An improved design and process for manufacturing a valve housing for an existing filling machine. The improved design is an annular lip protruding downwardly at the outlet end and flaring outwardly for directing liquid into the container being filled, and a plurality of liquid discharge openings circumscribed by the annular lip at the outlet end for evenly dispersing liquid down and around the lip and against the sides of the container for accumulation therein without foaming. This design replaces existing press-fit tips which are expensive and unwieldy. Moreover, the above-described design facilitates formation of the entire valve housing from a single unitary piece of stainless bar stock, and the present invention encompasses the process for manufacture. This reduces manufacturing costs and eliminates weld lines and the associated risk of bacterial contamination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the invention
 The present invention relates to filling valves for use in counter-pressure
 filling machines and, in particular, to an improved tipless
 counter-pressure filling valve housing and process for weldless
 manufacturing of the same from one-piece stainless steel stock.
 2. Description of the Background
 Counter-pressure filling valves are typically used for filling of
 containers, such as cans or bottles, with carbonated liquids. Such valves
 ensure that the carbonated liquid which fills the can/bottle under
 pressure does not leak from the machine during filling or that the
 carbonation does not escape from the liquid as the container is filled.
 Traditional methods and devices for filling containers with carbonated
 liquids include a variety of counter-pressure filling machines in which
 the cans/bottles are first filled with a gas under pressure. Carbonated
 liquid is then admitted to the cans/bottles under pressure so that the
 carbonated liquid cannot escape. The cans/bottles are then sealed to
 ensure that the carbonation does not escape the liquid.
 One example of a filling valve for a carbonated liquid bottling machine is
 shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,353 to Antonelli. The Antonelli '353 filling
 valve is controlled by a cam outside of the tank. The cam actuates a first
 valve member to admit counter-pressure gas into the can. The can is filled
 with the counter-pressure gas until the pressures of the gas and the
 liquid are equal. The cam then opens a second valve member which allows
 the liquid to flow into the container. When the container is filled, the
 cam actuator closes the valve members and the bottle is lowered away from
 the valve.
 Another type of filling valve is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,603 to
 Rademacher et al. The Rademacher et al. '603 filling valve incorporates
 two concentric valve members. The outer valve member admits liquid into
 the container, and the inner valve member admits counter-pressure gas into
 the container. The outlet dispensing end or "vent tube" for the inner
 valve member must be inserted a certain distance into the container for
 proper operation of the filling valve.
 Still another variation is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,200 to Mette, which
 discloses a counterpressure filling valve comprising a downwardly
 extendable sleeve which can descend toward an empty container below the
 valve, and which carries a deformable annular sealing element 2 which is
 movable into sealing engagement with the container to be filled.
 The above and other commercially available counter-pressure filling devices
 employ valve housings that provide a high volume fluid interface between
 the filling equipment and cans or bottles to be filled. Each piece of
 filling equipment may employ a large number of valve housings to
 simultaneously fill an equal number of cans or bottles.
 For instance, FIG. 1 is a perspective photo and FIG. 2 is a side-cross
 section of an existing counter-pressure filling valve housing of the type
 that is commercially available from Crown-Simplimatic Co. This valve and
 refinements thereto are described in detail in a family of patents,
 including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,150,740; 5,145,008; 5,139,058; 4,986,318;
 4,750,533; 4,442,873, all issued to Yun and all drawn to counterpressure
 filling valves for introducing counterpressure gas and product into a
 container. The valves are actuated through the physical engagement of the
 container to be filled; thus, the filling operation is achieved without
 the use of external valve operating cams or the like.
 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the prior art valve body 10 generally includes a
 cylindrical mid-section 16, a port block section 11, and a valve cap
 section 13. A flange 12 atop mid-section 16 bears apertures 14 by which
 the fill valve body 10 is mounted to beverage machinery in a conventional
 fashion. A plurality of discharge nozzles 28 extend downward from valve
 cap section 13 and these typically define as few as nine and as many as
 fifteen discharge ports. The mid-section 16 is hollow such that beverage,
 such as a carbonated drink, selectively flows through. The hollow
 cylindrical mid-section 16 merges into an integral radially extending
 bottom flange 18 that leads into a downwardly directed annular collar 22.
 Collar 22 is angularly drilled and tapped at the nine to fifteen separate
 sites to define a plurality of axial channels through which the beverage
 flows out of the hollow mid-section 16. The lower surface 24 of the collar
 22 accommodates interference fit insertion of a corresponding number of
 beverage discharge nozzle tips 26. Each nozzle tip 26 is in communication
 with one of the internal beverage passageways disposed in flange 18 and
 collar 22. Each tip 28 of the array is, thus, diagonally disposed in a
 downward and outward direction and internally comprises a single,
 angularly oriented, linearly extending central bore. The tips 28
 collectively fit through the top opening at the upper lip or edge of a
 beverage can. The sizing and orientation of the array 26 of nozzle tips 28
 discharges and directs beverage into the can in a plurality of circular
 streams against the interior surface of the side of the can near the top
 thereof. This minimizes foaming of the beverage.
 The valve body 10 also comprises a central wall 30 with aperture 33 for
 introduction into the can of pressurized gas. Valve body 10 also comprises
 a separate, exteriorly disposed helical tube 34, the hollow of which
 functions to snift gas from the top of the before removing the can from
 the filling equipment. Tube 34 leads into a hollow through flange 18 and
 collar 22 and to a is port located adjacent the slot 36. In accordance
 with conventional operation, pressurized gas at the top of the can is
 evacuated or "snifted" just before the can is removed from the filling
 machinery.
 Unfortunately, the above-described valve housing has a number of drawbacks.
 First, the filling valve tips 20 are formed from sections of stainless
 steel pipe that are compression-fit into the collar 22. This greatly
 complicates the manufacturing process as bore-holes must be drilled into
 the collar 22 and then each valve tip 28 must be press-fit by hand. The
 resulting valve housing is overly complex and expensive.
 Moreover, the filling valve must have a relatively long stroke to meet the
 containers while ensuring that the valve tips 20 are inserted the proper
 depth in the container and that they are lifted clear from the container
 after the container is filled with the carbonated liquid. The requirement
 of moving the filling valves along this relatively long stroke
 significantly slows down the overall operation of stationary container
 filling machines.
 The conventional process for manufacturing the above-described valve bodies
 also has shortcomings. The hollow cylindrical mid-section 16, valve cap
 13, and port block 11 are separately machined from three individual pieces
 of stainless steel stock. These three components are then welded together
 to form the illustrated valve housing. Further machining takes place,
 e.g., to bore holes for valve tips 28, and the valve tips 28 are then
 press-fit by hand into the valve collar 22. This complex process was
 previously thought to be necessary due to the various intersecting
 channels in and through the valve body 10, plus the irregular protruding
 port block 11. However, the process is costly and greatly adds to the time
 it takes for the filling is valve housing to be manufactured. Even worse,
 the process results in several weld-lines 19. These weld-lines 19 are
 highly susceptible to the accumulation of liquid and increase the risk of
 contamination and disease.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,135 to Nish et al. shows a partial solution in the form
 of an adapter nozzle to eliminate the tips 28, and said adapter is shown
 in FIG. 3 herein. A portion of the valve body including the tips 28 must
 be removed, and then the adapter nozzle is fastened to the non-removed
 portion. The adapter discharges fluid in three broad thin streams
 angularly against the interior walls of the can. While the tips are
 eliminated, the adapter approach raises problems of its own. The tips must
 be machined off smoothly and the adapter attached securely to ensure
 proper operation. Even so, the adapter is yet another welded part that
 further compromises structural integrity.
 It would be greatly advantageous to develop a simpler and more cost
 effective valve housing and manufacturing process therefor which
 eliminates both welding and valve tips.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved
 tipless counter-pressure filling valve housing with a shorter stroke to
 meet the containers while ensuring proper filling with carbonated liquid.
 It is another object to provide a tipless counter-pressure filling valve
 housing to reduce labor, manufacturing and raw materials costs associated
 with the press-fit tips.
 It is another object to simplify the process for manufacturing valve bodies
 using a single is stainless steel blank, rather than separately machining
 from three individual pieces of stainless.
 It is still another process to eliminate all weld-lines, thereby
 dramatically increasing structural integrity and reducing the risk of
 bacterial contamination and disease.
 These and other objects are accomplished by an improvement to a
 conventional valve housing. The conventional valve housing is of the type
 having a valve body with an upward flange for attachment to an existing
 filling machine, and an outlet end from which liquid is dispensed into a
 container. The valve body defines a central liquid reservoir for passing
 liquid from the filling machine into the container, and a central gas tube
 traverses the liquid reservoir from the inlet end to the outlet end of the
 valve housing. Normally, filling tips are press fit into the outlet end to
 direct fluid into the container. The improvement here comprises an annular
 lip protruding downwardly at the outlet end and flaring outwardly for
 directing liquid into the container being filled, and a plurality of
 liquid discharge openings circumscribed by the annular lip at the outlet
 end for evenly dispersing liquid down and around the lip and against the
 sides of the container for accumulation therein without foaming.
 The above-described design facilitates formation of the entire valve
 housing from a single unitary piece of stainless bar stock.
 The process for manufacturing the valve housing from a single piece of
 stock is also disclosed, and this includes the following nine primary
 steps which combine to eliminate the need for separate machining and
 welding together of the cylindrical mid-section, port block section, and
 valve cap section as previously necessary with prior art valve bodies. The
 process includes a first exterior lathing step in which a solid
 cylindrical stainless bar stock is lathed to form an annular channel
 leaving a round lower mass of sufficient diameter to form port blocks, a
 second drilling step to form the reservoir and upwardly protruding neck, a
 third step to drill a passage through the neck, a fourth step to lathe
 four annular tiers subdividing the bottom mass, a fifth step by which the
 external dimensions of the valve and port block section are defined, a
 sixth drilling step to port blocks which results in pre-drilling and
 threading, a seventh step to complete the flange 4, an eighth step to
 complete the outlet end by champfering the lip and machining oblong liquid
 discharge outlets, and finally, a ninth step to complete the valve housing
 by adding two stainless tubes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 As described above, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a prior art valve body 10 that
 generally includes a cylindrical mid-section 16, a port block section 11,
 and a valve cap section 13. The hollow cylindrical mid-section 16 merges
 into an integral radially extending bottom flange 18 that leads into a
 downwardly directed annular collar 22. Collar 22 is angularly drilled and
 tapped to define a plurality of axial channels through which the beverage
 flows out of the hollow mid-section 16. A discharge tip 28 is press-fit
 into each of the channels in the lower surface 24 of the collar 22. The
 sizing and orientation of the nozzle tips 28 discharges and directs
 beverage into the can with the intent to minimizes foaming of the
 beverage. The manufacturing process is complex and results in an expensive
 end product. Moreover, weld lines 19 leave the valve body 10 more
 susceptible to breakage and/or bacterial contamination.
 The improved valve design and process according to the present invention
 provides for the weldless manufacture of a improved valve housing for the
 same purpose, the new valve housing eliminating all welding and valve tips
 as described above.
 FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and side perspective views of the one-piece tipless
 filling valve housing 1, respectively, according to the present invention.
 As shown in FIGS. 4-6, filling valve housing 1 includes an upwardly
 protruding filling tube/neck 10 that supports a press-fit pipe 3 that is
 maintained in fluid communication with a counter-pressure gas supply of
 the filling machine. The counter pressure gas supply is kept at elevated
 pressure, typically nitrogen or carbon dioxide at 40-45 psi.
 Filling valve housing I also includes a valve body 2 having an outlet end
 12 from which the carbonated liquid is dispensed to a container. The
 outlet end 12 is provided with a downwardly curled annular lip 5 having
 internal screw threads for engaging various conventional bell housings.
 Each bell housing is typically adapted for receiving a particular type of
 container.
 Filling valve housing 1 is upwardly attached to the filling machine by an
 integral flange 4, and a pair of bore-holes 9 (not threaded) to allow
 screw-attachment by flange 4 to the filling machine.
 The press-fit pipe 3 enters the neck 10 and valve body 2 centrally through
 an aperture that defines a filling reservoir 14. Filling reservoir 14 is
 maintained in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir of the filling
 machine, and press-fit pipe 3 extends to a point above the level of liquid
 in reservoir 14. The pipe 3 permits the flow of counter pressure gas
 through reservoir 14.
 Adjacent coupling blocks 6 and 7 protrude laterally from the side of valve
 body 2, and both provide screw-threaded ports to the interior of valve
 housing 1. In typical operation of a counter-pressure filling machine,
 coupling block 6 provides a screw-interface for an external snift valve
 that serves to monitor and release counter-pressure gas from the top of
 the can after the can has been filled with carbonated liquid. A stainless
 tube 8 leads from the interior of port 6 to flange 4 to provide a fluid
 coupling with the filling machine.
 Coupling block 7 is also centrally bored and threaded for coupling to an
 external clean-in-place valve that is actuated to allow cleaning fluid to
 course through the valve housing 1, thereby accomplishing a cleaning
 operation to kill bacteria in the filling machine.
 FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the one-piece tipless valve housing 1
 as in FIGS. 4-5. The filling reservoir 14 in valve body 2 defines a
 central passage around the compressed gas tube 3 for dispensing of
 carbonated liquid. The liquid is dispensed through discharge openings 16
 as seen at the bottom of reservoir 14. Discharge openings 16 comprise four
 liquid outlets that are evenly disposed about the neck 10 of the
 compressed gas tube. Each discharge opening 16 is an oblong aperture
 spaced radially around the neck 10 at the bottom of reservoir 14. The
 margin of flange 4 surrounding the filling reservoir 14 is recessed by a
 channel 15 sized to seat a rubber O-ring seal for a fluid-tight coupling
 with the filling equipment.
 FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the outlet end 12 of the one-piece tipless
 valve body 1 according to the present invention. The discharge openings 16
 are surrounded by a frustro-conical annular lip 18 that protrudes
 downwardly and flares outwardly for directing liquid into the can being
 filled. The four liquid discharge openings 16 are evenly disposed about a
 gas discharge aperture 13 (which leads downward from gas discharge tube 3)
 just inside the lip 18. Pressurized gas is admitted to the can through gas
 discharge tube 3 and gas discharge aperture 13. Once pressurized and
 filled with beverage, snifting of gas from the top of the can occurs via a
 small notch 17 which is machined in the frustro-conical lip 18.
 FIG. 8 is a cross-section of the outlet end 12 of the one-piece tipless
 valve body 1 as in FIG. 7. With comparative reference back to the prior
 art valve body of FIGS. 1 and 2, the prior art valve incorporates a
 plurality of press fit tips 10. Each tip 10 is a section of stainless
 pipe, and tips 10 are arranged to protrude downwardly by various lengths.
 Each tip 10 is fit into a bore-hole that must be drilled into the bottom
 of valve cap 2. Tips 10 help to reduce foaming of the carbonated liquid.
 This is because the liquid is evenly dispersed at equal flow-rates through
 the multiple tips 10, and tips 10 direct the liquid streams outward
 against the sides of the can for gentler accumulation therein. The present
 tipless valve housing 1 achieves the same benefit without the need for
 press-fit tips 10. This is accomplished by the combination of the four
 oblong liquid discharge outlets 16 and frustro-conical lip 18, the liquid
 discharge outlets 16 serving to evenly disperse liquid down and around the
 margins of lip 18 and into the can being filled. The inner hollow 14 of
 valve mid-section 2 is constricted toward the outlet end 12, and the four
 oblong liquid discharge outlets 16 flow outward from the constricted inner
 hollow 14 through a cylindrical aperture 23 and into the recess formed by
 the frustro-conical lip 18. The cylindrical aperture 23 is formed with a
 peripheral channel to seat a circular mesh filter screen 27. Screen 27 can
 be inserted through the recess formed by the frustro-conical lip 18 and
 can be press-fit into the peripheral channel in aperture 23.
 Given the above-described configuration, carbonated liquid flows smoothly
 down the lip 18 and against the sides of the can for gentler accumulation
 therein. Moreover, the liquid discharge outlets 16 and lip 18 can be
 integrally formed during machining of the one-piece tipless valve housing
 1. Thus, all welding and press-fitting operations are eliminated as will
 be described.
 FIGS. 9-19 illustrate the respective stages of the machining process of the
 one-piece tipless valve housing 1.
 As shown in FIG. 9, the process begins with a unitary blank of conventional
 stainless steel bar stock.
 As shown in FIG. 10, the initial step is a lathing operation to define the
 general external extent of the valve body 10. The lathing operation is
 preferably accomplished on a CNC lathe such as, for instance, a Hitachi
 Seiki Hitec-turn 20 CNC lathe or commercial equivalent. Lathing is
 completed such that the general external extent of the valve body 10
 encompasses all three valve body sections that were traditionally welded
 together during later processing, namely, the mid-section, port block
 section and valve cap section. More specifically, the blank is lathed from
 the top to leave a short length of upwardly protruding neck 19 of
 approximately 0.314-0.343" diameter to support the press-fit gas discharge
 tube 3. This is stepped into a 3.874" diameter round upper collar 24
 (upper collar 24 later becomes flange 4), which in turn is stepped to a
 1.042 inch wide by 0.875 inch deep channel 28 that is lathed into the
 stock adjacent the round upper collar 24. Channel 28 is stepped to a large
 round lower mass 26 of sufficient diameter to form port blocks 6 and 7,
 and lower mass 28 is stepped to a smaller round lower mass 29 of
 sufficient diameter to form the frustro-conical lip 18 at the outlet end
 12.
 FIG. 11 is a side-cross sectional drawing with major dimensions to
 illustrate the second operation, which is a boring operation from the top
 to form reservoir 14 and to define the extent of the neck 19 for gas
 discharge tube 3 which protrudes coaxially upward through the center of
 reservoir 14. As shown, the neck 19 for gas discharge tube 3 is tapered
 from top to bottom from approximately 0.312-0.314" in diameter. A valve
 seat channel 38 is also machined as shown around reservoir 14.
 FIG. 12 is a side-cross sectional drawing with major dimensions to
 illustrate the third step, which is another boring operation to form the
 gas passage through neck 10. This includes the boring of a constricted
 0.10" central passage completely through the neck 10 and entire valve body
 2, followed by opening both ends with an approximate 0.33" bore leading
 into both the top and the bottom.
 As seen in FIG. 13, further lathing takes place around the bottom of valve
 body 2 to form four annular tiers subdividing the bottom. The bottom of
 valve body 2 is lathed to form a larger diameter section 42, a smaller
 diameter section 44, a still lower and smaller diameter section 46, and a
 lowest and smallest diameter section 48. The respective diameters and
 vertical extent of each tier should be approximately 4.735 inches by 0.908
 inches for the larger diameter section 42, 3.760 inches by 0.709 inches
 for the diameter of section 44, 3.250 inches by 0.390 inches for the
 diameter of section 46, and 1.812 inches by 0.468 inches for the lowest
 and smallest diameter section 48.
 As seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, the lathed tiers at the bottom of valve body 2
 are then machined to form the port block section 11. Specifically, the
 larger diameter tier 42 is machined around approximately 330 degrees to
 leave a rectangular 0.890" by 0.930" by 1.209" outward protrusion for port
 block 6. Likewise, approximately 330 degrees of tier 44 is machined off to
 leave a rectangular 0.890" by 0.725" by 0.709" outward protrusion for port
 block 7, the two port blocks 6, 7 being contiguous. This machining is
 preferably accomplished with a CNC Machining Station such as, for
 instance, a commercially available 4 Axis CNC Vertical Machining Center
 (50 hp) for 60".times.120".times.40" tooling, castings and weldments.
 FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional drawing of port block section 11 with the
 respective port blocks 6, 7 shown inclusive of drilling sequence and
 dimensions to illustrate how a threaded outlet port hole 60 and a threaded
 outlet port hole 70 are bored into the respective port blocks 6, 7 to form
 couplings for the filling machine. Both of port holes 60 and 70 are
 provided with valve seats to ensure a fluid-tight seal, and outlet port
 hole 60 is formed with a 0.265" inner terminus while outlet port hole 70
 is formed with a 0.156" inner terminus. A 0.1580" diameter coaxial bore 41
 (shown in dotted lines) is then made from the bottom of lower flange 12
 straight upward and through the inner terminus of both bore holes 60, 70
 to connect the two pre-drilled port blocks 6, 7. A side-aperture 43 is
 drilled into port block 6 to connect stainless tube 8. After the port
 blocks 6, 7 are formed, the round upper collar 24 is machined to form the
 football-shaped flange 4.
 FIG. 17 is a top perspective drawing showing major dimensions to illustrate
 the machining of football-shaped flange 4. The flange 4 is machined as
 shown around its periphery to provide a multi-featured irregularly-shaped
 profile, contour milled in accordance with the specifications shown in
 FIG. 17. A pair of non-threaded bore-holes 9 are then drilled through the
 opposing ears of flange 4 to allow screw-attachment via flange 4 to the
 filling machine. The third non-threaded bore-hole 11 is drilled in one ear
 of flange 4 to allow attachment at flange 4 of the stainless tube 8 which
 leads from the interior of port 6 to flange 4 to provide a fluid coupling
 with the filling machine. Bore-hole 11 is provided with an O-ring groove
 as shown to ensure a fluid -tight seal. The lowest and smallest diameter
 tier section 48 is lathed at the bottom to form annular lip 18. Finally,
 the four oblong liquid discharge outlets 16 are machined into the bottom
 of the valve body 2 to evenly disperse liquid down and around the margins
 of lip 18.
 FIG. 18 is a bottom perspective drawing with dimensions illustrating how
 the four oblong liquid discharge outlets 16 are machined. First of all
 (and with further reference to FIG. 12), the bottom of the valve housing
 is chamfered inwardly to form a 1.712" diameter discharge lip 18.
 Discharge lip 18 flares outward from the four oblong liquid discharge
 outlets 16. The four liquid discharge outlets 16 are evenly disposed about
 the gas discharge tube 3 just inside the lip 18. The liquid discharge
 outlets 16 are each a 0.165" wide oblong slot, and they are equally spaced
 about a 1.179" circumference from the center. This particular arrangement
 of oblong slots with chamfered lip 18 evenly disperses liquid down and
 around the margins of lip 18, and the need for costly valve tips is
 eliminated.
 FIG. 19 is a side cross-section of the completed valve housing 2
 illustrating the addition of the stainless tube 8 by press-fitting into
 the pre-drilled flange 4 and welding at the other end to the side-aperture
 43 in port block 6. In addition, a conventional gas discharge tube 3 is
 press-fit into the neck 10 of valve body 2. Both of these are conventional
 components and are added in a conventional manner.
 The primary steps of the above-described manufacturing process combine to
 eliminate the need for separate machining and welding together of the
 cylindrical mid-section, port block section, and valve cap section as
 previously necessary with prior art valve bodies. The essence of the
 process is the lathing of steel bar stock to form a plurality of annular
 tiers at least including an upper tier corresponding to the upward flange
 4 and a lower tier corresponding to the port block section 11 protruding
 from the mid-section 2, and then machining and reducing a major angular
 extent of the lower tier to leave the port block section 11 protruding
 from the mid-section 2. In the further context of all steps necessary to
 manufacture a completed valve body, the process includes nine primary
 steps, including a first exterior lathing step (previously described with
 respect to FIG. 10) in which a solid cylindrical stainless bar stock is
 lathed to form an annular channel leaving a round lower mass 26 of
 sufficient diameter to form port blocks 6 and 7 plus bottom flange 12, and
 an annular upper mass for forming flange 4. A second drilling step is
 completed to form reservoir 14 and upwardly protruding neck 10 (previously
 described with respect to FIG. 11-12). A third step is another boring
 operation to drill a passage through neck 10. A fourth step involves
 further external lathing (previously described with respect to FIG. 13, in
 which the lathing of four annular tiers 42, 44, 46 and 48 subdivide the
 bottom mass. A fifth step is the external cutting and finishing process
 (previously described with respect to FIGS. 14, 15) by which the external
 dimensions of the valve 2 and port block section 11 are defined. Here, the
 lathed tiers 42 and 44 are machined around approximately 330 degrees to
 leave the rectangular port blocks 6 and 7. The next and sixth drilling
 step to port blocks 6, 7 results in pre-drilling and threading (FIG. 16).
 The seventh step completes the flange 4 (FIG. 17). The eighth step
 completes the outlet end 13 by champfering lip 18 and machining four
 oblong liquid discharge outlets 16. Finally, the ninth step completes the
 valve housing 2, and this involves adding the stainless tube 8 by
 press-fitting into the pre-drilled flange 4 and is welded at the other end
 to the side-aperture in port block 6. In addition, a conventional gas
 discharge tube 3 is press-fit into the neck 10 of valve body 2.
 The above-described manufacturing process for a weldless and tipless valve
 housing is much simpler and results in a more cost-effective end product.
 Moreover, the absence of weld lines reduces breakage and bacterial
 contamination. Of course, the sequence of above-described steps may vary.
 Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain
 modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various
 other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the
 embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those
 skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It
 is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced
 otherwise than as specifically set forth in the following claims.