EP1365987B1 - Closing device for a faucet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a closing device for a faucet of a bar installation, comprising a pivotably positioned closing body (14) which is brought into a closing position and can be brought into an opening position for pouring. Said closing device comprises a stop limb (22) protruding in a pouring direction. In order to pivot the closing body (14), said stop limb stops in the pivoting position on a circumferential edge of a container receiving the drink. A compensation weight (20) actuates the closing body (14) in the direction of its closing position.

Description

The invention relates to a closing device for a tap of a dispensing system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Dispensing systems have a manually or automatically actuated dosing and closing valve, via which the amount of beverage dispensed is determined. A disadvantage of conventional dispensing systems is that, in particular in the warm season, vermin such as, for example, small mosquitoes are lured by the drinks drops adhering to the mouth area of the dispensing nozzle and creep into the dispensing tap. The next dosing these mosquitoes are then flushed out with the drink and are then in the beverage receiving container, which often leads to complaints from the guests due to poor hygiene.

In US 3,885,711 a device for dosing of liquids is shown in which a closing device is provided in the mouth region, in which a closing flap is pivotally mounted on a tap. The flap is biased by spring preload to its closed position. The disadvantage of this solution is that a considerable effort is required to attach the flap with the spring stop on the tap. Furthermore, with such spring-biased solutions there is the risk that the closing force is either set too high, so that there is a risk of damaging a glass or that the spring "leaks", so that a correct closing is not guaranteed.

A similar solution is also disclosed in US 1,058,636.

In DE-PS-1 187 148 a lamellerarüger closure is disclosed, which is brought by the liquid jet in an open position. Such a locking device has a very complex structure and there is also the risk that even at the slightest contamination no tight completion of the tap is possible. Furthermore, it is very difficult to dispense small amounts of liquid with such a device, since a minimum liquid pressure is required to bring the closing blades in their open position. Another disadvantage of these known The solution is to be seen in the fact that the slats always protrude into the liquid flow, so that, for example, when pouring beer there is a considerable foaming.

FR2123090 relates to a locking device of the present invention with a balance weight for closing a withdrawal tube of a liquid container. The balance weight is arranged such that in a rest position the extraction hose is compressed to a portion, so that the standing in the withdrawal hose liquid can not escape. If the balance weight is moved from its rest position, the extraction hose is opened over its cross section and the liquid can flow out. After liquid removal, the balance weight moves automatically back to its rest position, so that the sampling hose is compressed again.

In contrast, the present invention seeks to provide a locking device that ensures a proper closing with a simple structure.

This object is achieved by a locking device having the features of claim 1.

According to the tap a type of closing valve is assigned over which the mouth area is closed so that entry of vermin or other contamination in the periods between two Ausschenkvorgängen is practically excluded this closing valve is designed such that the interior of the tap practically completely opposite to the Environment can be shut off. Upstream of this closing valve, the usually used metering and closing valve is then provided in the tap, which is intended exclusively for beverage dosage - but this is not suitable to prevent the onset of flies, etc. The locking device according to the invention has a closing body which is biased in its shut-off the occlusion closed position and which can be brought by hand into its Oftungsstellung. This closing body is pivotally mounted The closing body has a stop lever which is pivoted when positioning a glass with respect to the tap, thus leading to the opening of the closing body. The provision of the closing body is done so that a tight closing is ensured with a simple design.

According to the invention, the closing device is designed as a retrofitting part.

The retrofittable locking device has a plug-in sleeve, which is attached, for example, as a split sleeve on the tap.

The structure of the locking device is particularly simple, since in the region of the closing body, a hinge projection is formed, which is hinged to the socket. This ensures that the closing body is pivotable away with sufficient distance from the tap, so that the glass is correspondingly easy to set

The articulation of the hinge projection is advantageously carried out via a pivoting cheek, which is arranged on the socket

• Figur 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Zapfhahns, zum erleichterten Verstündnis der Erfindg der mit einer Schließeinrichtung versehen ist und
• Figur 2 eine Prinzipskizze eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindgsgemäßen Schließeinrichtung für einen Zapfhahn gemäß Figur 1.

In the following a preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a tap, for facilitated understanding of the inventions is provided with a locking device and
• 2 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a closure device according to the invention for a tap according to FIG. 1.

Figure 1 shows a simplified view of the Enfindg a much simplified representation of a tap 1. This has a fitting 2 for flanging to a beverage line. The metering of the beverage is carried out by a dashed line indicated metering and shut-off valve 4, which is actuated in the illustrated embodiment by means of a pivotable hand lever 6. At a mouthpiece 8 of the tap 1, a locking device 10 is attached, via which the mouth region of the tap 1 between two Ausschenkvorgängen is closed so that the ingress of mosquitoes or other pests in the interior of the tap 1 is prevented.

The locking device 10 is designed such that it is automatically brought into an open position, for example by the pulse of the exiting beverage jet or when applying a glass or - in more complex solutions - so that the drink can flow out substantially without pressure loss and diversion. Once the dispensing process is completed, the mouth is reliably closed to improve hygiene. A side effect associated with this invention is that the closure 10 prevents dripping of the beverage.

In the embodiment described below, the locking device 10 is executed as a retrofit part, which is attached to conventional taps.

Figure 2 shows the preferred embodiment, in which the operation of the locking device 10 is carried by a glass, in which the drink is to be inserted. This locking device 10 has a plug-in sleeve 12, which surrounds the mouthpiece 8 of the tap 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the socket 12 is clamped or screwed onto the mouthpiece 8. The socket 12 carries a plate-shaped closing body 14, which seals the outlet cross-section. The closing body 14 has an upper-side hinge projection 16, which is articulated via a pivot axis, not shown, on one or more pivoting cheeks 18 of the socket 12. The hinge projection 16 may, for example, between two adjacent Submerge pivoting cheeks 18 or embrace a single pivoting beam U-shaped.

According to Figure 2, the closing body 14 is extended beyond the joint projection 16 addition. This extended part forms a balance weight 20, which is selected so that the closing body 14 is acted upon its closed position. When attaching the glass of the closing body 14 pivots approximately in a vertical position and then ersteckt at a distance from the tap, which is determined by the length of the hinge projection 16 and the pivoting cheek 18.

When attaching the glass, the nozzle can not extend too far into the glass inside, since the glass edge then abuts from below to the hinge projection 16 or the balance weight 20. This prevents the tap from being immersed in the beverage so that beverage losses are minimized.

The opening of the closing body 14 takes place by means of a stop leg 22 formed thereon, which extends obliquely or arcuately downward in the illustration according to FIG. When attaching the glass in the direction of arrow X, the glass strikes against the stop leg 22, so that the closing body 14 gives away around its pivot axis and the opening cross-section of the tap 8 is completely released. D. h., In this pivot position is then the compensating weight 20 forming the extended part of the closing body 14 approximately perpendicularly upwards parallel to the outlet axis of the tap 8. At the end of Ausschenkvorganges the filled glass is removed, so that the closing body 14 due to the weight of the Balance weight 20 is moved back into its closed position shown. Of course, the weight and the lever arm of the balance weight 20 must be selected so that the effective torque is greater than the force applied by the weight of the closing body 14 torque acting in the opposite direction.

This construction has a very simple structure and the particular advantage that the opening cross section of the tap 1 is released only when a glass is attached.

As indicated by dashed lines in Figure 2, may be attached to the stop leg 22 or the balance weight, a carrier 24 for advertising or The advertising is printed directly, with a corresponding printing surface should be provided.

Disclosed is a closing device for a tap of a dispensing system over which the opening cross-section of the tap is closed to prevent entry of vermin, such as flies, etc.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

tap

2

connector

4

metering valve

6

hand lever

8th

mouthpiece

10

closing device

12

receptacle

14

closing body

16

joint projection

18

swivel cheek

20

counterweight

22

stop leg

24

carrier

Claims (3)

1. Closing arrangement (10) for a tap (1) belonging to a system for dispensing alcoholic beverages, having a closing body (14) which is mounted to be pivotable about an axis of pivot and which is loaded to its closed position and can be moved to an open position for dispensing purposes, which closing body (14) has an abutment arm (22) which projects in the direction of pouring and which, to pivot the closing body (14) open, butts, in the dispensing position, against a circumferential edge of a container which receives the beverage, and having a counter-balancing weight (20) which loads the closing body (14) towards the latter's closed position, characterised by a hinge-projection (16) which is arranged on the closing body and is articulated via the axis of pivot to a fit-on sleeve (12) which can be inserted on the tap (1).
2. Closing arrangement (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fit-on sleeve (12) has a pivot lug (18) which co-operates with the hinge-projection (16).
3. Closing arrangement (10) according to either of the foregoing claims, having a support (24) for advertising messages.

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