GB2374131A

GB2374131A - A tap abutment arrangement.

Info

Publication number: GB2374131A
Application number: GB0108556A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Impett
Original assignee: WILMAN MARINE Ltd
Current assignee: WILMAN MARINE Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-05
Filing date: 2001-04-05
Publication date: 2002-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-05
Also published as: GB0108556D0; GB2374131B

Abstract

A tap arrangement 10 comprises a body 12, a spindle 16 slideably journalled on the body, and a handle 18 pivotably connected to the spindle. The handle 18 comprises a first cam surface and the body comprises a second cam surface. The handle 18 pivotable at pivot 20. The first and second cam surfaces cooperate to lift the spindle 16 to allow liquid to flow through the tap arrangement 10. A surface 22 of the handle 18 and the stop face 24 of the spindle 16 abut at a predetermined point to limit the pivotable displacement of the handle with respect to the spindle. The tap is preferably used to dispense drinks such as beer. Preferably stop face 24 is inclined at an angle of 45{. The handle may be a retrofit unit.

Description

A TAP ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to a tap arrangement. Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a simple schematic side view of a known beer tap arrangement in use.

Referring to figure 1, a known tap arrangement 1 comprises a handle 2 pivotable from an upright position to a horizontal position against a biasing spring (not shown).

It is desirable for a handle of a beer tap arrangement to be large and long so that it is easily grippable and easy to operate respectively. However, this would create serious problems with the known tap arrangement, these being, 1. Greater wear and stress on operating mechanisms, the biasing springs and cushions of the tap arrangement 1, 2. Due to the horizontal orientation of the handle 2 in the dispense mode protrudes causing potential danger to operating personnel and breakages to taps.

3. An awkward operating position for bar staff. For example, a handle in excess of, say, 12 inches long would require an operator to step backwards whilst serving a customer, 4. An imbalance in the tap handle cushions causing the handle 2 to bounce on its return to the upright position.

One aim of the invention is to substantially overcome these problems by knowing or controlling the handle weight.

Another aim of the invention is to operate the handle at a suitable dispensing angle and/or provide an improved angular stop position.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a new and preferably improved tap arrangement. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tap arrangement comprising a body, a spindle slideably joumalled on the body, and a handle pivotably connected to the spindle, the handle comprises a first cam surface and the body comprises a second cam surface, the handle being pivotable, whereby the first and second cam surfaces cooperate to lift the spindle to allow liquid to flow through the tap arrangement, and wherein part of the handle and part of the spindle meet at a predetermined point to limit the pivotal displacement of the handle with respect to the spindle.

In one embodiment of the invention, the (abutment) part of the spindle comprises a longitudinal surface of the said spindle. Accordingly, the (abutment) part of the handle comprises a surface arranged to cooperate with the longitudinal surface. In this embodiment, the (abutment) part of the handle comprises an arm which depends from (a lower end of) the handle.

Where the spindle is circular in cross section and the (abutment) part of the handle flat, only a fraction of the longitudinal surface is contacted. Therefore, the (abutment) part of the handle may define a recess matching the longitudinal surface, thereby increasing the area of contact between the part of the handle and the part of the spindle.

Alternatively, in the preferred embodiment, the (abutment) part comprises part of, and preferably consists of, an end surface of the spindle. Accordingly, the (abutment) part of the handle comprises an end surface of the said spindle. This arrangement makes the spindle length less prone to wear and damage. Preferably, the part of the handle and part of the spindle are substantially flat and substantially parallel at the point of meeting. Such maximisation of the contact surface area minimises pressure on the parts.

Most preferably, the end surface is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the spindle substantially equal to the desired limit of angular displacement of the handle.

Preferably the spindle lies partly within a slot or the like defined by a lower part of the handle. Most preferably, the part of the handle comprises a surface of the slot or the like.

Preferably the inner surface of the handle and the end of the spindle are angled so that they are parallel to the part of the spindle when they meet.

Preferably, the inner surface of the handle is a surface which in the unoperated state lies to one side of the spindle and in the operated state moves transverse to the spindle.

Conveniently, the inner surface of the handle is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

Again, conveniently, the end of the spindle is angled at substantially less than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the spindle, say, 30 degrees to 60 degrees, and preferably at 45 degrees.

The length of the spindle above the connecting means is preferably greater than the width of the abutment part of the handle.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a tap arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a beer tap assembly having a tap arrangement in accordance with the first or second aspect of the invention fitted thereto.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a spindle for a drinks tap, the spindle comprising an abutment part intended for cooperating with a part of a tap to limit movement of a handle of a tap, wherein the abutment part is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the spindle at an angle of less than 90 degrees.

Preferably, the incline is 30 to 60 degrees, most preferably at 45 degrees.

The handle may be biased to stay in an open position without being forced by an operator. Alternatively, the handle may be biased to return to a closed position when released.

The spindle preferably comprises connecting means for connecting it to a handle.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a handle for a retrofit to a tap arrangement, the handle having means for pivotably mounting a spindle thereto at one end thereof, and a cavity at the end which is sized to house a movable spindle therein, the cavity defining an inner wall designed to abut a spindle of a tap arrangement in order to limit movement of a spindle and a handle.

A beer tap arrangement in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the remainder of the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 2 is a side view, partly in cross-section, of part of a beer tap arrangement in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is a side view, partly in cross-section, of part of another beer tap arrangement in accordance with the invention, Figure 4 is a side view of the beer tap arrangement in accordance with the invention in use.

Referring to Figure 2, a beer tap arrangement 10 comprises a handle support 12 which defines a bore 14. A spindle 16 having a longitudinal axis A is arranged in the bore 14 of the handle support 12.

A handle 18 having a longitudinal axis B is connected to the spindle 16 at a pivot 20 adjacent one end of the said spindle.

The handle 18 comprises a slot defined by surfaces 21,22 and spaced side walls (only one of which, denoted by"23"is shown).

The spindle 16 has a stop face 24. The stop face 24 lies at approximately 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis A of the spindle 16. The stop face 24 constitutes one end of the spindle 16.

Biasing means (not shown) are arranged to position the surface 22 parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the spindle 16 in an unused position.

In use, an operator stands to the left of the handle 18 as shown in figure 2, and pulls on the handle so that the longitudinal axis B of the handle moves anticlockwise from a position denoted B 1 towards a longitudinal axis position denoted by B2.

Whilst the operator moves the handle 18, the connection at the pivot 20 causes the stop face 24 of the spindle 16 to rise.

At a predetermined point the surface 22 meets in the embodiment shown in figure 1 is parallel to the stop face 24 to limit angular of the tap to (in this case 45 ). Such limitation of the angular displacement minimises protrusion of the handle horizontally. By comparison with the figure 1, it is the applicants intention that dimension"b"in figure 2 is approximately the same, or less than, dimension"a"in the figure 1 yet it has

the advantage of allowing a tap much longer than in the prior art and an angular position of dispensing fluid to suit the operator.

The cam slot depth is controlled strictly in relation to the angle of the shop face 24 to provide the correct angular stop position to suit the height and weight of the handle. In a particular, but not limiting, case shown in figure 1 the angular stop position of the handle 18 is 45'to the vertical.

It should be noted that the stop position does not alter the spindle lift and fluid flow through the tap.

Assuming that a larger handle 18 is fitted to a tap, the only change necessary is a new spindle. By that, the applicant intends to retrofit to the handle to existing taps. An existing spindle can be easily changed on site.

A second exemplary beer tap arrangement 30 is shown in figure 3. Parts which are the same as parts of the beer tap arrangement 10 of figure 2 share the same reference numerals.

Referring to figure 3, the beer tap arrangement 30 comprises an abutment 32, which depends from the handle 18, conveniently from the surface 21, thereby streamlining the handle. A lower end 33 of the abutment 32 is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis B of the handle 18, such as at 45 degrees thereto.

Ordinarily, the longitudinal surface 34 of the spindle 16 is circular in cross section.

In use, as the handle 18 is pulled downward, the lower end 33 of the abutment 32 and the longitudinal surface 34 come into contact, thereby limiting the angular displacement of the handle to, in the particular embodiment shown, 45 degrees to the vertical.

To increase the contact surface area between the lower end 33 and the longitudinal surface 34, and thereby limit wear of the spindle 16 and abutment 32, the lower end 33 may match the circular, or otherwise, cross section of the spindle.

Once again, other angular limitations are envisaged and can be achieved simply by varying the angle of the lower end 33.

Claims

Claims 1. A tap arrangement comprising a body, a spindle slideably journalled on the body, and a handle pivotably connected to the spindle, the handle comprises a first cam surface and the body comprises a second cam surface, the handle being pivotable, whereby the first and second cam surfaces cooperate to lift the spindle to allow liquid to flow through the tap arrangement, and wherein part of the handle and part of the spindle abut at a predetermined point to limit the pivotal displacement of the handle with repet to the spindle.
2. A tap arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the abutment part of the spindle comprises a longitudinal surface of the said spindle.
3. A tap arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the abutment part of the handle comprises a surface arranged to cooperate with the longitudinal surface.
4. A tap arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the abutment part of the handle comprises an arm which depends from the handle.
5. A tap arrangment according to claim 4, wherein the arm depends from a lower end of the said handle.
6. A tap arrangement according to claim 3,4 or 5, wherein the surface of the abutment part of the handle defines a recess matching the longitudinal surface of the spindle part, thereby maximising the area of contact between the part of the handle and the part of the spindle.
7. A tap arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the abutment part comprises part of an end surface of the spindle.
8. A tap arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the abutment part of the handle comprises an end surface of the said handle.
9. A tap arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the part of the handle and part of the spindle are substantially flat and substantially parallel at the point of meeting.
10. A tap arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the end surface is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the spindle substantially equal to the desired limit of angular displacement of the handle.
11. A tap arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the spindle lies partly within a slot or the like defined by a lower part of the handle.
12. A tap arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the part of the handle comprises a surface of the slot or the like.
13. A tap arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the inner surface of the handle and the end of the spindle are angled so that they are parallel to each other when they meet.
14. A tap arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the inner surface of the handle is a surface which in the unoperated state lies to one side of the spindle and in the operated state moves transverse to the spindle.
15. A tap arrangement according to claims 11,12, 13 and 14 when dependant on claim 10, wherein the end of the spindle is angled at substantially less than 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the spindle.
16. A tap arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the end of the spindle is angled at 30 degrees to 60 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the spindle.
17. A tap arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the end of the spindle is angled at 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the spindle.
18. A tap arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle is connected to the spindle at connecting means, and the length of the spindle above the connecting means is greater than the width of the abutment part of the handle.
19. A tap arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
20. A beer tap assembly having a tap arrangement in accordance with the claims 1-18 or 19 fitted thereto.
21. A spindle for a drinks tap, the spindle comprising an abutment part intended for cooperating with a part of a tap to limit movement of a handle of a tap, wherein the abutment part is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the spindle at an angle of less than 90 degrees.
22. A spindle according to claim 21, wherein the incline is 30 to 60 degrees.
23. A spindle according to claim 22, wherein the incline is 45 degrees.
24. A tap arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the handle is biased to stay in an open position without being forced by an operator.
25. A tap arrangement according to any of claims I to 18, wherein the handle is biased to return to a closed position when released.
26. A handle for a retrofit to a tap arrangement, the handle having means for pivotably mounting a spindle thereto at one end thereof, and a cavity at the end which is sized to house a movable spindle therein, the cavity defining an inner wall designed to

abut a spindle of a tap arrangement in order to limit movement of a spindle and a handle.