JP2010526263A - Container with CO2 compressed gas source and overpressure protection means - Google Patents

Abstract

A container that can be filled with liquid, closed tightly and from which liquid can be removed has an insert that can be attached in a sealed manner to the opening of the container. Insert, CO has ₂ high-pressure cartridge (14), a pressure control valve for discharging CO ₂ from the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge, a control element that is accessible from the outside. Activation of this control element opens a hole in the CO ₂ high pressure cartridge (14). The overpressure protection means opens a flow path from the top space of the container through the insert to the atmosphere during an undesired increase in pressure in the container. The overpressure protection means ruptures after the internal pressure exceeds a value that causes the container to bulge visually, but before the internal pressure reaches a value that causes the container to crack.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a container that can be filled with a liquid, is closed compactly, and can take out the liquid. Examples of such containers are barrels, mini-casks (party barrels) or cans. These containers are filled with a CO ₂ containing liquid, in particular a beverage, under pressure. The invention particularly relates to a party barrel for beer.

A container according to Patent Document 1 is a prior art is attached to the opening of the container in a sealed state, a pressure control valve for discharging the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge, the CO ₂ from the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge, the outer And an insert having a control element accessible from the top. Under control of the control element, a hole is made in the CO ₂ high pressure cartridge.

A commercially available piercable CO ₂ cartridge having the appropriate size for the associated container contains about 16 g of CO ₂ under a pressure of about 60 Bar. The pressure control valve of Patent Document 1 causes a reduction and accurate control of the pressure received by the CO ₂ discharged into the upper space of the vessel. The pressure is typically between 0.7 and 1.3 Bar. The pressure is the same as or slightly higher than the partial pressure of CO ₂ dissolved in the liquid.

The present invention deals with an unlikely failure in which the pressure control valve described in Patent Document 1 does not operate frequently for some reason. An uncontrolled pressure increase in the container may occur slowly or rapidly. Several experiments show that traditional party keg for beer can withstand internal pressures up to about 6.5 Bar. From about 4 Bar, the party barrel bursts. That is, the upper and / or lower lid of the party barrel expands. In the case of about 6.5 Bar, it is most often due to a tear in the joint seam between the party barrel jacket and the top or bottom lid. The remaining CO ₂ leaks. The party barrel, if possible, becomes a powerful fountain of beer and spills beer. By this, people don't see dangerous eyes, but there can be damage to things. Troublesome cleanup work occurs.

From patent document 2, a container having a pressure system built into the container is known. The pressure system comprises a CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge, a pressure control valve for discharging CO ₂ from the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge, a control element accessible from the outside, by operation of the control element, CO ₂ A hole is made in the high pressure cartridge. The pressure system has an overpressure protection means that opens a flow path from the container headspace through the pressure system to the atmosphere during an undesired increase in pressure in the container. .

  The overpressure protecting means described in Patent Document 2 has an overpressure that has a valve member in the form of an overpressure pipe portion, and closes or opens a complex flow path through a plurality of openings, holes, and ducts. It consists of a valve. The structural complexity and cost of such overpressure protection means is high.

EP 1 642 861 A1 EP 1 688 813 A1

  The object of the present invention is to provide an overpressure protection means that has a simple structure and is functionally reliable, and in the event of a failure, transmits to the customer that something is wrong with the pressure system in the container. It is to be provided in the above type of container.

  The overpressure protection means that solves this problem bursts after the internal pressure exceeds a value that causes the container to bulge visually, but before the internal pressure reaches a value that causes the container to crack. The ruptured part of the overpressure protection means is a diaphragm provided on the wall of the housing, which housing of the insert extends into the container.

After the overpressure protection means ruptures, the remaining CO ₂ is released from the upper space of the vessel through a specific flow path. In this case, there is no liquid or bubble spillage or no noticeable spillage. In any case, if this causes damage, the damage remains within limits. When the container visibly inflates, it sends to the customer that something is wrong with the pressure system in the container.

In a preferred embodiment, the flow path, for release of CO _2, extends through the unsealed area of the control element. Here, it is possible to take advantage of the existing non-sealed area of the control element provided in the insert described in US Pat.

In a preferred embodiment, overpressure protection means is not actuated before drilling into CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge. Overpressure protection means is actuated by boring into the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge. This ensures that the overpressure protection means functions only in actual use, i.e. only in the event of a pressure control valve failure.

  In a preferred embodiment, the overpressure protection means ruptures when the internal pressure is 4.0 Bar to 9.0 Bar, preferably 4.5 Bar to 7.0 Bar, more preferably 5.0 to 6.0 Bar.

In a preferred embodiment, the diaphragm, prior to drilling into CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge is supported in the control element. Upon drilling into the CO ₂ high pressure cartridge, the diaphragm is released from the control element.

  In a preferred embodiment, the diaphragm is embedded in the insert. This protects the diaphragm against damage.

  In a preferred embodiment, the diaphragm is made of an elastic plastic. As the internal pressure rises beyond control, the diaphragm experiences increased elastic deformation and eventually ruptures.

It shows the CO ₂ compressed gas source of longitudinal section. Fig. 2 shows the elastic plastic component of detail II of Fig. 1;

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. CO ₂ compressed gas source is formed as an insert which is closed tight through the spout of the container adapted to the container and the spout. The container is filled under pressure with a liquid containing CO ₂ , usually through a spout located in the middle of the container's top lid. The spout is then closed by the insert.

An integral discharge cock can be used to remove the liquid. The discharge cock is provided on the side wall of the container at the height of the lower lid of the container. The liquid flows out until a vacuum is reached in the upper space of the container, above the liquid level in the upper space of the container. The vacuum accurately adjusted in order to maintain the controlled conditions, to operate the CO ₂ compressed gas source. The CO ₂ compressed gas source supplies CO ₂ to the upper space of the vessel at a pressure corresponding to or slightly above the partial pressure of CO ₂ dissolved in the liquid. This ensures that the container is always emptied. Air does not reach the upper space of the container. The liquid CO ₂ content is kept constant.

  The insert has an elongated shape, and most of the insert is configured symmetrically in the radial direction with respect to the central axis. The insert is mainly made of plastic. For manufacturing, a two-component plastic injection molding technique is conceivable.

  When the insert is in the installed position and the spout of the container is closed, the insert housing 10 extends into the container.

The housing 10 has a chamber 12 at its inner end for receiving the CO ₂ high pressure cartridge 14 by press fitting. The head of the cartridge 14 is directed towards the spout. At the end face of the head, the cartridge can be pierced by a piercing needle.

  The housing 10 is attached on the outside to the flanged edge (Boerdelrand) of the spout by a collar 16 surrounding it. The collar 16 is molded with a seal 18 by which the insert seals the spout.

A rotary knob 20 inserted into the housing 10 protrudes outward from the collar 16. When the rotary knob is actuated, a hole is made in the CO ₂ cartridge 14. The rotary knob 20 has a steep male screw 22. With the external thread, the rotary knob is screwed into a complementary internal thread of the housing 10.

In order to make a hole in the CO ₂ cartridge 14, a punching needle 24 is used. The piercing needle is structurally coupled to the valve member of the pressure control valve. The valve member is attached to the shaft center of the housing 10 together with the elastic diaphragm 26. The tip of the punching needle 24 is slightly spaced from the end face of the CO ₂ cartridge 14.

The valve member is lifted from the valve seat 28 of the pressure control valve while the puncturing needle 24 is axially adjusted to the CO ₂ cartridge 14. The valve seat 28 is made of an elastic sealing material and is molded in the housing.

  The punching needle 24 is acted on by a slider 30 positioned between the rotary knob 20 and the punching needle 24. The slider 30 is guided in the housing 10 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. During operation, the rotary knob 20 moves forward against the slider 30. At this time, the slider is moved in the axial direction.

  A compression spring 32 is sandwiched between the rotary knob 20 and the slider 30. The compression spring 32 applies a load to the slider 30 in advance against the punching needle 24.

  The diaphragm 26 partitions the working space with respect to the downstream side of the valve seat 28 of the pressure control valve. The working space has a lateral outlet opening. An elastic seal ring 34 is provided immediately before the outlet opening. The seal ring 34 has a check valve function. The seal ring prevents liquid from reaching the insert.

In order to puncture the CO ₂ cartridge 14, the rotary knob 20 is rotated by about 90 °. The slider 30 is moved inward in the axial direction as the screw of the rotary knob 20 advances. The puncture needle 24 is entrained inward in the axial direction under the elastic deformation of the diaphragm 26. The valve member is lifted from the valve seat 28. After drilling, the very small valve space in front of the head of the CO ₂ cartridge 14 is filled with CO ₂ under high pressure.

After the rotary knob 20 rotates completely 90 ° or beyond, the slider 30 springs back axially against the force of the compression spring 32. For this purpose, the rotary knob is actuated by a piercing needle 24. The piercing needle is returned in the axial direction by the elastic restoration of the diaphragm 26. The compression spring 32 is compressed. The pressure control valve is closed and a small amount of CO ₂ under high pressure is put into the work space. The pressure of CO ₂ present in the diaphragm contributes to the rebound of the slider 30 that is actuated by the piercing needle.

Further opening and closing of the pressure control valve is determined by the balance of forces in the diaphragm 26. Contributing to this balance is the elastic properties of the diaphragm 26, the spring constant of the compression spring 32, and the pressure of CO _{2 in} the working space. The spring constant of the compression spring 32 is decisive for the pressure of the discharged CO ₂ .

Normally, the user activates the CO ₂ compressed gas source when the internal pressure in the container has dropped before the jet of liquid flowing out through the discharge cock becomes too weak. However, the CO ₂ compressed gas source already can be easily operated in advance, when the pressure in the vessel is still high, particularly when the user first attempts to operate the container. Appropriate distribution of CO ₂ into the upper space of the container does not occur as long as high pressure is applied to the seal ring 34 in front of the outlet opening.

The CO ₂ compressed gas source has overpressure protection means. The overpressure protection means, and failure pressure control valve, CO ₂ is under high pressure uncontrollably, when reaching the upper space of the container, to operate.

  As an overpressure protection means, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is injection-molded on the wall portion of the housing 10 just before the spout. The portion of the thermoplastic elastomer that has the least material thickness is the diaphragm 36 embedded in the wall.

Diaphragm 36 is flush with the outer jacket of rotating knob 20 that is not yet actuated to puncture the CO ₂ cartridge 14. For this purpose, the diaphragm is mounted on the rotary knob 20 between two adjacent threads of the male thread 22.

When the rotary knob 20 is rotated 90 ° to make a hole in the CO ₂ cartridge 14, the window provided on the jacket of the rotary knob 20 faces the diaphragm 36. When the internal pressure becomes uncontrollably high, the diaphragm 36 can elastically expand into this window and rupture at the least thickness of the material at about 5.7 bar. This opens the channel from the top space of the container to the jacket of the rotary knob 20. This flow path is not necessarily leaking to the collar 16. Therefore, CO ₂ can flow out to the atmosphere from the upper space of the container.

10 housing 12 chamber 14 CO ₂ compressed gas source 16 collar 18 sealing 20 rotates knob 22 external thread 28 valve seat 24 piercing needle 26 diaphragm 30 slider 32 compression screw 34 seal ring 36 Diaphragm

Claims (7)

A container that can be filled with liquid, closed tightly and from which liquid can be withdrawn, having an insert and overpressure protection means, the insert being sealed to the opening of the container , it can be attached, and CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge (14) has a pressure control valve for discharging CO ₂ from the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge, a control element accessible from the outside, of the control element Upon actuation, the CO ₂ high pressure cartridge (14) can be pierced, and the overpressure protection means is inserted from the top space of the container into the insert during an undesired increase in pressure in the container. In a container with an open channel that leads to the atmosphere through
The overpressure protection means is configured to rupture after the internal pressure exceeds a value such that the container visually bulges, but before the internal pressure reaches a value sufficient to crack the container, and the overpressure. Container, characterized in that the ruptured part of the protective means is a diaphragm (36) provided on the wall of the housing (10), the housing of the insert extending into the container.   The container according to claim 1, wherein the flow path extends through an unsealed area of the control element. The overpressure protection means, the CO ₂ does not operate before the hole is drilled into the high-pressure cartridge (14), characterized in that it is operable by drilling into the CO ₂ high-pressure cartridge (14) The container according to claim 1 or 2.   The overpressure protection means ruptures when the internal pressure is 4.0 to 9.0 Bar, preferably 4.5 to 7.0 Bar, more preferably 5.0 to 6.0 Bar. The container according to any one of 1 to 3. The diaphragm is supported on the control element prior to drilling into the CO ₂ high pressure cartridge (14) and released from the control element upon drilling into the CO ₂ high pressure cartridge (14). The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:   6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diaphragm (36) is embedded in the insert.   A container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diaphragm (36) is made of an elastic plastic.

Images