IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING CASKS BY MEANS OF SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR CLOSING UP THE HOLES MADE IN CASKS, AND EXCLUDING AIR FROM SUCH CASKS WHEN IN AN EMPTY STATE
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Leslie, of the Mall, Hammersmith, in the
County of Middlesex, Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRESERVING CASKS BY MEANS OF SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR CLOSING UP THE
HOLES MADE IN CASKS, AND EXCLUDING AIR FROM SUCH CASKS WHEN IN AN
EMPTY STATE."
Sealed the 12th June 1860, and dated the 14th December 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Leslie, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
December 1859.
I, GEORGE LESLIE, of the Mall, Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex,
Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PRESERVING CASKS BY MEANS OF SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR CLOSING UP THE
HOLES MADE IN CASES, AND EXCLUDING AIR FROM SUCH CASKS WHEN IN AN EMPTY
STATE," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to prevent casks getting mouldy when emptied
of their contents, also to render them fit for refilling without the trouble of
cleansing, and is effected in the following manner :-The hole for the tap is to
be made larger than usual, and a piece of vulcanized india-rubber or other
suitable elastic material is placed over it, with a horizontal slit cut therein
corresponding in length with the diameter of the hole in the cask; another
piece of india-rubber or other elastic material is placed over the first, having
a vertical slit corresponding in length with the diameter of a hole in a

page_text: wooden cover, which encases the india-rubber, said aperture being the required
size for the tap to be used. The effect of this will be, that as the tap is inserted
it opens the two reverse slits in the india-rubber, one behind the other, in the
form of an X, cominencing in the centre and extending to the ends, so that no
air is admitted with the tap; and when the cask is emptied and the tap with-
drawn, the air is still excluded by the closing of the flaps.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Leslie, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
June 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
LESLIE, of the Mall, Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Leslie, Her special licence that I, the said George
Leslie, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Leslie, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRE-
SERVING CASKS BY MEANS OF SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR CLOSING UP THE HOLES
MADE IN CASKS, AND EXCLUDING AIR FROM SUCH CASKS WHEN IN AN EMPTY STATE,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Leslie,
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 George Leslie, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, 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:-

page_text: The object of this Invention is to prevent casks getting musty or mouldy
when emptied of their contents by excluding the air therefrom, which is effected
by the use of pieces of india rubber (or other elastic material that will answer
the same purpose) laid one behind another, and having a straight slit cut in each
in opposite directions in the form of a +, these pieces being secured to the
head of the cask either on the outer or inner side, (as circumstances may
require,) over the hole in which the tap is to be inserted. Such being the nature
my Invention, I now proceed to describe the means of carrying the same
into practical effect, and which are as follows:-
of
First, I employ a piece of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable material
moulded in a cylindrical form to nearly fit the hole for the tap, which in this
case is to be enlarged; this moulded piece is to be formed with a flange at one
end and a slit cut across the other, the material having a hole left the usual
size of the tap hole nearly through its entire centre over the end; with the slit
is fitted a cap of india-rubber or other suitable material, also having a slit cut in
it, which is placed at right angles with the one before mentioned, and fastened
either by adhesion, sewing, binding, or other convenient method. The flange
is let into a rebate around the hole in the head of the cask, and all are secured
by a plate or cover fastened to the surface of the cask, with a hole bored in its
centre corresponding with the hole for the tap in the moulded material.
Secondly, I use a piece or pieces of india-rubber or other suitable material
with a slit cut about two-thirds of the diameter, fastened to a metallic or wooden
frame; I place another piece or pieces of a like material cut in a similar
manner at right angles over the first slit or slits, the lines so cut directly
crossing each other as before mentioned. I also apply the material doubled, in
which case I fasten the lips of the material so formed in close proximity, thus
having the same effect as if a single thickness of material had been used with
a slit cut therein. These pieces are secured together at right angles, as before
described; a hole is made in the frame about double the size of the tap hole of
the cask. If fastened inside the cask, the holes for the tap require no altera-
tion in size, but merely the inner edges rounded.
Thirdly, I take pieces of india-rubber or other suitable material and double
them, introducing between the double parts a piece of wire or other spring to
assist in bringing the lips of the doubled material in contact. These I place
at right angles in their centres, as before described, and secure them to a frame
of wood, metal, vulcanite, or other suitable material, which is to be fastened to
the cask over the holes, either inside or out, as may be desired.
Lastly, I employ pieces of single or double material with their slits or
doubled edges fastened at right angles in their centres, as before described, to a

page_text: frame of wood or other suitable material, said frame being secured inside the
cask over the holes that require stopping, the effect of this being that as the
tap enters the reversed slits will commence opening from the centre of the +,
so that no air can be possibly admitted either on the insertion or withdrawal
of the tap. Any of above-mentioned methods are equally applicable to the
vent or bung-hole of casks.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention of "Improvements
in Preserving Casks by Means of Self-acting Apparatus for Closing up the
Holes made in Casks and Excluding Air from such Casks when in an Empty
State," and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would remark in
conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details herein-
before mentioned, but what I claim as the Invention intended to be secured
to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent, is the preservation of
casks when empty by excluding the air by a self-acting valve fastened over
the holes in casks.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Leslie, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty.
Witness,
JAS. GOREN, Solicitor,
29, South Molton Street,
Oxford Street.
GEORGE LESLIE. (L.S.)