JP2006027651A - Pressure adjuster - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a supply pressure from a pressure adjuster, which is connected directly to a carbonic-acid gas high-pressure container and supplies pressure to a beer barrel, to provide the supply pressure corresponding to a given temperature to keep bubbles of beer in an optimum state. <P>SOLUTION: The expansion/contraction of a temperature detector (thermowax pellet) for detecting an ambient temperature or the like is made to act on a secondary spring of the pressure adjuster to change a secondary pressure (supply pressure). When the ambient temperature rises, a carbonic-acid gas is supplied from the carbonic-acid gas high-pressure container to flow through the pressure adjuster into a beer barrel or the like, where the gas increases the secondary pressure. When the ambient temperature drops, the pressure adjuster makes a relief action to relieve the secondary pressure. The inner pressure of the barrel is made to flow back to the pressure adjuster to be released into the air by disconnecting in advance a check valve, which is usually incorporated into a dispense head of the barrel. Though the pressure adjuster adjusts the carbonic-acid gas supply pressure automatically, the adjuster is provided with a handle for desirable fine adjustment of the supply pressure. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide pressure regulator for beverages that decompresses carbon dioxide gas filled in a high-pressure container and supplies low-pressure gas to barrels such as draft beer.
Even if the carbon dioxide pressure is constant, the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in the beer changes due to the change in beer temperature, so the supply pressure is adjusted by manually operating the pressure adjustment handle of the pressure regulator according to the season or room temperature. The amount of carbon dioxide contained, that is, the amount of bubbles is optimized.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional example.
Reference numeral 1 is a carbon dioxide gas high pressure container connection port, 2 is a carbon dioxide gas supply port for connecting a tube to the beer barrel, and 3 is a pressure adjusting handle for adjusting the supply pressure.
The pressure adjustment operation of the pressure regulator indicates the supply pressure that corresponds to the current temperature, etc., when the pressure regulator is connected to the carbon dioxide high pressure vessel and the main valve is open, when the adjustment pressure is increased manually. When the pressure adjustment handle 3 is screwed into the position, the secondary spring 4 is compressed, the secondary diaphragm 5 moves, the pin 6 is pushed down, the valve 7 is moved away from the valve seat 8 and gas flows. The secondary chamber pressure (supply pressure) increases, the secondary diaphragm of 5 compresses the secondary spring of 4, and the valve of 7 closes. The pressure adjustment obtains the target supply pressure by repeating the above.
To lower the temperature, the secondary chamber pressure (supply pressure) 9 can be lowered by unscrewing the handle 3.
The primary chamber pressure of 10 depends on the primary spring 11 and is kept substantially constant by the same operation.
As explained above, the conventional pressure regulator generally has a handle operating system that manually adjusts the pressure according to the temperature and room temperature, etc., and it is difficult to finely adjust the supply pressure. There was also a sacrifice.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-128193 discloses a device for automatically changing supply pressure according to temperature, not manually, and is effective in lowering beer temperature. However, in order to increase beer temperature, supply set pressure of an upstream pressure regulator is used. Will be regulated.
JP2003-128193A (P2003-128193A)

The problem is that the pressure adjustment handle is manually operated by looking at a thermometer and temperature-pressure table, and it is necessary to constantly monitor the temperature in order to respond quickly to changes in beer temperature and room temperature. In reality, it is difficult to always maintain the best beer foam.
By the way, in the case of conventional manual operation, pressure adjustment can not be done when there are no people such as at night, so even though the beer temperature in the barrel has fallen due to the temperature drop, the carbon dioxide pressure in the barrel does not drop, There is a problem that the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in beer increases, and excessive bubbles are generated when the next day is poured out.
The problem to be solved is to keep the beer foam in the best condition at any time. That is, the secondary pressure (supply pressure) is automatically changed according to the temperature.

By incorporating thermo wax pellets into the pressure regulator and bringing them into contact with the atmosphere, the plunger of the thermo wax pellets is expanded and contracted according to the atmospheric temperature, the secondary spring is expanded and contracted, and the secondary chamber pressure (supply pressure) is changed.

By automating the pressure for supplying carbon dioxide gas to the beer barrel to a pressure corresponding to the temperature of the atmosphere, it is possible to always maintain an appropriate supply pressure, and to maintain the foam at the time of beer pouring at any time. Especially for night cooling, it is possible to eliminate the excessive bubble phenomenon of the next day, which has been a daily routine. In addition, a reduction in labor for pressure adjustment can be expected.

The most effective form of this plan is to be able to provide delicious beer at any time, such as in a beer hall or a pub, equipped with a dispenser that dispenses draft beer from a beer barrel.

An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 10 is the primary chamber and 11 is the primary spring as in FIG. 21 is a carbon dioxide gas high pressure container connection port, and 22 is a carbon dioxide gas supply port for supplying carbon dioxide gas to the beer barrel.
The pressure adjustment operation of the pressure regulator is as follows. When the pressure regulator is connected to the carbon dioxide high-pressure vessel and the main valve is open, the current temperature is detected by 30 thermowax pellets and the 31 plunger is expanded and contracted. Let The expansion and contraction of the plunger expands and contracts the secondary springs 24 and 24 ', and opens and closes the 27 valves by the 26 diaphragm pins integrated with the 25 secondary diaphragms, and the secondary chamber pressure (supply pressure) of the secondary chamber 29 Is automatically adjusted according to the temperature. 28 is a valve seat.
When the temperature rises, the plunger of 31 compresses the secondary springs of extension 24 and 24 'and raises the secondary chamber pressure (supply pressure) of 29. Carbon dioxide flows from the high-pressure vessel to the beer barrel through the pressure regulator. Increase the pressure in the barrel. When the temperature drops, conversely, as the 31 plunger is shortened, the 25 secondary diaphragms and the secondary springs 24 and 24 'move together, the seats of the 26 diaphragm pins move away from the 27 valves, and 29 The secondary chamber pressure flows from the relief port of the 26 diaphragm pin centers to the 32 atmospheric port and reduces the secondary chamber pressure (supply pressure) of 29. On the other hand, one way to reduce the pressure in the barrel is to remove the check valve normally built into the dispenser head, etc. When the pressure regulator is relieved, the carbon dioxide in the beer barrel is It can flow back to the atmosphere and be released to the atmosphere, reducing the pressure.
The adjustment of the carbon dioxide supply pressure is automatic, but 23 adjustment handles are provided so that the pressure can be finely adjusted according to preference. Furthermore, 33 adjustment screws are provided on the 23 adjustment handles in order to absorb errors during production.

As an applicability of the present invention, it can be used for beer, as well as carbon dioxide pressure regulators such as vending machines for carbonated beverages. Beverages can be provided.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the conventional carbon dioxide pressure regulator. It is explanatory drawing which showed the atmospheric temperature sensing type carbon dioxide pressure regulator of this invention. (Example 1)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carbon dioxide high pressure vessel connection port 2 Carbon dioxide supply port 3 Pressure adjustment handle 4 Secondary spring 5 Secondary diaphragm 6 Pin 7 Valve 8 Valve seat 9 Secondary chamber 10 Primary chamber 11 Primary spring 21 Carbon dioxide high pressure vessel connection port 22 Carbon dioxide supply port 23 Adjustment handle 24 24 ′ Secondary spring 25 Secondary diaphragm 26 Diaphragm pin, relief port 27 Valve 28 Valve seat 29 Secondary chamber 30 Thermo wax pellet 31 Plunger 32 Atmospheric port 33 Adjustment screw

Claims (5)

A gas pressure regulator that directly attaches to a carbon dioxide high-pressure container and supplies carbon dioxide gas to the sparkling beverage container for pouring the sparkling beverage. Automatically adjusts the carbon dioxide supply pressure according to the ambient temperature around the gas pressure regulator. A carbon dioxide pressure regulator for beverages, characterized in that a temperature pressure regulation means is provided. 2. The carbon dioxide pressure regulator for beverage according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensitive part of the pressure regulator is a thermo wax pellet. The carbon dioxide pressure regulator for beverages according to claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide gas in the sparkling beverage container at the time of relief of the pressure regulator by the pressure regulating means is discharged to the atmosphere through the pressure regulator. 2. The carbon dioxide pressure regulator for beverages according to claim 1, wherein a handle is provided so that the amount of foam of the sparkling beverage to be dispensed can be manually adjusted according to preference. The beverage carbon dioxide pressure regulator according to claim 1, wherein the thermo-wax pellet position of the temperature-sensing part is adjustable in order to reduce the instrumental variation of the pressure regulator.

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