Today in 1903, US Patent 747111 A was issued, an invention of Paul B. Abrell, for his “Beer-Tap.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The objects of this invention are to provide a beer-tap which can be readily and easily applied to a barrel or similar package to enable an impervious connection to be secured and the tap to be locked in such position until its removal is desired, to obtain such a connection before the flow of liquid is started, to obviate the use of a mallet to remove the bung of a package and secure greater convenience, and to obtain other advantages and results, some of which will be hereinafter referred to in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved beertap and bung therefor and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth and finally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Today in 1982, US Patent 4363336 A was issued, an invention of Vincent J. Cerrato, for his “Keg-Tapping Structure.” Here’s the Abstract:

The invention contemplates removable structure to facilitate keg-tapping, and pressurized dispensing of liquid contents of the keg. A so-called Barnes neck forms part of the keg and has a bore with an elastomeric ring seal and flange at its lower end, and a valve-and-tube subassembly is inserted through the neck, to the point of valve-body compression of the seal, when secured by a removable retaining ring. In the course of such insertion, one or more radially inward lugs on the neck flange track corresponding slot formations in the subassembly. Each such slot formation has a first upward longitudinal course, leading to an angular bayonet-like offset course, and then to a second upward longitudinal course. The location of the angular offset is such that the valve body cannot compressionally load the seal ring in the absence of the partial rotation needed to develop lug alignment with the second upward longitudinal course.

Today in 1939, US Patent 2183505 A was issued, an invention of Gerald D. Peet, for his “Keg.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My present invention is concerned with transportation beer kegs or barrels, and more especially with such kegs as are intended not only to serve as dispensing containers but also to cool and maintain the brew cool within the interior thereof by the circulation of cooling fluid therethrough.

Today in 1970, US Patent 3545475 A was issued, another invention of Marlow W. Dodge and Arthur L. Johnson Jr., for their “Tap Assembly.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

A tap for tapping an initially sealed keg of draft beer and including a draw tube, a gas tube, a tap body, and a coupling constructed as a unitary assembly, the draw tube remaining in the same position relative to the tap body before, during and after tapping of the keg. A yieldable sealing membrane in a plug in the tap hole of the keg is punctured as the draw tube is inserted into the keg, and then seals around the gas tube to establish an automatic seal between the tap and the plug. A taper at the lower end of the tap body wedges into the plug to hold the tap body and the tubes on the keg.

Today in 1973, US Patent 3776260 A was issued, an invention of Maurice Ruddick, for his “Beer Kegs and Like Containers.” Here’s the Abstract:

A spear and closure assembly which is arranged to be fitted as a single unit in the neck of a beer keg or like container comprises a tubular housing having one end open and the spear fixed to the housing and projecting from its other end, and a valve seat which is fixed to the housing so that it is located adjacent the open end of the housing and projects radially inwards with respect to the open end. The housing, the spear, and the valve seat are connected to form a unitary structure, such as by welding or by a combination of welding and being formed integrally. A spring located within the housing acts on a disc like closure member so that a resilient valve ring is pressed by the closure member against the valve seat, hence closing the opening bounded by the valve seat. Assembly of the spring, the closure member, and the valve ring within the structure is made easy by arranging that the size and shape of the spring and closure member allow these to be passed through the opening bounded by the valve seat, and by providing the valve ring with sufficient resilience to allow it to be deformed and squeezed through this opening. In use, application of a filling or dispensing fitting moves the valve ring and the closure member axially inwards against the action of the spring, the valve ring being displaced axially relative to the closure member and forming a seal against a second valve seat formed on the housing so that two separate passages are formed through the fitting and into the container, one through the housing and the spear and the other outside the housing via an aperture between the two valve seats.

Today in 1902, US Patent 837608 A was issued, an invention of Manley J. Chaplin, for his “Beer-Tap.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to taps for beer-casks, and has for its principal objects to provide a tap having simple and effective means for locking it in place, to provide a tap that will be locked in place by the insertion of the discharge-pipe, to provide means for simultaneously packing the joints around the discharge-pipe and around the bung-hole, and other objects hereinafter more fully appearing.

Today in 1902, US Patent 714703 A was issued, an invention of Frank Ibert, for his “Beer-Cooler.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to a beer-cooler which thoroughly utilizes the temperature of the cooling medium and effects a rapid and cleanly cooling of the beer.

Today in 1962, US Patent 3065885 A was issued, an invention of Victor H. Chatten, assigned to Anheuser Busch, for his “Beer Barrel Tapping Device.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to a new and improved device for tapping beer barrels, and in particular, relates to a barrel unit and tap unit which can be used in connection with barrels or kegs of the type in common use today. These barrels have an upper opening of standard size.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a beer barrel tapping arrangement wherein only a single top connection is made by a speed coupling requiring only a straight push to make the connection. Another object is to eliminate the tilt base and to draw the beer to the last several ounces. Another object is to provide a barrel unit which does not displace much beer and which does not have to be removed for the high speed cleaning operation performed on automatic equipment. Another object is to provide a convenient flushing valve for a beer barrel tapping unit and to eliminate all valves except for the dual v-alve which supplies the CO gas and draws off the beer.