WO2015004429A1

WO2015004429A1 - Pressure relief system for beverage container

Info

Publication number: WO2015004429A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/052040
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon WHEATON
Original assignee: Cypherco Limited
Priority date: 2013-07-09
Filing date: 2014-07-04
Publication date: 2015-01-15
Also published as: DK3019439T3; EP3019439B1; GB201312286D0; EP3019439A1; GB2516623A; ES2611730T3

Abstract

A pressure relief system for a beverage container comprises an insertion member, (4) a collar (6) adapted to form a sealing fit within an opening of the beverage container, the collar (6) having an inner tapered contact surface, and a seal (10) in engagement between the insertion member (4) and the inner tapered contact surface (8). A spring (14) biases the insertion member (4) into sealing engagement with the collar (6). When a pre-determined pressure is reached within the beverage container, the pressure acting on the insertion member (4) compresses the spring (14) so that movement of the insertion member (4) causes the seal (10) to move outwardly of the container along the inner tapered contact surface (8) to a point at which the insertion member (4) is forced out of sealing engagement with the collar (6) to relieve the pressure.

Description

PRESSURE RELIEF SYSTEM FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to pressure relief system for a beverage container. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Containers for the storage of carbonated beverages, such as a keg for the storage of beer, have a specified maximum working pressure. However, there are circumstances under which the maximum working pressure can be exceeded. It is possible for pressure to build up when pressurised gas is added to the container via a specialised valve used to dispense the beverage. An excessive build-up of pressure could have undesirable or unsafe consequences. Therefore, as a precaution, there should be a mechanism to vent any pressure which builds up above the maximum working pressure of the container.

Typically, standalone containers for carbonated beverages have relied on bursting discs. However, these discs are designed to rupture at pre-determined pressures, which are at much higher values than the maximum working pressure. These bursting discs are also single use. Once they have burst they have to be replaced.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved pressure relief system. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a pressure relief system for a beverage container, said pressure relief system comprising

an insertion member;

a collar, said collar being adapted to form a sealing fit within an opening of the beverage container and having an inner tapered contact surface;

a seal, said seal being in engagement between the insertion member and the inner tapered contact surface; and

a spring, said spring biasing the insertion member into sealing engagement with the collar; wherein, when a pre-determined pressure is reached within the beverage container, the pressure acting on the insertion member compresses the spring so that movement of the insertion member causes the seal to move outwardly of the container along the inner tapered contact surface to a point at which the insertion member is forced out of sealing engagement with the collar to relieve the pressure.

It is to be understood that the pre-determined pressure is in excess of the maximum working pressure of the beverage container. An advantage of this pressure relief system, in comparison to bursting discs for example, is that the excess pressure can be vented at a value much closer to the maximum working pressure of the beverage container. Different beverages may require different maximum working pressures to others. Different maximum working pressures can be provided for by using different springs. Furthermore, bursting discs are one-shot i.e. once they have burst the keg can no longer contain any pressure. With this invention, once some pressure has been released, the spring will cause the insertion member to move back into sealing engagement with the collar. The beverage container may be any container suitable for carbonated beverages. In one embodiment the beverage container is a keg. The beverage container may be a beer keg.

In one embodiment the insertion member is a valve for dispensing a beverage from the container. In another embodiment the insertion member is a stopper.

The collar may be sealed within the opening of the beverage container before the insertion member is put in place. The collar may be adapted to be reversibly fastened to the opening of the beverage container by means of a screw thread. The collar may be formed of any material, such as metal or plastics, suitable for withstanding the operating stresses resulting from the applied pressure. As an alternative to a removable fastening such as a screw thread, the collar may be secured by swaging, welding or similar techniques. Preferably, the inner tapered contact surface is arranged such that the diameter increases from the inside towards the outside of the container. An advantage of a tapered inner contact surface is to ensure ease of movement of the seal along the surface when the pressure relief system is activated.

In one embodiment, the seal comprises an O-ring around the insertion member. The seal may be situated in a groove around the insertion member. It is to be understood that compression of the O-ring seal against the tapered surface enhances the sealing engagement between the insertion member and the collar.

The spring biases the insertion member into sealing engagement with the collar to ensure there is no leakage of liquid or gas. The spring may be supported by a flange or other suitable support on the insertion member. Embodiments may provide for the spring to be removable and to be replaced. This advantageously allows for different pressure relief values to be set by using different springs. In one such embodiment the insertion member is formed of a material that can be resiliently deformed to allow removal/replacement of the spring. The insertion member may have a retaining flange for supporting the spring and comprise a plurality of axially extending limbs that can be squeezed together to allow the spring to be removed or inserted over the retaining flange.

When the system is activated, the seal moves outwardly of the container along the inner tapered contact surface. It is to be understood that the compression of the seal reduces to a point where the pressure can force fluid past the seal.

In one embodiment, after the pressure has been released to below the pre-determined pressure, the spring biases the insertion member back into sealing engagement with the collar and the movement of the insertion member forces the seal to move inwardly of the container along the inner tapered contact surface so that the seal is re-engaged between the insertion member and the inner tapered contact surface.

Therefore, another advantage of the present invention is that the pressure relief system is immediately re-sealable once the excess pressure has been released. This is in contrast to bursting discs which rupture and have to be replaced. The present invention therefore also reduces the time and costs associated with replacing parts such as bursting discs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a pressure relief system for a beverage container in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section view of a pressure relief system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in a sealed position. Fig. 3 shows a cross-section view of a pressure relief system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in a venting position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A CERTAIN EMBODIMENT With reference to fig. 1 , there is illustrated a pressure relief system for a beverage container such as a keg. There is an insertion member 4, which is inserted into an opening in a neck 2 of the container and secured in place by a collar 6. The insertion member 4 is illustrated as being a valve for dispensing a beverage from the container and includes associated valve apparatus and tubing 7. The beverage is typically a carbonated beverage. The collar 6 is adapted to seal with the opening in the neck 2 of the beverage container. The seal between the collar 6 and the opening in the neck 2 of the beverage container may be formed before the insertion member 4 is put in place.

Fig. 2 shows the insertion member 4 in a sealing engagement with the collar 6. The collar 6 forms a sealing fit with the opening in the neck 2 of the beverage container, and has an inner tapered contact surface 8. The inner tapered contact surface 8 is arranged such that the diameter increases from the inside towards the outside of the container. Between the inner tapered contact surface 8 and the insertion member 4 is a seal 10. The seal 10 is preferably an O-ring around the insertion member 4. The seal 10 may be situated in a groove 12 around the insertion member 4. Between the collar 6 and the insertion member 4, there is also a spring 14. The spring 14 is a helical spring that runs around the insertion member 4 and is supported by a flange 16 projecting from the insertion member 4. It will be appreciated that other types of spring, such as torsion springs may be used to provide a similar effect.

The spring 14 is biased to keep the insertion member 4 in sealing engagement with the collar 6. This is to ensure there is no leakage of liquid or gas from between the insertion member 4 and the collar 6. The sealing of the beverage container is enhanced by the seal 10 being compressed between the insertion member 4 and the inner tapered contact surface 8. The spring 14 keeps the insertion member 4 and collar 6 in sealing engagement until the maximum working pressure of the beverage container is exceeded.

Fig. 3 shows the insertion member 4 in a venting position in relation to the collar 6. When the pressure within the beverage container reaches a pre-determined value the pressure release system is activated. The pre-determined pressure is in excess of the maximum working pressure of the beverage container. One advantage of this pressure relief system, in comparison with bursting discs, is that the excess pressure can be vented at a value much closer to the maximum operating pressure of the beverage container.

When the pre-determined pressure within the beverage container is reached, the pressure acting on the insertion member 4 compresses the spring 14. The outwards movement of the insertion member 4 in relation to the collar 6, causes the seal 10 to move outwardly of the container along the inner tapered contact surface 8. The seal 10 is moved outwardly to a point at which the compression of the seal gets reduced and the insertion member 4 has been forced out of sealing engagement with the collar 6. At this point the pressure can force past the seal and the excess pressure is released.

Once the excess pressure has been released and the pressure within the beverage container is below the pre-determined pressure, the spring 14 biases the insertion member 4 back into sealing engagement with the collar 6. The inwards movement of the insertion member 4 in relation to the collar 6, forces the seal 10 to move inwardly of the container along the inner tapered contact surface 8 so that it is re-engaged between the insertion member 4 and the inner tapered contact surface 8. The sealing engagement between the insertion member 4 and the collar 6 is restored to prevent leakage of any liquid or gas from the beverage container and to maintain the pressure inside the keg below the maximum working pressure.

The pressure relief system of the present invention is not dependent on orientation. This is in contrast to some previous pressure relief systems, which do not operate unless the system is located at the top of the beverage container. The present system will also function, for example, in an inverted position.

Referring again to Fig. 1 , the insertion member 4 has limbs 18, 20, which extend through the collar 6 into the interior of the container. The insertion member is formed of a resiliently deformable material. Prior to insertion of the insertion member into the collar, the limbs 18, 20, can be squeezed together to reduce the diameter of the insertion member 4 at the location of the supporting flange 16 (see Figs 2 and 3) sufficient to allow the spring 14 to be removed by slipping it over the flange 16. A replacement spring may then be provided by slipping it over the flange and releasing the limbs 18, 20 to return to their original positions. In this way springs having different compression characteristics may be used to provide different relief pressures.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A pressure relief system for a beverage container, said pressure relief system comprising

an insertion member;

a spring, said spring biasing the insertion member into sealing engagement with the collar;

wherein, when a pre-determined pressure is reached within the beverage container, the pressure acting on the insertion member compresses the spring so that movement of the insertion member causes the seal to move outwardly of the container along the inner tapered contact surface to a point at which the insertion member is forced out of sealing engagement with the collar to relieve the pressure.

2. The pressure relief system of claim 1 , wherein the insertion member is a valve for dispensing a beverage from the container.

3. The pressure relief system of claim 1 , wherein the insertion member is a stopper.

4. The pressure relief system of any preceding claim, wherein the collar is sealed within the opening of the beverage container before the insertion member is put in place.

5. The pressure relief system of any preceding claim, wherein the inner tapered contact surface is arranged such that the diameter increases from the inside towards the outside of the container.

6. The pressure relief system of any preceding claim, wherein the seal comprises an O-ring around the insertion member.

7. The pressure relief system of any preceding claim, wherein after the pressure has been released to below the pre-determined pressure, the spring biases the insertion member back into sealing engagement with the collar and the movement of the insertion member forces the seal to move inwardly of the container along the inner tapered contact surface so that the seal is re-engaged between the insertion member and the inner tapered contact surface.

8. The pressure relief system of any preceding claim wherein the spring is removable for replacement thereof.

9. The pressure relief system of claim 8, wherein the insertion member is formed of a material that can be resiliently deformed to allow removal/replacement of the spring.

10. The pressure relief system of claim 9, wherein the insertion member has a retaining flange for supporting the spring and comprises a plurality of axially extending limbs that can be squeezed together to allow the spring to be removed or inserted over the retaining flange.

1 1. The pressure relief system of any preceding claim, wherein the beverage container is a keg.