US3908861A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Series tapper assembly and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-10
•
Granted: 1975-09-30
•
Expires: 1993-09-10
Abstract
Abstract First and second kegs, each having a keg adapter mounted in an opening in a wall of the keg. A tapper in operative engagement with each keg adapter. Each tapper and associated keg adapter providing an inlet passageway for the transfer of fluid from outside to inside the keg, and an outlet passageway for the transfer of fluid from inside to outside the keg. Each inlet passageway containing a valve yieldably biased toward the closed position to prevent flow from inside to outside the keg. Each outlet passageway containing a normally closed valve which is manually movable to the open position. A fluid pressure source is connected to the outer end of the inlet passageway of the first keg to cause the fluid in the first keg to flow through the outlet passageway. The outlet passageway of the first keg is connected with the inlet passageway of the second keg to transfer fluid from the first keg to the second keg. And, the outlet of the second keg is connected to a fluid dispensing faucet.
Inventors
- 👤 Mack S Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:08
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/08; B67D1/0801; B67D1/0802; B67D1/0829; B67D1/0831; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3115; Y10T137/3127; Y10T137/314
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A series tapper assembly, comprising in combination: first and second kegs, each having an opening in one wall thereof; a keg adapter in each opening for sealing said keg during nonuse and for providing means for selectively removing fluid from the keg; a tapper removably engaged with each keg adapter; said tapper and keg adapter for each keg providing therethrough an inlet passageway for transferring fluid from outside the keg to inside the keg, and an outlet passageway for transferring fluid from inside to outside the keg, each of said passageways having an inner end and an outer end; valve means in each inlet passageway yieldably biased toward the closed position to prevent fluid flow from inside to outside each keg; normally closed valve means in each outlet passageway movable to an open position; means for moving the valve means in each outlet passageway to the open position; a siphon tube in each keg in communication with the inner end of the outlet passageway; the inner end of the inlet passageway being adjacent the opening in the keg wall; conduit means interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passageway of the first keg with the outer end of the inlet passageway of the second keg; conduit means for interconnecting the outer end of the inlet passageway of the first keg with a fluid pressure source; and conduit means for interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passageway of the second keg with fluid dispensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A series tapper assembly, comprising in combination: first and second kegs, each having an opening in one wall thereof; a keg adapter in each opening for sealing said keg during nonuse and for providing means for selectively removing fluid from the keg; a tapper removably engaged with each keg adapter; said tapper and keg adapter for each keg providing therethrough an inlet passageway for transferring fluid from outside the keg to inside the keg, and an outlet passageway for transferring fluid from inside to outside the keg, each of said passageways having an inner end and an outer end; valve means in each inlet passageway yieldably biased toward the closed position to prevent fluid flow from inside to outside each keg; normally closed valve means in each outlet passageway movable to an open position; means for moving the valve means in each outlet passageway to the open position; a siphon tube in each keg in communication with the inner end of the outlet passageway; the inner end of the inlet passageway being adjacent the opening in the keg wall; conduit means interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passageway of the first keg with the outer end of the inlet passageway of the second keg; conduit means for interconnecting the outer end of the inlet passageway of the first keg with a fluid pressure source; and conduit means for interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passageway of the second keg with fluid dispensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A series tapper assembly according to claim 1, in which the inlet passageway for each keg is larger in size than the outlet passageway for said keg, whereby the fluid flow capacity into the keg is greater than the fluid flow capacity out of the keg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A series tapper assembly according to claim 1, in which the valve means in each inlet passageway is movable to the open position when the fluid pressure at the outer end of the passageway exceeds by a predetermined amount the fluid pressure in the keg with which it is in communication.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A series tapper assembly according to claim 1, in which an actuating member is mounted on each tapper and movable between an open position and a closed position, and the valve means in the outlet passageway is movable to the open position responsive to the movement of the actuating member from the closed position to the open position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A series tapper assembly according to claim 4, in which each tapper is forced into sealing relationship with its associated keg adapter responsive to the movement of the actuating member for said tapper from the closed to the open position.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
294 words
The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected in series between a gas pressure source and fluid dispensing means, each keg having an opening in one wall thereof; a keg adapter in each opening and a tapper in operative engagement with each keg adapter; said tapper and keg adapter for each keg providing therethrough an inlet passageway for transferring fluid from outside the keg to inside the keg, and an outlet passageway for transferring fluid from inside to outside the keg, each of said passageways having an inner end and an outer end; valve means in each inlet passageway yieldably biased toward the closed position to prevent fluid flow from inside to outside the keg; normally closed valve means in each outlet passageway movable to an open position; and actuating member carried by each tapper and movable between an open position and a closed position; means associated with each tapper and responsive to the movement of the actuating means from the closed to the open position to move the valve in the outlet passageway to the open position; conduit means interconnecting the gas pressure source with the outer end of the inlet passageway of the keg adjacent said source; conduit means interconnecting the fluid dispensing means with the outer end of the outlet passage of the keg adjacent said dispensing means; and conduit means interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passage of one keg with the outer end of the inlet passage of the keg adjacent thereto; including the steps of: closing the fluid dispensing means; with the actuating member for each tapper in the closed position, moving each actuating member from the closed position to the open position, in sequence, starting with the keg adjacent to the fluid dispensing means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
294 words
The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected in series between a gas pressure source and fluid dispensing means, each keg having an opening in one wall thereof; a keg adapter in each opening and a tapper in operative engagement with each keg adapter; said tapper and keg adapter for each keg providing therethrough an inlet passageway for transferring fluid from outside the keg to inside the keg, and an outlet passageway for transferring fluid from inside to outside the keg, each of said passageways having an inner end and an outer end; valve means in each inlet passageway yieldably biased toward the closed position to prevent fluid flow from inside to outside the keg; normally closed valve means in each outlet passageway movable to an open position; and actuating member carried by each tapper and movable between an open position and a closed position; means associated with each tapper and responsive to the movement of the actuating means from the closed to the open position to move the valve in the outlet passageway to the open position; conduit means interconnecting the gas pressure source with the outer end of the inlet passageway of the keg adjacent said source; conduit means interconnecting the fluid dispensing means with the outer end of the outlet passage of the keg adjacent said dispensing means; and conduit means interconnecting the outer end of the outlet passage of one keg with the outer end of the inlet passage of the keg adjacent thereto; including the steps of: closing the fluid dispensing means; with the actuating member for each tapper in the closed position, moving each actuating member from the closed position to the open position, in sequence, starting with the keg adjacent to the fluid dispensing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected in series according to claim 6, in which the gas pressure source remains closed until the actuating member of the keg adjacent thereto is moved from the closed to the open position after which, the gas pressure source is opened to cause gas under pressure to enter the inlet passageway of said adjacent keg.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected in series according to claim 6, in which the gas pressure source is opened prior to moving any of the actuating members from the closed to the open position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of tapping a plurality of beer kegs interconnected in series according to claim 6, in which the tappers are interconnected with the gas pressure source and the fluid dispensing means prior to engaging the tappers with the keg adapters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
A series tapper for interconnection with an adapter which is mounted in an opening contained in the wall of a keg, comprising: a housing containing a longitudinally extending passageway providing an inner wall; a tap rod assembly mounted in said passageway for limited longitudinal movement and including a cap member and a tap rod; an outlet chamber in the cap member; a spiral slot in the upper end of the housing; a tubular actuating member extending through said slot and into engagement with said cap member, the interior of said actuating member being in communication with the outlet chamber, said actuating member being movable in said slot between an open position and a closed position; a longitudinally extending passageway in the tap rod; outlet valve means between the upper end of the tap rod passageway and the outlet chamber, movable between an open position and a closed position responsive to the movement of the actuating member; an inlet chamber between the inner wall of the housing and the tap rod; an inlet passageway adjacent the lower end of the tap rod between said tap rod and the inner wall of the housing; and inlet valve means between the inlet passageway and the inlet chamber, movable between an open position and a closed position responsive to the movement of the actuating member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
221 words
A series tapper for interconnection with an adapter which is mounted in an opening contained in the wall of a keg, comprising: a housing containing a longitudinally extending passageway providing an inner wall; a tap rod assembly mounted in said passageway for limited longitudinal movement and including a cap member and a tap rod; an outlet chamber in the cap member; a spiral slot in the upper end of the housing; a tubular actuating member extending through said slot and into engagement with said cap member, the interior of said actuating member being in communication with the outlet chamber, said actuating member being movable in said slot between an open position and a closed position; a longitudinally extending passageway in the tap rod; outlet valve means between the upper end of the tap rod passageway and the outlet chamber, movable between an open position and a closed position responsive to the movement of the actuating member; an inlet chamber between the inner wall of the housing and the tap rod; an inlet passageway adjacent the lower end of the tap rod between said tap rod and the inner wall of the housing; and inlet valve means between the inlet passageway and the inlet chamber, movable between an open position and a closed position responsive to the movement of the actuating member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A series tapper according to claim 10, in which the upper end of the tap rod is received in the cap member and has limited movement relative thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A series tapper according to claim 10, in which the outlet valve means comprises a shoulder on one of the cap member and the tap rod and an 0-ring on the other of the cap member and the tap rod.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A series tapper according to claim 10, in which the inlet valve means comprises a shoulder on one of the tap rod and the housing and an 0-ring on the other of the tap rod and the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |