Abstract:
The self-contained octopus adapter of the invention has a plurality beer outlets and sits between the pump and the Sanke coupler and transmits beer out and air in through channels similar to those in the devices on either side. The beer supply to any given one faucet of the plurality of faucets or taps is not sent through a single hose line at any time and the flow of beer or other beverage may be increased. Seals on the device will aid in maintenance of pressure and avoidance of leaks. No division of the hose lines is necessary, nor external pressure increases, and thus the unit is self-contained. In an alternative embodiment, the invention may comprise a self-contained pump replacement unit having a CO 2  or other gas cartridge which sits upon the various devices of the beer flow path and provides gas from above.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application and device claim the benefit of provisional application No. 60/433,338 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 12, 2002 and entitled SELF-CONTAINED OCTOPUS ADAPTER TAP in the name of the same inventors, Cody Payne and Ryan Welch. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to beer dispensing equipment and specifically to taps for beer kegs.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH  
         [0003]    This invention was not made under contract with any agency or branch of the United States Government.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Beer and certain other liquids customarily come in kegs, large metal containers having provision for some type of “tap” to be installed. Kegs further allow pressure to be introduced to the interior of the keg so as to force beer out of the keg under pressure.  
           [0005]    Usually, a valve present in the top of the keg is used for this purpose. Air or other gas under pressure is introduced into the keg through the valve and beer is allowed to escape from the valve. In one normal arrangement, the valve (often a ball valve) allows air to enter around the periphery of the ball while beer goes up via another channel through the valve. Such a beer channel through the ball valve may be elongated into a ‘stem’ which projects deeply into the keg, for example, to at or near the bottom of the keg interior. Opening the valve is not accomplished by pressure of beer or gas from within but rather by mechanical force or pressure applied to the ball valve or a piercing rod. This mechanical force is applied by the first of a series of accessory devices, couplings, pumps and other devices which sequentially take gas into the keg and beer out of it. A typical initial device would be the trademarked “Sanke Adaptor” (alt. spelling “Sankey”) which screws into large detents around the ball valve on the keg. A lever on some Sanke style devices then acts to force open the ball valve, other types open it automatically as they are put onto the keg. A second coupling, male or female and often on top, completes the Sanke device.  
           [0006]    The system of large threads/detents plus ball valves is used in the “Sanke” adaptor (trademark) system, other common coupling systems include the European “Sanke” system, other European systems, the Guinness (trademark) style, piercing rods, the ball lock, various types of threaded couples, and so on.  
           [0007]    In a typical set-up, a coupling on the bottom of an air pump such as a “Bronco” pump (TM of NADS, Inc., not related to present applicants) is used to secure the pump to a complementary coupling on a Sanke device and thus to the keg. The pump has a pair of channels therethrough, one for “beer out” and one for “air in”. Small extension tubes on various couplings may extend the channels beyond the length of the coupling, pump or other device itself. When the pump is actuated, air is forced down the coupling and ball valve into the keg. Beer, urged by the internal pressure of the keg, then travels up through the sequence of channels in the Sanke valve and the pump, out via a beer outlet, down a hose line connected to the beer outlet, and out through a faucet normally having a small valve and thence into a mug or cup.  
           [0008]    The pressure that such a pump can generate is naturally limited, particularly in models in which pressure is created by actuating a hand pump. Low pressure is safer and easily sufficient for the typical single faucet and thus single outlet: from one outlet, a sufficient flow of beer can be maintained. Excess pressure may also be a problem in such keg/beer flow devices systems (“taps”), for which situations pressure relief valves may be supplied. Similarly, the channel size through the pump and coupling is normally dimensioned and configured to allow the beer (essentially an incompressible fluid) to flow in sufficient quantity. Pressure also arises (to a degree) from the chemistry of the beer within the keg, occasionally causing too much or too little pressure depending upon circumstances.  
           [0009]    Tap assemblies made up from the various devices (a Sanke tap with a hand pump on top, for instance) are more flexible than single piece tap assemblies. If a given pump is undesirable, it may be changed without removing the adapter from the beer keg, while if a given adapter is the wrong type for a given keg, it may be switch while retaining the use of an optimal pump. Thus, such tap assemblies are superior in some respects to single piece taps.  
           [0010]    Kegs, however, are normally utilized in distinctly social settings of large groups of people. Under such circumstances, it is quite normal for several people to simultaneously desire refreshment. At that point, a single faucet becomes a bottle neck to efficient distribution of the beverage. One solution is to attempt to use more than one faucet on a given keg.  
           [0011]    Problems arise however when the attempt is made to take off more than a single faucet. This allows simultaneous service of more than one beer mug at one time. However, there are inherent limitations to this approach. As mentioned, the pressure of the pump may not allow adequate flow to a plurality of faucets. The channels through the coupling and especially through the three hoses may not have sufficient cross sectional area to allow adequate flow, regardless of pressure. Such a multiple faucet starts out as a single hose line fed by a single beer outlet of normal size. The single beer outlet inherently restricts flow, while increasing the size of a single beer outlet would not by itself suffice to increase flow unless the channels feeding the outlet were also increased in diameter.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,132 issued Jul. 26, 1994 to Schuske for MULTI SPOUT BEER VALVE teaches that a hand pump may be modified by the addition of multiple beer outlets and a widened beer channel. However, that invention does not teach that multiple outlets may be provided by means of any truly self contained device capable of being used with existing pumps and adapters in an assembled tap, but rather only in a single piece tap device.  
           [0013]    Other methods teach multiple ball valves scattered on the keg with each serving a faucet. This is undesirable simply because the standard keg is not designed to have several such ball valves. Yet another device for increasing flow is a “coupler” at the keg which has a side mounted inlet for gas entrance to the coupler and thence to the keg. The gas used is commonly CO 2 , but may be other suitable gases such as N 2 , which is used in some systems and styles in the UK. The pressure from the CO 2  gas then serves in place of the air to force beer out, vertically through the coupler and to a faucet. By use of a large commercial CO 2  cannister external to the keg, a large supply of CO 2  under pressure is created. However, this tap system has various problems as well. The large commercial CO 2  cannister is bulky and heavy, being designed for use in a restaurant, bar, or with a soda fountain at a fast food restaurant or other very high volume fixed operation rather than a single keg of beer. The natural result is that the capacity of the device is also excess to typical needs. In addition, the separate CO 2  cannister requires a hose line leading from it to the coupling, making for a larger and more bunglesome set of containers instead of a single container.  
           [0014]    An advantage of CO 2  in the beer application is that carbon dioxide is a natural byproduct of beer fermentation, while ambient air is disadvantageous because it can contaminate beer via oxidation, or allow outgassing of the CO 2 .  
           [0015]    It would be preferable to provide a truly self contained adapter which could be used with a number of different existing pumps and adapters. In addition, it would be preferable to provide means of allowing maintenance of a steady high pressure within such a tap system.  
           [0016]    It would be preferable to have a device allowing use of multiple faucets without compromising fluid flow rates. Such a device should allow easy maintenance of a steady high pressure within the tap system and should allow easy retrofitting of a multiple faucet device to pumps and adapters not originally designed for multiple tap use.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0017]    General Summary  
           [0018]    The present invention teaches that a self-contained adapter may be utilized to allow multiple faucets from a single keg, but without the inherent flow limitations of using a single hose line to feed multiple faucets.  
           [0019]    The self-contained octopus adapter of the invention sits between the pump and the Sanke adaptor and transmits beer out and air in through channels similar to those in the devices on either side. However, the adapter may have a beer channel of increased diameter and the beer channel may lead to a plurality take offs which may each serve one faucet. Thus, the beer supply for the plurality of faucets is not sent through a single beer outlet/single hose line and the flow of beer or other beverage may be increased. Seals on the device will aid in maintenance of pressure and avoidance of leaks. No division of the hose lines is necessary, nor external pressure/volume increases, and thus the unit is self-contained.  
           [0020]    In an alternative embodiment, the invention may comprise a self-contained pump replacement unit having a CO 2  cartridge or other gas cartridge which sits upon the various devices of the beer flow path and provides CO 2  from above. The CO 2  cartridge may be sized to the needs of a single beer keg, a multiple of beer kegs or other factor allowing the cartridge to be smaller than the normal commercial size suitable to a soda fountain. In addition, by placing the CO 2  cartridge in fluid connection and physical connection atop the connectors, a single self-contained package is maintained.  
           [0021]    Summary in Reference to claims  
           [0022]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a self-contained beer keg tap adapter for use between first and second beer keg flow devices, the tap adapter comprising: a unitary body having a lower surface and an upper surface; a first coupling located at the lower surface of the body, the first coupling dimensioned and configured to adapt to such first beer keg flow device; a second coupling located at the upper surface of the body, the second coupling dimensioned and configured to adapt to such second beer keg flow device; a plurality of beer outlets; a first air channel through the body from the second coupling to the first coupling, the first air channel fluidically connecting the upper surface and the lower surface, thereby allowing passage of air through the body from the second beer keg flow device to the first beer keg flow device; and a first beer channel through the body from the first coupling to the plurality of beer outlets, the first beer channel fluidically connecting the lower surface of the body and each of the plurality of beer outlets, thereby allowing passage of beer through the body from the first beer keg flow device to each of the plurality of beer outlets.  
           [0023]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein the unitary body is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of: HDPE, other plastic, other polymer, food grade stainless steel, other stainless steel, brass, aluminum, other metal, wood, carbon composite, and combinations thereof.  
           [0024]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein the first coupling comprises threads physically complementary to the upper end of such first flow device.  
           [0025]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein the second coupling comprises threads physically complementary to the lower end of such second flow device.  
           [0026]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein such first flow device further comprises a coupler and further wherein such second flow device further comprises a pump, and further wherein the first coupling is identical to the upper end of such coupler and further wherein the second coupling is identical to the lower end of such pump.  
           [0027]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein such pump, such coupler and the first and second couplings of the unitary body are coaxially located about a central vertical axis extending therethrough.  
           [0028]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein the first beer channel extends partially along the vertical axis through the unitary body.  
           [0029]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein the first air channel is substantially parallel to the vertical axis and offset therefrom.  
           [0030]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter further comprising: a toroidal channel located in the second coupling, the toroidal channel and the first air channel being fluidically connected.  
           [0031]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter further comprising: a first seal disposed about the first beer channel in the second coupling.  
           [0032]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter further comprising: a second seal disposed about the first air channel in the second coupling.  
           [0033]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein the first and second seals further comprise O-rings.  
           [0034]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein the beer outlets further comprise: cylindrical projections from the unitary body, each interior cannula of each cylindrical projection fluidically connected to the beer outlet, whereby beer may flow freely from the beer outlet through the cylindrical projection.  
           [0035]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein each beer outlet is further dimensioned and configured to receive at least one member selected from the group consisting of: a beer hose line, a tap, a faucet, or combinations thereof.  
           [0036]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein the first beer channel is fluidically connected to each of the plurality of beer outlets by at least one segment connecting each beer outlet to a central junction, the central junction fluidically connected to the first beer channel.  
           [0037]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide a tap adapter wherein the first beer channel is substantially vertical and the at least one segment makes an angle of over 90 degrees with the first beer channel.  
           [0038]    It is another aspect, advantage, objective and embodiment of the present invention to provide an improved self-contained beer keg pump comprising: a beer outlet dimensioned and configured to receive a hose line to a beer faucet; a first coupling below the beer outlet, the first coupling dimensioned and configured to mate to a first beer keg flow device; a second coupling above the beer outlet, the second coupling dimensioned and configured to attach to a gas cartridge in fluidic communication therewith; a gas cartridge capable of containing a first given quantity of gas at a first given pressure; the gas cartridge being attached into fluidic communication with the second coupling; wherein the first given quantity of gas at the first given pressure is sufficient to empty a single beer keg of beer. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0039]    [0039]FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the adapter of the present invention according to a first embodiment, presently preferred embodiment, and best mode now contemplated for carrying out the invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2 is a is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of the present invention according to the first embodiment.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 3 is a side view of the adapter of the present invention according to the second embodiment, showing the device in use.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 4 is a side view of the adapter of the present invention according to a third embodiment, showing the device in use.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 5 is a side view of the adapter of the present invention according to a fourth embodiment.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 6 is a bottom elevational perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the invention, showing additional details.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side view of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a first sectional plane.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 8 is a partial and transparent side view of a sixth embodiment of the invention in a second sectional plane, in which the air channels previously invisible in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 are visible.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional side view of a cylindrical projection according to a seventh embodiment of the invention.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 10 is a top elevational perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 11 cross sectional and top elevational perspective view of the eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     INDEX OF REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0050]    [0050] 100  Device  
         [0051]    [0051] 101  Screw threads  
         [0052]    [0052] 102  Beer channel  
         [0053]    [0053] 103  Beer flow gasket  
         [0054]    [0054] 104  Air channel  
         [0055]    [0055] 105  Air gasket  
         [0056]    [0056] 106  Beer outlet  
         [0057]    [0057] 107  Beer outlet  
         [0058]    [0058] 108  Beer outlet  
         [0059]    [0059] 109  Junction  
         [0060]    [0060] 110  Unitary Body  
         [0061]    [0061] 200  Adapter  
         [0062]    [0062] 206  Beer outlet  
         [0063]    [0063] 212  Pump  
         [0064]    [0064] 214  Button  
         [0065]    [0065] 216  Pressure relief valve  
         [0066]    [0066] 218  Coupler  
         [0067]    [0067] 220  Coupler  
         [0068]    [0068] 222  Lower portion of coupler  
         [0069]    [0069] 224  Shank  
         [0070]    [0070] 300  Adapter  
         [0071]    [0071] 306  Beer outlet  
         [0072]    [0072] 308  Beer outlet  
         [0073]    [0073] 318  Coupling  
         [0074]    [0074] 320  Coupling  
         [0075]    [0075] 324  Shank  
         [0076]    [0076] 322  Lower portion  
         [0077]    [0077] 332  Coupling  
         [0078]    [0078] 330  Improved Pump  
         [0079]    [0079] 334  Coupling  
         [0080]    [0080] 336  Flow control device  
         [0081]    [0081] 340  CO 2  bottle  
         [0082]    [0082] 400  Fourth embodiment  
         [0083]    [0083] 401 . Screw threads  
         [0084]    [0084] 402  Beer channel  
         [0085]    [0085] 404  Air channel  
         [0086]    [0086] 406  Beer outlet  
         [0087]    [0087] 407  Beer outlet  
         [0088]    [0088] 408  Beer outlet  
         [0089]    [0089] 410  Unitary body  
         [0090]    [0090] 418  Second coupling  
         [0091]    [0091] 420  First coupling  
         [0092]    [0092] 450  Bottom surface  
         [0093]    [0093] 452  Air channel seal race  
         [0094]    [0094] 454  Beer channel seal race  
         [0095]    [0095] 500  Fifth embodiment  
         [0096]    [0096] 502  Beer channel  
         [0097]    [0097] 504  Air channel  
         [0098]    [0098] 506  Beer outlet  
         [0099]    [0099] 510  Unitary body  
         [0100]    [0100] 518  Second coupling  
         [0101]    [0101] 520  First coupling  
         [0102]    [0102] 550  Bottom surface  
         [0103]    [0103] 552  Air channel seal race  
         [0104]    [0104] 554  Beer channel seal race  
         [0105]    [0105] 556  Toroidal channel  
         [0106]    [0106] 558  Junction  
         [0107]    [0107] 560  Outlet channel narrow segment  
         [0108]    [0108] 562  Outlet channel wide segment  
         [0109]    [0109] 564  Plug/alignment pin  
         [0110]    [0110] 566  Lower opening air channel  
         [0111]    [0111] 568  Upper opening air channel  
         [0112]    [0112] 570  Lower opening beer channel  
         [0113]    [0113] 600  Fifth embodiment  
         [0114]    [0114] 602  Beer channel  
         [0115]    [0115] 604  Air channel  
         [0116]    [0116] 606  Beer outlet  
         [0117]    [0117] 607  Beer outlet  
         [0118]    [0118] 608  Beer outlet  
         [0119]    [0119] 610  Unitary body  
         [0120]    [0120] 618  Second coupling  
         [0121]    [0121] 620  First coupling  
         [0122]    [0122] 650  Bottom surface  
         [0123]    [0123] 652  Air channel seal race  
         [0124]    [0124] 654  Beer channel seal race  
         [0125]    [0125] 656  Toroidal channel  
         [0126]    [0126] 658  Junction  
         [0127]    [0127] 660  Outlet channel narrow segment  
         [0128]    [0128] 662  Outlet channel wide segment  
         [0129]    [0129] 670  Lower opening beer channel  
         [0130]    [0130] 700  Seventh embodiment cylindrical projection  
         [0131]    [0131] 780  Smooth section  
         [0132]    [0132] 782  Cannula  
         [0133]    [0133] 784  Barb section  
         [0134]    [0134] 786  Barb  
         [0135]    [0135] 800  Eighth pressure regulator embodiment  
         [0136]    [0136] 802  Beer channel  
         [0137]    [0137] 804  Gas channel  
         [0138]    [0138] 806  Beer outlet  
         [0139]    [0139] 810  Body  
         [0140]    [0140] 818  Upper coupling  
         [0141]    [0141] 820  Lower coupling  
         [0142]    [0142] 856  Junction  
         [0143]    [0143] 862  Segment  
         [0144]    [0144] 890  Pressure relief valve and adjustment screw  
         [0145]    [0145] 892   a  High pressure inlet  
         [0146]    [0146] 893  Valve needle body  
         [0147]    [0147] 894  Valve needle  
         [0148]    [0148] 895  Valve O-ring  
         [0149]    [0149] 896  Valve Housing  
         [0150]    [0150] 897  Plunger  
         [0151]    [0151] 898  Plunger O-ring  
         [0152]    [0152] 900  High Pressure Spring  
         [0153]    [0153] 902  Low Pressure Spring  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0154]    [0154]FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the adapter of the present invention according to a first embodiment for carrying out the invention. In the presently preferred embodiment and best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention, octopus device  100  has body  110 , a generally disc shaped body shown without perspective as a generally circular body. By means of a generally circular body, the device may easily screw in and out of conventional couplings on other devices. In other embodiments, the invention may be other shapes: a prism, irregular shapes, etc. Screw threads  101  are used to hold body  110  to other devices, and comprise the first, second and/or additional couplings on the lower surfaces and upper surfaces of the invention.  
         [0155]    The body in the best mode now contemplated is metal, however, plastic may advantageously used and by this means material and manufacturing costs may be reduced. Other materials such as wood, composites, etc, may also be utilized without departing from the scope of the appended claims. It is important that the material be “food grade” and thus meet all requirements for food handling devices. In particular, food grade stainless steel is used in the embodiment now in testing, while high density polyethylene (HDPE) is favored for certain alternative embodiments.  
         [0156]    Pressure of the flow through the tap device and the entire keg is important in the invention, therefore the preferred embodiment features an otherwise optional pair of gaskets, seals or O-rings: beer flow gasket  103  and air gasket  105 . These may be generally toroidal bodies having a circular, square, generally flat or other convenient cross-section. Selection, placement, and use of such seals may be varied depending upon the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention, exact pressures to be contained and other factors. Such factors regarding seals, shape of the body, materials, and other factors mentioned herein all fall within the scope of the appended claims and may be determined by one skilled in the art without undue experimentation.  
         [0157]    Channels pass wholly or partially through body  110 . Beer channel  102  allows beer to pass into body  110  from the device below (for example, from a Sanke adaptor). Air channel  104  allows air or another gas such as CO 2  to flow into the device below from body  110 . In the first embodiment, air channel  104  passes entirely through body  110  from the upper surface (not seen) to the lower surface shown in FIG. 1. By means of these various devices, a coupling on the upper surface is created which provides fluidic connection between the invention and the beer flow device above it, and a similar coupling on the lower surface is created which provides fluidic connection between the invention and the beer flow device below it. FIG. 2 is a is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of the present invention according to the first embodiment. As may be seen, beer channel  102  divides at junction  109  to supply beer to a multiplicity of beer outlets  106 ,  107 ,  108 . By this device beer may be supplied to a multiplicity of faucet hose lines dimensioned and configured to fluidically connect to beer outlets  106 ,  107 ,  108 .  
         [0158]    [0158]FIG. 3 is a side view of the adapter of the present invention according to the second embodiment, showing the device in use. Adapter  200  has a plurality of beer outlets such as outlet  206 ,  208 . Couplers  218 ,  220  physically connect the adapter to the devices above and below it. The lower portion  222  of coupler  220  may be part of shank  224  of a Sanke adapter (not seen). The physical connections referred to include fluidic connections between the beer channel present in one beer flow device and the beer channel present in the connected device, and between the air channel present in one device and air channel present in the connected device.  
         [0159]    Pump  212  sits atop octopus adapter  200 . Button  214  may be depressed in order force air down the air channels (internal and not shown in FIG. 3) of the pump, adapter, “coupler” and then into the keg (not shown). Pressure in the keg then forces beer up the beer channels (internal and thus not shown in FIG. 3) of the “coupler” and adapter, from which the beer exits through the plurality of beer outlet ports such as beer outlet  206 . As in previous embodiments discussed, beer outlet  206  may be dimensioned in size and configured in shape and form so as to accept a hose line to a beer faucet. Pump  212  may also have pressure relief valve  216  used when pressure in the tap system becomes too high.  
         [0160]    In this particular embodiment, there may be a total of 2 beer outlets present, rather than 3 as in the first embodiment. Other embodiments may have more or less outlets present.  
         [0161]    [0161]FIG. 4 is a side view of the adapter of the present invention according to a third embodiment, showing the device in use. This version of the invention teaches that a small CO 2  bottle may be utilized from a position directly atop the adaptor. Gases other than CO 2  may be used: N 2 , etc. Adapter  300  has 2 outlet ports (beer outlets  306 ,  308 ). Coupling  320  may connect the adapter to a lower beer flow device having shank  324  which in turn has coupling lower portion  322 . Coupling  318  may cooperate with coupling  332  of improved regulator  330 .  
         [0162]    CO 2  regulator  330  according to the invention may have coupling  334  adapted (dimensioned and configured) to mate with CO 2  bottle  340  and provide fluidic communication therebetween. Flow control device  336  may be an automatic pressure device designed to deliver a constant pressure to the tap (the keg/beer flow devices system) or it may be a simple button, a manually actuated valve, or similar devices. In use, pressurized CO 2  from bottle  340  flows down through the air channels of flow control device  336  and regulator  330  into adapter  300  and the device below it and thus to the beer keg. Pressure within the keg then forces beer upwards through the lowest device and its shank  324 , through the beer channel of adapter  300  and out beer outlets  306 ,  308 . No pumping is necessary. Unlike other devices, there is no need for a large commercial CO 2  bottle placed on the ground somewhere near the keg and connected thereto by a CO 2  hose line. The “overkill” (excess capacity) of using a CO 2  bottle designed for a busy commercial soda fountain is also eliminated, as bottle  340  is properly sized to the beer keg to be emptied. The volumetric capacity of the keg, the volumetric capacity of bottle  340 , the pressure sustainable in the system, the pressure held by bottle  340  and the diameters of the “air” (gas) channels and the diameters of the beer channels of the various devices may all be considered in selecting the size of the relatively small CO 2  bottle.  
         [0163]    In a related alternative embodiment of the present invention, the octopus adapter may be eliminated in favor of a conventional faucet system, and the pump of the invention (utilizing a sized CO 2  bottle) may be modified to provide a beer channel and a single beer outlet. In yet a further sub-embodiment, the CO 2  pump aspect of the invention may provide a beer channel and multiple beer outlets in a single body.  
         [0164]    [0164]FIG. 5 is a side view of the adapter of the present invention according to a fourth embodiment  400 , while FIG. 6 is a bottom elevational perspective view of the fourth embodiment  400  of the invention, showing additional details. Adapter  400  has screw threads  401 , beer channel  402 , air channel  404 , beer outlets  406 ,  407 ,  408  all parts of unitary body  410 . Second coupling  418  is a solidly attached part of unitary body  410  in this embodiment, a measure which substantially saves manufacturing time, effort and cost. In alternative embodiments, second coupling  418  may be a rotating collar such as is common on the upper end of a Sanke Adapter (the flow device below) allowing rotation of the coupling without rotation of the body of the device. First coupling  420 , at the lower/bottom end of unitary body  410  has threads  401  complementary to those of such a collared end Sanke Adapter (not pictured). This provides a definite sequence in which this embodiments and similar (non-collared second coupling) embodiments are used: the device of the invention is rotated as a unit to attach to the bottom end of a flow device above it, such as a pump. Then the lower end of first coupling  420  is placed within the mouth of the collar of the Sanke adapter or other flow device below, and the collar is rotated to engage, then tighten, the complementary threading of the Sanke adapter collar and first coupling  420 . By this process, the Sanke adapter body (below/within the collar) is brought snugly and tightly against bottom surface  450 .  
         [0165]    As a note, it will be appreciated that in the prior art devices (with the octopus adapter retrofit of the invention not present) the Sanke adapter attaches directly to the pump above. The retrofit of the octopus adapter of the invention to the assembly comprises taking the Sanke adapter and the pump apart, then putting the invention therebetween. Thus, the first coupling  420  is a functional copy of the bottom coupling of the pump above, while the second coupling  418  is a functional copy (in this embodiment without the rotating collar) of the top coupling of the Sanke adapter below.  
         [0166]    Bottom surface  450  has air channel seal race  452 , beer channel seal race  454 , into which O-rings or other seals of rubber, plastic, other polymer, metal, composites or combinations thereof may be inserted. This assures an air and beer tight connection of the device to the flow device below.  
         [0167]    [0167]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side view of a fifth embodiment  500  of the invention in a first sectional plane, not having external projections as part of the unitary body  510 . Fifth embodiment octopus adapter  500  has beer channel  502 , air channel  504 , beer outlet  506 , unitary body  510  through which these channels pass, second coupling  518 , first coupling  520 , bottom surface  550 , air channel seal race  552 , and beer channel seal race  554 . It also has toroidal channel  556 . Since in the preferred embodiments such as the fourth and fifth embodiments, the adapter  500  is rotated as a unitary body onto the pump or other flow device above, lining up the upper opening  568  of the air channel  504  would be impossible in most circumstances. Thus toroidal channel  556  eliminates the angular alignment issue by allowing the air channel of the flow device above to end up at any relationship of rotational angle to the octopus adapter and yet still allow air flow therebetween. Air (or other gas) from the flow device above may pass through toroidal channel  556  to air channel upper opening  568  and there to air channel  504 , and through unitary body  510 , passing out through lower air channel opening  566 .  
         [0168]    Junction  558  allows free flow of beer from the lower opening  570  of beer channel  502 , through beer channel  502 , and thence to a multiplicity of beer outlets such as outlet  506  via outlet channel narrow segment  560  and similar items not shown since they are not in the cross sectional plane shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0169]    Outlet channel narrow segment  560  gives way to outlet channel wide segment  562 , which may omitted in embodiments in which an extra insert such as a barb, hose, tap or other fitting is not to be fitted into unitary body  510 . Fitting of such barbs or other projections is discussed below in reference to FIG. 9.  
         [0170]    Plug/alignment pin  564  is an option which is not present in the presently most preferred embodiment. This device fits up through a beer channel lower outlet port (not shown) of a flow device above the octopus adapter. This blocks that channel and further assists alignment, if needed, during the operation of screwing the embodiment onto the upper flow device.  
         [0171]    Lower opening beer channel  570  may accept beer from the lower flow device such as an adapter, “keg tap” or similar device.  
         [0172]    [0172]FIG. 8 is a partial and transparent side view of a sixth embodiment of the invention in a second sectional plane, in which the air channels previously invisible in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 are visible. Unitary body  610  has air channel  604  and beer channel  602 . Beer channel  602  may be seen to run to junction  658 , from which beer outlets  606 ,  607 ,  608  branch. Outlet channel narrow segment  660  and outlet channel wide segment  662  in sequence branch therefrom to reach beer outlet  606 , other segments reach outlets  607 ,  608 .  
         [0173]    It will be seen that the segments which branch from beer channel  602  are angled at an angle somewhat in excess of 90 degrees. Experimentation has determined that this slight angle has a surprisingly positive effect on beer flow. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that this angle (substantially ranging from 100 to 135 degrees) promotes laminar flow and reduces turbulence.  
         [0174]    Reduction of turbulence has an effect important to beer flow but not to the flow of most other liquids. Turbulence causes nucleation and bubbling of the gas in the beer, thus causing the beer to emerge with foam and bubbles therein and a lower gas content than intended, not to mention providing a second cause of slower flow. Thus, reduction of turbulence and promotion of laminar flow is doubly important in this particular application.  
         [0175]    [0175]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional side view of a cylindrical projection according to a seventh embodiment  700  of the invention. Seventh embodiment cylindrical projection  700  has smooth section  780 , cannula  782 , barbed section  784 , and barb  786 . Smooth section  780  may fit into an outlet port such as port  606  of the previous embodiment. Smooth section  780  may be of substantially the same diameter as wide segment  662 , so that embodiment  700  may be combined with unitary body  610  at the time of manufacture or later. Barbed section  784  and barb  786  may be dimensioned and configured to accept thereon a standard size of beer hose, such as is customarily used with a portable hand tap. Alternative embodiments of the octopus adapter may have wide segment  662  dimensioned and configured to accept a hose directly, to accept a tap directly, and so on.  
         [0176]    [0176]FIG. 10 is a top elevational perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 cross sectional and top elevational perspective view of the eighth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is a pressure regulator for connection to the sized gas bottle embodiment. Eighth pressure regulator embodiment  800  has body  810 , upper coupling  818 , lower coupling  820  in turn having beer channel  802 , junction  856  and segment  862  leading to beer outlet  806 . Pressure relief valve and adjustment screw  890  is used not just as a safety device but also to adjust the tension of low pressure spring  902 . High pressure inlet  892   a  allows pressure to pass valve needle body  893 , valve O-ring  895  and then valve needle  894  and thereby exit valve housing  896  and into the low pressure half of the regulator. Plunger  897  has plunger O-ring  898 ; O-rings  895  and  898  seal the system.  
         [0177]    High pressure spring  900  and low pressure spring  902  cooperate to regulate the final pressure passing out of the device via gas channel  804 .  
         [0178]    Beer channel  802 , junction  856  and segment  862  are of construction and layout similar to other embodiments, with other segments and outlet ports not seen in this view. This embodiment is for use with the gas cartridge embodiments discussed earlier.  
         [0179]    The disclosure is provided to allow practice of the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the claims accompanying the corresponding utility application to be filed at a later date.