GB2181720A - Dispensing valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispensing valve for a beer cask (10) comprises an elongate hollow valve body (16) having inlet and outlet apertures (17 and 18) therein. A valve member (26) is located within the body (16) and is movable longitudinally with respect to the valve body (16) between open and closed positions. The valve member (26) is resiliently biassed by spring (36) towards a closed position and is adapted to be moved to an open position by insertion into the valve body (16) of a removable connector which serves to connect the outlet of the valve to a flow line. The components are made of food-grade polyacetal resin or stainless steel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dispensing valve The present invention relates to a dispensing valve, typically, although not exclusively, for use in containers for non-pressurised liquids such as beer casks etc.

Typically,caskssuch as beercasks have been tapped by providing a tapered wooden bung in a hole in one end ofthe cask. The bung has a hole through the centre thereof which is plugged with a disposable plug. When it is desired to fitatapto the cask, the tapered inlet to the tap is placed on the plug and the plug is driven into the cask by hitting thetap with a mallet. The action of driving the plug into the cask also drives the inlet ofthe tap into the hole in the bung and it is held there by friction with the bung.

However, this system suffers from the problem that it is inconvenient to use and often results in spillage of liquid from the cask. It is also difficult to replacethe tapwhilethere is still liquid in the caskwithoutspilling any.

Because ofthe nature of the type of tap described above, it is necessary to removethetap and bung before the cask can be cleaned before re-use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which obviates or mitigates the above prob lems,whichcan alloweasyconnectiontoa beer pump, and which can be left inserted into the cask during any cleansing operation.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dispensing valve adapted to be located within a containerfor liquidsto control the flow of a liquid therefrom comprising an elongate hollow valve body having inlet and outletaperturestherein and a valve member located within the body, said valve member being movable longitudinally with re specttothevalve body between open and closed positions and being resiliently biassed towards a closed position, the valve member being adapted to be moved to an open position by insertion into the valve body of a removable connector which serves to connect the outlet of the valve to a flow line.

Preferably, the valve member serves to close the inlet aperture in the valve body and leaves the outlet aperture open.

It is also preferred that the valve member is mounted slidably within the valve body, is hollow, and has inlet and outlet apertures therein such that flow through the inlet aperture and the valve body takes place via said valve member.

Conveniently, a portion of the valve member pro jectsthrough the inlet aperture of the valve body when in an open position, and at least one inlet aperture is provided in a portion of the valve member which is located externally of the valve body when in the open position.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure lisa sectional side view of a dispensing valve according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure2 is a section side view of a connectorfor use with the valve shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the dispensing valve shown therein is intended for use in place of a normal tap in a standard aluminium beercask.Aconventional beer cask is generally cylindrical and has a hole in its side mid-way between the ends (not shown) and a tap hole positioned adjacent the per ipheryofone of its ends 10 (shown in part). In use,the cask is normally laid on its side with the hole upmost and the tap hole atthe lowest point ofthe end 10. The tap hole comprises an aperture 11 around which is a radially inwardly projecting flange 12. The walls of the aperture 11 are extended outwardly of the outer face 13 ofthe end lotto form a collar 14, and the inner wall 15 of the collar 14 isfrusto-conically tapered to wardstheaperture 11.

The valve comprises a valve body 16 made offood grade polyacetal resin, although other suitable materials such as stainless steel can be used. The body 16 is intheform of a hollow elongate cylinderand has an inlet end portion 17 of reduced diameterand an outlet end portion 18. The body 16 is dimensioned so that it can pass through the aperture 11 into the inside of the cask. An external flange 19 is provided around the outlet end to prevent complete insertion ofthevalve into the caskandto serve as a means for locating the valve in the aperture 11.The flange 19 overlies the flange 12 and a rubberwasher20isprov- ided between the flanges 12 and 19 to ensure a leak freefit.Anannularwooden retainer21 having a frusto-conically tapered outer surface 22 is driven into the collar 14to urgetheflanges 12 and 19 into engagement and is a friction fitwith the collar 14.

Alternatively, the standard cask can be modified by boring the walls 15 ofthe collar 14 parallel, providing a thread thereon and having a correspondingly threaded retainer member of metal or plastic with parallel sides to hold the valve in place.

The inlet end portion 17 is defined by a reduced diameter portion of the peripheral wall ofthe body 16 and has a free end 23 which is frusto-conicallytap- ered to define a valve seat 24. A removable filter 25 having the same outside diameter as the main portion of body 16 is screw-engaged overthe inlet end portion 17 and serves to prevent passage of large particles.

Atubularvalvemember26isdisposed inthebody 16 and is a close sliding fit with the innerwall ofthe inner end portion 17.

The member 26 is located co-axially with the body 16 by means of a (a) an annularflange 27 which is provided around an outlet end 28 ofthe member 26 and which slidinglyengages an innerwall 29ofthe body 16 and (b) the engagement ofsidewall 31 ofthe member 26 within the inlet end portion 17. The end 32 of the member 26 remote from the outlet end 28 is closed and a series of inlet apertures 33 are provided inthe sidewall 31 ofthemember26neartheend32.

A groove 34 is provided the sidewall 31 between the inlet apertures 33 and the end 32 and a rubber 0being 35 is located in this groove. The end 32 and the groove 34 with the O-ring 35 project beyond the inlet portion 17 and, when the valve is in the close position, the O-ring 35 is urged against the valve seat 24 to effectively seal the inlet of the body 16. The member 26 is normally urged into this closed position by means of a compression spring 36 which is located in the annular space formed between the member 26 and the body 16 and acts upon the flange 27 and the inner end ofthe inlet portion 17.

Aconnectorforengagementwith the body 16 is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a hollow tubular member 50 which is open at both ends. One end of the member is defined by an externally screwthreaded sleeve 51 for engagement by a standard pipefitting for connection to a beer pump. An annular groove 52 is provided in the outer wall ofthe member 50 adjacent the outer end thereof and receives an O-ring (notshown)whichcansealinglyen- gagethe innerwall 29 ofthe body 16. A pairofout- wardly extending projections 53 are located on diametrically opposite sides of the member 50 intermediate its ends and are engaged in bayonet fashion in grooves 54 provided in a metal bush 55 in the outlet end portion 18 ofthe body 16. The connector is dimensioned such that it can be inserted into the body 16.The projections 53 are located such that the said other end 55 bears upon the outlet end 28 ofthe member 26 and moves the latter into an open position againsttheaction ofthespring 36 beforethe bayonet-type connection can be made. The O-ring in the groove 52 seals with the innerwall 29 of the body 16beforethevalvememberisopened,thusminimis- ing risk of leakage during connection. The spring 36 serves to retain the positions 53 in the grooves 54.

During opening of the valve, the member 26 is moved through the inlet portion 17 until it projects into the space within the filter 25 with the apertures 33 positioned beyond the inlet portion 17. In this position I iquid can flow through the apertu res 33 into the member26, through the body 16 and through the connector. When the connector is removed, the valve member 26 is retu rned to the closed position by the action of a spring 32. As the apertures 33 pass the valve seat 24, the edge ofthe valve seat 24 and the edges ofthe apertures 33 create a shearing action which cuts off any solid or semi-solid material which may be blocking the apertures 33 and which may preventthe valve from closing properly.

Conveniently the bush 55 is formed of a wear resistant material such as stainless steel around which the body 16 is moulded.

The connector, valve member and filter may all be made of a suitable material such asafood-grade plastics for stainless steel.

The valve described above may be left in a barrel while it is being washed out prior to re-use.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the bayonet grooves 54, instead of being provided in bush 55, are provided in the retainer memberwhich is used to retain the valve body 16 in the cask. In such an event, the bush 55 can be dispensed with and the projection 53 on the connector appropriately relocated so asto be engageable with the grooves in the retainer member.

Claims (5)

1. A dispensing valve adapted to be located within a containerfor liquids to control the flow of a liquid therefrom comprising an elongate hollow valve body having inlet and outlet apertures therein and a valve member located within the body, said valve member being movable longitudinally with respectto the valve body between open and closed positions and being resiliently biassed towards a closed position, the valve member being adapted to be moved to an open position by insertion into the valve body of a removable connectorwhich serves to connect the outlet of the valve to a flow line.

2. Avalveasclaimed in claim 1,whereinthevalve member serves to close the inlet aperture in the valve body and leaves the outletapertureopen.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve member is mounted slidably within the valve body, is hollow, and has inlet and outlet apertures therein such thatflowthrough the inlet aperture and the valve bodytakes placevia said valve member.

4. Avalve as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a portion ofthevalve member projects through the inlet aperture ofthe valve body when in an open position, and at least one inlet aperture is provided in a portion ofthe valve memberwhich is located externallyofthevalve bodywhen intheopen position.

5. A disposing valve substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.