Quick-connect coupling conversion means for beer kegs

Claim 1

A system for dispensing fluids comprising a keg having a first tapping opening in the side near the bottom of the keg and a second tapping opening in the top of the keg, each tapping opening having a fixed valve member mounted therein, the valve member comprising a hollow cylindrical valve body cup located entirely within the confines of the outer wall of the keg and having its outer end connected to the outer wall of the keg, a fixed endwall forming the innermost portions of said hollow cylindrical valve body cup, an aperture formed in the central portion of said fixed endwall and extending through said fixed endwall, an elongated connector means having one end fixedly connected to and extending through the aperture in said fixed endwall of said hollow cylindrical cuplike body, said elongated connector means having an axially-extending aperture extending throughout its length to provide communication with the interior of the keg, said elongated connector means having its other end positioned within the confines of the hollow cylindrical valve body cup, a male coupling fitting having an exterior end fixedly attached to the said other end of the elongated connector means and having an outermost end located within the confines of the outer wall of the keg for receiving a female coupling adapted for selective longitudinal coupled association with said male coupling fitting and a radially downward extending conduit communicating with the axially-extending aperture extending throughout the length of said elongated connector means of the valve member in the first tapping opening and having an inlet opening at its extreme end formed in the valve member mounted adjacent the bottom of the keg with the inlet opening being adjacent the lowermost part of the interior of the keg so as to enable a substantially complete draining of liquid from the keg through said first tapping opening.

Claim 2

A system for dispensing fluids comprising a keg having a first tapping opening in the side near the bottom of the keg and a second tapping opening in the top of the keg, each tapping opening having a fixed valve member mounted therein, the valve member comprising a hollow cylindrical valve body cup located entirely within the confines of the outer wall of the keg and having its outer end connected to the outer wall of the keg, a fixed endwall forming the innermost portions of said hollow cylindrical valve body cup, an aperture formed in the central portion of said fixed endwall and extending through said fixed endwall, an elongated connector means having one end fixedly connected to and extending through the aperture in said fixed endwall of said hollow cylindrical cuplike body, said elongated connector means having an axially-extending aperture extending throughout its length to provide communication with the interior of the keg, said elongated connector means having its other end positioned within the confines of the hollow cylindrical valve body cup, a male coupling fitting having an exterior end fixedly attached to the said other end of the elongated connector means and having an outermost end located within the confines of the outer wall of the keg for receiving a female coupling adapted for selective longitudinal coupled association with said male coupling fitting and a radially downward extending conduit communicating with the axially-extending aperture extending throughout the length of said elongated connector means of the valve member in the first tapping opening and having an inlet opening at its extreme end formed in the valve member mounted adjacent the bottom of the keg with the inlet opening being adjacent the lowermost part of the interior of the keg so as to enable a substantially complete draining of liquid from the keg through said first tapping opening.