EP0973688B1 - Tap - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tap for beer barrels, comprising a tap casing with a valve and an outflow in addition to a beer duct which is connected to said casing and is used to pierce the barrel. Said beer duct is engulfed by a movable sheath with a compressed seal against which a muff can be screwed. Also provided are means for securing the tap casing in relation to the sheath and the muff in a position which opens the bung hole of the barrel. A toothed ring is rotationally arranged on the beer duct between two stops. Said ring interacts with the similarly toothed muff like a ballpoint pen.

Description

The present invention relates to a tap for beer kegs according to the preamble of claim 1, which for both kegs and standard beer kegs suitable is.

In the kegs, the bunghole is closed by a spring-loaded plug, with standard drums, the plug is ejected into the inside of the drum when tapping and sinks to the ground.

The tap can be fixed in the bunghole with the help of a press seal, afterwards is the tap's beer channel e.g. by hammer blows at fixed Pinch seal driven against the plug and ejected (DE 33 06 204 A1).

In the case of kegs, the movable part of the device must be in the bung opening position must be fixed, otherwise the spring-loaded plug closes the bung closes again when the beer channel is moved back. From DE 94 11 864 U1 blocking means are known for this purpose, but because of the function-related Deformations are subject to a high mechanical load, so that they only have a relatively short lifespan.

The present invention has therefore set itself the task of a tap create, in which the blocking means are exposed to a very low load are, although a safe locking function should be ensured so that the Life of the tap is increased significantly.

To achieve this object, the specified in claim 1 are inventively Features suggested. Further refinements are the subject of Subclaims 2 to 7.

The invention makes here for the means for fixing the tap housing opposite sleeve and sleeve from that known as ballpoint pen mechanism kinematic principle (see e.g. DE-GM 17 07 436 or DE-AS 12 59 735, Figure 6 and 7) use, its transfer to the remote field for this purpose the tap was previously unknown and was not suggested.

The functions of fastening and piercing the barrel are as follows:
First, as usual, the beer channel with the pinch seal surrounding it is inserted into the bung hole, the tap housing being in the position removed from the sleeve. The sleeve is turned and the rubber ring of the press seal is widened until the tap is fixed in the bung.

A force is then applied to the valve body in the axial direction, e.g. through a Hammer blow exercised, with the tap housing and beer channel against the force the coil spring in the direction of the stopper and this inside the barrel float.

At the same time, however, the beer channel shifts relative to the sleeve fixed to the barrel and the toothed ring comes into the range of action of the webs of the second sleeve part, so that as a result of the opposite inclination of the toothed ring by a web width (the narrower webs of the second sleeve part) is rotated. After hitting the beer channel in the sleeve moves back slightly and the ring teeth lay with their base against the contact sections of the first sleeve part. To the The lock only needs to be released from the beer channel or tap housing, again against the force of the coil spring, in the direction away from the barrel to be moved. Sloping surfaces of the webs of the second act again Part of the sleeve on the inclined surfaces of the ring teeth, turn the tooth so that ultimately the ring teeth in the spaces between the webs of the first Part of the sleeve are guided, the coil spring relaxes and the valve body hereby comes into the position away from the barrel and from the sleeve.

When removing the tap, it is irrelevant in which position the pinch seal is opened. It is only necessary to ensure that before the Driving the cock the sleeve is in the latter position, otherwise the Pinch seal can not be set.

At the bottom of the webs of the first sleeve part, an inwardly directed, molded the cock housing comprehensive collar, which as a system for the Ring is used so that in the relaxed coil spring in the tap housing further Position of the sleeve of the ring with its closed part on this collar is applied and the ring teeth are thus relieved.

The keys on the beer channel are followed by feather keys that fit into the corresponding Grooving a clutch grooves. The coupling has an external thread, to which the second sleeve part is screwed. With the clutch is still the sleeve connected (screwed), the compression seal in a known manner wearing. This consists of a tubular spacer pushed onto the sleeve (or a sleeve) being between an end flange of the sleeve and the Spacer (or the sleeve) a rubber ring is inserted so that when turning the sleeve, the spacer squeezes or relaxes the seal.

The beer line, like all parts of the beer that come into contact with the beer The valve body is advantageously made of plastic, the valve body itself made of metal. It can be used to secure against twisting arms reaching into the tap housing are molded onto the beer channel be equipped with locking elements and at the same time the beer channel hold on the valve body.

Another major improvement in the functionality of the tap is achieved by a special shape of the spacer. This will conical on the outside, so that when the tap is inserted the beer channel lies against the stopper of the barrel and the cone with the outer edge of the bunghole stuck.

Now put the tap by widening the rubber ring Pinch seal firmly in the bung hole, so the tap is completely wobble-free through the wider area of the spacer or sleeve at the bung hole fixed, with the greatest possible distance between the stopping areas is achieved so that relatively large forces can be absorbed.

The spacer can fall off conically from the center to both ends, because faultless installation is thus facilitated. As a cone angle can be used in conventional Dimensions approximately 1 °.

Figur 1

den Aufbau des Zapfhahnes mit Sperrmechanismus in räumlicher Darstellung;

Figur 2

die Festlegung des Zapfhahnes am Spundloch eines Fasses; Bierkanal in zurückgezogener, in Figur 3 gestrichelt gezeichneter Stellung;

Figur 3

die Funktion des Sperrmechanismus als Prinzipskizze; in Vollstrichen mit vorgeschobenem Bierkanal zum Öffnen des Faß-Stopfens, gestrichelt angedeutet die Stellung gemäß Figur 2 mit zurückgezogenem Bierkanal.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Show

Figure 1

the structure of the tap with locking mechanism in a spatial representation;

Figure 2

the determination of the tap on the bung hole of a barrel; Beer channel in the withdrawn position shown in broken lines in FIG. 3;

Figure 3

the function of the locking mechanism as a sketch; in full lines with the beer channel advanced to open the barrel stopper, indicated by dashed lines, the position according to FIG. 2 with the beer channel withdrawn.

FIG. 1 shows in the exploded view the metal tap housing 26 into which the beer channel 1 can be inserted. The beer channel 1 has arms 28 which engage in the corresponding recesses in the interior of the tap housing 26 and secure it against rotation. The beer channel 1 also has a bearing 29 for a ring 4, which has ring teeth 5 with inclined surfaces 6. Behind this is a stop 3 for the ring 4, the edge of the valve housing 26 represents the opposite stop 2 for the ring 4. The stop 3 is followed by feather keys 24, which in turn lie in grooves 23 of a coupling 19 and the latter against rotation to back up.

The beer channel 1 and the connector 31 are displaceable Sleeve 7 includes, which is screwed to the coupling 19 via the external thread is (Figure 2). The sleeve 7 consists of two sleeve parts 8 and 9, which on their Inner surface surfaces 10, 11 have webs 12, 13, which at their ends Ring 4 facing inclined surfaces 6 ', 6 ", the axial displacement the tap housing 26 with the beer channel 1 opposite the sleeve 7 the ring 4th Twist gradually over the ring teeth 5, the ring teeth 5 have a base 15 facing the first sleeve part 8 (webs 12), which against Attachments 14 of the webs 12 can be created. A collar 18 is attached to the first sleeve part 8 integrally formed, which engages around the connector 31 and at the same time as a contact surface for the ring 4 in its position with the coil spring 17 relaxed (cf. Figure 2) is used.

Figure 2 shows the second sleeve part 9 with the webs 13 and their inclined surfaces 6 ". The beer channel 1 is surrounded by the coil spring 17, which rests against the feather keys 24 formed on the beer channel 1 and against a recess 32 of the sleeve 20, which over a Internal thread of the coupling 19 is screwed to the coupling 19. The coupling 19 also has an external thread which meshes with an internal thread of the second sleeve part 9.

The pinch seal is formed by an end flange 33 with an attached, the sleeve 20 comprising a rubber ring 22 and one acting as a spacer Bushing 27, which is displaced relative to the sleeve 20 by the sleeve 7 during rotation becomes,

The conical is important for a secure clamping in the bung hole 36 Formation of the sleeve 27 so that its thickening central area on Boundary hole edge 34 of barrel 35 clamps and reliably against the tap Jiggles and aligns the beer channel 1 coaxially to the bung hole 36.

FIG. 3 shows the function of the locking mechanism used according to the invention. The ring 4, which is axially fixed and rotatably connected to the tap housing 26 or the beer duct 1, has radially projecting ring teeth 5 with inclined surfaces 6 and base surfaces 15 ) Webs 12 of the first sleeve part 8 inclined inclined surfaces 6 "and 6 '.

In the position shown in full lines in FIG. 3 - locking of the ring 4 at tensioned coil spring 17 and to open the plug when pushed forward Beer channel 1 - the base surfaces 15 of the ring teeth 5 lie on the systems 14, the ring 4 can not be moved down in this position. However, if the ring 4 is moved upwards, the inclined surfaces 6 " and 6 (inclination preferably 45 °) the ring teeth 5 to the right so that the ring 4 is rotated. The ring teeth come into the area of the sliding wedges 16 of the webs 12, when the coil spring 17 is relaxed, the ring teeth 15 slide on it Sliding wedges 16 downwards, whereby the ring 4 is rotated further, so that the Ring teeth 5 in the intermediate areas 30 between the webs 12 of the first Part of the socket located. In this position (shown in broken lines in FIG. 3) Beer channel 1 withdrawn, corresponding to the position shown in Figure 2.

When moving the beer channel 1 out of its (shown in dashed lines in Figure 3) Position in the opening direction of the stopper (up in Figure 3) Ring teeth 5 with their inclined surfaces 6 in engagement with the lower inclined surfaces 6 "of the webs 13 of the second sleeve part 9 (upper in FIG. 3). The ring teeth 5 are thereby guided into the space between the webs 13, which when relaxing the coil spring 17 (movement of the ring teeth 5 in 3 downward) the ring teeth 5 after deflection by the inclined surfaces 6 ' the webs 12 leads to the systems 14.

Reference list

1

Beer channel

2, 3

attacks

4th

ring

5

Ring teeth

6, 6 ', 6 "

Bevels

7

sleeve

8, 9

Sleeve parts

10, 11

Inner surface areas

12, 13

Walkways

14

Investments

15

Base of the ring teeth

16

Sliding wedge

17th

Coil spring

18th

Federation

19th

clutch

20th

Sleeve

21

flange

22

Rubber ring for press seal

23

Groove

24th

adjusting spring

25th

inner thread

26

Tap housing

27

Bushing, spacer

28

poor

29

camp

30th

Intermediate area

31

Connector

32

Confiscation

33

End flange

34

Bunghole rim

35

Barrel

36

Bunghole

Claims (7)

1. Tap for beer barrels consisting of a tap housing (26) with valve and run-off, as well as a beer canal (1), connected to the tap housing (26) serving for the broaching of the barrel (35), which is encompassed by a slidable bush (20) with squeezing seal (rubber ring 22, end flange 33, sleeve 27), is screwable against the sleeve (7) and whereby means are provided, which fix tap housing (26) with regard to bush (20) and sleeve (7) in a position opening the bunghole (36) of the barrel (35), characterised by the following features

   a) on the beer canal (1) is present a ring (4) rotatably mounted between two stops (2,3) which has ring teeth (5) projecting radially from this which, in peripheral direction, have sloping bevelled surfaces (6);

   b) the sleeve (7) consists of a first and a second sleeve part (8,9) connected with one another which, on their inner superficies (10,11) have axis-parallel first and second flanges (12,13) each of which possesses their own bevelled surfaces (6',6") facing the ring teeth (5), whereby the distance of the first flanges (12) from one another are so dimensioned that the ring teeth (5) slide in these and the length of which corresponds at least to the pushing-in length of the beer canal (1) in the bunghole (36);

   c) besides its own bevelled surfaces (6'), the first flanges (12) possess rests (14) for the base (15) of the ring teeth (5) to which is connected a sliding wedge (16), whereby there are present twice as many second (13) as first flanges (12) and the second flanges (13) among themselves are also distanced from one another by the dimension of the ring teeth (5) and whereby

   d) on the sleeve (7) acts a helical spring (17) surrounding the beer canal (1) which presses the base (15) of the ring teeth (5) against the rests (14).
2. Tap according to claim 1, characterised in that the first flanges (12) of the first sleeve part (8) end at a shoulder (18) against which the ring (4) can be laid.
3. Tap according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that into the second sleeve part (9) is screwed in a coupling (19) rotatably secured with regard to the beer canal (1) by a groove (23)-spring (24) connection which carries the bush (20).
4. Tap according to claim 3, characterised in that the coupling (19) has an inner thread (25) which is screwed with the bush (20).
5. Tap according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that in the tap housing (26) is placed a beer pipe of synthetic material and that the beer canal (1) also consists of synthetic material and via two arms (28) formed on this is connected with the help of a stop connection with the tap housing (26).
6. Tap according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the sleeve (27) encompassing the bush (20) is formed outwardly conical.
7. Tap according to claim 1, characterised in that the cone angle amounts to about 1°.

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