GB2190993A - Injector valve - Google Patents

Abstract

An injector valve for use with a sealed vessel for containing beer, wine or the like comprises a housing 1 having an outlet end region adapted to be secured into an aperture in such a vessel by means of a bottom flange 2 provided with a sealing ring 3, cooperable with a nut 5 on an external screwthread 4 provided throughout the remaining length of the housing 1. The upper inlet end of the housing 1 comprises a recess 6 with an inner sealing ring 7 to receive an outlet of a carbon dioxide gas cylinder. Gas from the cylinder enters a chamber 8 via a gas inlet channel 11. The pressure of the gas forces downwards a metal ball 12 which normally closes the channel 11 under the force of a compression spring 13. The spring 13 is retained in the chamber 8 by means of a screw-threaded closure member 9 having a gas outlet channel 10. The housing may be secured within a moulded passageway forming part of a moulded plastics screw- on cap for a pressure vessel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Injector valve This invention relates to can injector valve for use with a sealed vessel for containing beer, wine or the like.

When brewing beer or making wine (particularly but not necessarily exclusively in the home) it is known to store the completed liquid in a plastics or metal sealed vessel. The vessel may be fitted with an injector valve through which a gas such as carbon dioxide can be introduced into the sealed vessel in order to form a layer of the gas on top of the completed beer, wine or the like. One purpose of the gas is to preserve the liquid so that it does not deteriorate over a period of time.

When desired, the liquid can be drawn from the vessel for human consumption, the liquid having been preserved against deterioration by the layer of pressurised gas.

According to the present invention there is provided an injector valve for use with a sealed vessel for containing beer, wine or the like, the valve comprising a housing having an outlet end region adapted to be secured into an aperture in such a vessel, and an opposite inlet end region adapted to be engaged by an outlet of a gas cylinder for pressurising the vessel, the housing comprising a chamber via which gas under pressure can flow from the gas cylinder into the vessel when the injector valve is in use, and a gas inlet channel into said chamber which can be closed by a closure element in the chamber urged in a direction to close the gas inlet channel by a resilient biasing means exerting a resilient biasing force, on the closure element, which can be overcome by a predetermined pressure in a gas cylinder to allow gas to flow from the cylinder into said chamber and from there into the vessel when the injector valve is in use, which resilient biasing means closes the gas inlet channel by the closure element when such gas cylinder is disengaged from the injector valve thereby to oppose pressurised gas leaving the vessel via the injector valve.

A preferred embodiment of injector valve according to the present invention may provide a valve which is simple and efficient in construction, is resistant against deterioration with use, and is not prone to leakage.

The chamber in the valve may be provided by an elongate hole extending in the housing.

In this manner the chamber can be provided in a simple and effective way, since it is a relatively simple matter to drill such a hole in the housing. The hole providing the chamber need not extend entirely throughout the housing and, preferably, may extend from the outlet end region thereof.

The chamber may be closed at one end by a closure member having a gas channel therein, and this is advantageous in that it enables the chamber to be formed by a hole extending partially through the housing from one end of the housing, the hole being closed at that end by the closure member which is nevertheless able to allow gas to flow therethrough.

It is particularly useful if the closure member is removably screw-threaded into the one end of the chamber, since this may allow the chamber to be opened and its contents removed simply by screwing-out the closure member. The interior of the chamber, the closure member itself, and the closure element and the resilient biasing means may thereby be available to be cleaned in a simple and convenient manner. After cleaning the valve can be reassembled and the closure member screwed back into the one end of the chamber.

Preferably the closure member is located at the outlet end of the chamber, whereby the gas channel in the closure member is an outlet gas channel from the chamber into the vessel.

In an alternative embodiment, the closure member could be located at the inlet end of the chamber, whereby the gas channel in the closure member is the aforementioned gas inlet channel. In this case a separate gas outlet channel could be formed in the outlet end region of the housing.

Where the chamber is provided by an elongate hole extending in the housing, the gas inlet channel may itself be an elongate hole extending in the housing from its inlet end region to an adjacent end of the elongate hole providing the chamber.

Preferably the closure element in the chamber is a ball, and this ball may be made of metal.

The resilient biasing means may be a compression spring in the chamber. Where a closure member for the chamber is provided as aforementioned, one end of the compression spring may be retained in the chamber by means of the closure member.

Preferably there is no natural or synthetic rubber seal or other part in the path of gas flow within the injector valve from the inlet end region to the outlet end region thereof.

This is advantageous because such materials tend to deteriorate with time, use and repeated sterilization, and may cause an injector valve to leak.

A convenient form of the housing is one which is substantially cylindrical, with the chamber and the or each gas channel extending substantially axially in the housing.

It is also advantageous for the housing, except for the closure member where provided, to be a single piece of material.

Preferably the housing is made of brass, which has proved to be a material particularly resistant to corrosion in the present circumstances. Conventional injector valves with housings made of aluminium are more prone to corrosion and thus leakage. Such corrosion may occur more particularly when the valve is immersed in a sterilizing solution, which must be done from time to time. This may over a long period of time result in valve failure, or even deposits in the contents of the vessel which may be detrimental to health if consumed by a human being.

It may also be advantageous for the closure member to be made of brass also.

The adaptation of the injector valve to be secured into an aperture in a sealed vessel may be provided by the outlet end region of the valve housing being formed with a flange and an external screw thread, there being a nut on the thread for securing the valve in an aperture in a pressure vessel in cooperation with the flange. To assist in maintaining the sealing of the vessel, the flange may be fitted with a resilient sealing ring. The injector valve is usualiy provided as a permanent fitment in a pressure vessel for containing beer, wine or the like, and is usually fitted into an appropriately-sized aperture in the top surface of a screw cap for the vessel.

The inlet end region of the housing of the injector valve may be adapted to be engaged by an outlet of a gas cylinder by being formed with a recess to receive therein an outlet member of such a pressurised gas cylinder.

The recess may be fitted therein with a silicon rubber ring to seal against such outlet member of a pressurised gas cylinder. Silicon rubber has proved to be particularly resistant to deterioration, and it will of course be appreciated that this sealing ring is not in the path of gas flow within the valve from the inlet end region to the outlet end region thereof. An external screw thread may also be provided to cooperate with the gas cylinder.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be put into practice reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing in which; Figure 1 shows an axial cross section of an injector valve according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a view of the injector valve of Figure 1 from below, on a reduced scale.

The injector valve shown in Figure 1 comprises a housing 1 which is cylindrical in form and is a single solid piece of brass. The housing is formed with a lower circular flange 2 which is stepped inwardly to receive a rubber sealing ring 3. Inwardly of the step and throughout its remaining length the housing 1 is provided with an external screw thread 4.

A hexagonal nut 5 is screwed-onto the screwthread 4.

The valve, with the nut 5 removed, can be fitted into an aperture in the lid (not shown) of a sealed pressure vessel for containing beer, wine or the like. The nut 5 can then be repiaced in order tc sandwich the edge of the aperture between the flange 2 and the nut 5, with the sealing ring 3 improving the seal.

An upper inlet end of the housing 1 is formed with a recess 6 to receive therein an outlet member of a pressurised gas cylinder.

Such a cylinder additionally has an outer sleeve with an internal screw thread which fits onto the upper end of the screw thread 4. A silicon rubber sealing ring 7 fitted around the inner surface of the recess 6 provides a seal with the aforementioned outlet member of the pressurised gas cylinder (not shown).

A valve mechanism chamber 8 is formed in the housing 1 by drilling an axial hole in the housing 1 from the outlet end region thereof.

The bottom end of this hole is screw-threaded to receive removably a screw- threaded closure member 9 having a gas outlet channel 10 drilled through the centre thereof. The closure member 9 is generally in the form of a screw having a flanged screw head received in a recess at the bottom end of the elongate hole forming the chamber 8. As can be seen from figures 1 and 2, the closure member 9 is formed with a slot to receive the blade of a screw- driver in order to facilitate its insertion and removal from the mouth of the elongate hole forming the chamber 8.

At the upper end of the elongate chamber 8, an elongate gas inlet channel 11 is formed axially in the housing 1 extending from the recess 6 to the upper end of the valve mechanism chamber 8.

The valve mechanism itself is provided by a hardened metal ball 12 which is urged upwardly by a helical spring steel compression spring 13 the bottom end of which is retained in the chamber 8 by means of the closure member 9. Removal of the closure member 9 enables both the inlet and outlet gas channels 11 and 10, the interior of the valve mechanism chamber 8 itself, and the ball 12 and the compression spring 13 to be cleaned when necessary. Under normal conditions the compression spring 13 urges the ball 12 upwards to close the gas inlet channel 11, whereby pressurised gas within the pressure vessel cannot escape through the injector valve.

It can be seen that, despite the presence of the rubber rings 3 and 7, there is no natural or synthetic rubber seal or other part in the path of gas flow within the valve from the inlet end region to the outlet end region thereof. Sealing within the valve is provided by a metal upon metal contact between the ball 12 and the chamber wall adjacent the lower end of the gas inlet channel 10. The upper end of the chamber 8 has a curved shape, which assists in providing a good seal between the ball 12 and the wall of the chamber 8 at this point.

It is to be noted that the nut 5 is preferably made of brass and a dust cap (not shown), also made of brass, may be screwed onto the upper end region of the valve housing 1 after the vessel has been pressurised When the valve is in use, a carbon dioxide gas cylinder is screwed-onto the upper end of the external thread 4 until an internal plunger on the gas cylinder outlet reaches the internal base of the recess 6. Gas is then released into the valve mechanism chamber 8 and the silicon sealing ring 7 prevents carbon dioxide gas escaping upwardly and away from the valve.The gas leaves the cylinder through the gas inlet channel 11 where it is of a sufficient pressure to push down the ball 12 (possibly a steel ball bearing) to compress the spring 13 even further and allow gas to enter the chamber 8 and pass through the gas outlet channel 10 in the closure member 9 through to the interior of the pressure vessel. The carbon dioxide gas thus forms a protective layer over the contents of the pressure vessel.

On removal of the carbon dioxide gas cylinder the plunger extends outwardly from the bottle cutting-off gas flow from the cylinder.

Downward pressure is removed from the ball 12 and the compression spring 8 urges the ball back upwards to seal against the curved upper end of the chamber 8 and seal the gas inlet channel 11. Gas cannot therefore escape from the pressure vessel through the injector valve.

In alternative embodiments of the invention the adaptations of the housing for securement into a pressure vessel aperture and for engagement with a gas cylinder may be different from those shown. For example, the housing 1 could be secured within a moulded passageway forming part of a moulded plastics screw-on cap for a pressure vessel. In such a case it may not be necessary to provide the flange 2 or the nut 5.

Claims (23)

1. An injector valve for use with a sealed vessel for containing beer, wine or the like, the valve comprising a housing having an outlet end region adapted to be secured into an aperture in such a vessel, and an opposite inlet end region adapted to be engaged by an outlet of a gas cylinder for pressurising the vessel, the housing comprising a chamber via which gas under pressure can flow from the gas cylinder into the vessel when the injector valve is in use, and a gas inlet channel into said chamber which can be closed by a closure element in the chamber urged in a direction to close the gas inlet channel by a resilient biasing means exerting a resilient biasing force, on the closure element, which can be overcome by a predetermined pressure in a gas cylinder to allow gas to flow from the cylinder into said chamber and from there into the vessel when the injector valve is in use, which resilient biasing means closes the gas inlet channel by the closure element when such gas cylinder is disengaged from the injector valve thereby to oppose pressurised gas leaving the vessel via the injector valve.

2. An injector valve according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is provided by an elongate hole extending in the housing.

3. An injector valve according to claim 2, wherein the elongate hole extends in the housing from the outlet end region thereof.

4. An injector valve according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the chamber is closed at one end by a closure member having a gas channel therein.

5. An injector valve according to claim 4, wherein the closure member is removably screw-threaded into the one end of the chamber.

6. An injector valve according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the closure member is located at the outlet end of the chamber, whereby the gas channel in the closure member is an outlet gas channel.

7. An injector valve according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the gas inlet channel is itself an elongate hole extending in the housing from its inlet end region to an adjacent end of the elongate hole providing the chamber.

8. An injector valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure element is a ball.

9. An injector valve according to claim 8, wherein the ball is made of metal.

10. An injector valve according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the ball seats on a curved end of the chamber.

11. An injector valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the resilient biasing means is a compression spring in the chamber.

12. An injector valve according to claim 11 when appended to claim 4, 5 or 6, or to any of claims 7 to 11 when appended thereto, wherein one end of the compression spring is retained in the chamber by means of the closure member.

13. An injector valve according to any preceding claim, wherein there is no natural or synthetic rubber seal or other part in the path of gas flow within the valve from the inlet end region to the outlet end region thereof.

14. An injector valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical and the chamber and the or each gas channel extend substantially axially in the housing.

15. An injector valve according to any preceding claim wherein the housing, except for the closure member when provided, is a single piece of material.

16. An injector valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is made of brass.

17. An injector valve according to claim 4, 5 or 6, or any of claims 7 to 16 when appended thereto, wherein the closure member is made of brass.

18. An injector valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the outlet end region of the housing is formed with a flange and an external screw thread, there being a nut on the thread for securing the valve into an aperture in a pressure vessel in cooperation with the flange.

19. An injector valve according to claim 18, wherein the flange is fitted with a resilient sealing ring.

20. An injector valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the inlet end region of the housing is formed with a recess to receive therein an outlet member of 2 pressurised gas cylinder.

21. An injector valve according to claim 20, wherein the recess has fitted therein a silicon rubber sealing ring to seal against such outlet member of a pressurised gas cylinder.

22. An injector valve substantially as hereinbefore descrihed with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.

23. A pressure vessel for containing beer, wine or the like, fitted with an injector valve according to any one of the preceding claims.