Filling valve apparatus

A filling valve assembly for filling containers with a liquid, said assembly comprising:

• housing means having an orifice for allowing liquid to flow therethrough and including an inlet for allowing liquid to flow into said housing means and said orifice, an outlet to allow liquid to flow out of said housing means and said orifice, and establishing a valve seat between said inlet and said outlet;
• valve means movable within said orifice between said inlet and said outlet and including sealing means for moving against said valve seat for preventing liquid from flowing through said orifice to said outlet and moving away from said valve seat for allowing liquid to flow through said orifice to said outlet;
• said valve means including a valve stem having a passageway for allowing gas to pass therethrough and extending out of said housing means;
• lower guide means secured to said housing means and providing a shoulder and base stop, and including an aperture for slideably retaining said valve stem therein;
• upper guide means slideably retained within said housing means and connected to said valve stem providing a lower shoulder therein;
• said lower guide means including a groove extending longitudinally adjacent said valve stem including a key cooperating with said groove for preventing rotation of said valve stem within said housing, said key located above the flow of liquid into said orifice.