Pressure Container, Particularly for Frozen Substances

Abstract

A pressurised container ( 10 ) has an outlet valve with a sealing element ( 24 ) disposed in a sealing seat ( 22 ). If the viscosity of the container contents decreases below a limit value, it is provided that the sealing element ( 24 ) be detached from its sealing seat ( 22 ), so that it closes or substantially reduces an opening cross section, and a discharge of the container contents is avoided. The function of the outlet valve is furthermore improved by the provision of an actuating lever ( 30 ), which comprises two hinged parts ( 40, 42 ) and which for high-viscosity substances, particularly in the frozen state, reduces the actuating force to a practicable level.

1 . A pressurized container for holding substances under pressure, in particular frozen substances ( 14 ), having an outlet valve ( 12 ), which is adjustable between a closed position and an opened position for dispensing the substance ( 14 ), and which has a sealing element ( 24 ), disposed in a seat ( 22 ), for sealing in the closed state of the outlet valve ( 12 ), characterized in that heating and in particular a change in the aggregate state of the substance and an attendant or otherwise-occurring reduction in the viscosity of the substance bring about an increase in the flow velocity in the region of the sealing element ( 24 ) when the outlet valve ( 12 ) is open, along with an increased pressure drop at the sealing element ( 24 ), as a result of which a force that is substantially increased compared to the normal state is exerted on the sealing element ( 24 ) in the directions for extracting it from its seat ( 22 ), and/or the reduced viscosity, with the aid of at least one connection ( 74 ;  174 ), provided between the seat ( 22 ) and the container interior, and having a small cross-sectional area brings about an increased pressure in the seat ( 22 ) and thereby an increased force on the sealing element ( 24 ) in a direction out of its seat ( 22 ), and the resultant force on the sealing element ( 24 ), if a certain minimum viscosity of the substance ( 14 ) fails to be attained, leads to extracting the sealing element ( 24 ) from its seat, and the detached sealing element ( 24 ) closes or substantially reduces an opening cross section.  
   
   
       2 . The pressurised container of  claim 1 , characterised in that the sealing element ( 24 ;  124 ) is embodied annularly, and the seat ( 22 ;  122 ) is in the form of an annular groove.  
   
   
       3 . The pressurised container of  claim 2 , characterised in that a plurality of connecting bores ( 74 ; 174 ) are provided, distributed over the circumference between the seat ( 22 ; 122 ) and the interior of the container.  
   
   
       4 . The pressurised container of  claim 2 , characterised in that on the bottom of the seat ( 122 ), an annular conduit ( 123 ) is provided, which is narrower than the actual seat ( 122 ).  
   
   
       5 . The pressurised container of  claim 1 , characterised in that the sealing element ( 24 ;  124 ) protrudes from its seat ( 22 ;  122 ) and protrudes obliquely, in terms of the flow direction, into the opened flow cross section, and its contour defines the narrowest point of the flow cross section.  
   
   
       6 . The pressurised container of  claim 1 , characterised in that the sealing element ( 22 ;  122 ), in the closed state, rests sealingly on a conical contact face ( 38 ;  138 ).  
   
   
       7 . The pressurised container of  claim 5 , characterised in that the narrowest point of the flow cross section is contoured in nozzle-like fashion, preferably similarly to a venturi nozzle.  
   
   
       8 . The pressurised container of  claim 2 , characterised in that the annular sealing element ( 24 ;  124 ) has a substantially rectangular cross section, preferably with rounded or chamfered edges ( 36 ;  136 ), and an edge ( 36 ;  136 ) protruding from the seat ( 22 ;  122 ) defines the contour of the narrowest point.  
   
   
       9 . The pressurised container of  claim 1 , characterised in that the outlet valve is embodied as a multiple-stage valve and in a dispensing operation has at least two opening cross sections that open one after the other, each with an associated sealing element, and at least the sealing element of the cross section that opens first is embodied so as to be detachable from its respective seat if a minimum viscosity fails to be attained.  
   
   
       10 . The pressurised container of  claim 1 , characterised in that the sealing element ( 24 ) detached from its seat ( 22 ) can be re-inserted into its seat ( 22 ) by closure of the outlet valve ( 12 ).  
   
   
       11 . The pressurised container of  claim 10 , characterised in that the sealing element ( 24 ) comprises an annular disk with a rigid substrate and a sealing part mounted on the substrate, or comprises a rigid sealing material, and the substrate is guided in the extraction direction between the seat ( 22 ) and its position that closes the opening cross section.  
   
   
       12 . The pressurised container of  claim 11 , characterised in that the sealing element ( 24 ) is guided axially on a central protrusion ( 64 ).  
   
   
       13 . The pressurised container of  claim 1 , characterised in that a valve element ( 20 ) is moveable in the direction of the interior of the can by a tappet element ( 26 ) for opening the opening cross section, and the tappet element ( 26 ) can be pressed down by a lever ( 30 ), whose lever arm comprises at least two parts ( 40 ,  42 ) that are fixed pivotably to one another and can be swiveled between a collapsed position of repose in which they are preferably locked together and an open, preferably likewise locked operating position for lengthening the lever arm.  
   
   
       14 . The pressurised container of  claim 13 , charaterised in that the axial guidance for the sealing element ( 24 ) forms the connection ( 64 ) between the valve element ( 20 ) and the tappet element ( 26 ).  
   
   
       15 . The pressurised container of  claim 14 , charaterised in that the tappet element ( 26 ) is embodied in sleevelike fashion and is connected to the connecting element ( 64 ) via obliquely or radially extending struts ( 62 ).  
   
   
       16 . The pressurised container of  claim 13 , characterised in that a first lever arm part ( 40 ) is pivotably connected laterally of the tappet element ( 26 ) to a part ( 48 ) connected solidly to the container ( 10 ) and acts on a radial protrusion ( 58 ,  60 ) via pressure elements ( 54 ).  
   
   
       17 . The pressurised container of  claim 16 , characterised in that the radial protrusion ( 58 ) is formed onto a nozzle top unit ( 28 ) that is seated on the tappet element ( 26 ,  60 ).  
   
   
       18 . The pressurised container of  claim 17 , characterised in that the nozzle top unit ( 28 ) is retained between the tappet element ( 26 ) and two opposed pressure element ( 26 ) and two opposed pressure elements ( 54 ) of the first lever arm part ( 40 ).  
   
   
       19 . The pressurised container of  claim 16 , characterised in that the two lever arm parts ( 40 ,  42 ) are embodied in hooplike fashion, and the first lever arm part ( 40 ) surrounds the nozzle top unit ( 28 ) and/or the tappet element ( 26 ) in both positions, and the second lever arm part ( 42 ) surrounds the nozzle top unit ( 28 ) and/or the tappet element ( 26 ) in the position of repose.  
   
   
       20 . The pressurised container of  claim 1 , characterised in that after the detachment of the sealing element ( 24 ;  124 ) from the sealing seat ( 22 ;  122 ), a controlled evacuation of the container contents is effected through an evacuation opening.  
   
   
       21 . The pressurised container of  claim 1 , characterised in that the outlet valve ( 12 ) has, in addition to a first opening cross section, at least one further opening cross section, which can be uncovered in order to facilitate filling of the container.  
   
   
       22 . The pressurised container of  claim 21 , characterised in that the two opening cross sections can be uncovered in succession, in the manner of a multiple-step valve.  
   
   
       23 . The pressurised container of  claim 22 , characterised in that the outlet valve is designed such that in the filled operating state, only the first opening cross section can be uncovered.  
   
   
       24 . The pressurised container of  claim 21 , characterised in that a disk element ( 180 ) is provided between the valve housing ( 16 ) and the valve element ( 20 ), and the first sealing point ( 184 ) with the first opening cross section is provided between the disk element ( 180 ) and the valve element ( 20 ), and the second sealing point ( 186 ) having the second opening cross section is provided between the disk element ( 180 ) and the valve housing ( 16 ).  
   
   
       25 . The pressurised container of  claim 24 , characterised in that the disk element ( 180 ) is guided axially movably along a guide ( 182 ) on the valve housing ( 16 ).