WO2021211008A1

WO2021211008A1 - Fitting for a pet keg

Info

Publication number: WO2021211008A1
Application number: PCT/RU2020/000779
Authority: WO
Inventors: Сергей Владимирович КНЯЗЕВ
Original assignee: Сергей Владимирович КНЯЗЕВ; ДАЦИНА, Дмитрий Николаевич; СИМКИН, Олег Александрович; БЕЛЯЕВ, Леонид Михайлович; КОЛЕСНИКОВ, Игорь Николаевич
Priority date: 2020-04-14
Filing date: 2020-12-30
Publication date: 2021-10-21
Also published as: BR202021001879U2

Abstract

The invention relates to closure structures for polyethylene terephthalate containers, which can be mounted on the necks of PET kegs for dispensing, storing and transporting beverages kept under pressure inside a PET keg. A fitting for a PET keg comprises a housing with a central aperture having a means for connection to the neck of a keg, an annular flange connected to the housing and being provided with an axial aperture and apertures on its side surface, a hollow rod disposed inside the housing and passing through the axial aperture of the annular flange, valve elements designed to be capable of moving relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position, and springs mounted inside and outside the hollow rod, wherein one of the valve elements is designed to be capable of performing the function of a safety valve and comprises a safety element made of a resilient polymeric material and having a blind passageway which is open at the bottom end and is closed at the top end by a thin flexible seal. The technical result is a reliable and operationally safe universal fitting for a PET keg.

Description

FITTING FOR PET KETA

Technology area

The invention relates to closures for containers made of polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter PET keg), installed on the necks of PET kegs for filling, storing and transporting drinks in a PET keg under pressure.

Prior art

PET kegs fitted with fittings are used for storing and dispensing beverages such as beer. These fittings have multiple channels to allow the passage of liquid and gas. During filling, when the PET keg is usually in an upside-down state, the beverage is introduced through the first channel of the fitting, while the gas displaced from the keg exits through the second channel. During filling, gas (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) is introduced into the PET keg through the first channel in order to displace the beverage from the PET keg through the second channel. The beverage is dispensed with the help of a filling head connected to the valve structure onto the spring-loaded fitting elements with the subsequent opening of the channels, one of which is intended for supplying an inert gas under excess pressure, and the second channel for dispensing the beverage displaced by the gas. The sealing element of the fitting serves to maintain the created excess pressure inside the PET keg when removing (dismantling) the filling head. As a rule, in the case of filling and storing beer, the overpressure is approximately 2.5 - 3.0 bar. The indicated pressure is the working pressure of the PET keg. At the same time, the PET keg withstands a pressure of about 7-8 bar.

If the technical conditions for the production, storage and operation of PET kegs filled with a drink are violated, the excess pressure in the PET keg may rise above the maximum allowable, which, ultimately, may lead to rupture of the PET keg. This problem poses a serious threat to people in the immediate vicinity of the PET keg.

A plastic container is known, for example, a PET keg for drinks with shut-off valves with a seal (patent for invention of the Russian Federation N ° 2466085, date of convention priority October 29, 2008, IPC B67D 1/08), in which the shut-off valves and / or seal and, therefore , pinheads are structurally designed so that after the opening process, the subsequent automatic closing process is carried out or occurs almost completely, since in this subsequent automatic closing process, an unclosed

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) through hole. This through hole allows pressure relief inside the vessel. As a result, no overpressure can build up inside the container and thus the potential risk of bursting the container is eliminated. In this case, the shut-off valve contains a stop with a predetermined break point for a spring-loaded seal. The seal has a predetermined rupture location or is designed to deform during the closing process to form a through hole.

Known cover for a sealed container (RF patent Ns 2555137, publ. 10.07.2015), which contains a housing, a valve element made with the ability to move relative to the housing between closed and open positions; and a locking mechanism configured to hold the valve member in an open position; the locking mechanism has first and second parts, where the first part can be moved by the action of the valve element and contains a locking element that can be engaged with a counterpart on the body to keep the valve element in the open position; and the second part can be moved by the action of the first part when the valve member is moved from a closed position to an open position; wherein, when the valve member returns from the open position to the closed position, the first part can move relative to the second part; and the specified relative movement of the first and second parts provides engagement of the locking element with the counterpart on the housing to hold the valve element when it returns to the open position (taken as a prototype).

Known fittings protect the PET keg from destruction not for the entire period of use, but only after the previously performed opening process with the subsequent automatic closing process, which makes it impossible to further use the PET keg after opening, i.e. the filling head can only be worn once. In the case of removing the filling head, the PET keg loses its tightness and is not suitable for further use, respectively, all the remaining product becomes unusable. It should be noted that during the operation of a PET keg, it is often necessary to remove the filling head before the PET keg is completely empty, for example, in case of a malfunction of the filling head or the filling system as a whole, or regular sanitization of the filling system. It should also be noted that in the known solution, the valve does not protect the PET keg with the product from destruction during

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) storage and transportation. In addition, there is no permanent damage to the valve during operation and with careful disassembly and reassembly, the fitting can be reused.

Disclosure of invention

The technical problem of the claimed invention is to create a universal fitting for a PET keg, which ensures high reliability and safety of the structure during storage and operation, with the possibility of performing both the function of a safety valve when the excess pressure inside the PET keg exceeds the maximum allowable value, and the function of loss of tightness after the first use.

Taking into account the fact that the breaking pressure of a PET keg is more than 7 bar, and the operating pressure is up to 3.5 bar, it is necessary to ensure the response pressure of the valve in the PET keg at a pressure of less than 7 bar, and the response time should be no more than 5 minutes.

The technical result consists in obtaining a reliable and safe in operation universal fitting for a PET keg.

The technical result is achieved by the fact that the fitting for a PET keg comprises a body with a central hole with a means for connecting to the neck of the keg, an annular flange connected to the body and equipped with an axial hole and holes on the side surface, a hollow stem located in the body and passing through the axial hole of the annular flange, valve elements made with the possibility of movement relative to the body between closed and open positions and springs installed inside the hollow stem and outside it, while one of the valve elements is configured to perform the function of a safety valve and contains a safety element made of elastic polymer material, including blind channel open from the lower side, and from the upper side bounded by a thin flexible bridge.

Brief Description of Drawings:

Fig. 1 is a complete fitting;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a Type S fitting with closed valve elements;

Fig.Z - structural elements of a fitting of type S in detail;

4 is a sectional view of a Type D fitting with closed valve elements;

Fig. 5. - structural elements of type D fitting in detail.

6 is a sectional view of a S-type fitting with open valve elements;

7 is a sectional view of a Type D fitting with open valve elements. s

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The fitting, according to the claimed invention, can be made of the S- or D-type. The difference between these fittings is the design of the O-ring 11.

In general, the fitting comprises a body 1 of a generally cylindrical shape with a stepped central opening and threaded means of connection with the neck of the container and an annular flange 2 (Fig. 1). The annular flange 2 has an axial hole in the lower part for the passage of the rod 3. The rod 3 is made hollow cylindrical with different diameters along the length: the lower section 3a has a minimum diameter dl, the diameter d2 of the middle section 36 is greater than the diameter dl and the diameter d3 of the upper section Sv is greater than the diameter d2 (Fig. 2.4). The lower end of the rod 3 is made open and passes through the hole of the annular flange 2, protruding beyond its limits. In the lower part, the rod 3 is connected to a tube, the end of which is located near the bottom of the PET keg during assembly. The second end of the stem 3 is also made open and provided with an annular protrusion 4. Support ends 5 and 6 are made in the sections of the stem diameter change. The sections of the stem 36 and Sv form a chamber 7, in which the first valve element 8 is located, adjacent with its lateral sides to the inner side of the stem 3 in section 36. The valve element 8 with its upper surface by means of an internal spring 9 made of stainless steel, is pressed against the seat 10 of the sealing element 11. The spring 9 is placed on the support end 5 of the stem.

The valve element 8 (figure 2) contains a safety element 14 of a cylindrical shape, which contains a channel 15 and a thin flexible bridge 16 with a thickness of 0.5-1.5 mm. The safety element 14 made of an elastic polymer material (TPE, rubber based on ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM)) is formed during the production of valve 8, which is made of polypropylene, during the injection and formation of element 14, it is soldered to the valve walls. When the pressure inside the container exceeds a predetermined value, the bridge 16 is squeezed out and ruptured and a channel is formed through which the excess pressure is released.

The second valve element is formed by an O-ring 11, the upper surface of which is hermetically pressed against the conical seat 17, which extends radially into the body 1. The O-ring 11 consists of two parts: the lower part 12, and the upper part 13 inserted into it. The O-ring 11 is located in the lower part on the support end 6 of the rod 3 and a protrusion in the upper part on the protrusion 4 of the rod 3 (Fig. 3.5). The O-ring is made from two types of materials

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) by the method of double sequential injection. The lower part 12 of soft TPE (or rubber based on ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM)) makes it possible to provide a reliable hermetic seal with the body 1 and valve 8. The upper part 13 is made of hard plastic, allows the valve to work when working pressure in the container.

The stem 3 is located in the housing 1 to form a chamber 18, in which an external stainless steel spring 19 is located. An external spring 19 surrounds the rod 3 and acts under pressure between the bottom of the housing 1 and the outer part of the support end 6.

Body 1, annular flange 2, stem 3 are made of rigid polymer material, for example, polyacetal. The safety element 14 and the lower part of the O-ring 12 are made of an elastic material, for example, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), or rubber based on ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM). The hardness of the material of the safety element 14 should be 40-65 units. Shore.

The fastening of the annular flange 2 to the body 1 is carried out by a threaded connection. The ring nut 5 is provided with holes 20 for the passage of liquid or gas.

Additionally, the fitting can be equipped with a device 21 for breaking the tightness of the fitting structure after the first use (Fig. 3.5).

The inclusion of this structural element allows you to irrevocably break the tightness of the fitting after disconnecting the pouring head, which leads to the release of pressure from the container. The device 21 for breaking the tightness of the fitting structure after the first use is made in the form of a split ring with one or more perpendicularly spaced protrusions having two rows of teeth. The device 21 is installed in the annular flange 2 in such a way that when pressing on the annular seal 11, the pressure is transferred to the rod 3, which moves downward and the protrusion 4 of the rod 3 engages with the teeth made on the protrusions of the split ring. When pressed for the first time (pouring a drink into a keg), the protrusion 4 clings to the upper tooth, when pressed, the device rises up and comes out of the annular flange 2. In this case, the fitting remains sealed. At the second pressing (with the dispensing nozzle), the protrusion 4 of the rod 3 clings to the lower tooth and when the dispensing nozzle is pressed or disconnected, the rod 3 under the action of a spring

19 moves up, lifting the device 21 higher, the upper tooth of which falls between the body 1 and the O-ring 11, while it irreversibly damages

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) tightness of the seal and a channel is formed for bleeding the excess pressure from the container.

Implementation of the invention

The inventive fitting is installed on the neck of the PET keg 22 using an O-ring, installed on the end of the neck, and secured with a threaded connection.

Pouring liquid into a PET keg, as well as draining liquid from it, is carried out by means of a fitting installed on the neck of the PET keg. To ensure the dispensing of liquid, a beverage dispensing pipe is connected to the open end of the hollow rod 3.

Figures 2 and 4 show a fitting with closed valve elements; wherein the upper outer edge of the O-ring 11 is in close contact with the outer valve seat 17, and the upper surface of the valve element 8 is in close contact with the seat 10.

On the beverage filling line, the keg can be installed with the fitting downwards and with the fitting upwards. When installed with the fitting downwards, the filling process is as follows:

The filling head of the filling line (not shown in Fig.) Has one or more protrusions that press against the surface of the valve element 8 and the O-ring 11, pressing them towards the inside of the keg 22 (Fig. 6,7). When the O-ring 11 is pushed inward towards the interior of the keg 22 (FIGS. 5-6), the O-ring 11 moves away from the outer valve seat 17 to form an outer channel around the stem 3. When the valve element 8 is pushed in towards the interior of the keg 22 relative to the O-ring 11, it moves away from the seat 10 formed by the lower inner edge of the O-ring 11 to form an inner channel around the valve element 8 in the chamber 7.

The filling of a PET keg with a drink is carried out through the external channel, while the displacement of the gas in the PET keg occurs through the internal channel. The supplied liquid passes through the specified external channel, passing the chamber 18 and through the holes 20 in the annular flange 2 directly into the container. After the pressure on the valve elements from the side of the pouring head is released, the valve elements of the fitting return to their original position by the action of the springs, closing the channels.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) When pouring a drink when the keg is installed with the fitting upwards, the process of opening the valves is similar, only this time the liquid enters through the inner channel, and the air exits through the outer channel.

Storage and transportation of a PET keg filled with a drink is carried out with closed valve elements.

Liquid filling from a PET keg is carried out when the keg is installed with the fitting upwards. The nozzle protrusions (not shown in the figures) press against the valve members of the fitting, exposing the outer and inner ports. An inert gas is supplied to the keg through an external channel under excess pressure from the external container, which displaces the liquid inside the keg through the tube, the stem 3 attached to it and the internal channel between the inner surface of the stem 3 and the valve element 8.

In the conditions of transportation, storage and operation, when the excess pressure in the PET keg exceeds the maximum allowable pressure, the pressure in the chamber 7 and the valve element 8 increases, which leads to the squeezing out of the bridge 16 of small thickness made in the element 14, followed by its destruction with increasing pressure with the formation of a channel to relieve excess pressure. The resulting through channel allows excess pressure to be released from the keg, thus preventing destruction (rupture) of the PET keg.

The material of the valve element 14, the thickness of the bridge, and also its diameter are selected depending on the required response pressure of the safety valve.

The tests of the claimed design were carried out. In this case, the diameter of the hole in the safety element 14 was 3-5 mm, the thickness of the jumper of the safety element was 0.5-1.5 mm, the hardness of the jumper along the Shore was in the range of 40 - 65 units. Values were found at which the structure could withstand a working pressure of up to 2.5 - 3 bar for a long time, and when a pressure of 5 bar or more was established, the safety valve was triggered in 0.5-5 minutes at an ambient temperature of 25-26 ° C. ...

It was found that a bulkhead thickness of more than 1.5 mm is ineffective, the response time becomes more than 5 min, and with an intense increase in pressure, the structure may not be safe for others. When using a jumper less than 0.5 mm, the working pressure becomes less than 1 bar, which is not suitable

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) for many drinks like beer. Bore diameters less than 3 mm will also increase response times over 5 minutes.

The advantage of the claimed invention is its safety due to the performance of the function of a safety valve when the excess pressure in the PET keg exceeds the specified value and prevents the destruction (rupture) of the PET keg during storage and operation, and versatility, since the use of an additional element (device) of breaking the tightness of the fitting design allows in fact, make the reusable fitting design disposable before the first use. In addition, the claimed invention is a versatile and technological design that allows replacing only one element, namely the O-ring, to obtain fittings of the S and D type, compatible with the corresponding types of filling / dispensing heads.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims

CLAIM

1. A fitting for a PET keg, containing a body with a central hole with a means for connecting to the neck of the keg, an annular flange connected to the body and provided with an axial hole and holes on the side surface, a hollow stem located in the body and passing through the axial hole of the annular flange, springs installed inside the hollow stem and outside of it, two valve elements made with the ability to move relative to the body between the closed and open positions, and the first valve element is placed inside the hollow stem with compression in the closed position to the second valve element, the second valve element is made in the form of an annular seals and is placed on the hollow rod with the possibility of joint movement along the axis, the outer edge of the O-ring in the closed position is in close contact with the body, characterized in that one of the valve elements is configured to perform the function of a safety valve and contains safety th element made of elastic polymeric material, including a blind channel, open on the lower side, and bounded on the upper side by a thin flexible bridge.

2. A fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety element is made of thermoplastic elastomer, or rubber based on ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, or silicone.

3. The fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety valve element has a Shore hardness of 40-65 units.

4. The fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety element contains a blind channel with a diameter of 3-5 mm

5. A fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the bridge on the upper side of the safety element is made with a thickness of 0.5-1.5 mm.

6. The fitting according to claim 1, further comprising a device for breaking the tightness of the fitting structure after the first use in the form of a split ring with one or more perpendicularly spaced projections having teeth.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)