WO2006128653A1

WO2006128653A1 - Vessel having pressurized co2 gas source

Info

Publication number: WO2006128653A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/005089
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kurt Oberhofer; Timm Oberhofer
Original assignee: Kurt Oberhofer; Timm Oberhofer
Priority date: 2005-06-02
Filing date: 2006-05-27
Publication date: 2006-12-07
Also published as: CA2609771A1; JP2008545931A; AU2006254390A1; AU2006254390B2; BRPI0613538A2

Abstract

The pressurized CO2 gas source is an insert which can be attached with sealing in an orifice of the vessel. The insert has a high-pressure CO2 cartridge (14), a pressure control valve for delivering CO2 therefrom and a rotary knob (24) accessible from the outside. The rotary knob (24) interacts with an axial pusher (40), actuation of which allows the high-pressure CO2 cartridge (14) to be pierced by a piercing needle (34).

Description

Container with CO ₂ compressed gas source

description

The invention relates to a container which is filled with liquid and sealed pressure-tight and can be removed from the liquid. Examples of such containers are Fasser, Kleinfasser (Partyfasser) or cans in which CO ₂ -containing liquids, especially drinks, are filled under pressure. It's all about party-gatherers for beer.

There are Zapfarmaturen working with C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatronen with which such containers are tapped to remove liquid from it with CO ₂ pressure. This corresponds to the usual tapping technique in the catering trade with CO ₂ from C0 ₂ high-pressure bottles, which achieves a very good condition and durability of the beer.

However, there are consumer groups in which tap fittings with CO ₂ high-pressure cartridges do not arrive. For only occasional buyers of party kegs beer, the purchase of a sophisticated tap fitting is not worthwhile. There are also people who are not comfortable with handling CO ₂ high-pressure cartridges. Others shy away from the need for supplies of cartridges.

There were therefore developed Partyfasser for beer, which have an integrated outlet tap in the bottom area of the barrel over which the removal of the beer is done solely by the internal pressure and gravity. Usually, the party keg is vented above the liquid level therein to induce pressure equalization. This can be done by piercing a can opener. However, there are also Partyfasser for beer with an integrated tap and a handbetuftigten ventilation valve in the barrel top, which is part of a bunghole closure (see WO 99/23 008 Al).

A disadvantage of these party drawers is that the accessibility of air in the headspace of the barrel, the comfort and durability of the beer is affected. The content of a broken party keg This type must be consumed draughty, so that the beer does not stick out and becomes stale.

There are various approaches to improving the shelf life of the beer in a partially opened party keg. Thus, it is known from WO 99/47 451 Al, an aerosol can containing CO ₂ bound to activated carbon under low pressure to integrate into the party keg and build in the headspace of the barrel a CO ₂ pressure, the partial pressure of in the Beer released CO ₂ equaled or exceeds. The disadvantage is the large volume of the can.

From DE 199 52 379 Al a CO ₂ dispenser for Partyfasser in the form of a separate handset is known, with the party keg is pierced above the Flussigkeitspegels therein to spend CO ₂ in the headspace of the barrel. The dispenser has a C0 ₂ high pressure cartridge and a pressure control valve. It is intended for multiple use and can be implemented from party keg to party keg. Although C0 ₂ consumption may be lower than that of CO ₂ dispensers, such CO ₂ dispensers in the consumer community ultimately face similar concerns.

In practice, it is also known to admit a pressure bag into the head space of a beer keg which expands when the pressure in the head space drops, thereby filling the hollow space that forms and secondly pressing pressure on the liquid level the barrel that exceeds the partial pressure of CO _{2 released} in the beer. The pressure bag consists of multilayered, oxygen-impermeable plastic film. He has several chambers containing gas-evolving chemicals, such as baking soda and citric acid. Depending on the pressure drop, the chambers are successively activated in the headroom of the party keg and inflated by the gas evolving during the reaction of the chemicals.

A disadvantage of the known pressure bag is the unsteady Druckaus ^¬ exercise on the beer. The pressure increases abruptly when the next chamber of the pressure bag is activated, and then it decreases gradually. That strikes in an irregular Zapfverhalten low. The tapping behavior varies between a withdrawal of the beer with a powerful jet and a mere drip.

The object of the invention is to provide a container of the type mentioned with an integrated CO ₂ -Druckgasquelle of low construction volume, exerted from the output CO ₂ a steady pressure on the liquid in the container and their durability and Bekomm- sensitivity improved.

Gelost this task by a container with an insert that can be defined under sealing in an opening of the container and a C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone, a pressure control valve for outputting CO ₂ thereof and an externally accessible actuator, by the operation of which Let C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone with a piercing pierce needle. The actuator is a rotary knob which cooperates with an axially guided slide, with which the piercing needle is actuated.

Thanks to its low construction volume, the use is suitable to replace the bunghole lock with pressure equalization valve according to WO 99/23 008 Al, without having to be changed significantly in terms of shape and size of each so to be stooped Behalter, such as party beer keg. The drains on a bottling plant change at most slightly. The insert can be made of plastic materials which have been well preserved for a bung closure with pressure balance valve and drain valve for some time. The design of the actuator as a knob corresponds to that of the widely used pressure compensation valve according to WO 99/23 008 Al. The operation of the CO ₂ compressed gas source is thus routinely so simple that a user familiar with the operation of a conventional pressure compensating valve hardly notices a difference. The user has no direct contact with a C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone, which may not be appealing to him. The cartridge is intended for single use in a single container and will be disposed of with it. Especially with beer in a tapped party keg its durability is extended by filling the headspace with CO ₂ instead of air for easy hand several days. Commercially available coatable CO ₂ cartridges in a size suitable for the CO ₂ compressed gas source according to the invention contain about 16 g of CO ₂ under a pressure of about 80 bar. The reduction and the precise regulation of the pressure, below that in the headroom of the container discharged CO _2, is the construction of a CO ₂ compressed in the form of a compact insert considerable demands. The pressure is typically between 0.5 and 0.7 bar. It is equal to or slightly higher than the partial pressure of CO _{2 dissolved} in the liquid.

Especially with beer, the CO ₂ content is decisive for the taste. The CO ₂ content varies from beer to beer. If the CO ₂ pressure in the headroom of the keg is too low, CO ₂ escapes from the beer. If the CO ₂ pressure in the headspace is too high, overcarbonation of the beer takes place, affecting its taste and comfort. The CO ₂ - compressed gas source described in detail below ensures that neither the one nor the other happens.

In a preferred embodiment of the knob is axially intercepted rotatably mounted. The rotary knob and the slide are in contact with ramps extending in the circumferential direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the ramps increase with the same slope proportional to the circumferential angle. The ramps merge into one another at step-shaped axial jumps.

In a preferred embodiment four ramps arranged in the quadrant are provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the slide comes when piercing the C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone end face against the end face with the piercing needle in flush arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment, the piercing needle for piercing the C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone is structurally combined with a valve member of Druckregelven ^¬ tils that between a sealing position and a Open position on a valve seat of the pressure control valve is axially adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressure regulating valve has a lateral Auslaßoffnung, in front of which an annular elastic sleeve is located with Rückuckfunktion. The cuff ensures that no liquid gets into the insert. For the same purpose can also serve an elastic O-ring.

In a preferred embodiment, the piercing needle immediately before piercing a sealing position directly behind the valve seat of the pressure control valve. As a result, the volume of the valve chamber, which is acted upon by the puncture of the C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone of the maximum pressure, very small.

In a preferred embodiment, the container has a sealed chamber in which the C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone with the head to the opening of Behbehalters has snug fit. The tight seal of the chamber is preferred for reasons of hygiene.

In a preferred embodiment, the chamber is closed with a bottom-side lid, which is welded or screwed to the wall of the chamber. The connection is tight. The C0 ₂ high-pressure cartridge does not come into contact with the liquid that is the contents of the container.

In a preferred embodiment, the C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone is sealed at its neck of small diameter over the circumference against the wall of the chamber. As a result, the axial forces are limited, which is subject to the cartridge during piercing.

In a preferred embodiment, the insert occupies an upper opening an _east of the container. The CO ₂ from the C0 ₂ high pressure cartridge is dispensed in a headspace of the container above the liquid level therein. In a preferred embodiment, the opening occupied by the insert is a bunghole through which the container is filled with liquid. The insert acts as a bunghole closure.

The CO ₂ from the C0 ₂ high pressure cartridge can be dispensed directly into the headspace of the container above the liquid level therein. But it is also possible to connect a pressure bag to the insert. The pressure bag is applied by applying vacuum to the housing of the insert and welded tightly to the housing. The pressure bag comes to rest in direct contact with the housing of the insert inside the container. It is inflated by the spent CO ₂ . Compared to the above-mentioned pressure bag according to the prior art, there is the advantage that the full pressure of the pressure bag is constant, so no pressure fluctuations and irregularities occur in Zapfverhalten. The full pressure can be set slightly higher than the partial pressure of the dissolved in the liquid CO ₂ , which remains completely unaffected taste neutral.

In the variant with the pressure bag, instead of CO ₂ , another compressed gas from a high-pressure cartridge can also be used.

In a preferred embodiment, the container has an outlet tap at the bottom. The removal of the liquid thus takes place by internal pressure and gravity effect. The CO ₂ from the C0 ₂ -Hotdruckpatrone prevents the headspace of the container creates a negative pressure. This is possible in the variants with and without pressure bag.

In the variant with the pressure bag, the container instead of the outlet tap can have a top tap, to which a riser leads, which extends to the bottom of the container. The liquid is supplied by pressure of the CO ₂ discharged from the C0 ₂ high pressure cartridge toward the tap. The pin on the top of the container is more convenient than un ^¬ th.

In a preferred embodiment, a discharge chute with a hose connection is provided on the outside of the tap. The outlet chute is added to the container as a separate part. It is clipped on after pulling out the tap.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a CO ₂ -Druckgasquelle in longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a cut container with the

CO ₂ compressed gas source, to which a pressure bag is connected, as a bunghole closure;

3 shows the corresponding view of a container with the CO ₂ -

Compressed gas source in a separate opening of the Behalterobenbodens; and

4 shows the corresponding view of a container with the CO ₂ -

Pressure gas source in an opening of Behalterunterbodens.

The CO ₂ compressed gas source shown in Fig. 1 is designed as an insert which fits through the bunghole of a Behalters through into the container and closes the bunghole tight. The CO ₂ compressed gas source may take the place of the bung closure with pressure equalization valve according to WO 99/23 008 A1.

The container is filled by the bunghole usually located in the middle of its upper floor under pressure with CO ₂ -containing liquid. Then the bunghole is tightly sealed with the insert. To remove the liquid can serve an integrated tap, which is located at the bottom of the container on the side wall. The liquid passes through internal pressure and gravity effect, until in the headspace of the Behalters above the Flussigkeitspegels therein a negative pressure is reached. To properly set and maintain this, the CO ₂ compressed gas source is activated. The CO ₂ compressed gas source feeds CO ₂ at a pressure into the headspace of the container, which corresponds to the partial pressure of dissolved in the liquid CO ₂ or slightly exceeds this partial pressure. This ensures a constant emptying of the container. There is no air in the headroom of the container. The CO ₂ content of the liquid remains the same. The insert is of elongated-slender shape and mostly radially symmetric to a central axis. It consists mainly of plastic. The plastic materials used for its production have been preserved for bung-hole closures and drainage hoppers for years. For the production, the two-component plastic injection molding technique offers. The hard, rigid plastic component is dashed in the drawing m, and the soft, elastic plastic component shown in full black.

The insert, which is in the installed position and closes the bunghole of the container, protrudes into the container with a housing 10. The housing 10 has at its inner end a chamber 12 for the snug fit receiving a C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone 14. The head of the cartridge 14, at the end face of which it can be pierced, faces the bunghole. The cartridge 14 has its smallest diameter on a circular cylindrical neck. It is sealed here with a peripheral seal 16 against the wall of the housing 10.

The inner end of the chamber 12 is closed with a lid 18 which is welded or screwed to the wall of the housing 10.

The housing 10 is seated outside with a circumferential collar 20 on the Bordelrand of the bunghole. At the collar 20, a seal 22 is formed, with which the insert seals the bunghole.

About the collar 20 is out in front of a recessed into the housing 10 knob 24, upon actuation of the C0 ₂ cartridge is pierced. The knob 24 is axially intercepted with a circumferential, radially outwardly projecting collar 26 in a circumferential groove of the housing 10 and rotatably supported.

On the outer end side of the knob 24 is hinged with a film hinge 28, a pull tab 30, which can be bent up. The grip tab 30 is connected to the rotary knob 24 with predetermined breaking points. the ones that break open clearly when you first turn it up. The predetermined breaking points act as originality assurance.

For piercing the C0 ₂ cartridge 14 is a piercing needle 34, which is structurally associated with the valve member of a pressure control valve. The valve member is suspended with an elastic membrane 36 in the axial center of the housing 10. The tip of the piercing needle 34 is only slightly spaced from the end face of the C0 ₂ cartridge 14.

During an axial adjusting movement of the piercing needle 34 onto the CO ₂ cartridge 14, the valve member lifts off from a valve seat 38 of the pressure regulating valve. The valve seat 38 is formed from the elastic sealing material to the housing 10.

The piercing needle 34 is acted upon by a slider 40 which is located between the knob 24 and the piercing needle 34. The slider 40 is guided slowly displaceable in the housing 10. Serve from the jacket of the slider 40 radially outwardly projecting cam 42 which engage in axial grooves 44 of the housing 10.

Knob 24 and slide 40 are in the circumferential direction extending ramps 46 in abutment. There are four arranged in the quadrant ramps 46, which increase with the same slope proportional to the circumferential angle and merge into step-like axial jumps into each other. By turning the knob 24, the slider 40 is moved axially.

Between slide 40 and piercing needle 34, a helical compression spring 48 is clamped. The helical compression spring is located around a central, ZAP fenformigen shoulder 50 on which the diaphragm 36 outside of the piercing needle 34 facing away from and around a central, axial plunger 52 on the inner side of the slider 40 around ^¬. Approach 50 and plunger 52 have flat end faces that face each other with a small distance. Before piercing so the slider 40 is turned off with the helical compression spring 48 of the piercing needle 34. The membrane 36 defines a working space 54 downstream of the valve seat 38 of the pressure regulating valve. The working space 54 has a lateral Auslaßoffnung 56, in front of which an annular elastic sleeve 58 is located. The sleeve 58 has the function of a check valve. It prevents liquid from entering the insert.

For piercing the C0 ₂ cartridge 14, the grip tab 30 is bent up and the knob 24 is rotated by approximately 90 °. The slider 40 is adjusted against the force of the helical compression spring 48 axially inwards. His plunger 52 comes with the approach 50 of the piercing needle 34 end face against end face in flush arrangement. The piercing needle 34 is displaced axially inwardly under elastic deformation of the membrane 36. It takes a sealing position on a seal 60 directly behind the valve seat 38 of the pressure control valve immediately before piercing. The valve member lifts off from the valve seat 38. After piercing, a very small valve space 62 fills in front of the head of the C0 ₂ cartridge 14 with CO ₂ under high pressure.

After completed 90 ° rotation or over rotation of the knob 24 of the slider 40 jumps under the force of the helical compression spring 48 axially outward. The piercing needle 34 is also reset axially by the elastic jerk deformation of the diaphragm 36, the pressure regulating valve is closed and a small amount of high-pressure CO _{2 is introduced} into the working space 54. The further opening and closing the pressure regulating valve is weight by a Kräftegleichge ^¬ on the membrane 36 determines to which the elastic properties of the diaphragm 36, the spring constant of helical compression spring 48 and the CO contribute ₂ pressure in the working space 54th For the pressure of the output CO ₂ , the spring constant of the helical compression spring 48 is determining.

Generally, the user will activate the source of CO ₂ compressed gas when the internal pressure in the container has dropped to the point where the jet of liquid exiting through the drain cock becomes too weak. However, the CO ₂ -pressure gas source can be readily activated even before, if the internal pressure in the container is still high. A reduction of CO ₂ into the headspace of the container does not occur instead of how the high internal pressure on the sleeve 58 in front of the Auslaßoffnung 56 loads.

4, the sleeve 58 is omitted. Instead, the CO ₂ compressed gas source is connected to a pressure bag 66 lying around the housing 10, which is inflated by the CO ₂ discharged.

Instead of a drain tap, the container has an integrated tap 68, which is located at the top floor of the container on the side wall. To the tap 68 leads a riser 70, which extends to the bottom of the container. The riser 70 has jacket holes 72 in the manner of a drainage line. On the outside of the tap 68, an actuating part 74 and a discharge chute 76 with a hose connection are provided.

In Fig. 2, the CO ₂ -pressure gas source functions as a bunghole closure of a bunghole serving to fill the container in the middle of the container topsoil. In Fig. 3, the CO ₂ -pressure gas source is seated in a separate lateral opening of Behalteroberbodens, and in Fig. 4 in an opening of Behalterunterbodens.

List of reference numbers

Housing 56 outlet opening

Chamber 58 cuff

C0 ₂ high pressure cartridge 60 Seal for needle

Seal on cartridge 62 Valve chamber

Lid 66 pressure bag

Collar 68 tap

Seal on collar 70 riser

Knob 72 sleeve hole

Bunch 74 Acting Part

Film hinge 76 Outlet chutes

grip tab

piercing

membrane

valve seat

pusher

cam

axial groove

ramp

Helical compression spring

approach

tappet

working space

Claims

claims

A container, which is liquid-filled and pressure-tight closable and removable from the liquid, with an insert which can be sealed in one opening of the container and a C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone (14), a pressure control valve for outputting CO ₂ thereof and an externally accessible actuator, by the operation of the CO ₂ - high-pressure cartridge with a piercing needle (34) is pierceable, characterized in that the actuator is a knob (24) which cooperates with an axially guided slide (40) with the piercing needle (34) is actuatable.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary knob (24) axially intercepted is rotatably mounted, and that the rotary knob (24) and the slide (40) with circumferentially extending ramps (46) are in abutment.

3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the ramps (46) with the same slope increase proportionally to Umfangswmkel and merge into step-like axial jumps into one another.

4. Container according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by four quadrants arranged in ramps (46).

5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the slide (40) when piercing the C0 ₂ -Hocndruckpatrone (14) end face against the end face with the piercing needle (34) comes into flush arrangement.

6. Container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the piercing needle (34) is structurally combined with a valve member of the pressure regulating valve, which is axially adjustable between a sealing position and a passage position on a valve seat (38) of the pressure regulating valve.

7. Container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pressure regulating valve has a lateral Auslaßoffnung (56), in front of which an annular elastic sleeve (58) or an O-ring with Rückuckfunktion.

8. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the piercing needle (34) immediately before piercing a sealing position directly behind the valve seat (38) of the pressure regulating valve occupies.

9. Container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a sealed chamber (12), in which the C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone (14) with the head to the opening has snug fit.

10. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that the chamber (12) with a bottom-side cover (18) is closed, which is welded or screwed to the wall of the chamber (12).

11. Container according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone (14) is sealed at its neck of small diameter over the circumference against the wall of the chamber (12).

12. Container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the insert occupies an upper opening of the container, and that the CO ₂ from the C0 ₂ -Hochdruckpatrone (14) can be dispensed therein in a headspace of Behbehalters above the Flussigkeitspegels.

13. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the opening is a bunghole through which the container is filled with liquid, and that the insert acts as a bunghole closure.

14. Container according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that on the insert a pressure bag (66) is connected, which is inflatable by the CO ₂ issued.

15. Container according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it has a bottom drain tap.

16. Container according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it has a top tap (68) to which a riser (70) leads, which extends to the bottom of the container.

17. Container according to claim 16, characterized in that the outside of the tap (68) is provided a discharge chute (76) with a hose connection.