Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Closing the Tap Holes of Beer and other Casks or Vessels, and for Facilitating the Operation of Tapping.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Closing the Tap
Holes of Beer and other Casks or Vessels, and for Facilitating
the Operation of Tapping.
We, JOHN ERNEST MINNITT of 47 Stoney Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire,
Lace Manufacturer, and JOHN HENRY VICKERS of 2 Waterway Street in the samo
town, Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THE TAP HOLES OF BEER AND
OTHER CASKS OR VESSELS, AND FOR FACILITATING THE OPERATION OF TAPPING," to
be as follows that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the construction or arrangement of apparatus
for fitting inside a beer or other cask or vessel for the purpose of automatically
closing the tap hole of a barrel on the withdrawal of the tap thus rendering the
insertion of a cork in the hole unnecessary and by stopping the admission of air to
the interior of the cask prevents fouling or other detrimental action in the cask or
vessel. Part of the apparatus also facilitates the operation of tapping, rendering
such operation less inconvenient and unpleasant by preventing the issue of the
fluid in the vessel when inserting the tap.
In carrying out the Invention according to one modification there is placed
inside the cask round the tap or other hole a flat ring of rubber which slightly
overlaps the hole and over this there is placed a flat metal ring of equal diameter
to the rubber ring but having a larger boro. The rubber acts as a seating for a
valve and also prevents the issue of liquor when tapping. Through these two
rings there are fitted the ends of four short rods which ends pass through the
material of the vessel and are secured by screws or otherwise outside the vessel.
These rods are formed with shoulders for binding the rubber ring and for carrying
a circular metal plate which is placed over the ends of the rods upon the shoulders
at that end and is secured thereon by screw nuts or otherwise. Between the plate
at the end and the tap hole there is another plate or pieco arranged to slide being
guided by the four rods; which pass through suitable holes or recesses in the plate.
On the side of this plate nearest the tap hole there is fitted a cylindrical piece of
porcelain or other suitable material which forms a closing valve when brought
against the rubber ring. The cylindrical valve piece on the sliding plate is kept
pressed against the rubber by the action of a helical or other spring fitted between

page_text: the sliding plate and the head plate. The metal parts of the apparatus may be
formed of brass or iron and if of the latter, the iron is treated by some well known
process whereby it is rendered non-corrosible and consequently there can be no
action between the beer or other liquor and the metal, the remaining parts being of
porcelain and rubber are also not liable to chemical action.
In another modification of the apparatus for closing automatically the tap boles
of vessels, there is a metal bush formed with an external and in some cases with
an internal screw thread. This bush is screwed into the tap hole and is long
enough to project a short distance beyond the material forming the cask, or it may
be formed without an external screw, and have a flange and be fixed to the barrel
by screws. On this projecting end there is screwed a cylindrical metal tube having
formed inside it a shoulder or ridge to bear against the inner end of the bush,
against which there is placed a flat rubber ring or band. This rubber ring is held
securely between the end of the bush and the shoulder or ridge on the cylindrical
vessel and this ring acts as in the first modification in two capacities namely as a
valve seating and as a packing to prevent the issue of liquid during the insertion
of the tap. Inside the cylindrical vessel which is closed at one end and is formed
with perforations round its side, near its inside ridge or shoulder there is fitted
smaller vessel like an inverted cup. This cup is fitted loosely inside the cylindrical
tube so as to be capable of sliding endwise and its open end is kept pressed against
the rubber and the inner end of the bush by the action of a spring thus forming a
valve. The spring is fitted inside the cylindrical tube and between its closed ond
and the end of the inverted cup like piece. When tapping the vessel the tap is
pushed or scrowed through the bush the tap being encircled by the rubber ring
which by its elasticity presses against the tap and prevents any liquid escaping and
the end of the tap pushes the cup like valve piece away from its seat. The cup
like valve piece is formed wider than the tap end so that there is sufficient room
for the passage of the liquid which enters through the perforations in the side of
the cylindrical piece. The metal employed for the apparatus may be brass or
Inetal coated by any suitable process, so as not to injure the liquid in the vessel or
be liable to be reacted upon by such liquid. By using either of the foregoing
arrangements the tap hole of the vessel will be automatically closed thus dispensing
with corks or other stoppers. If desired to avoid the contents of the vessel being
tampered with before tapping, the exterior of the tap hole may be sealed with
paper or other suitable material and in both modifications the rubber ring will
prevent the issue of any liquid during the tapping operations. In some cases the
use of packing material round the tap itself may be dispensed with by making the
bore of the tap hole slightly smaller or by using a larger tap when employing
the first modification. In the second modification when the interior of the bush is
formed with a screw thread it will be necessary to use a tap having a similar
thread on its exterior. In some cases it may be found preferable merely to fit beer
or other casks or vessels with a flat rubber ring secured round the inside of the tap
hole by a metal ring for the purpose of facilitating the operation of tapping without
using the automatic valve arrangement. It is obvious that the various parts may
be duplicated so that in the event of any part being damaged it may be speedily
replaced with a new one,

page_text: holes of Beer and other Casks or Vessels, and for Facilitating
the Operation of Tapping.
We, JOHN ERNEST MINNITT of 47 Stoney Street Nottingham Nottinghamshire,
Lace Manufacturer, and JOHN HENRY VICKERS of 2 Waterway Street in the
same town, Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING THE TAP-HOLES Of
BEER AND OTHER CASKS OR VESSELS AND FOR FACILITATing the OPERATION OF
"
TAPPING," and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :---
Our said Invention has for its object the construction or arrangement of
apparatus for fitting inside a beer or other cask or vessel for the purpose of
automatically closing the tap hole of a barrel on the withdrawal of a tap thus
rendering the insertion of a cork in the hole unnecessary and by stopping the
admission of air to the interior of the cask prevents fouling or other detrimental
action in the cask or vessel. Part of the apparatus also facilitates the operation of
tapping rendering such operation less inconvenient and unpleasant by preventing
the issue of the fluid in the vessel when inserting the tap.
In carrying out our Invention according to one modification of apparatus there
is placed inside the cask round the tap or other hole a flat ring of rubber which
slightly overlaps the holo and over this there is placed a flat metal ring of equal
diameter to the rubber ring, but having a larger bore. The rubber acts as a seating
for a valve and also prevents the issue of the contents of the vessel when tapping.
Through these two rings are fitted the ends of four short rods which ends pass
through the material of the vessel and are secured by screws or otherwise outside
the vessel, or the ends may be formed with screw threads on them and simply
screwed into the vessel. These rods are formed with shoulders for binding the
rubber ring and for carrying a circular metal plate which is placed over the inner
ends of the rods upon the shoulders at those ends and is secured thereon by screw-
nuts or otherwise. Between the plate at the end and the tap hole there is another
plate or piece arranged to slide being guided by the four rods, which pass through
suitable holes or recesses in the plate. On the side of this plate nearest the tap-
hole, there is fitted a cylindrical piece of porcelain or other suitable material which
forms a closing valve when brought against the rubber ring. The cylindrical valve
piece on the sliding plate is kept pressed against the rubber by the action of a
spring fitted between the sliding plate and the head plate. The metal parts of the
apparatus may be formed of brass or iron and if of the latter, the iron is treated by
any known process whereby it is rendered non-corrosible and consequently there
can be no action between the beer or other liquid and the metal, the remaining
parts being of porcelain and rubber are also not liable to chemical action.
.

page_text: In another modification of our apparatus for closing automatically the tap-holes
of vessels there is a metal bush formed with an external, and in some cases with an
internal screw thread. This bush is screwed into the tap hole and is long enough
to project a short distance beyond the material forming the cask or it may have a
Bange and be fixed to the vessel by screws. On the inner projecting end there is
screwed a cylindrical metal tube having formed inside it a shoulder or ridge to
bear against the inner end of the bush, against which there is placed a flat rubber
ring or baud. This rubber ring is held securely between the end of the bush and
the shoulder or ridge on the cylindrical vessel, this ring acts as in the first modifica-
tion in a double capacity namely, as a valve seating and as a packing to prevent
the issue of liquid during the insertion of the tap. Inside the cylindrical vessel
which is closed at one end and is formed with perforations round its side near its
insidó ridge or shoulder, there is fitted a valve. It may be like an inverted cup.
This valve is fitted loosely inside the cylindrical tube so as to be capable of sliding
endwise and its open end is kept pressed against the rubber at the inner end of the
bush by the action of a spring. The spring is fitted inside the cylindrical tube
and between its closed end and the valve. The metal employed for the apparatus
may be brass or metal coated by any suitable process so as not to injure the liquid
in the vessel or be liable to be re-acted upon by such liquid.
By using either of the foregoing arrangements the tap-hole of the vessel will
be automatically closed, on withdrawing the tap thus dispensing with the present
necessity for putting corks (or other stoppers) into such vessels when empty. The
Invention also enables the tap to bo withdrawn from a barrel, the contents of
which after tapping are found to be "new" or not ready for use, and after such
withdrawal the barrel may be left until its contents are properly matured without
corking or anything being done to the barrel. To avoid the contents of the vessel
being tampered with before tapping, the exterior of the tap-hole may be sealed with
paper or other suitable material and in both modifications the rubber ring will by
its elastic action prevent the issue of any liquid during the tapping operation. In
the second modification when the interior of the bush is formed with a screw thread
it will be necessary to uso a tap having a similar thread on its exterior.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing our improved apparatus. In these
drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings, is a horizontal section taken
through the tap hole of a cask fitted with our improved apparatus whilst Figure 2,
is an end view and Figure 3, a cross section which will be hereinafter explained.
The tap-hole 1, is fitted inside the cask 2, (part only of which is shown) with a flat
rubber or caoutchouc ring 3, which slightly overlaps the tap-hole 1, and acts as a
valvo seating. This rubber ring 3, has formed through it four holes to receive four
rods 4, and over the rubber ring 3, there is placed a flat metal ring 5, of equal
diameter to the ring 3, but having a larger bore. This metal ring 5, has also four
holes formed through it, through which holes and through the holes in the rubber
ring 3, there is passed the ends of four short metal rods 4. These rods 4, are fitted
through holes formed for them in the material of the cask and have scrow threads
formed at their outer ends to receive screw nuts 6, for securing the rods in position.
The rods 4, have shoulders formed on them at such a distance from their outer
ends as to allow room for the thickness of the cask, and the thickness of the two
rings 3, 5, against the last of which 5, the shoulders bear. By the action of the
screw nuts 6, the shoulders of the rods 4, are pressed against the metal ring 5, com-
pressing the rubber ring 3, which by its clasticity effectually closes the holes in the
cask through which the ends of the rods 4, pass and thus prevents leakage. The
inner ends of the rods 4, are formed with screw threads and have shoulders on
them at a little distance from the ends. On these inner ends there is placed a
circular metal plate 7, which is secured in position against the shoulders by screw

page_text: nuts S. Between this circular plate 7, and the tap-hole 1, there is arranged to
slide a circular metal plate 9, of about the same diameter as the rubber ring 3.
This plate 9, has four tubular bosses round its edges through which the rods 4,
can pass freely, the plate 9, being guided by these rods 4. On the side of this
plate 0, nearest the tap-hole 1, there is screwed a cylindrical plug 10, of porcelain
formed with a recessed face. The face of this plug 10, acts as a valve and is
prossed against the rubber ring 3, by the action of a helical spring 11, fitted
between the plate 7, and the valve plate 9. The plug valve 10, by the action of
the spring automatically closes the tap-hole and maintains it closed until on the
insertion of a tap the valve plate 9, and plug 10, are pushed back away from the
rubber ring 3. The bore of the rubber ring 3, being of less diameter than the end
of the tap will by its elasticity press against the tap during its entrance and thus
prevent any of the contents of the cask escaping until the tap is driven home and
firmly secured. When thus secured the end of the tap will project past the line of
the rubber ring 3, and thus by pressing the plug valve 10, back the contents of tho
cask may be withdrawn through the tap by means of the usual perforations in
its end.
Another modification of improved apparatus for automatically closing the tap-
holo of a vessel, is shewn in Figure 4, which is a horizontal section, like Figure 1,
Figure 5, being an end view whilst Figures 6, and 7, are respectively a plan and
elevation of a detail. In this modification thero is a hollow cylindrical piece 12,
which piece is used preferably instead of a screwed bush. This piece 12, has a
flange at one end and by this flange it is secured to the inside of the cask 2, round
the tap-hole 1, by small screws. The exterior of this piece 12, is formed with a
screw thread and the interior of this piece 12, is formed somewhat larger than the
size of the tap-hole 1, whilst it is of a length which will permit the end of a tap
to project inside the cask beyond its inner end sufficiently to enable the contents
to be withdrawn. Over this piece 12, there is screwed a hollow cylindrical tube 13,
formed with an internal screw thread to fit the external screw on the piece 12.
The end of this tube 13, having the screw thread is thinner than the other end, so
that at the part where the screw thread ends there is a ridge or shoulder. This
shoulder presses against a rubber ring 3, placed between it and the inner end of
the piece 12, and this ring 3, acts in a double capacity as in the first modification,
namely as a valve seating and as a preventative of the contents of the cask
escaping when tapping. Just above the shoulder at the end of the screw thread
there are formed in the tubular piece 13, four openings or perforations 14, which
allow the contents of the cask to pass into the interior of the tube 13. Inside this
tube 13, there is fitted a valvo pieco 15, somewhat cup like which is formed with
concave or fluted surfaces round its sides as shown in Figures 6, and 7.. This
valve 15, is arranged to slide inside the tube 13, but is kept pressed against the
rubber ring 3, and end of the piece 12, by the action of a helical spring 11, as in
the first modification. The same action will take place on the insertion of a tap
as already described with reference to the first modification and likewise when tho
cask is empty and the tap withdrawn the valve by the action of the spring
automatically closes tho tap aperture and prevents the admission of the atmosphere
thus preventing the cask from becoming foul which action so frequently takes
place by reason of neglect in putting corks in the tap holes on withdrawing
the tap.
Another and preferable modification of our improved apparatus is shown in
Figures 8, and 9, on the accompanying sheet of drawings. Figure 8, is a
horizontal section taken through the tap-hole of a cask fitted with our improved
and simplified apparatus and Figure 9, is an end view looking from the inside of
the cask.
The tap-holo 1, is fitted inside the cask 2, (part only of which is shown) with a
flat rubber or caoutchouc ring 3, which slightly overlaps the tap-hole 1, and acts
as a valve seating as in the hereinbefore described modification. Over this rubber

page_text: ring 3, there is placed a flanged end 24, of a metal casting 25, and both the ring 3,
and casting 25, are secured to the cask head around the tap-hole 1, by bolts 26.
These bolts 26, of which there are preferably four are passed through holes in
the flanged end 24, rubber ring 3, cask head and if preferred through holes in a
flat metal ring 27, placed outside the cask round the tap hole, and their heads are
pressed against the flanged end 24, by means of nuts 28, screwed on the ends of
the bolts thus securing the whole firmly to the cask. The flanged end 24, of
the metal casting 25 is in the form of a flat ring being of about the samo diameter
as the rubber ring 3, but of wider bore than the rubber ring and slightly wider
than the tap hole. The metal casting 25, having the flanged end 24, consists of 1
preferably four supports or guides 29, arranged round the inner edge of the flanged
end 24, so as to encircle a cylindrical space and terminating at the inner end
in a ring forming a flange 30, projecting slightly inwards. These guides 29, are
preferably formed of triangular shape in cross section, having their bases or broadest
sides facing one another. Inside the cylindrical space enclosed by the casting 25, 1
there is fitted to slide freely a hollow metal cylindrical valve 31, closed at the
end or face nearest the rubber ring 3, and having cast on it a circular ridge
preferably V shaped in cross section formed round its face near the edge. This
ridge or circular projection is of greater diameter than the tap-hole and is pressed
against the rubber ring 3, and cask by the action of a helical spring 11, which is
enclosed within the casting 25, between the flange 30, at the inner end and a.
narrow flanged part on the inner end of the cylindrical valve 31, thus forming a
self closing valve. The helix of the spring 11, is of a size to fit freely inside the
cylindrical space formed by the casting 25. When however a tap is inserted in
the tap-hole 1, and forced inwards the tap end will press this cylindrical valve 31,
back away from the rubber valve seating and permit the contents of the cask to be
withdrawn whilst the overlapping rubber will have prevented the issue of any
liquid during the tapping operation. This arrangement and construction of the
apparatus renders it extremely simple and economical to manufacture as the
casting 25, and hollow cylindrical valve 31 boing made of cast iron as described
renders the fitting of the various parts together very simple, easy and quick. The
metal parts of this modification of the apparatus may be formed of any suitable
metal but are preferably formed of cast iron with the exception of the spring
which is of steel and the metal parts are treated by any suitable well known
process whereby they are rendered not liable to corrosion and innocuos to the
liquid contents of the cask to which they are fitted.
It is obvious that as the various parts of our apparatus may be formed in
duplicate any broken or damaged part may be easily and conveniently replaced
with a new one. The apparatus also may be conveniently fitted to existing casks
by removing the cask head and fixing the apparatus to the part having the tap-hole
in it and replacing the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
(1.) In apparatus for automatically closing the tap holes of casks and other
vessels and facilitating tapping, the combination of the conical tap hole, the elastic
ring, the valve and the spring; the said conical tap-hole receiving a tap having a
stem of corresponding form, and the rubber ring serving a double purpose, forming
a joint around the stem of the tap when the tap is in place and forming a seating
for the valve when the tap is removed, the valve then being pressed against the
olastic ring by a spring.
(2.) The combination and arrangement of parts of apparatus for automatically
closing the tap holes of vessels dispensing with corking and facilitating tapping
substantially as hereinbefore described in respect to the figures 1, 2, and 3, on the
accompanying sheet of drawings,

page_text: (3.) The combination and arrangement of parts of apparatus for automatically
closing the tap-holes of vessels dispensing with corks and facilitating tapping
substantially as herein before described in respect to the Figures 4, to 7, on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
(4.) The combination and arrangement of parts of apparatus for automatically
closing the tap holes of vessels dispensing with corking and facilitating tapping
substantially as hereinbefore described in respect to the Figures 8, and 9, on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.