Patent ID: 8561842

Claim:
A valve apparatus for selectively dispensing beer, the apparatus comprising: a valve body having a first inlet for communication with a first source of beer, a second inlet for communication with a second source of beer, an outlet for dispensing the beer, a passageway communicating with the first inlet, the second inlet and the outlet, a valve member disposed within the passageway and inhibiting communication between the first inlet and the second inlet and, in a first position, between the second inlet and the outlet, and a float chamber communicating with the first inlet and the outlet; and a float member disposed within the float chamber, the float member being operatively engageable with the valve member, the float member being buoyant and being displaceable upwards to enable communication between the first inlet and the outlet when the first source of beer at least partially fills the float chamber, and when the first source of beer is depleted, the float member lowering to seal the first inlet from the outlet and the valve member moving to a second position thereby to enable the second inlet to be in communication with the outlet for dispensing beer from the second source.