Improvements in Taps or Cocks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
Improvements in Taps or Cocks.
I, WILLIAM SELBORNE WORTHINGTON, of 11, Queen Street, Wigan, in the County
of Lancaster, Veterinary Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a tap or cock that will cut its own hole in the
bung or cork of a beer or other barrel or vessel, while the hole in the stem of the
tap is automatically plugged at the end by the piece of cork which is cut out.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a hollow stem provided near
one end inside with a valve seat. Between the seat and the extreme end I pro-
vide a plug screwed to the inside of the stem, one end being adapted to receive
a band or piece of rubber, valcanized fibre or other suitable material which con-
stitutes a valve to close on the valve seat, while the other end fits closely the
inside of the stem, and is fitted with a suitable handle or key, so that by turning
this handle the plug is closed on to the valve seat or removed therefrom. Beyond
the valve seat, the stem is provided with a delivery nozzle through which the
liquid is discharged on the opening of the valve.
In order to prevent any leakage of the liquid at the end of the stem where the
plug fits it closely, I form the said plug if desired at that part with a series of
circumferential grooves into which the liquid enters, and prevents leakage on
the principle that liquid will not readily pass a series of grooves round a rod.
These grooves, however, may be packed, if desired, with hemp or other suitable
material so as to form a fibrous packing which will not prevent the plug rotating
while preventing any passage of the liquid. The outside of the remaining portion
of the stem from or about the valve seat to the opposite end of the stem is
gradually tapered, part of the conical portion being provided with an external
screw thread. That end of the stem is coned out, and formed with a sharp cutting
edge, the stem being also provided with perforations a short distance away from
the stem end.
In use the end of the stem is pressed against the centre of the cork or bung in
the barrel or other vessel and revolved round its long axis. The stem cuts its
way through the cork, making a round hole into which it tightly fits drawn
by the screw thread on its exterior. The hole in the end of the stem is plugged
with the piece of cork which is cut out. When the stem is screwed sufficiently
far through the hole so cut, the perforations in the stem will be inside the vessel
and consequently the liquid will now pass through these perforations into the
hollow stem to the valve. If now the screwed plug be opened by turning the
handle or key, the valve opens, leaving the fluid free to pass out through the
nozzle. If however the plug is turned in the other direction, the band of rubber,
vulcanized fibre or other suitable material seats itself against the valve seat and
so closes the exit for the liquid.
Instead of using grooves round the spindle of the plug to prevent leakage, I
may if desired turn down the spindle of the plug and fit it with a washer of

page_text: cork or other suitable material fitting into the stem. I prefer however the other
arrangement.
The handle or key may be provided with two limbs or a fork and the plug with
two holes drilled in its outer end in the direction of its long axis into which this
fork is passed so as to enable the plug to be rotated. The mouths of these holes are
enlarged conically so that the limbs of the key may be guided more readily into
place.
Date L
01
1
FORCECOps or CoCKS.
I, WILLIAM SELBORNE WORTHINGTON, of 11, Queen Street, Wigan, in the County
of Lancaster, Veterinary Surgeon, 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:-
:-
This invention has for its object a tap or cock that will cut its own hole in the
bung or cork of a beer or other barrel or vessel, while the hole in the stem of the
tap is automatically plugged at the end by the piece of cork which is cut out.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the tap;
Figure 2 a detail view of an alternative handle;
on
Referring to these figures, A is a hollow stem provided near one end inside
with a valve seat B. Between the seat and the extreme end I provide a plug G
screwed to the inside of the stem at D, one end being adapted to receive a washer
or band E of vulcanised fibre or other suitable material which constitutes a
valve closing the valve seat, while the other end is turned down
as parallel spindle fitted with a suitable handle or key F at the
end, so that by turning this handle or key the plug is closed
the valve seat or removed therefrom. Beyond the valve seat the stem
is provided with a delivery nozzle C through which the liquid is discharged on the
opening of the valve. In order to prevent any leakage at the end of the stem,
where the plug fits it closely, I form the plug at that part with a series of circum-
ferential grooves H into which the liquid enters and prevents leakage on the
principle that liquid will not readily pass a series of grooves round a rod. These
grooves however may be packed if desired with hemp or other suitable material
so as to form a fibrous packing which will not prevent the plug rotating while
preventing any passage of the liquid.
The outside of the remaining portion of the stem A from or about the valve
seat to the opposite end of the stem is gradually tapered, a part of the conical
portion being provided with an external screw thread I. That end of the stem
is coned out at J on the inside to form a sharp cutting edge K as shown, the stem
being also provided with perforations L at a short distance away from the stem
end.
In use, the end of the stem is pressed against the centre of the cork or bung
in the barrel or other vessel and revolved round its axis. The stem cuts its
way through the cork making a round hole into which it tightly fits drawn by
the screw thread on its exterior. The hole in the end of the stem is plugged
with the piece of cork which is cut out and there being a taper on the inside

page_text: of the stem, the piece of cork becomes wedged or plugged in the stem so that it
will not accidentally come out, though it can be forcibly driven out when required..
When the stem is screwed sufficiently far through the hole so cut, the perfora-
tions L in the stem will be inside the vessel and consequently liquid will now
pass through these perforations into the hollow stem to the valve. If now the
screwed plug be opened by turning the handle or key, the valve opens leaving
the fluid free to pass out through the nozzle C. If however the plug be turned
in the other direction, the valve seats itself against the valve seat and so closes
the exit for the liquid.
'
Instead of the handle or key shown in Figure 1, a key may be provided with
two limbs M Figure 2, and the plug with two holes N drilled in its outer end
in the direction of its longitudinal axis into which the two limbs of this key are
inserted to enable the plug to be rotated. The mouths of these holes are enlarged
conically so that the limbs of the key may be guided more readily into place.
Furthermore the grooves may if desired be dispensed with and the spindle of
the plug turned down to receive a washer of cork fitting into the stem.
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. In a tap or cock of the kind that is provided with a hollow stem having an
external screw thread and perforations at a short distance from the end; tapering
or coning out the inside of the stem at the end to form a knife edge, whereby
if the end of the stem be pressed against the bung and revolved round its long
axis, the stem will cut its way through the cork making a round hole into which
it fits tightly, while the inside tapering end of the stem ensures that the piece
of cork that is cut out so wedges or plugs itself in the stem at the end, that it
will not accidentally come out, substantially as described.
2. A tap or cock having a hollow stem provided at one end with a valve scat,
in combination with a plug for closing the valve seat, the plug being screwed
to the inside of this stem and formed with a series of circumferential grooves for
preventing leakage, substantially as described.
3. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved tap or cock substantially as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of October 1899
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham & London.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham & London.