Improvements in and connected with Cocks for Beer Barrels, Casks and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 20th Nov.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Cocks for Beer Barrels, Casks
and the like.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES WALLACE BRUCE, of 262, Clapham Road, in the County
of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected, with cocks for beer
barrels, càsks and the like.
Such cocks as usually made are driven into a bung hole in the cask when the
contents of the cask are required for use; now the driving in of the cocks
damages the barrels or casks so that the same quickly deteriorate in use. Attempts
have been made to overcome this disadvantage; for example a metal bushing
has been fitted to the bung hole into which the cock is to be driven but it has
been found that with such metal bung holes the cocks when driven in are fre-
quently buckled or otherwise damaged.
Now, this invention has for its object to overcome the above named disadvan-
tages and to this end I fit a cock permanently to each barrel or cask, the "said
cock being arranged inside the barrel.
In carrying out the invention I advantageously construct the cock of a gun
metal, brass or other taper casing which is passed through a taper hole in the
barrel or cask; the outer end of the casing is advantageously provided with a
flange having a collar or lugs, the said flange being, if required, provided with
holes through which screws can be screwed into the barrel to assist in holding
the cock in position. The conical casing is furnished with a conical hollow plug
having one or more inlet orifices adapted by rotating the plug to be brought
opposite orifices formed at the inner end of the casing thus placing the interior
of the cask or barrel in communication with the hollow plug. The plug pro-
jects beyond the outer end of the casing and is formed with an internal flat or
flats whereby it can be turned by means of a key.
In connection with the above described cock I employ a key nozzle. This
key nozzle comprises a short length of pipe to one end of which the usual hose
or piping may be attached in the ordinary manner and near the other end of
which are fitted two radially projecting feet adapted to enter inclined slots
formed upon the collar or lugs on the flange of the cock casing. By inserting
these feet into the slots in the collar or lugs and the end of the pipe section into
the open end of the cock plug and turning the nozzle, a rubber or other suitable
washer provided upon the said nozzle is pressed against the outer end of the
cock plug so as to form a good joint with the said plug. The end of the pipe
section is made with an external flat so that when the nozzle is fitted into the
cock plug the latter is turned by rotating the nozzle to make the joint.
With this arrangement it will be obvious that when the nozzle is in place
in the cock the latter is open whilst the action of removing the nozzle closes
the cock.

page_text: A barrel or cask having my improved cock fitted thereto can be easily cleaned
by fitting a steam pipe to the afore mentioned nozzle and injecting steam in
the usual way.
Dated the 20th day of Navamber 1899
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and connected with Cocks for Beer Barrels, Casks
and the like.
WILLIAM CHARLES WALLACE BRUCE, 6, Wansey Street, Walworth, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, late of 262, Clapham Road, S.W., in the County of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with cocks for beer
barrels, casks and the like. Such cocks as usually made are driven into a bung
hole in the cask, when the contents of the cask are required for use. Now the
driving in of the cocks damages the barrels or casks, so that the same quickly
deteriorate in use. Attempts have been made to overcome this disadvantage,
for example, a metal bushing has been fitted to the bung hole, into which the
cock is to be driven; but it has been found that with such metal bung holes,
the cocks, when driven in, are frequently buckled or otherwise damaged.
Now, my invention has for its object, to overcome the above named disadvan-
tages, and to this end I fit a cock permanently to each barrel or cask, the said
cock being arranged inside the barrel. In carrying out the invention I advan-
tageously construct the cock of a gun metal, brass, or other taper casing, which
is passed through a taper hole in the barrel or cask; the outer end of the casing
is advantageously provided with a flange having a collar or lugs, A the said
flange being provided with holes through which screws can be screwed into the
barrel to assist in holding the cock in position. The conical casing B is fur-
nished with a conical hollow plug C having one or more inlet orifices D adapted
by rotating the plug to be brought opposite orifices E formed at the inner end
of the casing B Fig. 2 thus placing the interior of the cask or barrel in com-
munication with the hollow plug. The plug C Fig. 2 projects beyond the outer
end of the casing and is formed with two recesses J Figs. 1 & 2, whereby it can
be turned by means of a key nozzle F Fig. 2. In connection with the above
described cock, I employ a key nozzle F Fig. 2. This key nozzle comprises a
short length of pipe to one end of which the usual hose or piping may be attached
in the ordinary manner and near the other end of which are fitted two radially
projecting arms adapted to enter inclined slots I, Figs. 1 & 3 formed upon the
collar or lugs on the flange of the cock casing B Fig. 2. By inserting these
arms into the slots in the collar or lugs & the end of the pipe section into the
onen end of the cock plug and turning the key nozzle F Fig. 2, a rubber H
Fig. 2, or other suitable washer provided upon the said nozzle, is pressed against
the outer end of the cock plug so as to form a good joint with the said plug.
The end of the pipe section is made with projections G Fig. 2, so that when the
key nozzle F Fig. 2 is fitted into the cock plug, the latter is turned by rotating
the nozzle to make the joint. With this arrangement it will be obvious that
when the key nozzle F Fig. 2 is in place in the cock, the latter is open, whilst

page_text: the action of removing the nozzle, closes the cock. A barrel or cask having
been fitted with my improved cock can be easily cleaned by fitting a steam pipe
to the aforementioned nozzle and injecting steam in the usual way.
The cock is described on the sheet of drawings in the following manner:-
Fig. 1 is a plan of the plug C and the outer casing B showing the inclined
slots I and the recesses J.
Fig. 2 is a sectional drawing of the plug C and also the outer casing B, show-
ing the section of rubber washer indicated by the letter H, whilst the key
nozzle F is shown with the projections G. The holes E are the orifices for the
liquid to enter and pass through the spaces D provided in the plug C.
.
Fig. 3 is a full size elevation of tap complete, showing the inclined slot I in
which the projecting arms of key nozzle F travel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. That the opening of the cock is obtained by the use of a key with two lugs,
travelling over external inclined planes, which revolves an inner plug, thus
giving immediate access to the liquid contained in the vessel to which the said
cock is attached.
2. That it being an internal cock, it is thus protected from any damage or
rough usage.
3. That the action of removing the key from the cock, closes same.
1000
WILLIAM CHARLES WALLACE BRUCE.