US3776260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Beer kegs and like containers
Assignee: Burnett and Rolfe Ltd
•
Filing: 1972-04-07
•
Granted: 1973-12-04
•
Expires: 1992-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A spear and closure assembly which is arranged to be fitted as a single unit in the neck of a beer keg or like container comprises a tubular housing having one end open and the spear fixed to the housing and projecting from its other end, and a valve seat which is fixed to the housing so that it is located adjacent the open end of the housing and projects radially inwards with respect to the open end. The housing, the spear, and the valve seat are connected to form a unitary structure, such as by welding or by a combination of welding and being formed integrally. A spring located within the housing acts on a disc like closure member so that a resilient valve ring is pressed by the closure member against the valve seat, hence closing the opening bounded by the valve seat. Assembly of the spring, the closure member, and the valve ring within the structure is made easy by arranging that the size and shape of the spring and closure member allow these to be passed through the opening bounded by the valve seat, and by providing the valve ring with sufficient resilience to allow it to be deformed and squeezed through this opening. In use, application of a filling or dispensing fitting moves the valve ring and the closure member axially inwards against the action of the spring, the valve ring being displaced axially relative to the closure member and forming a seal against a second valve seat formed on the housing so that two separate passages are formed through the fitting and into the container, one through the housing and the spear and the other outside the housing via an aperture between the two valve seats.
Inventors
- 👤 M Ruddick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:52
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/08; B67D1/0829; B67D1/0831; B67D1/0832; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3115; Y10T137/3127; Y10T137/314; Y10T137/598; Y10T137/612; Y10T137/613; Y10T137/6133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
352 words
A spear and closure valve assembly for fitting to a container for potable liquid, said assembly comprising a tubular housing having a first end defining a first end opening and a second end defining a second end opening, a tubular spear extending outwardly of said housing from said second end opening, an annular first valve seat bounding a seat opening therethrough and fixed to said housing adjacent said first end opening and projecting radially inwards with respect to said first end of said housing, a second annular valve seat extending around the interior of said housing and axially spaced from said first valve seat, a resilient valve ring axially movably located between said first and second valve seats, said valve ring having a greater diameter than said seat opening and being of sufficient resilience to be deformed and inserted through said seat opening, a closure member axially movable in said housing between said valve ring and said second valve seat, a spring in said housing acting on said closure member to press said closure member against said valve ring and press said valve ring against said first valve seat, whereby said closure member and said valve ring close said seat opening, said closure member being shaped so that it will not pass through said seat opening when substantially parallel to the plane of said seat opening but is insertable into said housing through said seat opening when suitably inclined to said plane, and means defining an aperture between said first and second valve seats, said aperture communicating with the exterior of said housing, whereby when said assembly is fitted in a container, application of a filling or dispensing fitting moves said valve ring and said closure member axially inwards against the action of said spring, said closure member being displaced axially inwards from said valve ring and said valve ring sealing against said second valve seat to form two separate passages through said assembly and into said container, one of said passages extending through said housing and said spear and the other of said passages extending outside said housing via said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
352 words
A spear and closure valve assembly for fitting to a container for potable liquid, said assembly comprising a tubular housing having a first end defining a first end opening and a second end defining a second end opening, a tubular spear extending outwardly of said housing from said second end opening, an annular first valve seat bounding a seat opening therethrough and fixed to said housing adjacent said first end opening and projecting radially inwards with respect to said first end of said housing, a second annular valve seat extending around the interior of said housing and axially spaced from said first valve seat, a resilient valve ring axially movably located between said first and second valve seats, said valve ring having a greater diameter than said seat opening and being of sufficient resilience to be deformed and inserted through said seat opening, a closure member axially movable in said housing between said valve ring and said second valve seat, a spring in said housing acting on said closure member to press said closure member against said valve ring and press said valve ring against said first valve seat, whereby said closure member and said valve ring close said seat opening, said closure member being shaped so that it will not pass through said seat opening when substantially parallel to the plane of said seat opening but is insertable into said housing through said seat opening when suitably inclined to said plane, and means defining an aperture between said first and second valve seats, said aperture communicating with the exterior of said housing, whereby when said assembly is fitted in a container, application of a filling or dispensing fitting moves said valve ring and said closure member axially inwards against the action of said spring, said closure member being displaced axially inwards from said valve ring and said valve ring sealing against said second valve seat to form two separate passages through said assembly and into said container, one of said passages extending through said housing and said spear and the other of said passages extending outside said housing via said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second valve seat is located on the inside wall of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An assembly according to claim 2, wherein said inside wall of said housing has a surface adjacent said open end of said housing and an integrally formed radially inwardly projecting shoulder, said surface and said shoulder providing said second valve seat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said closure member has an outer periphery which is basically circular, the diameter being slightly greater than the diameter of said opening bounded by said first valve seat, but which has a flat which enables said closure member to be inserted through said first valve seat opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly according to claim 4, wherein there are two flats on said outer periphery of said closure member positioned diametrically opposite each other with a perpendicular distance between them which is slightly less than the diameter of said opening bounded by said first valve seat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first valve seat is spaced axially from said open end of said housing and said assembly includes means connecting said first valve seat to said housing comprising a sleeve surrounding said housing, a plurality of webs fixing said sleeve to the outside of said housing, and a radially inwardly projecting flange on said sleeve above said first end of said housing, said first valve seat being formed on said flange, and said aperture being formed by said spacing between said first valve seat and said first end of said housing and communicating between said webs with outside said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
An assembly according to claim 6, wherein said housing is formed in two parts, a cup-shaped lower part having edge means in its bottom defining said second end opening of said housing receiving said spear, and an upper part formed integrally with said webs, said sleeve, and said flange carrying said first valve seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said spear is welded to said edge means of said lower part and said lower part is welded to said upper part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said valve ring is in the form of an O-ring, and said first valve seat is arcuate in radial section whereby said O-ring can seat upon it and is self-centering.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said closure member has a concave seating surface which is arcuate in radial section whereby said valve ring seats snugly between said closure member and said first valve seat when said valve is closed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said closure member has an axial projection which extends into said first valve seat opening when said valve is closed, the external diameter of said projection being slightly greater than the internal diameter of said valve ring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly according to claim 11, wherein said projection has an outer end face and a recess in said outer end face for correctly positioning said filling or dispensing fitting when this is applied to said assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An assembly according to claim 1, including an annular radially outwardly extending flange around the outside of said housing near said second end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2638914A
Cited
US3348565A
Cited
US3353724A
Cited
US3412747A
Cited
US3473556A
Cited
US3698417A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |