US 2015/0144664 A1 · Liquid Pressure Reducing Unit for Beverage Dispensing Unit

Abstract

A liquid pressure-reducing unit having a first half body with a contact surface and first groove extending over the contact surface is disclosed. The unit has a flexible resilient sealing element having a floor layer lining the floor of the first groove. The unit has a second half body with a contact surface and first and second walls extending out of the contact surface and defining a second groove. The contact surfaces of the first half body and second half body join, wherein the first and second walls penetrate into the first groove so that the free end of the first and second walls forms a fluid-tight contact with the flexible resilient floor layer lining the floor of the first groove, defining a fluid-tight channel bringing in fluid communication a fluid inlet with a fluid outlet. The channel is non-rectilinear and/or having a cross-section varying over the length thereof.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A liquid pressure reducing unit for bringing in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere a liquid contained in a pressurized container and for gradually decreasing the pressure of said liquid as it is being dispensed, said unit comprising:

(a) a first half body comprising a contact surface and a first groove extending over said contact surface;
(b) a flexible resilient sealing element comprising a floor layer lining the floor of said first groove;
and
(c) a second half body comprising a contact surface and a first and second opposed walls extending out of said contact surface and defining therebetween a second groove, the contact surface of said second half body being joined to the contact surface of said first half body, wherein the first and second walls penetrate into the first groove such that the free end of said first and second walls form a fluid-tight contact with the flexible resilient floor layer lining the floor of said first groove, thus defining a fluid-tight channel bringing in fluid communication a fluid inlet with a fluid outlet, said channel being non-rectilinear and/or having a cross-section varying over the length thereof.

1 more element

A process for producing a liquid pressure reducing unit, comprising the following steps:

(a) injection moulding a first half body comprising a contact surface and a first groove extending over said contact surface;
(b) injection moulding a second half body comprising a contact surface and a first and second opposed walls extending over said contact surface and defining therebetween a second groove;
(c) lining the floor of the first groove with a floor layer of a flexible sealing element;
(d) positioning the second half body in registry with the first half body, wherein the first and second walls penetrate into the first groove until the free end of said first and second walls form a fluid-tight contact with the flexible resilient floor layer lining the floor of said first groove;
(e) joining together the contact surfaces of said first and second half bodies to form the housing of said unit enclosing a fluid-tight channel bringing in fluid communication a fluid inlet with a fluid outlet said channel being non-rectilinear and/or having a cross-section varying over the length thereof.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Liquid Pressure Reducing Unit for Beverage Dispensing Unit

Life of this patent

Liquid Pressure Reducing Unit for Beverage Dispensing Unit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18