US2154479A - Fluid dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

F. M. SPAYD April 18, 1939.

FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS h Filed May 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 18, 1939. F. M. SPAYD I FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il n- 9 7 54 TC a 7 6 N a 2 5 8 8 53 5 j y Q6 6 y a; w/ m M 7 4,,J s w ham 4 M Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to the dispensing of beverages or other liquids.

One object of the invention is the provision of a closure means for kegs or other fluid containers, wherein the closure member is moved inwardly into the container on the end of a tap rod or the like that is employed to move the closure member to and from its closure position, the parts being such as to provide a dependable construction that can be relied upon to operate in the manner intended.

Another object of the inventionis the provision of a closure means for containers of the character mentioned, in which there is provision insuring the connection of the tap rod to the closure member at a predetermined point in the releasing movements of the closure member.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment or fitting including a bung body portion and a closure member therefor'which is adapted for operation by a tap rod or the like thetwo parts being interconnected by a readily detachable connection. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character mentioned including a bung body or the like and a closure member therefor, the latter being separable from the bung body and at the same time positively locked to a tap rod which is employed to operate and carry the closure member, the locking engagement being such as to insure the complete closure of the container with which the device is :used before the tap rod can be separated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 7 will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which a Fig. 1 -is a vertical central section through a keg embodying the present invention, a portion 0 of the tap rod and tap rod fitting being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation showing the end of the tap rod; I I Fig. 3-is a central vertical section showing a pm part of the bung body member, the tap rod and sired material.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the closure member;

Fig.8 is a corresponding end view thereof;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the closure member viewed at 90 from Fig. 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals, l0 designates a container for beverages or for other fluid materials to be stored and dispensed. This container can be of any suitable form and can be made of any de- As herein shown, however, the invention is disclosed with reference to a keg adapted to contain beer, for example. Such a keg ordinarily has a bung opening in an end wall, the bung opening being adapted to receive a hung or valved closure, the liquid being withdrawn through a tap rod which is extended into the contents of the keg through the opening or passage in the bung. Ordinarily, when the tap rod is withdrawn, the passage through the bung is opened, thus placing the contents of the keg in communication with the outside air and permitting entrance of dirt and foreign matter into the keg and also, in case the contents of the keg are only partially consumed, permitting the loss of pressure. In accordance with the present invention, however, the keg or other container is provided with a bung portion, which is preferably although not necessarily separable from the body of the container, and a closure member is provided, .of such character that the closure member seals the passage through the bung portion when the tap rod is withdrawn, thus maintaining the pressure existing in a container the contents of which have not been entirely consumed, and permitting the shipment of empty containers without the possibility of fouling the interior of the container.

As herein shown, the end wall ll of the keg is provided with a bung body member I2, preferably in the form of a metal casting. This body member is a fitting adapted to be readily fastened in place in the end wall H, being provided with exterior threads l3 permitting the body member to be readily applied. The body member is adapted to be quickly and readily connected in a detachable manner with the end of a suitable tap fitting or attachment. An attachment that can be effected merely by a rotational movement is especially desirable. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the outer side of the body member is provided with a recess or grooved portion [4 provided between the inner annular wall [5 and the flanged portion l6 and suitably formed to provide a bayonet depression adapted to receive the bayonet end I! of a suitable fitting illustrated in Fig. 1 and designated generally by the reference numeral l8. This fitting is provided with opposed arms l9 extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to be received in the slotted portions 23 in the annular wall [5 of the bung body, and adapted to underlie the outwardly extending projections 2| on this wall when turned through a part of a revolution. As will be apparent, the fitting l8 can thus be applied to the outer side of the bung body by a combined axial and turning movement. A rotatable nut 22 can then be turned to draw the seat portion. of the fitting tightly against the end of the wall 'I 5.

The fitting i8 is preferably provided with a suitable pressure pipe 23; and a sealing nut 24 adapted to receive the elongated hollow tap rod 25 which extends axially through the fitting l8 and down into the keg, the lower end of the tap rod being in communication with the interior of the keg so that the contents can be withdrawn by reason of the pressure supplied'to the keg interior through the gas supply pipe 2 3 The latter supplies carbon dioxide or other gas along the interior passage of the fitting 18 as will be readily understood, loss of gas being prevented by suitable packing material compressed bythe rotatable nut 24 against the tap rod.

The axial passage 29 through the body member I 2, at the upper portion thereof is preferably only a little larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the tap rod 25. This passage however is considerably larger in diameter below the threaded portion of the body member, the latter having a cylindrical wall 35 extending down wardly and having a finished radially extending seat surface 3|, see Fig. 6. This seat surface is adapted to be engaged by a sealing washer or ring 32, preferably of metal, this ring being car ried by the seat portion or flange 33 of a closure member designated generally by the reference numeral 34. This closure member, when applied to the bung body member I2 closes the axial passage through the body member and hermetically seals the interior of the container. The construction is such that it can be applied to the bung body member l2 by means of the tap rod, and when it is removed from the body member it is carried by the lower end of the tap rod, to which it is then secured.

The construction of the body member l2 and the closure member 34 is preferably of such chard acter that the latter can be applied so as to seal the former by rotational movements of the closure member through only a part of a complete revolution. As herein shown these two parts are connected by a bayonet attachment, the body member I2 having a pair of opposed fiangesor projections 36 each extending throughout somewhat less than a quarter of a circumference, and projecting inwardly from the wall 30 of the bung body, as will be apparent from Figs. 4 and 6. The upper sides of these projections are .inclined and are adapted to be engaged by the pair of opposed camming projections 38 that are arranged on the closure member 34. Each of thecamming projections 38 has an inclined camming surface 39, adapted for operation over the upper inclined surfaces of the projections 36 on the bung body. The projections 38' on the closure member 34 also extend through somewhat less than a quarter of the circumference of the hollow wall 40 which projects upwardly from the comparatively flat bottom wall 4| of the closure member.

As will be understood the closure member 34 can be applied by moving the same upwardly when its projections 38 are arranged at substantially 90 from the projections 36 on the bung body member, the closure member then being rotated through about 90 to tightly close the seat portions of these parts together, exerting a compressing force on the copper or other sealing ring or washer 32.

As previously mentioned, the closure member 34 is adapted to be operated by the end of the tap rod, or by a suitable special rod having the proper end shape. The tap rod 25, at the lower end thereof is preferably shaped as shown in Fig. 2. Near its tip, the tap rod has a non-circular portion, herein shown as of hexagonal form, as designated by reference numeral 44. Several openings close to the end wall 45 of the tap rod permit the flow of liquid into the passage extending through the tap rod. Just above the hexagonal portion 44, the tap rod is grooved or cut away as indicated at 41 providing a flange or shoulder portion 48.

The closure member 34 is also provided with a non-circular portion adapted for cooperation with the hexagonal portion 44 of the tap rod, the hexagonal opening being of such size as to freely receive the correspondingly shaped portion of the tap rod for free endwise move ment, but restraining the parts, when thus telescoped one in the other, against any substantial rotational movements with respect to one another. It will thus be apparent that the end of the tap rod may be inserted through the passage in the bung portion of the container, so that its hexagonal portion 44 is received in the cor respondingly shaped portion of the closure member, and the tap rod can then be rotated about 90 to effect the release of the closure member from its sealing engagement with the body member l2. Before the release of the closure member from the body member I2 is effected, however, the closure member is attached to the end of the tap rod, and therefore remains on the lower end of the tap rod which is then projected further through the bung body until the bottom of the closure member rests on the bottom wall of the keg, this position being illustrated in Fig. 1. In this position the liquid can be withdrawn from a point very close to but spaced at little distance from the bottom wall of the keg through the several holes 52 which extend preferably radially through the wall 4!! of the closure member. Since the holes 45 in the tap rod are substantially at its lower end, almost the entire contents of the keg can be Withdrawn although a very small portion of the contents remain in' order that any sediment-containing liquid will not be consumed.

The end of the tap rod is automatically connected to the closure member at a predetermined time in the opening movements of the closure member, and preferably in a positive manner that will insure the complete sealing of the keg or container before the tap rod can be removed. Preferably the connection or latching of the tap rod to the closure member is effected during the initial opening movements, and the disconnection of the tap rod from the closure member is effected during or after the completion of the effective closing movements of the closure member.

As herein shown, the closure member is provided with a plurality of latch members 56, pivotallysupported at 51 and mounted for rocking movements in radial notches 58 in the annular wall 46 of the closure member. Suitable means are provided to normally hold or tend to hold the latches 56 in the position shown in Fig. 9, the lower end of the latches having small holes 58 receiving the ends of wire springs 59 which tension the lower ends of the latches inwardly. These springs may be mounted on vertical pins or studs 60 and are arranged in an annular groove 6| in the wall 4!]. They thus tend to hold the latching ends 63 over the flange 48 of the tap rod, when the closure member is not in its sealing position. With the latches 56 in engagement with the tap rod, as shown in Fig. 3, it will be apparent that the tap rod and closure member are held together positively and are prevented from moving in either an axial or a radial direction with respect to one another. The closure member will therefore be maintained on the end of the tap rod, and it cannot free itself by vibrational movements or in any other accidental manner.

The upper ends of the latch members 56 constitute cam surfaces 65 which operate on opposed camming surfaces 61 provided in the body member I2 as shown in Fig. 6 for example. These two surfaces 61 are preferably parallel or are slightly inclined relatively to the seat surface 3| of the body member. When the body member is forced upwardly, in its closing movements, due to the annular projections 36 and 38, the upper camming ends of the latches 56 are forced against the downwardly facingcamming surfaces 61 so that the latch members are compelled to move into the position in which they are illustrated in Fig. 4. In this position their latching ends 63 are moved free of the tap rod, and as will be apparent the release of the tap rod from the closure member 34 is effected during the final seating movements of the closure member, and at a predetermined time in its movementsso that there will be assurance that the container will be sealed before the tap rod can be withdrawn.

It will also now be obvious that the tap rod can be readily inserted into the closure member throughthe bung body member l2 toeifect release of the closure member merely by rotational movementof the tap rod through about a quarter of a revolution. The initial movements of the closure member, in effecting its release, causes the latches to move so that they engage the tap rod before the closure member can be separated or moved endwise, thus insuring the retention of the closure member on the end of the tap rod until it is again timeto seal the container either because the contents have been consumed, or in order to permit transportation of the partially consumed contents without losing the pressure existing in the container.

As will be obvious from the preceding description, the entire latching connection between the closure member and the tap rod is contained in a housed location between the closure member and the side walls 3! of the bung body member. Thus a all of the operating parts are protected from con- The sealing washer 32 is also protected by the annular flange 69 which surrounds the end wall 33 of the closure member.

The bottom of the closure member, being devoid of any obstructions and of substantially flat formation, gives a construction offering a comparatively large, flat area of contact with the bottom Wall of the keg, thus preventing cracking of the pitch that is applied to the keg bottom, when the closure member is lowered on the end of the tap rod.

While the apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to an apparatus for sealing beverages, as it could be used for sealing other kinds of containers, such as those employed for example for explosives or for edibles or where it is important to keep the interior of an empty container in a clean condition, and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inven- Y tion which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a container having a hung body provided with an axial passage therethrough and arranged substantially flush with the exterior surface of the container, a closure member rotatably operable to sealing engagement with a portion of said bung body so as to seal said passage at the inner end thereof and having a bayonet connection with the bung body, a tap rod insertable through the passage of the bung body and having a non-circular portion interfitting with the closure member for rotational movement therewith, locking means mounted on said closure member for securing the closure member to the tap rod against relative axial movement, said locking means and bung body having interengaging surfaces adapted to move the locking means into and out of engagement with the tap rod at a predetermined time in the rotational movements of the closure member, said locking means positively holding the tap rod and closure member together until the closure member is in position to seal the passage through the bung body.

2. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a container having a bung body provided with an axial passage therethrough and arranged substantially flush with the exterior surface of the container, a closure member rotatably operable to seal said passage at the inner end thereof and having a bayonet connection with the bung body, said closure member having a substantially flat bottom and a substantially radial passage close to said bottom, a tap rod insertable through the passage of the bung body and having a non-circular portion interfitting with the closure member for rotational movement therewith, locking means mounted on said closure member for securing the closure member to the tap rod against relative axial movement, said locking means and bung body having interengaging surfaces adapted to move the locking means into and out of engagement with the tap rod at a predetermined time in the rotational movements of the closure member, said locking means and interengaging surfaces being entirely housed within the bung body and closure means and said locking means positively holding the tap rod and closure member together until the closure member is in position to seal the passage through the bung body.

3. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a body member having a passage therethrough, a closure member rotatably operable to sealing engagement with a portion of said body member so as to seal said passage and separable in one direction from the portion of the body member it engages, a tap rod insertable in said direction through the passage in the body member and detachably engageable with said closure member, said tap rod having a portion interfitting with said closure member for positively transmitting rotation of said tap rod to the closure member, said closure member and said body member having cooperating means for moving the closure member upon rotation of the latter by the tap rod, into and out of engagement with said portion of the body member, and cooperating means on the tap rod and closure member for locking the tap rod and closure member together during the rotatable movements of the closure member in its release from the body member.

4. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a body member having a passage therethrough, a closure member operable to sealing engagement with a portion of said body member so as to seal said passage and separable in one direction from the portion of the body member it engages, a tap rod insertable in said direction through the passage in the body member and detachably engageable with said closure member, said closure member and body member having cooperating means for detachably connecting the same together when the closure member is moved in one direction by said tap rod, and the closure member being operable in an opposite direction by the tap rod to release the closure member from its connection with said body member, and cooperating means on the tap rod, closure member and body member for locking the tap rod positively to the closure memher at a predetermined time during the initial releasing movements of the closure member from the body member.

5. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a closed container having a body member provided with a passage therethrough, a closure member operable to sealing engagement with a portion of said body member so as to seal said passage and separable in Wardly into the container from the body member, a tap rod insertable through the passage in the body member into detachable engagement with said closure member, cooperating locking means on the tap rod and closure member for locking the tap rod to the closure member, and means on the body member for operating said locking means to substantially fix the tap rod and closure member against relative movement in axial directions during the movements of the closure member in its release from the body member.

6. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a body member having a passage therethrough, a closure member having a bayonet connection with said body member and rotatably operable through only a part of a revolution to sealing engagement with a por tion of said body member so as to seal said passage and separable in one direction from the body member, a tap rod insertable through the passage in the body member and detachably engaging said closure member, said tap rod and closure member having telescopically engaging non-circular portions for positively imparting rotational movements of the tap rod to the closure member, and means for locking the tap rod and closure member against relative axial movement.

'7. In a device of. the character described, a container having a hung body portion provided with a passage therethrough, a closure member rotatably operable to sealing engagement with a portion of said body portion to seal said passage, said closure member and body portion having cooperating means for moving the closure member upon rotation of the latter through only a portion of a revolution into and out of engagement with said body portion, a tap rod insertable through the passage in the bung body portion into engagement with said closure member, a catch operably mounted on the closure member for locking the tap rod and closure member together, and cam means for operating said catch during the initial opening and final closing rotational movements of the closure member.

8. In a device of the character described, a body member provided with a passage therethrough and having a seat, a closure member rotatably operable against said seat to seal said passage and separable in one direction from said seat, a tap rod insertable through said passage and engaging said closure member, said closure member and tap rod having interfitting parts for positively transmitting rotational movements of the tap rod in either direction to the closure member, and means for locking the tap rod to the closure member at a predetermined time in the opening movements of the closure member, said means being entirely concealed within the body member and the closure member.

9. A fitting of the character described comprising, a bung body having an axial passage therethrough, a closure member operable to sealing engagement with a portion of said bung body so as to seal said passage, said bung body and closure member having cooperating means for engaging and releasing the same by rotational movements of the closure member through only a portion of a revolution, said closure member having a non-circular portion adapted to interfit a non-circular portion of a tap rod, locking means on the closure member for locking the same to the tap rod at a predetermined time in the releasing movements of the closure member, said bung body having a surface engageable with said locking means to unlock the tap rod at the end of the engaging movements of the closure member.

10. A device of the character described com.- prising, in combination, a body member having a passage therethrough, a closure member having a bayonet connection with said body member and rotatably operable through a part of a revolution to sealing engagement with a portion of said body member so as to seal said passage and separable in one direction from the body member, a tap rod insertable through the passage in the body member and detachably engaging said closure member, said tap rod and closure member having telescopically engaging non-circular portions for positively imparting rotational movements of the tap rod to the closure member, and spring pressed catch means pivotally mounted on said closure member and engageable with side portions of the tap rod for locking the tap rod and closure member against relative axial movement.

' FRED M. SPAYD.

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