Patent EA-001846-B1 (EA)
Title: Assembly for storing and dispensing beer and other carbonated beverages
Inventor: TIMMERMANS SJOERD
IPC: B67D1/04
Filed: 1998-09-04
Abstract: 1. An assembly for storing and disppensing carbonated beverages comprising a tapping device (1) and a container (3) for fluid, in particular beer or soft drink, to be dispensed via the tapping device (1), dispensing means (95, 92, 95) being provided for the fluid, a pressure chamber (11) being provided in the tapping device (1), in which pressure chamber (11), during use, the container (3) extends at least partially, the pressure chamber (11) being at least partly enclosed between the container (3) and the tapping device (1), pressure means (17) being provided for feeding a pressure medium into the pressure chamber (11) for pressing, via the dispensing means, the fluid from the container (3) without the pressure medium contacting the fluid, characterized in that, during use, the pressure space is at least partially defined and closed to the environment by a closing part (15) of the container (3), at a distance from the dispensing opening (43) of the container (3), and the dispensing opening (43) of the container (3) being located outside the pressure chamber (11). 2. An assembly according to claim (1), characterized in that the closing part (65, 15) comprises a collar-shaped part (67) and extends around the container (3) at a distance from the filling and/or dispensing opening (43), said collar-shaped part (67) being sealingly receivable in the tapping device (1). 3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container (3) is bottle-shaped or barrel-shaped, comprising a shoulder part (39) in which at least the dispensing opening (43) is included, the closing part (15) extending adjacent the longitudinal. edge of the shoulder part (39) which edge is remote from the dispensing opening (43). 4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing part (15) is fixedly connected to the container (3), and is in particular integrally manufactured therewith. 5. An assembly according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the closing part (15) is accommodated in a fit-on part (65) which can be mounted on, at least around a part of the container (3) surrounding the dispensing opening (43), in particular a neck part (41) thereof. 6. An assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the container (3) is substantially undeformable by the pressure built up in the pressure chamber (11) during use, wherein the pressure chamber (11) is at least partially accommodated in the container (3), and wherein within the container (3) at least a part which is deformable by the built-up pressure separates a storage compartment for the fluid to be dispensed from the pressure chamber (11). 7. An assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the deformable part is membrane-shaped (444, 544, 708). 8. An assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the deformable part is bag-shaped or bottle-shaped (35, 37, 235, 437, 544, 635, 908), at least a collar part of the deformable part being connected to the container (3), preferably in or adjacent the dispensing opening (43). 9. An assembly according to any one of claims 6-8, characterized in that in the outer side of the container, at least one passage opening for a pressure fluid is provided, said passage opening connecting the pressure chamber in the container to the environment. 10. An assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one passage opening is located adjacent the top end of the container, at least spaced from the bottom thereof. 11. An assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, at least when the dispensing means are opened, the container is deformable, preferably at least substantially entirely compressible, by the pressure built up during use in the pressure chamber, at least the closing part and preferably the fit-on part being at least so undeformable by the built-up pressure that the sealing action thereof is maintained. 12. An assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the container within the fit-on part is deformable. 13. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is thin-walled, self-supporting and manufactured from plastic, in particular a thermoplastic polymer, more in particular PEN, preferably a combination of PEN and PET. 14. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container comprises a tubular dispensing means which is in communication or can be brought into communication with the dispensing opening and which is relatively fixedly connected to the container and, during use, prevents contact between the fluid to be dispensed and the further dispensing means. 15. An assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the tubular dispensing means is at least partially flexible, hose-shaped, such that it can be elastically pressed shut in a relatively easy manner. 16. An assembly according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that at least the free end of the tubular dispensing means, during use, extends outside the dispensing device, the dispensing means being at least partially included into a clamping mechanism whereby the passage in the dispensing means can be released or closed as desired, the tapping device being designed so that after use, the dispensing means can be removed from the clamping mechanism and discharged together with the container. 17. An assembly according to any one of claims 14-16, characterized in that the tubular dispensing means comprises an engaging means whereby at least the free end thereof can be moved to a distance from the dispensing opening. 18. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in filled condition, prior to its use, the container comprises pierceable tampering seal means in or adjacent the dispensing opening, means being provided for piercing the tampering seal means during or after the creation of an excess pressure in the pressure chamber, said piercing means thereby bringing the inside space of the container into communication with a dispensing channel for the fluid. 19. An assembly according to claim 18 and one of claims 14-17, characterized in that the tubular dispensing means comprises at least the piercing means and the dispensing channel. 20. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container within the tapping device is surrounded, at some distance therefrom, by a wall of the pressure chamber, the closing part, when the pressure chamber is pressureless, being slightly clear from the closing means cooperating therewith, provided in the tapping device, while the closing part, during pressure buildup in the pressure chamber, is moved against the cooperating closing means of the tapping device for further closing the pressure chamber. 21. An assembly according to claim 20 and one of claims 18 or 19, characterized in that during the movement of the container against the cooperating closing means, the piercing means are forced through the tampering seal means. 22. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tapping device comprises a barrel-shaped first part having a cover part preferably pivotally mounted thereon, the container being positionable approximately vertically into the first part to form the pressure chamber, the cover part being closable over the container and pressure-protection means being provided for preventing the cover part from being opened as long as the pressure in the pressure chamber is higher than approximately the ambient pressure, and the container remaining closed towards the environment until the pressure in the pressure chamber around and/or in the container is for the first time increased to above the ambient pressure. 23. A method for tapping beverage, in particular a carbonated beverage such as beer or carbonated soft drinks, wherein: - the beverage in a closed container is placed in a box-shaped part of a tapping device, - the container is provided with a dispensing opening and a closing part with surrounds the dispensing opening at a distance therefrom and which is laid sealingly against the box-shaped part to form a pressure chamber, at least between the container, the inner wall of the box-shaped part and the closing part, - a free end of an at least partially relatively flexible, tubular dispensing means, connected to the container adjacent the dispensing opening, is moved to a position outside the tapping device, - whereupon a cover part is closed over the container and secured, - the part of the tubular dispensing means extending outside the tapping device is placed in a clamping device whereby the passage in the dispensing means can be opened and closed as desired, - the pressure in the pressure chamber is increased by means of pressure means, - whereupon the interior of the container is brought into free communication with the environment, at least by means of the clamping device, - at least a part of the beverage is discharged through the tubular dispensing means to the environment by reducing at least the beverage-containing part of the container under the influence of the pressure buildup. 24. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that during or prior to the interior of the container being brought into open communication with the environment, antiseptically sealing tampering seal means are pierced by piercing means, preferably by piercing means on the tubular dispensing means and under the influence of the pressure buildup in the pressure chamber. 25. A method according to claim 24, characterized in that during pressure buildup in the chamber, the container is moved relative to the piercing means, such that the piercing means are forced through the tampering seal means. 26. A method according to any one of claims 23-25; characterized in that as container, a compressible container is used, the closing part being provi