An Improved Bung and Vent for Barrels and other vessels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
An Improved Bung and Vent for Barrels and other vessels.
We NATHAN FUCHS, Manufacturer, THOMAS CRANEY, Merchant, and
THOMAS COLEMAN STOKES, Merchant, all of 533 West Broadway, Louisville,
Kentucky, U.S.A. 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 :-
Our invention is an improved bung and vent for barrels and other vessels
containing effervescent, volatile, or aromatic liquors: its object being to produce a
combined bung and vent not requiring any special bushing and of great durability.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts
summarized in the claims and more fully hereinafter described and illustrated in
the drawings.
Referring to the drawings by figures and letters of reference marked thereon:
Figure 1 is a side view of the combined bung and vent.
Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same.
Figure 3 is a top view.
Figure 4 a bottom view.
Figure 5 a detail view of the vent valve, with the rubber valve removed.
A designates the body of the bung, which may be formed of wood, compressed
fibre, or any other desired substance, and is about the shape and size of ordinary
bungs, but has a central bore the upper portion a of which is larger than the lower
portion thereby forming a shoulder a' within the bore.
Upon this shoulder is seated a metallic disk B, fitting snugly in the upper
portion of the bore, from the upper face of which rises a perforated ear B' which
can be engaged by a hook or other suitable instrument to extract the bung.
From the disk depends a tube b, extending below the bottom of the bung and
exteriorly threaded on its lower end. The opening in the tube is continued
through the disk, as indicated at so that there is a clear passage through
the bung.
C designates a metallic washer, having a central interiorly threaded opening c,
by which it is screwed onto the lower end of tube b, or vice versa, a compressible.
washer c¹ of leather, rubber or other suitable material being interposed between
the end of the bung and washer C, so that a gas-tight joint is made between the
end of bung and washer C.
As shown washer C is cylindro-conical, and protects the lower end of the bung
from the action of the liquids or gases in the barrel or vessel to which the bung is
applied.
Secured to the washer C directly under the opening c, is the vent valve. The
valve-seat D may be formed on the lower side of washer C, under opening c, and
has a small aperture d, communicating with the opening c and through it tube b and
opening, with the atmosphere exterior to the barrel in the face of the seat
radiating from aperture d are several short channels d' the object of which, is to
prevent too great adhesion of the valve to the seat when air should be sucked
therethrough, while the contents of the vessel are being withdrawn, and to ensure
the closing of the valve, by any gases or liquids which may try to escape when
the liquid escape is closed. Under this seat, and in close proximity thereto is a
valve guard plate E, which as shown has a central opening e, through which the
gases can act directly against the face of the valve, and also has side flanges e¹
which protect the side edges and also prevent lateral displacement of the valve.
The guard E, is upheld by an shaped support F, one leg of which is soldered or
Spain Q+]

page_text: otherwise secured to washer C, as shown. The valve G may be of any suitable
kind, for economy we employ rubber, but do not confine ourselves to the valve
shown in drawings. The valve is cut out of sheet rubber having a head portion
adapted to fit neatly over the seat, and between it and the guard, and a shank
portion g, which is secured between the legs of the support F by a wedge f, as
shown in the drawings, so that the valve can be readily renewed when worn out.
In practice the valve seat D may be formed integral with washer C, or the valve
seat D, the guard E, and the support F, may be stamped out of sheet metal and
secured to the washer C by solder or other suitable means.
From the foregoing it will be understood that we have a combined bung and
vent, the bung body forming the support for the vent: and the vent devices,
re-enforcing the bung, and serving as a means for facilitating its extraction.
When the body is worn out the metallic portions can be readily applied to another
body, or the body replaced.
When
In practice instead of an eye on the disk, an interiorly threaded tube may rise
therefrom, filling the entire upper portion of the bore of the body, so that the
bung can be removed by screwing the end of an extractor into this tube.
the bung is in use said tube can be closed by a button plug screwed therein,
through which can be made a small opening to admit passage of air and gas.
As a precaution, to prevent choking of the valve, a fine wire gauze screen
may be inserted between the washer C and end of tube (in the hollow in
washer).
The U-shaped support F may be secured to the washer by screws, so that it can
be readily detached to remove or repair valve.
Such modifications are within the scope of this invention, and are obvious
mechanical changes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The herein described bung, consisting of a body having a central shouldered
opening, and a metallic tube inserted in said opening having a disk on its upper
end fitting upon the shoulder of said opening and threaded on its lower end;
and an ear rising from said disk, within the bore, a compressible washer slipped on
the lower end of the tube, against the end of the body and a metallic conical
washer having a screw-threaded recess to engage the threaded end of the tube and
screwed thereon so as to compress the compressible washer, and also having a
passage communicating with the bore of the tube, and a valve seat around the
exterior end of the passage, a valve guard below said seat rigidly secured to the
face of the washer and a detachable valve interposed between said seat and guard,
substantially as described.
2. The combination of the body having a central shouldered bore, a disk
seated on the shoulder of the bore, and a tube depending from said disc through
the body, a washer screwed on the lower end of said tube, having a passage
communicating with the bore of the tube, a valve seat on the washer at the outer
end of said passage; a valve guard suspended below said seat by an U-shaped
support having a central opening, directly under the valve, and upstanding flanges
at its sides to prevent lateral displacement of the valve, and a valve fitted between
said guard and seat and having a shank lying between the legs of the U-shaped
support, and detachably secured thereto, substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of April 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.