Filling valve

A valve for use in filling containers, comprising:

• a valve flange defining a first through passage;
• a nozzle assembly including a nozzle head defining at least one liquid fill outlet and at least one air vent inlet, the air vent inlet connected to a vent tube that passes upward through the first through passage, the nozzle head spaced below the valve flange;
• a valve sleeve defining a second through passage, the valve sleeve including a first portion positioned for sliding movement within the first through passage as the valve sleeve moves between a lowered valve closed position and a raised valve open position, the valve sleeve including a second portion positioned below the valve flange and including a lower cylindrical extent configured for sealingly mating with the nozzle head to close both the liquid fill outlet and the air vent inlet when the valve sleeve is in the lowered valve closed position, the second through passage in communication with the liquid fill outlet of the nozzle head so that liquid can pass downward along the first through passage, into and along the second through passage and to and out of the liquid fill outlet when the valve sleeve is in the raised valve open position;
• wherein the nozzle head is formed of a non-metal material and is connected to a distal end of the vent tube at a nozzle head/vent tube interface.