GB2199815A

GB2199815A - Cask ventilator

Info

Publication number: GB2199815A
Application number: GB08728455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Scruton Dye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-12-09
Filing date: 1987-12-04
Publication date: 1988-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-04
Also published as: GB8629447D0; GB8728455D0; GB2199815B

Abstract

A ventilator for a beer cask or for a wine cask comprises a tapered spigot 1 for insertion into a cask 10 and having a gas-flow passage 5 therethrough. The spigot has a flat head 2 to assist its insertion into the cask and has two side-branches 3,4, each having a gas-flow passage in communication with the passage in the spigot and each of the side-branch passages having a pressure-operated non-return valve 8,9 therein. The valves are set to operate in opposite flow directions relative to the interior of the ventilator. The air-inlet valve 9 may be provided with a filter 13. <IMAGE>

Description

CASK VENILATDR The present invention is a ventilator for a beer cask or for a wine cask. It will be described hereinafter as applied to beer but is equally suitable for ventilating cask-conditioned wines.

Beer of the so-called "real ale" type, by which is meant beer which is brewed and delivered in a cask and served directly fran the cask, is constantly generating carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide must be released fron the cask, both on delivery and then regularly thereafter. The task of venting beer casks is one which makes considerable demands on the time of a public house landlord.

When beer is to be drawn from a cask, it is necessary to ventilate the cask to allaw air to enter to replace the volume of the beer drawn. Thus a cask which is connected to the serving pump must be left ventilated, that is open to the ambient air of the storage cellar, throughout the opening hours of the public house in question. This practice is somewhat unhygienic in that bacteria and other contaminants nay too readily enter the cask but no satisfactory alternative practice is available.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ventilator for beer casks, by neans of which the time-consuming oonventional ventilating procedure is avoided and the period for which the cask is open to the air is greatly reduced.

The cask ventilator according to the present invention comprises a tapered spigot for insertion into a cask and having a gas-flow passage therethrough, a flat head to the spigot for striking to insert the spigot into the cask, and two side-branches, each having a gas low passage in oommunication with the passage in the spigot and each of said side-branch passages having therein a pressure-operated non-return valve, which valves are set to operate in opposite directions relative to the interior of the ventilator.

The ventilator according to the invention may be assembled from discrete components but in a preferred form the spigot, its striking head and the two side-branches are made in a single piece The ventilator, or a major part of it, nay be manufactured in a wide range of materials, including metals such as brass and stainless steel and synthetic plastics materials including polyethylene terephthalate, ABS resin, polycarbonate and nylon.

The side-branches may if desired be aligned on opposite sides of the spigot so as to form with the spigot a Shaped figure, in which the side-branches together define a linear passage at right angles to the passage in the spigot. However, it is preferred that the side-branches be staggered down the length of the spigot, with the side-branch having the inwardlydirected valve located further fran the tapered end of the spigot than the other side-branch.

The non-return valves may be of a spring-loaded mechanical type wherein a valve member seals the passage therethrough by moving against a valve seat, or of a type where m the passage is closed by folding or collapsing of a flexible seal or rtrbrane.

It is particularly preferred that the valves be of this latter type, which may be made cheaply in a plastics material such as neoprene, rubber or a silicone resin.

At least the valve which opens towards the interior of the ventilator, which as described below functions as an air inlet valve, and optionally also the other valve, may advantageously be provided with a filter to prevent the passage of extraneous materials such as particles of debris and insects.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates in vertical sectional view one preferred embodiment of the cask ventilator according to the invention, shown in its position of use in a cask.

The illustrated ventilator comprises a tapering hollow spigot 1, formed in a food-grade ABS resin with a flat striking head 2 and side-branches 3 and4.:Anaxial passage 5 in the spigot communicates directly with transverse passages 6 and 7 formed within the sidebranches 3 and 4 respectively.

The passage 6 in the side-branch 3 is closed by a non-return valve 8, which is made of a silicone resin and comprises a resilient membrane 8a, by neans of which gas is able to flow outwardly fran the spigot but is prevented fram flowing inwardly.

The passage 7 in the side-branch 4 is closed by a similar non-return valve 9, set in the opposite flow direction to the valve 8 so as to permit in-flow of gas into the spigot.

Ehen the casks of beer are delivered, they are first set up on gantrys in the conventional manner with their bungs uppermDst, as exemplified by the cask 10 in the drawing. The plastics bung or "tut" 11 is punched from the centre of the wooden bung 12 by hammering the spigot 1 into place as shown. The cask is now ready to deliver beer whenever required.

Carbon dioxide generated during transit or subsequently is able to escape freely by the non-return valve 8. When beer is drawn from the cask, it is autanatically and immediately replaced by air flowing in via the non-return valve 9. The in-flowing air is filtered by an air filter 13 fitted within the outer end of the passage 7. When the pressure of air and carbon dioxide in the cask is in balance with the ambient pressure, the cask is automatically sealed against any inward flow of air If, as sometimes occurs, the pressure within the cask causes liquid to overflow via the spigot, the liquid is able to flow out through the passage 6. The vertical staggering of the passages 6 and 7 ensures that such liquid does not reach the air inlet and give rise to a risk of contamination.

The ventilator Continues to function as described without attention until the cask is eventually empty.

It will be readily apparent that the cask ventilator according to the present invention, exemplified by the illustrated preferred embodiment, affords a significant saving in the landlord's time and maintains the contents of the cask more hygienically than the above-described prior practice permits.

Claims

1. A ventilator for a beer or wine cask, comprising a tapered spigot for insertion into a cask and having a gas-flow passage therethrough, a flat head to the spigot for striking to insert the spigot into the cask, and two side-branches, each having a gas low passage in communication with the passage in the spigot and each of the side-branch passages having therein a pressureoperated non-return valve, which valves are set to operate in opposite directions relative to the interior of the ventilator.

2. A cask ventilator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side-branches are aligned on opposite sides of the spigot.

3. A cask ventilator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side-branches are staggered down the length of the spigot, the side-branch with the inwardly-directed non-return valve being located further groan the tapered end of the spigot than the other side-branch.

4. A cask ventilator as claimed in any of the preceding claims, of which at least the spigot, striking head and side-branches are formed in a metal or a synthetic plastics material.

5. A cask ventilator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the synthetic plastics material is an ABS resin.

6. A cask ventilator as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the non-return valves each comprise a springloaded valve member moving against a valve seat.

7. A cask ventilator as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the non-return valves each ccoprise a flexible seal or irrbrane.

8. A cask ventilator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flexible seal or membrane is of a silicone resin.

9. A cask ventilator as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having an air filter in the passage having the inwardlydirected valve therein.

10. A ventilator for a beer or wine cask, which ventilator is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.