Locking mechanism to hold a keg valve open

摘要

A closure 10 for a pressure vessel such as a cask, keg 12 or the like comprises a housing, at least one displaceable valve element movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and a lock mechanism capable of holding the valve element in the open configuration, the lock mechanism having at least one locking element 88 movable transverse to the direction of movement of the valve element from an unlocked state to a locked state. Preferably, the locking element has a camming action and in use, the or each locking element follows a labyrinthine slot having five detent positions 108,110,112,114,116 allowing the valve to open and close and the keg is filled, transported and dispensed from, with the locking element or elements holding the valve open after the contents of the keg have been dispensed. Preferably the keg is made from a plastic material such as blow-moulded PET and the closure from injection-moulded plastics such as polyester, polyolefin, polyamide or the like. In use, the closure ensures that the keg cannot be left pressurised after use and that it cannot be refilled with the closure being reclosed afterwards.