Valve assembly for a container with an inner bag for receiving beverage and positioning means with a small size

A beverage valve assembly comprising:

• a container including:
• an inner bag for holding beverage,
• the beverage valve assembly having on a side facing the inner bag,
• a gas passage opening to an inner space of the inner bag and on an opposite side being surrounded by an apron which is gas-tight, an inner sidewall of the apron functioning as a first sealing surface, and at a distance from the apron at least one inner positioning means is arranged, between the apron and the positioning means a bottom wall with at least one gas valve is provided which during operation is in communication with a space enclosed between the inner bag and the container, and further comprising:
• a tubular part receiving a dispensing element arranged in a center of the tubular part, the tubular part comprising:
• a second sealing surface;
• and
• a third sealing surface, the valve assembly being such that during operation a first collar of a connecting element abuts, in a gastight and liquid-tight manner, against the first sealing surface of the apron and a second collar of the connecting element abuts, in a gastight and liquid-tight manner, against the second sealing surface of the tubular part, and the dispensing element abuts, in a gastight and liquid-tight manner, against the third sealing surface of the tubular part, the first collar and the second collar being arranged concentrically at a distance from each other, wherein a gas passage opening of the first collar is in communication with the gas valve so that gas under pressure is forced through the gas passage opening of the beverage valve assembly, separately from the beverage, further comprising the inner positioning means extending upward from the bottom wall and engaging at least one recess in the connecting element, and wherein the inner tubular wall section is annularly shaped and comprises a first step, and the inner tubular wall section of the tubular part further comprises a second step that is annularly shaped, and is arranged below the first step, wherein a diameter of the opening at the first step is larger than the diameter of the opening at the second step.

A beverage tapping apparatus comprising:

• a replaceable container with a beverage valve assembly which further comprises:
• a releasably engaged connecting element of a tapping device, wherein the beverage valve assembly includes:
• on a side facing an inner bag of the replaceable container, a gas passage opening to an inner space of the inner bag and on an opposite side is surrounded by an apron which is gas-tight,
• an inner sidewall of the apron functioning as a first sealing surface, and at a distance from the apron at least one positioning means is arranged, and
• between the apron and the at least one positioning means a bottom wall with at least one gas valve is provided which during operation is in communication with a space enclosed between the inner bag and the container via a gas passage, and further comprising:
• a tubular part receiving a dispensing element arranged in a center of the tubular part, the tubular part comprising:
• a second sealing surface and a third sealing surface, the valve assembly being such that during operation a first collar of a connecting element abuts, in a gastight and liquid-tight manner, against the first sealing surface of the apron and a second collar of the connecting element abuts, in a gastight and liquid-tight manner, against the second sealing surface of the tubular part, and the dispensing element abuts, in a gastight and liquid-tight manner, against the third sealing surface of the tubular part, the first collar and the second collar are arranged concentrically at a distance from each other forming a gas passage therebetween, said gas passage opening is in communication with the gas valve, so that gas under pressure is forced through the gas passage opening of the valve assembly, separately from the beverage, further comprising an inner positioning means extending upward from the bottom wall and engaging at least one recess in the connecting element, and wherein the inner tubular wall section is annularly shaped and comprises a first step, and a second step that is annularly shaped, and is arranged below the first step, wherein a diameter of the opening at the first step is larger than the diameter of the opening at the second step.