A valve

Abstract

 A valve 3 for a beverage tap comprises a valve member 10 of a resiliently deformable material which coacts with a frusto-conical valve seat 9. A valve actuating mechanism 4 is connected by a rod 12 to the valve member 10 and when operated deforms the member 10 away from the valve seat 9 to allow fluid flow through the valve. Employing the natural resilience of the valve member 10 to open and close the valve simplifies the operation and construction of the valve.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve and particularly, but not exclusively, to a valve for a tap for dispensing beverages under pressure from containers.

[0002] In such taps at the present time beverage flow is controlled by means of a spring loaded valve. This generally comprises an elongate axially movable valve member disposed in a valve housing defining an inlet and an outlet. The member defines a groove which accommodates an '0' ring at one end and supports a coaxially arranged spring. The spring urges the elongate valve member, and through it, the '0' ring against a frusto-conical valve seat to seal off the fluid flow passage from the inlet to the outlet. Many of the beverages.dispensed have an inherent stickiness and this tends to cause the '0' ring to adhere to the valve seat so that, particularly after a period of non-use the '0' ring is displaced from its accommodating groove when the tap is next operated. Beverages may also have a deleterious effect on the'spring eventually reducing its efficiency and impeding its return action. Both of these faults lead to valve leakages which in turn leads to losses and expense and often to unsightly staining of equipment. An object of the present invention is to alleviate or eliminate these disadvantages.

[0003] According to the present invention there is provided a fluid flow valve comprising a valve housing defining a valve seat, an inlet leading into the valve housing, an outlet leading from the valve housing, a resiliently deformable valve member disposed in the valve housing and adapted to coact with the valve seat, and means for deforming the valve member to displace it from a first position in which it abuts the valve seat to prevent fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet to a second position in which it permits fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet.

[0004] A preferred embodiment of the invention may comprise any one of more of the following advantageous features:-

(a) The valve member is moulded from a natural resilient material such as rubber.

(b) The valve member is moulded from a synthetic plastics material such as neoprene.

(c) The valve member is hollow and partially accommodates the means for deforming.

(d) The means for deforming comprises an actuation member extending out of the valve member and connected to an actuation mechanism.

(e) The actuation mechanism comprises a cam operative to lift the actuation member to deform the valve member to displace it from the valve seat.

(f) The cam comprises one or more projections which seat in corresponding recesses in the non operative, closed position of the valve and which are lifted therefrom in the operative open position of the valve.

(g) The valve seat is frusto-conical and the valve member is complementary in shape to it.

[0005] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view in partial section of a beverage dispensing tap incorporating a-valve according to-the invention, and

Figure 2 is a partial front elevational view in section of a part of the tap of Figure 1.

[0006] Referring to Figure 1, the tap generally comprises an inlet duct 1, an outlet duct 2, a valve 3 disposed between ducts 1 and 2 and a valve actuation mechanism 4. The duct 1 comprises a threaded connector 5 for connection to a beverage source and the duct 2 an adjustable dispensing cap 6 for altering the envelope of the beverage spray which emanates therefrom in use of the tap.

[0007] The valve 3 comprises a valve housing 7 defining a valve chamber 8 which communicates via a duct la with the duct 1 and which incorporates a frusto-conical valve seat 9. A valve member 10 is disposed in the valve chamber 8 and seats at its lower, frusto-conical, end on'the valve seat in the closed position of the valve. The valve member 10 is composed of a resiliently deformable material such as neoprene and itself defines an internal chamber or bore 11. This chamber 11 partially accommodates a valve actuating rod 12. The rod 12 has a head 13 at one end which is set and held in the neoprene and at its other end extends out of the chamber 11 into the valve actuating mechanism 4. The upper end of the valve member 10 is formed with a shoulder 14 which abuts a substantially complementary shoulder formed in the wall of the valve chamber 8.

[0008] A further externally screwthreaded spacer 17 is screwed into the complementary internally screwthreaded upper end of the valve chamber 8 to abut and bear down on the valve member 10 and push it against the valve seat 9.

[0009] The valve actuating mechanism, which is connected .to the actuating rod 12, is disposed above the spacer 17. This mechanism comprises a hollow cylindrical member 18 which provides a cam surface and is keyed at 18a into the internal surface of the valve housing 7, a cam 19 and an operating lever 20. The keying 18a prevents relative rotational movement between but permits relative axial movement between the member 18 and housing 7. The lever 20 is connected to the cam 19 and the rod 12, which extends through the cam 19, is screwthreaded at its upper end, and retained in position by a nut 22. Two coil springs 15 and 16 respectively are constrained to act between the spacer 17 and member 18 and between the spacer 17 and between the head 13 of the rod 12. Spring 15 urges member 18 against cam 19. Spring 16 urges rod 12 down towards the valve seat'9.

[0010] The.operative parts of the cam 19 are two projections 23 (see Figure 2) of V-shaped cross-section which seat in complementary V-shaped recesses in the upper surface of the member 18. To operate the valve the lever 20 is turned through a small angle either into or out of the plane of the drawing of Figure 1. The rotational movement withdraws the projections 23 out of their recesses thus lifting cam 19 and the rod 12 relative to the member 18. This upward movement of the rod 12 distorts the valve member 10 thus lifting its lower part away from the valve seat 9 and allowing beverage to pass from the inlet duct 1, through the duct la down through the valve chamber 8 and out through the outlet duct 2. Returning the lever to the off position enables the rod 12 and the member 10 to return to their normal rest position under the action of the natural resilience of the member 10 assisted by the spring 16.

[0011] In a preferred arrangement of the tap, the tap lever is spring loaded so that when turned in one direction to operate it, it returns automatically to the off position on release and when turned in the opposite direction it remains in the on position until positively returned to the off position.

[0012] It will be appreciated that the relatively large sealing area between tie valve member and the valve seat tends to overcome any disadvantages previously associated with '0' ring sealing. Also, employing the natural resilience of the valve member material can enable a-spring return to be eliminated. Even when springs 15 and 16 are incorporated, they are not brought into contact with the beverage. Other modifications, within the scope of the invention are also possible.

Claims

1. A fluid flow valve comprising a valve housing (7) defining a valve seat (9), an inlet (1) leading into the valve housing, an outlet (2) leading from the valve housing (7), characterised by a resiliently deformable valve member (10) disposed in the valve housing (7) and adapted to coact with the valve seat (9), and means (4, 12) for deforming the valve member to displace it from a first position in which it abuts the valve seat (9) to prevent fluid flow from the inlet (1) to the outlet (2) to a second position in which it permits fluid flow from the inlet (1) to the outlet (2).

2. A fluid flow valve as claimed in Claim 1, in which the valve member (10) is moulded from a natural resilient material such as rubber.

3. A fluid flow valve as claimed in Claim 1, in which the valve member (10) is moulded from a synthetic plastics material such as neoprene.

4. A fluid flow valve as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the valve member (10) is hollow and partially accommodates the means for deforming (4, 12).

5. A fluid flow valve as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, in which the means for deforming (4, 12) comprises an actuation member (12) extending out of the valve member (10) and connected to an actuation mechanism(4).

6. A fluid flow valve as claimed in Claim 5, in which the actuation mech anism(4) comprises a cam operative (19) to lift the actuation member (12) to deform the valve member (10) to displace it from the valve seat (9).

7. A fluid flow valve as claimed in Claim 6, in which the cam (19) comprises one or more projections (23) which seat in corresponding recesses in the non operative, closed position of the valve and which are lifted therefrom in the operative open position of the valve.

8. A fluid flow valve as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the valve seat (9) is frusto-conical and the valve member (10) is complementary in shape to it.

Drawing