GB2181417A - Inlet/outlet fitting for beverage container - Google Patents

Inlet/outlet fitting for beverage container Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2181417A
GB2181417A GB08520290A GB8520290A GB2181417A GB 2181417 A GB2181417 A GB 2181417A GB 08520290 A GB08520290 A GB 08520290A GB 8520290 A GB8520290 A GB 8520290A GB 2181417 A GB2181417 A GB 2181417A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
keg
fitting
inlet
secondary fermentation
valve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08520290A
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GB2181417B (en
GB8520290D0 (en
Inventor
David Charles Brooks
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
* A G
Original Assignee
* A G
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by * A G filed Critical * A G
Priority to GB8520290A priority Critical patent/GB2181417B/en
Publication of GB8520290D0 publication Critical patent/GB8520290D0/en
Publication of GB2181417A publication Critical patent/GB2181417A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2181417B publication Critical patent/GB2181417B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/0829—Keg connection means

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  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Abstract

An inlet/outlet fitting 1 for a keg (not shown), having a top end fitting 5 and a spear 3, additionally includes a further, closable vent 7 adapted to permit release of gaseous products resulting from secondary fermentation of a beverage taking place within the keg. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Inlet/outlet fitting for beverage container This invention relates to containers for fermented beverages such as beer and cider.
Some such containers, commonly known as casks (and so hereinafter referred to), are adapted for secondary fermentation of the beverage in the cask, and have two outlets, one in an end face of the cask and the other in the side. The other main type of container, commonly known as a keg (and again hereinafter referred to as such), is for beverages which have already been fully fermented and has only a single outlet, in an end face thereof, which receives a combined inlet/outlet fitting carrying a tubular spear.
Kegs have certain advantages over casks.
For example they are easier to wash and to fill because they only have a single opening.
However, a keg cannot at present be used when secondary fermentation in the container is desired.
Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides an inlet/outlet fitting for a keg (as hereinbefore defined), which fitting includes an additional, closable, vent for permitting release of the gaseous products of secondary fermentation in the keg.
Such a fitting enables a keg to be used for secondary fermentation. When such secondary fermentation is complete (or indeed whilst it is still proceeding) the said vent may be closed and the product dispensed by, for example, a beer engine at the dispense point. As the fitting will be applied to the keg by way of the aperture already conventionally provided in an end face thereof, the fitting will also carry, or be adapted to carry, a spear.
Preferably the fitting also includes a oneway inlet valve for air to enter the keg to replace the dispensed product. If desired, such a valve may alternatively be used during dispensing to admit carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure, via an aspirating valve, to form a CO2 blanket over the beverage in the keg.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a view in side elevation of an inlet/outlet fitting according to the invention.
Referring to the drawing, an inlet/outlet fitting for a keg for beer or cider comprises a tubular head generally indicated at 1 having a flanged bottom end 2 adapted to fit into a standard aperture in an end wall of the keg and to carry a spear 3. A conventional fixing handle is provided at 4, and the top end 5 of the head is arranged to receive a pipe for connecting it to a beer engine in the usual way. An on/off valve (not shown) may be provided in the head above the fixing handle 4. As so far described the head is of a conventional nature.
In order to adapt the head to enable secondary fermentation to take place in the keg, a tubular branch 6 is provided on one side of the head and screw-threadedly receives a tubular fitting 7 provided with a vent plug 8 (which could alternatively be a tap) at its outer end. The fitting further incorporates two tubular branches 9 and 10, the upper branch 9 housing a non-return inlet valve 11 whilst the lower branch 10 is for mounting a safety blow-off valve.
In use, the illustrated inlet/outlet fitting is applied to a conventional keg which is filled, via the fitting, with a "live" beverage such as beer or cider which is to undergo secondary fermentation therein. The vent plug 8 is left open for such fermentation to occur, and once it is complete the vent is closed. Whilst the beverage is being dispensed the non-return valve 11 allows air to enter through the branch 10 to replace the dispensed beverage, or alternatively the branch 10 may be connected via an aspirating valve to a supply of carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure, to form a CO2 blanket over the beverage remaining in the keg. If it is desired to dispense the beverage whilst secondary fermentation is still proceeding, the vent will be closed during dispensing and then opened again.
If the keg is to be used for cider the spear 3 will be made rather shorter than usual, to allow for sediment.
It will thus be seen that the invention provides simple and inexpensive means for converting a conventional keg for use for secondary fermentation, which is particularly useful in circumstances where a producer of wholly pre-fermented beverages wishes to produce at least some beverages for secondary fermentation but is faced with a lack of casks for this purpose.
It is to be clearly understood that there are no particular features of the foregoing specification, or of any claims appended hereto, which are at present regarded as being essential to the performance of the present invention, and that any one or more of such features or combinations thereof may therefore be included in, added to, omitted from or deleted from any of such claims if and when amended during the prosecution of this application or in the filing or prosecution of any divisonal application based thereon.
1. An inlet/outlet fitting for a keg (as hereinbefore defined), which fitting includes an additional, closable, vent for permitting release of the gaseous products of secondary fermentation in the keg.
2. A fitting as claimed in claim 1 which carries, or is adapted to carry, a spear.
3. A fitting as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further comprising a one-way inlet valve which
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Inlet/outlet fitting for beverage container This invention relates to containers for fermented beverages such as beer and cider. Some such containers, commonly known as casks (and so hereinafter referred to), are adapted for secondary fermentation of the beverage in the cask, and have two outlets, one in an end face of the cask and the other in the side. The other main type of container, commonly known as a keg (and again hereinafter referred to as such), is for beverages which have already been fully fermented and has only a single outlet, in an end face thereof, which receives a combined inlet/outlet fitting carrying a tubular spear. Kegs have certain advantages over casks. For example they are easier to wash and to fill because they only have a single opening. However, a keg cannot at present be used when secondary fermentation in the container is desired. Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides an inlet/outlet fitting for a keg (as hereinbefore defined), which fitting includes an additional, closable, vent for permitting release of the gaseous products of secondary fermentation in the keg. Such a fitting enables a keg to be used for secondary fermentation. When such secondary fermentation is complete (or indeed whilst it is still proceeding) the said vent may be closed and the product dispensed by, for example, a beer engine at the dispense point. As the fitting will be applied to the keg by way of the aperture already conventionally provided in an end face thereof, the fitting will also carry, or be adapted to carry, a spear. Preferably the fitting also includes a oneway inlet valve for air to enter the keg to replace the dispensed product. If desired, such a valve may alternatively be used during dispensing to admit carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure, via an aspirating valve, to form a CO2 blanket over the beverage in the keg. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a view in side elevation of an inlet/outlet fitting according to the invention. Referring to the drawing, an inlet/outlet fitting for a keg for beer or cider comprises a tubular head generally indicated at 1 having a flanged bottom end 2 adapted to fit into a standard aperture in an end wall of the keg and to carry a spear 3. A conventional fixing handle is provided at 4, and the top end 5 of the head is arranged to receive a pipe for connecting it to a beer engine in the usual way. An on/off valve (not shown) may be provided in the head above the fixing handle 4. As so far described the head is of a conventional nature. In order to adapt the head to enable secondary fermentation to take place in the keg, a tubular branch 6 is provided on one side of the head and screw-threadedly receives a tubular fitting 7 provided with a vent plug 8 (which could alternatively be a tap) at its outer end. The fitting further incorporates two tubular branches 9 and 10, the upper branch 9 housing a non-return inlet valve 11 whilst the lower branch 10 is for mounting a safety blow-off valve. In use, the illustrated inlet/outlet fitting is applied to a conventional keg which is filled, via the fitting, with a "live" beverage such as beer or cider which is to undergo secondary fermentation therein. The vent plug 8 is left open for such fermentation to occur, and once it is complete the vent is closed. Whilst the beverage is being dispensed the non-return valve 11 allows air to enter through the branch 10 to replace the dispensed beverage, or alternatively the branch 10 may be connected via an aspirating valve to a supply of carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure, to form a CO2 blanket over the beverage remaining in the keg. If it is desired to dispense the beverage whilst secondary fermentation is still proceeding, the vent will be closed during dispensing and then opened again. If the keg is to be used for cider the spear 3 will be made rather shorter than usual, to allow for sediment. It will thus be seen that the invention provides simple and inexpensive means for converting a conventional keg for use for secondary fermentation, which is particularly useful in circumstances where a producer of wholly pre-fermented beverages wishes to produce at least some beverages for secondary fermentation but is faced with a lack of casks for this purpose. It is to be clearly understood that there are no particular features of the foregoing specification, or of any claims appended hereto, which are at present regarded as being essential to the performance of the present invention, and that any one or more of such features or combinations thereof may therefore be included in, added to, omitted from or deleted from any of such claims if and when amended during the prosecution of this application or in the filing or prosecution of any divisonal application based thereon. CLAIMS
1. An inlet/outlet fitting for a keg (as hereinbefore defined), which fitting includes an additional, closable, vent for permitting release of the gaseous products of secondary fermentation in the keg.
2. A fitting as claimed in claim 1 which carries, or is adapted to carry, a spear.
3. A fitting as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further comprising a one-way inlet valve which permits air or other gas to enter the keg to replace the dispensed product.
4. A fitting as claimed in claim 3 wherein during dispensing said inlet valve admits carbon dioxide at atmospheric pressure, via an aspirating valve, to form a carbon dioxide blanket over the product in the keg.
5. An inlet/outlet fitting for a keg, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB8520290A 1985-08-13 1985-08-13 Inlet/outlet fitting for beverage container Expired GB2181417B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8520290A GB2181417B (en) 1985-08-13 1985-08-13 Inlet/outlet fitting for beverage container

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8520290A GB2181417B (en) 1985-08-13 1985-08-13 Inlet/outlet fitting for beverage container

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8520290D0 GB8520290D0 (en) 1985-09-18
GB2181417A true GB2181417A (en) 1987-04-23
GB2181417B GB2181417B (en) 1989-07-26

Family

ID=10583725

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8520290A Expired GB2181417B (en) 1985-08-13 1985-08-13 Inlet/outlet fitting for beverage container

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2181417B (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2271558A (en) * 1992-10-16 1994-04-20 Brook Hollow Ware Limited Cask taps
GB2507808A (en) * 2012-11-12 2014-05-14 Petainer Large Container Ip Ltd Vented keg closure having a filter

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2271558A (en) * 1992-10-16 1994-04-20 Brook Hollow Ware Limited Cask taps
GB2507808A (en) * 2012-11-12 2014-05-14 Petainer Large Container Ip Ltd Vented keg closure having a filter
GB2507808B (en) * 2012-11-12 2014-10-29 Petainer Large Container Ip Ltd Vented Keg Closure
US9567200B2 (en) 2012-11-12 2017-02-14 Petainer Large Container Ip Limited Vented keg closure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2181417B (en) 1989-07-26
GB8520290D0 (en) 1985-09-18

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732 Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee