A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING THE TAPHOLES OF BREWERS AND DISTILLERS CASKS AND BARRELS, ALSO THE BUNG OR SHIVE HOLE
Year: 1882

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LETTERS PATENT to Louisa Josephine Prosser of "The Cedars Portland
Avenue Upper Clapton in the county of Middlesex for an Invention of
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ADD DITU
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PROTUOTEVA
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louisa Josephine Prosser at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1882.
LOUISA JOSEPHINE PROSSER of "The Cedars " Portland Avenue Upper Clapton
in the County of Middlesex "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING
THE TAPHOLES OF BREWERS AND DISTILLERS CASKS AND BARRELS, ALSO THE
BUNG OR SHIVE HOLE."
The object of this Invention is a new or improved apparatus as a shield or
protector to the tap hole and shive or bung hole of a cask or barrel to obviate the
present use of a cork to fill up the hole after the tap or bung has been withdrawn
froin the cask or barrel when empty.
For the purpose of my Invention I groove or channel the head of a cask or barrel
round where the tap hole or bung hole is situate and fit therein by screw or
otherwise a plate which is flush with such head or stave. To this plate I pivot at
one of its corners or ends another plate which can be swung round to cover a hole
which is in the base plate and corresponding with the tap hole or bung hole.
The base plate is provided with an under cut lip or projection for the reception
of the edge of the upper plate which can pass into it to present a snug and almost
flush surface to the head of the cask or barrel as not to be interfered with during
any shifting or movement of a cask such as is usual with brewers and distillers
casks and barrels when being cleansed, steamed, or washed previous to being
refilled with liquid.
The cover plate is preferably provided with a spring formed from the cover itself
or attached to it to engage in a notch or its equivalent in the lip to hold the cover
secure, a lug or button facilitating the opening or closing action of the cover.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Louisa Josephine Prosser in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd December 1882.
$6
$5
LOUISA JOSEPHINE PROSSER of The Cedars" Portland Avenue Upper Clapton
in the County of Middlesex A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING
THE TAPHOLES OF BREWERS AND DISTILLERS CASKS AND BARRELS ALSO THE
BUNG OR SHIVE HOLE'
""
The object of this invention is a new or improved apparatus as a shield or
protector to the tap hole and shive or bung hole of a cask or barrel to obviate the
present use of a cork to fill up the hole after the tap or bung has been withdrawn
from the cask or barrel when empty
For the purposes of my invention I groove or channel the head of a cask or
barrel round where the tap hole or bung hole is situate and fit therein by screw or
otherwise a plate which is flush with such head or stave. To this plate I pivot at
one of its corners or ends another plate which can be swung round to cover a bole
which is in the base plate and corresponding with the tap hole or bung hole.
The base plate is provided with an undercut lip or projection for the reception
of the edge of the upper plate which can pass into it to present a snug and almost
flush surface to the head of the cask or barrel as not to be interfered with during
any shifting or movement of a cask such as is usual with brewers and distillers
casks and barrels when being cleansed steamed or washed previous to being refilled
with liquid.
The cover plate is preferably provided with a spring formed from the cover itself
or attached to it-to engage in a notch or its equivalent in the lip to hold the cover
secure a lug or button facilitating the opening or closing action of the cover.
My invention will be clearly understood by the annexed drawings in which
Figure 1 shows a portion of the head of a cask A with one form of pro-
tector B attached by screws thereto. The protector or guard B has an aperture C
in it the same or about the same size as the hole previously made in the cask head
for the reception of the tap by which the liquid can be drawn off; but I prefer
that the hole in the head be slightly larger in the front or outer portion of it to
admit the inner edge of a rubber washer D which becomes driven in when the
tap is first inserted and thereby enables the usual paper or other ferrule being
dispensed with.
The washer D in my arrangement is compressed and held in place by my
protector B by being fitted under it.
Near one side or end of my protector I hinge or pivot a flap or cover E which
can be turned up as shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 or bo slid up as in Figures 5
and 6 or it may be turned or swung in any other direction to uncover the aperture C
as desired
In Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 I show my apparatus with a screw like action a
quarter or a half turn or swing being sufficient to cover or to uncover the aperture
whether the apparatus be applied to the head tap hole, the head bung hole the vent
hole or the stave bung or shive hole.-either or all of which can be securely covered
by my apparatus of one or other of the forms shown on the drawings
When my apparatus is intended for covering or protecting the bead or the stave
bung or shive hole I make the inner side of the cover E (of disc form) hollow and
fill the hollow with a wooden shive or by a bung F so that the liquid contained in
the cask or barrel is prevented coming in contact with metal some fermented

page_text: liquors being materially injured both in flavor and colour thereby-which I by my
invention entirely obviate.
My apparatus may be recessed to any desired depth in the wood of which the
cask is composed and may be fastened to it by screws as in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6 or the apparatus may itself be formed with screw threads G like tho ordinary
method of bushing
To keep the cover E in the desired position either open or closed I form a
spring H from some portion of it, or affix a spring I to the apparatus B several
samples being shown in the drawings in order that it may be understood and I
provide a stud or nick J in the cover to enable it to be easily moved.
In some cases I recess the cover E and use a key by which it can be turned.
Or I make a hole K in the inside of the outer collar in which I place a mandril or
other lever.
By this means it can be nipped home tight. In Figure 9 I show the cover E
with a right hand screw and in Figure 10 with the screw in the reverse direction,
the screw to be either Whitworth, bayonet, drop, or other.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner tho
same is to be performed 1 declare that I claim.
The several methods or arrangements of apparatus shown in the annexed
drawings by which the tap, bung, shive, or other hole in a cask or barrel can bo
covered and protected as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof I the said Louisa Josephine Prosser have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty second day December in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
LOUISA J TRUSSER
(L.S.)