US 11,719,353 B2
Pressure valve for fermenter
Benjamin Caya, Milwaukee, WI (US); Adam J. Hellman, Glendale, WI (US); and Ryan Scott Dauss, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Assigned to Spike Brewing LLC, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed by Spike Brewing LLC, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Aug. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/885,440.
Application 17/885,440 is a continuation of application No. 17/346,473, filed on Jun. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,428,335.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/039,072, filed on Jun. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/055,570, filed on Jul. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0381359 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16K 17/04 (2006.01); F16K 17/06 (2006.01); F16K 17/196 (2006.01); G05D 16/16 (2006.01); C12C 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 17/044 (2013.01) [F16K 17/0486 (2013.01); F16K 17/06 (2013.01); F16K 17/196 (2013.01); C12C 11/006 (2013.01); G05D 16/16 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pressure valve configured to be selectively coupled to a vessel, the pressure valve comprising:
a housing including a bottom portion defining a bottom opening configured to be in communication with the vessel and a sidewall defining an internal cavity in fluid communication with the bottom opening, the housing including
a vent aperture defined in the sidewall and configured to provide fluid communication between the internal cavity and ambient air surrounding the pressure valve, and
an accessory aperture defined in the sidewall and configured to couple an accessory to the housing,
a seal seat protruding radially inward from the sidewall, the seal seat positioned within the internal cavity between the vent aperture and the accessory aperture;
a container coupled to the housing and configured to hold a liquid that is in fluid communication with the vent aperture, the container defining a base positioned between the accessory aperture and the vent aperture and a sidewall extending from the base towards a first end of the container, the sidewall horizontally offset from the vent aperture; and
a pressure control assembly coupled to the housing and selectively engageable with the seal seat to form a sealing engagement, the pressure control assembly configured to break the sealing engagement with the seal seat to provide fluid communication between the vessel and the vent aperture in response to a predetermined positive pressure being reached within the vessel or in response to a predetermined negative pressure being reached within the vessel,
wherein the accessory aperture is positioned between the bottom opening and the seal seat.