EP0111812B1

EP0111812B1 - Dispensing valve

Info

Publication number: EP0111812B1
Application number: EP19830112203
Authority: EP
Inventors: Plastics United (Uk) Limited
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: UNITED PLASTICS (UK) LIMITED
Priority date: 1982-12-07
Filing date: 1983-12-05
Publication date: 1988-04-06
Also published as: EP0111812A3; DE3376206D1; EP0111812A2

Description

This invention relates to a valve as specified in the precharacterising part of claim 1. Such a valve is previously known from AT-B-97998. A type of wine container known as a "box" for containing wine, and from which wine can be dispensed from a valve and tap, is now becoming extremely popular. The container comprises essentially a cardboard box containing a flexible internal bag which is sealed, apart from a valve and dispensing tap assembly from which the wine is dispensed selectively on operation of the valve. As the wine is dispensed, so the flexible bag progressively collapses due simply to the surrounding atmospheric to which the exterior of the bag is subjected.
It is now proposed that these box containers should be used for dispensing beer or other carbonated beverage. The present invention is concerned with a dispensing valve especially suitable for use with a container of the "box" type intended to contain beer or other carbonated beverage. Furthermore, the dispensed beverage will be dispensed with a frothy "head" which is considered desirable in the case of dispensing of beer.
AT-B-97998 discloses a beer tap specifically designed for use with a beer barrel, rather than with a "box". The tap has a casing defining an inlet adapted to be connected to the barrel, the inlet communicating with a central chamber within the tap, the chamber having an outlet extending therefrom. The chamber contains a valve member which moves vertically between an upper position in which the tap is open and a lower position in which the tap is closed. When the valve member is in the lower position part of the valve member actually closes off the region where the inlet enters the said chamber.
The valve member has a cylindrical recess formed in its lower part, and a fixed plunger is provided which is received within the recess. The plunger is provided with an axial bore, and the arrangement is such that, as the valve member is lowered, the plunger is effectively moved into the recess. The tap is relatively complex to fabricate and involves many moving parts.
DE-A-47094 discloses another valve arrangement intended for use with a beer barrel, this arrangement dating back to 1888. The tap has a casing defining an inlet to be connected to a beer barrel, the inlet communicating with a chamber having an outlet extending therefrom. The chamber contains a rotatable valve member. The rotatable valve member is hollow and is snugly received within the chamber. There is an aperture in a side wall of the valve member which can be brought into alignment with the inlet which communicates with the chamber and thus fluid can then flow from the inlet into the valve member.
The valve member is open at its lower end, thus permitting fluid to flow through the valve. However, the hollow valve member also includes a plunger which can be moved downwardly within the valve member, as the valve member is closed. The plunger includes a spigot which shuts off the outlet from the valve member as the plunger is lowered, the spigot having channels formed therein to permit fluid trapped within the valve member by the plunger as it moves downwardly to be forcibly ejected. The valve is relatively complex, involving a number of moving parts.
GB-A-2108638 discloses another complicated beer dispensing tap. The tap defines an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of beer, the inlet leading to a chamber which is associated with an outlet. A vertically movable valve member is provided within the chamber. However, movement of the valve member within the chamber does not, in any way, serve to prevent the flow of liquid into the chamber through the inlet, but instead movement of the valve member serves to close off the outlet.
Located within the chamber, above the outlet, is a movable piston member. Initially the piston member is in an elevated position. The piston member defines a relatively large channel running therethrough, which, when the tap is open, serves as the primary outlet and beer flows through the central channel. However, when the valve is to be closed initially the valve member moves downwardly, and a seal engages the upper surface of the piston member, thus shutting off the flow of liquid through the hollow central region of the piston member. Further movement of the valve member causes the piston member to move downwardly and fluid trapped within a chamber underneath the piston member is then ejected through a supplementary outlet. The valve described is very complex including a large number of moving parts and many seals.
According to this invention there is provided a dispensing valve, said dispensing valve comprising a casing, said casing defining an inlet the inlet communicating with a chamber defined by the casing, there being an outlet extending from one end of the chamber, the chamber containing a valve member movable between an initial position in which the valve is opened and a position in which the valve is closed, the valve further comprising means whereby, when the valve is being closed, liquid therein may be dispensed in the form of at least one jet which impinges on the surface of liquid present in a cup or other container disposed under the valve to catch the dispensed liquid, characterised in that the valve member comprises an integral piston adapted to be moved, when the valve is to be closed, from said initial position in which the inlet and outlet are unblocked permitting fluid to flow through the valve, axially of the chamber initially to seal said inlet to prevent the further flow of liquid into said chamber, further movement of the piston serving partially to close said outlet so that subsequent movement of the piston selectively reduces the effective volume of the space between the piston and the said one end of the chamber, whereby liquid in said space is dispensed through said outlet means in the form of said at least one jet.
Embodiments of the invention have a minimum number of moving parts and may be easily and cheaply fabricated. The valve of the invention is much simpler than the valves of the prior art.
Preferably the said inlet is adapted to be connected to a flexible container. The valve can thus be used with carbonated beverages in flexible containers.
Preferably said inlet is associated with outer locating flanges for holding the valve in position in relation to a cardboard outer box. This facilitates use of the valve.
Preferably the said outlet comprises an outlet tube, the piston being provided with a protruding rod which, when the piston has been moved to seal said inlet, is inserted in said outlet tube, thus partially closing said outlet. Thus the piston itself closes the primary outlet, leaving open a supplementary outlet. At least one jet of liquid can then be forced out of the supplementary outlet to create a "head".
Conveniently the outlet tube and/or the rod provided on the piston are provided with axially extending grooves formed in the surface thereof, the rod, when inserted in the tube, closing all of the tube apart from the area defined by said grooves.
Preferably the piston is provided with upper and lower "O"-ring seals.
Conveniently the valve is provided with a piston rod, the piston rod being provided with manually graspable means, said manually graspable means being associated with cam surfaces so that rotation of the piston may cause the piston to be withdrawn from and inserted into the chamber.
Advantageously the casing defines finger grip means to facilitate operation of the valve.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevational view of a dispensing valve according to the invention, the valve being in the open condition,
FIGURE 2 is a sectional plan taken on the line II-II of Figure 1,
FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1, but showing the valve in the closed position,
FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the valve shown in Figure 3, and
FIGURE 5 is a side view of a valve of the type illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, but incorporating a modification.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a dispensing valve in accordance with the invention. The valve comprises a casing 1 which is provided with a protruding bush portion 2 of cylindrical form. The bush portion is provided with two radially protruding spaced apart retention flanges 3, 4, which are dimensioned to enable the valve to be clipped to a liquid containing package of the "box" type described above. The casing 1 comprises a vertical cylindrical portion 5, which tapers inwardly to form a frusto-conical region 6 at the lower end, a central outlet tube 7 being provided at the lower end of the tapering frusto-conical region 6.
A horizontal inlet tube 8, formed integrally with the bush portion 2 and the cylindrical portion 5 of the casing 1, serves to establish an inlet connection between the bush portion 2 and the interior of the cylindrical portion 5 so that when the valve is open liquid can flow from a flexible bag connected to the bush 2, through the inlet tube 8, and out of the outlet tube 7 into a vessel such as a glass cup which is placed to collect the liquid being dispensed.
The dispensing valve includes a valve member in the form of an integral piston 9, which is slidably located within the cylindrical portion 5 of the casing 1. The piston 9 consists of a cylindrical portion 10, the lower end of which tapers inwardly to form a frusto-conical portion 11, having the same angle of conicity as the tapering portion 6 at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 5 of the casing 1. The piston 9 is provided, at the bottom of the frusto-conical portion 11, with a downwardly projecting cylindrical end rod 12 which is dimensioned to be inserted into the interior of the outlet tube 7. The piston is operated by means of a piston rod 13, which is connected to the piston and which extends upwardly through a cap 14, which covers the open top end of the cylindrical portion 5 of the casing 1. The top end of the piston rod 13 is formed into a ring 15 which is dimensioned to receive a finger, so that the piston may be actuated by the finger.
Adjacent the bottom and top edges of the cylindrical portion 10 of the piston 9 sealing "0" rings 16, 17 are provided to establish a seal between the exterior of the cylindrical portion 9 of the piston and the interior of the cylindrical portion 5 of the casing.
As can be seen from Figure 2, the outlet tube 7 does not have a circular interior cross section, but instead has a circular cross section provided with axially extending grooves 18. It is to be understood that the rod 12 provided on the piston 9 is dimensioned to be a neat fit within the interior of the outlet tube 7, but the end rod 12 does not extend into the grooves 18. Thus when the rod 12 is in the outlet tube 7 the outlet is partially closed. The rod effectively closes the outlet as defined by the main part of the outlet tube, but does not close the supplementary outlet defined by the grooves 18.
The outside of the cylindrical part 5 of the casing 1 is provided with two outwardly extending finger grips 19 to enable the valve to be held steady by one hand, whilst it is being operated by the other, for example.
The described dispensing valve operates in the following manner.
When the valve is connected to a liquid supply, such as bulk supply of beer, to dispense the liquid, initially the valve will be in the closed position illustrated in Figure 3. The finger grips 19 will then be held with one hand and the piston pulled with the other hand upwardly to the position shown in Figure 1. It will be readily understood that in this position liquid can flow from the bulk supply, through the bush 2, through the inlet tube 8, past the underside of the piston 9 and out through the outlet tube 7. The 0-ring seals 16 and 17 prevent the escape of liquid upwardly past the piston.
When the dispensing has been completed, or almost completed, the piston is moved downwardly, the finger grips 19 again being firmly held. As the piston moves downwardly, the cylindrical portion of the piston 10 moves across the end of the inlet tube 8 which communicates with the cylindrical interior of the cylindrical portion 5 of the casing 1, thus closing off this inlet and effectively closing the valve. Once the lower O-ring seal 16 has past the inlet tube 8, the valve is closed. At that stage the downwardly protruding portion 12 of the piston 9 enters the outlet tube 7. The residual liquid then present under the piston 9 in the space between the piston and the lower end of the cylindrical portion 5 leading to the outlet 7 is trapped, and can only escape through the internal grooves 18 formed in the outlet tube 7. These grooves have a cross sectional area which is only a fraction of the total cross sectional area of the outlet tube 7.
Continued closing of the valve requires greater force, and downward movement of the piston successively reduces the size of the space defined between the lower part of the piston and the outlet, and thus the residual liquid is ejected from the grooves in the form of one or more jets at a very high velocity. Thus a "head" will be created on the liquid dispensed, as the jets of liquid created as the liquid under the piston is forced out of the cylindrical portion 5 of the casing 1 through the relatively small grooves 18 impinge on the dispensed drink surface and cause frothing.
Instead of providing the grooves 18 in the outlet tube 7, they could be provided on the outer surface of the rod portion 12 of the piston, or in both.
The piston finally moves to the position illustrated in Figure 3, when the valve is totally closed. The 0-ring seals 16 and 17 are then located above and below the inlet 8, thus preventing liquid from escaping upwardly or downwardly past the piston 9.
Instead of using 0-ring seals it may be possible to use a piston of a compressible material which is slightly oversized so that it will be compressed when positioned in the valve casing, thereby to form the seal.
The piston and cylinder may be of circular or square or other configuration in cross section as appropriate, but when the piston is circular and has the capabi!ity of rotating in the cylinder, a modification as shown in Figure 5 may be employed. The modification consists in providing a top surface of the cap 14 with a pair of opposed lifting cam surfaces 20, 21. The arrangement is such that by turning the finger grip 15, edges of the finger grip which engage the cam surfaces 20, 21, ride upwardly, following the cam surfaces, thereby retracting the piston from the closed position (as shown in Figure 3) to the open position (as shown in Figure 1). When the piston is to be returned to the closed position it can optionally be rotated and then pushed axially to the closed position, or it can optionally be pushed axially to the closed position, without an initial rotation step, in which case as it is pushed in it will be rotated by being guided on said cam surfaces.

Claims

1. A dispensing valve comprising a casing (1), said casing defining an inlet (8) the inlet communicating with a chamber (5) defined by the casing, there being an outlet (7) extending from one end of the chamber, the chamber containing a valve member (9) movable between an initial position in which the valve is opened and a position in which the valve is closed, the valve further comprising means (7, 18, 12) whereby, when the valve is being closed, liquid therein may be dispensed in the form of at least one jet which impinges on the surface of liquid present in a cup or other container disposed under the valve to catch the dispensed liquid, characterised in that the valve member (9) comprises an integral piston adapted to be moved, when the valve is to be closed, from said initial position in which the inlet and outlet are unblocked permitting fluid to flow through the valve, axially of the chamber initially to seal said inlet (8) to prevent the further flow of liquid into said chamber, further movement of the piston serving to partially close said outlet (7) so that subsequent movement of the piston selectively reduces the effective volume of the space between the piston and the said one end of the chamber, whereby liquid in said space is dispensed through said outlet means in the form of said at least one jet.

2. A dispensing valve according to claim 1 wherein the said inlet is adapted (2) to be connected to a flexible container.

3. A dispensing valve according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said inlet (8) is associated with outer locating flanges (3, 4) for holding the valve in position in relation to a cardboard outer box.

4. A dispensing valve according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the said outlet (7) comprises an outlet tube, the piston being provided with a protruding rod (12) which, when the piston (9) has been moved to seal said inlet, is inserted in said outlet tube, thus partially closing said outlet.

5. A dispensing valve according to claim 4 wherein the outlet tube (7) and/or the rod (12) provided on the piston (9) are provided with axially extending grooves (18) formed in the surface thereof, the rod, when inserted in the tube, closing all of the tube apart from the area defined by said grooves.

6. A dispensing valve according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the piston (9) is provided with upper and lower "O"-ring seals (16, 17).

7. A dispensing valve according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the valve member is provided with a piston rod (13), the piston rod being provided with manually graspable means (14), said manually graspable means being associated with cam surfaces (20, 21) so that rotation of the piston may cause the piston to be withdrawn from and inserted into the chamber (5).

8. A dispensing valve according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the casing (1) defines finger grip means (19) to facilitate operation of the valve.