JPS63162468A - Stopper for pressured barrel or bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to closures, particularly for pressurized kegs and bottles.

Any foamy liquid, such as beer or carbonated soft drinks, is difficult to mix well without creating more foam than necessary. The pressure at which such liquids are maintained before combining is high.

Lager and beer kegs require fairly sophisticated closures to relieve pressure between the container and the closure. These closures limit the tendency of this liquid to form "foams". Although it is known to provide means for pouring liquids from small containers, these means often have difficulties in preventing the formation of bubbles. It is therefore a general object of this invention to relieve the pressure of a normally pressurized effervescent liquid in a keg or bottle, during which time it can be poured without creating excess foam, yet at a significant cost to the consumer. To provide a relatively simple stopper that can be used in barrels or bottles without spilling.

Additionally, customers often purchase large quantities of liquids without intending to consume them all at once. The stopper therefore needs to be able to maintain the remaining liquid in the container at the level of carbonation preferred by the customer, even though it has already been used and some of the contents of the container have been dispensed.

According to one configuration of the invention, the mounting plug consists of a chamber with an outlet at one end controlled by a valve member and an expansion chamber coaxially arranged and mounted at the other end of this chamber. In that case, the small end of the expansion chamber is connected towards a tube for insertion into the bottle or barrel, the arrangement being such that there is no discontinuity in the flow path from this tube to the outlet of the chamber. .

Such a stopper has two advantages: it reduces the appearance of bubbles. First, it creates a stagnation-free flow of liquid and suppresses the formation of bubbles in the blended liquid. Second, the small bore diameter tube creates only a small pressure difference when passing through the stopper itself, creating a restriction that minimizes gas release at this point. The expansion section between the tube and the stopper has a gradual change in cross-section to minimize the formation of air bubbles.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the stopper for attaching to a pressurized barrel or bottle consists of a body part having an outlet and a valve member controlling this outlet. In that case, this valve material cooperates with the body and forms at least one double seal on the valve seat when the valve material is in the position to close the tap.

The advantage of this arrangement is that the stopper reduces the pressure inside the container.

The valve material has a mainly cylindrical shape and is arranged mainly across the flow path. Double seals occur on each side of the flow path when the valve material is in the closed position.

Alternatively, the valve member can be disposed parallel to the flow path and a double seal is disposed on each side of the outlet when the valve member is in the closed position. This arrangement greatly facilitates the use of the stopper.

It is convenient to install a cylindrical tube of flexible material between the expansion chamber and the tube to limit the flow rate of the liquid when the vessel pressure is high, so that the flow rate remains approximately constant over a wide range of vessel pressures. Can be maintained.

The invention will now be explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The stopper shown in FIG. 1 has a body made of synthetic resin, for example polypropylene or high-density polyethylene, consisting of a threaded cap 2 and an outlet 4. With this threaded cap 2, the body fits into the corresponding threaded open end of a pressurized barrel or bottle. The outlet 4 is also connected to the chamber 6. The body forms a Ii-shaped wall 7 which extends above the outlet and retains the valve material against movement perpendicular to the axis of the chamber 6, controlling the flow of liquid through the outlet 4. The valve material can be made of a semi-flexible elastomer and is connected to a handle 10 that threads into the annular wall 7.

In the illustrated position, the valve is closed and two double seals are formed between the valve and the annular wall.

A first double seal is formed between the cylindrical surface (a) of the valve 8 which fits into the inner wall of the outlet 4 and between the same valve seat 14 of the valve which fits into the corresponding valve seat at the upper end of the outlet 4. (b). A second double seal is formed between the step 16 (a) of the upper end of the valve which fits into the tapered surface 18 of the upper cylindrical extension 7 of the chamber 6 and the second which fits into the inner wall of said cylindrical extension. It is formed between steps 17.

Another embodiment of the stopper is shown in FIG. In this case, like numbers mean like parts. The body extends from the chamber 6 towards the end 4 and forms an annular wall 25 transversely which retains the valve member against movement parallel to the shoulder of the chamber 6. In the closed position shown, two double seals are again formed, but in this embodiment one double seal is arranged on each side of the outlet 4.

The first two iR seals are valves that fit against the walls of the chamber 6) (
The cylindrical surface 12 of the valve is formed between the step 2 [i (a) and the valve seat 4 (b) which fits into the corresponding valve seat on the shoulder between the chamber 6 and the outlet 4. . A second double seal is formed on both sides of the outlet 4 between the step 16 (a) of the outer end of the valve that fits into the tapered surface 28 of the cylindrical extension 25 and on the inner wall of the cylindrical extension 25. It is formed between the fitting second stages 17 (b).

In both embodiments, the two double seals allow sufficient pressure to be maintained within the container fitted with the stopper.

The threaded fit between the handle IO and the cylindrical body 7 or 25 is formed by a large angle thread. This allows the handle to be turned and the valve to move quickly. Therefore, time can be saved when the valve closes the outlet.

It also provides a high pressure drop and reduces bubbles generated during opening and closing. Although alternative means can be provided to operate the valve, it is desirable to be able to open and close the outlet quickly at any time.

The axial movement of the valve shown in FIG. 2 has the advantage that the handle is spaced apart from the cap 2, making it easier to open and close the valve by rotating the handle. A lunch end may be attached to the cap 2 and the container 6 to prevent the stopper from being accidentally screwed onto the container.

A cylindrical chamber 6 passes through the threaded camp and forms an expansion chamber 2.
Connected to 0. The cross-section of this expansion chamber is at its maximum at this location exactly the same as the cross-section of the cylindrical chamber. The expansion chamber contracts continuously, reaching a minimum at the entry angle of 10' to 20° and then elongating to a constant diameter forming the capillary tube 22. This allows the capillary tube 24 to be attached internally or externally to the cylindrically tapered expansion chamber shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Again, the internal cross-section of the capillary corresponds to the cross-section of the expansion chamber where the liquid passes from the capillary to the expansion chamber.

Thus, snow on the liquid leading from the container to the outlet, -
A narrow flow path is created. The inner end of the capillary tube, the expansion chamber, and the main stopper body are all carefully controlled to create as few discontinuities as possible in the shape of the distributed liquid flow. Such discontinuities, ie, sharp edges or widenings in the cross-section, provide a source of bubbles, carbonation, and eventual foaminess.

The closure of this invention is effective when the barrel or bottle is immediately capped after being filled with liquid. It is therefore advantageous if, when the cap is viewed from the front in the direction of its screw axis, no protrusion of the closure protrudes from the outer periphery of the threaded cap used to attach the element to the neck of the container. This simplifies the capping device according to commonly practiced methods.

Advantageously, the capillary tube is arranged so that it extends to the bottom of the container in which the stopper is attached. This means that all the liquid in the container is available for dispensing even when the container is lying on its side, and also ensures that the valve is always filled with liquid even after the initial dispensing.

In other configurations, a portion of flexible tubing may be added to the capillary. This length of flexible tube, for example made of silicone rubber, is advantageously arranged between the expansion chamber and the capillary tube. The pressure of the liquid in the capillary tube decreases as the liquid passes through the tube, resulting in a distinct pressure differential between the lengths of the flexible tube. This reduces the length of the tube and limits the flow from the container towards the outlet. When the container is full and the internal pressure is maximum, the flow rate of liquid along the capillary tube will be high. However, the high pressure collapses the flexible tube inward, restricting flow. When the container is empty and the pressure, and therefore the flow rate, decreases, the pressure differential across the length of the tube decreases, causing the tube to widen and allow more liquid to pass through. In this way, the flow rate is maintained approximately constant over a wide pressure range of the vessel.

This stopper is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is effective in handling and maintaining sparkling liquids such as beer, lager, sparkling white wine and carbonated soda in good condition.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a stopper according to the invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another stopper according to the invention. Reference symbols in the figure: 2... Threaded cap, 4... Outlet, 6... Chamber, 10... Handle, 20... Expansion chamber, 22... Thin tube, 24... Capillary tube.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1) a body with an outlet and a valve member controlling the outlet, the valve member cooperating with the body with at least one valve member in a position where the valve member closes the tap; A stopper attached to a pressurized barrel or bottle in which a double seal is formed by the valve seat. 2) A small-bore body consisting of a chamber with an outlet at one end controlled by a valve member and an expansion chamber attached to and coaxially arranged with this chamber, the narrow end of which is inserted into a barrel or bottle. A stopper for attachment to a pressurized barrel or bottle, which is connected to a tube and whose arrangement is such that it does not create a discontinuity in the flow path from said tube to the chamber. 3) A tap according to claim 2, wherein the valve member cooperates with the body and at least one double seal is formed on the valve seat when the valve member is in the closing position of the tap. 4) The plug according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the second double sealing portion is formed at the other end of the valve member when the valve member is in the position where the outlet is closed. 5) The valve member is installed across the flow path, and when the valve member is in the closed position, the double sealing parts are installed on both sides of the flow path. The stopper described. 6) Claim in which the body extends from the annular wall of the outlet into the chamber, one seal being formed between the valve member and the outlet and the other seal being formed between the valve member and the annular wall. The plug according to item 5. 7) The plug according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the valve member is installed parallel to the flow path, and the double sealing portions are installed on both sides of the outlet when the valve member is in the closed position. 8) The body extends parallel to the chamber across the outlet and forms an annular wall with one double seal between the valve member and the chamber and the other double seal between the valve member and the chamber. 8. A plug according to claim 7, wherein the plug is formed between the valve member and the annular wall. 9) According to any one of claims 2 to 8, a cylindrical tube made of a flexible material is disposed between the expansion chamber and the capillary to control the flow rate when the liquid passes through. The stopper described. 10) A plug according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the cross section of the expansion chamber coincides with the cross section of the chamber at the mounting position. 11) A stopper according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the internal cross-section of the expansion chamber decreases continuously from the mounting position toward the chamber until it corresponds to the cross-section of the capillary tube. 12) The expansion chamber has an integrated cylindrical location to which the capillary can be attached either internally or externally, and this integrated cylindrical location has internal dimensions so as not to create discontinuities in the flow path from the capillary to the expansion chamber. The stopper according to any one of claims 2 to 11. 13) The stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the position of the valve member is adjusted by a handle to which the valve member is attached, and the handle is screwed to the main body.