GB2161543A - Pressure-reducing adapter for siphon apparatuses - Google Patents

Abstract

A pressure-reducing adapter is dimensioned so as to be fitted to the coupling of apparatus e.g. a soda water bottle, operated with siphon cartridges. The adapter has a body 2 which includes a connecting part 3 arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the adapter and connectable to a large volume cartridge 4, a pressure-reducing piston 6 having bores 6c, and a stud 1 for connection to the apparatus (soda water bottle). A member 5 (e.g. a compressive arm/lever) operates the valve of the large-volume cartridge 4 via an intermediate member 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pressure-reducing adapter for siphon apparatuses The invention relates to a pressure-reducing adapter, in particular for soda-water siphons.

The pressure-reducing adapter according to the invention is well suited for reducing the pressure of bottles containing high-pressure gases and liquids to the desired level of operational pressure, in particular for apparatuses operated with siphon cartridges (e.g.

autosiphons, cream whipping siphons) to facilitate coupling to said apparatuses so that none of the parts receiving the siphon-cartridge needs to be modified or altered.

It is a well known fact that with the diverse apparatuses having been operated up to now mainly with siphon cartridges, the operation is performed with compressed gas bottles (hereafter: large cartridges) of a volume capable of receiving a multiple of the volume of the siphon cartridges. As the pressure and the amount of the charge are such that they would exceed many times the pressure induced by the siphon cartridges in the apparatus, the apparatus which it is desired to connect to a large cartridge has to be provided with a special pressure-reducing device, as described e.g. in DE-B-2,651,804 and HU-B 170,433.

A common characteristic of the known devices lies in that the pressure-reducing connecting part forms an integral part of the devices, the coupling is built-in by the manufacturer and accordingly, in case of failure repair becomes problematic, while at the same time the coupling increases the costs of the apparatus.

Further, diverse apparatuses are known, e.g. for preparing soda-water, whipped cream or for dispensing beer, also operated with siphon cartridges, which are not provided in general with the previously described connectable pressure-reducing member, so these can be operated with siphon cartridges only.

In order to be able to use large-sized cartridges for apparatuses dimensioned for receiving normal-sized cartridges, a pressurereducing connecting device was developed, which has a body the size of which corresponds to that of a normal cartridge and has a part for connecting the large-sized cartridge.

The body contains a pressure-reducing piston, with which the ratio of the areas of the surfaces in the respective spaces of primary pressure and secondary pressure is determined in dependence of the secondary pressure, the surface in the space of the secondary pressure being always larger. The pressure-reducing piston is provided with a bore which communicates with the bore in the body.

The body and the pressure-reducing piston are made of a synthetic material or any similar material while the connecting part is made of metal. In the direction towards the space of secondary pressure the body is provided with a safety valve.

Although this construction is undoubtedly advantageous, it has the drawback that the pressure-reducing coupling has to be installed in advance at the location of the small-sized cartridge for all apparatuses dimensioned for small-sized cartridges when it is desired to connect the apparatus to a large-sized cartridge.

One aim of the invention is to provide a pressure reducing adapter with the aid of which large-sized cartridges of greater volume having the same charge (CO2; N2O) and pressure as siphon cartridges, can be connected to currently used apparatuses that have no reducing couplings, without the need to alter the apparatus or to use securing and guiding devices.

A further aim lies in that the adapter, which due to its construction is suitable for connection to the part of conventional devices that receives the siphon cartridge should also be capable of effecting the required reduction of the pressure of the charge.

In accordance with the invention, the aims set are achieved by means of an adapter the connecting stub of which is dimensioned for connection to the coupling or junction of cartridge-operated siphon bottles, the adapter having a connector built into the body lying perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the adapter and connectable to the large-sized cartridge, a pressure-reducing piston with bores communicating with the connecting stub and the body; and a member connected preferably via an intermediate rod to the valve of the large-sized cartridge, which member is preferably a compressive arm.

It is considered advantageous to make the body, the pressure-reducing piston, the connecting stud and the compressive arm of a synthetic material, while the connecting part is of a metal.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a pressure-reducing adapter, e.g. for siphon devices, which includes a connecting part dimensioned so as to correspond to the size of the connect ing part of known siphon cartridges; accord ingly, it can be used to any apparatus operated with a siphon cartridge. The suitably formed connecting part for connecting the large-sized cartridge extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the adapter, and it is connected suitably to the pressure-reducing piston, exploiting surface area differences; the piston is arranged in the body of the adapter, which is most advantageous from the point of view of structural design. To facilitate connec tion to the siphon bottle, i.e. to actuate the valve of the large-sized cartridge, the adapter is provided with an expediently selected actu ating arm.The space between the sealing surfaces of the pressure reducing piston is connected with the environment via a bore; in case of the failure of any of the seals the supply material appears.

To promote easy production and more aesthetic appearance, the part of the adapter fitting to the large-sized cartridge is made of metal, while the pressure-reducing piston, the body and the arm are preferably made of a synthetic material.

The invention will be described in detail by means of a preferred embodiment of the invention serving as an example, with the aid of the accompanying drawing illustrating a partial sectional view of the adapter.

The connecting stud 1 of a plastics body 2 is dimensioned for connection to cartridgetype siphon apparatuses of different uses or applications at the location where conventionally the siphon cartridge is connected.

Expediently, the body 2 is formed with a vent 1 a and is couplable via a threaded connecting part 3 to the threaded connection of a large-sized cartridge 4 made of metal, in a well known manner, usual in plastics technology. The body 2 is pivotally connected to a compressive arm 5 chosen suitably in respect to size, shape and fulcrum and the intermediate rod 10 which enables actuation of the valve of the large-sized cartridge 4 whereby in use the discharged gas filling can pass through the bore 2a to the properly dimensioned pressure-reducing piston 6.

When the connecting part 3 is threaded to the iarge-sized cartridge, it is sealed against the environment by means of an O-ring 3a.

The connection stud 1 is dimensioned to include the pressure-reducing piston 6.

The surface area ratio of the pressure-reducing piston 6 defined by a seal 7 on its primary side and by a seal 8 on its secondary side, i.e.

the differential pressure between the space 6a on the primary side and the space 6b on the secondary side, determine the position of the pressure-reducing piston 6, that is, whether the built-in resilient seal 9 allows the free flow of the filling through the bore 2a or stops it, when the piston is displaced.

If the resilient seal 9 is not blocking the flow path of the charge the latter can flow through the bore 6c of the pressure-reducing piston 6.

The adapter according to the invention operates as follows: The connecting part 3 of the adapter is threadedly connected to the large-sized cartridge 4; the seal 3a seals the interior from the environment. Thereafter, the connecting stud 1 of the adapter is placed in the part of the apparatus which conventionally is the location for connecting a siphon cartridge, which is formed and sealed in a manner known in itself for the receipt of the siphon cartridge.

By pressing the compressive arm 5, the charge begins to pass around or through the intermediate rod 10; from here on, filling takes place automatically with the aid of the pressure-reducing piston 6. The pressure of the charge flowing through the connecting part 3 and the bore 2a keeps the resilient seal 9 in the pressure-reducing piston 6 at a certain distance from the body 2 as long as the force induced by the pressure prevailing in the apparatus on the secondary side 6b of the piston 6 overcomes the force resulting from the pressure prevailing on the primary side 6a of the piston 6. When the piston 6 occupies its sealing position the filling is stopped and the connection between the unit consisting of the adapter and the large-sized cartridge and the siphon apparatus can be released.

The intermediate rod 10 has a groove, which assures that the space between the piston and the large-sized cartridge becomes vented or depressurized after the finish of the filling procedure and the return of the piston to its sealing position. Now, in this way, when the adapter is disconnected from the siphon apparatus, the large-sized cartridge is in a closed state, and the adapter is depressurized.

A special advantage of the solution according to the invention lies in that by the expedient choice of the size and fulcrum of the compressive lever 5a strong connection between the connecting stud 1 and the apparatus becomes possible without opening the valve of the large-sized cartridge 4 in one of the positions, while in the other position opening of the valve becomes possible by means of the intermediate rod 10, by continuously maintaining the compressive force exerted onto the connecting stud 1. With this design of the adapter an additional safety valve becomes superfluous, because should the secondary pressure rise to a dangerous level in the space 6b on the secondary side of the piston 6 lifts the connecting stud 1 off the connection with the siphon apparatus, whereby the pressure of dangerous level is automatically reduced to a safe level.

By the application of the pressure-reducing adapter according to the invention use of apparatuses of varying volume and operated under different pressures can be solved in a ready manner; the only task lies in the expedient choice of the magnitude of the piston surfaces.

The field of application is not restricted to autosiphons or cream whipping siphons; the adapter according to the invention can be used in a most advantageous manner for actuating toys, for drawing beer, as a feeder for the propellant gases of spray-tanks etc.

Claims (5)

1. Pressure-reducing adapter for reducing the pressure of gases or liquids between two closed spaces in a predetermined proportion and for feeding a gas or liquid in a quantity resulting from the differential pressure between said spaces, as well as for subsequent filling thereof, in particular for use with siphon apparatuses, comprising a body including a connecting stud dimensioned so as to be fittable to the coupling of a siphon cartridgeoperated device, a connecting part extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the adapter and connectable to a valved largesized cartridge, a pressure-reducing piston in said body with bores communicating with the connecting stud and the body and a member connected, preferably via an intermediate rod, to the valve of the large-sized cartridge.

2. Pressure-reducing adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member connected to the intermediate rod is a compressive lever.

3. Pressure-reducing adapter as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the body, the pressurereducing piston, the connecting stud and the said member are made of a synthetic material, while the connecting part is made of metal.

4. Pressure-reducing adapter as claimed in preceding claim, wherein the said member or intermediate rod is formed with a venting or depressurizing groove.

5. Pressure-reducing adapter substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.