US3698417A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keg tapping device with automatic gas shutoff valve
Assignee: CONSOLIDATED GOLD ASSETS Inc
•
Filing: 1970-03-11
•
Granted: 1972-10-17
•
Expires: 1990-03-11
Abstract
Abstract The device includes an adapter for semi-permanent securement within a keg opening and having liquid and gas passages with normally closed valves in the passages. A coupler is releasably secured to the adapter and has liquid and gas passages providing for ingress of gas under pressure through the coupler and adapter into the keg and egress of fluid under pressure from the keg through the adapter and coupler to a faucet. The coupler includes a gas shutoff valve having a piston member in the gas passage normally maintaining a ball valve spaced from its seat permitting flow of gas through the coupler. The piston, in response to gas pressure in the gas line in excess of a predetermined pressure, shifts to permit the ball to seal against its seat thereby precluding gas flow into the keg. A check valve is provided in the liquid line in the coupler to prevent backflow of liquid from a faucet through the coupler when the latter is uncoupled from the keg.
Inventors
- 👤 Vern Smith
- 👤 Merton R Fallon
- 👤 Mack S Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:46
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/08; B67D1/0829; B67D1/0831; B67D1/0832; B67D1/0801; B67D1/0802; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3115; Y10T137/3127; Y10T137/314
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A liquid dispensing coupler for use in tapping a keg or like container comprising a coupler head having discrete liquid and gas passages therethrough, said liquid passage and said gas passage being separated one from the other, and a normally open gas shutoff valve in said gas passage including means responsive to a predetermined gas pressure in said gas passage for closing said shutoff valve and sealing said gas passage, said coupler including a centrally disposed sleeve, one of said liquid and gas passages extending at least in part in said sleeve, said shutoff valve including a member on one side of said coupler responsive to the gas pressure in said gas passage and movable from a first position into a second position in response to a predetermined gas pressure in said gas passage, a valve element on the other side of said coupler and in said gas passage, said element being movable between a valve open position and a valve closed position, means for coupling said member and said element including a connecting part straddling said sleeve, said member in said first position maintaining said element in said valve open position, said element being movable into said valve closed position in response to movement of said member from said first position to said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A liquid dispensing coupler for use in tapping a keg or like container comprising a coupler head having discrete liquid and gas passages therethrough, said liquid passage and said gas passage being separated one from the other, and a normally open gas shutoff valve in said gas passage including means responsive to a predetermined gas pressure in said gas passage for closing said shutoff valve and sealing said gas passage, said coupler including a centrally disposed sleeve, one of said liquid and gas passages extending at least in part in said sleeve, said shutoff valve including a member on one side of said coupler responsive to the gas pressure in said gas passage and movable from a first position into a second position in response to a predetermined gas pressure in said gas passage, a valve element on the other side of said coupler and in said gas passage, said element being movable between a valve open position and a valve closed position, means for coupling said member and said element including a connecting part straddling said sleeve, said member in said first position maintaining said element in said valve open position, said element being movable into said valve closed position in response to movement of said member from said first position to said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A liquid dispensing coupler for use in tapping a keg or like container comprising a coupler head having discrete liquid and gas passages therethrough, said liquid passage and said gas passage being separated one from the other, and the normally open gas shutoff valve in said gas passage including means responsive to a predetermined gas pressure in said gas passage for closing said shutoff valve and sealing said gas passage, said coupler including a check valve in said liquid passage for preventing backflow of liquid through said coupler.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
A liquid dispensing coupler for use in tapping a keg or like container comprising a coupler head having discrete liquid and gas passages therethrough, said liquid passage and said gas passage being separated one from the other, and the normally open gas shutoff valve in said gas passage including means responsive to a predetermined gas pressure in said gas passage for closing said shutoff valve and sealing said gas passage, said coupler including a check valve in said liquid passage for preventing backflow of liquid through said coupler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A coupler according to claim 2 including a probe forming a portion of said liquid passage therethrough, said coupler having a generally cylindrical head with said probe extending generally coaxially therewith, said gas passage being radially offset from the axis of said coupler head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
A coupler according to claim 3 wherein the keg has an opening and in combination with a keg adapter having an axis and adapted for semi-permanent securement in the keg opening, said adapter having segregated gas and liquid passages, means for releasably coupling said coupler and said keg adapter together with the liquid and gas passages thereof in respective communication one with the other for the respective transfer of liquid from the inside to the outside of the keg and gas from the outside to the inside of the keg, and normally closed valves in the liquid and gas passages of said adapter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A coupler according to claim 4 wherein said adapter has a central opening forming a portion of said liquid passage, said coupler head having a central depending probe with a passage therethrough forming a portion of said liquid passage and receivable within said central opening when said coupler and adapter are secured one to the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A coupler according to claim 4 wherein said adapter has a pair of openings laterally offset from the axis thereof and forming a part of the respective gas and liquid passages therethrough, said coupler including a pair of depending probes forming portions of the respective liquid and gas passages through said coupler, said coupler head being generally cylindrical with the axes of said probes extending generally parallel to the axis of said head and laterally offset therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The coupler and keg adapter according to claim 4 in combination with a source of gas under pressure, gas passage means connecting said gas pressure source and the gas passage in said coupler and including means for supplying gas to said coupler at normal operating pressures lower than the pressure of the gas at said gas source, and means for maintaining said shutoff valve normally open at said normal operating pressures and responsive to pressures in said gas passage exceeding said normal operating pressures for closing said shutoff valve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3325053A
Cited
US884017A
Cited
US2061642A
Cited
US3090530A
Cited
US3228413A
Cited
US3327899A
Cited
US3352457A
Cited
US3439777A
Cited
US3410458A
Cited
US3497114A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |