Patent ID: 7661449

Claim:
A filling valve apparatus for filling a container with a fluid, said apparatus comprising: a body portion defining a cavity and at least one aperture for directing the fluid into the container; a stem mounted to said body portion within said cavity and defining a longitudinal passageway extending out of said body portion; a sleeve disposed over said stem and having a top and a bottom with said bottom extending into said cavity of said body portion, said sleeve being removable from said stem and said body portion when said filling valve apparatus is serviced; a seal mounted to said bottom of said sleeve for sealing said aperture and preventing fluid from flowing through said aperture; at least one component movably connected to said sleeve and remaining connected to said sleeve when said sleeve is removed from said stem and said body portion during said servicing of said filling valve apparatus; said sleeve including an inner bore and at least one flange projecting into said bore with said component selectively abutting said flange to retain at least a portion of said component within said sleeve; and said component further defined as a cap having at least one locking finger selectively engaging said flange to retain a portion of said cap within said sleeve.