Vent tube for bottling machine and related methods
AssigneeM&M Machinery Services, Inc.
InventorAlton W. Mowdy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas stem assembly is disclosed including a vent tube having at least one protrusion extending radially from the vent tube and a receiver having a non-circular opening and an attachment surface at an end of the non-circular opening. The vent tube is at least partially insertable through the non-circular opening of the receiver when the vent tube and the at least one protrusion are aligned with the non-circular opening. The attachment surface of the receiver contacts the at least one protrusion to inhibit the at least one protrusion from passing back through the non-circular opening when the at least one protrusion is misaligned with the non-circular opening.
Claims17
A gas stem assembly comprising:
- a vent tube having a seal portion and at least one protrusion, the at least one protrusion extending radially from the vent tube;
- a receiver having a non-circular opening and an attachment surface at an end of the non-circular opening, wherein the seal portion and at least one protrusion of the vent tube are able to be passed through the non-circular opening when the vent tube and the at least one protrusion are aligned with the non-circular opening, wherein the attachment surface of the receiver contacts the at least one protrusion to inhibit the at least one protrusion from passing back through the non-circular opening when the at least one protrusion is misaligned with the non-circular opening.
A gas stem assembly comprising:
- a vent tube having at least one protrusion extending radially from the vent tube;
- a receiver having a non-circular opening and an attachment surface at an end of the non-circular opening, the vent tube at least partially insertable through the non-circular opening when the vent tube and the at least one protrusion are aligned with the non-circular opening, wherein the attachment surface of the receiver contacts the at least one protrusion to inhibit the at least one protrusion from passing back through the non-circular opening when the at least one protrusion is misaligned with the non-circular opening;
- a spring configured to bias the at least one protrusion toward the attachment surface of the receiver;
- and
- a sleeve, the spring biasing the sleeve toward the attachment surface to bias the at least one protrusion into contact with the attachment surface.
A fractional turn receiver for use in connecting a vent tube to a gas stem base of a bottling machine, the receiver comprising:
- a body including a non-circular opening and an attachment surface extending at least partially about the non-circular opening, the body including an attachment portion configured to be removably attached to the gas stem base, the body including a gasket portion configured to engage a bottle to form a seal with the bottle,
- the non-circular opening of the body configured to receive a portion of the vent tube including a protrusion therethrough when the vent tube and the protrusion are aligned with the non-circular opening, the attachment surface of the body configured to contact the protrusion to inhibit the protrusion from passing back through the non-circular opening when the protrusion is misaligned with the non-circular opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.