The invention relates to an assembly of a tapping keg with a neck and a connection device.
Tapping kegs such as beer kegs are usually connected to a tapping device with the aid of a handle-tapping head. To that end, the handle-tapping head is provided with a supply duct for carbon dioxide under pressure, a discharge duct for beer from the tapping keg and a connecting element for coupling the handle-tapping head to the tapping rod. The handle-tapping head has been secured in the tapping rod under inwardly extending projections, usually designated as lugs. In another embodiment, the tapping rod is provided with an outwardly extending flange, while the handle-tapping head is provided with a connecting element provided with a groove, which extends on the inside thereof and by way of which the connecting element can be slid over the flange. Thereupon, a pressure body, which forms an integral part of the handle-tapping head, can be pressed down with the aid of a handle, against a valve assembly provided in the tapping rod, for opening same. The handle-tapping head is thereby pushed up slightly and clamped against the flange. Through the pressure body, CO2 gas is supplied to and beverage is discharged from the inner space of the tapping keg.
In this known assembly, different tapping kegs and different tapping heads can be combined. The pressure body operatively seals against the different valves of the valve assembly. As a consequence of the space that exists in these known assemblies between the walls of the groove and the flange of the tapping rod, the connecting device may easily be mounted askew to some extent, at least be positioned inaccurately, thereby giving rise to the risk of the connecting device being damaged and even becoming detached unintentionally, specifically because as a result of the configuration of the tapping rod, flange and groove, there is only a relatively small contact surface between the connecting element and the tapping rod, during use with pressed-down pressure body.
All known assemblies involve the disadvantage that the tapping rod, together with the connecting device, may become detached from the tapping keg, which may lead to dangerous situations.
An object of the invention is to provide an assembly of a tapping keg and a connecting device, in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are at least partly avoided, while maintaining the advantages thereof.
In particular, the invention contemplates an assembly of a tapping keg and a connecting device that enables a relatively simple and accurate fitting of the connecting device onto the tapping keg, without damage, and whereby virtually automatically an optimum positioning is obtained.
A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of a tapping keg and a connecting device in which, in coupled condition, there is a relatively large contact surface between the connecting element and a flange on which it is secured.
These and other advantages are achieved with an assembly according to the invention, characterized by the features according to claim 1.
In a tapping keg according to the invention, the flange is designed such that the contact surface between the connecting device and the flange, at least during use and with the valve open, is relatively large, while the occurring forces, owing to the inclined contact surfaces, are suitably taken up and transmitted. Due to the inclined surfaces being in mutual abutment, moreover, a proper connection and centering is obtained of the connecting device with respect to the neck and hence with respect to the or each valve. The connecting device, as far as necessary, will be self-locating. By providing the inclined surface on the bottom side of the flange, that is, on the side remote from the top surface of the neck, the additional advantage is achieved that the tapping keg is applicable with standard filling heads.
The neck of a tapping keg according to the invention, at least as far as the flange is concerned, is preferably dimensioned such that a longitudinal cross section comprising the longitudinal axis of the neck fits within a comparable longitudinal cross section of an existing, standard neck. A neck for a tapping keg according to the invention can preferably be obtained by material-removing machining of an existing, standard neck, at least tapping keg, all in such a manner that adapted connecting devices according to the invention fit onto a neck according to the invention, standard filling devices and washing devices can be used for cleaning and filling the tapping kegs and moreover standard tapping rods can be applied. Moreover, waste is prevented because the thus adapted tapping kegs can still be used in existing tapping devices.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, directly under the flange, on the outer side of the neck, a groove is provided, in which, in coupled condition, a part of the connecting element extends. Thus, the use of an incorrect connecting device with a tapping keg, at least neck, according to the invention can be prevented still better. Moreover, in this way, the contact surface is enlarged still further.
The cross section of the neck adjacent the groove, when the neck is approximately cylinder-shaped, is preferably between 52 and 56 mm, measured adjacent the bottom of the groove, the groove preferably having a depth, measured in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the neck, of minimally 5 mm. The bottom is here to be viewed as the circumferential surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the neck and forming a wall of the groove. It is precisely with such dimensions that the advantage is achieved that a typical conventional filling device is usable, that moreover a typical conventional tapping rod, that is, riser pipe with valve assembly can be used in the neck and that moreover a suitable enlargement of the contact surface between the connecting element and the neck, in particular the flange, is obtained to come to an optimum force transmission. The angle of inclination of the inclined surface is then preferably between 45 and 10 degrees and is, in particular, about 25 degrees. It is precisely with such an angle, which is relatively acute, that a good centering is obtained. By moreover arranging for the inclined surface, at least the planar central part thereof, to extend into the groove, such that it forms a wall part thereof, a still greater contact surface is obtained, while the outside dimensions of the neck remain suitable for use with the above-mentioned filling device and tapping rod.
The slot of a connecting device according to the invention embraces the flange, at least the neck, preferably with a slight clearance, for instance between 0 and 0.9 mm between the inclined surfaces and between 0 and 2 mm between the bottom of the groove and the adjacent edge of the connecting element, measured when the connecting element rests on the top surface of the neck. In a preferred embodiment, these tolerance dimensions are preferably about 0.4 to 0.5 mm and about 0.6 mm, respectively. Such a close fit provides for a still better connection.
Preferably, in an assembly according to the invention, an intermediate body is provided, receivable between the connecting device and the or each valve. In particular suitable to that end is a device as described in Dutch patent application “Tapping rod”, which is understood to be incorporated herein by reference. With such an intermediate body, it can be ensured that the connecting device is kept clean, free from contact with the beverage or other medium to be dispensed from the tapping keg.
The invention further relates to a tapping keg and connecting device for such a tapping keg, characterized by the features of claims 12 and 16, respectively.
In the subclaims, further advantageous embodiments are set forth of an assembly, tapping keg and connecting device according to the invention.
To clarify the invention, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:
In this description, the same or corresponding parts have the same or corresponding reference numerals. In the exemplary embodiments shown, there is each time shown a container manufactured substantially from metal, in particular steel, having a neck secured, in particular welded, therein. Into the neck a tapping rod has been screwed. Such a structure of a tapping keg is sufficiently known from practice. Such tapping kegs are used in particular for beer. It will be clear, however, that also other fixing methods and other applications are possible.
Onto the neck 5, in particular over the flange 8, a connecting device 15 has been slid, by way of a connecting element 16 which is substantially horse shoe-shaped, having an inner space or recess 17. A slot 18 is provided, open towards the U-shaped inner space 17. The slot 18 has a lower surface 19 which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the neck 5 in coupled condition. The angles of inclination of the lower surface 19 and inclined surface 9 of the flange 8 are substantially equal to each other, such that in the coupled condition shown, a relatively large contact surface is obtained between the inclined surface 9 of the flange 8 and the lower surface 19. The angle of inclination has been chosen such that a centering action is thereby obtained for the connecting device 15, in particular the base 16 of the connecting device 15.
Provided in the tapping rod 13 are, known per se, a beer valve 20 in a riser pipe 21 and a gas valve 22 on top of the riser pipe 21. The gas valve 22 is substantially circular in top plan view, and is provided with a central opening which is closed off at the underside by the beer valve 20. The gas valve 22 has its upper/outer side in the closed condition abutting against an inclined seat 23 of the outer casing of the tapping rod 13 and has at least partly an elastic outer surface for obtaining a proper seal. In the embodiment shown in
Included between the operating piston 25 and the valves 20, 22 is an intermediate body 27 with which the valves 20, 22 can be operated, so that the gas G can be brought past the gas valve and the seat 23 into the container 2, whilst beverage can be discharged from the container via the riser pipe 21 past the beer valve 20 through a beer duct 26, as indicated by the arrow B. An intermediate body 27 is described in more detail in the non-prepublished Dutch patent application NL 1016687, incorporated herein by reference. The intermediate body 27 comprises in this embodiment a first channel 28 which, adjacent the lower end, is provided on the outer side thereof with a flexible jacket 29 of a diameter such that this lower end 30 can be fittingly received in the opening 31 in the gas valve 22, in sealing engagement therewith. The lower end 30 is provided with legs 32 with which the beer valve 20 can be moved, away from the gas valve 22, such that beer can pass the beer valve 20 and can flow into the channel 28. The channel 28 is surrounded by two concentric aprons 33 and 34, of which the inner apron 33, upon pressing down of the intermediate body, is moved against the upper side of the gas valve 22 after the jacket 29 closes off the opening 31, for pressing down the gas valve 22, away from the seat 23. The outer apron 34 is provided with a flexible cladding 35 which extends outwardly at the lower end in the form of a circumferential lip 36, outside the outer apron 34, which lip 36, with the body 25 pressed down, as shown in
In
In order for the base 16 to be positioned still better, it is preferred that directly under the flange 8 a groove 10 be provided which passes around the neck 5 and is open towards the outside. The groove has a depth (at right angles to the longitudinal axis L) of, for instance, at least 1 to 2 mm, and a height of, for instance, a few mm, the slot 18 being so dimensioned that, with the base 16 fitted, as shown in
In
The above-described dimensioning of the preferred embodiment shown in
In this embodiment, again an intermediate body 27 is included between the valves 20, 22 in the tapping rod 13 and the connecting device 15, in particular a piston 25. In this embodiment, the intermediate body 27 is of two-part design, provided with a stationary part 52, and a part 54 movable within the part 52, the part 54 being provided with gas passages 56 and a beer passage 58 which terminates between legs 32. In
In
In
With an assembly according to the invention, the connecting device is preferably secured on a flange which forms an integral part of the tapping keg, in particular of the neck. However, the flange can also form part of a tapping rod which has been detachably placed in the neck of the tapping keg. Preferably, conventional safety means have then been provided for preventing the tapping rod from turning loose from the neck.
The invention is not in any way limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the description and drawings. Many variations thereon are possible within the framework of the invention outlined by the claims. In particular, all combinations of tapping kegs, connecting devices, necks, tapping rods and intermediate body as described and shown are understood to fall within the scope of the invention.
In the exemplary embodiments shown, in each case a container is shown in which a beverage, liquid or other fluid may be contained directly. It will be clear, however, that a comparable assembly can simply be designed with a bag-in-container type tapping keg. Also, a tapping keg with a neck according to the invention can be readily used with other connecting devices, at least differently operable connecting devices. Furthermore, an assembly according to the invention can also be provided with a valve assembly in a different manner, and the intermediate body can be omitted, with the valves being operated directly by the handle-tapping head, at least the piston. The dispensing duct can also be connected directly via the handle-tapping head. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the inclined surface 9 of the flange 8 is of wholly planar design. It will be clear that small profilings such as undercuts or protrusions are also possible.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1020202 | Mar 2002 | NL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/NL03/00205 | 3/19/2003 | WO |