JP5520160B2 - Beverage container fitting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage container fitting that is fixed to a base of a beverage container such as a beer barrel and connected to a dispense head. More specifically, the maintenance work can be greatly reduced, and The present invention relates to a fitting for a beverage container capable of easily disassembling the fitting by three parties and preventing unauthorized use or contamination of the beverage container.

  In a conventional beverage container such as a beer barrel, a base is fixed to the beverage container by welding or the like, and a fitting is screwed into the base. A dispensing head is connected to the fitting. A pressure gas such as carbon dioxide is supplied into the beverage container via the dispense head, and the beverage in the beverage container is poured out of the container. A conventional fitting and the attachment state of the base will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view from the front showing a state where a conventional fitting is attached to the beverage container 8. FIG. 10 shows a case where the beverage is draft beer and the beverage container is a beer barrel. A fitting mounting member 2 is screwed and fixed inside a base 9 provided at the upper part of the beverage container 8. A down tube 5 urged upward by a coil spring 61 is attached to the attachment member 2.

  A lower side of the mounting member 2 is a skirt-like frame portion 25. A central hole is provided in the bottom surface of the frame portion 25, and components such as the down tube 5 and the coil spring 61 are inserted into the frame portion 25 from below through the central hole. After the coil spring 61 is inserted into the frame portion 25, a detachable stopper 253 is attached to the bottom surface of the frame portion 25 to support the lower end of the coil spring 61, and each component is held in the frame portion 25. That is, after all the components such as the down tube 5 and the gas valve 3 are assembled in the mounting member 2, the mounting member 2 is screwed into the base 9 and fixed.

  The gas valve 3 is fixed to the upper end of the down tube 5, and the beer valve 4 is urged upward by a coil spring 62 inside the upper end of the down tube 5. The gas valve 3 and the beer valve 4 are closed by the urging force of the coil springs 61 and 62. A dispense head can be attached to the base 9 and the attachment member 2. The dispense head and the attachment member 2 can be easily coupled by a connection mechanism using the engagement protrusion 22.

  The dispense head operates the gas valve 3 and the beer valve 4, supplies a pressure gas such as carbon dioxide gas into the beverage container 8, and increases the internal pressure of the beverage container 8 so that draft beer is poured out of the container. It is. Draft beer is poured out of the container through the down tube 5 and the beer valve 4. In order to seal gas leakage from between the base 9 and the mounting member 2, a seal ring 27 is provided between the lower inner surface of the base 9 and the mounting member 2.

  The pop-out preventing member 7 prevents the mounting member 2 from popping out due to the gas pressure in the beverage container 8 when the mounting member 2 is removed from the base 9. The stopper 71 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the base 9 to prevent popping out. When the gas valve 3 is pushed down by the removal tool, the pressure gas escapes from the beverage container 8 and the stopper 71 retracts inside, so that the attachment member 2 can be removed from the base 9.

  In the fitting having such a configuration, although the mounting member 2 is screwed and fixed to the base 9, a minute gap exists between the base 9 and the mounting member 2. Rainwater and draft beer enter from the gap. The sewage that has entered from the gap is prevented from entering the beverage container 8 by the seal ring 27, but stays long between the base 9 and the attachment member 2, and is not preferable for hygiene.

  When the beer barrel is washed and sterilized at a high temperature, the sewage in the gap boils and ejects, so it can be confirmed that the sewage has accumulated in the gap. When the beer barrel is left in the sun, the sewage in the gap may thermally expand and ooze out of the gap, or may enter the base and contaminate draft beer.

  In the conventional fitting as shown in FIG. 10, foreign matter, sewage or the like enters and accumulates between the base 9 and the mounting member 2, which is not preferable in terms of hygiene. Furthermore, since the seal ring 27 is made of a flexible material such as rubber, it is unavoidable to be deteriorated due to wear or corrosion, and needs to be replaced periodically. Thus, conventionally, as maintenance of fitting, it has been necessary to periodically perform sterilization / cleaning work and replacement work of the seal ring 27.

  Therefore, the inventor of the present invention has proposed a fitting described in Patent Document 1 below. In the fitting of Patent Document 1, in addition to the first sealing member that seals the gap between the lower inner surface of the base and the mounting member, a second sealing member is also provided at the uppermost part of the fitting. This makes it difficult for foreign matter or sewage to enter the gap.

  Furthermore, the fitting described in the following patent document 2 is proposed by the inventor of the present invention. In the fitting of Patent Document 2, the base of the beverage container and the mounting member are integrated to eliminate the gap between the base and the mounting member, thereby completely preventing the entry of foreign matter, sewage, etc. and reducing the maintenance work. It is.

JP 2000-79991 A JP 2007-246162 A

  As described above, the conventional fitting shown in FIG. 10 has a problem that sewage or the like tends to accumulate in the gap between the base 9 and the mounting member 2. Furthermore, in the conventional fitting, since the attachment member 2 can be removed from the base 9 relatively easily, there is a case where a third party removes the fitting of the beverage container 8 together with the attachment member 2 and diverts it for private use. Not a little. In addition, there is a case where the fitting is attached again to the beverage container 8 whose inside is contaminated by such diversion and returned to the regular distribution path of the beverage container 8.

  The labor and cost for selecting and removing such illegally used beverage containers from normal beverage containers becomes enormous. Therefore, in order to prevent unauthorized use of the beverage container, it has been desired to realize a fitting that cannot be removed from the base 9 or is very difficult to remove.

  Further, in the conventional fitting, a seal ring 27 is disposed between the base 9 and the mounting member 2, and seals between the base 9 and the mounting member 2. The seal ring 27 is directly subjected to a screwing force when the mounting member 2 is screwed and fixed to the base 9. Further, the beverage container 8 is used repeatedly such as beverage filling, transport and return. In order to compensate for the lack of sealing performance due to aging of the seal ring 27, the attachment member 2 is also tightened during beverage filling.

  The seal ring 27 deteriorates due to a large amount of screwing force of the mounting member 2 acting on the seal ring 27 over a long period of time or mechanical wear due to tightening of the mounting member 2. The lifetime of is relatively short. The seal ring 27 had to be replaced almost every 3 to 5 years.

  Further, in the fitting of Patent Document 1, by providing a second sealing member in addition to the first sealing member, foreign matter, sewage or the like is less likely to enter the gap between the base and the mounting member. However, it is difficult to completely prevent intrusion of foreign matter, dirty water, etc. even with the fitting as in Patent Document 1. In addition, since the first sealing member and the second sealing member are also made of a flexible material such as rubber, deterioration due to wear or corrosion is inevitable, and periodic replacement is necessary.

  Therefore, although the frequency of the maintenance work can be reduced also by the fitting of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to periodically perform the sterilization / cleaning work and the replacement work of the first sealing member and the second sealing member. In addition, the 1st sealing member in the fitting of patent document 1 is a function substantially the same as the seal ring of the conventional fitting, and its lifetime is also comparable.

  Furthermore, the fitting of Patent Document 1 also has the same problems as the conventional fitting because the attachment member can be removed from the base relatively easily. That is, unauthorized use of the beverage container could not be prevented.

  In addition, since the fitting of Patent Document 2 has the base and the mounting member as an integrated structure and eliminates the gap between them, it is possible to completely prevent intrusion of foreign matter, sewage and the like, and to greatly reduce the maintenance work. However, since the fitting of Patent Document 2 is originally different in the structure of the base of the beverage container, the conventional beverage container that is present and used in large quantities cannot be used as it is. Although the conventional beverage container can be used by exchanging the cap of the conventional beverage container, there is a problem that the cost for remodeling becomes high.

  Therefore, the present invention can prolong the life of the seal ring and greatly reduce the maintenance work, and can prevent easy disassembly of fitting by a third party and unauthorized use or contamination of a beverage container. An object is to provide a beverage container fitting. It is another object of the present invention to provide such a beverage container fitting at a low cost by remodeling a conventional beverage container.

  In order to achieve the above object, the beverage container fitting according to the present invention is a fitting that is screwed into and attached to a female screw formed on the inner peripheral side of the mouthpiece of the beverage container, and is screwed with the female screw of the mouthpiece. A mounting member provided on the outer peripheral side with a male screw to be connected, a tubular down tube whose upper end is supported by the mounting member, and provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the down tube, and supplying pressurized gas into the container A valve for pouring the beverage out of the container; and a sealing member that seals between the mounting step and a sealing step formed as a step at the lower end of the inner surface of the base. The attachment member is in pressure contact with an inner edge corner portion of the sealing step portion of the base and seals between the base and the attachment member, and the sealing member is interposed between the sealing step portion. A sealing surface to be compressed and held is formed. And the said sealing surface prescribes | regulates the screwing position to the said nozzle | cap | die of the said attachment member by press-contacting with the inner edge corner | angular part of the said sealing step part.

  In addition, the beverage container fitting is provided in the upper end of the down tube as the valve, and is provided in the upper end of the down tube and a gas valve for supplying pressurized gas into the container. And a beverage valve for pouring the beverage out of the container.

  In the beverage container fitting described above, the attachment member may be formed with a flange portion projecting outward from the top portion.

  In the beverage container fitting described above, it is preferable that the sealing surface has an inclined surface that forms a part of a conical surface.

  In the above beverage container fitting, the sealing surface may include an overhanging portion that prevents the sealing member from escaping upward.

  In the beverage container fitting described above, the sealing surface may include an accommodation recess for accommodating a part of the sealing member.

  In the beverage container fitting described above, the base may have an accommodation groove portion that accommodates a part of the sealing member in the vicinity of the sealing step portion.

  In the above beverage container fitting, the attachment member is screwed into the base until the sealing surface comes into pressure contact with the inner edge corner of the sealing step, and then the upper end of the attachment member. Is preferably fixed to the base to prevent rotation.

  Further, in the above beverage container fitting, as the attachment member, after the groove portion of the attachment member in which the groove portion for holding the sealing member is formed, the build-up portion is formed on the sealing surface. What was formed as can be used.

  In the beverage container fitting described above, the sealing member is preferably an annular member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape when not compressed.

  Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, there exist the following effects.

  Since the sealing surface defines the screwing position of the mounting member into the base, it is possible to prevent excessive pressurization against the sealing member, and to apply an appropriate pressure to the sealing member with certainty. The sealing member can sufficiently exhibit the sealing performance, and the life of the sealing member can be greatly prolonged. As a result, there is almost no need to replace the sealing member, and the cost of maintenance work can be reduced.

  By fixing the attachment member and the base, it becomes difficult to loosen and remove the screw fixing of the attachment member, and it is possible to prevent easy disassembly of the fitting by a third party. And the unauthorized use and contamination of the beverage container by a third party can be prevented.

  In the unlikely event that the sealing member is deteriorated and damaged and the sealing performance is impaired, the pressurized gas in the beverage container leaks from the sealing member and further leaks from the gap between the mounting member and the base. Therefore, the state can be easily confirmed with the naked eye.

  Since a conventional base-shaped beverage container can be used, the introduction cost of the fitting of the present invention can be greatly reduced. Since most of the other fitting parts can also be used, the fitting of the present invention can be provided at a very low cost. In addition, when the conventional mounting member is modified to produce a substantially equivalent mounting member of the present invention, the introduction cost of the fitting of the present invention can be further reduced. Moreover, since the conventional beverage container can be used effectively, it is useful for effective use of resources and protection of the global environment.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a beverage container fitting of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the base 9 of the beverage container 8. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the mounting member 20. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the attachment member 20 is incorporated in the base 9. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the gas valve 3 as viewed from above. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a procedure for modifying the conventional mounting member 2 to make it equivalent to the mounting member 20. FIG. 7 is a view showing a modified example of the sealing surface 26 and the sealing step 92. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of another form of attachment member 20a. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the mounting member 20a incorporated in the base 9 as viewed from above. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view from the front showing a state where a conventional fitting is attached to the beverage container 8.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The beverage is a draft beer and the beverage container is a beer barrel. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a beverage container fitting of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view seen from the front showing a state in which the beverage container fitting of the present invention is incorporated in the base 9 of the beverage container 8. Before explaining the configuration of the beverage container fitting in FIG. 1, the procedure for incorporating the beverage container fitting into the base 9 of the beverage container 8 will be described first with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the base 9 of the beverage container 8. A base 9 as shown is connected and fixed to the top of the beverage container 8 by welding or the like. The connecting portion between the beverage container 8 and the base 9 is liquid-tight and air-tight so that there is no leakage of liquid or gas. The base 9 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and is hollow inside. A female thread 91 is formed at the upper part of the inner peripheral surface of the base 9. A sealing step 92 is formed at the lowermost part on the inner peripheral side of the base 9.

  The sealing step 92 has a structure for receiving the seal ring 28 and sealing with the seal ring 28 as shown in the figure. The seal ring 28 is placed on the sealing step 92. As the base 9, the same base 9 as that for a conventional beverage container fitting as shown in FIG. 10 can be used. That is, the beverage container 8 conventionally used can be used as it is.

  As the seal ring 28, a normal O-ring having a circular cross section when not compressed can be used, and the material is preferably fluororubber. In addition, as will be described later, the seal ring 28 in the fitting of the present invention can apply an appropriate pressure for sealing gas and liquid, thereby greatly extending the life of the seal ring 28. Can be made. Also, the material of the seal ring 28 does not need to be considered for resistance to excessive screwing force and wear resistance unlike the conventional seal ring, and the optimum material should be selected considering only the sealing performance and the life. Can do.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the mounting member 20 for mounting on the inner peripheral side of the base 9. Further, the attachment member 20 is a member that constitutes a fitting main body by supporting each part of the fitting, and its basic shape is substantially cylindrical. A male screw 21 is formed on the outer periphery of the mounting member 20. The male screw 21 is formed over a predetermined length from a position near the upper end. The male screw 21 is screwed into the female screw 91 of the base 9.

  An engagement protrusion 22 that protrudes inward is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting member 20. The engagement protrusion 22 is a structure for fixing the dispense head to the upper surface of the base 9. Two engaging protrusions 22 are formed at positions facing the diameter direction of the inner peripheral surface of the mounting member 20. The dispense head and the attachment member 20 can be easily coupled by a connection mechanism using the engagement protrusion 22.

  A valve seat portion 24 is formed in the middle step of the inner peripheral surface of the mounting member 20. In the conventional fitting shown in FIG. 10, the valve seat portion 24 is constituted by a part of a conical inner surface having a single inclination angle, and the apex angle of the conical surface is 60 degrees. That is, the angle (1/2 of the apex angle) between the center line of the conical surface (here, the vertical direction) and the generatrix of the conical surface is 30 degrees.

  In the fitting of the present invention, the valve seat portion 24 is composed of an upper valve seat surface 241 and a lower restricting surface 242 as shown in the figure. Each surface of the valve seat surface 241 and the regulating surface 242 is a conical inner surface having a common center line, but the inclination angles thereof are different. The apex angle of the valve seat surface 241 is preferably in the range of 80 to 110 degrees, and is typically set to 90 degrees. That is, the angle formed by the center line of the conical surface and the generatrix is preferably in the range of 40 to 55 degrees, and typically set to 45 degrees.

  The apex angle of the regulating surface 242 is preferably in the range of 30 to 50 degrees, and typically set to 40 degrees. That is, the angle formed by the center line of the conical surface and the generatrix is preferably in the range of 15 to 25 degrees, and is typically set to 20 degrees. Thus, since the inclination direction of the restriction surface 242 is closer to the vertical direction than the conventional valve seat surface, the action of restricting the movement of the gas valve 3 in the horizontal plane works strongly. For this reason, the amount of displacement from the center position of the gas valve 3 can be kept small.

  A lower side of the mounting member 20 is a skirt-like frame portion 25. The frame portion 25 supports the coil spring 61 and the down tube 5 (see FIG. 1). A plurality of window portions 251 are formed on the cylindrical side surface of the frame portion 25. The window part 251 is an opening for allowing carbon dioxide gas or the like to pass therethrough. A central hole 252 for allowing the down tube 5 to pass therethrough is formed on the bottom surface of the frame portion 25.

  The central hole 252 has a size that allows the upper large-diameter portion of the down tube 5 to pass through, and supports the coil spring 61 by the peripheral edge of the central hole 252 (see FIG. 1). In addition, the attachment member 20 is obtained by integrally joining a main body portion other than the frame portion 25 and the frame portion 25 by welding. The main body portion is integrally formed of duplex stainless steel, and the frame portion 25 is made of austenitic stainless steel.

  The duplex stainless steel is a stainless steel having a high strength, high hardness, and excellent corrosion resistance composed of two phases of austenite and ferrite. In general, the duplex stainless steel exhibits higher strength and higher hardness than ordinary austenitic stainless steel. As the duplex stainless steel, for example, one having a two-phase structure of about 50% ferrite phase and about 50% austenite phase can be used.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the mounting member 20, a sealing surface 26 for compressing and holding the seal ring 28 between the sealing step portion 92 of the base 9 is formed over the entire outer periphery of the mounting member 20. The sealing surface 26 includes an inclined surface that forms part of a conical surface. The main body portion and the frame portion 25 of the attachment member 20 are integrally joined at a position near the sealing surface 26. Further, the sealing surface 26 is in pressure contact with the inner edge corner portion of the sealing step portion 92 of the base 9 to seal between the base 9 and the mounting member 20 by metal contact.

  To assemble the beverage container fitting of the present invention to the base 9 of the beverage container 8, first, the seal ring 28 is placed on the sealing step 92 of the base 9, and the mounting member 20 is attached to the base 9 with an appropriate torque. Screw in and fix. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the attachment member 20 is incorporated in the base 9. When the mounting member 20 is screwed into the base 9, the sealing surface 26 of the mounting member 20 abuts against the inner edge corner of the sealing step 92 of the base 9, and the position of the mounting member 20 is regulated at that position.

  At this time, the seal ring 28 is sandwiched between the sealing surface 26 and the sealing step 92 and is pressurized with an appropriate pressure, and the cross-sectional shape is deformed as shown in the figure. Since the screwing end position of the mounting member 20 is regulated, the seal ring 28 is not excessively pressurized, and an appropriate pressure is applied to the seal ring 28. Further, by screwing the mounting member 20 into the base 9 with an appropriate torque, a sealing function is generated between the sealing surface 26 and the inner edge corner portion of the sealing step portion 92 by metal contact between both members. If only the sealing by the metal contact is performed, the pressure gas inside the beverage container 8 may leak due to a sudden temperature change or the like. In the present invention, since the seal ring 28 is used together, proper sealing is possible even when such a rapid temperature change occurs.

  Further, since the seal by the metal contact and the seal ring 28 are used in combination, the load on the seal ring 28 is reduced, and the life of the seal ring 28 can be greatly prolonged. The life of the seal ring 28 is also prolonged by keeping the seal ring 28 at an appropriate pressure. As a result, the life of the seal ring 28 can be made equal to or longer than the life of the beverage container 8 body (30 years or more). Therefore, it is almost unnecessary to replace the seal ring 28 during use of the beverage container 8, and maintenance work can be greatly reduced.

  When the mounting member 20 is fixed with an appropriate tightening force, the mounting member 20 and the top threaded portion of the base 9 are fixed by welding or the like to prevent the mounting member 20 from rotating. As the fixing method, welding such as arc welding (dot welding) is preferable, but other fixing methods such as adhesion can also be used. In the spot welding 201 as shown in FIG. 4, one or two points of welding are sufficient, but they may be further fixed by multiple points of welding.

  By fixing the mounting member 20 and the base 9 to each other, it becomes difficult to loosen and remove the screw fixing of the mounting member 20 and prevent easy disassembly by a third party. And the unauthorized use and contamination of the beverage container by a third party can be prevented. Even if the mounting member 20 and the base 9 are fixed in this manner, the life of the seal ring 28 can be extended to 30 years or more, so that it is almost unnecessary to remove the mounting member 20 from the base 9. Does not occur.

  In the event that the seal ring 28 is deteriorated and damaged and the sealing performance is impaired, the pressurized gas in the beverage container leaks from the seal ring 28, and further between the attachment member 20 and the base 9. Since it leaks from the gap, the state can be easily confirmed with the naked eye. Thus, when the seal ring 28 deteriorates, it is also an advantage of the present invention that it can be confirmed immediately.

  After attaching the mounting member 20 to the base 9 and fixing the mounting member 20 to prevent rotation as shown in FIG. 4, the fitting parts are assembled in the frame portion 25 of the mounting member 20, and FIG. The state is as shown in. The procedure for assembling the components is as follows. First, the beer valve 4 and the coil spring 62 are inserted into the upper end of the down tube 5, the coil spring 61 is disposed outside the upper end of the down tube 5, and they are attached to the frame of the mounting member 20. Insert into the part 25 from above. Finally, the gas valve 3 is attached to the upper end of the down tube 5 and fixed.

  As the gas valve 3, a gas valve that can be passed through the central hole in the inner periphery of the valve seat portion 24 is used. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the gas valve 3, and is a plan view of the gas valve 3 as viewed from above. The gas valve 3 is formed by integrally forming a valve member 32 made of a flexible member such as rubber and a cored bar 31 made of stainless steel or the like. On the outer peripheral edge of the cored bar 31, flat portions parallel to each other are provided at two positions symmetrical to the center. For this reason, the diameter (short diameter = distance between the flat portions) of the cored bar 31 at the position where the flat portion is provided is smaller than the diameter (major diameter) in the direction orthogonal to this.

  The portion provided with the flat portion is dimensioned to pass through the central hole of the valve seat portion 24. That is, the short diameter dimension of the core metal 31 is smaller than the diameter of the central hole of the valve seat portion 24, and the long diameter dimension of the core metal 31 is larger than the diameter of the central hole of the valve seat portion 24. The gas valve 3 is engraved with a mark indicating the major axis direction. Such a gas valve 3 can be assembled to the upper end of the down tube 5 by inclining in the major axis direction and passing through the valve seat portion 24 from above.

  The fitting with all parts assembled is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view seen from the front showing a state in which the beverage container fitting of the present invention is incorporated in the base 9 of the beverage container 8.

  The gas valve 3 is fixed to the upper end portion of the down tube 5, and the beer valve 4 is disposed inside the upper end of the down tube 5 by being biased upward by a coil spring 62. The gas valve 3 and the beer valve 4 are closed by the urging force of the coil springs 61 and 62. A dispense head can be attached to the base 9 and the attachment member 20. The dispense head and the attachment member 20 can be easily coupled by a connection mechanism using the engagement protrusion 22.

  When the dispense head is fixed to the attachment member 20, the gas head 3 and the beer valve 4 are opened by operating the dispense head, pressure gas such as carbon dioxide gas is supplied into the beverage container 8, and the internal pressure of the beverage container 8 is adjusted. Draft beer can flow out of the container. Draft beer flows out of the container through the down tube 5 and the beer valve 4.

  In order to use the fitting of the present invention as described above, it is possible to remove the conventional fitting from the beverage container 8 as shown in FIG. 10 that has been widely used and replace it with the fitting of the present invention. it can. Since the conventional beverage container 8 and the base 9 can be used as they are, the fitting of the present invention can be used at low cost.

  Next, a method of remodeling the conventional mounting member 2 to create an equivalent to the mounting member 20 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a procedure for modifying the conventional mounting member 2. First, the attachment member 2 is removed from the conventional fitting as shown in FIG. And the groove part for arrange | positioning the seal ring 27 of the attachment member 2 is filled with build-up welding, and it is set as the build-up part 260. FIG. Next, the build-up portion 260 is cut as indicated by a dotted line to form an inclined surface that forms a part of a conical surface, and the sealing surface 26 is created.

  A modification of the conventional mounting member 2 in this way can be used as a substantially equivalent one to the mounting member 20 in the present invention. Since the conventional attachment member 2 can be removed and modified for use, the fitting of the present invention can be used at a lower cost.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing a modified example of the sealing surface 26 and the sealing step 92. Each of FIGS. 7A to 7D is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the contact portion between the sealing step 92 of the base 9 and the sealing surface 26 of the mounting member 20. FIG. 7A shows that the sealing surface 26 consists only of a conical surface (inclined surface), which is also shown in FIGS. The apex angle of the conical surface of the sealing surface 26 is preferably 40 to 60 degrees. That is, the angle (1/2 of the apex angle) between the center line of the conical surface (here, the vertical direction) and the generatrix of the conical surface is 20 to 30 degrees.

  When the apex angle of the conical surface of the sealing surface 26 is smaller, the seal ring 28 having a larger diameter (large cross-sectional area) can be used. The larger the diameter of the seal ring 28, the longer the life of the seal ring 28 tends to be. FIG. 7A shows the case where the apex angle of the conical surface is 60 degrees. In this case, an O-ring having a circular diameter of 1.9 mm can be used as the seal ring 28.

  FIG. 7B shows the case where the apex angle of the conical surface of the sealing surface 26 is 40 degrees. In this case, an O-ring having a circular diameter of 2.6 mm can be used as the seal ring 28. However, when the apex angle of the conical surface is so small, a part of the seal ring 28 may escape above the sealing surface 26. In the sealing surface 26 of FIG. 7B, in order to prevent such an upward escape of the seal ring 28, an outwardly projecting portion 261 is provided on the upper portion thereof continuously to the conical surface. is there. The overhang portion 261 is formed so as to protrude outward from the conical surface indicated by the dotted line, and can prevent the seal ring 28 from being escaped upward.

  FIG. 7C shows a conical surface of the sealing surface 26 provided with an accommodating recess 262 for accommodating a part of the seal ring 28 at an upper part thereof. The housing recess 262 is formed as a recess recessed inward from the conical surface indicated by the dotted line. Since the housing recess 262 is provided in the upper part of the sealing surface 26, a seal ring having a larger diameter (large cross-sectional area) can be used, and the life of the seal ring 28 can be further extended.

  FIG. 7D shows an accommodation groove 921 for accommodating a part of the seal ring 28 in the vicinity of the sealing step 92 of the base 9. Since the accommodation groove 921 is provided in the vicinity of the sealing step 92, a seal ring 28 having a larger diameter (having a large cross-sectional area) can be used, and the life of the seal ring 28 can be extended. . 7A to 7D are all formed as rotational surfaces that are rotationally symmetric with respect to the central axis of the fitting. .

  Next, another form of attachment member according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which another type of attachment member 20 a is attached to the base 9. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the mounting member 20a incorporated in the base 9 as viewed from above. Since the structure of the attachment member 20a is similar to that of the attachment member 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, differences will be described. A flange 23 that extends radially outward is integrally provided at the uppermost portion of the mounting member 20a. Since the flange 23 covers the gap at the top between the base 9 and the mounting member 20a, it is possible to prevent foreign matter, sewage and the like from entering the gap. The configuration of the mounting member 20a other than the flange portion 23 is the same as that of the mounting member 20 shown in FIGS.

  When the mounting member 20a is screwed into the base 9 and the mounting member 20a is fixed with an appropriate tightening force, the collar portion 23 and the base 9 are fixed together by welding or the like to prevent the mounting member 20a from rotating. As the fixing method, welding such as spot welding or arc welding is preferable, but other fixing methods such as adhesion can also be used. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the mounting member 20 a is fixed to the base 9. A fixing point 231 indicated by “X” indicates a case where the fixing is performed by spot welding. Although two fixing points 231 are shown in FIG. 9, the fixing points 231 are not limited thereto, and may be one or any number of three or more. However, multiple locations are desirable to prevent the fitting from being disassembled.

  A fixing point 232 indicates a case where the fixing is performed by arc welding (dot welding). In the case of arc welding, as shown in the figure, the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 23 and the upper surface of the base 9 are fixed by arc welding. Although two fixing points 232 are shown in FIG. 9, the fixing points 232 are not limited to this, and may be one or any number of three or more. In addition, it is not necessary to perform both the spot welding and the arc welding, and either one is sufficient.

  By fixing the collar portion 23 and the base 9, it becomes difficult to loosen and remove the screw fixing of the mounting member 20 a, and it is possible to prevent easy disassembly of the fitting by a third party. And the unauthorized use and contamination of the beverage container by a third party can be prevented. Even if the collar portion 23 and the base 9 are fixed in this manner, the life of the seal ring 28 can be extended to 30 years or longer, so that it is almost unnecessary to remove the mounting member 20a from the base 9. Does not occur.

  However, when it is necessary to remove the attachment member 20a from the base 9, such as when the seal ring 28 is deteriorated or damaged, the attachment member 20a can be removed using a removal-only tool. In that case, first, the fixing part by welding or the like is peeled and separated by a dedicated tool, and the detent by fixing is released. Thereafter, the screw fixing of the mounting member 20a is loosened with a dedicated tool, and the mounting member 20a is removed from the base 9.

  Further, when the seal ring 28 is deteriorated and damaged and the sealing performance is impaired, the pressurized gas in the beverage container leaks from the seal ring 28 and further, a minute amount between the collar portion 23 and the base 9 is small. Since it leaks from the gap, the state can be easily confirmed with the naked eye. Thus, when the seal ring 28 deteriorates, it is also an advantage of the present invention that it can be confirmed immediately.

  It should be noted that the gap between the collar 23 and the base 9 is very small, and the gap opens laterally near the periphery of the base 9, so that foreign matter, sewage, etc. may enter through this gap. Is very small. If foreign matter or sewage enters the gap, even if the sewage oozes out from the gap, the gap is opened sideways near the periphery of the base 9. There is no intrusion.

  As described above, according to the beverage container fitting of the present invention, it is difficult to loosen and remove the screw fixing of the mounting members 20 and 20a by fixing the mounting members 20 and 20a and the base 9. Easy disassembly of the fitting by the three parties can be prevented. And the unauthorized use and contamination of the beverage container by a third party can be prevented.

  In addition, since the sealing member 26 receives the screwing force of the mounting members 20 and 20a, the seal ring 28 is not subjected to excessive stress or distortion, and the life of the seal ring 28 can be greatly prolonged. . As a result, there is almost no need to replace the seal ring 28, and maintenance costs can be reduced.

  Further, in the mounting member 20a having the collar 23, there is very little possibility that foreign matter, sewage or the like enters from the gap between the base 9 and the foreign matter or sewage etc. enters the gap. The possibility of seeping out from the gap and entering the base is very small, and it is possible to provide a sanitary excellent fitting.

  Further, in the beverage container fitting of the present invention, since the conventional mouthpiece-shaped beverage container can be used, the introduction cost of the fitting of the present invention can be greatly reduced. Since most of the other fitting parts can also be used, the fitting of the present invention can be provided at a very low cost. In addition, when the conventional mounting member is modified to produce a substantially equivalent mounting member of the present invention, the introduction cost of the fitting of the present invention can be further reduced. Moreover, since the conventional beverage container can be used effectively, it is useful for effective use of resources and protection of the global environment.

  In the above embodiments, draft beer is used as a beverage and a beer barrel is used as a beverage container. However, the present invention can be applied to any other beverage and beverage container. Moreover, although the fitting for drink containers demonstrated above has mentioned the fitting of the form like FIG. 1 called what is called a well type as an example, it is not limited to a well type fitting. The fitting for a beverage container of the present invention is applicable not only to a well type but also to a fitting called a so-called flat type with a small amount of protrusion of a base from a beverage container and other fittings.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to significantly extend the life of the seal ring and reduce maintenance work, and further, it is possible to prevent easy disassembly of fitting by a third party and unauthorized use or contamination of a beverage container. A beverage container fitting can be provided.

2 mounting member 3 gas valve 4 beer valve 5 down tube 7 pop-out prevention member 8 beverage container 9 base 20, 20a mounting member 21 male screw 22 engaging projection 23 collar 24 valve seat 25 frame 26 sealing surface 27, 28 seal Ring 31 Core metal 32 Valve member 61, 62 Coil spring 71 Stopper 91 Female screw 92 Sealing step part 201 Spot welding 231 232 Fixing point 241 Valve seat surface 242 Restricting surface 251 Window part 252 Central hole 253 Stopper 260 Overlay part 261 Overhanging portion 262 Housing recess 921 Housing groove

Claims (10)

A fitting that is screwed onto a female screw (91) formed on the inner peripheral side of the base (9) of the beverage container (8),
A mounting member (20) provided on the outer peripheral side with a male screw (21) screwed with the female screw (91) of the base (9);
A tubular down tube (5) having an upper end supported by the mounting member (20);
Valves (3, 4) provided near the upper end of the down tube (5), for supplying pressurized gas into the container and pouring the beverage out of the container;
A sealing member (28) for sealing between a sealing step (92) formed as a step at the lower end of the inner surface of the base (9) and the mounting member (20);
The mounting member (20) is in pressure contact with an inner edge corner of the sealing step (92) of the base (91) to seal between the base (91) and the mounting member (20). The sealing surface (26) for compressing and holding the sealing member (28) is formed between the sealing step (92),
The said sealing surface (26) prescribes | regulates the screwing position to the said nozzle | cap | die (9) of the said attachment member (20) by press-contacting with the inner edge corner | angular part of the said sealing step part (92). Container fitting. The beverage container fitting according to claim 1,
The valve is
A gas valve (3) fitted to the upper end of the down tube (5) for supplying pressurized gas into the container;
A beverage container fitting which is provided inside the upper end of the down tube (5) and includes a beverage valve (4) for pouring the beverage out of the container. The beverage container fitting according to claim 2,
The attachment member (20) is a fitting for a beverage container in which a flange portion (23) projecting outward from the top portion is formed. The beverage container fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The said sealing surface (26) is a fitting for drink containers provided with the inclined surface which comprises a part of conical surface. The beverage container fitting according to claim 4,
The fitting for beverage containers, wherein the sealing surface (26) is provided with an overhanging portion (261) that prevents the sealing member (28) from escaping upward. A beverage container fitting according to any one of claims 4 and 5,
The fitting for beverage containers, wherein the sealing surface (26) includes an accommodation recess (262) for accommodating a part of the sealing member (28). It is a fitting for drink containers given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-6,
The fitting for a beverage container, wherein the base (9) is formed with an accommodation groove (921) for accommodating a part of the sealing member (28) in the vicinity of the sealing step (92). It is a fitting for drink containers given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-7,
The mounting member (20) is screwed into the base (9) until the sealing surface (26) is pressed against an inner edge corner of the sealing step (92), and then the mounting member (20) 20) A fitting for a beverage container, wherein the upper end of 20) is fixed to the base (9) to prevent rotation. It is a fitting for drink containers given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-8,
The mounting member is formed as the sealing surface (26) after the groove portion of the mounting member (2) in which the groove portion for holding the sealing member (27) is formed is overlaid. Beverage container fittings. It is a fitting for drink containers given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1-9,
The said sealing member (28) is a fitting for drink containers which is a cyclic | annular thing whose cross-sectional shape at the time of non-compression is substantially circular.

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