US2063877A - Cooling and pressure control means for liquid containers - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1936.

J, L. KELLOGG 2,063,877

COOLING AND PRESSURE CONTROL MEANS FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 10, 1933 2 SheetsSheet l Dec. 8; 1936.

J. L. KELLOGG 2,063,877

COOLING AND PRESSURE CONTROL MEANS FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Filed Nov; 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 8, 1935 V 'uuiTEo STATES COOLING AND PRESSURI'ICONTROL MEANS FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS John L. Kellog Chicago, in. assignor to Helen L. Kellogg, Chicago, Ill.

Application November iii, 1938, Serial matters (Claims.

therein, and for maintaining the same under a "desired degree of pressure.

An important object of the invention is to provide in a container of the type specified a re fr'igerating element which. is particularly de-' signed to utilize the cooling power of a concentratedor powerful refrigerant such as solidified carbon dioxide, which may be easily converted from the liquid or solid to the gaseous state at ordinary temperatures and pressures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating element of the character set forth having a. compartment therein for the storage of a mass of refrigerating substance, such as solidified carbon dioxide or the like-and in combination therewith a valve mechanism which is adapted to permit flow of vaporized refrigerant from said compartment directly into the body of liquid in the container when the pressure within the latter falls below a desired limit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating element for a liquid container, having a refrigerant storage compartment or chamber which is provided with valve means for permitting passage of vaporized refrigerant directly into the container under certain conditions 'of pressure therein, and'which is provided with additional valve means adapted to permit direct escape of vaporized refrigerant to the surrounding atmosphere when the pressure within the storage compartment rises above a desired limit.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. which taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. f s

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. i is a vertical'sectional view through a barrel shaped container having the. improved cooling and pressure-regulating device supported in a wall thereof:

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower end of the container shown in Fig. 1:

Fig. 31s a longitudinal section through the cooling and pressure-regulating device, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transversc section through said device on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

(on. ca -91.5)

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the device taken on line ii---@ of Fig. 3.

Heretofore it has been the common practice to refrigerate beer and other malt beverages during shipment by simply packing ice around 5 the keg or barrel containers. This practice is costly for the reason that much of the cooling power of the ice is wasted by reason of lack of adequate means for bringing the ice into close contact withthe liquid contents of the barrels. m In my co-pending application Ser. No. 695,785, filed October 30, 1933, I have shown and described means whereby a concentrated form of refrigerant, such as liquid or solidified carbon dioxide, may be used efficiently for cooling beer 5 and the like while it is stored in kegs, barrels, and similar containers.

The present invention is particularly directed to a form of cooling or refrigerating means which is not only adapted to utilize the cooling power 20 of a concentrated form of refrigerant, such as solidified carbon dioxide, more commonly described as "dry ice, but which in addition, is designed to conduct the vaporized refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide gas directly into the body of liquid within 25 the container. The latter feature I have found particularly useful in connection with the cooling of malt beverages which are usually drawn from the container under pressure to produce the desired foam on the surface of the liquid. I have 0 found that after the cooling'power of the carbon dioxide, for example, has become more or less expended in extracting heat from the body of liquid, the gaseous carbon dioxide maybe advantageously used to preserve the quality of the 35 beverage and to produce a good quality of foam thereon bypassing it directly from the refrigerant storage chamber into .the liquid. As will presently be explained, the use of a gaseous refrigerant in the manner and for the purpose specified requires suitable valve mechanism for controlling the flow of gas into the container, and for regulating the pressure in the refrigerant storage chamb'er. v

Referring to the drawings, the container comprises: an inner receptacle having a body wall 8 which is closed by head walls 1 and 8; and an outer receptacle consisting of a body wall 9, and head walls It and I2, the latter being reinforced by annular ribs or tubes i8. In the embodiment shown the walls of both the inner and outer receptacle are made of heavy sheet metal. The body wall 9 is spaced from wall 6 by an intervening chamber which is filled with a body of loose wool insulating packing l4, and similarly head walls I l and I2 are spaced from walls 1 and 8, respectively, forming insulating chambers on the ends of the container, these chambers being filled with strips of loose wool insulating packing l5. Other types of packing such as ground cork, paper fibre and the like may be used in lieu of the packing shown, the object being merely to prevent conduction and radiation of heat through walls 6 and 9 to the body of beer, or other liquid, l6.- A filling bung ring I1 is secured in the body walls 6 and 9, this being closed by a hung i8, and a tap bung ring I9 is provided in head walls i and l i, this ring being closed by a bung 2 I. Body walls 6 and 9 are reinforced by a pair of annular tubes or rings 22 which extend completely around the container body.

In accordance with my invention, a refrigerating and pressure control element indicated generally by the numeral 23 is secured in the lower head walls 8 and l 2. This element is shown in detail in Figs, 3-5, and comprises: a head 24 which is threaded to engage ,an interiorly threaded supporting ring 25, the latter being fixto retard the rate of vapor flow from'the refrig- V 'erant compartment, as will more fully hereinafter edly secured in walls 8 and 12; a tubular body 26, the outer rim portion of which is flanged, as indicated at 21 to engage over 'an inwardly projecting rim 28 formed on head 24; an outer casing 29 which is supported on head 24 in spaced relation to body 26, the inner end thereof being flanged inwardly as indicated at 31, these flanged portions being joined to the inner end of body 26 to close the chamber which intervenes between body 26 and casing 29; and a removable closing plug or stopper 32 which is-threaded exteriorly at 33 to engage corresponding threads formed on the inner wall of head 24.

The inner end of tubular body 26 is closed by a head wall34 having an outlet passage 35 formed therein for a purpose which will presently appear. Body 26, together with head wall 24 and stopper 32 thus form a storage chamber for containing a mass of dry ice 36. The inner end of stopper 32 carries a ring or sleeve 31, the inner edge portion of which is flanged at 38 to engage pf this packing is to prevent conduction and radiation of heat into the mass of refrigerant 36 compartment from the body of liquid to avoid possible freezing of the latter. The temperature of solidified carbon dioxide is approximately l09 F. and hence there is considerable danger of freezing liquids such as beer unless suitable insulating means is provided around the storage compartment. The mass of packing 42 also serves appear.

In combination with the refrigerating element I provide a valve mechanism which is adapted to permit flow of carbon dioxide gas directly the case of beer, for example, the introduction of carbon dioxide gas serves to produce a desirable foaming effect, and also aids in drawing the beer from the container. In the embodiment shown, this mechanism consists of a ball valve 43 which rests on a valve seat 44, the latter being formed in head wall 34 immediately around the outlet passage 35. The position of valve 43 is adjusted by a disc or diaphragm 45 which is provided centrally with a cavity 46 for receiving ball valve 43. The diaphragm 45 is supported adjacent head wall 34 by a sleeve 46 which engages over the inner end of casing 29 and which is provided with an inturned flange 41 to which diaphragm 45 is secured. It will be apparent that diaphragm 45, which is made of thin sheet metal, will move toward or away from head 34 in accordance with variations in pressure on the interior of the container, thereby changing the position of ball valve 43 and, in turn, opening or closing passage 35. As shown in Fig. 5, sleeve 46 is provided with outwardly struck sections 48 which provide slots or passages 49 through which carbon dioxide gas which escapes from passage 35 may pass into the body of liquid IS. .A clearance of between .005 and .010 of an inch between the sections 48 and easing wall 29 is sufficient to permit this flow of gas into the body of liquid. Assuming valve 43 to be in the partially opened position, with carbon dioxide gas flowing through passages 35 and 49 into the body of liquid, as the pressure within the container rises by reason of this inflow of gas, the diaphragm 45 will move to the left, viewing Fig."3, thereby moving valve 43 toward the closed position in passage 35, which results in either a diminished or complete stoppage of flow of gas through this passage. Conversely, when the pressure within the container falls below a prescribed limit, the gas pressure within the tubular body 26 forces valve 43 to the right, viewing Fig. Sfthereby permitting the flow of gas through ,The mechanism thus automatically operates to either increase or check the flow of gas into the body of liquid, depending upon the state of pressure within the container.

Continuing the reference to Fig. 3, valve mechanism is provided in stopper 32 to permit escape of carbon dioxide gas into the surrounding atmosphere when the flow thereof into the-container through passages 35 and 49 has been retarded or stopped. In the embodiment shown, this mechanism consists of a ball valve which is enclosed within a tubular body 52, the latter being preferably formed as an integral part of stopper 32. A passage 53 formed on the inner wall 54 of stopper 32 is closed by valve 5|, the side walls of the tubular body 52 converging at 55 to form a seat for said valve. The outer end of body 52 is closed by an adjustable plug 56 which is threaded exteriorly to engage corresponding threads formed on the inner face of body 52. Plug 56 is provided with diagonally disposed sockets 51 which may be engaged by a suitable wrench to adjust the position of said plug in body 52. A coil spring 58 is interposed between valve 5| and the inner face of plug 56, the pressure exerted by said spring on the valve being adjustable by varying the position of plug 56. -An outlet passage 59 extends through plug 56 to permit escape passages 35 and 49 into the body of liquid [6.

of gas into the surrounding atmosphere. Carbon dioxide gas maythus pass directly from the refrigerant chamberto the surrounding atmosphere by passing outwardly through the mass of access? packing 88, the valve passage 58, and finally through the outlet passage ll8.

In'practice, the control means for valves 43 and ii is arranged so, that when the pressure within the container is such as to require the fiow of gas through passages 85 and 48, valve will be closed to prevent escape of gas into the at- 'in pressure in the refrigerant storage compartment. The flow of gas, either into the body of liquid or directlyfrom the refrigerant compartment into the atmosphere is' thus at all times automatically controlled in accordance with variations in pressure on the interior of the container. 1

In order to completely utilize the cooling power of the vaporized carbon dioxide I provide a series of apertures iii in the inner end of body 28 for permitting flow of gas from the refrigerant storage chamber through the body of packing 4i and r into the cooling chamber surrounding body 28.,

After being admitted to this chamber through openings iii the gas flows from the outer end duct the gas into an annular space 83 which has communication with the interior of sleeve 8i through'apertures 84 which are formed in the side walls of the latter. After passing through apertures 8%, the gas passes-through the mass of insulating material 89 and thence into passage 53. A gasket 85 interposed between head 24 and stopper 82 provides a gas-tight jointfor preventing escape of gas between these parts. This flow of gas through the cooling compartment surrounding body 28 serves to effectively cool the liquid contents of the container, and the provision of the bodies of insulating packing 88, 6 and 42 tends to'conserve the cooling power of the refrigerant by preventing conduction of heat thereto, and also by retarding the rate of evaporation and flow of gas toward the discharge passage 88. Concentrated refrigerants such as dry ice and the like, are fairly expensive as compared to ice 'for example, and it is essential that the cooling mechanism which utilizes refrigerants of this type be designed to make efficient use of the cooling power of the refrigerant.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide means for forcing air through the refrigerating 'element into the container in order to raise the pressure therein to the desired point.

To this end I provide in the head wall 84 of stopper 32 an ordinary air valve 88 through which air may be forced through sleeve and the body of packing 38 contained therein into the refrigerant storage chamber. The air thus introduced passes through passages 38 and 48 directly into the body of liquid. A mass of insulating packing 81 is provided around valve 88, this packing being held in place by a cover plate 88 which is removably secured in position by a split ring 68.

-sible to substitute elements of greater length in the event that it may be-desirable to use an ele-. ment having a larger refrigerant storage compartment. In some cases it may be desirable to completely remove the element from the container in order to refill the refrigerant compartment. This is not necessary, however, inasmuch as stopper 82 is removably supported in head 24 to permit refilling of the compartment without rcquiring removal of the refrigerating element from the container.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clcarncss of understanding only, and ,no unnecessary limitations should be understood thereirom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in viewof the prior art.

What I regard as'new and desire to'sccure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a container for malt beverages and the like of cooling and pressure.

regulating means comprising a refrigerating olement, including a head supported in a wall of the container, an elongated hollow body projecting inwardly from said head, inner and outer head walls closing said body and forming therewith a refrigerant storage compartment said inner head wall having an inlet passage therein communicating with the interior of the container and said outer head wall having an outlet vent opening for escape "of vaporized refrigerant; a valve for controlling flow of vaporized refrigerant through said passage to theinterior of the container, additional valve means for controlling escape of re frigerant through said vent opening, means for automatically regulating said inlet control valve r and arranged to project therefrom into the container, a wall of said vessel having a passage therein for conducting vaporized refrigerant into the container, a valve and control means therefor responsive to pressure variations on the interior of the container for regulating flow of refrigerant through said'passage into the container, and valve means on said head arranged to permit introduction of a gaseous medium from an external source into said vessel. a

3. A cooling and pressure regulating device for liquid containers comprising a refrigerating element, including a supporting head adapted to be removably secured in a wall of the container, an elongated hollow body carried on said head and arranged to project therefrom into the container, a head wall secured to the inner end of said body and forming with the latter a refrigerant storage compartment, said wall having a frigerant into the container. a cover plate for said body having an outlet vent opening for escape of lvaporized refrigerant therefrom, a casing supported on the head in spaced relation to said body and enclosing the latter to form a cooling chamber, said bodyhaving openingstherein communicating with said chamber and said head having an orifice therein connecting said chamber with the outlet vent opening, a

valve and control means therefor responsive to pressure variations on the interior of the containcr for regulating flow of refrigerant through said passage into the container a second valve and control means therefor responsive to pressure variations within said storage compartment and cooling chamber for regulating escape of refrigerant through said outlet vent opening, and a mass of insulating material disposed in said cooling chamber for retarding evaporation of refrigerant and the rate of flow thereof through said outlet vent opening.

4. A beverage cooling and pressure regulating apparatus comprising, in combination, a container for holding a supply of the beverage, a double walled tubular body supported in a wall of said container, and projecting inwardly to the interior thereof, the inner end of said body being closed to form a compartment for holding a mass of a refrigerating substance, a body of insulating material disposed in the-space between the inner and outer walls of said body, closure means for sealing the outer end of said compartment, valve means secured in a wall porting said gases to escape under a predetermined pressure for varying the insulation between the refrigerant and a refrigerated compartment.

. JOHN L. KELLOGG.

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