Beverage dispensing system, beverage container and pressurizing system for use in a beverage dispensing system or container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11377339-B2
Application number	US-201515317155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2015
Priority date	Jun 11, 2014
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

Beverage dispensing system, beverage container and pressurizing system for use in a beverage dispensing system or container. Beverage dispensing system 1 comprising a beverage container 2 with a beverage compartment 3 and a pressurizing system 10, wherein the pressurizing system 10 comprises a gas container 11 comprising pressurized gas, a closure 13 closing the gas container 11 and a pressure regulator 12 operative for opening the closure 13 for allowing gas to enter into the beverage compartment 3 from the gas container 11, wherein the pressure regulator 12 comprises a regulating chamber 15 having at least a wall part 17 movable and/or deformable based on pressure in the beverage compartment 3, wherein at least one opening 24 is provided through a wall 18 of the regulating chamber 15 providing for at least part of a gas passage between the regulating chamber 15 and the beverage compartment 3.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage dispensing system comprising a beverage container with a beverage compartment and a pressurizing system, wherein the pressurizing system comprises a gas container comprising a pressurized gas, a closure closing the gas container and a pressure regulator operative for opening the closure for allowing gas to enter from the gas container through a gas space into the beverage compartment, wherein the pressure regulator comprises a regulating chamber having at least a wall part movable and/or deformable based on pressure in the beverage compartment, wherein the regulating chamber is separated from the gas space by said wall part, wherein at least one opening is provided through a wall of the regulating chamber providing for at least part of a gas passage between the regulating chamber and the beverage compartment, allowing passage of gas into and out of the regulating chamber through said at least one opening.

2. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening defines a passage which is dimensioned such that, when the pressure inside the regulating chamber and the beverage compartment is substantially equal, a gas can pass through more easily than a fluid.

3. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 2 , wherein the fluid is a beverage.

4. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 2 , wherein the gas can pass through said opening or openings but the fluid cannot.

5. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein a series of openings is provided between the regulating chamber and the beverage compartment, wherein each opening defines a passage which is dimensioned such that when the pressure inside the regulating chamber and the beverage compartment is substantially equal, a gas can pass through more easily than a fluid.

6. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 5 , wherein when the pressure inside the regulating chamber and the beverage compartment is substantially equal a gas can pass through said opening or openings but fluid cannot.

7. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the beverage compartment is filled at least partly with a carbonated beverage, wherein the at least one opening is or a series of openings together are defined such that over an extended period of time, when no beverage is dispensed, temperature changes of the beverage leading to a change of pressure in the beverage compartment will be followed by the same pressure change inside the regulating chamber.

8. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 7 , wherein the change of pressure in the beverage compartment will be followed by the same pressure change inside the regulating chamber without supply of gas from the gas container.

9. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the pressurizing system is included inside the beverage container.

10. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein a labyrinth is provided connected to the at least one opening, such that a gas from the beverage compartment can only reach said at least one opening through said labyrinth.

11. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 10 , wherein the labyrinth comprises a first end at or near the at least one opening and a second end at the opposite end of the labyrinth, wherein a gas inlet is provided at the first end or between the first and second end, connecting the closure or a space at least partly surrounding the closure, such that when the closure is opened gas flowing from the gas container flows through said labyrinth into the beverage compartment.

12. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 11 , wherein the second end is in the beverage compartment.

13. Beverage dispensing system according to claim 10 , wherein the labyrinth is provided in a plane substantially parallel to an end wall of the gas container in which the closure is provided.

14. Beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening is formed between a wall part of an aperture in a wall of the regulating chamber and a plug inserted in said aperture.

15. Beverage dispensing system according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one opening is formed by surface roughness of the wall part of the aperture and of a wall part of the plug adjacent the said wall part of the aperture.

16. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening or a combination of a series of openings define a passage such that a pressure drop in the beverage compartment during dispensing of an amount of beverage therefrom, resulting in a pressure drop inside the regulating chamber cannot be compensated in the same period of time by supply of a gas through the passage from the beverage compartment to the regulating chamber, but allows such compensation over a longer period of time.

17. A container comprising an inner volume for storage and a pressure regulating device comprising a pressure regulator and a pressure gas reservoir comprising an outlet with a valve, opening into a gas space of the pressure regulator, wherein the pressure regulator is arranged for opening the valve, wherein the pressure regulator comprises a regulating chamber having at least one wall part defined by a movable and/or deformable element, the regulating chamber being separated from the gas space by said movable and/or deformable element, wherein the regulating chamber comprises a gas, wherein the regulating chamber is provided with a gas passage to a surrounding of the regulating chamber inside the inner volume, said passage allowing gas to flow into and out of the regulating chamber.

18. The container according to claim 17 , wherein the gas passage is designed such that upon movement of the movable and/or deformable element changing an inner volume of the regulating chamber faster than an amount of gas having a volume equal to said changing of the inner volume can escape or enter through said passage, the gas pressure in said regulating chamber is changed.

19. Container according to claim 17 , wherein the passage opens directly into the inner volume of the container.

20. The container according to claim 17 , wherein the passage is formed by or comprises a passage formed between two surfaces, in which at least one of said surfaces has a surface roughness such that gas passing between said surfaces is slowed down.

21. The container according to claim 20 , wherein the passage is formed by or comprises the passage formed between two surfaces touching each other.

22. The container according to claim 17 , wherein the gas passage leads from the regulating chamber into the inner volume for storage.

23. The container according to claim 17 , wherein the passage is dimensioned such that when, starting from the gas pressure equilibrium between the chamber and the inner volume, the gas pressure inside the inner volume drops 1/10 th of a bar in less than a minute.

24. The container according to claim 17 , wherein the longer period of time is more than 2 minutes.

25. The container according to claim 24 , wherein the longer period of time is more than 4 minutes.

26. The container according to claim 25 , wherein the longer period of time is 5 minutes or more.

27. The container according to claim 17 , wherein the passage is dimensioned such that when, starting from a gas pressure equilibrium between

Assignees

• Heineken Supply Chain Bv

Inventors

• Wolthers Wolter
• Landman Bernardus Cornelis Johannes
• Wagemakers Thomas Theodorus Nicolaas Johannes

Classifications

• B65D83/673

  at least a portion of the propellant being separated from the product and incrementally released by means of a pressure regulator · CPC title

• B67D1/04 Primary

  Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers · CPC title

• B67D1/0437

  comprising a gas pressure space within the container for the liquid · CPC title

• B67D1/0406 Primary

  with means for carbonating the beverage, or for maintaining its carbonation (B67D1/0418 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B67D1/1252 Primary

  Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation (for beer engines B67D1/025) · CPC title