GB2050853A

GB2050853A - Method and device for introducing a gas into a liquid

Info

Publication number: GB2050853A
Application number: GB7920214A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-06-11
Filing date: 1979-06-11
Publication date: 1981-01-14

Abstract

In the introduction of gas into a liquid contained in a vessel 1, especially in connection with making aerated drinks at home, carbon dioxide is introduced into water in a bottle via a downwardly pointing pipe 6 immersed in the water in the bottle 1, the pipe 6 passing through a sealing rubber cone 3 in the mouth of the bottle. The gas pressure in the bottle 1 is utilised to press the rubber cone 3 against the mouth with a force which increases with rising pressure in the bottle 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and device for introducing a gas into a liquid This invention refers to a way of introducing a gas into a liquid enclosed in a vessel, for example in connection with the production of aerated drinks, whereby the gas is introduced into the liquid via a downward pointing pipe placed in the liquid, the aforementioned pipe passing through a sealing device placed in the mouth of the vessel. The invention also refers to a device for use when applying the method.

For the making of aerated waters in the home, known types of apparatus exist by which carbon dioxide can be introduced into water in a bottle, the water thereafter being flavoured with essences.

During the adding of carbon dioxide the bottle is placed in position in the apparatus, after which a rubber cone equipped with a through pipe for the introduction of carbon dioxide seals off the mouth of the bottle. In the case on known types of apparatus, the mouth of the bottle is pressed against the rubber cone with the aid of an eccentric mechanism operating against the bottom of the bottle. This means that the maximum sealing pressure between bottle and cone is attained at the commencement of filling with carbon dioxide. As the pressure in the bottle rises, so the sealing pressure between the. bottle and cone is reduced because the pressure in the bottle also has an effect on the aforementioned rubber cone.The lowest sealing pressure is thus attained at the conclusion of the filling operation, when the pressure in the bottle is at its maximum and when there is the maximum need of sealing pressure. This means that there is a considerable risk of leakage at the conclusion of the filling operation, especially if the rubber cone is somewhat worn or the height or width of mouth of the bottle deviates from the ideal value.

In the utilisation of a fixed rubber cone against which the bottle is pressed by mechanical means as described above, it is therefore necessary, in order to reduce the risk of leakage, to have recourse to a relatively high tension force with respect to the bottle, as its length or width of mouth can vary by 3 and 2 mm respectively and the necessary sealing force must be attained for short and wide bottles.

This means that the material of the rubber cone is subjected to considerable stress, increasing wear and the risk of permanent deformation arising, which can result in leakage. Wear and deformation of ball bearings and shafts in the mechanical portion in the fastening device can also increase the risk of leakage.

Even when constant gas pressure is used to press the rubber cone against the mouth of the bottle most of the disadvantages remain, since in this case also the sealing pressure falls during the filling operation and is at its lowest when the need for the maximum sealing pressure arises.

A principal aim of this invention is to present a method and a device by means of which the above-mentioned disadvantages are overcome.

In accordance with the invention, this result is obtained by means of which the sealing device described above is pressed against the mouth by a force varying with the gas pressure in the vessel.

According to one design this is achieved by removing the gas pressure from the vessel and making it work on a larger surface of the sealing device than the inner surface of the device which is effected by the gas in the vessel. Alternatively, the gas pressure taken from the vessel can be made to operate on a larger area of an element in a power-transmission connection with the sealing device than the inner surface of the sealing device which is affected by the pressure in the vessel.

Characteristic of a device of the kind envisaged by this invention of the type briefly described by way of introduction is that it comprises a mechanism for the pressing of the aforementioned sealing device against the mouth by means of gas pressure of varying force in the vessel. For this purpose the device may include a sealed chamber in which a restrictive partition is provided by an external surface of the sealing device, this surface being larger than the inner surface of the same device which is affected by the pressure in the vessel, the chamber being in communication with the inside of the vessel. The abovementioned sealing device may for this purpose be suspended in a diaphragm forming the abovementioned external area of the sealing device.

In another design the sealed chamber contains a movable restrictive wall which, for power transmission purposes, is connected to the sealing device, the area of the movable wall being greater than the internal area of the abovementioned device which is affected by the pressure in the vessel and with which the chamber communicates with the interior of the vessel. The abovementioned chamber is preferably formed by a piston/cylinder unit, with the aid of which the sealing device is pressed against the mouth of the vessel by means of the piston.

The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the drawing showing a side view of a device according to the invention with a bottle in position, partly in section.

On the drawing 1 stands for a bottle filled with water which is to be aerated. The bottle is inserted between a fixed base 2 and a sealing rubber cone 3.

The rubber cone 3 is suspended in a diaphragm 4 which is attached to a holder 5 fixed in relation to the base 2. Through the holder 5 and the cone 3 runs a pipe 6 intended to introduce carbon dioxide into the water in the bottle. The hole in the rubber cone 3 is of such dimensions that a ring-shaped column 7 is formed around the pipe 6. The column 7 is connected to a space 8 above the diaphragm 4, this spaced being in turn connected to a pipe 9, which is fitted with venting and pressure relief valves (not shown).

When using this device, the bottle 1 is first inserted between the base 2 and the rubber cone 3, so that a certain relatively low initial sealing pressure is formed between the cone 3 and the mouth of the bottle 1. No mechanical tension device is required for this purpose, the pressure formed directly during the insertion of the bottle into the apparatus in the course of a certain raising of the diaphragm 4 or the squeezing of the rubber cone 3 sufficing. A gas container containing carbon dioxide at relatively high pressure is then connected to pipe 6. In consequence of throttles in the pipe from the gas containerand a nipple placed at the lower end of the pipe 6, the nipple being fitted with one or more relatively small percolation holes, a considerable reduction of pressure is achieved before the gas enters the bottle.

During the introduction of the carbon dioxide the sealing pressure between the cone 3 and the mouth of the bottle will increase as the gas pressure in the bottle 1 increases, since the gas is led via the canal 7 into the chamber 8 and acts on the upper surface of the diaphragm 4. This area is much larger than the area on the rubber cone 3 which is directly exposed to the gas pressure in bottle 1. When the necessary pressure has been obtained which can be indicated in the desired manner, for example by means of a sound signal from the pressure relief valve connected to pipe 9, the bottle is vented by a venting valve connected to pipe 9. When the pressure in the bottle has subsided, the bottle is removed from the apparatus and the appropriate essences are added.

As mentioned above, when using the apparatus as described a sealing pressure is obtained which increases with the pressure in the bottle during filling with carbon dioxide, the maximum sealing pressure being attained at the conclusion of the filling operation, when in consequence of the carbon dioxide pressure in the bottle the need of sealing pressure is greatest. In the case of the design shown, use is made of a minimum number of parts and the sealing effect is not affected by wear and tear of mechanical components. Thanks to the flexibility of the diaphragm the same degree of sealing can be attained by bottles of varying height and width of mouth.

In the case of an alternative design, recourse may be had to piston/cylinder unit instead of a diaphragm, whereby the rubber cone 3 is pressed against the mouth of the bottle with the aid of the piston moving in the cylinder under the effect of the pressure in the bottle. In the case of a device of this kind it is possible to attain a greater length of stroke than is the case when using a diaphragm. The invention can also be varied in several other respects while preserving the essential feature of the invention, namely that the sealing pressure should increase with rising pressure in the bottle. Thus, for example, the rubber cone can be replaced by another sealing device, which for example may seal against the upper edge ofthe bottle or around the outer edge of its mouth. The rubber diaphragm shown may be designed separately or in one piece with the rubber cone. When using a piston/cylinder unit, the leverage can be applied to obtain the desired pressing force, Apart from adding carbon dioxide to water, the invention can also be applied to introduce a desired gas into a free choice of containers, including tins.

Claims

1. A method of introducing a gas into a liquid which is contained in a vessel, including introducing the gas into the liquid via a downwardly pointing pipe in the liquid, which pipe passes through a sealing device in the mouth of the vessel, and pressing the sealing device against the mouth with a force varying with the gas pressure in the vessel.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the gas pressure in the vessel is conveyed from the vessel and broughtto bear on a larger surface of the sealing device than the inner surface of the sealing device affected by the pressure in the vessel.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the gas pressure in the vessel is conveyed from the vessel and brought to bear on a larger surface of an element which, for power transmission purposes, is connected to the sealing device, than the inner surface of the sealing device affected by the pressure in the vessel.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims substantially as herein described and exemplified.

5. A device intended for introducing a gas into liquid contained in a vessel, including a gas feed pipe directed so as to flow out into the liquid, a sealing device for the mouth of the vessel, and a device for pressing the sealing device againstthe mouth by a force varying with the pressure of the gas in the vessel.

6. A device according to claim 5, further including a sealed or sealable chamber in which a restrictive wall constitutes an outer surface of the sealing device, the outer surface being greater than the inner surface of the sealing device which is affected by the pressure in the vessel and the sealed or sealable chamber communicating with the interior of the vessel.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the sealing device is suspended in a diaphragm and the diaphragm constitutes the outer surface of the sealing device.

8. Device in accordance with claim 5, further including a sealed or sealable chamber in which a restrictive wall is movable and for power transmission purposes is connected to the sealing device, the surface of this movable wall being larger than the inner surface of the said device which is affected by the pressure in the vessel and the said chamber communicating with the interior of the vessel.

9. Device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the chamber consists of a piston/cylinder unit and the sealing device is adjusted to press against the mouth of the vessel with the aid of the piston.

10. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.