DK169814B1 - Coupling arrangement for connecting a tapping head with a container valve - Google Patents

Coupling arrangement for connecting a tapping head with a container valve Download PDF

Info

Publication number
DK169814B1
DK169814B1 DK29192A DK29192A DK169814B1 DK 169814 B1 DK169814 B1 DK 169814B1 DK 29192 A DK29192 A DK 29192A DK 29192 A DK29192 A DK 29192A DK 169814 B1 DK169814 B1 DK 169814B1
Authority
DK
Denmark
Prior art keywords
sealing ring
slider
valve
coupling arrangement
arrangement according
Prior art date
Application number
DK29192A
Other languages
Danish (da)
Other versions
DK29192A (en
DK29192D0 (en
Inventor
Per Kurt Augustinus
Wollesen Birger Moeller
Original Assignee
Micro Matic As
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 Micro Matic As filed Critical Micro Matic As
Publication of DK29192D0 publication Critical patent/DK29192D0/en
Priority to DK29192A priority Critical patent/DK169814B1/en
Priority to GB9417838A priority patent/GB2280176B/en
Priority to NL9320028A priority patent/NL194121C/en
Priority to AU37451/93A priority patent/AU3745193A/en
Priority to PCT/DK1993/000084 priority patent/WO1993017954A1/en
Priority to DE4390855T priority patent/DE4390855T1/en
Priority to DE4390855A priority patent/DE4390855C2/en
Priority to EP93906466A priority patent/EP0628016B1/en
Publication of DK29192A publication Critical patent/DK29192A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of DK169814B1 publication Critical patent/DK169814B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67DDISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08Details
    • B67D1/0829Keg connection means
    • B67D1/0831Keg connection means combined with valves
    • B67D1/0832Keg connection means combined with valves with two valves disposed concentrically

Landscapes

  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Description

i DK 169814 B1in DK 169814 B1

Opfindelsen angår et koblingsarrangement til at koble et tappehoved sammen med en ventil, som er monteret i en studs på en beholder til en væske, såsom øl under tryk af en gas, f.eks. C02, og tappehovedet omfatter; en tilgang til gassen; en hul 5 glider, som ved hjælp af et håndgreb kan forskydes mellem en nedre stilling, hvor ventilen er åben, og væsken kan strømme ud gennem den hule glider, og en øvre stilling, hvor ventilen er lukket; en elastomer tætningsring, som koaksialt med glideren er anbragt aksialt forskydeligt i en reces forneden i tap-10 pehovedet og ved sammenkobling tjener til at danne tætning mellem dette og ventilen; og en på glideren således udformet første udadvendende krave, at denne vil søge at løfte tætningsringen fri af ventilen, når glideren forskydes mod sin øvre stilling.The invention relates to a coupling arrangement for coupling a tapping head with a valve mounted in a stud on a container for a liquid such as beer under pressure of a gas, e.g. CO 2 and the tapping head comprises; an access to the gas; a hollow slide which can be displaced by a handle between a lower position where the valve is open and the liquid can flow out through the hollow slide and an upper position where the valve is closed; an elastomeric sealing ring coaxially disposed axially with the slide in a recess at the bottom of the tap head and serves to form a seal between it and the valve by coupling; and a first outwardly extending collar formed on the slide such that it will seek to lift the seal ring free of the valve as the slide moves toward its upper position.

15 I de hidtil mest udbredte tappehovedtyper til koblingsarrangementer af ovennævnte art, holdes tætningsringen fast i tappehovedet ved hjælp af en ringformig ribbe, som er udformet på recessens inderside og indgriber med en modsvarende rille i 20 tætningsringen. Denne har derfor kun en meget lille eller jævnligt nærmest ingen bevægelsesfrihed i aksial retning. Når ventilen lukkes ved at trække glideren op i sin øvre stilling, af spærres et hulrum i koblingshovedet over tætningsringen. Dette hulrum vil dog fortsat være fyldt med trykgas, som hol-25 der tætningsringen så hårdt ned mod ventilen, at det er yderst vanskeligt at fjerne koblingshovedet fra ventilen, når beholderen eksempelvis skal udskiftes med en ny. Problemet har især vist sig at være alvorligt i forbindelse med de konstruktioner, hvor sammenkoblingen finder sted ved at skyde tappehove-30 det på tværs ind over en udadragende flange på ventilen.In the hitherto most widespread tapping head types for coupling arrangements of the above mentioned type, the sealing ring is held in the tapping head by means of an annular rib formed on the inside of the recess and engaging with a corresponding groove in the sealing ring. This therefore has only a very small or regular virtually no freedom of movement in the axial direction. When the valve is closed by pulling the slider into its upper position, a cavity in the coupling head is blocked by the sealing ring. However, this cavity will still be filled with pressurized gas which holds the sealing ring so hard against the valve that it is extremely difficult to remove the coupling head from the valve when, for example, the container has to be replaced with a new one. In particular, the problem has been found to be severe in the constructions in which the coupling takes place by sliding the tapping head transversely over an outwardly extending flange on the valve.

I det britiske patentskrift nr. 2 185 470 er der beskrevet et koblingsarrangement, hvor ovennævnte problem med at demontere tappehovedet er søgt løst. I dette tilfælde er tætningsringen 35 anbragt i nogen grad aksialt forskydeligt i tappehovedets reces, og glideren er forneden forsynet med en udadvendende DK 169814 B1 2 krave, som løfter tætningsringen lidt fri af ventilens overside, når glideren føres op mod sin øvre stilling ved at trække opad i tappehovedets håndgreb. Den indespærrede trykgas i koblingshovedets hulrum vil dernæst slippe ud under tætningsrin-5 gen og aflaste trykket på denne, hvorefter tappehovedet uden vanskelighed kan afmonteres.British Patent Specification No. 2 185 470 describes a coupling arrangement in which the above-mentioned problem of dismounting the tapping head has been solved. In this case, the sealing ring 35 is positioned axially displaceable in the recess of the tapping head and the slider is provided with an outwardly extending collar, which lifts the sealing ring slightly free from the upper side of the valve when the slider is brought up towards its upper position by pulling upwards in the handle of the tapping head. The trapped compressed gas in the coupling head cavity will then escape under the sealing ring and relieve the pressure thereon, after which the tapping head can be easily removed.

Den nødvendige kraft til at løfte tætningsringen afhænger af det tryk, som den belastes med. Til at begynde med vil kraven 10 på glideren løfte den inderste ende af tætningsringen, set i tværsnit, medens den fortsat indespærrede gas stadig holder den yders te ende presset ned mod ventilen. Den nødvendige kraft til således at vride og deformere tætningsringen vil vokse, efterhånden som stadig større dele af tætningsringen 15 løftes fri af ventilen. For at undgå, at den person, der skal skifte beholderen, må lægge unødigt mange kræfter i arbejdet med at trække op i håndgrebet og løfte glideren, er der i tætningsringens underside udformet et antal radiale riller, som udmunder på ydersiden af ringen og strækker sig et stykke ind. 20 under denne. Så snart bøjningen af tætningsringen, set i tværsnit, er nået hen til disse riller, er der dannet en åben forbindelse mellem hulrummet i tappehovedet og det fri. Den indespærrede gas vil derfor hurtigt slippe ud og aflaste trykket på tætningsringen, som nu let og ubesværet lader sig løfte 25 helt fri af ventilen.The force required to lift the sealing ring depends on the pressure with which it is loaded. For starters, the collar 10 on the slider will lift the inner end of the sealing ring, seen in cross section, while the still trapped gas still holds the outer end of the seal pressed down against the valve. The force required to thus twist and deform the sealing ring will grow as ever greater portions of the sealing ring 15 are lifted free of the valve. In order to prevent the person having to change the container from having to put unnecessary effort into the work of pulling up the handle and lifting the slide, a number of radial grooves have been formed on the underside of the sealing ring which open on the outside of the ring and extend one piece in. 20 under this one. As soon as the bending of the sealing ring, seen in cross-section, has reached these grooves, an open connection is formed between the cavity of the tapping head and the free. The trapped gas will therefore quickly escape and relieve the pressure on the sealing ring, which is now easily and effortlessly lifted 25 completely free of the valve.

De radiale riller reducerer den kraft, som er nødvendig til at løfte tætnings ringen fri af ventilen, til en acceptabel størrelse, men danner til gengæld gruber, som kan samle snavs og • 30 være arnested for gærings- og forrådnelsesprocesser, som ikke er forenelige med de hygiejnekrav, som stilles til levnedsmid-· delbeholdere af denne art. Rillerne reducerer desuden tætningsringens virksomme pakningsareal og kan, når ventilernes overside er ujævn, være årsag til, at forbindelsen mellem tap-35 pehovedet og ventilen bliver utæt.The radial grooves reduce the force needed to lift the sealing ring free of the valve to an acceptable size, but in turn form pits that can collect dirt and be a hotbed for fermentation and decomposition processes incompatible with the hygiene requirements for food containers of this kind. The grooves also reduce the effective sealing area of the seal ring and, when the upper surface of the valves is uneven, may cause the connection between the tap head and the valve to become leaky.

DK 169814 B1 3 På oversiden af den tætningsring, som er omtalt i ovennævnte britiske patentskrift, er der udformet et antal små opadragen-de tappe, som presses elastisk sammen mod recessens bund, når glideren trækkes op i sin øvre stilling. Disse tappe skal 5 ifølge patentskriftet tjene til at presse tætningsringen ned til anlæg mod ventilens overside, inden glideren i sin nedadgående bevægelse er nået så langt, at den åbner for ventilen og gastilgangen. I praksis har det imidlertid vist sig, at tætningsringen bliver hængende i recessen, som den nødvendig-10 vis må ligge i med en tæt pasning, og dette resulterer i, at der på uacceptabel måde sprøjter væske ud gennem spalten mellem tappehovedet og ventilen, inden glideren er trykket helt i bund. En mulig afhjælpning af denne ulempe kunne bestå i at forøge tappenes dimensioner og dermed deres fjederkraft. Dette 15 ville imidlertid samtidigt forøge den kraft, som skal anvendes til at løfte tætningsringen fri af ventilen ved demontering.DK 169814 B1 3 On the upper side of the sealing ring disclosed in the above-mentioned British patent, a number of small upwardly extending pins are formed which are elastically pressed together against the bottom of the recess when the slider is pulled up into its upper position. According to the patent, these pins 5 serve to push the sealing ring down to abutment against the upper side of the valve, before the slider in its downward movement has reached so far that it opens to the valve and the gas inlet. In practice, however, it has been found that the sealing ring becomes suspended in the recess, which it must necessarily be fitted with a tight fit, and this results in unacceptable liquid ejecting through the gap between the tapping head and the valve before the slider is pressed fully to the bottom. A possible remedy for this disadvantage could be to increase the dimensions of the pins and thus their spring force. However, this would simultaneously increase the force to be used to lift the sealing ring free of the valve during disassembly.

Formålet med opfindelsen er at anvise et koblingsarrangement af den indledningsvis nævnte art, som ved aktivering af tappe-20 hovedet med sikkerhed bliver tæt, før glideren har nået at åbne for ventilen og gastilgangen, og som desuden let lader sig afmontere uden større kraftanvendelse.The object of the invention is to provide a coupling arrangement of the kind mentioned at the outset, which, upon activation of the tapping head, becomes confidently closed before the slider has reached the valve and the gas inlet, and which can also be easily dismantled without major use of force.

Det nye og særegne ifølge opfindelsen består i, at der på gli-25 deren er udformet en anden udadvendende krave, som har en større diameter end tætningsringens lysning og i aksial retning er placeret således på glideren, at denne under forskydning mod sin nedre stilling ved indgreb mellem kraven og tætningsringen trækker denne med sig ned til anlæg mod ventilen, 30 før glideren åbner for ventilen og gastilgangen. Denne indretning sikrer effektivt mod utilsigtet væskeudsprøjtning, medens operatøren trykker tappehovedets håndgreb ned for at åbne beholderen.The new and distinctive feature of the invention consists in the formation of another outwardly extending collar having a larger diameter than the sealing ring illumination and located in the axial direction on the slider such that it is displaced to its lower position by the slider. engagement between the collar and the sealing ring pulls it down to abutment against the valve, 30 before the slider opens the valve and the gas inlet. This device effectively prevents accidental fluid spraying while the operator depresses the tapping head handle to open the container.

35 Gliderens funktion med at lukke og åbne for henholdsvis gastilgangen og ventilen betinger, at glideren må have en DK 169814 B1 4 relativ lang vandring mellem dens øvre og nedre stilling. Tætningsringen behøver derimod kun at blive løftet et lille stykke for at komme fri af ventilen ved demontering. Gliderens anden udadvendende krave vil derfor under gliderens bevægelser 5 mellem dens yderstillinger blive trukket op og ned gennem tætningsringen, og for i denne forbindelse at opnå den rette funktion har denne krave en lidt større diameter end tætnings-ringens lysning og i tværsnit form som en trekant der vender toppunktet udad, således at kraven med passende lethed kan 10 passere gennem tætningsringen.35 The function of the slider in closing and opening respectively the gas inlet and the valve means that the slider must have a relatively long travel between its upper and lower positions. The sealing ring, on the other hand, only needs to be lifted a little while to disengage the valve during disassembly. Therefore, during the slider's movements 5 between its outer positions, the second outward collar of the slider will be pulled up and down through the sealing ring, and in order to achieve the proper function, this collar has a slightly larger diameter than the sealing ring's illumination and in cross section form as a triangle. facing the apex so that the collar can pass through the sealing ring with appropriate ease.

En særlig fordelagtig udførelsesform opnås, når det på tætningsringen er udformet et antal indadvendende næser og på glideren en tredje udadvendende krave, som er anbragt med en 15 til højden af næserne svarende afstand under gliderens anden krave, og at gliderens diameter mellem de to kraver har en til den diametrale afstand mellem næserne svarende diameter. Når tappehovedet befinder sig i sin frie, umonterede tilstand, vil tætningsringens næser ved aktivering af glideren med håndgre-20 bet være tilbøjelig til at blive fanget i mellemrummet mellem gliderens anden og tredje krave. Tætningsringen vil derfor virke som et pumpestempel i recessen, når håndgrebet gentagne gange føres op og ned, og denne funktion kan med fordel udnyttes til at rengøre de indvendige dele af tappehovedet, der 25 herunder eventuelt kan være delvist neddyppet i en passende rensevæske.A particularly advantageous embodiment is obtained when a plurality of inwardly facing noses is formed on the sealing ring and a third outwardly extending collar disposed at a distance corresponding to the height of the noses below the second collar of the slider and the diameter of the slider between the two collars has one that corresponds to the diametrical distance between the noses diameter. When the tapping head is in its free, unmounted state, the sealing ring noses upon actuation of the slider with the handle 20 will tend to be trapped in the space between the second and third collars of the slider. The sealing ring will therefore act as a pump plunger in the recess when the handle is repeatedly moved up and down, and this function can advantageously be used to clean the internal parts of the tapping head, which may be partially submerged in an appropriate cleaning fluid, including.

For at sikre en effektiv og holdbar tætning under brug kan der 30 desuden i koblingshovedets reces over tætningsringen være anbragt en ringformet skive og på glideren et bryst, som aksialt er placeret således på glideren, at det ved indgreb med skiven bringer denne til aksialt at komprimere tætningsringen, når glideren befinder sig i sin nedre stilling.In addition, in order to ensure an effective and durable seal during use, an annular disk may be arranged in the recess of the coupling head and on the slide a chest which is axially positioned on the slide so that it engages the disk to axially compress it. the sealing ring when the slider is in its lower position.

35 DK 169814 B1 535 DK 169814 B1 5

For at undgå de ulemper, som er forbundet med de radiale riller, som er udformet i undersiden i den tætningsring, som er beskrevet i det ovenfor nævnte britiske patentskrift nr. 2 185 470, kan der endvidere på tætningsringens underside mellem 5 dennes inder- og yderside være udformet en nedre rundtgående ribbe, som i tværsnit har form som en trekant med et nedadven-dende toppunkt, som i tætningsringens ubelastede tilstand strækker sig længere ned end tætningsringens øvrige underside. Under brug befinder denne ribbe sig i en stærkt komprimeret 10 tilstand, og det har vist sig, at ribben herunder er i stand til at danne en overordentlig effektiv tætning selv i de tilfælde, hvor oversiden på ventilen er meget ujævn eller beskadiget med ridser, som forløber på tværs af ribben. Under demonteringsoperationen yder den komprimerede ribbe til at be-15 gynde med et bidrag til den kraft, som tjener til at løfte tætnings ringen fri af ventilen. Men, når bøjningen af tætningsringen er nået hen til området ved ribben og begyndt at løfte denne, vil ribben som følge af sit trekantede tværsnit blive stadig mere ustabil og kan på et vist tidspunkt ikke 20 mere holde til belastningen fra den indespærrede trykgas. Ribben vil derfor falde sammen og tillade den indespærrede trykgas at blæse forbi under ribben. Derved aflastes trykket fuldstændigt på tætningsringen, som nu frit kan løftes. Under denne proces har det på intet tidspunkt været nødvendigt at på-25 virke tætningsringen med en opadrettet kraft, som modsvarer den forholdsvis store nedadrettede kraft fra trykgassens totale belastning af tætningsringen.In addition, to avoid the disadvantages associated with the radial grooves formed on the underside of the sealing ring disclosed in the aforementioned British Patent Specification No. 2 185 470, the underside of the sealing ring between the outer side is formed a lower circumferential rib, which in cross section has the shape of a triangle with a downward vertex which extends further downward in the sealing ring of the sealing ring than the other underside of the sealing ring. In use, this rib is in a highly compressed state, and it has been found that the rib below is capable of forming an extremely effective seal even in cases where the top of the valve is very uneven or damaged with scratches which extending across the ribs. During the disassembly operation, the compressed rib provides support to contribute to the force which serves to lift the seal ring free of the valve. However, once the bend of the sealing ring has reached the region of the rib and begins to lift it, the rib, due to its triangular cross-section, becomes increasingly unstable and at some point can no longer withstand the load of the confined pressure gas. The rib will therefore collapse and allow the trapped compressed gas to blow past under the rib. Thereby the pressure is completely relieved of the sealing ring, which can now be freely lifted. During this process, it has at no time been necessary to act on the sealing ring with an upward force which corresponds to the relatively large downward force from the total pressure of the sealing ring by the pressurized gas.

For yderligere at sikre den nedre rundtgående ribbes effektive 30 tætning selv mod en ujævn overflade på ventilen kan der desuden med fordel over den nedre ribbe på oversiden af tætnings-ringen være udformet et antal ansatse, som hæver sig over tætningsringens øvrige overside. Når den ringformede skive i koblingshovedets reces af gliderens bryst presses ned mod tæt-35 ningsringen ved åbning af ventilen, vil skiven påvirke tætningsringen med en nedadrettet kraft, som via ansatsene i DK 169814 B1 6 væsentligt omfang overføres til den nedre ribbe, som derfor med sikkerhed presses ned i alle ridser og ujævnheder i ventilens overflade.In addition, to further ensure the effective circumferential seal of the lower circumferential rib even against an uneven surface of the valve, a plurality of abutments may be formed over the lower rib on the upper side of the seal ring which extend above the other upper face of the seal ring. When the annular disc in the recess of the coupling head of the slider's chest is pressed down against the sealing ring by opening the valve, the disc will actuate the sealing ring with a downward force which is substantially transferred to the lower rib via the brackets in DK 169814 B1 6. safety is pressed down into all scratches and bumps in the valve surface.

5 Ved en hensigtsmæssig udførelsesform for tætningsringen kan denne langs periferien være udformet med en læbe, som berører recessens ringflade, hvorved rummet over tætningsringen øjeblikkeligt tætnes, så snart der åbnes for gastilgangen.In a suitable embodiment of the sealing ring, it may be formed along the periphery with a lip touching the annular surface of the recess, whereby the space above the sealing ring is immediately sealed as soon as the gas inlet is opened.

10 Den tætning, som opnås ved hjælp af læben, kan yderligere forbedres ved hjælp af en labyrinttætning langs tætningsringens periferi under læben, hvorved denne labyrinttætning med fordel kan bestå af et antal rundtgående ydre ribber, som hver i tværsnit har form som en halv O-ring.The seal obtained by the lip can be further enhanced by a labyrinth seal along the circumference of the seal ring below the lip, whereby this labyrinth seal may advantageously consist of a plurality of circumferential outer ribs, each of which in cross section have the shape of one half O ring.

1515

Opfindelsen forklares nedenfor, idet der beskrives en alene eksempelvis udførelsesform under henvisning til tegningen, hvor 20 fig. 1 viser et koblingsarrangement ifølge opfindelsen i delt snit, hvorved arrangementet i venstre halvdel befinder sig i lukket stilling og i højre halvdel i åben stilling, fig. 2 en tætningsring til det i fig. 1 viste koblingsarrange-25 ment, fig. 3 samme set fra oven, og fig. 4 samme set fra neden.The invention is explained below, by way of example only, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. Fig. 1 shows a coupling arrangement according to the invention in split section, whereby the arrangement in the left half is in the closed position and in the right half in the open position; 2 shows a sealing ring for the one shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a top view, and FIG. 4 same from below.

30 I fig. 1 ses et koblingsarrangement med et tappehoved, som i sin helhed er angivet med henvisningstallet 1 og en ventil, som i sin helhed er angivet med henvisningstallet 2. Ventilen, hvoraf kun den øverste del er vist, er med en gevindsamling 35 skruet fast i en studs 3, som er svejset fast foroven på en beholder 4, der kun ses brudstykkevis. Ventilen er forsynet DK 169814 B1 7 med en aksialt forskydelig pakning 5, som påvirkes af en op-adrettet kraft fra en trykfjeder 6. Et dykrør 7 strækker sig ned i den væske, f.eks. øl, som skal aftappes.In FIG. 1 shows a coupling arrangement with a tapping head which is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 1 and a valve which is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 2. The valve, of which only the upper part is shown, is screwed in with a thread assembly 35. studs 3, which are welded to the top of a container 4, which is seen only in broken pieces. The valve is provided with an axially displaceable gasket 5 which is actuated by an upward force from a compression spring 6. A plunger tube 7 extends into the liquid, e.g. beer to be bottled.

5 Tappehovedet 1 omfatter et hus 8, en glider 9, som kan forskydes op og ned i huset, samt et håndgreb 10, som tjener til at forskyde glideren. Håndgrebet er lejret svingbart omkring svingtappe 11 og kan svinge mellem en øvre stilling, som i figuren er vist med stiplet streg og en nedre stilling, som er 10 vist med fuldt optrukket streg. Tappehovedet er endvidere forsynet med en tilslutning 12, som tjener til at forbinde tappehovedet med en ikke vist trykgaskilde, f.eks. C02 i en flaske eller patron. Glideren 9 har en aksialt forløbende kanal 13, hvorigennem den væske, som skal af tappes, ledes ud til for-15 brugsstedet (ikke vist).The tapping head 1 comprises a housing 8, a slider 9 which can be displaced up and down the housing, and a handle 10 which serves to displace the slider. The handle is pivotally mounted about pivot pin 11 and can pivot between an upper position shown in the figure with a dashed line and a lower position shown by a fully drawn line. The tapping head is further provided with a connection 12 which serves to connect the tapping head to a source of gas not shown, e.g. CO2 in a bottle or cartridge. The slide 9 has an axially extending channel 13 through which the liquid to be drained is discharged to the point of consumption (not shown).

Ventilen har foroven en flange 14, og tappehovedet en indad-vendende kant 15, som griber fast under flangen 14, når tappehovedet er koblet sammen med ventilen. Den indadvendende kant 20 15 strækker sig kun halvcirkulært langs den nedre periferi af tappehovedet, som derfor ved sammenkobling kan skydes på tværs hen over ventilens flange. Tætningen mellem tappehovedet og ventilen tilvejebringes ved hjælp af en tætningsring 16, som er anbragt aksialt forskydelig i en reces 17 i huset 8.The valve has a flange 14 at the top and the tapping head an inward edge 15 which engages under the flange 14 when the tapping head is coupled to the valve. The inward-facing edge 20 15 extends only semi-circularly along the lower periphery of the tapping head, which, therefore, can be pushed transversely across the flange of the valve. The seal between the tapping head and the valve is provided by a sealing ring 16 which is axially displaceable in a recess 17 in the housing 8.

2525

Som vist i venstre side af fig. 1 er ventilen 2 lukket, når glideren 9 befinder sig i sin øvre stilling, og som vist i højre side af fig. 1 er ventilen åben, når glideren befinder sig i sin nedre stilling, hvor den har trykket pakningen 5 30 ned, således at væsken via dykrøret 7, et antal åbninger 18 i dette og kanalen 13 i glideren 9 kan ledes ud til forbrugsstedet. Samtidigt har glideren åbnet for gastilgangen 12.As shown in the left side of FIG. 1, the valve 2 is closed when the slide 9 is in its upper position and as shown in the right-hand side of FIG. 1, the valve is open when the slider is in its lower position where it has depressed the gasket 5 30 so that the liquid via the diving tube 7, a number of openings 18 therein and the channel 13 in the slide 9 can be directed out to the place of consumption. At the same time, the slider has opened for gas access 12.

Pig.2, 3 og 4 viser tætningsringen 16 i større målestok.Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the sealing ring 16 on a larger scale.

. 35 Tætningsringen er fremstillet af et elastomert materiale, der eksempelvis kan være gummi med en passende hårdhed. På DK 169814 B1 8 undersiden af tætningsringen er der som vist udformet en forholdsvis stor nedre, rundtgående ribbe 19, som i tværsnit har et trekantet profil. Ribben 19 er anbragt i afstand fra tætningsringens ydre periferi. Mellem denne og ribben 19 er der 5 desuden udformet yderligere to mindre rundtgående ribber 20, som ligeledes i tværsnit har et trekantet profil. Langs selve periferien er der udformet en labyrinttætning, som består af tre halve O-ringe, og over denne labyrinttætning findes en læbe 22, som tjener til at danne tætning mod recessen 17's 10 inderside, så snart der åbnes for gastilgangen. På tætningsringens overside i et område, der befinder sig over den nedre rundtgående ribbe 19, er der udformet et antal ansatse 23, som er anbragt med indbyrdes mellemrum 24 og hæver sig op over tætningsringens øvrige overside. Ved denne er der langs tæt-15 ningsringens inderside udformet et antal indadvendende næser 25, som indbyrdes er adskilt af vertikale åbninger 26. Ved indersiden findes der desuden forneden på tætningsringen en ringformet plan flade 27.. The sealing ring is made of an elastomeric material which may, for example, be rubber of a suitable hardness. On DK 169814 B1 8 the underside of the sealing ring, as shown, is a relatively large lower, circumferential rib 19, which in cross section has a triangular profile. The rib 19 is spaced from the outer periphery of the sealing ring. A further two smaller circumferential ribs 20 are also formed between this and the rib 19, which also have a triangular profile in cross section. Along the periphery itself, a labyrinth seal is formed consisting of three half O-rings, and above this labyrinth seal is a lip 22 which serves to form a seal against the inside of recess 17 as soon as the gas inlet is opened. On the upper face of the seal ring in an area located above the lower circumferential rib 19, a plurality of abutments 23 are formed which are spaced apart 24 and rise above the other upper face of the seal ring. At this, a number of inwardly facing noses 25 are formed along the inside of the sealing ring 25, which are separated by vertical openings 26. At the inside there is also an annular flat surface 27 at the bottom of the sealing ring.

20 På glideren 9 er der forneden udformet en første udadvendende krave 28, med en øvre flade, som passer til den ringformede plane flade 27 forneden på tætnings ringen 16. I en til tætningsringens højde ved indersiden svarende afstand over den første krave 28 er der indrettet en anden udadvendende krave 25 29, som i tværsnit har et trekantet profil med et toppunkt, som har en lidt større diameter end lysningen i tætningsringen. I en til næserne 25’s højde svarende afstand under den anden krave 29 er der yderligere udformet en tredie udadvendende krave 30.20 On the slider 9, a first outwardly extending collar 28 is formed at the bottom, with an upper surface which fits the annular planar surface 27 at the bottom of the sealing ring 16. At a distance corresponding to the height of the sealing ring at the inside, above the first collar 28, another outwardly extending collar 25 29, which in cross section has a triangular profile with a vertex having a slightly larger diameter than the groove in the seal ring. At a height corresponding to the height of the noses 25 below the second collar 29, a third outward collar 30 is further formed.

30 I recessen 17 er der over tætningsringen 16 anbragt en ringformet skive 31, som har en nedadvendende kant 32 med samme diameter som tætningsringens næser 25 og et antal huller 33. Endvidere er glideren forsynet med et bryst 34 i form af ek-35 sempelvis en ring. Brystet 34 har en større diameter end den ringformede skive 31's indre diameter.30 In the recess 17, an annular disc 31 is arranged over the sealing ring 16, which has a downward-facing edge 32 of the same diameter as the seals ring noses 25 and a number of holes 33. Furthermore, the slider is provided with a chest 34 in the form of, for example, a ring. Chest 34 has a larger diameter than the inner diameter of annular disc 31.

DK 169814 B1 9DK 169814 B1 9

Ved sammenkobling skydes tappehovedet som tidligere nævnt på tværs ind over ventilen 2's flange 14 og fastholdes dernæst på denne af den indadvendende kant 15 forneden på huset 8. Under ' 5 denne operation er håndgrebet 10 trukket op i sin øvre stilling og glideren 9 befinder sig tilsvarende i sin øvre stilling, hvor den med sin første krave 28 har trukket tætningsringen 16 lidt ind i husets reces 17. Koblingshovedet er endvidere tilsluttet henholdsvis en gaskilde (ikke vist) og et 10 forbrugssted (ikke vist).When coupled, the tapping head, as previously mentioned, is slid across the flange 14 of the valve 2 and is then held onto it by the inward-facing edge 15 at the bottom of the housing 8. During this operation, the handle 10 is pulled up in its upper position and the slide 9 is similarly in its upper position, where, with its first collar 28, it has pulled the sealing ring 16 slightly into the recess 17. The coupling head is further connected to a gas source (not shown) and a consumption point (not shown), respectively.

Når glideren 9 ved hjælp af håndgrebet 10 forskydes i retning nedefter, vil glideren med sin anden udadvendende krave 29 til at begynde med føre tætningsringen 16 med sig og bringe den 15 til anlæg mod ventilflangen 14, endnu før glideren har åbnet for gastilgangen og ventilen. Der kan derfor ikke, som det er tilfældet ved de kendte koblingsarrangementer af denne art, utilsigtet sprøjte væske ud af beholderen, når denne åbnes f.eks. første gang.When the slide 9 is moved downwards by the handle 10, the slide with its second outwardly extending collar 29 will initially carry the sealing ring 16 and bring it 15 into contact with the valve flange 14, even before the slide has opened for the gas inlet and the valve. Therefore, as is the case with the known coupling arrangements of this kind, liquid cannot be accidentally sprayed out of the container when it is opened e.g. first time.

2020

Under sin videre forskydning nedefter trænger den anden krave 29 gennem tætningsringen 16's åbning som følge af sin trekantede form, og glideren kan derfor fortsætte til den i højre side af fig. 1 viste nedre stilling, hvor der er åbnet for 25 ventilen 2 og gastilgangen 12. I denne stilling har brystet 34 på glideren trykket den ringformede skive 31 i recessen 17 ned mod tætningsringen, således at skivens nedadvendende kant 32 hviler mod tætningsringens ansatse 23 med en forudbestemt kraft, som via ansatsene i væsentligt omfang overføres til den 30 nedre rundtgående ribbe 19, der derved bringes til at tætne effektivt selv mod en ujævn overflade på flangen 14. Tætningsringens læbe 22 sikrer samtidigt, at rummet over tætningsringen er tæt fra første øjeblik, der åbnes for gastrykket. Laby- . rinttætningen, som består af de halve O-ringe 21, sikrer sam-35 tidigt tætningens vedvarende holdbarhed, idet de ligger an mod recessens inderside og herunder samtidigt støtter DK 169814 B1 10 tætningsringen mod det radialt virkende tryk fra gassen. Koblingsarrangementet kan nu anvendes, indtil beholderen er tømt eller af anden grund ønskes udskiftet.During its further displacement downward, the second collar 29 penetrates through the opening of the sealing ring 16 due to its triangular shape, and the slider can therefore proceed to the right side of FIG. 1 in which the valve 2 and the gas inlet 12 are opened, in this position, the chest 34 of the slider has pressed the annular disc 31 of the recess 17 down towards the sealing ring, so that the downwardly facing edge 32 of the disc rests against the sealing ring abutment 23 with a predetermined force which is substantially transmitted via the abutments to the lower circumferential rib 19, thereby being effectively sealed even against an uneven surface of the flange 14. At the same time, the lip of the sealing ring 22 ensures that the space above the sealing ring is close from the first moment, that opens to the gas pressure. Laby-. The sealing ring, which consists of the half O-rings 21, simultaneously ensures the durable durability of the seal, as it abuts the inside of the recess and, at the same time, supports the sealing ring against the radially acting pressure from the gas. The coupling arrangement can now be used until the container is emptied or for some other reason desired to be replaced.

5 Ventilen og gastilgangen lukkes da ved at trække håndgrebet 10 op i sin øvre stilling, hvorved glideren 9 samtidigt forskydes opefter. Herunder griber glideren med sin første udadvendende krave 28 ind i den ringformede plane flade 27 forneden på tætningsringen, som derfor påvirkes med en opadrettet kraft, som 10 søger at løfte tætningsringen fri af ventilen 2 mod trykket af den gas, som er spærret inde i hulrummet over tætningsringen. Derved bøjes tætningsringen ved den, set i tværsnit, inderste ende, medens den yderste ende fortsat er presset ned mod ventilen af gastrykket. Til at begynde med virker fjederkraften 15 fra den stærkt komprimerede store, nedre ribbe 19 i samme retning, som gliderens løftekraft, som derved reduceres tilsvarende. Når bøjningen af ringen, set i tværsnit, er nået hen til området ved den nedre ribbe 19, løftes denne efterhånden så meget, at den som følge af sit trekantede profil ikke læn-20 gere har den fornødne styrke og stabilitet til at modstå trykket fra den indespærrede trykgas. Den nedre ribbe 19 falder derfor sammen og tillader gassen at slippe ud til det fri. Dernæst er tætningsringen fuldstændig ubelastet og kan frit løftes. Tætningsringens konstruktion indebærer, at det på in-.25 tet tidspunkt af den samlede løfteoperation har været nødvendigt at anvende en løftekraft, som er lige så stor som den kraft, hvormed den indespærrede trykgas påvirker tætningsringen.5 The valve and gas inlet are then closed by pulling the handle 10 up in its upper position, whereby the slide 9 is simultaneously displaced upwards. Below, the slider, with its first outwardly facing collar 28, engages the annular planar surface 27 at the bottom of the sealing ring, which is therefore actuated by an upward force which 10 seeks to lift the sealing ring free of the valve 2 against the pressure of the gas which is locked inside the cavity. over the sealing ring. Thereby the sealing ring is bent at the innermost end, in cross section, while the outer end is still pressed down against the valve of the gas pressure. To begin with, the spring force 15 of the highly compressed large, lower rib 19 acts in the same direction as the lifting force of the slider, which is thereby reduced accordingly. When the bending of the ring, as seen in cross-section, has reached the area of the lower rib 19, it is gradually lifted so much that, due to its triangular profile, it no longer has the strength and stability necessary to withstand the pressure of the trapped compressed gas. The lower rib 19 therefore collapses and allows the gas to escape into the open. Next, the sealing ring is completely unloaded and freely lifted. The design of the sealing ring implies that, at approximately the 25th of the total lifting operation, it has been necessary to use a lifting force equal to the force with which the trapped compressed gas affects the sealing ring.

30 Ved hjælp af koblingsarrangementet ifølge opfindelsen kan et tappehoved, som er monteret på en ventil i en trykbeholder let og ubesværet fjernes, når beholderen eksempelvis skal udskif tes. Dette skyldes, at tætningsringen ikke holdes i spænd mod ventilen af trykket fra den indespærrede gas over tætningsrin-35 gen, idet denne aflastes fuldstændigt, når tappehovedets håndgreb trækkes op for at lukke beholderen. Hertil kræves kun en 5 DK 169814 B1 11 beskeden kraftindsats fra betjeningspersonalets side. Samti-' digt skånes betjeningspersonalet og omgivelserne for at blive oversprøjtet af væske, når beholderen åbnes.30 By means of the coupling arrangement according to the invention, a tapping head mounted on a valve in a pressure vessel can be easily and effortlessly removed when, for example, the container has to be replaced. This is because the sealing ring is not held in tension against the valve by the pressure of the trapped gas over the sealing ring, as it is completely relieved when the handle of the tapping head is pulled up to close the container. For this, only a small effort is required on the part of the operating personnel. At the same time, the operating staff and the surroundings are spared to be sprayed with liquid when the container is opened.

10 15 20 25 30 3510 15 20 25 30 35

Claims (7)

1. Koblings arrangement til at koble et tappehoved sammen med en ventil, som er monteret i en studs på en beholder til en væske, såsom øl under tryk af en gas, f.eks. C02, og tappehovedet omfatter; en tilgang til gassen; en hul glider, som ved hjælp af et håndgreb kan forskydes mellem en nedre stilling, 10 hvor ventilen er åben, og væsken kan strømme ud gennem den hule glider, og en øvre stilling, hvor ventilen er lukket; en elastomer tætningsring, som koaksialt med glideren er anbragt aksialt forskydeligt i en reces forneden i tappehovedet og ved sammenkobling tjener til at danne en tætning mellem dette og 15 ventilen; og en på glideren således udformet første udadven-dende krave, at denne vil søge at løfte tætningsringen fri af ventilen, når glideren forskydes mod sin øvre stilling, k e n detegnet ved, at der på glideren er udformet en anden udadvendende krave, som har en større diameter end tætnings-20 ringens lysning og i aksial retning er placeret således på glideren, at denne under forskydning mod sin nedre stilling ved indgreb mellem kraven og tætningsringen trækker denne med sig ned til anlæg mod ventilen, før glideren åbner for denne og gastilgangen. 251. Coupling arrangement for coupling a tapping head with a valve mounted in a stud on a container for a liquid such as beer under pressure of a gas, e.g. CO 2 and the tapping head comprises; an access to the gas; a hollow slider which can be displaced by a handle between a lower position 10 where the valve is open and the liquid can flow out through the hollow slider and an upper position where the valve is closed; an elastomeric sealing ring coaxially disposed axially with the slider in a recess at the bottom of the tapping head and, by coupling, serves to form a seal between this and the valve; and a first outwardly extending collar formed on the slider such that it will seek to lift the sealing ring free of the valve as the slider is displaced toward its upper position, characterized in that a second outwardly extending collar having a larger diameter than the sealing ring and in the axial direction are positioned on the slider such that, when displaced to its lower position by engagement between the collar and the sealing ring, it pulls down to abutment against the valve before the slider opens for it and the gas inlet. 25 2. Koblingsarrangement ifølge krav 1, kendetegnet ved, at den anden udadvendende krave har en lidt større diameter end tætningsringens lysning og i tværsnit form som en trekant, der vender toppunktet udad. 30Coupling arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the second outward-facing collar has a slightly larger diameter than the sealing ring's illumination and in cross-section form as a triangle facing the outward point. 30 3. Koblingsarrangement ifølge krav l eller 2, kendetegnet ved, at der på tætningsringen er udformet et antal ind-advendende næser og på glideren en tredie udadvendende krave, som er anbragt med en til højden af næserne svarende afstand 35 under gliderens anden krave, og at gliderens diameter mellem 13 DK 169814 B1 de to kraver har en til den diametrale afstand mellem næserne svarende diameter.Coupling arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a number of retracting noses are formed on the sealing ring and on the slider a third outwardly extending collar, which is spaced a distance corresponding to the height of the noses 35 below the second collar of the slider, and that the diameter of the slider between the two collars has a diameter corresponding to the diameter between the noses. 4. Koblingsarrangement ifølge krav 1, 2 eller 3, kendete 5 g n e t ved, at der i koblingshovedets reces over tætningsringen er anbragt en ringformet skive og på glideren et bryst, som aksialt er placeret således på glideren, at det ved indgreb med skiven bringer denne til aksialt at komprimere tætningsringen, når glideren befinder sig i sin nedre stilling. 10Coupling arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that an annular disc is arranged in the recess of the coupling head over the sealing ring and a chest which is axially positioned on the slide so that it engages the disc upon engagement with the disc. to axially compress the sealing ring when the slider is in its lower position. 10 5. Koblingsarrangement ifølge et eller flere af kravene 1-4, kendetegnet ved, at der på tætningsringens underside mellem dennes inder- og yderside er udformet en nedre rundtgå-ende ribbe, som i tværsnit har form som en trekant med nedad- 15 vendende toppunkt, som i tætningsringens ubelastede tilstand strækker sig længere ned end tætningsringens øvrige underside.Coupling arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a lower circumferential rib is formed on the underside of the sealing ring, which in cross section has the shape of a triangle with downward apex , which in the unloaded state of the seal ring extends further down than the other underside of the seal ring. 6. Koblingsarrangement ifølge et eller flere af kravene 1-4, kendetegnet ved, at der på tætningsringens overside 20. hovedsagen vertikalt over den nedre rundtgående ribbe på undersiden er udformet et antal ansatse, som hæver sig op over tætningsringens øvrige overside.Coupling arrangement according to one or more of claims 1-4, characterized in that on the upper side of the sealing ring 20. substantially vertically above the lower circumferential rib on the underside, a number of abutments are raised which rise above the other upper side of the sealing ring. 7. Koblingsarrangement ifølge et eller flere af kravene 1-6, 25 kendetegnet ved, at der på tætningsringen langs periferien er udformet en læbe, som berører recessens ringflade. 1 35 Koblingsarrangement ifølge 1-7, kendetegnet ved, at der på tætningsringen langs periferien er udformet et antal 30 rundtgående ydre ribber, som hver i tværsnit har form som en halv O-ring.Coupling arrangement according to one or more of claims 1-6, characterized in that a lip is formed on the sealing ring along the periphery which touches the ring surface of the recess. Coupling arrangement according to 1-7, characterized in that a plurality of 30 circumferential outer ribs are formed on the sealing ring along the periphery, each of which in cross section has the shape of a half O-ring.
DK29192A 1992-03-04 1992-03-04 Coupling arrangement for connecting a tapping head with a container valve DK169814B1 (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK29192A DK169814B1 (en) 1992-03-04 1992-03-04 Coupling arrangement for connecting a tapping head with a container valve
PCT/DK1993/000084 WO1993017954A1 (en) 1992-03-04 1993-03-03 A coupling arrangement for coupling a dispenser head to a container valve
NL9320028A NL194121C (en) 1992-03-04 1993-03-03 Tap head with a housing with coupling means for coupling it to a vessel.
AU37451/93A AU3745193A (en) 1992-03-04 1993-03-03 A coupling arrangement for coupling a dispenser head to a container valve
GB9417838A GB2280176B (en) 1992-03-04 1993-03-03 Dispenser head which is provided with coupling means for coupling to a container valve
DE4390855T DE4390855T1 (en) 1992-03-04 1993-03-03 Coupling arrangement for coupling an output head to a container valve
DE4390855A DE4390855C2 (en) 1992-03-04 1993-03-03 Coupling arrangement for coupling an output head to a valve
EP93906466A EP0628016B1 (en) 1992-03-04 1993-03-03 A coupling arrangement for coupling a dispenser head to a container valve

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK29192 1992-03-04
DK29192A DK169814B1 (en) 1992-03-04 1992-03-04 Coupling arrangement for connecting a tapping head with a container valve

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
DK29192D0 DK29192D0 (en) 1992-03-04
DK29192A DK29192A (en) 1993-09-05
DK169814B1 true DK169814B1 (en) 1995-03-06

Family

ID=8091897

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
DK29192A DK169814B1 (en) 1992-03-04 1992-03-04 Coupling arrangement for connecting a tapping head with a container valve

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0628016B1 (en)
DE (2) DE4390855T1 (en)
DK (1) DK169814B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2280176B (en)
NL (1) NL194121C (en)
WO (1) WO1993017954A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK119293A (en) * 1993-10-22 1995-04-23 Micro Matic As A dispenser head
GB9408110D0 (en) * 1994-04-23 1994-06-15 Hughes Jonathan P Barrel adaptor
GB9724225D0 (en) * 1997-11-18 1998-01-14 Skerra Pty Ltd Improvements to kegs
GB0320515D0 (en) * 2003-09-01 2003-10-01 Simpson Kenneth L Keg spear main rubber seal guide and centralisation
US7891528B2 (en) 2006-07-03 2011-02-22 Nordson Corporation Dispenser and piston for dispensing a liquid material
SI2014608T1 (en) * 2007-07-10 2017-01-31 Eurokeg B.V. Dispense head

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1530968A (en) * 1976-09-17 1978-11-01 Grundy Ltd Coupling or dispensing heads for pressurised casks and like containers
DK145414C (en) * 1980-07-15 1983-04-11 Micro Matic As PATCH CONNECTING TO A DISH FOR WASHER WHICH STANDS UNDER GAS PRESSURE
NL192448C (en) * 1986-01-21 1997-08-04 Vsh Fabrieken Bv Tap head, connectable to a barrel tap bar assembly.
NL192449C (en) * 1986-01-21 1997-08-04 Vsh Fabrieken Bv Tapping head for mounting on a tapping rod assembly of a vessel using a sealing ring.
GB8623932D0 (en) * 1986-10-06 1986-11-12 Alumasc Ltd Liquid dispense head
DK157536C (en) * 1987-06-03 1990-07-02 Micro Matic As TAPE HEADER FOR DRAINING LIQUIDS UNDER PRESSURE FROM A CONTAINER

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK29192A (en) 1993-09-05
EP0628016B1 (en) 1996-06-12
GB2280176A (en) 1995-01-25
EP0628016A1 (en) 1994-12-14
GB9417838D0 (en) 1994-10-26
NL194121C (en) 2001-07-03
NL9320028A (en) 1995-03-01
GB2280176B (en) 1996-06-05
DE4390855C2 (en) 2001-11-29
NL194121B (en) 2001-03-01
WO1993017954A1 (en) 1993-09-16
DK29192D0 (en) 1992-03-04
DE4390855T1 (en) 1995-04-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20120199582A1 (en) Lid for a pan, plate, bowl or the like
DK169814B1 (en) Coupling arrangement for connecting a tapping head with a container valve
NO323637B1 (en) Valve unit for a beverage container, beverage container and a method for filling and emptying a beverage container
US9708099B2 (en) Check valve and fluid container comprising the same
US3408731A (en) Method of retaining cover member on pressure vessel
NO782880L (en) LID FOR PRESSURE CONTAINER, EX. PRESSURE COOKERS
US4903742A (en) Liquid dispensing apparatus bottle valve
US3591058A (en) Tapping device for beer kegs and the like
KR20020001732A (en) Lid for recipients
JPS604078B2 (en) sealed unit
USRE27626E (en) Beer tapping device
US2387360A (en) Closure for pressure vessels
US3880182A (en) Universal valve system for beer kegs and the like
US2331705A (en) Coffee maker
US2096499A (en) Discharge valve for bottle filling machines
US2359405A (en) Coffee brewer
US2509101A (en) Relief pressure valve for pressure cookers
EP3568359B1 (en) Stopper assembly, use of a stopper assembly
US2491144A (en) Pressure cooker cover construction
NO132792B (en)
US2357245A (en) Apparatus for filling and closing containers
US2030708A (en) Drainage receptacle
JP2022541437A (en) Multi-push button for food vacuum storage container with vacuum valve
US2974823A (en) Pressure steam cookers
US5056171A (en) Waterbed mattress air bleeder valve

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
B1 Patent granted (law 1993)
PBP Patent lapsed