IMPROVEMENTS IN BUNGS OR CORKS FOR CASKS AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS, BOME PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO VENT PEGs
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas King at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th July
1868.
I, THOMAS KING, of Brick Lane, Spitalfields, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUNGS OR CORKS FOR CASKS AND OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS, BOME
PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO VENT PEGs," to be as follows:-
I form two rings of metal, hard wood, or any suitable material, fitting
into each other; the outer ring is hollow and slightly tapered externally;
a thread or screw is formed on its external and internal surface, with a
flange at the larger end; the flange has two or more small holes through
it, and by means of a double-clawed lever inserted into these holes the
outer ring is screwed into the ordinary bung hole of the cask or vessel
until the flange rests upon the surrounding surface; screws or rivets
may be inserted into these holes and the cask stave for greater security.
Beyond the diameter of the internal screw a recess is formed in the
flange end with a half circular groove in the face of it. The inner ring,
which I sometimes make solid, is formed with a thread or screw on its
external surface, and a flange at one end; of a diameter slightly less than

page_text: that of the recess formed in the flange of the outer ring, likewise a cor-
responding half circular groove cut in the under side of the flange; into
this groove a ring of india-rubber or other suitable substance is inserted.
The inner ring is screwed into the outer ring until the india-rubber or
other substance presses tightly into the groove in the outer ring. Two
shallow holes are formed in the upper surface of the inner ring, into
which a clawed spanner or lever may be inserted for the purpose of
screwing it home. Through the inner ring I sometimes insert a vent
peg. I form a tapered hole in the centre of the inner ring, having its
larger diameter towards the interior of the cask or vessel (or the reverse
when an ordinary wooden vent peg is used); into this hole I grind a
tapered plug or valve, the bottom of which rests upon a spring attached
to the bottom of the inner ring, by which the plug or valve is kept firmly
in its seat; then by pressing the plug or valve down a communication
is opened between the interior of the cask or vessel. and the atmosphere.
Again, instead of the inner ring already described I sometimes use a
plain bung, through the centre of which a metallic bush or plug is
rivetted or otherwise secured; in the centre is a hole extending so far
into the bush, though not entirely through; this hole is screwed, and a
screw-ended lever is inserted for drawing the bung out of the vessel. Or
a slot may be cut across the upper part of the bush, through. which
a T-headed lever is inserted into a circular recess formed in the central
part of the bush; then by turning the lever at right angles to the slot
the bung may be pulled from out the vessel.
When I use a bung of this description I form the outer ring plain
internally instead of screwed as previously described.