Device for connecting a gas source to a beverage gas enrichment machine

Abstract

The invention is directed to a connecting device (2) for a beverage gas enrichment machine, comprising a body (4) comprising a gas cartridge port (6); a cavity terminating with a closure port (8) inclined relative to the gas cartridge port (6); a gas passage fluidly interconnecting said gas cartridge port (6) with said cavity; and an outlet (16); a pressure reducer in the cavity, configured for reducing the gas under pressure in the cartridge to the outlet (16); wherein the body (4) comprises, between the gas cartridge port (6) and the closure port (8), two opposed bearing surfaces (12, 14) extending along a transversal axis and configured for allowing pivoting of said body (4) about said transversal axis, one (12) of said two opposed bearing surfaces (12, 14) forming the outlet (16).

Description

DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A GAS SOURCE TO A BEVERAGE GAS ENRICHMENT MACHINE

[0001] The invention is directed to the field of compressed gas and of beverage gas enrichment machines using compressed gas stored in a cartridge and connected to said machine.

[0002] Beverage gas enrichment machines are commonly known and used for preparing inter alia sparkling water and / or various soda drinks. Such machines commonly use a source of compressed carbon dioxide being a compressed gas cartridge to be connected to the machine. Once the cartridge is empty, it is disconnected from the machine and replaced by a new one that is full.

[0003] Prior art patent document published WO 2011 / 151444 A1 discloses a connecting device for a beverage gas enrichment machine, comprising a gas cartridge port to which a gas cartridge can be fluidly connected, and a pressure reducer reducing the gas pressure of the gas cartridge down to a pressure of a few bars. The connecting device is intended to be rigidly fixed to the beverage gas enrichment machine, for instance at an upper and rear position of said machine. The engagement and connection of a gas cartridge with the connecting device occurs essentially by a translation movement of the gas cartridge head towards the gas cartridge port of the connecting device, until partial engagement of said gas cartridge head in said gas cartridge port, followed by a rotation of the gas cartridge so as to engage the outer thread of the gas cartridge head with the corresponding female thread of said gas cartridge port. A seal is housed in the bottom of the gas cartridge port, ensuring a gas tight connection between the gas cartridge and the connecting device. This engagement operation can turn out to be cumbersome, in particular for persons lacking precise movement coordination, like elderly persons.

[0004] The invention has for technical problem to overcome at least one drawback of the above cited prior art. In particular, the invention has for technical problem to facilitate the engagement and disengagement operations of gas cartridge on a beverage gas enrichment device.Technical solution

[0005] The invention is directed to a connecting device for a beverage gas enrichment machine, comprising a body comprising: a gas cartridge port; a cavity terminating with a closure port inclined relative to the gas cartridge port; a gas passage fluidly interconnecting said gas cartridge port with said cavity; and an outlet; a pressure reducer in the cavity, configured for reducing the gas under pressure in the cartridge to the outlet; wherein the body comprises, between the gas cartridge port and the closure port, two opposed bearing surfaces extending along a transversal axis and configured for allowing pivoting of said body about said transversal axis, one of said two opposed bearing surfaces forming the outlet.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment, each of the two opposed bearing surfaces is an inner surface or an outer surface around the transversal axis.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, each of the two opposed bearing surfaces forms a protrusion extending transversally from the body.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the bearing surface forming the outlet is an outer surface around the transversal axis and surrounds an outlet connecting port centred on said transversal axis.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the outlet connecting port comprises a stepped bore with a first portion housing a hose retaining clip and a second deeper portion housing a seal designed for forming with said hose a gas tight barrier.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the hose retaining clip comprises an outer ring fixedly pressed in the first portion of the stepped bore and a retaining ring movably engaged in the outer ring and provided with means elastically and radially engaging with the hose after insertion of said hose into the hose retaining clip.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the bearing surface opposed to the bearing surface forming the outlet, forms a pressure relief outlet.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the bearing surface forming the pressure release outlet comprises a bore housing a pressure relief device.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the pressure relief device comprises a pressure relief obturator cooperating with a pressure relief seat in the body, a pressure relief spring and a supporting element urging said pressure relief spring against the pressure relief obturator towards the pressure relief seat.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the pressure reducer comprises a pressure reducer obturator cooperating with a pressure reducer seat in the gas passage, a piston slidable in the cavity, delimiting a regulating chamber and acting on the pressure reducer obturator, and a pressure reducer spring urging the piston towards the pressure reducer obturator so as to open the gas passage.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the outlet fluidly connects directly with the regulating chamber.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the relief outlet is fluidly connected directly with the regulating chamber.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the two opposed bearing surfaces are integrally formed with the body.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the gas cartridge port and the closure port have intersecting directions, preferably said intersecting directions are perpendicular.Advantages of the invention

[0019] The invention is particularly interesting in that it substantially simplifies and renders easier the operations of disengaging an empty gas cartridge and engaging a new full gas cartridge. This improvement is essentially due to the pivoting capacity of the connecting device, allowing an engagement and / or disengagement of the gas cartridge in an inclined position outside of its cavity in the beverage gas enrichment device.Brief description of the drawings

[0020] is a perspective view of a connecting device for a beverage gas enrichment machine, according to the invention.

[0021] is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the connecting device of.

[0022] is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of the connecting device of.Description of an embodiment

[0023] to 3 illustrate an embodiment of a connecting device for a beverage gas enrichment machine, according to the invention.

[0024] In, the connecting device 2 comprises a body forming a gas cartridge port 6 and an opposed closure port 8 receiving a closure element 10. The gas cartridge port 6 is intended to receive a connecting head of a gas cartridge and the closure port 8 closes, with the closure element 10, a cavity formed in the body 2 and housing a pressure reducer that will be detailed in connection withand 3. The main axis of the gas cartridge port 6 and the main axis of the closure port 8 are preferably intersecting and preferably form a longitudinal vertical plane of the connecting device 2.

[0025] The connecting device 2 further comprises two opposed bearing surfaces 12 and 14 extending and centred along a common transversal axis that is, for instance and in a preferred manner, perpendicular to the above mentioned longitudinal vertical plane of the connecting device 2. The two opposed bearing surfaces 12 and 14 are for instance and in a preferred manner outer surfaces being understood that they could be inner surfaces, a combination of inner and outer surface or any other configuration allowing said surfaces to engage with corresponding surfaces on a support like a beverage gas enrichment machine so as to allow the connecting device 2 to pivot relative to said support or machine.

[0026] As can be seen in, the bearing surface 12 surrounds an outlet connecting port 16 through which the gas originating from a gas cartridge connected to the gas cartridge portion 6, and whose pressure is reduced can flow towards the beverage gas enrichment machine for enriching said beverage. The outlet connecting port 16 will be further detailed in connection withand 3.

[0027] is sectional view along the above mentioned longitudinal vertical plane comprising the main axes of the gas cartridge port 6 and of the closure port 8.

[0028] As this visible, the gas cartridge port 6 comprises a bore with an inner thread 18, preferably of the ACME type, an annular seal 20 on the bottom of the bore and a protrusion 22 extending from the bottom of the bore towards the opening of the bore. The inner thread 18 is designed for engaging with a corresponding outer thread on the connecting head of the gas cartridge. The annular seal 20 is designed for forming a gas-tight barrier between an annular front surface of the connecting head and the bore of the gas cartridge port 6. The protrusion 22 is designed for contacting and moving a central pusher of the connecting head in order to open a shut-off valve in said connecting head. The protrusion 22 comprises central though-hole forming a gas passage 24 interconnecting the gas cartridge port 6 with the cavity housing the pressure reducer 26.

[0029] The pressure reducer 26 comprises a pressure reducer seat 26.1 located in and forming a portion of the gas passage 24, a pressure reducer obturator 26.2 movable relative to and cooperating with the pressure reducer seat 26.1 for modulating the flow section between said pressure reducer seat 26.1 and said pressure reducer obturator 26.2. The pressure reducer obturator 26.2 is for instance located on an upstream side of the pressure reducer seat 26.1. The pressure reducer 26 further comprises a piston 26.4 slidably received in the cavity, for instance in a bore of said cavity. The piston 26.4 is located downstream of the pressure reducer seat 26.1 and is urged towards the pressure reducer seat 26.1 and the pressure reducer obturator 26.2 by a pressure reducer spring 26.5. Said pressure reducer spring 26.5 rests on the closure element 10, whose position can be adjustable for adjusting the pressure reducer. An auxiliary spring 26.3 can be provided for urging the pressure reducer obturator 26.2 towards the piston 26.4, for instance for causing an end of a stem extending from the pressure reducer obturator 26.2 through the pressure reducer seat 26.1 to contact the piston 26.4. In alternative to the auxiliary spring 26.3, the stem of the pressure reducer obturator can be attached to the piston 26.4. Said piston 26.4 delimits with the cavity a regulating chamber 26.6 directly downstream of the pressure reducer seat 26.1. The above detailed construction of the pressure reducer 26 is as such well known from the skilled person and can be according to the patent application WO 2011 / 151444 A1 of the same applicant, whose content is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0030] is sectional view along a horizontal longitudinal plane that is perpendicular to the above mentioned longitudinal vertical plane of the sectional view of. As this is apparent, the sectional view ofcomprises the transversal axis common to the two opposed bearing surfaces 12 and 14.

[0031] As this apparent, the bearing surface 12 surrounds a bore housing the above-mentioned gas outlet connecting port 16. The latter is in fluidic direct connection with the regulating chamber 26.6.

[0032] More specifically, the bore surrounded by the bearing surface 12 and housing the gas outlet connection port 16 can be a stepped bore with a first portion housing a hose retaining clip 30 and a second deeper portion housing at least one seal 28, for instance two, designed for forming with the not represented hose a gas tight barrier. The hose retaining clip 30 can comprise an outer ring 30.1 fixedly pressed in the first portion of the stepped bore and a retaining ring 30.2 movably engaged in the outer ring 30.1 and provided with means elastically and radially engaging with the (not represented) hose after insertion of said hose into the hose retaining clip 30. These means can be prongs extending radially and longitudinally (i.e., along the transversal axis) and shaped for allowing insertion of the (not represented) hose while preventing or at least counteracting an extraction of said hose. Such prongs are in practice of a reduced size and therefore not visible in.

[0033] The bearing surface 14 can surround a pressure relief device 32 that is in fluidic direction connection with the regulating chamber 26.6 and that is designed for limiting the pressure in the regulating chamber 26.6 being the reduced pressure at the outlet. The pressure relief device 32 can comprise a pressure relief seat 32.1 surrounding the fluidic connection with the regulating chamber 26.6, a pressure relief obturator 32.2 cooperating with said pressure relief seat 32.1, a pressure relief spring 32.3 and a supporting element 32.4 urging said pressure relief spring 32.3 against the pressure relief obturator 32.2 towards the pressure relief seat 32.1. The supporting element 32.4 can be adjustable in position along the transversal axis e.g., via a threaded engagement with the bore, as illustrated in.

[0034] The supporting element 32.4 comprises at least one passage, for instance a central hole, for allowing the gas escaping from the regulating chamber 26.6 through the pressure relief device for flow to the ambient. This at least one passage can of course take various forms depending on how the supporting elements 32.4 engages with the bore.

[0035] The above described connecting device 2 is intended to be mounted on a machine for enriching beverages, like water or sirups, with gas, like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, air or the like. To that end, the machine comprises two specific areas configured for receiving and rotatably engaging with the two bearing surfaces 12 and 14. A hose as the one mentioned here above, connected, at one end, to the gas enrichment operating part of the machine is engaged, at its other end, in the outlet connecting port 16 (Figs.1 and 3). The connecting device then operatively mounted on the beverage gas enrichment machine. The connecting device 2 is then pivotable between a generally horizontal position, as illustrated in, a tilted position where the main axis of the gas cartridge port 6 is inclined relative to the vertical, for instance towards the exterior relative to the transversal pivoting axis. Such a tilted position corresponds to a clockwise rotation of the connecting device 2 as illustrated inby an angle preferably comprised between 10° and 45°. This tilted position facilitates disengagement and engagement of a gas cartridge. Once a new gas cartridge is engaged with the connecting device, the connecting device with the gas cartridge can be pivoted back to the normal position (as illustrated in), whereby the gas cartridge can be brought back to a dedicated cavity in the machine.

[0036] The body 4 of the connecting device is preferably unitary, made by cast-moulding or injection moulding e.g., of metallic or plastic material. The different technical internal surfaces can then be machined along the two main axes of the gas cartridge port and the closure port, and the transversal axis. These machining steps can be carried out with a certain ease because of the orthogonality between the axes.

Claims

A connecting device (2) for a beverage gas enrichment machine, comprising:a body (4) comprising:a gas cartridge port (6);a cavity terminating with a closure port (8) inclined relative to the gas cartridge port (6);a gas passage (24) fluidly interconnecting said gas cartridge port (6) with said cavity; andan outlet (16);a pressure reducer (26) in the cavity, configured for reducing the gas under pressure in the cartridge to the outlet (169;characterized in thatthe body (4) comprises, between the gas cartridge port (6) and the closure port (8), two opposed bearing surfaces (12, 14) extending and centred along a transversal axis and configured for allowing pivoting of said body (4) about said transversal axis, one (12) of said two opposed bearing surfaces (12, 14) forming the outlet (16).The connecting device (2) according to claim 1, wherein each of the two opposed bearing surfaces (12, 14) is an inner surface or an outer surface around the transversal axis.The connecting device (2) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein each of the two opposed bearing surfaces (12, 14) forms a protrusion extending transversally from the body (4).The connecting device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bearing surface (12) forming the outlet (16) is an outer surface around the transversal axis and surrounds an outlet connecting port (16) centred on said transversal axis.The connecting device (2) according to claim 4, wherein the outlet connecting port (16) comprises a stepped bore with a first portion housing a hose retaining clip (30) and a second deeper portion housing a seal (28) designed for forming with said hose a gas tight barrier.The connecting device (2) according to claim 5, wherein the hose retaining clip (30) comprises an outer ring (30.1) fixedly pressed in the first portion of the stepped bore and a retaining ring (30.2) movably engaged in the outer ring (30.1) and provided with means elastically and radially engaging with the hose after insertion of said hose into the hose retaining clip (30).The connecting device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bearing surface (14) opposed to the bearing surface (12) forming the outlet (16), forms a pressure relief outlet.The connecting device (2) according to claim 7, wherein the bearing surface (14) forming the pressure release outlet comprises a bore housing a pressure relief device (32).The connecting device (2) according to claim 8, wherein the pressure relief device (32) comprises a pressure relief obturator (32.2) cooperating with a pressure relief seat (32.1) in the body (4), a pressure relief spring (32.3) and a supporting element (32.4) urging said pressure relief spring (32.3) against the pressure relief obturator (32.2) towards the pressure relief seat (32.1).The connecting device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pressure reducer (26) comprises a pressure reducer obturator (26.2) cooperating with a pressure reducer seat (26.1) in the gas passage (24), a piston (26.4) slidable in the cavity, delimiting a regulating chamber (26.6) and acting on the pressure reducer obturator (26.2), and a pressure reducer spring (26.5) urging the piston (26.4) towards the pressure reducer obturator (26.2) so as to open the gas passage (24).The connecting device (2) according to claim 10, wherein the outlet (16) fluidly connects directly with the regulating chamber (26.6).The connecting device (2) according to any one of claims 7-9 and according to one of claims 10-11 wherein the relief outlet is fluidly connected directly with the regulating chamber (26.6).The connecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the two opposed bearing surfaces (12, 14) are integrally formed with the body (4).The connecting device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the gas cartridge port (6) and the closure port (8) have intersecting directions, preferably said intersecting directions are perpendicular.

Images