GB2515171A

GB2515171A - Valve - spear fitting for a keg

Info

Publication number: GB2515171A
Application number: GB201407075A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Leonard Simpson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-04-19
Filing date: 2014-04-22
Publication date: 2014-12-17
Also published as: WO2014170699A2; GB201307088D0; GB201407075D0; WO2014170699A3; EP2986551A2

Abstract

A valve fitting for a keg includes a valve body 5, a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through a fluid conduit and a connection formation 50 for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg. At least one filling aperture 15 is provided in the valve body and at least one release aperture/passage 14a is provided in the valve body. The release aperture allows gas to pass therethough while the valve body is partially engaged with the corresponding formation on the keg. Preferably the formations are in the form of threads. In other aspects the release aperture is positioned closer to a valve entrance than the filling aperture. In another aspect the release aperture is at least partially formed in the connection formation of the valve body. Another aspect relates to a keg which includes a formation which allows gas to exit the keg while the formation on the keg is partially engaged with a connection formation on a valve body.

Description

Title: Valve -spear fitting for a keg Descriijtion of Invention This invention relates to a valve fitting for a keg particularly to safety features, tamper evidence and improved sealing between the keg and valve.

This invention to a valve fitting for a keg of the kind generally used to store beer, or other liquids, under pressure. The valve fitting may be of any kind but in particular, although not exclusively, may be of the kind referred to within the trade as a spear'. The valve fitting to which this invention applies is one which is removable from the keg by the appropriate means such as a screw thread.

The valve fitting includes a tube which extends downwardly into the keg and this provides a passage for exiting of the fluid from the keg.

Spears are well known as the valve mechanism and extraction tube for dispensing pressurised liquids from containers. There are a number of different types of spears and they have different configurations and shapes and this invention can be applied to any of the different types of spears.

However for all the different types of spear in principle the valve mechanism has two valves one has a larger diameter than the other and there is a tube which extends to within a few millimetres from the bottom of the container. The larger diameter valve opens up into the top of the container whereas the smaller valve opens up and is connected to the tube. The two valves reverse their rolls when filling the container to that of dispensing from the container. In the case of filling, the container is upside down with the spear at the bottom and the two valves are then opened. The liquid to be stored in the container is forced in through the larger valve and this pushes any gas in the container via the tube and out through the smaller valve. When dispensing the liquid in the container the container is the right way up with the spear at the top. The two valves are open and gas under pressure comes in through the larger valve and forces the liquid via the tube out through the smaller valve. At all stages in its life the container whether it is empty or full is under pressure. Therefore the pressure in the container can be dangerous to any unqualified person that attempts to remove a spear that does not have any safety features to prevent the spear from blowing out.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a valve fitting for a keg including: a valve body; a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through a fluid conduit, the valve having a valve entrance, a connection formation for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the valve fitting to the keg, at least one filling aperture/passage in the valve body, and at least one other release aperture/passage in the valve body, wherein the at least one other aperture/passage is positioned closer to the valve entrance than the at least one filling aperture/passage.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a valve fitting for a keg including: a valve body; a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through a fluid conduit, a connection formation for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the valve fitting to the keg, and at least one release aperture/passage which is at least partially formed in the connection formation of the valve body.

According to a third aspect of the invention, we provide a valve fitting for a keg including: a valve body; a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through a fluid conduit, a connection formation for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the valve fitting to the keg, at least one filling aperture/passage in the valve body, and at least one other release aperture/passage in the valve body, which permits gas to pass therethrough whilst the connection formation on the valve body is at least partially engaged with the corresponding formation on the keg.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, we provide a valve fitting for a keg including: a valve body; a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through a fluid conduit, a connection formation on the valve body for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the valve fitting to the keg, and means for permitting gas to pass through or past at least a part of the valve fitting whilst the connection formation is at least partially engaged with the corresponding formation on the keg.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, we provide a keg including: a formation for engagement with a connection formation of a valve fitting, wherein the formation includes at least one release aperture/passage for permitting gas to exit from the keg whilst the formation on the keg is at least partially engaged with the connection formation on the valve body Further features of the various aspect of the invention are set out in the dependent claims appended hereto.

We provide a valve fitting for a keg including:-a valve body; a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through the fluid conduit, a connection formation for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the fitting to the keg and a seal between the keg and valve body that has the thread within the pressure side of the keg.

We provide a valve fitting for a keg including:-a valve body, a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through the fluid conduit, a connection formation for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the fitting to the keg and two escape passages for the pressurised gas from the keg as the connection formation of the valve fitting is disengaged from the corresponding formation on the keg. The first escape of pressurised gas starts in the initial stage of disengagement and the second occurs later through the disengagement We provide a valve fitting for a keg including:-a valve body; and a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through the fluid conduit, wherein an external surface of the valve body includes a thread that extends to a much longer length than the thread in the keg We provide a valve fitting for a keg including:-a valve body; and a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through the fluid conduit, wherein a rubber seal between the neck and spear body is sealed by a combination of both a radial and axial force We provide a tamper evident member for positioning around a circumference of a formation of a keg neck and a formation around the valve body which when the valve is started to be disengaged the tamper evident member breaks.

Accordingly to the present invention, which can be applied to any of the spear configurations and shapes, it provides a blowout safety feature that prevents any unqualified/unauthorised persons from becoming injured should they attempt to remove the spear from a keg. The invention includes tamper evidence that has to be destroyed or damaged before the spear can be removed to show that someone has tampered with the spear and attempted to remove it. Also there is a rubber point contact seal between the spear and the keg neck. The point contact is compressed both axially and radially as the spear is tightened which then improves the sealing. Furthermore when the seal is fully compressed there is contact between the neck and the spear to prevent further tightening and potential damage to the seal.

It should be noted that an authorised person will always make the spear safe from blowout by first releasing the gas pressure from the keg before any attempt is made to remove the spear from the container. However, unauthorised persons often do not know that the keg needs to be depressurised prior to the spear being removed.

The invention will now be explained in the main by way of example using a trilobe spear but it will be appreciated that the invention can be applied to many other types of valve fitting. However the U type body and the keg neck are specifically covered because of their specific alternative features in this invention. It should be appreciated, therefore, that the specific embodiment of the invention is described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure laO) is a side cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a trilobe valve fitting according to the present invention; Figure laOi) shows a side view of the first embodiment; Figure laOii) shows a further side view of the first embodiment; Figure lb is a second embodiment of valve fitting with a U type body with the specific alternative feature for the first of the two safety devices; Figure 2a is a side, part cross-sectional, view of a neck of a keg; Figure 2b is a side, part cross-sectional, view of a keg neck with the specific alternative feature for the first of the two safety devices, in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a side, part cross-sectional, view of a tamper evident collar; Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the first embodiment fully engaged with a neck of the keg; Figure 5a0) is a side cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of a valve fitting when the valve is initially disengaged from the neck of the keg; Figure 5aOi) is a side cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of valve fitting when the valve is disengaged further from a neck of a keg showing the second safety feature; Figure 5b shows a side cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of valve fitting when the valve fitting is initially disengaged from the neck of the keg; Figure 5c shows a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of valve fitting when the valve fitting is initially disengaged from the neck of the keg of figure 2b.

It should be appreciated that, unless otherwise stated, all features or combinations of features may be present in all possible embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a valve fitting 1 (a trilobe' spear) for a keg in accordance with the present invention. The valve fitting 1 includes a valve, with a valve entrance 1A, and a valve body 5. The valve permits/prevents the flow of fluid through a fluid conduit. The valve 1 includes a small valve 8 and a large valve 7, for assisting in filling a keg with a liquid, e.g. beer.

A seal 2 is in an open position showing the large valve 7 and the small valve 8 in the open position. These two valves 7 and 8 are opened when filling or dispensing by the appropriate mechanisms (note neither the keg filling nor the keg dispensing devices are shown in the figures). A spring 4 pushes closed the seal 2 and closes the two valves 7 and 8 when the filling and dispensing mechanisms are removed from the spear 1. There is a washer 3 that prevents the spring from damaging the softer material of the seal 2. The valve body 5 contains all the parts of the spear with a tube assembly 6 being positively fixed to the valve body 5 and it holds all the spear 1 parts in place.

The valve body 5 is generally annular in shape and includes one or more filling apertures/passages in the form of ports 15. The ports 15 extend through a sidewall 25 of the valve body 5. In the illustrated example (figures laO) to 1 aOH)), the valve body 5 includes three ports 15. The ports 15 are substantially equally spaced apart around a central axis A of the valve body 5 (i.e. at 120.

There are columns of material 11 between the ports 15. The main purpose of the ports 15 is permitting beer into the keg when filling, although they do permit gas to escape from the keg on dispensing.

The valve body 5 includes a connection formation 50 on its outer surface. As shown in the figures, the connection formation 50 is a male helical thread which has first and second thread parts 9, 10. The first thread part 9 is continuous around the circumference of the valve body 5, with a thread length W and is located closest to the valve entrance 1 A. The first thread part 9 is for holding and sealing the spear in place in a keg neck 18 (see figure 2a). The second thread part 10 is a segmented thread that has a length Y and is located axially adjacent the first thread part 9. Each segment has a thread width X (see figure la(ii) and lb) and there can be any number and in this case the width is the same width as a column of material 11, but this can change from spear type to spear type. The first thread part 9 continues into the second thread part 10.

Referring to figure 2a, the keg 17 has a neck 18 which includes a corresponding formation in the form of a female thread 19 (see figure 2a). The male thread 9, 10 of the valve body 5 is configured to engage with the female thread 19 of the keg 17, to secure the valve fitting 1 to the keg 17.

The valve fitting includes a sealing member 12. In the figures, the sealing member is a neck seal 12. The neck seal 12 ensures that a fluid-tight seal is created by screwing the connection formation 50 of the valve body 5 into the female thread 19 of the neck 18 (see figure 2a and 4) which compresses the seal 12. The neck 18 of the keg 17 includes a sealing surface 20 with which the sealing member 12 engages. The sealing surface 20 is inclined at an angle to an elongate axis A of the valve fitting 1. Just above the neck seal 12 there is a location ring 13 which is part of a tamper evidence feature 21.

The valve fitting 5 includes one or more release apertures/passages 14A, 14B, 14C. The release apertures/passages 14A, 14B, 14C permit gas to exit from the keg 17 while the male thread 9, 10 of the valve body 5 is at least partially engaged with the female thread 19 of the keg 17.

In a first embodiment of the invention, shown in figures 1 aU) to 1 a(iii). The release apertures/passages 14A are holes which extend through the sidewall of the valve body 5. The release apertures/passages 14A are substantially equally spaced apart around the central axis A of the valve body 5 (i.e. at 1 20 and are positioned closer to the valve entran ce 1 A than the ports 15. In this example the release apertures/passages 14A are circular in cross-section, but they could be any other shape.

Figures laOi) and laOii) show a more detailed view of how the ports 15 and release apertures/passages 1 4A are arranged in the valve body 5. The release apertures/passages 14A are offset from the ports 15, such that the release apertures/passages are located axially in line with the columns of material 11 between the ports 15. It should be appreciated that there may be any number of ports 15 or release apertures/passages 1 4A, and the release apertures/passages 14A need not necessarily be positioned above the columns of material 11, although this configuration is advantageous for strength of the fitting provided.

On the valve body 5 at the lower end of the second thread part 10 there is provided a non-threaded portion 1OA (shown in figures laOi) and laOii)).

Where the thread is at its smallest diameter is the trough of the thread. The trough of the second thread part 10 has a smaller diameter Z than the diameter N of the non-threaded portion 1 OA. This can be seen in more detail in figure laUi). The valve body 5 permits gas to flow around the outside of the valve body 5, past the non-threaded portion 1 OA. Gas flows into the valve body 5 through the ports 15, and exits from the keg 17 through the release apertures/passages 1 4A.

On the valve body 5 there is a ring or flange of material 13 that is part of the attachment for the tamper evident collar 21 (see figure 3). The functions of the first and second thread parts 9, 10, the items 14A, 14B and 14C, the diameter Z and ring 13 will be explained later in figures 5a and 5b.A second embodiment of the invention is shown in figure lb. Features which have already been described above which are substantially the same/perform the same function have been given the same reference numeral with the addition of a prime symbol (i.e. connection formation 50 is the same as already described, and is connection formation 50').

Figure lb shows a U type spear body 5'. The U type spear body 5' is an alternative body type to the valve body 5 previously described and is substantially the same as valve body 5. The valve body 5' has connection formation 50' in the form of the male thread 9', 10' which engages with the female thread 19' of the keg neck 18' . In this embodiment, the release apertures/passages 14B are grooves. Each groove 14B is formed in the outer surface of the valve body 5'. The grooves 14B are cut into the first thread part 9' on the valve body 5' axially adjacent the ports 15' although they could be axially adjacent the columns of material 11. The grooves 1 4B are specific to the valve body 5' and any other bodies with similar features and perform the same function as the holes 14A in the valve body 5 (figures laO) to laUii)).

The function of the grooves 14B will be described in relation to Figure 5a. The grooves 14B, and there can be any number, are deeper than the route or trough diameter Z' of the thread 9' on the valve body 5'.

The grooves 14B are formed in the first thread part 9' of the valve body 5'.

However, it should be appreciated that the release aperture/passage 14B need not be formed from a portion of the connection formation 50' which is cut out the release aperture/passage 14B could be formed by an alteration of the connection formation 50', such as a deepened thread trough.

Figure 2a shows the keg neck 18, including the female thread 19 with a thread length E which is used in conjunction with the connection formation 50, 50' on the valve body 5, 5' for screwing the spear 1 into the neck 19 and forming a seal with the neck seal 12 against the angled sealing surface 20 in the keg neck 18. The angled sealing surface 20 in conjunction with the point contact P on the neck seal 12 provides improved sealing. The improved sealing occurs firstly because of the initial contact that is achieved by the point P and then as the spear 1 is screwed in further to the keg neck 18 the neck seal 12 is compressed even further until the two location ring faces 13 (see figure laO)) and 16 touch. When these rings touch it prevents over compression of the neck seal 12 and therefore less damage to the seal 12 by over compression.

Also the neck seal 12 is compressed in both a radial and axial manner as it is pushed into the angled sealing surface 20 on the keg neck 18 (see figure 4 which shows these features). The result is to give longer lasting and improved first time sealing for this part of the assembly. There is a location ring 16 that is part of the tamper evidence feature 21. The neck 18 with a thread 19 which has a length E and an inside diameter F together with the angled sealing surface 20 are features that will be described further when referring to figures 4, 5a and Sb.

A further embodiment is shown in figure 2b. The release aperture/passage 14C is an axial slot 14C located in the female thread 19" of the keg neck 18" rather than in/on the valve body 5, 5'. . There can be any number of slots 140 and they are deeper than the thread 19" in the keg neck 18". It will be appreciated that in this embodiment of the invention the valve fitting 1" used with the keg 17" may be similar to those already known.

Referring to figure 3 which shows the tamper evident collar 21 that has an internal diameter D which is a free fit over the two location rings 14 on the spear body S and 16 on the keg neck 18. There are clips 22 at the top and bottom of the collar 21 and a weak point 23 around the circumference of the collar. The collar 21 and its function will be explained in Figures 4 and 5a0).

Referring to figure 4 this shows the spear 1 screwed into the neck 18 which is the position for the spear 1 when it is in use. The collar 21 is shown around the neck 18 location ring 16 and the spear 1 location ring 13. The two clip ends of the collar 21 are able to slide over the two location rings 13 and 16 during assembly but once in place cannot be slide off, When the spear 1 is fully tightened into the keg neck 18 the point P on the neck seal 12 has been compressed. The process of compressing the neck seal 12 onto the angled sealing surface 20 progresses from the initial contact of point P with the angled sealing surface 20 which gives the initial seal through to full sealing when the spear is fully tightened. (Note: The conventional way in the brewery industry for sealing the spear into the keg neck is by either an axial or a radial seal force not at an angle as is in the case referred to in Figure 4). Also in referring to Figures la and 2a this sealing process has already been explained. It will be appreciated that although the sealing has been described in relation to the first embodiment only, all of the embodiments described would be suitable for use in the same way.

The various embodiments of the invention all provide a gas flow path between inside the keg 17, 17', 17" and atmosphere, while the valve fitting 1, 1', 1" is still engaged with the keg neck 18, 18', 18". A common feature to all of the described embodiments, is that the connection formation 50, 50', 50" of the valve fitting 1,1,1" is axially longer that the corresponding formation 19, 19', 19" on the keg 17, 17', 17". This permits the valve fitting 1, 1', 1" to be partially unscrewed/unsecured, and to let gas escape, without the valve fitting 1, 1', 1" and the keg 17, 17', 17" being completely disconnected.

Figure 5a shows the spear 1 and keg neck 18 in the position at which the spear 1 has been unscrewed to the point where the holes 14A in the valve body 5 are clear of the female thread 19 of the neck 18. Gas is permitted to exit from the keg 17 by flowing out through the holes 14A, and hence the pressure within the keg 17 is released prior to the valve fitting 1 being fully removed..

Figure 5b shows the grooves 14B formed in the first thread part 9' of the valve body 5'. As the valve fitting 1' is unscrewed from the keg 17', the grooves 14B define a through path between an interior of the keg 17' and atmosphere. Gas is permitted to flow through the path, defined by the grooves 14B, while the valve fitting 1' is still engaged with the keg neck 18'.

Figure 5c shows the axial slots 1 4C formed in the female thread 19' of the keg neck 18". As a valve fitting 1" is unscrewed from the keg 17", the axial slots 14C define a passage between the valve fitting 1', and the keg neck 18". Gas is permitted to flow through the passage while the connection formation 50" is still engaged with the keg neck 18".

This is the first safety feature of two safety features (the second safety feature is explained in relation to figure 5a(ii)).

Any one of the three alternatives for the first safety feature renders the spear safe from blowing out and injuring someone.

The action of unscrewing the spear 1, 1', 1" also breaks the collar 21 at its weak point 23. By trying to attempt to remove the spear 1, 1', 1" the collar 21 will automatically break making it evident that an attempt has been made to tamper with the spear 1, 1', 1". So the owners of the keg can then use this information to trace who might be the unauthorised person that has tampered with the keg.

A secondary gas escape path is provided as illustrated in figure 5a(ii), when the valve fitting 1, 1", 1" is unscrewed further from the keg neck 18, 18', 18".

As previously described the non-threaded portion bA, bA' has a smaller diameter N than the diameter Z, Z' of the second thread part 10. When the second thread part 10 is engaged with the female thread 19, 19', 19" of the keg 17, 17', 17" the non-threaded portion 1 OA, 1 OA' of the valve body 5, 5' will not seal against the female thread 19, 19'. The non-threaded portion 1 OA, 1 OA' defines a further passage between the interior of the keg 17, 17', 17" and atmosphere. Gas is permitted to flow between the non-threaded portion bA, 1 ON and the female thread 19, 19' of the keg 17, 17', 17".

When used in this specification and claims, the term alternative thereof means that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Features of the various embodiments of the invention as described above, and with reference to the accompanying figures, are set out in the following paragraphs.

1. A spear and keg neck with tamper evidence, two blow out safety features and improved sealing between the keg and the spear. Initially when the spear 1 is started to be screwed out of the keg neck 18 the tamper evidence collar 21 will break at its weak point 23. Once the collar is broken it shows that someone has attempted to tamper and remove the spear 1. The first blow out safety device occurs when the spear 1 is partly unscrewed out of the neck 18 and the holes 14A alternative one are exposed or the alternative two that the grooves 14B are exposed or the alternative three that the slots 1 4C are exposed to atmosphere. The exposure of these escape routes 1 4A or 14B or 14C permits pressurised gas to escape from the keg. The second blow out safety feature is when the spear 1 is unscrewed further out of the keg neck 18 and then any residual gas pressure in the keg will escape through the gap between the diameter Z on the spear 1 body 5 and the internal thread diameter F on the keg neck 18. This renders the spear 1 safe from blow out and the breaking of the collar 21 acts as a tamper evident device. When the spear 1 is assembled back into the keg neck 18 it is screwed in until the point P on the neck seal 12 starts to make contact with the keg neck 18 angled sealing face 20. This starts the sealing process which continues to improve as the neck seal 12 gets more compressed until the spear 1 is fully tightened into the keg neck 18 and location collars 13 and 16 touch. By the collars touching it prevents over tightening and damage to the neck seal 12.

2. A spear and keg neck with tamper evidence, two blow out safety features and improved sealing between the keg and the spear in claim 1 This is characterised in that there is a neck thread 19 within the neck 18 with sufficient length of thread E to hold the spear in place as well as creating a screw force that is able to compress a neck seal 12 to prevent any gases escaping from the keg. The neck seal 12 is gradually compressed starting at the point P as it makes contact with the neck 18 angled sealing face 20. As the spear 1 is further tightened so the neck seal 12 is compressed further. From the initial contact of point P with the angle face 20 there is a seal between the spear 1 and the keg neck 18. Further tightening of the spear 1 into the keg neck 18 further improves the sealing between the two parts until the two location rings 13 and 16 touch. When the two location rings touch it prevents over tightening and possible damage to the seal.

3. A spear and keg neck with tamper evidence, two blow out safety features and improved sealing between the keg and spear in claims 1 and 2.

This is characterised in that the tamper evidence comprises of a collar 21 that is firstly pushed over the locating ring 16 on the keg neck 18. The clips 22 on the collar 21 when pushed over the locating ring 16 will spring and retract out of the way and permit the collar 21 to slide over the locating ring 16. Once in this position the collar 21 cannot be pulled off the locating ring 16 as the clips 22 will not retract in this direction. Then when the spear 1 is tightened into the keg neck 18 the other set of clips 22 will retract out of the way as they pass over the spear 1 locating ring 13. Again the clips 22 cannot retract in the opposite direction. Therefore when the spear 1 is removed from the keg neck 18 the collar 21 will break at its weak point 23 on the circumference. Once the collar 21 has been broken it shows that someone has attempted to remove the spear 1 from the keg neck 18. The broken collar 21 is clear evidence that someone has attempted to remove the spear 1 and if it is an unauthorised removal it is then possible to investigate who has attempted to tamper with the spear and attempt to get at the liquid inside the keg.

4. A spear and keg neck with tamper evidence, two blow out safety features and improved sealing between the keg and spear in claims 1, 2 and 3. This is characterised in that the screw thread on the spear 1 body 5 has one part of the thread 9 which is continuous around the circumference with a length W with three alternative methods to get gas to escape from the keg 17 when the spear is unscrewed. The first alternative is to have some holes 14A in this thread 9 that pass from the outside to the inside of the body 5. The second alternative is to have some grooves 14B in the thread 9 that are deeper than the thread 9. The third alternative is to have some slots 14C in the keg neck 18A that are deeper than the thread 19. When the spear 1 is unscrewed for removal before this is attempted a qualified person would first push down the valve and allow the gas to escape from the keg and therefore render the removal of the spear safe. An unqualified person will not know to do this and the spear will fly out when it has been unscrewed and possibly cause major injury. However in the case of the spear 1 this cannot happen because as the spear is unscrewed one of the three alternative escape routes (The three alternative escape routes are the holes 14A, the grooves 14B and the slots 140) become exposed to atmosphere and once this point has arrived the gases in the keg will escape. This will render the spear safe for removal.

5. A spear and keg neck with tamper evidence, two blow out safety features and improved sealing between the keg and spear in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4. This is characterised in that the screw thread on the spear 1 has one part with a segmented thread 10 with a thread length of Y. The number of segments is equal to the number of ports 15 in the spear 1. The width of each segment X is equal to the width of the columns between the ports 15. However below the ports there is no thread and the diameter at this point is 7. Within the keg neck 18 there is a thread whose internal diameter is F. The gap between the diameters Z and F is important so that should the safety feature in claim 4 above not completely exhaust all the gas in the keg then any residual gas can escape through the gap between 7 and F. The spear 1 will still be held in the keg neck 18 by the segmented thread 10 as it is still engaged with the keg neck 18 thread 19 and that is when the second safety feature works.

Finally the spear can then be completely removed safely.

6. A spear 1 and keg neck 18 with tamper evidence, two blow out safety devices and improved sealing between the keg 17 and spear 1 according to any preceding clause characterised in that the collar 21 can be any colour but the colour can be used as a specific code for dating or identifying a particular spear 1 maintenance event.

7. A spear 1 and keg neck 18 with tamper evident and two blow out safety devices according to any preceding clause characterised in that the above can be used on all types and configurations of spears in the drinks and chemical industry where the spear is held in with a screw thread.

Claims

Claims: 1. A valve fitting for a keg including: a valve body; a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through a fluid conduit, a connection formation on the valve body for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the valve fitting to the keg, and means for permitting gas to pass through or past at least a part of the valve fitting whilst the connection formation is at least partially engaged with the corresponding formation on the keg.
2. A valve fitting for a keg including: a valve body; a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through a fluid conduit, the valve having a valve entrance, a connection formation for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the valve fitting to the keg, at least one filling aperture/passage in the valve body, and at least one release aperture/passage in the valve body, wherein the at least one release aperture/passage is positioned closer to the valve entrance than the at least one filling aperture/passage.
3. A valve fitting for a keg including: a valve body; a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through a fluid conduit, a connection formation for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the valve fitting to the keg, and at least one release aperture/passage which is at least partially formed in the connection formation of the valve body.
4. A valve fitting for a keg including: a valve body; a valve for permitting/preventing flow of fluid through a fluid conduit, a connection formation for engagement with a corresponding formation on a keg for securing the valve fitting to the keg, at least one filling aperture/passage in the valve body, and at least one release aperture/passage in the valve body, which permits gas to pass therethrough whilst the connection formation on the valve body is at least partially engaged with the corresponding formation on the keg.
5. A valve fitting according to claim 1, wherein the means for permitting gas to pass through or past at least part of the valve fitting includes at least one release aperture/passage.
6. A valve fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the at least one release aperture/passage includes a release aperture/passage which extends through a sidewall the valve body.
7. A valve fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the at least one release aperture/passage includes a release aperture/passage which is formed in an outer surface of the valve body.
8. A valve fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the valve body has at least two filling apertures/passages.
9. A valve fitting according to claim 8, wherein the valve body has at least three tilling apertures/passages.
10.A valve fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the valve body has at least two release apertures/passages.
11. A valve fitting according to claim 10, wherein the valve body has at least three release apertures/passages.
12. A valve fitting according to claims 10 or 11, wherein the release apertures/passages are spaced apart equally around an outer circumference of the valve body.
13. A valve fitting according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the release apertures/passages are angularly offset from the filling apertures/passages around an outer circumference of the valve body.
14. A valve fitting according to any one of the preceding claims including a sealing member engageable with a sealing surface on the keg.
15. A valve fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein rotation of the valve fitting about its longitudinal axis moves the valve fitting towards/away from the keg.
16. A valve fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection formation of the valve body is a first thread and corresponding formation of the keg is a corresponding thread.
17. A valve fitting according to claim 16, wherein the first thread of the valve body is longer than the corresponding thread of the keg.
18. A valve fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 17, wherein the valve body permits gas to exit the keg past a portion of the connection formation, into the valve body via the at least one filling aperture/passage and to atmosphere through the at least one release aperture/passage.
19. A keg including: a formation for engagement with a connection formation of a valve fitting, wherein the formation includes at least one aperture/passage for permitting gas to exit from the keg whilst the formation on the keg is at least partially engaged with the connection formation on the valve body.
20. A keg according to claim 19, wherein the aperture/passage is formed at least partially in an inner surface of the formation of the keg.
21. A keg according to claim 19 or 20, wherein a sealing surface of the keg is inclined at an angle relative to the direction in which the connection formation of the valve body is engaged with the corresponding formation of the keg, the sealing surface engaging a sealing member supported on the valve fitting.
22. A keg according to claim 19 to 21 in combination with a valve fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 18.
23. A valve fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
24. A combination of a keg and a valve fitting, wherein the valve fitting is in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 18.
25. A combination of a keg and a valve fitting, wherein the keg is in accordance with any one of claims 19 to 22.
26. A keg substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
27. Any novel feature or combination of features described with references to and/or in the accompanying drawings.