Pressurized Gas Line Inversion for Dry Preload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for filling vessels fail to prevent liquid and foam particles from entering the pressurized gas line, leading to foam formation during the filling of carbonated or hot beverages, which compromises the 'dry preload' mechanism.

Innovation Solution

The pressurized gas line is designed with a short, open bottom section between the prestressing valve and the gas space, ensuring no liquid penetration, and is connected to a correction gas source via additional valves, allowing it to function as a parallel gas path to the return gas pipe, preventing liquid and foam entry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pressurized gas line opens into the gas space with an upward-directed opening, then gas can be supplied to the vessel, but liquid and foam particles can penetrate into the gas line and collect above the clamping gas valve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedry preload mechanismVSAvoidliquid and foam particles in gas line
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional design by making the pressurized gas line open at the bottom instead of the top. This reversal prevents liquid and foam particles from entering the gas line, as they naturally flow downward due to gravity而不能进入向上延伸的气路。The upwardly directed opening is replaced with a downwardly directed opening that discharges into the gas space, ensuring the gas line remains dry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the harmful element (liquid and foam particles) from the gas line by redesigning the opening direction. The pressurized gas line is separated from the liquid phase by opening it in the opposite direction (upward discharge instead of downward intake), effectively removing the contamination risk while maintaining gas supply function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a separate pressurized gas line is used to bypass the return gas pipe, then liquid residue in the return gas pipe is avoided, but the pressurized gas line becomes vulnerable to liquid penetration through upward openings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation from return gas pipeVSAvoidliquid penetration in pressurized gas line
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies inversion by reversing the opening direction of the pressurized gas line. Instead of opening upward into the gas space (which would allow liquid entry), it opens downward and discharges upward, creating a physical barrier against liquid penetration while maintaining the separate gas supply path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the pressurized gas line has a long path from the prestressing valve to the gas space, then gas distribution is improved, but liquid penetration risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas distributionVSAvoidliquid penetration risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by inverting the opening direction. The pressurized gas line can extend to ensure proper gas distribution, but the upwardly directed opening prevents liquid from traveling up the line, effectively decoupling the length advantage from the liquid penetration risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design ensures absolutely dry prestressing of vessels, even under unfavorable conditions, by preventing liquid and foam particles from entering the gas line, maintaining the integrity of the 'dry preload' mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

The area of the pressurized gas line between the prestressing valve and the opening into the gas space is relatively short and open at the bottom, so that in practice no liquid parts can penetrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP1879828B1Device for filling containers
Publication Date: 2010.03.17 KRONES AG
  • EP1879828B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1879828B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A device for filling vessels (G) has a container (1) for a liquid (F) and pressurised gas (S), and at least one filling pipe (2) linked to the container (1) and comprising a liquid valve (3) and a return gas pipe (4), a gas pipe (5) connected to the container (1) by a pre-stressing valve (6) opening into the filling pipe outside the return gas pipe in such a way that the pre-stressing valve (6) is arranged on the top side of the container (1) and the gas pipe (5) opens from above into the container (1).