PRESSURE VESSELS AND PRESSURE VESSEL RANGE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pressure vessel and a range of pressure vessels.

[0002] Pressure vessels for filling with carbon dioxide for introduction into a beverage are generally known from the prior art. The pressure vessel filled with carbon dioxide is inserted into a device by means of which the carbon dioxide can be introduced into the beverage, for example water. Such a device is also referred to as a water carbonator or beverage carbonator. DE 10 2012 200 831 A1 discloses a wrap-around label for a beverage bottle. US 2019 / 186693 A1 discloses a multi-layer pressurized gas container containing, for example, carbon, for use in a device or system for preparing a carbonated beverage. EP 3 556 218 A2 discloses a pressure vessel for containing physical propellants, wherein at least one flavored physical propellant suitable for consumption, in the form of a fluid, is arranged in the pressure vessel.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing a pressure vessel and a range of pressure vessels that are improved compared to the prior art.

[0004] The object is achieved according to the invention by a pressure vessel having the features of claim 1 and a range of compressed gas containers having the features of claim 4.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0006] A pressure vessel according to the invention, designed as a pressurized gas vessel, is intended for multiple filling, thus for refilling with a medium for introduction into a beverage.

[0007] The medium is carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide produced in a predetermined manner, or carbon dioxide with a flavor, i.e. carbon dioxide to which a flavor has been added. The former is, for example, neutral carbon dioxide, in particular carbon dioxide produced conventionally and without special specifications. This means, for example, that it is produced in such a way that it is suitable for use for and / or in food. Carbon dioxide produced in a predetermined manner is, for example, bio-carbon dioxide, which is produced biologically and / or according to appropriate organic specifications, kosher carbon dioxide, or halal carbon dioxide, which is produced according to appropriate regulations.

[0008] If the medium comprises carbon dioxide and a flavor, these components of the medium, i.e., the carbon dioxide and the flavor, can be mixed before the pressure vessel is filled and then poured into the pressure vessel together, or they can only come together in the pressure vessel. This means that the pressure vessel can also be filled sequentially with these two components of the medium, for example, first with the flavor and then with the carbon dioxide. The medium with which the pressure vessel is then filled and which is then intended for introduction into a beverage then comprises the carbon dioxide and the flavor.

[0009] Once the pressure vessel is filled with the respective medium, it can be inserted into a device by means of which the medium, in particular the respective carbon dioxide and the aroma, if the medium contains the aroma, can be introduced into the beverage, for example, water. The device is therefore also referred to as a water carbonator or beverage carbonator. When the pressure vessel is filled with a medium containing aroma, the aroma is also introduced into the beverage, for example, water, thus imparting a flavor corresponding to the aroma.

[0010] The problem here is that after the initial filling with the medium the pressure vessel is contaminated by this medium, for example by the aroma of the medium or by the carbon dioxide produced in a particular way, and therefore cannot be refilled at will, i.e. in particular not with a different medium, in particular not with carbon dioxide produced in a different way or a different aroma, as this would otherwise result in unintended mixing of the media, with the result that, for example, the regulations regarding organic, kosher or halal would no longer be met or different aromas would mix and the beverage would therefore have an unintended taste. It is therefore necessary to refill the pressure vessel with the medium for which the pressure vessel is intended.In the state of the art, the pressure vessel is therefore not refilled after initial filling and emptying, but disposed of if it is not clear with which medium it was filled, i.e. for which medium it is intended, because in such a case, a complex cleaning of the pressure vessel would be necessary before refilling, which would incur considerably higher costs than a new, as yet unused pressure vessel.

[0011] In order to ensure that the pressure vessel is refilled with the medium for which it is intended, thus avoiding unsustainable disposal of the pressure vessel after a single filling, an outer side of the pressure vessel is provided with a marking assigned to the medium, in particular with a marking color assigned to the medium. Thus, each medium intended for filling such pressure vessels is assigned a unique marking, in particular a marking color. For example, neutral carbon dioxide, halal carbon dioxide, kosher carbon dioxide, bio-carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide with the respective flavoring each have a unique marking, in particular a unique marking color.The exterior of the pressure vessel is thus clearly marked, in particular with the marking color, of the medium for which it is intended for multiple fillings. This prevents confusion between the pressure vessels to be filled and the media intended for the pressure vessels when refilling the respective pressure vessel. The clearly marked exterior of the pressure vessel, for example, the colored exterior, also ensures that this marking of the pressure vessel and thus the assignment of the pressure vessel to the medium for which it is intended is reliably retained, even after repeated use and refilling.

[0012] In other embodiments, other forms of marking are also possible, as an alternative to the marking as a marking color. The exterior of the pressure vessel is then formed with such a marking associated with the medium.

[0013] According to the invention, the pressure vessel is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. This enables the pressure vessel to be lightweight. Furthermore, this particularly advantageously enables anodizing of the pressure vessel, in particular the outside of the pressure vessel. In one possible embodiment, provision is made for the outside to be colored anodized with the identification color assigned to the medium, i.e., as a result of this colored anodizing, the outside of the pressure vessel is colored with the identification color assigned to the medium. This ensures particularly good and long-lasting durability of the identification color of the pressure vessel. In this embodiment, the outside of the pressure vessel is thus colored anodized with the identification color assigned to the medium for whose multiple filling the pressure vessel is intended.

[0014] According to the invention, the pressure vessel additionally has a particularly transparent covering arranged on its exterior, with an identification label assigned to the medium. This makes it clear, even for persons who do not know the assignment of the identification to the medium, which medium the pressure vessel is filled with. The covering is made of plastic, for example. It lies in particular against the exterior of the pressure vessel and is connected to the exterior of the pressure vessel in a material-locking, form-fitting and / or force-locking manner, for example by shrinking and / or gluing or by creating the covering on the exterior of the pressure vessel as a coating. For example, the covering is designed as a shrink film.

[0015] The described solution ensures that even if this labelled covering is removed, for example after each use of the pressure vessel, the labelled design, for example coloured design, of the outside of the pressure vessel with the marking assigned to the medium, for example marking colour, continues to ensure that the pressure vessel is assigned to the medium for which it is intended and thus that the pressure vessel can be refilled with the medium in a pure manner.

[0016] The marked, for example colored, in particular colored anodized, design of the outside of the pressure vessel, in particular in conjunction with the particularly transparent casing, also achieves an aesthetic appearance of the pressure vessel.

[0017] A pressure vessel assortment, ie a pressure vessel set or pressure vessel kit, comprises a plurality of such pressure vessels designed as pressurized gas vessels, the outer sides of which are differently marked, in particular differently colored, according to the respective medium for which the respective pressure vessel is intended. This means that the pressure vessel assortment comprises pressure vessels for various media, iePressure vessels intended for filling with different media, for example one or more pressure vessels intended for filling with neutral carbon dioxide, and / or one or more pressure vessels intended for filling with bio-carbon dioxide, and / or one or more pressure vessels intended for filling with halal carbon dioxide, and / or one or more pressure vessels intended for filling with kosher carbon dioxide, and / or one or more pressure vessels intended for filling with carbon dioxide and an aroma, and / or one or more pressure vessels each intended for filling with carbon dioxide and a different aroma. Therefore, the outer sides of the pressure vessels are designed with different markings, for example with different marking colors, i.e.differently colored, because the outside of the respective pressure vessel is designed with the marking assigned to the respective medium for the filling of which the respective pressure vessel is intended, in particular the marking color is designed in color.

[0018] As described above, the respective pressure vessel is formed from aluminum or an aluminum alloy in one possible embodiment and it is provided in one possible embodiment that the outside of the respective pressure vessel is colored anodized with the identification color assigned to the medium for the filling of which the respective pressure vessel is intended, ie the outside of the respective pressure vessel is colored by this colored anodizing with the identification color assigned to the medium.

[0019] As described above, in one possible embodiment, the respective pressure vessel additionally has a particularly transparent sheath arranged on its exterior, with the identification inscription assigned to the medium. The sheath is made of plastic, for example. It lies particularly against the exterior of the respective pressure vessel and is connected to the exterior of the respective pressure vessel in a material-to-material, form-fitting, and / or force-fitting manner, for example by shrinking and / or gluing, or by creating the sheath on the exterior of the respective pressure vessel as a coating. For example, the sheath is designed as a shrink film.

[0020] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0021] It shows: Figure 1 schematically shows a range of pressure vessels.

[0022] Figure 1shows a schematic representation of a pressure vessel range 1 with several pressure vessels 2 in a side view. The pressure vessels 2 are each intended for multiple filling with a medium for introduction into a beverage, wherein each of the pressure vessels 2 is intended for filling with a different medium. I.e. the pressure vessel range 1 comprises pressure vessels 2 for different media. Media for filling the pressure vessels 2 are, for example, carbon dioxide and a respective flavor, neutral carbon dioxide, bio-carbon dioxide, halal carbon dioxide and / or kosher carbon dioxide. For example, the pressure vessels 2 in the example shown are each intended for multiple filling with carbon dioxide and an flavor as a medium, wherein the flavors of the media differ for the pressure vessels, i.e. each of the pressure vessels 2 is intended for filling with a medium with a different flavor.

[0023] Once the respective pressure vessel 2 is filled with the respective medium, it can be inserted into a device by means of which the medium can be introduced into the beverage, for example water. The medium comprises, in particular, carbon dioxide, which is configured as described above or is mixed with a respective flavor. The device is therefore also referred to as a water carbonator or beverage carbonator. If the medium comprises carbon dioxide and a flavor, the filling of the pressure vessel 2 with this medium also introduces the flavor into the beverage, for example water, and thus imparts to the water a flavor corresponding to the aroma.

[0024] In order to ensure a pure refilling of the respective pressure vessel 2 with the medium for which the respective pressure vessel 2 is intended, it is provided that an outer side of the respective pressure vessel 2 is designed with a marking F1, F2, F3 assigned to the medium for which it is intended, in particular with a marking color assigned to the medium for which it is intended. Since the pressure vessels 2 of the pressure vessel range 1 are each intended for a different medium, their outer sides are thus designed with different markings according to the respective medium for which the respective pressure vessel 2 is intended, in the example shown, with different colors, in Figure 1 represented schematically by different hatchings.

[0025] The respective pressure vessel 2 is formed, in particular, from aluminum or an aluminum alloy. In particular, it is provided that the exterior of the respective pressure vessel 2 is anodized in the color associated with the medium for which the respective pressure vessel 2 is intended to be filled. This means that the exterior of the respective pressure vessel 2 is colored with the color associated with the medium through this colored anodizing. Thus, in the example shown, the markings F1, F2, F3 are an identification color created by anodizing.

[0026] For example, the respective pressure vessel 2 additionally has a particularly transparent sheath arranged on its exterior, with an identification label associated with the medium for which the respective pressure vessel 2 is intended. The sheath is made of plastic, in particular a shrink film. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0027] 1Druckbehältersortiment 2Druckbehälter F1, F2, F3Kennzeichnung

Claims

1. Pressure vessel (2), designed as a pressurized gas vessel made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, filled with a medium formed of carbon dioxide and an aroma and provided for multiple filling with carbon dioxide and the aroma for introduction into a beverage, wherein an external side of the pressure vessel (2) is designed with at least two identifiers (F1, F2, F3) assigned to the medium, wherein the external side of the pressure vessel (2) is anodized in a first identifier (F1) assigned to the medium, and wherein fastened to the external side of the pressure vessel (2) is a transparent sheath with an identification label assigned to the medium as a second identifier (F2).

2. Pressure vessel (2) according to Claim 1, wherein the sheath is made of plastics material.

3. Pressure vessel (2) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheath is a shrink film.

4. Pressure vessel assortment (1) having a plurality of pressure vessels (2) designed as pressurized gas vessels according to one of the preceding claims, the external sides of which are differently designed according to the respective medium for which the respective pressure vessel (2) is provided.

5. Pressure vessel assortment (1) according to Claim 4, wherein the respective pressure vessel (2) has disposed on its external side a sheath with a identification label assigned to the medium.