PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE FOR PRESSURE DRIVEN BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUSES

• US 20120305109A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AB InBev Co.
• Original Assignee: AB InBev Co.
• Inventors: Peirsman, Daniel, Vandekerckhove, Stijn
• Granted Patent: US 9,519,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/505
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0655 using one spring-loaded membrane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7793 With opening bias [e.g., pressure regulator]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7825 Rectilinear valve stem rigid with reactor surface

Abstract

Pressure regulating valve for controlling the pressure at which a pressurized propellant gas is injected into a container containing a liquid for driving said liquid out of the container, said valve comprising: A first and a second polymeric shells, the first shell comprising a gas inlet and outlet openings, and the second shell containing means for resiliency biasing. A polymeric membrane, clamped between the first and second shells, thus defining a first and a second chambers sealingly separated by the membrane. A joint between the first and second polymeric shells, strong enough to withstand the pressures reigning in either chamber and ensuring fluid tightness between the two chambers; wherein, all polymeric components of said pressure regulating valve are made of the same polymer class.

Claims

1. A pressure regulating valve for controlling the pressure at which a pressurized propellant gas is injected into a container containing a liquid for driving said liquid out of the container, the valve comprising:

a first and a second polymeric shells, the first shell comprising a gas inlet and outlet openings, and the second shell containing means for resiliently biasing;

a polymeric membrane clamped between the first and second shells thus defining a first and a second chambers sealingly separated by the membrane; and

a joint between the first and second polymeric shells, strong enough to withstand the pressures reigning in either chamber and ensuring fluid tightness between the two chambers;

wherein, all polymeric components of said pressure regulating valve are made of the same polymer class.

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the joint between the first and second polymeric shells is ensured by an over-injected polymeric ribbon running along the whole length of the interface between the two shells and the membrane, said polymeric ribbon being made of the same polymer class as the other polymeric components.

3. The valve according to claim 2, wherein the rims of the first and second shells and/or the peripheral edge of the membrane have a specific structure for allowing the polymeric ribbon to anchor the components together and to sealingly embed the peripheral edge of the membrane.

4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the means for resiliently biasing the membrane consist of a helicoidal spring, an elastomeric bloc, or a hydraulic system.

5. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said polymer class is selected from polyolefins, in particular, polypropylene, polyethylene;

polyamides;

polystyrenes, and polyesters.

6. The valve according to claim 1, suitable for generating a pressure difference between flowing in and flowing out gas of the order of 100 bar.

7. The valve according to claim 1, wherein one half shell of the valve is an integral part of the container'"'"'s closure.

8. The valve according to claim 1, wherein one half shell of the valve is an integral part of the container'"'"'s chime.

9. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the membrane comprises means for obturating the inlet opening when the pressure in the first chamber is above a given pressure limit value, said means having a surface which is brought into sealing contact with a matching surface of said inlet opening when the membrane biasing means are compressed over a given value related to said pressure limit value.

10. A method for manufacturing a pressure regulating valve according to claim 1 comprising the following steps:

injecting in two cavities of a single tool two polymeric shells;

moving the two shells thus produced in registry;

interposing between the two shells a polymeric membrane; and

overinjecting along the interface between the two shells and the membrane a polymeric ribbon to sealingly join them, thus forming a chamber divided in two sealed off compartments by the membrane,

wherein, all polymeric components of said pressure regulating valve are made of the same polymer class.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the membrane is injected in a third cavity of the same tool as the one used for injecting the two shells.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein all the polymeric components of said pressure regulating valve are made of the same polymer.

13. A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a pressure regulating valve according to claim 1.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 being a disposable, home beverage dispensing apparatus.