AN IMPROVED VALVE AND BUSHING FOR THE TAP AND BUNG-HOLES OF BARRELS, CASKS, AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
VALVE AND BUSHING FOR THE TAP AND BUNG-HOLES OF BARRELS, CASKS,
AND OTHER VESSELS." A communication from abroad by George Wolcott
Gillette, of New York City, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED VALVE AND BUSHING FOR THE
TAP AND BUNG-HOLES OF BARRELS, CASKS, AND OTHER VESSELS." [A commu-
nication from abroad by George Wolcott Gillette, of New York City, United States
of America.]
It is well known to brewers of, and dealers in malt liquors, that if the tap hole
of the ale or beer barrel or cask is left open after the contents are exhausted,
mustiness is likely to follow from exposure to the damp air of the cellar, and
consequent decay of the residuam in the vessel. As this mustiness unfits the
vessel for further use and necessitates its destruction, the brewer hence seeks to
have the tap hole promptly corked after removing the tap or faucet, but this
precaution is commonly neglected by the dealer and thus causes a loss to the
brewer of a large percentage of his barrels or casks. It is therefore the aim of the
present Invention to so construct or equip the tap hole that the same will become
closed airtight automatically by the withdrawal of the tap or faucet, and to this
end the Invention broadly stated consists in the arrangement of a movable or
swinging spring lid or valve over the tap hole on the interior of the barrel, adapted
to yield and open inwardly on the insertion of the tap, and to shut tightly over
the hole as soon as the tap is withdrawn. The Invention also embodies a number
of novel details, as hereinafter fully set forth.
The improved valve is formed with a sustaining base plate having a central
opening, around the margin of which is formed a raised angular bead or rim over
which is mounted a hinged or swinging valve or lid formed with ears which pivot
on a hinge pin supported in lugs projecting from the base plate. A strong.
spiral spring is mounted on the hinge pin with its terminal bearing on the

page_text: base plate, and a central loop bearing upon the centre of the valve and tending to
keep the valve constantly forced to its seat upon the base so as to tightly cover
and close the tap hole. The holes in the ears which hinge on the pin are slotted
or elongated so as to ensure the more equable and perfect seating of the valve, and
the bearing face of the valve is provided with a layer of rubber or other suitable
packing to render the joint of its seating more perfect. When the valve is in
repose the spring keeps it pressed tightly on its seat and thus covers and closes
the tap hole air tight, so as to prevent the outflow of the contents when filled, or
the inflow of air when the contents are exhausted. When however the tap is
inserted in the tap hole, it strikes upon and raises the valve, which readily yields
and opens, and hence permits the free outflow of the liquid when required in the
usual manner. On the other hand however, when the contents are exhausted and
the tap withdrawn, the valve immediately and automatically closes after it by the
action of its spring, thus shutting the tap hole air tight and preventing the escape
of the alcoholic and carbonio gases of the vessel, as well as preventing the access
of the damp air of the cellar thereto, so as to effectually preserve the interior
of the vessel in a fresh and good condition, and prevent all mustiness or decay
therein.
It will thus be observed that the Invention not only effectually prevents mustiness
or decay within the vessel which has heretofore caused a loss of a large percentage
of brewers' casks or barrels, but it also enables the corking of the tap hole after
filling to be dispensed with, and requires no care or attention to close the same
after the tap is withdrawn, thus presenting the advantages of economy and
efficiency in favor of the Invention which renders the saving effected by it much
greater than its own cost.
The improved valve may be made of cast iron or any other suitable metal, but I
prefer to construct it of the composition known as "white metal," which consists
mainly of tin and is less acted upon by the malt liquors. The valve may also be
applied to the bung hole of the barrels or casks as well as to the tap hole, but it is
not especially intended for the former. It will also be understood that the
Invention is not confined to vessels containing malt liquors, but is applicable to all
vessels where a similar protection is sought for.
In many cases I prefer to affix the improved valve to one end of a perforated
bung or bushing which may be then driven into the tap hole in the barrel head
when the hole has been enlarged to receive it. In cases where the tap hole has
been worn by long use this forms a cheap and simple manner of renewing the tap
hole, and at the same time applying the protecting valve thereto, as it obviates
the taking out of the old head or the putting in of a new one which would be much
more expensive.
The bushing or bung is preferably formed of a number of layers of wood placed
over each other with the grain reversed, and glued and screwed together. A central
hole is bored through the bushing to form the tap opening, and the protecting
valve is fastened on the inner or small end of the bushing by screws passed through
the base plate in the same manner as when fastened on the interior of the barrel
head, and this bushing forms another feature of the present Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
July 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED VALVE AND BUSHING FOR THE
TAP AND BUNG HOLES OF BARRELS, CASKS, AND OTHER VESSELS." A commu-
nication from abroad by George Wolcott Gillette, of New York City, United States
of America.
It is well known to brewers of, and dealers in malt liquors, that if the tap hole,
of the ale or beer barrel or cask is left open after the contents are exhausted
mustiness is likely to follow from exposure to the damp air of the cellars, and
consequent decay of the residuum of the vessel. As this mustiness unfits the vessel
for further use and necessitates its destruction, the brewer hence seeks to have the
tap hole promptly corked after removing the tap or faucet, but this precaution is
commonly neglected by the dealer and thus causes a loss to the brewer of a large
percentage of his barrels or casks: It is therefore the aim of the present Invention
to so construct or equip the tap hole that the same will become closed air-tight
automatically by the withdrawal of the tap or faucet, and to this end the Invention
broadly stated consists in the arrangement of a movable or swinging spring lid or
valve over the tap hole on the interior of the barrel adapted to yield and open
inwardly on the insertion of the tap, and to shut tightly over the hole as soon as
the tap is withdrawn. The Invention also embodies a number of novel details, as
hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a fragmentary sectional side
view of a barrel with the improved valve applied to the tap hole thereof and the
faucet inserted in the same; Figure 2 is an internal or face view of the tap valve,
and Figure 3, a side view of the same applied to a bushing or bung of improved
form.
The improved valve as shown is formed with a sustaining base plate a having a
central opening, around the margin of which is formed a raised angular bead or
rim b, over which is mounted a hinged or swinging valve or lid c which is formed
with ears d, d, which pivot on a hinge pin e supported in lugs f, f, projecting from
the base plate.
A strong spiral spring g which is mounted on the hinge pin, with
its terminal bearing on the base plate, and a central loop bearing on the centre
of the valve tends to keep the valve constantly forced to its seat upon the base so
as to tightly cover and close the tap hole, as will be readily understood. The holes
of the ears d, d, which hinge on the pin c are slotted or elongated as shown, so as
to ensure the more equable and perfect seating of the valve, and the bearing face
of the valve is provided with a layer of rubber or other suitable packing to render
the joint of its seating more perfect, as will be readily understood.
It will now be observed that when the valve is in repose the spring keeps it
pressed tightly on its seat, and thus covers and closes the tap hole air-tight, so as
to prevent the outflow of the contents when filled, or the inflow of air when the
contents are exhausted. When however the tap is inserted in the tap hole it strikes
upon the boss h of the valve, and as the tap is forced inwards it thus raises the
valve, which readily yields and opens, as shown in Figure 1, and hence permits the
free outflow of the liquid when required in the usual manner, as will be readily
understood. On the other hand however, when the contents are exhausted and the
tap withdrawn, the valve immediately and automatically closes after it by the
action of its spring, thus shutting the tap hole air-tight and preventing the escape
of the alcoholic and carbonic gases of the vessel, as well as preventing the access of

page_text: the damp air of the cellar thereto, so as to effectually preserve the interior of the
vessel in a fresh and good condition, and prevent all mustiness or decay therein.
It will thus be observed that the Invention not only effectually prevents mustiness
or decay within the vessel which has heretofore caused a loss of a large percentage
of brewers' casks or barrels, but it also enables the corking of the tap hole after
filling to be dispensed with, and requires no care or attention to close the same after
the tap is withdrawn, thus presenting the advantages of economy and efficiency in
favor of the Invention, which renders the saving effected by it much greater than
its own cost.
The improved valve may be made of cast iron or any other suitable metal, but
I prefer to construct it of the composition known as "white metal," which consists
mainly of tin, and is less acted upon by the malt liquors. The valve may also be
applied to the bung hole of the barrel or cask, as well as to the tap hole, but it is
not especially intended for the former. It will also be understood that the Inven-
tion is not confined to vessels containing malt liquors, but is applicable to all vessels
where a similar protection is sought for. In many cases I prefer to affix the
improved valve to one end of a perforated bung or bushing k, as shown in Figure 3,
which may be then driven into the tap hole in the barrel head when the hole has
been enlarged to receive it. In cases where the tap hole has been worn by long
use this forms a cheap and simple manner of renewing the tap hole, and at the same
time applying the protecting valve thereto, as it obviates the taking out of the old
head or the putting in of a new one, which would be much more expensive. The
bushing or bung k is preferably formed of a number of layers of wood placed over
each other with the grain reversed and glued and screwed together. A central hole
is bored through the bushing to form the tap opening, and the protecting valve is
fastened on the inner or small end of the bushing by screws passed through the
base plate, in the same manner as when fastened on the interior of the barrel head,
as shown in Figure 1, and this bushing also forms a feature of the Invention.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
1st. The combination with the tap or bung hole of a barrel or similar vessel of
an automatically closing valve mounted over the inner end of the same, and arranged
to yield and open inwardly by the insertion of the tap or faucet, and to close upon
the tap hole and prevent exposure of the interior of the vessel when the faucet is
withdrawn, substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. A protecting valve for the tap or bung holes of barrels or similar vessels,
consisting of a sustaining pivoting base fixable over the hole, with a swinging or
hinged lid or valve pivoted thereto, together with a spring arranged to constantly
press the lid tightly over the hole, substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
3rd. A protecting valve for the tap or bung hole of a barrel or similar vessel
constructed with the sustaining base plate a having a central opening with a raised
marginal bead and a movable or hinged valve lid mounted over the same and pro-
vided with a rubber or packed face to seat upon said bead, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4th. A protecting valve for the tap or bung hole of barrels or similar vessels
constructed with a hinged valve plate or lid mounted on elongated holes on its pivot
or hinge point, and provided with a spring bearing centrally upon said valve,
whereby a play is provided to ensure the equable and perfect seating of the valve,
substantially as shown and described.
5th. A perforated bung or bushing for the tap or bung holes of barrels or similar
vessels provided with a protecting valve mounted over the opening upon the inner
end thereof, arranged to open inwardly by the insertion of a faucet and to close
upon the opening automatically when the faucet is withdrawn, substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth.

page_text: 6th. An inwardly opening valve for the tap holes of barrels or similar vessels
formed with the projecting boss h on its seating face, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
7th. A bushing for renewing the tap holes of barrels formed of several layers of
wood fastened together with the grain relatively reversed, substantially as herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)