PRESSURE VESSEL FOR GAS AND BEVERAGE DISPENSER WITH PRESSURE VESSEL

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage bubbler (1) and a pressure vessel (2) for a gas for use in a beverage bubbler (1). According to the invention, the pressure vessel (2) or/and the beverage bubbler (1) has a flavor storage unit (4) which is designed to hold a flavor and to introduce the flavor into a gas which is intended for introduction into a beverage to be bubbled, or into the beverage.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser (1), at least comprising: a pressure vessel (2) for holding gas which is intended for introduction into a beverage to be bubbled, a beverage container (12) or/and a beverage guide line for the beverage, and an actuating unit for opening a fluidic connection between the pressure vessel (2) and the beverage container (12) or/and the beverage guide line, characterized by a flavor storage unit (4) which is designed to hold a flavor and to introduce the flavor into the gas or into the beverage.

2. The beverage dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) is arranged in or on a gas guide line (5) for guiding the gas from a pressure vessel (2) into the beverage to be bubbled, the gas guide line (5) and the flavor storage unit (4) being fluidically connected to one another or being connectable to one another in a switchable manner, or is arranged in or on a beverage container (12) or a beverage guide line for the beverage, wherein the beverage container (12) or the beverage guide line and the flavor storage unit (4) are fluidically connected to one another or can be switchably connected to one another, or is arranged in or on the pressure vessel (2) in which the gas is stored, wherein the pressure vessel (2) and the flavor storage unit (4) are fluidically connected to one another or can be switchably connected to one another.

3. The beverage dispenser (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) is arranged between the pressure vessel (2) and the beverage container (12) or in an outlet region of the gas conduit (5) in or on the gas conduit (5).

4. The beverage dispenser (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the gas guide line (5) has a suction opening (7) in the region of the flavor storage unit (4) for sucking in the flavor from the flavor storage unit (4) due to a flow of the gas through the gas guide line (5).

5. The beverage dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) is designed as a pod, as a cartridge, as a pad or as a fleece or as a porous unit or comprises a pod, a cartridge, a pad or a fleece or a porous unit.

6. The beverage dispenser (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) or the pod or cartridge or the pad or the fleece or the porous unit of the flavor storage unit (4) is replaceable.

7. The beverage dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) is arranged on a valve (3) of the pressure vessel (2).

8. The beverage dispenser (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) is closed by the valve (3) in a closed valve position and is fluidically connected to a gas outflow channel (10) of the valve (3) in an outflow position of the valve (3).

9. The beverage dispenser (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the valve (3) has a flavor filling opening (23) for filling the flavor storage unit (4) with flavor through the valve (3).

10. A pressure vessel (2) for holding a gas, comprising a container body (13) with a container base and an end region opposite the container base with a container opening and a valve (3) arranged at least in sections within the end region, characterized in that a flavor storage unit (4) is arranged in the pressure vessel (2), which is designed to hold a flavor and to introduce the flavor into the gas which is intended for introduction into a beverage to be sparkling.

11. The pressure vessel (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) is designed as a pod, as a cartridge, as a pad or as a fleece or as a porous unit or has a pod, a cartridge, a pad or a fleece or a porous unit.

12. The pressure vessel (2) according to claim 11, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) or the pod or cartridge or the pad or the fleece or the porous unit of the flavor storage unit (4) is replaceable.

13. The pressure vessel (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) is arranged on a valve (3) of the pressure vessel (2).

14. The pressure vessel (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that the flavor storage unit (4) is closed by the valve (3) in a closed valve position and is fluidically connected to a gas outflow channel (10) of the valve (3) in an outflow position of the valve (3).

15. The pressure vessel (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that the valve (3) has a flavor filling opening (23) for filling the flavor storage unit (4) with flavor through the valve (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Examples of embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0040] Show therein:

[0041] FIG. 1 schematic of an embodiment of a beverage dispenser,

[0042] FIG. 2 schematic of a further embodiment of a beverage dispenser,

[0043] FIG. 3 schematic of a further embodiment of a beverage dispenser,

[0044] FIG. 4 schematic representation of a pressure vessel of a further embodiment of a beverage dispenser, wherein the pressure vessel has a valve, and wherein the valve is shown in a closed valve position,

[0045] FIG. 5 schematic of the pressure vessel of FIG. 4, with the valve shown in an outflow position, and

[0046] FIG. 6 schematic of the pressure vessel shown in FIG. 4, with the valve shown in the outflow position and the outflow of a gas and a flavor from the pressure vessel.

[0047] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference signs in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0048] FIGS. 1 to 3 show examples of various possible embodiments of a beverage dispenser 1. FIGS. 4 to 6 show examples of a pressure vessel 2 of a further embodiment or for a further embodiment of the beverage dispenser 1, wherein FIG. 4 shows a closed valve position of a valve 3 of the pressure vessel 2 and FIGS. 5 and 6 show an outflow position of the valve 3. FIG. 6 schematically shows an outflow of a gas, in particular carbon dioxide, and an flavor from the pressure vessel 2, with first arrows P1 showing the flowing gas, second arrows P2 showing the flowing flavor and third arrows P3 showing the flowing flavored gas, i.e. the gas mixed with the flavor, i.e. a gas-flavor mixture.

[0049] The beverage dispenser 1 has an flavor storage unit 4, which is designed to hold a flavor and, in the examples shown, to introduce the flavor into the gas, which is intended for introduction into a beverage to be dispensed. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the beverage is located in a beverage container 12, for example in the form of a water bottle.

[0050] To introduce the flavor into the gas, the flavor storage unit 4 is designed, for example, in such a way that the gas flows through the flavor storage unit 4 before being introduced into the beverage and is flavored in the process, i.e. the stored flavor or a portion of the stored flavor, as shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 and 3, or, for example, such that the gas flows laterally past the flavor storage unit 4 and in the process draws in the flavor or a portion of the flavor from the flavor storage unit 4, in particular by means of the Venturi effect, and is flavored in this way, i.e. takes the drawn-in flavor or the drawn-in portion of the flavor with it, as shown by way of example in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6. In the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, the Venturi effect can also be used, because although the gas flows through the flavor storage unit 4, it remains in a gas guide line 5, in particular in a bubble nozzle 6 of the gas guide line 5, which has a suction opening 7 in the area of the flavor storage unit 4 for sucking in the flavor from the flavor storage unit 4.

[0051] For example, filling the flavor storage unit 4 with the flavor or with a component containing the flavor is provided for receiving the flavor in the flavor storage unit 4.

[0052] The flavor storage unit 4 is designed, for example, as a pod, as a cartridge, as a pad or as a fleece or as a porous unit or has, for example, a cartridge, a pad or a fleece or a porous unit as a component containing the flavor. In particular, the pad and the fleece are intended to be flowed through by the gas in order to introduce the flavoring into the gas. The porous unit can be designed to be flowed through or flowed against by the gas in order to introduce the flavor into the gas. The cartridge is in particular a container for the flavoring in the form of a hollow body, in particular a tank, from which it can, for example, be sucked out or flow out or drip out.

[0053] It may advantageously be provided that the flavor storage unit 4 is replaceable or that the component of the flavor storage unit 4 that contains the flavor, for example the cartridge or the pad or the fleece or the porous unit, is replaceable.

[0054] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the flavor storage unit 4 is arranged in the gas guide line 5 for guiding the gas from the pressure vessel 2 into the beverage to be sparkling. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flavor storage unit 4 is arranged on the gas guide line 5 for guiding the gas from the pressure vessel 2 into the beverage to be bubbled. In FIG. 2, the flavor storage unit 4 is arranged on the gas supply line 5 by means of a connecting line 8. In FIG. 3, the flavor storage unit 4 is arranged on the bubble nozzle 6 of the gas supply line 5. In this case, an extension 9 of the gas supply line 5, in particular of its bubble nozzle 6, is formed in the flavor storage unit 4. The suction opening 7 is formed in this extension 9.

[0055] In particular, it is intended that the gas guide line 5 and the flavor storage unit 4 are fluidically connected to each other, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, or can be connected to each other in a switchable manner. The fluidic connection can be switched manually or automatically, for example. The switchable connection makes it possible, in particular, for the beverage to be bubbled using the gas without adding flavor to the beverage at the same time.

[0056] As already mentioned above, in some embodiments, shown by way of example in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gas conduit 5 has the suction opening 7 in the area of the flavor storage unit 4 for sucking in the flavor from the flavor storage unit 4 due to the flow of the gas through the gas conduit 5. The flavor is drawn in in particular by using the Venturi effect. In particular, it is intended that the flavor is drawn in due to the gas flowing past the suction opening 7. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the connecting line 8 and, via it, the flavor storage unit 4 is fluidically connected to this suction opening 7 of the gas supply line 5. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the suction opening 7 is formed in the extension 9 of the gas guide line 5, in particular the bubble nozzle 6.

[0057] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the flavor storage unit 4 is arranged on the valve 3 of the pressure vessel 2. Here, the flavor storage unit 4 is arranged in the pressure vessel 2, i.e. in an interior of the pressure vessel 2, at the valve 3, in particular in a lower region of the valve 3. In this embodiment, it is thus provided that the flavor can be introduced into the gas flowing out of the pressure vessel 2 in the region of the valve 3, in particular while the gas is flowing through the valve 3. In the example shown, this is achieved by the gas flowing past the flavor storage unit 4 while flowing through the valve 3 and sucking in the flavor.

[0058] In the embodiment shown, the valve 3 and the flavor storage unit 4 can be connected to each other in a switchable manner. Switching takes place by actuating the valve 3, i.e. when this is moved into the outflow position, the fluidic connection is also established, as can be seen in the comparison of FIG. 4, which shows the closed valve position, with FIGS. 5 and 6, which show the outflow position. In the example shown, it is therefore intended that the flavor storage unit 4 is closed by the valve 3 in the closed valve position and is fluidically connected to the valve 3, in particular to a gas outflow channel 10 of the valve 3, in the outflow position of the valve 3.

[0059] The structure and mode of operation of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are described in more detail below. As in the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pressure vessel 2 here is in particular a pressurized gas vessel and is designed to hold the gas under high pressure. In particular, the pressure vessel 2 is a so-called gas cartridge, in particular for the beverage dispenser 1.

[0060] The pressure vessel 2 has a container body 13 with a container base arranged at a lower end and, in particular, formed in one piece with the container body 13.

[0061] At an upper end and thus opposite the container base, the container body 13 has an end region, which is formed in particular in one piece with the container body 13. The end region has a container opening.

[0062] The container base, the container body 13 and the end region are formed in particular as a homogeneous, one-piece component without joints and are produced together in a forming process, for example a roll forming process, from a material blank, for example from an aluminum blank or another material.

[0063] The pressure vessel 2 also has the valve 3, which is designed in particular as a non-return valve. This valve 3 is arranged at least in sections within the end region. For this purpose, the pressure vessel 2 has a fastening structure for the valve 3 formed on the inside of the wall surrounding the container opening of the end section. In particular, the fastening structure has an internal thread arranged on the inside of the wall. The valve 3, in the example shown a valve body 14 of the valve 3, has an external thread corresponding to the internal thread of the fastening structure.

[0064] In the example shown, the valve 3 comprises the valve body 14, an upper part 15, an insert 16, the valve tappet 11 and the flavor storage unit 4. The valve body 14 is sealed in the container body 13 by means of a seal 17. The insert 16 is arranged in the valve body 14 and protrudes downwards beyond the valve body 14 into the interior of the pressure vessel 2. Here it has inlet openings 22 to the gas outlet channel 10. The flavor storage unit 4 is arranged at the bottom of the insert 16 and projects upwards into the insert 16. The flavor storage unit 4 has a riser pipe 18, which extends into a base area of the flavor storage unit 4 in order to draw in the flavor there, and is T-shaped at an upper end and opens into outflow openings 19 of the flavor storage unit 4.

[0065] The valve tappet 11 is supported by a compression spring 20 on the flavor storage unit 4 in the upper part 15 and the insert 16 in the axial direction of the valve 3 against the spring force of the compression spring 20 downwards into the outflow position and by means of the spring force of the compression spring 20 back upwards into the closed valve position and encloses the upper area of the flavor storage unit 4. The upper part 15 is screwed into the valve body 14 in a sealed manner with a seal 17. It is in sealed contact with the insert 16 via a seal 17.

[0066] In the closed valve position, a shaped part of the valve tappet 11 is in sealed contact with the upper part 15 via a seal 17. As a result, the interior of the pressure vessel 2 is closed by means of the valve 3. In the outflow position, the shaped part of the valve tappet 11 is lifted downwards from the upper part 15, opening the gas outflow channel 10 so that the gas can flow out of the pressure vessel 2 through it. The gas outflow channel 10 runs at the bottom between the insert 16 and the flavor storage unit 4, above it between the insert 16 and the valve tappet 11 and above it between the valve tappet 11 and the upper part 15.

[0067] The valve tappet 11 has flow openings 21 which, in the outflow position, are arranged at the outflow openings 19 of the flavor storage unit 4, so that the gas flowing past these flow openings 21 can suck the flavor out of the flavor storage unit 4 via the flow openings 21 and the outflow openings 19, as shown in FIG. 6. By moving the valve tappet 11 by means of the compression spring 20 into the closed valve position and thus also relative to the flavor storage unit 4, the flow openings 21 in the valve tappet 11 are also moved upwards, so that the outflow openings 19 of the flavor storage unit 4 are closed by a wall of the valve tappet 11, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0068] In the example shown, the valve 3 has a flavor filling opening 23 for filling the flavor storage unit 4 with flavor through the valve 3. In the example shown, this flavor filling opening 23 extends through the valve tappet 11 to the flavor storage unit 4, which has an opening at its upper end as the lower end of the flavor filling opening 23. An upper end of the flavor filling opening 23 is closed by means of a cover 24 in the valve tappet 11. To fill the flavor storage unit 4, the lid 24 is removed and the flavor is poured in, which then runs down through the flavor filling opening 23 into the flavor storage unit 4. The lid 24 closes the flavor filling opening 23 in a sealed manner by means of a seal 17, so that the gas cannot flow out via the flavor filling opening 23 when the valve 3 is in the outflow position. The flavor storage unit 4 is only filled in the closed valve position, so that no gas can escape here either.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0069] 1 beverage dispenser [0070] 2 pressure vessel [0071] 3 valve [0072] 4 flavor storage unit [0073] 5 gas supply line [0074] 6 sparkling nozzle [0075] 7 suction opening [0076] 8 connecting line [0077] 9 extension [0078] 10 gas outlet channel [0079] 11 valve tappet [0080] 12 beverage vessel [0081] 13 container body [0082] 14 valve body [0083] 15 upper part [0084] 16 insert [0085] 17 seal [0086] 18 riser [0087] 19 outflow opening [0088] 20 compression spring [0089] 21 flow through opening [0090] 22 admission opening [0091] 23 flavor filling opening [0092] 24 cover [0093] P1 first arrow [0094] P2 second arrow [0095] P3 third arrow