TORNEIRA COM REGULADOR DE FLUXO DE CONTROLE MANUAL PARA SERVIR BEBIDAS FERMENTADAS, TIPO CERVEJA

Abstract

MANUAL FLOW CONTROL TAP FOR SERVING FERMENTED BEVERAGES, SUCH AS BEER. The following utility model summary refers to the development of a tap for serving fermented beverages, such as beer, which has a system that allows the flow of the beverage to be regulated according to the pressure of the beverage inside the barrel or appropriate container. This system is called a flow regulator, and a system for opening and closing, partially or totally, in order to allow the beer to be served in foam form when partially open, or in liquid form when fully open. It basically consists of a body (1), where a core (2) with sealing rings, a ball joint with fixing screws (3), a handle (4), a tube (5), a flow regulator shaft with sealing rings (6), a flow regulator cap (7) and a flow regulator handle (8) are mounted.

Description

1 / 8 Tap with manual flow control regulator for serving fermented beverages, such as beer. Technical field.

[001] The following descriptive report for a utility model refers to the development of a tap for serving fermented beverages, such as beer. It has a system that allows the flow of the beverage to be regulated according to the pressure of the beverage inside the barrel or appropriate container; this system is called a flow regulator. It also has a manual opening and closing system for the tap, consisting of a ball joint attached to a rotating core and a handle. When the handle is fully extended, the beverage is dispensed in liquid form; when partially extended, the beer is dispensed as foam or cream; and to close the tap, the handle is fully extended backward. STATE OF THE ART

[002] The tap for serving beer and draft beer (draft beer is unpasteurized beer) has existed for many decades and there are several systems on the market.

[003] These taps use different systems for actuating or releasing the liquid, such as valves, shafts, springs, washers, spindles, etc., with the challenge of simplifying the flow and sealing mechanisms being the main target of the industry.

[004] An example of a fermented beverage tap can be seen in document BR 202014002439-0 which describes a draft beer tap, which is manufactured from various materials, preferably stainless steel, chrome-plated steel or other suitable material and formed by a body with a transition section and outlet nozzle, handle, nipple, fitting rod, Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 6 / 20 2 / 8 actuating rod, extension tube washer and finishing nipple, characterized by allowing the reduction of foam quantity and controlling the amount of foam due to the use of a body provided with an extended nozzle to fill each cup consistently and reduce the formation of a collar and cutouts in the shape of a stylized U and available at the outlet nozzle.

[005] BR 202014002439-0 is similar to document DE 4207390, where a common tap for serving draft beer can be seen.

[006] A sanitary faucet with an adaptable foam control feature for dispensing pressurized fluids is disclosed in US 20050236435. The sanitary faucet includes a valve body, a plunger assembly, a flow restrictor assembly, and an adjustment screw assembly. A method for variably regulating fluid flow pressure and foam production in the sanitary faucet is also disclosed.

[007] Other patent documents disclosing taps for beverages, such as beer taps, can be seen in US 2018543 and US 625725. PROBLEM OF THE TECHNOLOGY

[008] The valves known in the state of the art employ springs, pistons and various moving parts, which increase the cost of the product, make maintenance difficult, are easy to damage and many of them do not have support in the national market. PROPOSED SOLUTION

[009] Thus, with the aim of solving the aforementioned problems, one of the objectives of the present utility model now proposed is to develop a sealing and flow regulation system with its own simple design, applied to taps for dispensing fermented beverages, such as beer, which uses a monobloc body, with a reduced number of moving parts that generate Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 7 / 20 3 / 8 of the resources already mentioned are available. DESCRIPTION

[010] The characterization of the present utility model is made by means of representative figures of the tap with manual flow control regulator for serving fermented beverages, such as beer, in such a way that the product can be fully reproduced by appropriate technique, allowing full characterization of the functionality of the object claimed.

[011] Based on the elaborated figures that express the best way to realize the product now conceived, the descriptive part of the report is based, through a detailed and consecutive numbering, where it clarifies aspects that may be implied by the representation adopted, in order to clearly determine the protection now intended.

[012] These figures are merely illustrative and may present variations, provided they do not deviate from what was initially requested: Figure 01 shows a top view of the proposed faucet; and Figure 02 shows the longitudinal section AA of the tap shown in Figure 01.

[013] The tap consists basically of a body (1), in which are mounted a core (2) with sealing rings, a ball joint with fixing screws (3), a handle (4), a tube (5), a flow regulator shaft with sealing rings (6), a flow regulator cover (7) and a flow regulator handle (8).

[014] The body (1) is a monobloc piece that includes in its geometry an external thread for fixing and coupling the beer conduction pipe, located at the rear end of the body, a concentric longitudinal hole along the body for beer conduction, a hole transverse to the body, which intersects with the hole Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 8 / 20 4 / 8 longitudinal, located in the middle part of the body for mounting the flow regulator shaft, the flow regulator cover and the flow regulator handle, characterizing the flow regulator.

[015] The anterior end of the body is shaped like a hemispherical head, in which the core with the ball joint and handle is mounted, characterizing the flow opening and closing system.

[016] The hemispherical head has a threaded nozzle that allows the tube to be attached for serving the beverage, it also has two side channels with a 75° angled opening in order to limit the rotational movement of the core by means of two pins mounted radially in the core.

[017] The core (2) is a cylindrical piece that has two transverse holes (9 and 10) that meet in the center of the core, forming an angle between them, responsible for the passage of liquid beer, when both are fully aligned with the holes in the body and the nozzle, or for the passage of beer in the form of foam or cream, when both are partially aligned. It has a circular channel on its curved surface, which is intended to receive an o-ring type sealing ring (2a), and which, when aligned concentrically with the longitudinal hole in the body, completely interrupts the flow of beer. This core and o-ring (2a) assembly constitutes a technological innovation to the beer sealing and airtightness system when in the closed position.

[018] It has an eccentric through hole for mounting a shaft, or two partial threaded holes, one on each side, for mounting screws that will lock the core to the ball joint, with the function of linking the rotary movement of the ball joint, performed manually via the handle, to the core. It may or may not have two Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 9 / 20 5 / 8 concentric channels, according to the material used in its manufacture, one on each face of the core to receive two o-rings to eliminate the mounting clearance between the core and the ball joint. It has two radial holes at the ends of the core where two pins are mounted, which serve to limit the rotation of the core to 75° between the on-off positions, i.e., open or closed.

[019] The ball joint (3) is a one-piece piece that has a threaded hole on top for mounting the handle, two lateral holes concentric with the threaded holes of the core, and two eccentric holes aligned with the eccentric holes of the core. The ball joint is intended to transmit the movement of the handle, performed manually, to the core.

[020] The handle (4) is a cylindrical piece mounted next to the ball joint (3), with the purpose of positioning the core, through the ball joint, to open fully or partially, and close the tap, manually.

[021] The tube (5) is a cylindrical tube-shaped piece, which has a thread at one end for mounting on the spout of the tap body, and its purpose is to conduct the beer into the glass or container.

[022] The flow regulator shaft (6) is a cylindrical piece with two channels for o-ring type seals located at its ends. It has a transverse channel between the two o-ring channels, which aligns with the longitudinal hole of the body when assembled, and which is intended to allow greater or lesser beer flow, according to the angular position of the regulator shaft. It has a smaller diameter concentric cylindrical rod, located at one end of the regulator shaft, which contains a transverse threaded hole for mounting the regulator handle, which has the function of manually rotating the regulator shaft in order to regulate the beer flow. Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 10 / 20 6 / 8

[023] The flow regulator cover (7) is a hollow, hexagonal piece with an internal thread, which is mounted on the body of the tap, more specifically in the transverse hole, and whose purpose is to keep the flow regulation shaft fixed in the axial direction, but allow it to rotate, through the flow regulator handle.

[024] The flow regulator handle (8) is a cylindrical piece, which is mounted in the threaded transverse hole of the flow regulator rod, and its purpose is to rotate the flow regulator shaft manually.

[025] Configures an improvement in the proposed object the beer sealing and airtightness system and the flow regulation system.

[026] The sealing and airtightness system employs a part called a core (2) which has a circular channel on its curved surface, which copies the curvature of the cylindrical surface maintaining the same depth throughout its length, and where an o-ring type sealing ring is mounted which, when aligned concentrically with the longitudinal hole of the body (1), completely interrupts the flow of beer. The o-ring, being made of elastomeric material, fits compliantly inside the core channel, exerting a slight pressure between the core channel and the cylindrical face of the hole in the hemisphere of the body (1) where the core (2) and the o-ring (2a) assembly are mounted, preventing the beer from permeating between the two cylindrical surfaces and leaking through the tube.

[027] The flow regulation system employs the flow regulation shaft (6) which has an eccentric channel that allows the passage of beer. The flow rate can be changed by rotating the flow regulator shaft (6) and consequently changing the angular position of the channel in relation to the longitudinal hole of the body (1), decreasing or increasing the passage of beer through the channel. Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 11 / 20 7 / 8

[028] Both new products are characterized by their simple design, which is different from what is found on beer taps. IMPROVEMENT ACHIEVED

[029] A sealing and leak-tightening system is a system that interrupts the flow of liquid and seals it, using the natural pressure of the o-ring between the two faces of each part, without using other additional components, such as springs and screws, to tighten or increase the pressure of the seal in its seat. Only a single o-ring mounted on the core performs the task.

[030] Flow regulation system, where this system, being simpler, smaller, with fewer parts, eliminates the need for hollow cones, which are commonly used in beer taps, and which are more complex to manufacture, making the product heavier and more expensive.

[031] The improvements achieved reach three stages: - Production: reduction in the number of parts to be produced, reduction in parts production time, reduction in assembly time. These benefits provide a significant reduction in manufacturing costs; - Operation: the tap has features available to regulate the desired flow rate, according to the pressure of the beer in the keg, to serve the beer in liquid form, or in the form of foam or cream, and also to keep the handle in partially open or fully open positions, without the operator having to hold the handle during beer extraction. This means that the same operator can serve several glasses at the same time, optimizing service; - Maintenance: easier disassembly and assembly, allows for more thorough cleaning, allows for easy replacement of sealing rings, and does not require skilled labor. Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 12 / 20 8 / 8 specialized work for maintenance. It greatly reduces maintenance time, significantly lowers maintenance costs, and increases the product's lifespan. Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 13 / 20

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIM: 1- TAP WITH MANUAL FLOW CONTROL REGULATOR FOR SERVING FERMENTED BEVERAGES, SUCH AS BEER, characterized by being basically constituted of a body (1), where a core (2) with sealing rings, a ball joint with fixing screws (3), a handle (4), a tube (5), a flow regulator shaft with sealing rings (6), a flow regulator cover (7) and a flow regulator handle (8) are mounted, where: - the body (1) is a monobloc piece that includes in its geometry a thread for its fixing and coupling of the beer conduction pipe, located at the rear end of the body, a concentric longitudinal hole along the body for beer conduction, a transverse hole to the body that intersects with the longitudinal hole, located in the middle part of the body for mounting the flow regulator shaft, the flow regulator cover and the flow regulator handle, forming the flow regulator,the front end of the body is shaped like a hemispherical head, on which the core with the ball joint and handle is mounted, forming the beer flow opening and closing system; - the core (2) is a cylindrical piece that has two transverse holes (9 and 10) that meet in the center of the core, forming an angle, it has a circular channel on its curved surface, which is intended to receive an o-ring type sealing ring (2a); - the ball joint (3) is a monobloc piece that has a threaded hole on the top for mounting the handle, two lateral holes concentric with the threaded holes of the core, and two eccentric holes aligned with the eccentric holes of the core; - the tube (5) is a cylindrical tube-shaped piece, which has Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 14 / 20, 2 / 2 thread at one end for mounting on the spout of the tap body; - the flow regulator shaft (6) is a cylindrical piece with two channels for o-ring type seals located at its ends, it has a transverse channel between the two o-ring channels, which aligns with the longitudinal hole of the body, when mounted in the transverse hole of the body, it has a concentric cylindrical rod of smaller diameter, located at one end of the regulator shaft, which contains a transverse hole with thread for mounting the regulator handle; - the flow regulator cap (7) is a hexagonal, hollow piece with internal thread, which is mounted on the end of the transverse hole of the tap body; and - the flow regulator handle (8) is a cylindrical piece, which is mounted in the transverse hole with thread of the flow regulator rod. Petition 870210030665, dated 01 / 04 / 2021, page 15 / 20

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