CA2261560A1 - Device for the impregnation of liquids with gases - Google Patents
Device for the impregnation of liquids with gases Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2261560A1 CA2261560A1 CA002261560A CA2261560A CA2261560A1 CA 2261560 A1 CA2261560 A1 CA 2261560A1 CA 002261560 A CA002261560 A CA 002261560A CA 2261560 A CA2261560 A CA 2261560A CA 2261560 A1 CA2261560 A1 CA 2261560A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- gas
- filling element
- piston
- gas filling
- inlet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 167
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 95
- 238000005470 impregnation Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 29
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003566 sealing material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 64
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 64
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 21
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 17
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 10
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 208000033991 Device difficult to use Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001174 ascending effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000002105 tongue Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
- B01F23/20—Mixing gases with liquids
- B01F23/23—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids
- B01F23/236—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages
- B01F23/2361—Mixing gases with liquids by introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids specially adapted for aerating or carbonating beverages within small containers, e.g. within bottles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F33/00—Other mixers; Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers
- B01F33/50—Movable or transportable mixing devices or plants
- B01F33/501—Movable mixing devices, i.e. readily shifted or displaced from one place to another, e.g. portable during use
- B01F33/5014—Movable mixing devices, i.e. readily shifted or displaced from one place to another, e.g. portable during use movable by human force, e.g. kitchen or table devices
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
- Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
Abstract
We describe a device for the impregnation of liquids, in particular beverages, that are filled in liquid containers (4), in particular bottles, with gases, in particular CO2, comprising means for connecting a gas source, in particular at least one gas cylinder containing gas, and at least one gas filling element (38), to be connectable to the gas connecting means, for filling the gas into the liquid contained in a liquid container (4). The invention is distinguished by the gas filling element (38) being able to move between a neutral position, in which it is positioned above a level (96) formed by the liquid contained in the liquid container, and/or at least essentially outside of the liquid container (4), and an operating position, in which it is immersed in the liquid contained in the liquid container (4) by at least one section (38b).
Description
Device for the impreEnation of liQuids with gases Field of the Invention The invention relates to a device for the impregnation of liquids, in particular beverages, that are filled in liquid containers, such as bottles, with gases, in particular COZ. The invention comprises means for connecting to a gas source, in particular to at least one gas cylinder containing gas, and at least one gas filling element that can be connected to the gas connecting means and used to inject gas into the liquid located in a liquid container.
Background of the Invention Devices for impregnation of liquids with gases are well known and many types are in practical use. In this matter we refer to, for example, DE 24 61 373 A1, EP 0 A1, WO 81/01945, WO 84/00671, WO 84/04024, and DE 35 33 335 A1.
Such devices customarily contain a housing with a compartment for placing the bottle containing the liquid. For safety reasons, this compartment is behind a locked door. The upper part of this compartment contains the gas filling element, usually provided as a nozzle, which, in the attached position of the bottle, extends through the bottle's top into the contained liquid.
In the known devices attaching the bottle is cumbersome, time costly, and can do damage to the device. The space inside the housing to accept the bottle should be very limited to keep the device's design as small and compact as possible. Thus the bottle must on the one hand be inserted at an angle, due to the limited height of the housing, and on the other hand it must be inserted with sufficient accuracy and care to guarantee that the gas filling element, located in the upper section of the housing, is enclosed by the bottle's top and, in the bottle's attached position, reaches into the bottle through its top. The device's operation is made more di~cult by the fact that the bottle has to be already filled essentially up to its top by liquid, so that in the subsequent operation of the device it is guaranteed that the gas filling element's free end is actually immersed into the liquid.
These circumstances increase the weight of the bottle, which makes it more difficult to handle. In addition, there exists the risk of unintentionally spilling liquid during insertion and removal of the bottle.
DE 24 61 373 A1 describes a device of the type mentioned above, in which a filling head with a gas filling element is hinged in the upper section of the housing.
Attached to the filling head is a guard pipe, the inner diameter of which matches the outer diameter of the bottle. The lower end of the guard pipe, into which the bottle is inserted, is open. A
height adjustable Garner tray is provided in the lower part of the housing. To attach the bottle, the guard pipe, together with the filling head mounted to it, is swung out, the bottle is inserted through the open lower end of the guard pipe, whereby the guard pipe is responsible for the correct alignment of the bottle head with respect to the gas filling element. Subsequently, the guard pipe is swung into the housing, which lets the bottle rest on the carrier tray. The Garner tray is then lifted so that the bottle is pressed against the filling head, and the gas filling element now reaches through the bottle's top and is immersed in the contained liquid. This design allows a simple exact alignment of the bottle's top and the gas filling element, but attention must be paid to prevent disengagement of the bottle, which is relatively heavy due to the contained liquid, from the guard pipe as the bottle and guard pipe are swung into and out of the housing.
These circumstances make this known device difficult to use. The obj ective of the present invention lies in the simplification of the operation of the device of the above-mentioned type, so that bottles can be inserted without problems and without risk of damage to the device.
The present invention meets this objective in the following manner. The gas filling element can move between a neutral position, in which it is situated above a level defined by the liquid contained in the liquid container and/or at least essentially outside of the liquid container, and an operating position, in which at least a section is immersed into the liquid contained in the liquid container.
The insertion and removal of the liquid container, and thus the device's operation, is significantly simplified by this invention. The invention achieves this by the fact that the gas filling element can move between the neutral position and the operating position, and is brought into the neutral position prior to start and after the end of the device's operation, thus not interfering with the insertion or removal of liquid containers. The liquid container is maintained in a stationary position inside the device opposite to the moveable gas filling element, which improves the device's ease of operation.
The complicated movement sequence for insertion and removal of liquid containers necessary in the known device of DE 24 61 373 A1 is not required in this invention's device.
Expediently, a fastening mechanism is provided to lock in place the liquid containers opposite to the mobile gas filling element.
Also expediently, a driving unit for moving the gas filling element should be provided, so that manual adjustment of the gas filling element is not required. This enhances the invention's ease of operation.
Preferably, the driving unit contains a spring unit, which biases the gas filling element into its neutral position. This guarantees that the gas filling element is always in its neutral position, and vacates the compartment for insertion or removal of the liquid container when the driving unit is not activated.
An embodiment, especially preferred at present, is characterized by the fact that the driving unit contains a first pneumatic piston/cylinder arrangement to push the gas filling element into its operating position, the cylinder of which is also connected to the gas connecting mechanisms and is supplied with gas. Thus, this embodiment cleverly utilizes as a driving medium the same gas that is provided for impregnation of liquids, so that additional driving mechanisms or energy sources are not required.
The design of the above-mentioned embodiment can be fixrther simplified if the gas filling element is permanently or integrally joined with the piston of the first piston/cylinder arrangement.
The gas filling element, which is commonly executed as pipe or plunger having a nozzle, is free to move in the direction of its longitudinal extent. Expediently, the gas filling element should be part of the piston of the first piston/cylinder arrangement.
In a further embodiment, in which the gas filling element comprises an inlet for the gas, an outlet emitting the gas into the liquid when in its operating position, and a channel connecting the inlet with the outlet, is characterized by the fact that the inlet in the gas filling element is executed so that the inlet is only connected to the gas connecting means in the operating position of the gas filling element. On the one hand this guarantees that no gas can escape in the neutral position of the gas filling element, while on the other hand it utilizes in a clever manner the mobility of the gas filling element, to connect to the gas connecting means during the movement into the operating position. Practically, the inlet of the gas filling element should be executed in such a manner that the inlet is situated sealed within the cylinder of the first piston/cylinder arrangement in the neutral position, and in essentially all positions between the neutral position and the operating position. To prevent backward directed escape of the gas through the gas filling element in case of excess pressure, the gas filling element should contain a check valve that blocks the channel in the event of a pressure gradient between the outlet and the inlet.
An alternative embodiment, especially preferred at present, in which the gas filling element also comprises an inlet for the gas, an outlet emitting the gas into the liquid in the operating position, and a channel connecting the inlet with the outlet, is characterized by the feature that the inlet of the gas filling element is permanently connected to the gas connecting means, independent of the operating position that the gas filling element is in.
This embodiment offers a particularly uncomplicated design. Practically, the inlet of the gas filling element communicates with the cavity of the cylinder of the first piston/cylinder arrangement which actuates the gas filling element. To utilize the pressure of the gas, entering into the cavity from the gas connecting means, at first for actuation and thus for moving this invention's movable gas filling element, the cross-sectional area, oriented at right angle to the direction of pressure action, of the cavity of the cylinder of the first piston/cylinder arrangement should be larger than the cross-sectional area of the inlet in the gas filling element, so that the inlet can essentially act as a throttle.
In addition, the cross-sectional area of the outlet can be smaller than that of the channel formed in the gas filling element, so that the outlet can have a certain throttling effect with respect to the channel.
Advantageously, the device should be provided with a housing, on the first side of which the liquid container should be attachable by its opening. Hereby the gas filling element is free to move inside the housing and in its operating position protrudes out of the first side of the housing. This 'housing' will generally be a so-called filling head or the housing of such a filling head.
The housing can contain a cavity through which the gas filling element is guided in a sealed configuration, and this cavity can be bounded by a cylinder of a second piston/cylinder arrangement, the piston of which contains an opening through which the gas filling element is guided in a sealed configuration and moveable with respect to the piston. Furthermore, the piston can be forced from a neutral position into a sealing position, in which it is brought in sealing contact to a liquid container, so that the piston encloses the opening of the liquid container. For this purpose the piston of the second piston/cylinder arrangement should be equipped with a sealing material on its face that will be in contact with the liquid container, or should be equipped with a seal element which is, preferably ring shaped. This embodiment offers a particularly uncomplicated method, from a design standpoint, for sealing the liquid container during the pressurized impregnation of the liquid with carbon diode.
In a further development of this embodiment the piston of the second piston/cylinder arrangement should be spring-loaded into its neutral position. This embodiment offers the advantage that during inactivity of the second piston/cylinder arrangement its piston is always in its neutral position, i.e. retracted, allowing a problem-free insertion or removal of the liquid containers, thus keeping the device always in a state that allows the insertion or removal of liquid containers.
In addition, preferably at least one connecting channel is provided which connects the cavity with the interior of the liquid container. The cavity communicates with the remaining pressure system by this at least one connecting channel, so that the same pressure increases in this cavity as in the remaining system, pressing the piston against the top of the liquid container. The pressure equalization taking place in this embodiment between the cavity and the interior of the liquid container also makes easy removal of the liquid container possible. Preferably, the at least one connecting channel is formed on or within the piston of the second pistonJcylinder arrangement.
In an alternative embodiment of this invention the inlet of the gas filling element only communicates with the cavity in the operating position of the gas filling element. Hereby, the inlet preferably consists of an opening, which is formed laterally in that section of the gas filling element that is located inside the cavity during the operating position of the gas filling element. Thus, this embodiment utilizes separate pressure systems, a first pressure system for actuating this invention's moveable gas filling element, and a second pressure system for injecting the gas into the liquid. These pressure systems operate independently of each other, whereby, due to the special design, a dependency in the method of operation is given because injecting the gas into the liquid can only occur when the gas filling element is in its operating position. If a connecting channel is provided, then it should connect the cavity with the interior of the liquid container only in the sealing position of the piston, and a check valve should be provided, that blocks the connecting channel in the event of a pressure drop between the cavity and the liquid container.
This design enables a pressure equalization between the interior of the liquid container and the cavity, when the pressure inside the liquid container has reached the pressure value inside the cavity, or when the pressure in the cavity is lowered after operation, in preparation for the removal of the liquid containers containing the liquid impregnated with carbon dioxide, and a corresponding pressure drop arises between the liquid container and the cavity. Thus, this further development represents a safety measure.
Brief Description of the Drawings In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, but which should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope thereof, Fig. 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a device for the impregnation of liquids with carbon dioxide gas, combined with a schematic representation of a gas cylinder connected to the device and a safety valve connected to the device.
Fig. 2 shows a section of a first embodiment of the device together with the upper section of a bottle suspended therein, whereby the injection nozzle of the device is in its neutral position.
Fig. 3 shows the same representation as Fig. 2, but here the injection nozzle is in a position between its neutral position and its operating position.
Fig. 4 shows the same view as Fig. 2, except here the injection nozzle is in its operating position and the flapper valve is closed.
Fig. 5 shows the same view as Fig. 4, except here the flapper valve is open.
Fig. 6 shows in a top view a second embodiment of the device for the impregnation of liquids with carbon dioxide, combined with a schematic representation of a gas cylinder connected to the device, and of a control valve and a safety valve connected to the device.
Fig. 7 shows a section of a second embodiment of the device together with the upper section of a bottle suspended therein, whereby the injection nozzle of the device is in its neutral position.
Fig. 8 shows the same representation as Fig. 7, except the injection nozzle is in a position between its neutral position and its operating position.
Fig. 9 shows the same view as Fig. 7, except the injection nozzle is in its operating position.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate a first preferred embodiment for the impregnation of liquids with gases. Generally, these liquids will be beverages, which are filled in liquid containers, in particular bottles, whereby generally C02 or carbonic acid is used as gas.
Thus, as a rule such a device is part of a carbonation device.
The figures show the filling head 2 of such a carbonation device. At the lower face of filling head 2 a bottle 4 can be suspended by its top, as shown in Fig. 2. For clarity, the figures do not show the housing that accepts the bottle 4.
Fig. 1 schematically shows the top of a gas cylinder 6 that supplies the carbon dioxide gas.
A hand valve 8 with a control button 10 is provided at the on gas cylinder 6.
Upon pressing of control button 10, gas flows from gas cylinder 6 into an attached first gas line 12, which divides into a second gas line 14 and a third gas line 16. The second gas line 14 leads to a first port 18 in the filling head 2 and the third gas line 16 leads to a second port 20 in filling head 2. As can be further gathered from Fig. 1, a safety valve 22 is provided on the filling head 2, through which, in the event of excess pressure, gas is released from filling head 2, dependent on factory settings. Finally, a third port 24 is provided on filling head 2 to which a line 26 is connected, leading to an air-drain valve 28, that can be operated manually using control button 30.
It can be gathered from Figs. 2 to S, which show a section of filling head 2, that it consists of a lower cup shaped section 32 and an upper cylinder 34.
A second port 20 is formed as an inlet opening on the upper unattached end 34a of cylinder 34. Cylinder 34 encompasses a cavity 36 in which an elongated injection nozzle 3 8 or other gas filling element is supported by its upper section so it can move in the longitudinal direction of cylinder 34. The injection nozzle 38 has a circular cross section and is arranged coaxially with respect to cylinder 34. While the largest portion of injection nozzle 38 has a diameter which is perceptibly smaller than the interior diameter of cylinder 34, so that a gap with ring shaped cross section is created between the outer surface of injection nozzle 38 and the inner surface of cylinder 34, the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 38 is widened flange like, so that its exterior diameter essentially matches the interior diameter of cylinder 34 (Figures 2 - 5). The outer diameter of the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 38 contains a sealing ring, which is in sealing sliding contact with the inner surface of cylinder 34.
The inner surface of cylinder 34 in its upper end 34a is provided with an inward facing step 42, which the injection nozzle 38 is in contact to by its upper end 38a in the position shown in Fig. 2, which is the neutral position of injection nozzle 3 8. Thus, step 42 on the inner surface of cylinder 34 serves as end-stop for limiting the upward motion of injection nozzle 38.
A coil spring 44 is placed in the gap formed between the inner surface of cylinder 34 and the injection nozzle 38, enclosing the latter. As shown in Figures 2 - 5, coil spring 44 rests with its end on the widened upper end 3 8 a of inj ection nozzle 3 8 and with its lower end in the lower part 34b of cylinder 34 on the inward facing step 46, formed on the cylinder's 34 inner surface. Coil spring 44 is compressed, so it biases injection nozzle 38 into the neutral position shown in Fig. 2, holding it in this position.
Cylinder 34 is open on its lower end 34b, so that step 46 possesses a corresponding opening, which is aligned coaxially with respect to cylinder 34, and has an interior diameter matching the exterior diameter of injection nozzle 38, which protrudes out of the lower end 34b of cylinder 34. A circumferential sealing ring is placed on the inner surface of step 46 in the lower end 34b of cylinder 34. The sealing ring is in sealing sliding contact with the circumference of injection nozzle 38.
At right angles to its longitudinal axis, injection nozzle 38 is provided in its upper section with a continuous cross-bore 50, which serves as inlet for the gas, and from which a channel 52 branches off into the longitudinal direction of injection nozzle 38 (Figures 2 -5). This channel opens into a bore 54, provided inside the injection nozzle 38 along its longitudinal direction, and is coaxial with the latter. A check valve is provided between the bore 54 and channel 52 at the upper end of this bore 54. This check valve, shown as a ball valve in the illustrated embodiment, closes channel 52 if the pressure in bore 54 is, or is becoming, greater than that in channel 52. Channel 52 opens into an outlet 58 of smaller diameter at the lower end 3 8b of injection nozzle 3 8.
A flange 60 is formed at the lower end 34b of cylinder 34, which extends at right angle to the longitudinal axis of cylinder 34, and the diameter of which is larger than that of cylinder 34, as can be seen in the figures. This plate shaped flange 60 forms the upper part of the lower section 32 of filling head 2 and is mounted on the cup shaped housing part 62, which in turn is substantially in the shape of a cylinder arranged coaxially with respect to cylinder 34 and injection nozzle 38. Thus the plate shaped flange 60 and the substantially cylindrical housing part 62 form the housing for the lower section 32 of filling head 2.
Coaxially inside the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, a piston 64 can move in the direction of motion of injection nozzle 38. This piston 64 comprises a flange-like top 66, the outer diameter of which matches the interior diameter of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, and a collar shaped section 68, attached to the lower surface of the flange-like top 66, the exterior diameter of which is smaller than the interior diameter of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, and the interior diameter of which matches the exterior diameter of injection nozzle 38, which extends through the bore of the collar shaped section 68. In the illustrated embodiment example, both the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64 and the injection nozzle 38 are of such length that when injection nozzle 38 is in the neutral position of Fig. 2 its lower end 38b is essentially on the same level as the free end 68a of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64.
A sealing ring 70 is provided circumferentially in the exterior diameter of the flange-like top 66 of piston 64, which is in sealing sliding contact with the inner surface of the upper section of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62. A ring shaped projection 72 is formed at the inner surface of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, below the flange-like top 66 of piston 64. This projection 72 shows an inner bore, oriented coaxially with respect to cylinder 34 or injection nozzle 38, and through which the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64 is guided. Thus the inner diameter of the bore of the ring shaped projection 72 matches the outer diameter of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64. A
sealing ring 74 is provided circumferentially in the inner surface, bounding the bore, of the ring shaped projection 72. This sealing ring 74 is in sealing sliding contact with the outer circumference of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64.
Enclosing the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64, a coil spring 76 is located between the flange-like top 66 of piston 64 and the ring shaped projection 72 below it.
This coil spring forces piston 64 into the position shown in Fig. 2, which is the neutral position. In its neutral position, according to Fig. 2 of the illustrated embodiment, the coil spring 76 is expanded, so that no further upward motion of piston 64 takes place.
Alternatively, one can imagine providing end-stops which prevent a further upward motion of piston 64. In this case coil spring 76 can be compressed even in its neutral position to force piston 64 into its neutral position.
A substantially pressure-sealed compartment 78 is formed in the upper part of the lower section 32 of filling head 2. This compartment 78 is bordered by the plate shaped flange 60, the upper section of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, and the top 66 of piston 64. Connected to the pressure-sealed compartment 78 is the safety valve 22, which is attached to the outer face or upper face of flange 60. In addition, the previously mentioned first and third ports 18 and 24, which are also formed in flange 60, open into the pressure-sealed compartment 78.
A sealing ring 80 is placed circumferentially on the inner surface of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64, which bounds the through hole, through which injection nozzle 38 is guided. Sealing ring 80 is in sealing sliding contact with the outer circumference of injection nozzle 38.
Connecting channels are formed in the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64, which extend through piston 64 in the direction of motion of injection nozzle 38, from the piston's upper face, where they open into the pressure-sealed compartment 78, to the piston's lower surface. A flapper valve 84, shown as a rubber disk in this illustrated embodiment, is provided at the location at which connecting channels 82 open into the pressure-sealed compartment 78 at the upper surface of piston 64.
As can be seen in Figs. 2 to 5, sealing material or a sealing ring 86 is provided in a radial section outside of channels 82, at the lower free end 68a of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64.
As also shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the bottle 4 is suspended by its top 90 from the lower side of housing part 62 which forms part of the lower section 32 of filling head 2.
For this purpose, the top 90 of bottle 4 is equipped with a circumferential flange 92, extending outward, by which bottle 4 is supported on the inner surface of the inward curved lower end 94 of housing part 62. On its lower end 94, the housing part 62 shows a corresponding opening, through which the top 90 of bottle 4 is inserted.
Hereby the insertion of top 90 of bottle 4, and the engagement with the housing part 62 of the lower section 32 of filling head 2 can occur, for example, in the fashion of a bayonet system.
Alternatively, laterally placed clamps or retaining clips can be provided to engage top 90 of bottle 4. The lower end 68a of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64, the sealing ring 86, and the top 90 of bottle 4 are arranged in such a manner that sealing ring 86 is aligned with the top 90 of the attached bottle 4, and the connecting channels 82 open into the cavity of bottle 4, as seen in Fig. 2 The operation of the above-described first embodiment is explained as follows.
Bottle 4 is attached and held to filling head 2 as described above in the position shown in Fig. 2. The bottle 4 must be filled with liquid prior to attachment to filling head 4. It has to be filled so far that the liquid level 96 is located just below top 90 of bottle 4, as shown in Fig. 2. In addition, in the state shown in Fig. 2, the entire device is not yet pressurized, i.e. no gas has been conducted to filling head 2 from gas cylinder 6.
Thus both the injection nozzle 38 and the piston 64 are in their neutral positions, as in Fig.
Background of the Invention Devices for impregnation of liquids with gases are well known and many types are in practical use. In this matter we refer to, for example, DE 24 61 373 A1, EP 0 A1, WO 81/01945, WO 84/00671, WO 84/04024, and DE 35 33 335 A1.
Such devices customarily contain a housing with a compartment for placing the bottle containing the liquid. For safety reasons, this compartment is behind a locked door. The upper part of this compartment contains the gas filling element, usually provided as a nozzle, which, in the attached position of the bottle, extends through the bottle's top into the contained liquid.
In the known devices attaching the bottle is cumbersome, time costly, and can do damage to the device. The space inside the housing to accept the bottle should be very limited to keep the device's design as small and compact as possible. Thus the bottle must on the one hand be inserted at an angle, due to the limited height of the housing, and on the other hand it must be inserted with sufficient accuracy and care to guarantee that the gas filling element, located in the upper section of the housing, is enclosed by the bottle's top and, in the bottle's attached position, reaches into the bottle through its top. The device's operation is made more di~cult by the fact that the bottle has to be already filled essentially up to its top by liquid, so that in the subsequent operation of the device it is guaranteed that the gas filling element's free end is actually immersed into the liquid.
These circumstances increase the weight of the bottle, which makes it more difficult to handle. In addition, there exists the risk of unintentionally spilling liquid during insertion and removal of the bottle.
DE 24 61 373 A1 describes a device of the type mentioned above, in which a filling head with a gas filling element is hinged in the upper section of the housing.
Attached to the filling head is a guard pipe, the inner diameter of which matches the outer diameter of the bottle. The lower end of the guard pipe, into which the bottle is inserted, is open. A
height adjustable Garner tray is provided in the lower part of the housing. To attach the bottle, the guard pipe, together with the filling head mounted to it, is swung out, the bottle is inserted through the open lower end of the guard pipe, whereby the guard pipe is responsible for the correct alignment of the bottle head with respect to the gas filling element. Subsequently, the guard pipe is swung into the housing, which lets the bottle rest on the carrier tray. The Garner tray is then lifted so that the bottle is pressed against the filling head, and the gas filling element now reaches through the bottle's top and is immersed in the contained liquid. This design allows a simple exact alignment of the bottle's top and the gas filling element, but attention must be paid to prevent disengagement of the bottle, which is relatively heavy due to the contained liquid, from the guard pipe as the bottle and guard pipe are swung into and out of the housing.
These circumstances make this known device difficult to use. The obj ective of the present invention lies in the simplification of the operation of the device of the above-mentioned type, so that bottles can be inserted without problems and without risk of damage to the device.
The present invention meets this objective in the following manner. The gas filling element can move between a neutral position, in which it is situated above a level defined by the liquid contained in the liquid container and/or at least essentially outside of the liquid container, and an operating position, in which at least a section is immersed into the liquid contained in the liquid container.
The insertion and removal of the liquid container, and thus the device's operation, is significantly simplified by this invention. The invention achieves this by the fact that the gas filling element can move between the neutral position and the operating position, and is brought into the neutral position prior to start and after the end of the device's operation, thus not interfering with the insertion or removal of liquid containers. The liquid container is maintained in a stationary position inside the device opposite to the moveable gas filling element, which improves the device's ease of operation.
The complicated movement sequence for insertion and removal of liquid containers necessary in the known device of DE 24 61 373 A1 is not required in this invention's device.
Expediently, a fastening mechanism is provided to lock in place the liquid containers opposite to the mobile gas filling element.
Also expediently, a driving unit for moving the gas filling element should be provided, so that manual adjustment of the gas filling element is not required. This enhances the invention's ease of operation.
Preferably, the driving unit contains a spring unit, which biases the gas filling element into its neutral position. This guarantees that the gas filling element is always in its neutral position, and vacates the compartment for insertion or removal of the liquid container when the driving unit is not activated.
An embodiment, especially preferred at present, is characterized by the fact that the driving unit contains a first pneumatic piston/cylinder arrangement to push the gas filling element into its operating position, the cylinder of which is also connected to the gas connecting mechanisms and is supplied with gas. Thus, this embodiment cleverly utilizes as a driving medium the same gas that is provided for impregnation of liquids, so that additional driving mechanisms or energy sources are not required.
The design of the above-mentioned embodiment can be fixrther simplified if the gas filling element is permanently or integrally joined with the piston of the first piston/cylinder arrangement.
The gas filling element, which is commonly executed as pipe or plunger having a nozzle, is free to move in the direction of its longitudinal extent. Expediently, the gas filling element should be part of the piston of the first piston/cylinder arrangement.
In a further embodiment, in which the gas filling element comprises an inlet for the gas, an outlet emitting the gas into the liquid when in its operating position, and a channel connecting the inlet with the outlet, is characterized by the fact that the inlet in the gas filling element is executed so that the inlet is only connected to the gas connecting means in the operating position of the gas filling element. On the one hand this guarantees that no gas can escape in the neutral position of the gas filling element, while on the other hand it utilizes in a clever manner the mobility of the gas filling element, to connect to the gas connecting means during the movement into the operating position. Practically, the inlet of the gas filling element should be executed in such a manner that the inlet is situated sealed within the cylinder of the first piston/cylinder arrangement in the neutral position, and in essentially all positions between the neutral position and the operating position. To prevent backward directed escape of the gas through the gas filling element in case of excess pressure, the gas filling element should contain a check valve that blocks the channel in the event of a pressure gradient between the outlet and the inlet.
An alternative embodiment, especially preferred at present, in which the gas filling element also comprises an inlet for the gas, an outlet emitting the gas into the liquid in the operating position, and a channel connecting the inlet with the outlet, is characterized by the feature that the inlet of the gas filling element is permanently connected to the gas connecting means, independent of the operating position that the gas filling element is in.
This embodiment offers a particularly uncomplicated design. Practically, the inlet of the gas filling element communicates with the cavity of the cylinder of the first piston/cylinder arrangement which actuates the gas filling element. To utilize the pressure of the gas, entering into the cavity from the gas connecting means, at first for actuation and thus for moving this invention's movable gas filling element, the cross-sectional area, oriented at right angle to the direction of pressure action, of the cavity of the cylinder of the first piston/cylinder arrangement should be larger than the cross-sectional area of the inlet in the gas filling element, so that the inlet can essentially act as a throttle.
In addition, the cross-sectional area of the outlet can be smaller than that of the channel formed in the gas filling element, so that the outlet can have a certain throttling effect with respect to the channel.
Advantageously, the device should be provided with a housing, on the first side of which the liquid container should be attachable by its opening. Hereby the gas filling element is free to move inside the housing and in its operating position protrudes out of the first side of the housing. This 'housing' will generally be a so-called filling head or the housing of such a filling head.
The housing can contain a cavity through which the gas filling element is guided in a sealed configuration, and this cavity can be bounded by a cylinder of a second piston/cylinder arrangement, the piston of which contains an opening through which the gas filling element is guided in a sealed configuration and moveable with respect to the piston. Furthermore, the piston can be forced from a neutral position into a sealing position, in which it is brought in sealing contact to a liquid container, so that the piston encloses the opening of the liquid container. For this purpose the piston of the second piston/cylinder arrangement should be equipped with a sealing material on its face that will be in contact with the liquid container, or should be equipped with a seal element which is, preferably ring shaped. This embodiment offers a particularly uncomplicated method, from a design standpoint, for sealing the liquid container during the pressurized impregnation of the liquid with carbon diode.
In a further development of this embodiment the piston of the second piston/cylinder arrangement should be spring-loaded into its neutral position. This embodiment offers the advantage that during inactivity of the second piston/cylinder arrangement its piston is always in its neutral position, i.e. retracted, allowing a problem-free insertion or removal of the liquid containers, thus keeping the device always in a state that allows the insertion or removal of liquid containers.
In addition, preferably at least one connecting channel is provided which connects the cavity with the interior of the liquid container. The cavity communicates with the remaining pressure system by this at least one connecting channel, so that the same pressure increases in this cavity as in the remaining system, pressing the piston against the top of the liquid container. The pressure equalization taking place in this embodiment between the cavity and the interior of the liquid container also makes easy removal of the liquid container possible. Preferably, the at least one connecting channel is formed on or within the piston of the second pistonJcylinder arrangement.
In an alternative embodiment of this invention the inlet of the gas filling element only communicates with the cavity in the operating position of the gas filling element. Hereby, the inlet preferably consists of an opening, which is formed laterally in that section of the gas filling element that is located inside the cavity during the operating position of the gas filling element. Thus, this embodiment utilizes separate pressure systems, a first pressure system for actuating this invention's moveable gas filling element, and a second pressure system for injecting the gas into the liquid. These pressure systems operate independently of each other, whereby, due to the special design, a dependency in the method of operation is given because injecting the gas into the liquid can only occur when the gas filling element is in its operating position. If a connecting channel is provided, then it should connect the cavity with the interior of the liquid container only in the sealing position of the piston, and a check valve should be provided, that blocks the connecting channel in the event of a pressure drop between the cavity and the liquid container.
This design enables a pressure equalization between the interior of the liquid container and the cavity, when the pressure inside the liquid container has reached the pressure value inside the cavity, or when the pressure in the cavity is lowered after operation, in preparation for the removal of the liquid containers containing the liquid impregnated with carbon dioxide, and a corresponding pressure drop arises between the liquid container and the cavity. Thus, this further development represents a safety measure.
Brief Description of the Drawings In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, but which should not be construed as restricting the spirit or scope thereof, Fig. 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a device for the impregnation of liquids with carbon dioxide gas, combined with a schematic representation of a gas cylinder connected to the device and a safety valve connected to the device.
Fig. 2 shows a section of a first embodiment of the device together with the upper section of a bottle suspended therein, whereby the injection nozzle of the device is in its neutral position.
Fig. 3 shows the same representation as Fig. 2, but here the injection nozzle is in a position between its neutral position and its operating position.
Fig. 4 shows the same view as Fig. 2, except here the injection nozzle is in its operating position and the flapper valve is closed.
Fig. 5 shows the same view as Fig. 4, except here the flapper valve is open.
Fig. 6 shows in a top view a second embodiment of the device for the impregnation of liquids with carbon dioxide, combined with a schematic representation of a gas cylinder connected to the device, and of a control valve and a safety valve connected to the device.
Fig. 7 shows a section of a second embodiment of the device together with the upper section of a bottle suspended therein, whereby the injection nozzle of the device is in its neutral position.
Fig. 8 shows the same representation as Fig. 7, except the injection nozzle is in a position between its neutral position and its operating position.
Fig. 9 shows the same view as Fig. 7, except the injection nozzle is in its operating position.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate a first preferred embodiment for the impregnation of liquids with gases. Generally, these liquids will be beverages, which are filled in liquid containers, in particular bottles, whereby generally C02 or carbonic acid is used as gas.
Thus, as a rule such a device is part of a carbonation device.
The figures show the filling head 2 of such a carbonation device. At the lower face of filling head 2 a bottle 4 can be suspended by its top, as shown in Fig. 2. For clarity, the figures do not show the housing that accepts the bottle 4.
Fig. 1 schematically shows the top of a gas cylinder 6 that supplies the carbon dioxide gas.
A hand valve 8 with a control button 10 is provided at the on gas cylinder 6.
Upon pressing of control button 10, gas flows from gas cylinder 6 into an attached first gas line 12, which divides into a second gas line 14 and a third gas line 16. The second gas line 14 leads to a first port 18 in the filling head 2 and the third gas line 16 leads to a second port 20 in filling head 2. As can be further gathered from Fig. 1, a safety valve 22 is provided on the filling head 2, through which, in the event of excess pressure, gas is released from filling head 2, dependent on factory settings. Finally, a third port 24 is provided on filling head 2 to which a line 26 is connected, leading to an air-drain valve 28, that can be operated manually using control button 30.
It can be gathered from Figs. 2 to S, which show a section of filling head 2, that it consists of a lower cup shaped section 32 and an upper cylinder 34.
A second port 20 is formed as an inlet opening on the upper unattached end 34a of cylinder 34. Cylinder 34 encompasses a cavity 36 in which an elongated injection nozzle 3 8 or other gas filling element is supported by its upper section so it can move in the longitudinal direction of cylinder 34. The injection nozzle 38 has a circular cross section and is arranged coaxially with respect to cylinder 34. While the largest portion of injection nozzle 38 has a diameter which is perceptibly smaller than the interior diameter of cylinder 34, so that a gap with ring shaped cross section is created between the outer surface of injection nozzle 38 and the inner surface of cylinder 34, the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 38 is widened flange like, so that its exterior diameter essentially matches the interior diameter of cylinder 34 (Figures 2 - 5). The outer diameter of the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 38 contains a sealing ring, which is in sealing sliding contact with the inner surface of cylinder 34.
The inner surface of cylinder 34 in its upper end 34a is provided with an inward facing step 42, which the injection nozzle 38 is in contact to by its upper end 38a in the position shown in Fig. 2, which is the neutral position of injection nozzle 3 8. Thus, step 42 on the inner surface of cylinder 34 serves as end-stop for limiting the upward motion of injection nozzle 38.
A coil spring 44 is placed in the gap formed between the inner surface of cylinder 34 and the injection nozzle 38, enclosing the latter. As shown in Figures 2 - 5, coil spring 44 rests with its end on the widened upper end 3 8 a of inj ection nozzle 3 8 and with its lower end in the lower part 34b of cylinder 34 on the inward facing step 46, formed on the cylinder's 34 inner surface. Coil spring 44 is compressed, so it biases injection nozzle 38 into the neutral position shown in Fig. 2, holding it in this position.
Cylinder 34 is open on its lower end 34b, so that step 46 possesses a corresponding opening, which is aligned coaxially with respect to cylinder 34, and has an interior diameter matching the exterior diameter of injection nozzle 38, which protrudes out of the lower end 34b of cylinder 34. A circumferential sealing ring is placed on the inner surface of step 46 in the lower end 34b of cylinder 34. The sealing ring is in sealing sliding contact with the circumference of injection nozzle 38.
At right angles to its longitudinal axis, injection nozzle 38 is provided in its upper section with a continuous cross-bore 50, which serves as inlet for the gas, and from which a channel 52 branches off into the longitudinal direction of injection nozzle 38 (Figures 2 -5). This channel opens into a bore 54, provided inside the injection nozzle 38 along its longitudinal direction, and is coaxial with the latter. A check valve is provided between the bore 54 and channel 52 at the upper end of this bore 54. This check valve, shown as a ball valve in the illustrated embodiment, closes channel 52 if the pressure in bore 54 is, or is becoming, greater than that in channel 52. Channel 52 opens into an outlet 58 of smaller diameter at the lower end 3 8b of injection nozzle 3 8.
A flange 60 is formed at the lower end 34b of cylinder 34, which extends at right angle to the longitudinal axis of cylinder 34, and the diameter of which is larger than that of cylinder 34, as can be seen in the figures. This plate shaped flange 60 forms the upper part of the lower section 32 of filling head 2 and is mounted on the cup shaped housing part 62, which in turn is substantially in the shape of a cylinder arranged coaxially with respect to cylinder 34 and injection nozzle 38. Thus the plate shaped flange 60 and the substantially cylindrical housing part 62 form the housing for the lower section 32 of filling head 2.
Coaxially inside the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, a piston 64 can move in the direction of motion of injection nozzle 38. This piston 64 comprises a flange-like top 66, the outer diameter of which matches the interior diameter of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, and a collar shaped section 68, attached to the lower surface of the flange-like top 66, the exterior diameter of which is smaller than the interior diameter of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, and the interior diameter of which matches the exterior diameter of injection nozzle 38, which extends through the bore of the collar shaped section 68. In the illustrated embodiment example, both the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64 and the injection nozzle 38 are of such length that when injection nozzle 38 is in the neutral position of Fig. 2 its lower end 38b is essentially on the same level as the free end 68a of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64.
A sealing ring 70 is provided circumferentially in the exterior diameter of the flange-like top 66 of piston 64, which is in sealing sliding contact with the inner surface of the upper section of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62. A ring shaped projection 72 is formed at the inner surface of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, below the flange-like top 66 of piston 64. This projection 72 shows an inner bore, oriented coaxially with respect to cylinder 34 or injection nozzle 38, and through which the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64 is guided. Thus the inner diameter of the bore of the ring shaped projection 72 matches the outer diameter of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64. A
sealing ring 74 is provided circumferentially in the inner surface, bounding the bore, of the ring shaped projection 72. This sealing ring 74 is in sealing sliding contact with the outer circumference of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64.
Enclosing the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64, a coil spring 76 is located between the flange-like top 66 of piston 64 and the ring shaped projection 72 below it.
This coil spring forces piston 64 into the position shown in Fig. 2, which is the neutral position. In its neutral position, according to Fig. 2 of the illustrated embodiment, the coil spring 76 is expanded, so that no further upward motion of piston 64 takes place.
Alternatively, one can imagine providing end-stops which prevent a further upward motion of piston 64. In this case coil spring 76 can be compressed even in its neutral position to force piston 64 into its neutral position.
A substantially pressure-sealed compartment 78 is formed in the upper part of the lower section 32 of filling head 2. This compartment 78 is bordered by the plate shaped flange 60, the upper section of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, and the top 66 of piston 64. Connected to the pressure-sealed compartment 78 is the safety valve 22, which is attached to the outer face or upper face of flange 60. In addition, the previously mentioned first and third ports 18 and 24, which are also formed in flange 60, open into the pressure-sealed compartment 78.
A sealing ring 80 is placed circumferentially on the inner surface of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64, which bounds the through hole, through which injection nozzle 38 is guided. Sealing ring 80 is in sealing sliding contact with the outer circumference of injection nozzle 38.
Connecting channels are formed in the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64, which extend through piston 64 in the direction of motion of injection nozzle 38, from the piston's upper face, where they open into the pressure-sealed compartment 78, to the piston's lower surface. A flapper valve 84, shown as a rubber disk in this illustrated embodiment, is provided at the location at which connecting channels 82 open into the pressure-sealed compartment 78 at the upper surface of piston 64.
As can be seen in Figs. 2 to 5, sealing material or a sealing ring 86 is provided in a radial section outside of channels 82, at the lower free end 68a of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64.
As also shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the bottle 4 is suspended by its top 90 from the lower side of housing part 62 which forms part of the lower section 32 of filling head 2.
For this purpose, the top 90 of bottle 4 is equipped with a circumferential flange 92, extending outward, by which bottle 4 is supported on the inner surface of the inward curved lower end 94 of housing part 62. On its lower end 94, the housing part 62 shows a corresponding opening, through which the top 90 of bottle 4 is inserted.
Hereby the insertion of top 90 of bottle 4, and the engagement with the housing part 62 of the lower section 32 of filling head 2 can occur, for example, in the fashion of a bayonet system.
Alternatively, laterally placed clamps or retaining clips can be provided to engage top 90 of bottle 4. The lower end 68a of the collar shaped section 68 of piston 64, the sealing ring 86, and the top 90 of bottle 4 are arranged in such a manner that sealing ring 86 is aligned with the top 90 of the attached bottle 4, and the connecting channels 82 open into the cavity of bottle 4, as seen in Fig. 2 The operation of the above-described first embodiment is explained as follows.
Bottle 4 is attached and held to filling head 2 as described above in the position shown in Fig. 2. The bottle 4 must be filled with liquid prior to attachment to filling head 4. It has to be filled so far that the liquid level 96 is located just below top 90 of bottle 4, as shown in Fig. 2. In addition, in the state shown in Fig. 2, the entire device is not yet pressurized, i.e. no gas has been conducted to filling head 2 from gas cylinder 6.
Thus both the injection nozzle 38 and the piston 64 are in their neutral positions, as in Fig.
2.
If hand valve 8 is opened (Fig. 1 ) by pressing control button 10, C02 flows out of the gas cylinder 6, through the hand valve 8 and the first through gas lines 12, 14, and 16, so that not only does the C02 reach the pressure-sealed compartment 78 in the lower section 32 of filling head 2 through the first port 18, but also enters the interior 36 of cylinder 34 through the second port 20. This causes both piston 64 and injection nozzle 38 to be pressurized by the C02 and to be pushed against the tension of springs 76 and 44 in the direction of bottle 4. This causes the collar shaped section 66 with its sealing ring 86 to come into sealing contact with the top 90 of bottle 4. This is the operating position of piston 64. The bottle 4 is sealed in this manner. Also, the flapper valve 84 is closed by the pressure building up in compartment 78. Fig. 3 shows this condition.
Whereas in the state shown in Fig. 3, piston 64 has already reached its operating position, injection nozzle 38 moves fi~rther in the direction toward bottle 4, due to continued action upon its upper end 38a by gas continuously entering into the cavity 36 of cylinder 34 through the second port 20. Injection nozzle 38 moves until it reaches its operating position shown in Fig. 4, in which its lower end 3 8b is immersed in the liquid in bottle 4 and is located below the liquid level 96.
It should be noted that the distance between the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 38 and the step 46 in the lower end 34b of cylinder 34, as well as that between the flange-like top 66 of piston 64 and the ring shaped projection 72 must be dimensioned so that in the compressed state of the springs 44 and 76 enough room is left for the springs.
It must further be mentioned that the upper section of injection nozzle 38 takes on the role of a piston, which is actuated in the previously described manner, by the gas entering the cavity 36 of cylinder 34 through the second port 20.
Cross-bore 50, with its openings against the circumferential surface of injection nozzle 38, has no connection to 'outside' in either the neutral position of injection nozzle 38 as in Fig. 2, or on the nozzle's path as in Fig. 3, i.e. it is blocked, not least due to the effect of sealing ring 48. But in the operating position of injection nozzle 38 as in Fig. 4, the cross-bore SO communicates with the pressure-sealed compartment 78 in the lower section 32 of filling head 2, so that now the gas, located in this compartment 78 and continuously flowing through the first port 18, can flow through cross-bore 50, the channel branching off from it, the check valve 56, and the bore 54, and can exit out of the outlet 58 at the lower end 38b of injection nozzle 38 into the liquid inside bottle 4. This impregnates the liquid in bottle 4 with carbon dioxide.
After the desired pressure has built up throughout the entire system and the liquid in bottle 4 has been impregnated by carbon dioxide from gas cylinder 6, the hand valve 8 is closed and the air-drain valve 28 is opened by pressing the control button 3 0 (Fig.
1 ), so that the gas can escape out of compartment 78 through the third port 24 and the pressure in compartment 78 is lowered. This results in the creation of a pressure drop between the interior of bottle 4 and the compartment 78. Due to the excess pressure in the injection nozzle 38, generated at the beginning of the venting process, the check valve 56 closes for a short time period, preventing an ascending of the liquid through outlet 58, the bore 54, the channel 52, and the cross-bore 50 of injection nozzle 38 into the compartment 78. As indicated by Fig. 5, the flapper valve 84 opens automatically to reduce the pressure drop between the interior of bottle 4 and the compartment 78. Subsequently, the piston 64 retracts to its neutral position as in Fig. 2 due to the effect of coil spring 76; in identical manner injection nozzle 38 retracts to its neutral position as in Fig. 2, due to the effect of coil spring 44, so that now the bottle 4, containing the liquid impregnated with carbon dioxide, can be removed without problems.
A second preferred embodiment of a device for the enrichment of liquids with gases is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9. Hereby the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 on one hand by a modified connection from the gas cylinder 6 to filling head 2 with the added connection of a control valve 100, and on the other hand by a modified design of filling head 2, in particular a modified design of injection nozzle 38.
The differences between the first and second embodiments will be explained in detail in the following. Items that are in accordance will not be covered in greater detail.
Identical components will be referred to by the same reference symbols.
As shown in Fig. 6, in the second embodiment the gas cylinder 6 is connected to the filling head 2' only through a single gas line, i. e. through gas line 12, leading to the second port 20 in filling head 2'. The first port 18 in filling head 2' no longer communicates with gas line 12 and with the second port 20, as in the first embodiment, but with the control valve 100, through a port line 14', separate from gas line 12. Control valve 100 regulates the pressure in bottle 4 by selectively discharging excess gas.
As further seen in Figs. 7 to 9, in this embodiment the injection nozzle 38' and several elements contained in housing part 62 are of a modified design compared to the first embodiment.
Different from the first embodiment, the inlet 50' for introducing gas into the channel 54' of injection nozzle 38' is no longer provided as a cross-bore extending at right angle to the longitudinal axis of the injection nozzle, but is provided in the face 39 -bounding the cavity 36 of cylinder 34 - of the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 38'. Thus, in this embodiment the inlet 50' forms a simple opening by which the bore 54' opens into the cavity 36. The inlet 50' forms the beginning of bore 54' and in the illustrated embodiment has the same diameter as bore 54'. In contrast to the first embodiment, channel 52 and check valve 56 are not included here.
In addition, in this embodiment a coil spring 79 is located in the pressure-sealed compartment 78 which is formed in the upper part of the lower section 32 of filling head 2', and is bounded by the plate shaped flange 60 and the upper section of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, as well as by the top 66 of piston 64. This coil spring 79 is in contact with the plate shaped flange 60 by its upper end, and with the top 66 of piston 64 by its lower end. Thus this illustrated second embodiment is lacking coil spring 76, which is present in the first embodiment and therein is located between the top 66 of piston 64 and the ring shaped projection 72 below it. As a substitute the second embodiment contains resilient projections 76' on the inner surface of the cylindrical housing part 62, on which piston 64 rests with the lower surface of its flange-like top 66.
If the housing part 62 and the resilient projections 76' consist of the same material, e.g.
plastic, then the resilient proj ections 76' preferably are formed single-piece as resilient tongues on the inner surface of housing part 62'.
While in this embodiment coil spring 79, situated above piston 64, forces piston 64 in the direction toward bottle 4, the resilient projections 76' arranged below piston 64 exert a corresponding opposite pressure, i.e. pushing it in the opposite direction.
Thus the resilient projections 76' force piston 64 into its neutral position, similar to coil spring 76 in the first embodiment (See Fig. 2). Thus, in the second embodiment, piston 64 has floating support between the upper coil spring 79 and the lower resilient projections 76'.
The second embodiment is also lacking a flapper valve, which in the first embodiment is provided at the location at which connecting channels 82 open into the pressure-sealed compartment 78 at the upper side of piston 64. Thus in the second embodiment the pressure-sealed compartment 78 always communicates with the bottle 4 through the connecting channels 82.
While in the first embodiment the pressure-sealed compartment 78 in the upper part of the lower section 32 is connected to the manually operated air-drain valve 28 through the third port 24 and line 26, in the second embodiment the pressure-sealed compartment 78 is additionally connected to the previously mentioned control valve l00 through the first port 18 and connector line 14'. Identical pressure builds in the bottle and in the pressure-sealed compartment 78, since the compartment 78 in the upper part of the lower section 32 always communicates with the bottle 4 connected to filling head 2' through the connecting channels 82. Thus the same pressure is applied to the control valve 100, connected to the pressure-sealed compartment 78 through the first port 18 and the connector line 14' . If the pressure rises above a preset nominal value, then in this embodiment control valve 100 opens and reduces excess pressure, whereby the pressure in the entire system, comprised of the pressure-sealed compartment 78, and the interior of the bottle communicating with it through connecting channel 82, and thus inside the bottle 4 is lowered again or is kept at the nominal value.
The operation of the second embodiment described above is explained in the following.
In the state shown in Fig. 7, the liquid filled bottle 4 is already attached to the filling head 2'. The whole device is still unpressurized, and injection nozzle 38' and piston 64 are in their neutral positions. As shown in Fig. 7, no pressure-tight connection is yet established between sealing ring 86 of piston 64 and the top 90 of bottle 4.
When the hand valve 8 is opened by pressing control button 10 (Fig. 6), C02 flows from gas cylinder 6 through hand valve 8 into the gas line 12, so that the COz enters from the gas cylinder 6 through the second port 20 into the interior 36 of cylinder 34.
As a result, injection nozzle 38' is acted upon by the pressure of the C02 on the face 39 of its upper end 38a, and is moved against the pressure of spring 44 in the direction of bottle 4, as shown in Fig. 8.
Simultaneously, C02 enters into the bore 54 of injection nozzle 38' from the interior 36 of cylinder 34 through the inlet 50' in the face 39 at the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 3 8' . There it flows to the lower end 3 8b of inj ection nozzle 3 8', then is emitted out of outlet 58. In the illustrated second embodiment the cross sectional area or inside diameter of outlet 58 is significantly smaller than the cross sectional area or diameter of bore 54', and the cross sectional area of bore 54' is significantly smaller than the cross sectional area, oriented at right angle with respect to the direction of movement of injection nozzle 3 8', of cavity 3 6 of cylinder 34. Due to these circumstances, the bore 54, and especially the outlet 58 in injection nozzle 38' have a throttling effect on the C02 entering into cavity 36. In this manner, the C02 entering into cavity 36 through the second port 20, thus the pressure building in cavity 3 6, at first chiefly causes a motion of inj ection nozzle 3 8' from its neutral position, shown in Fig. 7, into its operating position, shown in Fig. 9. The fraction of gas already flowing out of outlet 58, and the related pressure loss are small and do not substantially affect the motion of injection nozzle 38'.
While the C02 flows from the gas cylinder 6 into the cavity of cylinder 34, a mechanism, neither illustrated in the figures nor described elsewhere, raises the bottle 4, so that its top 90 comes in contact with sealing ring 86 of piston 64, as shown in Fig. 8.
Thus a pressure-sealed connection is established between piston 64 and the bottle 4. As a result, the C02, already flowing out of the outlet 58 of injection nozzle 38', does not only flow into bottle 4, but also, through the connecting channels 82 into the pressure-sealed compartment 78 in the lower section 32 of filling head 2'. Thus, the same pressure is established in the pressure-sealed compartment 78 and in the bottle 4.
When the injection nozzle 38' has reached its operating position as in Fig. 9, the C02 in cavity 36 of cylinder 34 can expand no further, so that, during a continued supply of more C02 through the second port 20 into cavity 36, the pressure in the entire communicating system, comprising the cavity 36, the bore 54' of the injection nozzle 38', the bottle 4, and the pressure-sealed compartment 78, slowly rises. The pressure in the pressure-sealed compartment 78 rises until the tension of the resilient projections 76' is overcome, which causes piston 64 to be pressed more forcefully to the top 90 of bottle 4, against the tension of the resilient projections 76', by gas acting upon the piston's 64 flange-like top 66. The pressure-sealed connection between piston 64 and bottle 4 is improved in this manner, so that a pressure-proof contact of bottle 4 to the filling head 2' is automatically guaranteed, even at higher pressures, and there can be no unwanted escape of gas from the bottle 4 during the impregnation process.
If the pressure in the system exceeds a preset nominal value, control valve l00 opens and discharges excess gas, which either lowers the pressure in the system or maintains it at the desired nominal value.
After the desired pressure has been established and the liquid contained in bottle 4 has been impregnated with carbon dioxide from the gas cylinder 6, the hand valve 8 is closed, as in the first embodiment, and the air-drain valve 28 is opened by pressing the associated control button 30. As a result the gas can exit from compartment 78 through the third port 24, thus through connecting channels 32 also from the remaining system, and the pressure in the entire system is lowered. Hereby the piston 64 retracts into its neutral position of Fig. 7, due to the effect of the resilient projections 76', and the injection nozzle 3 8' retracts into its neutral position as in Fig. 7, due to the effect of coil spring 44. As a result piston 64 disengages from top 90 of bottle 4, and bottle 4, containing the liquid impregnated by carbon diode, can be removed from filling head 2' without problems.
The second embodiment operates in the same manner as the first embodiment in a11 other aspects.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
If hand valve 8 is opened (Fig. 1 ) by pressing control button 10, C02 flows out of the gas cylinder 6, through the hand valve 8 and the first through gas lines 12, 14, and 16, so that not only does the C02 reach the pressure-sealed compartment 78 in the lower section 32 of filling head 2 through the first port 18, but also enters the interior 36 of cylinder 34 through the second port 20. This causes both piston 64 and injection nozzle 38 to be pressurized by the C02 and to be pushed against the tension of springs 76 and 44 in the direction of bottle 4. This causes the collar shaped section 66 with its sealing ring 86 to come into sealing contact with the top 90 of bottle 4. This is the operating position of piston 64. The bottle 4 is sealed in this manner. Also, the flapper valve 84 is closed by the pressure building up in compartment 78. Fig. 3 shows this condition.
Whereas in the state shown in Fig. 3, piston 64 has already reached its operating position, injection nozzle 38 moves fi~rther in the direction toward bottle 4, due to continued action upon its upper end 38a by gas continuously entering into the cavity 36 of cylinder 34 through the second port 20. Injection nozzle 38 moves until it reaches its operating position shown in Fig. 4, in which its lower end 3 8b is immersed in the liquid in bottle 4 and is located below the liquid level 96.
It should be noted that the distance between the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 38 and the step 46 in the lower end 34b of cylinder 34, as well as that between the flange-like top 66 of piston 64 and the ring shaped projection 72 must be dimensioned so that in the compressed state of the springs 44 and 76 enough room is left for the springs.
It must further be mentioned that the upper section of injection nozzle 38 takes on the role of a piston, which is actuated in the previously described manner, by the gas entering the cavity 36 of cylinder 34 through the second port 20.
Cross-bore 50, with its openings against the circumferential surface of injection nozzle 38, has no connection to 'outside' in either the neutral position of injection nozzle 38 as in Fig. 2, or on the nozzle's path as in Fig. 3, i.e. it is blocked, not least due to the effect of sealing ring 48. But in the operating position of injection nozzle 38 as in Fig. 4, the cross-bore SO communicates with the pressure-sealed compartment 78 in the lower section 32 of filling head 2, so that now the gas, located in this compartment 78 and continuously flowing through the first port 18, can flow through cross-bore 50, the channel branching off from it, the check valve 56, and the bore 54, and can exit out of the outlet 58 at the lower end 38b of injection nozzle 38 into the liquid inside bottle 4. This impregnates the liquid in bottle 4 with carbon dioxide.
After the desired pressure has built up throughout the entire system and the liquid in bottle 4 has been impregnated by carbon dioxide from gas cylinder 6, the hand valve 8 is closed and the air-drain valve 28 is opened by pressing the control button 3 0 (Fig.
1 ), so that the gas can escape out of compartment 78 through the third port 24 and the pressure in compartment 78 is lowered. This results in the creation of a pressure drop between the interior of bottle 4 and the compartment 78. Due to the excess pressure in the injection nozzle 38, generated at the beginning of the venting process, the check valve 56 closes for a short time period, preventing an ascending of the liquid through outlet 58, the bore 54, the channel 52, and the cross-bore 50 of injection nozzle 38 into the compartment 78. As indicated by Fig. 5, the flapper valve 84 opens automatically to reduce the pressure drop between the interior of bottle 4 and the compartment 78. Subsequently, the piston 64 retracts to its neutral position as in Fig. 2 due to the effect of coil spring 76; in identical manner injection nozzle 38 retracts to its neutral position as in Fig. 2, due to the effect of coil spring 44, so that now the bottle 4, containing the liquid impregnated with carbon dioxide, can be removed without problems.
A second preferred embodiment of a device for the enrichment of liquids with gases is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9. Hereby the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 on one hand by a modified connection from the gas cylinder 6 to filling head 2 with the added connection of a control valve 100, and on the other hand by a modified design of filling head 2, in particular a modified design of injection nozzle 38.
The differences between the first and second embodiments will be explained in detail in the following. Items that are in accordance will not be covered in greater detail.
Identical components will be referred to by the same reference symbols.
As shown in Fig. 6, in the second embodiment the gas cylinder 6 is connected to the filling head 2' only through a single gas line, i. e. through gas line 12, leading to the second port 20 in filling head 2'. The first port 18 in filling head 2' no longer communicates with gas line 12 and with the second port 20, as in the first embodiment, but with the control valve 100, through a port line 14', separate from gas line 12. Control valve 100 regulates the pressure in bottle 4 by selectively discharging excess gas.
As further seen in Figs. 7 to 9, in this embodiment the injection nozzle 38' and several elements contained in housing part 62 are of a modified design compared to the first embodiment.
Different from the first embodiment, the inlet 50' for introducing gas into the channel 54' of injection nozzle 38' is no longer provided as a cross-bore extending at right angle to the longitudinal axis of the injection nozzle, but is provided in the face 39 -bounding the cavity 36 of cylinder 34 - of the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 38'. Thus, in this embodiment the inlet 50' forms a simple opening by which the bore 54' opens into the cavity 36. The inlet 50' forms the beginning of bore 54' and in the illustrated embodiment has the same diameter as bore 54'. In contrast to the first embodiment, channel 52 and check valve 56 are not included here.
In addition, in this embodiment a coil spring 79 is located in the pressure-sealed compartment 78 which is formed in the upper part of the lower section 32 of filling head 2', and is bounded by the plate shaped flange 60 and the upper section of the substantially cylindrical housing part 62, as well as by the top 66 of piston 64. This coil spring 79 is in contact with the plate shaped flange 60 by its upper end, and with the top 66 of piston 64 by its lower end. Thus this illustrated second embodiment is lacking coil spring 76, which is present in the first embodiment and therein is located between the top 66 of piston 64 and the ring shaped projection 72 below it. As a substitute the second embodiment contains resilient projections 76' on the inner surface of the cylindrical housing part 62, on which piston 64 rests with the lower surface of its flange-like top 66.
If the housing part 62 and the resilient projections 76' consist of the same material, e.g.
plastic, then the resilient proj ections 76' preferably are formed single-piece as resilient tongues on the inner surface of housing part 62'.
While in this embodiment coil spring 79, situated above piston 64, forces piston 64 in the direction toward bottle 4, the resilient projections 76' arranged below piston 64 exert a corresponding opposite pressure, i.e. pushing it in the opposite direction.
Thus the resilient projections 76' force piston 64 into its neutral position, similar to coil spring 76 in the first embodiment (See Fig. 2). Thus, in the second embodiment, piston 64 has floating support between the upper coil spring 79 and the lower resilient projections 76'.
The second embodiment is also lacking a flapper valve, which in the first embodiment is provided at the location at which connecting channels 82 open into the pressure-sealed compartment 78 at the upper side of piston 64. Thus in the second embodiment the pressure-sealed compartment 78 always communicates with the bottle 4 through the connecting channels 82.
While in the first embodiment the pressure-sealed compartment 78 in the upper part of the lower section 32 is connected to the manually operated air-drain valve 28 through the third port 24 and line 26, in the second embodiment the pressure-sealed compartment 78 is additionally connected to the previously mentioned control valve l00 through the first port 18 and connector line 14'. Identical pressure builds in the bottle and in the pressure-sealed compartment 78, since the compartment 78 in the upper part of the lower section 32 always communicates with the bottle 4 connected to filling head 2' through the connecting channels 82. Thus the same pressure is applied to the control valve 100, connected to the pressure-sealed compartment 78 through the first port 18 and the connector line 14' . If the pressure rises above a preset nominal value, then in this embodiment control valve 100 opens and reduces excess pressure, whereby the pressure in the entire system, comprised of the pressure-sealed compartment 78, and the interior of the bottle communicating with it through connecting channel 82, and thus inside the bottle 4 is lowered again or is kept at the nominal value.
The operation of the second embodiment described above is explained in the following.
In the state shown in Fig. 7, the liquid filled bottle 4 is already attached to the filling head 2'. The whole device is still unpressurized, and injection nozzle 38' and piston 64 are in their neutral positions. As shown in Fig. 7, no pressure-tight connection is yet established between sealing ring 86 of piston 64 and the top 90 of bottle 4.
When the hand valve 8 is opened by pressing control button 10 (Fig. 6), C02 flows from gas cylinder 6 through hand valve 8 into the gas line 12, so that the COz enters from the gas cylinder 6 through the second port 20 into the interior 36 of cylinder 34.
As a result, injection nozzle 38' is acted upon by the pressure of the C02 on the face 39 of its upper end 38a, and is moved against the pressure of spring 44 in the direction of bottle 4, as shown in Fig. 8.
Simultaneously, C02 enters into the bore 54 of injection nozzle 38' from the interior 36 of cylinder 34 through the inlet 50' in the face 39 at the upper end 38a of injection nozzle 3 8' . There it flows to the lower end 3 8b of inj ection nozzle 3 8', then is emitted out of outlet 58. In the illustrated second embodiment the cross sectional area or inside diameter of outlet 58 is significantly smaller than the cross sectional area or diameter of bore 54', and the cross sectional area of bore 54' is significantly smaller than the cross sectional area, oriented at right angle with respect to the direction of movement of injection nozzle 3 8', of cavity 3 6 of cylinder 34. Due to these circumstances, the bore 54, and especially the outlet 58 in injection nozzle 38' have a throttling effect on the C02 entering into cavity 36. In this manner, the C02 entering into cavity 36 through the second port 20, thus the pressure building in cavity 3 6, at first chiefly causes a motion of inj ection nozzle 3 8' from its neutral position, shown in Fig. 7, into its operating position, shown in Fig. 9. The fraction of gas already flowing out of outlet 58, and the related pressure loss are small and do not substantially affect the motion of injection nozzle 38'.
While the C02 flows from the gas cylinder 6 into the cavity of cylinder 34, a mechanism, neither illustrated in the figures nor described elsewhere, raises the bottle 4, so that its top 90 comes in contact with sealing ring 86 of piston 64, as shown in Fig. 8.
Thus a pressure-sealed connection is established between piston 64 and the bottle 4. As a result, the C02, already flowing out of the outlet 58 of injection nozzle 38', does not only flow into bottle 4, but also, through the connecting channels 82 into the pressure-sealed compartment 78 in the lower section 32 of filling head 2'. Thus, the same pressure is established in the pressure-sealed compartment 78 and in the bottle 4.
When the injection nozzle 38' has reached its operating position as in Fig. 9, the C02 in cavity 36 of cylinder 34 can expand no further, so that, during a continued supply of more C02 through the second port 20 into cavity 36, the pressure in the entire communicating system, comprising the cavity 36, the bore 54' of the injection nozzle 38', the bottle 4, and the pressure-sealed compartment 78, slowly rises. The pressure in the pressure-sealed compartment 78 rises until the tension of the resilient projections 76' is overcome, which causes piston 64 to be pressed more forcefully to the top 90 of bottle 4, against the tension of the resilient projections 76', by gas acting upon the piston's 64 flange-like top 66. The pressure-sealed connection between piston 64 and bottle 4 is improved in this manner, so that a pressure-proof contact of bottle 4 to the filling head 2' is automatically guaranteed, even at higher pressures, and there can be no unwanted escape of gas from the bottle 4 during the impregnation process.
If the pressure in the system exceeds a preset nominal value, control valve l00 opens and discharges excess gas, which either lowers the pressure in the system or maintains it at the desired nominal value.
After the desired pressure has been established and the liquid contained in bottle 4 has been impregnated with carbon dioxide from the gas cylinder 6, the hand valve 8 is closed, as in the first embodiment, and the air-drain valve 28 is opened by pressing the associated control button 30. As a result the gas can exit from compartment 78 through the third port 24, thus through connecting channels 32 also from the remaining system, and the pressure in the entire system is lowered. Hereby the piston 64 retracts into its neutral position of Fig. 7, due to the effect of the resilient projections 76', and the injection nozzle 3 8' retracts into its neutral position as in Fig. 7, due to the effect of coil spring 44. As a result piston 64 disengages from top 90 of bottle 4, and bottle 4, containing the liquid impregnated by carbon diode, can be removed from filling head 2' without problems.
The second embodiment operates in the same manner as the first embodiment in a11 other aspects.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
Claims (24)
1. A device for the impregnation of liquids, in particular beverages, that are filled into liquid containers (4), in particular bottles, with gases, in particular CO2, comprising means (12, 14, 18) for connecting a gas source, in particular for at least one gas cylinder (6), containing gas, and at least one gas filling element (38; 38'), to be connectable to said gas connecting means (12, 14, 16), for injecting the gas into the liquid contained in said liquid containers (4), whereby, said gas filling element (38; 38') can move between a neutral position (Figs.
2, 6), in which it is located above a level (96) defined by the liquid contained in the liquid containers (4), and/or at least outside of the liquid container (4), and an operating position (Figs. 4, 8), in which it is immersed by at least one section (38b) in the liquid contained in the liquid containers (4).
2. Device of claim 1 with a fastening mechanism (92, 94) for locking in place the liquid container (4) opposite to the mobility of the gas filling element (38; 38').
2. Device of claim 1 with a fastening mechanism (92, 94) for locking in place the liquid container (4) opposite to the mobility of the gas filling element (38; 38').
3. Device of claims 1 or 2 with a driving unit (6, 44) for moving the gas filling element (38; 38').
4. Device of claim 3 wherein said driving unit contains a spring unit (44) that biases said gas filling element (38; 38') into its neutral position (Figs. 2, 6).
5. Device of claims 3 or 4 wherein said driving unit contains a first pneumatic piston/cylinder arrangement (34, 38; 34, 38') that forces the gas filling element (38; 38') into its operating position (Figs. 4, 8), the cylinder of which (34) is also connected to the gas connecting mechanisms (12, 14, 16), and thus is supplied with gas.
6. Device of claim 5 wherein said gas filling element (38; 38') is permanently or in one piece joined with said piston of first said piston/cylinder arrangement (34, 38; 34, 38').
7. Device of at least one of the claims 1 to 6 wherein said gas filling element (38; 38') is executed as tube or nozzle and can move in the direction of its longitudinal extent.
8. Device of claims 5 and 7 wherein said gas filling element (38; 38') is part of said piston of first said piston/cylinder arrangement (34, 38; 34, 38').
9. Device of at least one of the claims 1 to 8 wherein said gas filling element (38) comprises an inlet (50) for the gas, an outlet (58) emitting the gas into the liquid in said gas filling element's operating position, and a channel (52, 54) connecting said inlet (50) with said outlet (58), whereby said inlet (50) in said gas filling element (38) is provided in such a manner that said inlet (50) is connected to said gas connecting means (12, 14, 16) only in the operating position of said gas filling element (38).
10. Device of claims 8 and 9 wherein said inlet (50) in said gas filling element (38) is provided in such a fashion that said inlet (50) is positioned sealed within said cylinder (34) of first said piston/cylinder arrangement (34, 38) during the neutral position (Fig. 2), and essentially all positions (Fig. 3) between the neutral position (Fig. 2) and the operating position (Fig. 4) of said gas filling element (38).
11. Device of claims 9 or 10 wherein said gas filling element (38) contains a check valve (56) which blocks the channel (52, 54) in the event of a pressure drop between said outlet (58) and said inlet (50).
12. Device of at least one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said gas filling element (38') comprises an inlet (50') for the gas, an outlet (58) emitting the gas into the liquid in said gas filling element's (38') operating position (Fig. 8), and a channel (54') connecting said inlet (50) with said outlet (58), whereby said inlet (50') in said gas filling element (38') is connected permanently with said gas connecting means (12), independently of the position of said gas filling element (38').
13. Device of claims 5 and 12 wherein said inlet (50') communicates with said cavity (36) of said cylinder (34) of said first piston/cylinder arrangement (34, 38').
14. Device of claim 13 wherein the cross sectional area, oriented at right angle to the direction of pressure action, of the cavity (36) of said cylinder (34) of first said piston/cylinder arrangement (34, 38'), is larger than the cross sectional area of said inlet (50') in said gas filling element (38').
15. Device of at least one of claims 9 to 14 wherein the cross sectional area of said outlet (58) is smaller than that of said channel (54; 54') formed in said gas filling element (38; 38').
16. Device of at least one of claims 1 to 15 with a housing (60, 62), the first side of which the liquid container (4) can be attached to by its opening, whereby
17 said gas filling element (38; 38') is supported movable in said housing (60, 62), and protrudes out of said first side (94) of said housing (60, 62) in its operating position (Fig. 4).
17. Device of claim 16 wherein said housing (60, 62) contains a cavity (78), through which said gas filling element (38; 38') is guided sealed, and said cavity (78) is bounded by a cylinder (62) of a second piston cylinder arrangement (62, 64), the piston (64) of which contains an opening, through which said gas filling element (38; 38') is guided sealed, movable with respect to said piston (64), whereby said piston (64) can be forced from a neutral position (Fig. 2, 6) to a sealing position (Fig. 4, 8), wherein it can be brought in sealing contact with the liquid container (4), so that said piston (64) encloses the opening of the liquid container (4).
17. Device of claim 16 wherein said housing (60, 62) contains a cavity (78), through which said gas filling element (38; 38') is guided sealed, and said cavity (78) is bounded by a cylinder (62) of a second piston cylinder arrangement (62, 64), the piston (64) of which contains an opening, through which said gas filling element (38; 38') is guided sealed, movable with respect to said piston (64), whereby said piston (64) can be forced from a neutral position (Fig. 2, 6) to a sealing position (Fig. 4, 8), wherein it can be brought in sealing contact with the liquid container (4), so that said piston (64) encloses the opening of the liquid container (4).
18. Device of claim 17 wherein said piston (64) of second said piston/cylinder arrangement is provided with sealing material on its face (68a), which is to be brought in contact with the liquid container (4), or contains a, preferably ring shaped, sealing element (86).
19. Device of claim 17 or 18 wherein said piston (64) of second said piston/cylinder arrangement (62, 64) is spring-loaded (76; 76', 79) into its neutral position (Figs. 2, 6).
20. Device of at least one of claims 17 to 19 with at least one connecting channel (82) that connects said cavity (78) with the interior of the liquid container (4).
21. Device of claim 20 wherein said at least one connecting channel (82) is formed on, or in, said piston (64) of said second piston/cylinder arrangement (62, 64).
22. Device of at least one of claims 9 to 11, and of at least one of claims 17 to 20 wherein said inlet (50) of said gas filling element (38) communicates with said cavity (78) essentially only in the operating position of said gas filling element (38) (Fig. 4).
23. Device of claim 22 wherein said inlet (50) consists of an opening, which is formed laterally in that section of said gas filling element (38) which is positioned inside said cavity (78) during the operating position (Fig. 4) of said gas filling element (38).
24. Device of claims 20 or 21 and claims 21 or 22 wherein said connecting channel (82) connects said cavity (78) with the interior of the liquid container (4) only when said piston (64) is in its sealing position (Fig. 4), and a check valve (84) is provided which blocks said connecting channel (82) in the event of a pressure drop between said cavity (78) and the liquid container (4).
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19805198A DE19805198A1 (en) | 1998-02-10 | 1998-02-10 | Carbonated drinks bottle |
| DE19805198.0 | 1998-02-10 | ||
| DE29822624U DE29822624U1 (en) | 1998-02-10 | 1998-12-18 | Device for enriching liquids with gases |
| DE29822624.3 | 1998-12-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2261560A1 true CA2261560A1 (en) | 1999-08-10 |
Family
ID=26043738
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002261560A Abandoned CA2261560A1 (en) | 1998-02-10 | 1999-02-10 | Device for the impregnation of liquids with gases |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0935993A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH11333270A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2261560A1 (en) |
| CZ (1) | CZ44699A3 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL128433A0 (en) |
| PL (1) | PL331367A1 (en) |
| SK (1) | SK16999A3 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7975988B2 (en) | 2004-09-29 | 2011-07-12 | Soda-Club Ltd. | Device for carbonating a liquid with pressurized gas |
| CN102371128A (en) * | 2010-07-12 | 2012-03-14 | 谢尔盖·亚历山德罗维奇·布奇克 | Devices for performing species exchange processes in multiphase systems |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TR199801497U (en) * | 1998-08-03 | 2000-03-21 | Çağlar Şeref | Innovation in soda machines. |
| DE19855170A1 (en) * | 1998-11-30 | 2000-05-31 | Sparkling Kraemer Gmbh | Device for carbonating beverages |
| DE10102158A1 (en) * | 2001-01-18 | 2002-09-12 | Schwarz Dieter Ds Produkte | Method and device for producing a gas-enriched liquid, in particular a carbonated and oxygen-enriched beverage, container and beverage |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PT68320A (en) | 1977-07-29 | 1978-08-01 | Sodastream Ltd | Portable apparatus for carbonating water |
| GB2068757B (en) | 1980-01-15 | 1983-03-02 | Sodastream Ltd | Apparatus for aerating liquids |
| ZA822530B (en) | 1981-04-27 | 1983-03-30 | Sodastream Ltd | Apparatus for aerating liquids |
| ZA835729B (en) | 1982-08-20 | 1984-09-26 | Sodastream Ltd | Liquid aerating apparatus |
| IN160891B (en) | 1983-04-08 | 1987-08-15 | Sodastream Ltd | |
| GB8423938D0 (en) | 1984-09-21 | 1984-10-31 | Sodastream Ltd | Liquid carbonating apparatus |
-
1999
- 1999-02-05 EP EP99102280A patent/EP0935993A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1999-02-09 SK SK169-99A patent/SK16999A3/en unknown
- 1999-02-09 IL IL12843399A patent/IL128433A0/en unknown
- 1999-02-10 CZ CZ99446A patent/CZ44699A3/en unknown
- 1999-02-10 CA CA002261560A patent/CA2261560A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-02-10 PL PL99331367A patent/PL331367A1/en unknown
- 1999-02-10 JP JP11032805A patent/JPH11333270A/en active Pending
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7975988B2 (en) | 2004-09-29 | 2011-07-12 | Soda-Club Ltd. | Device for carbonating a liquid with pressurized gas |
| CN102371128A (en) * | 2010-07-12 | 2012-03-14 | 谢尔盖·亚历山德罗维奇·布奇克 | Devices for performing species exchange processes in multiphase systems |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| PL331367A1 (en) | 1999-08-16 |
| CZ44699A3 (en) | 1999-11-17 |
| EP0935993A1 (en) | 1999-08-18 |
| JPH11333270A (en) | 1999-12-07 |
| SK16999A3 (en) | 2000-02-14 |
| IL128433A0 (en) | 2000-01-31 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |