A FLOATING AND SLIDING TOP FOR WELLS, TANKS, CISTERNS, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF VESSEL POR KEEPING OR HOLDING WATER FERMENTED OR UNFERMENTED, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF LIQUOR
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Taylor, Engineer, No. 27, Russell Street,
Bermondsey Street, S.E., for the Invention of "A FLOATING AND
SLIDING TOP FOR WELLS, TANKS, CISTERNS, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF VESSEL
POR KEEPING OR HOLDING WATER FERMENTED OR UNFERMENTED, OR ANY
OTHER KIND OF LIQUOR."
Sealed the 10th December 1869, and dated the 14th June 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Taylor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th June 1869.
I, JOHN TAYLOR, Engineer, No. 27, Russell Street, Bermondsey
Street, S.E., do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
FLOATING AND SLIDING TOP FOR WELLS, TANKS, CISTERNS, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF
VESSEL FOR KEEPING OR HOLDING WATER FERMENTED OR UNFERMENTED, OR; ANY
OTHER KIND OF LIQUOR," to be as follows:-
The top is constructed so as to rest on the liquor; at the sides is fitted
a band made of canvass, india-rubber, or any other flexible material;
this is made to fit the sides of the tanks or cisterns. In order to draw
out or let in the liquor a pipe is passed through a stuffing box fixed on

page_text: the top. As the liquor is drawn out the top is free to descend, or the
liquor let in the top is free to ascend, hermetically excluding the air
from the liquor while drawing out or filling the tanks, wells, or
cisterns,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th December 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
TAYLOR, of No. 27, Russell Street, Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Taylor, Her special licence, that
I, the said John Taylor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Taylor, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "A FLOATING AND SLIDING TOP FOR WELLS,
TANKS, CISTERNS, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF VESSEL FOR KEEPING OR HOLDING WATER
FERMENTED OR UNFERMENTED, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF LIQUOR," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Taylor, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letter Patent.
:
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Taylor, 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 (that is to say) :-

page_text: The said "floating and sliding top " is or can or may be made or
constructed of wood or other convenient and suitable substituted
material; a plan or section of the said "floating and sliding top" with
appendages being shewn or defined in Drawing hereto annexed, plan
No. 1, and also herein-after more particularly referred or alluded to.
The wells, tanks, cisterns, or other vessels or vessel for the reception and
use of the said "floating and sliding top can or may be made or
constructed of slate, iron, wood, or other material capable of holding or
containing liquid matter; a plan or section of a square tank, well, or
cistern duly filled or supplied with (supposed) liquid, together also with
the "floating and sliding top" in position therein being shewn in the
Drawing hereto annexed, plan No. 2, and marked with the letters "A"
and "B" respectively. To the sides or edge of the said "floating and
sliding top" is attached, fitted, or fastened a band (shewn in Drawing
hereto annexed, plan No. 1, and marked "C") of canvas, india-rubber,
or other flexible material made to fit close to the sides of the walls of the
wells, tanks, cisterns, or otherwise, (shewn in Drawing hereto annexed,
plan No. 2, and marked "D,") by filling in of a "created space " of
any shape or form at the sides or edge of the said "floating and sliding
top," (shewn in Drawing hereto annexod, plan No. 2, and marked "E,")
with moistened sand or other convenient and suitable substituted
material. In the centre or otherwise of the said "floating and sliding
top" is made, constructed, or placed a stuffing box, (after. the manner
shewn in Drawing hereto annexed, plan No. 1, and marked "F,") through
which is passed in to the liquid a "sliding pipe," the end of which is
closed, having perforations an inch or two from the extremety thereof,
(shewn in Drawing hereto annexed, plan No. 2, and marked "G,") and
being made and intended to sink or descend in its position at the same
time and along with the "floating and sliding top" (after the manner
shewn in the Drawing hereto annexed, plan No. 3,) upon and during
the withdrawal of the liquid by means or aid of pump, engine, tap, or
other arrangement made to be connected in any manner with or to the
sliding pipe. The combined action or use of the said floating and sliding
top with appendages as aforesaid is that of allowing of no space or
vacuum between the "floating and sliding top" and the liquid, and to
hermetically enclose, preserve, maintain, and keep the liquid from
contact with or being contaminated by foreign or outward air or gas or
gasses, as also effectually to prevent the penetration of such air or gas

page_text: or gasses into the liquid at or upon and during the period or periods of
withdrawal thereof from and out of the wells, tanks, cisterns, or
otherwise howsoever.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Taylor, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
Signed and sealed in the presenco
of
FRA. SMITH WALKER,
Gent".,
26, Charles Street,
St. John's, Southwark,
London.
JOHN TAYLOR. (L.S.)