Improvements in Means for Tapping Barrels, Casks, and the like,
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 13th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1899
Improvements in Means for Tapping Barrels, Casks, and the like,
I, WILLIAM DAVIS, of 47, Walmeraley Road, Bury, in the County of Lancaster,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows;-
My invention refers to the tapping of barrels, casks and the like which has
heretofore been effected by a tap with ground plug valve, which is very liable,
under the force of the hammer used to dive it into the barrel, to become loose
and cause leakage, and the object of my said invention is to provide an appliance
which will entirely enclose the valve, and of such a form or construction as to
render it impossible to strain or damage the valve, and if the valve should from
any reason leak, such leakage may be readily prevented by a screwed cap supplied
with each tap
In accordance with my invention I form the tap with the usual tapered end or
spigot, with lateral holes in its sides, and its narrower end closed by a disc or plug.
The forward end I form with a cavity or chamber large enough to receive a
mushroom or like valve and in front of this valve is a bush or liner screwing into
the mouth of the tap, and its rear end constitutes a seating for the said valve.
Forming part of the valve or connected to it is a stem or spindle which extends
backwards into the box of the tap and passes through a small centi al guide or bridge
Around such stem and abutting at one end against the guide and at the other end
against the back of the valve is a spiral spring the normal tension of which 18
sufficient to keep the valve closed against its ecating in the absence of any other
counter-acting force.
In using the tap it is driven into the barrel in the usual way by a mallet
or like tool, the front end of the tap body presenting a square and even face to
strike against When in position the pipe end to be connected to the barrel
which has previously been supplied with a tail pipe and union, is coupled up
to the front end of the said tap, which is provided with an external screw thread
and as the union 18 screwed up it causes the tail pipe which projects into the
bore of the tap, to press against the valve and upon further sciewing, to push
the valve from off its seating, and thus open the way for the liquor to flow out of
the barrel When the union 18 fully screwed up the pipe 18 effectually connected.
In case of the valve leaking when the pipe is not connected to the tap, I
provide a screwed cap or cover which is screwed on to the end of the tap. This
cap and the union for connecting the pipe are, by preference, provided with
radial arms to enable them to be operated by hand
To effect the packing of the bush or liner forming as aforesaid the seating of
the valve, I provide a ring of packing material, and tighten up such packing
by a loose wire ring which, as the bush 18 screwed into the tap, is met by the
scrow thread of the latter, and prevented moving with the liner, and consequently
tightens the packing. To further ensure of the valve being non-leaking I
form the seating slightly below the extreme end of the liner, and make the valvo
of a thickness which causes its rear face to lie flush with the end of the liner,

page_text: and thus allow a leather or other washer to lie over the opening between the valve
and line, and act as a supplementary valve.
Dated this 10th day of June 1898.
WILLIAM DAVIS.
By John G. Wilson & Co,
Agents,
improvements in means for Tapping Darreis, vasks, and the nxė,
I, WILLIAM DAVIS, of 47, Walmersley Road, Bury, in the County of Lancashire,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same 18 to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement.
My invention refers to the tapping of barrels, casks and the like which has
heretofore been effected by a tap with ground plug valve, liable under the force of
the hammer used to dive the tap into the banel to become loose and cause
leakage, and the object of my said invention is to provide an appliance which will
entirely enclose the valve and of such a form or construction as to render it
impossible to strain or damage the valve, and if the valve should from any
cause leak, such leakage may be readily prevented by a screwed cap, or union
supplied with each tap
-
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which..
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my invention with the valve of the tap shewn open
in dotted lines.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, but showing the valve closed.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on line a-b. Fig 4 illustrates a detail in part and
Fig. 6 a modification
The casing (1) of the tap is formed with the usual tapered end or spigot with
lateral holes in its sides, and its narrower end closed as illustrated The forward
end I form with a cavity or chamber (2) laige enough to receive a mushroom
o like valve (3) and in fiont of this valve is a bush or liner (4) forming a seating
for the said valve. Such bush (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided with a screw-thread (5)
at one end to screw into the casing (1), and at its other end slots (6) are provided
for a suitable tool to be inserted for the purpose of screwing it in flush with the
end of the casing of the tap (1) To make a tight joint between the casing (1)
and the liner or bush (4) I make the liner smaller in the middle than at the
ends, and around such smaller portion I place packing (6) and cause this to be
tightened by a metal packing ring (7) which is made in two halves, one of which
18 seen in Fig 4. This ring (7) when the liner 18 sciewed home with a tool
as before described abuts against a shoulder (8) formed on the inside of the
casing (1) and the packing (6) abuts in it turn against the ring (7), thus making
a very compact and tight joint.
Forming part of the valve (3), or connected to it, is a stem or spindle (9) (see
Fig 2), which passes through a guido (10), a front view of which is seen in
Fig 3.
Around this stem (9) and abutting at one end against the guides (10) and at
the other end against the back of the valve 18 a spiral spring (11) which is, by
preference of smaller diameter at one end than the other to ensure its effective
action and the normal tension of the spring is such as to keep the valve (3) closed
against its seating.

page_text: In using the tap it is driven into the barrel (12) in the usual way by a mallet
or like tool, the front end of the tap body (1) presenting a square and even face
to strike against.
When in position the pipe to be connected to the barrel, which has previously
been supplied with a tail-pipe (13), and union (13); 18 coupled up to the front
of the said tap, which is provided with an external screw thread (14), and as
the union 18 sciewed up it causes the tail-pipe (13) which projects into the bore
of the tap, to press against the valve (3), and upon further screwing, to push
the valve (3) from off its seating, and thus open the way for the liquor to flow
out of the barrel to the beer engine or pump through the pipe (13) When the
union is fully screwed up the pipe 18 effectually connected. The tail pipe is pro-
vided with a ring (15) upon which a washer of leather or other material (16)
1s placed so that when the union 18 screwed down upon the tap it abuts tightly
against the face of the tap and prevents any leakage taking place
In case of the valve leaking when the pipe is not connected to the tap I provide
a special screwed cap or cover which after removing the union (13) is screwed on
to the end of the tap, or I make use of the union (13) by first removing it and
then fitting it with a blank washei Said cap, and union are fitted with aims (17)
for operating them by hand.
To further ensure of the valve being non-leaking I form the seating slightly
below the extreme end of the liner and make the valve of a thickness which causes
its rear face to lic flush with the end of the liner, and thus allow of a leather
or other washer lying over the opening between the valve and line, and acting
as a supplementary valve
In Figure 5 I shew a modified arrangement of line and packing the ring (7)
being dispensed with & its equivalent being furnished by the enlarged shoulder (8)
The screw thread (5) is at the forward end This arrangement simplifies the
construction & allows of a smaller valve being used. It also allows of space (19)
between the lines (4) & casing (1) where the valve requires to be most removed
from contact with the outer casing. To give a clear way for the liquor I form
gaps in the wings of the valve
Having thus 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 18:
1: In barrel or like tapping devices, a tap body within which the valve 18
entirely enclosed and secured from derangement or damage in diving the tap
into position, as herein set forth
2 A barrel tap comprising an outer body, a spring pressed valve, an adjustable
bush forming a seating for such valve, means for packing such bush and a
coupling for opening and closing the valve, as set forth and shewn on the accoun-
panying drawings.
Dated thi. 10+h love of Vasab 1900