IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CASKS, BARRELS, OR OTHER VESSELS FOR HOLDING BEER, WINES, OR OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE WITHDRAWAL OF SUCH LIQUIDS THEREFROM."
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Harry Blair at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the Sth September 1881.
HARRY BLAIR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CASKS, BARRELS, OR OTHER VESSELS
FOR HOLDING BEER, WINES, OR OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN APPLIANCES FOR
FACILITATING THE WITHDRAWAL OF SUCH LIQUIDS THEREFROM."
This Invention relates to the construction of barrels, casks, or vessels for
containing wines, beer, effervescing liquors, and other liquids, and to improved
appliances fitted thereto for facilitating the withdrawal of such liquids without
contact within the vessel of the external air, or escape of the gases with which
the liquids may be charged.
The Invention consists essentially in forming or fitting the casks or vessels with
an internal bag-like diaphragm of suitable elastic material, which is fixed in such
a position as to fill or partially fill the vessel, and is formed to the contour of the
çask or vessel, or corresponding part of it, so that it may rest in contact with its
inner surface when the vessel is full; and on the withdrawal of the liquid contents,
follow such liquid, and either collapse or be turned inside out, the withdrawal of
the liquid being facilitated by the admission of atmospheric air, or of pneumatic,
or hydraulic, or other pressure behind the diaphragm, but without contact with the
contents of the vessel.
The Invention is susceptible of modification to suit varying circumstances,
but in an arrangement of the improved cask or vessel and appliances adapted
for general use, the cask or containing vessel, which may be of ordinary
shape, or like an oblate spheroid, and formed of metal, wood, earthenware, or other
material, is made in halves, either longitudinally or transversely, secured together
by flanges and bolts or other suitable means, with the bag-like diaphragm fixed
round the edge between the flanges, or at the joint of the containing vessel, so as
to render such joint air-tight. The diaphragm is by preference made of vulcanised
rubber which may be coated on the surface next the contents of the vessel, to
prevent any injurious action on the liquor or liquid. Leather, parchment, or other
elastic material, or even cloth, rendered impermeable to liquids, may however be
used to form the diaphragm which in its normal position with the cask or vessel

page_text: full, lies in contact with the inner upper surface or contour of the containing
vessel. An opening fitted with a cock or valve is provided at the upper side or
end of the vessel whereby air or water may be admitted, either under pressure or
not according as the contents of the vessel have to be withdrawn at a lower level
or forced to a higher.level than the vessel itself. In ordinary circumstances water
from a street main will be found most suitable, the pressure being controlled by
means of the cock or inlet valve, but in situations where a pressure or head of
water is not available, as on board ship, air or water may be pumped or forced into
the cask over the diaphragm to cause it to press on the contents of the vessel and
force the liquid out, or facilitate its withdrawal by means of an ordinary cock or
draw tap which is provided as usual. The whole contents of the cask or vessel may
thus be withdrawn without contact therewith in the vessel of air, air which often
acts injuriously on the liquor, and in the case of liquids, such as effervescing liquors,
if admitted as by the usual mode of withdrawal, would render the contents useless.
The gases which the effervescing or other liquids may contain are also by this
means prevented from escaping or separating from the liquids and are retained or
forced into the liquids, according to the pressure that is applied outside the
diaphragm. In some cases the pressure on the diaphragm may be obtained by the
use of weights which may be applied outside the cask or vessel on an upright rod
or bar passing through the vessel and attached to a washer or other fixing on the
diaphragin.
In another modification of the Invention the cask or other vessel is fitted with
an elastic bag or internal lining of rubber or other similar material formed to the
internal contour of the containing vessel, and this bag may either be collapsed to
lie doubled up at one side or end of the vessel when it is full, or the elastic bag
itself be fitted with the liquid. In the first case the withdrawal or forcing out of
the liquid is effected by filling the bag with air or water (under pressure, if
necessary), and in the latter case the air or water will be filled into the shell of
the cask or vessel to collapse the bag containing the liquid and force it out. Inlet
and outlet openings connected to the elastic bag or lining and to the cask are
provided as required for the particular circumstance.