Tapping device for beer kegs and the like

Claim 2

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within The keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; said keg adapter including a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, said body including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter and forming a portion of one of said passages, a pair of valve actuating elements each having portions disposed in said central opening and movable in a generally axial direction from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position.

Claim 3

A liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of said liquid and gas passages is radially offset from the central axis of said keg adapter, said elements lying in part in said offset passage portions.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 including a gas check valve disposed in said gas passage adjacent its inner end to preclude flow of liquid into said passage.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said gas check valve includes a closed flexible envelope in communication with said gas passage, said envelope having an elongated slit formed through a wall thereof for permitting ingress of gas into the keg.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 including an elongated siphon tube in communication with said liquid passage said body having a lateral extent at each axial position therealong less than the diameter of the keg opening whereby said adapter body is receivable within the keg opening from without the keg.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said keg adapter includes a flange about the outer portion of said adapter body, said flange having a diameter greater than the diameter of the keg opening, means for releasably securing said keg adapter in said keg opening including a first externally threaded ring engageable below the keg flange and a second ring having an inwardly directed flange and an internally threaded depending skirt portion for threaded engagement with said second ring whereby said adapter flange is releasably clamped between said second ring flange and the keg flange upon threaded engagement of said first and second rings.

Claim 8

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said position, said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, said liquid and gas valves being axially offset one from the other along said keg adapter.

Claim 9

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said position, said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, said liquid and gas valves being axially offset one from the other along said keg adapter.

Claim 10

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter inclUding a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, said tubular element comprising a portion of said liquid passage, means for biasing said tubular element into said first position and retaining said tubular element in said liquid passage, said tubular element being movable axially inwardly against the bias of said biasing means into said second position to open said liquid valve, said liquid and gas valves being axially offset one from the other along said keg adapter.

Claim 11

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter inclUding a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, said tubular element comprising a portion of said liquid passage, means for biasing said tubular element into said first position and retaining said tubular element in said liquid passage, said tubular element being movable axially inwardly against the bias of said biasing means into said second position to open said liquid valve, said liquid and gas valves being axially offset one from the other along said keg adapter.

Claim 12

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, means carried by said coupler and movable into a first position for normally sealing one of said passages through said coupler and into a second position providing for open communication through said one passage, and means for moving said sealing means from said first position to said second position in response to securing movement of said coupler toward said keg adapter.

Claim 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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, means carried by said coupler and movable into a first position for normally sealing one of said passages through said coupler and into a second position providing for open communication through said one passage, and means for moving said sealing means from said first position to said second position in response to securing movement of said coupler toward said keg adapter.

Claim 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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, one of said passages including a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced one from the other radially outwardly of said central opening.

Claim 15

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, one of said passages including a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced one from the other radially outwardly of said central opening.

Claim 16

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, at least a portion of each of said liquid and gas passages being radially offset from the central axis of said keg adapter, said gas passage including a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced one from the other radially outwardly of said central opening, means providing for communication between said openings and said offset gas passage portion, said gas valve and its associated gas passage portion being disposed radially inwardly of said offset gas passage portion, and means providing for communication between said offset gas passage portion and the gas passage portion containing said gas valve.

Claim 17

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside to the inside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in said gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, at least a portion of each of said liquid and gas passages being radially offset from the central axis of said keg adapter, said gas passage including a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced one from the other radially outwardly of said central opening, means providing for communication between said openings and said offset gas passage portion, said gas valve and its associated gas passage portion being disposed radially inwardly of said offset gas passage portion, and means providing for communication between said offset gas passage portion and the gas passage portion containing said gas valve.

Claim 18

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in sad gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, one of said actuating elements including an axially movable stem, sealing means between said stem and said body in said gas passage outwardly of said gas valve to maintain said liquid and said gas passages through said keg adapter segregated one from the other.

Claim 19

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 characterized in that it comprises: a keg adapter including a main body adapted to be secured within the keg opening and having a liquid passage extending through said body in the general direction of the longitudinal axis thereof for the transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg, a normally closed valve in said liquid passage; a gas passage bypassing said liquid passage and said liquid valve for transmitting gas through the keg adapter from the outside of the keg, a normally closed gas valve in sad gas passage, one of said passages including a central opening adjacent the outer end of said keg adapter, a pair of valve-actuating elements having portions disposed in said central opening and movable from a normally disposed first position to a second position, and means coupling said valve elements to said valves for opening said valves in response to movement of said elements from said first position to said second position, one of said actuating elements including an axially movable stem, sealing means between said stem and said body in said gas passage outwardly of said gas valve to maintain said liquid and said gas passages through said keg adapter segregated one from the other.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 11 including means in said gas passage and outwardly of said gas valve for sealing about said gas valve-actuating element to maintain said liquid and gas passages segregated one from the other.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of said liquid and gas passages is radially offset from the central axis of said keg adapter, said gas passage including a portion spaced radially outwardly of said central opening and opening through the outer end portion of said adapter, means providing for communication between said radially outward and offset gas passage portions, said gas valve and its associated gas passage portion being disposed radially inwardly of said radially offset passage portion, means providing for communication between said radially offset passage portion and the gas passage portion containing said gas valve, and means in said gas passage portion outwardly of said gas valve for sealing about said gas valve actuating element to maintain said liquid and gas passages segregated one from the other.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of said actuating elements includes a tubular member, the valve associated with said one actuating element including a valve seat and a valve sealing element, said tubular element being movable from said first position locating said valve seat and said valve-sealing element in sealing engagement one with the other into said second position locating said valve seat and said valve-sealing element in spaced relation one from the other to permit fluid communication through the associated passage.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said gas valve is carried by said stem, means for biasing said stem to maintain the valve carried thereby in a normally closed position, said sealing means being operative to maintain the seal between said stem and said body in both the open and closed positions of said gas valve.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 1 together with a coupler unit having liquid and gas passages therethrough, one of said passages terminating adjacent the inner end of said coupler in a tubular probe receivable within said central opening, means for releasably securing said coupler unit to said keg adapter with said tubular probe being receivable in said central opening in said adapter body for moving said actuating elements from said first to said second position.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein one of said actuating elements includes a tubular member, the valve associated with said one actuating element including a valve seat and a valve-sealing element, said tubular element being movable from said first position locating said valve seat and said valve-sealing element in sealing engagement one with the other into said second locating second position locating said valve seat and said valve-sealing element in spaced relation one from the other in response to insertion of said probe within said central opening to permit fluid communication between said tubular probe and the keg through said tubular element.