US3687340A

US3687340A - Tapping device for beer kegs

Info

Publication number: US3687340A
Application number: US80281A
Authority: US
Inventors: Remes E Delahunt
Original assignee: BERRY SYSTEMS Inc
Current assignee: BERRY SYSTEMS Inc
Priority date: 1970-10-13
Filing date: 1970-10-13
Publication date: 1972-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-29

Abstract

A keg tapping device is provided in which a pressure hose and a liquid discharge hose are connected to a common connector member connectable to a keg fitting on a keg to automatically open valving means in the keg fitting and the common connector to permit discharge of liquid from the keg and pressurization of the keg in response to the connection of the connector to the keg; seal and valve means are automatically closed upon disconnection of the connector from the keg and the keg includes a substantially permanently installed drain pipe so that there is no insertion of any member into the internal confines of the keg during the tapping operation with the connection of the connector and the pressure and lager discharge hoses being made by a simple push down and twisting movement.

Description

United States Patent DeLaHunt 1451 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] TAPPING DEVICE FOR BEER KEGS [72] Inventor: Remes E. DeLaHunt, Savannah, Ga.

[73] Assignee: Berry Systems incorporated, Savannah, Ga.

22 Filed: Oct. 13, 1970 211 App]. No.: 80,281

[52] US. Cl ..222/400.7 [51] Int. Cl. ..G01f 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..222/398, 400.7, 464, 494; 137/212, 322, 329.4, 614.04; 285/417, 418

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,353,724 11/1967 Johnston ..222/4007 3,578,219 5/1971 Berry ..222/464 X 3,065,885 11/1962 Chatten ..222/400-.7 3,032,055 5/ 1962 Heydon et a1 ..222/4007 X 3,520,323 7/1970 Lamb ..137/212 Primary ExaminerSamuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Att0rneyMason, Fenwick & Lawrence 5 7 ABSTRACT A keg tapping device is provided in which a pressure hose and a liquid discharge hose are connected to a common connector member connectable to a keg fitting on a keg to automatically open valving means in the keg fitting and the common connector to permit discharge of liquid from the keg and pressurization of the keg in response to the connection of the connector to the keg; seal and valve means are automatically closed upon disconnection of the connector from the keg and the keg includes a substantially permanently installed drain pipe so that there is no insertion of any member into the internal confines of the keg during the tapping operation with the connection of the connector and the pressure and lager discharge hoses being made by a simple push down and twisting movement.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures loo Patented Aug. 29, 1972 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fiumxwu;

ATTORNEYS E E DE LA HUNT BY \mawgwmm Pafianted Aug. 29, 1972 3,687,340

3 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Q. E. DE LA Hum-r ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \62 I20 HO I22 omF lllli l k INVENTOR P. E. DE L HUNT- BY WQM QM 5 m ATTORNEYS TAPPING DEVICE FOR BEER KEGS This invention relates to the field of fluid dispensing and is specifically directed to a highly efficient device for use in association with beer kegs for enabling a simultaneous connection of a pressure hose line and a lager discharge hose line to a keg with a minimum of difficulty. Even more specifically, the invention is directed to a safe, convenient and easy to use tapping device to be used with Peerless type beer kegs.

In the prior known beer dispensing systems of the Peerless type, the connecting apparatus for connecting the gas delivery hose and the lager discharge hose '-to the beer container has been prone to rupture and break down at inopportune times due to the manner in which they are connected, thereby creating a flooded draft box, or, at the very least, necessitating immediate replacement of inoperative components.

Probably the most serious shortcoming of the prior known devices of this type is the fact that they require the insertion of a tap pipe into the keg as an initial step in enabling the dispensing of the keg contents. This tapping operation can be extremely dangerous to the person performing the operation since the kegs sometime become highly pressurized and the tap assembly has been known to be forcefully ejected from the keg at a great velocity so as to inflict serious bodily harm on the person attempting to tap the keg. Moreover, even if the person tapping the keg is not injured by the ejection of the tapping member, the ejection of the tap assembly results in a loss of a large amount of the beverage in the keg. Such loss, while obviously economically undesirable, is also extremely vexatious in that kegs being tapped are usually located in a refrigerated draft box along with several other kegs. Consequently, the loss of a large amount of beer in the box presents a substantial cleanup problem.

Yet another shortcoming of the prior known keg systems of the aforementioned type resides in the fact that the insertion of the tap pipe into the keg from an exterior environment often results in an undesirable injection of harmful bacteria into the keg.

An additional disadvantage of the prior known systems is that they require substantial force for connecting the tapping components to the keg and are consequently difficult to use. Moreover, such systems are consequently subjected to considerable wear and tear and must be replaced with undesirable frequency.

Yet another disadvantage of the prior known systems resides in the fact that they are difficult to clean thoroughly following emptying of the keg. Moreover, not only are the kegs difficult in and of themselves to thoroughly clean, their construction has necessitated removal of the tapping unit following emptying of the keg for return to the brewery. During the return process, the keg tapping hole is open and it is possible for bacteria, small animals and other undesirable foreign matter to enter the keg before it is returned to the brewery.

Additionally, the complex nature of the valving embodied in the prior known systems makes these systems extremely difficult to thoroughly sterilize due to the inaccessibility of their numerous components.

The subject invention overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art in providing a hollow hose connector member to which a lager discharge line and a gas pressure line are connected to a fitting on the keg by a simple twisting motion. Connection of the hollow hose connector to the keg fitting automatically opens valve means in the keg and in the connector for enabling the discharge of beer from the keg via the lager hose on the connector. Moreover, the connection of the hollow hose connector to the keg fitting also opens valve means in the connector and in the keg for permitting pressurized air or other gas to be injected into the keg for pressurizing the keg interior. However, the instant invention provides for the valve means in the keg fitting and the hose connector to be automatically closed upon removal of the hose connector from the particular keg. Consequently, the keg is never open to the environment and is not subject to contamination nor is any beer lost following disconnection of the keg from the hose members. An additional advantage resides in the fact that the keg is provided with a permanently installed drain pipe which is maintained in the keg interior and there is never any insertion of a tapping pipe into the keg in the manner of the prior known systems and during transit both to and from the brewery the keg is completely sealed to prevent bacteria and foreign matter from entering the keg. Additionally, the keg fitting is mounted in a recessed protected area and is covered with a removable plastic cap during shipment so as to avoid any possibility of damage to the fitting due to rough handling. A still further advantage of the subject invention resides in the fact that it provides a large area for gas passage into the keg so that the kegs employing the device can be connected in series.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved keg tapping device.

Obtainment of the object of this invention is enabled by the provision of a keg member in which a substantially permanently installed drain pipe extends from a fitting in the upper end wall of the keg to a position adjacent the bottom end wall of the keg. A check valve is provided in the upper end of the drain pipe and a connector positioned adjacent the upper end of the pipe receives a hollow hose connector member to which a lager discharge hose and a gas pressure hose of the bar from which beer is to be dispensed are connected. Connection of the hollow hose connector member to the upper end of the drain pipe opens the check valve in the upper end of the drain pipe and also opens a check valve in the hollow hose connector which provides immediate communication between the drain pipe and the lager hose so that beer in the keg can be dispensed via the drain pipe. Moreover, the hollow hose connector is provided with gas valve means that is automatically opened in response to connection of the connector to the fitting on the keg for injection of pressurized air or gas into the keg interior. A gas valving or seal means is provided respectively in the hollow hose connector and the keg fitting component and both such means are automatically closed upon removal of the hollow hose connector. Consequently, pressure within the keg is not permitted to escape nor is pressure from the hollow hose connector permitted to vent to the atmosphere upon disconnection of the connector from the keg.

A full understanding of the manner in which the subject invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art will be better enabled when the following written description is considered along with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a bisecting sectional view of a keg having the preferred embodiment of the invention incorporated thereon;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling components of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a bisecting sectional view of the coupling components in connected condition;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bisecting sectional view identical to FIG. 3 but illustrating the parts in separated condition;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 5.

Attention is initially invited to FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrates a peerless type keg with a bottom wall 21 and a top wall to which the preferred embodiment 22 of the subject invention is connected with the keg containing liquid such as beer having an upper surface 24 on the keg interior. The upper end wall of keg 20 is provided with a fitting generally designated 19including a recessed generally cylindrical wall member 26 (FIG. 3) having a cylindrical mounting lug 28 with a circular bore 29 extending upwardly from its lower wall 30 and terminating in an upper surface 31 including first and second radially extending retaining lugs 32 (FIG. 2 positioning splines 33 are also provided to ex tend along the length of lug 28 between wall 30 and lugs 32. All of the aforementioned parts are existing parts of the peerless type keg.

A retaining ring 34 having a pair of radially inwardly extending abutment lugs 36 (FIG. 7) is fitted over the mounting lug 28 by initially positioning the abutment lugs 36 in vertical alignment with the open spaces between the radial retaining lugs 32 and then moving the retaining ring 34 downwardly until the abutment lugs 36 are positioned beneath the lower edge 38 of the retaining lugs 32 and subsequently rotating the retaining ring 34 until the edges of lugs 36 engage splines 33 and cannot be further rotated so that the abutment lugs 36 are positioned in alignment with the retaining lugs 32 to prevent axial removal of the retaining ring 34 from mounting lug 28. The interior surface of the retaining ring 34 is provided with threads 40 which are threadably engaged with threads 41 along the lower end of a tightening ring 42.

Tightening ring 42 has a radially inwardly extending abutment flange 44 which abuts against an outwardly radially extending rim flange 46 (FIG. 5) extending from the outer periphery of a main cylindrical body member 48 attached to and forming a part of the upper end of a hollow tubular conduit 50 having

inner surface

51 and 168 and extending downwardly in bore 29 through the keg wall and terminating in a lower end 52 on the keg interior as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. It is to be noted that a'subs'tantial clearance space is provided between the facing surfaces of lug 28 and conduit 50.

A lower radial surface 54 of the main cylindrical body member 48 abuts against a seal member 56 positioned between surface 54 and the upper surface of the cylindrical mounting lug 28 as best shown in FIG. 3. Consequently, it will be seen that rotation of the tightening ring 42 will serve to move the main cylindrical body member 48 downwardly to provide a sealed connection between the main cylindrical body member 48 and the cylindrical mounting lug 28. Therefore, neither gas nor liquid can escape through the clearance space between bore 29 and the outer wall of the hollow tubular conduit 50. Moreover, the hollow

tubular conduit

50, 48 etc. is fixedly retained in position in the upper end wall of the keg by the clamping action of ring 42.

A tubular slide spool 58 having a bore 58 is positioned for axial movement on the interior of the tubular conduit 50 and, in effect, comprises the upper end of a drain pipe generally designated 59 which has a lower end in the form of a smaller tubular portion extending downwardly from the slide spool 58 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. A substantial clearance space is pro vided between the outer surface of spool 58 and the inner surface of conduit 50. The lower end of the drain pipe 59 is positioned adjacent the bottom wall 21 of keg 20 so that liquid within the keg can be substantially completely drained from the keg in the manner to become more apparent hereinafter.

A main cylindrical opening 48' is provided on the interior of the main cylindrical body member 48 and includes an inclined camming slot 60 (FIGS. 2 and 5) and an internal cylindrical sealing surface 62 beneath the camming slot 60 as viewed in FIG. 5. Entry slots 64 extend downwardly from the upper end of the main cylindrical body member 48 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

A tubular valve body member 66 having a ring seal 88 on its upper end is connected to the upper end of the slide spool 58 by threads 68 and means so that the slide spool and valve body member 66 effectively constitute a combined construction as shown in FIG. 5. Four radial flange sectors 69 separated by arcuate slots 69' extend outwardly from body member 66 as shown in FIG. 5. A bore 70 extends along the length of the valve body member 66 and communicates with the bore 58' in spool member 58 to provide a continuous passageway through the tube 59, spool 58 and valve body member 66.

A first conical valve seat 72 is provided adjacent the upper face 74 of the tubular valve body member 66 in bore 70 thereof as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. A first conical valve member 76 is biassed by a spring 78 toward the conical valve seat 72 so that a ring seal 80 on the conical valve body member sealingly engages the conical valve seat 72 to close bore 70 when the parts are in the position illustrated in FIG. 5. Spring 78, on its end opposite the end engaging valve member 76, engages a spider 79 fixed to the inner wall of the bore 70 to be incapable of downward movement as viewed in FIG. 3.

However, the conical valve member 76 is movable away from engagement with the surface 72 to permit the flow of liquid through the passageway 70 when the valve member is in the position shown in FIG. 3. The manner in which this valve is opened will be discussed hereinafter.

A first movable gas seal 82 is mounted in a circum ferential peripheral groove on the exterior of the slide spool 58 to be movable into and out of contact with a first conical gas valve seat 84 formed in the interior bore 51 of the hollow tubular conduit 50. The seal member 82 is movable into engagement with the conical gas valve seat 84 when in the position illustrated in FIG. 5 to prevent the escape of pressure within the keg upwardly through the conduit past the valve seat 84 in a manner to become more apparent hereinafter. However, the spool 58 can be moved downwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 so that gas can flow along the clearance space provided interior of hollow tubular conduit 50 and externally of the slidable spool member 58.

Movement of seal means 82 against the conical surface 84 is enabled by means of a compression spring 86 extending between a circular lug 87 between the

inner surfaces

51 and 168 of the tubular conduit 50 and the lower end of the tubular valve body member 66 as best shown in FIG. 3.

All of the aforementioned structural elements comprise a keg fitting generally designated 25 and are always associated with the keg and are mounted in the keg when the keg is shipped from the brewery to a bar or other place at which the contents of the keg are to be dispensed.

Upon arrival of the keg at the bar, a hollow hose connector generally designated forming a permanent part of the basic beverage dispensing device and having a lager or beer discharge line or hose 102 and a gas pressure line 104 connected thereto is coupled onto the fitting 25 for pressurizing the keg interior and enabling the dispensing of beer from the keg via line 102. The exact construction of the hollow hose connector 100 will now be discussed in detail.

Hollow hose connector 100 comprises a hollow barrel member 106 defining an axially extending main interior chamber 108 (FIG. 5) and having first and second radially extending

hollow pipe members

110 and 114 with pipe 114 having the pressurized gas line 104 connected thereto.

Pipe 110 is provided with a pressure release valve member 116 facing inwardly toward chamber 108 and biased toward chamber 108 by a compression spring 118 retained in position by an adjustable plug 120 threaded into the pipe 110. Excessive pressure in the main internal chamber 108 will serve to move the pressure release valve member 116 to the left to release the excessive pressure through venting ports 122 in an obvious manner.

Additionally, it should be noted that the position of plug 120 will determine the pressure required to release valve 116 so that the release pressure can according'ly be adjusted by rotational movement of plug 120.

The upper end of barrel member 106 is closed by a closure fitting plug 124 with sealing means 167 having a right angle end portion 126 to which the lager line 102 is connected by a conventional means. Moreover, a liquid flow passageway 128 extends the length of fitting 124 for providing communication between the lager line 102 and the interior of barrel member 106.

A tubular cylindrical nipple 130 defining the lower end of plug 124 extends internally downwardly into the main internal chamber 108 and has a seal member 132 adjacent its lower end for a purpose to be discussed hereinafter.

A hollow movable valve support member in the form of a sleeve 134 is mounted on the interior of the main internal chamber 108 for axial reciprocation therein. The lowermost portion of barrel 106 tapers inwardly at 135 to provide a second conical surface gas valve seat 136 on the lower end of the main internal chamber 108 as best shown in FIG. 3.

A second movable gas seal member 138 is mounted on the outer periphery of the movable sleeve 134 for engagement with the conical valve seat 136 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. Additionally, the lower end of the barrel member 196 is in the form of a main connector nipple 140 (FIG. 2) having a main gas seal 142 extending about its lowermost periphery and having a pair of retaining lugs 144 extending radially outward.

A first internal cylindrical sealing surface 146 (FIG. 5) is provided internally of movable sleeve 134 ad- 20 jacent the upper end thereof with the nipple 130 and seal 132 being matingly received within the confines of surface 146 to provide a sealed connection between the fitting 124 and movable sleeve 134.

A valve chamber 148 coaxially extending within the sleeve 134 has its upper end communicating with flow passageway 128 and has a second conical valve member 150 mounted for axial reciprocation therein as shown in FIG. 5. The valve member 150 is provided with a protrusion lug extending axially downward for a purpose to be discussed hereinafter and a ring seal 152 engageable with a second conical valve seat 154 which seal is urged against the valve seat by means of a compression spring 156. Compression spring 156 is held in position by a spider 158 as shown in FIG. 5 so as to constantly bias the valve member 150 downwardly against the valve seat 154.

Slidable sleeve 134 also has an internal cylindrical opening adjacent its lower end defining a second internal cylindrical seal surface 160 (FIG. 5) which is matingly insertable over the upper end of the tubular valve body member 66 so that the ring seal 88 on the upper end of member 66 sealingly engages surface 160 in a manner shown in FIG. 3.

-A coil compression spring 162 extends between the upper end of sleeve 134 and the fitting 124 as shown in FIG. 3 to constantly bias sleeve 134 downwardly in a direction to engage gas valve seal 138 with surface 136 when in the position shown in FIG. 5. However, the end surface 161 at the upper end of the cylindrical opening defined by surface 160 of sleeve 134 abuts against the upper surface 74 of the tubular valve body member 66 when the parts are connected in the position shown in FIG. 3. Consequently, spring 162 is constantly urging the sleeve 134 downwardly against the valve body member 66 which is simultaneously being urged upwardly by the compression spring 86. The

parts

134 and 66, 58 etc. consequently assume a balanced floating position in which the force of

springs

162 and 86 is normally balanced with the parts being positioned as shown in FIG. 3 so that seal 138 does not engage the conical valve seal surface 136 and seal 82 does not engage seat 84. Moreover, even if the

springs

162 and 86 should be of different strength, both of the valve seals 82 and 138 would be retained in an open position due to the employment of abutment surface 165 which engages a surface 166 and a surface 161 which abuttingly engages the upper space 74 of the tubular valve body member 66.

Consequently, when the parts are in the FIG. 3 position, gas or air pressure entering through pipe 114 enters the main internal chamber 108 and travels downwardly past the gas valve seal 138 exteriorly of the outer surface of sleeve 134' but within the confines of the wall of the barrier member 106 past the tapered portion 135 of the barrel 106 and the lower end 164 of sleeve 134 and through slots 69' into the interior of the tube 50. Since there is a clearance provided between the tubular valve body member 66 and the inner surface of the hollow tubular conduit 50, pressurized gas can flow downwardly into the conduit 50 and past the seal 82 outwardly through radial vents 83 when the parts are as shown in FIG. 3.

Turning now to FIG. 5, the manner in which the subject inventive device operates during a connecting operation of the connector 100 to the keg fitting will be discussed with it being initially assumed that the parts are in the position illustrated in FIG. 5.

In the FIG. 5 position, compression spring 156 urges the second conical valve member 150 into a closed position so that the liquid flow passageway 128, valve chamber 148, etc. cannot escape downwardly past the seal 152. Moreover, the seal 132 prevents the escape of liquid upwardly and outwardly around the outer periphery of the lower end of nipple 130 on fitting 124. Similarly, spring 162 is biassing sleeve 134 downwardly so that the second gas valve seal 138 is in sealing engagement with the conical gas valve seat 136 and pressure from the line 104 is consequently contained within the main internal chamber 108.

In like manner, keg is sealed by virtue of the fact that spring 78 is biassing the first conical valve member 76 into sealing engagement with the first conical valve surface 72; consequently, liquid in the interior 59 of spool 58 cannot escape upwardly through the bores 58' and 70.

Similarly, compression spring 86 is biassing the spool 58 and first movable gas seal 82 upwardly so that gas seal 82 engages the first conical gas valve surface 84 to prevent pressure on the interior of keg 20 from entering the upper portion of the interior of hollow tubular conduit 50 in an obvious manner.

I-Iollow hose connector member 100 is connected to the keg by initially positioning the connector member in alignment with the fittings on the keg so that the positioning and retaining lugs 144 are in vertical alignment with the slots 64. The connector member is then moved forcefully downward and rotated in a clockwise direction as the retaining lugs 144 enter the camming slot 60. This movement of the connector member 100 downwardly serves to cause the protrusion lug 151 on the second conical valve member 150 to engage the upper end of the first conical valve member 76 so that both

conical valve members

76 and 150 are normally simultaneously opened by a balancing of the forces from springs 156 and 78 as shown in FIG. 3. However, even if the springs are not balanced, the

valve members

76 and 150 would be maintained in their open position due to stop

shoulders

163 and 164 extending respectively radially from the stem of the

members

150 and 76 for engaging the upper surface of the spider with which they are associated to consequently prevent any substantial opening movement of the valve member beyond the position shown in FIG. 3. Consequently, the liquid flow path comprising tube 59, the inner bore 58' of spool 58, bore 70, chamber 148 and passageway 128 is then opened so that liquid on the interior of the keg can flow outwardly into the line 102.

In like manner, connection of the hollow member to the fittings on the keg also causes the upper face 74 of tubular valve body member 66 to abut against the surface 161 at the top of the cylindrical opening on the bottom of sleeve 134 to consequently move sleeve 134 upwardly with respect to the barrel member 106 while valve body member 66 and spool 58 are moved simultaneously downwardly with respect to the hollow tubular conduit 50 so that the sleeve 134 and body member 66, spool 58 etc. assume a balanced position in which the force of

springs

86 and 162 is balanced. Moreover, in the event springs 86 and 162 should not be of balanced force, engagement of the abutting surfaces and 166 would serve to open the valve members in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 as was previously discussed. However, it is again pointed out that in the balanced position the second gas valve seal is opened so that pressurized air can flow downwardly along the external surface of sleeve 134, but internally of the wall of the barrel 106, around the lower edge of sleeve 134 and into slots 69' and then into the space between the inner wall 168 of tubular conduit 50 and the outer wall of the valve body member 66 and spool 58. The pressurized air or gas then flows downwardly past the opened first movable gas seal 82 and outwardly through vents 83 and the bottom of tube so to pressurize the interior of the keg in an obvious manner.

Therefore, it will be seen that connection of the hollow hose connector 100 to the fittings on the keg provides a substantially simultaneous communication between the lager line 102 and the beer in the keg and the gas line 104 and the space above the liquid level 24 in the keg.

Upon removal of the hollow hose connector 100 etc. from the keg, the parts automatically return to the position illustrated in FIG. 5 in which the beer in line 102 cannotdrain outwardly nor can pressure from line 104 be vented to the atmosphere. Simultaneously, the keg interior is automatically closed by

valve members

76 and 82.

I claim:

1. A keg pressurizing and liquid dispensing device comprising a hollow tubular conduit extending through a keg wall and having an exterior end communicating with the exterior of said keg and an internal end communicating with the interior of said keg, a hollow hose connector member including a hollow barrel member having an axially extending main internal chamber, a liquid passageway to which a liquid discharge line is connected and a gas passageway to which a gas pressure line is connected, connector means adjacent the exterior end of said hollow tubular conduit for permitting said hollow hose connector member to be removably connected to said external end of said hollow tubular conduit, a liquid drain pipe mounted in said hollow tubular conduit and having an inlet end extending beneath liquid in said keg and an outlet end adjacent the external end of said hollow tubular conduit, liquid valving means including a first conical valve member coaxially mounted adjacent the discharge end of said drain pipe and a connecter liquid valve member comprising a second conical valve member mounted in said liquid passageway of said hollow hose connector member, a first valve seat associated with said first conical valve member, first spring means biassing said first conical valve member against said first valve seat, second spring means biassing said second conical valve member against a second valve seat and a protrusion lug extending from the end of one of said conical valve members to position both of said conical valve members away from their respective valve seats upon connection of said hollow hose connector member to said tubular conduit to provide communication between said outlet end of said liquid drain pipe and said liquid passageway so that liquid from said keg can flow through said liquid drain pipe into said liquid passageway for discharge via said liquid discharge line and gas valving means operable in response to connection of said hollow hose connector to said hollow tubular conduit for permitting pressurized gas from said gas passageway to flow through said hollow tubular conduit into the interior of said keg to pressurize said keg, said gas valving means including a first gas valve seat on the interior of said tubular conduit, a first movable gas seal element connected to the exterior of said drain pipe and drain pipe biassing spring means for normally urging said movable gas seal element against said first gas valve seat to prevent pressurized gas on the interior of said keg from escaping through said tubular conduit and a second gas valve seat in said hollow hose connector communicating with said gas passageway, a second movable seal means in said gas passageway mounted upon a movable support member in said main internal chamber, support member biassing spring means normally biassing said movable support member to move said second gas seal means against said second gas valve seat upon removal of said hollow hose connector from said tubular conduit so that gas pressure in said gas passageway cannot escape therefrom and abutment means on said support member engageable with facing abutment means on the end of said drain pipe for moving said first gas seal means in said hollow hose connector to an open position in response to connection of said hollow hose connector to said tubular conduit.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said movable support member comprises a hollow axially movable sleeve mounted in said main internal chamber of said barrel member and having a first internal cylindrical seal surface adjacent a first end of said sleeve slidably matingly received over the outer surface of a tubular cylindrical nipple extending into said chamber and through which nipple said liquid passageway extends, seal means on the outer surface of said tubular cylindrical nipple engaging the said internal cylindrical seal surface of said sleeve member, said liquid passageway extending through said axially movable sleeve member to a second end opposite first end, a second cylindrical internal sealing surface on said second end of said sleeve member and slidably matingly received over the outer surface of a tubular valve body fixedly mounted on the discharge end of said drain pipe and seal means on the outer surface of said valve body engageable with said second cylindrical internal sealing surface whereby 10 I a cont'nuo 5 closed flowpath f r li uid is rovide throug said sleeve between said liquid passag way an said tubular valve body.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said abutment means comprises facing abutting radial surfaces of said valve body member and said sleeve with the radial surface of said sleeve defining an inward termination of said second cylindrical sealing surface in said sleeve.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said second movable gas seal comprises a circular seal embracingly extending about the outer surface of said slidable sleeve and said second gas valve seat comprises an internally facing cylindrical surface in said gas passageway formed of a portion of the inner surface of said main internal chamber of said barrel member.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said support member biassing springs urge said movable sleeve toward said valve body member on said drain pipe and said drain pipe biassing spring urges said drain pipe toward said movable sleeve to position said movable sleeve and said valve body member in a floating position in which the force of said support member biassing spring and said drain pipe biassing spring equalize each other with said second movable gas seal being spaced from said second conical valve seat and said first movable gas seal being spaced from said first gas valve seat whereby pressurized gas from said gas passageway flows inwardly past the exterior of said movable sleeve and said drain pipe in said tubular conduit into the interior of said keg.

6. The invention of claim 5 additionally including an internal cylindrical sealing surface in a main cylindrical opening in the upper end of said tubular conduit for matingly receiving a main connector nipple extending from said barrel member, main seal means on the external surface of said main connector nipple and wherein, said connector means adjacent the exterior end of said hollow tubular conduit includes inclined slot means in the main cylindrical opening of said tubular conduit receiving inclined threaded lugs extending outwardly from said main connector nipple so that rotation of said hollow hose connectors moves said connector into sealed engagement with said outer end of said tubular conduit.

7. The invention of claim 6 additionally including pressure releasing valve means communicating with said main internal chamber for releasing excessive pressure in said main internal chamber.

8. The invention of claim 7 additionally including a radial extension pipe extending from said barrel member to which said gas pressure line is connected.

9. The invention of claim 7 additionally including abutting surfaces which are engageable in the event that said drain pipe biassing spring and said support member biassing spring do not equalize each other to position said movable sleeve in said valve body member so that said second movable gas seal is spaced from said second conical valve seat and said first movable gas seal is spaced from said first gas valve seat to enable pressurized gas from said gas passageway to flow inwardly past the exterior of said movable sleeve and said drain pipe in said tubular conduit into the interior of said keg.

Claims

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said movable support member comprises a hollow axially movable sleeve mounted in said main internal chamber of said barrel member and having a first internal cylindrical seal surface adjacent a first end of said sleeve slidably matingly received over the outer surface of a tubular cylindrical nipple extending into said chamber and through which nipple said liquid passageway extends, seal means on the outer surface of said tubular cylindrical nipple engaging the said internal cylindrical seal surface of said sleeve member, said liquid passageway extending through said axially movable sleeve member to a second end opposite first end, a second cylindrical internal sealing surface on said second end of said sleeve member and slidably matingly received over the outer surface of a tubular valve body fixedly mounted on the discharge end of said drain pipe and seal means on the outer surface of said valve body engageable with said second cylindrical internal sealing surface whereby a continuous closed flowpath for liquid is provided through said sleeve between said liquid passageway and said tubular valve body.

6. The invention of claim 5 additionally including an internal cylindrical sealing surface in a main cylindrical opening in the upper end of said tubular conduit for matingly receiving a main connector nipple extending from said barrel member, main seal means on the external surface of said main connector nipple and wherein said connector means adjacent the exterior end of said hollow tubular conduit includes inclined slot means in the main cylindrical opening of said tubular conduit receiving inclined threaded lugs extending outwardly from said main connector nipple so that rotation of said hollow hose connectors moves said connector into sealed engagement with said outer end of said tubular conduit.