# US 11,299,384 B2 · Bag-in-keg container with fixed pressure PRV

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- Number: US 11,299,384 B2
- Document ID: US11299384B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/291,366
- Filed: 2019-11-08
- Published: 2021-12-23
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-09
- Assignees: Polykeg S.R.L.
- Applicants: Philip Andrew Walton; Sergio Sonzogni
- Inventors: Philip Andrew Walton; Sergio Sonzogni
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299384B2

## CPC

- B67D 1/0462: {Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers}
- B65D 77/06: Liquids or semi-liquids {or other materials or articles} enclosed in flexible containers disposed within rigid containers
- B65D 77/225: {Pressure relief-valves incorporated in a container wall, e.g. valves comprising at least one elastic element}
- B67D 1/0832: {with two valves disposed concentrically}
- B67D 1/0845: {Security means}
- B67D 1/125: {Safety means, e.g. over-pressure valves}
- B67D 1/1252: {Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation (for beer engines B67D1/025)}
- B67D 2001/0828: {in pressurised housing}
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A bag-in-keg container for a carbonated beverage has a container body C, a flexible bag B within the container body, and a valve closure V attached to the container body. The valve closure includes a gas inlet port (11), a liquid dispensing port (12), and spring-loaded valve member (6) to sealably close the gas inlet and liquid dispensing ports. An adapter (20) sealingly attached to the flexible bag B incorporates a bag PRV (26) to vent gas pressure from within the flexible bag. A container PRV (40) vents gas pressure from between the container body C and the flexible bag B. The bag PRV has a valve shuttle with one side exposed to gas pressure within the flexible bag B and an opposite side exposed to gas pressure within a sealed plenum chamber (37). The bag PRV therefore operates at a fixed pressure independent of the differential pressure between the bag and the outer container. This solves the problem of venting excess pressure within the keg whilst still allowing the dispensing gas to achieve the equilibrium.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bag-in-keg container:
a container body (C);
a flexible bag (B) within the container body;
a valve closure (V) attached to the container body:
a closure body (1)
a gas inlet port (11),
a liquid dispensing port (12),
valve means (6) to sealably close the gas inlet and liquid dispensing ports (11 and 12);
an adapter (20) sealingly attached to the flexible bag (B) and connected to the valve closure (V);
a bag pressure relief valve (26) to vent gas pressure from the flexible bag into a dispensing gas space (S) between the container body (C) and the flexible bag (B);
a container pressure relief valve (40) to vent gas pressure from the dispensing gas space (S);
characterised in that the bag pressure relief valve (26) has a valve element (34) having one side exposed to gas pressure within the flexible bag (B) and an opposite side exposed to gas pressure within a sealed plenum chamber (37).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A bag-in-keg container according to claim 1 wherein the valve element (34) controls a pressure relief valve outlet port (33).

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A bag-in-keg container according to claim 2 wherein the valve element (34) comprises a shuttle (34).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A bag-in-keg container according to claim 3 wherein the shuttle (34) has spaced seals (35, 36).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A bag-in-keg container according to claim 1 wherein the valve element (34) is spring loaded against the action of the gas pressure within the flexible bag (B).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A bag-in-keg container according to claim 5 wherein the valve element (34) is spring loaded by a compression spring (38).

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A bag-in-keg container according to claim 6 wherein the compression spring (38) is located within the plenum chamber (37).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A bag-in-keg container according to claim 1 wherein the bag pressure relief valve (34) is mounted in the adapter (20).