Today in 1908, US Patent 899201 A was issued, an invention of Gary Braybrook, for his “Beer-Faucet.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My present invention relates to improvements in beer-faucets.

My invention consists of a novel form of metallic faucet whose valve body has a termiiial valve chai’nber above the pendent deliverynozzle whose inner end is closed by a proper hand operated valve carrying therein a proper mercury thermometer whose lower end is at all times immersed in the liquid of the valve chamber in use.

Today in 1904, US Patent 770271 A was issued, an invention of John M. Doehrer, for his “Liquid-Drawing Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The object of my invention is to draw beer or other like liquids from the top or bottom of the keg and automatically seal the outlet or bung when the draft-pipe is withdrawn to apply an air-pressure on the top of the beer to force it up through the draft-pipe when drawing the beer.

Today in 1939, US Patent 2173529 A was issued, an invention of Valentine Beecher, for his “Barrel-Tapping Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The invention forming the subject matter of this application relates to barrel bung and barrel tapping apparatus generally; and more particularly to such apparatus adapted for use in sealing or drawing of liquids from barrels, casks, vessels, etc., irrespective of position, or arranged in superposed rows with their axes substantially horizontal or vertical.

The main object of the invention is to provide a compact bung and tapping arrangement by means of which a straight or curved draught tube of metal or any material may be inserted through the bung and into such position within the barrel as to facilitate the removal of part, or all of the liquid contents, whenever desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bung that is non-rigid and extremely flexible and a tapping construction requiring less physical force or pressure than would otherwise have to be created by mechanical means, adapted for use with straight or curved glass draught tubing. to enable the liquid contents of the barrels to be dispensed; and also preventing such contents making contact with metal or other substances which might have an injurious effect upon the liquids dispensed, if so desired.

Today in 1935, US Patent 2014492 A was issued, an invention of Kenneth Miles Burdge, for his “Beer Faucet and Tap.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to a beer faucet and tap, and has more particular reference to an improved beer faucet having means for coupling it to the tap bushing ordinarily secured to the head of a beer barrel or keg, and provided with a reciprocating valve operable to drive the cork out of the tap bushing of the barrel or keg when the faucet is initially coupled thereto.

An object of the present invention is to provide a beer faucet and tap of the above kind which is simple and durable in construction, efficient in operation, and otherwise well adapted to meet with all of the requirements for a successful commercial use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a beer faucet and tap of the above kind Whose parts may be economically manufactured and initially assembled in a ready manner, and which parts may be readily disassembled for renewal or repair.

Today in 1969, US Patent 3467132 A was issued, an invention of Michael J. Parisi, for his “Beer Keg Fitting with Limit Stops.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

A beer keg valve having a body portion which inserts into an opening in the keg and a valve at the inner end of the body limited to 90 rotation by abutments on the valve stem which strike against complementary abutments integral with the inside surface of the valve body.

Today in 1975, US Patent 3905522 A was issued, an invention of Mack S. Johnston, assigned to Draft Systems, for his “Keg Tapping Device.” Here’s the Abstract:

In one form hereof, there is disclosed a keg adapter having a siphon body formed of bar stock receivable through the opening of a keg from without the keg. The siphon body has liquid and gas passages extending longitudinally of the keg adapter terminating at their upper ends in a pair of bores disposed eccentrically of the central axis of the keg adapter. In another form, there is disclosed a keg adapter having a siphon body formed primarily of tubular stock with tubular members receivable through the opening of a keg from without the keg. The tubular members per se comprise liquid and gas passages terminating at their upper ends in a pair of openings disposed eccentrically of the central axis of the keg adapter and opening through a flange member formed of bar stock. A coupler unit, having a pair of depending probes, is engageable with either form of the keg adapter with the probes being receivable in the bore holes or tubes as applicable to form a continuation of the liquid and gas passages. A sleeve is provided in the liquid passage of both adapters for opening a normally closed liquid valve therein. A gas valve is axially spaced from the liquid valve and in both forms includes a gas check valve comprising a flexible envelope having a slit and which envelope lies in communication with the gas passage. In the one form, the gas valve also includes a spring-biased valve plate mounting an O-ring sealing about the walls of the gas passage. The tips of the probes on the coupler unit in the one form depress the associated valve members to open the valves and permit ingress of gas through the coupler unit and keg adapter into the keg and egress of liquid from the keg through the keg adapter and coupler unit. In the other form, the tip of the liquid probe on the coupler depresses the sleeve to open the liquid valve whereby air flows through the coupler into the keg past the check valve of the adapter and beer flows outwardly from the keg through the adapter and coupler.

Today in 1973, US Patent 3758008 A was issued, an invention of Mack S. Johnston, for his “Tapping Assembly for Beer Kegs and the Like.” Here’s the Abstract:

A keg adapter for beer kegs and the like with gas and liquid passageways containing normally closed valves, which when opened permit compressed gas to be admitted to the keg and beer to be withdrawn therefrom, said valves being biased toward the closed position by actuators which contain permanent magnets. A tapper is connected to a source of compressed gas and to a beer faucet and contains a tap rod, which, when manually actuated, seals the tapper to the adapter and interconnects the gas source and the faucet with the interior of the keg.