US3758008A — Tapping assembly for beer kegs and the like

Claim 1

Independent Claim 398 words

A tapper assembly for beer kegs and the like, comprising in combination; an adapter for mounting in an opening in a keg or the like, and including a housing containing magnetic material; a liquid passageway in said adapter housing containing an inlet and an outlet with a first vAlve seat therebetween, the inlet being adapted to be in communication with the interior of a keg in which the adapter may be mounted; a first valve member associated with said first valve seat and movable between an open position and a closed position relative thereto, said first valve member being biased toward the closed position by means including a permanent magnet; a gas passageway in said adapter housing containing an inlet and an outlet with a second valve seat therebetween the outlet being adapted to be in communication with the interior of a keg in which the adapter may be mounted; a second valve member associated with said second valve seat and movable between an open position and a closed position relative thereto, said second valve member being biased toward and closed position by means including a permanent magnet; a tapper in selective sealing engagement with said adapter and including a housing; a gas passageway in said tapper housing having an inlet and an outlet with third valve means therebetween movable between an open position and a closed position, the inlet being adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure, and the outlet being in communication with the inlet of the gas passageway in the adapter housing when the tapper and the adapter are in sealing engagement; a liquid passageway in said tapper housing having an inlet and an outlet with fourth valve means therebetween movable between an open position and a closed position, the inlet being in communication with the outlet of the liquid passageway in the adapter housing when the tapper and the adapter are in sealing engagement; actuating means supported in the tapper housing and movable between an operative and an inoperative position; means responsive to the movement of the actuating means from the inoperative to the operative position for moving the third and fourth valves in the tapper housing from the closed to the open position; and means responsive to the movement of the actuating means for moving the first valve in the adapter housing from the closed to the open position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 398 words

A tapper assembly for beer kegs and the like, comprising in combination; an adapter for mounting in an opening in a keg or the like, and including a housing containing magnetic material; a liquid passageway in said adapter housing containing an inlet and an outlet with a first vAlve seat therebetween, the inlet being adapted to be in communication with the interior of a keg in which the adapter may be mounted; a first valve member associated with said first valve seat and movable between an open position and a closed position relative thereto, said first valve member being biased toward the closed position by means including a permanent magnet; a gas passageway in said adapter housing containing an inlet and an outlet with a second valve seat therebetween the outlet being adapted to be in communication with the interior of a keg in which the adapter may be mounted; a second valve member associated with said second valve seat and movable between an open position and a closed position relative thereto, said second valve member being biased toward and closed position by means including a permanent magnet; a tapper in selective sealing engagement with said adapter and including a housing; a gas passageway in said tapper housing having an inlet and an outlet with third valve means therebetween movable between an open position and a closed position, the inlet being adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure, and the outlet being in communication with the inlet of the gas passageway in the adapter housing when the tapper and the adapter are in sealing engagement; a liquid passageway in said tapper housing having an inlet and an outlet with fourth valve means therebetween movable between an open position and a closed position, the inlet being in communication with the outlet of the liquid passageway in the adapter housing when the tapper and the adapter are in sealing engagement; actuating means supported in the tapper housing and movable between an operative and an inoperative position; means responsive to the movement of the actuating means from the inoperative to the operative position for moving the third and fourth valves in the tapper housing from the closed to the open position; and means responsive to the movement of the actuating means for moving the first valve in the adapter housing from the closed to the open position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

A tapper assembly according to claim 1, further including means responsive to the movement of the actuating means from the inoperative position to the operative position urging said tapper and said adapter into said sealing engagement.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

A tapper assembly according to claim 1 wherein the second valve member is movable from the closed position to the open position when the gas pressure in the inlet of the gas passageway in the adapter housing exceeds by a predetermined amount the gas pressure in a keg in which the adapter is mounted.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 193 words

An adapter for mounting in an opening in a keg or the like, comprising: a housing containing magnetic material; a liquid passageway in said housing containing an inlet and an outlet with a first valve seat therebetween, said inlet being adapted to be in communication with the interior of a keg in which the adapter may be mounted; a first valve member associated with said first valve seat and movable between an open position and a closed position relative thereto; first valve actuating means biasing said first valve toward the closed position and including a movable permanent magnet in operative engagement with the first valve member; a gas passageway in said housing containing an inlet and an outlet with a second valve seat therebetween, the outlet being adapted to be in communication with the interior of a keg in which the adapter may be mounted; a second valve member associated with said second valve seat and movable between an open and a closed position relative thereto; and second valve actuating means biasing said second valve toward the closed position and including a movable permanent magnet in operative engagement with the second valve member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 193 words

An adapter for mounting in an opening in a keg or the like, comprising: a housing containing magnetic material; a liquid passageway in said housing containing an inlet and an outlet with a first valve seat therebetween, said inlet being adapted to be in communication with the interior of a keg in which the adapter may be mounted; a first valve member associated with said first valve seat and movable between an open position and a closed position relative thereto; first valve actuating means biasing said first valve toward the closed position and including a movable permanent magnet in operative engagement with the first valve member; a gas passageway in said housing containing an inlet and an outlet with a second valve seat therebetween, the outlet being adapted to be in communication with the interior of a keg in which the adapter may be mounted; a second valve member associated with said second valve seat and movable between an open and a closed position relative thereto; and second valve actuating means biasing said second valve toward the closed position and including a movable permanent magnet in operative engagement with the second valve member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 51 words

An adapter according to claim 4, wherein the inlet of the gas passageway and the outlet of the liquid passageway are in communication witH a source of liquid under pressure for cleaning said passageways, and said valve actuating means yieldably bias said first and second valve members toward the closed position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

An adapter according to claim 4, wherein each valve actuating means comprises a permanent magnet with a casing slidably mounted in the housing.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

An adapter according to claim 4, wherein each valve member is separate from its respective valve actuating means, and each valve actuating means comprises a permanent magnet.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 61 words

An adapter according to claim 4, wherein the liquid passageway includes a smooth inner wall surface; the first valve actuating means comprises a permanent magnet within an elongated casing, said casing being spaced from said inner wall surface to provide for liquid flow therebetween; and said casing contains spaced apart, transversally extending flanges in sliding engagement with said inner wall surface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 159 words

A tapper for use with an adapter housing which is adapted to be mounted in an opening in a keg or the like, comprising: a housing; a gas passageway in said housing having an inlet and an outlet with a gas valve therebetween movable between a closed position and an open position, the inlet being adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure; a liquid passageway in said housing having an inlet and an outlet with a liquid valve therebetween movable between an open position and a closed position, the outlet being adapted to be connected to a liquid dispensing device; actuating means supported in the housing and movable between the inoperative position and an operative position; and tapping means supported in said housing and responsive to the movement of the actuating means from the inoperative to the operative position for moving said gas valve and said liquid valve from the closed to the open position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 159 words

A tapper for use with an adapter housing which is adapted to be mounted in an opening in a keg or the like, comprising: a housing; a gas passageway in said housing having an inlet and an outlet with a gas valve therebetween movable between a closed position and an open position, the inlet being adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure; a liquid passageway in said housing having an inlet and an outlet with a liquid valve therebetween movable between an open position and a closed position, the outlet being adapted to be connected to a liquid dispensing device; actuating means supported in the housing and movable between the inoperative position and an operative position; and tapping means supported in said housing and responsive to the movement of the actuating means from the inoperative to the operative position for moving said gas valve and said liquid valve from the closed to the open position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 48 words

A tapper according to claim 9, wherein the tapping means includes an elongated tap rod with a longitudinally extending chamber therein, which chamber forms part of said liquid passageway, and the tap rod contains spaced-apart, external shoulders which form part of said gas valve and said liquid valve.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 57 words

A tapper according to claim 10, wherein the chamber in said tap rod is open at one end to provide the inlet to said liquid passageway, and the other end of the chamber is in communication with a transversely extending passageway which terminates adjacent one of said external shoulders which forms part of the liquid valve means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 44 words

A tapper according to claim 9, wherein the actuating means includes a tubular member having inner and an outer ends, which member is rotatable and axially movable relative to said housing, and in which said outer end comprises the outlet of said liquid passageway.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 86 words

A tapper according to claim 9, wherein the actuating means includes a tubular member having inner and outer ends, which tubular member is rotatable and axially movable relative to said housing, and which tubular member contains an annular inner wall adjacent the inner end thereof; and the tapping means includes an elongated tap rod with a longitudinally extending chamber therein, one end of said tap rod being received in the inner end of said tubular member in sliding, sealing engagement with said annular inner wall thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 31 words

A tapper according to claim 13, wherein said inner end of the tubular member and said one end of the tap rod contain interengaging means providing limited relative axially movement therebetween.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 44 words

A tapper according to claim 14, wherein the tubular member contains an internal shoulder and the tap rod contains an externally mounted O-ring for axially movement relative to said shoulder, and said shoulder and said O-ring comprise said liquid valve in the liquid passageway.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 81 words

A tapper according to claim 9, wherein the gas passageway includes a chamber in the housing, said chamber having an inner wall terminating in a shoulder; the tapping means includes an elongated tap rod mounted in said housIng for limited axial movement relative thereto and extending through said chamber, said tap rod including an externally mounted O-ring for sliding sealing engagement with said inner wall of the chamber, said O-ring and said shoulder comprising said gas valve in the gas passageway.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 219 words

A keg and tapper assembly, comprising, in combination: a keg having an opening in one wall thereof; a flange adjacent to said opening; an adapter housing mounted in said opening, said housing containing liquid and gas passageways therethrough; liquid valve means and gas valve means in said liquid and gas passageways, respectively, and movable between an open position and a closed position; retaining means in engagement with said flange for retaining the adapter housing in position; a tapper in engagement with said adapter housing and containing liquid and gas passageways therethrough for communication with the liquid and gas passageways in the adapter housing; liquid and gas valves in the liquid and gas passageways in the tapper, and movable between an open position and a closed position; an actuating member supported in the tapper and movable between an inoperative position and an operative position; means responsive to the movement of the actuating member from the inoperative position to the operative position for moving said liquid and gas valve in the tapper to the open position, and for moving the liquid valve means in the adapter housing to the open position; and means responsive to the movement of the actuating member from the inoperative position to the operative position for forcing together the tapper and the adapter housing in sealing relationship.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 219 words

A keg and tapper assembly, comprising, in combination: a keg having an opening in one wall thereof; a flange adjacent to said opening; an adapter housing mounted in said opening, said housing containing liquid and gas passageways therethrough; liquid valve means and gas valve means in said liquid and gas passageways, respectively, and movable between an open position and a closed position; retaining means in engagement with said flange for retaining the adapter housing in position; a tapper in engagement with said adapter housing and containing liquid and gas passageways therethrough for communication with the liquid and gas passageways in the adapter housing; liquid and gas valves in the liquid and gas passageways in the tapper, and movable between an open position and a closed position; an actuating member supported in the tapper and movable between an inoperative position and an operative position; means responsive to the movement of the actuating member from the inoperative position to the operative position for moving said liquid and gas valve in the tapper to the open position, and for moving the liquid valve means in the adapter housing to the open position; and means responsive to the movement of the actuating member from the inoperative position to the operative position for forcing together the tapper and the adapter housing in sealing relationship.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 112 words

A keg and tapper assembly according to claim 17, wherein the tapper includes an upper housing and a lower housing interconnected for limited relative movement, the upper housing being connected to said retaining means and the lower housing being in engagement with the adapter housing; and wherein the means for forcing together the tapper and the adapter housing in sealing relationship includes means supported on the upper tapper housing for movement relative to said upper tapper housing and for engagement with the lower tapper housing to move the lower tapper housing from the upper tapper housing responsive to the movement of the actuating member from the inoperative position to the operative position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 49 words

A keg and tapper assembly according to claim 17, wherein said liquid and gas valves in the tapper and the liquid valve means in the adapter housing are moved to the closed position responsive to the movement of the actuating member from the operative position to the inoperative position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-09-10	1977-03-12	1977-09-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-09-10	1981-03-12	1981-09-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-09-10	1985-03-12	1985-09-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tapping assembly for beer kegs and the like

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