Improvements in Taps.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 25th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Dec., 1887
Improvements in Taps.
1 ROWLAND BATEMAN of 11 Chain Walk Lozells in the County of Warwick,
Billiard Table Maker do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in taps which are specially applicable
to beer barrels which are so liable to become sour after they are emptied and before
refilling and which costs brewers so much to resweeten.
I make my tap with a perforated point and front end to enter a hole in the end of
the barrel and having a suitable stop or flange by which the said tap is fixed in its
position in and against the end by screwing or by screws. Immediately against this
Hange or collar is a projection in which I fix a vertical tube with a passage agreeing
with that in the tap and having a taper hole therein in which the cock or plug fits
with a hole at the upper end to receive a key of shape which enables the cock to be
kept close against the end and yet conveniently turned. The projection from the
collar or flange is sufficiently long to form therein a thread to receive a blank cap of
hexagon, octagon or other convenient shape outside to allow it to be securely screwed
thereon to thoroughly seal it. When the barrel is delivered the blank cap is screwed
off and a junction pipe to the pumps attached or otherwise a simple nose piece, bend
if used for ordinary domestic purposes and thus my tap is fixed with very little
projection from the end of the barrel and is ready for use under any conditions that
may be required and at the same time no hole is ever left by the withdrawal of the tap.
Dated this 24th day of January 1887.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Taps.
I ROWLAND BATEMAN of 11 Chain Walk Lozells in the County of Warwick
Billiard Table Maker do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object improvements in taps which are specially applicable
to beer barrels which are so liable to become sour after they are emptied and before
refilling and which costs brewers so much to resweeten.
I make my tap with a perforated point and front end to enter a hole in the end of
the barrel and having a suitable stop or flange by which the said tap is fixed in its
position in and against the end by screwing or by screws. Immediately against this
flange or collar is a projection in which I fix a vertical tube with a passage agreeing
with that in the tap and having a taper hole therein in which the cock or plug fits
with a hole at the upper end to receive a key of L shape which enables the cock to be
kept close against the end and yet conveniently turned. The projection from the
collar or flange is sufficiently long to form thereon a thread to receive a blank cap
of hexagon, octagon or other convenient shape outside to allow it to be securely
screwed thereon to thoroughly seal it. When the barrel is delivered the blank cap is
screwed off and a junction pipe to the pump attached or otherwise a simple nose piece
bent if used for ordinary domestic purposes and thus my tap is fixed with very little
projection from the end of the barrel and is ready for use under any conditions that
may be required and at the same time no hole is over left by the withdrawal of the tap.
In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood and easily carried into
practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrating one of my taps
with the parts thereof in six figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through the end A of a barrel with the front
part of the tap in section and the back or perforated round part B in elevation with
the tap turned off and the cap C is screwed upon the end D as it would appear
when not in use and ready for transit anywhere.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the tap as shown by the previous figure.
Figure 3 is a plan of the tap in the same position as shown by Figure 1 but
withdrawn from the end A of the barrel.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same tap with a bent nose piece E screwed on
to the end D in place of the cap C and ready for use in withdrawing the contents.
Figure 5 is a spigot piece H which attaches to D when the cap C is removed for
connecting by any suitable pipe to pumps such for instance as beer pumps.
Figure 6 is a specially formed key for operating the said tap as will be hereafter
more fully explained.
The perforated round part B of my tap is put through a prepared round bored hole in
the end of the barrel A and the stop flange b' is securely screwed to the end of the end
of the barrel by say four strong countersunk screws m, m³, m³ and m³ in such a

page_text: substantial manner that the tap becomes practically a part of the end. The vertical
tube or socket carries the taper cock N which is placed therein preferably from the
bottom with the sealing screw plug n forced against the intermediate washer or
packing piece which may be of cork or other similar or soft material. The cock
carries the slot hole n through which the liquid flows when turned into position but
I so mount the cock that the square part n' must be turned for the slot hole n to be
across as shown when the key Figure 6 is withdrawn because otherwise the
projections and on the barrel K of the key Figure 6 will not otherwise pass the
notches band of the tube or socket 6². It will be understood that the taps are so
proportioned that the outside of the screw cap C stands a little under the level of the
sides or body of the barrel so that when the barrel turned upon its end the cap C
does not come upon the ground. It will be clearly understood that when a barrel
with a cap and cock C as shown by Figures 1. 2 and 3 is delivered whether
containing oil, beer or other fluid that it is only necessary to remove the said cap C
and screw in its place the nose piece E when it is ready without any further trouble
for ordinary purposes and that if it is required to connect the same with pumps the
junction piece H is used with a special key without the projections so that it can be
withdrawn with the tap still turned on because the taps on the pumps prevent escape
in that case, and it will be particularly observed that no escape can take place during
this operation which is accomplished without disturbing the contents at all.
The taps may be made from any metal but usually from brass with the end B
tinned or coated or plated to prevent injury to the beer or other contents. It will
thus be seen that by constructing the tap with the flange b₁ and socket 6 close
together without any neck piece as is now the custom and by finishing with the
simple nose D and cap C that the very greatest compactness is obtained as well as
great facility for tapping which are important features in my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The improvements in taps to fix against the barrel or vessel and constructed with
the socket & brought close to the face of the barrel end A thus forming part of the
face flange and finishing with a screw projection or spigot to receive the nose piece
junction or cap substantially as herein set forth and shown upon the drawings.
Dated this 24th day of October 1887.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.