Abstract: A washing apparatus for supplying a cleansing fluid to an object of interest including a housing for enclosing the apparatus and including a staging area and a washing area, a carousel rotatably borne by the housing and operable to carry the object of interest between the staging and washing areas, a spray manifold rotatably borne by the housing and operable for oscillating movement along a path of travel which is disposed in the washing area, supply means borne by the housing for selectively supplying the cleaning fluid to the spray manifold, a drive mechanism borne by the housing and operable drivingly to engage the manifold thereby causing the oscillating movement of the manifold; and means for selectively controlling the supply of cleansing fluid, and the drive mechanism, whereby the cleansing fluid may be supplied, and the drive mechanism may be selectively activated when the carousel is in a predetermined occluding position relative to the staging and washing areas.

Abstract: In normal washing operation of the beverage glass washer of the invention, detergent solution discharged from a set of washing nozzles is collected in a tank from which a recirculation pump withdraws it and delivers it back to those nozzles for redischarge; and rinsing liquid from another source is delivered to a set of rinsing nozzles for discharge from them. For cleaning and deliming all nozzles, the tank is filled with a cleaning solution and the two sets of nozzles are connected, either by opening a normally closed solenoid valve in a permanent connection between the two sets of nozzles or by slipping opposite ends of a suitably sized hose over a cylindrical nozzle body of each set. The recirculation pump then flushes the solution from the tank through all nozzles of both sets.

Abstract: In a glass washing machine having a glass carrier rotatable on an upright axis, half of the carrier is always in an access zone where glasses can be loaded onto the carrier and removed from it, the other half in a cleansing zone where detergent solution is discharged from a first set of spray nozzles and germicidal rinsing solution is discharged from a second set of nozzles. Upon actuation of a pushbutton switch, the carrier rotates through 180.degree., always in the same direction, then stops until the switch is again actuatd. Liquids are discharged from all nozzles while the carrier rotates. Detergent solution is recirculated, but fresh detergent solution is introduced during a predetermined portion of each period of carrier rotation.

Abstract: In the disclosed glass washing machine each spray curtain comprises a vertically slitted sheet of supple plastic and a similarly slitted guard sheet of a stiffer but flexible smooth-surface plastic. The guard sheet extends down through about the upper half of the height of the supple sheet and overlies its side from which glasses approach it, prolonging the life of the supple sheet by decreasing rubbing and sharp flexing due to passing glasses. A grid of vertical slats closely underlies the top wall in each cleansing zone, causing upwardly sprayed liquid to fall from it in numerous uniformly distributed streams that are effective in cleansing exterior surfaces of glasses. Each spray nozzle assembly is removable without tools by loosening one wing nut and pulling out of the assembly a male fitting on a hose that communicates the assembly with another part of the machine.

Abstract: In the glass washer of this invention, a linear conveyor carries glasses successively through a prewash, a detergent wash and a germicidal rinse. Once discharged from rinsing nozzles, rinsing liquid is collected in a prewash tank from which it is pumped exclusively to other nozzles that provide the prewash. Detergent solution discharged from washing nozzles is collected in a wash tank and recycled back to the washing nozzles. Hot water and detergent chemical are fed into the wash tank at predetermined rates whenever the machine operates, to provide a makeup detergent solution and some overflow from the wash tank to the prewash tank. Novel screening means ensure against entry of foreign matter into the nozzles. Novel control means cause the machine to operate with its conveyor almost always fully loaded, for economical utilization of water, chemicals and current.

Abstract: In a valve assembly receivable in an outwardly projecting neck in a keg, for normally sealing the keg and for cooperation with a detachable coupler by which the keg is tapped, the cylindrical spring retainer of the assembly has at its axially inner end deflector surfaces so liquid flowing inward along that cylindrical wall during filling of the keg through the gas passage of the valve assembly is deflected radially across the inner end edge of that wall as a sheet-like jet. This prevents upward spray out of the annular space between the siphon tube and the spring retainer, thus preventing overcarbonation, excessive foaming and underfilling of the keg.

Abstract: A valved keg closure unit is secured in a keg bushing by means of an axially shallow, externally threaded annular collar, received in an internally threaded upper portion of the bushing and overlying an upper cylindrical element of the closure unit that comprises a coaxial annular valve seat. The collar bottoms on an upwardly facing circumferential shoulder in the bushing to prevent excessive axial compression of a resilient sealing ring between the cylindrical element and the bushing. To prevent rotation of the cylindrical element, it has circumferentially spaced, radially outwardly projecting tits, received in axially extending internal grooves in the bushing. A downwardly projecting annular wall portion of the cylindrical element, having a circumferential internal groove, surrounds the top portion of a fixed tubular element, which has a radially outwardly rolled circumferential land received in said groove to permanently connect those elements.

Abstract: A portable key tapping unit for a keg having a conventional valve assembly comprises concentric inner and outer body members, the latter cooperable with lugs on the keg to provide a bayonet connection. A small diameter lower portion of the inner body member is surrounded by the outer body member and has a cam connection therewith. A concentric larger diameter upper portion of the inner body member comprises a cylindrical upwardly opening pump chamber wherein an upwardly biased plunger is reciprocable vertically. A liquid passage in the inner body member has a concentric inlet at the bottom thereof and opens laterally to one side of it. A vertical gas passage through the inner body member, spaced from its axis, opens downwardly to its bottom and upwardly to the pump chamber.

Abstract: A portable keg tapping unit, cooperable with a valved keg closure, has an outer body member which makes a bayonet connection with the closure and an inner body member with a lower portion that is rotatably and axially slidably received in the outer body member, an upper portion that comprises a pump chamber, and an intermediate portion above the outer body member. In the inner body member are a liquid passage that opens to its bottom and to a nipple at one side of its intermediate portion and a gas passage that extends down from the pump chamber and opens to its bottom in laterally spaced relation to the liquid passage. A vent passage, communicated with the gas passage below a check valve therein, has an outlet at another side of said intermediate portion, which outlet is normally blocked by a push button valve. A brief opening of the push button valve relieves excess keg pressure to prevent dispensing of wild beer.

Abstract: In a keg tapping system, a keg unit in each keg has coaxial gas and liquid valves, and a tavern unit, detachably connectable to the keg unit, has a lever actuated plunger that is depressed to open the valves in the keg unit and to open a gas valve in the tavern unit. The keg unit has a well in its top in which the tavern unit is rotatably received and diametrically opposite lugs projecting into that well to cooperate with a flange on the tavern unit body in providing a bayonet connection between the units. Affixed to the lever on the tavern unit is an abutment carrier having abutment portions cooperable with said lugs. If the bayonet connection is not fully engaged, one abutment portion engages an upper surface on one of the lugs to prevent the lever from being swung down to its valve-open position; with the lever down, an abutment portion engages a lug to prevent rotation of the tavern unit to a position at which the bayonet connection is disengaged.

Abstract: A safety relief valve especially suitable for connection in a pressure gas system for beverage dispensing equipment has a body that defines a vented cylindrical valve cage and a coaxial annular valve seat at one end of the cage with an annular seating surface that faces axially into the cage. A pressure chamber in the body is communicable with the valve cage through the valve seat. A valve element, coaxially movable in the valve cage, is biased towards engagement with the seating surface and presents a pressure surface to the pressure chamber. Opposite tubular nipple portions of the body have bores that are symmetrical to the valve cage axis and communicate at their inner ends with the pressure chamber, said inner ends being separated by a baffle which is symmetrical to said axis and projects into the pressure chamber from the side thereof opposite the valve seat.

Abstract: A control system for a damper installed in the exhaust flue of a furnace, by which activation of the furnace is rendered impossible unless the damper is in its fully open position. The control system achieves that objective by making completion of the energizing circuit of the solenoid that controls flow of fuel to the burner dependent upon closure of a normally open switch that is closed by the movement of the damper to its open position, and by opening the damper with an electric motor that is controlled by a relay energized in response to a call for heat at the thermostat.