PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICE FOR A BEVERAGE CONTAINER

Abstract

A pressure control device for controlling a pressure in a beverage container comprises a gas filled pressure control chamber enclosed by a wall of the pressure control device. The wall has an inner surface facing the chamber and an outer surface facing away from the chamber, the inner surface and outer surface defining a thickness of he wall. A scavenger material is provided in the pressure control device for capturing gas that enters, during use, into the pressure control chamber. The scavenger material is distributed over the wall thickness with a predetermined concentration from the inner surface towards the outer surface of the wall such that a rate of gas capture by the scavenger material changes over time.

Claims

1. A pressure control device for controlling a pressure in a beverage container, the pressure control device comprising a gas filled pressure control chamber enclosed by a wall of the pressure control device, and a scavenger material provided in the pressure control device for capturing gas that enters, during use, into the pressure control chamber, wherein the wall has an inner surface facing the chamber and an outer surface facing away from the chamber, the inner surface and outer surface defining a thickness of the wall, wherein the scavenger material is distributed over the wall thickness with a predetermined concentration from the inner surface towards the outer surface of the wall such that a rate of gas capture by the scavenger material changes over time.

2. Pressure control device according to claim 1, wherein the scavenger material is distributed over the wall thickness in a varying concentration.

3. Pressure control device according to claim 1, wherein the scavenger material is distributed over the wall thickness in a constant concentration.

4. Pressure control device according to claim 1, wherein the wall is made by injection moulding of an injection mouldable material mixed with the scavenger material.

5. Pressure control device according to claim 4, wherein the injection mouldable material is a material having a limited gas permeability for the gas that enters, during use, into the pressure control chamber.

6. Pressure control device according to claim 4, wherein the injection mouldable material is a thermoplastic material, preferably low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).

7. Pressure control device according to claim 1, wherein the wall has at least one movable wall part for operating a mechanism for opening and/or closing a gas supply opening of a gas holder.

8. Pressure control device according to claim 1, wherein a first amount of the scavenger material is provided in the wall in a layer at the inner surface to capture a first amount of the gas that enters, during use, into the pressure control chamber over a first time period, and at least a further amount of the scavenger material provided in the wall behind said layer to capture a further amount of the gas that enters, during use, into the pressure control chamber over a further time period following the first time period.

9. Pressure control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined concentration of the scavenger material provided in the wall is a concentration adapted to a surface area to volume ratio of the pressure control chamber.

10. Beverage container provided with a pressure control device in accordance with claim 1.

11. Beverage container according to claim 10, wherein the beverage container contains an effervescent beverage such as a malt-based beverage, for example beer, or an apple-based beverage, for example cider.

Description

[0029] An embodiment of a scavenger for use in a pressure control device according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 in a perspective view. The scavenger is a solid scavenger including a carrier molded using polypropylene and a solid ring of calcium hydroxide contained within the carrier. The process of manufacturing the scavenger is not practical and dust occurs such that personnel creating the product has to have protective masks and clothing. Another embodiment of a scavenger for use in a pressure control device according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 2 in a cross sectional perspective view, is made using over molding where the polypropylene has openings therein so that the carbon dioxide is exposed to the compacted calcium hydroxide as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0030] Preferably the creation of these scavengers using calcium hydroxide involves providing a polymeric material with a high permeation rate to carbon dioxide and then have calcium hydroxide material encapsulated in the polymer. This compound then provides a material which can be injection molded to produce solid scavengers.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3A,3B,3C in a perspective view, the solid scavenger can have various configurations. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a ring-type configuration may be utilized or, as shown in FIG. 3B, a fin-type configuration can be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the preferred embodiment is shown with the molded compound of the polymeric material in the calcium hydroxide. As is therein shown, there are six rings of material which provide a large surface area which can be contacted by the carbon dioxide and, as a result of the thickness, the carbon dioxide permeates and is absorbed. Also, as shown in FIG. 5A, there is a similar structure which has ribs interconnecting the circular rings of the molded material. The ideal wall of thickness of the rings is approximately 0.5 millimeters and can be between 0.2 and 0.8 millimeters to obtain better penetration of the carbon dioxide.

[0032] For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate aspects and preferred embodiments thereof, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.