Improvements in Taps or Cocks for Tapping Barrels or Casks and Drawing Off Beer, Porter, Wine, and for other like purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Taps or Cocks for Tapping Barrels or Casks and
Drawing Off Beer, Porter, Wine, and for other like purposes.
I PAUL GILL of Darnall Sheffield, in the County of York Cashier 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 the construction of the spigot or tail
end of taps or cocks for use in beer, porter, wine, and spirit barrels and casks, and
the like, whereby the tapping of such barrels or casks is very greatly facilitated,
and the risk of loss of liquor or mishap is practically abolished.
Hitherto, taps have been made with a taper end or tail piece, and have been
driven into the cork hole of the barrel by means of blows or heavy pressure on the
head of the tap, thus driving the cork forcibly into the barrel.
Also paper or
other substance has had to be twisted round the tap to form a packing against
leakage. This method has frequently been attended with most annoying, and
more or less serious results and mishaps. Altogether, barrel tapping has hereunto
been beyond the attempt of delicate or nervous persons.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a tap or cock of any suitable
form, and preferably I make it of brass or gun metal, but I may employ any
suitable material; and I make the spigot or tail end of the tap or cock parallel,
in appearance like a tube with an open cutting end see a. Fig. 1. and of a less
diameter than the cork, preferably about half the diameter of an ordinary beer
barrel cork. Thus a safe layer of cork is left all round the tap when the latter
is in the barrel. I bevel or otherwise sharpen the edge or end of the tube or
spigot for the purpose of cutting through the cork. About two inches from the
end of this cutting tube or spigot I insert an internal stoppage or plug see a.
Fig. 2. which may be cast with that part of the tap or inserted in any other
convenient way, thus forming a chamber or recess for retaining the portion of
cork removed by tapping. The part of the tube or spigot next to this stoppage
or plug, and nearer to the body of the tap, 1 perforate for a convenient length,
for the inlet of the liquor see 6 Fig. 2. about an inch and a half from these perfora-
tions, nearer the body of the tap I form a shoulder or flange see e Fig. 2 which
fits against the end of the barrel when the tap is pushed home through the cork.
If preferred I may put a small slot see a Fig. 3 in the tube to facilitate the removal
of the core or column of cork when tap comes out of barrel.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings
Fig. 1 it will be seen gives an outside longitudinal view of the tap.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the spigot or tail piece, and
Fig. 3 shews the slot for facilitating the removal of core of cork cut out in
tapping.
To insert the tap into the barrel I place the end of the spigot or tube against the
face of the cork and apply a slight pressure, at the same time giving the tap a
rotary motion, when it cuts its way easily and safely through the cork, and the
tapping is effected without any commotion or danger, and without agitating the
liquor, which has heretofore been the case by the use of the mallet or hammer.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction of a tap or cock having a parallel spigot or tail piece with
an open cutting edge substantially as described.
2. The combination in a tap or cock for beer, porter, wine, spirits, or other like
barrels, casks, or purposes of a spigot or tail piece having a cutting edge or end,
and with a chamber or recess for retaining the piece of cork removed by the process
of tapping as shewn by the accompanying drawings.
3. The spigot or tail piece portion of taps or cocks which leaves around it when
inserted in a barrel or cask a portion of cork which forms a packing and thus
prevents leakage.
Dated this 5th day of Janua1005
PAUL GILL.