Patent Application
20160251210
Pressurized beverage containers (containers that are capable of maintaining internal pressure, e.g., from carbonation or compressed gas) are typically of single use design, e.g. a can or bottle of beer. These containers are generally constructed of glass or an aluminum alloy. Closure mechanisms range from caps, twist off or pressed, to tabs which are integrally formed with the lid or top of the vessel.
Compressed gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and Nitrogen are used for both the pressurization of beverages in containers as well as providing carbonation in solution in the beverage. In the case of many carbonated liquids it is beneficial to be able to control or meter the amount of pressure of the gas being used.
Some larger containers for carbonated beverages, e.g. kegs, while reusable, and in some cases pressurizable, are not easily transportable or easily cleaned due to their large size and valve/dispensing system. Medium sized (e.g., 32 or 64 ounce) beer containers, commonly known as “growlers,” are generally not capable of maintaining carbonation or pressurization, and thus if the entire contents are not consumed at one sitting the remaining beer will go flat. Recently, efforts have been made to provide growler-sized beverage containers that are configured to allow a user to inject a gas into the container to prevent the beverage from going flat.
The technology disclosed herein relates to systems for regulating gas pressure in a beverage container.
In one aspect, the invention features a device comprising a lid for a beverage container, and a compressed gas pressure regulator integrated into the lid.
Some implementations include one or more of the following features.
In some implementations the lid may be threaded. The compressed gas pressure regulator may include a regulator housing integrally formed with the lid. The housing may include an internal bore configured to contain valve components of the compressed gas pressure regulator, for example a spring biased piston. The compressed gas pressure regulator may include a pressure adjustment element configured to allow a user to adjust the pressure within the container from outside of the container. In some cases, the pressure adjustment element comprises a threaded knob configured to apply adjustable compression to a piston spring, in which case the housing may include a threaded bore configured to receive the threaded knob.
The compressed gas pressure regulator may also include a pressure display that is visible from the exterior of the beverage container. The gas pressure regulator may be configured to reduce gas pressure from a source pressure of at least 800 psi to a pressure of less than 100 psi, in some cases to a gas pressure of less than 20 psi or even less than 10 psi. The compressed gas pressure regulator may be configured to allow air or other gas to be purged from within a container on which the lid is mounted. In some cases, the lid includes a pressure relief valve. The lid may include an inlet through which a gas can be injected into the container, in fluid communication with the gas pressure regulator.
The invention also features methods of using the devices disclosed herein.
Pressure regulation systems are described herein that provide gas pressure regulation and metering to establish and maintain a desired pressure within a beverage container such as a growler or other portable multi-serving container. These systems include a gas pressure regulator integrated into a lid or cap that is placed on the container to seal the container. In some implementations, the pressure regulation system provides automatic regulation of gas pressure to a preset level. In addition, the pressure regulation system may provide for purging trapped air or other gases from the container and allowing them to be replaced with the desired compressed gas.
One possible configuration of a pressure regulating system 10 is shown in
A gas pressure regulator 13, described in further detail below, is integrally joined to or integrally formed with the lid 12. The gas pressure regulator includes a visible pressure display 14 that is connected to a regulated pressure supply e.g., an external compressed gas source 16. The external compressed gas source provides a supply of high pressure gas and may be a typical pressurized cartridge (e.g., Nitrogen or CO2 cartridge), as shown, or a larger stationary supply. The display 14 may take the form of a gauge or other device for indicating the regulated pressure value to a user. The external pressure adjustment element 18 allows the user to adjust the regulated pressure to a desired value. Rotation of this component will vary the regulated pressure. The adjustment element 18 may be provided in a different form, for example, as a lever or button.
The pressure regulating system may also include a dispensing device 20, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,887,959, incorporated above. The dispensing device is also integrated into lid 12, and is configured to allow fluids to be dispensed from the container. The tubing of the dispensing device may be flexible, as shown, or rigid and may have a variety of control valves configured to control flow of liquid from the container. These control valves may be actuated in any desired manner, e.g., by a push button, rotating member or the like. In some cases, the dispensing device 20 will be omitted, e.g., if the beverage container includes a dispensing device that is not integrated with the lid, e.g., a spigot positioned elsewhere on the container.
Referring to
A manually operated purge valve assembly 24 allows the vessel to be evacuated of air and then refilled with a gas such as CO2 or Nitrogen, thus preserving the integrity of the beverage. This is especially important with fermented liquids such as beer for which extended contact with ambient air causes degradation of the beer.
The gas inlet 32 provides a connection point for a high pressure gas source, e.g., source 16 shown in
To further describe
Valve 44, under load from spring 38, serves to close off the exit of high pressure gas from the high pressure region and is sealed when closed by O-ring 46. As the spring force on piston 40 increases, it will eventually reach a point at which it forces valve 44 away from wall 48 thus allowing high pressure gas to escape the high pressure region.
In some implementations, the compressed gas pressure regulator is configured to reduce gas pressures from 800 psi (source pressure) to a desired predetermined container pressure, e.g., less than 100 psi, less than 50 psi, less than 20 psi or even as low as 10 psi or less.
Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
For example, while the pressure regulation system has been described above as being integrated into the lid of a vessel, the system can be associated with other parts of the vessel or otherwise mounted on the vessel. As an example, the pressure regulation system may be integrated into a handle for the vessel, e.g., as shown in
Referring to
As shown in
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/121,403, filed Feb. 26, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62121403 | Feb 2015 | US |
