IMPROVEMENTS IN BEER AND SUCH LIKE TAPS OR VALVES FOR CONTROLLING THE LIQUIDS FROM CASKS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I HERBERT TROTT of 75 High Street Battersea in the County of Surrey
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
BEER AND SUCH LIKE TAPS OR VALVES FOR CONTROLLING THE
LIQUIDS FROM CASKS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES to be as follows:-
WITHDRAWAL OF
The invention has for its design the production of a neat effective cheap and
durable beer or other tap or valve not liable to get out of order readily.
In carrying out my invention I form the socket or main tube of the implement
either as an open cylinder, or closed or partly closed at the end and pierced with
holes for the inflow of liquid thereto and at the other or outer end I form the
chamber to receive the valve proper or closing piece and this chamber is prolonged
as a spout or outlet.
The valve proper or closing piece is formed with a projection or projections at its
upper end by which it hangs suspended or hinged in front of the face of the main
tube, which face is inclined from the perpendicular so that the valve piece may
fall away from and open the orifice except when pressed thereto by a suitable
screw or other wedge piece or spindle operated by a spring passing through the
wall of the chamber and secured therein removeably and this screw or other wedge
piece may be formed to be sunk within the surface of the wall and so as to be
engaged by a separable key. The face of the closing piece is countersunk next
the orifice it closes and adapted to receive an india rubber, or other soft, soft
metallic, or elastic material of suitable character, such elastic or comparatively soft
material being shaped with a bevel or projecting bead of circular form which, when
the valve is urged by the wedge, seats itself against or within the face of the inlet
pipe.
The arms on which the valve swings having their support from a recess or ledge
in the upper part of the chamber are capable of movement to adjust the faces of
the inlet pipe and the valve.
The upper part of the chamber is removeable to admit of withdrawal of the
valve or closing piece without disconnection of the other parts which is a very
convenient feature for this class of valve.
The main tube or socket for application in the cask or receptacle is most
conveniently formed serrated, roughened or with ridges and of tapering diameter.
to facilitate tight fitting.

page_text: I, HERBERT TROTT of 75 High Street Battersea in the County of Surrey
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
BEER AND SUCH LIKE TAPS OR VALVES FOR CONTROLLING THE WITHDRAWAL OF
LIQUIDS FROM CASKS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The invention has for its design the production of a neat, effective, cheap and
durable beer or other tap or valve not liable to get out of order readily, and capable
of being taken to pieces and of being cleansed with the greatest facility by
unskilled persons, and then put together again with equal facility without danger
of the parts being misplaced or lost.
The improvements relate to the description of valve for which I have obtained
Letters Patent dated the 28th day of August 1884 N° 11727 and to means for
further developing the utility and applications of my said invention.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 shews in section one of my improved valves in which a is the closing
piece or valve proper the piece a' being formed of india rubber vulcanized or cured,
or of other suitable material, and this piece is formed with a recessed face and
inclined sides adapted to be pressed or passed under and so as to be, locked by the
undercut or recessed sides a² of the valve a and securely held thereto. The valve
piece a hangs upon side projections a³ which pass into recesses or grooves in the
chamber 6 formed by the enlargement of the passage b at its upper part, and this
means of support enables the valve a to adjust itself to the angle required for it to
fit against the face of the outlet c to be closed. This chamber b¹ is closed by a cap
or plug b² which may be screwed or fitted thereto tightly. The valve a is operated
to close or leave open the outlet c by means of the stem d on the rod d which
slides in an opening in the barrel 63 and in the screw plug aided by the spring ³
or the spring may be of such strength that it will normally keep the valve a in
position to close the egress of liquid. d' is a knob which may be used alone or in
conjunction with the lever d³ pivotted at de for closing the valve a to its seat or
the lever d alone may be used.
Figure 2 shews an outside view of the valve and parts.
Fig. 3 shews a section, Fig 4 an external view and Fig 5 a plan view with the
valve and cap 62 removed of a similar valve and parts adapted to be closed and
opened by means of a screw e¹ on a stem e operated by the handle e the stem
being supported in the screw plug d. e is an anti-friction piece held loosely in the
end of the stem e' to press against a without grinding against it.
Fig 6. shews by sectional view and Fig 7 by external view a modification of the
improved valve arrangement particularly adapted to casks for beer and such like
in which the stem e is separable from the handle or key e at e6 by the stem being
square and the key being correspondingly sunk to receive that squared end or in
other equivalent manner adapted to fit together when required. The parts in this
arrangement are designed to avoid projections and to impart additional strength
by ribs c¹ on the case to resist hammering or crushing strain.

page_text: In place of an internal spring d³ an external spring d may be employed in
arrangements according to Fig. 1.
The socket or main tube c of the valve may be either as an open cylinder as in
Fig 1 or closed or partly closed as in Fig 6 at the end and pierced with holes for
the inflow of liquid thereto and the other or outer end formed as the chamber b to
receive the valve proper or closing piece a and this chamber is prolonged as a
spout or outlet either straight curved or at an angle as desired.
The valve proper or closing piece a throughout the figures is formed as already
described with a projection or projections a³ at its upper end by which it hangs
suspended or hinged in front of the face of the main tube c, which face is inclined
from the perpendicular so that the valve piece a may fall away from and open the
orifice except when pressed thereto by a suitable screw stem e (Fig 3) or other
wedge piece or spindle d operated by a spring d³ (Fig. 1) passing through the wall
of the chamber and secured therein removeably and this screw or other wedge or
spring piece may be formed to be sunk within the surface of the wall and so as to
be engaged by a separable key as in Fig. 6. The face of the hanging closing piece
being undercut or recessed at a¹ next the orifice c which it closes is adapted to
receive an india rubber, or other pad of soft, soft metallic or elastic, material of
suitable character, such elastic or comparatively soft material being shaped with a
bevel or projecting bead of circular form which, when the valve a is urged by the
wedge or spring stem seats itself against or within the face of the outlet pipe c and
yet admits of the pad a¹ being immediately renewed without delay or difficulty by
unskilled hands.
The arms a³ on which the valve a swings having their support from a recess or
ledge in the upper part of the chamber are capable of movement to adjust the faces
of the inlet pipe and the valve by the mere pressure of the stem which closes it and
the valve a yet readily falls away from the opening c on pressure being removed
from its back.
The upper part of the chamber being removeable admits of withdrawal of the
valve or closing piece a without disconnection of the other parts which is a very
convenient feature for these classes of valves and the piece a may be also renewed
instantly.
The main tube or socket of the valve when for application in the cask or
receptacle by pressure or hammering is most conveniently formed serrated,
roughened or with ridges and of tapering diameter to facilitate tight fitting whilst
for spirits and wine it may frequently be screwed into a bush or socket or similarly
secured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it
understood that I do not hereby make any claim to any portion of the invention
described in the specification of my Letters Patent dated 28th day of August 1884
No 11727 aforesaid separately considered but I declare that what I do claim is
The arrangements or combinations of parts of beer taps or valves for controlling
the withdrawal of liquids from casks or other receptacles as set forth.
W BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the said Herbert Trott.