A NEW OR IMPROVED CASK FOR MALT AND OTHER LIQUORS, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR. COCKS TO BE USED THEREWITH, THE SAID TAPS OR COCKS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Finlay McDiarmid, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CASK FOR MALT
AND OTHER LIQUORS, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS OR. COCKS TO BE USED
THEREWITH, THE SAID TAPS OR COCKS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
VESSELS."
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 8th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Finlay McDiarmid at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1876.
FINLAY MCDIARMID, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED CASK FOR MALT AND OTHER LIQUORS, AND IMPROVEMENTS
IN TAPS OR COCKS TO BE USED THEREWITH, THE SAID, TAPS OR COCKS BEING ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER VESSELS."
This Invention, which relates to a new or improved cask to be used for the
purpose of supplying beer, porter, and malt liquors generally for household con-
sumption, is constructed by preference of stoneware.
The cask is of the form of an
ordinary wooden cask, and stands on one of its flat ends, whilst the tap or cock for
drawing off the contents is situated in the front and near the bottom.
For the purpose of easy access to the interior of the cask its upper flat end is
provided with a hole, by preference sufficiently large to enable a person's hand to
pass through. This hole renders the ordinary bung hole unnecessary, and in the
new or improved cask a bung hole is therefore dispensed with. The lower part of
the hole in the upper end of the cask is of less diameter than its upper part, so that
it constitutes a seat upon which a circular plate or disc of stoneware may rest, and
which is made to fit closely thereon, that is to say, without leakage, by a packing
ring of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material. The india-rubber packing
ring is compressed by means of a second plate which is preferably of metal, and
formed with two or more lugs which pass in below projecting pieces on the upper
side of the hole. The under sides of these projecting. pieces are inclined, so that as
the plate with the lugs is turned round therein the lugs pass under these inclined
sides, whereby the plate is forced downwards and thereby compresses the elastic
packing ring.
To still further compress the packing the upper metallic plate may be provided
with a screw at its centre.
D
Ը

page_text: The new or improved tap constituting part of this Invention has for its object to
enable a supply of atmospheric air to be admitted to the upper side of the liquor
contained in the cask, so that at all times the space above the liquor is charged with
air in quantity exactly corresponding to the quantity of liquor drawn off. This
object is effected by constructing the tap or cock with a small hole in its side con-
nected with a pipe or duct leading through the body of the cock and again connected
by a small pipe which may be of metal, but is preferably of vulcanized caoutchouc,
passing up through the liquor to the space above it. The plug of the tap or cock is
made so that when opened for the purpose of drawing off the liquor the hole in
the side is also opened and thereby communication is made between the outside
atmosphere and the space in the cask above the liquor.
When a flexible pipe is used at the interior of the cask it is provided with a float,
which resting on the surface of the liquid always ensures that the orifice of the pipe
is above the liquid..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Finlay McDiarmid in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th May
1877.
FINLAY MCDIARMID, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED CASK FOR MALT AND OTHER LIQUORS, AND IMPROVEMENTS
IN TAPS OR COCKS TO BE USED THEREWITH, THE SAID TAPS OR COCKS BEING ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER VESSELS."
My said Invention, which relates to a new or improved cask to be used for the
purpose of supplying beer, porter, and malt liquors generally for household con-
The cask is of the form of an
sumption, is constructed by preference of stone ware.
ordinary wooden cask and stands on one of its flat ends, whilst the tap or cock for
drawing off the contents is situated in the front and near the bottom.
For the purpose of easy access to the interior of the cask its upper flat end is
provided with a hole, by preference sufficiently large to enable a person's hand to
pass through. This hole renders the ordinary bung hole unnecessary, and in the
new or improved cask a bung hole is therefore dispensed with. The lower part of
the hole in the upper end of the cask is of less diameter than its upper part, so that
it constitutes a seat upon which a circular plate or disc of stoneware may rest, and
which is made to fit closely thereon, that is to say, without leakage, by a packing
ring of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material. The india-rubber packing
ring is compressed by means of a second plate, which is preferably of metal, and
formed with two or more lugs which pass in below projecting pieces on the upper
side of the hole. The under sides of these projecting pieces are inclined, so that as
the plate with the lugs is turned round therein the lugs pass under these
inclined sides, whereby it is forced downwards and thereby compresses the elastic
packing ring.
To still further compress the packing the upper metallic plate may be provided
with a screw at its centre.
The new or improved tap constituting part of my said Invention has for its
object to enable a supply of atmospheric air to be admitted to the upper side of the
liquor contained in the cask, so that at all times the space above the liquor is
charged with air in quantity exactly corresponding to the quantity of liquor drawn
off. This object is effected by constructing the tap or cock with a small hole in its
side connected with a pipe or duct leading through the body of the cock, and again
connected by a small pipe which may be of metal, but is preferably of vulcanized
caoutchouc, passing up through the liquor to the space above it. The plug of the
tap or cock is made so that when opened for the purpose of drawing off the liquor

page_text: the hole in the side is also opened, and thereby communication is made between the
outside atmosphere and the space in the cask above the liquor.
When a flexible pipe is used at the interior of the cask it is provided with a float
which in resting on the surface of the liquid always insures that the orifice of the
pipe is above the liquor.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say -
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, Figure 1 is a front elevation;
Figure 2 is a vertical section at right angles to Figure 1; and Figure 3, a plan of
the new or improved cask constructed in accordance with my said Invention.
As seen by Figures 2 and 3 the cask is constructed with a hole or opening A at
its upper flat end. The lower part of the hole is of less,diameter than its upper
part, as seen at Figure 2, so that it constitutes a seat upon which a circular plate or
disc B, shown in section at Figure 4, rests, and which is made to fit closely thereon,
that is to say without leakage, by a packing ring C of india-rubber or other
suitable elastic material. The india-rubber packing ring C is compressed by means
of a second or top plate D, preferably of metal, and formed with two or more
lugs E, Figure 4, which when entered through the recesses a made to allow them to
enter pass in below the projecting portions F on the upper side of the hole. The
under side of these projecting pieces F are inclined, so that as the plate D with the
lugs E is turned round therein the lugs E become pushed under these inclined
portions, whereby the plate is forced downwards and thereby compresses the elastic
packing ring C.
To still further compress the packing the upper metallic plate D is provided with
a screw G at its centre. Besides the hole A a vent hole H is also provided in the
upper end of the cask, which hole is fitted with an india-rubber vent peg I carried
through to the inside of the cask where it has attached to it a piece of wood, cork,
or other equivalent material J, as shown at Figure 2. The piece J is constructed
with grooves or channels around it to admit of air passing into the cask when the
elastic vent peg is extended or decreased in diameter, which is effected by pulling
upwards the part of it extending above the upper side of the cask.
The new or improved tap constituting part of my said Invention is illustrated at
Figure 5, and the point of improvement consists of a tube or channel carried
through the body of the cock to the inside whereon is fixed a flexible tube K, whose
open end is provided with a cork or other float so as to maintain it above the
surface of the liquor, as seen at C, Figure 2. In order that at the time of drawing
liquor off from the cock this channel shall be open the plug L of the tap has two
holes at right angles to and communicating with each other, and when the plug L
is turned one of these holes is brought opposite to and in direct communication with
a hole in the barrel of the tap which passes to the outside and the other hole
opposite to and in communication with the tube or channel which passes to the
inside, whereon is fixed the flexible tube C before referred to, so that a free com-
munication between the outside air and the space above the liquor in the cask is
established.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used
or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The new or improved cask and the means of opening and closing the hole
in the upper part thereof, substantially as herein-before described and shown upon
the annexed Sheet of Drawings.
Second. The new or improved tap or cock for effecting communication between

page_text: the atmosphere and the space above the liquor in the cask, as herein-before described
and shown upon the annexed Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Finlay McDiarmid, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of May, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
seven.
FINLAY MCDIARMID. (L.S.)