AN IMPROVED VESSEL FOR BEER OR OTHER LIQUID
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Rice, of Southsea, in the County of Hants,
Brewer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED VESSEL FOR BEER OR OTHER
LIQUID."
Sealed the 2nd April 1874, and dated the 4th October 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Rice at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th October 1873.
I, JOHN RIOD, of Southsea, in the County of Hants, Brewer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED VESSEL FOR
BEER OR OTHER LIQUID," to be as follows:-
H
This Invention relates to an improved vessel for beer or other liquid,
designed more especially to supersede the ordinary beer casks at present
in use, and particularly those of smaller size, such as beer is kept in
in private dwellings.
According to my Invention the beer is kept perfectly air-tight, and
thus sweet and fresh, whilst at the same time it may be drawn off for
use as and when required.

page_text: I construct a vessel of earthenware of any convenient shape, but by
preference in the form of a large bottle. In this bottle I form one neck
or socket at the top, and another near the bottom, into the top one of
which I insert a spring valvo plug, made of any suitable non-corrosive
material, which acts the part of the ordinary vent peg. The part of this
plug which is inserted into the neck of the bottle some two inches (more
or less) tapers slightly towards its inner extremity, and has stretched on
to it au clastic ring or covering, which of course takes the taper form
of that which it encloses, and thus enables the plug to be pressed so
tightly into the neck of the vessel as to be practically air tight. Tho
admission of air through this plug into the interior of the vessel is
accomplished when required by depressing with the finger a small stud
at the top, communicating with a valvo opening inwards, which is kept
to its scating by a spring. The head of this stud is formed in a
recess, so as not to be opened by accidental pressure during transit or
otherwise. Into the neck formed near the bottom of the vessel I insert
a tap, also made of any suitable non-corrosive material, and fixed in its
place cither in a manner similar to that herein-before described for fixing
the plug, or by being screwed into a cork bung previously inserted in
the said neck. Thus to draw off liquid from the vessel so constructed it
is only necessary to turn on the tap and depress the stud at the top,
when the liquid will flow as required.
up
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 25
filed by the said John Rice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
RICE, of Southsca, in the County of Hants, Brewer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 30
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-

page_text: 1.
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I construct an earthenware vessel A of any convenient size and shape
but by preference in the form of a large bottle. In this bottle I form
one neck or socket a¹ at the top, and another as near the bottom, which
sockets are made a little larger at their outer than at their inner ends,
and tapering gradually. Into the top socket a! I insert a spring valve
plug B, made of any suitable non-corrosive material, which plug acts tho
part of the ordinary vent pog. That part of the plug which is inserted.
into the neck of the bottle (some two inches more or less) tapers.slightly
towards its inner extremity, and has stretched on to it an clastic ring or
covering C, which of course takes the taper form of that which it 1
encloses, and thus tapered the plug-may-be-pressed so tightly_into_the_
neck of the vessel as to be practically air-tight. The admission of air
through this plug into the interior of the vessel when required is pro-
vided for by depressing with the finger a small stud D (see Figures 3-
and 4) at the top, which communicates with a valvo E, constructed so as: 1
to open inwards as the stud D is depressed. This valvo is kept up to its
scating Ewhen closed by means of a spiral spring. G reacting against
tho shoulder D¹ of tho stud D, an india-rubber ring E being interposed!
wlien.desirablo. between the valvo.and scating to assist in rendering the
valvo air-tight. The head of the stud D is placed in a recess, so as to 2
avoid being depressed, and thus opening the valve by accidental pressure
during transit ог otherwise. Into the neck or socket formed near the
bottom of the vessel I insert a tap H, also made of any suitable non-
corrosivo material, and fixed into the neck of the bottle either in a
manner similar to that already described for fixing the plug, or by being-2
screwed into a cork or wood bung previously inserted in the said neck.
I profer hower to screw the tap into an oaken bung I, which if forced
into the said neck with sufficient pressure I find to hold perfectly tight.
I prefer to use a screw-down tap, such as shewn in the Drawings. To
draw off liquid from a vessel constructed as described it is only necessary 3
to turn on the tap and depress the stud at the top, when the liquid will
flow as required.
For protecting tho vessel from breakage I enclose it in an easily fitting
and casily removable wickerwork casing J with handles.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this: 3
iny said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to or may bo
performed, I claim as my Invention to be secured by the herein-before:
in part recited Letters Patent, the improved vessel for bear or other

page_text: liquid, substantially as herein-before set forth and described, and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Rice, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this First day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight bundred and seventy-four.
.
JOHN RICE. (L.S.)
Witness,
John W¼. Gray,O.E.,
Offices for Patenting & Introducing Inventions,
16, Southampton Buildings,
W.O.