Improvements in or appertaining to Bungs for Casks and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
Improvements in or appertaining to Bungs for Casks and the like.
A communication by CARL SCHOPF, of 19, Augustenstrasse, Munich, in the
Empire of Germany, Technologist.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street, Manchester
both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object a hermetic cask-closing device by means of a
spring counter pressure plate which rests on the inner edge of the bung-hole and
is pressed tight by means of the bung, the latter being operated by hand without
the aid of a tool or other appliance. The bung may be provided with a Custom-
house seal by means of a crosspiece which fits into grooves in the bung-hole or
socket.
This arrangement is shown on the accompanying drawing-
Figures 1 and 2 are diametrical sections through the stopper and bung-hole.
Figure 3 is a plan view.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are details.
The bung socket a is provided on its outside with a conical thread and is screwed
into the wood of the cask in the usual manner. On the entire circumference of the
inside of the bung socket there is in its upper part a large number of grooves n
for the Customs or Excise securing device hereinafter described. Beneath these
grooves the bung socket has a thread in order to allow of the bung 6 being screwed
therein. The lower edge of the bung socket has towards the inside a projection r
on which the pressure plate c, showu in detail in Figure 5, rests. The upper part
of the bung bis provided with a crossbar q having a securing or safety lever d (see
Figure 6) let into it, which lever acts under the pressure of a spring whilst the
under part has a U-shaped projection u. In this latter the counter pressure plate c
already mentioned, which inclines in all directions, is movably arranged, and is
secured against falling out by a small screw e (see Figures 1 and 5). By
moderately screwing down the bung the spring pressure plate c is pressed against
the annular projection of the bung-hole, a hermetical joint being obtained by
means of a washer of paper or the like. The Customs or Excise securing device
consists of a lever d which is let into the crossbar q of the bung b, and when bent
down, engages in one of the grooves n of the bung socket.
In this position it is retained by means of a wire or other like fastener v which
is passed through a hole in the crossbar q and secured by means of a seal.
When in an unsealed condition, the spring holds the free end of the lever d in
the position shown in Figure 1, so that this lever may be utilised as a handle for
inserting or withdrawing the bung.
If the stopper be used for purposes where a securing by Customs or Excise
officers is not necessary, the lever d and the spring f may be omitted, whilst the
crossbar of the stopper may be made solid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what 1 claim is―
1. An improved device for securing the bung-holes of casks and the like,
consisting in the arrangement of a spring counter pressure plate c which is

page_text: revolubly arranged in the bung b, and on the latter being screwed into the bung
socket is pressed against an annular projection r, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown on the accompanying drawing.
2. The construction of the cask bung-hole fastener described in Claim 1, in
which, for the purpose of allowing it to be secured by the Customs or Excise
,officers, a spring actuated lever is arranged in the bung, which lever engages in
one of the grooves n of the bung socket and may be there secured by means of a
wire or other suitable fastener and a seal, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 1st day of September 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.