Improvements in and relating to Taps for Barrels and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
[Communicated from abroad by THE ROCHESTER BUNGING APPARATUS COMPANY,
of 306 and 307, Beckley Building, Rochester, New York, United States of
America, Manufacturers.]
Improvements in and relating to Taps for Barrels and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to a new and improved tap, for barrels or other receptacles,
and consists in the novel features of construction and relative arrangement of
parts hereinafter fully described in the specification, clearly illustrated in the
drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying one sheet of drawings, forming
a part of this application, in which like characters indicate like parts, wherever
they occur.
Figure
represents, in vertical section, a tap constructed in accordance with
my invention, a portion of the keg or cask being also shown in section.
Figure 2 represents a top plan view thereof.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, the valve being shown closed.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the delivery tube in engagement
with the tap:
Figure represents a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 represents a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, the
valve being shown as closed.
Figure 7 represents a similar view, the valve being shown open.
Figure 8 represents a cross-sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.
Figure 9 represents a front elevation of the delivery tube.
Figure 10 represents a front elevation of the valve-port tool.
Figure 11 represents a view similar to Figure 1, showing the tool in place.
Figure 12 represents a detached view of the valve stem, nut, and washer.
Figure 13 represents a front elevation of the wrench for opening and closing
the valve.
Ex
Figure 14 represents a bottom plan view of the wrench..
Figure 15 represents a front elevation of the 'spanner for operating the nut.
Referring to the drawings, in the embodiment of my invention therein shown,
and selected by me for the purpose of illustrating my invention, a represents a
portion of the cask or barrel, provided with the usual opening a' for the insertion
of the tap b. This tap is composed of a cylindrical-shaped body provided upon
its exterior, intermediate its ends, with screw-threads for engaging the side
walls of the opening a¹, in order to secure the tap in place, as is usual. The
inner wall of the upper end of the tap is recessed to form an upwardly projecting
flange b2 and a shoulder 3, the latter being adapted to engage a washer f10.
6 represent cams on the inner wall of the tap, adapted to engage the complemental

page_text: cams in the tube f, hereafter described. represents a rib below one of the
cams, adapted to engage a complemental rib on the delivery tube hereafter
described. The inner end of the delivery tube, or the end that protrudes from
the cask or barrel a, is closed by a web b integral with the end, and is formed
with apertures arranged to communicate with complemental apertures in the
valve, hereinafter described, when the latter is opened. This web is also formed
with a central valve-stem aperture 8, the inner walls of which are extended in
order to form an upwardly projecting flange 69.
d represents a valve-stem having a cylindrical portion d' arranged in the aper-
ture 68. This stem carries a valve-disk de arranged to engage the lower face of the
web 6º, or a
packing-ring 60 composed of tin or other material applied to said
face. The valve-disk is provided with apertures adapted to register with the
apertures 67. This disk, upon its periphery, is preferably bevelled, as at d¹, to
make a tight fit between said periphery and the edge of the strainer h, when the
latter is employed. This form is also advantageous in connection with the swelling
of the wood of the cask or barrel, giving the latter a chance to press about the end
of the periphery of the valve-disk.
The valve-stem is provided with a screw-threaded extension, as at d³, below the
valve-disk d². When the strainer h is employed, the latter is screwed upon this
extension, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. This extension is also convenient for the
manipulation of the valve-stem in the lathe, while the several parts are being
fashioned. The valve-stem, or the cylindrical portion d', is cut away, making a flat
face №6. A like face is formed upon the stem at its upper end, opposite the end
of the face do. A portion of the valve-stem, or the cylindrical portion d³, is screw-
threaded as at d8. do represents a washer having a flat face dio adapted to engage
the face do when the washer is in place on the stem, whereby said washer and stem
rotate together. This washer is provided with wings d adapted to stand over
the ports 6 when the ports d³ 7 do not register, thus preventing a tool from being
inserted in the bushing to mutilate the surface of the valve-disk through the
port 67. When, however, the valve-stem is turned, as hereinafter described, to
make the ports d³ 67 communicate, these wings are turned away from the ports b²,
or the position as shown in Figure 3, to their position when the said ports d³ 67
register, as illustrated in Figure 1.
da represents a nut arranged to be screw-threaded upon its interior, adapted to
be screwed down on the stem against the washer do, and to draw the valve disk
against its seat under any desired tension or pressure. This nut is provided upon
its periphery with one or more recesses 13 adapted to be engaged by a suitable
tool for turning the nut to adjust the pressure between the valve-disk and the seat.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the valve-disk may be adjusted from the
outside, without removing the bushing from the cask, and that the stem with its
valve and nut and washer, can be turned without affecting this adjustment. It
follows from this construction that the nut and washer move with the valve-
stem, thus preventing the accidental movement of the nut by engagement with
a surface or part not moving in unison with the nut, as would be the case if the
nut engaged the web, its flange 69, or the valve-disk.
† represents a delivery tube, formed with the usual handle f¹, and at one end
provided with screw-threads f in order to connect said tube with a suitable
pipe, as is common. At its lower end this tube is formed with a projecting
flange 3, of a size to fit within the projecting flange 6 of the bushing. f10 repre-
sents a washer arranged upon the tube, below the flange, and adapted to be forced
into engagement with the rib 63. f represent cams on the lower end of the
delivery tube, situated a sufficient distance below the flange f³ to permit said cams
to engage complemental cams of the bushing, whereby the tube is securely
locked in the bushing, and the washer f10 forced against the flange 63, as shown in
Figures 4 and 5. f5 represents a rib which, as shown in Figures 4 and 9, depends
from the smaller end of one of the cams f* and is adapted to engage the rib 65 on

page_text: the interior of the bushing, in order to limit the movement of the tube in one
direction, that is, the direction in which it is turned when the valve-disk is moved
to establish communication between the ports b. It is prevented from movement
in the opposite direction when necessary or when the communication between
these ports is broken, by the arrangement of the cams b f, the larger end of one
cam on the tube engaging the larger ends of the cams on the bushing when this
reverse movement is attempted. In other words, the tube when inserted can only
be moved in one direction, and its movement in this direction is limited by the
complemental ribs 5f5. When the tube is turned to close the communication
between the ports d³ 67, its movement is limited by the larger ends of the com-
plemental cams striking each other. The rib and cams are so spaced that
quarter-turn, or a turn sufficient to open and close the valve, may be given to the
valve-stem. The construction and arrangement of parts are such that when the
delivery tube is removed, the valve-ports will in all cases be closed.
a
Casks and barrels are usually pitched after the bushing is inserted therein,
and this pitch is found in practice to fill up the ports on the inside of the cask in
the form here shown, the ports d³ thus retarding and sometimes preventing the
liquid being drawn off when the valve is open. To overcome this difficulty, I
have provided a tool r, having a suitable handle r¹, and fingers 2 reduced at their
lower ends, as at 3. The width of the main portion of the fingers is such as to fit
snugly between the cams 6 of the bushing, while the reduced or working ends 3
of the fingers are constructed of a width to pass through the ports b³. By
this construction the tool is guided accurately, so that its working ends will clear
the ports of foreign matter without scratching the walls of the ports or any of the
mechanism. This is an important feature, since it permits the free use of the
tool, while at the same time guarding against carelessness of workmen. When
the valve is closed, the wings cover the mouth of the ports as shown in
Figure 6, and it is necessary to provide some means for opening the valve, and
preferably in so doing to give said valve the same amount of movement that is
given it by the delivery tube, so that the ports 37 will exactly register; otherwise,
the ends of the fingers may be forced against the face of the valve disk, thus
scarring the same. To this end, I employ a wrench s, provided with a suitable
handles. This wrench has loosely arranged upon it, near its lower end, a collar så
formed on its lower face with projections 3 upon either side, of a size to fit snugly
between the cams 64, so that when the wrench is inserted in the bushing, the said.
collar is firmly held against movement. On its upper face, this collar is provided
with two stops s. represents a pin projecting from the wrench s above the
collars, and arranged between the stops s, whereby the amount of movement of
the said wrench when the tool is inserted in the bushing is limited, the stops st
being arranged a distance apart corresponding to the distance through which the
delivery tube is moved to open and close the valve. By this construction, the valve-
stem can be given the same amount of movement as that given by the delivery
tube, thus turning the winged from the position they occupy when the
communication between the ports d³ is closed, or the position shown in Figure 6,
to the position occupied by the ports when these ports are open to the position
shown in Figures 7 and 11. The wrench s is then removed, and the fingers
forced down through the ports, as shown in Figure 11. When it is desired to
tighten or loosen the nut 12, the spanner is employed (see Figure 15). This
spanner consists of a shell adapted to fit the bushing and provided with pro-
jections adapted to fit between the cams 4 to keep the shell from turning. This
shell at its lower end is provided with fingers to adapted to engage lugs extending
from the upper side of the wings d" and thus holding the washer stationary.
trepresents a rod mounted to rotate within the shell t¹, provided at one end with
a handle and at its lower end with spurs & adapted to engage the recesses d¹³ of
the sides of the nut. By this construction, it will be seen that the nut can be
tightened and loosened whenever required.

page_text: The path taken by the liquid in leaving the cask through the delivery tube is
indicated by arrows in Figure 5, the tube being formed at its lower end with
ports f, by which communication between the interior of the tube and the
space in the bushing surrounding said tube is established. The lower end of the
wrench and delivery tube are provided with a suitable opening a, the walls of which
have the same relative arrangement as the sides of the upper end of the valve-stem,
so that the stem can be rigidly engaged thereby.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A tap comprising in its construction a bushing formed with a web provided
with one or more ports and with a valve-stem aperture, a valve-stem arranged in
said aperture, a disk carried by said stem and arranged to seat against the inner
face of said web, and means upon said valve-stem upon the opposite side of said web
for adjustably holding said valve against its seat, said means comprising a member
arranged to turn with the valve-stem and to engage the web or some part of the
bushing, and a nut to engage said member to force the latter against its support
and the valve against its seat substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. A tap of the kind referred to in Claim 1 having the walls of the valve stem
aperture in the web of the bushing extended to form an upwardly projecting flange,
and a washer locked on said valve stem and resting on said flange and provided
with wings adapted to stand over the ports when the valve disk is turned to close
communication into the cask, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a tap of the kind above claimed a bushing comprising in its construction
a cylindrical body having an offset flange at its upper end and a shoulder or rib b
within said flange and surrounding the opening in said bushing, cams b* pro-
jecting from the inner wall of said bushing, a stop-rib b arranged below one of
said cams, the lower end of said bushing being formed with an apertured web,
substantially as described.
4. The combination with a bushing of the kind referred to in Claim 3 having
cams on its inner face and recessed at its upper end, terminating in an upwardly
projecting rib, and having a projecting stop-rib arranged below one of said cams,
of valve mechanism arranged in the lower end of said bushing, comprising a
washer having wings adapted to protect the ports in said valve mechanism when
the latter are closed, combined with a delivery tube having a washer adapted to
engage the said upwardly projecting rib, and having complemental cams and rib
adapted to engage the cams and stop-rib in the interior of the bushing, sub-
tantially as described.
5. In a tap of the kind referred to in Claims 1 and 2, a winged washer locked
on the valve stem or on the web against which the valve disk is seated and formed
with wrench-engaging means, as lugs #, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
6. A tap wrench for use in connection with a tap of the kind referred to in the
preceding claims comprising a shell formed on its lower end with holding members,
a rotatable spanner arranged in said shell and formed on its lower end with parts
adapted to engage a nut, substantially as described.
7. A spanner for use in connection with a tap of the kind referred to in the
preceding claims comprising a shell having radial lugs or projections 2 and axial
lugs or projections 3, a rod arranged to rotate in the said shell and provided at one
end with a nut-engaging means, and provisions on said rod for turning the latter
substantially as described.
8. A cleaning tool for use in connection with taps of the kind referred to in the
preceding claims, for cleaning the ports of taps for casks or barrels, comprising
one or more fingers shaped at their working ends to enter said ports; the main
body of the finger or fingers being shaped to engage lugs or other members of the

page_text: interior walls of the tap to guide said fingers and cause the working ends to
properly register with the said ports, substantially as described.
9. In a tap of the kind above claimed the combination with the valve stem and
disc and the winged washer of a nut on said stem adapted to engage said washer
to force said valve against its seat, said nut being accessible from the exterior of
the cask, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. A tap having its parts constructed arranged and combined to operate sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of March 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.