Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
  • B67D1/0829—Keg connection means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
  • B67D1/0801—Details of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
  • B67D1/0802—Dip tubes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
  • B67D1/0829—Keg connection means
  • B67D1/0831—Keg connection means combined with valves
  • B67D1/0832—Keg connection means combined with valves with two valves disposed concentrically

Definitions

• the invention relates to kegs or barrels used for holding fluids such as beer.
• the invention relates to a fitting for such a barrel which enables efficient transfer of fluid in and out of the barrel as well as other advantages set out below.
• valves which enables transfer of the fluid in and out of the barrel. Since the fluid is stored under pressure, the valve needs to be effective over a range of fluid pressures.
• Such valves generally comprise a spring under compression which has been known to cause problems with ejection of components from the barrel due to tampering for example.
• the fitting should preferably be robust in its own right to safeguard against damage for example due to the barrel being dropped or another barrel being dropped directly on to the fitting. Additionally, the fitting should enable efficient transfer of fluid in and out of the barrel.
• Known barrels generally comprise a top wall having an integral neck which defines a bore into the barrel.
• a spear is then provided for attachment to the neck in order to locate a down tube to the bottom of the barrel and provide a valve within the neck.
• the spear is usually attached to the neck using co-operating threading.
• a barrel for storage of fluids comprising a flat top wall defining an aperture into the barrel, a fitting located within the aperture and attached directly to the barrel top for example by welding, wherein the fitting enables transfer of fluid in and out of the barrel.
• the fitting can comprise a valve and down tube in a readily assembled form which can be directly attached to a barrel for example by welding.
• Such a fitting can therefore be very robust and the barrel can be easily assembled or completed.
• the invention provides a fitting comprising an integral housing having an aperture, a valve seat and means for co-operating with valve biasing means, the fitting further comprising a valve having a seal and means for biasing the seal against the valve seat to close the aperture.
• the housing can be directly attached to the top of the barrel for example by welding therefore removing the need for any co-operating screw threads for attachment to a neck for example.
• the housing can comprise means such as an annular flange for providing attachment to a pipe connector for example.
• the flange provided can be integral with the housing and therefore can be defined by smooth surfaces without any grooves or inlets thereby preventing collection of any dirt for example. Accordingly, the housing near the connection flange can be continuous or uninterrupted.
• the fitting comprises a plate positioned within the barrel and preferably below the barrel wall comprising the inlet aperture.
• the plate acts to divert incoming fluid laterally towards the side of the barrel.
• the plate depends from the housing and can be integral with the housing for example being separated by one or more legs from the main part of the housing.
• the circumferential width of the leg or legs is minimised in order to maximise the aperture space.
• the width of the leg or legs around the circumference is preferably less than a fifth of the circumference, and more preferably less than one tenth of circumference.
• the legs might occupy an angle of about 36° enabling fluid transfer through the remaining 324° of the apertures.
• the separation of the plate from the main part of the housing is in the order of 20 mm and can be 18 mm for example.
• the housing defines a chamber below the inlet aperture.
• the chamber can be wider than the inlet aperture and preferably can comprise a fluid guide out of the chamber which narrows to direct the fluids towards the plate.
• the fitting comprises a tube or centre piece placed positioned within the fitting.
• the centre piece can comprise an end which lies within the inlet aperture of the housing thereby partly to define the top of the fitting.
• the centre piece can comprise a down tube which enables flow of fluid from the bottom of the barrel up to the fitting aperture through a central bore and through apertures near the top end.
• the centre piece comprises means for cooperating with the housing to locate the centre piece in use.
• Cooperating means for locating the centre piece in a fixed axial position with respect to the housing can comprise a lug and slot (or keyway) arrangement.
• the centre piece can comprise one or more pairs of lugs which radially protrude from the centre piece.
• the plate can comprise one or more co-operating slots such that a first of a pair of lugs is able to pass through the slot but a second larger lug of the pair is unable to pass through the slot. Accordingly, location of the centre piece after passing the first lug through the slot enables the centre piece to be located axially with respect to the housing. Preferably there is also provided means for locating the centre piece rotationally with respect to the housing.
• co- operating means can be provided by the spring, plate and centre piece in order rotationally to locate the centre piece.
• a co-operating slot is provided in the bottom plate and centre piece which when aligned enable a lug to be located therein.
• the position of the co-operating apertures locates the centre piece such that the pair (or pairs) of axial limiting lugs are positioned proximal a housing leg which connects the plate to the main part of the housing.
• the axial locating lugs might be positioned in radial alignment with such a housing leg.
• FIGURE 1 is a schematic sectional side elevation view of a barrel according to the invention.
• FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional side elevation view of a fitting according to the invention in a partial assembled form
• FIGURE 3 is a view of the fitting shown in Figure 2 when assembled.
• FIGURE 4 is a partially sectional side elevational view of a housing forming part of the fittings shown in Figures 2 and 3;
• FIGURE 5 is a plan elevation of a plate forming part of the housing shown in Figure 4;
• FIGURE 6 is a centre piece forming part of a fitting according to the invention;
• FIGURES 7 and 8 are a partial sectional side elevation view and plan elevation view of the centre piece shown in Figure 6;
• FIGURES 9 and 10 are a plan and side elevation view of a spring for a fitting according to the invention.
• FIGURES 11 and 12 are a partial sectional side elevation view and plan view of a plate for a fitting according to the invention.
• FIGURE 13 is a partial sectional side elevation view of a seal process in accordance with the invention.
• the invention provides a barrel B having a top wall 2 which defines an orifice O in which is located a fitting F.
• the fitting F comprises a housing 10 having a lower annular flange 12.
• Flange 12 abuts the rim of orifice O and can for example be welded to the top wall T of the barrel in order to securely locate the fitting F to the barrel.
• the housing 10 comprises another annulus or flange 14 which defines an aperture A for allowing egress and ingress of fluid to the barrel.
• a further flange in the form of outer annulus 15 is also provided to enable attachment of a pipe connector to the barrel in order to allow transfer of fluid therefrom.
• Housing 10 further comprises a bottom plate 16 connected to the main part of the housing by legs 18. Here, three legs are provided each angularly spaced by 120°C.
• the housing 10 further defines a cavity 30 which has a larger diameter than aperture A.
• the cavity shown is defined in part by an upper shoulder 32 and lower shoulder 34 which narrows the cavity in the direction of plate 16.
• Preferably housing 10 is formed from an integral moulding and legs 18 flare at one end in order to provide good attachments to plate 16.
• the circumferential width of the legs 18 at their inner radial edge is approximately one tenth the circumference thereby providing relatively large apertures for flow of fluid there through.
• bottom plate 16 comprises an aperture 36 for locating centre piece 28.
• the aperture is defined by a rim in plate 16 which in this embodiment has three slots 38.
• Centre piece 28 provides an outlet tube which can be a two part construction having a closed upper end 48, a substantially cylindrical wall defining a through bore from an open end to apertures 46 in the side wall near end 38.
• Centre piece 28 carries three pairs of protruding lugs.
• the pairs of lugs comprise a first smaller lug 42 and a second larger lug 40 which protrudes radially from the centre piece 28.
• the three pairs of protruding lugs are equally spaced at 120° separations around the circumference of the centre piece 28.
• the open end of centre piece 27 is adapted to receive down tube 26 thereby to form a relatively long substantially cylindrical centre piece for location in aperture 36 of plate 16 and housing 10.
• the centre piece 28 further comprises a groove 44 preferably located substantially halfway between two pairs of lugs, as shown in Figure 6.
• Fitting F further comprises a spring 20, plate 22 and seal 24.
• the spring can be a helical winding of stainless steel wire for example.
• the spring preferably comprises a flat upper end 50 for attachment to plate 22, and a flat opposite end comprising a radially protruding lug 52 and an axially depending foot 54.
• Lug 52 can be formed by bending the wire radially outwardly and then curving it back in as shown in figure 9.
• Foot 54 can be formed also from wire simply by straightening wire in the downward direction shown in Figure 10.
• Plate 22 shown in Figures 11 and 12 comprises a upper curved surface 56 for receiving seal 24 and a lower curved surface 58 for receiving end 50 of spring 20.
• Plate 22 further comprises three crimping lugs 60 which depend from the outer circumference of plate 22 and enable the plate to grip the end 50 of spring 20.
• the seal 24 is shown in detail in Figure 13 and providing a lower surface 62 for seating in the plate 22.
• the seal further comprises an inner somewhat cylindrical surface 64 for gripping centre piece 28, and an annular region 66 which abuts flange 14 in use.
• Spring 20 is then passed into housing 10 by tilting the spring so to pass foot 54 and lug 52 into chamber 30 before aligning the longitudinal axis of spring 20 with the axis of centre piece 28 and passing the spring 20 downwardly until foot 54 is located in groove 44 and the previously aligned slot 38.
• Plate 22 if not already attached to end 50 of spring 20, can then be attached and lugs 60 crimped inwardly to grip the spring. Seal 24 is then passed downwardly into plate 22. In order to continue this movement to effect location of seal 24 against flange 14 as shown in Figure 3, a large mechanical force is required to pass seal 24 over the top end 48, having annulus 49 of centre piece 28. This can be achieved by hand using a lever mechanism.
• fitting F when assembled, fitting F has the form shown in Figure 3.
• the integral housing 10 is securely fastened to the barrel B and a strong effective valve is formed due to .the co-operation of plate 16 and flange 14 of housing 10, and spring 20 which biases seal 20 into position.
• An effective seal is made against the securely located centre piece 28 due to annular surface 68 of seal 24 against flange 49 of centre piece 28, and due to the further closure of aperture A by the abutment of annulus 66 against seat 14.
• the seal 24 In order to pass fluid in or out of barrel B, the seal 24 is displaced inwardly against the force of spring 20.
• seal 24 passes into cavity 30 which is larger than the aperture A thereby allowing passage of a large volume of fluid in or out of the barrel.
• a connector is attached to fitting F by gripping flange 15.
• seal 24 is pressed inwardly so that when a second valve is open to a lower pressure, the pressurised fluid within the barrel is able to pass up through down tube 26 and out through apertures 46 and eventually aperture A in order to go through a communicating tubing attached to the connector.

Landscapes

• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
• Lift Valve (AREA)
• Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
• Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=10822176

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications After (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (8)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 1997
  • 1997-11-18 GB GBGB9724225.9A patent/GB9724225D0/en not_active Ceased
• 1998
  • 1998-11-13 GB GB9824833A patent/GB2331295B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-11-16 EP EP98952989A patent/EP1042215B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-16 DK DK98952989T patent/DK1042215T3/da active
  • 1998-11-16 ES ES98952989T patent/ES2244093T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-11-16 AU AU10503/99A patent/AU1050399A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-11-16 EP EP04019246A patent/EP1477456A3/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-11-16 DE DE69829585T patent/DE69829585T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-11-16 WO PCT/IB1998/001880 patent/WO1999025643A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1998-11-16 AT AT98952989T patent/ATE292089T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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