RU2691286C1 - Pet keg fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: manufacturing technology.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to sealing structures for containers made from polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter PET keg), installed on necks PET keg for dispensing, storage and transportation of beverages in PET keg under pressure. Fittings for PET keg comprises cover with central hole with connection means with neck keg, hollow rod, valve element, spring, annular nut, wherein the first end of the rod is open, and the second end is closed with the annular projection, in the forming surface of the rod there is at least one window, on the rod, with possibility of movement along it, a valve element is installed, central hole of which is provided with an inner annular projection configured to interact with the annular projection of the rod and an outer annular projection configured to interact with the cover annular protrusion, and between valve element and annular nut is installed spring, cover is made in the form of a fungus and is connected to the annular nut by a threaded connection for direct fitting installation on the neck keg, annular nut bottom has holes for gas passage, between collar and cylindrical surface of leg of fungus of cover there is an annular gasket for sealing connection of cover and neck PET keg, and valve element is configured to perform function of safety valve and operation indicator from polymer material with Shore hardness of 40–60 units and comprises cuts on outer surface to height, not exceeding annular shoulder, made on outer annular step.EFFECT: technical result consists in obtaining a reliable, efficient and safe in operation fitting for PET keg.7 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to closure structures for containers made of polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as PET keg) installed on PET keg necks for bottling, storing and transporting beverages in PET keg under pressure.

PET kegs with fittings mounted on them are used for storing and bottling beverages such as beer. These fittings have several channels that allow the passage of fluid and gas. When filled, when the PET keg is usually in an upside-down bottom state, the beverage is introduced through the first channel of the fitting, while the gas displaced from the keg leaves through the second channel. During bottling, gas (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) is introduced into the PET keg through the first channel in order to force the drink out of the PET keg through the second channel. The beverage is poured by means of a pouring head attached to the valve structure on the spring-loaded elements of the fitting, followed by opening the channels, one of which is intended for supplying inert gas under excessive pressure, and the second channel is for filling the beverage displaced by the gas. The sealing element of the fitting serves to ensure that inside the PET keg the created overpressure is preserved when the filling head is removed (dismantled). As a rule, in the case of beer loading and storage, the overpressure is approximately 2.5 - 3.0 bar. The indicated pressure is the operating pressure of the PET keg. At the same time, PET keg maintains a pressure of approximately 7-8 bar.

In case of violation of the technical conditions of production, storage and operation of PET kegs filled with a drink, it is possible to increase the overpressure in the PET keg above the maximum allowable, which ultimately can lead to rupture of the PET keg. This problem poses a serious threat to people in the immediate vicinity of the PET keg.

A plastic container is known, for example, PET keg for beverages with shut-off valves with a seal (patent for invention of the Russian Federation No. 2466085, convention priority date of October 29, 2008, IPC B67D 1/08), in which the shut-off valves and / or seal and, therefore, The keghead is structurally designed so that after the opening process, the subsequent automatic closing process takes place or is almost completely incomplete, since in this subsequent automatic closing process there remains a non-closing through hole. This through hole provides pressure relief inside the tank. Due to this, overpressure cannot be created inside the container and, thus, the potential danger of rupture of the container is eliminated. In this case, the stop valves contain a stop with a predetermined break point for a spring-loaded seal. The seal has a predetermined break point or is configured to be deformed during the closing process to form a through hole.

This type of valve protects PET keg from destruction not for the entire period of use, but only after the earlier opening process during the subsequent automatic closing process, which makes it impossible to continue using PET keg after opening, i.e. casting head can be worn only once. In case of removal of the filling head, PET keg loses tightness and is not suitable for further use, respectively, the entire remaining product becomes unusable. It should be noted that during the operation of PET keg it is often necessary to remove the filling head until the PET keg is completely empty, for example, in case of detection of a malfunction of the filling head or the filling system as a whole, or regular sanitary treatment of the filling system. It should also be noted that in the well-known solution the valve does not protect the PET keg from the product from destruction during storage and transportation.

Known valve for containers according to the patent of the Russian Federation for utility model No. 117417 (priority date 07.02.2012, IPC B67D1 / 12), comprising a body made in the form of a cup, a hollow rod installed in it, an annular gate, a spring and a lid with connection means for connecting with the neck of the container, while the first end of the stem is made open and connected to the bottom of the body, protruding beyond its limits, and the second end of the stem is closed and provided with a flange, in addition, at least one window is made in the forming surface of the rod, while on the stock, with the possibility of displacement along the stem, between the bottom of the housing and the flange of the stem, an annular shutter is installed, the central opening of which is provided with an annular ledge capable of interacting with the flange of the stem, and a spring is installed between the annular shutter and the bottom of the housing; at least one window, wherein the lid is made in the form of a sleeve, on the inner surface of which the connecting means are made, the channel of which is provided with an annular protrusion configured to interact I ring gate.

According to the well-known solution, the assembly is assembled in stages on the container neck, including placing the case in the container neck by means of a protrusion on the case and a ledge on the container neck and the subsequent installation of other elements, completed by installing the cover fixed with a threaded or locking connection to the outer surface of the neck. The known design of the valve does not solve the problem of eliminating the increased excess pressure arising in violation of the technical conditions of production, storage and operation of PET kegs filled with beverage.

Known valve design for patent No. 2640988, publ. 12.01.2018

The known valve construction comprises a lid with a central hole with a means for connecting with a keg mouth, a hollow rod, a valve element, a spring, an annular nut, wherein the first end of the stem is open and the second is closed with an annular protrusion; one window, on the rod with the ability to move along it is installed a valve element, the central hole of which is provided with an annular ledge, made with the possibility of interaction with the annular protrusion ka and annular protrusion on the outer surface, made with the possibility of interaction with the valve element, and between the valve element and the annular nut is installed a spring, while the cover is made in the form of a fungus and is connected to the annular nut by a threaded connection for direct installation of the valve structure on the keg mouth openings for the passage of gas are made in the bottom part of the ring nut; an annular gasket is placed between the rim and the cylindrical surface of the cap's foot; Inonii cap and the neck of the keg, and the valve element is configured to perform the functions of the safety valve and actuation indicator of a polymer material with a hardness of 40-60 Shore units. (adopted for the prototype)

The technical solution of the prototype has high reliability and tightness with the ability to perform the function of a safety valve when the excess pressure inside the PET keg exceeds the maximum allowable. The safety valve is triggered in the pressure range from 5.5 to 6 bar in 30-180 minutes. In some cases, with a rapid increase in pressure (1 bar for 5 minutes), the response is possible at 7-7.5 bar, which entails the risk of breaking the keg. For more efficient and reliable operation at a given maximum allowable pressure, it is required to reduce the valve response time to a value of 5 minutes or less.

The technical problem of the claimed invention is to create a universal technological fitting for PET keg, providing high reliability, tightness of the structure with the ability to perform the function of a safety valve when the excess pressure inside the PET kegs exceeds the maximum allowable.

Taking into account the fact that the destruction pressure of the PET keg is more than 7 bar, and the working pressure is up to 3.5 bar, it is necessary to ensure the valve opening pressure in the PET keg at a pressure of less than 7 bar, and the response time should be no more than 5 minutes.

The technical result consists in obtaining a reliable, adaptable and safe in operation fitting for PET keg.

The technical result is achieved in that the fitting for the PET keg contains a cap with a central hole with means for connecting with the neck of the keg, a hollow rod, a valve element, a spring, an annular nut, while the first end of the rod is open, and the second is closed with an annular protrusion forming the surface of the rod is made of at least one window, on the rod, with the ability to move along it is installed a valve element, the central hole of which is provided with an internal annular shoulder with a sealing bead, complete with the ability to interact with the annular protrusion of the stem and the outer annular ledge with sealing collar, designed to interact with the annular protrusion of the lid, and between the valve element and the ring nut a spring is installed, the lid is made in the form of a fungus and is connected to the ring nut by a threaded connection for direct installation fitting on the keg neck, in the bottom of the ring nut there are holes for the passage of gas, between the side and the cylindrical surface of the leg of the fungus kr The shims are placed on an annular gasket to seal the connection of the cover and neck of the PET keg, and the valve element is designed to perform the function of a safety valve and trigger indicator from a polymer material with a Shore hardness of 40-60 units, and contains cutouts on the outer end surface to a depth not reaching annular sealing bead, made on the outer annular ledge.

The invention is illustrated by drawings:

Figure 1 - fitting with locking connection in the section;

Figure 2 - fitting with a threaded connection in the section;

3. - General view of the valve element fitting;

Figure 4 is a view of the valve element from the top.

The fitting contains a cover 1, made in the form of a fungus with a central hole, a hollow rod 2 installed along it along the longitudinal axis, a valve element 3, a spring 4 and an annular nut 5 providing its preload (FIG. 1.2).

The lid 1 consists of a base 7, which can be made both in the form of a circle and in the form of a truncated equilateral triangle, the vertices of which are bounded by a circle, provided with a rim 8 and a cylindrical leg 9. The fitting can be connected to the neck of the PET keg as a lock (FIG. 1) and a threaded connection (figure 2). For locking engagement with the neck of the PET keg on the side 8, petals 11 are made. For threaded connection with the neck of the PET keg on the side 8, an internal thread 21 is performed. To ensure the technological twist on the keg mouths, the lid surface is provided with protrusions 12. The lid 1 is equipped with a central hole with an annular protrusion 6, interacting with the annular ledge 16 of the valve element 3. To ensure the tightness of the connection fitting with the neck of the PET keg between the cylindrical leg of the fungus 9 and The rim 8 of the lid 1 has an annular gasket 20 with a circular cross section.

The rod 2 is made hollow in the form of a tube. One end of the stem is made open and passes through the hole of the ring nut 5, protruding beyond its limits. The second end of the rod 2 is made closed and provided with a protrusion 13. In the upper part of the hollow rod 2 is placed at least one window 14.

On the stem 2, with the ability to move along it, a valve element 3 is installed with a central bore, provided with an annular ledge 15, which is adapted to interact with the protrusion 13 of the hollow rod 2. The valve element (Fig.3.4) is made in a stepped form and contains the lower part smaller diameter 3b and the upper part of a larger diameter 3a. On the outer surface of the upper part of the valve element in contact with the inner surface of the cover 1, notches 10 are made to a depth not further than the flange 22. The shoulder 22, which is an annular protrusion on the surface of the annular step 16 of the valve element 3, is designed to improve the sealing of the container in the closed position. The notches 10 can be made triangular, rectangular, semi-oval or semi-circular shape.

The compression of the valve element 3 to the annular protrusion 6 of the cover 1 is carried out by a spring 4 installed between the ring nut 5 and the valve element 3. To prevent the material of the valve element 3 from being pushed between the spring 4 and 4, a support ring 17 is installed.

The fastening ring nut 5 to the cover 1 is a threaded connection. The annular nut 5 is provided with centering tabs 18, as well as openings for the passage of liquid or gas.

The implementation of the invention

For the manufacture of the fitting, polymeric materials are used, in particular, the lid, the stem and the ring nut of the fitting are made of polyacetal, and the valve element 3, depending on the required response pressure, is made of polymeric materials with a Shore hardness of 40-60 units, made of: thermoplastic elastomers (TEC ), or rubber based on ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), or silicone.

The claimed fitting is installed on the neck 19 PET keg. In this case, the fastening can be carried out by a threaded joint using an internal thread 21 or by means of a locking fastening formed by the petals 11.

In the case of using a locking connection, the petals 11 enter into the groove between the annular protrusions on the outer surface of the neck of the PET keg.

In the case of using a threaded connection, fastening is carried out through the use of internal thread 21 on the side 8.

The liquid is poured into the PET keg, as well as the liquid is drained from it by means of a fitting mounted on the neck of the PET keg. To ensure the filling of the liquid to the open end of the hollow stem 2 is connected to the beverage dispensing tube.

Filling PET keg as follows:

The filling head of the filling line (not shown in FIG.) Has one or more protrusions that press on the surface of the spring-loaded valve element 3 that is open from the side of the cover 1. In this case, the first annular channel opens between the valve element 3 and the cap 9 fungus and the second channel formed by the internal channel of the hollow stem with an open window 14 on its forming surface. The filling of the PET keg with a drink is carried out through the second channel, while gas is expelled, which is in the PET keg through the first channel. After removing the pressure from the side of the casting head to the valve element 3, it returns to its original position, blocking the channels. Storage and transportation of PET keg filled with a drink is carried out with the valve element 3 closed.

The filling of the liquid from the PET keg is carried out in the opposite way: the projections of the filling head (not shown in the figures) press the surface of the spring-loaded valve element 3 that is open from the side of the cover 1. In this case, the first annular channel opens between the valve element 3 and the fungus cover 9 and the second a channel formed by at least one window 14 on the generatrix of the surface of the hollow rod 2. An inert gas is fed into the keg through the annular channel under excessive pressure, which displaces the gas bone located inside the keg through a tube attached thereto a hollow stem 2 and the window 14 in the envelope surface 2 of the hollow rod.

Under conditions of transportation, storage and operation, if excess overpressure in PET keg exceeds the maximum allowable amount, the valve element 3 is irretrievably squeezed out of the fitting above the upper end of cover 1 and the overpressure is relieved, thus preventing the PET keg (rupture) from breaking. The extrusion of the valve element occurs gradually, however, the presence of cuts on its surface contributes to the opening of the pressure relief channel even with a small degree of extrusion. Since the valve element can be squeezed out in some previously unknown sector of the fitting, to create at least one channel of bleeding, the number of cuts should be at least 8, optimally 16.

The extrusion of the valve element, which is observed visually, signals the consumer that the valve has been activated and that the beverage is unsuitable for further use. In addition, the extruded valve element does not allow you to attach the filling head to the fitting, preventing the possible use of PET keg with an unsuitable beverage.

Were carried out construction tests of the claimed invention:

Example 1

Mistake! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. P = 6 bar, the valve response time was 1.5 minutes at an ambient temperature of 24-25 ° C.

Example 2

Mistake! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. P = 6.5 bar, the valve response time was 3 minutes at an ambient temperature of 24-25 ° C.

Example 3

Mistake! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. Error! Invalid hyperlink object. P = 5 bar, the valve response time was 5 seconds at an ambient temperature of 24-25 ° C.

The advantages of the claimed invention are:

⎯ ensuring the safety of the storage and operation of PET keg by performing the function of a safety valve when the overpressure in the PET keg exceeds the maximum allowable and preventing the PET keg from breaking (breaking);

⎯ indication of valve actuation due to non-returnable extrusion of the valve element when the pressure in the PET keg is exceeded above the maximum allowable;

⎯ prevention of the use of unsuitable for consumption drink due to the impossibility of attaching the filling head to the fitting with the extruded valve;

⎯ versatility due to the possibility of using a fitting for different types of necks and dosing heads, by replacing only one element - the valve structure cover;

⎯ ensuring the reliability and tightness of the device through the use of a threaded connection of the lid and ring nut, sealing the neck of the PET keg at its end when connecting to the fitting, as well as performing a sealing bead on the surface of the valve element.

Claims (7)

1. Fitting for PET kega, containing a cover with a central hole with means for connecting with the neck of the keg, hollow rod, valve element, spring, ring nut, while the first end of the rod is open and the second is closed with an annular protrusion forming the surface of the rod at least one window is made, on the rod, with the possibility of moving along it, a valve element is installed, the central opening of which is provided with an internal annular shoulder made with the possibility of interaction with the annular protrusion stem and external annular ledge, made with the possibility of interaction with the annular protrusion of the lid, and between the valve element and the annular nut a spring is installed, the lid is made in the form of a fungus and is connected to the annular nut by a threaded connection for direct installation of the fitting on the keg mouth, at the bottom of the annular nut openings are made for the passage of gas, and between the rim and the cylindrical surface of the foot of the cap fungus there is an annular gasket to seal the connection between the cap and the neck to at the same time, the valve element is designed to perform the function of a safety valve and an actuation indicator made of a polymeric material with a Shore hardness of 40-60 units, characterized in that the valve element contains cuts on the outer surface to a height not exceeding the annular shoulder made on outer ring ledge. 2. The fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve element is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, or rubber based on ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, or silicone. 3. The fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer surface of the cover is made in the form of a circle or a truncated equilateral triangle, the peaks of which are bounded by a circle. 4. The fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for connecting the cover to the neck of the keg are threaded. 5. The fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for connecting the cover to the neck of the keg is made locking. 6. The fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the notches on the surface of the valve element are triangular, semi-oval or semi-circular in shape. 7. The fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of notches on the surface of the valve element is at least 8.

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