Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
  • F16K31/44—Mechanical actuating means
  • F16K31/60—Handles
  • F16K31/602—Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K1/00—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K21/00—Fluid-delivery valves, e.g. self-closing valves
  • F16K21/04—Self-closing valves, i.e. closing automatically after operation
  • F16K21/06—Self-closing valves, i.e. closing automatically after operation in which the closing movement, either retarded or not, starts immediately after opening

Definitions

• the present invention relates to taps for dispensing a liquid, in particular food or non-food, for example a hygiene product or a detergent.
• the tap must be able to be operated easily, and return to the closed position automatically. In addition, it must be easy to install and clean each time the tank is changed.
• Patent US3104089 discloses a faucet in which: a shutter is movable in a body of the faucet between a closed position and an open position; the shutter is connected to an actuating rod which is movable with it and which protrudes from a cover closing the body at the top; the rod carries a connecting pin on which a lever is articulated; a return spring is arranged inside the body to return the shutter to the closed position.
• the lever rests on the top of the cover, such that a push on the handle causes it to pivot around an instantaneous geometric axis of rotation offset from the connecting axis, and a rise in the rod that brings the shutter to the open position. It is difficult with such a valve to obtain a significant flow rate, because the shutter moves axially relatively little within the body.
• Application CN 112524268 discloses a self-purifying water valve, incompatible with the distribution of a food liquid. Indeed, the coming into contact of the liquid with a spring as well as the possibilities of accumulation of the liquid in areas difficult to cleaning or draining clearly renders the valve unsuitable for use as a tap for dispensing a food product.
• Application FR 2878313 discloses a filling clamp for a gas bottle distribution and filling assembly, which is installed on a filling valve, comprising an operating rod ending in a hooking member which cooperates in a manner removable with a head of a control rod to exert, before controlled filling, traction on the control rod and take off an auxiliary piston to open the valve in the direction of filling.
• the invention aims to meet this need and it achieves this, according to one of its aspects, thanks to a tap with automatic closing and manual actuation, for the distribution of a liquid, in particular food, from a tank , comprising:
• a body a connection allowing its attachment to the tank, a shutter movable axially in the body between an open position and a closed position, an actuating rod connected to the shutter, movable axially with it, in particular made of a single piece with it, a spring for returning the shutter to the closed position, a handle mechanically coupled to the actuating rod, the handle being connected in an articulated manner, in particular by a first connecting axis, to a part fixed support relative to the body and offset laterally relative to it, and the handle also being connected, in particular by a second connecting axis, to the rod, such that an actuation of the handle causes an axial movement of the stem and the passage of the shutter from the closed position to the open position.
• the invention makes it possible to transform a tilting of the handle into a relatively large axial stroke of the actuating rod; it is thus possible to clearly clear the passage between the connection and the outlet orifice of the tap in the open position of the shutter, and to obtain a high rate of distribution of the product, even when it is viscous.
• Another advantage of the invention is to allow, if desired, mounting of the handle so as to obtain opening by pushing or pulling on the handle depending on what is desired.
• the handle is mounted on the body in such a way that its lever is on the same side as the support part, and in the case of pulling opening, on the opposite side.
• the invention can make it possible to avoid contact of the liquid with the spring, which is advantageous in the case of a tap intended for dispensing a food product.
• the body may have, in the lower part, a distribution opening open downwards, located under the shutter.
• the wall defining this distribution opening can define a seat for a lower seal carried by the shutter. Thus, when the shutter rises, it moves away from its seat and allows the flow of the liquid.
• the handle can pivot relative to the support part around a first axis of rotation, without freedom of movement in a direction perpendicular to this axis.
• the handle may include at least one opening of elongated shape, the handle pivoting relative to the rod around a second axis of rotation capable of moving along this opening during movement of the actuating rod.
• the elongated opening can in particular be defined by a fork.
• the handle can pivot relative to the support portion around a first axis of rotation with the possibility of movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis.
• the handle can pivot relative to the rod around a second axis of rotation without freedom of movement in a direction perpendicular to this axis.
• the handle may in particular have at least one opening of elongated shape, the first axis of rotation being able to move along this opening during the movement of the actuating rod.
• the handle pivots around the aforementioned first connecting axis without freedom of movement in a direction perpendicular to this axis.
• the handle can then include at least one opening of elongated shape, the aforementioned second connecting axis being able to move along this opening during the movement of the actuating rod.
• the handle pivots around the first connecting axis with the possibility of movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis.
• the handle can then pivot around the second connecting axis without freedom of movement in a direction perpendicular to this axis.
• the handle has for example at least one opening of elongated shape, the first connecting axis being able to move along this opening during the movement of the actuating rod.
• the offset support part can be made monolithic with the body, for example by molding plastic material.
• the body can be closed on the handle side by an attached cap, which can be dismantled to clean the tap.
• the offset support part can still be attached to the body.
• it is for example formed in one piece with a fixing part on the body, which is for example in the form of a cover fitted onto the body and held on the latter by any suitable means, for example for example by an immobilizing screw.
• the advantage of having an attached support part is to be able to mount the handle in several orientations relative to the body, depending for example on the accessibility of the faucet.
• the support part and the body can thus be arranged to offer at least two different mounting possibilities of the handle relative to the body, and better still at least four, the support part preferably being integral with a cover comprising lugs adapted to engage L-shaped notches in the body.
• the shutter may have a sliding cylinder in the body.
• This cylinder can be made in one piece with the actuating rod, for example by molding of plastic material.
• This cylinder can be a hollow cylinder, in order to limit the quantity of material used and facilitate the molding operation, if necessary.
• the shutter can carry a seal, in particular an O-ring, near its free end, coming to apply in the closed position against a seat formed around the outlet orifice of the tap.
• the body may carry a seal applying to the cylinder at a position remote from the outlet port.
• the shutter carries the two seals, or the body carries the two seals.
• the rod and the shutter are made by injection of a thermoplastic material; in this case, the rod and the shutter can be formed of hollow parts closed at one end and open at the opposite end, which are fitted one inside the other, the rod being preferably fixed by snapping into the shutter.
• the rod may have an enlarged base provided with at least one attachment relief in a corresponding housing of the shutter; this enlarged part can define a support for the lower end of the spring.
• the shutter may have on its interior surface at least one corresponding relief, allowing the fixing of the rod.
• the shutter may have in the upper part a collar carrying a seal, which is applied to the body to prevent the rise of liquid.
• This collar allows the shutter to benefit from a cylindrical portion of sufficiently small internal diameter to serve as a guide for the spring in its part extending between the shutter and the rod.
• the shutter may include at least one relief projecting radially outwards inside the body, adapted to the size of the housing in which the shutter moves in the body, so as to guide the shutter in its movement in the body.
• This relief is presented for example in the form of an annular lip, which can be molded in one piece with the rest of the plastic shutter.
• the body has in the lower part one or more reliefs which provide at least one air passage between the body and the neck of the bottle which is engaged in the body to receive the liquid dispensed.
• These reliefs are advantageously in the form of fins which project radially outwards, near the lower end of the body.
• the distribution opening can be defined by an annular lip, of circular outline, of vertical axis. Said reliefs can then be in the form of one or more fins whose lower end is located at a relatively short distance from the lower end of said lip.
• the body may have an outer surface diverging upwards, preferably of generally conical shape flaring upwards, and the fins may extend at least partially over the height of this diverging outer surface.
• the upper end of the neck abuts against these fins, which prevents the neck from pressing against the exterior surface of the body over its entire periphery, and guarantees sufficient air circulation to prevent not generate excess pressure or obstruct flow.
• FIG 1 is a perspective view of an example of a faucet according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is an axial section of the valve of Figure 1, in the closed position
• FIG 3 is a side view of the faucet of Figure 1
• Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the passage of the tap in the open position
• Figure 5 shows the valve before assembly on a corresponding connection on the tank
• Figure 6 illustrates the dismantling of the faucet for cleaning
• FIG 7 represents in perspective a variant of a faucet
• FIG 9 is a side view of a faucet variant
• FIG 11 illustrates a variant of mounting the handle, on the left
• Figure 12 illustrates a variant of mounting the handle, on the right
• Figure 13 illustrates the assembly of the handle for opening by lifting it
• Figure 14 illustrates the opening of the tap by lifting the handle
• Figure 15 is an axial section of a variant of the tap
• FIG 16 Figure 16 illustrates the dismantling of the tap of Figure 15 to clean it
• Figure 17 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment
• Figure 18 represents the variant of Figure 17 in axial section
• Figure 19 is a view similar to Figure 17 of an alternative embodiment
• Figure 20 is an axial section of the variant of Figure 19, and
• Figure 21 is an elevation view of the faucet of Figures 19 and 20.
• Figures 1 to 6 show a tap 1 according to the invention.
• This valve 1 comprises a body 10, for example made of plastic or metal, having a housing 11 inside which a shutter 20 (also called a plug) can slide along an axis X.
• a shutter 20 also called a plug
• the tap 1 includes a connection 50 to a tank not shown, containing the liquid to be distributed, for example a food product such as oil or a drink.
• the connector 50 is in the form of a male end provided with a collar 52, to be inserted into an opening of a connector 100 of adapted shape of the tank, visible in Figure 5, the fixing of the connection 50 which can be carried out in any suitable manner, for example by force insertion, snap-fastening, screwing or using a clamping ring engaging on the collar and screwed onto a corresponding thread of the tank.
• connection 50 can be made monolithic with the body 10, as illustrated, or alternatively be attached to it.
• connection 50 has a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis.
• Housing 11 is closed at the top by a part comprising a cover 41 and a part 40 serving as a support for a handle 60 for actuating the tap.
• the cover 41 is engaged on the upper end of the body 10 and retained thereon by any suitable means, for example by a bayonet type fixing with locking in position by a tightening screw 42, as illustrated.
• the body 10 can present in the upper part a thinned wall, in which notches 17 are made in the general shape of an L, the cover 41 having a mounting skirt provided on its interior surface with lugs 48 adapted to be inserted axially into the notches then locked in them after a rotation of less than a quarter turn of the 4L cover
• the shutter 20 is extended at the top by an actuating rod 26 which passes through the cover 41 thanks to a central opening 47 thereof.
• the handle 60 comprises a lever 68 defining a surface on which the user can act to operate the tap, this lever 68 carrying at its base two wings 63 parallel to each other and connected by an intermediate wall 64 along the side opposite to the distal end 68a of lever 68.
• the lever 68 is made in one piece by molding of plastic material with the wings 63 and the wall 64, and extends on the same side of the body 10 as the support part 40.
• the support part 40 engages between the wings 63 and is connected to them by a first connecting axis 2.
• the actuating rod 26 is also engaged between the wings 63 and connected to them by a second connecting axis 3.
• the support part 40 is offset relative to the axis X and the center of the first connecting axis is thus located at a distance e from the axis
• the center of the first connecting axis 2 is also higher than that of the second 3, that is to say further along the axis X of the shutter 20.
• the connecting axes 2 and 3 are attached metal axes, but the mechanical connection between the handle and the support part on the one hand, and the handle and the actuating rod on the other hand, could be produced otherwise, for example with cylindrical lugs molded or machined with the wings, the support part and/or the actuating rod.
• the first connecting axis 2 is engaged at its ends in oblong openings 65 of the wings 63.
• the body 10 defines a distribution orifice 19, open downwards, and which is in the example considered centered on the axis X.
• Port 19 communicates via an interior passage 5 of tap 1 with the interior space at connection 50.
• the annular wall bordering the orifice 19 defines a seat 14 for a seal 27 carried by the shutter 20 and housed in an annular groove 21 thereof, as can be seen in Figure 2.
• the body 10 presents above the passage 5 an annular groove 12 in which is received an annular seal 18 which is permanently applied to the shutter 20 to prevent any rise and leakage of liquid through the upper opening of the body 10, covered through cover 41.
• a return spring 30, helical and arranged around the actuating rod 26, is interposed axially between the shutter 20 and the upper wall of the cover 41 to return the shutter 20 to the closed position.
• Spring 30 is positioned so as to never be in contact with the liquid dispensed.
• the first axis 2 can move in the oblong openings 65 to compensate for the variation in the distance between the centers of the axes 2 and 3, and thus keep the axis of the shutter 20 straight and coincident with the X axis.
• the user can unscrew the screw 42 then turn the cover 41 relative to the body 10 in order to unlock the lugs 48, and slide them axially into the notches 17, as illustrated in Figure 6.
• the wings 63 each have a fork-shaped opening 49, in which a corresponding end of the second connecting axis 3 is engaged.
• the first connecting axis 2 is engaged in circular openings 66 of the wings 63.
• This embodiment also differs from that of Figures 1 to 6 in that the support part 40 is made monolithic with the body 10.
• the upper opening of the body 10 is closed by a plug 70 which has a central opening passing through it for the passage of the actuating rod 26.
• the cap 70 can be fixed in any suitable manner in the upper opening of the body 10, for example be screwed into it.
• the spring 30 can rest at its upper end against the interior face of the upper wall of the plug 70.
• the tilting of the handle pulls the actuating rod 26 upwards.
• the second axis 3 can move along the openings 49.
• the rod 26 When the user releases the handle, the rod 26 returns to its initial position under the effect of the relaxation of the spring 30, until the wings 63 abut against the top of the plug 70.
• Figures 9 and 10 differs only slightly from that of Figures 1 to 4 by the shape of the connector 50, longer, and the presence of a retaining ring 80, which is retained by the collar 52 on the connector 50
• This ring 80 is for example internally threaded, so as to screw onto a corresponding thread of the tank.
• the cover 41 can be mounted with an orientation chosen from several, in this case four at 90° from each other.
• the assembly can be done as illustrated in Figure 11 to have the handle 60 to the left of the body 10, or alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 12, to the right of the body 10.
• connection between the actuating rod 26 and the handle 60 is a pure rotation, around the second axis 3, while the connection between the handle 60 and the offset support part 40 allows movement of the first axis 2 in the oblong opening 86.
• Figures 17 and 18 represent a variant of tap 1 according to the invention.
• the handle 60 pivots relative to the support part 40 moving away from the connection 50.
• the handle 60 is for example, as illustrated, connected to a connecting part 160 by a threaded rod 161 which is screwed at each of its ends into a corresponding housing 60a of the handle and into a threaded hole 162 of the connecting part, respectively.
• the connecting part 160 is connected to the support part 40 by an articulation comprising for example a pin 2 engaged in respective holes in the connecting part and the support.
• the shutter 20 carries O-rings 27 and 24 which in the closed position isolate the interior space communicating with the container from the return spring 30 and the distribution opening.
• the return spring 30 is received in the lower part in an annular groove 23 formed around the rod 26 and comes to rest axially at its upper end against the cover 41 formed by the support part 40.
• the upper part of the body 10 can be provided with a neck 180 having reliefs 181 for locking the support part 40; the cover 41 may include reliefs 182 arranged to cooperate with the reliefs 181 in order to ensure the immobilization of the support part 40 relative to the body 10 in the desired configuration, in this case with the hinge pin 2 offset opposite connection 50.
• the rod 26 has at its upper end a groove 190 open laterally on the side of the connector 50, and in which is engaged a pin 3 which ensures the connection between the rod 26 and the connecting part 160 at the base of the handle.
• the handle drives the rod 26 upwards, which compresses the spring 30 and raises the shutter 20.
• the lower O-ring 27 carried by the shutter is moves away from its seat, which frees the dispensing opening, and allows the liquid to flow downward by gravity.
• the upper O-ring 24 carried by the shutter continues to apply on the surface 193 of the housing of the body 10 in which the shutter 20 slides, which prevents any contact of the liquid with the spring 30.
• the variant in Figures 19 and 20 is suitable for producing most of the constituent parts by plastic injection, in particular the body 10, the rod 26 and the shutter 20.
• the connecting part 170 carrying the handle 60 comprises two shells 171 and 172 joined on the support part 40, and each having in the upper part a half-screw 173.
• the two half-screws 173 are engaged in a housing 60a of the handle which contributes to maintaining the shells 171 and 172 in the assembled position.
• Each shell 171 and 172 comprises a cylindrical housing in which a corresponding end of axis 240 of the support part is engaged, to form the articulation of the handle 60 on the support part 40.
• the support part 40 may include at its base a cover 41 arranged to screw onto a threaded collar 180 present in the upper part of the body 10.
• At least one of the shells 171 and 172 may include a cylindrical end piece 175 arranged to engage in a corresponding housing 126 formed in the upper part of the rod 26.
• the latter is for example hollow open towards the bottom and fixed in the lower part in the shutter 20, which has for example a U shape in axial section, with a flange 222 in the upper part.
• a lower O-ring 27 can be carried by the shutter 20 to close the distribution orifice of the body 10 at rest.
• An upper O-ring 24 can be housed in an annular groove of the flange 222 to apply to the interior surface of the body and prevent any leakage of liquid towards the spring 30.
• the shutter 20 may have an annular lip 231 applying to the interior surface of the body 10 to guide the shutter in its axial movement.
• the fixing of the rod 26 in the shutter 20 is carried out for example by snap-fastening, the rod 26 being able to comprise at its lower end one or more hooking teeth 263 for this purpose, snapped onto a retaining bead 225 of the shutter.
• the spring 30 can extend axially between a shoulder 267, provided at the base of the rod, and the upper wall of the cover 41 of the support part 40, closing the body 10.
• the rod 26 passes through this wall through an opening 248.
• the shutter 20 may include at least one relief 231 projecting radially outwards inside the body 10, adapted to the dimension of the housing in which the shutter 20 moves in the body, so as to guide the shutter 20. obturator in its movement in the body.
• This relief is for example in the form of an annular lip 231, which can be molded in one piece with the rest of the plastic shutter.
• the body has in the lower part one or more reliefs 310 which are in the form of fins which project radially outwards, near the lower end of the body 10.
• the fins 310 are for example 4 in number, being angularly evenly distributed.
• the distribution opening can be defined by an annular lip 300, of circular outline, of vertical axis.
• the reliefs 310 can be in the form of one or more fins whose lower end is located at a relatively short distance from the lower end of said lip 310, for example between 1 and 10 mm.
• the body 10 may have an external surface 320 diverging upwards, preferably of generally conical shape flaring upwards, and the fins 310 can extend at least partially over the height of this diverging external surface 320.
• the user pulls the handle 60 away from the connector 50, which raises the rod 26 and lifts the shutter 20.
• the lower O-ring 27 stops blocking the dispensing orifice, and the product can flow out.
• the upper O-ring 24 prevents any rise of the liquid.
• the articulation of the handle on the offset support part and on the actuating rod can also be made differently.
• pins or lugs in the form of ends of pins can be used.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanically-Actuated Valves (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=83355444

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2022
  • 2022-06-21 FR FR2206117A patent/FR3136822A1/fr active Pending
• 2023
  • 2023-06-20 EP EP23733372.9A patent/EP4544207A1/de active Pending
  • 2023-06-20 WO PCT/EP2023/066693 patent/WO2023247571A1/fr not_active Ceased

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