Improvements in Taps or Valves for Casks and other Vessels for Storing Fluids.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Taps or Valves for Casks and other Vessels for
Storing Fluids.
I, GEORGE OULTON of the Firm of Dodd & Oulton of Stanley Street,
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention consists in the improved construction of a tap, valve or cock for
casks and other vessels to contain fluids and the objects of the invention are to
obtain a tap or valve which is fully opened or closed quickly by a fraction of a
turn of the key or handle, and to dispense with the taper cock hitherto chiefly used,
so that the tap may not be damaged by rough usage in driving it into the cask or
other vessel with a hammer or mallet.
This invention may be embodied in the manner of construction hereinafter set
forth. The external end of the body or barrel of the tap which is usually fixed
horizontally is formed or fitted with a cylindrical chamber having a valve seat
formed in the internal end and a nozzle for the outflow of fluid preferably on the
underside. The open or outer end of the chamber is screwed internally or other-
wise adapted to receive and secure an end plate or equivalent thereof. A guide is
formed in the chamber and into this guide is fitted a valve so that it may lift but
not turn. The valve is bored and screwed internally, preferably having a coarse
left hand thread. A screw, having a flange which may partly rest upon the edge
of a shoulder formed in the chamber acts as a valve spindle and is adapted to be
turned by a key or handle which may be fixed or removable. The side of the
aforesaid flange nearest the open end of the chamber is faced conically by
preference and also forms a valve. An end plate or equivalent having a hole for
a key or for a prolongation of the valve spindle formed therein is screwed down
upon the shoulder in the chamber. or otherwise secured thereto. The inner side of
this end plate forms a valve seat for the faced flauge of the valve spindle.
The outer end of the chamber or of the tap is strengthened by a beading or
other means so as to withstand the blows of the mallet by which such taps are
frequently secured in the casks or vessels.
The valves or valve seats may if desired be faced with some flexible substance,
leather for instance.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Taps or Valves for Casks and other Vessels for
Storing Fluids.
I, GEORGE OULTON of the Firm of Dodd and Oulton of Stanley Street,
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the' same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists in the improved construction of a tap, cock or valve for

page_text: casks or barrels and other vessels intended to contain fluids, and is specially
applicable to beer barrels, the object of the invention being chiefly to make a
comparatively cheap and more durable article.
Hitherto it has generally been the practice to use taps having taper plugs or
turn-cocks, chiefly on account of simplicity and cost. These were necessarily
made of soft metal or alloy such as brass which does not readily corrode and which
is easily worked. In driving taps so made home they are frequently damaged by
the blows of the mallet causing the bore of the shell in which the plug turns' to
become untrue and so permit the liquid to leak out.
According to my improved construction this defect is obviated without
appreciably increasing the cost of production.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I have attached
hereunto a sheet of drawings to which I will now refer.
In the said drawings
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view of my improved tap partly in section. Fig. 2 is an
end view of the same, and
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the tap at line a―x.
On the barrel a of the tap a cylindrical chamber a' is formed which is preferably
screwed internally up to a shoulder a² forming a seating for the valve spindle. A
valve seat a is formed at the end of the chamber. Between the valve seat a³ and
the shoulder a' are formed guides or grooves preferably as shown at a*. The
valve is by preference formed with a ground conical face and is made hollow and
screwed internally as shown, the thread being preferably left handed and of coarse
or quick pitch. Upon the sides of the valve are formed wings b¹ which engage in
the grooves and permit only of a rising and falling motion of the valve. The
valve spindle c is so formed that a turn or fraction of a turn causes the valve to
rise or fall in the guides. The shank c¹ is screwed to fit the tapped bore of the
valve. A flange c² is formed on the spindle so as to sit upon the shoulder a³ of the
chamber. The head c³ of the spindle is made to receive a key c preferably of
the shape shown. In order to retain the valve spindle in position a plug or cap d
is screwed down upon the flange of the spindle, a flexible washer d¹ being
preferably placed between. The plug d is fitted with a bush d² in which is pierced
the key hole. By this arrangement the key-hole can be readily set in such a
position that the key when inserted can only be withdrawn when the valve is
closed. In order to retain in position the plug and bush, a screw e is screwed into
the casing and passes into the plug and bush, but obviously any other suitable
means may be employed for this purpose.
Having now 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 1'
claim is :-
1. The general construction of a tap or valve substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth and as illustrated by the drawings.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming a tap or valve constructed
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 25th day of October 1801
ted this 25th day of October 1801
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.