US3433389A - Liquid dispenser and charging gas container therefor - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1969 M. PUSTER LIQUID DISPENSER AND CHARGING GAS CONTAINER THEREFOR Sheet Filed Aug. 25, 1966 Twl INVENTOR. LOUIS M. PUSTER HIS ATTORNEYS March 18, 1962 M. PUSTER 3,433,389

LIQUID DISPENSER AND CHARGING GAS CONTAINER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 25, 1966 Sheet g of 8 FIG-3 Z QW-ZE INVENTOR. LOUIS M. PUSTER H IS ATTORNEYS March 18, 1969 M. PUSTER 3,433,389

LIQUID DISPENSER AND CHARGING GAS CONTAINER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 25, 1966 Sheet 3 of 8 INVENTOR Louis Pusfigr HIS ATTORNEYS March 8, 1969 L. M. PUSTER 3,433,39

LIQUID DISPENSER AND CHARGING GAS CONTAINER THEREFOR Sheet 4 of Filed Aug. 25, 1966 wwm 2% m. 85 \\mw. /owm\ nwm 7% .i -1 1 mam nmmm .mm wwm Qmm Nwm, m E? M? 6 mwmw- 26 05 J 85 8mm A r m mmm 0mm mmm HIS ATTORNEYS March 18, 1969 M. PUSTER 3,433,389

LIQUID DISPENSER AND CHARGING GAS CONTAINER THEREFOR Sheet Filed Aug. 25, 1966 uQm INVENTOR Lduis M Pu ier A 33 Em HIS ATTORNEYS March 18, 1969 M. PUSTER LIQUID DISPENSER AND CHARGING GAS CONTAINER THEREFOR Sheet 6 of 8 ed Aug. 25, 1966 m hiw wwwww v mop NE 0% wmw [mm mvmon LOUIS M. PUSTER H IS ATTORNEYS March 18, 1969 M. PUSTER 3,433,389

PENSER AND CHARGING GAS CONTAINER THEREFOR LIQUID DIS Sheet Filed Aug. 25, 1966 m8 m m 4 b mvENToRfi LOUIS M. PUSTER HIS ATTORNEYS NNw \ m Rm N8.

QB m5 wwm wmw M N9 $8 M oww Tmm m8 m8 wmw arch 18, 1969 M. PUSTER LIQUID DISPENSER AND CHARGING GAS CONTAINER THEREFOR Filed Aug. 25, 1966 i numnu: m

III

INVENTOR. LOUIS M. PUSTER H l S ATTORNEYS United States Patent 9 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses a beverage dispenser which contains a gas charged beverage and a charging gas container. The charging gas container has a massive main body and an extruded chamber forming wall with an inward curled end. Tire inflation type valves are respectively located in the massive main body and in the curled inward end. One of the valves is used for charging gas into the gas container and the other valve is used for expanding the gas from the gas container into the beverage dispenser. A check valve is also included beyond one of the ends to prevent backward travel of the charging gas and charged liquid into the charging gas container.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants earlier filed U.S. applications: Ser. No. 396,589, filed Sept. 15, 1964, for Gas Flow Control Dispensing Apparatus and the Like, and now abandoned; Ser. No. 481,- 658, filed Aug. 23, 1965, for Charged Liquid Dispenser With Pocketed Gas Container, now US. Patent No. 3,347,- 417; and Ser. No. 558,718, filed June 20, 1966, for Valve Construction and Method.

This invention relates to a Liquid Dispenser and Charging Gas Container Therefor.

A feature of this invention includes a homogeneous, high pressure gas chamber forming body with a massive end wall at one end and with an inwardly curled end at the other end, and with valve constructions at each end.

Another feature includes the foregoing feature in which the valve constructions are stern and poppet constructions.

Another feature includes a stern and poppet construction which a relatively rigid cup has an integral cylindrical tube depending from the cup, and a relatively elastic seal member is bonded to the interior of the cup, and the stem passes through the seal member into the interior of the tube.

Other objects are apparent from this description, the appended claimed subject matter, and from the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross section of one embodiment of a charging gas container, with a portion of the charged liquid dispenser attached thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a left-hand end view of FIGURE 1, in reduced scale.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section, partly in elevation, showing a stern and poppet valve which may be used in the various embodiments of the this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of a portion of FIGURE 3 immediately above the valve stem head shown in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross section of the poppet shown in FIGURE 3, with the lower end of the stem connected to the poppet, and with the relatively elastic real member bonded to the interior of the poppet cup.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section view taken longitudinally of a beverage container, such as an aluminum beer keg with 3,433,389 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 a tap assembly in one end and one of the present invention novel regulator units mounted in the opposite end of the keg, this FIGURE 6 being applicable to the embodiments of FIGURES l-11.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal cross section view on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6 showing an embodiment of a novel self-contained regulator unit;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal section view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal section view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a longitudinal section view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal section view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic cross section of a charged liquid or beverage containing dispenser casing combined with a high pressure charging gas or CO container.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged portion of FIGURE 12 including the CO container.

FIGURE 14 is an end view taken from line 14-14 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 15 is a cross section along the line v15-15 of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 16 is a cross section of the liquid CO arresting tube.

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged view of the end of FIG- URE 16.

FIGURE 18 is a cross section along the line 18-18 of FIGURE 17.

FIGURE 19 is a cross section along the line 19-19 of FIGURE 17.

FIGURE 20 is a cross section of the pressure regulating spring cage.

FIGURE 21 is an end view from line 21-21 of FIG- URE 20.

FIGURE 21A is an end view from the line 21A-21A of FIGURE 20.

FIGURE 22 is a cross section of the pressure adjusting screw and adjustable spring and receiving nut.

FIGURE 23 is a cross section of the bayonet portion of the expanded gas discharging tube construction, taken along the line 23-23 of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 24 is a cross section of the extrusion used in forming the CO container for FIGURES l, 2 and 12-25.

FIGURE 25 is a cross section of the nipple which connects the gas container with the pocket bayonet member.

Certain words may be used in this specification and in the claimed subject matter which indicate direction, relative position, and the like. Such words are used for the sake of clearness and brevity. However, it is be understood that such words are used only in connection with the illustrations in the drawings, and that in actual use, the parts described by these words may have entirely diiferent direction, relative position and the like. Examples of these words are vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, bottom, etc.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2 and 6 the charging gas container 10 may be mounted in the combined charged liquid dispenser 12. The charging gas container 10 may be mounted on one end wall 14 of the liquid dispenser 12.

The liquid dispenser may have a cylindraceous side wall 16, and another end 18.

The end 14 of the dispenser may be termed the gas charging end of the dispenser.

The end 18 of the liquid dispenser 12 may be considered the faucet end.

A faucet 22 may have a tube 24 extending from the faucet 22 to a low point 26, or inlet point 26 into which the charged liquid enters, and is carried to the faucet 22 and is discharged through the spout 28. The faucet 22 is opened and closed by the handle 30, which handle opens the faucet 22, when the handle is pulled leftwardly in FIGURE 6 and outwardly from the wall 18, and is closed when the handle 30 is released, to move back to the position shown in FIGURE 6.

The charging gas container may include an outer thin metal cup shaped casing 32, which may be an aluminum casing. A high pressure gas chamber forming body 34, also of aluminum, is secured within the end casing 32. The body 34 has a flange 36 which is encompassed by the three sided flange 38 of the casing 32. The flanges 36 and 38 are mounted within the flange 40 of the end wall 14 of the dispenser 12. The flange 36 is sealed within the flange 38 by a resilient ring 42, which is compressed during the formation of the sides of the flange 38, which are spun around the flange 36.. The flange 38 is sealed to the flange 40 by the resilient ring 44, which may be a compressed O-ring, which is compressed between the fiange 38, and the inward flange 46 of the end wall 14. The flanges 36 and 38 may be retained in place within the flange 40, by a split ring 48, after these flanges 36 and 38 have been pressed inwardly into the dispenser 12. The split ring 48 is outwardly expandable, when released. If desired, a plastic cover 50 may be placed on the outer side of the flanges 36 and 38, as shown, and this cover 50 may be provided with an aperture S2, for the reception of a gas charging needle for charging the gas container 34.

The high pressure gas chamber body 34 may be extruded in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIGURES 13 and 24 to form a cylindraceous, homogeneous, high pressure gas chamber forming, relatively thick massive end wall 54 from which extends a homogeneous, cylindraceous, hollow, high pressure, gas chamber forming, relatively thin wall 56, which is extruded in a manner similar to that shown in connection with FIGURES 13 and 24.

The word homogeneous" is used herein in the specification and claimed subject matter as defined in Websters International Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam Co., Springfield, Mass., as follows: of uniform structure or composition throughout, and such as produced by the cold extrusion method to be described.

Thin wall closing means 58 may be provided. For example, such means may include inwardly curling or inwardly circumferentially bending the wall 56 at 60 after the sealing plug 62 has been inserted in the wall 56 and the inner side of the rupturable disc 64 has been machined therein by machining the passageway 70.

The plug 62 preferably first has the valve-receiving passageway 66 machined therein, and the massive end wall 54 has the passageway 68 machined therein, and the passageway 70 is machined before any curling operation of the Wall 60 takes place. The plug 62 is then held at the proper position within the confines of the end of the wall 60, and the wall 60 is inwardly curled or inwardly circumferentially bent and pressed by a pressing operation, while the plug 62 is held at the proper position. The plug can be held by a threaded rod, not shown, which can be temporarily threaded into the threads 69 of the plug 62. After the curling or inwardly circumferentially bending operation of the wall 60 has been completed, the plug 62 may be welded or otherwise sealed at 72 to hold it in place, such plug having a flange 74 properly to locate the plug 62 within the curled end wall 60.

A tire inflation type of valve 76 is placed in the passageway 66, with the poppet 78 directed toward the high pressure gas chamber 80 in the chamber body 34. The stem 82 of the valve 76 extends toward the exterior of the gas chamber 80. If desired, the valve 76 may be of the type more fully described in connection with FIGURES 3-5.

The massive Wall 54 may have the passageway 68,

which includes the valve-receiving passageway portion 84, with a threaded portion 85 to receive another tire inflation type of valve 86, which likewise may be of the character shown in FIGURES 3-5, and which includes a poppet 88 and a stem 90. These valves 76 and 86 are shown with the poppet in open position, merely for clarity in illustration, in FIGURE 1, and elsewhere in other figures.

The passageway 68 has a shoulder for receiving the stem protecting disc 92 and the inflation needle receiving resilient plug 94 which has a self-sealing slit 96. Such needle cannot engage and harm the stem 90, since there are two openings in the disc 92 on either side of a central solid part, so that the needle cannot enter directly along the axis and engage the stem 90. Preferably, the needle is inserted only into the cavity 98 for introduction of the CO through the valve 86, into the cavity 80, while charging the cavity 80 with liquid CO to the desired level.

Preferably the charge of liquid CO is such that the upper level of the quiescent liquid CO is below the level of the expansion valve 76, when the dispenser is in the normal horizontal dispensing position, shown in FIGURE 6.

The thin metal or aluminum casing 32 may be formed in any desired manner such as by drawing, pressing and spinning, as is obvious to those skilled in the art. Such casing 32 may have an inwardly formed cup 100 with a discharge opening 102, and with a valve stem receiving opening 104. A resilient check valve 106 may have a stem 108, which may be properly tapered and provided with a cup-receiving circular groove at opening 104 to be locked therein, as illustrated, with the flange 110 extending outwardly of the opening 102, and engaging the bottom of the cup 100 to form a check valve action, which permits CO to pass rightwardly through the opening 102, past the valve 106, and into the charged liquid space of the dispenser 12. The check valve prevents an inward flow leftwardly through opening 102.

A pressure responsive bellows 112 has an inner end wall 114, and an outer end wall 116. The bellows 112 is charged with an expansible inert gas, such as nitrogen, to give the required pressure control to maintain the desired CO pressure in the liquid space of the dispenser 12. The wall 114 engages the head of the stem 82, and actuates the stem 82 inwardly and outwardly, to open and close the poppet 78 and to discharge reduced pressure CO into the cavity 118 of the casing 32. The expanded CO may flow from the cavity 118 through the spaced passageway 120, which is maintained spaced by the dimples 122 in the wall 116. The CO then can travel through the passageway 124 into the cavity 126. The passageway 124 is maintained open by the dimples illustrated in the passageway 124. From the cavity 126, the CO gas flows through the opening 102, and past the rim 110 of the check valve 106 into the liquid space of the container 12 to charge the liquid or beverage to the desired, automatically maintained pressure.

A pressure relief valve 128 may be provided in the passageway 130, which is connected to the cavity 118. The check valve 128 may be a resilient ball, such as a rubber ball, which is inwardly pressed by the spring 132 in the screw cap 134. This will relieve any excessive pressure in the cavity 118.

The cavity 118 connects with the opening 136, in the cap 134 when the valve 128 is opened by excessive pressure in cavity 118. Any excessive pressure will be sufficient to rupture or dislodge the protective cover 50 and allow the escape of excessive pressures CO to the atmosphere.

Likewise a passageway 138 is machined in the massive end wall 54, to form the rupture disc 64, so that if the disc 64 should rupture, the CO from the cavity 80 may be discharged through the passageway 70, past the r ptured disc 64 and through the passageway 138. Such escaping gas will rupture or displace the cover 50 in a manner similar to that previously described. The rupturable disc 64 is machined to a thickness such that it may bulge slightly to the dotted line position 64' when the cavity 80 has been inflated to its normal pressurized condition. The disc 64 is then made of such thickness that it will rupture at an excessive pressure such as may be desired or required for the particular use to which it is placed, such as 3000 p.s.i., or more.

The bellows 112 may be initially charged with the pressure responsive gas, such as nitrogen, so that normally the bellows would produce a pressure within the cavity 118, and the dispenser liquid space 12 slightly below the desired amount. Then it is possible to increase the pressure to the desired pressure by bending the cup wall 100 inwardly the required amount to produce the desired pressure within the chamber 118 and the dispenser 12.

The opening 102 is such that it prevents a rush of CO into the dispenser liquid space 12 in the same manner as is disclosed in applicants Patent No. 3,252,622, patented May 24, 1966. Applicants opening 102 in this application may correspond in action to the opening 70 in said patent. For example, the diameter of the opening 102 may be 0.040 inch, more or less.

The valves 76, 86, etc., and other tire type of valves, herein disclosed, may be similar to a tire type inflation check valve 286 with a poppet valve 290 as shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 5 of this application, which substantially correspond to certain figures in the copending appli cation, Ser. No. 558,718, filed June 20, 1966, for Valve Construction and Method, to which reference is made, if necessary, for a more detailed description thereof.

The expansion or inflation check valve 286 may be any well known tire type of valve having a tubular valve body 201 with a lower cylindrical end or valve seat 203 and an upper screw threaded cap 205 which rotatably engages the upper end 207 of the valve body 201 in a Well known manner. Turning of the cap 205 causes the valve body sealing circular bead 209 to seal against the slanting surface 211 of the tubular passageway 213 of the supporting wall 256 which may be similar to the walls 84, 62, etc., of any of the embodiments herein disclosed.

The tubular valve body 201 surrounds the valve stem or rod 215 with a lower transverse flange 217 with a lower flat surface 219 which contacts the flat surface 221 of the seal 223.

The poppet or poppet valve construction 290 may include a relatively rigid cup 225, with an integral relatively rigid cylindrical tube 227 depending from and connected to the cup 225. Seal member 223 may be hermetically bonded to the interior surface 229 of such cup 225. Such seal member 223 may have a seal elongated opening 231 aligned with and connected to the cylindrical tube 227.

The relatively rigid cup 225 may have a cup side wall 232 and a cup bottom 233. The cup side wall 232 and the cup bottom 233 form a cup interior and an interior cup surface.

The relatively rigid cylindrical tube 227 has a cylinder interior and a cylinder side wall. The cylindrical tube 227 is integrally connected to the cup bottom 233. The relatively elastic seal 223 is bonded to the interior cup surface. The seal elongated opening 231 may be a seal cylindrical opening aligned with the interior of tube 227.

The cup 225 and tube 227 may be made of metal. The elastic seal 223 may be a rubber-like plastomer seal, such as a natural rubber seal or a synthetic rubber seal, such as of neoprene or the like. Such plastomer seal may be heat bonded, or vulcanized to such interior cup surface of cup 225, hermetically to seal the upper edge of the seal to the interior of the cup, and the body of the seal to the inner surface of the cup. Such heat bonding may be performed as more fully described in said application, Ser. No. 558,718.

The cup 225 and the tube 227 may be made of brass,

which provides a particularly effective surface for bonding the seal thereto.

The valve actuating rod 215 extends through the seal cylindrical opening 231 and into the interior of tube 227. The valve rod 2|15 may be sealingly secured to the tube 227 by downwardly press fitting the rod 215 into the tube 227, with a .003 overage or oversized diameter of the rod 215, as compared to the diameter of the interior surface of tube 227. Such press fit of the rod may be sufiicient to provide a sufficiently tight seal so that high pressure charging fluid cannot flow upwardly between the tube 227 and the rod 215.

The elongated opening 231 of the seal 223 may be slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the valve rod 215, such difference being in the order of .003" in diameter.

Such sealing action between the rod 215 and the tube 227 may also be provided by a thermal bond near the lower end of the rod 215, and this may be a soldering bond, brazing bond, or the like.

The sealing action between the rod 215 and the tube 227 may be also provided by forming the transverse fiat surface of flange 240 at the lower end of the rod 215, in contact with the lower end of the cylindrical tube 227. Such lower transverse surface or flange 240 may be produced by an upsetting, or pressing action and thereafter the soldering operation may be performed between the surface 540 and the end of tube 227, if that is desired.

In FIGURE 3, the stem or rod 215 is shown actuated by the end wall 114 of the bellows 1.12 of FIGURE 1. The wall 114 engages the stem head 2-42 to open and close the valve 76 of FIGURE 1. The valves elsewhere disclosed may have a poppet construction 290 and a stem or rod 215, etc., as disclosed in FIGURES 35.

It has been discovered, by applicant, that because the prior flexible seal, at the rim of the cup, is subject to the high pressure of the unexpanded propellant fluid, such high pressure fluid is likely to enter at the rim of the cup into the space between the interior of the cup and the exterior of the unbonded flexible seal. The CO may be in liquid or frost form in such space. Thereafter, when the environment pressures or temperatures are varied around the valve, the CO in such liquid or frost form, between the seal and the cup, expands and dislocates the seal sufficiently so that an objectionable leakage of high pressure propellant is started near the rim of the cup, down between the seal and the interior of the cup, and then through the low pressure central portion of the seal and up along the actuating rod. This results in a continuous uncontrolled leak from the high pressure propellant container into the low pressure charged liquid container. An inoperative expansion valve construction is thus produced.

According to this invention, the elastic seal is permanently and hermetically bonded to the interior of the cups surface in such a manner that the high pressure propellant fluid cannot enter at the top edge of the seal into the space between the seal and the interior of the cups surface. Hence no such dislocation of the seal can occur, and a superior and longer lasting valve construction is provided.

The valve construction of FIGURES 35 may be used to control fluids other than the high pressure CO as controlled at valve 76. It may be used at valve 86 and at other valves herein disclosed.

The present invention as shown in FIGURES 6-11 relates to improvements in detachable beverage container tap regulator units and more particularly to regulator units responsive to tap discharge of carbonated beverage from portable containers.

Heretofore, commercial carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus using liquid carbon dioxide as the propellant and carbonizer in a valved propellant container required a series of expensive independent pressure reducing devices adapted to progressively reduce the high pressure of the emitting carbon dioxide gaseous propellant to a suitable usable safe low pressure. According to FIG- URES 6-11, if the valve of FIGURES 35 is not used as an expansion valve, the initial high pressures ejecting from the propellant container should be at a reduced pressure to prevent damage to a stem type propellant discharge valve when the propellant valve is activated by a pressure responsive means for discharge into the pressure reduction chamber adjoining the propellant container. Then further pressure control is provided from the pressure reduction regulator chamber to constantly control beverage carbonation and dispensing pressure at a safe range into the body of the beverage and into any free space in the beverage container enclosing the propellant container from, for example, a precalibrated gas discharge orifice at a substantially constant reduced rate of flow from connection with the regulator chamber at desirable safe optimum dispensing pressure, e.g., at about the optimum pressure range of twelve pounds per square inch-(gauge). Preferably the beverage is maintained at a flavorful dispensing temperature of about 40 degrees F. in the beverage container from which intermittent consumer tap flow of the beverage is provided.

Accordingly, an object of this invention, as shown in FIGURES 6-11, is to provide an inexpensive pressure regulator in one unitary assembly for tap controlled carbonated beverage discharge from portable beverage tanks or containers, wherein liquid carbon dioxide may be used safely in household refrigerators and thus eliminate the relatively expensive and complex equipment required with commercial apparatus.

Broadly each embodiment of FIGURES 7-11 hereinafter described in detail has the same basic parts, the distinctions between the embodiments residing in differences between the specific propellant valve Structure in some instances, the pressure responsive means in the regulator chamber adjacent the propellant container of the unit and/or the difference in the form and location of the low pressure orifice from the regulator chamber and the particular form of check valve utilized in cooperation with the said orifice.

First with particular reference to FIGURE 7 showing an embodiment of the invention, there is a propellant container comprising a cylinder 310 preferably of metal, such as aluminum. This cylinder is formed with a supporting means, such as a stepped flange 311 and an internally threaded section 312 in the bore 313 at the flanged support end thereof, while the propellant cylinder at the opposite end to the flanged support end is formed with a closed end wall 314 except for a concentric threaded bore 315 to receive a threaded propellant discharge valve plug 316.

The threaded section 312 at the flanged support end of the propellant cylinder 310 is provided with a threaded seal plug 318 concentrically formed with a one-Way propellant loading valve 320 which opens into the bore 313 of the propellant container. This valve 320 is normally engaged with a valve seat 321 by a bias spring 322 urged against the shoulder 323 of the valve 320 from a supporting washer 324.

The plug 318 is formed exteriorly with an annular packing groove 325 to receive a sealing O-ring 326 and is formed with an emergency valve exhaust duct 327, which duct is counterbored adjacent the flange end 311 to mount any suitable replaceable high pressure rupture disk assembly 328 or the like. Also, the flange 311 includes an enlarged cell 330 exterior of the propellant cylinder 310, which cell is formed with a threaded bore 331 for replaceable mounting of a Schrader type valve 332. This valve 332 is likewise a safety valve adapted to open if an excessive or dangerous pressure should develop in the beverage container or keg K shown in FIGURE 6.

The stepped support flange 311 mates with the stepped wall 334 which wall defines the regulator mount opening 335 in an end wall 14 of the beverage keg and is held securely in position by a split lock ring 338 engaged in annular groove 339, while compressing an O-ring packing 340 between the stepped part 341 of the flange 311 and an opposed stepped part 342 of the stepped wall 334. When installed in the end wall 14 of the beverage keg and before the lock ring 338 is snapped into place, a conforming cover sheet 343 may be placed over the complete assembly to provide a smooth unobtrusive covering,

The plug 316 in the end 314 of the propellant container 310 opposite to the support flange end has a counterbore 345 with a central valve seat 346 on which seats a valve head 347. The valve head 347 may include an elongated stem 349 and is biased by spring 348 into closed position, said spring being rooted or based on a Washer 350 secured in the counterbore 345 of the plug 316'. Also, staked or seated tightly in the counterbore 345 is the tubular end 352 of a dip tube 351, which tubular end seats on the washer 350 and connects with the counterbore 345 and the inlet of the propellant discharge valve 347. The opposite end of the dip tube 351 is pinched or squeezed together to form an entry end, such as a slot 353 for example. The dimensions of the slot in the dip tube entry end may be calibrated for any predetermined size for optimum pressure reduction at this first stage of operation. For example, this slot may be nominally .0025 inch wide by .125 inch long and during operation the slot 353 serves as a filter to prevent foreign material from reaching the regulator valve.

However, if the valves disclosed in FIGURES 3-5 of this invention are used in the embodiments of FIGURES 711, the dip tubes 351, 351b, 3510 and 351d may be omitted.

The valve stem 349 extends and projects from a reduced gaseous propellant exhaust duct 354 at the discharge end of the same into engagement with an activator means, such a a plate 355 carried by a pressure responsive means, such as a bellows 356 in regulator chamber R. This bellows on the end opposite to the activator plate 355 is sealed with a plate 357 formed with a reentrant portion 358, whereby the reentrant or female portion frictionally snaps onto a mating nipple 360 formed from the closed end of a cylindrical cap 361 which enters and mounts the bellows 356.

The cap 361 completely encloses the bellows 356 and couples over the end 314 of the propellant container 310. Any suitable coupling arrangement may be provided. For example, as shown in FIGURE 7, the cap 361 is internally threaded adjacent its open end and includes a smooth portion 363 to coact with an annular packing groove 364 in the exterior lower portion of the propellant container end 314 for compressing an O-ring 365 in the provision of a fluid or gas tight seal, thereby sealing the interior of the cap 361 from all pressure conditions exterior of the cap interior.

The interior of the cap 361 is referred to broadly as a pressure regulator chamber R and connects with the interior of the propellant container 310 through the valve assemblage in the plug 316 and exhausts propellant gas, such as carbon dioxide into the beverage container or keg through a rate of flow control orifice 370 exteriorly controlled for back pressure 'by a non-return valve 371. The

valve 371 in this form of the invention may be a plastic or rubber plug anchored by a stud 372 in the closed end wall of the regulator chamber cap 361.

Now with specific reference to FIGURE 8 and the second embodiment of this invention, the general overall structure is the same as the structure of embodiment of FIGURE 7 except that the propellant valve plug 316 is replaced by a Schrader type valve 374 which threads into the end 314a of the propellant cylinder 310a. The clip tube 351a in this instance telescopically fits in a collar 373 formed around the valve opening. Also, the nonreturn flap valve of embodiment one in this embodiment is a nipple type valve 375, and the pressure responsive bellows 356a is mounted in the regulator chamber cap 361a by means of a screw shaft 376 threadable into an outwardly extended nipple 377 having cooperating threads 378. The mating threads of the screw shaft and the nipple are in loose enough engagement to permit the restricted flow of propellant gas from the regulator chamber R between the threads and out of the non-return valve 378 into the beverage container or keg. A calibrated control of gas flow between the threads may be accomplished by regulation of the pitch of the said screw threads.

The flange end 311a of this regulator embodiment is identical with the embodiment of FIGURE 7, except that the loading valve in the flange plug may be changed to adapt it to a Schrader type valve 379.

Referring to another embodiment of this invention and particularly to FIGURE 9 of the drawings, the propellant chamber end wall 31% may be modified so as to provide for a leakport valve type of operation. For example, a pivotally mounted leakport type lever 380 in a bracket 381 may be secured to the regulator chamber side of the end wall 314b. This bracket 381 is mounted so the pivot or fulcrum point of the lever 380 is off-center in the wall 314]] and with respect to a centrally positioned socket 382. The socket 382 seats an end of a coil spring 383 which spring has its opposite coil engaged with an end of the leakport lever 380 connected to a stud 385 carried by the pressure responsive bellows 35Gb in chamber R. Normally the coil spring 383 biases lever 380 about its fulcrum pin 386 in bracket 381 so the opposite end of the lever seats over the leakport 388 in plug 389' mounted in the end wall 314]: of the propellant container 31011. The leakport end of the lever 380 has a valve 390 formed of suitable substance thereon and is rocked to and from the leakport 388 according to the action of the bellows 356b against the bias action of the spring 383 which bellows responds to the pressure inside the cap 361b, which drops intermittently as beverage is drawn from the tap of the beverage container; see FIGURE 6.

The dip tube 351k is secured in the plug 389 at its tubular end 352 and gaseous propellant, such as the gaseous phase of liquid carbon dioxide in container 310b, flows through said dip tube filter slot 353b and said plug 389 under control of the leakport lever valve 390.

The flow of gaseous propellant medium from the regulator chamber R is of this third embodiment is generally identical to the orifice 370 and non-return valve 371 of embodiment one, and the lower portion of the bellows 3561: is screw mounted in an internally threaded nipple 392 and sealed off by a cap 393 in lieu of the non-return nipple valve 375 shown in FIGURE 8 of embodiment two.

Another embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIGURE of the drawings and includes the basic parts of the foregoing three embodiments. Referenced in this figure, these basic parts are the propellant container 310C with the flange end 3110 and its safety valves and a suitable propellant discharge valve means and dip tube 351(: to the adjacently connected regulator chamber R provided by the end cap 361a coupled around the end 3140 of the propellant container 3100, said cap having a pressure responsive means 3560 with the propellant valve activator means, such as a plate or button in the regulator chmaber R, and an outlet orifice and non-return valve of some suitable form dumping gaseous propellant at a predetermined restricted rate from the regulator chamber into the beverage container.

The distinguishing features of this embodiment reside in the use of a leakport type propellant supply to the regulator chamber R as in the embodiment of FIGURE 9, in combinaton with an activator button 395 in lieu of an activator stud 385 and with an orifice discharge through the loosely mated screw threads 396 and 397, respectively, of the screw stud 398 and the internally threaded nipple 399 capped by a non-return rubber nipple valve 400'.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 11, wherein the regulator chamber R at the closed cap end 401 is formed with a projecting hollow coupling nipple 402 with an internal annular bead 403.

The head 403 snap fits into a mating annular groove 404 formed around the circumference of a second coupling nipple 405 formed from the end plate 406 of the pressure responsive bellows 356d.

Also, in this embodiment the regulator chamber cap 361d is completely sealed and the gaseous propellant supply to the beverage carbonating and dispensing area in the surrounding beverage container is through the mating threads 408 and 409 formed around the bore of the cap 361d at the open end thereof and the exterior of the end wall 314a of the propellant container 310d, respectively. The terminus point of the mated sections of the respective threads 408 and 409 is embraced by an annular flexible non-return band valve 411. This band valve includes an internal annular rib 412 seated snugly in an annular groove 413 formed around the circumference of the propellant cylinder 310d just above the threads 409 thereof. The band valve 411 is formed with a flap section 414 which laps over the peripheral exterior surface at the rim of the cap 361d in the provision of a pressure actuated non-return valve for liberating gaseous propellant from the chamber R of cap 361d into the surrounding beverage container.

Each of the foregoing described embodiments of FIG- URES 711 of this invention operate in a substantially identical manner. For example, the propellant container may be loaded through the central load valve with four fluid ounces of liquid carbon dioxide; however, care must be had when loading to comply with any safety standards to allow for expansion of the liquid with calculated temperature variations. Also, the regulator bellows in regulator chamber R will have been finally adjusted for the desired pressure setting. Such adjustment of the regulator will be done at room temperature and the regulator bellows will be set, for example, for a specified 32 to 37 degrees F. pressure and adjusted to be within a tolerance of i one-half pound per square inch of the ascertained pressure.

In operation, when the liquified gas propellant, namely liquid carbon dioxide, is loaded through the central loading valve in flange head 311 into the propellant container 310, part of it vaporizes and part of it remains in the liquid state. Then as pressure drops in the beverage container enclosing the regulator unit, the regulator bellows in regulator chamber R expands sufliciently to activate or open the propellant valve in the end 14 of the propellant container and gaseous carbon dioxide flows through the restricted slot 353 of the dip tube 351 through the open valve and into the regulator chamber R to restore the pressure to the operating set point of the bellows, for example, on the order of twelve pounds per square inch (gauge) at a calculation of 40 F. for the dispensing temperature to be maintained in the beverage container.

As the beverage is intermittently withdrawn at the tap or beverage container faucet the resulting pressure drop for each intermittent discharge of carbonated beverage is compensated for and maintained constantly at suitable dispensing pressure, by the reduced pressure in the regulator chamber R and dumps from the gas flow control orifice means and the nonreturn valve associated therewith, into the surrounding beverage container.

Thus there is provided a novel regulator unit in FIG- URES 711 for tap dispensed beverage containers of efficient and simple construction having a beverage container supported flange with a convenient center loading valve for a propellant container formed with the flange at one end and a propellant valve at the opposite end having direct connection to a hermetically sealed regulator chamber with a propellant valve activator bellows pre-set for pressure maintenance, which controls the rate of flow and pressure of gaseous propellant supplied to the beverage container in proportion to each intermittent tap actuation.

One of the features of the invention of FIGURES 12- 25 includes a charged liquid dispenser which has a countersunk pocket within which is located a charging gas container, with the gas container being normally retained in such pocket While the dispenser is repeatedly filled and refilled with a charged liquid, such as a gas charged beverage.

Another feature of the invention of FIGURES 12-25 includes a slidable telescoping connection between the pocket of the dispenser and the gas container, so that the gas container may be readily removed and replaced, if desired.

Another feature of the invention of FIGURES 12-25 includes a gas container which may be removed from the pocket while charged liquid remains in the dispenser.

Another feature of the invention of FIGURES 12-25 includes a dispenser with a dispensing faucet countersunk in one dispenser end wall and with a centrally located pocket provided with a gas container at the other dispenser end wall.

Another feature of the invention of FIGURES 12-25 includes a dispenser with a centrally located pocket provided with a gas container at a dispenser wall with a perpendicularly disposed centrally located charging valve in said container, and with a liquid filling and emptying opening in such dispenser wall.

Another feature of the invention of FIGURES 12-25 includes a surrounding drainage forming means along the periphery of an end wall of the dispenser which is connected with a liquid filling and emptying opening in such end wall.

According to the invention of FIGURES 12-25, a relatively low pressure gas charged liquid containing dispenser shell 520 may have a gas charging and liquid filling end wall 522, a liquid dispensing end wall 524, and a cylindraceous or cylindrical side wall 526.

The side wall 526 may be welded at 527 to the flange 525 of the end wall 522.

The filling end wall 522 may have a periphery and may be generally flat and may be substantially circular, as shown in FIGURE 14, and may have an integral substantially cylindrical, countersunk pocket 528. Such pocket 528 may have a substantially circular pocket opening 530 and a substantially circular pocket bottom 532.

The filling end wall 522 may have a substantially flat, substantially annular portion 534 which surrounds the pocket opening 530.

Such annular portion 534 may have a liquid filling and emptying opening 536, which may be laterally spaced from the pocket opening 530. The opening 536 may be closed by a bayonet type plug 535, having a flange 539 engaging a suitable seal ring 537. The flange may have the tool receiving slot construction 541 for turning the plug 535 to secure to or remove it from the opening 536.

The liquid dispensing end wall 524 may have an inwardly recessed or concave portion 538, with a rim 540, which joins the end wall 524 to the dispenser side wall 526. A liquid dispensing faucet 542 may be secured in the recessed portion 524 and may be connected with a liquid conveying tube 544 with its liquid intake end 546 extending to a normally low position 550 in the charged liquid which is contained in the shell 520. The shell 520 may be normally in horizontal position, as shown in FIG- URE 12. The maximum highest normal liquid level of the liquid in the shell 520 is diagrammatically indicated at 552.

A relatively high pressure charging gas container 554 may have a relatively high pressure gas within the charnher 556. Such gas may be CO for example, and a portion of such gas may be in liquid form with a maximum normal highest level 558.

The charging gas container 554 may be assembled in substantially finished form outside the pocket 528 and may then be inserted and locked in the pocket 528 so that the high pressure gas is automatically reduced to a desired reducd gas pressure. Such gas is then automatically fed into the charged liquid or beverage through the flexible one way check valve 559. The various details elsewhere described permit the gas container 554 to be easily and effectively inserted and locked in the pocket 528.

The gas container 554 may have a central gas charging means 560 located adjacent the center of the pocket opening 530, and at the center of the end wall 522.

The gas container 554 ordinarily may remain in the shell 520 with only infrequent removals or replacements, even while the shell is being filled, emptied, and refilled. The dispenser shell 520 may be filled or refilled with charged liquid or beverage through the opening 536. If necessary, any remnant of the beverage in the shell 520 may be previously emptied through the opening 536. Thereafter, the shell opening 536 may be sealed by the plug 535 and the gas container 528 may be charged or recharged with liquid CO or the like through the central gas charging means 560.

The shell 520 may be internally washed and sterilized with the use of fluids inserted and removed through the opening 536 even while the gas container 554 remains in the casing or shell 520.

Also, if desired, the gas container 554 may be removed from the pocket 528 while the shell 520 is filled or partially filled with beverage, because the one way check valve 559 is connected to the pocket 528 and remains in place after the container 554 is removed from the pocket 528.

The shell 520 and gas container 554 may be filled by automatic machinery because of the central position of the filling means 560 and because the opening 536 may be centrally aligned to a central line of travel of the automatic machinery.

These and other advantageous features become apparent from the further details herein disclosed.

The gas container 554 may have an automatic gas pressure reducing means 562. Such means 562 may be connected to a reduced pressure gas conducting means or conduit 564, which may be so connected that it dis charges reduced pressure gas into the gas charged liquid in the shell 520. A reduced pressure outlet means 566 may be provided, including check valve 559, which discharges the reduced pressure gas into the gas charged liquid in the shell 520.

The dispenser shell 520 has a cylindrical side wall 526 joined to a drainage reverse bead 568 which is joined t-o the periphery of the annular portion 534 of the end Wall 522. The head 568 is enlarged at 570, FIGURE 14, to surround the liquid filling and emptying opening 536. The edge of the opening 536 is offset from the plane of the annular portion 534 to aid in draining the remnant liquid into the opening 536 when the shell S20 is tilted for drainage purposes.

The charging gas container 554 may include a massive, substantially solid cylindrical body 572 with a relatively thin, hollow cylindrical wall 574 extending toward the pocket opening 530, and which forms the relatively high pressure gas chamber 556.

Originally, the massive body 572, and the thin wall 574 may have been formed from a solid slug, by a cold extrusion method, to form the extruded construction 575 as shown in FIGURE 24, to form the incompletely formed massive body 572A, and the originally uncurled thin cylindrical wall 574A, as shown in FIGURE 24. This cold extrusion may be formed of any suitable aluminum alloy, such as 6061-T6.

After the cold extrusion process has been performed, to form the incomplete construction 575 of FIGURE 24, the free end 577 of the cylindrical wall 574A of FIG- URE 24 may be inwardly curled or inwardly circumferentially bent as shown at 576 in FIGURES 12 and 13, which will be adjacent the pocket opening 530. The curled or inwardly circumferentially bent end 576 may hold, and may be sealed to a charging valve holding plug 578 which may be welded at 580 to the inwardly curled 13 or inwardly circumferentially bent end 576 of the cylindrical wall 574.

The plug 578 may be inserted into the wall 574A before the curling or inwardly circumferentially bending operation takes place. Originally, the plug 578 may have been provided with a properly formed and internally threaded passageway 538, which is adapted later to receive the tire inflation type of valve 584.

The plug 578 may be held in place to be welded at 580 by any type of tool, which may be passed through the threaded opening 585 which has been previously machined in the massive body 572. Alternatively, the plug 578 may be held by a tool which may pass through the opening 582 of the plug 578, and out the free curled end 576 of the wall 574.

The high pressure gas container 554 may be completely assembled and formed outside of the pocket 528 and may thereafter be inserted therein as will become apparent.

The plug 578 may be part of the charging means to introduce high pressure gas into the chamber 556. The tire type valve 584 may have a poppet 586 and a stem 588 which operate in the same manner as a tire inflation valve, except that the valve 584 operates under the pressure of the compressed CO which is introduced through the valve 584 by a charging needle. The charging needle may be introduced through a rubber plug 590-, which has a self sealed needle receiving aperture 592. The plug 590 is pressed into the opening 582 to hold the disc 594 which has two spaced gas passageways 596. The openings 596 are laterally spaced from the stem 588, so that the charging needle cannot engage the stem 588. The needle will be blocked by the blocking central portion 598 of the disc.

The CO charging needle can be inserted through the opening 592 in the plug 590 and this causes the tire inflation valve to open and allow the liquid CO to be received in the chamber 556. Preferably only enough liquid CO is fed to provide a maximum liquid level at 558, slightly below the gas conducting tube 600' more fully to be described.

The cylindrical body 572 has a threaded opening 585 which has been formed by machining or the like, and into which the passageway means or tube 600 has been threaded as shown. The passageway means 600 may contain a check valve 602, which may be of a tire inflation type, with a poppet 604 and a stem 606. The tube 600 has an intake end 608, which has a liquid CO filter means 610', which prevents any large slugs of liquid CO from reaching the expansion valve 602. The intake 608 is on the high pressure gas chamber side and the tube 600 has its discharge opening 612 on the discharge side of the body 572, where the expanded gas chamber 614 has been formed.

However, if the valve of FIGURES 3-5 of this application is used at valve 602, the tube 600 and its connected parts may be omitted, and valve 602 may be mounted in the massive body 572 as is disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2.

An automatic pressure responsive means 616 may be placed between the massive body 572 and the pocket bottom 532. The automatic pressure responsive means 616 may operate the check valve 602 to supply reduced pressure gas to the reduced pressure gas conducting means 564.

The pressure responsive means 616 may include a diaphragm 618, with a periphery engaging the discharge side of the massive body 572. A spring holding cage 620 holds the periphery of the diaphragm 618 against the body 572 by means of the cylindrical wall 622, and the screws 624 which may be inserted in the screw holes 626.

The cage 620 may hold an adjustable spring end holding means 628. A spring 630 may have one end held by the holding means 628 and may have another end engaging the diaphragm 618.

The cage 620 may have a discharge nipple 632, which is press fitted and gas tight fitted into its cylindrical wall or rim 622. The nipple 632 will fit into the opening 634 of the bayonet conducting means 636, which is connected to the pocket bottom 532. The bayonet means 636 has a discharge extension 637 which carries the flexible check valve 559.

The massive body 572 has a rupture means or rupture disc 638, which is connected to the high pressure chamber by means of the passageway 640. When the rupture disc is ruptured by an excessive high pressure in the chamber 556, the discharged CO may flow through the passageway means to be described between the side wall 642 of the pocket 528 and along the outside of the cylindrical massive body 572 and cylindrical wall 574 in a manner to be more fully described.

The cage 620, which is shown in FIGURES 12, 13, 20 and 21, may have a rim 622 with spacing lugs 644, which loosely engage the inner surface of the side wall 642 of the pocket 532.

The cylindrical wall or rim 622 has an opening 646 in which the discharge nipple 632 is press fitted. The opening 646 is connected to another smaller opening 648 which is aligned with the longitudinal passageway 650 by means of a recess 652 in which an O-ring 654 is provided to form a sealed joint between the opening 648 and the passageway 650.

The opening 648 may be sufiiciently small in cross section to limit the speed of flow of gas from the space 556 to the shell 520 below a safe limit.

The nipple 632 has a relatively wide passageway 656 and a relatively narrow passageway 658. The passageway 656 has its outer edge connected to the opening 648, so that reduced pressure gas can flow from the expanded gas chamber 614, through the passageways 564, 650, recess 652, opening 648, passageway 656 and passageway 568 and into the passageways 650 and 661 of the bayonet conducting means 636. The passageway 661 is connected to the flexible tube check valve 559, which is resiliently fitted over the discharge extension 637. The check valve 559 may be a resilient rubber like tube which has slits 662 which normally are closed when the pressure in the interior 664 of the tube is the same or less than the pressure in the shell 520. However, when the pressure at the tube interior 664 exceeds the pressure outside the tube 559, then the gas can flow outwardly through the slits 662. A cylindrical metal member 665 prevents the tube 559 from collapsing inwardly by outer pressure. The cylindrical member 665 is just slightly less in diameter than the normal unexpanded diameter of the tube 559.

The bayonet member 637 is an irregular, tube like member in which the outer extension 637 has radial ridges 666, FIGURE 23, which extend to the outer surface of the bottom wall 532 of the pocket 528. The bayonet member 636 can be pushed outwardly from the pocket 528 (leftwardly in FIGURE 13) before the gas container 556 is inserted in the pocket. The ridges 666 can pass through slots 668 in the bottom wall 532, and then the bayonet 636 can be rotated slightly, so that the ridges 666 move from the dotted line positions 666A and lock the member 637 to the bottom wall 532. A seal ring 670 is first placed around the opening 672 in the bottom wall 532. The large head 674 of the bayonet member 636 engages the seal ring 670 and creates a sealing joint to prevent fluid flow from passing along the seal 670. The large head 674 may have a key slot 676, for turning the head 674 to move the same from the dotted line positions 666A, FIGURE 23, to the full line positions 666 to produce the bayonet locking action of the member 636. The discharge nipple 632 has an O-ring 678 which forms a fluid seal between the nipple 632 and the head 674. However, it also permits the gas pressure container 556 to be pushed in or pushed out of the pocket 528, with a sealed connection between the nipple 632 and the head 674 of the bayonet member 636.

Because of the telescoping and sliding connection between the nipple 632 and the head 674, the gas container 556 can be easily pushed in or pulled out of the pocket 528 with the attached nipple 632 sliding in the stationary head 674. The gas container 556 may be pushed into the pocket 528 past inward lugs or depressions 680 and 682.

The lugs 644 of the container 556 can pass the inward depressions 680 and 682, since there are undepressed cylindrical portions 684, FIGURE 15, of the side wall 642 of the pocket 528 through which the lugs 644 can pass. Therefore, the container 556 can be pushed in past the depressions 680 and 682, and the nipple 632 can be slidingly telescoped into the previously located large head 674 of the bayonet member 636. Thereafter, a locking ring 686 may be pushed in the pocket 528 past the lugs or depressions 680 and 682 and may be then turned in bayonet fashion to lock the ring 686 with the depressions 680 to hold the container 556 in place. The container 556 or container wall 672 has a shoulder 688 against which the ring 686 engages, and holds the container 556 firmly in place and locked in the pocket 528.

The ring 686 has slots 690 by which the ring 686 may be turned by a wrench or the like, from an unlocked position to a locked position.

Thereafter, the cover 692 for the opening 530 may be snapped over the recesses or depressions 682, to close the opening 530 against the entrance of large objects. The cover 692 has a bead construction 694, which holds the cover 692 in place, after the bead 694 has been snapped past the depressions 682. This construction provides channels 696 for the flow of gas outwardly to the atmosphere past the cover 692 if there should be a super pressure release action produced.

1f the pressure relief disc 638 should burst due to excessive pressure in the chamber 556, the excess CO can flow through the passageway 698, FIGURE 12, past the undented portions 700, FIGURE 15, in the ring 686, and into the space 702 between the pocket wall 642 and the cylindrical wall 574 of the container 556 and from thence through the channel 696 of the cover 692 to the atmosphere.

The cover 692 may have a central opening 702, through which a charging needle may be inserted in the charging slot 592 of the plug 590, to charge the container 556.

The spring cage 620, FIGURES 20, 21 and 21A may have the ring or rim 622, the longitudinal spaced walls 706, with air flow spaces or gas flow spaces 708 between such walls 706. The walls 706 support an end wall 710, which has an opening 712.

An adjustable abutment screw 714, FIGURES l3 and 22 has a circular head 716 integral with the screw 714 and a circular smaller head 718 also integral with the screw 714. A wrench opening 720 may be provided for turning the screw by means of a knurled wrench or rod which is inserted in the opening 720.

A circular internally threaded nut 722 has a hexagonal flange 724, which fits into the inner sides 706A of the walls 706, FIGURE 21A. This flange 724 is held rotationally fixed by the walls 7 06, but can move longitudinally along the screw 714, when the screw 714 is turned by the wrench in the opening 720. A compression spring 630 has one end engaging the flange 724, and the other end engaging the diaphragm 618, by means of the grooved plate 728.

The diaphragm 618 has a conical opening 730. A poppet valve 732 has a conical stem 734, which also is conical shaped, with a less acute angle than the opening 730.

As the pressure increases in the expansion chamber 614, the diaphragm 618 moves leftwardly and the poppet valve 732 follows it because of the pressure in the chamber 614. However, when the poppet valve stem 734 strikes the screw 714, the gaseous CO escapes between the stem 734 and the opening 730 and can pass through the escape passageway 708 into the space outside of the cage 620. From thence it can blow between the lugs 644 and from 16 thence through the passageway 698, etc., which have been previously described, and out through the passageways 696 of cover 692 to the outside atmosphere.

The gas container 528 of the dispenser 520' of this invention may be charged with liquid CO by a vertically directed charging needle which can be inserted into the self sealed central slot 592. The shell 520- may also be in vertical position, supported on the rim 540.

Likewise liquid beverage, such as beer, may be introduced vertically into the liquid filling opening 536.

The dispenser may be filled by automatic machinery. The shells 520 may be serially fed along an operating line during which the shells 520 are supported with the central slot 592 substantially on the operating line. The liquid beverage filling opening 536 may also be guided at or near the operating line.

The shell 520 may be vertically filled to the desired level through the uncovered opening 536. Thereafter, such opening 536 may be plugged by cover 535.

The gas container 556 may then be charged with liquid CO for example, by a vertically applied charging needle.

The shell 520 may be safely held in vertical position during the travel of the shell along the operating line.

The tube 600 may have a filter plug 738 inserted at its intake end 608.

The filter plug 738 is machined from a square bar so that it has a main body 740 with rounded corners 742. The rounded corners 742 are fitted into the thin tube section 744 of the tube 600. This forms relatively large passageways 743 along the flat sides 745 of the main body 740. The plug 748 also has a narrow neck 746 which extends to a disc 748. The disc 748- extends into the thicker wall 750 of the tube 600. There is a clearance between the thick tube 750 and the disc 748 in the order of .003 inch radial or .006 diameter difference between the internal diameter of the thick tube 750 and the outer surface of the disc 748. This clearance provides a filtering action to prevent slugs of liquid CO from reaching the poppet 604 and harming it.

The main body 740 may be tapered at 752 and 754 to cause a smoother flow of gas.

A pop-off relief valve, not shown, may be provided for the charged liquid space in shell 520. Such pop-off valve may be placed in the plug 535, or in a rigid sleeve construction which may be inserted in and secured to the annular portion 534. Such sleeve may have a flange secured to the portion 534 and the sleeve may extend inwardly into the liquid space of shell 520 which surrounds the pocket 528. The pop-off valve may be a well known screwin type valve which may pop-off at a pressure between 25-40 p.s.i.g.

The faucet is indicated at 542, the liquid conveying tube is indicated at 544 with its intake indicated at 546 near the low portion 550 of the charged liquid in the shell 550.

Thus it is to be seen that a new, useful and unobvious dispenser and method have been provided by this invention.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claim which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a homogeneous, high pressure, gas chamber forming body having a cylindraceous, homogeneous, high pressure gas chamber forming relatively thick massive end wall with a homogeneous, cylindraceous, hollow, high pressure, gas chamber forming relatively thin extruded wall extending from one side of said massive end wall and with the end of said extruded wall in-' wardly circumferentially bent; thin wall closing means at the inwardly circumferentially bent free end of said thin wall to form said high pressure gas chamber; a first valve construction in said thick massive end wall with one valve construction end connected to said high pressure gas chamber and with the other valve construction valve end connected to the exterior of said gas chamber; and a second valve construction in said closing means with one valve construction and connected to said high pressure gas chamber and with the other valve construction valve end connected to the exterior of said gas chamber, and said massive end wall having an outward flange, an outer thin cup shaped casing encompassing said gas chamber forming body including said massive end Wall, said cup shaped casing having a three sided flange at its rim encompassing said outward flange, the bottom of said cup shaped casing having an inward cavity forming Wall with a central discharge opening, an outward check valve held in said discharge opening, said first valve construction having means to charge said gas chamber with charging gas, said other valve construction having an outward charging gas discharge valve means with an outward actuating stem, and a pressure responsive bellows surrounding said inward cavity forming Wall and actuating said outward actuating stern.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 11/1953 Germany.

15 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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