US 12,227,403 B2
Vent tube for bottling machine and related methods
Alton W. Mowdy, Fort Worth, TX (US)
Assigned to M&M Machinery Services, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed by M&M Machinery Services, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/516,717.
Application 17/148,171 is a division of application No. 15/465,248, filed on Mar. 21, 2017, granted, now 10,913,645, issued on Feb. 9, 2021.
Application 18/516,717 is a continuation of application No. 17/976,390, filed on Oct. 28, 2022, granted, now 11,834,316.
Application 17/976,390 is a continuation of application No. 17/148,171, filed on Jan. 13, 2021, granted, now 11,485,624, issued on Nov. 1, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/468,145, filed on Mar. 7, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/311,727, filed on Mar. 22, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0083733 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. B67C 3/26 (2006.01); F16L 37/113 (2006.01)
CPC B67C 3/2614 (2013.01) [B67C 3/26 (2013.01); B67C 2003/2602 (2013.01); B67C 2003/2668 (2013.01); B67C 2003/2674 (2013.01); F16L 37/113 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vent tube for connecting to a receiver of a gas stem base of a bottling machine, the vent tube comprising:
a body extending along an axis and defining a passageway therethrough to vent gas from a bottle;
the body having an exterior surface along which fluid flows to fill the bottle, the exterior surface including at least one annular groove at an end portion of the body configured to cause a seal to form when fluid flows over the at least one annular groove; and
a non-circular cross-sectional portion of the body to be inserted into a non-circular opening of the receiver of the gas stem base;
the non-circular cross-sectional portion of the body being insertable into the non-circular opening of the receiver when the non-circular cross-sectional portion is aligned with the non-circular opening of the receiver, the non-circular cross-sectional portion to engage an attachment surface of the receiver when the non-circular cross-sectional portion is misaligned with the non-circular opening of the receiver to inhibit the non-circular cross-sectional portion from passing back through the non-circular opening of the receiver.