GB2165531A

GB2165531A - Beer barrels

Info

Publication number: GB2165531A
Application number: GB08525276A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Frederick John Johnson
Original assignee: Keg Services Ltd
Current assignee: Keg Services Ltd
Priority date: 1984-10-12
Filing date: 1985-10-14
Publication date: 1986-04-16
Also published as: GB8525276D0

Abstract

A beer barrel 2 has a welded-in collar 3 defining an end tapping opening 1. The collar 3 has an internal screw-thread at 5 which receives a bush-like closure fitting member 22 with a central through bore 23. A diaphragm 20 provided by a replaceable plastics disc is clamped between the inner end of the member 22 and a step 21 in the collar 3. This provides a seal which is broken, to tap the barrel, by inserting a tubular tapping member 24 through the bore 23 and the diaphragm 20. Alternatively the central through bore 34 receives a replaceable plug 31 the plug providing the initial seal and being capable of receiving the tapping member. <IMAGE>

Description

Beer barrels The invention relates to beer barrels, and in particular to beer barrels of fabricated metal construction which are normally provided with an end 'keystone' hole to receive a tapping bung to allow use as a beer cask. It is applicable not only to barrels constructed for use solely as casks but also to barrels constructed as dual-purpose containers with an end pressure neck to allow alternative use as a beer keg. The invention is concerned not only with beer barrels themselves but also with closure fittings for use therewith.

At present the practice is to seal the keystone opening by hammering in a wooden tapping bung, and when the barrel is brought into service the 'tapping' procedure involves driving the stem of a special tap through the bung by striking the tap with a mallet. After the tap has been fitted in this manner it is connected up to a so-called "bar pipe" which leads to the beer engine at the bar from which the beer is to be dispensed. The bung has a reduced thickness centre portion through which the stem of the tap is driven.

This conventional arrangement, although it has been used without question for many years, has a number of serious disadvantages. The tapping procedure is a skilled operation, and considerable effort is involved in driving the tap through the bung. The use of excessive force when driving in the tap can spring an end weld of the barrel or distort the end pressing thereof into which the bung is fitted, resulting in the need for expensive repairs to the barrel. It can also complicate the barrel construction as with some barrel shapes a special keystone plate has to be fitted to the curved end wall in order to provide the correct orientation of the fitted tap, and this tends to induce stress concentrations into the fabrication. Furthermore, the driving in of the bung itself at the brewery before the barrel is filled can also cause damage to the barrel.

A further disadvantage is that the centre portion of the bung is driven into the barrel, this being referred to as bung 'debris'. The bung debris remains in the barrel and should be cleaned out before the barrel is re-used, but this being a difficult task it is often omitted with the result that bung debris collects and in course of time can materially reduce the available internal volume of the barrel, as well as providing a bacterial trap. Removal of the debris involves the use of a long metal tool, and unless great care is exercised this can damage the internal surface of the barrel. Such damage can be particularly serious with aluminium barrels which have a protective internal coating, as this coating is easily scratched with resultant internal corrosion of the barrel.

It is an object of the invention to provide a beer barrel, and closure fitting for use with a barrel, with which the foregoing disadvantages are overcome or materially reduced. A further object is to provide such a barrel and/or tapping arrangement which enables the use of a tap to be dispensed with, should this be desired.

According to one broad aspect of the invention a barrel has an end tapping opening sealed by a closure fitting adapted for the connection of a tapping member, which connection couples the tapping member to the closure fitting and breaks the seal so that the tapping member communicates with the internal volume of the barrel.

The closure fitting may comprise a bush-like member which is screw-threaded into the end tapping opening of the barrel, and has a central bore to receive the tapping member which may be of tubular form and operative to break the seal when inserted into the central bore. The tapping member may be directly received in the central bore, in which case an O-ring within that bore may provide a seal with the tubular tapping member. However, the central bore may alternatively receive a replaceable plug which provides the initial seal and in which the tapping member is directly received to break that seal.

The initial seal may be provided by a frangible sealing member which is ruptured by the leading end of the tapping member as the latter is inserted into the closure fitting. Such a frangible sealing member may be a replaceable diaphragm, conveniently a disc of plastics material, which may be retained in the fitted position between the bushlike member and a shoulder adjacent the inner end of the receiving screw-thread in the tapping opening, or retained by an annular clamp ring on the inner end of the bush-like member which may then have a tubular inner end portion which projects into the barrel. When said replaceable plug is provided it may embody the sealing member as an integral frangible diaphragm at the inner end of a bore in which the tapping member is directly received.Such a replaceable plug may be a plastics moulding which is screw-threaded or a push fit in the bush-like member, which also may be a plastics moulding. The plug may be moulded with external and internal integral sealing lips.

Thus, according to another aspect of the invention, a beer barrel has an end tapping opening for use as a cask and this opening is screw-threaded to receive a closure fitting containing a frangible seal and to which a tapping member can be coupled, the act of coupling the tapping member to the closure fitting rupturing the seal.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a closure fitting to which a tapping member can be coupled is adapted to be fitted into the tapping opening at one end of a beer cask, the closure fitting providing a seal for the tapping opening which seal is broken when the tapping member is coupled to the closure fitting.

The tapping member may be a plain tube which is coupled directly to a bar pipe, thus obviating the need for a tap as the tube can be connected up to the pipe before inserting in the closure fitting and breaking the seal. However, it will be appreciated that if desired a tap can be incorporated. The tube may have a projection which engages with the closure fitting in the manner of a bayonet connection to retain the tube in the tapping position, and this projection may also serve to limit the insertion of the tube. The leading end of the tube may be cutoff at an angle and also chamfered, thus providing a chisel edge to facilitate rupturing of the seal.

The invention provides a fitting the seal of which is easily replaced at the brewery when refilling the barrel, and it can conveniently be employed merely to seal the tapping opening of a dual-purpose container when the latter is to be used as a keg. The closure fitting preferably bottoms in the screwthreaded opening against a step in the opening, and an O-ring or other sealing member may be positioned at this step to seal the closure fitting relatively to the barrel.

The tapping openings of existing fabricated barrels are commonly defined by welded-on collars which have a taper bore to receive a wooden bung. Thus such an existing barrel can easily be modified for use with the present invention, the taper bore being counterobored to provide a parallel bore which is screw-threaded to receive a closure fitting in accordance with the invention. The present invention also includes within its scope a barrel which has been so modified. In addition, the invention is well suited for use with a new barrel construction in which the tapping opening can be provided by a screw-threaded collar of relatively small diameter.

The tapping member used, whilst preferably having a leading end tubular section which fits into the closure fitting may otherwise be of any desired form. When of plain tubular form it is conveniently a length of stainless steel tube, but otherwise it may be a plastics moulding. The use of a plastics moulding for the closure fitting will in general be found most convenient.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, diagrammatically and by way of example, three preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 illustrates, partly in axial section, a closure fitting shown as fitted to a barrel in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an axial sectional view showing a tapping member coupled to the closure fitting; Figure 3 is an outer end view of the closure fitting; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the leading end of the tapping member; Figures 5 and 6 are views corresponding to Figures 1 and 2 illustrating a second closure fitting; Figures 7 and 8 are respectively outer end views of two components of a third closure fitting; and Figures 9 and 10 are respectively sectional views on the lines IX-IX and X-X.

Referring initially to the arrangement of Figures 1 to 4, apart from the formation at an end tapping opening 1 the fabricated metal barrel 2 is of entirely conventional construction, and thus only a portion of the barrel surrounding the opening 1 is shown in Figure 1. As usual a collar 3 defines the opening 1, being welded to the end wall of the barrel, but instead of the normal taper bore adapted to receive a tapered wooden bung the collar 3 has a cylindrical counterbore 4 an outer end portion 5 of which is screw-threaded. Instead of a wooden plug the opening 1 is sealed by a closure fitting 6 which is screwed into the counterbore 4.

The fitting 6 is an annular bush-like member and comprises a plastics moulding with an outer end flange 7, screw-threaded to suit the thread at 5, and a tubular stem portion 8 which projects into the barrel 2 through the opening 1-.

A reduced end section 8a of the stem portion 8 is screw-threaded to receive a moulded plastics clamp ring 9 which clamps, to the end of the stem portion 8, a thin plastics disc 10 which provides a rupturable sealing diaphragm. An O-ring 11 or like sealing member positioned at the step at the base of the counterbore 4 is compressed when the moulding 6 is fitted, to provide a seal between the moulding 6 and the opening 1. The moulding 6, with a fresh diaphragm seal 10 fitted, is screwed into the counterbore 4 to provide a seal before the barrel 2 is refilled, after which the barrel is ready to be tapped.

To tap the barrel a stainless steel tubular tapping member 12 (Figure 2) is pushed into the fitting 6, along a central through bore 13 in the latter. It passes through an O-ring 14, which is recessed into the bore 13, and this provides a seal between the fitting 6 and the member 12 whilst the diaphragm seal 10 is still intact. Continued insertion of the member 12 pushes it through the diaphragm 10, to rupture the latter, until the tapping member projects through the clamp ring 9 into the barrel.

Before insertion to tap the barrel, the member 12 is connected up to a bar pipe leading to the beer engine by which the beer in the barrel is to be dispensed.

To facilitate insertion and rupturing of the diaphragm 10 the leading end 15 of the member 12, as shown in Figure 4, is cut off at an angle of about 30 , and the wall of the tube is chamfered at 16 at an angle of about 60". This provides a chisel end which easily ruptures the diaphragm 10 when the member 12 is pushed in by hand. The member 12 has an external pip 17 which limits the insertion of the member 12 and engages in an L-shaped groove 18 at the outer end of the bore 13, to provide a bayonet-type connection which retains the member 12 in tapping position in the moulding 6 until the barrel is empty. The tapping member can then easily be withdrawn, by twisting and pulling out.

The barrel 2 may be a new manufacture fabricated initially with the screw-threaded collar 3, or it may be a modification of an existing beer cask or dual-purpose container. In such modification the normal taper bore of the collar 3 is counterbored and screw-threaded to suit the moulding 6. During this counterboring and screw-threading the opening 1 can provide a pilot bore for tool location.

The fitting 6 is provided with a suitable formation which enables it to be screwed into the collar 3, and removed therefrom, using an appropriate tool. Thus it may have axially directed blind bores such as 19 engageable by a pin wrench, which allows the fitting 6 to be recessed into the collar 3 as shown in the drawings.

It is the essence of the invention that the closure fitting should provide a seal which is broken on fitting (preferably by insertion) of the tapping member, and as a result of such fitting. Although a rupturable diaphragm such as 10 is preferably used to provide the seal, any form of sealing member which is broken or displaced to a non-sealing position as a result of fitting the tapping member may be used. Thus, for example, a cork or bung may be fitted into the inner end of the closure fitting so as to be displaced therefrom into the barrel on insertion of the tapping member. For ease of subsequent removal such a cork or bung may be captive to the closure fitting, being tethered thereto by a length of flexible wire or cord.

The remaining figures illustrate alternative embodiments each of which is usable in place of the closure fitting 6 which has already been described.

In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 like reference numerals are used for the parts of the barrel shown, and the opening 1 is sealed by a rupturable sealing diaphragm 20 which is clamped between the shoulder 21, provided by the step within the collar 3, and the inner end of a plain annular bush 22 which replaces the more complex fitting 6 of the first embodiment. The screw-thread 5 preferably now extends up to the collar 21, allowing the bush 22 to be screw-threaded over its full axial length. The bush 22 is again conveniently a plastics moulding, with the diaphragm 20 a replaceable plastics disc.

Tapping of the barrel is accomplished as before, the bush 22 having a central through bore 23 in which the tapping member, now referenced 24, is directly received with an O-ring 25 in this bore providing a seal before the diaphragm 20 is ruptured as shown in Figure 6. The inner end formation of the tapping member 24 is as already described, and in this case it is conveniently a plastics moulding with an external collar-like flange 26 which limits insertion into the bush 22. However, it preferred the stainless steel tapping member 12 may be used and the bush 22 moulded with a slot to provide the bayonet-type retaining connection therefor. The bush 22 is provided with a suitable formation which allows it to be screwed into the collar 3, and removed to replace a ruptured diaphragm 20 before the barrel is refilled.Although this is not shown in the drawings it may comprise blind bores 19 such as shown in Figure 2 for engagement by a pin wrench.

The alternative fitting of Figures 7 to 10 comprises two moulded plastics components, namely a stepped bush-like member or adaptor ring 30 and a sealing member 31 in the form of a replaceable membrane plug. The member 30 has an external screw-thread 32 to fit the collar 3, and an inner end tubular portion which projects into the barrel through the opening 1. A stepped central bore has a larger diameter outer end portion which is screwthreaded at 34, and a smaller diameter inner end portion 35 in which the tapping member is a sliding fit. The tapping member used may be as in either of the previous embodiments. At its outer end the bush member 30 is moulded with a hexagonal profile so that it can be fitted and removed using a spanner or like wrench.

On its outer periphery the annular plug 31 has a screw-thread 37 which enables it to be screwed into the screw-thread 34 of the fitting member 30.

It is moulded with a hexagonal socket 38, enabling it to be fitted and removed in the manner of an Allen grubscrew using a hexagonal key or like wrench. The plug is moulded with a central bore 39 which directly receives the tapping member as a sliding fit, and with internal annular sealing lips 40 of generally triangular cross-section which provide an initial seal before the main seal is ruptured.

This main seal is provided by an integral membrane 41 extending across the central bore 39 at the inner end of the plug 31. Surrounding the bore 39 the plug has, at its inner end, an external sealing lip of similar shape to the internal lips 40. The external lip 42 seals against a step 43 at the inner end of the screw-thread 34 as the plug is screwed home into the latter.

Typical dimensions for the plug 31 are 1 inch (2.54 cm) OD, an axial length of 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) and a nominal diameter of 9/16 inch (1.43 cm) for the bore 39. The receiving thread of the barrel, into which the member 30 screws, conveniently has a diameter of the order of 1.5 inch (3.81 cm).

Claims

1. A barrel having an end tapping opening sealed by a closure fitting adapted for the connection of a tapping member, which connection couples the tapping member to the closure fitting and breaks the seal so that the tapping member communicates with the internal volume of the barrel.

2. A barrel according to claim 1, wherein the closure fitting comprises a bush-like member which is screw-threaded into the end tapping opening of the barrel.

3. A barrel according to claim 2, wherein said bush-like member has a central bore to receive the tapping member which is of tubular form and operative to break the seal when inserted into the central bore.

4. A barrel according to claim 3, wherein the tapping member is directly receivable in said central bore and an O-ring in the latter provides a seal with the tubular tapping member.

5. A barrel according to claim 3, wherein said central bore receives a replaceable plug of the closure fitting, which plug provides the initial seal and in which the tapping member is directly receivable to break the seal.

6. A barrel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the initial seal is provided by a frangible sealing member which is ruptured by the leading end of the tapping member as the latter is inserted into the closure fitting.

7. A barrel according to claims 5 and 6, wherein the frangible sealing member is an integral membrane of said replaceable plug.

8. A barrel according to claim 6, wherein the frangible sealing member is a replaceable diaphragm.

9. A barrel according to claim 8, wherein the frangible sealing member is a plastics disc.

10. A barrel according to claim 9, wherein the sealing member is retained in the fitted position between the bush-like member and a shoulder adjacent the inner end of the receiving screw-thread in the tapping opening.

11. A barrel according to claim 9, wherein the sealing member is retained by an annular clamp ring on the inner end of the bush-like member.

12. A barrel according to claim 7, wherein the replaceable plug is a plastics moulding which is screw-threaded or a push fit in the bush-like member.

13. A barrel according to claim 12, wherein the plug is moulded with external and/or internal sealing lips.

14. A barrel according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the bush-like member of the closure fitting is a plastics moulding.

15. A beer barrel having an end tapping opening for use as a cask and wherein such opening is screw-threaded to receive a closure fitting containing a frangible seal and to which a tapping member can be coupled, the arrangement being such that the act of coupling the tapping member to the closure fitting ruptures the seal.

16. A closure fitting to which a tapping member can be coupled and which is adapted to be fitted into the tapping opening at one end of a beer cask or a dual-purpose container, the closure fitting when fitted providing a seal for the tapping opening which seal is broken when the tapping member is coupled to the closure fitting.

17. A closure fitting according to claim 16 in combination with said tapping member which has a tubular portion adapted to be inserted into the closure fitting to break said seal and tap the barrel contents.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the tapping member is of plain tubular form and adapted to be coupled directly to a bar pipe.

19. The combination of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein said tubular portion has a projection which engages with the closure fitting for location of the tapping member in the fitted tapping position.

20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said projection engages the closure fitting in the manner of a bayonet connection to retain the tube in the tapping position.

21. The combination of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the seal is provided by a rupturable diaphragm and the leading end of said tubular portion is cut-off at an angle and also chamfered, thus providing a chisel edge to facilitate rupturing of the seal.

22. A barrel constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 and 6, or Figures 7 to 10, of the accompanying drawings.

23. A closure fitting for a barrel, constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 and 6, or Figures 7 to 10, of the accompanying drawings.

24. A closure fitting and tapping member combination, constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 and 6, or Figures 7 to 10, of the accompanying drawings.