IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE TAPPING OF BARRELS AND FOR DRAWING LIQUIDS THEREFROM
Year: 1884

page_text: I, CHARLES LEWIS EYRE of 22 Surrey Street Strand in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of the above mentioned Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE TAPPING OF BARRELS AND
FOR DRAWING LIQUIDS THEREFROM" which Invention has been communicated to me
from abroad by Joseph Louis Spofford of the City County and State of New York
in the United States of America Gentleman to be as follows:-
My invention involves an improvement in combined taps or Faucets and tap
valves for use generally in drawing off the contents of Casks kegs and other vessels,
but more particularly designed for use with receptacles containing ale beer and other
malt liquors or such as are under pressure from fermentation or effervescence.
Heretofore appliances of various kinds have been employed for plugging or closing
the tapholes of Casks or kegs of this kind but no means so far as I am aware have
been devised for completely obviating certain difficulties that are encountered in
their use.
The usual and best known method of closing the Tap holes has hitherto been to
drive in a simple wood or Cork plug which is driven into the Cask by the insertion
of the tap or Faucet This plan particularly in the case of Malt liquors is
objectionable from the difficulty of extracting the plugs on refilling the Casks and
for the reason that the insertion of the tap or Faucet by means of a mallet agitates
the liquor and liberates the gas.
A further objection to the devices hitherto in use lies in the fact, that on the
removal of the tap or Faucet the Taphole is left open thus rendering the Cask liable
to become musty and unfit for further use.
These objections I avoid by the said Invention the general nature of which is as
follows.
employ a screw threaded cup or bushing which is inserted in the bung or
Taphole of the Cask-This cup contains a valve provided with inclined flanges or
Screw threads that engage with threads or lugs within the cup and which when
turned is moved towards or from the bottom of the Cup.
To effect this movement I provido the valve with suitable projections which
register with corresponding notches in the tap or Faucet when the latter is
inserted and I take advantage of this movement for opening and closing com-
munication with the interior of the Cask and for holding the tap or Faucet in
its place.

page_text: The construction in detail of the devices which I employ for this purpose is as
follows:-
In the Tap hole (which is screw-threaded) in the head of a Cask or keg is
inserted a Cup or shell of metal screw-threaded on its exterior.
In the bottom of the Cup are a number of perforations and its rim is flanged and
provided with a groove portions being cut away at two or more points.
There is an annular Banged face plate provided with lugs or ears that register
with the cut away portions and permit the plate to be applied to the cup and held
in place when the plate is turned to bring the lugs into the grooves.
In the bottom of the cup is placed a metal cup on the sides of which are two
inclined flanges constituting right and left hand screw threads-At diametrical
opposite points on the interior of the Cup are lugs or any equivalent means that
afford guides or bearing surfaces for the threads on the valve and cause the same
to be raised or lowered within the Cup when turned in one direction or the other.
The valve is of smaller diameter than the Cup a space is therefore left between
it and the sides of the Cup and there is placed in the forward part of the Cup a
ring or washer of soft rubber with a metal ring against the washer which nearly or
quite fills the space between the washer and the rim of the valve.
In the bottom of the Cup and around the perforations there is set a rubber
washer forming a seat for the valve the latter of which is provided with two or more
lugs or projections.
The Tap or Faucet is an ordinary one having a straight shank of a diameter
nearly equal to that of the opening in the annular face plate A groove is formed
in the shank and slots or notches are cut in the end in position to register with the
lugs on the valve.
The manner of applying and using the device is as follows.
The valve the ring the washer and the plate having been placed in the relative
positions above described the tap or Faucet is inserted through the plate until the
lugs enter the slots in its end. The Tap or Faucet is then turned bodily say one
quarter of a revolution by which the valve is raised away from its seat opening
communication between the interior of the Cask and the Tap or Faucet-This
movement brings the rim of the valve against the ring with great force compresses
the washer and causes it to enter the groove in the Tap or Faucet while the valve
is raised therefore the Tap or Faucet is held firmly in place this having been effected
without disturbing the contents of the Cask which may then be drawn off in the
usual way.
To remove the Tap or Faucet it is turned back one quarter of a turn which
brings the valve back firmly on its seat and closes the Cask. The washer at the
same time resumes its original shape and permits the Tap or Faucet to be withdrawn
without opposition.
Though the construction of the parts which I have now described may be
considerably varied and modified I will describe in detail only the modifications
which I regard as best calculated to reduce the Cost and simplify the construction
of the device. In lieu of using a valve with solid bottom I may use one with a
number of perforations in which case the bottom of the Cup will contain but one
central opening and a washer will be attached to the bottom of the valve. The
valve in lieu of being in the form of a Cylinder may be a plate with inclined sides
carrying threads or ways and ending in lugs or ears.
In many other particulars the construction may be modified without departure
from the Invention the requirements of which are fulfilled by the presence of any
devices operating in substantially the manner herein described to lock or bind the
tap or faucet in place through the binding around it of a washer compressed by the
forward movement or opening of the valve.

page_text: I CHARLES LEWIS EYRE of No 1 John Street Bedford Row in the County of
Middlesex but late of No 22 Surrey Street in the same County Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of the above mentioned invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE TAPPING OF BARRELS AND FOR DRAWING
LIQUIDS THEREFROM (which Invention has been communicated to me from abroad
by Joseph Louis Spofford of the City County and State of New York in the
United States of America Gentleman, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings accompanying and forming a part
of the same :-
My Invention involves an improvement in a combined tap or faucet and tap
valves for use generally in drawing off the contents of Casks kegs and other vessels
but more particularly designed for use with receptacles containing Ale beer and
other malt liquors or such as are under pressure from fermentation or effervescence.
Heretofore appliances of various kinds have been employed for plugging or
closing the tap-holes of Casks or kegs of this kind but no means so far as I am
aware have been devised for completely obviating certain difficulties that are
encountered in their use. The usual and best known method of closing the tap-
holes has hitherto been to drive in a simple wood or cork plug which is driven
into the Cask by the insertion of the tap or faucet-This plan, particularly in the
case of malt liquors is objectionable, from the difficulty of extracting the plugs on
refilling the Casks and for the reason that the insertion of the tap or faucet by
means of a mallet agitates the liquor and liberates the gas.
With a view to obviating the objections which the ordinary taps present,
appliances have been devised for insertion in the bung holes in barrels and Casks
which consist, mainly, of a cup or socket containing a valve arranged to be opened
by the insertion and closed by the withdrawal of the tap or faucet-Over devices
of this class my present invention is an improvement, the general nature of the
Invention being as follows:-I employ a screw threaded cup or bushing, which is
inserted in the bung or tap hole of the Cask. This cup contains a valve provided
with inclined flanges or screw threads that engage with threads or lugs within the
cup and which when turned is moved toward or from the bottom of the cup-To
effect this movement I provide the valve with suitable projections which engage
with corresponding notches in the tap or faucet when the latter is inserted and
I take advantage of this movement for opening and closing communication with
the interior of the Cask and for holding the tap or faucet in its place.
The construction in detail of the devices which I employ for this purpose will be
described by reference to the accompanying Drawings where-
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of my Invention showing the manner
of its application to a cask. Fig: 2 is a similar section of a portion of the device
with the valve in another position; Fig: 3. a top view of the cup or bushing for
containing the valve ;-Fig: 4 a section of the same-Figs: 5 and 6 are top and
vertical sectional views respectively of the face plate;-Fig: 7 a top view of a
modified form of valve-Fig: 8 a side clevation of the same showing a portion of
the cup or bushing in section. Fig: 9 is a top view of the valve with slight
modifications; Fig: 10 a side elevation of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The letter A designates a portion of the head of a cask or keg, provided with
the usual tap hole for drawing off its contents-In the tap-hole, which is screw

page_text: threaded, is inserted a cup or shell, B, of metal, screw threaded on its exterior In
the bottom of the cup B are a number of perforations a. Its rim b. is flanged and
provided with a groove, c, portions being cut away at two or more points, c¹ as
shewn in Figs 3. & 4.
C. is an annular flanged face plate provided with the lugs or ears a¹, that enter
at the cut away portions c¹ and permit the plate to be applied to the cup B and
held in place when the plate is turned to bring the lugs into the grooves c.
In the bottom of the cup B is placed a metal cup or valve D on the sides of
which are two inclined flanges & d' constituting right and left hand screw threads
as shewn clearly in the detached views Fig's 9 & 10.-At diametrically opposite
points on the interior of the cup B are lugs e e¹ or any equivalent means that afford
guides or bearing surfaces for the threads on the valve D and cause the same to be
raised or lowered within the cup B when turned in one direction or the other―
The valve D is of smaller diameter than the cup B. A space is therefore left
between it and the sides of the cup.
E is a ring or washer of soft rubber which is placed in the forward part of the
cup B.
F is a metal ring placed against the washer and nearly or quite filling the space
between the washer and the rim of the valve D.
In the bottom of the cup B and around the perforations is set a rubber washer f
forming a seat for the valve D-The latter is provided with two or more lugs or
projections g. g-
G. is an ordinary tap or faucet having a straight shank H, of a diameter
nearly equal to that of the opening in the annular face plate C. A groove h, is
formed in the shank and slots or notches K. K. are cut in the end in position to
engage with the lugs g. g on the valve D.
The manner of applying and using the device is as follows:-The valve D,
ring F. the washer E and plate C having been placed in the relative positions
above described the tap or faucet is inserted through the plate C. until the
lugs g. g. enter the slots K in its end-The tap or faucet is then turned bodily,
say one quarter of a revolution by which the valve D is raised away from its
seat, opening communication between the interior of the Cask and the tap or
faucet This movement brings the lugs g. 9 (or the rim of the valve D when
constructed as shewn in Figs 7 & 8) against the ring F with great force, compresses
the washer E, and causes it to enter the groove h. in the tap or faucet-This
condition of the parts is shewn in Fig: 2-While the valve D is raised, therefore,
the tap or faucet is held firmly in place this having been effected without dis-
turbing the contents of the Cask, which may then be drawn off in the usual way-
To remove the tap or faucet it is turned back one quarter of a turn which brings
the valve D back firmly on its seat and closes the Cask-The washer E at the same
time resumes its original shape and permits the tap or faucet to be withdrawn
without opposition.
Though the construction of the parts which I have now described may be con-
siderably varied and modified I will describe in detail only such modifications as
I regard as best calculated to reduce the cost and simplify the construction of the
device.
In lieu of using a valve with solid bottom I may use one with a number of
perforations (such as shewn in Fig: 7) in which case the bottom of the cup B will
contain but one central opening n. Fig: 8 and a washer m. be attached to the
bottom of the valve D.
The valve D in lieu of being in the form of a Cylinder may be a plate N. Figs: 9
and 10 with the inclined sides p. p. carrying the threads or ways & d' and ending
in the lugs or ears g. g. Having now particularly described and ascertained the
nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination with a tap or faucet having notches in its end of a cup
or shell with a perforated bottom, a valve with inclined ways engaging with

page_text: guides in the interior of the cup or shell and provided with lugs for engaging with
the notches in the tap or faucet, and an elastic ring or wa-her confined within the
cup and adapted to be compressed around the tap or faucet by the forward
movement of the valve substantially as set forth.
Second. A tap-valve consisting of a threaded cup with perforated bottom, a
removable annular face-plate and elastic ring or washer, and a screw threaded
valve provided with lugs or ears, in combination with a tap or faucet of a con-
formation to be inserted through the face plate and elastic ring, and having notches
in its end for engaging with the lugs or ears on the valve, whereby the latter may
be turned and raised substantially as set forth.
Third The combination with a cup or shell having a perforated bottom, of the
removable annular plate C, the elastic ring F., washer E, screw threaded valve D
having lugs g. g, and a tap or faucet provided with notches or slots for engaging
with, and operating the valve in the manner set forth.
Fourth The combination with the shell or cup B having a perforated bottom,
of au annular face-plate C, an elastic ring or washer confined thereby, a plate or
valve having lugs g. g. and inclined flanges or threads engaging with guides in the
cup, and a tap or faucet having a cylindrical shank provided with a groove h. and
slots K K. all substantially as herein described.
Dated this ninth day of December one thousand eight hundred and eighty four.