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.
Claims16
A vent tube 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 therethrough from a first end portion of the body to a second end portion of the body, the non-circular opening 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 first end portion of the body configured to engage the protrusion of the vent tube when the vent tube and the protrusion are misaligned with the non-circular opening upon insertion through the body to inhibit the vent tube and protrusion from rotating into alignment with the non-circular opening.
A gas stem assembly comprising:
- a receiver including a body having an attachment portion configured to be removably attached to a gas stem base of a bottling machine, the body defining a non-circular opening therethrough 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;
- and
- a travel limit at an end of the non-circular opening to contact the protrusion of the vent tube to limit rotation of the vent tube in at least one direction upon the protrusion being inserted through the non-circular opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.