EP1152973B1 - Raccord à soupape pour fût - Google Patents

Raccord à soupape pour fût Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1152973B1
EP1152973B1 EP00902764A EP00902764A EP1152973B1 EP 1152973 B1 EP1152973 B1 EP 1152973B1 EP 00902764 A EP00902764 A EP 00902764A EP 00902764 A EP00902764 A EP 00902764A EP 1152973 B1 EP1152973 B1 EP 1152973B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
valve
fitting
keg
support arrangement
flange
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00902764A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1152973A1 (fr
Inventor
Helmut Wilhelm Skerra
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Skerra Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
Skerra Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Skerra Pty Ltd filed Critical Skerra Pty Ltd
Publication of EP1152973A1 publication Critical patent/EP1152973A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1152973B1 publication Critical patent/EP1152973B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0829—Keg connection means
    • B67D1/0831—Keg connection means combined with valves
    • B67D1/0832—Keg connection means combined with valves with two valves disposed concentrically
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0801—Details of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
    • B67D1/0802—Dip tubes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to kegs for housing fluid and in particular to improvements in so called fittings for such kegs which fittings house a valve which operably enables ingress and egress of fluid in and out of the keg.
  • the keg is used throughout to refer generally to containers for fluids.
  • fittings for kegs wherein the fitting principally comprises an upper flange for attachment to a connector at the end of a feed line from a supply of fluids such as beer during loading, or to a dispensing tap such as in a public house during use.
  • the valve generally comprises a rubber (or other elastomeric material) seal which is urged against a seat on the inside face of the upper flange by a coiled spring which reacts against a housing for the spring, which housing is connected to the flange.
  • the arrangement of the flange and housing is relatively complex requiring considerable machining of parts and number of components.
  • the invention seeks to provide a simplified fitting over the known art and in particular a relatively easy to manufacture fitting which is relatively easy to attach to a keg.
  • the valve seal sometimes to incorrectly locate against the valve seat.
  • the prior art tries to mitigate this problem by providing a relatively long guide in the flange adjacent the valve seat for directing the valve seal into position. Nevertheless, problems are known to occur and the invention seeks to mitigate such problems.
  • EP-A-25682 discloses a valve fitting in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1.
  • a valve fitting for a keg of fluid comprising a substantially flat upper flange adapted for attachment to a neck of the keg at a first annular part which upper flange comprises an aperture, and a support arrangement for co-operating with a biasing device such as a spring to urge a valve seal against a valve seat provided on the inside of the upper flange adjacent the aperture, and characterised in that the support arrangement comprises at least two legs which depend from the upper flange from a separate and radially inward position with respect to the first annular part thereby to position the support arrangement radially inwardly of the keg neck in use.
  • a biasing device such as a spring
  • the flange and support arrangement are integrally formed.
  • the upper flange is adapted to weld to the upper rim of a keg neck.
  • the support arrangement comprises a lower ring for co-operating with the spring.
  • the ring can be cup shaped thereby to seat the circular end of a helical spring within the arrangement.
  • the support arrangement comprises more than two legs extending between a flange and lower ring.
  • the legs are adapted to guide the valve seal in an axial manner during opening and closing of the valve. In a preferred form three legs are provided.
  • the flange comprises a seal guide proximal the valve seat.
  • the depth of the seal guide is less than 50% of the thickness of the valve seal.
  • the depth of the seal guide is in the order of the thickness of the bulk of the flange body.
  • the depth of the guide is in the order of 3 mm.
  • the major element and/or percentage of reactive force against the tending means is relayed via the fitting through to the keg.
  • the fitting comprises a support arrangement for co-operating with the spring (or tending device) which support arrangement is only connected to a flange fitting in the valve fitting for attachment to the container.
  • Keg K for housing pressurised fluid such as beer.
  • Keg K comprises a top wall T having a central aperture in which is mounted a fitting F enabling the ingress and egress of fluid into and out of the keg K.
  • Fitting F comprises an upper flange to which a connector is clamped during filling and emptying operations.
  • Fitting F further comprises a spring S for urging a valve seal against a valve seat in the under side of the upper flange.
  • the spring S is supported by a support arrangement A.
  • the spring is supported on lugs which extend radially from downtube D proximal the lower end of support arrangement A as described later.
  • Fitting F further comprises a downtube D to assist in siphoning fluid out of keg K during use.
  • a fitting F attached to a neck 10 in the top wall T of a keg K, which neck 10 is formed by deep drawing the top wall T of the keg into a somewhat hollow frusto-conical shape providing an upper rim 12 against which fitting flange 14 can be attached in use.
  • flange 14 can be attached to rim 12 using a rebated annulus 16 which can be welded to the rim 12.
  • annulus 16 and rim 12 can comprise co-operating threading for example.
  • Flange 14 comprises an outer rim 18 for co-operation with a connector on a feed or outlet pipe.
  • Flange 14 further comprises a central aperture 20 to allow ingress and egress of fluid to and from the keg K which aperture 20 has a valve seat 22 about its periphery.
  • Flange 14 also provides a valve seal guide 24 adjacent seat 22 to assist in locating a valve seal against seat 22 in use.
  • a spring support arrangement consisting of three legs 26 which in this embodiment extend away from seal guide 24. At the lower end of legs 26 there is provided a ring or cage base 28 which in this embodiment is cup shaped and comprises a lip 30 for locating a coiled spring S. Support arrangement A further comprises an aperture 32 for passing downtube D into the bottom of the keg K. Alternatively, radially protruding lugs can be provided on a downtube D for contacting ring 28 on the underside.
  • the upper side of the lugs on downtube D can be used to engage the lower end of coil spring S such that the reactive force of spring S which urges a valve seal to engage valve seat 22, is conveyed through to support arrangement A via the lugs on the downtube D.
  • This arrangement is shown in Figure 6 described later.
  • a downtube D or centrepiece is located within fitting F below aperture 20 down through aperture 32 into the bottom of keg K.
  • a spring S is provided between base 28 and flange 14 which spring carries at its upper end an annular seal adapted to engage on its inside edge with the downtube D and on an outer edge with annular seat 22 in flange 14.
  • FIG. 4 and 5 there is shown a second embodiment of a fitting F according to the invention wherein the fitting comprises like components with the fitting shown in Figures 2 and 3 which are accordingly labelled using the same two digit reference number prefixed with the digit 1.
  • an open ended cylindrical neck 110 is provided having a rebated lower end for engaging the rim of the aperture provided in the centre of a substantially flat top wall T of a keg.
  • the rebated lower end 111 of neck 110 can for example be welded into the aperture and top wall T.
  • the upper end 112 can be connected to flange 114 as described earlier.
  • fitting F shown in Figures 4 and 5 has like components such as legs 122 and spring support arrangement base 128 identical to that shown in the first embodiment.
  • the length of legs 26 and/or 126 can protrude beyond the lower edge of top wall T for example by a distance of more than 20 mm. Further, there is no need to provide any obstructions to fluid flow between legs 26 and base 28 and the inside wall of the top of the keg thereby providing a large cavity about the valve and spring arrangement for the ingress and the egress of fluid into and from the keg.
  • FIG. 6 there is shown part of a downtube D for passing through aperture 32 (or 132) in a fitting F according to the invention.
  • the downtube forms a centrepiece in the arrangement wherein spring S is passed over the upper part of the downtube such that the lower end of spring S contacts some radially protruding lugs L which can be provided with a suitable curved recess for engaging the lower edge of spring S.
  • the underside of lugs L engages the upper surface of ring 28 (or 128) of the earlier embodiments thereby to locate the centre-piece in position.
  • a lower set of protruding lugs L can be provided for engaging the underside of cage 28 (or 128) thereby better to locate downtube D in position.
  • the lower set of lugs L can be passed through slots such as slots 33 in ring 28 forming part of the premature of aperture 32. Additionally, a slot 40 can be provided in this shoulder arrangement which forms the series of lugs L in order to engage a downwardly protruding tip 42 at the end of spring S. Finally, at the top of spring S there is provided a cup C in which is located a valve seal VS which is operably urged against valve seats 22 (or 122).

Landscapes

  • Lift Valve (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Inorganic Compounds Of Heavy Metals (AREA)
  • Valve Housings (AREA)
  • Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
  • Forging (AREA)
  • Check Valves (AREA)
  • Sliding Valves (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Embout (F) à soupape pour tonnelet (K) de fluide, comprenant un flasque supérieur (14) pratiquement plat destiné à être fixé à un col (10) du tonnelet (K) à une première partie annulaire (12), le flasque supérieur (14) comportant une ouverture (20), et un arrangement (A) de support destiné à coopérer avec un dispositif de rappel, tel qu'un ressort (S), destiné à rappeler un organe d'étanchéité de soupape contre un siège (22) de soupape placé à l'intérieur du flasque supérieur (14) en position adjacente à l'ouverture (20), caractérisé en ce que l'arrangement de support (A) possède au moins deux branches (26) dépassant sous le flasque supérieur (14) depuis une position séparée disposée radialement vers l'intérieur par rapport à la première partie annulaire (12) afin que l'arrangement de support (A) soit positionné radialement à l'intérieur du col (10) du tonnelet pendant l'utilisation,
  2. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le flasque (14) et l'arrangement de support (A) sont formés solidairement,
  3. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le flasque supérieur (14) est adapté à être soudé au rebord supérieur (12) d'un col (10) du tonnelet,
  4. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, dans lequel l'arrangement de support comporte un anneau inférieur (28) destiné à coopérer avec le ressort (S),
  5. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 4, dans lequel l'anneau (28) a pratiquement une forme de cuvette si bien qu'il loge l'extrémité circulaire d'un ressort hélicoïdal (S) dans l'arrangement de support (A),
  6. Embout (F) à soupape selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'arrangement de support (A) comporte plus de deux branches (26) qui s'étendent entre le flasque supérieur (14) et un anneau inférieur (26),
  7. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 6, dans lequel les branches (26) sont destinées à guider l'organe d'étanchéité de soupape de manière axiale pendant l'ouverture et la fermeture de la soupape,
  8. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 7, dans lequel trois branches (26) sont incorporées,
  9. Embout (F) à soupape selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le flasque (14) comporte un guide (24) de joint d'étanchéité du côté interne au siège de soupape (22),
  10. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 9, dans lequel la profondeur du guide (24) de joint d'étanchéité est inférieure à 50 % de l'épaisseur du joint d'étanchéité de soupape,
  11. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 9 ou 10, dans lequel la profondeur du guide (24) de joint d'étanchéité est de l'ordre de l'épaisseur de la masse du corps du flasque (14),
  12. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 9, 10 ou 11, dans lequel la profondeur du guide (24) est de l'ordre de 3 mm,
  13. Embout (F) à soupape pour tonnelet (K) de fluide selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'élément principal et/ou un pourcentage de la force de réaction agissant contre le dispositif de rappel (S) qui s'oppose à la force rappelant le joint d'étanchéité contre le siège de soupape est relayé par l'embout (F) par l'intermédiaire du tonnelet (K),
  14. Embout (F) à soupape selon la revendication 13, dans lequel l'embout (F) comprend un arrangement de support (A) destiné à coopérer avec le ressort (S) ou dispositif de rappel, l'arrangement de support (A) étant raccordé uniquement à un flasque (14) qui se loge dans l'embout de soupape (F) destiné à la fixation au tonnelet (K).
EP00902764A 1999-02-10 2000-02-10 Raccord à soupape pour fût Expired - Lifetime EP1152973B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9902838 1999-02-10
GBGB9902838.3A GB9902838D0 (en) 1999-02-10 1999-02-10 Improvements in kegs
PCT/GB2000/000425 WO2000047513A1 (fr) 1999-02-10 2000-02-10 Systeme de valve pour barillet

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1152973A1 EP1152973A1 (fr) 2001-11-14
EP1152973B1 true EP1152973B1 (fr) 2004-12-29

Family

ID=10847374

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00902764A Expired - Lifetime EP1152973B1 (fr) 1999-02-10 2000-02-10 Raccord à soupape pour fût

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1152973B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE285985T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2450500A (fr)
DE (1) DE60017091D1 (fr)
GB (2) GB9902838D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000047513A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2058264B (en) * 1979-09-12 1984-01-04 Grundy Teddington Ltd Casks and like containers
GB2117071A (en) * 1982-03-22 1983-10-05 Leer Koninklijke Emballage Valve unit for liquid container
DK298783A (da) * 1982-07-07 1984-01-08 Grundy Teddington Ltd Drikkevarebeholder
ATE31910T1 (de) * 1983-11-16 1988-01-15 Alumasc Ltd Ventilverschluss fuer kleine tonnen oder faesser.
GB2174375B (en) * 1985-05-01 1989-06-28 Limited Alumasc Closure valve
GB2184103B (en) * 1985-12-16 1990-06-27 Grundy Liquid extraction outlets for beverage containers
GB2328204A (en) * 1997-08-11 1999-02-17 Kenneth Leonard Simpson Keg and spear valve assembly
GB9724225D0 (en) * 1997-11-18 1998-01-14 Skerra Pty Ltd Improvements to kegs

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2450500A (en) 2000-08-29
WO2000047513A1 (fr) 2000-08-17
EP1152973A1 (fr) 2001-11-14
DE60017091D1 (de) 2005-02-03
GB2346612A (en) 2000-08-16
ATE285985T1 (de) 2005-01-15
GB9902838D0 (en) 1999-03-31
GB0002888D0 (en) 2000-03-29
GB2346612B (en) 2003-05-21

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