Multi-way tap for a filling machine

Claim 1

A multi-way tap for a fluid filling machine, comprising in combination: an enclosed hollow casing including external inlet port connections and having an internal seat surface; a control member disposed in said casing and having a mating surface complementary to said seat surface; a stub shaft extending into said casing and being connected to said control member to mount the same for rotation about an axis common with that of said seat surface; said control member being formed with a plurality of inlet ports; respective passages being disposed in said casing which lead from said external port connections toward said seat surface and the location of at least one of said inlet ports; the angular position and spacing of said inlet ports defining a sole flow path at any given time for a fluid through only one of said external port connections via one of said passages and one of said inlet ports; and clamping means operatively coupled to said control member for resiliently urging said mating surface into engagement with said seat surface; said casing having a free space formed adjacent said seat surface, and said clamping means being releasable to enable movement of said control member into said free space during a cleansing operaTion of the tap by displacement of said stub shaft between a normal and an inwardly displaced position; said stub shaft being connected to said control member on the side of the latter which defines said mating surface, and said casing being formed with said free space on the side of said control member opposite to said mating surface; said casing having a bore that receives said stub shaft, said bore including an annular groove adjacent the inner end thereof, and a sealing ring disposed in said groove to seal said stub shaft against said bore so that a fluid-tight seal is provided between said stub shaft and said sealing ring, both in a normal operating position of said control member and in the displaced position of said stub shaft, in order to enable the cleansing operation of the tap internally, in closed circulation with liquid treating media, whereby inadvertent leaking out of the media is prevented during the cleansing operation.