IL274830A

IL274830A - Adapter for a pressurized gas container

Info

Publication number: IL274830A
Application number: IL274830A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Strauss Water Ltd
Priority date: 2017-11-26
Filing date: 2020-05-21
Publication date: 2020-07-30
Also published as: EP3728933B1; IL274830B; WO2019102479A1; CN109838690B; IL255921A; CN109838690A; CN209672058U; EP3728933A1

Description

Adapter for a Pressurized Gas Container TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD This disclosure concerns an adapter for a pressurized gas container, for example a disposable pressurized CO canister, for safely coupling the container to an appliance 2 or system that utilize the pressurized gas, such as an appliance for preparing and dispensing a carbonated beverage.

BACKGROUND ART References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below: - PCT publication WO 2015/118525 - PCT publication WO 2017/195190 - US 2015/329341 - US 4,189,068 Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

BACKGROUND Appliances for preparation of carbonated beverage often make use of pressurized carbon dioxide canisters that couple to a gas port of the appliance and, thus, deliver carbon dioxide into a carbonation system of the appliance. Pressurized carbon dioxide canisters are typically designed for multiple use, although such which are intended for single use and, hence, disposable, have also been described (see, PCT applications WO 2015/118525 and WO 2017/195190).

Disposable canisters are sealed by a pierceable or rupturable seal, that once ruptured allows egress of gas from the canister. Such canisters require dedicated adapters and such adapters have also been descried in the two PCT applications mentioned above. 02721987\2-01 - 2 - GENERAL DESCRIPTION This disclosure concerns an adapter for safely coupling a single-use pressurized gas container (or canister) to a gas port of an appliance, e.g. one intended for preparation of carbonated beverages. The adapter may be an integral part of the appliance or may be a stand-alone device that is configured to be coupled to the appliance. A stand-alone adapter may be used for coupling of a single-use pressurized gas container to an appliance originally designed for use with a multiple-use container.

As will be described herein, the adapter of this disclosure has an integral safety mechanism that prevents unintended and/or uncontrolled disengagement of the container from the appliance as long as the pressure within the container exceeds a certain threshold.

Provided by this disclosure is an adapter for coupling a pressurized gas container to a gas port of an appliance. The container is of a kind having an externally threaded neck and a barrier element disposed within an axial lumen in the container’s neck for sealing the container’s interior, such as the containers disclosed in PCT publications WO 2015/118525 and WO 2017/195190.

As will now be explained, the adapted comprises a plunger member and a plug, both of which functioning in order to safely couple and utilize the container to a device that utilizes pressurized gas, such that as long as pressure above a certain threshold exists in the container.

Thus, the adapter comprises a first coupling arrangement with an internally threaded neck receptacle for screw-type coupling with the container's neck and having a gas port portion coupled to or being configured for coupling to a gas port of the appliance.

The adapter has also a forwardly extending axial shaft configured to be received within said lumen, typically dimension to form a gas-tight association within the neck’s axial lumen, and having a tip configured for piercing or rupturing the barrier upon screw-type engagement of the first coupling arrangement with said neck. Defined within the adapter is a gas conduit that comprises a shaft duct axially extending from one or more opening proximal to the tip and fluidly linked to other portions of the conduit. The conduit permits gas communication between the one or more openings and said gas port portion.

The adapter also comprises a blocking arrangement configured to block the decoupling of the first coupling arrangement from the container’s neck as long as the pressure within the container exceeds a certain safety threshold, e.g. 1.5 or 2 bars. This arrangement comprising a plunger member displaceable within a cavity between 02721987\2-01 - 3 - disengaged and engaged positions and configured for blocking said first coupling arrangement from decoupling from the neck when in the plunger is in the engaged position. A portion of the cavity is in gas communication with said gas duct, such that gas pressure within the duct causes displacement of the plunger member to said engaged position.

As noted, the adapter further comprises a plug fitted within the gas port portion and is displaceable between a gas flow-blocking state, in which it blocks the flow of gas from the cavity to the gas port of the appliance, and a gas flow-permitting state, in which it permits flow of gas into the gas port of the appliance. The plug is axially switchable between the two states upon coupling of the adapter with the gas port and is biased to the gas flow-blocking state.

The adapter is configured such that the plug is biased to its gas flow-blocking state by a biasing arrangement (e.g. a spring) before the barrier element is pierced, and, once the barrier element is pierced - by the gas pressure within the cavity. In other words, before the barrier is pierced, is held in the gas flow-blocking state by a biasing spring, and once the barrier is pierced and the gas pressure in the cavity is above a certain threshold, the plug is held in the gas flow-blocking state by the elevated gas pressure in the cavity. Such an arrangement assures that even once the barrier element is pierced, no unintentional or abrupt gas flow from the container to the appliance occurs. Once gas is to be utilized by the appliance, the plug may be axially displaced to the gas flow- permitting state by a utility member fitted at the gas port of the appliance.

In embodiments where the adapter is an independent device that is configured for coupling with a gas-utilizing appliance, the plug further ensures that even though the adapter may be coupled to the container and the barrier element pierced, still no gas flow out of the container will occur until the adapter is safely coupled to the gas port of the appliance and the plug is displaced into the gas flow-permitting state.

Such combination of a plunger and a plug increases the safety of coupling the container to the appliance, as once the barrier element is pierced by the shaft of the adapter a cavity filled with high pressure gas is formed within the adapter, the adapter is held securely onto the container by the pressure applied on the lips of the container by the plunger such that the adapter cannot be released from the container, and undesired gas release is prevented by the plug that is held in its gas flow-blocking state by the gas pressure within the cavity. 02721987\2-01 - 4 - The plug may, by some embodiment, be received within a plug seat formed in the gas port portion. In order to provide a gas-tight seal, the plug may have a rear end fitted with an elastic sealing member (e.g. an O-ring), such that the rear end sealingly engages the plug seat when in the gas flow-blocking state, and disengages the plug seat when in the gas flow-permitting state.

By one embodiment of the adapter, the plunger member is integral with said shaft and axially displaceable within an axial cavity between the disengaged and the engaged positions. In accordance with this embodiment said gas duct terminates at a rear end of the plunger member and, accordingly, a gas pressure formed at said rear end causes the plunger member to displace into the engaged position in which it applies a gas pressure- induced axial force on the container’s neck lips. Optionally, a neck-facing face of the plunger member comprises an annular depression around the shaft that is dimensioned for tight association with said lips in said engaged position of the plunger member.

By another embodiment of the adapter, the plunger member is radially displaceable within a radial cavity that defines a distal-proximal axis, along sidewalls of the cavity. The plunger, that forms a gas-tight association with the sidewalls of the cavity, is, thus, displaceable between a distal, disengaged and a proximal, engaged positions and is configured for engaging, in the engaged position, with a lateral portion of the neck to block its rotation. The plunger member is, typically, biased into the disengaged position and is gas pressure-induced into the engaged position against said bias. Such pressure- induced displacement may be achieved through linking the gas conduit with a distal portion of the cavity by a linking duct.

An adapter in which the shaft and the plunger member are integral with one another is one specific embodiment of this disclosure. This plunger member, is axially displaceable within an axial cylindrical cavity that is defined by a rear wall and side walls.

The plunger member that forms a gas-tight association with the side walls, is displaceable in a forward-rearward direction, between a disengaged position, in which the plunger’s rear face rests against said rear wall, and an engaged position, in which said rear face is distanced from said rear wall to define a headspace therebetween. It comprises forward- directed shaft with a tip for piercing or rupturing the barrier element while said plunger member is in said disengaged position during screw-coupling with the container’s neck.

The gas duct within the shaft extends therethrough from the openings proximal to said tip to said headspace thereby permitting pressurized gas from within the container to flow 02721987\2-01 - 5 - into said headspace and cause a pressure-induced displacement of the plunger into said engaged position in which it presses tightly against the container’s neck lips. The front face of the plunger member may comprise an annular depression around the shaft, said depression being dimensioned for tight association with said lips in said engaged position of the plunger member. When the plunger member is induced by the gas pressure within the headspace to displace into its engaged position, the axial force applied by the plunger member’s front face on the lips of the container induces a strong axial force on the threading of the first coupling arrangement. As long as the threading is maintained under this strong force the release of the coupling is prevented; and is only possible once the pressure reduces below a certain threshold of a few bars, e.g. less than 2 bars. By one embodiment the front face of the plunger member comprises an annular depression around the shaft, the depression being dimensioned so as to accommodate the upper end of the container’s lips and thereby ensure a tight association with said lips in said deployed position of the plunger member.

The adapter may be made of any suitable material, e.g. metal or plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-section through an adapter according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

Fig. 2 shows the adapter of Fig. 1 screw-fitted on a neck of a container with the plunger member being in a deployment position prior to rupturing the container’s barrier element.

Fig. 3 shows the adapter coupled to the container after rupturing the barrier element and forward displacement of the plunger member in the deployed position.

Fig. 4 is a schematic longitudinal cross-section through an adapter according to another embodiment of this disclosure 02721987\2-01 - 6 - DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The disclosure will be further illustrated through exemplary embodiments that exemplify the general principles of this disclosure as discussed above. It will be readily understood by a person versed in the art that these are indeed but examples of the wider scope enabled by this disclosure and also that various modification of the exemplary embodiment are possible, some of which will be noted in the description below.

The adapters 10 (Figs. 1-3) and 100 (Fig. 4) shown in the annexed drawings are stand-alone adapter devices. However, similar construction and principles of operation may also be manifested in adapter devices that are made to be integral with an appliance.

The adapter 10 has a general axial design with a first coupling arrangement 12 that comprises an internally-threaded neck receptacle 14 for coupling with the externally- threaded neck 44 of the container 46, at one end; and a second coupling arrangement 16 at a gas-port end 18 of the adapter that is configured for coupling with a gas port of the appliance (not shown). In this specific embodiment, the second coupling arrangement 16 includes an externally-threaded neck 20 for screw-type coupling with said gas port. It should be noted, first, that the general axial arrangement is but an example and the first coupling arrangement 12 and the second coupling arrangement 16 may not be axial; for example they may be in a right-angle orientation with one to the other. Also, as noted above, the adapter may be configured to be permanently coupled to and/or being an integral element of an appliance in which the gas is utilized, for example a carbonated beverage dispenser. Furthermore, the coupling of the second coupling arrangement with said gas port may be by means other than a screw-type engagement, for example snap- type engagement.

The adapter 10 includes a plunger member 22 disposed within an axial cylindrical cavity 24 defined by a rear wall 26 and side walls 28. The plunger member 22 has an annular groove 30 that accommodates an O-ring 32 that provides for a gas-tight association with the side walls 28 to thereby prevent pressurized gas from flowing past the plunger member 22 alongside side walls 28, namely not through the shaft duct 50 (see below). The plunger member 22 is axially displaceable in a forward-rearward direction as indicated by arrow 23 between a disengaged position seen in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the plunger’s rear face 34 rests against rear wall 26 of the cavity (namely the plunger is disengaged from container's neck), and an engaged position seen in Fig. 3, in which the rear face 34 is distanced from said rear wall 26 (i.e. the plunger being engaged with the 02721987\2-01 - 7 - container's neck) to define a headspace 36 therebetween. In the engaged position, the plunger member 22, the axial forward displacement may be arrested by the lips of the container's neck or by a shoulder or inward-facing protrusion (not shown) formed at side walls 28.

When the plunger member 22 is induced by the gas pressure within the headspace 36 to displace into its engaged position, strong forces are applied by the plunger member on the threading of the first coupling arrangement. As long as the threading is maintained under this strong force the release of the coupling is prevented; and is only possible once the pressure reduces below a certain safety threshold, thus preventing undesired and/or uncontrolled release of the adapter from the container's neck.

The plunger member 22 has a forward-directed shaft 38 having a tip 40 that is sufficiently rigid, such that when it is forced against a barrier element 42 disposed within the neck 44 of the container 46, sealing the container’s interior 48, it ruptures the barrier element. The shaft 38 may also be tapered, as shown, to facilitate such rupturing.

The shaft 38 comprises an axial shaft duct 50 with radial openings 52, proximal to tip 40. Upon rupturing of the barrier element, pressurized gas can flow through duct 50 to the rear end of the plunger member 22 applying a force on rear face 34 to thereby displace the plunger member 22 in the forward direction to its deployed position seen in Fig. 3. In this position, plunger presses tightly against lips 54 at the end of the container’s neck.

In this specific embodiment an annular depression 56 is defined around shaft 38 that is dimensioned to accommodate and tightly associate with lips 54 as seen in Fig. 3.

The container 46 with the barrier element 42 may be constructed, for example, in a manner as described in WO 2015/118525 and PCT/IL2017/050502, the relevant content of which is incorporated herein by reference. The irreversibly reputable barrier configures the container for single-use. The shaft is typically dimensioned so as to form a gas-tight association once within the neck 44; in this example the tight association is permitted by O-rings 58 disposed within the neck.

The adapter also includes a gas conduit that includes the shaft duct 50 and the downstream gas port portion 60 between the headspace 36 and the gas-port end 18.

Conduit 60 accommodated a plug 62 that is received in plug seat 68. Before piercing of the barrier element, the plug 62 is rearward-biased (i.e. to a gas flow-blocking state) by means of spring 64 and through the action of O-ring 66 disposed at the plug’s rear end, 02721987\2-01 - 8 - engages the plug seat 68 and seals the conduit 60. Once engaged with the appliance’s gas port, the plug is held in the gas flow-blocking state by the gas pressure formed in cavity 24 to prevent undesired or uncontrolled release of gas. For release of gas, the plug 62 is axially pressed in the direction of arrow 70 to open the conduit and permit gas flow from the container into the appliance.

The adapter also includes a safety plug 72 to provide for gas release in case gas pressure exceeds a certain safety threshold.

Fig. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of an adapter 100 according to an embodiment of this disclosure fitted onto a neck 144 of a pressurized gas container 146.

In Fig. 4, elements that are functionally equivalent to those of the adapter shown in Figs. 1-3 are indicated by the same reference numerals shifted by 100. For example, shaft 138, with its tip 140, serves the same function of piercing the barrier element 142 as shaft 38 in Figs. 1-3, with its tip 40 piercing barrier element 42. Similarly, shaft conduit 158 serves the same function as shaft conduit 58 in Figs. 1-3.

One main difference between the adapter 10 of Figs. 1-3 and adapter 100 of Fig. 4 is that, in the latter case, the shaft 138 is stationary within the adapter and not part of a displaceable plunger member as in the case of shaft 38 of Figs. 1-3. In this embodiment, the safety mechanism intended to block the decoupling of the first coupling arrangement 114 from the neck is by means of a blocking arrangement 117 that is configured for engagement with a lateral portion of the neck to block rotation as will be described below.

Blocking arrangement 117 includes a plunger 119 that reciprocates in a lateral direction as represented by a two-sided arrow 121 within a cylindrical cavity 115 defined between sidewalls 123. The plunger 119 displaces distal, disengagement position in which it is relatively radially distanced from the neck; and a proximal, engaged position, which is that shown in Fig. 4. The plunger 119 is biased into the disengagement position by means of spring 125. Plunger 119 includes an integral radial pin 127, that projects towards the neck, and its proximal head is accommodated within a cavity 129 when in the engaged position. When so accommodated, the adapter 100 is rotationally fixed, and its disengagement through screw-type rotation is blocked.

The distal portion 131 of cavity 115 is linked through a linking duct 133 with the downstream portion 160 of the gas conduit. Accordingly, once the barrier 142 is pierced or ruptured, pressurized gas flows into the gas conduit’s downstream gas port portion 160 and from there through linking duct 133 into the distal portion 131 of cavity 115, 02721987\2-01 - 9 - displacing the plunger 119 into the engaged position shown in Fig. 4. Thus, as long as the pressure within the container 148 and, hence, within said gas duct is above a safe pressure, the plunger 119 will be maintained in the engaged position and decoupling of the adapter from the container’s neck will be blocked.

In the configuration of Fig. 4, plug 162 functions similarly to the function of plug 60 in Figs. 1-3. Namely, plug 162, that is accommodated in gas port portion 160, is received in plug seat 168, and is held in the gas flow-blocking state (with its O-ring 166 engaged with the plug seat) by spring 164 as long as the barrier element has not been pierced. Once the adapter 100 is coupled to the appliance’s gas port, the plug 162 is held in the gas flow-blocking state by the gas pressure formed in cavity 115 and linking duct 133 to prevent undesired or uncontrolled release of gas. 02721987\2-01

Claims

- 10 - CLAIMS:

1. An adapter for coupling a pressurized gas container to a gas port of an appliance, the container having an externally threaded neck and a pierceable barrier element disposed within an axial lumen in the container’s neck for sealing the container’s interior, the adapter comprising: a first coupling arrangement comprising an internally threaded neck receptacle for screw-type coupling with the container's neck and having a gas port portion coupled to or being configured for coupling to a gas port of the appliance; a forwardly extending shaft configured to be received within said lumen and having a tip configured for piercing or rupturing the barrier upon screw-type engagement of the first coupling arrangement with said neck; a gas conduit within the adapter, comprising a shaft duct formed within said shaft, for gas communication between one or more openings proximal to the tip and said gas port portion; a plunger member displaceable within a cavity between disengaged and engaged positions and configured for blocking said first coupling arrangement from decoupling from the neck when in the engaged position, said cavity being in gas communication with said gas duct, such that gas pressure within the duct causes displacement of the plunger member to said engaged position; and a plug fitted within said gas port portion and being displaceable between a gas flow-blocking state, in which it blocks the flow of gas from the cavity to the gas port of the appliance, and a gas flow-permitting state, in which it permits flow of gas into the gas port of the appliance, the plug being axially switchable between the two states upon coupling of the adapter with the gas port and is biased to the gas flow-blocking state, the plunger member is integral with said shaft and axially displaceable within an axial cavity between the disengaged and the engaged positions, said gas duct terminating at a rear end of the plunger member, a gas pressure formed at said rear end causes the plunger member to displace into the engaged position in which it applies a gas pressure- induced axial force on the container’s neck lips, and a neck-facing face of the plunger member comprises an annular depression around the shaft, said depression being dimensioned for tight association with said lips in said engaged position of the plunger member. 02721997\2-01 - 11 -

2. An adapter for coupling a pressurized gas container to a gas port of an appliance, the container having an externally threaded neck and a pierceable barrier element disposed within an axial lumen in the container’s neck for sealing the container’s interior, the adapter comprising: a first coupling arrangement comprising an internally threaded neck receptacle for screw-type coupling with the container's neck and having a gas port portion coupled to or being configured for coupling to a gas port of the appliance; a forwardly extending shaft configured to be received within said lumen and having a tip configured for piercing or rupturing the barrier upon screw-type engagement of the first coupling arrangement with said neck; a gas conduit within the adapter, comprising a shaft duct formed within said shaft, for gas communication between one or more openings proximal to the tip and said gas port portion; a plunger member displaceable within a cavity between disengaged and engaged positions and configured for blocking said first coupling arrangement from decoupling from the neck when in the engaged position, said cavity being in gas communication with said gas duct, such that gas pressure within the duct causes displacement of the plunger member to said engaged position; and a plug fitted within said gas port portion and being displaceable between a gas flow- blocking state, in which it blocks the flow of gas from the cavity to the gas port of the appliance, and a gas flow-permitting state, in which it permits flow of gas into the gas port of the appliance, the plug being axially switchable between the two states upon coupling of the adapter with the gas port and is biased to the gas flow-blocking state, wherein the plunger member is radially displaceable within a radial cavity along sidewalls, defining a distal-proximal axis, between a distal, disengaged and a proximal, engaged positions and configured for engaging, in the engaged position, with a lateral portion of the neck to block its rotation, the plunger member forming a gas-tight association with the sidewalls.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the plunger member is biased into the disengaged position and is gas pressure-induced into the engaged position against said bias.

4. The adapter of claim 2 or 3, wherein the distal portion of the cavity is linked by a linking duct to said gas conduit. 02721997\2-01 - 12 -

5. The adapted of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plug is biased to said gas flow-blocking state by (i) a biasing arrangement before the barrier element is pierced, and (ii) the gas pressure within the cavity once the barrier element is pierced.

6. The adapter of claim 5, wherein said biasing arrangement is a spring.

7. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 6, being an integral part of said appliance.

8. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 6, being an independent device configured for coupling to a gas port of a gas-utilizing appliance.

9. The adapter of claim 8, comprising a second coupling arrangement at a gas-port end, configured for coupling with said gas port.

10. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the shaft is dimensioned to form a gas-tight association within the neck’s lumen in a manner so as to avoid gas outflow from within the container other than through the shaft duct.

11. The adapter of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the plug is received within a plug seat formed in the gas port portion.

12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein the plug has a rear end fitted with an elastic sealing member, such that the rear end is sealingly engaged with said plug seat in said gas flow-blocking state, and being disengaged from the plug seat when the plug is in its gas flow-permitting state.

13. The adapter of claim 12, wherein said elastic sealing element is an O-ring.

14. An appliance comprising an adapter of any one of claims 1 to 13. 02721997\2-01