US3550818A - Keg tapping device - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Inventor Mack S. Johnston,

Appl. No. Filed 783,484 Dec. 13, 1968 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 773,406, Nov. 5, 1968 and Ser. No. 551,744, May 20, 1966, Pat. No. 3,435,997, said Ser. No. 773,406 is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 676,291, Oct. 18, 1967, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 611,610, Jan. 25, 1967, Pat. No. 3,410,458, the latter is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 587,687, Oct. 18, 1966, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 406,682; said Ser. No. 551,744 is a continuation-inpart of said Ser. No. 406,682 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 395,084, Sept. 8, 1964, Pat. No. 3,231,154 and Ser. No. 150,982, Nov. 8, 1961, abandoned; said Ser. No. 395,084 is a continuation of Ser. No.

Patented Dec. 29, 1970 KEG TAPPING DEVICE 16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

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[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,228,413 1/1966 Stevens, Jr 222/400.7X 3,410,458 11/1968 Johnston 222/400] Primary Examiner Stanley H. Tollberg At!0rneyLe Blanc & Shur ABSTRACT: Disclosed is a keg adapter having a siphon body receivable through the opening of a keg and a retainer nut within the keg. The siphon body has liquid and gas passages extending longitudinally of the keg adapter terminating at their upper ends in a pair of bores disposed eccentrically of the axis of the opening. The gas passage terminates intermediate the ends of the siphon body in a lateral opening. The retainer nut has a central opening for receiving the lower portion of the siphon body and an annular recess for communication with the lateral siphon body opening, the recess communicating through a bore in the nut into the keg. A coupler unit having a pair of depending probes is engageable with the keg adapter with the probes being receivable in the bore holes in the siphon body. A liquid valve is disposed in the liquid passage and the lower end of the liquid probe engages an axially moveable member engageable with the valve to open the latter, permitting egress of liquid from the keg through the keg adapter and coupler unit. A flexible envelope having a slit is provided on the lower end of the retainer nut in communication with the bore therethrough to permit ingress of gas through the coupler unit and keg adapter into the keg. The body of the keg adapter is hexagonal as to be receivable within the head of a wrench.

PATENTEU 05029 I978 INVENTOR MACK s. JOHNSTON ATTORNEYS KEG TAPPING DEVICE This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 773,406 filed Nov. 5, 1968 for KEG TAPPING DEVICE, which application, in turn,'is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 676,291 (now abandoned), filed Oct. 18, 1967 for BEER TAP, and which application is, in turn, a continuation-impart of copending application Ser. No. 611,610, (now Pat. No. 3,410,458) filed .Ian. 25, 1967 for BEER TAPPING DEVICE; said application Ser. No. 611,610 being in turn a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 587,627, (now abandoned) filed Oct. 18, 1966 for TAPPING DEVICE FOR BEER KEGS AND THE LIKE, which application Ser. No. 587,627 is a continuation of application Ser. No. 406,682 (now abandoned) filed Oct. 27, 1964 for SIPHON DEVICE FOR BEER KEGS AND THE LIKE; said application Ser. No. 406,682 being in turn a continuationin-part of application Ser. No. 395,084 (issued Jan. 25, 1966 as Pat. No. 3,231,154), filed Sept. 8, 1964 for SIPHON DEVICE FOR BEER KEGS AND THE LIKE, and application Ser. No. 150,982 (now abandoned), filed Nov.- 8, 1961 for SIPI'ION DEVICE FOR BEER KEGS AND THE LIKE; said application Ser. No. 395,084 being in turn a continuation of said application Ser. No. 150,982; this application is also a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 551,744, (now Pat. No. 3,435,997) filed May 20, 1966 for BEER TAPPING DEVICE, which is acontinuation-in-part of application SEr. No. 406,682 (now abandoned), filed Oct. 27, 1964 for SIPI-ION DEVICE FOR BEER KEGS AND THE LIKE; said application Ser. No. 406,682 being in turn a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 395,084 (issued Jan. 25, 1966 as US. Pat. No. 3,231,154), filed Sept. 8, 1964 for SIII-IONDEVICE FOR BEER KEGS AND THE LIKE, and application Ser. No. 150,982 (now abandoned), filed Nov. 8, 1961 for SIPHON DEVICE FOR BEER KEGS AND THE LIKE; said application Ser. No. 395,084 being in turn a continuation of said application Ser. No. 150,982.

The present invention relates to new and. improved tapping apparatus for drawing liquids such as beer from containers such as beer kegs or barrels, using a gas to drive the liquid from the container. In particular, the invention relates to an improved tapping device usable with conventional beer kegs and comprising an improved keg adapter for sealing the liquid and gas passages therethrough as well as to methods and apparatus for installing the keg adapter within the keg opening.

Prevailing practice in the beer industry is for a brewery to provide draft beer to retail outlets in conventional kegs having 36-inch tapping openings intheir top walls, the openings being closed with a hung in theform of a cork or plug. To dispense the beer from the keg, the bartender taps the keg by knocking tending eccentrically relative to the axis of the keg adapter.

Springloaded liquid and gas valves are disposed in an inner portion of the keg adapter normally sealing the respective passages. A coupler unit is provided for usewith this keg adapter and includes a pair of liquid and gas passages terminating at the lower end of the coupler unit in a pair of depending probes receivable within the respective bore openings formed in the outer portion of the keg The the liquid and gas passages of the coupler unit are adapted for respective connection to a beer-tapping faucet and a source of compressed gas. Upon securing the coupler unit to the keg adapter, the probes received within the bore openings displace the valve seats against the bias of their associated springs to open the normally closed liquid and gas valves, permitting ingress of gas well as other types is that beer must be handled with extreme care lest it lose those qualities such as taste, proper head and foam and freedom from cloudiness which thepublicdemands. Thus, if the liquid flow'path from the keg to the faucet is too tortuous or contorted or if there is too large a pressure drop compressed air or CO through the tap. rod into the keg to drive the beer up through the siphon. When the beer has been fully withdrawn from the keg, the bartender removes the tap and siphon device from the keg and installs the latter in a fresh keg, repeating the process for additional kegs.

This common practice in the tapping of beer kegs has been revolutionized by the use of what are now termed keg adapters" and coupler units. Generally, these devices comprise a keg adapter having discrete liquid and gas passages for respectively permitting egress of liquid from the keg and ingress of gas into the keg to drive the liquid from the keg. Liquid and gas valves are normally disposed in the respective liquid and gas passages, precluding outflow of beer through either passage prior to tapping. Coupler units are provided at the beer dispensing establishments and are connected to the keg adapters when the keg is to be tapped. Variousdevices including devices carried by the coupler units are provided for opening the liquid and gas valves for the purposes stated.

One form of a prior tapping device provides a keg adapter having a pair of liquid and gas passages extending across the tapping device caused by a restricted-flow path, the beer will go fiat or become wild. It must also be recalled that most kegs or barrels in use in the United States at the present time have a ii-inch beer dispensing opening through their top walls and are designed to have a tapping unit connected to the keg by means of a bayonet-type joint. Thus, any successful tapping device must be adapted for use with this small, ii-inch opening and with the foregoing means of attachment to the kegs. In the previously described prior tapping device, the liquid and gas passages extend side by side through the keg adapter, and thus the liquid flow path is not only restricted by the 36-inch opening through the keg, but also because of its side by side relation to the gas passage through the keg adapter. Moreover, for proper operation of the liquid and gas valves therein employed, such valves require a substantial spring force and a cross-sectional area of the valve seats and associated valve housing larger than the cross-sectional areas of the liquid and gas passages per se. This has resulted in laterally offsetting the valves from the respective bore openings in the keg adapter with the'consequence that the semicylindrical offset lower-end of the liquid probe engages the central portion of the valve to open the latter. Thus, when the liquid valve is open, the passage through the valve seat and intothe bore is restricted to an area less than the cross-sectional area of the liquid passage through the probe. Dispensing flat and wild beer from a keg employing the foregoing tapping device is thus not an uncommon experience.

Moreover, the foregoing described tapping device is somewhat difficult to install. The usual manner of installation is to insert the keg adapter through the sidewall of the keg holding it by the flexible siphon probe which extends to the bottom of the keg when finally installed. By manipulating this probe from the side opening, the upper portion of the keg adapter can be inserted through the top wall keg opening. Obviously, however, a more desirable stainless steel siphon tube cannot be utilized as it does not have the'flexibility required to locate the keg adapter within the keg wall opening and then be disposed within the keg with its lower end adjacent the keg bottom. To finally secure this prior keg adapter within the keg opening, a nut is then threaded about this upper keg adapter portion, clamping and sealing it about the keg opening. Considerable difficulty has been experienced however since the keg adapter rotates when the nut is being threaded thereon to side margin of the keg wall about the opening. This, however,

has not in all cases been effective to prevent rotation of the keg wall rendering the seal between the adapter and keg wall less effective. Additionally, it has been a problem to retain the keg adapter against rotation in the keg opening after final assembly. One partial solution to this provides set screws threadly received through the retaining nut for bearing against the flange of the keg opening after the keg adapter is finally secured therein. This requires fabrication of the retaining nut ,with threaded bore openings therein and also necessitates additional screws which increases the cost of fabrication and assembly.

The present invention eliminates these and other shortcomings and disadvantages of beer tapping devices of the previously described type and provides an improved beer tapping apparatus having an improved construction affording advantages in installation, mode of operation, and use over such prior beer tapping devices.

To these ends, the present invention provides a tapping device including a keg adapter having a siphon body defining liquid and gas passages extending longitudinally and eccentrically of the axis of the keg adapter and which terminate in a pair of longitudinally extending bore openings in the upper portion of the siphon body. A retaining nut having a central opening which is internally threaded adjacent its lower end is inserted through the side opening of the keg and held in alignment with the tapping opening of the keg to receive the siphon body which threads within the retaining nut and down about a seal adjacent the lower end of the keg adapter. The liquid passage through the siphon body includes a valve having a plate mounting a bifurcated stem extending through an annular valve seat with a member retaining the valve parts in assembly within the siphon body. The valve retaining member carries a tap rod, which may be in the form of a rigid stainless steel tube, and which, when inserted through the retaining nut with the siphon body, extends to adjacent the bottom of the keg to permit flow of beer from the keg through the tap rod and valve outwardly through the liquid passage.

The gas passage terminates short of the lower end of the siphon body in a radial passage. When the siphon body is fully secured within the retaining nut, the radial passage communicates with an annular recess formed within the retaining nut about its central opening. Another passage communicates between the annular recess and the lower end of the retaining nut, the latter receiving the upper open end of a gas check valve. The gas check valve comprises a flexible envelope depending from the retaining nut and having a plurality of laterally opening slits permitting ingress of gas through the gas passage and check valve into the keg and preventing egress of liquid from the keg past the gas check valve into the gas passage. A pair of seals are provided and respectively seal the siphon body against the retaining nut to preclude flow of gas into the keg other than by way of the gas check valve or flow of gas outwardly between the siphon body and the keg opening and seal between the retaining nut and he inner marginal keg wall portion about the opening to preclude egress of liquid from the keg outwardly through the opening between the keg wall and the siphon body.

A coupler unit having liquid and gas passageways terminating in respective downwardly extending probes is releasably secured to the keg adapter with the bore openings of the latter adjacent and the upper end of the siphon body receiving the respective probes of the coupler unit whereby gas is permitted to flow into the keg through the communicating coupler unitkeg adapter liquid passages to a faucet. By providing the foregoing unique valve structure in a tapping apparatus of this type, the latter (in addition to other operational features and advantages in the quality of the beer drawn) can be formed with a minimum number of parts and rapidly assembled, thereby permitting manufacture of the device at low cost.

In addition to the foregoing, the keg adapter is specifically configured for ready and easy installation within the keg opening. Particularly, the retaining nut is formed to a polygonal, preferably hexagonal, configuration and is thereby receivable within a like configured wrench head having a curved elongated handle. Thus, to install the keg adapter, the wrench is fitted about the polygonal portion of the retaining nut and the wrench head and nut are inserted through the side opening of the keg and guided such that the central opening through the nut is aligned with the opening through the top wall of the keg. The siphon body including the associated siphon tube can then be inserted through the keg wall opening and through ,the central opening of the nut. Spanner wrench openings are provided in the top face of the siphon body and the latter can be readily threaded within the nut. While retaining this subassembly within the keg opening by the wrench, a second nut can be threaded down on the upper externally threaded portion of the siphon body, against the keg opening flange, thereby clamping the keg adapter within the keg wall opening.

In another form hereof, the siphon body hasreduced diameter gas passage opening through the lower end thereof in communication with the larger diameter gas passage opening through the upper end of the siphon body and receivingzthe gas probe from the coupler unit. A similar gas check valve is secured about the lower open end of the gas check valve is secured about the lower open end of the gas passage and it will thus be seen that the liquid and gas passages are wholly defined by the siphon body portion.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved tapping device for beer kegs and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved tapping device for beer kegs and the like having a keg adapter receivable within the opening of a keg and having discrete side-by-side beer and gas passages and a valve in the beer passage wherein the beer flow past the open beer valve is substantially unrestricted providing a stream of properly drawn beer. It is a related object of the present invention to located the valve means in axial alignment with he probe on the coupler unit, thereby to provide the foregoing results.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide beer tapping device including a keg adapter having a siphon body defining beer and gas passages and receivable through the keg opening from the outside of the keg. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keg adapter having a siphon body receivable through the keg opening for securement within a retaining nut located within the keg. It is a related object of the present invention to provide a keg adapter having a siphon tube fixed to the lower end of the siphon body and formed of a rigid material such as stainless steel whereby the siphon tube is insertable with the siphon body from without the keg through the keg wall opening and retainer nut for final disposition with its lower end adjacent the k eg bottom.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improved keg tapping apparatus which is readily and easily installed within the keg wall opening.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an improved beer tapping apparatus constructed in accordance with the present'invention with portions broken out and in cross section and illustrating the tapping apparatus as finally secured in the tapping opening of a keg;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the upper face of the siphon body which forms a part of the keg adapter hereof; v

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the keg adapter'hereof and taken generally about on line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the keg adapter'taken generally about on line 4l-4 of FIG. 1'; and g;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the keg adapter illustrating another form thereof. 3

Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown the top wall of a conventional beer keg, not shown.

in its entirety, having a cylindricalopening l2'andanupper 'flange l4 and into which opening 12 is receivedthekeg adapter hereof, generally indicated; at 16. As hereinafter. amplified, keg adapter l6readily receives and is connected to-a the beer dispensing establishment for withdrawing beer from the keg under pressure provided by a gas pressure source, not shown.

' keg adapter 16 comprises acylindrical siphon body20 and a-' lower retaining nut 22 havinga central opening 24 for receivingthe lower end portion of siphon body 20: Siphon body 20.

has a diameter substantially conformingto the internal diameter of opening 12 through upper. keg wall 10' as to beslidably receivable therethrough in close fitting relation. Opposite end portions of the siphon body 20 are externally threaded as at 26 and 28 for reasons as will become apparent. Siphon body 20 is provided with a pair of liquid and gas passages including bores 30 and 32 respectively opening through the upper face thereof. The lower portion of bore 30 includes the enlarged .stepped diameter portions 34, 36 and 38.defining respective shoulders 40 and 42 therebetween. Tl-le lower portiongof bore 32 terminates intermediate the ends of siphon body 20 in a radial opening 39.

A valve,generally'indicated at 44, -is provided within the stepped bore portions of siphon body 20 within the liquid passage 30 thereof and a cylindrical. valve retainer member or ferrule 46 is suitably retained within the enlarged bore portion 38 as by a snap ring 48. Valve 44 is similar in construction to the liquid valve disclosed in my previous application, Ser. No. 406,682, filed Oct. 27, 1964, which was abandoned in favor of copending application Ser. No. 587,627, filed Oct. 18, 1 966. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Specifically, valve 44 comprises a valve seat 50, preferably formed of a plastic material, and having a central opening 52. Valve. seat 50 seats against shoulder 40 with the stepped opposite side thereof forming an annular shoulder or against which the upper end of ferrule 46 bears whereby seat 50 is retained within bore 36 with ferrule 46 retained in bore 38 by snap ring 48. Valve 44 further comprises a valve plate 54 having a lower depending cylindrical portion 56 about which is received the upper end of a spiral spring 58. The lower end of spring 58 seats against an internal shoulder 60 fonned about the lower end of ferrule 46 and 54 into .the'central opening52of seat and throughthe-centraliopening intubing 64 for communication with passage 30.

A retaining nut 70 is provided about the lower end of siphon body-20' within the keg when the keg adapter is secured within the keg wall opening as fully detailed hereinafter. Nut 70 is centrally bored as at 24 and is'provided with internal threads adjacent its lower'end of threadedly receiving the, externally threaded lower portion of siphon body 20. An: inwardly extending flange 72is formed about the lower end of nut 70 and provides a seat for an O-ring seal 74 which, when siphon body 20'is fully threaded within nut 70, seals between siphon body ZO-andnut 22. A pair of annular recesses are formed'within nut 70'ataxially spaced positions one from'the other adjacent the upper-end thereof. Annular recess 76 receivesan O-ring seal 80. for. sealing about siphon body20 when the latter is received within nut170. Annularirecess 78 communicates with the radial opening- 39 of siphon body 20 when the latter is finally secured to nut- 22'and forms a part of the gas, passage communicatinginto the keg. A bore 84;is-provided through nut 70 communicating at, its upper endwith recess 78 and opening through the lower end of nut 70.

A gas check valve is'provided adjacent the lower end of nut 70 and comprises a flexible cylindrical sleeve or tube 86, preferably formed. of silicon rubber (gum rubber and .other plastic materials may also. be employed), having a closed lower end and an open upper end receivable within an enlarged diameter lower end and an upper end receivable within an enlarged: diameter lower portion of bore 84. Tube 86 is preferably D-shape in cross section. A clamp ring 88 is received within the upper end portion of flexible sleeve 86 and presses the walls of sleeve 86 against the enlarged bore opening sealing thereabout. Suitable adhesive may be applied between the flexible sleeve and the enlarged bore wall prior to assembly, as desired, and may be of the type identified as 108W silicon cement manufactured by the General Electric Company. A longitudinally extending slit 88 is formed through each of the opposite arcuate and flat sidewalls of sleeve 86and it will be appreciated that, .when gas under pressure is transrnitted through bore 32, radial passage -39, annular passage 78,

' bore 84 and into sleeve 86, the sides of slits 88'will open perpreciated that prior to tapping and connection of the coupler unit with the keg adapter, spring 58 biases'valve plate 54 upwardly to seal against seat 50 with theshoulders 62 locating tubing 64 in the upper part of bore 34. j

The lower end of ferrule 46 has a depending nipple 66 about which is secured the upper end of a siphon tube 68, the latter being fonned preferably of stainless steel. Tube 68 is preferably brazed about nipple '66 to form an integral construction therewith and extends, when the keg adapter is finally secured within the keg opening, to adjacent the bottom of the keg. The lower end of the siphon tube 66 is open to the liquid in the keg and it will be seen that, with the valve in the illustrated open position, a liquid passage is provided from the keg into and through the siphon tube 68, through nipple 66,

the cylindrical passage through ferrule 46, about valve plate being threaded about the internally threaded portion of nut 70 mitting the gastoflowoutwardly into the keg. When the pressure within the keg is equal to or greater than the gas applied through the keg adapter 16, this external pressure maintains slits 88 closed precluding ingress of liquid from' the keg through the slits into the gas passages of the keg adapter. it will be readily appreciated that only one longitudinal slit may be provided and that such one slit or the pair of longitudinal slits may be provided in combination with a transversely extending slit 90 formed through the lower closed end of valve 86. The particular gas check valve may be constructed similarly as the gas check valve disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 676,291, filed Oct. 18, 1967, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in. its entirety by reference thereto. For reasons hereinafter amplified, the external configuration of nut 70 is polygonal and preferably hexagonal in shape.

To assembly siphon body 20 and nut 70, nut 70 is gripped and supported by a wrench, not shown, having an elongated, preferrably arcuate, handle whereby the wrench head, nut 70 and an annular seal 96 on the top face of nut 70 are inserted through theside opening of the keg and manipulated such that the nut 70 lies in axial alignment with the opening 12 through the'top wall 14 of the keg. The wrench for accomplishing this purpose is fully disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 773,406, filed Nov. '5, 1968, which disclosure is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. The siphon body 20 is then inserted through the keg opening 12 and through the central opening 24 through nut 70. Particularly, the siphon tube 68 is first inserted through openings 12 and .24 with the externally threaded lower portion of siphon body 20 and sealing against flange 72 by seal 74. Note that siphon tube 68'is eccentrically mounted with respect to'siphon body 20 and that the opening defined by flange 72 is sufficiently large as to accommodate the locus of rotation of siphon tube 68 as siphon body 20 is threaded within nut 70. Spanner wrench openings 97 are provided in the top face of siphon body 20 to facilitate threaded engagement of body 20 and retainer nut 22.

To retain the siphon body and nut subassembly within the keg opening 12, an outer retaining nut 92 having an internally threaded bore is threadedly received about the externally threaded portion 26 of siphon body 20 in a manner hereinafter amplified. A star lockwasher 94 is provided between the lower face of outer nut 92 and flange 14 of keg opening 12. By threading outer nut 92 about siphon body 20, the latter is clamped within the keg opening with the seal 96 disposed about siphon body 20 on the upper face of nut 70 sealing against the marginal portions of the underside of the upper keg wall 10 about keg opening 12. Lockwasher 90 automatically bites into the metal upon threading nut 92 down on flange l4 and it is therefore a particular feature hereof that the lockwasher 94, acting between nut 92 and flange l4, precludes rotational movement of adapter 16 within opening 12 upon securement thereof to the keg. The retaining nut 92 is externally threaded as at 98 for threaded connection with an internally threaded nut 100 comprising a part of the coupler unit 18 which will not be described.

Coupler unit 18 comprises a cylindrical body 106 having a lower outwardly projecting flange 108. A pair of liquid and gas passages 110 and 112 respectively are provided in body 106 eccentrically of the axis thereof with liquid passage 110 opening through the upper end of body 106, the latter being externally threaded as at 114 for connection with a suitable coupler for supplying liquid through a liquid conduit, not shown, to a beer faucet, also not shown. The gas passage 112 communicates through a laterally extending nipple 116 adapted for connection with a gas conduit connecting at its opposite end with a source of gas or air under pressure, not shown. The lower portions of the liquid and gas passages 110 and 112 are slightly diametrically enlarged as to respectively receive tubular probes 118 and 120 which extend downwardly from coupler unit 18 for reception (upon tapping the keg) within bore openings 30 and 32 of keg adapter 16. A suitable seal 122 is provided about probes 118 and 120 whereby, when the latter are disposed within and coupler unit 18 secured to keg adapter 16, a seal is formed between the upper face of siphon body and the lower face of coupler body 106. Thus, to secure the coupler unit 18 to the keg adapter 16 and tap the keg, the probes 118 and 120 are inserted within respective bores 30 and 32 and nut 100 is threaded about outer nut 92 to draw coupler unit 18 downwardly to butt and seal against siphon body 20 about openings 30 and 32. Gas under pressure provided through nipple 116 communicates into the keg through passage 112, probe I20, the bore 32, radial passage 39, annular recess 78, bore 84 and gas check valve 86. Probe 118 has a length sufficient that when the coupler unit 18 is fully secured to the keg adapter 16, the lower end of the probe displaces tubing 64 downwardly, thereby displacing valve plate 54 from seat 50 and permitting egress of liquid under pressure from the keg past the valve into probe 118 and out through the top opening of the coupler unit to the faucet, not shown.

Referring not to FIG. 5, there is illustrated another form of the keg adapter hereof in which the gas passage extends through the siphon body directly into the keg without communicating through the retaining nut into the keg as in the previous embodiment. Particularly, siphon body 20a and retaining nut 70a illustrated in FIG. 5 are identical with the corresponding parts in the embodiments in FIGS. l-4, and like parts are designated with like reference numerals having the suffix letter designation as to indicate this latter embodiment. In this latter embodiment, the gas passage 32 terminates in a reduced diameter longitudinally extending bore 130 opening through the lower end of the siphon body 20a. A gas check valve 8611, similar in construction to the valve described previously, is

disposed about an enlarged diameter portion of bore and connected thereto as in the previous embodiment. it willthus be seen that the siphon body 200 carries both the complete fluid and gas passages. The siphon body is assembled with retaining nut 70a, as described previously with reference .to FIGS. 13, with both the siphon tube 684 and gas check valve 86a being initially inserted through the central opening of retaining nut 70a.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Iclaim:

l. A liquid dispensing apparatus adapted for use with a keg or like container for liquids which has top, bottom and sidewalls with an opening in one wall of the keg comprising: a keg adapter adapted to be secured within the keg wall opening and including a siphon body receivable through the keg opening from the outside of the keg and a retainer member within the keg, said retainer member having a lateral dimension greater than the diameter of the keg opening, means for releasably securing said siphon body and said retainer member one to the other, means for releasably securing said keg adapter within the keg opening, said keg adapter having a pair of laterally spaced passages extending therethrough in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of said keg adapter for the respective transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg and of gas from the outside to the inside of the keg; at least a portion of said passages through said keg adapter respectively defining a pair of bore holes in said siphon body adjacent an outer portion thereof and spaced to extend eccentrically of said body and in generally parallel relation to the axis thereof; a normally closed valve in said liquid passage adjacent the inner portion of said keg adapter and a valve in said gas passage adjacent the inner portion of said keg adapter.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said retainer member has a central opening for receiving the lower portion of said siphon body, said lower body portion and said member having complementary threaded portions for releasably securing one to the other.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said retainer member has a passage opening into the keg in communication with one of said bore holes and forming therewith at least a portion of one of said liquid and gas passages.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said retainer member has a central opening for receiving the lower portion of said siphon body, said lower body portion and said member having complementary threaded portions for releasably securing one to the other, said siphon body having a lateral opening in communication with said one bore hole and said retainer member having a lateral opening in communication with said retainer member passage, said lateral openings lying in communication one with the other when said siphon body and said retainer member are secured one to the other.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including sealing means between said siphon body and said retainer member on opposite sides of said lateral openings.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said lateral openings in one of said siphon body and said retainer member comprises an annular recess in communication with the other of said lateral openings whereby said lateral openings lie in communication one with the other at all relative angular positions of said siphon body and retainer member about said axis. 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gas valve includes a flexible envelope projecting from said keg adapter, said envelope having at least one slit for permitting ingress of gas through said gas passage into the keg and preventing egress of fluid from the keg into said gas passage.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said liquid valve includes a valve seat having an opening therethrough, a valve plate having a bifurcated stem extending from one side thereof, and means normally biasing said valve plate against said seat to close said valve means with saidbifurcated stem extending through said opening in said seat.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a metal siphon tube fixed on the lower end of said siphon body and adapted to extend to adjacent the keg bottom when the keg adapter is finally secured within the keg opening.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said retainer member has a polygonal configuration in-cross section as to be engageable by a wrench. I 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the outer portion of said siphon body is externally threaded, a lockwasher for encompassing said outer siphon body portion, said releasable securing means for said keg adapter including a nut threadedly receivable about said outer siphon body portion to clamp said body within the the keg opening with said washer disposed between said nut and the marginal portion of the keg about the opening.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with a coupler unit, said coupler unit having separate liquid and gas passages terminating at the lower end thereof in respective longitudinally projecting probes, said probes being spaced one from the other as to be receivable within said bore holes in said keg adapter with said probes received within the bore holes in said keg adapter for providing respective liquid and gas communication through said coupler unit and keg adapter.

13. A liquid dispensing apparatus adapted for use with a keg or like container for liquids which has top, bottom and sidewalls with an opening in one wall of the keg comprising: a

keg adapter adapted to be secured within the keg wall opening and including a siphon body receivable through the keg opening from the outside of the keg and a retainer member within the keg, said retainer member having a lateral dimension greater than the diameter of the keg opening, means for releasably securing said siphon body and said retainer member one to the other, means for releasably securing said keg adapter within the keg opening, said keg adapter having a pair of laterally spaced passages extending therethrough in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of said keg adapter for the respective transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg and of gas from the outside to the inside of the keg; at least a portion of said passages through said keg adapter respectively defining a pair of bore holes in said siphon body adjacent an outer portion thereof and spaced to extend eccentrically of said body and in generally parallel relation to the axis thereof; a valve in said liquid passage ineluding a valve seat and a valve member, means for urging said valve member against said seat to normally close said passage,

a valve in said gaspassage, a coupler unit, means for releasably connecting said coupler unit and said keg adapter, said coupler unit having separate liquid and gas passages terminating at their lower ends in a pair of depending probes, said probes being arranged as to be receivable within said bore holes when said coupler unit is connected to said keg adapter, the probe associated with said liquid passage extending sufficiently when said coupler unit and keg adapter are connected as to displace said member from said seat to provide communication between said keg adapter and said coupler unit.

14. A liquid dispensing apparatus adapted for use with a keg or like container for liquids which has top, bottom and sidewalls with an opening in one wall of the keg comprising; a body receivable throughthe keg opening from the outside of the keg, means for securing said body within the keg wall opening, said body having a pair of laterally spaced passages extending therethrough in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the respective transfer of liquid from inside to the outside of the keg and gas from the outside to the inside of the keg; at least a portion of said passages adjacent the outer portion of said body respectively defining a pair of bore holes spaced to extend eccentrically of said body and in generally parallel relation to the axis thereof; normally closed the associated bore hole, said annular member being engageable with said stem portion to space said valve plate from said seat to open said liquid valve means, ad a gas valve in said gas passage for permitting ingress of gas into the keg.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said valve stem portion is bifurcated to provide an enlarged opening through said liquid valve means.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said gas valve includes a flexible member having a slit therethrough, said flexible member permitting gas flow through said gas passage and slit into the keg and precluding outflow of gas and liquid from the keg through the gas passage.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,550 ,818 Dated December 29, 1970 Inventor(s) Mack Johnston It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1 line 29 "SEr should read Ser. Column 1 line 10 "keg The the" should read keg adapter. The Column 3, line 10 "threadly" should read threadedly 1i] 60 "he" should read the line 67 cancel "and". Column I line 21, after "has" insert a line 26 cancel "secured about the lower open end of the gas check valve is"; line 40, "located should read locate same line 40 "he" should read the line 43, before "bear" insert a line 73 "4! -4" should read 44 Column 5 line 10, "as" should read at line 16 "keg" should read Keg line 29 "THe" should read The Column 6, line 7 "of" should rea for line 59, "assembly" should read assemble Column 7 line 4 "20" should read 2O lines 25 and 63 "not", each occurrence, should read now Column 8, line "it" should read It Column 9 line 27, after "keg adapter" insert and means for connecting said coupler uni and said keg adapter Column 10 line 38 "ad" should read and Signed and sealed this 23rd day of November 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patel A unrnuM-HC 602i

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