GB1573502A - Dispensing tap - Google Patents

Description

(54) DISPENSING TAP (71) We, WINDMILL PLASTICS LIMITED, of 61 Windmill Road, Sunburyon-Thames, Surrey, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:: This invention relates to dispensing taps, particularly such taps as are used in connection with casks or containers for beverages, e.g. beers, which taps are of the class (herein referred to as the class specified) comprising a tubular cylindrical body with a lateral liquid inlet neck which in use occupies a dispense port in the cask or other container and which conveys liquid to the body, and a seal-carrying slider which is rotatable in the body and, on rotation, slides axially in the body under control of a helical guide connection between the slider and the body between a closed position in which the carried seal closes off a connection from the body into a spout and an open position in which liquid can flow from the body into the spout.

Useful forms of tap of the class specified are described and claimed in Patent No.

1,381,391.

According to this invention, in a tap of the class specified, the slider has radially projecting from a cylindrical surface circumferential seals which slidingly support the slider in the body and prevent leakage from the body towards the helical connection.

Good leakage prevention with low frictional resistance to sliding and rotation of the slider may thereby be achieved.

In one particular construction the circumferential seals are formed by axiallyspaced, radially-projecting ribs which contact an internal cylindrical surface of the body, one on each side of a helical slot which is engaged by a peg carried by the slider, and the slider has an axial projection on which the carried seal is mounted.

According to a feature of the invention the axial projection may have a tapered head and the carried seal is in the form of a cap of a resilient flexible material which snap-fits over the head.

One embodiment of tap of this invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing the parts of the tap, Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the tap assembled, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig.

2.

The tap illustrated comprises five parts, that is a tap body 10 with spout 11, a seal 12, a slider 13 which carries the seal, an operating handle 14 and a peg 15 for retaining the parts in their assembled condition and to ensure opening and closing of the tap.

The body 10 is of a moulded plastics material, e.g. high density polyethylene, and has a lateral, cylindrical neck 20 by which the tap body is engaged with a cask, the free end 21 of the neck having a barb-like cross-section which tapers from a shoulder 23 to a sharp edge 22 at its extreme end to provide a snap lead into the cask bung hole.

The shoulder 23 provides a retaining surface preventing inadvertent removal of the tap from a cask. Between the shoulder 23 and a thin radial flange 25 at the root of the neck, the neck is provided with a series of circumferential lands 26 to co-operate with the cask to give a labyrinth; seal effect.

The bore of the neck 20 leads into a cylindrical valve chamber 27, one end of which is open and the other end of which opens into the spout 11, there being a step 28 connecting the chamber wall 27cud to the spout 11.

On its side remote from the flange 25 and near its open end, the wall 27a has in it a helical slot 29 extending over about 1800.

The moving assembly of the tap, that is the slider 13, seal 12 and handle 14, is held together in use by the peg 15.

The slider 13 is of a material e.g. nylon, frictionally compatible with the material of the body 10, is cup-like and has a cylindrical outer surface with a pair of annular sealing ribs 30 on it, these ribs slidingly cooperating with the inner surface of the wall 27m to support the slider, there being one rib on each side of the slot 29 to prevent leakage of liquid to the slot and to the open end of the chamber 27. On its base, the slider 13 has an axial projection 32 terminating in a tapered head 33, the larger end of the head 33 affording a shoulder 34 facing the base of the slider. The projection 32 and head 33 provide a support for the valve seal 12.

The seal 12 is of a material, e.g. polyethylvinyTacetate, which is more flexible and resilient than the slider 13. The seal is in the form of a cap which is tapered externally and has in its larger end an axial tapered recess 35 having an inward flange 36 at its mouth so that the seal can be snap fitted over the head 33 and be retained by the flange 36 being trapped between the shoulder 34 and the base of the slider.

The smaller end of the seal 12 has such a diameter as to enter the spout bore and to seal against the bore wall (see Fig. 3), and this end of the seal is formed by a thin annular, axially-extending flange 37 spaced by an annular groove from a central tapered projection 38.

The handle 14 is on a hollow cylindrical boss 40 which fits into the cavity of the slider 13.

The peg 15 is cylindrical and has at its ends larger diameter lands 41, 42 of which land 41 has a greater axial extent than the land 42.

To assemble the tap, the seal 12 is mounted on the head 33 and the slider 13 with the seal 12 inserted into the valve chamber 27 until a pair of diametrically opposite holes 43 in the slider 13 are visible through the slot 29. The peg 15 is now forced into engagement with the holes 43 with land 42 leading, so that the peg extends diametrically across the slider and so that land 41 lies in the slot 29.

The boss 40 is inserted into the end of the slider 13 so that notches 44 snap over the reduced diameter of the peg 15.

Land 42, being axially shorter than land 41, does not extend outside the slider and so does not impede rotation of the seal/ slider/handle assembly by means of the handle. Since, however, land 41 lies in the slot 29, on rotation of the handle the seal/ slider/handle assembly moves axially in the chamber 27 between a closed position in which the tapered seal 12 just enters the spout plugwise to prevent liquid flow from the tap and an open position in which the seal 12 is sufficiently clear of the spout to allow liquid flow.

The rib seals 30 on the slider not only prevent liquid leakage but also allow easy rotation and axial movement of the slider in the body.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A tap of the class specified, wherein the slider has radially projecting from a cylindrical surface circumferential seals which slidingly support the slider in the body and prevent leakage from the body towards the helical connection.

2. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circumferential seals are formed by axially-spaced radially-projecting ribs which contact an internal cylindrical surface of the body, one on each side of a helical slot which is engaged by a peg carried by the slider, and the slider has an axial projection on which the carried seal is mounted.

3. A tap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axial projection has a tapered head and the carried seal is in the form of a cap of a resilient flexible material which snap-fits over the head.

4. A tap substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and near its open end, the wall 27a has in it a helical slot 29 extending over about 1800. The moving assembly of the tap, that is the slider 13, seal 12 and handle 14, is held together in use by the peg 15. The slider 13 is of a material e.g. nylon, frictionally compatible with the material of the body 10, is cup-like and has a cylindrical outer surface with a pair of annular sealing ribs 30 on it, these ribs slidingly cooperating with the inner surface of the wall 27m to support the slider, there being one rib on each side of the slot 29 to prevent leakage of liquid to the slot and to the open end of the chamber 27. On its base, the slider 13 has an axial projection 32 terminating in a tapered head 33, the larger end of the head 33 affording a shoulder 34 facing the base of the slider. The projection 32 and head 33 provide a support for the valve seal 12. The seal 12 is of a material, e.g. polyethylvinyTacetate, which is more flexible and resilient than the slider 13. The seal is in the form of a cap which is tapered externally and has in its larger end an axial tapered recess 35 having an inward flange 36 at its mouth so that the seal can be snap fitted over the head 33 and be retained by the flange 36 being trapped between the shoulder 34 and the base of the slider. The smaller end of the seal 12 has such a diameter as to enter the spout bore and to seal against the bore wall (see Fig. 3), and this end of the seal is formed by a thin annular, axially-extending flange 37 spaced by an annular groove from a central tapered projection 38. The handle 14 is on a hollow cylindrical boss 40 which fits into the cavity of the slider 13. The peg 15 is cylindrical and has at its ends larger diameter lands 41, 42 of which land 41 has a greater axial extent than the land 42. To assemble the tap, the seal 12 is mounted on the head 33 and the slider 13 with the seal 12 inserted into the valve chamber 27 until a pair of diametrically opposite holes 43 in the slider 13 are visible through the slot 29. The peg 15 is now forced into engagement with the holes 43 with land 42 leading, so that the peg extends diametrically across the slider and so that land 41 lies in the slot 29. The boss 40 is inserted into the end of the slider 13 so that notches 44 snap over the reduced diameter of the peg 15. Land 42, being axially shorter than land 41, does not extend outside the slider and so does not impede rotation of the seal/ slider/handle assembly by means of the handle. Since, however, land 41 lies in the slot 29, on rotation of the handle the seal/ slider/handle assembly moves axially in the chamber 27 between a closed position in which the tapered seal 12 just enters the spout plugwise to prevent liquid flow from the tap and an open position in which the seal 12 is sufficiently clear of the spout to allow liquid flow. The rib seals 30 on the slider not only prevent liquid leakage but also allow easy rotation and axial movement of the slider in the body. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A tap of the class specified, wherein the slider has radially projecting from a cylindrical surface circumferential seals which slidingly support the slider in the body and prevent leakage from the body towards the helical connection.

2. A tap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circumferential seals are formed by axially-spaced radially-projecting ribs which contact an internal cylindrical surface of the body, one on each side of a helical slot which is engaged by a peg carried by the slider, and the slider has an axial projection on which the carried seal is mounted.

3. A tap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axial projection has a tapered head and the carried seal is in the form of a cap of a resilient flexible material which snap-fits over the head.

4. A tap substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.