Patent US3880206A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3880206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Washing, filling and tapping valve assembly
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-08-07
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1993-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of washing and filling a keg which contains a valve assembly especially suitable for mounting in the bung opening in the side wall of a beer keg, and containing a skeletal tubular housing and a siphon tube which extends into said keg. A valve body is mounted in the tubular housing for movement between a closed position in which it is in closed, sealing engagement with the bung opening, and an open position in which it is spaced from the bung opening whereby cleaning liquid or beer can be caused to flow past the valve body and into the keg, said valve body being yieldably biased toward the closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Mack S Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:19
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/10; B; B67; B67C; B67C3/00; B67C3/30; B67C3/34; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/08; B67D1/0829; B67D1/0831
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of washing a keg, which keg contains an opening in a wall thereof; a generally tubular valve housing having one end thereof supported in said opening and an internal shoulder adjacent said one end; a valve body having an end portion mounted in said housing for limited axial movement between a closed position in which said end portion is in sealing engagement with said shoulder, and an open position in which it is spaced therefrom; and openings in said valve housing adjacent said one end to provide communication with the interior of the keg and which are unobstructed when the valve body is in the open position, which includes the steps of: positioning the keg with the opening in the wall thereof directed downwardly; moving the valve body to the open position; introducing cleansing fluid under pressure into the keg through said keg opening and the openings in the valve housing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of washing a keg, which keg contains an opening in a wall thereof; a generally tubular valve housing having one end thereof supported in said opening and an internal shoulder adjacent said one end; a valve body having an end portion mounted in said housing for limited axial movement between a closed position in which said end portion is in sealing engagement with said shoulder, and an open position in which it is spaced therefrom; and openings in said valve housing adjacent said one end to provide communication with the interior of the keg and which are unobstructed when the valve body is in the open position, which includes the steps of: positioning the keg with the opening in the wall thereof directed downwardly; moving the valve body to the open position; introducing cleansing fluid under pressure into the keg through said keg opening and the openings in the valve housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method according to claim 1, in which the valve body contains a liquid passageway therethrough in communication with a siphon tube which extends into the interior of the keg; and liquid valve means in said liquid passageway movable between an open position aNd a closed position and yieldably biased toward the closed position; and the cleansing fluid is introduced into the keg under sufficient pressure to move the liquid valve means to the open position, whereby said fluid flows through the liquid passageway and the siphon tube and into the interior of the keg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method according to claim 1, in which the valve body contains a gas passageway therethrough in communication with the interior of the keg; and gas valve means in the gas passageway movable between an open position and a closed position and yieldably biased toward the closed position; and the cleansing fluid is introduced into the keg under sufficient pressure to move the gas valve means to the open position, whereby said fluid flows through the gas passageway and into the interior of the keg.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method according to claim 1, in which the valve body contains a liquid passageway therethrough in communication with a siphon tube which extends into the interior of the keg; and a gas passageway therethrough in communication with the interior of the keg; a valve seat in each passageway; and a valve element in each passageway associated with its respective valve seat and yieldably biased toward said seat; and the cleansing fluid is introduced into the keg under sufficient pressure to move each valve element away from its seat, whereby said fluid flows through the passageways and around the valve elements and into the interior of the keg.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
243 words
The method of filling a keg with a liquid, which keg contains an opening in a wall thereof; a generally tubular valve housing having one end thereof supported in said opening and an internal shoulder adjacent said one end; a valve body having an end portion mounted in said housing for limited axial movement between a closed position in which said end portion is in sealing engagement with said shoulder and an open position in which it is spaced therefrom; openings in said valve housing adjacent said one end to provide communication with the interior of the keg and which are unobstructed when the valve body is in the open position; a liquid passageway through the valve body with an outer end and an inner end, with said inner end in communication with a siphon tube which extends into the interior of the keg; and liquid valve means in said passageway movable between an open position and a closed position and yieldably biased toward the closed position, which includes the steps of: positioning the keg with the opening in the wall thereof directed downwardly; moving the valve body to the open position; interconnecting a tubular member with the outer end of the liquid passageway; and introducing liquid under pressure into the keg through the keg opening and the openings in the valve housing and simultaneously removing any residual gases in the keg through the siphon tube, the liquid passageway, and the tubular member.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
243 words
The method of filling a keg with a liquid, which keg contains an opening in a wall thereof; a generally tubular valve housing having one end thereof supported in said opening and an internal shoulder adjacent said one end; a valve body having an end portion mounted in said housing for limited axial movement between a closed position in which said end portion is in sealing engagement with said shoulder and an open position in which it is spaced therefrom; openings in said valve housing adjacent said one end to provide communication with the interior of the keg and which are unobstructed when the valve body is in the open position; a liquid passageway through the valve body with an outer end and an inner end, with said inner end in communication with a siphon tube which extends into the interior of the keg; and liquid valve means in said passageway movable between an open position and a closed position and yieldably biased toward the closed position, which includes the steps of: positioning the keg with the opening in the wall thereof directed downwardly; moving the valve body to the open position; interconnecting a tubular member with the outer end of the liquid passageway; and introducing liquid under pressure into the keg through the keg opening and the openings in the valve housing and simultaneously removing any residual gases in the keg through the siphon tube, the liquid passageway, and the tubular member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 5, in which the valve body is moved to the closed position and the tubular member is disconnected after the keg is filled with the liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method according to claim 5, in which the valve body contains a gas passageway therethrough in communication with the interior of the keg; and gas valve means in the gas passageway movable between an open position and a closed position and yieldably biased toward the closed position; and the filling liquid is introduced into the keg under sufficient pressure to move the gas valve means to the open position, whereby said filling fluid also flows through the gas passageway and into the interior of the keg.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3277929A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |