IMPROVEMENTS IN WINE AND OTHER COCKS OR TAPS."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederich Wilhelm Ritter, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINE
AND OTHER COCKS OR TAPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederich Wilhelm Ritter at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1876.
FREDERICH WILHELM RITTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINE AND OTHER COCKS OR TAPS."
The object of this Invention is to produce taps with smooth channels throughout,
to prevent the corrosion thereof, and damage to the liquids passing through such
channels by coating or lining the said channels, and protecting the plugs of the taps
with tin or other non-corrosive metal.
The means by which I attain this object are as follows:-Instead of forming the
channel of the barrel of the tap to increase in size from its outer end to the plug I
form the channel of my improved tap tapering the reverse way, that is, decreasing
in sectional area from the outer end to the plug. By thus forming the said channel
I am enabled to bore or rime such channel quite smooth, and thereby obtain a
quicker and steadier run of liquids through the tap. Having thus prepared the
inside of the tap I then coat or line the same throughout with tin or other non-
corrosive metal. The passage or bore through the plug of the tap is prepared and
lined in the same way.
In order to more completely protect the liquids in the tap from being injuriously
affected by metallic poison a shield of non-corrosive metal or other suitable material
is sunk into the body of the plug on each face thereof, which is brought in contact
with such liquids when the tap is "turned off." Taps thus coated or lined and
constructed may be continued in use for any length of time for wines, ales, spirits,
and the like liquids, without producing any injurious effects on such liquids.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Frederich Wilhelm Ritter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
March 1877.
FREDERICH WILHELM RITTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINE AND OTHER COCKS OR TAPS."
The object of this Invention is to produce taps with smooth channels throughout,
to prevent the corrosion thereof, and damage to the liquids passing through such
channels by coating or lining the said channels, and protecting the plugs of the
taps with tin or other non-corrosive metal, which object I attain by the following
means:
In order that my said Invention may be more fully and more clearly understood, and
be more readily performed, I will explain the same with the aid of the accompanying
Drawing, which forms part of this Specification, reference being made thereto by
the numerals and letters marked thereon, and which reference applies to each Figure
of the said Drawing where the same index numerals and letters appear.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the centre of the tap, shewing--my
improved form of channel.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the plug of such tap as prepared for receiving a coating.
of non-corrosive metal.
Figure 3 is a similar elevation after the plug has been coated and completed.
Instead of forming the channel a of the barrel of the tap to increase in size or
diameter from its outer end a¹ to the plug b I form the said channel a of my
improved tap tapering the reverse way, that is, decreasing in sectional area from
the outer end a¹ to the plug b, see Figure 1 By thus forining the said channel a I
am enabled to bore or rime such channel quite smooth, and thereby obtain a quicker
and steadier run of liquids through the tap. When the channel a of the tap is thus
bored or rimed and prepared I then coat or line the same, which is done in the
following manner:-Two suitable vessels for melting the non-corrosive metal are
provided, in one of which vessels the molten metal is raised to a higher degree of
heat than the metal in the other vessel. The outside of the tap is now covered with
clay or other suitable material, and passed through the said molten metal, having
the higher degree of heat. By this operation a thin coat of the non-corrosive metal
adheres to all the exposed portions of the tap The said tap is then passed through
the said molten metal having the lower degree of temperature, which process adds a
thicker coating upon the one previously deposited. The temperature of one or
both these molten metals may be varied in accordance with the desired thickness of
the coating. The passage or bore c through the plug 6 is prepared and lined in
the same way; or, the more completely to protect the liquid remaining in the
channel a of the tap when turned off or not running from being injuriously affected
by the corrosion of the metal forming the plug b, I insert a shield of non-corrosive
metal or other suitable material into the body of the plug b on each face or part
thereof which is brought in contact with such liquid when the tap is turned off or
closed. Or, to make this part of my Invention still more perfect I propose to
extend the said shields all round the plug b, which circular or conical shield is
prepared and fitted thus:-After the plug 6 has been cast in the usual way (or it
may be cast as shewn in Figure 2) the part at d is turned true so as to form the
circular or conical sunk recess, as shewn. The hole c is also drilled and formed to
a larger size than is ultimately required, as shewn in Figure 2. The plug 6 thus
far prepared is then placed in a suitable mould, and the non-corrosive metal poured
in to fill up the recess & and the hole c.The part at d is then turned to the shape as
shewn in Figure 3, and the hole c bored true to suit the adjoining part of the channel a,
as shewn in Figure 3, or the hole or passage c may be circular (as shewn by the
dotted circles in Figures 2 and 3), or of any other suitable sectional shape. Taps
thus constructed and coated or lined will permit a more fice, full, and steady flow
of the liquids passing through them, and also may be continued in use without

page_text: corrosion for any length of time for drawing off wines, ales, spirits, or other similar
liquids.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the method of performing the same without restricting myself to the precise
details or the thickness of the non-corrosive metal now illustrated, I claim as my
Invention and desire to secure by the herein-before mentioned in part recited Letters
Patent
Firstly. The method of forming and lining the internal channels of the bodies of
wine and other cocks or taps with a non-corrosive material.
Secondly. The method of protecting the plugs of such taps, all substantially as
herein described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederich Wilhelm Ritter, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
W. COOKE,
Patent Agent,
43, Southampton Buildings,
London,
W.C.
F. W. RITTER. (LS.)