Improvements in or in connection with Casks or Barrels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1889
Complete Specification. Left, 8th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Casks or Barrels.
I, CHARLES COLDICOTT, of Summer Place, North Barbourne, Worcester, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in casks or barrels, and has for its object
the prevention of what is generally known as musty barrels or stinkers.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a fluid tight box, attached to the
inside of said barrel or cask, covering and enclosing the tap hole. A spring door,
fitted to the interior of the box covers the tap hole in place of the cork or bung as
commonly used. This is forced open by the entry of the tap, and when the cask or
barrel is empty, and the tap withdrawn, said spring door again covers the hole, and
prevents the admission of air
I also provide a valve for admitting liquid to the interior of the box aforesaid, said
valve being locked when the spring door is closed, and released when it is opened by
the introduction of the tap. A pivotted lever, with a rod passing through to the out-
side of the cask or barrel, allows the liquid to be drawn when said rod is pressed, and
the valve opened, said valve closing by means of a spring when the pressure upon the
rod is released. By these means the liquid in the barrel cannot escape even when
the tap is not closed.
In order to keep the cask or barrel perfectly airtight, I employ a tubular vent peg,
the lower orifice being closed by a spring valve, which may be opened when necessary
by pressing the finger upon the spindle or pin.
Dated this 19th day of July 1889.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Casks or Barrels.
I CHARLES COLDICOTT, of Summer Place, North Barbourne, in the County of
Worcester, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the saine is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in or in connection with, casks or barrels,
for containing liquids, and the method of constructing the same, and has for its object
the prevention of what is generally known as "stinkers," that is to say, the cask or
barrel when emptied of the fermented or other liquid which it has contained, if left
exposed internally to the action of the atmosphere becomes in a very short time
permanently and irretrievably musty, and generally discarded as unfit for use again
for a similar purpose, casks or barrels in this condition are termed by brewers and
wine growers
"stinkers." But casks or barrels constructed according to my invention
cannot become musty or unsweet after use, for a very considerable time, by reason of
the automatic closing of the only two apertures through which the atmospheric air
could enter, and to attain this end I construct a cask. or barrel in and by the following
manner.
In order that my invention and the manner of carrying out the same may be clearly
understood I have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fluid tight box to be attached to the inside of a cask
or barrel during its construction in a manner to be hereinafter fully explained.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, and

page_text: Fig. 3 is the reverse of Fig. 1 with the side of the box removed for the purpose of
explaining the internal mechanism thereof.
Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3, but illustrates the position of the mechanism upon the
insertion of the tap.
Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevation and internal view respectively of an alternative
method of constructing the fluid tight box.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of a bung or shive fitted with my improved tubular
vent peg.
Similar letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
In carrying out my invention I provide a fluid tight box, made of any suitable
material, but preferably of metal, plain or nickel plated as may be desired, said box
is rectangular in cross section, and constructed in such a manner that one or both of
the sides A and the end B thereof may be detachable from the rest of the box, and
are attached by means of the screws b engaging with the tapped holes e as regards the
sides A. The front or detachable end B is of larger diameter than the opposite end
of the box, and attached by means of the screws d engaging with suitable lugs d' cast
or otherwise formed upon the sides A and bored and tapped for that purpose. One
corner of the end B has a projection formed thereon for carrying the rod or plunger C
passing through a fluid tight gland D and provided with a stop pin E to regulate the
travel thereof. A hole F with an internal boss F¹ is formed in the centre of the end B
for the purpose of receiving a tap, said end B has 4 or more holes G for screwing the
box when completed to the cask or barrel The above description and the front
elevational view Fig. 2 fully explains the formation of the end B.
Upon the external surface of one of the sides A I cast or otherwise provide a
boss H in which 1 form an aperture H', in some cases of a peculiar shape as
shewn in Figs. 1. 3 and 4, said aperture H' is for the admission of the liquid
into the box when the same is in position upon the cask. A sliding shutter I
having a projecting arm is pivotted upon the side A by means of the set
screw J in such a manner that, the said shutter I has a close and rubbing
contact with the boss H the faces of both of which are trued so that the shutter
when placed over the aperture H¹ forms an air and fluid tight cover therefor.
A suitable spring K impinging upon the shutter I maintains the rubbing contact
between I and H. A projecting pin L upon the shutter I extends therefrom,
through the aperture El and confines the travel of the shutter I to the extent of
said aperture. Upon the inner surface of the side A, passing between suitable
guides e and e' is a metallic bar M one end of which is connected to the free end of the
pin L upon the shutter I, the travel of said metallic bar M being incidental to and
coinciding with the travel of the shutter I. A suitable spiral or other spring N fastened
to the side A is connected to the pin L at the junction of Land M the tension of which
tends to keep the shutter I in the position shewn by Figs. 1 and 3 that is to say
covering the aperture H', the arm I being then pressing the rod or plunger C
in an outward direction to the extent of the stop E. Upon the inner surface of
the side AI cast or otherwise form two projecting lugs or carriers and f¹ to
which is pivotted by means of screws or pins a metallic door, which for the
purpose of distinction will be hereinafter referred to as the metallic seal O, upon
the inner surface of which and near the centre thereof are two projecting pieces g
and g to which is pivotted one end of a horizontal bolt P, the opposite end
thereof being connected to a spiral spring h. One end of the bolt P is turned
up for the purpose of carrying a guide pin passing through the spiral spring h
to the interior of a hollow projection i cast or otherwise formed upon the inner
face of the side A and against which the free end of the spring abuts, the
tension of the spring h acting upon the bolt P and the projection i forces the
seal close up to the inner face of the boss F upon the end B and hermetically
seals the hole F. The position of the seal O being now at right angles with the
side A of the box as shewn in Fig. 3 abuts against the free end of the bar M
which locks the shutter I over the aperture H³. I may where desirable face the

page_text: as to
metallic seal O with leather, india rubber or other resilient material so
interpose between it and the boss F¹ for the purpose of more effectually attaining
the hermetical sealing between 0 and F above referred to. The box may now be
screwed to the inside of the barrel or cask by means of the holes, G in the end B.
Having described the construction of the fluid tight box according to my invention,
the manner of performing its functions for the purposes set out in the preamble hereof,
are as follows.
The said fluid tight box is attached to the inside of a barrel or cask, during the
construction thereof and before placing the last head therein, in such a manner that
the hole F occurs coincident with the usual tap hole made in the head, to which it is
attached, and so that the handle or knob of the rod or piston (is projecting externally
through a hole made in the same head for that purpose. The cask inay now be filled
in the usual way through the bung hole and the bung or shive inserted therein, a cask
or barrel so fitted may be rolled about in the usual way when filled without any
leakage occurring. We will now presume the filled cask has arrived at its last resting
place upon the rack and is ready for tapping.
Upon the insertion of the tap R, the seal O recedes inwardly, swinging upon it
pivotts fand until parallel, or nearly so, to the side A, and at the same time forcing
back the bolt P and collapsing the spiral spring has shewn by Fig. 1. and though the
tap may be inadvertantly turned on before being driven in none of the liquor in the
cask will run out as the fluid tight box up till now is perfectly empty, this is a great
advantage, as hitherto the driving in of the tap usually causes more or less waste of
the contents of the cask especially with fermented liquors such for instance as beer
or wine in hot weather; I have previously described that the seal when in. contact
with the boss F¹ locks the bar M which in turn locks the sliding shutter I in
the position shewn at Fig. 1, but the insertion of the tap acting upon the seal O in the
manner described unlocks the bar M, so that when it is desirable to draw some of the
liquor from the cask the rod C must be pressed inwardly as shewn at Fig. 4, which
acting upon the arm I' and consequently upon the shutter I uncovers the aperture H¹
and permits the liquor contained in the cask to enter the box through H¹ and out
through the tap R, the position of the shutter I and the bar M at this stage are shown
by dotted lines at Fig. 4. Upon removal of the pressure upon C the tension of the
spring N replaces I in its normal position, closing the aperture Hand thus preventing
the withdrawal of any more liquor until the rod (be again depressed, thus preventing
the possibility of any waste arising from accidentally omitting to turn the tap off,
as the tap may if desired be always open without loss occurring in any way. Hitherto,
when drawing off the contents of a cask or barrel through the tap a hole has had to be
made at some part of said cask for the purpose of ventilation and a vent peg inserted
in said hole, each time after using, which, if forgotten to be replaced by the attendant
deterioration of the contents of the cask ensues. To prevent this provide u
permanent vent peg constructed in the following manner, Fig. 7 is a sectional
elevation of an ordinary bung or shive having a vertical hole through the centre
thereof into which I place a tight fitting metal tube S, a rod T passes through S
having on the lower end a cap and washer T' which is kept in close and fluid tight
contact with the bottom end of the tube S by a spring U fixed upon the lower surface
of the bung or shive, upon the upper end of the rod T is fitted a similar but larger
cap T, a suitable recess formed in the top of the bung or shive admits of T being
attached to the rod T so as not to extend above the level of the top of the bung, and
at the same time allowing it when depressed to fall a sufficient distance to permit the
admission of necessary ventilation through the tube S and the cap T, and upon the
cessation of the pressure upon T", T¹ resumes its former position of contact with
the bottom of the tube S. A bung or shive so constructed according to my invention
can be driven into the bung hole of the cask or barrel in the usual way and the
necessity for a vent peg permanently dispensed with.
I may in certain cases construct the Huid tight box without the rod C and the
projecting arm 1 upon the shutter i and adopt the method shewn by Figs. 5 and 6
wherein the pin L upon the shutter I is connected to the bolt P so that upon the insertion

page_text: of the tap R the metallic seal O acting upon the bolt P removes the shutter I in the
manner shewn by Figs. 5 and 6, a guide rod k attached by a screw to the side A
passes loosely through a slot formed in the end of the pin L and preserves contact
between I and P. The spring K although not shewn in Figs. 5 and 6 performs
the same function with the shutter I as described in the previous arrangement.
The aperture H¹ is differently formed in the cases 5 and 6 to suit the travel of the
pin L.
It will be understood from the foregoing description and illustration of the
application of my invention to ordinary casks or barrels that, upon the withdrawal
of the tap R when the cask is empty, or otherwise, the metallic seal resumes
its position of contact with the boss F' by reason of the tension of the spring h
acting upon the bolt P attached thereto, which in the cases shewn by Figs. 5 and 6
also closes the aperture H. In the methods shewn by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the
aperture H is always closed until the rod is depressed, so that in either method
the withdrawal of the tap R and the consequent automatic closing of all apertures,
prevents the admission of air to the empty cask and preserves its sweetness for an
almost indefinite period, and by the adoption of my invention the hitherto condition
of empty casks or barrels known by the term "stinkers" may be permanently
avoided.
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 1
claim is,
First. In connection with casks or. barrels the construction and use of the several
parts in combination, forming the subject of my invention, substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and shewn with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Second. In connection with casks or barrels the method of and means for the
construction of a fluid tight box and the manner of attaching same to the inside
of casks or barrels substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third. A fluid tight with an inlet aperture H and sliding shutter I and pin L,
with or without the projecting arm I, the contact spring K, and metallic bar M
with spring N, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by
the appended drawings.
Fourth. The combination of a fluid tight box as referred to in the preceding
claim, with a rod C and gland D, for regulating the action of the shutter I,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described with reference to the
drawings.
Fifth. In combination with a fluid tight box with metallic seal O acting upon the
boss F, with the bolt P and spring h and the method of locking and unlocking the
bar M automatically, by the action of O, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and set forth and shewn by the several figures in the accompanying
drawings.
Sixth. In connection with casks or barrels, the attachment to an ordinary bung or
shive, of the the tube S and rod T with caps T' and T", with spring U, substantially
as and for the purposes herein shewn and described with reference to Fig. 7 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of April 1890.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.