Improvements in Casks and Jars for containing Wines and other Liquids liable to Injury by Exposure to the Air.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Casks and Jars for containing Wines and other
Liquids liable to Injury by Exposure to the Air.
I, STAFFORD HILL, of Fairlawn, Ravensbourne Park, Catford, in the County of
Kent, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is well known that when wine or other like liquid is kept in a cask from
which it is drawn in small quantities from time to time as required, that changes
of a deleterious character often take place in the liquid, which may become
oxidised, sour, or otherwise injured, particularly that portion which remains to
the last.
Now my invention is intended to provide means for protecting the surface of
the liquid from contact with the air and so that the whole quantity contained in
the vessel may be drawn off as required without that remaining in the cask from
time to time being exposed to injurious influences such as above mentioned.
Now according to my invention I provide a flexible diaphragm of water and
air proof material which I fix within the cask on a line round it midway between
the bottom and the top, or in other words, at the equator of the cask, and of such
amplitude that it will entirely cover the inner surface of either half of the cask.
When the vessel is of the usual shape, that is to say, of greatest diameter midway
and tapering towards its ends I may make the diaphragm partly of a rigid disc,
which may be of earthenware or other material, of size to fit loosely within the cask
at its ends, and I fasten the flexible portion of the diaphragm round the edge
of this, and fasten the other end of the flexible diaphragm equatorially round
the interior of the cask, so that when the cask is full of liquid the diaphragm
is pushed up into close contact with the upper portion of the cask, and as the
liquid is drawn off the diaphragm sinks with the liquid, always resting on the
surface thereof, and covering it and protecting it from contact with the air in
the upper part of the cask.
By this means delicate wines may be kept in appropriate jars or casks and
drawn from day to day as wanted until the whole is used, without the latter
portions suffering any such depreciation as would be inevitable without some
such device.
The casks and jars to be fitted with my invention may be variously constructed
and either of wood, stone, or earthenware, glass or the like, and in order to
facilitate the insertion of the diaphragm they may be made in two pieces with a
suitable rim and fillet or the like or other arrangement for securing and fixing
the diaphragm, and with suitable external lugs for the reception of screw bolts
or clumps or the like for holding the two halves together, and I make the bung-
hole or opening through which the cask or jar is to be filled in the lower half
of the same, so as to be beneath the diaphragm, and I may make it in the bottom
or lower end of the same in which case the cask or jar is inverted to be filled and
when the opening is again securely closed with a bung or otherwise it is again
placed on its proper end i.e. with the bung-hole beneath.

page_text: A tap is provided for drawing off the liquid and the levels of the interior may
be so arranged that practically the whole of the contents may be drawn off by
means of the tap.
My invention although applicable to larger and other casks, is more especially
intended for use in respect of jars containing only a few-say for instance two or
more gallons and by this means not only will the cost of bottling be saved but
the consumer will be able to use any small quantity he requires without exposing
the contents of an entire bottle.
Dated the 5th day of August 1807
Improvements in Casks and Jars for containing Wines and other
Liquids liable to Injury by Exposure to the Air.
I, STAFFORD HILL, of Fairlawn, Ravensbourne Park, Catford, in the County of
Kent, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
-
It is well known that when wine or other like liquid is kept in a cask from
which it is drawn in small quantities from time to time as required, that changes
of a deleterious character often take place in the liquid, which may become
oxidised, sour, or otherwise injured, particularly that portion which remains to
the last.
Now my invention is intended to provide means for protecting the surface of
the liquid from contact with the air and so that the whole quantity contained in
the vessel may be drawn off as required without that remaining in the cask from
time to time being exposed to injurious influences such as above mentioned.
Now according to my invention I provide a diaphragm of flexible water and
air proof material which I fix within the cask on a line round it about midway
between the bottom and the top, or in other words, at or near the equator of the
cask, and of such amplitude that it will entirely cover the inner surface of either
half of the cask.
When the vessel is of the usual shape, that is to say of greater diameter inidway
and tapering towards its ends I may make the diaphragm partly of a rigid disc,
which may be of earthenware or other material, of size to fit loosely within the cask
at its ends, and I fasten the flexible portion of the diaphragm round the edge
of this, and fasten the other end of the flexible diaphragm equatorially round
the interior of the cask, so that when the cask is full of liquid the diaphragm
is pushed up into close contact with the upper portion of the cask, and as the
liquid is drawn off the diaphragm sinks with the liquid, always resting on the
surface thereof, and covering it and protecting it from contact with the air in
the upper part of the cask.
By this means delicate wines may be kept in appropriate jars or casks and
drawn from day to day, as wanted until the whole is used, without the latter
portions suffering any such depreciation as would be inevitable without some
such device.
The casks and jars to be fitted with my invention may be variously constructed
and either of wood stone, or earthenware, glass or the like, and in order to
facilitate the insertion of the diaphragm they may be made in two pieces with a
suitable rim and fillet or the like or other arrangement for securing and fixing

page_text: the diaphragm, and with suitable external lugs for the reception of screw bolts
or clamps or the like for holding the two halves together, and I make the bung-
hole or opening through which the cask or jar is to be filled in the lower half
of the same, so as to be beneath the diaphragm, or I may make it in the bottom
or lower end of the same in which case the cask or jar is inverted to be filled and
when the opening is again securely closed with a bung or otherwise it is again
placed on its proper end i.e. with the bung-hole beneath.
A tap is provided for drawing off the liquid and the levels of the interior may
be so arranged that practically the whole of the contents may be drawn off by
means of the tap,
I will describe my invention by reference to the accompanying drawings in
which I have represented one of the various forms in which the cask or jar may
be constructed; in these drawings.
Fig. 1 is a plan and Fig. 2 a vertical section of the cask or jar inverted, and
with the bung or stopper removed, as when the said cask is being filled, and Fig. 3
is a plan and Fig. 4 a vertical section of the cask or jar in its operative position.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The cask or jar represented in the drawings is formed of earthenware, porcelain,
or like material, in two parts A and B, provided with flanges a and b respectively.
These flanges are perforated for receiving bolts c by which, and by the nuts c¹
screwed on the said bolts, the two parts A and B are secured together.
D is the diaphragm which is substantially in the form of a cup and the circular
edge d of which is gripped between the two flanges a b, a bead or cord, which
engages with grooves in the flanges, serving to secure the said edge in position
and ensures the making of a tight joint.
I prefer to make the flexible diaphragm of pure india-rubber of good quality
and I either make it in one piece of the shape required by means of a suitable
mould, or make it of sheet rubber with neatly cemented seams, but any other
suitable material may be used, the essential requirements being that it shall be
air-tight, water-tight, sufficiently flexible, and not liable to crack or deteriorate
by contact with the liquid or otherwise.
The part A which constitutes the lower part when the cask or jar is in its
operative position as shown in Fig. 4 is provided with a screw-threaded hole a¹
for receiving the screw-threaded stopper e which has a cork, india-rubber, or
equivalent washer e¹ on it for making a tight joint when the stopper is screwed
into the hole a¹. The part A is also provided with a tap f of any desired con-
struction through which the contents of the cask or jar may be drawn off.
The upper part B of the cask or jar is provided with a hole or two or moro
holes 6 for admitting air to the interior of the said cask above the diaphragm
when the liquid is being drawn off.
When the cask or jar is empty it is inverted and the stopper e is removed, as
shown in Fig. 2, after which the liquid may be poured in through the hole a¹,
the diaphragm 1) during the filling operation being pressed, by the weight of
the liquid, into close contact with the interior of the part B, all as shown in Fig. 2.
When the cask or jar has been completely filled so that all the air is expelled
the stopper e is replaced and screwed tightly home and the cask turned end for
end so as to again be in its operative position as shown in Fig. 4, when by simply
turning on the tap f the liquid may be drawn off at any desired time and in any
desired quantities the impermeable diaphragm D sinking with and resting on
the surface of the liquid as the water descends in the cask, and at all times pre-
renting the air from reaching the said liquid.
My invention although applicable to larger and other casks, is more especially
ntended for use in respect of jars containing only a few-say for instance two or
more gallons-and by this means not only will the cost of bottling be saved but
he consumer will be able to use any small quantity he requires without exposing
he contents of an entire bottle.
The before described device may be modified without departing from the essential

page_text: feature of the invention, for example, instead of the bolts and nuts c, c I may
employ clamps or other suitable means for securing the parts A and B together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a cask or jar, of a partly or wholly flexible diaphragm
secured within it substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. The combination with a cask or jar formed in two parts separable at or near
the equator of the said vessel, of a partly or wholly flexible diaphragm secured
between the meeting edges of the said parts substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the liquid-container
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.