IMPROVEMENTS IN VENT PEGS AND VALVES, CHIEFLY APPLICABLE POR REGULATING THE PASSAGE OF AIR OR GAS OR OTHER FLUIDS INTO AND FROM VESSELS CONTAINING BEER AND LIKE LIQUIDS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Bourne, of Headstone Drive, Harrow, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENT
PEGS AND VALVES, CHIEFLY APPLICABLE POR REGULATING THE PASSAGE OF AIR
OR GAS OR OTHER FLUIDS INTO AND FROM VESSELS CONTAINING BEER AND LIKE
LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 16th May 1865, and dated the 21st November 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Bourne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st November 1864.
I, STEPHEN BOURNE, of Headstone Drive, Harrow, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VENT PEGS AND VALVES, CHIEFLY APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE
PASSAGE OF AIR OR GAS OR OTHER FLUIDS INTO AND FROM VESSELS CONTAINING
BEER AND LIKE LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
In constructing valves according to the first part of this Invention I employ
& strip or disc of india-rubber having numerous small holes perforated
through it, the holes being perforated whilst the india-rubber is distended, so
that when the india-rubber is allowed to regain its original form the holes
through it are closed. A disc of india-rubber so perforated when placed
across an aperture in a vessel, such as the bung-hole of a cask, will prevent
the passage of gas into or from the vessel until the india-rubber is distended,
either by the pressure of gas upon it or otherwise, the holes will then open
and allow gas or air to pass through them until the india-rubber regains its
original form. A valve of this description works in a similar manner in either

page_text: direction. When, however, it is desired that the valve shall work in one
direction only, a plate of some solid substance may be placed on one side of
the sheet or disc, so that when by the pressure of air or gas the india-rubber
is pressed against the solid plate the india-rubber is prevented from expanding,
and the holes through it are kept closed. Holes are formed through the
solid plate to admit of air or other fluid passing through it, care being taken
that these holes are not formed opposite any of the holes in the india-rubber.
When air or fluid passes through the holes in the solid plate, and presses on
the india-rubber, the india-rubber is pressed away from the plate, and the
holes through it are opened. In place of constructing a valve from a disc
of india-rubber, a tube of this material perforated with small holes when
distended may be employed, the tube being closed at one end and open at the
other end; when there is any pressure of air or other fluid from within the
tube will expand, and thereby open the holes formed through it; when the
pressure is from the exterior of the tube the tube is compressed, and the
holes kept closed. A tube of wood or other material may be placed within
the tube of india-rubber, the wooden tube being open at both ends. When
there is a pressure of fluid from the exterior of the india-rubber tube, the
tube is pressed on to the wooden or other tube. When, however, there is a
pressure of fluid coming through the wooden or other tube, the fluid passing
through this tube into the interior of the india-rubber expands it, and so
opens the holes through it. When there is an internal tube within the tube
of india-rubber the holes in the india-rubber need not be made quite so small
as when the tube is unsupported; in place of a tube a conical or arched form
of india-rubber may be employed. When a valve formed of a tube of india-
rubber as above described is to be used for regulating the escape of gas from
a cask containing beer, I prefer to fix the valve in a hole bored into one of
the staves or heads, or into the interior of a wooden bung, the open end of
the tube being towards the interior of the cask; the hole in which the valve is
fixed is not bored entirely through the stave or bung, but a small hole or
holes are formed from it to the outer face of the bung. When the pressure
of gas in the cask becomes too great the excess of gas escapes through the
valve, but no air can pass through the valve into the cask.
In constructing vent pegs I employ a tube of india-rubber, such as before
described, either alone or preferably with an internal tube, but inasmuch as
the tube has to yield to the pressure of the atmosphere alone from without, it
must have thin slits or incisions instead of the small perforations, which are
sufficient when intended to act by the pressure of the confined gas within the
cask. When the internal tube of wood is used, the tube of india-rubber being

page_text: very thin is fastened at its open end round the wooden tube; the upper end
of the wooden tube is open to the atmosphere, and the air passing through it
escapes from its lower end into the india-rubber tube, and by expanding the
tube of india-rubber passes between the two tubes, and escapes through the
apertures in the india-rubber.
Another arrangement is to insert in the lower portion of the india-rubber
tube, which is left open, a wooden or other plug, above which the air being
freely admitted to the india-rubber tube, it forces its way between the two
surfaces, and thus enters the cask.
In some cases I construct vent pegs from small tubes of wood or other
material closed at one end, small holes are bored through the side of the tube
near its closed end, and around the tube and over these holes is placed a thin
tube of india-rubber. The exterior of the open end of the wooden tube is of
larger diameter than the closed end, and when using a peg of this description
a hole is bored in the top of the cask, and into this hole the larger diameter
of the tube is driven, the closed end of the tube being towards the interior of
the cask. A peg of this description prevents any escape of gas from the
cask, but when the contents of the cask are being drawn off, permits air to
enter into it. The air enters through the open end of the wooden tube, and
passes through the small holes formed through its side, and then passes
between the india-rubber and the wooden tubes, and escapes into the cask.
When using casks or other vessels that are divided into two compartments
by a flexible partition, as described in the Specification of the Patent granted
to me on the 4th day of March 1864 (No. 551) (for holding liquors in a
state of fermentation), I form in the top of the partition a valve such as
herein first described, the valve being composed of a number of holes pierced
in a small circular space at the top of the partition, and a small disc to cover
this space, the disc being likewise pierced and cemented to the partition
round its outer edge. This is surrounded with a ring of cork or other solid
substance, which prevents the portion of the partition within the ring which
is perforated pressing against the stave of the cask, thus allowing the per-
forated portion of the partition to expand, and so allow the holes to open and
the gas to escape; or instead of using a cork ring, as above described, a
bung-hole may be bored in the vessel, which forms a cavity for the expansion
of that portion of the partition, and the extent to which this portion of the
partition is allowed to expand may be limited by covering over the upper part
of the bung-hole.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Stephen Bourne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1. 20th May 1865..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
BOURNE, of Headstone Drive, Harrow, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Stephen Bourne, Her special licence that I, the said Stephen
Bourne, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Stephen Bourne, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN VENT PEGS AND VALVES, CHIEPLY APPLICABLE FOR REGULATING THE
PASSAGE OF AIR OR GAS OR OTHER FLUIDS INTO AND FROM VESSELS CONTAINING BEER
AND LIKE LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Stephen Bourne, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
"was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Stephen Bourne, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say:-
In constructing valves according to the first part of this Invention I employ
a strip or disc of india-rubber having numerous small holes perforated through
it, the holes being perforated whilst the india-rubber is distended, so that when
the india-rubber is allowed to regain its original form the holes through it are
closed. A disc of india-rubber so perforated when placed across an aperture in
a vessel, such as the bung-hole of a cask, will prevent the passage of gas into
or from the vessel until the india-rubber is distended, either by the pressure of
gas upon it or otherwise, the holes will then open and allow gas or air to pass

page_text: through them until the india-rubber. regains its original form. A valve of this
description. works in a similar manner in either direction.. When, however, it
is desired that the valve shall work in one direction. ouly, a plate of some solid'
substance may be placed on one side of the sheet or disc, so that when by the
pressure of air or gas the india-rubber is pressed against the solid plate the
india-rubber is prevented from expanding, and the holes through it are kept
closed. Holes are formed through the solid. plate to admit of air or other
fluid passing through it, care being taken that these holes are not formed
opposite any of the holes in the india-rubber.. When air. or fluid passes through
the holes in the solid plate, and presses on the india-rubber, the india-rubber.
is pressed away from the plate, and the holes through it are opened. In place
of constructing a valve from a disc of india-rubber, a tube of this material per-
forated with small holes when distended may be employed, the tube being
closed. at one end and open at the other end ;. when there is any pressure of air
or other fluid from within the tube will expand, and thereby open the holes
formed through it; when the pressure is from the exterior of the tube the tube is
compressed, and the holes kept closed.. A tube of wood or other material may be
placed within the tube of india-rubber, the wooden tube being open at both ends.
When there is a pressure of fluid from the exterior of the india-rubber tube,
the tube is pressed on to the. wooden. or other tube. When, however, there is
a pressure of fluid coming through the wooden or other tube, the fluid passing
through this tube into the interior of the india-rubber expands it, and so opens
the holes through it.. When there is an internal tube within the tube of india-
rubber. the holes in the india-rubber need not be made quite so small as when
the tube is unsupported; in place of a tube a conical or arched form of india-
rubber may be employed. When a valve formed of a tube of india-rubber as
above described is to be used for regulating the escape of gas from a cask.
.containing beer, I prefer to fix the valve in a hole bored into one of the staves
or heads, or into the interior of a wooden bung, the open. end of the tube being.
towards the interior of the cask; the hole in which the valve is fixed is not.
bored entirely through the stave or bung, but a small hole or holes are formed.
of
pressure
from it to the outer face of the bung. When the
in the cask
becomes too great the excess of gas escapes through the valve, but no air cau
pass through the valve into the cask..
gas
In constructing vent pegs I employ a tube of india-rubber, such as before
described, either alone or preferably with an internal tube, but inasmuch as the
tube has to yield to the pressure of the atmosphere alone from without, it must
have thin slits or incisions instead of the small perforations, which are sufficient
when intended to act by the pressure of the confined gas within the cask.

page_text: When the internal tube of wood is used, the tube of india-rubber being very
thin is fastened at its open end round the wooden tube; the upper end of the
wooden tube is open to the atmosphere, and 'the air passing through it escapes
from its lower end into the india-rubber tube, and by expanding the tube of
india-rubber passes between the two tubes, and escapes through the apertures
in the india-rubber.
Another arrangement is to insert in the lower portion of the india-rubber
tube, which is left open, a wooden or other plug, above which the air being
freely admitted to the india-rubber tube, it forces its way between the two
surfaces, and thus enters the cask.
In some cases I construct vent pegs from small tubes of wood or other
material closed at one end, small holes are bored 'through the side of the tube
near its closed end, and around the tube and over these holes is placed a thin
tube of india-rubber. The exterior of the open end of the wooden tube is of
larger diameter than the closed end, and when using a peg of this description
a hole is bored in the top of the cask, and into this hole the larger diameter of
the tube is driven, the closed end of the tube being towards the interior of the
cask. À peg of this description prevents any escape of gas from the cask, but
when the contents of the cask are being drawn 'off, permits air to enter into it.
The air enters through the open end of the wooden tube, and passes through
the small holes formed through its side, and then passes between the india-
rubber and the wooden tubes, and escapes into the cask.
When using casks or other vessels that are divided into two compartments
by a flexible partition, as described in the Specification of the Patent granted
to me on the 4th day of March 1864 (No. 551) (for holding liquors in a state
of fermentation), I form in the top of 'the 'partition a'valve such as herein
first described, the valve being composed of a number of holes pierced in a
small circular space at the top of the partition, 'and'a "small disc to cover this
space, the disc being likewise pierced and cemented 'to the partition round its
outer edge. This is surrounded with a ring of 'cork or other solid-substance
which prevents the portion of the partition within 'the ring 'which is perforated
pressing against the stave of the cask, thus allowing the 'perforated portion of
the partition to expand, and so allow the holes to open, and the gas to escape;
or instead of using a cork ring as above described, 'a bung-hole may be bored
in the vessel which forms a cavity for the expansion of that portion of the
partition, and the extent to which 'this portion of the partition is allowed
to expand may be limited by covering over the upper part of the bung-hole..
Having thus stated the nature of my 'Invention, I will proceed to describe
1.ore fully the manner of performing the same.

page_text: The Drawings hereunto annexed shew various forms of valves constructed
according to my Invention; the valves shown are for regulating the passage of
air or gas to and from casks for containing beer and like liquids, but valves for
other purposes may be constructed in a similar manner to those herein
shewn and described. Each of the valves shewn in the Drawings is shewn
to be applied to one of the staves of a cask as it is preferred that it should be,
in order that when the cask is on its side the valve may be at the top of the
cask, in order that when the interior of the cask is under pressure any air or
gas that may occupy the top of the cask may pass from the cask through the
valve.
The valve shewn at Figure 1 is composed of a disc of vulcanized india-rubber
placed across a hole in one of the staves, similar to the ordinary bung-hole of
a cask, and held in its place in the following manner:-The top of the bung-
hole is closed with a plug of wood a, which has a small hole through its centre,
the bottom of the plug is also closed with a similar plug 6; plugs of other ma-
terial may if desired be employed between these; the edges of the disc of
vulcanized india-rubber c is nipped, so that a tight joint is made all around
the edge of the disc; through the disc numerous small holes are perforated;
these holes are by preference made with a fine needle or point whilst the india-
rubber is distended; if however a very fine needle be employed for making the
perforations, it is not essential to previously distend.the india-rubber, as by the
mere act of passing the needle through the india-rubber the india-rubber is
sufficiently distended to cause the hole.to close on the withdrawal of the needle,;
the object to be attained is to form holes in the disc which shall be kept
closed by the elasticity of the india-rubber, but which open when the india-
rubber is distended by pressure, and allow air, gas, or fluid to pass through
them, and this object may be attained by other means than those above
described; the faces of the wooden plugs between which the disc of india-
rubber is held are hollowed out in the centre as is shown, in order to allow the
disc to expand. When a valve so constructed is applied to the bung-hole of
a cask containing beer, and the bung-hole is placed uppermost, any pressure
from the interior of the cask will cause the holes in the disc.to open and so
allow the excess of gas to pass from the cask. This valve however will not
allow air to enter the cask when any of its contents are withdrawn from it, as the
.pressure of the air would not be sufficient to open the holes. in the india-rubber

page_text: disc, but valves constructed in a similar manner may in many cases be used
for controlling the passage of air, gas, or fluid in either direction, as the valve
will work in a similar manner in both directions.
: At Figure 2 is shown a valve constructed in a similar manner. In this
valve, however, the upper face or surface of the lower plug 6 is not hollowed
out, the valve therefore will only act to allow gas to pass from the cask, but
will not allow air to enter it, as when there is any pressure of air on the upper
surface of the disc, the disc is pressed down on to the flat top of the bottom
plug; the disc is thus kept from expanding, and the holes formed through it
are kept closed. If the position of the plugs a and b were reversed, and a
very thin perforated disc employed, the valve would permit air to enter the
cask; but would not allow gas to pass from it.
Figure 3 shows another form of valve for allowing gas to pass from a cask;
but which will prevent air entering into it. In this arrangement the per-
forated disc c is cemented to or brought closely in contact with the bottom of
a metal tube d, which is driven into a hole bored partially through the inner
surface of one of the staves, or it might be through the bung; a small hole is
bored entirely through the stave or bung, as shown, to form a passage from
the interior of the cask to the bung. When the interior of the cask is under
pressure the india-rubber disc is expanded, and the gas allowed to escape, but
the disc cannot be expanded in the opposite direction by reason of its resting
against the bottom of the larger hole, and there being no perforations in that
part of the disc which covers the smaller hole.
Figure. 4 shows another form of valve, in which a perforated disc c is placed
across a hole bored partially through a stave or bung from the interior, and
the edges of the disc are held by a plug of wood e being driven into the hole;
the action of this valve is precisely similar to the action of the one above
described.
In Figure 5, in place of a finely perforated disc of india-rubber being
employed, the fine perforations are made in a piece of india-rubber made into
a conical or arched form, as shown. Around the arched shaped piece of
india-rubber is a flat flange, by which it is held in its place in a hole in one of
the staves or the bung. The flange is shown to be held by a tube, by
preference of metal; this tube has cemented around its exterior a piece of
cloth, in order that when the tube is driven into a hole in the bung or in one
of the staves of the cask, the cloth may afford sufficient friction against the
sides of the hole to hold the tube; the cone of india-rubber is open at its
bottom to the interior of the cask, thus when there is any pressure of gas

page_text: within the cask the holes open and allow the gas to escape, but no air can
enter the cask, as any pressure of air on the exterior of the cone only tends to
close the fine holes through it.
.
In the valve shown at Figure 6 a perforated cone of india-rubber is em-
ployed, which is closed at its upper end, and is supported on its interior with
'a cone of wood or other material; in this case a very thin cone of india-rubber
may be employed. The cone of wood is driven into a hole formed from the
interior of the cask, partially through one of the staves or the bung. A small
passage is formed through the cone from top to bottom, so that gas may pass
from the cask through this hole into the interior of the cone of india-rubber
and escape through its perforations, and pass away through the small hole,
which is made entirely through the stave or bung.
1
Figure 7 shows another form of valve. In this valve a perforated cone of
india-rubber is employed, similar to the perforated cone in Figure 5; this
cone is inserted into a hole bored from the interior partially through one of the
staves or the bung, and the flange around the cone is held by a plug of wood d,
as shown; through this plug a small hole is made, so as to form a passage
from the interior of the cask into the interior of the perforated cone.
In the valve shown in Figure 8 the fine perforations through which the air
or gas is to pass are made in a tube e of india-rubber, which is open at both
ends; this tube is placed in a hole bored transversely across a plug of wood f,
the tube having an enlargement upon it at each end, which fits tightly into
the ends of the hole. A hole g is also bored in the plug, which leads from
the top of the plug to the transverse hole formed through it. The plug of
wood so fitted with a tube is driven into a hole formed on the inner face of a
stave or bung and partially through it.
When there is any pressure in the interior of the cask the excess of gas
passes through the fine perforations in the tube e into the transverse hole in
the plug g, escapes through the small hole h, and passing through the hole
which is formed entirely through the stave or bung.
is
In the valve shown at Figure 9 a small tube h of india-rubber, having
small perforations through it, is employed; this tube is closed at the top, but
open at the bottom to the interior of the cask; the tube is carried by a
small cork or plug, which closes a hole formed on the under side of a small
bung or plug of wood h', and partially through it; this plug h¹ is driven into
a hole formed through one of the staves. When there is any pressure in the
interior of the cask, the excess of gas passes away through the perforations
in the tube h, and escapes through the small hole made entirely through the
plug

page_text: Figure 10 shows a vent peg constructed according to my Invention. a is a
tube of wood or other material, the exterior diameter of one end of which is
greater than the diameter of the other end. Around the smaller end is a thin
perforated tube of india-rubber, bound at one end to the wooden tube; this
tube of india-rubber is of such a diameter that it just fits around the tube of
wood without being expanded; the other end of the india-rubber tube
projects beyond the wooden tube, and this end of the india-rubber tube is
closed. When using a vent peg constructed in this manner a hole is bored
through the bung or any portion of the stave or head of the cask, and into this
hole is driven the larger diameter of the wooden tube, the smaller diameter of
the tube being towards the interior of the cask. When the contents of the
cask are being drawn off air enters through the top of the wooden tube, and
passes through its lower end into the interior of the india-rubber tube, and
then enters the cask through the small perforations or slits in this tube.
In place of the smaller end of the wooden tube being surrounded by a per-
forated tube of india-rubber, it may be surrounded with an unperforated tube;
the lower end of the unperforated tube is then left open, and the lower end of
the wooden tube is closed. Holes are in this case formed through the side
of the tube, in order that air entering at the open end of the wooden tube may
pass through the small holes in its side, and then escape into the cask by
passing between the india-rubber and the wooden tube.
In the vent peg shown at Figure 11 the lower end of the wooden tube has
attached to it an unperforated tube of india-rubber, the lower end of which
tube embraces a solid plug o; any air entering through the open top of the
wooden tube can then pass into the tube of india-rubber, and enter the cask
by passing between the sides of the plug and the india-rubber tube.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Bourne, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.