Patent Application
20240279045
The present invention concerns a tap for dispensing alternatively two liquids.
Taps allowing the dispensing of different types of liquids are usually called n-way taps, according to the number “n” of liquids that can be dispensed.
Dispensing multiple types of liquids is an essential feature of standard taps. The most obvious example is the hot/cold water configuration, but other important examples include
Cold and hot water are usually both coming from the same pipe. There is no problem to mix them in the tap extremity. On the contrary, filtrated drinking water and standard tap water have different composition and properties due to the filter. They need to have separate nozzles for avoiding to mix them.
There are two different opening system for such taps. On one hand, stable openings allow to regulate the intensity of the liquid flow, while on the other hand, so called temporized taps provide a liquid flow in a 1-0 manner, meaning that the flow intensity cannot be chosen.
Another type of taps is provided by beer taps for dispensing draught beer. The opening of such taps is usually commanded by handles that were initially designed for actioning pumps. They have been progressively replaced by handles actioning normally closed valves for sparing beer. These valves usually 1-0 valves in order to optimize the flow to avoid foam excess. Moreover, there are often several nozzles for the different types of beer, and the taps are optionally chilled by a recirculation pump for offering an optimal beer temperature.
Document WO2011008491A1 discloses a tap that allows at least three streams of draught beers to be dispersed from one keg handle. The handle commands valves associated to the different type of draught beers. The choice of the valve to be opened is made by rotating the handle around the handle axis and the opening of the corresponding valve is made by rotating the handle around a fixed point. Two different rotations are therefore needed to choose and open a valve. Moreover, the tap is limited to beer keg and is not meant to be placed on other systems such as domestic water distribution networks.
All the abovementioned taps may be equipped with different types of nozzles that can serve for example to spare water, redirect or increase/decrease a liquid flow. In particular, tap nozzles may be used to increase the aeration of a liquid flowing out of a tap.
When the liquid of interest is water, aeration may be a key factor in view of an activation of the water. By an activation of the water, it is meant that the water is submitted to specific electromagnetic field in order to obtain a good homogeneity of dissolved gasses and minerals, minimizing therefore the propension of the water to form calcification deposit.
Indeed, when submitted to certain electromagnetic fields, water is agitated at a molecular level by the fact that H2O molecules are attracted by the field but not the other water components. This creates a molecular “shake” that enhance water homogeneity with impact on nanobubbles1 and water molecule clusters. The water activation supposes the application of specific electromagnetic fields on a water which is rich in minerals and well aerated.
Water networks have usually a low dissolved air concentration for several reasons such as the succession of pumps, tubes angles, and temperature and pressure variations which tend to degas the water.
There is therefore a need for two-ways taps with a simple single handle for commanding the opening of the tap outlet that are not limited to beer draught, but adaptable on arbitrary liquid distribution networks. Advantageously, such two-way taps shall be provided with mechanisms guaranteeing a normally closed state when no external force is applied on the handle.
An aim of the present invention is to provide a 2-way tap that overcomes the shortcomings and limitations of the state of the art.
Another aim of the present invention is to provide a two-way tap which is normally closed in absence of external action.
According to the aims invention, these aims are attained by the object of the attached claims, and especially by a tap adapted for dispensing a first liquid and/or a second liquid, the tap comprising:
According to one embodiment, the distribution unit may comprise a first piston and a second piston, the first piston being able to move between a first flowing position liberating the first outlet allowing the first liquid to flow out of the first outlet when the handle is in the first open position, and a first hermetic position obstructing the first outlet preventing the first liquid to flow out of the first outlet when the handle is in the closed or second open position, and the second piston being able to move between a second flowing position liberating the second outlet allowing the second liquid to flow out of the second outlet when the handle is in the second open position, and a second hermetic position obstructing the second outlet preventing the second liquid to flow out of the second outlet when the handle is in the closed or first open position.
The first and/or second piston can be configured so that, when the handle is the closed position, the pressure applied by the first liquid on a first upper surface of the first piston compensates the pressure applied by the first liquid on a first lower surface of the first piston, and so that the pressure applied by the second liquid on a second upper surface of the second piston compensates the pressure applied by the second liquid on a second lower surface of the second piston.
The first piston can be disposed in a first chamber and the second piston can be disposed in a second chamber, the first chamber and the second chamber being devoid of fluid communication when the handle is in the closed position.
The distribution unit may further comprise a first toggle mechanism relating the handle to the first piston and a second toggle mechanism relating the handle to the second piston, the first and second toggle mechanisms being adapted to convert a rotation of the handle into a linear movement of the first and second piston.
Each of the first and second toggle mechanism may comprise an upper plate rotatably mounted around the centre point, and a lower plate rotatably fixed to the upper plate around a pivot, the upper plate being in direct contact with a lever integrally fixed with the handle, and the lower plate being in direct contact with the first or the second piston.
The distribution unit may further comprise a first lower O-ring and a first upper O-ring that are mounted on the first piston, the first lower O-ring being disposed so as to hermetically obstruct the first outlet when the handle is in the second position, and the first upper O-ring being disposed so as to prevent the first liquid to reach a handle mechanism, and further comprising a second lower O-ring and a second upper O-ring that are mounted on the second piston, the second lower O-ring being disposed so as to hermetically obstruct the second outlet when the handle is in the second position, and the second upper O-ring being disposed so as to prevent the second liquid to reach the handle mechanism.
The first and/or second upper and/or lower O-rings can be arranged so that when the handle is released, the pressure forces differential of the first and/or second upper and/or lower O-rings causes the first and/or second piston to move so that the handle reaches the closed position.
A first lower external diameter of the first lower O-ring and a first upper external diameter of the first upper O-ring may be equal, and/or wherein a second lower external diameter of the second lower O-ring and a second upper external diameter of the second upper O-ring may be equal.
Each of the first and second upper and lower O-rings can have a circular, ellipsoidal or rectangular section.
The distribution unit may further comprise:
The tap may comprise at least one solenoid valve activated by the handle for dispensing a predetermined volume of the first or second liquid.
The first angle can be smaller than the second angle, and the second angle can be smaller than the third angle.
The value of the first angle can be comprised between 25° and 35°, preferably about 30°, the value of the second angle can be comprised between 40° and 50°, preferably 45°, and the value of the third angle can be comprised between 55° and 65°, preferably 60°.
In other examples of the present invention, the tap for dispensing a first liquid or a second liquid, may comprise:
The value of the first angle (α1) can be comprised between 25° and 35°, preferably about 30°, the value of the second angle (α2) can be comprised between 40° and 50°, preferably 45°, and the value of the third angle (α3) can be comprised between 55° and 65°, preferably 60°.
The tap may further comprise:
The tap may further comprise a toggle mechanism relating the handle to the first and second piston, the toggle mechanism allowing to convert a rotation of the handle into a linear movement of the first and/or second piston.
The tap may further comprise a first lower O-ring and a second upper O-ring that are mounted on the first piston, the first lower O-ring being disposed so as to hermetically obstruct the first outlet when the handle is in the second position, and the first upper O-ring being disposed so as to prevent the first liquid to reach a handle mechanism, and further comprising a second lower O-ring and a second upper O-ring that are mounted on the second piston, the second lower O-ring being disposed so as to hermetically obstruct the second outlet when the handle is in the second position, and the second upper O-ring being disposed so as to prevent the second liquid to reach the handle mechanism.
A first lower external diameter of the first lower O-ring and a first upper external diameter of the first upper O-ring may be equal, and/or wherein a second lower external diameter of the second lower O-ring and a second upper external diameter of the second upper O-ring may be equal.
The tap may further comprise:
The tap may further comprise at least one solenoid valve activated by the handle for dispensing a predetermined volume of the first or second liquid.
The tap may further comprise a tap nozzle that comprises:
The tap may further comprise a funnel disposed between the planar grid and the nozzle outlet so that an aperture of the funnel having the largest diameter faces the planar grid and an opposite aperture of the funnel having the smallest diameter faces the nozzle outlet.
The tap may further comprise a liquid flow director disposed in the nozzle outlet for directing the liquid flowing out of the tap nozzle.
Exemplar embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the description and illustrated by the drawings in which:
The two liquids that are to be dispensed are brought to the tap via two separated pipes. In particular, the tap 1 comprises a first inlet 11a connected to a first pipe 110a which brings a first liquid into the tap, and a second inlet 11b connected to a second pipe 110b which brings a second liquid into the tap.
The first and second pipes may be connected to any type of liquid source such as for example a water distribution network, a dedicated beverage distribution network, any liquid tank, pressurized or not, such as a beer keg or an insulated chilled water tank.
The tap 1 also comprises a first outlet 12a for outflowing the first liquid, and a second outlet 12b for outflowing the second liquid.
A nozzle may be equipped on the first and second outlets of the tap so as to gather the flow of the first and second liquid into a single flowout. Other types of nozzles such as for example filter nozzles or water saving nozzles may be mounted on the tap.
The tap 1 comprises a handle 10 which can be placed by a user in three distinct positions corresponding to the three flowing states of the tap. The handle is moved by rotation around a centre point 100. This rotation is preferably operated in a vertical plane, but other configurations in which the handle is able to rotate in an arbitrary plane are not excluded. In the present disclosure, the term “vertical” refers to its commonly accepted definition when the tap is in working order.
In the embodiment illustrated in the
In
In
In
The first angle α1 may takes value between 25° and 35°, and preferably around 30°. The second angle α2, which is greater than the first angle, may take values between 40° and 50°, and preferably around 45°. The third angle α3, which is greater than the second angle, and therefore than the first angle, may take value between 55° and 65°, and preferably around 60°.
The tap 1 comprises a distribution unit whose purpose is to command the distribution of the first and second liquids in reaction to the movement of the handle 10. The distribution unit is arranged so that it provides the normally closed attribute to the tap. This means that in absence of external action on the handle, the first and second liquids are prevented from flowing out of the tap. Therefore, when no external force is applied on the handle, it spontaneously reaches the closed position. Hence if, after having used the tap to dispense the first or second liquid, a user does not place the handle back from the first or second open position in the closed position, the distribution unit will automatically make the handle reach the closed position.
In an embodiment illustrated in
When the handle is in the closed position, the first piston 14a obstructs the first outlet 12a and the second piston 14b obstructs the second outlet 12b so that neither the first nor the second liquid can flow out the tap.
When the handle 10 is placed in the first open position, the first piston 14a is pushed down so that the first liquid can flow out through the first outlet 12a, while the second piston 14b is not moved with respect to his position when the handle is in the closed position so that the second liquid is prevented from flowing through the second outlet 12b.
Similarly, when the handle 10 is placed in the second open position, the second piston 14b is pushed down so that the second liquid can flow out through the second outlet 12b, while the first piston 14a is not moved with respect to his position when the handle is in the closed position so that the first liquid is prevented from flowing through the first outlet 12a.
The first and second pistons (14a, 14b) can be configured in such a way that the pressure applied by the first and second liquids against the first and second pistons contribute at least partially to the normally closed attribute of the tap. Indeed, as it can be seen on
For several reasons, including hygiene reasons or liquid temperature reasons, it may be important to prevent the first and the second liquid from mixing inside the tap. Therefore, as illustrated in
The transmission of the handle movement to the first and second piston can be made by a toggle mechanism which allows a transformation of the rotation of the handle 10 around the centre point 100 into a linear movement of the two pistons. This toggle mechanism may comprise, for each of the first and second piston, an upper plate (17a, 17b) and a lower plate (18a, 18b) which are fixed together around a pivot (19a, 19b) forming therefore a double pendulum system.
The cross-views of
In the same way that a movement of the handle 10 is directly transferred to the first or second piston (14a, 14b) through the respective toggle mechanisms, a movement of the first or second piston is also directly transferred back to the handle. This allows the handle to spontaneously reach the closed position when the either the first or second piston reaches its hermetic position. Therefore, if the handle is released when it is in the first or second open position, the movement of the first or second piston will cause the handle to go back to the closed position.
As it can be seen from
In order to help the pistons to move back from their flowing positions to their hermetic positions the first and second pistons can be equipped with springs coiling around them. As illustrated in
In some embodiments, both the pressure differential of the liquids and the force exerted by the springs contribute to move the handle back to its closed position. This is typically the case if the pressure differential or the spring force taken individually cannot compensate the handle's weight.
The inner surface of the first chamber 13a has a first flange 160a on which the first spring 16a can be disposed so that when the first piston is moved down, the first spring is compressed between the upper part of the first piston and the first flange. Then, when the handle is placed back from the first open position to the closed position, the first piston is moved up by the first spring which tends to go back to its equilibrium position. Similarly, the inner surface of the second chamber 13b has a second flange 160b on which the second spring 16b can be disposed so that when the second piston is moved down, the second spring is compressed between the upper part of the second piston and the second flange. Then, when the handle is placed back from the second open position to the closed position, the second piston is moved up by the second spring which tends to go back to its equilibrium position.
The rigidity of the first and second spring may be sufficient to permit to the handle to pass from the first or second open position to the closed position, without the intervention of a user.
The sealing of the first and second chamber of the tap can be guaranteed by two pairs of O-rings equipped on the two pistons. As illustrated in
In addition to the two lower O-rings (15a, 15c), a first upper O-ring 15b can be equipped on the first piston 14a in order to prevent the first liquid from entering in the handle mechanism. Similarly, a second upper O-ring 15d can be equipped on the second piston 14b in order to prevent the second liquid from entering in the handle mechanism.
In a particular embodiment, the external diameters of the first lower O-ring and first upper O-ring are equal. As a consequence of this configuration, when the handle is in the closed position, the pressure applied by the first liquid in the direction of the first lower O-ring is compensated by the pressure applied in the direction of the first upper O-ring. This prevents the first piston to be in an unstable equilibrium when the handle is in the closed position. Similarly, the external diameters of the second lower O-ring and second upper O-ring are equal. As a consequence of this configuration, when the handle is in the closed position, the pressure applied by the second liquid in the direction of the second lower O-ring is compensated by the pressure applied in the direction of the second upper O-ring. This prevents the second piston to be in an unstable equilibrium when the handle is in the closed position.
The geometries of the different O-rings, and particularly the surface of the O-rings that is in contact with the first and second chamber, depend on the particular shape of the first and second pistons and can be adapted so that the pressure differential ensures that the handle 10 will reach its closed position when no external force is applied.
As illustrated in
When the handle is in the first open position, the pressure in the first chamber is usually at an intermediate value between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure in the first pipe. Similarly, when the handle is in the second open position, the pressure in the second chamber is usually at an intermediate value between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure in the second pipe.
In an embodiment, the tap may also comprise one or more solenoid valve activated by the handle for dispensing a predetermined volume of the first or second liquid. Such valves may be disposed in the first and/or second outlet so that only a predetermined amount of the first and/or second liquid can flow in the first and second chambers. Alternatively, the valves could be placed in the first and/or second outlet so that only a predetermined amount of the first and/or second liquid can flow out of the tap.
As already mentioned above, the tap 1 can be equipped with different types of nozzles according to the needs of the user. In particular, the tap can be equipped with an oxygenation nozzle whose purpose is to increase the aeration of the first and second liquids when they flow out of the tap.
A cross section of a tap nozzle 2 for aerating at least one liquid is illustrated in
The tap nozzle 2 also comprises a nozzle outlet 22 which is in fluid communication with the nozzle chamber 20 and which allows a liquid in the nozzle chamber to flow out.
The nozzle chamber 20 is equipped with an aeration mechanism for maximizing the contact between the liquid flowing through the nozzle and air.
As illustrated in
The paddle wheel 23 is able to rotate in a plane which is perpendicular to a flow axis determined by the flow of liquid in the nozzle chamber. As illustrated in
The planar grid 24 is disposed between the paddle wheel 23 and the nozzle outlet 22, in a plane parallel to the plane in which the paddle wheel rotates so that the paddle wheel and the planar grid are parallel. The planar grid comprises a plurality of holes whose diameters may vary or not.
In order to allow an air flow to circulate around the aeration mechanism, the diameters of the paddle wheel 23 and of the planar grid 24 are smaller than the internal diameter of the nozzle chamber 20. The space between the inner surface of the nozzle chamber and the lateral surfaces of the paddle wheel and the planar grid created by this difference of diameters permits a circulation of an air flow which is in contact with the liquid at the level of the paddle wheel.
In order to create a venturi effect increasing the amount of air entering into the paddle wheel 23, the tap nozzle 2 may further comprise a funnel 25 disposed between the planar grid 24 and the nozzle outlet 22, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The tap nozzle 2 may be adapted to almost any tap type and is not restricted to the tap described above. In particular, the tap nozzle can be equipped on standard domestic water taps or professional taps dispensing a one or more liquids.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 070208/2021 | Aug 2021 | CH | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/058077 | 8/29/2022 | WO |
