. The bottle 2 is thus immobilized. The quick connector 39 of the flexible pipe 38 coming from the body 41 is fixed to the quick inlet connector 40 of the container 32. The quick connector 36 of the distribution pipe 34 is also fixed to the quick outlet connector 37 of the container 32. gas leaving the regulator 33 puts the container 32 under pressure. It suffices to maneuver the valve 35 to deliver the liquid under pressure.

 Of course, all the organs described above, in particular the manifold 54, the three regulators 55, 56, 57, the filling member 1, the portable gas bottle 2, the container 32, the regulator 33, include safety devices adapted to open in the event of overpressure. The bottle 2 can be replaced by the bottle 21.

 All the organs described above are adapted to be cleaned and rinsed to comply with all the hygiene rules concerning the installations adapted to receive drinks.

 There has thus been described above a gas filling member 1 and a gas flow member 70, the presence of which requires a user to comply with the safety regulations applicable to devices containing pressurized gas.

 According to previous use, a portable bottle was fixed on a support. To fill this bottle, it was connected connected by a hose to a regulator fixed on a nurse or connected to a nurse. To empty this bottle, a regulator was attached to it by hose to a point of consumption.

 The filling member 1 and the flow member 70 described above are intended to be fixed on a support, and are designed so as to make it compulsory to fix the bottle on said member in order to fill or empty this bottle. The fixing means, tilting or screw, impose a correct connection of the bottle on said filling or emptying member. The bottle thus fixed has no degree of freedom and cannot escape with a possible risk of accident.

 To further increase the safety of its use, the flow member 70 is fixed in the portable installation 31 by any means adapted to receive this member, such as pocket or set of straps. The flow member 70 is placed in a position in which the regulator adjustment elements 33 are not accessible to the user of the installation 31. It is even possible to provide locking means, for example a padlock, to prevent to a user to disassemble the flow member 70 to modify the settings of the regulator 33.

 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described, and many changes and modifications can be made to them without departing from the scope of the invention. We could thus invert the application means 10 and 42.

Claims (11)

 1 - Filling or flow member (1, 70) for filling a portable bottle (2, 21) adapted to receive and contain, in order to release it later, an inert gas under pressure, such as CO2, from a pipe (3) for the arrival of said gas, or to release the gas contained in such a bottle (2, 21) by a pipe (38) for departure of said gas, characterized in that it comprises  - A first connection element (4, 46) adapted to connect said filling or flow member (1, 70) to a complementary connection element (5, 47) of the inlet or outlet pipe (3, 38) gas flow  a second connection element (6, 43), adapted to connect said filling or flow member (1, 70) to a complementary connection element (7) placed at the head (8) of said portable bottle (2, 21)  - an internal gas passage (9, 48) connecting the first connection element (4, 46) to the second connection element (6, 43)  - application means (10, 42) for applying substantially axially and removably, with a predetermined force, the complementary connection means (7) of the bottle (2, 21) against the second connection element (6, 43).  2 - Filling or flow member according to claim 1, characterized in that the application means (10) are arranged so as to be unblockable as long as the internal passage (9) of gas is under gas pressure.  3 - Filling or flow member according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises means (11, 49) for controlling the venting of the internal passage (9, 48).  4 - Filling or flow member according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the application means (10) are screw means (12).  5 - Filling or flow member according to claim 4, characterized in that the application means (10) comprise a stirrup (13) U-shaped branches (14, 15) protrude relative to a body central (16) of said filling member (1) and are connected by a core, the branches (14, 15) and the core (17) forming between them and the central body (16) an opening (18) sufficient to receive the head (8) of the bottle (2, 21) and in that the core (17) is crossed by a screw (12) adapted to press on the head (8) of the bottle (2, 21) to press the connecting element (7) of the bottle (2, 21) against the second connecting element (6) of the filling member (1).  6 - Reloading device (51) for refilling with liquid and gas under pressure a portable installation (31) for dispensing a pressurized liquid, in particular a carbonated drink such as beer, this installation (31) comprising a container (32) adapted to contain said liquid under pressure, and a bottle (2, 21) adapted to contain a gas under pressure, characterized in that it comprises a filling member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.  7 - Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises a central conduit (52) adapted to be connected by a pipe to a gas source (54) adapted to supply gas under high pressure, this conduit ( 52) communicating respectively with a first regulator (55) adapted to be connected to the filling member and to supply the latter with gas at the nominal filling pressure of said bottle (2, 21), with a second regulator  (56) adapted to be connected to a connection element (40) of the container (32) for filling said container (32) at a first pressure called back pressure before filling with liquid said container (32), if necessary with a third regulator (57) adapted to supply gas at a second pressure for transferring the liquid from a storage tank (58) to the container (32).  8 - Portable installation (31) for dispensing a pressurized liquid, in particular a carbonated drink such as beer, this installation comprising a portable enclosure intended to receive a container (32) adapted to contain said liquid under pressure, and a portable bottle (2, 21) adapted to contain a pressurized gas, means for removably connecting the portable bottle (2, 21) via a pressure reducer (33) to said container (32), means for removably connecting said container (32) to a pipe (34) for dispensing pressurized liquid provided with a valve (35), this installation being adapted to be refilled with liquid and pressurized gas by means of a device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a flow member  (70) according to one of claims 1 to 5 comprising a body (41) fixed inside the enclosure and provided with application means (42) for applying substantially axially and removably, with a predetermined force , the additional connecting element  (7) placed at the head (8) of said portable bottle  (2, 21) against a corresponding connection element  (43) of said body (41).  9 - portable installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the regulator (33) is arranged on said body (41) and is connected to the container (32) by a flexible pipe (38) provided with removable connection means (39) to said container (32).  10 - portable installation according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the bottle (21) comprises means (22) for protecting said head (8) comprising an annular base (23) surrounding the body (24) of the bottle (2, 21) and flanges (25) substantially parallel to each other and extending from the base (23) in the axial direction (26) of the bottle (2) on either side of the head (8) of the bottle (2, 21).  11 - Portable installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the annular base (23) is fixed to the body (24) of the bottle (2, 21) by a heat-shrinkable sheath (27) substantially surrounding said body (24) of the bottle (2, 21) preferably to the bottom (28) of the bottle (2, 21).