EP0291432B1 - Valve for a closed container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a tap for a closed container according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a tap is known from document DE-B-1 190 351.

The consumption of certain liquid products, mainly food, such as wine, sometimes involves the racking of small quantities taken from large capacity containers which is generally carried out using taps of this type installed at the bottom of the container .

It is then necessary to provide an air inlet playing the role of the upper bung of wooden barrels, otherwise the liquid will flow poorly or not at all when the tap is open, except if containers are used made of flexible plastic materials which ensure normal flow by collapsing under external pressure. However, these containers require complex and expensive rigid additional packaging. For rigid containers, a first solution consisted in providing taps with two concentric keys, one controlling the flow of liquid, the other the air inlet, designed to be operated simultaneously or independently of one of the 'other. But such valves are complex and delicate to manufacture. In addition, a malfunction is due to the inadvertent passage of liquid in the air circuit by partial aspiration and it is even necessary to then provide for the presence of a tube connected to the air inlet and penetrating into the container to open out above the liquid it contains. It is understood that such a solution is very complex, because of a prohibitive cost price and difficulties of use.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to do this proposes a valve of the type according to the preamble of claim 1 which is characterized by the characteristics mentioned in the characterizing part.

It is understood that thanks to this arrangement the cost price of the tap is reduced and its use remains as simple as that of a conventional tap.

In addition and above all, the advantages obtained thanks to this arrangement are that this tap ensures a regular flow of the liquid and a higher flow rate without requiring an air tube entering the container, hence a certain economy, and a fragile device removed. the fact that the two circuits of liquid and air are independent, the second opening well above the first, which prevents any untimely passage of liquid in the air circuit. In addition, the position of the air circuit opening well above the liquid outlet, allows to obtain a technique of the utmost importance for the proper functioning of the valve, because indeed, this position creates the suction of the air which will follow its circuit to the container, to allow the liquid to flow, without the latter being able to rise by suction in the air circuit, its outlet being located much lower. This process eliminates the air tube entering the container, hence saving and eliminating the risk of rupture of this tube during handling. No more engorgement possible. This gives perfect operation and perfect cleanliness of the interior of the valve, since its upper part has no opening for the passage of air. This passage being located on the bottom, we eliminate any possibility of dust or impurities from falling inside the tap, and suppresses the overflow of the liquid from above, which is inevitable if the passage of air is done by this upper part.

In total, the valve is distinguished by good operation, perfect cleanliness, more fragile points, a certain saving by removing organs necessary for the air circuit.

Advantageously, the lateral openings of the air and liquid chambers come, in the closed position, opposite two accessory lights provided in the plug.

Thanks to this arrangement, the complete flow of any trace of liquid which could have been trapped either in the liquid circuit or in the air circuit is ensured in the closed position, liquid capable of becoming unfit for consumption and for example to sour if it is wine. It is no longer even necessary to provide a container under the tap for receiving the liquid which could flow between two uses as is currently the case.

According to an improvement coming within the framework of the invention, the connection end piece and the ends of the liquid outlet duct and the air tube are provided with guarantee members with tear-off tongues.

This provision ensures a guarantee of aseptic until its use first of the tap, then the container fitted with this tap.

• _ la figure 1 est une vue en élévation de face du robinet objet de l'invention;
• _ la figure 2 est une vue en élévation de dos du corps du robinet sans virole de garantie, la partie inférieure du corps étant représentée en coupe diamétrale;
• _ la figure 3 est une vue en coupe diamétrale de la clé; et
• _ la figure 4 est une vue en élévation de profil du corps.

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• _ Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the valve object of the invention;
• _ Figure 2 is an elevational rear view of the valve body without warranty ring, the lower part of the body being shown in diametrical section;
• _ Figure 3 is a diametrical sectional view of the key; and
• _ Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the body.

The tap shown essentially consists of a body 1 and a key 2.

The body 1 comprises a cylindrical plug 3 integral on the one hand with an upstream connection end piece 4 and on the other hand with an outlet duct 5.

The key 2 of generally cylindrical shape comprises at its upper part a shoulder 6 resting on the upper edge of the plug, which carries a lever 7 allowing the operation between two stop positions thanks to a stop cleat 8 which cooperates with a stopper 9 arranged on the connecting piece 4.

The cylindrical part of the key forms a lower liquid chamber 10 which a transverse web 11 separates from an upper air chamber 12. The chamber 10 has a lateral opening 13 and the chamber 12 a lateral opening 14. Finally, a portion of air tube 15 which runs along the chamber 10 joins the chamber 12 to the lower edge of the key.

The plug 3 in turn comprises two lateral openings, one 16 to the right of the opening 13, the other 17 to the right of the opening 14 which provide the connection with the interior space of the connection piece 4 Opposite these openings, the plug is provided with two accessory lights, one 18 at the opening 13, the other 19 at the opening 14.

The plug 3 is connected to the outlet conduit 5 by a portion conical 20. It contains a portion of air tube 21 extending from the transverse plane reached by the lower edge of the key to a curved outlet portion 22 opening to the outside at a good distance from the opening of outlet 23 of conduit 5, that is to say approximately at least one third of the total length of the cylindrical part of this conduit.

Finally, a guarantee plug 24 has been provided for manufacturing for the end 23 of the outlet conduit from which it is separated by a zone facilitating the tearing off by means of a tongue 25. A similar plug 26 with its tongue 27 has been provided for manufacturing at the end 22 of the air outlet tube 21. Finally, a guarantee ferrule 28 has been provided for manufacturing at the rear face of the connection end piece with its tear-off tab 29.

These plugs and this ferrule assure the aseptic of the tap before its installation. The ferrule 28 torn off, the tap can be put in place in a conventional manner and the plugs 24 and 26 continue to ensure the aseptic nature of the tap and the container until they are torn off in turn to carry out a first racking .

The tap is then used conventionally. In the closed position shown in Figure 1, the openings 13 and 16 on the one hand, and 12 and 17 on the other hand do not face each other and no liquid can flow. On the other hand, the openings 13 and 14 are in line with the accessory lights 18 and 19 authorizing the air inlets necessary so that no trace of liquid remains in either of the two circuits.

If the lever 7 is maneuvered into the open position until the stopper 8 abuts against the stopper 9, the opening 13 faces the opening 16 and the liquid can flow through the chamber 10 in the outlet duct 5 to the outlet 23.

Simultaneously, the opening 14 came opposite the opening 17 while the tube portion 15 came to be connected to the tube portion 21. The air can therefore flow through the circuit 22, 21, 15, 12, 14, 17. Thanks to the independence of this second circuit and thanks to the elevated position of the air outlet 22 with respect to the liquid outlet 23, no untimely passage, even intermittent, of liquid can take place in the air circuit, except in the very first seconds following the opening of the tap.

The tap for closed container (according to FIGS. 5 and 6) consists of a body comprising a plug, an upstream connection nozzle and an outlet conduit, as well as a key capable of being operated in rotation in the plug of '' an open position for which its liquid chamber communicates through two lateral openings, one of the chamber, the other of the plug, with the interior space of the upstream connection nozzle and a closed position for which this communication is cut off, the liquid chamber opening into the outlet conduit, tap further comprising an air chamber arranged in the key above the liquid chamber, communicating like it, in the open position, by two lateral openings, one from the chamber, the other from the plug, with the interior space of the connection nozzle, chamber extended by an air tube running along the liquid chamber which is connected in the open position with an air inlet located well away from the end of the duct.

According to the embodiment of the valve described in Figures 1-2-3-4, the air duct located in the key is necessarily extended by a second parallel section located in the duct. Such an arrangement allows the continuous flow of liquid without any rise in the air circuit _ at least a few seconds after opening the valve _ and without requiring an air tube entering the container.

However, it has the disadvantage of causing in certain cases manufacturing difficulties. On the one hand, the conduit, like the key, must have two parallel circuits, one for air, the other for liquid. On the other hand, the sealing at the junction of the two sections of air tube is difficult to obtain constantly except to install a clamping member requiring the approximation of the two junction planes.

According to an advantageous development of the valve according to the invention, and to remedy the drawbacks which have just been mentioned, the plug and the key extending over the major part of the valve body, the air inlet is a perforation located down the plug which connects in the open position with the air tube, which opens for this purpose at the same level on the side wall of the key.

The simple fact of extending the plug and the key and of shortening the conduit makes it possible to dispense with a second section of tube in this conduit, which makes the manufacture of the body less expensive, practically without additional cost for the key.

We thus find the advantages of the valve according to Figures 1 to 4 with a perfect seal since the connection between the outlet of the air tube and the perforation of the plug is made at two cylindrical surfaces in close contact.

Advantageously, there is provided a second perforation of the plug located at the same level as that forming the air inlet, facing the outlet of the air tube in the valve closed position.

The air tube is thus open to the open air when the valve is in the closed position, which avoids confining the atmosphere of the tube itself and of the air chamber during periods of non-use.

• _ la figure 5 est une vue en élévation de dos du corps du robinet, la partie inférieure du corps étant représentée en coupe diamétrale; et
• _ la figure 6 est une vue en coupe diamétrale de la clé.

An embodiment of this advantageous development is now described by way of non-limiting example with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 in which:

• _ Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the valve body, the lower part of the body being shown in diametrical section; and
• _ Figure 6 is a diametrical sectional view of the key.

The tap shown consists essentially of a body 1 ′ and a key 2 ′.

The body 1 ′ comprises a cylindrical plug 3 ′ extending over the major part of the body, integral on the one hand with an upstream connection end piece 4 and on the other hand with an outlet conduit 5 ′ of short length.

The key 2 ′ of generally cylindrical shape comprises at its upper part a shoulder 6 resting on the upper edge of the plug, which carries a lever 7 allowing its operation between two stop positions.

The cylindrical part of the key, the length of which corresponds to that of the plug forms a lower liquid chamber 10 ′ which a transverse web 11 separates from an upper air chamber 12. The chamber 10 ′ has a lateral opening 13 and the chamber 12 a side opening 14. Finally, an air tube 15 ′ which runs along the chamber 10 ′ leaves from the chamber 12 to open at 30 by its curved end on the side wall of the key above its lower end.

The plug 3 in turn comprises two lateral openings, one 16 to the right of the opening 13, the other 17 to the right of the opening 14 which provide the connection with the interior space of the connection piece 4 Opposite these openings, the plug is provided with two accessory lights, one 18 at the opening 13, the other 19 at the opening 14. It is connected to the outlet duct 5 ′ by a conical portion 20. Finally, its cylindrical side wall carries two perforations 31 and 32 located at a good distance above the lower end of the duct 5 ′, at the outlet 30 of the air duct 15 ′ when the key 2 ′ is in place in the plug 3 ′, the first 31 facing the outlet 30 for the valve open position, the second 32 facing this same outlet 30 for the closed position.

The valve described is used as follows:
In the open position, which is that of FIGS. 1 and 2, the key being naturally in the bushel, the liquid flows by the way 16, 13, 10 ′, 20, 5 ′, while the air which replaces it follows the way 31, 30, 15 ′, 12, 14 , 17.

In the closed position, after a 180 ° rotation of the key, the openings 3 and 14 of the key are no longer respectively opposite the openings 16 and 17 of the plug, but have come into coincidence with its diametrically opposite openings 18 and 19 .

Therefore, simultaneously, the air and liquid circuits will be cut off from their communication with the connection end piece 4 and each put into communication with the atmosphere respectively through the openings 19 and 18.

In this same position, the outlet 30 of the air tube 15 ′ is facing the perforation 32, whereby the tube 15 ′ itself, but also the chamber 12 remain in the open air through the opening 19, which avoids confining their atmosphere for periods which can be very long. This arrangement proves to be particularly useful in the case of taps intended for the racking of food products and in particular of wine, because the content of the air circuit is sucked at the opening of the tap inside the container and mixes with the liquid contained. in this container. In the same way the conduit 10 ′ of the liquid is also placed in the open air through the opening 18 which ensures its total flow and its perfect rapid drying.

It will also have been noted that the body, in this embodiment, is simpler to manufacture and therefore less expensive, while the seal between the outlet 30 and the perforation 31 is ensured without any particular measure.

Claims (5)

1. Tap for closed receptacle 1/1, composed of one part (1) comprising a cylinder (3) with two lights (18, 19), a top connecting nozzle (4) and an outflow pipe (5), as well as a spanner (2) which can be turned inside the cylinder with one open position for which the liquid chamber (10) communicates by two side openings, one (13) from the chamber, the other (16) from the cylinder, with the interior space of the top connecting nozzle and one closed position for which this communication is cut off, the liquid chamber opening into the outflow pipe, tap in which an air chamber (12) is disposed in the spanner above the liquid chamber, communicating with it, in open position by two side openings, one (14) from the chamber, the other (17) from the cylinder, with the interior of the top connecting nozzle, chamber which can be corrected in open position with a section of inner tube (21) the caracteristics of which are as follows: the section of inner tube is composed of an initial section of inner tube (15) along the liquid chamber, linked to a second section within the outflow pipe, the end of which (21) comes out by the exit (22) at the exterior of the outflow pipe (5) at a good distance above the outflow opening (23) of the conduit (5).

2. Tap for closed receptacle according to claim number 1 and CARACTERISED by the lights (18,19) which in the closed position appear in front of the side openings of the inner tube and the liquid chamber.

3. Tap for closed receptacle according to claim 1 or claim 2 CARACTERISED by the fact that the top connecting nozzle and the ends of the outflow pipes (liquid and air) are provided with safety parts (24, 26, 28) with tongues allowing them to be pulled off.

4. Tap closed for receptacle according to claim 1 CARACTERISED in that, the cylinder (3′) and the spanner (2′) extend along most of the tap's body (1′), the air entry hole is pierced (31) above the bottom end of the cylinder which can be connected in open position with the air tube (15′), welch opens out at the same level by means of side opening (30) of the spanner.

5. Tap for closed receptacle according to claim 1 CARACTERISED by a second hole pierceded in the cylinder (32) situated at the same level as the afore-mentioned one (31) creating the air entry, opposite the outlet (30) of the air tube (15′) in closed position of the tap.

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