Fluid handling – Diverse fluid containing pressure systems – Gas pressure storage over or displacement of liquid
Patent
1995-05-11
1997-06-10
Walton, George L.
Fluid handling
Diverse fluid containing pressure systems
Gas pressure storage over or displacement of liquid
137322, 2224007, 251252, F16L 37252, F16L 3732, F16K 31528
Patent
active
056366566
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns a new tapping device for a keg tap this tapping device is thereby a part of a beer tap device which can be placed on a keg such as described, e.g. in European Patent 0 283 797 or in German Utility Model 91 10 371.
In the case of the prior art, the opening of the keg valve takes place with the help of a tapping element which is mechanically moved downwardly a ring nut (EP 0 283 797) or by a lever (DE-U 91 10 371). The tapping device is thereby fixed on the keg e.g. with the help of a ratchet, in the interior of the tapping element is present the beer pipe via which it passes to the spigot.
The inner pressure in the keg necessary herefor is maintained with the help of a hand pump or with the help of CO.sub.2 cartridges, the present invention is suitable for both procedures.
The problem in the case of the prior art is that, on the one hand, the operating of the tapping device with the help of a screw ring is laborious and, on the other hand, a lever tilting from above downwardly presupposes a large constructional height in order that the lever does not lie on the keg rim. A further disadvantage consists in that the releasing must take place with two hands since, before the raising of the lever, a stop notch must be released.
Therefore, the present invention has set itself the task of providing a tapping device for a keg tap which permits a one-handed operation and, at the same time, only a small constructional height.
The solution of this task succeeds with a tapping device for a keg tap with a holding element for a socket having a keg connection and therein a beer pipe, sealed off against a pressure chamber, with tap valve and tapping element in which, according to the invention, the socket has a spirally-shaped slot with a pitch corresponding at least to the opening path of the valve opening element. Into the socket from above can be introduced a bayonet collar which has its own slot which can be brought into alignment with the slot, as well as an opposite-lying guiding edge of the same pitch, whereby the guiding edge is associated with a downwardly open entrance. Between the bayonet collar and the socket is movably held an interior-hollow tapping plunger with a valve-opening element and connected with a circumferential lifting lever to which is arranged lying opposite a counter spigot on the guiding edge. Into the tapping plunger is pushed an immersion plunger provided with O-rings which inside has a pressure chamber sealed off against the tapping plunger and has a connecting bore thereto. Inwardly lying, the immersion plunger carries the beer pipe provided with bottom seal, whereby, between immersion plunger and beer pipe, a free space is left free as pressure chamber. The socket possesses, connecting to the holding element, a collar against which the tapping plunger is sealed off with an upper O-ring, whereby, below the O-ring, a transverse bore runs in the tapping plunger.
With the present invention, it is possible for the first time, by a radial turning of the circumferential lever bringing about the opening of the keg, to make the connection of the beer pipe from keg to tap, whereby one turn of the lever suffices and the movement of which is limited to the working path of the tapping plunger.
The device is suitable not only for taps equipped with air pumps but also with CO.sub.2 connection.
The circumferential lifting lever and the counter spigot can be held by friction against the opening pressure of the keg valve spring in the open position, i.e. on the lower end of the spiral, e.g. by altered pitch of the spiral.
Preferred, however, is a forced holding, for which purpose, in simple manner, the slots on the lower end of the spiral have upwardly domed catch recesses.
For the use of the tap with CO.sub.2 connection in the form of cartridges or bottles, the device can be provided with a valve which closes the gas outlet in the case of lifting of the valve opening element. For this purpose, it is suggested to provide the tapping plunger below the transverse bore with a sec
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R.T.C. Limited
Walton George L.
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