Keg tapping device having improved sealing means

Claim 2

In a keg tapping device the combination comprising a first unit adapted to be mounted in the tapping opening of a keg and having a first bearing surface exposed externally of the keg and two side-by-side passageways passing therethrough and opening through said first bearing surface for communicating with the interior of the keg, a second unit movable between connected and disconnected positions relative to said first unit and having a second bearing surface thereon and two passageways passing therethrough and arranged to communicate respectively with the two passageways in the first unit when the second unit is in its connected position relative to said first unit, said second unit having a pair of generally cylindrical tubular probes projecting in parallel side-by-side relation from said second bearing surface, each of said Probes communicating with an associated one of said passageways in said second unit and being insertable into and axially slidable relative to an associated one of said passageways in said first unit as said second unit is moved into its connected position relative to said first unit, said first and second bearing surface being disposed in parallel relation to each other when said second unit is in its connected position relative to said first unit, means for maintaining a minimum predetermined distance between said first and second bearing surface when said second unit is in its connected position relative to said first unit, a unitary elastomeric seal member assembled with said second unit in bearing engagement with said second bearing surface and including a pair of generally annular portions integrally connected in adjacent relation to form a generally figure-eight shaped configuration, each of said generally annular portions having a generally cylindrical aperture receiving an associated one of said probes therethrough, said seal member having an axis of symmetry intersecting the axes of said probes and dividing each of said annular portions into two symmetrical portions, each of said generally annular portions having a generally ellipsoidal peripheral configuration and a major axis extending transversely of said axis of symmetry, said sealing member in assembly with said second unit and before said second unit is moved into said connected position having an axial thickness greater than said minimum predetermined distance, said sealing member in said connected position being in sealing engagement with said first and said second bearing surface, and means for moving said second unit to and retaining it in said connected position.

Claim 3

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said annular portions are connected together throughout a region extending transversely outwardly in opposite directions from said axis of symmetry.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the periphery of each said symmetrical portion is partially defined by a radius of curvature having its center disposed on a line intersecting the axis of an associated probe and generally normal to said axis of symmetry, said center being spaced transversely from said axis of symmetry and in the direction of said symmetrical portion.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said radius of curvature of said symmetrical portion is less than the diameter of said aperture associated with said annular portion which includes said symmetrical portion.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second unit includes an integral annular wall surrounding said second bearing surface and extending in an axial direction therefrom, said annular wall and said second bearing surface cooperating to define a generally cylindrical axially outwardly opening recess, said seal member being at least partially disposed in said recess.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first bearing surface is generally circular and has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical recess, said first bearing surface being disposed within said recess when said second unit is in said connected position relative to said first unit.

Claim 8

The combination defined in claim 5 wherein the length of said seal member measured along said axis of symmetry is substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical recess.

Claim 9

In a keg tapping device the combination comprising a first unit adapted to be mounted in the tapping opening of a keg and having a generally circular first bearing surface exposed externally of the keg and two side-by-side passageways passing therethrough and opening through said first bearing surface for communicating with the interior of the keg, a second unit movable between connected and disconnected positions relative to said first unit and having a second bearing surface thereon and two passageways passing therethrough and arranged to communicate reSpectively with the two passageways in the first unit when the second unit is in its connected position relative to said first unit, said second unit having an integral annular wall surrounding said second bearing surface and extending outwardly therefrom in an axial direction, said annular wall and said bearing surface cooperating to define a generally cylindrical axially outwardly opening recess having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said first bearing surface, said second unit having a pair of generally cylindrical tubular probes projecting in parallel side-by-side relation from the said second bearing surface, each of said probes communicating with an associated one of said passageways in said second unit and being insertably into and axially slidable relative to an associated one of said passageways in said first unit as said second unit is moved into its connected position relative to said first unit, said first and second bearing surface being disposed in parallel relation to each other when said second unit is in its connected position relative to said first unit, abutment means on one of the units, stop means on the other of said units for engaging said abutment means to maintain a minimum predetermined distance between said first and second bearing surface when said second unit is in its connected position relative to said first unit, a unitary elastomeric seal member assembled with said second unit in bearing engagement with said second bearing surface and at least partially disposed within said cylindrical recess, said seal member including a pair of generally ellipsoidal portions integrally connected in adjacent relation throughout a connecting region to form a generally figure-eight shaped configuration, each of said ellipsoidal portions having a generally cylindrical aperture receiving an associated one of said probes therethrough, said seal member having an axis of bilateral symmetry intersecting the axes of said probes and dividing each of said ellipsoidal portions into two symmetrical portions, each of said ellipsoidal portions having its major axis extending transversely of said axis of symmetry and intersecting the axis of an associated one of said probes, each of said symmetrical portions having a periphery partially defined by a radius of curvature having its center on an associated said major axis and transversely spaced from said axis of symmetry and in the direction of said symmetrical portion, said connecting region extending transversely outwardly in opposite directions from said axis of bilateral symmetry, said seal member having a length measured along said axis of bilateral symmetry substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical recess, said sealing member in assembly with said second unit and before said second unit is moved into its connected position having an axial thickness greater than said minimum predetermined distance, said sealing member in said connected position being in sealing engagement with said first and second bearing surface, said first bearing surface in said connecting position being disposed within said cylindrical recess and means for moving said second unit to and retaining it in said connected position.

Claim 10

In a keg tapping device the combination comprising a first unit adapted to be mounted in the tapping opening of a keg and having a generally circular first bearing surface exposed externally of the keg and two side-by-side passageways passing therethrough and opening through said first bearing surface for communicating with the interior of the keg, a second unit movable between connected and disconnected positions relative to said first unit and having a second bearing surface thereon and two passageways passing therethrough and arranged to communicate reSpectively with the two passageways in the first unit when the second unit is in its connected position relative to said first unit, said second unit having an integral annular wall surrounding said second bearing surface and extending outwardly therefrom in an axial direction, said annular wall and said bearing surface cooperating to define a generally cylindrical axially outwardly opening recess having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said first bearing surface, said second unit having a pair of generally cylindrical tubular probes projecting in parallel side-by-side relation from the said second bearing surface, each of said probes communicating with an associated one of said passageways in said second unit and being insertably into and axially slidable relative to an associated one of said passageways in said first unit as said second unit is moved into its connected position relative to said first unit, said first and second bearing surface being disposed in parallel relation to each other when said second unit is in its connected position relative to said first unit, abutment means on one of the units, stop means on the other of said units for engaging said abutment means to maintain a minimum predetermined distance between said first and second bearing surface when said second unit is in its connected position relative to said first unit, a unitary elastomeric seal member assembled with said second unit in bearing engagement with said second bearing surface and at least partially disposed within said cylindrical recess, said seal member including a pair of generally ellipsoidal portions integrally connected in adjacent relation throughout a connecting region to form a generally figure-eight shaped configuration, each of said ellipsoidal portions having a generally cylindrical aperture receiving an associated one of said probes therethrough, said seal member having an axis of bilateral symmetry intersecting the axes of said probes and dividing each of said ellipsoidal portions into two symmetrical portions, each of said ellipsoidal portions having its major axis extending transversely of said axis of symmetry and intersecting the axis of an associated one of said probes, each of said symmetrical portions having a periphery partially defined by a radius of curvature having its center on an associated said major axis and transversely spaced from said axis of symmetry and in the direction of said symmetrical portion, said connecting region extending transversely outwardly in opposite directions from said axis of bilateral symmetry, said seal member having a length measured along said axis of bilateral symmetry substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical recess, said sealing member in assembly with said second unit and before said second unit is moved into its connected position having an axial thickness greater than said minimum predetermined distance, said sealing member in said connected position being in sealing engagement with said first and second bearing surface, said first bearing surface in said connecting position being disposed within said cylindrical recess and means for moving said second unit to and retaining it in said connected position.