EP3546422B1 - Sanitary device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting for filling a container with a carbonated liquid. The invention is used in particular for providing carbonated drinks in containers, such as bottles.

Devices, sanitary fittings and methods are known by means of which (drinkable) liquids, such as tap water, are mixed with carbon dioxide (CO2) under high pressure in a carbonator pot. This so-called carbonation of liquids serves in particular to increase a refreshing effect by stimulating taste sensory cells when drinking. The carbonated liquid can then be filled into a container, such as a drinks bottle. For this purpose, the carbonated liquid is fed from the carbonator pot to the container via a liquid line. When the container is filled, the pressure in the liquid line and/or in the container can drop, so that the CO2 at least partially escapes from the liquid. It is therefore known to first increase the pressure in the container with CO2 before filling it with the carbonated liquid in order to prevent the carbonated liquid from foaming and/or the CO2 from escaping when the container is subsequently filled with carbonated liquid. The disadvantage of this, however, is the high CO2 consumption. Furthermore, a constriction can be formed in the liquid line in order to increase the pressure in the liquid line upstream of the constriction due to the flow resistance generated when filling the container. However, this is not sufficient to ensure a high CO2 content in the carbonated liquid after filling into the container. Such sanitary fittings are described, for example, in the documents WO2015006588A1 and DE19849628A1 described.

The object of the invention is therefore to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art and in particular to provide a device, a sanitary fitting and to provide a method for filling a container with a carbonated liquid, with which a high CO2 content in the carbonated liquid can be achieved with a low CO2 consumption.

This object is achieved with a sanitary fitting according to the features of the independent patent claim. A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is specified in the dependent patent claim.

Furthermore, the features specified in the patent claims are specified and explained in more detail in the description, with further preferred embodiments of the invention being presented.

• einen Behälteranschluss zum Anschließen des Behälters an die Vorrichtung,
• zumindest eine Flüssigkeitsleitung, über die die karbonisierte Flüssigkeit von einer Flüssigkeitsquelle in den Behälter leitbar ist, und
• zumindest ein Überdruckventil, mit dem ein Solldruck in der Flüssigkeitsleitung beim Befüllen des Behälters einstellbar ist.

This is achieved by a sanitary fitting according to claim 1 with a device for filling a container with a carbonated liquid, which has at least the following components:

• a container connection for connecting the container to the device,
• at least one liquid line through which the carbonated liquid can be fed from a liquid source into the container, and
• at least one pressure relief valve with which a target pressure in the liquid line can be set when filling the container.

Sanitary fittings are used in particular to provide mixed water as needed at a tap, a sink, a washbasin, a shower and/or a bathtub. For this purpose, cold water with a cold water temperature and hot water with a hot water temperature can be regularly supplied to the sanitary fitting. The cold water temperature is in particular a maximum of 25 °C (Celsius), preferably 1 °C to 25 °C, particularly preferably 5 °C to 20 °C and/or the hot water temperature is in particular a maximum of 90 °C, preferably 25 °C to 90 °C, particularly preferably 55 °C to 65 °C. The cold water and the hot water can then be mixed by the sanitary fitting, for example by means of a mixing valve or a thermostat cartridge, to form mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature. In addition, the proposed sanitary fitting or device can be used to fill a container, such as a drinks bottle, a carafe or a drinking vessel, with a carbonated liquid.

For this purpose, the device has a container connection for connecting the container to the device. The container is attached to the device in a particularly detachable manner by means of the container connection. For this purpose, the container connection can be designed, for example, in the manner of a bayonet closure, screw closure, snap closure or clamp closure. Furthermore, a seal can be provided in the area of the container connection so that the container can be connected to the device in a liquid-tight and/or gas-tight manner. This allows the device and the container to form a closed system.

The device further comprises at least one liquid line, via which the carbonated liquid can be conducted from a liquid source into the container. The liquid source can be, for example, a storage container for the carbonated liquid or a carbonation device for carbonating a liquid, for example in the manner of a carbonator pot. The liquid can be supplied with CO2, in particular under high pressure, by means of the carbonation device, so that the CO2 dissolves in the liquid. The at least one liquid line preferably extends from the liquid source through the container connection into the container. Alternatively, the at least one liquid line can extend from the liquid source to the outlet opening of the dispensing device or sanitary fitting.

In addition, the device has at least one pressure relief valve with which a target pressure in the liquid line can be set when filling the container. For this purpose, the at least a pressure relief valve must be at least partially closed as long as a line pressure in the liquid line is lower than the target pressure. The at least one pressure relief valve is arranged in the liquid line or in a vent line for venting the container. Furthermore, the at least one pressure relief valve can have a closing element loaded with a spring force, wherein the spring force is adapted to the desired target pressure and/or is (variably) adaptable. The target pressure can be, for example, 1 bar to 20 bar, preferably 1 bar to 8 bar. Alternatively, the pressure relief valve can also be electronically controlled. For this purpose, the line pressure in the at least one liquid line can be measured, for example, by means of a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is connected to a controller in a data-conducting manner. When the target pressure is reached, the controller opens the at least one pressure relief valve at least partially, so that the target pressure in the at least one liquid line is essentially maintained. Before the container is filled, there is in particular an ambient pressure of, for example, approximately 1 bar in the container. At the start of a filling process, the pressure in the liquid line increases due to the (static) pressure in the liquid source or opening a valve of the liquid source and/or by pumping the carbonated liquid through the liquid line with a pump. When the target pressure is reached, the at least one pressure relief valve can open at least partially. If the at least one pressure relief valve is arranged in the liquid line, the liquid line is at least partially released by the at least one pressure relief valve when the target pressure is reached, so that the carbonated liquid can flow through the liquid line into the container and/or the line pressure in the liquid line does not rise above a maximum permissible pressure. If the at least one pressure relief valve is arranged in the vent line, the carbonated liquid flows through the liquid line into the container, so that the pressure in the liquid line and the container increases as a result of compression of the air in the container and/or at least partial degassing of the carbonated liquid in the container until the pressure reaches the target pressure. When the target pressure is reached, the at least one pressure valve opens at least partially so that the pressure in the liquid line and/or in the container does not rise above a maximum permissible pressure. In particular, the closing element of the at least one pressure relief valve when the target pressure is reached, so that the liquid line and/or the vent line is at least partially released. If the line pressure in the liquid line and/or the pressure in the container drops below the target pressure during filling of the container or after filling of the container, the at least one pressure relief valve closes at least partially, so that the line pressure in the liquid line or the pressure in the container is maintained or rises again to the target pressure. With the at least one pressure relief valve, the line pressure in the liquid line and/or the pressure in the container can be kept (substantially) constant during filling of the container with the carbonated liquid. Thus, with the at least one pressure relief valve it can be ensured that a line pressure in the liquid line and/or the pressure in the container during filling of the container with the carbonated liquid essentially corresponds to the target pressure, so that degassing of the carbonated liquid can be prevented. This means that the carbonated liquid can be filled into the container with low CO2 consumption and a high CO2 concentration. After filling the container, the container can be removed or detached from the container connection and used as a carafe, for example.

The at least one pressure relief valve can have a closing element that is subjected to a closing force by a spring element such that the at least one pressure relief valve opens at a target pressure that is lower than a pressure in the liquid source. This can ensure that the pressure in the liquid source is sufficient to open the at least one pressure relief valve.

The target pressure can be at least 0.1 bar lower than the pressure in the liquid source. In particular, the target pressure can be 0.5 to 1 bar lower than the pressure in the liquid source. This ensures that the flow through the liquid line is not too high, so that turbulence in the carbonated liquid can be prevented.

The at least one pressure relief valve can be arranged in a vent line of the container. The vent line connects in particular a receiving space of the container for the carbonated liquid with an environment of the device. For this purpose, the vent line preferably extends from the receiving space of the container through the container connection to the environment of the device. Air and/or CO2 can be discharged from the receiving space into the environment or atmosphere through the vent line. If the device is designed in the manner of an adapter, the vent line can be formed partly in the adapter and partly in the dispensing device. The at least one pressure relief valve can in this case be arranged in the adapter or the dispensing device.

Furthermore, the at least one pressure relief valve can be arranged in the liquid line. In particular, the at least one pressure relief valve is arranged at one end of the liquid line with which the liquid line opens into the container or the outlet opening of the dispensing device or sanitary fitting. Preferably, the at least one pressure relief valve is arranged along the liquid line a maximum of 10 cm (centimeters) upstream of the end of the liquid line or the outlet opening in the liquid line.

The at least one pressure relief valve can close when a line pressure in the liquid line is lower than the target pressure.

At least one pressure relief valve can open when a line pressure in the liquid line reaches the target pressure.

• ein Armaturengehäuse mit einem Auslauf,
• eine Flüssigkeitsquelle für eine karbonisierte Flüssigkeit, und
• eine hier vorgeschlagene Vorrichtung.

According to the invention, a sanitary fitting is provided which has at least the following components:

• a faucet housing with a spout,
• a liquid source for a carbonated liquid, and
• a device proposed here.

For details of the sanitary fitting, please refer to the description of the device.

1. a) Bereitstellen der karbonisierten Flüssigkeit in einer Flüssigkeitsquelle,
2. b) Befüllen des Behälters mit der karbonisierten Flüssigkeit aus der Flüssigkeitsquelle über zumindest eine Flüssigkeitsleitung, und
3. c) Einstellen eines Solldrucks in der Flüssigkeitsleitung mithilfe zumindest eines Überdruckventils.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, a method for filling a container with a carbonated liquid is also provided, which comprises at least the following steps:

1. a) Providing the carbonated liquid in a liquid source,
2. b) filling the container with the carbonated liquid from the liquid source via at least one liquid line, and
3. c) Setting a target pressure in the liquid line by means of at least one pressure relief valve.

For details of the method, reference can be made to the description of the device.

• Fig. 1: eine nicht von den Ansprüchen umfasste Sanitärarmatur mit einer ersten Ausführungsvariante einer Vorrichtung;
• Fig. 2: eine zweite Ausführungsvariante einer Sanitärarmatur mit einer Vorrichtung in einer Seitenansicht; diese Sanitärarmatur ist von den Ansprüchen umfasst. Und
• Fig. 3: die Vorrichtung in einer Schnittdarstellung.

The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the figures show particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, but that the invention is not limited to them. The same components in the figures are provided with the same reference numerals. They show, by way of example and schematically:

• Fig.1 : a sanitary fitting not covered by the claims with a first embodiment of a device;
• Fig. 2 : a second embodiment of a sanitary fitting with a device in a side view; this sanitary fitting is covered by the claims. And
• Fig.3 : the device in a sectional view.

The Fig.1 shows a sanitary fitting 9 with a device 1 in a schematic representation. The sanitary fitting 9 has a fitting housing 10 with which the sanitary fitting 9 is attached to a support 23, which is a worktop here. The sanitary fitting 9 also comprises a mixing valve 14 to which cold water can be supplied from a cold water source 16 and hot water from a hot water source 15 via a hot water pipe 26. The cold water and the hot water can be mixed by means of the mixing valve 14 to form mixed water with a desired mixed water temperature. The mixed water temperature can be adjusted by a user of the sanitary fitting 9 via a lever 12. The mixed water can be fed from the mixing valve 14 via a mixed water pipe 27 through an outlet 11 of the fitting housing 10 to an outlet opening 13 of the sanitary fitting 9. The sanitary fitting 9 also has the device 1, which comprises a liquid source 5. The liquid source 5 is designed here in the manner of a carbonator pot. Cold water can be supplied to the liquid source 5 via the cold water line 24 from the cold water source 16 and CO2 can be supplied via a CO2 line 25 from a CO2 source 17, which is a pressure vessel here. The cold water can be enriched with CO2 under pressure by the liquid source 5 and can be fed as a carbonated liquid via a liquid line 4 through the outlet 11 of the fitting housing 10 to a container connection 3, which here is in the form of the outlet opening 13 and through which the carbonated liquid can be filled into a container 2. In addition, a pressure relief valve 6 is arranged in the liquid line 4, which comprises a closing element 21 for at least partially closing the liquid line 4 and a spring element 22, with which the fleece element 21 can be subjected to a closing force. When a filling process is started, the carbonated liquid is provided or produced in the liquid source 5. After opening a valve (not shown here), the carbonated liquid flows from the liquid source 5 through the liquid line 4 in the direction of the pressure relief valve 6. As a result, a line pressure in the liquid line 4 increases until a target pressure is reached at which the closing force of the spring element 21 of the pressure relief valve 6 is overcome, so that the closing element 21 of the pressure relief valve 6 at least partially releases the liquid line 4. After the (automatic) opening of the pressure relief valve 6 when the target pressure is reached in the liquid line 4, the carbonated liquid flows further via the liquid line 4 in the direction of the outlet opening 13, through which the carbonated liquid flows into the container 2. The pressure relief valve 6 essentially keeps the line pressure in the liquid line 4 constant at the target pressure while the container is being filled.

The Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a device 1 of a claimed sanitary fitting in a side view. The device 1 has a connecting means 8, which is designed here in the manner of a bayonet lock. By means of the connecting means 8, the device 1 can be detachably fastened to a dispensing device or sanitary fitting 9 (not shown here in more detail). In particular, the device 1 can be fastened with the connecting means 8 to a mousseur 18, which is arranged, for example, on or in an outlet opening 13 of the sanitary fitting 9. The second embodiment of the device 1 is thus designed in the manner of an adapter, which can be fastened to a dispensing device or sanitary fitting 9 via the connecting means 8.

The Fig.3 shows the second embodiment of the device 1 in a sectional view. The device 1 has a housing 19 to which a container 2 can be detachably attached via a container connection 3, which is designed here in the manner of a bayonet lock. Furthermore the device 1 has a liquid line 4, via which a carbonated liquid can be conducted from a liquid source 5 (not shown here) into the container 2. The liquid line 4 extends through the housing 19. In addition, the device 1 comprises a pressure relief valve 6, which is arranged in a vent line 7. The vent line 7 also extends through the housing 19 and connects a receiving space 29 of the container 2 for the carbonated liquid with an environment 28 of the device 1. When a filling process is started, an ambient pressure of approximately 1 bar initially prevails in the receiving space 29 of the container 2. The carbonated liquid flows via the liquid line 4 into the receiving space 29 of the container 2, whereby the pressure in the liquid line 4 and the receiving space 29 increases by compressing the air in the receiving space 29 and at least partially outgassing the carbonated liquid in the receiving space 29. When the target pressure is reached in the liquid line 4 and the container 2, a closing force of a spring element 22 on a closing element 21 of the pressure relief valve 6 is overcome, so that the closing element 21 at least partially releases the vent line 7. This allows the air and/or the CO2 to escape from the receiving space 29 via the vent line 7 into the environment 28, so that the target pressure in the liquid line 4 and/or the receiving space 29 of the container 2 is (essentially) constantly set to the target pressure. The pressure relief valve 6 can also be operated manually here via a valve actuating lever 20. The pressure relief valve 6 is designed here in the manner of a proportional valve, which enables a continuous transition between a closed position and an open position. This makes it possible to avoid a sudden drop in the pressure in the liquid line 4 and the receiving space 29, which could otherwise lead to an undesirably strong foaming of the carbonated liquid in the receiving space 29 of the container 2.

The present invention enables a carbonated liquid to be filled into a container with a high CO2 concentration and low CO2 consumption.

List of reference symbols

1

device

2

container

3

Container connection

4

Liquid line

5

Fluid source

6

Pressure relief valve

7

Vent line

8

Connecting elements

9

Sanitary fitting

10

Valve housing

11

Outlet

12

lever

13

Outlet opening

14

Mixing valve

15

Hot water source

16

Cold water spring

17

CO2 source

18

Mousseur

19

Housing

20

Valve operating lever

21

Locking element

22

Spring element

23

carrier

24

Cold water pipe

25

CO2 line

26

Hot water pipe

27

Combined water pipe

28

Vicinity

29

Recording room

Claims (2)

1. A sanitary fitting (9), comprising at least:

   - a faucet housing (10) with an outlet (11),

   - a liquid source (5) for a carbonated liquid, and

   - a device (1) for filling a container (2) with a carbonated liquid, comprising at least: a housing (19), a container connection (3) for detachably attaching the container (2) to the housing (19), at least one liquid line (4) which extends through the housing (19) and

   via which the carbonated liquid can be conducted from the liquid source (5) into the container (2), at least one pressure relief valve (6) with which a target pressure in the liquid line (4) can be adjusted when filling the container (2), wherein the device (1) can be detachably attached to the outlet (11) by means of a connecting means (8) of the sanitary fitting, wherein the at least one pressure relief valve (6) is arranged in the liquid line (4), or wherein the at least one pressure relief valve (6) is arranged in a vent line (7) which extends through the housing (19) for venting the container (2).
2. The sanitary fitting (9) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means (8) is designed in the manner of a bayonet lock.

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