Today in 1898, US Patent 614465 A was issued, an invention of George J. Habermann, for his “Bung and Tube.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
My invention relates to improvements in tubes and bungs for barrels and other vessels from which beer, ale, porter, cider, mineral water, and other liquids are drawn under artificially-sustained pressure.
Today in 1967, US Patent 3353724 A was issued, an invention of Mack S. Johnston, for his “Beer Tapping Device.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
Disclosed is a tapping device for beer kegs and the like and, more particularly, a probe adapter for installation in a beer keg opening. The adapter is provided with a liquid valve opened when a probe is inserted into the adapter. Also forming a part of the adapter is a positive acting gas valve which has a closure member moved by the probe to permit gas to flow into the keg through the adapter. The gas flow path through the adapter is at all times separated from the liquid flow path.
The present invention relates to a new and improved tapping device for drawing fluid such as beer from containers such as beer kegs or barrels, using a gas to drive the fluid from the container, said tapping device including a sub-unit called a keg adapter which is sealingly installed in the keg and a second sub-unit called a coupler which is attached to the beer dispensing apparatus in a restaurant, tavern or the like and is readily connectible to the keg adapter so that the tapping device is automatically set up in operating condition. More specifically, this invention relates to a new, improved keg adapter which is usable with conventional beer kegs having a. standard three-fourths inch diameter beer removal opening therein and which includes a valve means formed therein that positively prevents gas and/or beer from passing either into or out of the keg whenever the coupler is not assembled with the keg adapter, and in which gas check valve means in addition to the liquid valve means are enclosed completely within the keg adapter body.
Today in 1902, US Patent 713975 A was issued, an invention of Philipp Forg, for his “Bung and Tapping Device for Beer-Barrels.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
The object of this invention is to provide an improved bung for beer-barrels and also an improved beer-barrel tapping device which is adapted to be used in connection therewith; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists in a beer-bung for beer-barrels and a tapping device for beer-barrels constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.
Today in 1936, US Patent 2061240 A was issued, an invention of Oscar J. Leins, assigned to the Milwaukee Gas Specialty Co., for his “Beer Pump.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to an improvement in beer dispensers or pumps of the type designed for use by the consumers in drawing or dispensing beer or similar beverages from kegs, barrels or similar containers.
Today in 1909, US Patent 940438 A was issued, an invention of Theron Davis, for his “Beer Faucet.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
My invention relates to improvements in the type of beer faucet in which a chambered head carries a ball valve which is raised by a finger operated by an exterior lever, so that the beer may flow past the valve, and my invention improves the type of faucet and provides a simple means than has heretofore been employed for guiding the ball, and also provides a very simple` means for removing the washers and guide from the chamber in which the ball valve is located.
Today in 1994, US Patent D352417 S was issued, an invention of Richard A. Petroske and James E. Richardson, assigned to the Miller Brewing Company, for their “Beer Keg.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
The ornamental design for a beer keg, as shown and described.
Today in 1962, US Patent 3063841 A was issued, an invention of Michael Edward Ash, assigned to Guinness Son & Co Ltd, for his “Method of Dispensing Liquid.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
I claim: l. A method of dispensing a beverage under pressure from apressurized system into a drinking vessel so as to ensure a fine, regular and enduring head on the beverage in said vessel which comprises the steps of providing in solution in said beverage a mixture of carbon dioxide and an oxygen-free inert gas and applying a counter-pressure to said beverage which acts to maintain the pressure of the mixed gases in solution in said beverage throughout the dispensing operation without substantial variation of the partial pressure of either of said gases and also acts to expel the beverage from said system through a delivery passage and tap to the outlet thereof.
Today in 1917, US Patent 1246803 A was issued, an invention of Giuseppi Doti, for his “Beer-Pipe Cleaner.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to a beer pipe cleaner, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device, by means of which any one or a number of beer pipes or coils may be cleaned, by being first subjected to warm water, after which the beer pipes are flushed or rinsed by cold water.
A further object of this invention is to provide a frame work, which is constructed of a plurality of pipes having branches, and to connect the frame work of pipe structures to a city water supply pipe, and also to an ordinary barrel or keg tap, so that warm water may be forced upwardly out of a barrel into the pipes of the frame work, and outwardly therethrough into and through the beer pipes, for cleansing the beer pipes, after which the flow of hot water is cut oil, and valves for controlling the cold water are opened which permit cold water to flow through the pipe frame work and through the beer pipes.
Today in 1968, US Patent 3410458 A was issued, an invention of Mack S. Johnston, for his “Beer Tapping Device.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to a beer tapping device and especially to an improved adapter for attachment in the beer outlet of a standard keg. It comprises a unit insertable from outside the keg and having a transition element forming a part of separate liquid and gas passageways. At least the liquid passage through the transition element has its lower end offset to take optimum advantage of the limited space available, while at the same time rendering the unit compatible with existing systems.
Today in 1907, US Patent 871073 A was issued, an invention of Richard B. Spikes, for his “Beer Tapper.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
My invention is in the nature of a new beer tapper, for simultaneously drawing beer from a barrel and admitting compressed air, and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of tapping devices, part of which are permanently fixed in the barrel, and part of which are retained at the bar or dispensing place and are applied by the bar keeper by being coupled on to the permanently attached members on the barrel; an important feature of my invention being a spring pressed conical valve interposed between the stationary parts of the bung casing and the removable coupling, which valve carries registering ports for air and beer and is adjusted by the application and removal of the said coupling and serves to insure a tight fit of the movable parts over each other as hereinafter fully described with reference to the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central section of the beer tapper shown applied to a barrel part of which is indicated at X. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bung casing. Fig. 3 is a top perspective view of the spring valve. Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the detachable coupling, and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the bung casing.
