A New or Improved Process for Clearing the Taps of Beer Barrels and the like, and in Means therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process for Clearing the Taps of Beer Barrels
and the like, and in Means therefor.
I, RICHARD HARRIS ELGOOD of Lebanon Villa, Lutterworth Road, Leicester,
Metal Worker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a new or improved process for clearing the taps
of beer barrels and the like and in means therefor.
It is well known to users of barrels containing beer and like beverages that the
tap sometimes becomes clogged (by particles of hops and other ingredients) to such
an extent as to prevent the beer or contents of the barrel running or being drawn
off when the tap is turned on for that purpose.
In order to remove the obstructing materials from the tap according to this.
invention I propose to pump or forcibly inject a certain quantity of air or carbonic
gas through the tap into the barrel so as to force the obstruction into the barrel
and thereby allow the liquid to pass freely through the tap.
For this purpose I may fix to the end or mouth of the tap a union joint of any
convenient construction to which I may also apply the tube of any suitable air
pump, such for example as used for inflating pneumatic tyres for cycle wheels.
The operation of clearing the tap may be as follows:-The piston of the pump
is first drawn outwards to its full extent so as to fill the pump with air, the pump
may then be applied to the tap before mentioned.
Almost simultaneously with commencing the return journey or movement of the
piston the barrel tap is turned on so that a stream of air or gas rushes through the
openings in the tap forcing the obstruction before it and thereby allowing
the contents of the barrel to pass through the tap in the usual way.
By forcing additional air or gas into the barrel the internal pressure is greatly
increased and the chances of a further obstruction is considerably decreased.
In lieu of using an air pump such as before described I may employ a chamber
of any suitable construction filled with carbonic gas or air under compression so
that when applied to the tap of the barrel it will force itself into the barrel and
cleanse the tap in passing through it.
Dated this 28th day of March 1893,
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Process for Clearing the Taps of Beer Barrels
and the like, and in Means therefor.
I, RICHARD HARRIS ELGOOD of Lebanon Villa, Lutterworth Road, Leicester,
Metal Worker, 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 relates to a new or improved process for clearing the taps of beer
barrels and the like and in means therefor.
It frequently occurs that when it is desired to draw off the whole or a portion
of the contents of a barrel, say for example, of beer or other malt liquor, the liquor
will not flow when the tap is turned on for that purpose.

page_text: This is invariably due to the clogging or choking of the tap by particles of malt,
hops or other ingredients, and the present invention is designed with the object of
clearing or removing the obstructing particles from the tap so as to obtain an
uninterrupted flow of the contents of the barrel.
The removal of the obstruction is effected according to the present invention by
the process of pumping or forcibly injecting a current of atmospheric air or
carbonic acid gas through the tap so as to force the obstructing particles into the
barrel or otherwise separate them to provide a passage for the liquor to flow.
A convenient means of effecting this result is by the employment of an air pump
Euch for instance as is well known and commonly used for inflating pneumatic tyres.
for cycle and similar wheels.
For this purpose I propose to screw or otherwise fix to the end or mouth of the
barrel tap one end of a union of any of the well known forms of construction and
to the opposite end of the said union I screw or otherwise fix the nozzle of the
air pump.
The process of clearing the tap is as follows:-
The piston of the pump is first drawn outwards to its full extent so as to fill the
pump with air, then almost simultaneously with commencing the return movement.
of the piston, the barrel tap is turned on so that the stream of air issuing from the
pump is forced through the tap thus clearing or separating the obstructing particles
and thereby allowing the contents of the barrel to pass through the tap and be drawn
off in the usual manner.
A stream of air or gas may be forcibly passed through the tap for the purpose
referred to by other means than the hand pump herein mentioned.
As an alternative method a cylinder such as is used for compressed hydrogen or.
oxygen for lantern purposes or any other suitable form of air-tight receptacle may
be filled with air or gas under compression. The usual valve or filling nozzle
of this cylinder may be connected to the barrel tap by a union joint such as before
described and the valve of the cylinder and the barrel tap turned on at the same
moment so that the air or gas from the cylinder or chamber rushes through the tap
and clears it.
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 I
claim is :-
1. The process of clearing barrel and the like taps by pumping or forcibly
injecting air or gas through the tap in the manner described.
2. In the process of clearing barrel and the like taps by pumping or forcibly
injecting air or gas through the same the use or employment in the manner described
of a pump or a chamber filled with air or gas under compression.
Dated this 27th day of January 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.