ES2932202A1 - DRINK DISPENSER TAP (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Beverage dispensing tap, attachable to a supply channel of a beverage container, which has a tap body (1) with a beverage inlet channel (16), a dispensing spout (7), an inlet conduit air (17) for emptying the pipe (7), a valve (10) for opening and closing, and an actuator handle (18) for the valve (10) by means of a gear transmission mechanism. The inlet channel (16) is coupled to the outlet mouth of the container through a fine flow adjustment system (19) made up of a conical element (3) fixed to the inlet channel (16), an adapter piece (20) attachable to the outlet mouth of the container, which houses the conical element (3), and threaded means that move the conical element (3) in a regulated manner linearly inside the adapter piece (20). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

DRINK DISPENSER TAP

field of invention

The present invention belongs to the technical field of storage and dispensing of liquids, specifically to the dispensing of pressurized food liquids, and more specifically to dispensing taps that can be connected to beer containers. The invention relates in particular to a beverage dispenser tap with a handle that activates a valve to its different opening and closing positions by means of a gear transmission mechanism, which also has a fine adjustment system for the inlet flow of the liquid container. to the tap.

Background of the invention

Today beverages dispensed from kegs, such as beer and carbonated beverages, are dispensed by means of external pressure, which forces the beverage out of the keg through a narrow tube to a dispensing tap. Dispensing taps have a drink dispensing channel, which is opened and closed by means of a valve arranged inside the tap, and which is usually actuated by a handle or lever to control the outflow of the drink.

Since each type of drink, and in particular each type of beer, needs to be dispensed under certain conditions, the dispensing taps are adjusted with respect to the external pressure used, the type of valve used, the dimensions of the dispensing channel, the output flow of the drink, or the input flow to the dispensing tap.

The output flow rate of the drink is a very important aspect to take into account, given that in establishments with a very high consumption, the staff will dispense the drink as quickly as possible with minimal manual effort, while in other circumstances will require slow dispensing of the drink and meticulous pouring into the glass. In the first case, the most efficient thing will be that the valve can be fully opened and closed with a very high actuation speed through a reduced movement of the handle, while in the second case, the faucet should provide a finer and more precise movement of the valve. valve in response to a movement of the handle.

In relation to the previous needs, the document EP2987768 shows a tap with a transmission between the handle and the valve by means of at least two gear wheels, one of them coupled to the axis of the tap drive handle, and the other coupled to the axis of valve actuation.

Document WO2004/009487 shows a drinks dispenser tap with a base in which a channel for drinks is housed, which has a discharge channel at one end. In addition, it has a rotary slide shut-off valve, which is a cylindrical body with a single channel that, depending on the position of the valve, constitutes a single connection between the beverage channel and the discharge channel, or a single connection between a ventilation opening and the discharge channel.

Additionally, document ES1217225U, from the same applicant as the present application, shows a beverage dispenser tap with a transmission between the handle and the valve made by means of a gear multiplier mechanism, which achieves a wide opening and closing of the valve with small displacements. of the handle.

However, none of these antecedents provides a control and regulation of the inlet flow rate of the beverage to the dispensing tap.

A dispensing tap is therefore desirable that provides regulation of the inlet flow of the drink to the dispensing tap from the container in an efficient manner, avoiding the drawbacks existing in the existing dispensing taps of the state of the art.

Description of the invention

The present invention solves the existing problems in the state of the art by means of a drink dispensing tap, which can be coupled to a supply channel of a drink container.

The dispensing tap has a tap body, which in turn has a beverage inlet channel arranged at one end of the tap body, and which can be coupled to an outlet mouth of the beverage container. In addition, the faucet body has a drink dispensing spout and an air inlet conduit for emptying the spout, arranged at the opposite end to the drink inlet channel. This air inlet channel is used to empty the dispensing tap, so that after the tap is activated and closed, no remains remain in the dispensing spout, thus avoiding loss of cold and quality of the drink in the next service. Preferably, the dispensing spout is detachable from the faucet body, which facilitates its cleaning, maintenance, and replacement when necessary.

Additionally, the dispensing tap has a valve housed inside the tap body, for opening and closing the drink inlet channel, the drink dispensing spout and the air inlet duct, according to different positions of the tap. valve. In addition, the dispensing tap provides an independent foam position by means of a specific actuation of the actuator handle, which can consist, for example, in an actuation in the opposite direction to the actuation for dispensing the beverage.

The dispensing tap also has a valve actuator handle to its different positions by means of a transmitter mechanism, connected to said actuator handle and to the valve.

The drink inlet channel of the faucet of the present invention can be attached to the outlet mouth of the container through a fine flow regulation system, which is made up of a conical element fixed to the drink inlet channel, an adapter piece attachable to the outlet mouth of the container, with a conical interior configured to house the conical element, and threading means to move the conical element in a regulated manner linearly through the conical interior of the part adapter, in such a way that the conical element drags the faucet body in its movement.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, these threading means of the fine flow regulation system are made up of the following elements:

- A first concentric regulating bushing outside the conical element comprising a first end fixed to the drink inlet channel and a second end.

- a second concentric regulating bushing outside the conical element comprising a first end fixed to the adapter piece and a second end. According to this embodiment, the first regulating bushing and the second regulating bushing can be threaded together at their second ends, so that the threading of the first regulating bushing in the second regulating bushing moves the conical element linearly inside the adapter piece. , in such a way that the conical element drags the faucet body in its movement, since the second regulating bushing is fixed to the adapter piece, which is fixed to the beverage container.

In this way, by means of the linear displacement of the conical element inside the adapter piece, it materializes in an advance or retreat of the latter, in such a way that the more the conical element is introduced inside the adapter piece, the lower the flow rate will be. of beverage that passes from the container to the beverage inlet channel, and the less the conical element is inserted into the adapter piece, the greater the flow rate of beverage that passes from the container to the beverage inlet channel.

Preferably, the final flow regulation system has a stud fixed in a side hole of the drink inlet channel, for fixing the conical element to the drink inlet channel.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fine flow regulation system has a stud that is inserted into a side hole of the first regulating bushing for fixing the first regulating bushing and the second regulating bushing in a determined position.

In particular, the dispensing tap can have a front cap at the end of the tap body in which the air inlet conduit is arranged, said front cap comprising a hole coinciding with the air inlet conduit, in such a way that Close the end of the dispensing tap with the exception of the air inlet conduit, which will be used when necessary to empty and clean the tap.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the gear transmission mechanism for transmitting the movement of the handle to the valve has at least one pinion coupled to the actuator handle and to the valve. In this way the movement of the actuator handle will be transmitted directly to the valve.

According to an alternative embodiment, the gear drive mechanism for transmitting movement from the handle to the valve has at least one wheel coupled to the actuator handle and at least one pinion coupled to the valve, the wheel and the pinion being coupled to each other. , the wheel having a greater number of teeth than the pinion. In this way the movement of the actuator handle will be transmitted in a multiplied way to the valve.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the dispensing tap has a valve position blocking mechanism in the actuator handle formed by a brake pin to contact the tap body, a spring arranged on the brake pin, to keep said brake pin in contact with the faucet body, and a stud to adjust the position of the brake pin. Thus, by means of the brake pin the closed position of the valve is blocked due to a cradle machined in the tap body for housing the brake pin in this closed position of the valve. In addition, by means of the spring and the prisoner an adjustment will be achieved regardless of the wear of the brake pin. This locking mechanism achieves that regardless of the design and weight of the actuator handle, said actuator handle can remain locked in the closing position, preventing the weight of the actuator handle itself from causing an undesired opening of the valve.

All these features facilitate the operation of the beverage dispenser tap, specifically draft beer, maximizing the qualities of the product, while simplifying the operator's task.

This dispensing faucet is completely adaptable to current columns and container vessels, so no changes are needed for its installation.

Brief description of the drawings

Below, to facilitate the understanding of the invention, by way of illustration but not limitation, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to a series of figures.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an embodiment of a dispenser tap object of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a side sectional view of the tap of figure 1 showing different positions of the axis of the actuator handle for the opening of the tap, foam system and closing position of the tap.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the tap of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the tap of Figure 1 showing its components.

These figures refer to a set of elements that are:

1. faucet body

2. first regulator bushing

3. conical element

4. second regulator bushing

5. front plug

6. hairpins

7. drink dispensing spout

8. Drink dispensing spout trim

9. valve sleeve

10. valve

11. o-ring

12. washer

13. pinion

14. actuator handle shaft

15. brake pin

16. drink inlet channel

17. air intake duct

18. actuator handle

19. fine flow regulation system

20. adapter piece attachable to the outlet mouth of the container

21. prisoner

22. pier

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the present invention is a beverage dispenser tap, which can be coupled to a supply channel of a beverage container.

As can be seen in the figures, the dispensing tap has a tap body (1), which in turn has a drink inlet channel (16) arranged at one end of the tap body (1), and which it can be coupled to an outlet mouth of the beverage container, not shown in the figures. In addition, the faucet body has a drink dispensing spout (7) and an air inlet conduit (17) for emptying the spout, arranged at the opposite end to the drink inlet channel (16).

As can be seen in figure 4, preferably the dispensing spout (7) is detachable from the faucet body (1), which makes it easier to clean, maintain, and replace or replace. In addition, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the drink dispensing spout (7) has a trim (8) for its connection to the tap body (1).

Additionally, the dispensing tap has a valve (10) housed inside the tap body (1), which is responsible for opening and closing the drink inlet channel (16), the spout (7) for dispensing drink and the air inlet duct (17), according to the different positions that the valve (10) can adopt.

The dispensing tap (1) also has an actuator handle (18) for the valve (10) to its different positions by means of a gear transmission mechanism, connected to said actuator handle (18) and to the valve (10). Figure 1 shows the actuator handle (18), however said actuator handle (18) is not completely represented in the rest of figures 2-4 for reasons of clarity, showing only the axis of the actuator handle (18).

The drink inlet channel (16) of the faucet of the present invention can be coupled to the outlet mouth of the container through a fine flow regulation system (19), which is formed by a conical element (3) fixed to the drink inlet channel (16), an adapter piece (20) that can be attached to the outlet mouth of the container, with a conical interior configured to house the conical element (3), and threaded means to move the element in a regulated manner conical (3) linearly through the conical interior of the adapter piece (20), in such a way that the conical element (3) drags the faucet body (1) in its movement.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, which can be seen in detail in figure 4, these threading means of the fine flow regulation system (19) are made up of the following elements:

- A first concentric regulating bushing (2) outside the conical element (3) comprising a first end fixed to the drink inlet channel (16) and a second end.

- A second concentric regulating bushing (4) outside the conical element (3), and having a first end fixed to the adapter piece (20) and a second end. According to this embodiment, the first regulating bushing (2) and the second regulating bushing (4) are threaded together at their second ends, so that the threading of the first regulating bushing (2) in the second regulating bushing (4) it moves the conical element (3) linearly inside the adapter piece (20). The conical element (3) drags the faucet body (1) in its movement, since the second regulating bushing (4) is fixed, being fixed to the adapter piece (20), which is fixed to the container. drink container.

Thus, with the linear displacement of the conical element (3) through the conical interior of the adapter piece (20) an advance or retreat is obtained, so that the more the conical element (3) is introduced inside the adapter piece (20) will be the smaller the flow of drink that passes from the container to the drink inlet channel (16) of the dispensing tap, and when less inserted is the conical element (3) in the adapter piece (20), the greater the flow rate of the beverage that passes from the container to the inlet channel (16) for the beverage.

In particular, the thread of the first regulating bushing (2) and the second regulating bushing (4) can be M26x1, which will allow a fine adjustment, and a gradual and controlled advance or retreat of the conical element (3) for a better precision of the desired flow rate for the dispensing of the drink.

As can be seen in figure 4, the different joints between elements of the dispensing tap can incorporate different O-rings (11) to ensure the tightness of the joints and prevent liquid leaks.

Preferably, as can be seen in figure 4, the fine flow regulation system (19) has a stud (21) fixed in a side hole of the drink inlet channel (16), to fix the conical element (3) to the drink inlet channel (16).

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fine flow regulation system (19) has a stud (21) that is inserted into a side hole of the first regulating bushing (2) for fixing the first regulating bushing (2). and the second regulating bushing (4) in a determined position.

Preferably, as can be seen in figure 4, the faucet can have two studs (21), one of them for fixing the conical element (3) to the drink inlet channel (16), and the other for the fixing the first regulating bushing (2) and the second regulating bushing (4) once they have the desired position.

In particular, the dispensing tap can have a front cap (5) at the end of the tap body (1) in which the air inlet duct (17) is arranged, said front cap (5) comprising a matching hole with the air inlet duct (17), in such a way that it closes the end of the dispensing tap with the exception of the air inlet duct (17), which will be used when necessary to empty and clean the tap.

In addition, the design of the tap body (1) shown in the figures facilitates machining and optimization of material in its manufacture. Through the present design, mounting The valve (10) in its jacket (11) is made at the opposite end to the drink inlet channel (16), and its adjustment and fixing is done by means of the front cap (5).

According to a particular embodiment of the invention that can be seen in the figures, the gear transmission mechanism for transmitting the movement of the actuator handle (18) to the valve (10) has at least one pinion (13) coupled to the actuator handle ( 18) by means of forks (6) attached to the tap body (1), the pinion (13) being also attached to the valve (10). In this way, the movement of the actuator handle (18) will be transmitted directly to the valve (10). Preferably, the forks (6) have a washer (12) on their connection face to the tap body (1), which limits the tightening and facilitates sliding, and also acts as a stop or brake on the opening of the actuator handle (18). ).

According to an alternative embodiment, which is not shown in the figures, the gear transmission mechanism for transmitting the movement of the handle (18) to the valve (10) has at least one wheel coupled to the actuator handle (18) by means of forks (6) attached to the faucet body (1), and at least one pinion (13) coupled to the valve (10), the wheel and the pinion (13) being coupled together, the wheel having the greatest number of teeth than the pinion (13). In this way the movement of the actuator handle (18) will be transmitted in a multiplied way to the valve (10). Preferably, the forks (6) have a washer (12) on their connection face to the tap body (1), which limits the tightening and facilitates sliding, and also acts as a stop or brake on the opening of the actuator handle (18). ).

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the dispensing tap has on the axis (14) of the actuator handle (18) a mechanism for blocking the position of the valve (10) formed by a brake pin (15) to contact with the tap body (1), a spring (22) arranged on the brake pin (15), to keep said brake pin (15) in contact with the tap body (1), and a stud (21) to adjust the position of the brake pin (15). Thus, by means of the brake pin (15) the closing position of the valve (10) will be blocked due to a cradle machined in the faucet body (1) for the accommodation of the brake pin (15) in said closing position. of the valve (10). In addition, by means of the spring (22) and the prisoner (21) an adjustment will be achieved regardless of the wear of the brake pin (15), and it will prevent said brake pin (15) from marking the upper part of the faucet body (1 ) where you contact.

Figures 2 and 3 show different positions that the actuator handle (18) can adopt to achieve different opening positions of the valve (10).

Claims (9)

1. Beverage dispenser tap, attachable to a supply channel of a beverage container, comprising - a faucet body (1) which in turn comprises - a drink inlet channel (16) arranged at one end of the faucet body (1), coupleable to an outlet mouth of the container - a spout (7) for drink dispensing - An air inlet duct (17) for emptying the spout (7) at the opposite end to the drink inlet channel (16), - A valve (10) housed inside the tap body (1) configured to open and close the drink inlet channel (16), the drink dispensing spout (7) and the air inlet duct ( 17), according to different valve positions (10), - and an actuator handle (18) of the valve (10) to its different positions by means of a transmitter mechanism, characterized in that the drink inlet channel (16) can be coupled to the outlet mouth of the container through a fine flow regulation system (19) comprising - a conical element (3) fixed to the drink inlet channel (16), - an adapter piece (20) that can be attached to the outlet mouth of the container, with a conical interior configured to house the conical element (3), - and threading means configured to move the conical element (3) linearly through the conical interior of the adapter piece (20) in a regulated manner, dragging the conical element (3) in its movement to the tap body (1). 2. Beverage dispenser tap, according to claim 1, in which the threading means of the fine flow regulation system (19) comprise - a first concentric regulating bushing (2) outside the conical element (3) comprising a first end fixed to the drink inlet channel (16) and a second end, - a second regulating bushing (4) concentric outside the conical element (3) comprising a first end fixed to the adapter piece (20) and a second end, being the first regulating bushing (2) and the second regulating bushing (4) threadable between their second ends, so that the threading of the first regulating bushing (2) in the second regulating bushing (4) moves the conical element (3) linearly inside the adapter piece (20), dragging the conical element (3) in its movement to the tap body (1). 3. Beverage dispensing tap, according to any of the preceding claims, in which the fine adjustment system for the flow rate (19) comprises a stud (21) fixed in a side hole of the drink inlet channel (16) configured for the fixing of the conical element (3) to the drink inlet channel (16). 4. Beverage dispenser tap, according to any of the preceding claims, in which the fine adjustment system for the flow rate (19) comprises a stud (21) configured to be inserted into a side hole of the first regulating bushing (2) for the fixing the first regulating bushing (2) and the second regulating bushing (4) in a determined position. 5. Beverage dispensing tap, according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a front cap (5) arranged at the end of the tap body (1) in which the air inlet duct (17) is arranged, comprising said front plug (5) a hole that coincides with the air inlet duct. 6. Drink dispenser tap, according to any of the preceding claims, in which the drink dispensing spout (7) is detachable from the tap body (1). 7. Beverage dispenser tap, according to any of the preceding claims, in which the transmission mechanism comprises at least one pinion (13) coupled to the actuator handle (18) and to the valve (10). 8. Beverage dispenser tap, according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which the transmission mechanism comprises at least one wheel coupled to the actuator handle (18) and at least one pinion (13) coupled to the valve (10), the wheel and the pinion (13) being coupled together, the wheel having a greater number of teeth than the pinion (13). 9. Beverage dispensing tap, according to any of the preceding claims, comprising arranged in the actuator handle (18) a mechanism for blocking the position of the valve (10) comprising - a brake pin (15) configured to contact the faucet body (1), - a spring (22) arranged on the brake pin (15), configured to keep said brake pin (15) in contact with the tap body (1), - and a stud (21) configured to adjust the position of the brake pin (15).