IP Library Granted Patent US 10,106,394
Granted Patent B2
US 10,106,394 · App. 15/149,437 · Granted Oct 23, 2018

Method of regulating pressure in pressurized beverage dispenser

Inventors: Evan Christopher Rege (Portland, OR); Donald Christian Maier (Camas, WA); Shawn Leland Huff (Portland, OR); Brian Edwards Sonnichsen (Portland, OR)
Assignee: GrowlerWerks, Inc.
B67D1/1252B67D1/00B67D1/0004B67D1/04B67D1/0406B67D1/0418B67D1/08B67D1/0808B67D1/12B67D1/1222B67D1/1438B67D1/1477G05D16/0661B67D1/0801B67D1/0871B67D1/125B67D1/1247B67D1/1466B67D2001/0481B67D2001/0487B67D2001/0812B67D2001/0822
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,106,394
App. No.
15/149,437
Granted
Oct 23, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A beverage dispenser with a variable pressure regulator cap assembly that includes a high pressure cavity defined by a cap body. The high pressure cavity receives pressurized gas from a compressed gas reservoir. A low pressure cavity is connected to the high pressure cavity via a high pressure gas passageway. The low pressure cavity defines a low pressure gas passageway that penetrates the cap body. A piston seat is positioned on a high pressure cavity side of the high pressure gas passageway. A piston regulates introduction of the pressurized gas into the high pressure gas passageway. A diaphragm is positioned between an ambient pressure cavity and the low pressure cavity and translates the piston relative to the piston seat. A main spring is positioned between a diaphragm and a spring hat. Rotation of the drive screw translates the spring hat to affect compression of the main spring against the diaphragm.

Claims (31)

1. A method of regulating a pressure applied by a regulator cap assembly to an internal volume defined by a vessel, the method comprising:

filling a high pressure cavity to a first pressure with a gas expelled from a compressed gas reservoir, wherein the high pressure cavity is at least partially defined by a cap body of the regulator cap assembly;

applying, from a high pressure spring, a high pressure spring force against a piston in a first direction to seat the piston against a piston seat, wherein when the piston is seated, the piston substantially prevents the gas in the high pressure cavity from entering a low pressure cavity;

applying, from a main spring, a main spring force in a second direction against a floating diaphragm, wherein the floating diaphragm is positioned between an ambient pressure cavity and the low pressure cavity and wherein the floating diaphragm includes a piston translation portion that is configured to translate the piston relative to the piston seat in the second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction as the floating diaphragm moves in the second direction;

rotating a dial to a first rotational position, the first rotational position being related to a particular distance between a spring hat and the diaphragm; and

porting a portion of the gas from the high pressure cavity to the low pressure cavity until a low pressure develops against a low pressure surface of the floating diaphragm that is sufficient to compress the main spring between the spring hat and the floating diaphragm to move the floating diaphragm in the first direction to seat the piston against the piston seat,

wherein the low pressure cavity is configured to be in fluid communication with the internal volume.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising in response to a decrease in an amount of a fluid contained in the internal volume, porting another portion of the gas from the high pressure cavity to the low pressure cavity until the low pressure redevelops against the low pressure surface of the floating diaphragm.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a compressed gas reservoir into a lower portion of the cap body of the regulator cap assembly; and

piercing the compressed gas reservoir such that gas contained in the compressed gas reservoir flows from the compressed gas reservoir to the high pressure cavity.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

rotating the dial to another rotational position that is related to another particular distance between the spring hat and the diaphragm; and

porting another portion of the gas from the high pressure cavity to the low pressure cavity until another low pressure develops against the low pressure surface of the floating diaphragm that is sufficient to compress the main spring between the spring hat and the diaphragm to move the diaphragm in the first direction to seat the piston against the piston seat.

5. A method of regulating a pressure applied by a regulator cap assembly to an internal volume defined by a vessel, the method comprising:

filling a high pressure cavity to a first pressure with a gas expelled from a compressed gas reservoir, wherein the high pressure cavity is at least partially defined by a cap body of the regulator cap assembly;

applying, from a high pressure spring, a high pressure spring force against a piston in a first direction to seat the piston against a piston seat, wherein when the piston is seated, the piston substantially prevents the gas in the high pressure cavity from entering a low pressure cavity;

applying, from a main spring, a main spring force in a second direction against a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is positioned between an ambient pressure cavity and the low pressure cavity and wherein the diaphragm includes a piston translation portion that is configured to translate the piston relative to the piston seat in the second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction;

rotating a dial to a first rotational position, the first rotational position being related to a particular distance between a spring hat and the diaphragm; and

porting a portion of the gas from the high pressure cavity to the low pressure cavity until a low pressure develops against a low pressure surface of the diaphragm that is sufficient to compress the main spring between the spring hat and the diaphragm to move the diaphragm in the first direction to seat the piston against the piston seat,

wherein the low pressure cavity is configured to be in fluid communication with the internal volume; and

in response to an overpressure condition existing in the low pressure cavity, venting the low pressure cavity via an overpressure vent channel defined in an internal surface of a side wall of the cap body that extends from the ambient pressure cavity to a distance defined relative to a maximum travel distance of the diaphragm; and

venting a volume defined by a gas reservoir sleeve to the low pressure cavity via a sleeve vent channel defined in the cap body.

6. A method of regulating a pressure applied by a regulator cap assembly to an internal volume defined by a vessel, the method comprising:

filling a high pressure cavity to a first pressure with a gas expelled from a compressed gas reservoir, wherein the high pressure cavity is at least partially defined by a cap body of the regulator cap assembly;

applying, from a high pressure spring, a high pressure spring force against a piston in a first direction to seat the piston against a piston seat, wherein when the piston is seated, the piston substantially prevents the gas in the high pressure cavity from entering a low pressure cavity;

applying, from a main spring, a main spring force in a second direction against a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is positioned between an ambient pressure cavity and the low pressure cavity and wherein the diaphragm includes a piston translation portion that is configured to translate the piston relative to the piston seat in the second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction;

rotating a dial to a first rotational position, the first rotational position being related to a particular distance between a spring hat and the diaphragm; and

porting a portion of the gas from the high pressure cavity to the low pressure cavity until a low pressure develops against a low pressure surface of the diaphragm that is sufficient to compress the main spring between the spring hat and the diaphragm to move the diaphragm in the first direction to seat the piston against the piston seat,

wherein the low pressure cavity is configured to be in fluid communication with the internal volume; and

further comprising in response to an overpressure condition existing in a gas reservoir sleeve, venting the gas reservoir sleeve via a vent port defined in a second end of the gas reservoir sleeve and a cartridge sleeve vent defined in an internal vertical wall of the gas reservoir sleeve that extends from a first volume defined by the gas reservoir sleeve that surrounds an exit of a pressurized gas reservoir to a second volume defined by the gas reservoir sleeve that is fluidly coupled to the vent port.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2026
From: PERFECTWERKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: LOCAL INVEST FUND I, LLC
Reel/Frame 073716/0631 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2026
From: LOCAL INVEST FUND I, LLC
To: GROWLERWERKS, LLC
Reel/Frame 073716/0795 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2023
From: GROWLERWERKS, INC.
To: PERFECTWERKS SOLUTIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 064810/0300 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2023
From: GROWLERWERKS INC.
To: PERFECTWERKS SOLUTIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 063746/0254 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2016
From: REGE, EVAN CHRISTOPHER; MAIER, DONALD CHRISTIAN; HUFF, SHAWN LELAND; SONNICHSEN, BRIAN EDWARD
To: GROWLERWERKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 039637/0815 →
Continuity (6)
Division 14720356 · May 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62146858 · Apr 13, 2015
Provisional Application 62085228 · Nov 26, 2014
Provisional Application 62047594 · Sep 8, 2014
Provisional Application 62002824 · May 24, 2014
Related Publication 20160251212A1 · Sep 1, 2016
Cited By (3)
US 1,085,793 US 1,086,782 US 1,132,072