Rupture disc safety valve

Claim 1

A safety valve for use with a beverage dispensing system having a pressurized source connected through a conduit to a container of beverage comprising: (a) a housing with an inlet for connecting said valve to the pressure source and an outlet for connecting the valve to the beverage container; (b) said housing having a chamber divided into at least two subchambers including a pressure chamber and a vented chamber; (c) a rupture disc separating said pressure chamber from said vented chamber, said rupture disc having one side exposed to said pressure chamber and the other side exposed to said vented chamber, said rupture disc being in sealing relationship with said housing to separate said chambers; (d) said housing further defining vent ports separate from said inlet and outlet to vent said vented chamber to surrounding atmosphere, said vent ports including a plurality of vent apertures located about the perimeter of said housing; (e) said housing further including a second plate intermediate said rupture disc and said vent aperture, said second plate having an opening therethrough with the periphery of said second plate defining said opening being located in the path of said vent ports so that a tortuous path is formed between said rupture disc and said vent ports, and each of said vent ports defining an axial path parallel to the axis of said valve and concentric with the axis of said opening; and; (f) said rupture disc being rupturable under a predetermined pressure level in said pressure chamber to prevent said beverage container from being overpressurized and said inlet and outlet communicating with said pressure chamber in a manner which allows said valve to be connected to the conduit connecting the pressure source and the container of beverage regardless of orientation of said valve whereby the operator can reverse inlets and outlets without affecting the operability of said valve.

Claim 10

A system for dispensing beverage under pressure comprising: (a) a container for the beverage with a coupler system extending therefrom having means for attaching a dispenser for dispensing a beverage under pressure and a means for attaching a conduit to connect said container to a pressure source; (b) a pressure source for pressurizing said container and having means for securing a conduit thereto for delivery of pressurized gas from said source to said container; (c) a safety valve having an inlet for connecting said valve to a portion of the conduit extending from said pressure source and an outlet for connecting said valve to a portion of the conduit connected to said beverage container, said safety valve further including a housing having a chamber divided into at least two subchambers including a pressure chamber and a vented chamber, said housing including vent ports separate from said inlet and outlet to vent said vented chamber to surrounding atmosphere, and said inlet and outlet communicating with said pressure chamber in a manner which allows said valve to be connected to the conduit connecting the pressure source and the container of beverage regardless of orientation of said valve; (d) said valve including a rupture disc capable of rupturing at a predetermined pressure level whereby said disc will burst upon the pressure from said pressure source exceeding said predetermined level to prevent said container from being overpressurized, said rupture disc separating said pressure chamber from said vented chamber and said rupture disc having one side exposed to said pressure chamber and the other side exposed to said vented chamber, said rupture disc being in sealing relationship with said housing to separate said chambers; and (e) said vent ports are configured and located relative to said rupture disc to impede insertion of a sufficiently rigid member to puncture said rupture disc whereby damage to said rupture disc is substantially prevented other than by rupture under the predetermined pressure.

Claim 11

A system for dispensing beverage under pressure comprising: (a) a container for the beverage with a coupler system extending therefrom having means for attaching a dispenser for dispensing a beverage under pressure and a means for attaching a conduit to connect said container to a pressure source; (b) a pressure source for pressurizing said container and having means for securing a conduit thereto for delivery of pressurized gas from said source to said container; (c) a safety valve having an inlet for connecting said valve to a portion of the conduit extending from said pressure source and an outlet for connecting said valve to a portion of the conduit connected to said beverage container, said safety valve further including a housing having a chamber divided into at least two subchambers including a pressure chamber and a vented chamber, said housing including vent ports separate from said inlet and outlet to vent said vented chamber to surrounding atmosphere, and said inlet and outlet communicating with said pressure chamber in a manner which allows said valve to be connected to the conduit connecting the pressure source and the container of beverage regardless of orientation of said valve; (d) said valve including a rupture disc capable of rupturing at a predetermined pressure level whereby said disc will burst upon the pressure from said pressure source exceeding said predetermined level to prevent said container from being overpressurized, said rupture disc separating said pressure chamber from said vented chamber and said rupture disc having one side exposed to said pressure chamber and the other side exposed to said vented chamber, said rupture disc being in sealing relationship with said housing to separate said chambers; and (e) said vent ports are configured and located relative to said rupture disc to impede insertion of a sufficiently rigid member to puncture said rupture disc whereby damage to said rupture disc is substantially prevented other than by rupture under the predetermined pressure.