AN IMPROVED VENTILATED TAP TO BE PERMANENTLY FIXED TO CASKS IN SUCH A POSITION AND OF SUCH A DESIGN AS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RISK OF INJURY DURING TRANSIT, FOR THE PREVENTION OF MUSTINESS OF CASK AND THE AVOIDANCE OF THE NECESSITY FOR TAPPING WHEN IN THE HANDS OF THE CONSUMER,
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Peacock, of 10 Church Terrace, Queen's Road,
Battersea Park Road, London, and John Smith Sworder, Civil Engineer of
Loughton Essex for an Invention of AN IMPROVED VENTILATED TAP TO BE
PERMANENTLY FIXED TO CASKS IN SUCH A POSITION AND OF SUCH A DESIGN
AS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RISK OF INJURY DURING TRANSIT, FOR THE
PREVENTION OF MUSTINESS OF CASK AND THE AVOIDANCE OF THE NECESSITY
FOR TAPPING WHEN IN THE HANDS OF THE CONSUMER,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Peacock and John
Smith Sworder at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
19th March 1883.
THOMAS PEACOCK of 10 Church Terrace, Queen's Road, Battersea Park Road,
London, and JOHN SMITH SWORDER of Loughton Essex, Civil Engineer, AN
IMPROVED VENTILATED TAP TO BE PERMANENTLY FIXED TO CASKS, IN SUCH A
POSITION AND OF SUCH A DESIGN AS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RISK OF INJURY
DURING TRANSIT, FOR THE PREVENTION OF MUSTINESS OF CASKS AND THE
AVOIDANCE OF THE NECESSITY FOR TAPPING WHEN IN THE HANDS OF THE
CONSUMER
A tap of brass or other material constructed as shewn in the annexed
drawings.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through head of cask and tap.
Figure 2 is a front view of the tap and cask.
Figure 3 is a plan.
The tap is permanently screwed into or otherwise firmly attached to head of
cask, B, in the position occupied by taps ordinarily used.
The portion of the tap on the outside of the cask lies within the projecting
rim, F, of the cask, securely out of the reach of injury during transit or otherwise,
and, if necessary, may be further protected by a guard of wood or other material
placed across the head of cask with a recess cut out for the tap. The key, C, is so
[Price 6d1

page_text: arranged as to be incapable of being withdrawn until the tap is turned off,
preventing when the cask is empty ingress of air, and so (with the fixed position
of the tap in the cask) effectually preventing mustiness. This key is provided with
a hollow stem, D, communicating with the vent hole, E, of the tap. When the
tap is turned on the air freely enters through the stem of key and vent hole of 5
tap to the interior of the cask, and a wire can be readily passed through to clear
obstructions.
For preventing beer or other liquid being abstracted during transit a cork is
inserted into the keyhole and sealed.
The plug, K, of tap can be withdrawn when required without the removal of the 1
tap by unscrewing the cap, H.
We claim the general arrangement and application of the tap for the purposes
above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Peacock and John Smith Sworder in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th August 1883.
THOMAS PEACOCK of 10 Church Terrace Queen's Road Battersea Park Road
London and JOHN SMITH SWORDER, Civil Engineer of Loughton Essex AN
IMPROVED VENTILATED TAP TO BE PERMANENTLY FIXED TO CASKS IN SUCH A
POSITION AND OF SUCH A DESIGN AS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RISK OF INJURY
DURING TRANSIT FOR THE PREVENTION OF MUSTINESS OF CASK AND THE
AVOIDANCE OF THE NECESSITY FOR TAPPING WHEN IN THE HANDS OF THE
CONSUMER
An improved ventilated tap constructed according to our invention is shewn in
the annexed drawings.
Figure 1. is a vertical section through the tap and head of cask shewing the
tap as fixed in the latter with the key inserted and the tap turned on.
Figure 2. is a front elevation of the head of cask and tap with the key with-
drawn and the tap turned off.
Figure 3. is a plan of tap, with a section through the head of cask. ·· }
In figures 1, 2, 3 the tap is shewn as fixed to the head of the cask (A), in the
hole ordinarily provided, and secured by a strong nut (B) at the back. The
greater portion of the tap is within the cask and the part which is exposed on the
exterior lies within the projection of the rim or chine (C) which is slightly recessed
to admit the spout, the whole being securely out of the reach of injury during
transit or otherwise. If necessary the external portion may be further protected
by a guard of wood or other material placed across the head of cask with a recess
cut out for the head of the tap..
No vent peg is necessary.
When the tap is turned on as in Fig. 1, the air enters through the hollow key (D).

page_text: at E to the centre of the conical plug (F) taking an upward direction through the
plug and shell of the tap to the surface of the beer in the cask and above the
course of the liquid which passes through the grid (G) on the under side of the tap
and through the hollow passage in the plug to the spout (J). The plug is kept to
its seat by a strong spiral spring between it and the cap (K) and can be withdrawn
when required without removing the tap from the cask by taking out the set
screw (L) and unscrewing the cap.
The key (D.) has a feather (M) on its extremity which passes into a keyway at
the end of the plug and a recess on the inner side of the cap which recess is so
shaped as to prevent the withdrawal of the key unless the tap is turned off. As
air can only enter the cask when the tap is turned on and the tap is a permanent
attachment to the cask the cask cannot become musty by the entrance of air and
external moisture.
By the removal of the screw plug (N) at the end of the key, a wire can be
readily passed through to the interior of the cask in the event of the air way
becoming clogged.
To prevent the insertion of a key during transit a córk is inserted in the key
hole and a seal is placed over it in the recess provided.
We claim the general arrangement and application of the tap for the purposes
above described. In witness whereof we the said Thomas Peacock and John
Smith Sworder have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty fifth day of
August One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Signed sealed and delivered by the
above named Thomas Peacock
THOMAS PEACOCK (LS)