SK17099A3 - Apparatus for enriching a liquid with gas - Google Patents

Abstract

A drink is carbonated with carbon dioxide in a bottle (4) with a gas inlet (2, 12) from a gas cartridge (6). The gas supply is regulated by a valve (40; 40') to limit the gas pressure in the bottle to a pre-determined level. The regulator valve (40; 40') has a pressure gauge (60, 64) and a manual pressure adjuster (54, 72). The regulator valve has a gas inlet (44, 48a) and a pressure relief outlet (70).

Description

Gas-enrichment apparatus

Technical field

The invention relates to a device for the enrichment of liquids, in particular beverages, which are filled in liquid tanks, in particular bottles, with gases, in particular CO2, with first connection means for a gas source, in particular for at least one gas-containing gas bomb with at least one gas filling element connectable to the first connection means for filling the gas into the liquid contained in the liquid tank, and with a control device that limits the pressure in the liquid tank that is generated when filling the gas to the desired value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices of this type are known and are used in multifaceted forms, in particular as so-called drinking water taps.

EP 0 472 995 B1 discloses a tapping device for drinking water in which the outer shape of the inserted bottle is detected using the base surface and, when detecting bottle-shaped irregularities, the pressure that is generated internally is automatically controlled and limited. If the cylinder shell curves out, the pressure is automatically reduced accordingly. In addition, if the bottle is still very thin, the pressure automatically increases even further until the setpoint is reached. When these irregularities occur, the bottle occupies a position which differs from the normalized position relative to the base surface. The filling head comprises a valve whose piston abuts the control surface of the stationary cam. Since the filling head is rigidly connected to the bottle, the valve attached thereto, and with it the piston thereof, moves the bottle relative to the home position, so that the valve piston assumes different positions according to the cam, thereby controlling the valve accordingly.

In practice, however, it has been shown that the use of such flexible-skin bottles does not lead to the desired success. Despite the fact that such bottles must be made of a very valuable and thus expensive plastic material, the deformations in the casing, which are produced due to the material's compliance, are relatively small and, in addition, partially unrepeatable, resulting in a relatively inaccurate device. regulatory function. Furthermore, this known device can only be used for bottles of one designated characteristic size and with a determined compliance of the sheaths, which makes the known device very inefficient.

It is therefore an object of the invention to simplify the operation of the control valve device in the devices of the type described in the introduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This task is accomplished in a device of the type described at the outset in that the control device comprises a means for detecting the gas pressure and a setting means for manually adjusting the desired value.

In the device according to the invention, the pressure of the gas is not determined, as in the prior art, merely by the transformation of the bottle, but directly (in the liquid tank or in the corresponding inlet). Both measures according to the invention ensure both high control accuracy of the control valve device and simplification of operation. In addition, the desired value can be set manually in the device according to the invention, which is just advantageous for various applications. use bottles of varying size and deformation behavior, in particular plain glass bottles are also usable.

The control device is preferably a control valve device and comprises a gas inlet and a pressurized outlet which opens and allows the gas to escape when the pressure in the liquid tank reaches the desired value.

One existing, particularly advantageous further embodiment of this embodiment is characterized in that the control valve device has a first channel leading from the inlet to the overpressure outlet and a closing part which is movably mounted between a closing position in which it closes the first channel and an open position in which the first channel opens, and is resiliently supported in the closing position, the switch corresponding to the desired value. This further embodiment offers a particularly simple but no less reliable design of the control valve device. One such control valve device should preferably comprise a spring which abuts one end on the closure member and at its other end is in mechanical communication with the conditioning means.

The adjusting means may advantageously comprise an adjusting element whose position is variable so that the effective length of the spring between its ends is adjustable.

The adjusting element may be in the form of a movably mounted slider or a rotatably mounted rotary body whose circumference is in mechanical communication with the other end of the spring, the adjusting element being slidably engaged with the other end of the spring or the coupling piece, which is arranged between them.

In order to efficiently change the length of the spring, the adjusting element should be mounted eccentrically and in the form of a circle.

One presently particularly advantageous further embodiment is characterized in that the control valve device comprises a first body in which a first duct is formed and a cylindrical hollow space into which the first duct opens and a second body comprising a hollow cylindrical section which is in the cylindrical hollow the bore formed in the hollow cylindrical section and the engagement closure member and the second channel which leads to the overpressure outlet and are engaged with the adjusting element, and it is expedient if the bore of the second body is formed in the borehole the shoulder on which the spring is supported at its other end. When the adjusting element is designed as a rotatably mounted rotary body, the second body is expediently in sliding engagement with the circumference of the adjusting element.

In a further, now highly preferred embodiment of the invention, second connection means are provided which connect the inlet of the control valve device to the liquid tank. This embodiment has the advantage that the control valve device detects the gas pressure directly in the liquid tank and, when the set pressure for reducing the gas pressure is exceeded, discharges unnecessary gas directly from the liquid tank.

Alternatively, however, an embodiment is also possible in which the control valve device has an additional outlet and is inserted through its inlet into the first connection means. In this embodiment, the control valve device operates in the gas supply between the gas source and the gas filling element. In one further embodiment of this embodiment, the control valve device comprises a third channel through which the gas is guided from the gas source to the feeder and from which the first channel branches, and it is expedient if the third channel is also formed in the first body.

The above-described control device can be used, for example, to limit the gas pressure in the liquid tank by discharging excess gas to a set value.

However, one embodiment is also advantageous in which the control device causes the closing of the first connection means and thus immediately prevents further gas supply when the pressure in the liquid tank reaches the desired value.

However, the two operating methods can also be combined with each other to provide a shut-off device which is driven from the overpressure outlet of the control valve device and closes the first connection means. In this now preferred embodiment, excess gas is skilfully used as a propellant for the closure device, thereby further increasing the convenience of operating the device. Typically, a first connection means is provided with a connection valve device comprising a control element movable between a closed position in which the connection valve device is closed and an open position in which the connection valve device is open, the control element being connectable to closing device. The actuating element of this connecting valve device should preferably be resiliently biased to its closed position, so that the actuating element must be appropriately pressed only for opening, whereas for closing it must simply be released or released.

One presently very advantageous further development of this embodiment is characterized in that the closing device comprises a piston / cylinder arrangement, the cylinder of which is connected to an overpressure outlet, and whose piston movable between the rest position and the working position is connectable to the actuating member of the connecting valve device. when the piston is loaded with gas from the overpressure outlet, the actuator moves to its closed position. In this embodiment, the closure device is pneumatic, a very simple realization of the closure device can be achieved. The piston should preferably be resiliently biased to its rest position, in which the effective cylinder volume is smallest, so that movement to the rest position does not need any additional drive, but is achieved when the pressure in the cylinder drops due to the action of the spring.

Suitably, a first connecting device should be provided, which would connect the piston of the closing device to the actuating element of the connecting valve device. This first coupling device should comprise a control button that operates the user of the device to inject gas into the filling head. To this end, the first coupling device may comprise a first pivot lever which can be brought into contact with the actuating element of the connecting valve device.

The first coupling device may be releasably engaged with the plunger of the closure device and thereby moved the actuator of the connection valve device to its open position when the piston is in its crank position. This creates an effective mechanical connection between the piston and the first coupling device. As a result, the first coupling device, and in particular the manually operable control button, preferably arranged thereon, remains clearly in the first position as long as the gas is directed to the gas filling element and thus to the liquid tank connected thereto. If, after reaching the prescribed pressure, the control valve device opens its overpressure outlet, the gas flows into the cylinder of the shut-off device, thereby moving the piston from its rest position to its working position, and possibly taking the first coupling device with it. This again results in the actuating member of the connecting valve device moving back from its open position to its closed position, thereby closing the connecting valve device and thus the first connecting means and thus already into the gas filling element and the liquid tank, which is connected to it, no gas flows.

Alternatively, a locking element may be provided which causes the actuating element of the connecting valve device to be locked in its open position · and the piston of the closure device can be engaged with the locking element thereby

Ί in such a way that the locking of the control element is released again by moving the piston to its working position. Accordingly, in this further embodiment, the actuating member of the connecting valve device is held in its open position, but not by mechanical engagement with the piston, but by engagement of the outer detent element, and the piston on its way from rest to working position controls the detent element releases the actuating element of the connecting valve device and thereby releases the locking.

The locking element should be releasably engaged with the first coupling device when the first coupling device is in an operating condition in which the actuating member of the connecting valve device occupies its open position and the piston of the closing device should engage the locking element in this manner that the engagement of the locking element with the first coupling device is released when the piston is moved to its working position. For this purpose, the locking element is preferably movable between a non-latching rest position and a locking position and the first coupling device is operable to a first operating state when closing the connecting valve device and to a second operating state when the connecting valve device opens. means for engaging the arresting element in its arresting position when the first coupling device is in its second operating condition. In this way, the arresting is very simple to construct and, in addition, the arresting element can be resiliently biased to its arresting position.

The actuation of the locking element by the piston moving to its working position to release the locking can be effected, for example, by providing a cam surface on the locking element that runs inclined relative to its direction of movement so that the piston moves into the working position the locking element moves to its rest position.

For safety reasons, a venting valve is typically connected to the gas filling element, which includes an actuator that must be manually operated by the user of the device and is movable between a closed position in which the vent valve is closed and an open position in which the vent valve is open. For this case, a second coupling device is provided which is connectable to the vent valve control element on the one hand and to the shut-off device on the other in that the shut-off device closes the first coupling means when the vent valve control element is moved to its open position. In this way, it is effectively ensured that the gas source no longer delivers additional gas when the vent valve is already open and thus no further gas is lost.

Preferably, the second coupling device should be brought into a first and a second operating state, in particular a first and a second operating position, wherein in the first operating state of the second coupling device the bleed valve control element remains in its closed position and moves the air vent element to its open position. In this case, the second coupling device should be coupled to the first coupling device in such a way that the first coupling device is engageable with the piston of the closure device in the first operating state of the second coupling device and is out of engagement with the piston in the second operating state of the second coupling device. This ensures that the connection valve device and hence the gas source are closed when the bleed valve actuator is brought into its open position and the bleed valve is opened.

The second coupling device is expediently designed as a second rocker lever.

One further, at the same time particularly advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the second coupling device can be brought into the first and second operating states, preferably in the first and second operating positions, and connected to the detent element in such a way that in the first operating state of the second coupling device the bleed valve control element remains in its closed position, and when the bleed valve control element moves to its open position, the second coupling device is brought into a second operating state, while the locking element prevents the locking element of the coupling valve device from locking.

It is expedient if the locking element is part of a second coupling device, for which the locking element is preferably formed in one piece with the second coupling device, the first working position of the second coupling device coinciding or coinciding with the locking position of the locking element and the second working position of the second coupling devices with rest position of the locking element. Therefore, in this further embodiment, the movement sequences and the function of the arresting element and the second coupling device are mutually combined in an artful manner, leading not only to a simple but also space-saving construction.

For safety reasons, the gas filling element and thus the liquid tank connected thereto usually sit in a house which can be closed by a door. For this purpose, the control element of the venting valve is connected to the door and opens it during operation, so that only one common handle is required for venting and opening, thus providing high operating comfort.

In order to reach the non-pressurized cylinder of the shut-off device during venting and to bring it to its resting position for a new gas filling process, the cylinder should be connectable via a connecting line to the vent valve inlet. A permanent connection is preferred, which in fact is conditioned by a non-return valve which closes at a pressure drop from the connecting line to the cylinder. Thus, it remains ensured that the piston is driven only by the gas exiting the overpressure outlet of the control valve device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These include:

Figure 1 - a schematic representation of a first embodiment for the enrichment of liquids with carbon dioxide;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view and a partial sectional view of a control valve used in the first embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 - a second embodiment of a device for enriching liquids with carbonic acid in a first schematic representation;

4 - an enlarged view and a partial sectional view of a control valve used in the second embodiment according to FIG. 3;

Figure 5 - another schematic representation of a second embodiment in a first operating state;

Figure 6 - the same view as Figure 5, which is shown ^- unit is operating in the second state;

Figure 1 - the same view as Figure 5, with the device shown in the third operating state;

Figure 8 - a schematic representation of an embodiment modified from the second embodiment in the first operating state, Figure 9 - the same view as Figure 8, with the device shown in the second operating state;

English Translation:

the same view as Figure 8, the device shown is in an operating state;

the same view as Figure 8, the device shown being in an operational condition, and

the same view as figure 8, the device shown is in an operating state.

taking in the third taking in the fourth taking in the fifth

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1 and 2 schematically illustrate a first preferred embodiment of a device for enriching liquids with gases. As a rule, these liquids are beverages which are filled in liquid tanks, in particular in bottles, where CO2 or carbonic acid is generally used as the gas. Therefore, such a device is generally part of the beading source of drinking water.

Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a filling head 2 of one such beading drinking water source. On the underside of the filling bottle 2, a bottle can be hung behind the head. In Figure 1, a schematically clear bottle 4 is attached to the field head 2. For the sake of clarity, the housing for receiving the bottle 4 is omitted.

1 also shows a schematic of the head of the gas bomb 6 from which carbonic acid is made available. In the head of the gas cylinder 6, a manual valve 8 with a control button 10 is provided. When the control button 10 is depressed, gas escapes from the gas cylinder 6 into the first gas pipe 12 connected thereto and branching into the second gas pipe 14 and the third gas pipe. a gas line 12 connected thereto and which is divided into two partial gas lines 12a and 12b. The first gas line 12 is divided into a second gas line 14 and a third gas line 16. The second gas line 14 leads to a first connection 18 in the filling head.

This first connection 18 opens into a cavity formed in the filling head 2, which is not shown in these drawings and in which the closing piston is movably and tightly sealed, during which it closes the bottle head 4 against the environment. To press the shut-off piston against the bottle, a second gas line 14 and a first connection 18 inject gas under pressure into the cavity. The third gas line 16 leads to the second

connection 20 in a bottle 2. This other connection 20 is a in connection with injection nozzle arranged v plniacej bottle 2 which is not is a shown in the figures and it is sealedly led by pressure piston and is immersed in liquid in bottle 4 mounted to the filling head 2. Than is a see further from Figure 1, is on filling head 2

designed safety valve 22 which automatically releases gas from the filling head 2 at an overpressure, depending on the setting on the work side.

Finally, on the filling head 2 a third connection 24 is provided, to which a pipe 26 is connected which leads to a vent valve 28 which is operated manually by means of the control knob 30. This vent valve 28 is actuated after the carbonic acid is injected into the liquid in the bottle. 4 to create a pressure equilibrium before the bottle 4 can be removed from the filling head 2 again.

For safety reasons, the device usually has a cupboard into which a filled bottle is placed and which is closed by a door. This cabinet is not shown in the figures. Therefore, the housing also includes at least an injection nozzle and that portion of the filling head 2 that typically forms the top of the housing. In order to increase comfort, the control knob 30 for the vent valve 28 can be connected to the door so that the door automatically opens when the control knob 30 is pressed or after it is pressed, i.e. during the venting operation.

As can be further seen from Figure 1, a control valve 40 is provided in the first gas line 12, which divides the first gas line 12 into a first partial gas line 12a and a second partial gas line 12b.

FIG. 2 shows the construction of this control valve 40 in detail.

The control valve 40 is characterized by a stationary first valve body 42 which is provided with a first connection 44 for the first partial gas line 12a. by which gas flows from the gas bomb 6 to the control valve 40 and the second connection 46 for the second partial gas line 12b. In the interior of the first valve body 42, two bores 48a and 48b are formed, which run at right angles to one another and connected to one another, which together form a first channel. The first bore 48a is connected to the first port 44 and the second bore 48b to the second port 46 so that the channels formed together by the two bores 48a and 48b are a passageway that connects the two ports 44 and 46 and thus the partial gas conduits 12a. and 12b, and through which the gas is passed from the first partial gas line 12a to the second partial gas line 12b.

The first valve body 42 has a hollow cylindrical protrusion 42a. The second channel 52 opens into this cylindrical recess and branches off from the first channel formed by the two bores 48a and 48b and is arranged coaxially with the cylindrical recess 50.

The control valve 40 comprises a movable second valve body 54 which is provided with a hollow cylindrical section 54a. Accordingly, the outer diameter of the hollow cylindrical section 54a of the second valve body 54 corresponds to the inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical projection 42a of the first valve body 42. At the periphery of the hollow cylindrical section 54a the second valve body 54 is provided with a sealing ring 56 slidingly in contact with the cylindrical inner surface of the hollow cylindrical protrusion 42a of the first valve body 42, thereby forming a seal of the hollow space formed between the hollow cylindrical portion 54a of the second valve body 54 and the hollow cylindrical protrusion 42a of the first valve body 42.

The hollow cylindrical section 54a of the second valve body 54 is also provided with a cylindrical bore 58 which is coaxial with the cylindrical recess 50, the second channel 52 and the hollow cylindrical section 54a and is open to the first valve body 42. In this bore 58 the cylindrical closure piece 60 which has a cylindrical and coaxial recess 62 on its side facing away from the first valve body 42. The helical spring 64 bears on one end on the closure member 60 in its recess 62 and on its other end on the other valve body 54 in the recess 66 extending on the other. end of bore 58.

The helical spring 64 is biased to urge the closure member 60 against the first valve body 42. In this case, the closure member 60 is formed such that it is made of solid material on its side facing the first valve body 42, so that it is closed in the illustrated embodiment. 2, the closure member 60 closes the second channel 52.

At the opposite end of the bore 58, a third passage 68 connects to the recess 66 within the second valve body 54, which leads to the outlet 70, which is an overpressure outlet.

In the position shown in Figure 2, the spring 64 can no longer expand in the direction of the stationary first valve body 42 because the closure member 60 is in contact with it and further movement is no longer possible. Since the helical spring 64, as mentioned above, is preloaded, it would therefore seek to release at its other end, which would result in the movement of the second valve body 54 away from the first valve body 42. However, this movement is limited by the disc eccentric 72 which is eccentric pivotally mounted on a fixed axis 74 and to which circumference 73 a second valve body 54 abuts with its free end 54b as can be seen from Figure 2. By rotating the eccentric disc 72 the position of the movable second valve body 54 changes relative to the stationary first valve body 42 and thereby effective. the length of the helical spring 64 so that the bias of the helical spring 64 can be adjusted in this way.

The operation of the first embodiment explained above will be described.

After attaching the filled bottle 4 to the filling head 2, the manual valve 8 is opened by pressing the control knob 10 so that the CO2 flows from the gas bomb 6 through the manual valve 8 to the first gas line 12 and the control valve 40 therein, and also the second and third gas line 14, 16, so that CO 2 from the gas bomb 6 enters the filling head 2 via both ports 18 and 20. In this case, the gas enters from the first partial gas line 12a via the first connection 44 to the control valve 40. there flows from the first bore 48a to the second bore. 48b and the control valve 40 exits through the second connection 46 to the second partial gas line 12b.

the second passage 52 in the control valve 40 is also filled with gas. During this process, pressure is slowly generated throughout the system until the bias created by the helical spring 64 and the closure member 60, which is nevertheless loaded by the gas pressure through the second passage 52, are overcome. away from the first valve body 42. This opens the shut-off valve 60 so that the gas escapes from the second channel 52 into the hollow cylindrical recess 50 of the hollow cylindrical protrusion 42a of the first valve body 42 to flow around the shut-off member 60 and In order to allow the gas to flow around the closure member 60, it is provided on its surface with corresponding longitudinal grooves which are not individually detectable in Figure 2.

If no CO2 is flowing from the gas bomb 6, the manual valve 8 has so far closed, the pressure in the entire system also drops until the preload created by the helical spring 64 is overcome and the closure member is closed again.

By varying the effective length of the helical spring 64 and thus its bias by means of the eccentric disc 72, the desired gas pressure is set at which to open the closure member 60 and thus the control valve 40.

Figures 3 to 7 show schematically a second preferred embodiment of a gas-enrichment device, wherein Figures 3 and 4 show views comparable to Figures 1 and 2, while Figures 5 to 7 also show the details of the shut-off automatics shown here additionally designed. ^-

As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 3 and 4 with Figures 1 and 2, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the modified connection of the control valve 40 'to the filling head 2 and in the modified construction of the control valve 40'. In the following, these differences will be explained in detail, while the same features are not to be mentioned in more detail, with the same reference numerals being used for the same parts.

As can be seen from Figure 3, in this second embodiment, the gas bomb 6 is connected to the filling head 2 with only one single gas line, namely through the first gas line.

12. The control valve 40 'of this embodiment no longer sits in the gas line 12, but is connected via a second gas line 14' to the first connection in the filling head 2 completely separate from the first gas line 12. Accordingly, there is also no connection between the second gas line 14 'and the first gas line 12'.

As in the first embodiment, the first connection 18 communicates with the hollow space available in the filling head 2 and not shown in the figures in which the closing piston is movably and sealed, not shown in the figures, which closes the bottle head 4 during operation. compared to the surroundings. Furthermore, in this embodiment also, the second connection 20 is in connection with the injection nozzle arranged in the filling head 2, which is not shown in the drawings and which is sealed by the pressure piston and is immersed in the liquid in the bottle 4 mounted to the filling head 2. of the first embodiment, however, in this embodiment, the hollow space, which includes the shut-off piston, communicates with the bottle 4, namely through the connecting channels not shown in the figures.

As can be seen from a comparison of Figure 4 with Figure 2, a second bore 48b and a second port 46 are missing in the control valve 40 '. Accordingly, the control valve 40' is connected by the first port 44 only to the second gas line 14 ', see also Figure 3. This creates the remaining first bore 48a. the second duct 52, the bore 58 and the third duct 68 the connection between the remaining first connection 44 and the overpressure outlet 70, the connection being described in conjunction with the first embodiment closable by the closure member 60 and biasing the helical spring 64 to load them by rotating the eccentric disc 72.

Figures 5 to 7 also show the arrangement described earlier with reference to Figures 3 and 4 with a filling head 2, a gas bomb 6, a manual valve 8, first and second gas lines 12 and 14 ', second and third connections 20 and 24, vent pipe 26, vent valve 28 and control valve 40 '. In Figures 5 to 7, the control knobs 10 and 30 are again shown, also shown in Figure 3, with the control knob 10 being assigned to the manual valve 8 and the control knob 30 to the vent valve 28.

Further, from Figures 5 to 7, the piston / cylinder arrangement 80 whose cylinder 82 communicates via line 72 with the overpressure outlet 70 of the control valve 40 'can be recognized. The piston 84 is movably mounted within the cylinder 82, which is biased by the spring 86 to the rest position shown in Figure 5. In this rest position, the piston 84 abuts the projection 85 formed according to Figure 5 in the middle at the lower end of the cavity 83 of the cylinder. the volume of the cavity 83 where the pipe 72 coming from the overflow outlet 70 of the control valve 40 'is connected is only approximately annular in shape. On the side of the piston 84 of the spring 86, which is shown in FIG. 5, a piston rod 87, which is sealed, in accordance with FIG. 5, is fixed with the upper end of the cylinder 82 outwardly and at its free end 87a has a stop groove 88 extending transversely to its longitudinal extension. and hence the direction of movement, which has a cross-sectional shape of a part of a circle.

On the underside of the control knob 10 of the hand valve 8 there is a web 90 protruding as shown in Figure 5, the free end of which comprises a stopping means 92. This stopping means 92 has a greater thickness than the rest of the web and has a cross-sectional The control knob 10 is arranged such that the web 90 is directed by its stop means 92 toward the free end of the piston rod 87 so that the stop means 92 can be engaged with the stop groove 88.

As can further be seen from Figure 5, the control knob 10 is mounted on the first rocker lever 94, which extends over the rocker valve actuator 8a. In this case, the rocker lever 94 is mounted on the hinge 92 and arranged such that the rocker actuator 8a it lies between the control knob 10 and the joint 95.

By means of the control element 8a, the manual valve 8 can be opened and closed. The actuator 8a is resiliently biased to a position in which the hand valve 8 is closed. This is the closed position of the control element 8a in which it is shown in figure 5, with further details of the hand valve 8 not shown in figures 5 to 7. In this closed position, the actuating element 8a protrudes most from the manual valve 8. By pushing against the spring bias, the actuator 8a moves to its open position, thereby opening the manual valve 8, and protrudes out of the manual valve 8 only slightly. The actuating element 8a of the hand valve 8 is actuated by the first pivot lever 94 in that it pivots into contact with the actuating element 8a.

It can further be seen from Figure 5 that the proposed second pivoting lever 96, which is pivotally mounted on the hinge 97 in the region of its middle section and is thus formed as a two-arm lever. Accordingly, the second pivot lever 96 has a first lever arm 96a and an opposed second lever arm 96b. The first lever arm 96a extends over the actuator element 28a of the bleed valve 28 and is provided with the actuator knob 30 of the bleeder valve 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator knob 30 sits at the free end of the first lever arm 96a.

The actuator 28a acts in the same way as the actuator 8a. thus, it is resiliently biased to a closed position in which the bleed valve 28a is closed and, against a spring bias, moves to an open position in which the bleed valve 28 is open under pressure. The control element 28a is shown in its closed position in Figure 5, with no further details of the bleed valve 28 shown in Figures 5 to 7. The movement of the actuator 28a from the closed position to the open position is effected by corresponding pivoting of the second pivot lever 96 by bringing its first lever arm 96a into contact with the actuator 28a.

The opposite second lever arm 96b of the second pivot lever 96 deflects at its end the stop means 92 formed by the free end of the web 90 located on the underside of the control knob 10. The end of the second lever arm 96b is designed so that the second pivot lever 96 is freely movable 87. and opposite to the web 90, however, until the free end or the bracket means 92 of the web 90 can be brought in when the second rocker lever 96 is pivoted in its direction towards the actuator element 28a of the air valve 28 by its first lever arm 96a. for example, it is also conceivable that the second lever arm 96b in a similar arrangement deflects the control knob W or the first pivot lever 94 and can be brought into contact therewith.

A casing door can be associated with the second pivot lever 96 at the same time to open automatically at the same time when actuating the actuator 28a by the first lever arm 96a and thus when opening the bleeder valve 28.

As finally shown in Figure 5, the hollow space 83 of the cylinder 82 of the piston / cylinder arrangement 80 communicates with the check valve 98, which again communicates via the connection line 100 with the conduit 26 leading from the filling head 2 to the vent valve 28. As schematically indicated 5, the check valve 98 is configured to close at the pressure drop from the connecting line 100 to the hollow space 83 of the cylinder 82 and open at a pressure drop from the hollow space of the cylinder 82 to the connecting line 100.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described below.

Figure 5 shows the machine standstill before CO2 flows from the gas bomb 6 into the filling head 2. Here, the actuators 8a and 28a of the hand valve 8 and the vent valve 28 are always in their resiliently biased closed position. Both the manual valve 8 and the vent valve 28 are thus always closed. The first rocker lever 94 carrying the control knob 10 is in its rest position and adjoins, albeit mostly freely, to the actuator element 8a of the hand valve 8. The second rocker lever 96 is also in its rest position and lies with its first lever arm 96a on the actuator element 28a, although mostly freely. The entire system is substantially depressurized, and so the check valve 98 is more or less open. With its second lever arm 96b, the second pivot lever 96 lies loosely on the web 90, whose impact means 92 is released by the piston rod 87. The piston 84 of the piston / cylinder arrangement 80 is in its resiliently biased resting position so that the effective volume of the interior 83 of the cylinder 82 is the smallest.

After attaching the pre-filled bottle to the filling head 2, the first pivot lever 94 is tilted accordingly by pressing the control knob 10, thereby engaging the control element 8a of the manual valve 8 and bringing it to the open position, the manual valve 8 opens and the CO2 flow In addition, by pushing the control knob 10, a web 90 is seated, which sits on the underside of the control knob 10 by entering its stop means 92 into the stop groove 88 into a resting engagement with the piston rod 87. During this movement, in addition, the stopper means 92 carries with it the second lever arm 96b of the second rocker lever 96 that is adjacent thereto, so that the second rocker arm 96 tilts accordingly and its first lever arm 96a moves away from the actuator element 28a of the bleeder valve 28. This operating state is shown in Figure 6.

Now, through the open hand valve 8, CO 2 flows from the gas cylinder 6 through the first gas line 12 to the second connection 20 on the filling head 2, enters the filling head 2, flows through the injection nozzle and finally exits from it into the liquid in the bottle. Thus, pressure is slowly generated first in the bottle, but also in the filling head 2 and in the remaining system. Since the hollow space, not shown in the figures, in which the closure piston is connected to the bottle via the passageways, pressure is also created in this hollow space, whereby the closure piston is pressed into the sealing fit to the bottle head, which is also evident from drawings. Since the control valve 40 'is connected to this hollow space via the second gas line 14' and the first connection 18, pressure is also generated in this second gas line 14 'up to the control valve 40' and thus in the second duct 52 of the control valve 40 ' (FIG. 4) until the bias formed in the control valve 40 'by the helical spring 64 is overcome and the closure member 60 is opened. Further, the control valve 40' of this second embodiment operates in the same manner as the control valve 40 of the first embodiment.

After the closure member 60 'has been opened in the control valve 40', the remaining CO2 emerges from the overpressure outlet 70 of the control valve 40 'and flows into the cylinder 82 of the piston / cylinder arrangement 80. Where in the interior 83 forms a corresponding pressure, which ^- ensures that the piston 84 saturating CO2 respectively moved from its rest position shown in Figures 5 and 5 into position working. Thus, the piston rod 87 extends and, due to the engaging engagement thereof, the web 90 and hence the control knob 10 and the first rocker lever 94 are respectively carried. This leads to the rocking movement of the first rocker lever 94 away from the hand valve 8 so that its actuator is released. the element 8a from the first pivot lever 94 and returns to its closed position due to the spring bias. Since the pressure in the cylinder 82 is lower than in the filling head 2 and hence in the pipe 26 connected thereto, it leads to a vent valve 28 and a pipe 100 therefrom until the CO2 in the cylinder 82 can move during movement the non-return valve 98 is now closed. This operating state is shown in Figure 7. In this way, the manual valve 8 closes automatically.

Before the bottle can be removed from the filling head 2 again, the entire system must be vented. For this purpose, the bleed valve 28 must be actuated accordingly. This is accomplished by depressing the control knob 30. Thus, the second pivoting lever 96 is tilted so that its first lever arm 96a reaches the actuator element 28a of the air valve 28 and carries it with it to its open position to open the air valve 28. This the pivoting movement further results in the opposing second lever arm 96b of the second pivoting lever 96 reaching the web 90 and moving it from the piston rod 87, thereby releasing the striker means 92 of the web 90 from the piston rod 88 groove 88. Thus at the same time, the first pivot lever 94 moves to its rest position released from the piston 84 as shown in Figure 5.

At this point, it should be noted that the bleed valve 28 can be opened at any time, i.e. in each operating state, via the control knob 30 and the second pivot lever 96, which is important for safety reasons. As can be seen from Figures 5 to 7, the device is designed so that the corresponding tilting of the second rocker lever 96 by depressing the control knob 30 to open the bleed valve 28 results in the pivotal movement of the first rocker lever 96b In this way, it is ensured that when the vent valve 28 is opened, the manual valve 8 is automatically closed in order to interrupt further gas supply from the gas bomb 8.

Figures 8 to 12 illustrate a shut-off automaton modified from the arrangement shown in Figures 5 to 7. The differences of this modified embodiment will be explained in detail thereafter, with no identical reference to the same features and the same reference numerals being used for the same parts. .

As can be seen from Figure 8, the piston rod 87 'in this modified embodiment has a tapered free end 87a ¹ . Also, the web 90 'disposed on the underside of the connecting knob 10 and projecting downwardly has a conical end 90a'. Further, the web 90 'is provided, shortly above its conical end 90a', with a stop opening 102 which is arranged transversely to its longitudinal axis. In addition, as seen from Figure 8, the web 90 'is movably mounted in the direction of its longitudinal axis, while the first pivot lever 94 abuts only the underside of the control knob 10. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to attach the control knob 10 to the web 90'. to the first pivot lever 94 in a manner similar to the arrangement shown in Figures 5 to 7, in which case generally the webs 90 'must be designed such that the web 90' can perform a slightly curved movement caused by the folding motion of the first pivot lever 96.

Further provided is a slider 104 which is substantially disposed transverse to the direction of movement of the piston 84 and the web 90 ', in both directions. On the underside of Figure 8 of the right section, the slider 104 has a first control surface 104a inclined both to the direction of movement of the slider 104 and to the direction of movement 84 and hence of the piston rod 87 'forming the occupancy and adjacent the free end of the piston rod 87a'. 87 ', so that the end 87a of ^one of the piston rod 87 can be brought into abutment on the first control surface 104a. To this end, the first control surface 104 is inclined so that it lies approximately parallel to the contour of the conical free end 87a 'of the piston rod 87'. which runs in the longitudinal direction.

On the first control surface 104a. which forms the offset, the first free end 104b follows. 8, which is closed by the second control surface 104c. which is inclined to both the direction of movement of the slider 104 and the direction of movement of the web 90 '. The first free end 104b of the slider 104 is disposed adjacent to the web 90 'in such a way that it can be brought into abutment on the web 90', namely its conical free end 90a ¹ . with the rest of the section. To this end, the second control surface 104c is inclined so that it is arranged approximately parallel to the contour of the tapered free end 90a 'of the web 90, which extends in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the free end 140b of the slider 104 can fit into the pinhole opening 102, which is sized to accommodate the free end 104b of the slider 104. The first free end 104b of the slider 104 thus serves as a pinch member for insertion into the pinhole opening 102 of the web 90 '.

As already mentioned, the slide 104 is mounted movably substantially transversely to the directions of movement of the piston rod 87 'and the web 90'. In this case, the slider 104 is movable between a first operating position oriented according to Figures 8 to 12 on the right and a second operating position oriented according to Figures 8 to 12 on the left. By means of the spring 106, the pusher 104 is resiliently biased to its first operating position, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

In this case, the arrangement of the slider 104 with its first and second control surfaces 104a and 104c and also the piston rod 87 'and the web 90' with their conically formed free ends 87a 'and 90a' converging to the tip are formed in such a way that the free end 87a ' the rod 87 'abuts the first control surface 104 and the free end 90a' of the web 90 'abuts the second control surface 10c. when the piston 84 is in its rest position, the control knob 10 with the web 90 'and the first rocker lever 94 in the closed position and the slider 104 due to the bias created by the spring 106 in its first operating position. This condition is shown in Figure 8.

In addition, the first and second control surfaces 104a and 104c are respectively. their inclination to the slider 104 is arranged such that when the piston 84 is moved from its rest position to its working position and / or when the control knob 10 and thus the web 90 'are moved. 8, which is attached thereto, from the closed position to the open position, the slider 104 moves from its first working position against the biasing of the spring 104, to the left, according to Figure 8, to its second working position. Thus, the free ends 87a 'and 90a' of the piston rod 87 'and the webs 90' have a cam function, and the first and second slide surfaces 104a and 104c of the slider 104 have a cam position function to control the movement of the slider 104.

The control knob 30 for the breather valve 28 is seated on pin 108 in this modified embodiment, as can be seen from Figure 8. Pin 108 is movably mounted in an axial direction, the direction of movement of which is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of piston 84 and piston. the rods 87 'and 11a with the direction of movement of the control knob 10 and the web 90'. As can further be seen from Figure 8, the pin 108 has a first larger diameter section 108a that is upper according to Figure 8 and on which the control knob 30 sits and a second smaller diameter section 108b that is lower in Figure 108 and ends adjacent the actuator element 28a of the bleeder valve 28 and can be brought into abutment thereon. A conically tapered connecting section 108c is formed between the two sections 108a and 108b. This connecting section 108c is disposed in the region of the second free end 104d of the slider 104, which is opposite the first free end 104b. This second free end 104d of the slider 104 is hollow or open and, in the illustrated embodiment, has a third control surface 104e on its inside. which is inclined relative to the direction of movement of the slider 104 and in the direction of movement of the pin 108.

The pin 108 extends in a non-contacting second free end 104d of the slider 104 and is movable between a closed position in which its second section 108b is not in contact with or only loosely on the vent valve control element 28a and thus the vent valve 28 is closed and open. in which the second portion 108b of the pin 108 is in abutment of the actuating element 28a, while pushing it into its open position so that the air vent 28 is open. In this case, the arrangement of the pin 108 and the slider 104 is configured such that the conical connecting section 108c of the pin 108 is adjacent the inclined or lateral surface 108d to the third control surface 104e of the slider 104 when the pin 108 is with the knob 30 in its closed position and the slider 104 in its position. working position. This condition is also shown in Figure 8. In order to achieve a flat surface, the side surface 108d of the conical connecting portion 108c of the pin 108 extends approximately parallel to the third control surface 104e of the slider 104. Furthermore, the third control surface 104e of the slider 104 and the side surface 108d so that the movement of the pin 108 from its closed position to its open position, i. e. 8, downward movement of the slider 104 from its first working position against biasing of the spring 106 to its second working position and vice versa, when the slider 104 moves from its second working position to its first working position, the pin 108 moves from its open position to its closed position. Accordingly, the conical connecting portion 108c of the pin 108 acts as a cam and the third control surface 104e of the slider 104 acts as a cam surface.

The operation of this modified embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 8 to 12, with essentially only the differences from the arrangement of Figures 5 to 7 being explained in detail.

Figure 8 shows the device in an unpressurized state before filling CO2 into the filling head 2 and the bottle to be attached thereto. In this depressurized state, which may also be referred to as the rest state, the piston 84 of the piston / cylinder arrangement is biased by the spring 86 to its rest position. The manual valve 8 is closed as its actuator 8a is resiliently biased to its closed position. Thus, the first pivot lever 94 and hence the control knob 10 is in the closed position. The bleeder valve 28 is also closed in that its operating element is also biased to its closed position. The pusher 104 is biased by the spring 106 to its first operating position in which it rests with its first control surface 104a to the conical end 87a 'of the piston rod 87'. In this position, the web 90 ', to which the control knob 10 is attached, with its conical free end 90a' adjoins the second control surface 104c of the slider 104, so that the web 90 'with the control knob 10 is held in their closed position. Furthermore, in this state, the pin 108, with its conical connecting portion 108c, is in abutment with the third control surface 104e of the slider 104, whereby the pin 108 and hence the control knob 30 attached thereto is held in the closed stream so that the actuator 28a is unrestrictedly biased to its closed position and thus the vent valve 28 is closed.

By pressing the control knob 10, the first pivot lever 94 is tilted accordingly, which carries the control valve 8a of the hand valve 8 from its closed position to its open position, thereby opening the hand valve 8. Because the spring preloader 104 is in its first working position. With the free end 104b in sliding abutment on the web 90 ', when the control knob 10 is pressed and thereby the web 90' is moved from its closed to its open position, the slider 104 has ejected a short piece against the spring pressure 106 from its first operating position. until it is inserted with its free end 104b into the pinhole opening 102 when the control knob 10 and hence the web 90 '. on it has reached its open position. If the slider 104 is inserted into the punch opening 102 of the web 90 'by its first free end 104b, it takes on its first working position again due to the biasing action of the spring 106. Then, the slide 104 is again with its first control surface 104a abutting the free end 87a 'of the piston rod 87' and its third control surface 104e abutting the connecting section 108d of the pin 108. This condition is shown in Figure 9.

In this case, the arrangement of the actuating element 8a, the first pivot lever 94 and the punch opening 102 is effected in such a way that, when the actuating knob 10 is pressed, the actuating element 8a of the manual valve 8 reaches the open position only shortly before or at the same time. of the opening 102 of the web 90 ', and so the manual valve 8 opens. This prevents the manual valve 8 from opening too early when the control knob 10 is depressed and the automatic closing mechanism cannot be switched off very soon.

Because, when the hand valve 8 is opened, pressure is generated in the entire system and hence in the connecting pipe 100; the non-return valve 98 closes, as can also be seen from Figure 9.

Now that, after releasing the control valve 40 ', the piston 84 of the piston / cylinder arrangement is moved from its rest position to its working, i.e. 8 to 12 of the upper position, the free end 87a 'of the piston rod 87' produces a corresponding pressure on the first control surface 104a of the slider 104. thereby moving the slider 104 from its first working position according to Figures 8 and 9 against the spring 106 into its second working position. position. This releases its first free end 104b from the punch opening 102 of the web 90 '. thereby releasing the latch between the slider 104 and the web 90 '. As a result, the web 90 'with the control knob 10 and hence the first pivoting lever 94 and the control element 8a of the hand valve 8 are freely movable, so that the control element 8a immediately leaves the open position and again assumes the closed position due to the internal spring bias. This closes the manual valve 8 again. Since during its movement from the open position to the closed position, the actuating element 8a exerts pressure on the pivoting lever 94 adjacent to it, which lever carries with it and tilts accordingly and carries on its side the control knob 10 and web 90 1 ', which is hung on it, again in the closed position, so that the free end 90a ^{1 of the} web 90' lies again at the height of the first free end 104b of the slider 104 and thus adjacent the second control surface 104c. Further, in the second operating position of the slide 104, the pin 108 is released by its coupling section 108c from the third control surface 104e, which is then, as before, in the closed position. This condition is shown in Figure 10.

To open the bleed valve 28, the control knob 30 is depressed accordingly so that the pin 108 attached thereto moves from its closed position, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, upper, to its open position, as shown in FIGS. its second, according to FIGS. 8 to 12, the lower section 108b engages the breather valve control element 28a and carries it to the open position for opening the breather valve. At the same time, the connecting portion 108c of the pin 108, with its outer surface 108d, returns to the third control surface 104e of the slider 104. This condition is shown in Figure 11.

Since venting through the vent valve 28 results in the entire system including the interior 83 of the cylinder 82 of the piston / cylinder arrangement 80 being depressurized, the spring 86 moves the piston 84 from its operating position back to its rest position. This releases the piston rod 87 'with its free end 87a ¹ from the first control surface 104a of the slider 104, so that the slider 104 is held in its second working position only by the pin 108 pushed into the open position. This condition is shown in Figure 12.

Now that the control knob 30 for the bleeder valve 28 is released, the pusher 104 returns from its second operating position to its first operating position due to the biasing of the spring 106. As a result, the pusher 104 returns to the free ends 87a 'and 90a' of the piston rod 87 'and the web 90' in the manner described above. At the same time, by the interplay of the side surface 108d and the third control surface 104d of the slide 104, the pin 108 is carried to the closed position and held there. In addition, due to the internal spring bias, the control element 28a is provided. which is no longer actually loaded by the pin 108, returns from its open position to its closed position, thereby closing the vent valve 28. Now, the device resumes its initial state as shown in Figure 8, so that it is ready to fill a new bottle.

At this point, it is pointed out that the bleed valve 28 can be opened in any operating condition and, on the basis of the arrangement described above, the movement of the pin 108 is released by pressing the control knob 30 due to the interaction of the tapered connecting section 108c with the third slider control surface 104e. 104 forcibly results in a constant movement of the slider 104 from its first working position to its second working position, so that the stopper 104 of the web 90 'is not possible. since in the second operating position of the slider 104, its first free end 104b is located outside the pin 90 '.

Finally, it should be noted that the closing automat shown in Figures 5 to 7 and 8 to 12 can also find use in the first embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

Claims (42)

PATENT CLAIMS Apparatus for enriching liquids, in particular beverages, which are filled in liquid tanks (4), in particular bottles, with gases, in particular CO ₂ , with first connection means (12) for a gas source (6), in particular for at least one gas a gas-containing bomb having at least one filling element (2) connectable to the first attachment means (12) for filling gas into the liquid contained in the liquid tank (4) and with a regulating device (40, 40 ') limiting the pressure generated during filling The control device (40, 40 ') comprises means (60, 64) for determining the gas pressure and an adjusting means (54, 72) for manually adjusting the set point. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (40, 40 ') is a control valve device and comprises a gas inlet (44, 48a) and a pressurized outlet (70) that opens and allows the gas to escape when the pressure in the liquid tank (4) reaches the desired value. Device according to 2, characterized in that the control valve device (40, 40 ') comprises a first channel (52) leading from the inlet (44, 48a) to the overpressure outlet (70) and a closing part (60) which is movably movable. located between the closing position in which it closes the first channel (52) and the open position in which it opens the first channel (52) and is resiliently biased to the closing position (64), the biasing corresponding to the desired value. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the control valve device (40, 40 ') comprises a spring (64) which bears at one end on the closure part (60) and is mechanically connected to its other end with adjusting means (54, 72). Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the adjusting means (54, 72) comprise an adjusting element (72) whose position is variable so that the effective length of the spring (64) is adjustable between its ends. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the adjusting element is designed as a movably mounted slider. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the adjusting element (72) is designed as a rotatably mounted rotary body, whose circumference (73) being in mechanical connection with the other end of the spring (64). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the adjusting element (72) is in its periphery (73) in sliding contact with the other end of the spring (64) or the connecting piece (54) disposed therebetween. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the adjusting element (72) is eccentrically mounted. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjusting element (72) is circular. Device according to at least one of Claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the control valve device (40, 40 ') comprises a first body (42) in which the first channel (52) and the cylindrical hollow space (50) are formed, into which the first channel (52) and the second body (54) have an opening having a hollow cylindrical section (54a) through which it is movably guided in the cylindrical hollow space (50) of the first body (42, 42 '), a bore (58) formed in the cylindrical section (50) and comprising a closure member (60) and a second channel (68) leading to an overpressure outlet (70) and engaging the adjusting member (72). Device according to claims 7 and 11, characterized in that the second body (54) is located. in sliding contact with the circumference of the adjusting element (72). Apparatus according to claim 4 as well as claims 11 or 12, characterized in that a shoulder is provided in the bore (58) of the hollow cylindrical section (54a) of the second body (54) on which the spring (64) is supported at its other end. Device according to at least one of claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the inlet (44, 48a) of the control valve device (40 ') is connected to the liquid tank (4) by second connection means (13, 18). Device according to at least one of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that the control valve device (40) additionally has an outlet (46, 48b) and has its inlet (44, 48a) and its outlet (46, 48b) ". into the first connection means (12). Apparatus according to claims 3 and 15, characterized in that the control valve device (40) comprises a third channel (48a, 48b) through which gas is led from the gas source (6) to the gas filling element (2) and from which the first channel (52). Device according to claims 11 and 16, characterized in that the third channel (48a, 48b) is also formed in the first body (42). Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the control device (40 ') causes the first connection means to close when the pressure of the liquid tank reaches the desired value. Apparatus according to claims 2 and 18, characterized in that the closing means (80, 94) which are driven from the overpressure outlet (70) of the control valve device (40, 40 ') close the first connection means (12). A device according to claim 19, wherein a first valve connection device (8) is inserted into the first connection means (12), comprising a control element (8a) movable between a closed position in which the connection valve device (8) is closed and an open position in which the connecting valve device (8) is open, characterized in that the actuator (8a) is connectable to the closing device (80, 94). Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the actuating element (8a) of the connecting valve device (8) is resiliently biased to its closed position. ^_ Apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the closing device comprises a piston / cylinder arrangement (80) whose cylinder (82) is connected to the overpressure outlet (70) and whose piston (84) is movable between a rest position and a working position. it is operable to the actuating element (8a) of the connection valve device (8) in such a way that when the piston (84) is loaded with gas from the overpressure outlet (70), the opening element (8a) moves to its closed position. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the piston inlet (84) is resiliently biased to its rest position in which the effective volume (83) of the cylinder (82) is the smallest. Apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the first coupling device (90, 92, 94, 92 ', 94), which is a closing device piston (84) connectable to a control element (8a) of the connecting valve device (8). Device according to claim 24, characterized in that the first coupling device is provided with a control knob (10). Apparatus according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the first coupling device comprises a first pivot lever (94) which can engage an operating element (8a) of the connecting valve device (8). Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the first coupling device (90, 92, 94) is capable of releasably engaging the piston (84) of the closing device and is a control element (8a) of the connecting valve device (90). 8) movable to its open position when the piston (84) is in its rest position. Device according to at least one of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that a locking element (104b) is provided which causes the actuating element (8a) of the connecting valve device (8) to be locked in its open position, and the piston of the closing device engaging the locking member (104b) in such a way that the locking of the actuating member (8a) is released by moving the piston (84) to its operating position. Apparatus according to claims 24 to 28, characterized in that the locking element (104b) can be releasably engaged with the first coupling device (92 ', 94) when the first coupling device is in an operative state in which the control member ( 8a) of the connecting valve device (8) occupies its open position, and the closing device piston (84) can be engaged with the arresting element (104b) such that when the piston (84) is moved to its working position the engagement of the arresting element (104b) with the first coupling device (92 ', 94). Apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that the locking element (104b) is movable between a rest position and a locking position and the first coupling device (92 * .94) can be brought into a first operating state of the closing connecting connection valve device (8) and a second operating state opening the connecting valve device (8), comprising a stop means (102) in which the locking element (104b) engages in its locking position when the first coupling device is in its second operating state. Device according to claim 30, characterized in that the locking element (104b) is resiliently biased to its locking position (106). Apparatus according to claim 30 or 31, characterized in that a cam surface (104a) is formed on the locking element (104b), inclined to its direction of movement, in such a way that the piston (84) moves into a working position when moving (87a *) until it engages the cam surface (104a) and thereby moves the locking element (104b) to its rest position. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 19 to 32, wherein a venting valve (28) is connected to the gas filling element (2), comprising a control element (28a) operated manually by a user of the apparatus movable between a closed position in which the bleed valve (28) is closed and in an open position in which the bleed valve (28) is open, characterized in that the second coupling device (96, 104) is connectable to the bleed valve control element (28a) 1) and with the closing device (80, 94) such that, when the control element (28a) of the bleeder valve (28) moves to its open position, the closing device closes the first connection means (12). Apparatus according to claim 33, characterized in that the second coupling device (96) can be brought into a first and a second operating state, in particular a first and a second operating position, in which the operating element (96) remains in the first operating state of the second coupling device (96). 28a) of the breather valve (28) in its closed position and in the second operating state of the second coupling device (96), the breather valve control element (28a) is guided to its open position. Apparatus according to claims 27 and 34, characterized in that the second coupling device (96) is connectable to the first coupling device (90, 92, 94) so that the first coupling device is in the first operating state of the second coupling device (96) engageable with the piston (84) of the closure device and, in the second operating state of the second coupling device (96), is out of engagement with the piston (84). Device according to claim 34 or 35, characterized in that the second coupling device (96) is designed as a second pivot lever. Device according to claims 28 and 33, characterized in that the second coupling device (104) can be brought into a first and a second operating state, preferably a first and a second operating position, and connected to the detent element (104b) in such a way that In the first operating condition of the second coupling device (104), the vent valve (28a) remains in its closed position and when the vent valve (28a) is moved to its open position, the second coupling device (104) is brought into the open position. of the second operating state, while preventing the locking element (8a) of the connecting valve device (8) from arresting with the locking element (104b). Device according to claim 37, characterized in that the locking element (104b) is part of the second coupling device (104). Device according to claims 30 and 38, characterized in that the second coupling device (104) is movably mounted between two working positions, its first working position coinciding with the arresting position of the detent element (104b) and its second working position coinciding with the rest position. the position of the locking element (104b). Device according to at least one of Claims 33 to 39, in which the gas filling element (2) sits in a housing which can be closed by a door, characterized in that the control element (28a) of the bleed valve (28) is connected to the door and opens when operating. Apparatus according to Claim 22 and at least one of Claims 33 to 40, characterized in that the closing device cylinder (82) can be connected to the inlet of the bleeder valve (28) via a connecting pipe (100). Apparatus according to claim 41, characterized in that the check valve (98) closes at a pressure drop from the connecting line (100) to the cylinder (82).