AU679819B2 - Dispensing valve actuator - Google Patents

Description

WO 95/15915 PCT/AU94/00761 1 DISPENSING VALVE ACTUATOR Field of the Invention This invention relates to actuators for dispensing valves of the type used in wine casks and other "bag-in-box" packages, particularly for valves of the socalled Fattori type, although the invention is also applicable to "push-button" valves less widely used in wine casks, and bag-in-box packaging.

Background of the Invention In his United States Patent 5,082,145, the inventor described a wine cask restraining accessory which is adapted for engagement with a dispensing valve of the above type to enable the cask to be restrained at the edge of a supporting surface while the valve is manually actuated. While this device enables one hand operation of the valve, dispensing valves of the Fattori type are sometimes difficult to operate, particularly for persons having some form of hand dysfunction or infirmity.

Proposals have been made in the patent literature to provide mechanical actuators for wine cask valves or taps. For example, U.S. Patent 5102017 Dirsking discloses a push-button valve actuator which enables manual actuation of the valve by means of a mechanical actuator. The construction of the actuator is complex and requires modification or re-design of the valve body to enable its use, and it therefore appears not to have found commercial acceptance.

In PCT/GB91/00042 (WO/91/10616), a push-button valve actuator for a wine chiller is disclosed. Once again, the actuator described is only suitable for push-button valves and is relatively complex in construction and is not particularly suitable for use by the general public.

Summary of the Invention and Object It is an object of the present invention to provide an actuator for a dispensing valve of the Fattori type which is simple in construction, easy to fit and operate and which facilitates operation of the valve via the actuator rather than by means of manual manipulation of the valve mechanism.

The invention provides an actuator for a dispensing valve of the Fattori-type FCrU 9 4 0 0 7 6 1 SRECEIVED 1 1 OCT 1995 0 t -2having a body and a valve member carried by the body, said valve member having an operating member, said actuator comprising a valve body engaging portion including supporting means configured to operatively support actuating means said actuating means extending upwardly from said supporting means whereby material dispensed from said valve is free to flow from the valve without impinging on the actuation means, and having an inwardly directed actuating member positioned to engage said operating portion of said valve to cause opening of said valve on movement of said actuating means in a predetermined direction.

In one preferred form of the invention, the actuating means comprises an upwardly extending actuating lever pivotally mounted on said support means, said actuating member comprising an inwardly directed portion of said actuating lever for engaging said operating portion of the valve in use, said lever being configured such that pivotal movement of said lever in said predetermined direction causes said actuating means to engage the operating portion of the valve to actuate the valve.

In another preferred form of the invention, said actuating member is rotatably mounted with respect to said valve body engaging portion and includes inwardly directed camming means positioned to engage said operating portion of said valve when said actuating member is rotated in said predetermined direction to cause opening of the valve.

The valve body engaging portion is preferably formed with a shaped opening having a portion which is configured to engage a locating groove formed in the body of the Fattori valve in a manner which restrains the valve with respect to the container or cask.

The valve body engaging portion preferably comprises a generally planar element configured to rest against the side panel of the carton or cask surrounding the valve. In the first embodiment defined above, a pair of spaced lever supporting flanges extend from the valve engaging portion and are formed to receive pivot means attached to or formed on the actuating lever. The lever has an actuating portion extending in one direction from the pivot and a valve engaging portion extending in the opposite direction from the pivot, preferably in the form of a rearwardly directed nose terminating in a narrow edge positioned and configured to engage the operating portion or rib of the Fattori closure.

In the second embodiment defied above, a support member extends 0 AMENDED

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WO 95/15915 PCT/AU94100761 3 outwardly from the valve body engaging portion and rotatably supports a sleeve portion of the actuating means which further comprises an end wall closing the sleeve at one end and supporting a camming pin extending inwardly from the end wall and positioned to engage the operating portion of the valve in use.

If desired, the support member may be configured to directly engage the valve body, although the use of the valve body engaging portion described further below has the advantage of providing a means for restraining the package on which the valve is mounted during operation of the actuator to open the dispensing valve.

The actuator is fitted to valve of a wine cask by moving the actuating means to the "off' position, and placing the valve engaging portion over the valve so that it engages the locating groove in the valve body. The actuatcr will then remain in the fitted position on the valve by frictional engagement between the valve engaging portion and the groove. Actuation is achieved by the operator manipulating the actuating means, either by pivoting the lever or rotating the actuating means on the support member, until the valve is opened.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood, a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:' Figure 1 is an exploded front perspective view of an actuator embodying the invention also showing a valve of the Fattori-type; Figure 2 is a front elevation showing the actuator mounted on a dispensing valve of the Fattori type.

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the actuator taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of an actuator according to a second embodiment, and Figure 5 is a sectional end elevation taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the actuator 1 embodying WO 95/15915 PCT/AU94/00761 4 the invention is designed for use with a Fattori-type valve of the type commonly used in wine casks, and which has a locating groove G in the body of the valve V.

The actuator 1 comprises a valve groove engaging portion 2 including a generally planar member 3 having a shaped aperture 4 which includes a narrow upper portion 5 which is shaped and dimensioned to engage the groove G in the Fattori-type valve V.

The valve engaging portion 2 has a pair of outwardly extending flanges or side walls 7, 8 to which an actuating lever 9 is pivotally mounted. The lever 9 has an actuating portion 11 extending upwardly from the pivot, and a valve engaging portion 12 extending downwardly from the pivot and terminating in an inwardly directed nose 13 which is positioned and configured to engage under the actuating portion or rib R of the valve V.

The lever 9 has a pair of laterally extending pivot elements 14, 15, which engage bearing openings 16 in the side walls 7, 8. The pivot elements 14, 15 are engaged in the bearing openings 16 by resiliently spreading the side walls 7, 8.

One of the pivot elements 14, 15 preferably incorporates a mechanical stop portion 17 which is adapted to engage a stop 18 formed on at least one side wall 7, 8, in the manner shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, to prevent excessive pivoting movement of the lever 9 past the position in which it remains in engagement with the operating rib R of the valve V.

The lever 9 can also be formed with a rearwardly extending valve actuator pin 19, as shown in broken outline in Figures 1 and 3, by means of which a pushbutton valve (not shown) can be actuated by inverting the lever 9 in the bearings 16 and pivoting the lever 9 so that the pin 19 engages the top of the push-button valve.

If desired, corresponding ribs or other raised projections (not shown) may be formed on the lever 9 and on the side walls 7, 8, to facilitate holding of the lever in any actuated position.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, a second embodiment of the invention comprises a valve groove engaging portion 20 similar in configuration to the portion 2 of the previous embodiment and having an outwardly extending WO 95115915 PCTAU94/00761 semi-cylindrical support member 21 which surrounds the valve (not shown) and is engaged by a cylindrical sleeve portion 22 of a rotary actuator 23 having an end closure 24 closing the sleeve portion 22 and carrying an inwardly directed camming pin 25 positioned to engage the actuating rib R of the Fattori-type valve V shown in broken outline in Figure 5, when the actuator is rotated in a clockwise direction.

The support member 21 is formed with a radially extending locating rib 26 which engages a corresponding locating groove 27 formed in the sleeve portion 22 adjacent the end closure 24. The actuator is molded from a suitable plastics material which allows the support member 21 and the sleeve portion 22 to be resiliently manipulated to engage the radial rib 26 in the groove 27.

The sleeve portion 22 is formed with a dispensing opening 28 which is positioned under the outlet of the valve V when the actuator 23 is rotated from the "off' position to the operative position to allow liquid to be dispensed from the valve through the dispensing opening 28. When the actuator is turned anticlockwise from the position shown in Figure 5 to the "off" position, the valve V is fully enclosed by the support member 21 and the actuator sleeve portion 22 to protect it against contamination. It will be appreciated '.hat as the actuator 23 is further rotated on the support member 21 from the position shown in Figure 5, the camming pin 25 engaged under the actuating rib R of the valve V causes the valve to be opened and the dispensing opening 28 is then aligned with the valve outlet to allow passage of the dispensed liquid.

If desired, the valve groove engaging portion 20 may be shortened in depth so as to simply engage the valve groove to positively locate the support member with respect to the valve V although the configuration shown in Figure 5 has the advantage of providing the package restraining feature of the previous embodiment.

The first embodiment according to Figures 1 to 3 may be modified in numerous ways, and more particularly in the manner described in greater detail in the priority applications associated with this application: Provisional Patent Applications Nos PM 2876, PM 3101 and PM 6867, the contents of which are incororated into the present specification by cross-reference. Thus, the first embodiment described above can have the alternative pivot arrangements described

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WO 95/15915 PCT/AU94/00761 6 in the above documents or the actuator can be fitted with a drip tray which is positioned below the valve when the cask is not in use. The construction of the actuator and the drip tray may be such as to substantially completely enclose the valve for hygienic purposes where dispensing from the cask is required in hotels, restaurants and the like, Gr for safety reasons when dispensing chemicals or poisons.

If desired, the valve groove engaging portion can extend outwardly from the valve engaging portion to tilt the valve body outwardly and downwardly from the surface of the container so that the discharge outlet of the valve is more positively directed towards a receptacle which is held under the valve during the dispensing operation.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the actuator embodying the invention is easily fitted to a wine cask, or any other container having a Fattoritype valve to enable the valve to be actuated by means of one finger in a more controlled manner than by manual actuation of the rib R in the usual manner. The use of the actuator is convenient for all users of casks, and particularly for those who have limited manual dexterity or some form of infirmness. The actuator is furthermore useful in situations in which wine or other liquids are regularly being dispensed from a cask, for example in a hotel or during a party.

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Claims (10)

1. An actuator for a dispensing valve of the Fattori-type having a body and a valve member carried by the body, said valve member having an operating member, said actuator comprising a valve body engaging portion including supporting means configured to operatively support actuating means, said actuating means extending upwardly from the supporting means and having an inwardly directed actuating member positioned to engage said operating portion of said valve to cause opening of said valve on movement of said actuating means in a predetermined direction.

2. The actuator of claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises an upwardly extending actuating lever pivotally mounted on said support means, said actuating member comprising an inwardly directed portion of said upwardly extending actuating lever configured to engage said operating portion of said valve when said actuating lever is pivoted in said predetermined direction.

3. The actuator of claim 2, wherein said support means includes a pair of spaced 15 lever supporting flanges extending from the valve body engaging portion and formed Fee with bearing openings configured to receive pivot means attached to or formed on the actuating lever.

4. The actuator of claim 2 or 3, wherein said lever has an actuating portion 0 extending in one direction from the pivot, said valve body engaging portion comprising an inwardly directed nose terminating in a narrow edge positioned and configured to engage the operating portion of the valve.

5. The actuator of claim 1, wherein said supporting means rotatably supports said actuating means whereby rotation of said actuating means in said predetermined direction causes engagement between said actuating member and said operating portion of said valve to open the valve.

6. The actuator of claim 5, wherein said supporting means comprises a as op supporting member extending outwardly from the valve body engaging portion to rotatably support said actuating means, said actuating means including a sleeve portion engaging said support member and having an end wall substantially closing said sleeve portion and including an inwardly directed camming element positioned tnb:dmw:#2108S 17 Aprl 1997 -8- to engage said operating portion of said valve when said actuating means is rotated in said predetermined direction to open the valve.

7. The actuator of claim 6, wherein said sleeve portion has a dispensing opening which is positioned under the valve when the actuating means is turned to the operative position, said opening being closed by said supporting member when the actuating means is turned to the "off' position whereby the actuator encloses the valve.

8. The actuator of any preceding claim wherein said valve body engaging portion comprises a shaped opening having a portion which is configured to engage the locating groove formed in the body of the valve in a manner which restrains the valve with respect to the container in which it is mounted.

9. The actuator of claim 8, wherein said valve body engaging portion comprises a generally planar element configured to rest against a side panel of the container surrounding the valve, said planar element having a longitudinal dimension which S 15 in use extends below the lowermost portion of the container.

:10. An actuator for a dispensingvalve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. DATED: 17 April 1997 CARTER SMITH BEADLE o oo Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: REEVE HOLDINGS PTY LTD °0 5.000. 0 0 tnb:dmw:#21088 17 April 1997