Container device for distributing a drinkable liquid under pressure from a gas

• US 5,246,140 A
• Filed: 12/11/1992
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micro Matic A/S
• Original Assignee: Micro Matic A/S
• Inventors: Thix, Andre, Ipsen, Bernt
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US07/989,881
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 222/4, 222/131, 222/396, 222/399, 222/400.7, 222/402.18
• US Class Current: 222/4
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0406 with means for carbonating the beverage, or for maintaining its carbonation B67D1/0418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0412 the whole dispensing unit being fixed to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0089 operated by lever means

Abstract

A container device is used to distribute a preferably drinkable liquid, such as beer, wine, mineral water or juice, under pressure from a gas such as CO₂. The container device includes a liquid container with a combined gas and liquid valve and a coupling head which may be detachably coupled with the gas and liquid valve for dispensing liquid from the liquid container and adding gas via a reduction valve from a reservoir of liquified gas in a high pressure container. Without a noticeable increase in overall volume of the container device, the high pressure container can hold and carry a sufficient amount of gas for emptying liquid from the liquid container.

Claims

1. A container device for distributing a liquid under pressure from a gas, the container device comprising:

a liquid container with a combined gas and liquid valve;

at least one liquified gas high pressure container joined with the liquid container to form an integral unit, said liquified gas high pressure container having a reduction valve mounted thereto to reduce a high pressure of a gas phase coming from the at least one liquified gas high pressure container to a reduced gas pressure in the liquid container; and

a coupling head detachably coupled simultaneously with both the combined gas and liquid valve and said reduction valve allowing the gas with reduced pressure from the reduction valve to pass to the liquid container via a gas passage of the combined gas and liquid valve and the liquid to be dispensed under pressure from the gas from the liquid container via a liquid passage of the combined gas and liquid valve.

2. The container device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid gas high pressure container is selected from one of two container shapes, a first container shape being a cylinder and a second container shape being a donut-shape, said liquified gas high pressure container connected to the liquid container by a one of welding, soldering, seaming and screwing.

3. The container device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one liquified gas high pressure container is selected from one of two container shapes, a first container shape being a cylinder and a second container shape being a donut-shape, said at least one liquified gas high pressure container being surrounded by and embedded in a jacket of material surrounding the liquid container.

4. The container device according to claim 3, wherein the material of the jacket is foam plastic.

5. The container device according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one liquified gas high pressure container ha sa gas pressure of not less than 60 bar and a product of the gas pressure and a volume in liters of each of said at least one liquified gas high pressure container is not greater than 250 liter-bars.

6. The container device according to claim 1, wherein the reduction valve is integrally connected to both the liquid container and the at least one liquified gas high pressure container.

7. The container device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling head includes a dispensing valve for dispensing liquid;

the reduction valve defines a first axis and the combined gas and liquid valve defines a second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis; and

the coupling head is arranged to connect the reduction valve with the combined gas and liquid valve simultaneously with the connection of the dispensing valve and the combine gas and liquid valve.

8. The container device of claim 1, wherein the liquid container defines a first wall and the at least one liquified gas high pressure container defines a second wall, the first wall being distinct from the second wall such that the liquid container and the at least one liquified gas high pressure container do not share a common wall.

9. The container device of claim 1, further comprising a jacket, wherein both the liquid container and the at least one liquified gas high pressure container are fixed embedded in said jacket and portions of the jacket separate the liquid container from the at least one liquified gas high pressure container.

10. The container device according to claim 1, further comprising a jacket of material surrounding said liquid container, wherein said at least one liquified gas high pressure container is embedded in the jacket of material surrounding the liquid container separated from said liquid container.

11. The container device according to claim 10, wherein the material of the jacket is foam plastic.