US2247100A - Tap - Google Patents

Description

Patented .lune 24, 194i TAP Frank E. Rice, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 31, 1940, Serial No. 338,152

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tap construction and more particularly to a tap construction for carbonated beverages which provides a one-piece hollow body extending substantially the length of the tap thereby eliminating body joints and seals.

More specically, the invention relates to a tap construction wherein a single one-piece hollow body member receives in rotatable relation therearound a one-piece .adjustor or clamping ring.

In the usual tap construction, the body is formed of two parts held in connected relation by a rotatable coupling ring, which ring also serves to draw a tap bush into tight engagement with a connecting sleeve. These tap constructions are objectionable inasmuch as the joints between the body parts must be scaled to prevent gas leakage of the carbonated beverage flowing therethrough. Not only is the cost of production higher in manufacturing taps of this construction but special .tools are usually required to replace the parts. In addition, the body joint provides a trap or pocket in which foreign matter or bacteria can accumulate.

The prior known adjustors for taps could only be made in one piece when the body member was made in two or more pieces. If .a one-piece body member was used, a multi-piece adjustor had to be used.

The present invention now provides a tap with a one-piece body and a one-piece adjustor.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novel tap construction which is fluidproof.

Another object of this invention is the pro-` Vision of a tap construction having a one-piece hollow body extending substantially the entire length of the tap.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a tap construction in which all body joints are eliminated.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a tap including a one-piece hollow body carrying a one-piece coupling ring.

Another and still further object of the present invention is the provision of a tap construction having a one-piece hollow body and a separable sleeve with novel self-adjusting washer means therebetween.

The novel features believed to be characteristie of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the .appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its `organization and manner of construction together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference `to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in` which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating a tap device constructed in accordance with the principles of this. invention and loosely connected to a tap bush and barrel;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, of the tap construction illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating separable parts of the tap disassembled from the body;

Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view with a part in elevation, taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Figure 2 and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view, with a part in elevation, taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line V-V of Figure 2 and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 illustrating a modiiied form of washer;

Figure 7 is a broken longitudinal side view illustrating the coil spring in its normal position before being shaped circular as shown in Figures 2 and 4;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a ilat resilient washer substituted for the coil spring; and,

Figure 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view, with a part in elevation, of the resilient washer illustrated in Figure 8 .as seen when taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line IX-IX of Figure 8.

The tap lil illustrated in Figure 1 is constructed for application .to a standard bung or bushing b which is seated in the head of a barrel B and generally comprises an elongated onepiece body ll of cylindrical hollow shape, a onepiece coupling sleeve l2, and a one-piece coupling ring or adjustor I3.

As best shown in Figure 2, `the body ll is hollow to receive a draught tube Ill therethrough. The upper end of the body has an integral enlarged portion I5 having an inner inclined face i6 for tightly seating a resilient washer Il around the inserted draught tube lil when pressure is applied downwardly on the washer. The resilient washer Il is formed preferably of soft rubber or other similar material to effect a iiuidtight joint between the body and the inserted draught tube.

The enlargement i5 is threaded on its exterior to receive an interiorly threaded cap nut I8 having handles ISa. A presser bushing I3 is rotatably mounted within the cap nut |13. As the nut is rotated by the handles Ia in its threaded engagement with the enlarged end of the body the bushing moves axially, without rotation, against the resilient washer to squeeze the latter into holding engagement with the tube Ill. By moving the bushing axially withouit rotation, abrasion of the washer il' is prevented.

The bottom end of the body I i is provided with a flange 23, a square shoulder 2| and a reduced cylindrical end 22. A sealing washer 23 embraces the cylindrical end 22 and abuts .the shoulder 2| of the lower end of the body, as shown in Figure 2. The sealing washer is arranged to engage the upper surface of the flange of the tap bush b when the tapping device Il) is applied to the bush.

Located substantially centrally of the body is an enlarged portion 23 having formed thereon a pair of spaced annular recesses 25 and 23.

In the upper and shallower annular recess 25, there is seated a coil spring 2. As best shown in Figure 7, the coil spring 21 is provided at one end with reduced coils 28, the latter being either integrally connected to the larger coiled portion of the spring or being in the form of a separate shorter coiled spring threaded into the end of the main spring. The coils 28 are formed to threadingly engage within the larger coils at the vopposite end of the spring 2 to form a circular spring, vas illustrated in Figure 4.

A two-piece beveled washer 29 is seated within the lower and deeper annular recess 23. As shown in Figure 5, the beveled Washer 23 is diametrically split to form half portions 29a and 23h. An outer corner of the split washer is beveled as at 3D for a purpose to be more fully explained hereinafter.

The coupling or connecting sleeve I2 surrounds the lower end of the body I I, as shown in Figure 2, and is provided at its inner end with diametrically opposed lugs 3| shown). These lugs are arranged to engage the under surfaces of the flange of the tap bush b to draw the upper surface of the bush flange against the resilient washer 23 for tightly securing the body of the tapping device I3 to the bush. When the tap and bush are so connected, the annular flange 32 of the coupling sleeve I2' engages the surface of the head of the barrel B thus stabilizing the tap and its inserted draught tube against tilting movement.

The coupling sleeve I2 extends upwardly and terminates adjacent the lower annular recess 23 in an exteriorly threaded portion 331. The threaded end 33 is beveled as at 34 for engagement with the beveled edge of the removable washer 29.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the body I I is provided with outwardly extending lugs 35 between the flange 23 and the enlarged central portion 24. These lugs have their major axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body I I andare arranged to engage in vertically extending slots such as 33 provided on the inside of the coupling sleeve I2 (Fig. 2). This engagement prevents relative rotative movement between the coupling sleeve and the tap body when the coupling sleeve surrounds the body as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The one-piece coupling ring or adjuster I3 is interiorly threaded for engagement with the (only one of which is threaded end 33 of the coupling sleeve I2. An

on the coupling ring I3 rotatably surrounds the enlarged portion 24 of the tap body and is` retained for a limited endwise movement axially of the body by means of the coil spring 21 and the beveled washerV 29. Wings or handles 33 are formed as a part of the ring I3 and are inclined to the axis of the body in a direction divergent from the coupling sleeve I2. It is to be noted that the coupling ring I3 and its integrally formed wings 38 may be removed from the body II when the beveled Washer 29 is removed from its annular recess 26.

An interiorly threaded hollow boss 33 is formed as an integral part of the body II and extends divergently therefrom adjacent the upper enlarged portion I5. This boss or passaged neck is arranged to threadingly receive a hose nipple 4!) to which is connected a fluid pressure hose (not shown).

A valve 3|, of resilient material such as rubber having a passage therethrough for allowing fluid flow into the tap body only, is connected at the inner end of the hose nipple 43 (Figure 2).

Figure 3 illustrates the tapping device of Figure l when partially disassembled. To disassemble the tapping device Ill, the handles 38 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The diametrically arranged ribs or lugs 35 cooperate with the grooves or slots 36 formed in the interior of the sleeve I2 topermit relative axial movement between the sleeve and the tap body while preventing relative rotative movement between them.

When the sleeve I2 has been released from threaded engagement with the coupling ring I3 and removed from the body II as shown, the coupling ring is maintained in operative connected relation to the body by and between the coil spring 21 and the beveled washer 23. The coil spring 21 is removed from the annular recess 25 by the insertion of an instrument such as a knife or screwdriver to stretch and move it upwardly against the passaged neck 39. The coupling ring I3 is then moved upwardly to allow the free removal of the beveled washer 29 from the annular recess 23.

Both the coupling ring and the coil spring may then be removed from the body I I over its flanged end 2).

The upper cap nut I8 and the hose nipple 43 are removed by rotation in a counterclookwise direction for disengaging them from threaded relation with the body II.

In applying the tapping device of the present invention to a barrel, the draught tube I4 is removed from the tapping device. The coupling ring I3 is loosened so that the coupling, sleeve I2 is free to engage over the flange of the tap bush b whereupon the tapping device is rotated until the lugs 3| on thel sleeve I2 contact the usual stops present in such a tap bush. Thereupon, the wings or handles 38 of the coupling ring are rotated which causes relative axial movement between the body II and the sleeve I2 to tighten the tapping device against the bush in operative relationship.

The draught tube Il is then inserted with the capv nut I3 in loose threaded relation with the upper end of the body. The draught tube is moved downwardly until the lower end thereof engages the bottom of the barrel B whereupon the nut I8 is tightened to force the washer I7 into gripping engagement with the tube in which position the tapping device is ready for use.

In the event that pressure is required within the barrel to discharge its contents, air or gas presssure is admitted through the hose nipple il and the valve BI. The air or gas is restricted from passing upwardly around the draught tube by the gripping engagement therewith of the resilient washer l'l. The draught tube i4 is fitted loosely in the lower portion of the body to allow iiuid flow thereby into the barrel.

As shown in Figure 6, a U-shaped washer i2 may be substituted for the two-piece split Washer 29. As shown, the edges i3 and 44 forming the U-shape are spaced slightly Wider than the bottom of the annular recess 26. This allows the washer 42 to be inserted or removed from its annular recess when the coupling ring is positioned against the apertured neck 39. A beveled edge d is provided on the U-shaped washer A2 in the same manner and for the same purpose as the beveled edge 3i? on the Washer 29.

In Figures 8 and 9 there is illustrated a ilat resilient washer d, comprising a flat ring 4l of rubber or other similar material and a pair of semi-circular U-shaped metal washer supports i8 and f4.9. The sidewalls of the U-shaped supports straddle and embrace the iiat surfaces of the ring with their connecting webs facing inwardly. The ends of the supports are positioned in spaced relation to allow the resilient portions of the ring therebetween to flex. The sidewalls of the U-shaped supports serve to limit the resiliency of the ring il and to provide more durable surfaces for contacting the shoulders of the annular recess 25 than if the ring il only was inserted therein.

A portion of the enlargement 2d on the body il, adjacent the annular recess 25, is removed as at 59 to provide an opening into which a tool can be inserted for flexing and expanding the washer is to effect its removal from the annular recess 25. The provision of the washer 46 is for exactly the same purpose as the coil spring 2 and its removal from the body l i is accomplished in the same manner as the removal of the coil spring.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that this invention contemplates the construction of a tap having an elongated one-piece body which cooperates with a one-piece coupling ring and coupling sleeve to permit ready application and removal of a tap body to or from a flanged bush in a barrel. The one-piece coupling ring is retained in free rotatable relation on the one-piece body by the spaced removable means 2l, d6 and 29, d2. These means provide a slot therebetween for receiving the ange 3l of the coupling ring therein. When the means, such as 2S or 42, are removed the coupling ring can be removed from the body.

The tapping device presents a further advantage by providing for the retention of the coupling ring on the body in a loose operative position when the coupling sleeve is removed. This enables the tap to be applied to a iianged bush easily and quickly without exerting pressure against the draught tube.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been illustrated, it will, of course, be understood that the invention should not be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and, therefore, it is contemplated by the appended claims to cover all such modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tapping device for use with a barrel having a bush, said device comprising a sleeve having means at one end for secured connection with the bush, an elongated body slidably engaging said sleeve and having means at one end for sealing engagement with the bush, acoupling ring slidable on said body and turnable in engagement with said sleeve to clamp said body to the bush, said ring being arranged slidable along said body for removal therefrom, and means for securing said ring in assembled relation `to said body, said means comprising removable stop means on said body and interposed between said ring and the other end of said sleeve and arranged to abut the other end of said sleeve when said device is in clamping relation on the bush.

2. A tapping device for use with a barrel having a bush, said device comprising a sleeve having means at one end for secured connection with the bush, an elongated body slidably engaging said sleeve and having means at one end for engagement with the bush, a coupling ring slidable on said body and turnable in engagement with said sleeve to clamp said body to the bush, said ring being slidable along said body for removal therefrom, means for securing said ring in assembled relation to said body, said means comprising a rst removable stop means on said body and interposed between said ring and the other end of said sleeve to abut the other end of said sleeve when the device is in clamping relation to the bush, and a second removable stop means on said body and disposed between said ring and the other end of said body.

3. A tapping device for use with a barrel having a bush, said device comprising a sleeve having means at one end for secured connection with the bush, an elongated body slidably engaging said sleeve and having means at one end for engagement with the bush, a coupling ring slidable on said body and turnable in engagement with said sleeve to clamp said body to the bush, said ring being slidable along said body for removal therefrom, means for securing said ring in assembled relation to said body, said means comprising a rst removable stop means on said body and interposed between said ring and the other end of said sleeve, and a second removable stop means on Said body and disposed between said ring and the other end of said body and comprising a member of resilient material yieldingly engaging said ring.

4. A tapping device for use with a barrel having a bush, said device comprising a sleeve having means at one end for secured connection with the bush, an elongated body slidably engaging said sleeve and having means at one end for engagement with the bush, a coupling ring slidable on said body and turnable in engagement with said sleeve to clamp said body to the bush, said ring being slidable along said body for removal therefrom, means for securing said ring in assembled relation to said body, said means comprising a iirst removable stop means on said body and interposed between said ring and the other end of said sleeve, means on said body and disposed between said ring and the other end of said body arranged dening a pair of longitudinally spaced shoulders, and a second removable stop means on said body and entered between said shoulders, said second stop means comprising a ring of resilient material and a pair of metallic members held in assembled relation by said ring and disposed guarding said ring against wear.

5. A tapping device for use with a barrel having a bush, said device comprising a sleeve having means at one end for secured connection with l the bush, an elongated body sldably engaging said sleeve and having means at one end for engagement with the bush, a coupling ring slidable on said body and turnable in engagement with said sleeve to clamp said body to the bush, said ring being slidable along said body for removal therefrom, means on said body denng a first groove thereon, means on said body defining a second groove thereon longitudinally spaced from said first groove, said ring being provided with means FRANK E. RICE.

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