EP1152973A1 - Valve fitting for kegs - Google Patents
Valve fitting for kegsInfo
- Publication number
- EP1152973A1 EP1152973A1 EP00902764A EP00902764A EP1152973A1 EP 1152973 A1 EP1152973 A1 EP 1152973A1 EP 00902764 A EP00902764 A EP 00902764A EP 00902764 A EP00902764 A EP 00902764A EP 1152973 A1 EP1152973 A1 EP 1152973A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- keg
- flange
- fitting according
- support arrangement
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
- Granted
Links
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
- B67D1/0831—Keg connection means combined with valves
- B67D1/0832—Keg connection means combined with valves with two valves disposed concentrically
-
- 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
Definitions
- the invention relates to kegs for housing fluid and in particular to improvements in so called fittings for such kegs which fittings house a valve which operably enables ingress and egress of fluid in and out of the keg.
- the keg is used throughout to refer generally to containers for fluids.
- fittings for kegs wherein the fitting principally comprises an upper flange for attachment to a connector at the end of a feed line from a supply of fluids such as beer during loading, or to a dispensing tap such as in a public house during use.
- the valve generally comprises a rubber (or other elastomeric material) seal which is urged against a seat on the inside face of the upper flange by a coiled spring which reacts against a housing for the spring, which housing is connected to the flange.
- the arrangement of the flange and housing is relatively complex requiring considerable machining of parts and number of components.
- the invention seeks to provide a simplified fitting over the known art and in particular a relatively easy to manufacture fitting which is relatively easy to attach to a keg.
- the valve seal sometimes to incorrectly locate against the valve seat.
- the prior art tries to mitigate this problem by providing a relatively long guide in the flange adjacent the valve seat for directing the valve seal into position. Nevertheless, problems are known to occur and the invention seeks to mitigate such problems.
- a valve fitting for a keg of fluid comprising an upper flange adapted for attachment to a neck of the keg, and a support arrangement for co-operating with a spring to urge a valve seal against a valve seat provided on the inside of the upper flange.
- the flange and support arrangement are integrally formed.
- the upper flange is adapted to weld to the upper rim of a keg neck.
- the support arrangement comprises a lower ring for co-operating with the spring.
- the ring can be cup shaped thereby to seat the circular end of a helical spring within the arrangement.
- the support arrangement comprises two or more legs extending between a flange and lower ring.
- the legs are adapted to guide the valve seal in an axial manner during opening and closing of the valve. In a preferred form three legs are provided.
- the flange comprises a seal guide proximal the valve seat.
- the depth of the seal guide is less than 50% of the thickness of the valve seal.
- the depth of the seal guide is in the order of the thickness of the bulk of the flange body.
- the depth of the guide is in the order of 3 mm.
- valve fitting for a keg of fluid, comprising a tending device or means for reacting a valve seal against a valve seat wherein the major element and/or percentage of reactive force against the tending means (ie. in opposition to the force urging the seal against the valve seat) is relayed via the fitting through to the keg.
- the fitting comprises a support arrangement for co-operating with the spring (or tending device) which support arrangement is only connected to a flange fitting in the valve fitting for attachment to the container.
- FIGURE 1 is a schematic sectional view of a keg and fitting according to the invention
- FIGURE 2 is a schematic side elevation view of a fitting according to the invention attached to the top of a keg;
- FIGURE 3 is a schematic cross sectional view from above of the lower end of the support arrangement for the fitting according to the invention as shown in Figure 2;
- FIGURE 4 is a schematic side elevation view of a second embodiment of a fitting attached to a keg according to the invention;
- FIGURE 5 is a schematic sectional plan view of a support arrangement as shown in Figure 4.
- FIGURE 6 is a schematic side elevation view of part of a downtube and spring arrangement according to the invention.
- Keg K for housing pressurised fluid such as beer.
- Keg K comprises a top wall T having a central aperture in which is mounted a fitting F enabling the ingress and egress of fluid into and out of the keg K.
- Fitting F comprises an upper flange to which a connector is clamped during filling and emptying operations.
- Fitting F further comprises a spring S for urging a valve seal against a valve seat in the under side of the upper flange.
- the spring S is supported by a support arrangement A.
- the spring is supported on lugs which extend radially from downtube D proximal the lower end of support arrangement A as described later.
- Fitting F further comprises a downtube D to assist in siphoning fluid out of keg K during use.
- a fitting F attached to a neck 10 in the top wall T of a keg K, which neck 10 is formed by deep drawing the top wall T of the keg into a somewhat hollow frusto-conical shape providing an upper rim 12 against which fitting flange 14 can be attached in use.
- flange 14 can be attached to rim 12 using a rebated annulus 16 which can be welded to the rim 12.
- annulus 16 and rim 12 can comprise co-operating threading for example.
- Flange 14 comprises an outer rim 18 for co-operation with a connector on a feed or outlet pipe.
- Flange 14 further comprises a central aperture 20 to allow ingress and egress of fluid to and from the keg K which aperture 20 has a valve seat 22 about its periphery.
- Flange 14 also provides a valve seal guide 24 adjacent seat 22 to assist in locating a valve seal against seat 22 in use.
- a spring support arrangement consisting of three legs 26 which in this embodiment extend away from seal guide 24. At the lower end of legs 26 there is provided a ring or cage base 28 which in this embodiment is cup shaped and comprises a lip 30 for locating a coiled spring S. Support arrangement A further comprises an aperture 32 for passing downtube D into the bottom of the keg K. Alternatively, radially protruding lugs can be provided on a downtube D for contacting ring 28 on the underside.
- the upper side of the lugs on downtube D can be used to engage the lower end of coil spring S such that the reactive force of spring S which urges a valve seal to engage valve seat 22, is conveyed through to support arrangement A via the lugs on the downtube D.
- This arrangement is shown in Figure 6 described later.
- a downtube D or centrepiece is located within fitting F below aperture 20 down through aperture 32 into the bottom of keg K.
- a spring S is provided between base 28 and flange 14 which spring carries at its upper end an annular seal adapted to engage on its inside edge with the downtube D and on an outer edge with annular seat 22 in flange 14.
- FIG. 4 and 5 there is shown a second embodiment of a fitting F according to the invention wherein the fitting comprises like components with the fitting shown in Figures 2 and 3 which are accordingly labelled using the same two digit reference number prefixed with the digit 1.
- an open ended cylindrical neck 1 10 is provided having a rebated lower end for engaging the rim of the aperture provided in the centre of a substantially flat top wall T of a keg.
- the rebated lower end 1 11 of neck 1 10 can for example be welded into the aperture and top wall T.
- the upper end 112 can be connected to flange 114 as described earlier.
- fitting F shown in Figures 4 and 5 has like components such as legs 122 and spring support arrangement base 128 identical to that shown in the first embodiment.
- the operation of filling or emptying a keg using a fitting F housing a suitable valve spring and downtube components is the same as described earlier.
- the length of legs 26 and/or 126 can protrude beyond the lower edge of top wall T for example by a distance of more than 20 mm.
- FIG. 6 there is shown part of a downtube D for passing through aperture 32 (or 132) in a fitting F according to the invention.
- the downtube forms a centrepiece in the arrangement wherein spring S is passed over the upper part of the downtube such that the lower end of spring S contacts some radially protruding lugs L which can be provided with a suitable curved recess for engaging the lower edge of spring S.
- the underside of lugs L engages the upper surface of ring 28 (or 128) of the earlier embodiments thereby to locate the centre-piece in position.
- a lower set of protruding lugs L can be provided for engaging the underside of cage 28 (or 128) thereby better to locate downtube D in position.
- the lower set of lugs L can be passed through slots such as slots 33 in ring 28 forming part of the premature of aperture 32. Additionally, a slot 40 can be provided in this shoulder arrangement which forms the series of lugs L in order to engage a downwardly protruding tip 42 at the end of spring S. Finally, at the top of spring S there is provided a cup C in which is located a valve seal VS which is operably urged against valve seats 22 (or 122).
Landscapes
- Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
- Inorganic Compounds Of Heavy Metals (AREA)
- Lift Valve (AREA)
- Valve Housings (AREA)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
- Forging (AREA)
- Check Valves (AREA)
- Sliding Valves (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9902838 | 1999-02-10 | ||
GBGB9902838.3A GB9902838D0 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-02-10 | Improvements in kegs |
PCT/GB2000/000425 WO2000047513A1 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 2000-02-10 | Valve fitting for kegs |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1152973A1 true EP1152973A1 (en) | 2001-11-14 |
EP1152973B1 EP1152973B1 (en) | 2004-12-29 |
Family
ID=10847374
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00902764A Expired - Lifetime EP1152973B1 (en) | 1999-02-10 | 2000-02-10 | Valve fitting for kegs |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1152973B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE285985T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2450500A (en) |
DE (1) | DE60017091D1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB9902838D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000047513A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3068879D1 (en) * | 1979-09-12 | 1984-09-13 | Grundy Teddington Ltd | Improvements in casks and like containers |
GB2117071A (en) * | 1982-03-22 | 1983-10-05 | Leer Koninklijke Emballage | Valve unit for liquid container |
DK298783A (en) * | 1982-07-07 | 1984-01-08 | Grundy Teddington Ltd | BEVERAGE CONTAINER |
EP0142966B1 (en) * | 1983-11-16 | 1988-01-13 | Alumasc Limited | Valved closure for kegs or casks |
GB2174375B (en) * | 1985-05-01 | 1989-06-28 | Limited Alumasc | Closure valve |
ES2003756A6 (en) * | 1985-12-16 | 1988-11-16 | Grundy Teddington Ltd | Liquid extraction outlets for beverage containers. |
GB2328204A (en) * | 1997-08-11 | 1999-02-17 | Kenneth Leonard Simpson | Keg and spear valve assembly |
GB9724225D0 (en) * | 1997-11-18 | 1998-01-14 | Skerra Pty Ltd | Improvements to kegs |
-
1999
- 1999-02-10 GB GBGB9902838.3A patent/GB9902838D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2000
- 2000-02-10 EP EP00902764A patent/EP1152973B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-02-10 GB GB0002888A patent/GB2346612B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-02-10 AT AT00902764T patent/ATE285985T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-02-10 WO PCT/GB2000/000425 patent/WO2000047513A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2000-02-10 AU AU24505/00A patent/AU2450500A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-02-10 DE DE60017091T patent/DE60017091D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO0047513A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2346612A (en) | 2000-08-16 |
AU2450500A (en) | 2000-08-29 |
GB0002888D0 (en) | 2000-03-29 |
WO2000047513A1 (en) | 2000-08-17 |
EP1152973B1 (en) | 2004-12-29 |
DE60017091D1 (en) | 2005-02-03 |
GB9902838D0 (en) | 1999-03-31 |
GB2346612B (en) | 2003-05-21 |
ATE285985T1 (en) | 2005-01-15 |
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