Improvements in Faucets and Bushings.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Faucets and Bushings.
I, MARK ANTHONY residing at Alameda, in the County of Alameda, and State
of California, United States of America, 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 :-
This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in faucets and
bushings of that class designed more particularly for use in connection with casks
or barrels containing beer, ale, or other fermented or distilled liquors and it
consists of the parts and details of construction as will be hereinafter more fully set
forth and described.
The object of my invention consists in providing a bushing so constructed that
the locking or operating key thereof cannot be withdrawn until the valve has been
entirely closed or opened or to permit of the improper insertion of the key or
faucet within the bushing; in providing for the ready insertion or removal of the
bushing from the barrel against the leakage of the rotating valve and further in
so constructing the faucet as to permit of its being readily adapted to bushings of
varying kinds.
Referring to the drawings forming a part of this application in which similar
letters of reference are used to denote corresponding parts throughout the entire
Specification and several views of the drawings-
Figure a sectional view showing my improved bushing applied to the bung of a
barrel with faucet connected thereto;
Figure 2 a top plan of the bushing:
Figure 3 a bottom plan of the faucet ;
Figure 4 detail view of the operating key for locking and unlocking the valve
secured to the inner end of the bushing;
Figure 5 cross sectional view of the bushing, showing the semi-circular groove
formed therein;
Figure 6 similar view, partly broken away, looking in opposite direction to
Figure 5:
Figure 7 detail broken view of faucet:
Figure 8 top plan showing preferred form of valve;
Figures 9 and 12 modifications thereof;
Figures 10 and 11 detail views of valve spindles used in connection with valves
shown in Figures 8 and 9;
Figure 13 bottom plan of operating key.
The letter A, represents the bushing, which is adapted to be removably secured
within the barrel by means of the thimble A'. located therein, which thimble is
designed to extend only partially through the barrel so as to leave the wooden
surface a', flush with the inner surface of the thimble; while at the top thereof is left
the rear wall a. Said thimble is provided with inner and outer screw-threads, the
outer of which permits the same being secured within the barrel; while the bushing
has the outer threads cut therein to correspond with the inner threads of the
thimble. By the employment of this thimble I am enabled to readily secure or
withdraw the bushing. By the manner of securing the bushing within the barrel
now in use, that is, by bringing the threads of the bushing in direct contact with
the wood, it is nearly impossible to remove the same when desired owing to the
welling or elo-ing of the wood around the threads thus frequently necessitating
the breakage of the bushing in the attempt to release the same from the bung.

page_text: More especially is this the case where the bushing employed is of a complicated
nature.
The base or lower end of the bushing is adapted to form a seat B, for the
rotating valve, and has the opening or openings b, formed therein which is or are
controlled by means of the rotating gate or valve B', mounted upon the spindle C,
which passes through a bearing formed in the valve seat B, of the bushing. The
rotating valve may be provided with openings as in Fig. 12, corresponding with
such as may be formed in the valve seat, and by the rotation thereof, through the
medium of the faucet or operating key, is adapted to open or close. By preference
I use the form of valve illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings, although either of
the valves illustrated may be used with equally good results. The inner end of the
valve stem or spindle C, is made triangular in shape, and provided with a collar
which bears against the inner face of the head or valve seat B. The rotation of
the valve spindle controls the movements of the segmental valve.
Near the upper end of the bushing I form the diaphragm 1, having the central
opening ', which is provided with the recesses i, extending into the main portion
of the diaphragm, which permits passage of the faucet or operating key end there-
through. The upper end of the bushing is provided with the annular flange ("
which is adapted to rest upon the top of the thimble and against the surrounding
wall, of the bung. In order to fully protect the said bushing from injury
resulting thereto by rough handling, as for instance the edge of one barrel coming
in contact with the opening of the bushing, I countersink the top thereof for a
portion of its width so as to form an inner annular flange. Within this flange I
form the recesses c, el, one considerably wider than the other for the purpose herein-
after set forth, and recesses through which pass the lugs formed on the
hereinafter described operating key. Within the inner face of the bushing, and
below the openings, c, is cut the annular groove D, which is constructed in two
parts; that is it is composed of the semi-circular narrow and wide groove d, d. It
will be observed that the narrow groove d, is provided with the inclined top and
bottom, while only the top of the groove d', is inclined.
The faucet is represented by the letter E, and has provided thereon the collar E.
Below the collar E', I provide a second collar E', which is provided with the
lateral lugs e, e', of different size to correspond with the openings formed in the
countersunk rim of the bushing. The lower end of the faucet is provided with
the wards, which correspond with the recesses formed in the diaphragm of the
bushing and through which the faucet pipe must be passed before it can engage
with and turn the spindle or valve stem so as to operate the valve. The inner end
of the faucet is made to conform to the prismatic end of the spindle, and it is
provided with a series of strainer-holes, f, through which the liquid finds access
to the discharge pipe of the faucet. By constructing the faucet with the removable
tip or end I am enabled to adapt any of the ordinary faucets to the use of my
peculiar bushing.
The operating tool is indicated by the letter F, and is provided with the collar F,
which is provided with the lugs g, g', g². These lugs are made to correspond with
the width and depth of the openings and semi-circular grooves formed in the upper
end of the bushing, and like the lower end of the faucet is provided with wards
registering with the recesses in the diaphragm. By this construction of the
operating key and bushing it becomes impossible to make a wrong insertion of the
tool, inasmuch as the lugs and openings must correspond, and by the varying size
semi-circular grooves within which the lugs work it is impossible to carry the
rotating valve either too far or not far enough to entirely close or open the same
for the reason that the above stated lugs and openings must register with each other,
and by reason of the differences in the two grooves it is not possible for the larger
lug to work within the narrow groove. The end of the operating tool is made to
correspond with the prismatic end of the valve stem. The tool as thus constructed
allows of insertion into the bushing in the dark as well as in the light without fear
of being wrongly placed or of leaving the valve partly turned on when withdrawn.

page_text: In devices of similar nature an index finger has been provided in order to indicate
when the valve has been turned sufficient, but this construction is open to many
disadvantages, and is totally unfit for use in dark cellars or vaults.
When the valve illustrated in Figure 9 is used, it becomes necessary, in order to
insure a perfect right fit of the valve upon the valve seat, that the lower or outer
portion of the spindle be of peculiar construction. Instead of forming the same
with four sides or rectangular. I make this portion of the spindle with only the side
thereof flattened, as shown at e, Figure 11, and form the opening in the valve with
the flat side e, in order to correspond therewith. The necessity of this arises from
the fact that if the flat portion be placed in front of the spindle considerable play
takes place when the valve is tightened thereon at the sides, and by reason of slight
difference in the construction of the several parts the outer face of the valve does
not rest evenly upon the valve seat, and owing to the distance from the center it
becomes impossible to overcome this defect. However by throwing the flattened
portion to one side of the spindle I gain play at the front thereof, and by tightening
the nut upon the spindle I am enabled to throw the outer end of the valve tightly
upon the valve seat; thus forming a perfectly tight connection. By thus constructing
the spindle I save the expense of milling four sides and gain equally good result.
However when the form of valve shown in Figure 8 is used, which is the preferred
style, two sides of the spindle are milled, inasmuch as it is not necessary to
compensate for the uneven pressure of valve upon the valve seat, consequently in
connection with such valve l'employ the spindle set forth in Figure 10.
In order to provide against the perforation formed in end of faucet becoming
clogged with shavings, chips, or the like, which may be contained within the barrel,
I provide the strainer F, which fits over the valve and projects within the interior
of the barrel. Said strainer is held in position by means of nut f, which serves to
maintain the valve in place. The lower end of the faucet may, if so desired, be
made removable so as to permit of attachment to the ordinary faucet, thus allowing
of any faucet being readily adopted to my particular form of bushing.
I am aware that minor changes may be made in the construction herein shown
and described without necessitating a departure from the nature and scope of my
invention.
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 :-
-
1. The combination with a tap or bushing for barrels, of a metallic thimble
secured therein so as to form a permanent fastening device for the bushing, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth and described.
2. The combination with a thimble secured within the barrel so as to leave the
upper and lower wooden faces extending below and above the ends of the
thimble, of the screw-threaded bushing adapted to be secured within the thimble.
said bushing being provided with the outwardly extending annular flange resting
against the upper wooden face of the bung and upon the top of the thimble, sub-
stantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a tap or bushing, provided with the valve seat at it-
lower end, of the valve stem or spindle having one side thereof flatten d. passing
through the valve seat, and of the rotating valve secured upon said spindle, sub-
stantially as set forth and described.
4. The combination with a tap or bushing for barrels having a narrow and wide
semi-circular groove formed in its inner face, openings of different diameter
intersecting said grooves, and of the operating key provided with different size lugs
adapted to fit within the openings and grooves formed in the bushing for opening
and closing the rotating valve, substantially as set forth and de-cribed.
5. The combination with a bushing or tap provided with an annular top lange
countersunk so as to form the inwardly extending protecting flange, openings formed
therein of varying size, and of the operating faucet having laterally extending lugs

page_text: formed thereon adapted to pass through the openings formed in the inner protecting
rit and having an annular collar secured to the lower portion thereof, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth and described.
6. The combination with the valve stem of the herein described bushing having
its lower portion flattened to one side, of the rotating valve having a central opening
corresponding with the shape of the valve stem and adapted to be rotated by the
movement of the valve stem through the medium of the faucet or operating tool,
substantially as set forth and described.
7. The combination with the herein described bushing, of an operating tool
having laterally projecting lugs corresponding with the openings formed in the
inner face of the bushing, substantially as set forth and described.
8. A faucet having a removable tip or end for the purpose of permitting the
same to be readily adapted for varying kind of bushings, substantially as set forth
and described.
9. The combination with a faucet, of a removable tip having its upper end
reduced and adapted to fit within the end of the faucet, substantially as set forth
and described.
10. The combination with a bushing, of a valve stem or spindle extending
through the valve seat provided with the inner prismatic end, operating valve
secured to the outer portion of the spindle, and of the operating faucet or tool
having its inner end formed to correspond with the shape of the spindle, substantially
as set forth and described.
11. A bushing or tap for barrels provided with a valve stem or spindle,
diaphragm located in its upper portion having the central opening formed therein.
rearwardly extending recess formed into the main portion of the diaphragm, and
with the varying size grooves formed in its upper end intersected by openings of
different diameter, substantially as set forth and described.
12. A chambered tap or bushing having a valve located therein provided with
an interior prismatic head, diaphragm formed in its upper portion having the central
aperture, semi-circular grooves formed in the upper end of the bushing intersected
by openings or notches of different width, and of the operating faucet or tool fitting
within the bushing and adapted to move the spindle so as to operate the valve,
substantially as set forth and described.
13. The combination with a chambered tap or bushing, of the operating faucet
provided with an annular bearing flange, collar located below said flange having
laterally extending lugs formed thereon, the lower end of said faucet being formed
to correspond with the shape of the inner end of the valve spindle, and of the inlet
or strainer holes provided in the reduced portion of the faucet, substantially as set
forth and described.
14. The combination with a chambered tap or bushing having the valve stem or
spindle located therein and the upper end provided with the oppositely arranged
grooves and intersecting openings of different width, of the operating tool having
the annular collar provided with lugs of different size adapted to pass through the
intersecting openings and to work within the semi-circular grooves for locking or
unlocking the valve, substantially as set forth and described.
15. The combination with a chamberal tap or bushing having a valve seat formed
by its lower end, valve spindle passing through the valve seat, rotating valve
secured upon the valve spindle, said valve having openings formed therein corre
sponding with the ones formed in the valve seat adapted upon the rotation thereof
to open or close the bushing, substantially as set forth and described.
16. The combination with a tap or easing for barrels, having its outer end
provided with a central aumlar depression, of a faucet provided with an annular
ilange adapted to fit in the said annular de pression when the faucet is in position,
substantially as set forth.
17. The combination of a tap or bushing for barrels, having opposite narrow and
wide semi-circular inclined grooves, said grooves provided with diametrically
opposite openings, one of said openings being wider than the other, an operating

page_text: faucet provided with lateral oppositely inclined or bevelled lugs of varying widths
so as to correspond to the varying widths of the openings, and a washer upon the
reduced end of the faucet adapted to be compressed in the semi-circular grooves as
the faucet is turned, substantially as set forth.
18. The combination of a valve and valve spindle. a bushing, and a faucet
adapted to engage said valve spindle and form an outer connection before the valve
is opened and to close the valve before the connection is broken, substantially as
set forth.
19. In combination with the herein described bushing for barrels, of the valve
secured thereto, and of the strainer covering said valve and secured to the spindle,
as and for the purpose set forth.
MARK ANTHONY.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.