Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~WO93/10021 . PCT/GB92/021l1
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~ Pressuri~d CQntai~er for Providanq an Effer~esce~t
2 ~igYi~
'i 3
4 Th~ invention relates to a pressurised container for
` S pro~idi~g an effervescent liquid in a container and
`I 6 especiallyj but n~t exc1usive1y, for re1easing a gas
7 such as carbon~dioxide or nitrogen into a consumable
: 8 liquid, such as beer contained in a can.
9 : : ~ :
Traditionally~, it has not been possib1e to reprodu~e
:11 the tas~e;and quality of~drau~ht beer in: b~er contain~d
12 in a can~: on~ of~h~ problems~ wit~ achie~ing ~his has
13~ been he~difficu1ty~of re1easing~a:gas, su~h as
:14 ~nitrogen~into~canned beer~im~edlate1y b~fore the beer
js ser~ed~
17: : In~:accordance with a firs aspect of the present
8~ inven~ion~ a~method o~ producing;a:contai~eris~d liquid
19 ~ Gomprises~-pro~iding a c~ntainer having a rupturable
20: wall portion,~ introdùcing a gas into the container,
: 21 ~pro~iding in~the container a barrier which is gas-
22~ pe~meable:and~i:s substantially impermeable to li~uid,
23~ in~roducing~a~liquid pressuris~d with gas in ~he
24; containe~ on~`the other side~of the barrier, and sea1ing
; :2:5 th~ container.
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. WO93/10021 2 1~ 3 ~ 3 ~ 2 PCT/GB92/021~
l In accord~nce with a second aspect of the present
- 2 invention, a pressurised container having a rupturable
3 wall portion comprises a barrier which is gas-permeable
4 and is substantially impermeable to a li~uid in the
. 5 container, the barrier dividing the container Lnto
. 6 first and second chambers, the barrier permitting
7 passage of a gas in the container between the chamb~rs
8 so that when the wa1l portion is ruptured to permit one
9 of the chambers to communicate with atmospheric
`; lO pressure and creates a differential pr~ssure between
. 11 the chan~ers, gas in the other cha~ber flows through.
l2 the barrier into the one chamber.
13
/i 14 Typically the barrier may comprise a material
'.~ 15 impermea~le to li~uid and gas, and having a aperture
. 16 th~rein, and a gas permeable material covering the
17 aperture. Typically, the aperture has a di~meter of
~: 18 O.OlO ta 0.0l5 inches and prefPrabIy is approximately
l9 0O0l2 inche~.
.~ 21 Pre~erably the barrier is ~ixed in position before the
22 container is filled with liquid. ~owe~er,
23 alternatively the barrier could be fixed in position
24 after the contai~er is filled with liquid.
6 In a~cordance with a third aspec~ of the present
r~l: 27 i~ve~tion~, a method of producing a container liquid
28 ; comprises~providing a co~tainer having a ruptura~le
23 wall portion, ~introducing a fluid in~o the container,
providing in the container a barrier which is
31 substantially impermeable ~o the fluid on one side of
32 the barrier, the barri~r havin~ ~eans for selectively
33 allowin~ passage of the fluid through the ~arrier,
34 providing a liquid in the container on the other side
of the barrier, and sealing the container.
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-~WO93/10021 212 3 2 3 3 PCT/GB92/02111
` 3
.;
: 2 Preferahly, the means for selectively allowing passing 3 of the fluid is actuable on reduction of the pressure
4 of the liquid in the container. Said means is
preferably a valve mechanism.
" .
7 Preferably, the rupturable wall portion comprises means
8 for opening the container ~hich is typically a
9 mechanism which when operated pro~ides an aperture in
the con~ainer through which liquid in the container may
ll be expelled. Typically, the mechanism may be, for
12 exampl~, a ring-pull mechanism or other mechanism which
13 enables the li~uid to be poured from the container.
14
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present
16 invention, a pressurised container ha~ing a rupturable
17 wall portion includes a barri~r substantially
18 impermeable to a pressurising fluid and a li~uid in the
l9 c~ntainer, the barrier:dividing the~container in~o
~irst and second chambers and includin~ a pressure
l operable valve mechanism moYa~le between a elosed
22 position:and an~open position, the ~alve mechanism
23 allowing passage of the fluid~a~d/or liquid between the
24 chambers when~the~wall portion is ruptur~d to permit
one of~the:chambers to commu~icate wi~h atmospheric
26 pressure to create a dif eren~ial pres~ure;betw~en the
~7 ~cham~ers,~the:~alve ~echanism pr~venting such pa~sage
28 when the pressures are egual,
2~ ~
In accordance~:with a further aspect of the pre~nt
31 i~vention, the~fifth aspect defined in the immediately
:32 preceding paragraph may have an aperture through the
:33 ~arrier in addition to or instead of the valve
34 mechanism, where~y on:pressurising the li~uid on one
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. WO93/10021 ~ ~3 23~ 4 PCT/GB92/021~
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l side of the barrier a portion of the liquid passes
2 through the aperture to the other side of the barrier.
4 In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present
invention~ a method of producing a containerise~ liquid
~ 6 comprises introducing a fluid into the container,
l 7 providing in the container a barrier which is
¦ 8 su~stantially impermeable to the fluid and the liquid,
;l 9 so that the liquid is maintained on one side of the
barrier, the barrier having means for selectively
ll allowing passage of the fluid through the barrier,
12 introducing a liquid into the container on the other
13 side of the barrier, pressurising the liquid to
14 displace the barrier to pressurise the fluid, and
sealing the container.
16
. 17 ~ref erably, the fluid comprises a gas which is
: 18 typically car~on dioxide or nitrogen.
'i 19
.~. 20 $he liquid may be any consumable li~uidl for example,
21 water, juice, such as fruit juice. However, preferably
22 the liquid is an alcoholic drin~, such as beer,
: ~3
24 Typically, the container is of a generally cylindrical
shape w~th::o~e en~ open prior to receiving the fluid
26 and the liquid. Preferably, in thi~ case, the ~luid is
27 pressurised ~y-~compressing the fluid b~tw~en the other
~ 28 end o~ the~container and the barrier. TypicallyO after
'~ 29 the pre~surised liquid is introduced into the
containex, the open end is sealed. Reduction of the
31 pressure:of the liquid in the container is achieved by
: 32 opening the container for example by op~rating the pull
33 mechanism on th~ container, which creates a pressure
34 di*feren~ial between the li~uid and the fluid.
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093/10021 212 3 ~ ~ 3 PCT/GB92/02111
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l Preferably, the valve mechanism comprises a valve
2 member which seals an aperture in the barrier and the
; 3 valve mechanism opens when the pressure on the one side
; 4 of the barrier exceeds the pressure on the other side.
6 Typically, the apparatus may include a reservoir
'.~! 7 portion ad~acent the barrier and liquid is expelled
~2 8 from the reservoir into the main body of liquid by flow
. 9 o~ the fluid when the valve mechanism is opened.
0
ll The valv~ mechanism may comprise a movable portion o
l~ the barrier which typically may be provi~ed by making a
13 portion of the material of the barrier flexible~
14 Preferably, the movable portion is movable between a
first position in which the valve mechanism is closed
16 ~nd a second position in which ths valve mechanism is
17 open. Typically, the valve mechanism may be opened by
18 rupture of the movab;le portion of the barrier when the
l9 movable portion moves to the second position.
Alternatively,~the valve mechanism could further
21 include a~ valve member which seals with the m~able
22 portion when the movable~p~rtion is in ~he first
23 ~ position~to prevent fluid passing~t~rough~the:valve
24 mechanism~bu~which doe~ not seal wit~the movable
~ portion~when~the mova~le portion moves to ~he second
26 ~position,:in o rder to pe~mit:fluid to pass through the
27 ; va~lve mechanism.
28 : ~
29 In a fur~her alternati~`e, the valYe mechanism ~ay
comprise a~valve fof thei 9Iwoodcroft~ type, and in this
3l case, the valve~mechanism may additionally include a
32 : de~ice which forms a sleeve:oYer the valve. ~he sleeve
33 may comprise at~least one aperture, such that when the
34 ~ v~lve mechanism opens, fluid is expeIled through the
35~:~ aperture in the valve sleeve.
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. WO93/10021 212 3 2 3 3 PCT/~B92~021t~
~ 6
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l Typically, the aperture in the valve sleeve may have a
2 diame~er of O.OlO to O.OlS inches, for example, 0.012
3 inches.
In a still further alternative, the valve mechanism may
6 comprise a "butterfly" type valve which has an enlar-ged
7 head portion, which is mo~able to seal or open an
8 aperture in the barrier.
g
The pull mechanism may comprise a device on the top
ll surface of the container so that when it is pulled to
12 rupture the wall portion it is retained on the
13 container. Alternatively, the pull mechanism may
14 comprise a device which is capable of being completely
removed from the container.
16
17 The apparatus ~ay further have means to retain the
18 barrier in a fixed position after pressurisation of the
l9. fluid. Typically, the means to retain the barrier in
position~may comprise flanges on an ~dge of th~ baxrier
~l whicht engage with;a side wall of the container so that
22 ~he barrier may only be moved within the container in a
23 direction to pressurise:the fluid and which
24 substantially prevent t~e pressure of the f~uid causing
reverse movement of the~barrier within the container.
26
27 Alternative1y,:or~in addition to ~langes on the edg~ of
28 ~ the barrier~, one or ~ore lugs may be provided on the
29 inside wall of the container to engage with and retain
the barrier~in p~sition within the container.
31
32 Alternativély, or in addition the ~aans to retain the P
33 barrier in position may be by frictional force between
34 ~he edge of the~baxrier and the side wall o~ the
container. The degree of frictional ~it of the barrier
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2123'~33
WO93/10021 PCT/GB92/02111
1 in the container may be achieved by adjusting the
2 diameter of the barrier and/or providing the barrier
3 with a side wall flange which engages the container
4 inside wall and the frictional force may be chosen by
varying the length of the side wall flange.
7 Alternatively, the barrier could be fixed in position
8 after filling the container with the li~uid by carrying
9 relative movement between the barrier and the
container, for example, by heating the content ~o
11 create a pressure differential to actuate a mechanism
12 on the barrier to loc~ the barrier in position. This
13 could comprise movable sections on th barrier which
14 are deflected ~y contact with the base of the containex
to generate an increase in diameter of the barrier to
16 increase the frictional fit of the barriPr in the
17 con~ainer.
18
19 Alternatively, heating of the container may actuate an
adhe~i~e located in t~e barrier and/or inside surface
21 of the container to ~ond the barrier to the inside of
22 the container.
23
24 As a~further alternative, the material of the barrier
or a portion of the material of the barrier could
26 co~pr~ise~a material which swells when contacted wi~h
27 ~ liquid to increase frictional fit ~f ~he:barrier in ~he
_j ~
:: : 28 can. Such~a material could be a plastic, such as nylon
29 or where the liquid is~to be consumed, a suitable food-
safe plastic. : .
~; ~ 31
32 The apparatus may also have means to regulate and
' 33 control the pres ~nsertlon of the barrier ln o
pressurised dUri~g~ yample ~hiS maY
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~ WO93/10021 21~ 3 2 3 3 PCT/CB92/021~
1 formed on the inside walls of the container so that
~ only a predetermined volume of flui~ is pressurised.
: 3
4 In a further example, this may comprise one or more
S protuberances on the bottom surface of the bar~ier so
6 that a pre~etermined minimum volume of gas is
~, 7 pressurised.
.j 8
9 Embodiments of the invention will now be described by
way of example with reference to the accompanying
ll drawings, in which:- .
12
~- 13 Fig. l is a cross-sectional view through a first
. 14 example of a sealed can o~ beer;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the
l6 b~ttom of the can of beer shown in Fig. l after
17 the can has been opened;
18 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional ~iew through a second
l9 example of a sealed can of beer;
. 20 Fig. 4 ~is a cross-sectional view through a third
`' 21 example of~ a~ealed can of beer,
22 Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through a fourth
:~ 23 example of a sealed can of beèr;
~ : 24 Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view through a fifth
i~ 25 exa~ple of: a sealed can o~ beer;
26 Fig~ 7~is a cross-sectional view through a sixth
~i 27 example of a sealed can o~ ~eer;
:28 Fig.~8 is a~cross-sectional view through the
~` 29 bo~tom of the can~of beer shown in Fig. 7 after
,`,",'!; 30 the ~an has,been opened; and ! , :
: 3~ : Fig~. 9 is a~cross-sectional view through the
:32 seventh~example of~ a sealed can of be~r; and
33 ~ig.:lO is an example of a lockable ~arrier for
34 use in the seven examples above~
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~ WO93/10021 2 1 2 3 ~ 3 3 PCT/GB92/02111
1 Fig. 1 shows a can 1 which has a barrier 2 in the form
2 of a piston mounted within the can. The barrier 2 is
3 used to separate and isolate a pressurised gas 3 which
4 in this example is nitrogen, from bee~ 4 in the can 1.
S
6 The barrier 2 includes a flexible portion 5 which is
7 form~d from the same ma~erial as the rest of the
barrier 2 but which is of a reduced thickness.
g Typically, the barrier 2 could be moulded from a
plastics material, such as polyethylene. In addition,
11 fl~nges 6 are formed on the outside surface 7 of the
12 barrier 2 and these flanges engage with the internal
13 wall of the can 1 and retain the barrier 2 in the
14 position shown in Fig. 1.
1~;
16 The barrier 2 also comprises a valve member 8 mounted
17 in an aperture 9 in the flexible portion 5 and the head
18 of the valve member 8 seals against the flexible
19 portion 5~when t~e flexible portion 5 is in:the
~ position shown in Fig. 1.~ This prev nts the gas 3 or
21 the ~eer ~passing through the ape~ture 9 when the can
22 ~ is sealed.~On ~he top suface 11 of th2 can 1 is a
i i : : : :
23 mechanism:~12 for~openi~g the can 1, such as a
24 ring-pull.
26 :: In order to~ fill the can 1 the~following procedur2 may
27 be~adopted.~ ni~ially the can~ when empty, is
8 ~floodèd~with~ni~rogen gas 3 and ~he barrier 2 is then
29 inserted in ~he~can 1 and pushed ~long the can to the
pQsition sh~wn ini~Fig. 1. As the flange~ 6 seal wi~h;
31 the:internal walls of the can l the nitrogen gas 3 is
32 ~ prevented~from escaping past th~ barrier 2 and the
33 nitrogen gas 3~becomes pressurised due to the reduction
34 in volume. At;~his stage any excess pressure in t~e
nitrogen gas 3 may be vented through the aperture 9 by
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: WO93/10021 2 1 2 3 2 3 3 PCT/GBg2/02~.~J.
' 10
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1 exerting a force on an end lO of the valve member 8 in
.. 2 order to open the valve.
,; ,
4 When the desired pressure for the nitrogen gas 3 is
obtained the can l is then filled with beer 4 ~hich
6 sits on top of the barrier 2 and is isolated from the
7 n.itrogen gas 3 by the bar~ier 2. The beer 4 is
saturated with gas at a pressure similar to the
9 pressure o~ the nitrogen gas 3 so that when the can l
is sealed the pressure of the ~eer 4 and the nitrogen
ll gas 3 are approximately similar. Henc~ because of the
12 similarity in pressures between the beer 4 and the
13 nitrogen gas 3, the flexible portion 5 of the barrier 2
14 stays in its sealed position as shown in Fig. l.
l6 Referri~g now to Fig. 2, when th~ pressure of the can l
17 is released by a user opening the mechanism l2 the
18 resulting in~rease in the pressure differential between
l9 the gas 3 and the beer 4 causes the fl~xible portion 5
o~ the barrier 2 ~o invert to the attitude shown in
~21 Fi~. 2. ~In this:a~titude the~head of the valve me~ber
22 ~ 8 cannot seal against the flexible portion 5 and so the
23 gas 3 escapes through the aperture:9 into the beer 4 in
24 order to create a drauqht beer~e~fect. Whe~ the can 1
~ is opened ~he flanges 6 which engage with the side wall
~6 ~ o~ the can~1: ret~in the barrier 2 in ~he position sh~wn
27 ~ in Figs 1 and~2 against the action of the pressure
28~: different~ial~:between the gas 3 and the beer 4.
29
Hencej the above e~ample of the invention pro~id~s ! a~
31 method of simulating draught b2er in a can of beer by
32 using ~ piston type arrangement and a valve me~hanism.
33
34: In addition, lugs could be provided on the inside of
3s the can~to facilltate retention of the bar~ier 2 within
~,
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21232~3
_.WO93/10021 PCT/GB92/02t11
11
l the can l in the position shown in Figs. l and 2. As
2 an alternative to the valve member 8 and the aperture
3 9, the flexible portion 5 could be designed to rupture
4 when the pressure differential across the barrier
increases as the can is opened and the pressur~ in the
6 beer 4 is reduced.
8 Fig. 3 shows a second example of the invention in which
9 a can l has a ~arrier 20 in the form of a piston
mounted within the can l. The barrier 20 is used to
ll separate and isolate the pressurised gas 3 from beer 4
12 in the c~n l, as with the example shown in Figs. l and
. l3 2.
: 14
.; 15 The barrier 20 may be formed from a plastics material
16 and has an aperture 21 therethrough.
; 17
18 On the ~op surfac~ 23 of the can l, is a mechanism 24
.
l9 for opening the can l.
: ;
21 In use, the can l:is flooded with nitrogen and the
22 piston 20~is pushed down inside the can to a
23 prede~ermined spacing frsm the base 22 o~ the can l~
24 Beer 4 is then delivered in~o~the can above the piston
20, às ~hown in Fig.~3.~ The can :is then ~ealed and is
2~ ~ heated to~pasteurise;the beer. During the heating
27 process the~pre:ssure of the gas in the be~r 4 ris~s,
28 causing:~some~ of the beer 4 to pa~s throug~ ~he aperture
2~ 21 in the piston 20. ~he beer 4 which enters the
~ cha~ber de~ined between ~h~ ~ase 22 o~ the can 1 and
31 the pis on 20 :pressurises the nitr~gen 3 within the
32 cha~er un~il the pressure within the chamber equalises
.~;
: 33 the pressure of the beer 4.
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~ WO93/10021 ~ 2~3~ 12 PCT/~sB92/021
: l When, a~ter pasteurisation, t~e can is cooled, a
2 residual pressure is retained in the can 1 due to the
3 supersaturation of the beer 4 with the nitrogen 3. The
4 pressure within the can l is then greater than
atmospheric pressure and the pressure of the beer 4 is
6 equal to the pressure within the chamber de~ined by the
7 base 22 and the piston 20.
. 8
9 When a user releases the pressure o~ the beer by
opening the mechanism 24, there is a resulting pressure
ll differential b~tween, on the one hand, the ~luid in the
12 chamber de~ined by the base 22 and the pis~on 20 and,
~3 on the other hand, the beer 4 above ths piston 20, so
` 14 nitrogen flows upwardly through the aperture 21 into
<j 15 the beer 4, creating a draught beer effsct.
16
17 Hence, this example of the invention also provides a
18 mechanism in w~ich a f1uid may be released into a
:~i l9 : liquid such as beer by using a small aperture 21 which
creates a rush of the fluid 3 from the cha~ber into the
21 beer 4 when ~he pressure inside the can is released by
22 a user opening the can.
23 : : :
çl; 24 Fig. 4 shows:a third exampl~ of ~ e invention in which
: . 25 ~ a:piston 3~:is located in the can l to s~parate the
1~ 26 beer 4 ~rom:the~pres~surised gas 3. The piston 30 is
i 27 ~typiGally manufactured from a plastics material and
: ~ 28 com~rises ~ a Yalve 31 and a ~luid reserYoir 32. In this
~`~ 29 part~cular example the valve 31 is in the form of a
~i;ii ~ 30 ~ silicon tube which is designed so that i~ closes thq
31 : aperture in the piston 30 if the pressure of the beer 4
~: 32 - is ~qual to or exceeds the pressure of the gas 3. The
.~ 33 valve m mber 31 opens if the pressure of the gas 3 is
`~}~ 34 greater than the pres~ure of the beer 4. On the top
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WO93/10021 PCT/GB9~/02111
13
l surface 33 of the can l, is a mechanism 34 for opening
2 the can l.
4 In use, the can is filled in a similar manner to that
of the second example of the invention shown in Fig. 3
6 and when the can l i5 heated to pasteurise its contents
7 the barrier is forced towards the base 22 by the
8 pressure of the beer 4 and so pressurises the gas 3.
9 Henc~, when the pressure of the can l is xeleased by a
user opening the mechanism 24 the pressurised gas 3 is
ll greater than the pressure of the beer 4 which causes.
12 the valve 31 to opan and permit pressurised gas 3 ~o
l3 expel the beer 4 in the reservoir 32 into the main body
14 of beer 4 which creates a swirling effect as well as
releasing the pressurised gas 3 into the beer 4.
l6
17 Hence, this third example vf the invention pro~ides a
18 method of simulating draught beer in a can o~ beer by
19 using a barrier wi h a Yalve mechanism.
2 ~)
21 Fig. 5 shows~a fourth example of the i~ention in which
22 a can~40 has a barrier 41 in the form of a resili~nt
23 materi~l:retained in pssi~ion within the can 40 by
24 frictional~forces~ ~he barrier 41 i5 us~d to separate
and isolate:a pre~suris~d:gas 42 ~rom the beer 43 in
26 the can 40~ as with the examples showm in Figs. 1 to 4.
27 ` ~ ~ ~
28 : ~he barrier i~typi~ally ~anufactured from a plastics
29 material and comprises ~ valve member 44 which closes
an aperture in the barrier if the pressure o~ the
31 li~uid 43 is grea~r than or e~ual to the pressure of
32 the gas 42 0 In the example shown the valv~ member 44
3~ i5 a valYe of the "woodcroft" type. The valve
34 mechanism may also include a valve sleeve 45 which
covers the valve me~ber 44 and has an aperture 46. On
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WO 93/1~021 2 1 2 3 2 3 3 PCI JGB92/021.? ' ~
; 14 ~ :i
1 the bottom surface of the barrier are pro~uberances
2 47, which ensure a minimum volume of gas 42, of about
3 15cc in a typical application. ~n the ~op surface 48
; 4 of the can 40 is a mechanism 49 for opening the can 40.
; 6 In use, the can is filled in a similar manner to that
7 of the second and third examples of the invention shown
8 in Figs. 3 and 4. When th~ can is heated to pasteurise
9 its contents the barrier 41 is forced toward the base
. 10 50 by the pressure of the beer 43 and so pressurises
; 11 the gas 42. When the pressure of the beer 43 is
-, 12 greater than the pressure of the gas 42 the valve
;. 13 member 44 remains ~losed. When the pressure of the can
~ 14 40 is released by a user opening the mechanism 49, the
`'/! 15 pressure of the pressurised gas 42 is greater than the
16 pressure of the beer 43 which causes the valve member
~`.J, ~ 17 4~ to open and permits gas 42 to flow up~ards through
~ 18 the valve member 44 into the valve sleev~ 45 and out
.. 19 through the aperture 46 into the beer 43, creating a
draught beer effect in the beer.
21
22 Fig. S shows a fifth example of the invention in which
~; 23 a can Sl has a barrier ~2 retained in position within
24 : the can 51 by frictional forces betwe~n the side skirt
; 25 of the barrier and the insid~i surface of the can 51.
~ ` 26 Th barrier 52 is used to separa~e and isolate a
`~: 27 pres~urised gas 53 from beer 54 in th~ can 51 as with
: 28 the example shown in Fig. 5.
. ! 29
The barri2r 52 may be ~ormed from a plas ics material
: : 31 and has an aper ure ~5 ther~through, and an associated
:~ : 32 va}ve mechanism 56 with a valve head 57. On ~he bottom
` 33 ~urface of the barrier 52 are form~d protruberances 5~
i; 3~ which ensure a minimum volume of gas 53, of about 15 cc
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: 15
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1 in a typical application. On the top surface 59 of the
2 can 51 is a mechanism 60 for opening the can 51.
4 In use the can 51 is filled in a manner similar to that
of the second, third and fourth examples of the
6 invention as shown in Figs~ 3, 4 and 5. When the can
7 51 is heated to pasteurise its contents the barrier is
8 forced towards the base 61 by the pressure of the beer
l ~ 54 and so pressurises the gas 53. When the pressure of
;~ 10 the beer 54 is greater than the pressure of the gas 53
- 11 the valve head 57 is forced downwards such that it
12 closes the aperture 55 in the ~arrier 52. When the
' 13 pressure of the can 51 is released by a user opening
.'i 14 the mechanism 60, the pressure of the pressurised gas
~ 15 53 is greater than the pressure of the beer 54 which
, . .
. 16 causPs the head of the val~e member 57 to be pu~hed
,,
~ 17 ~pwards allowing gas 53 to flow upwards through the
,j
18 ~aperture 55 into the beer 54, creating a draught beer
19 effect in the beer 54 in the can 51.
2~ :
Zl Fig. 7 shows a s1xth example of the in~ention in which
2Z a can 70 comprises a barrier 71 retained in position
23 within th~ can 70 by~frictional for~es. The barrier 71
24 is used to separa~e~and i~olate a pressurised gas 72
: from the beer 73~in the can 60. The barriex 71 is
26 typically~:manufactured from a semi-rigid plastics
27 material:and~comprises a valve member 74, a valve
28 sleeve 75 and~:protruberance~ 76 on the bottom surface
~9 of the barrier 71. Th~ valve sleeve 75 includes two
3~ ~ apertures 77 and 78 located in ~he side and top ! '
31~ surfa e respec ively of the ~alve sleeve. On the top
32 surface of;the can is à mechanism 80 for opening the
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33 can 70.
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. WO93/10021 PCT/GB92/021.1~.
; 212323'~ 16
.:,
; l In use, the can 70 is filled in a manner similar to
2 that of examples 2 to 5 of the invention, as shown in
3 Figs. 3 to 6~ When the can 70 is heated to pasteurise
4 its contents, the barrier 71 is forced downwards
: 5 toward the ~ase 71 by the pressure of the beer-73 and
'.......... 6 so pressurises the gas 72. Th~ protruberances 76
7 ensure a minimum volume of gas 72, of about 15 cc in a
8 typical application. The barrier 71 is retained in
9 position by frictional force between a skirt 80 of the
13 barrier 71 and the side wall of the can 70.
'' 11
12 When the pres~ure of the beer 73 is greater than the
13 prsssure of the gas 72, the valve member 74 remains
14 closed and in a substantially vertical attitude, which
~'`! 15 allows the beer 73 to enter the sleeve 7S through the
:', 16 apertures 77 and 78 in the above sleeve 75.
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. 18 Referring now to Fig. 8, when the pressure i~ the can
.. l9 70 is released by ~ user opening the mechanism 80 to
. 20 provid~ an aperture 82, the pres~ure of the pressurised
`~ ! 21 gas 72 is sreater than the pressure of the beer 73 and
s 22 the gas 72~flows upwards through th~ valve member 74
` 23 which causes it to open and tilt towards the attitude
:~ 24 shown in:Fig~ 8. In this attitud0, the valYe member 74
seals the aperture 77 on the side sur~ace of the val~e
26 sleeve 7~5. This permits the pressurised gas 72 to flow
27: upwards through the valve member 74 into the valve
8 sleeve 75 and expel beer 73 in the.~alve sleeve 75
~J,!l~ 29 through the aperture 7~. This creates a rush of li~uid
~; 30 and gas into ~he beer 73 creating a draught beer effect
.~`. 31 in the beer in the can 70.
32
~ 33 Fig. 9 shows a seventh example of a sealed can of beer
;~`'. : 34 ~0. The can 90 comprises a valve 9l w~ich is
~;~ ` 35 typically~ in the form of a ring-pull type closure.
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WO93~10021 2 1 2 3 2 3 3 PCT/GB92/02111
17
l The can 9O contains a barrier 92 which comprises a body
2 member 93 made of a substantially rigid material, such
3 as a plastic which has an aperture 9S therein.
4 Extending across the aperture 95 is a micro-porous
membrane 94 which is gas permeable but is substantially
6 impermeable to liquid, such as beer 96 in the can 90.
7 ~ocated below the membrane 94 is a gas space 97.
8 Typically, the aperture 95 has a diameter of
9 approximately 0.012 inches.
ll The barrier 93 may be ~ixed in position, ~or sxample,
.l 12 by adhesive, by flanges in the inside of t~e can 90, or
13 by manufacturing the body member 93 from a material,
14 such as a plastic, which swells when in contact with
the beer 9~ to increase the frictional fit of the
16 barrier 92 in the container 90.
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17
18 The membrane 94 permits equalisation of pressure
l9 ~tween the:beer 96 and air space 97 when the cam 9O is
1 20 stored. ~However, when the ring-pull 9l is opened the
21 ~pressure in the beer 96 where the barrier 92 drops to
22 ~:atmospheric pressure, which creates a pressure
: 23 ~iffer~ntial across the barrier~:92. This causes gas in
24 the space 97-to~pass~through the:membrane 94 and
through the~aperture 95 and so into the beer 96 above
6 ~ the barrier 92. :The ~ize of the aperture 95 is chosen
2:7 so as to~create a rush of gas through the aperture 9S
: 28~ which~create~a drauqht beer effect in the beer 96.
~2'`'', ~ ~ 30 ~ Fig. lO shows a barrier lO2 which could be used with,
31 any o* the seYen~ examples described above. In Fig. lO
3~2 the barrier~lO2 is positioned in a can lOO with the
33 ~ bottom edges:of central portion 103 contac~ing the base
34 10l of ~he can 100. As side flanges 104 of the barrier
1~2 are fixed ~urther towards the base lOl, in the
WO93/l0021 2123~33 18 PCr/GB92/02l ~
;
: 1 direction of arrows 105, the intermediate portion 106
2 o~ the barrier 102 moves in the direction of arrows
3 107. When the flange 104 has reached the position
4 shown in phantom in Fig. 10, the intermediate portion
106 is also in the position shown in phantom. In the
6 position shown in phantom, the portion 106 forces the
, 7 flange 104 in outwardly in the direction of arrows 108
8 to increase the frictional fit of the barrier ~02 in
9 the can 100 and lock the barrier 102 in position in the
canO The dimension and design of the intermediate
11 portion 102 is chosen so that the intermediate portion
12 102 locks into the position shown in phantom and does
13 not revert to its original position, for example,
14 because the pressure below the barrier 102 i5 greater
` 15 than the pressure above, as would occur when a sealed
- 16 can of beer is opened.
.~ 17
18 The barrier 102 may ~e manufactured from a plastic
19 material and the int2rmediate portion 102 coupled tv
the central portion 103 and flange 104 by plastic webs
: 21 which act as hinges.
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u 23 This type of lock mechanism may be used to lock the
24 barrier 102 in position before liquid such as b~er is
inserted into the can 100, or alternatively may
26 activate during pasteurisation of the beer wh~n the
2~ barrier is:~orced to travel towards the base of the can
~, 28 due to pressure di~ferentials due to the pasteurisation
~i 29 process.
; 31 Similarly, with appropriate modification and/or
3~ additions to the ~entral se~tion 103, ~he barrier 102
33 could be used with valve mechanisms and/or a ~as-
34 permeable membrane, such as a micro-porous membrane.
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~ WO93/10021 2 1 2 3 2 3 3 PCT/GBg2/02111
,' 19
: 1Modifications and improvements may be incorpora~ed
2 without departing from the scope of the invention.
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