IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0513182
(2003-04-30)
|
등록번호 |
US-7546935
(2009-07-01)
|
우선권정보 |
GB-0210039.4(2002-05-02) |
국제출원번호 |
PCT/GB03/001860
(2003-04-30)
|
§371/§102 date |
20050620
(20050620)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO03/093163
(2003-11-13)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Wheaton, Christopher Simon Courtenay
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
12 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A dispensing valve assembly for a beer keg comprises a body (11) having a pair of flexible legs (24) which form non-pivotal projection means when splayed outwardly by locking means (14) fixed on a valve stem (12) which is biased sealingly to engage a valve seat (32) of the body (11). The valve stem
A dispensing valve assembly for a beer keg comprises a body (11) having a pair of flexible legs (24) which form non-pivotal projection means when splayed outwardly by locking means (14) fixed on a valve stem (12) which is biased sealingly to engage a valve seat (32) of the body (11). The valve stem (12) has an internal valve seat against which is biased a plug (33). In a first position of the locking means (24), when the valve stem is off its valve seat (32), the legs (24) are unsplayed and can pass through an opening of the beer keg, whilst once the valve assembly is thereafter engaged in the beer keg the locking means are allowed to move under spring means (45) to splay the legs outwardly and prevent removal of the assembly from the keg. A special insertion tool is provided to hold the valve stem off its valve seat, and thus the locking means in its first position, prior to assembly of the valve in the beer keg, removal of the tool thereafter allowing the locking means automatically to move to its second position.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A valve assembly comprising a body adapted to be engaged in an opening in a container, a valve seat, a closure member biased into engagement with said valve seat to prevent fluid flow, in use, past the valve seat, and being movable against said bias to permit such flow,
The invention claimed is: 1. A valve assembly comprising a body adapted to be engaged in an opening in a container, a valve seat, a closure member biased into engagement with said valve seat to prevent fluid flow, in use, past the valve seat, and being movable against said bias to permit such flow, and locking means movable from a first position, in which it is disposed before engagement of the body in said opening in the container, in use, to a second position once such engagement has occurred, and in which second position of said locking means, non-pivotable projection means prevent passage of the valve assembly through said opening, wherein stop means fixed in the interior of said body are engaged by said locking means in its second position, wherein the stop means is an annular retainer through which a valve stem is slidable to move the locking means from its first to its second position. 2. A valve assembly comprising a body adapted to be engaged in an opening in a container, a valve seat, a closure member biased into engagement with said valve seat to prevent fluid flow, in use, past the valve seat, and being movable against said bias to permit such flow, and locking means movable from a first position, in which it is disposed before engagement of the body in said opening in the container, in use, to a second position once such engagement has occurred, and in which second position of said locking means, non-pivotable projection means prevent passage of the valve assembly through said opening, wherein stop means fixed in the interior of said body are engaged by said locking means in its second position, wherein means biasing a valve stem extend between the valve stem and said stop means. 3. A valve assembly comprising a body adapted to be engaged in an opening in a container, a valve seat, a closure member biased into engagement with said valve seat to prevent fluid flow, in use, past the valve seat, and being movable against said bias to permit such flow, and locking means movable from a first position, in which it is disposed before engagement of the body in said opening in the container, in use, to a second position once such engagement has occurred, and in which second position of said locking means, non-pivotable projection means prevent passage of the valve assembly through said opening, wherein the projection means is separate from the locking means, wherein the projection means is at least part of the body which is splayed outwardly by movement of said locking means to its second position, wherein the body is of cylindrical or generally cylindrical form defining four legs depending from a cylindrical part adapted to be engaged in said opening in said container, a first diametrically opposed pair of legs being longer than a second diametrically opposed pair of legs therebetween, the first pair being flexible and forming said projection means, and the second pair being rigid. 4. A valve assembly as claimed claim 3, wherein the locking means is an annular collet having an outwardly extending radial flange. 5. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flange has a chamfer which engages the end of the body remote from its end adapted to be engaged in said opening in a container, on moving from its first to its second position. 6. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said end of the body is formed with a complementary chamfer. 7. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locking means is an annular collet having an outwardly extending radial flange. 8. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the collet has a cylindrical part which is received as a close sliding part which is received as a close sliding fit within a part of the body defined by said four legs, the flange of the collet having an external diameter which is equal to the external diameter which said part of the body has when the collet is in its first position. 9. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein in moving from its first to its second position, the collet flange splays outwardly said flexible legs of said first pair of legs but does not reach said shorter rigid legs of said second pair. 10. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein movement of the collet from its first to its second position is arrested by a valve stem, which carries said collet, sealingly engaging with a valve seat of the body. 11. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein in its second position the collet engages stop means fixed in the interior of the body. 12. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein means biasing the valve stem sealingly to engage with a valve seat of the body extend from the stop means to the valve stem. 13. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 3, including an insertion tool adapted to be received in said body so as to hold the locking means in its first position and allow it to move to its second position when the tool is removed. 14. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein in said second position of said locking means, the projection means is splayed outwardly to prevent said passage of the valve assembly through said opening. 15. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said projection means is a pair of diametrically opposed flexible legs of the innermost end of the body, in use, dilated by said locking means in said second position thereof. 16. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said valve seat is at one end of a valve stem which fixedly carries said locking means. 17. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said valve stem is biased sealingly to engage with a valve seat of the body. 18. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said valve stem is held off said valve seat of the body against said bias in said first position of the locking means, and sealingly engages with said valve seat of the body in said second position of the locking means. 19. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein stop means fixed in the interior of said body are engaged by said locking means in its second position. 20. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said second position of said locking means the projection means is splayed outwardly to prevent said passage of the valve assembly through said opening. 21. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection means and the locking means are on the same component. 22. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection means is separate from the locking means. 23. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein the projection means is at least part of the body which is splayed outwardly by movement of said locking means to its second position.
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