IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID CONTAINERS

Abstract: A valve fitting for a container, the valve fitting comprising a transponder.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID CONTAINERS The invention relates to improvements in containers such as kegs for housing pressurised fluids like beer or similar. In particular, the invention relates to providing such kegs with the transponder for identification purposes. It is known to mark kegs for example with written details of the location and date of last filling and the nature of the contents of the keg. However, such written details can sometimes become detached from the keg and, in an array of kegs each keg must be addressed individually to identify its contents or other representative information. The invention seeks to improve containers and means for identification thereof and or the contents thereof. The invention provides a valve fitting for a container particularly of pressurised fluid, comprising a transponder having encoded therein an individual identification thereby enabling the user individually to identify the fitting attached to the keg by communication with the transponder. In one form of the invention, the transponder is located in an upper flange of the fitting. The flange is preferably in the upper part of the fitting which abuts a connector during the ingress and egress of fluid to and from the keg, which flange is readily accessible especially during storage of a keg not in use and on many other occasions, such as during cleaning, tilting, transporting, loading or unloading the container for example. Of course, the transponder can be remotely addressed using a suitable receiver and transmitted unit. Preferably, the transponder is located in a recess which can be milled into the body of the flange. In another form, the transponder is located in the spear or down-tube part of the fitting. Preferably, a recess is provided in the upper part of the down-tube into which the transponder can fit. Preferably, a cup is provided in the upper end of the down- tube which cup can be mechanically fixed in the down-tube for example using a co-operating lip and flange arrangement. Preferably, the transponder is insulated against mechanical damage. Preferably the insulation comprises a rubber material such as nitrate rubber. The insulation material can be of a two component non-metallic material. Beneficially, the nature of the cup and or recess arrangement enables an insulated transponder to be located in an accessible part of the fitting F in a stored keg K. Beneficially, such transponders can be removed and replaced by removal of the insulating material from the recess. The upper recess can be defined by a narrower aperture than the underlying cavity thus providing a restriction to removal of the transponder or insulated transponder arrangement. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a keg according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic partial sectional view of a down-tube or centrepiece according to the invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the top of the tube showing figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic plan elevation view from above of the down-tube shown in figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a schematic plan elevation view from above of part of a fitting F according to the invention; Figure 6 is a schematic sectional side elevation view radially through the transponder of the fitting F shown in figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic side elevation view of a further transponder in a recess in a flange according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is a schematic side elevation view of a further embodiment of a neck arrangement for a container according to the invention; Figure 9 is a plan elevation view of the neck shown in figure 8; Figure 10 is a plan elevation view of the neck shown in figure 8 with a retaining ring fitted, Figure 11 is a plan elevation view of a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 12 is a plan elevation view of a cross - section of the embodiment shown in Figure 11 , showing the position of the transponder and an associated antenna; Figure 13 is a plan view of a further embodiment of a valve fitting according to the invention; and Figure 14 is a side elevation partial sectional view of the valve fitting shown in Figure 13. Referring to figure 1 there is shown a keg K for housing pressurised fluid such as beer, comprising a valve fitting F comprising a valve which is can be opened and closed to allow ingress and egress of fluid to and from the keg K during filling and during use. Fitting F comprises an upper flange against which a connector is attached, a neck portion N between the flange and the top wall T of keg K, fitting F further comprises a spring S and a down-tube 10 for example which components combine to enable a connector to be attached to fitting F and enable movement of a valve between open and closed positions thereby to enable filling and removal of fluid to and from the kegs. Such a fitting F can for example be of the type described in our Patent Application No. GB9724225.9 wherein the neck N is welded to the rim of the aperture in the top wall T of keg K, alternatively the neck N can be integral with the keg. Hence, neck N can be integrally formed in the keg wall or attachable after manufacture of the keg, within the term 'fitting' as used here. Similarly, neck N can be formed integrally with the flange, or formed as a separate component and then later attached to the flange. Referring to figure 2, a partial sectional view of down-tube 10 shown in figure 1 is shown. Down-tube 10 facilitates in the syphoning of fluid back out of keg k during use (including emptying and cleaning) and comprises a hollow tube 12 having lugs 14 for co-operating with part of fitting F to locate down tube 10. Also provided are suitable apertures 16 near the upper end of down-tube 10, adjacent to which is provided a transponder section 18 consisting of a cup piece 20 preferably having a lip 22 which operably abuts a shoulder 24 in the upper end of down-tube 10. To fix cup 20 in position, a sealing flange or rim 26 is folded over lip 22 as shown in figure 3. Downtube 10 can be formed from a two part construction for example, wherein the upper part comprises substantially those features shown in Figure 3 which upper part, which can be referred to as a centre-piece, is attachable to a tube or remaining part of a sphere which extends into the keg. A transponder 28 in encapsulated in suitable insulating materials 30 such as nitrile rubber or hard plastic in the form a disk housing transponder 28 which is located into cup 20. Transponder 28 can be encapsulated by first placing it in cup 20, then pouring liquid rubber or plastics into the cup 20 to surround transponder 28. The rubber or plastics insulating material is then allowed to harden. If plastics are used to make up the insulating material 30, they may be of the 'two component' form wherein two plastics components are mixed together prior to being poured into the cup, and then allowed to harden. Preferably, the insulation material 30 provides a mechanical or frictional fit in cup 20 in the top of tube 10 and is held by rim 26 thereby to locate the transponder as shown in figures 2 and 3. As can be seen in figure 4, the transponder section 18 is therefore centrally located at the top of down-tube 10 which is typically located in the centre of an upper flange to fitting F as described earlier. Referring to figures 5 and 6, there in shown a further embodiment of the invention wherein the upper flange 34 of fitting F comprises an aperture 36 for a down-tube such as down-tube 10, a recess 38 which can for example be milled into the body of the flange 34 (for example into a lozenge shape) thereby to receive a suitably shaped arrangement of insulation 40 and transponder 42 which again can be mechanically and or frictionally located within recess 38 as shown again in the sectional view of figure 6 which is taken along a radial projection from the centre of flange 34 shown in figure 5. Figure 7 shows how the recess can be defined by a narrower apertural slot than the width of the cavity thereby to provide a further mechanical restriction to the removal of the insulating material. As shown in figure 7, flange 34a can comprise a recess 38a which tapers outwardly away from the aperture on the surface of flange 34a. The extent of taper is variable but at an angle of approximately 50° as shown, a good restriction to the removal of insulating material 40a and therefore transponder 42a is provided. Of course, the taper need not be so great and for example a taper in the order of 10° would be suitable. Additionally, the bottom of the taper can be curved into the bottom of the recess rather than providing the angled corner shown in figure 7. Of course, the insulating material 40a can be formed using the same method and materials as described for the first embodiment. Preferably a keg is provided with a fitting F having only one transponder, but two can be provided for example by combining flange 38 with down-tube 10 in the fitting. Referring to figures 8, 9 and 10, there is shown a further embodiment of a neck N for a container. In this embodiment, the fitting comprising down tube 10 and valve assembly is located within a central aperture in neck N and retained therein by a retaining ring 50 which can for example have suitable outer threading for co-operating with threading on the inside diameter of neck N. An upper flange for engaging a connector is provided on neck N. Flange 34b comprises a recess for an insulated transponder arrangement similar to the earlier embodiments. Alternatively, shown in Figure 10, or as well, part of retaining ring 50 can comprise a recess for housing a further transponder and/or insulator transponder arrangement 40c. Neck N can be integrally formed in the keg wall or attachable after manufacture of the keg and in either mode included here within the term fitting as part of the valve arrangement. A yet further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 11 and 12. In this case, the upper flange 34 of fitting F comprises an aperture 36 as before, but in this embodiment the recess 38d is of an annular form, extending circumferentially around aperture 36. As before, recess 38d can receive a suitably shaped arrangement of insulation 40c and a transponder 42, which can be mechanically and/or frictionally located in recess 38d, as shown previously in Figures 6 and 7. Figure 12 shows a schematic plan view of a horizontal cross - section taken through part of recess 38d, to illustrate the positioning of the transponder 42. In this case, transponder 42 has an antenna 44 to receive and/or transmit signals. Antenna 44 conveniently locates within the annular recess 38d, and is shown as a simple loop antenna. Antenna 44 is shown extending as a single loop throughout reess 38d. However, it could be of shorter length or conversely comprise several loops as required. Also although a looped antenna is shown any type of antenna sized to locate within recess 38d may be used in this embodiment of the invention. The antenna is secured within the recess 38d in the same way as the transponder 42. This embodiment with the annular recess is shown located on a flange type as previously shown in 5. However, it would be equally applicable to the different arrangement shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. Also, the protective insulation 40c could be formed using the same materials and method as described earlier, for example by pouring a 'two component' plastics mixture into annular recess 38d. In addition to the so called flat top type of valve fitting F shown in the earlier drawings consisting of a circular upper flange as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, or a trilobe flange as shown in Figures 5, 11 and 12, the invention is applicable also to a so called well type valve fitting F shown in Figures 13 and 14. Here, a transponder 48 can be fitted to the top of a downtube 50 in a similar manner to that shown for example in Figure 3. Alternatively, the transponder 52 shown in Figure 3 can be fitted in the annular flange 54 at the upper end of the valve fitting F. In another form, both transponders 48 and 52 can be provided whereby one transponder provides information about the keg itself such as date of manufacture and number of refills, whereas the other transponder (preferably associated with the downtube or centre-piece) provides information about the last refill such as the type of liquid inserted and the relevant date for example.

Claims: Claims 1. A valve fitting for a container, the valve fitting comprising a transponder. 2. A valve fitting according to claim 1 wherein the transponder is located in a recess in the valve fitting. 3. A valve fitting according to claim 2 wherein the recess is formed by milling. 4. A valve fitting according to claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the transponder is located in a flange on the valve fitting. 5. A valve fitting according to claim 4 wherein the flange is on an upper part of the valve fitting. 6. A valve fitting according to claim 4 or 5 wherein, when the transponder is located in a recess, the recess is lozenge-shaped. 7. A valve fitting according to claims 4 or 5 wherein, when the transponder is located in a recess, the recess is of an annular shape. 8. A valve fitting according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the valve fitting has a spear or down-tube and wherein the transponder is located in the spear or down-tube. 9. A valve fitting according to claim 8 wherein a recess is provided in an upper part of the spear or down-tube to receive the transponder. 10. A valve fitting according to claims 8 or 9 wherein a cup is provided in the upper end of the spear or down-tube to receive the transponder. 11. A valve fitting according to claim 10 wherein the cup is mechanically fixed within a recess in the spear or down-tube. 12. A valve fitting according to claim 11 wherein the cup is mechanically fixed within a recess in the spear or down-tube by means of a co-operating lip and flange arrangement. 13. A valve fitting according to any of claims 1-12 wherein the transponder is insulated against mechanical damage. 14. A valve fitting according to claim 13 wherein the insulation comprises a rubber or plastics material. 15. A valve fitting according to claim 14 wherein the insulation is a nitrile rubber. 16. A valve fitting according to claims 13, 14 or 15 wherein the insulation comprises a two component non-metallic material. 17. A valve fitting according to any of claims 1 to 16 wherein, when the transponder in located in a recess, the transponder can be removed and replaced by removal of an insulating material surrounding the transponder. 18. A valve fitting according to any preceding claim comprising two or more transponders. 19. A valve fitting according to any preceding claim of the flat top type, or the well type. 20. A container for pressurised fluid comprising a valve fitting according to any of Claims 1 to 19. 21. A downtube for a valve fitting forming part of a pressurised container for fluids, which downtube comprises a transponder. 22. A downtube according to Claim 21 wherein the transponder is located in a recess in the downtube.

Inventors: SKERRA HELMUT WILHELM, SKERRA, HELMUT, WILHELM
Applicants: BARNFATHER KARL JON, SKERRA HELMUT WILHELM, SKERRA PTY LTD, BARNFATHER, KARL, JON, SKERRA PTY. LIMITED, SKERRA, HELMUT, WILHELM
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65D25
IPC codes: B65D25, G06K19