Quick coupling device for a gas pressurization system

In a beverage dispensing system which includes one or more beverage concentrate containers, a carbonator for producing a carbonated liquid for mixing with said concentrate, a dispensing valve means, a compressed gas storage cylinder and a gas pressurization system for carbonating said liquid and maintaining a constant minimum gas operating pressure within said containers to force the concentrate to flow from the container through the dispensing valve means to produce a desirable beverage, the improvement being a gas pressurization system allowing safe reliable operation and safe and quick replenishment of the gas pressure cylinder when required, said pressurization system including:

• (a) a gas pressurization regulator means which can be suitably mounted on a rigid structure,
• (b) a gas check-valve means arranged to be mounted on a gas storage cylinder, said check-valve means having a slidably poppet which is biased to the closed position to form a leak tight seal for said gas storage cylinder, and
• (c) quick coupling means for slidably joining the regulator means and check-valve means together,
• (d) said regulator means having an operating diaphragm means and an actuator means connected to said diaphragm means, said diaphragm means having an adjustable biasing means on one side to counter balance the gas pressure within the regulator means, said actuator means is connected to a control valve means which controls the passage of gas from the cylinder to the containers, said biasing means being adjusted to obtain a predetermined operating gas pressure downstream of said control valve means, and
• (e) said quick coupling means includes an elongated boss mounted on one means and a receptacle passageway sized to fit said boss mounted in the other means and a retaining means for holding the regulator and check-valve means together in their connected position, said elongated boss contacting said slidable poppet when said boss is slidably moved within said receptacle passageway to automatically open said check-valve means and allow the gas to flow through said regulator means and into the system.

A gas pressure regulator and check-valve combination for allowing quick but rigid connection of a high pressure gas source to a lower pressure controlled pressurization system, the combination including:

• (a) a gas check-valve means connected to a high pressure source of gas, said check-valve means having a spring biased internal slidable poppet mounted within an elongated receptacle passageway communicating with the outer surface of said valve means, said slidable poppet including a seal for sealing the gas pressure source when the poppet is in the closed position,
• (b) a regulator means having a hollow inlet boss means and an outlet port, said regulator means having a biased diaphragm mounted therein and an actuator arranged to follow the movement of said diaphragm,
• (c) said hollow boss means being slidable to interconnect the check-valve and regulator means in a gas tight releasable connection through the receptacle passageway, the diaphragm actuator contacting said slidable poppet when said boss is slidably moved within said receptacle passageway to automatically open said check-valve means, and
• (d) a pivotable yoke having a retaining screw, said yoke being pivotably mounted on said regulator means whereby said yoke may be moved to a raised position to allow the passageway of the check-valve means to be positionally aligned with the boss means and actuator of the said regulator means whereby the regulator means can be slidably engaged in a short lateral movement and said yoke lowered into a retaining position whereby the retaining screw can be turned inward to contact the check-valve means and hold the valve means in a secure coupled operating position with said regulator means.

A regulated gas pressurization system for providing a continuous supply of gas at a predetermined pressure from a source of high pressure gas stored in a pressurized storage cylinder, said system comprising:

• (a) a gas pressurization regulator means,
• (b) a gas check-valve means arranged to be mounted on a gas storage cylinder, said check-valve means having a slidable poppet which is biased to the closed position to form a leak tight seal for the gas storage cylinder,
• (c) quick coupling means, including a portion rigidly attached to said regulator means and a portion rigidly attached to said check-valve means, for slidably joining the regulator means and check-valve means together, one of said portions comprising an elongated boss mounted on one means and the other portion a receptacle passageway, sized to fit said boss, mounted in the other means, said elongated boss contacting said slidable poppet when said boss is slidably moved within said receptacle passageway to automatically open said check-valve and allow the gas to flow through said regulator means and into the system, and
• (d) said quick coupling means further including a retaining means for holding said regulator means and said check-valve means together in their connected position.