Device for gassing drinking liquid with CO2

Abstract

Device (1) for gassing drinking liquid (6) with CO2, comprising a bottle (2) for holding the drinking liquid (6) with a removable, sealing cap (3), wherein the bottle (2) is double-walled, characterized in that a space (4) formed between walls (2c) of the bottle (2) is designed for the repeated absorption of pressurized gassing medium CO2 (7) and that a gassing valve (8) and a pipe section (9) are arranged for the targeted release of the gassing medium CO2 (7) from the space (4) into the drinking liquid (6) and that the pipe section (9) for the targeted release of the gassing medium CO2 (7) is fastened to an inner one of the walls (2c) in such a way that it is in fluid communication with the space (4), wherein the gassing valve (8) which can be actuated from an outer side of the bottle (2) is arranged in the pipe section (9).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for gassing drinking liquid with CO2, comprising a bottle for holding the drinking liquid with a removable, sealing closure, wherein the bottle is double-walled.

[0002] Such devices are known per se, e.g. under the name "drinking water carbonator" or more simply "sparkling water". They are used to turn tap water into carbonated water ("sparkling"). For this purpose, a first holder for a CO2 cylinder and a second holder for a water bottle are arranged in a housing. The two holders are connected to each other via a lockable line so that CO2 can flow under pressure from the CO2 cylinder into the water bottle and dissolve in the water. Various valves, some of which can be operated, are provided for releasing impermissible and / or unwanted pressure. The CO2 cylinder is standardized and has a capacity of, for example, 425 g of CO2; its screwed-in head comprises an outlet valve and an external thread for screwing into the first holder and thus holding it in the housing. Such a device is described, for example, in EP 0 172 815 B1.

[0003] These well-known devices are well-suited for home use, but are too bulky and heavy for on-the-go use.

[0004] US Pat. No. 5,329,975 A and EP 2 533 885 B1 disclose relatively compact handheld devices for carbonating bottled liquids. However, they are complex and require a small CO2 cartridge. This is a disposable product, resulting in an environmentally undesirable high consumption of CO2 cartridges for carbonation.

[0005] WO 2013 / 068913 A1 discloses a metal bottle for holding liquids, which has a pressure relief valve in the base. This is intended to prevent the bottle from bursting during carbonation. The bottle has a single wall.

[0006] DE 21 2017 000 009 U1 describes a device for producing hydrogen-rich water, in which a flexible inner container is arranged in a rigid drum. Hydrogen can be stored between the inner container and the drum. The inner container is designed as a hydrogen-permeable membrane. The device is not suitable for producing CO2-enriched water.

[0007] The object of the invention is to create a device for gassing drinking liquid with CO2, which is compact and does not produce any waste from empty CO2 cartridges or the like.

[0008] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1: A space formed between the walls of the bottle is designed to repeatedly hold the pressurized CO2 gassing medium. This allows the bottle to hold not only the drinking liquid but also the CO2 gassing medium. The bottle is very compact and easy to handle. A separate container for the CO2 gassing medium is eliminated; in particular, CO2 cartridges are not required, eliminating waste from disposable products during carbonation.

[0009] Furthermore, devices are provided for the targeted release of the CO2 gassing medium from the room into the drinking liquid. This allows the drinking liquid to be carbonated, with the amount of gassing being adjustable according to the user's personal preferences. All the gassing agents required are integrated into the bottle, ensuring the compactness of the entire device. Furthermore, handling is simplified.

[0010] In addition to saving on CO2 cartridges, the use of the device eliminates the need for large quantities of PET bottles, as carbonated water consumers can avoid the usual disposable bottles. This saves resources.

[0011] A pipe section for the targeted release of the CO2 gassing medium is attached to one of the inner walls in such a way that it is in fluid communication with the chamber. A gassing valve, which can be actuated from the outside of the cylinder, is located in the pipe section. This allows for particularly effective gassing.

[0012] The subclaims relate to the advantageous embodiment of the invention.

[0013] In one design, the bottle is made of metal. This material has proven itself many times over for the production of double-walled containers and is stable and largely durable. Aluminum or stainless steel are preferred metals.

[0014] Alternatively, the bottle can be made of plastic. This allows for a particularly lightweight bottle. Composite material, for example, is a suitable option.

[0015] In a further embodiment, a filling valve is located in one of the outer walls. This facilitates the filling process with the gassing medium, CO2 in liquid form.

[0016] Preferably, the filling valve is arranged in a bottom area of the bottle because this further facilitates filling and because the filling valve can be better protected against mechanical damage.

[0017] In a further embodiment, at least one pressure relief valve is arranged in the closure. This increases the overall safety of the device.

[0018] In a further embodiment, a bursting disc is mounted on the outer wall. This prevents the cylinder from bursting if the CO2 gassing medium pressure in the chamber is too high, thus reducing the risk of injury.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the filling valve can be connected to the head of a CO2 cylinder for home use. This allows filling with the gassing medium CO2 from commonly available and refillable storage containers.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the chamber is dimensioned so that its maximum filling capacity with the CO2 gassing medium is sufficient for at least five gassing processes. This keeps the device compact; the filling capacity is usually sufficient for at least a day's supply.

[0021] A device for filling the chamber with the CO2 gassing medium is provided with a holding frame that securely and immovably connects both the bottle and the CO2 cylinder during filling. This further simplifies filling and increases operating safety.

[0022] The invention is further explained with reference to the schematic drawing. Fig. 1 a longitudinal section through a device for gassing drinking liquid and Fig. 2 a view of the device during filling with gassing medium CO2.

[0023] As from the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, a device 1 for gassing drinking liquid 6 with a gassing medium CO2 7 comprises a bottle 2 and a closure 3.

[0024] The cylindrical bottle 2 for holding the drinking liquid 6 has a circular cross-section and is double-walled. A bottle neck 2a is, as usual, tapered relative to the main body and provided with an internal thread or, as shown, an external thread; it forms a tight upper closure of a space 4 formed between walls 2c of the bottle 2. A bottle base 2b, opposite the bottle neck 2a and part of the walls 2c, is concavely shaped and forms a tight lower closure of the space 4. A filling valve 5 is attached to an outer wall 2c, here the bottle base 2b, such that the gassing medium CO2 7 can be introduced into the space 4; otherwise, the filling valve 5 is tight, in particular against the escape of gases. The space 4 is thus designed for the repeated absorption of the pressurized gassing medium CO2 7.

[0025] Means for the targeted release of the gassing medium CO2 7 from the chamber 4 into the drinking liquid 6 comprise a gassing valve 8 and a pipe section 9. The latter is attached to an inner wall 2c in such a way that it projects into the interior of the bottle 2 and is in a closable fluid connection to the chamber 4. This means that the pipe section 9 is open towards the chamber 4 and otherwise tightly arranged in a cutout in the inner wall 2c. The gassing valve 8, which can be actuated from the outside (relative to the device 1), is attached to the pipe section 9, preferably in an area adjacent to the inner wall 2c. For actuating the gassing valve 8, an actuating button 10 is provided in the area of the outer wall 2c, which acts on the gassing valve 8 via a plunger 11.

[0026] Advantageously, the tube section 9 is arranged in a region of the inner wall 2c near the bottle neck 2a. This prevents the liquid gassing medium CO2 7 from being released into the tube section 9 when the bottle 2 is in the upright position. To ensure that the gassing medium CO2 7 is optimally introduced into the drinking liquid 6, the tube section 9 is bent toward the bottle bottom 2b and ends approximately centrally in the interior of the bottle 2. A diffuser 12 is arranged at this end of the tube section for better distribution of the gassing medium CO2 7 in the drinking liquid 6.

[0027] A bursting disc 13 is arranged in the outer wall 2c, which is formed here in a partial area or is attached as a separate component.

[0028] The closure 3 is designed to fit the bottle neck 2a, either plug-like or lid-like, and is provided with a corresponding thread. A safety valve 14 and a pressure relief valve 15 are arranged in the closure 3 as pressure relief valves. The safety valve 14 prevents excessive overpressure in the bottle 2, and the pressure relief valve 15 allows the targeted release of excess gassing medium CO2 7 from the bottle 2.

[0029] To fill the chamber 4 with the gassing medium CO2 7, a commercially available CO2 cylinder 16 with a capacity of e.g. 425 g CO2 is detachably fastened in a very schematically illustrated support frame 17, as can be seen from the Fig.2. The bottle 2 is held, with or without the closure 3, and inserted into the holding frame 17, wherein the filling valve 5 (invisible in this view and shown in gray for clarity) is screwed onto an outlet valve of the CO2 cylinder 16. According to the exemplary embodiment, the CO2 cylinder 16 and the bottle 2 are aligned coaxially, and the outlet valve of the CO2 cylinder 16 points vertically or at least diagonally downwards. During the screwing-on process, for which the filling valve 5 and the outlet valve are coordinated with one another, the filling valve 5 and the outlet valve are automatically opened mechanically shortly before an end stop is reached, so that the liquid gassing medium CO2 7 can flow from the CO2 cylinder 16 into the chamber 4 until pressure equalization has occurred. Thus, the chamber 4 is filled with the gassing medium CO2 7 and the bottle 2 is unscrewed, whereby the aforementioned valves close automatically again due to the internal pressure.Finally, the bottle 2 is removed from the holding frame 17.

[0030] The filling valve 5 can be provided with a protective cap, which is removed before the filling process and replaced afterwards.

[0031] Alternatively, space 4 is filled at the outlet of a standard carbonator.

[0032] To gass the drinking liquid 6, which in most cases consists of water with or without additives, it is poured into bottle 2, observing a minimum and maximum quantity. Bottle 2 is closed with cap 3. The gassing valve 8 is opened by means of the actuating button 10 and the plunger 11 for a short period of time, the length of which depends on the desired degree of gassing. Excess gassing medium CO2 7 and thus the pressure from bottle 2 are released via the pressure relief valve 15. List of reference symbols 1 device 2 bottles 2a Bottleneck 2b Bottle bottom 2c wall 3 Closure 4 rooms 5 Filling valve 6 Drinking liquid 7 Gassing medium CO2 8 Gassing valve 9 Pipe section 10 Operating button 11 plungers 12 Diffuser 13 Rupture disc 14 Safety valve 15 Pressure relief valve 16 CO2 cylinders 17 Holding frame

Claims

[1] Device (1) for gassing drinking liquid (6) with CO2, comprising a bottle (2) for holding the drinking liquid (6) with a removable, sealing cap (3), wherein the bottle (2) is double-walled, characterized by that a space (4) formed between walls (2c) of the bottle (2) is designed for the repeated absorption of pressurised gassing medium CO2 (7) and that a gassing valve (8) and a pipe section (9) are arranged for the targeted release of the gassing medium CO2 (7) from the space (4) into the drinking liquid (6) and that the pipe section (9) for the targeted release of the gassing medium CO2 (7) is fastened to an inner one of the walls (2c) in such a way that it is in fluid communication with the space (4), wherein the gassing valve (8) which can be actuated from an outer side of the bottle (2) is arranged in the pipe section (9). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the bottle (2) is made of metal. [3] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the bottle (2) is made of plastic. [4] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that a filling valve (5) for the gassing medium CO2 (7) is arranged in an outer one of the walls (2c). [5] Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the filling valve (5) is arranged in a bottom (2b) of the bottle (2). [6] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that at least one pressure relief valve is arranged in the closure (3). [7] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that a bursting disc (13) is arranged on the outer wall (2c). [8] Device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by that the filling valve (5) can be connected to a head of a CO2 cylinder (16) for domestic use. [9] Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the space (4) is dimensioned such that its maximum possible filling quantity with fumigation medium CO2 (7) is sufficient for at least five fumigation processes.

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