Improvements in Taps or Cocks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Taps or Cocks.
1, WILLIAM SELBORNE WORTHINGTON, of 11, Queen Street, Wigan, in the
County of Lancaster, Veterinary Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
I
This invention relates to taps or cocks for beer or other barrels or vessels.
will describe my invention as applied to a tap comprising a hollow stem screwed
on the outside for part of its length and provided near the other end inside
with a valve seat, while between the seat and the extreme end, is provided a
plug screwed to the inside of the stem, the end of which is provided with a valve
which closes against the valve seat, the other end being fitted with a suitable
handle or key, so that by turning this handle or key, the plug is closed on the
valve seat or removed therefrom. The disadvantages of this arrangement have
been, that this valve rotating in one with the plug was apt to get worn by
repeated movement against the valve seat, and furthermore in rotating this
plug to open or close the valve, the hollow stem was apt to turn in the bung or
cork and so place the delivery nozzle out of the vertical line.
The present invention is designed to avoid. these defects and comprises the
following improvements:-
1. The disc of vulcanized fibre or other suitable material which forms the
valve at the end of the plug, is so arranged as to be loosely coupled to the plug,
so that the plug can rotate independently of the valve. This is effected by mak-
ing the plug with a longitudinal hole right through it with an inside shoulder
near the end, and in passing a headed screw through this hole so that its head
abuts against the shoulder inside, while its screwed end projects. The disc of
vulcanised fibre forming the valve can then be screwed on to the projecting end
of this screw, care being by preference taken that the screw does not go right
A metallie
through the disc, but stops short just before getting to the far side.
washer is mounted loosely on the screw between it and the plug. By this
arrangement there is no friction on the valve, which thus can remain stationary
while the plug is revolving, the friction taking place between the end of the
plug and the metallic washer, which latter is mounted loose on the screw.
Furthermore, the valve cannot separate from the plug.
2. In order to prevent the hollow stem of the tap from revolving when fitted
in position in the bung or cork, I provide the following arrangement: The
outside of the stem at or about the point where the thread begins is provided
with a threaded boss. In this boss is formed a longitudinal slot having a slide
with a wedge shaped end fitting therein. On the threaded boss is screwed a
milled nut engaging in a transverse slot in the slide. In use therefore when
the stem is screwed through the hole cut in the bung or cork, and the boss abuts
against the cork, the milled nut is turned by hand so as to forcibly press the
wedge end of the slide against the wood of the barrel, the wedge being wide
enough to engage both the cork and the wood. When this is effected the stem
of the tap is locked and cannot possibly rotate but is made a firm fixture and will

page_text: not rotate. A reverse movement of the milled nut releases the tap so that it
cannot be unscrewed.
Dated this 17th day of November 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Taps or Cocks.
I, WILLIAM SELBORNE WORTHINGTON, of 11, Queen Street, Wigan, in the
County of Lancaster, Veterinary Surgeon, 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 taps or cocks for beer or other barrels or vessels. I
will describe my invention as applied to the tap set forth in my prior Patent
No. 2103 of 1899, reference being made to the drawings accompanying the said
patent, in which A is a hollow stem screwed on the outside at 1 for a part of
its length and provided near the other end inside with a valve seat B, while
between the seat and the extreme end is provided a plug G screwed to the inside
of the stem at D, the end of which is provided with a valve which closes against
the valve seat, the other end being fitted with a suitable handle or key E so that
by turning this handle or key, the plug is closed on to the valve seat Bor
removed therefrom. The disadvantages of this arrangement have been that this
valve rotating in one with the plug was apt to get worn by repeated move-
ment against the valve seat, and furthermore in rotating this plug to open or
close the valve, the hollow stem was apt to turn in the bung or cork and so place
the delivery nozzle out of the vertical line.
The present invention is designed to avoid these defects, and comprises the
following improvements which will be understood from the following descrip-
tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the tap;
Figure a detail view of the arrangement for fixing the tap in the cork or
barrel;
Figure 3a sectional view of the valve at end of plug;
Figure 4 a modification thereof.
Referring to Figures 1 and 3 H is a disc of vulcanised fibre or other suitable
material which forms the valve at the end of the plug J. This is so arranged
as to be loosely coupled to the plug J so that the plug J can rotate indepen-
dently of the valve . This is effected by making the plug J with a longitudinal
hole right through it with an inside shoulder L near the end and in passing
a headed screw M. through this hole, so that its head abuts against the shoulder L
inside while its screwed end projects. The disc of vulcanised fibre H forming
the valve can then be screwed on the projecting end of the screw M, care being
by preference taken that the screw does not go right through the disc but stops
just short before getting to the far side. A metallic washer N is mounted loosely
on the screw between it and the plug. By this arrangement there is no friction
on the valve which thus can remain stationary while the plug is rotating, the
friction taking place between the end of the plug J and the metallic washer N,
which latter is mounted loosely on the screw M. Furthermore the valve cannot
separate from the plug. It is obvious however that instead of screwing a pin M

page_text: into the valve, it can be made a fixture on the washer N as shown in Figure 4,
and the pin inserted into a hole K in the plug. The pin M can have a groove m
at one point in its length, and a set screw ( screwed through the plug into this
groove, holds the valve in place.
In order to prevent the hollow stem of the tap from revolving when fitted in
position in the bung or cork, I provide the following arrangement (shewn in
Figures 1 and 2). The outside of the stem A at or about the point where the
thread I begins, is provided with a threaded boss P. In this boss is formed a
longitudinal slot Q having a slide R with a wedge shaped end fitting therein.
On the threaded boss P is screwed a milled nut S engaging in a transverse slot r
in the slide R. In use therefore when the stem is screwed through the hole
cut in the bung or cork, and the boss P abuts against the cork, the milled nut S
is turned by hand so as to forcibly press the wedge end of the slide R against
the wood of the barrel, the wedge being wide enough as shown in Figure 2 to
engage both the cork and the wood. When this is effected the stem of the tap
is locked and cannot possibly rotate but is made a firm fixture and will not rotate.
A reverse movement of the milled nut releases the tap so that it cannot be un-
screwed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a tap or cock having a hollow stem provided inside with a valve seat,
and a plug screwed on the inside of stem, forming the valve at the end of
the plug with a disc of vulcanised fibre or other suitable material loosely coupled
thereto, in such a manner that the plug can rotate independently of the valve,
whereby there is no friction on the valve which can thus remain stationary while
the plug is revolving, substantially as described.
2. The adjustable wedge device for preventing the hollow stem of the tap
revolving when fitted in position in the bung or cork, substantially as described,
whereby the stem of the tap can be made a firm fixture and cannot turn in the
bung or cork, or place the delivery nozzle out of the vertical line.
3. The tap or cock, constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein-
before described with reference to and shewn in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 18th day of August
1900.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.