Pressure regulating system for a beverage container and beverage container provided therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12065303-B2
Application number	US-202017629470-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2020
Priority date	Jul 24, 2019
Publication date	Aug 20, 2024
Grant date	Aug 20, 2024

Abstract

A pressure regulating system for a beverage container includes a first compartment for containing a pressurized gas. The first compartment is in fluid communication with a surrounding space through a gas valve for opening and closing a passage between the first compartment and surrounding space. A gas valve control system includes a deformable and/or movable wall or wall part, which is in contact with the gas valve for opening and/or closing the gas valve. A second compartment is provided at a side of the deformable and/or movable wall part. The movable and/or deformable wall part forms a wall of said second compartment and the second compartment forms a pressure regulating space and includes a wall part formed by or including at least a gas permeable, liquid tight permeable wall part.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pressure regulating system for a beverage container system, comprising a first compartment for containing a pressurized gas, in fluid communication with a surrounding space through at least a gas valve for opening and closing a passage between the first compartment and surrounding space, wherein a gas valve control system is provided, comprising a deformable and/or movable wall or wall part, wherein said deformable and/or movable wall part is operably in contact with the at least a gas valve for opening and/or closing the at least a gas valve, wherein a second compartment is provided at a side of said deformable and/or movable wall part, said movable and/or deformable wall part forming a wall of said second compartment, wherein the second compartment forms a pressure regulating space and comprises a wall part formed by or comprising at least a gas permeable wall part, wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part is liquid tight and stiff such that the at least a gas permeable wall part will not deform when there is a pressure difference over the at least a gas permeable wall part, and wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part has a gas permeability in the range of 1000 to 4000 barrer, the gas permeability being given for CO 2 gas or N 2 gas or a CO 2 /N 2 gas mixture.

2. Pressure regulation system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part is configured such that during use the gas can enter into the second compartment and/or leave therefrom.

3. Pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part is provided with a support frame mounted in and/or on a wall of the second compartment, wherein the support frame has a stiffness higher than the at least a gas permeable wall part.

4. Pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the first compartment is in open communication with the surroundings when the at least a gas valve is open.

5. Pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein during use at least the first and second compartment are filled with the same gas or gas mixture, in gaseous and/or liquid form.

6. Pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part comprises or includes at least one of:
a membrane, the membrane being at least one of a plastic membrane or a non-elastic membrane;
a laminate;
an injection moulded part;
impregnated woven part; and
an impregnated non-woven part.

7. Pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part comprises or is made of silicone or a silicone based material.

8. Pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part is coated with or impregnated with silicone or a silicone based material.

9. Pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the movable and/or deformable wall part is provided at a first side of the second compartment and the at least a gas permeable wall part is provided at an opposite second side of the second compartment.

10. Beverage container, comprising a pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a gas valve of the first compartment opens into a beverage compartment of the beverage container, and wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part is provided in or in direct fluid contact with said beverage compartment.

11. Beverage container, comprising a pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a gas valve of the first compartment opens into a beverage compartment of the beverage container, and wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part is provided in or in direct fluid contact with a third compartment, separating the at least a gas permeable wall part from said beverage compartment.

12. Pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein during use at least the first and second compartment are filled with CO 2 or N 2 or a mixture thereof, in gaseous and/or liquid form.

13. Pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the movable and/or deformable wall part is provided at a first side of the second compartment, the first side of the second compartment facing the first compartment, and the at least a gas permeable wall part is provided at an opposite second side of the second compartment.

14. Pressure regulator for use in a pressure regulating system according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator comprises at least the second compartment, and a connecting provision for connecting the pressure regulator to a gas container, wherein at least part of an outer wall of the second compartment is provided by a semi permeable wall part.

15. Pressure regulation system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a gas permeable wall part is configured such that during use the gas can enter into the second compartment and/or leave therefrom via the at least a gas permeable wall part, and such that the at least a gas permeable wall part keeps liquid from entering said second compartment.

16. A pressure regulating system for a beverage container system, comprising a first compartment for containing a pressurized gas, in fluid communication with a surrounding space through at least a gas valve for opening and closing a passage between the first compartment and surrounding space, wherein a gas valve control system is provided, comprising a deformable and/or movable wall or wall part, wherein said deformable and/or movable wall part is operably in contact with the at least a gas valve for opening and/or closing the at least a gas valve, wherein a second compartment is provided at a side of said deformable and/or movable wall part, said movable and/or deformable wall part forming a wall of said second compartment, wherein the second compartment forms a pressure regulating space and comprises a wall part formed by or comprising at least a gas permeable, liquid tight permeable wall part, and
having a configuration that leads to a ξ (Zeta) that is in the range of 0.00125 to 0.005 (1/s) wherein ξ is defined by:

ζ
=

RT
⁢

β
·

A
perm

V
ch

⁢
dperm

wherein R=the gas constant, T=temperature in the second compartment (K), β=permeability [mol/m·s·Pa], A perm =surface area for permeation of the at least a gas permeable wall part, V ch =Chamber volume of the second compartment, and D perm =thickness of the at least a gas permeable wall part.

17. A pressure regulating system for a beverage container system, comprising a first compartment for containing a pressurized gas, in fluid communication with a surrounding space through at least a gas valve for opening and closing a passage between the first compartment and surrounding space, wherein a gas valve control system is provided, comprising a deformable and/or movable wall or wall part, wherein said deformable and/or movable wall part is operably in contact with the at least a gas valve for opening and/or closing the at least a gas valve, wherein a second compartment is provi

Assignees

• Heineken Supply Chain Bv

Inventors

• Vlasveld Daniël Petrus Nicolaas
• De Groot Allard
• Van Beelen Rudolf Klass
• Wolthers Wolter

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

• B65D83/384

  the container body being an aerosol container located in an outer shell or in an external container · CPC title

• B67D2001/0824

  with dip tubes · CPC title

• B67D1/0802

  Dip tubes · CPC title

• B67D1/1252

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