RU2691300C1 - 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 a cover with a central opening with a connection means to the keg neck, a hollow rod, a valve element, a spring, a ring 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 the valve element and the annular nut a spring is installed, 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 fitting on the keg neck, in the bottom part of the ring nut there are 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 at least one blind bore with diameter of 3–5 mm, open on the lower side, and on the upper side limited by a thin web of thickness of 0.2–1.5 mm.EFFECT: technical result consists in obtaining a reliable, efficient and safe in operation fitting for PET keg.5 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to closure structures for containers made of polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as PET keg), installed on the necks of PET kegs 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, the overpressure in the PET keg may rise above the maximum allowable, which ultimately can lead to rupture of PET kegs. 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. In addition, beverage manufacturers often use safety caps worn on the fitting to prevent unauthorized use of the keg, or use shrink film on the fittings. In this case, such a lid or film may delay the extrusion of the cuff, which again entails the risk of rupture of the keg. For more efficient and reliable operation at a given maximum allowable pressure, including when the fitting is closed with a safety cap, 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 a possibility of moving along it a valve element is installed, the central opening of which is provided with an internal annular ledge made with the possibility Interactions with the annular protrusion of the stem and the external annular ledge, which is designed to interact with the annular protrusion of the lid, and a spring is installed between the valve element and the annular nut, the lid is made in the form of a fungus and is connected to the annular nut by a threaded connection for directly fitting the fitting to the keg neck, in the bottom part of the ring nut there are holes for the passage of gas, an annular gasket is placed between the rim and the cylindrical surface of the foot of the cap fungus 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 at least one non-through channel with a diameter of 3-5 mm open with on the lower side, and on the upper side limited by a thin jumper with a thickness of 0.2-1.5 mm.

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;

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 apex of which is limited 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 with 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 rod 2, with the ability to move along it, a valve element 3 is installed with a central bore, provided with an annular step 15, which is adapted to interact with the protrusion 13 of the hollow rod 2. The valve element has at least 1 non-through passage 10, open with On the lower side, and on the upper side, it is bounded by a thin web 22. The thin web is 0.2–1.5 mm thick. The jumper can be made of uneven thickness (within the specified interval).

The diameter of the channel is 3-5 mm (figure 3). The channel is predominantly cylindrical, but in particular cases of execution, the channel section shape may be an oval, a triangle or a rectangle.

Specific values of the thickness of the jumper and the diameter of the channel is determined in accordance with a given response pressure.

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. part of the channel does not overlap the support ring 17 (figure 3).

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, when excess overpressure in PET keg exceeds the maximum allowable, pressure builds up in the region of the channels 10 of the valve element, which leads to the extrusion of bridges 22 and their subsequent destruction during pressure build-up. The time interval from the start of extrusion to the moment of destruction of the jumper is less than 5 minutes. The resulting through channel ensures the release of overpressure from the keg, thus preventing the destruction (rupture) of the PET keg.

The swelling of the material of the valve element at the locations of the holes, which is observed visually, signals the consumer that the pressure in the keg is increasing and that the valve can be activated. When using safety caps, valve actuation also occurs, as these caps do not fit snugly to the surface of the fitting.

Were carried out construction tests of the claimed invention:

Example 1

The valve element was made of TEC with a Shore hardness of 60 ± 2 units. Channels with a diameter of 3 mm and jumpers with a thickness of 0.5 mm were made in the valve element. The design withstood a working pressure of up to 3.5 bar. When a pressure of P = 6 bar was established, the valve was triggered in 3 minutes at an ambient temperature of 25-26 ^o C.

Example 2

The valve element was made of TEC with a Shore hardness of 47 ± 2 units. Channels with a diameter of 3 mm and jumpers with a thickness of 0.5 mm were made in the valve element. The design withstood a working pressure of up to 2.5 bar. When a pressure of P = 5 bar was established, the valve was triggered in 30 seconds. at a temperature of 25-26 ^o C.

Example 3

The valve element was made of TEC with a Shore hardness of 57 ± 2 units. Channels with a diameter of 4 mm and jumpers with a thickness of 0.7 mm were made in the valve element. The design withstood a working pressure of up to 3.0 bar. When a pressure of P = 6 bar was established, the valve was triggered in 1 minute at a temperature of 25-26 ^o C.

Example 4

The valve element was made of TEC with a Shore hardness of 42 ± 2 units. Channels with a diameter of 3 mm and jumpers with a thickness of 1.5 mm were made in the valve element. The fitting was wearing a safety plastic cap. The design withstood a working pressure of up to 2.0 bar. When a pressure of P = 5 bar was established, the valve was triggered in 1 minute at a temperature of 25-26 ^o C.

Example 5

The valve element was made of TEC with a Shore hardness of 42 ± 2 units. Channels with a diameter of 5 mm and jumpers with a thickness of 1.6 mm were made in the valve element. The fitting was wearing a safety plastic cap. The design withstood a working pressure of up to 3.5 bar. When a pressure of P = 6 bar was established, the valve actuated in more than 5 minutes. at a temperature of 25-26 ^o C.

The jumper thickness of more than 1.5 mm is not effective, the response time becomes more than 5 minutes.

The hole with a diameter of more than 5 mm is not rational, because it does not correspond to the dimensions of the cuff. The hole diameter less than 3 mm increases the response time for more than 5 minutes. When using a jumper less than 0.2 mm, the working pressure becomes less than 1 bar, which is not suitable for many beverages, such as beer.

The advantages of the claimed invention are:

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

⎯ valve actuation indication due to the visually observed extrusion of the bridges of the valve element and the formation of through holes in the cuff when the pressure in the PET kege is higher than the set value;

⎯ design versatility due to the possibility of using safety caps on the fitting;

⎯ manufacturability of the design due to the possibility of separate assembling of fitting elements, installation of it in assembled form on PET keg and subsequent filling of PET keg on an automatic production line;

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

⎯ ensuring the reliability and tightness of the device due to the use of a threaded joint of the lid and ring nut, as well as sealing the neck of the PET keg at its end when connecting to the fitting.

Claims (5)

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; a valve element is mounted on the rod for movement along it, the central hole of which is provided with an internal annular ledge adapted to interact with the annular protrusion w current 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 mold and is connected to the annular nut by a threaded connection for directly fitting the fitting on the keg mouth 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 for sealing the lid and ke neck connection and, at the same time, the valve element is designed to perform the function of a safety valve and an actuation indicator from a polymeric material with a Shore hardness of 40-60 units, characterized in that the valve element contains at least one non-through channel with a diameter of 3-5 mm, open with on the lower side, and on the upper side limited by a thin jumper with a thickness of 0.2-1.5 mm. 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.

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