Pressure control device and method for producing same

Abstract

The invention relates to a pressure control device (1) for a beverage container (100) and to a method for producing same. The pressure control device (1) has a control valve (20) and a capsule (2) with a housing (3) which sealingly engages with a valve housing (13) of the control valve (20). The valve housing (13) delimits a valve chamber (13.0) and a pressure chamber (13.2) which is connected, via a passage (13.1), to the valve chamber (13.0), said valve chamber having at least one outlet opening (13.3) of the control valve (20), and said control valve having, for coupling to an outlet (2.1 of the capsule (2), a hollow needle (4) which provides a connection between the interior (2.0) of the capsule (2) and the pressure chamber (13.2). The pressure chamber is equipped with a spring-loaded valve pin (6), and the control valve (20) has an actuation element (8) which is arranged in the valve chamber (13.0) in an axially movable manner and which has a first end that is coupled to the valve pin (6) and a second end that extends through the housing cover (10) connected to the valve housing (13). The actuation element (8) is a diaphragm plunger (8) which passes through a diaphragm (11) and is releasably coupled to same. The diaphragm (11) separates the valve chamber (13.0) from a ventilation chamber (10.0) which is delimited by the housing cover (10) and in which a spring (7) is arranged around the diaphragm plunger (8), said spring being supported on the diaphragm (11) at one end and on the housing cover (10) at the other end.

Description

[0001] PRESSURE REGULATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

[0002] The invention relates to a pressure control device designed for arrangement in a beverage container and to an automatable manufacturing method therefor.

[0003] It is known from the prior art to pressurize the interior of a beverage container to dispense beverages. For this purpose, carbon dioxide (CO2) is usually supplied from a capsule (or cartridge) through a control valve. Pressure control devices exist for this purpose and are designed to be installed in the beverage container. They comprise a capsule coupled to a control valve.

[0004] WO 2022 / 198293 A1 describes such a pressure control device for arrangement in a beverage container, wherein the pressure control device comprises a CO2 capsule and a control valve, which is coupled on the one hand to a capsule outlet of the capsule and on the other hand to an activation button that protrudes from an outer surface of the beverage container and can be engaged with a pivoting handle. The capsule is arranged in a capsule housing, which is sealed by means of two sealing rings to a valve housing of the control valve with a type of bayonet lock. The activation button is connected to a piston that is arranged axially displaceably in a valve chamber of the control valve. Adjacent to this valve chamber in the valve housing, opposite the piston, is a passage to a pressure chamber in which a hollow needle housing with a piercing tip facing the capsule outlet of the capsule is arranged.A needle spring and a valve pin supported on it are arranged in the hollow needle housing. The tapered upper end of the valve pin extends into the passage to the valve chamber, blocking the passage when the needle spring is extended. To open, the valve pin is moved downward by the action of the piston by compressing the needle spring, thus opening the passage to the valve chamber. This allows CO2 to flow from the capsule through the hollow needle and the passage into the valve chamber, and from there through outlet openings into the beverage container.

[0005] The control behavior and leak tightness of such pressure control devices often do not meet the requirements for the desired functionality. Furthermore, their design only allows for small-scale production and is not suitable for mass production or fully automated assembly.

[0006] Based on this prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a pressure control device with improved control behavior and improved tightness, which is also suitable for mass production.

[0007] This object is achieved by a pressure control device having the features of claim 1.

[0008] The further object of the automated production of such a pressure control device is achieved by the method having the features of independent claim 15.

[0009] Preferred embodiments are set out in the respective subclaims.

[0010] According to a first embodiment, a pressure control device according to the invention, which is provided and designed for arrangement in a beverage container, comprises a control valve and a capsule arranged in a capsule housing that is in sealing engagement with a valve housing of the control valve. The valve housing delimits a valve chamber and a pressure chamber that is connected to the valve chamber via a passage, wherein the valve chamber has at least one outlet opening of the control valve. The control valve further comprises a hollow needle for coupling to a capsule outlet of the capsule, which provides a connection between an interior of the capsule and the pressure chamber, in which a spring-loaded valve pin is arranged, which closes the passage in a closed position and opens the passage in an open position.The control valve has an actuating element that is arranged axially movable in the valve chamber, wherein a first end of the actuating element is designed for coupling to the valve pin and a second end of the actuating element extends through a housing cover connected to the valve housing. According to the invention, the actuating element is a diaphragm tappet that penetrates a diaphragm and is detachably coupled thereto, wherein the diaphragm separates the valve chamber from a vent chamber defined by the housing cover. In the vent chamber, a diaphragm spring is arranged around the diaphragm tappet, which is supported at one end on the diaphragm and at the other end on the housing cover. In contrast to a piston arranged in the valve chamber, the diaphragm with diaphragm tappet used according to the invention is characterized by minimal friction losses, improved tightness, and good control behavior in low pressure ranges.

[0011] Furthermore, according to a further embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, the diaphragm tappet can have a diaphragm collar arranged on a side of the diaphragm facing away from the diaphragm spring. In this case, the diaphragm is not rigidly connected to the diaphragm tappet, but rather rests detachably on the diaphragm collar on the diaphragm tappet.

[0012] The diaphragm resting against the diaphragm tappet thus provides a type of pressure relief valve that opens when there is an overpressure dependent on the strength of the diaphragm spring. If there is overpressure in the valve chamber as a result of leaks, the diaphragm together with the diaphragm tappet is first pushed upwards until the diaphragm tappet makes a stop on the housing cover. Then, at a pressure defined by the diaphragm spring, it lifts off from the diaphragm collar on the diaphragm tappet, allowing the overpressure from the valve chamber to escape into the environment outside the beverage container through at least one vent hole in the housing cover. The liquid in the beverage container remains unaffected. The through hole in the housing cover through which the diaphragm tappet extends can advantageously be used as the vent hole.

[0013] For a secure hold and uniform deformation of the diaphragm under load, according to a further embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, a central diaphragm opening through which the diaphragm tappet extends can be delimited by an opening bead. A sleeve section formed onto the opening bead extends axially into the diaphragm spring and is arranged between the diaphragm collar and a limiting shoulder of the diaphragm tappet. The limiting shoulder is dimensioned such that, or the distance from the diaphragm collar is measured such that, in the event of excess pressure in the valve chamber, the diaphragm can be lifted off the diaphragm collar, opening a fluid connection between the valve chamber and the venting chamber.

[0014] For the upper stop of the diaphragm tappet on the housing cover, according to a further embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, the diaphragm tappet can have a central tappet section extending through the venting chamber and an upper tappet section extending through the housing cover, as well as a stop collar arranged between the central tappet section and the upper tappet section. The housing cover has a sleeve section through which the diaphragm tappet extends. A guide opening, in which the stop collar is axially guided, is provided by the sleeve section or borders the sleeve section and provides an axial stop for the stop collar of the diaphragm tappet.The sleeve section can protrude from the inner wall of the housing cover into the venting chamber or be formed as a cylindrical bore in a thickened wall section of the housing cover. In this case, a diameter of the guide opening in the sleeve section is larger than a diameter of the through-bore, which can adjoin the guide opening as a venting bore, so that an annular shoulder is formed around the venting bore in the sleeve section, which provides the axial stop for the stop collar of the diaphragm tappet, which is axially guided in the sleeve section. A further development of the pressure diaphragm unit according to the invention provides that at least one channel structure is formed on the annular shoulder of the sleeve section and / or on the stop collar of the diaphragm tappet, which provides a connection between the guide opening and the venting bore when the stop collar bears against the annular shoulder of the sleeve section.

[0015] The upper tappet section thus corresponds to the second end of the actuating element, which extends through the housing cover and is provided for detachable connection to a fastening element outside the housing cover in order to hold the diaphragm tappet in an assembly position or the pressure control device in a delivery state in which the control valve is in the closed position.

[0016] At the other end, according to a further embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, the diaphragm tappet has a lower tappet section extending through the valve chamber, on which a pin section is formed for coupling to the valve pin, the diameter of which is offset from the lower tappet section. The diameter of this pin section is smaller than a diameter of the passage, wherein the pin section is longer than the passage, so that the pin section can protrude through the passage into the pressure chamber when the diaphragm tappet is at a lower stop. For this purpose, the lower tappet section, adjacent to the offset pin section, provides an axial stop for the diaphragm tappet on a wall of the valve chamber adjacent to the passage.

[0017] According to an alternative embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, the diaphragm tappet can have a lower tappet section that extends from the diaphragm collar through the valve chamber and through an enlarged guide passage formed in the valve housing, which connects the valve chamber to the passage. Here, too, a pin section that is offset in diameter from the lower tappet section is formed on the lower tappet section for coupling to the valve pin, the diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the passage, wherein the pin section is longer than the passage. However, in this case, the diaphragm collar provides an axial stop for the diaphragm tappet on a wall section of the valve chamber adjacent to the guide passage.

[0018] In both cases, according to a further development of the pressure membrane unit according to the invention, at least one channel structure can be formed on the axial stop of the lower tappet section or the membrane collar and / or on the wall adjacent to the passage or the extended guide passage for the gas to pass through, which channel structure provides a connection between the passage / guide passage and the valve chamber when the lower tappet section / membrane collar rests against the axial stop on the wall.

[0019] According to yet another embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, the diaphragm is secured between the valve housing and the housing cover by a clamp connection, wherein the valve housing and the housing cover preferably have a stepped diaphragm support surface and a clamping ring shoulder as mutually facing clamping surfaces. Advantageously, the peripheral fastening of the diaphragm and the sealing of the valve chamber are thus achieved simultaneously and easily during the assembly of the valve housing and housing cover.

[0020] According to an alternative embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, the diaphragm can be designed with a circumferential fastening ring as a multi-component injection-molded component, wherein the fastening ring is fastened in the valve housing or in the housing cover by a welded connection or an adhesive connection or is fastened between the valve housing and the housing cover by a clamp connection. When fastened by a clamp connection, the fastening ring can have an end-face seal on at least one side in order to seal the valve housing and housing cover axially from one another. The advantage here is that the diaphragm cannot distort during its intended movement, i.e. cannot deform in an undefined manner, which can occur with direct circumferential clamping of the diaphragm and has a negative influence on the control behavior.

[0021] Furthermore, according to a further embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, it is provided that a check valve is arranged in the at least one outlet opening, which check valve opens in the direction out of the valve chamber and closes in the direction into the valve chamber, so that no liquid from the beverage container enters the valve chamber, thereby avoiding significant malfunctions.

[0022] To further improve safety, according to another embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, a connecting bore can be formed in the valve housing, connecting the valve chamber to a capsule housing space enclosed by the capsule housing around the capsule. In the event of leaks in the area of ​​the capsule connection, excess pressure from the capsule housing space can be vented through the connecting bore via the valve chamber through the membrane, as described herein.

[0023] In order to simplify automated production, according to a further embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, the valve housing has a plug-in section for engagement with the capsule housing, the outer diameter of which corresponds to an inner diameter of the capsule housing, so that the capsule housing can be easily plugged together with the valve housing. The sealing engagement of the capsule housing with the valve housing is provided by a material-to-material connection, which is preferably an adhesive or welded connection, in particular a laser or ultrasonic welded connection, or by a mechanical connection sealed by means of a seal, e.g. by a clip, latch, or snap closure. Further sealing measures such as the arrangement of sealing rings between the capsule housing and the valve housing can be dispensed with.

[0024] To further simplify automated production, according to another embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, a sealed connecting body, which includes the hollow needle, is arranged as an adapter-like connector between the valve housing and the capsule. The connecting body has a through-opening for connecting the hollow needle and the pressure chamber in the valve housing.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, the connecting body has a connection opening in which an outlet section of the capsule is received in a sealed manner with the capsule outlet. The hollow needle projects into the connection opening to penetrate the capsule outlet, so that when the capsule housing and the capsule received therein are assembled with the connecting body arranged on the valve housing, the capsule outlet is pierced and gas can pass from the capsule into the pressure chamber. For this purpose, the capsule housing is dimensioned in relation to the capsule such that, when the capsule housing is correctly arranged on the plug-in section of the valve housing, the capsule outlet section is completely and sealingly received in the connection opening of the connecting body.Since the diaphragm tappet is in the assembly position and the control valve is in the closed position, the passage from the pressure chamber into the valve chamber is closed by the valve pin.

[0026] Alternatively, the capsule housing can be dimensioned with respect to the capsule such that, when the capsule housing is correctly arranged on the plug-in section of the valve housing, the capsule outlet is spaced from the hollow needle and is therefore not pierced. In this case, the capsule housing has, on a side facing away from the plug-in section, an actuating section with a lifting element which is designed to move the capsule in the capsule housing in the direction of the connecting body until the capsule outlet section is completely sealed in the connection opening of the connecting body and the capsule outlet is penetrated by the hollow needle. In this variant, the capsule can only be pierced by the hollow needle immediately before it is inserted into the beverage container, for example during the automatic feeding of the pressure control device at the filler.The lifting element can, for example, engage in a sealed manner with a corresponding recess in the actuating section, which can be provided by a type of bayonet or a thread that travels a stroke during a rotating movement. For rapid actuation for piercing, the capsule can, for example, travel the required stroke with a 90° rotation in order to be pressed with the connection opening onto the piercing tip of the hollow needle or into the sealing seat of the connecting body. Because the capsule is not pierced during manufacture of the pressure control device, but only when installed in the beverage container, a significantly longer service life of the pressure control device is achieved.

[0027] In order to seal the connection opening between the connection body and the outlet section of the capsule, in a preferred embodiment a radial seal can be provided which lies circumferentially in the connection opening on the outlet section and an axial seal surrounding the capsule outlet, which is arranged in the connection opening around the hollow needle.

[0028] Furthermore, according to a further embodiment of the pressure control device according to the invention, the connecting body can have a sleeve section with a stepped diameter, which is at least partially received in the pressure chamber of the valve housing, wherein the connecting body bears against the valve housing. In other words, the sleeve section is inserted into the pressure chamber, wherein the shoulder of the connecting body adjacent to the sleeve section comes to bear against the underside of the valve housing. In the pressure chamber, the sleeve section provides a bearing surface for a valve spring, such that the valve spring is supported on the sleeve section, with the valve pin protruding into the sleeve section. In the expanded state, the valve spring presses the valve pin into the closed position, and in the compressed state of the valve spring, the valve pin is in the open position.

[0029] Further embodiments of the pressure control device according to the invention relate to the material and shape of the valve pin, which is preferably made of solid rubber or an elastomeric material, which is in particular a thermoplastic elastomer material, so that additional seals are unnecessary and assembly is considerably simplified. A comparatively robust design of the valve pin, which has a sealing head connected to a valve body via a neck section with a reduced diameter, also simplifies assembly and ensures reliable operation. The cylindrically shaped sealing head has a larger diameter than the passage and is designed for sealing engagement with a wall section adjacent to the passage, which wall section is preferably shaped as an annular wall.In the closed position, the sealing head of the valve pin is pressed against the passage, and in the open position the sealing head of the valve pin is spaced from the passage. The diameter of the valve body is matched to the diameter of the pressure chamber so that an annular gap remains for the gas to pass through. On the side facing away from the sealing head, a pin section extends from the valve body with a reduced diameter. This pin section has a thickened centering section against which a valve spring rests, surrounding the pin section. The valve body provides an axial stop for the valve spring adjacent to the reduced pin section. When the connecting body is in place, the valve spring thus extends between the stop on the valve body and the sleeve section into which the pin section, which is reduced from the valve body, projects.

[0030] A method also according to the invention for the automated production of a pressure control device according to the invention comprises, according to a first embodiment, the following steps:

[0031] - Providing the control valve and arranging the diaphragm tappet, which penetrates the diaphragm and is detachably coupled thereto, against a restoring force of the diaphragm spring in an assembly position in which the diaphragm tappet is spaced from the valve pin with the first end and protrudes from the housing cover with the second end, and in the assembly position releasably fastening the diaphragm tappet at the second end outside the housing cover, wherein the control valve is in the closed position in which the spring-loaded valve pin is pressed against the passage which connects the valve chamber and the pressure chamber in the valve housing, and

[0032] - Arranging the capsule housing with the capsule accommodated therein on the control valve, whereby the capsule housing and the valve housing of the control valve are plugged together and the diaphragm tappet remains in the assembly position and the control valve remains in the closed position, and

[0033] - sealingly connecting the capsule housing to the valve housing and maintaining the pressure control device in a delivery condition, with the diaphragm tappet in the assembly position and the control valve in the closed position.

[0034] Advantageously, all steps of the method according to the invention can be carried out in a simple, automated manner, thus enabling the mass production of the pressure control device according to the invention. According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, when the capsule housing and the valve housing are plugged together, a plug-in section of the valve housing is received in the capsule housing, wherein the sealing connection of the capsule housing to the plug-in section of the valve housing takes place. The sealing connection of the capsule housing to the valve housing or to the plug-in section of the valve housing can be effected by means of a material bond, by gluing or welding, in particular by laser welding, which allows high welding speeds, or by ultrasonic welding, or mechanically with the arrangement of a seal by clipping, locking, or snapping.

[0035] Furthermore, if the capsule housing is dimensioned with respect to the capsule such that when the capsule housing is arranged on the plug-in section of the valve housing, the capsule outlet section is received completely and sealingly in the connection opening of the connection body, the method according to the invention can, according to a further embodiment, comprise the steps of arranging a connection body in a sealing manner on the valve housing before arranging the capsule housing with the capsule arranged therein on the control valve, wherein at least part of a sleeve section of the connection body with a stepped diameter is inserted into the pressure chamber. Then, when arranging the capsule housing with the capsule arranged therein on the control valve - iesimultaneously with the fitting together of the capsule housing and the valve housing - a sealing insertion of the capsule with the outlet section, which has the capsule outlet, into a connection opening of the connection body, into which the hollow needle projects, and thus a penetration of the capsule outlet of the capsule by the hollow needle of the control valve, so that the pressure control device is ready for use for arrangement in a beverage container.

[0036] Alternatively, according to a further embodiment, if the capsule housing is dimensioned with respect to the capsule such that when the capsule housing is arranged on the plug-in section of the valve housing, the capsule outlet is spaced from the hollow needle, and the capsule housing has an actuating section with a lifting element on a side facing away from the plug-in section, the method according to the invention can comprise the steps of arranging a connecting body in a sealing manner on the valve housing before arranging the capsule housing with the capsule arranged therein on the control valve, wherein at least part of a sleeve section of the connecting body with a reduced diameter is inserted into the pressure chamber.In order to complete the manufacture of the pressure control device by transferring it to the ready-to-use state, after arranging the capsule housing with the capsule arranged therein on the control valve, the capsule is moved in the capsule housing in the direction of the connecting body by actuating the lifting element until the capsule outlet section is sealingly received in the connecting opening of the connecting body and the capsule outlet is penetrated by the hollow needle.

[0037] According to further embodiments, the method according to the invention for providing the control valve can comprise at least one of the following steps:

[0038] - Putting the housing cover and the valve housing together, fastening the membrane preferably by means of the fastening ring to the housing cover or the valve housing, or clamping it between the housing cover and the valve housing;

[0039] - Arranging a check valve in an outlet opening of the valve chamber;

[0040] - Forming the valve housing with a connecting bore which extends from the valve chamber parallel to the pressure chamber in order to open into a capsule housing space which is enclosed between the capsule and the capsule housing when the capsule housing with the capsule arranged therein is arranged on the control valve.

[0041] Further embodiments, as well as some of the advantages associated with these and other embodiments, will become clearer and more easily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures. Items or parts thereof that are substantially the same or similar may be provided with the same reference numerals. The figures are merely a schematic representation of one embodiment of the invention.

[0042] Showing:

[0043] Fig. 1 is a longitudinally sectioned perspective view of the pressure control device according to an embodiment of the invention with the control valve in the open position,

[0044] Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure control device from Fig. 1 in the delivery state with the control valve in the closed position,

[0045] Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure control device of Fig. 1 in a first working state with the control valve in the open position,

[0046] Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure control device of Fig. 1 in a second working state with the control valve in the closed position, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure control device of Fig. 1 in a venting state with overpressure in the control valve,

[0047] Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of an upper section A1 of the control valve of the pressure control device from Fig. 4,

[0048] Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed view of a lower section A2 of the control valve of the pressure control device from Fig. 4,

[0049] Fig. 8 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a beverage container with a pressure control device according to the invention,

[0050] Fig. 9 Longitudinal sectional views of two manufacturing steps of the pressure control device according to the invention,

[0051] Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pressure control device according to a further embodiment of the invention with the diaphragm tappet in the assembly position and the control valve in the closed position,

[0052] Fig. 11 is an enlarged detailed view of an upper section of the control valve of the pressure control device from Fig. 10 along section line AA,

[0053] Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the control valve from Fig. 11 along section line BB,

[0054] Fig. 13 a) an enlarged detailed view of a lower section of the control valve of the pressure control device from Fig. 10 and b) an enlarged detailed view of a lower section of the control valve of the pressure control device from Fig. 10 along section line AA,

[0055] Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure control device of Fig. 10 in a first working state with the control valve in the open position,

[0056] Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure control device of Fig. 10 in a second working state with the control valve in the closed position,

[0057] Fig. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure control device of Fig. 10 in a venting state with overpressure in the control valve,

[0058] Fig. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of a non-operational pressure control device according to a further embodiment of the invention with actuating section,

[0059] Fig. 18 is a further longitudinal sectional view of the non-operational pressure control device of Fig. 17 along section line CC,

[0060] Fig. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ready-to-use pressure control device from Fig. 17.

[0061] The present invention relates to a pressure control device with reliable functionality in terms of control behavior and leak-tightness. Furthermore, the design of the pressure control device according to the invention allows for mass production or fully automated manufacturing. Consequently, the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the pressure control device. Accordingly, the invention also extends to a beverage container in which a pressure control device according to the invention is arranged, and to a container attachment intended for arrangement on a beverage container and comprising a pressure control device according to the invention.

[0062] A pressure regulating device 1 according to the invention, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in Figs. 1 to 7, is intended for arrangement in a beverage container 100, as schematically sketched in Fig. 8. This pressure regulating device 1 has, as can be seen in Fig. 1, a control valve 20, a capsule 2, and a capsule housing 3. The capsule 2 is received in the capsule housing 3, which is connected to a valve housing 13 of the control valve 20 in order to hold the capsule 2 in engagement with the control valve 20. For connection to the capsule housing 3, the valve housing 13 has a plug-in section 13.8 with a reduced diameter (cf. Fig. 7), onto which the cylindrical capsule housing 3 is plugged. For sealing and fastening, the capsule housing 3 and the valve housing 13 are inserted along the plug-in section 13.8 are connected to each other, for example, by a welded joint 15, so that further sealing measures such as the arrangement of sealing rings are unnecessary. Laser welding is preferably used to connect the capsule housing 3 to the valve housing 13 due to the high welding speed and low thermal distortion.

[0063] Further examples of pressure control devices 1 according to the invention are shown in Figs. 10 to 16 and Figs. 17 to 19. In the following, the invention is described primarily with reference to Figs. 1 to 7; the examples from Figs. 10 to 16 and Figs. 17 to 19 are explained in the event of deviations from the example described with Figs. 1 to 7. Statements regarding features of the exemplary pressure control device 1 from Figs. 1 to 7, which correspond to the features of the further exemplary pressure control devices 1 from Figs. 10 to 16 and Figs. 17 to 19, are not repeated but apply accordingly.

[0064] For engagement with the capsule 2, the control valve 20 has a connecting body 14 which is sealingly arranged at the lower end of the valve body 13, while the upper end of the valve body 13 is connected to a housing cover 10. “Top” and “bottom” here refers both to the representation in the figures and to the arrangement of the pressure device 1 in a beverage container 100 when the latter is set up in a usage arrangement for tapping, as can be seen in Fig. 8. Figs. 6 and 7 show the enlarged sections A1 and A2 of the control valve 20 shown in Fig. 4, so that details in the upper section A1, which includes the connection of the valve body 13 to the housing cover 10, and in the lower section A2, which includes the connection of the valve body 13 to the connecting body 14, can be clearly seen.

[0065] In the pressure control device 1 according to the invention, not only the connection between the valve housing 13 and the capsule housing 3 is designed as a plug connection, but also the connection of the valve housing 13 to the housing cover 10 and the connection of the valve housing 13 to the connecting body 14 are designed as plug connections, which enables automatic production of the pressure control device 1 in mass production.

[0066] Located in the valve housing 13 is a valve chamber 13.0 having an outlet opening 13.3 for discharging gas from the valve chamber 13.0 into the environment of the pressure control device 1, i.e., when properly arranged in a beverage container 100, into the interior of the beverage container 100. To prevent the liquid F contained in the beverage container 100 from penetrating the valve chamber 13.0 and causing malfunctions, a one-way or non-return valve 12 is arranged in the outlet opening 13.3, which only allows the flow of gas from the valve chamber 13.0 into the environment and blocks it in the opposite direction.

[0067] Furthermore, a pressure chamber 13.2 is formed in the valve housing 13, which is connected to the valve chamber 13.0 via a coaxial passage 13.1 of reduced diameter. An axially movable valve pin 6 for opening and closing the passage 13.1 is arranged in the pressure chamber 13.2. The valve pin 6 is pressed against the passage 13.1 by a valve spring 5 and held in the closed position, as can be seen in Fig. 2, 4 to 7. To transfer it to an open position, which is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the valve pin 6 is spaced from the passage 13.1 against the restoring force of the valve spring 5, the valve pin 6 is actuated by a diaphragm tappet 8, which extends axially movable through the valve chamber 13.0 and through the housing cover 10.

[0068] The diaphragm tappet 8 is coupled to an elastically deformable diaphragm 11 made of an elastomer, in particular a thermoplastic elastomer, or silicone, which is clamped circumferentially between the valve housing 13 and the housing cover 10, wherein the fastening of the diaphragm 11 is advantageously integrated into the plug-in connection between the valve housing 13 and the housing cover 10. In this way, the diaphragm 11 ensures a seal between the valve housing 13 and the housing cover 10 or between the valve chamber 13.0 and a venting chamber 10.0, which the housing cover 10 defines with the diaphragm 11. In the example shown, the valve housing 13 has a plug-in section 13.5 with a reduced diameter at its upper end for connection to the housing cover 10, on which plug-in section a reduced axial support surface 13.6 is formed on the inside circumference as a circumferential support for the diaphragm 11. The housing cover 10 has a wrap-around section 10.7, which is shaped complementarily to the offset plug-in section 13.5 of the valve housing 13, so that the plug-in section 13.5 and the wrap-around section 10.7 lie flush against one another when plugged together. In order to clamp the diaphragm 11, the housing cover 10 has a clamping ring shoulder 10.6 which is radially spaced from the wrap-around section 10.7 and which, when plugged together, is arranged opposite the axial annular surface 13.6. The axial distance between the clamping ring shoulder 10.6 of the housing cover 10 and the axial annular surface 13.6 of the valve housing 13 is selected depending on the thickness of the diaphragm 11, so that the diaphragm 11 is clamped between the clamping ring shoulder 10.6 and the axial annular surface 13.6 when the housing cover 10 and valve housing 13 are plugged together. Of course, as an alternative, the stepped axial support surface can be present on the housing cover and a clamping ring shoulder can be formed on the valve housing.

[0069] The housing cover 10 further comprises a plug section 10.5, which is provided for sealing arrangement in an opening of the beverage container 100. A through-bore 10.4 extends through the plug section 10.5, which connects the venting chamber 10.0 with the environment outside the beverage container 100 and provides a venting bore 10.4. Furthermore, an upper tappet section 8.4 of the diaphragm tappet 8 extends outwardly through the through-bore 10.4 in the plug section 10.5 in order to be connected to a fastening element outside the housing cover 10 in the assembled position of the diaphragm tappet 8 or in the delivery state of the pressure control device 1. An example of a fastening element is an activation button 9, as shown in Fig.2 and 8, which is detachably connected to the second end of the diaphragm tappet 8 in the assembled position and can be removed by means of an engagement element 102 to activate the pressure control device 1 arranged in the beverage container 100. As indicated in Fig. 8, this can be a handle 102 pivotally attached to a container attachment 101 with a hook that is designed to engage with the activation button 9. The container attachment 101, which is attached to the top of the beverage container 100, further comprises a tap 103 with which the beverage F can be removed from the container 100.

[0070] In the venting chamber 10.0, a diaphragm spring 7 is arranged around a central tappet section 8.3 of the diaphragm tappet 8. The diaphragm spring 7 is supported at one end on the diaphragm 11 and at the other end on a spring system 10.2 in a sleeve section 10.1, which is formed on the housing cover 10 and projects coaxially with the diaphragm tappet 8 into the venting chamber 10.0. Unlike the conventionally used piston technology, which is subject to friction losses, the use of the diaphragm 11, which causes no or only minimal friction losses, achieves good control behavior even in low pressure ranges.

[0071] The sleeve section 10.1 of the housing cover 10 also serves as axial guidance and as an upper stop for the diaphragm tappet 8, which for this purpose has a stop collar 8.2 that separates the middle tappet section 8.3 from the upper tappet section 8.4. The upper stop provides an assembly position for the diaphragm tappet 8, in which a fastening element such as the activation button 9 is fastened to the upper end of the diaphragm tappet 8 in order to hold the diaphragm tappet 8 in the assembly position in the as-delivered state of the pressure control device 1. The diaphragm spring 7 is compressed and preloaded. The guide opening 10.3 delimited by the sleeve section 10.1 is coaxially connected to the vent hole 10.4, the diameter of which is smaller than that of the guide opening 10.3. At the upper stop, shown in Fig. 2, the stop collar 8.2 strikes the annular shoulder of the housing cover 10 formed between the vent hole 10.4 and the guide opening 10.3.In order to provide a fluidic connection between the guide opening 10.3 and the vent hole 10.4 when the diaphragm tappet 8 is at the upper stop, channel structures can be formed in the stop collar 8.2 of the diaphragm tappet 8.

[0072] For coupling with the diaphragm 11, the diaphragm tappet 8 has a diaphragm collar 8.1, which is located on a side of the diaphragm 11 facing away from the diaphragm spring 7, i.e. in the valve chamber 13.0. It is provided that the coupling of the diaphragm 11 with the diaphragm tappet 8 can be released when the pressure in the valve chamber 13.0 reaches or exceeds a predetermined pressure, so that the diaphragm 11 with the diaphragm spring 7 acts as a type of pressure relief valve. The spring force of the diaphragm spring 7 can define the predetermined pressure in the valve chamber 13.0 at which the diaphragm 11 releases from the diaphragm tappet 8. If the pressure in the valve chamber 13.0 increases, e.g. as a result of leaks in the valve 6 or the connecting body 14, the diaphragm 11 together with the diaphragm tappet 8 is pushed upwards until the diaphragm tappet 8 reaches its upper stop. If the pressure continues to rise, the diaphragm 11 lifts from the diaphragm collar 8.1 of the diaphragm tappet 8 when the predetermined pressure is reached, as shown in Fig. 5, so that gas can escape from the valve chamber 13.0 into the environment via the vent chamber 10.0. Therefore, the diaphragm 11 is not firmly connected to the diaphragm tappet 8, but rests on the diaphragm collar 8.1 and on the circumference of the central tappet section 8.3.

[0073] The low friction losses achieved by using the membrane 11, compared to conventional piston technology, are also advantageous in its function as a pressure relief valve. While the piston can also function as a pressure relief valve by being pushed upwards in the event of excess pressure until openings to the environment are exposed, this would then result in not only gas but also liquid escaping from the beverage container, which is prevented in the pressure control device 1 according to the invention by the check valve 12 arranged in the outlet opening 13.3.

[0074] In the operating states of the pressure control device 1 shown in Fig. 3 and 4 with the open and closed positions of the valve pin 6, the pressure in the valve chamber 13.0 lies in a predetermined operating range in which the diaphragm 11 lies tightly against the diaphragm tappet 8 and separates the valve chamber 13.0 from the venting chamber 10.0. If the pressure in the beverage container 100 is less than a preset, defined target pressure of the control valve 20, the diaphragm 11 is pressed into the valve chamber 13.0 by the diaphragm spring 7, and the diaphragm tappet 8 coupled to the diaphragm 11 is moved downward to transfer the valve pin 6 to the open position (Fig. 3), so that gas is pumped from the pressure chamber 13.2 via the valve chamber 13.0 into the beverage container 100.Once the container pressure has reached the preset, defined target pressure of the control valve 20 and thus pressure equalization, the diaphragm tappet 8 moves upward with the diaphragm 11, so that the valve pin 6 is pressed against the passage 13.1 by the valve spring 5 and assumes the closed position (Fig. 4). Only when the pressure falls below the target pressure again due to liquid being drawn from the beverage container 100 does the control valve 20 open again to supply more gas.

[0075] In order to actuate the valve pin 6 arranged in the pressure chamber 13.2, the diaphragm tappet 8 has a lower tappet section 8.5 extending through the valve chamber 13.0 and a pin section 8.6 at the lower end that is offset in diameter. In the as-delivered state (Fig. 2), in which the diaphragm tappet 8 is at the upper stop, the pin section 8.6 already projects into the passage 13.1 to assist in guiding the diaphragm tappet 8 after activation. The diameter of the pin section 8.6 is therefore smaller than that of the passage 13.1, so that an annular gap remains between the wall of the passage 13.1 and the pin section 8.6 for the passage of gas when the valve is open. Starting from the upper stop in the initial state, the pin section 8.6 moves after activation of the pressure control device 1 in the passage 13.1 between the closed position (Fig. 4), in which the pin section 8.6 rests on the valve pin 6 without removing it from the passage 13.1, and the open position (Fig. 3), in which the pin section 8.6 projects into the pressure chamber 13.2 and spaced the valve pin 6 from the passage 13.1. For this purpose, the length of the pin section 8.6 is greater than the length of the passage 13.1. Thus, in the open position, the lower tappet section 8.5 of the diaphragm tappet 8 comes to rest at its shoulder to the pin section 8.6 on the wall 13.9 of the valve chamber 13.0, which surrounds the passage 13.1. In order to allow the passage of gas from the passage 13.1 into the valve chamber 13.0, corresponding channel structures (not shown) are formed in this wall section 13.9 around the passage 13.1 and / or in the shoulder of the lower tappet section 8.5.

[0076] The improved tightness of the pressure control device 1 according to the invention is ensured not only by the advantageous use of the diaphragm 11, which is subject to hardly any friction losses, but also by the use of the valve pin 6, which has a robust shape and is made of a solid rubber mixture, preferably a thermoplastic elastomer. The valve pin 6 has a cylindrical sealing head 6.1, which is connected via a neck section 6.5 to a cylindrical valve body 6.2, from which a pin section 6.3 with a stepped diameter extends. The valve spring 5 surrounds the pin section 6.3 and bears against the shoulder towards the valve body 6.2 in order to press the valve pin 6 into the closed position against the valve passage 3.1. The pin section 6.3 also has, within the half adjacent to the valve body 6.2, a spherically thickened centering section 6.4, against which the valve spring 5 bears. The diameter of the centering section 6.4 thus corresponds to the inner diameter of the valve spring 5 and lies between the diameter of the pin section 6.3 and that of the valve body 6.2.

[0077] The diameter of the valve body 6 and the diameter of the pressure chamber 13.2 are matched to one another in such a way that an annular gap exists between the wall of the pressure chamber 13.2 and the valve body 6.2 for the passage of gas. To ensure a secure seal at the passage 13.1, the diameter of the sealing head 6.1, which is smaller than that of the valve body 6.2, is significantly larger than the diameter of the passage 13.1, in the example shown approximately twice as large. In addition, the wall section in the pressure chamber 13.2 adjacent to the passage 13.1 is designed as an annular wall 13.7. This valve design not only ensures a reliable sealing effect, so that additional sealing rings are not required, but also makes assembly considerably easier.

[0078] The connecting body 14, which is arranged between the valve housing 13 and the capsule 2, also contributes to simplifying assembly. The hollow needle 4, with which the capsule outlet 2.1 is pierced, is arranged on or in the connecting body 14. The connecting body 14 has a through-opening 14.1 that connects the hollow needle 4 or the through-bore 4.0 therein with the pressure chamber 13.2 in the valve housing 13. The connecting body 14 delimits a connecting opening 14.3, into which the hollow needle 4 projects with its piercing tip. The connecting opening 14.3 is dimensioned to accommodate an upper outlet section 2.2 of the capsule 2, which has the capsule outlet 2.1, and is chamfered at the open end to center the outlet section 2.2 of the capsule 2. As is usual with gas pressure capsules, the capsule 2 has a cylindrical shape which is rounded at one closed end and tapers off at the other end to the outlet section 2.2 tapered. Before use in the pressure control device 1, the capsule outlet 2.1 of the capsule 2, which contains a gas suitable for contact with a beverage, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) under pressure, is tightly sealed. For this purpose, the capsule outlet 2.1 has a membrane, which is penetrated by the piercing tip of the hollow needle 4 during assembly of the pressure control device 1.

[0079] On the side facing away from the connection opening 14.3, the connection body 14 has a sleeve section 14.2 with a reduced diameter for mating with the valve housing 13, which is designed to be received in the pressure chamber 13.2 of the valve housing. The valve spring 5 is supported on the sleeve section 14.2 received in the pressure chamber 13.2, with the valve pin 6, with its pin section 6.3, projecting into the receiving space 14.0 defined by the sleeve section 14.2, which is connected to the passage opening 14.1. The diameter of the valve pin 6.3 and the diameter of the receiving space 14.0 are matched to one another such that an annular gap exists between them for the passage of gas.

[0080] The connecting body 14 rests against the underside of the valve housing 13 with the shoulder facing the sleeve section 14.2 when the sleeve section 14.2 is received in the pressure chamber 13.2. The valve housing 13 has a groove for a seal 16 / 17 in the area of ​​the shoulder edge facing the sleeve section 14.2. The seal 16 / 17 thus acts both radially on the circumference of the sleeve section 14.2 and axially on the shoulder of the connecting body 14.

[0081] To seal the outlet section 2.2 of the capsule 2 in the connecting body 14, a radial seal 16 arranged in a circumferential groove is located in the connection opening 14.3 on the outlet section 2.2. Furthermore, an axial seal 17 is provided, which is arranged in a groove surrounding the hollow needle 4 and surrounds the capsule outlet 2.1 on the end face of the outlet section 2.2.

[0082] In the event that leaks should nevertheless occur between the connecting body 14 and the capsule 2 or the valve body 13, a connecting bore 13.4 is formed in the valve housing 13 parallel to the pressure chamber 13.2, which connects the valve chamber 13.0 with the capsule housing space 3.0 between the capsule 2 and the capsule housing 3. Via this connecting bore 13.4, the excess pressure resulting from leaks can be safely vented through the valve chamber 13.0 via the membrane 11, as previously described, into the environment, without liquid escaping from the container 100 through the pressure control device 1. If necessary, a check valve 12' can also be arranged in the connecting bore 13.4, which opens in the direction from the capsule housing space 3.0 into the valve chamber 13.0 and closes in the direction from the valve chamber 13.0 into the capsule housing space 3.0.This construction of the pressure control device 1 according to the invention advantageously allows mass production, since the plug connections between the components allow automation of the production steps.

[0083] The automatable manufacturing process comprises, as shown in Fig. 9, after providing the control valve 20 with the diaphragm tappet 8 in the assembly position a) arranging the capsule housing 3 with the capsule 2 received therein on the control valve 20, wherein the capsule housing 3 is plugged onto the plug-in section 13.8 of the valve housing 13 and at the same time the capsule outlet 2.1 of the capsule 2 is penetrated by the hollow needle 4 of the control valve 20. In the next step b), the capsule housing 3 is materially connected to the plug-in section 13.8 of the valve housing 13, for example by laser or ultrasonic welding, whereby the pressure control device 1 is fully assembled and is in the delivery state. With laser welding or ultrasonic welding, it is advantageous if the components to be joined, capsule housing 3 and valve housing 13, are made of the same material. For laser welding, the material of the upper or lowerThe outer joining partner (here, the capsule housing 3) was selected to be transparent / natural or laser-transmissive, and the material of the lower or inner joining partner (here, the valve housing 13) was laser-absorbing, e.g., black. A suitable material, particularly at high pressures (e.g., 60 bar) in the valve housing 13, is polyoxymethylene (POM), a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer. However, other thermoplastics or, depending on the application, other materials can also be used.

[0084] Providing the control valve 20 comprises arranging the diaphragm tappet 8 in the assembly position against the restoring force of the diaphragm spring 7 at the upper stop, as can also be seen in Fig. 2, so that the first (lower) end of the diaphragm tappet 8 is spaced from the valve pin 6 and the second (upper) end, which protrudes from the housing cover 10, is releasably connected to the activation button 9 as a fastening element. This holds the diaphragm tappet 8 in the assembly position spaced from the valve pin 6, so that the control valve 20 is in the closed position, in which the spring-loaded valve pin 6 is pressed against the passage 13.1. For this purpose, the connecting body 14 is arranged in a sealing manner on the plug-in section 13.8, wherein the sleeve section 14.2 is inserted from below into the pressure chamber 13.2, so that the valve spring 5 acting on the valve pin 6 is supported on the sleeve section 14.2.Thus, at the same time as the capsule housing 3 is plugged onto the plug-in section 13.8, the outlet section 2.2 of the capsule 2, which is located in the capsule housing 3, is sealingly inserted into the connection opening 14.3 of the connection body 14, and the capsule outlet 2.1 is pierced by the hollow needle 4. In the delivery state of the pressure control device 1, the control valve 20 is in the closed position with the diaphragm tappet 8 in the assembly position.

[0085] Furthermore, the provision of the control valve 20 comprises plugging together the housing cover 10 and the valve housing 13, wherein the diaphragm 11 is clamped between the housing cover 10 and the valve housing 13 after the diaphragm spring 7 has been arranged in the housing cover 10 around the diaphragm tappet 8. Furthermore, when providing the control valve 20, a check valve 12 can be arranged in the outlet opening 13.3 of the valve chamber 13.0. And the valve housing 13 can be formed with the connecting bore 13.4, which extends from the valve chamber 13.0 parallel to the pressure chamber 13.2 in order to open into the capsule housing space 3.0, which is enclosed between the capsule 2 and the capsule housing 3, when the capsule housing 3 with the capsule 2 arranged therein is arranged on the control valve 20.

[0086] When designing the pressure control device 1, a sensitive flow adjustment can be achieved in a simple manner by appropriately selecting the flow-relevant cross-sections on the flow path from the hollow needle 4 to the valve chamber 13.0, such as the annular gap between the pin section 8.6 of the diaphragm tappet 8 and the passage 13.1 opening into the valve chamber 13.0, etc. The target pressure (or working or control pressure) in the valve chamber 13.0, to which the capsule pressure, which is, for example, 60 bar inside 2.0 of the capsule 2 upon delivery, is to be reduced and which should be, for example, 1 bar, can be permanently set via the diaphragm spring 7.

[0087] The fully assembled pressure regulating device 1 can then be arranged in the as-delivered state in a beverage container 100 (see Fig. 8), wherein the control valve 20 remains in the closed position until the detachable fastening element that holds the diaphragm tappet 8 in the assembled position, here the activation button 9, is removed by a user, e.g. by means of the engagement element 102 pivotally connected to the container attachment 101. If the pressure in the valve chamber 13.0 or in the beverage container 100 becomes lower (by tapping beverage F from the beverage container 100) than the preset, defined target pressure of the pressure regulating device 1, the diaphragm spring 7 is expanded and the diaphragm 11 is deflected into the valve chamber 13.0 and the diaphragm tappet 8 is moved downwards. The diaphragm tappet 8 pushes the valve pin 6 away from the passage 13.1 and moves the control valve 20 into the open position (Fig.3), so that compressed gas (CO2) from the capsule 2 flows through the valve chamber 13.0 is fed into the beverage container 100.

[0088] When the pressure in the beverage container 100 and in the valve chamber 13.0 reaches the preset, defined target pressure of the pressure control device 1, the diaphragm 11 returns to a neutral position, and the diaphragm tappet 8 is moved upward, so that the valve pin 6 is pressed against the passage 13.1 by the valve spring 5, and the control valve 20 assumes the closed position (Fig. 4). Only when liquid is drawn from the beverage container 100 again or when the pressure falls below the target pressure does the control valve return to the open position to supply compressed gas.

[0089] If excess pressure develops in the valve chamber 13.0 or the capsule housing interior 3.0 connected to it via the connecting bore 13.4 due to possible leaks at the valve pin 6 or between the connecting body 14 and the valve housing 13 or the capsule 2, this pressure is discharged from the beverage container 100 or from the pressure control device 1 by the diaphragm tappet 8 by venting the diaphragm 11 (Fig. 5). The excess pressure value is predefined by the spring force of the diaphragm spring 7.

[0090] The pressure control device according to the invention not only allows for mass production thanks to the automated manufacturing steps, but also offers improved control behavior compared to the prior art thanks to the diaphragm-diaphragm tappet arrangement. Furthermore, the pressure control device according to the invention offers improved sealing properties despite a reduced number of sealing rings thanks to the use of the diaphragm and valve pin, as well as the sealed plug connections. Furthermore, the pressure control device according to the invention is protected against the unwanted escape of liquid from the beverage container in the event of leaks.

[0091] Deviations of the pressure control devices 1 from Fig. 10 to 16 and Fig. 17 to 19 from the example described in Fig. 1 to 7 relate in particular to the membrane 11, and furthermore to the design of the housing cover 10 and valve housing 13, as well as the connecting body 14. In addition, the pressure control device 1 from Fig. 17 to 19 differs by an actuating section 30 on the capsule housing 3.

[0092] The diaphragm 11 is not clamped directly between the valve housing 13 and the housing cover 10, but is designed as a multi-component injection-molded component, wherein the elastic diaphragm 11 is injected into a fastening ring 11.1 made of a different material. In Figs. 10 to 19, the diaphragm 11 is clamped in the valve housing 13 between the housing cover 10 and the valve housing 13 by means of the fastening ring 11.1. Accordingly, the axial support surface 13.6 on the valve housing 13 designated in Fig. 14 and the clamping ring shoulder 10.6 on the housing cover 10 are modified in terms of shape and axial spacing in order to clamp the fastening ring 11.1 to the diaphragm 11 when the housing cover 10 and valve housing 13 are plugged together. A seal 11.2 molded onto the end face of the mounting ring 11.1 facing the valve housing 13 seals the clamp connection between the housing cover 10, the clamping ring 11.1, and the valve housing 13. With the mounting ring 11.1, however, the arrangement of the membrane 11 is not limited to the connection point between the valve housing 13 and the housing cover 10, as shown. By welding or gluing the fastening ring 11.1, the membrane 11 can also be arranged higher in the housing cover 10 or further down in the valve housing 13. If the fastening ring 11.1 is joined by welding, e.g., to the housing cover 10 or the valve housing 13, laser welding or ultrasonic welding may be preferred, as with the fastening of the capsule housing 3. Accordingly, it is also advantageous here if the components to be joined, fastening ring 11.1 and valve housing 13 (or housing cover 10), are made of the same material. Therefore, polyoxymethylene (POM) can also be used as the material for the fastening ring 11.1.

[0093] Furthermore, Figs. 10 to 19 show an advantageous shape of the diaphragm 11 with an annular curvature around the central diaphragm opening, through which the diaphragm tappet 8 extends. This central diaphragm opening is defined by an opening bead 11.3, with which the diaphragm 11 rests against the diaphragm tappet 8 between the diaphragm collar 8.1 and a limiting shoulder 8.7, which tapers towards the upper tappet section 8.3. Furthermore, a sleeve section 11.4 extends axially from the opening bead 11.3 into the diaphragm spring 7, ensuring the correct function of the diaphragm. Apart from the differently designed clamping ring shoulder 10.6, the housing cover 10 of the pressure control device 1 shown in Figs. 10 to 19 differs with regard to the sleeve section 10.1 and the guide opening 10.3, to which the vent hole 10.4 is connected via the plug 10.5. The sleeve section 10.1 does not protrude into the vent chamber 10 here.0, but ends flush with the inner wall of the housing cover 10, whose wall thickness is increased for this purpose. The sleeve section 10.1 defines a receiving space, to which the guide opening 10.3 of reduced diameter adjoins coaxially, forming an annular shoulder against which the diaphragm spring 7 is supported, extending into the receiving space defined by the sleeve section 10.1. The guide opening 10.3 borders the vent hole 10.4 with a tapered, here frustoconical section, with the stop collar 8.2 on the diaphragm tappet 8 being correspondingly frustoconical. A channel structure 8.0 on the stop collar 8.2 ensures a fluid connection between the venting chamber 10.0 and the venting bore 10.4 when the diaphragm tappet 8 is at the upper stop and the stop collar 8.2 rests against the tapered section of the guide opening 10.3, as shown in Fig.16, in which the control valve 20 is in the venting state, in which the diaphragm 11 is lifted from the diaphragm collar 8.1 against the force of the diaphragm spring 7, so that the valve chamber 13.0 is connected to the venting chamber 10.0.

[0094] For improved guidance of the diaphragm tappet 8, the valve housing 13 is designed with a guide passage 13.12 extending between the valve chamber 13.0 and the passage 13.1, which is connected to the pressure chamber 13.2. The guide passage 13.12 is dimensioned to accommodate the lower tappet section 8.5, which extends through the valve chamber 13.0 into the guide passage 13.12 not only in the working states ("open" in Fig. 14, "closed" in Fig. 15), but also in the assembled position (Fig. 10) or vented state (Fig. 16). The pin section 8.6 is designed unchanged to extend through the passage 13.1 for actuating the valve pin 6. On the other hand, for the lower axial stop (Fig. 14) of the diaphragm tappet 8, an annular shoulder 13.13 adjacent to the guide passage 13.12 is provided by the diaphragm collar 8.1, which is raised from the wall 13.9 of the valve chamber 13.0.Also not shown here are channel structures on the annular shoulder 13.13 and / or the diaphragm collar 8.1, which connect the guide passage 13.12 and the valve chamber 13.0. Figs. 11 and 12 show details of the arrangement of the check valve 12 in the outlet opening 13.3, which may also apply to the variant shown in Figs. 1 to 7. An outlet bore 13.10 extends axially from the valve chamber, offset from the passage 13.1 and offset from the connecting bore 13.4, and opens into the outlet opening 13.3 with the check valve 12.

[0095] To connect the valve chamber 13.0 to the capsule housing space 3.0 between the capsule 2 and the capsule housing 3, the connecting bore 13.4 is designed with an outwardly offset connecting bore section 13.11 with a reduced diameter. This offset allows the arrangement of the connecting body 14 in the valve housing 13, which thus terminates with the connecting body 14 towards the capsule 2.

[0096] The connecting body 14 is, as can be seen in the enlarged view of Fig. 13a, 13b, designed in several parts, wherein the offset sleeve section 14.2 is designed as a short collar which is received in the pressure chamber 13.2 of the valve housing 13 and defines the receiving space 14.0 for receiving the valve spring 5. The connecting component with the sleeve section 14.2 is supported on a two-part connecting component consisting of a stepped sleeve 14.4 and a shaped body 14.5, which form the connecting opening 14.3 for sealingly receiving the capsule outlet section 2.2 with the capsule opening 2.1. The hollow needle 4 extends through the two-part connecting component consisting of the stepped sleeve 14.4 and shaped body 14.5 into the connecting component with the sleeve section 14.2, in which the passage opening 14.1 connects the hollow needle 4 to the pressure chamber 32.

[0097] Fig. 17 to 19 show a pressure regulating device 1 whose control valve 20 corresponds to that of Fig. 10 to 16. The capsule housing 3, however, is formed with an actuating section 30 on a side facing away from the plug-in section 13.8. The capsule housing 3 is dimensioned with respect to the capsule 2 such that, as can be seen in Fig. 17 and 18, the capsule outlet 2.1 is spaced from the hollow needle 4 and is therefore not pierced. In order to transfer the pressure regulating device 1 into a ready-to-use state for arrangement in a beverage container 100, the capsule 2 can be moved in the capsule housing 3 in the direction of the connecting body 14 until the capsule outlet section 2.2 is sealingly received in the connection opening 14.3 of the connecting body 14 and the capsule outlet 2.1 is penetrated by the hollow needle 4 (Fig. 19).For this purpose, the actuating section 30 is formed with an engagement bore 31, which engages with a lifting element 32, which is designed here as a threaded bolt that engages with an internal thread on the engagement bore 31. The lifting element 32 acts on a capsule carrier 33, which projects into the engagement bore 31 with a sealing section and is sealed by means of a seal 34.

[0098] According to the differences in the apparatus design, the method for producing the pressure control devices 1 of Fig. 10 to 16 and Fig. 17 to 19 differs mainly with regard to the arrangement of the membrane 11, for which purpose the fastening ring 11.1 is used here, and with regard to the transfer into the ready-to-use state, which is produced by penetrating the capsule outlet with the hollow needle, which in the

[0099] Example of Fig. 17 to 19 by actuation on the actuating section.

[0100] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0101] 1 pressure control device

[0102] 2 capsules

[0103] 2.0 Interior

[0104] 2.1 Capsule outlet

[0105] 2.2 Outlet section

[0106] 3 capsule housings

[0107] 3.0 Capsule housing space

[0108] 4 hollow needle

[0109] 4.0 Through hole

[0110] 5 valve spring

[0111] 6 valve pin

[0112] 6.1 Sealing head

[0113] 6.2 Valve body

[0114] 6.3 Tenon section

[0115] 6.4 Centering section

[0116] 6.5 Neck section

[0117] 7 Diaphragm spring

[0118] 8 diaphragm tappets

[0119] 8.1 Membrane collar

[0120] 8.2 Stop collar

[0121] 8.3 Middle tappet section

[0122] 8.4 Upper tappet section

[0123] 8.5 Lower tappet section

[0124] 8.6 Tenon section

[0125] 8.7 Limiting paragraph

[0126] 9 Fastener / activation button

[0127] 10 housing cover

[0128] 10.0 Ventilation chamber

[0129] 10.1 Sleeve section

[0130] 10.2 Spring system

[0131] 10.3 Guide opening

[0132] 10.4 Passage / vent hole .5 Plug section .6 Clamping ring shoulder .7 Wrap-around section Diaphragm .1 Fastening ring .2 Seal .3 Opening bead .4 Sleeve section , 12' Check valve Valve body .0 Valve chamber .1 Passage .2 Pressure chamber .3 Outlet opening .4 Connecting hole .5 Plug section .6 Ring surface / supporting surface .7 Ring wall .8 Plug section .9 Wall .10 Outlet hole .11 Connecting hole section .12 Guide passage .13 Ring shoulder Connecting body .0 Receiving chamber .1 Passage opening .2 Sleeve section .3 Connection opening .4 Step sleeve .5 Formed body Material connection / welded connection Radial seal 17 Axial seal 0 Control valve

[0133] 30 operating section

[0134] 31 engagement hole

[0135] 32 lifting element

[0136] 33 capsule carriers

[0137] 34 Seal

[0138] 100 beverage containers

[0139] 101 Container attachment

[0140] 102 engagement element

[0141] 103 Tap F Beverage / Liquid

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Pressure regulating device (1) designed for arrangement in a beverage container (100), wherein the pressure regulating device (1) comprises a control valve (20) and a capsule (2) arranged in a capsule housing (3) which is in sealing engagement with a valve housing (13) of the control valve (20), wherein the valve housing (13) delimits a valve chamber (13.0) and a pressure chamber (13.2) which is connected to the valve chamber (13.0) via a passage (13.1), wherein the valve chamber (13) has at least one outlet opening (13.3) of the control valve (20), and wherein the control valve (20) has a hollow needle (4) for coupling to a capsule outlet (2.1) of the capsule (2), which provides a connection between an interior space (2.0) of the capsule (2) and the pressure chamber (13.2), in which a spring-loaded valve pin (6) is arranged, which is in a In the closed position the passage (13.1) is closed and in the open position the passage (13.1), and wherein the control valve (20) has an actuating element (8) which is arranged to be axially movable in the valve chamber (13.0), wherein a first end of the actuating element (8) is designed to be coupled to the valve pin (6) and a second end of the actuating element (8) extends through a housing cover (10) connected to the valve housing (13), characterized in that the actuating element (8) is a diaphragm tappet (8) which penetrates a diaphragm (11) and is detachably coupled thereto, wherein the diaphragm (11) separates the valve chamber (13.0) from a venting chamber (10.0) which is delimited by the housing cover (10), and wherein in the venting chamber (10.0) around the diaphragm tappet (8) a diaphragm spring (7) is arranged, which is supported at one end on the diaphragm (11) and at the other end on the housing cover (10).

2. Pressure control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the diaphragm tappet (8) has a diaphragm collar (8.1) which is arranged on a side of the diaphragm (11) facing away from the diaphragm spring (7), wherein the Membrane (11) on the membrane collar (8.1) detachably rests on the membrane tappet (8), wherein the housing cover (10) has at least one vent hole (10.4), which is preferably a through hole (10.4) in the housing cover (10) through which the membrane tappet (8) extends.

3. Pressure control device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that a central diaphragm opening through which the diaphragm tappet (8) extends is delimited by an opening bead (11.3), from which a sleeve section (11.4) extends in the axial direction into the diaphragm spring (7), wherein the sleeve section (11.4) is arranged between the diaphragm collar (8.1) and a limiting shoulder (8.7) of the diaphragm tappet (8).

4. Pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the diaphragm tappet (8) has a central tappet section (8.3) extending through the venting chamber (10.0), and an upper tappet section (8.4) extending through the housing cover (10), and has a stop collar (8.2) arranged between the central tappet section (8.3) and the upper tappet section (8.4), wherein the housing cover (10) has a sleeve section (10.1) through which the diaphragm tappet (8) extends, wherein a guide opening (10.3), in which the stop collar (8.2) is axially guided, is provided by the sleeve section (10.1) or adjoins the sleeve section (10.1) and provides an axial stop for the stop collar (8.2) of the diaphragm tappet (8).

5. Pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the diaphragm tappet (8) has a lower tappet section (8.5) which extends through the valve chamber (13.0), wherein on the lower tappet section (8.5) for coupling with the valve pin (6) a pin section (8.6) is formed which is offset in diameter from the lower tappet section (8.5), the diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the passage (13.1), wherein the pin section (8.6) is longer than the passage (13.1), and wherein the lower tappet section (8.5) has an axial stop of the Membrane tappet (8) on a wall (13.9) of the valve chamber (13.0) adjacent to the passage (13.1).

6. Pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the diaphragm tappet (8) has a lower tappet section (8.5) which extends from the diaphragm collar (8.1) through the valve chamber (13.0) and through a guide passage (13.12) formed in the valve housing (13), which guide passage connects the valve chamber (13.0) to the passage (13.1), wherein a pin section (8.6) offset in diameter from the lower tappet section (8.5) is formed on the lower tappet section (8.5) for coupling to the valve pin (6), the diameter of which pin section is smaller than a diameter of the passage (13.1), wherein the pin section (8.6) is longer than the passage (13.1), and wherein the diaphragm collar (8.1) forms an axial stop of the diaphragm tappet (8) on a wall section adjacent to the guide passage (13.12). (13.13) of the valve chamber (13.0).

7. Pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the membrane (11) is fastened between the valve housing (13) and the housing cover (10) by a clamping connection, wherein the valve housing (13) and the housing cover (10) preferably have a stepped membrane support surface (13.6) and a clamping ring shoulder (10.6) as mutually facing clamping surfaces, or in that the membrane (11) is designed with a circumferential fastening ring (11.1) with a seal (11.2) as a multi-component injection-molded component, in which the membrane (11) is injected into the fastening ring (11.1), wherein the fastening ring (11.1) is fastened in the valve housing (13) or in the housing cover (10) by a welded connection or an adhesive connection or is fastened between the valve housing (13) and the housing cover (10) by a clamping connection.

8. Pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a check valve (12) is arranged in the at least one outlet opening (13.3) which opens in the direction out of the valve chamber (13.0) and closes in the direction into the valve chamber (13.0), and / or a connecting bore (13.4, 13.11) is formed in the valve housing (13), which connects the valve chamber (13.0) to a capsule housing space (3.0) which the capsule housing (3) encloses around the capsule (2).

9. Pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the valve housing (13) has a plug-in section (13.8) for engagement with the capsule housing (3), the outer diameter of which corresponds to an inner diameter of the capsule housing (3), wherein the sealing engagement of the capsule housing (3) with the valve housing (13) is provided by a material-to-material connection (15), which is an adhesive connection or preferably a welded connection, and in particular a laser or ultrasonic welded connection, or provided by a mechanical connection sealed by means of a seal, which includes clipping, locking and snapping.

10. Pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a connecting body (14) is arranged in a sealed manner between the valve housing (13) and the capsule (2), which connecting body has the hollow needle (4), wherein the connecting body (14) has a passage opening (14.1) which provides a connection between the hollow needle (4) and the pressure chamber (13.2) in the valve housing (13).

11. Pressure control device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the connecting body (14) has a connection opening (14.3) in which an outlet section (2.2) of the capsule (2), which has the capsule outlet (2.1), is received, wherein the hollow needle (4) projects into the connection opening (14.3) to penetrate the capsule outlet (2.1), wherein a seal between the connecting body (14) and the outlet section (2.2) of the capsule (2) preferably has a radial seal (16) and an axial seal (17) surrounding the capsule outlet (2.1).

12. Pressure control device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the capsule housing (3) is dimensioned in relation to the capsule (2) such that when the capsule housing (3) is arranged on the plug-in section (13.8) of the valve housing (13), the capsule outlet section (2.2) is sealingly received in the connection opening (14.3) of the connection body (14) and the capsule outlet (2.1) is penetrated by the hollow needle (4), or the capsule housing (3) is dimensioned in relation to the capsule (2) such that when the capsule housing (3) is arranged on the plug-in section (13.8) of the valve housing (13) the capsule outlet (2.1) is spaced apart from the hollow needle (4), wherein the capsule housing (3) has, on a side facing away from the plug-in section (13.8), an actuating section (30) with a lifting element (32) which is designed to move the capsule (2) in the capsule housing (3) in the direction of the connecting body (14) until the capsule outlet section (2.2) is sealingly received in the connection opening (14.3) of the connection body (14) and the capsule outlet (2.1) is penetrated by the hollow needle (4).

13. Pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 11 to 12, characterized in that the connecting body (14) has a sleeve section (14.2) with a reduced diameter, which is at least partially accommodated in the pressure chamber (13.2) of the valve housing (13), wherein the connecting body (14) bears against the valve housing (13), wherein the valve pin (6) projects into the sleeve section (14.2), and a valve spring (5) is supported on the sleeve section (14.2), wherein the valve pin (6) is in the closed position when the valve spring (5) is in the expanded state and in the open position when the valve spring (5) is in the compressed state.

14. Pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that - the valve pin (6) consists of an elastomeric material, which is preferably a thermoplastic elastomer material, and / or - the valve pin (6) has a sealing head (6.1) which is connected via a neck section (6.5) to a valve body (6.2), from which a pin section (6.3) with a stepped diameter and a centering section (6.4) extends, wherein the sealing head (6.1) has a larger diameter than the passage (13.1) and is designed for sealing engagement with a wall section (13.7) adjacent to the passage (13), which wall section is preferably shaped as an annular wall (13.7), and / or the pin section (6.3) offset from the valve body (6.2) provides an axial stop for a valve spring (5) which surrounds the pin section (6.3) and bears against the centering section (6.4).

15. A method for the automated production of a pressure control device (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 14, comprising the steps - Providing the control valve (20) and arranging the diaphragm tappet (8), which penetrates the diaphragm (11) and is detachably coupled thereto, against a restoring force of the diaphragm spring (7) in an assembly position in which the diaphragm tappet (8) is spaced from the valve pin (6) with the first end and projects out of the housing cover (10) with the second end, and in the assembly position releasably fastening the diaphragm tappet (8) at the second end outside the housing cover (10), wherein the control valve (20) is in the closed position in which the spring-loaded valve pin (6) closes the passage (13.1) which connects the valve chamber (13.0) and the pressure chamber (13.2) in the valve housing (13), and - arranging the capsule housing (3) with the capsule (2) accommodated therein on the control valve (20), wherein the capsule housing (3) and the valve housing (13) of the control valve (20) are plugged together and the diaphragm tappet (8) remains in the assembly position and the control valve (20) remains in the closed position, and - sealingly connecting the capsule housing (3) to the valve housing (13) and maintaining the pressure control device (1) in a delivery state, wherein the diaphragm tappet (8) is in the assembly position and the control valve (20) is in the closed position.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein - when plugging together the capsule housing (3) and the valve housing (13), a plug-in section (13.8) of the valve housing (13) is received in the capsule housing (3) and the sealing connection of the capsule housing (3) to the plug-in section (13.8) of the valve housing (13), and / or - the sealing connection of the capsule housing (3) to the valve housing (13) is effected by means of adhesive bonding or welding, in particular by laser welding or ultrasonic welding, or mechanically by means of a seal by clipping, locking or snapping.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the capsule housing (3) is dimensioned with respect to the capsule (2) such that when the capsule housing (3) is arranged on the plug-in section (13.8) of the valve housing (13), the capsule outlet section (2.2) is sealingly received in the connection opening (14.3) of the connection body (14), comprising the steps before arranging the capsule housing (3) with the capsule (2) arranged therein on the control valve (20) - sealingly arranging a connecting body (14) on the valve housing (13), thereby inserting a sleeve section (14.2) of the connecting body (14) with a reduced diameter into the pressure chamber (13.2), wherein when arranging the capsule housing (3) with the capsule (2) arranged therein on the control valve (20) at the same time - sealingly inserting the capsule (2) with the outlet section (2.2), which has the capsule outlet (2.1), into a connection opening (14.3) of the connection body (14) and penetrating the capsule outlet (2.1) of the capsule (2) through the hollow needle (4) of the control valve (20).

18. Method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the capsule housing (3) is dimensioned with respect to the capsule (2) such that when the capsule housing (3) is arranged on the plug-in section (13.8) of the valve housing (13), the capsule outlet (2.1) is spaced apart from the hollow needle (4), wherein the capsule housing (3) has an actuating section (30) with a lifting element (32) on a side facing away from the plug-in section (13.8), comprising the steps before arranging the capsule housing (3) with the capsule (2) arranged therein on the control valve (20) - sealingly arranging a connecting body (14) on the valve housing (13), thereby inserting a sleeve section (14.2) of the connecting body (14) into the pressure chamber (13.2), and after arranging the capsule housing (3) with the capsule (2) arranged therein on the control valve (20) - by actuating the lifting element (32), moving the capsule (2) in the capsule housing (3) in the direction of the connecting body (14) until the capsule outlet section (2.2) is sealingly received in the connecting opening (14.3) of the connecting body (14) and the capsule outlet (2.1) is penetrated by the hollow needle (4).

19. The method according to at least one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the provision of the control valve (20) comprises at least one of the steps - Putting the housing cover (10) and the valve housing (13) together, thereby fastening the membrane (11), preferably by means of the fastening ring (11.1) to the housing cover (10) or the valve housing (13) or clamping it between the housing cover (10) and the valve housing (13); - arranging a check valve (12) in an outlet opening (13.3) of the valve chamber (13.0); - Forming the valve housing (13) with a connecting bore (13.4, 13.11) which extends from the valve chamber (13.0) parallel to the pressure chamber (13.2) in order to open into a capsule housing space (3.0) which is enclosed between the capsule (2) and the capsule housing (3) when the capsule housing (3) with the capsule (2) arranged therein is arranged on the control valve (20).

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