WO2009062626A2

WO2009062626A2 - Beverage container for the removal of liquid

Info

Publication number: WO2009062626A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/009365
Authority: WO
Inventors: Klaus Meike; Wolfgang Weller; Stefan Nadenau
Original assignee: SCHäFER WERKE GMBH
Priority date: 2007-11-14
Filing date: 2008-11-06
Publication date: 2009-05-22
Also published as: WO2009062626A3; DE102007054659A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage container (2) to which, for the removal of the liquid, a dispensing valve unit (4) and a dispensing lever (3) can be connected and which, for the driving out of the liquid, is provided with a compressed CO2 supply (6) designed as a compressed gas housing with a pressure regulator which is connected thereto and releases the compressed gas (14) from the compressed gas housing into the liquid as soon as the pressure in the beverage container (2) drops during the removal of the liquid, wherein compressed CO2 gas is produced in the compressed gas housing by chemical reaction of at least two substances. In the case of a beverage container of this type, an improved dispensing quality of the beverage is to be achieved with a simple construction and operation in particular of the compressed gas housing. For this purpose, it is provided that the compressed gas housing is designed as a single-piece two-chamber cartridge (11) which is divided by a partition (10) and has the one chemical substance (12) in the first chamber (11a) and the second chemical substance (13) in the second chamber (11b), and the second chamber (11b) which receives the compressed CO2 gas produced by the reaction of the two substances (12, 13) is permanently connected to the container interior via a compressed gas outlet (20) which is formed with a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane (19).

Description

80 628

Beverage container for removing liquid

The invention relates to a beverage container to which for removing the liquid a nozzle unit and a dispensing lever can be connected and which is provided for expelling the liquid with a CO ₂ -Druckmittelversorgung, designed as a compressed gas housing with a pressure regulator connected thereto, the compressed gas from the pressurized gas housing releases into the liquid as soon as the pressure drops in the beverage container in the liquid removal, wherein in the compressed gas housing by chemical reaction of at least two substances, in particular alkali or alkaline earth metal carbonate with an acid such as citric acid, Cθ ₂ -Druckgas is generated.

Such beverage containers, especially in the form of a beverage dispensing device as a disposable container, operated for example with CO ₂ -Druckgas serving of tempered to drink temperature drinks such as beer, wine and soft drinks are widely used. Upon actuation of a lever of a mounted on a connector tap head the drink is expelled via a projecting from above into the container interior riser to the beverage outlet.

From DE 699 04 232 T2 a beverage container of the type mentioned is known. In the interior of the container, a pressure vessel is provided which provides a first chamber in which the compressed gas is stored or generated. On the pressure vessel is provided with flow connection to the first chamber, a pressure control device which is formed with at least one second and third chamber and of which a chamber has a flow connection to the container interior. A beverage dispensing device disclosed by EP 1 293 476 B1 has a beverage and gas valve arranged in a safety fitting and is further subdivided by a bell-shaped dividing wall into a bottom-side beverage part and a cover-side compressed gas part. The dispensing under gas pressure has the advantage of a much longer shelf life of the drinks in the container relative to the open, non-pressurized spout from the container with oxygen ingress. In containers which are not formed with a compressed gas part, the gas supply is carried out by a high-pressure gas bottle arranged outside the beverage container, to which a pressure regulator is attached directly. This regulator is permanently set to the correct pressure of the bottled beverage, eg 0.8 bar for wine with nitrogen and 2.1 bar for wheat beer with CO ₂ .

From EP 1 140 692 B1 a beverage dispensing device is known in which the CO ₂ pressure medium supply also consists of a arranged in the interior of the beverage container on the floor of compressed gas cylinder with pressure regulator unit placed thereon. Activated carbon is used to generate the compressed gas in the compressed gas cylinder, which only allows slow CO ₂ production.

The invention has for its object to provide a beverage container of the type mentioned above, which allows in a simple construction and operation, in particular of the compressed gas housing improved dispensing quality of the beverage.

This object is achieved in that the compressed gas housing is formed as a one-piece, divided by a partition two-chamber cartridge and in the first chamber which has a chemical substance and in the second chamber the other chemical substance and the by the reaction of the two Substances produced CO ₂ -Druckgas receiving second chamber permanently connected to the container interior via a compressed gas outlet, which is formed with a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane.

The one-piece, divided by the partition nevertheless two-chamber cartridge can in the first chamber z. As alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate and in the second chamber citric acid, wherein the two chambers can be brought into flow connection via a pressure-controlled temporarily for mixing the two substances unlockable closure of a partition wall opening. Along with the tap operation or with the removal of a tamper evident, thus in any case by activation of outside the beverage container, the flow connection can be unlocked, whereby the precisely metered during the time unit of the pin amount of z. B. potassium carbonate enters the chamber with, for example, the citric acid, the generated CO ₂ -pressure gas flows through the compressed gas outlet into the beverage liquid and expels it via the tapping point or to the tapping point. The extremely compact two-chamber cartridge can be accommodated from the outset inside the container; Alternatively, it can be connected from the outside. As an alternative to the use of solutions, the two substances can also be provided as a powder mixture and water can be trickled onto the mixture to produce CO ₂ .

For the production of compressed gas, substances or materials are used, such as potassium carbonate or potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3), which are completely harmless according to the very strict food regulations. For CO ₂ production outside the container, for example, hydrochloric acid can be brought to react with the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonate.

As confirmed by research, only extremely small quantities of alkali or alkaline earth carbonate and citric acid are needed, and yet the required amount of compressed gas can be generated very quickly, eg one liter of carbon dioxide or CO ₂ in one minute. The substances can be used as powder, gel or which are reacted in aqueous solution instead of, for example, using solid potassium carbonate.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that in the partition wall, a compressed gas outlet for pressure equalization is also provided between the first and the second chamber. It can thus achieve stable, equal in both chambers pressure conditions. The two compressed gas outlet of the two-chamber cartridge according to the invention are thus formed with a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane, so that only the gas can pass, but liquid can not penetrate,

According to a proposal of the invention arranged in an opening of the partition wall between the two chambers closure is acted upon by a spring and standing with the tapping lever in operative connection ram, with its remote from the partition wall opening, rear plunger end in a connectable to the atmosphere pressure regulator housing is arranged, wherein a plunger head protrudes through an atmosphere opening of the pressure regulator housing.

In this case, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a diaphragm arranged in the pressure regulator housing subdivides the pressure regulator housing into an upper spring chamber accommodating the spring and a lower compressed gas chamber communicating with the container interior via a housing opening. It is thereby achieved that in the propagating with the tap lever operation in the spring chamber atmospheric pressure, the spring lowers the plunger in its open position and raised at the end of the tap and reset tappet of the plunger of the pressure prevailing under the diaphragm in the pressure gas chamber pressure in its closed position or is moved back. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing part providing the lower pressure gas chamber is integrally formed on the two-chamber cartridge and the two-chamber cartridge is connected to this housing part on the upper spring housing part of the pressure regulating housing, which in turn is secured in the container head wall and unitary with the nozzle unit in an insert is trained. This allows easy installation of the C0 ₂ generator or the two-chamber cartridge, which is thus mounted from above into the container interior immersed in the top wall of the container together with the pressure regulator and accessible from outside the beverage container in a simple manner and activated.

Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of an embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings. Show it:

1 shows a longitudinal section of a beverage container with Zapfeinheit and arranged in the container interior CO ₂ -Druckmittelversorgung. and

Fig. 2 as a detail in an enlarged longitudinal section representation of the CO ₂ - pressure medium supply.

Fig. 1 shows a prepared for tapping prepared beverage dispensing device 1, which is here as a beverage container 2, for example, a 5 liter disposable beer keg, is formed. In the exemplary embodiment, the beverage container 2 is equipped with a dispensing or dispensing valve unit 4 to be actuated by a dispensing lever 3, a pressure regulator housing 5 and a pressure medium supply 6, which is provided for generating CO ₂ or carbon dioxide. To tap the liquid, the dispensing lever 3 is pivoted clockwise from its position shown in Fig. 1 closed position, whereby the dispensing valve unit 4 opens and the liquid flow through a from the nozzle unit 4 to near the bottom of the drum 7 reaching riser 8 upwards and over the tap 9 can be removed. As can be seen in more detail from the enlarged view of FIG. 2, the pressure medium supply 6 is formed as a one-piece, divided by a partition 10 two-chamber cartridge 11. In the first chamber 11 a is z. As alkali or alkaline earth metal carbonate, such as a potassium carbonate solution 12, and in the second chamber 11b, for example, citric acid 13. To flow connection, so that the potassium carbonate solution 12 can be brought to the reaction with the citric acid 13 to CO ₂ pressure gas 14 to produce, in the partition 10 between the two chambers 11a, 11b, an opening 15 is provided with a closure 16 which is extended as a plunger 17 with its rear plunger end 18 through the pressure regulator housing 5 out and pressure regulated temporarily the partition wall opening 15 releasably unlocked.

The released during reaction CO ₂ -pressure gas 14 can escape via a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane 19 having compressed gas outlet 20 into the container interior and thus into the beverage liquid. A further compressed gas outlet 21, which also has a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane 19, is located in the partition wall 10. The CO ₂ compressed gas flowing into the first chamber 11a via this causes pressure equalization between the first and second chambers 11a, 11b.

The cooperating with the plunger 17 pressure regulator housing 5 is divided by a gas-tight membrane 22 in an upper, a spring 23 receiving a spring 23 receiving spring chamber 24 and a lower pressure gas chamber 25 which communicates via a housing opening 26 with the container interior and thus also under the pressure of CO ₂ pressure gas is. Therefore, the plunger 17 with its closure 16 occupies the position closing the partition wall opening 15, as shown in FIG. 2, because the CO ₂ -pressure gas forces the spring 23 together or upwards over the membrane 22. The tap lever 3 is connected via a connecting means 27 with a projecting through an atmosphere opening 28 from the pressure regulator housing 5 plunger head 29. When the tap lever 3 is pivoted clockwise about the pivot point 32, the plunger head 29 is released in the atmosphere opening 28 and the spring 23 pushes the plunger 17 down. The shutter 16 thus releases the partition wall opening 15 for pressurized gas production, because then the potassium carbonate solution 12 can trickle on the citric acid 13 in the second chamber 11 b. With the pivoting back of the Zapfhebels 3 in the inoperative position then the pressure buildup in the pressure gas chamber 25 ensures that the plunger 17 with the closure 16 again comes into the blocking starting position, as shown.

The compressed gas chamber 25 is provided in the embodiment of a immediately integrally formed on the two-chamber cartridge 11, neck-like housing part 5a. On the other hand, the upper housing part 5b of the pressure regulator housing 5 providing the spring space 24 is formed uniformly with an insert piece 31 of the nozzle valve unit 4 to be inserted into a recess of the container head wall 30 (see FIG. It can thus be the complete component of nozzle unit 4 including pressure regulator housing 5 and two-chamber cartridge 11 preassembled in a simple manner, the membrane 22 is clamped with the fastening of the two-chamber cartridge 11 on the housing part 5a and the upper housing part 5b of the pressure control housing 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 beverage dispensing device

2 beverage containers

3 tap lever

4 tap / nozzle unit

5 pressure regulator housing

5a housing part

5b housing part / spring housing part

6 pressure medium supply

7 barrel bottom

8 riser

9 tap

10 partition wall

11 two-chamber cartridge / compressed gas housing

11a first chamber

11b second chamber

12 chemical (first) substance, eg. As alkali or Erdalkalicarbo- nat / potassium carbonate solution

13 chemical (second) substance, e.g. Citric acid

14 CO ₂ compressed gas

15 partition opening

16 closure

17 pestles

18 rear ram end

19 Diaphragm 0 Gas outlet 1 Gas outlet 2 Diaphragm feather

spring chamber

Pressure gas chamber

housing opening

connection means

atmospheric port

ram head

Tank top wall

insert

pivot point

Claims

claims

1. A beverage container (2), to which for removing the liquid, a dispensing valve unit (4) and a pivot lever (3) can be connected and which is provided for expelling the liquid with a CO ₂ -Druckmittelversorgung (6), designed as a compressed gas housing with a Connected thereto pressure regulator device, which releases the compressed gas (14) from the compressed gas housing into the liquid as soon as the pressure in the beverage container (2) drops during the liquid removal, wherein in the compressed gas housing by chemical reaction of at least two substances Cθ2-compressed gas is generated, characterized in that the pressurized gas housing is formed as a one-piece, two-chamber cartridge (11) divided by a dividing wall (10) and the one chemical substance (12) in the first chamber (11a) and the second chemical substance in the second chamber (11b) (13) and receiving the by the reaction of the two substances (12, 13) generated CO ₂ compressed gas receiving second chamber (11 b) pe Rmanent with the container interior via a compressed gas outlet (20) is connected, which is formed with a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane (19).

2. beverage container according to claim 1, characterized in that in the partition (10) a compressed gas outlet (21) for pressure equalization between the first and the second chamber (11 a, 11 b) is provided.

3. beverage container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that also the compressed gas outlet (21) between the two chambers (11 a, 11 b) with a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane (19) is formed.

4. beverage container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure regulator means (5) for temporary pressure gas generation from outside the beverage container (2) can be activated.

5. Drinks container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in an opening (15) of the partition wall (10) between the two chamber (11 a, 11 b) arranged closure as acted upon by a spring (23) and with the tapping lever (3) operatively connected plunger (16) is formed, which is arranged with its from the partition wall opening (15) remote, rear plunger end (18) in a connectable to the atmosphere pressure regulator housing (5), wherein a plunger head (29) by a Atmosphärenöffnung (28) of the pressure regulator housing (5) protrudes.

6. beverage container according to claim 5, characterized in that in the pressure regulator housing (5) arranged diaphragm (22) the pressure regulator housing (5) in an upper, the spring (23) receiving the spring chamber (24) and a lower compressed gas chamber (25) divided , which communicates via a housing opening (26) with the container interior.

7. beverage container according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower pressure gas space (25) providing housing part (5 a) to the two-chamber cartridge (11) is formed and the two-chamber cartridge (11) via this housing part (5 a) with a spring housing part (5b) of the pressure regulator housing (5), which in turn is mounted in the container head wall (30) and formed integrally with the dispensing valve unit (4) in an insert piece (31).