IMPROVE- MENTS IN TAPS FOR WINE, SPIRIT, BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN THE CASK FOR THE SAME
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Gideon Canning Goold at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1877.
GIDEON CANNING GOOLD, of Havelock Road, Birchfield, Birmingham. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TAPS FOR WINE, SPIRIT, BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN THE CASK FOR
THE SAME,"
This Invention is intended to supersede the method generally in use for drawing
off the contents of casks, for venting and for hermetically closing the same. For this
purpose I fix to the interior of the cask a cylindrical metal casing closed at one end,
and of a diameter somewhat greater than the orifice through which the contents are
drawn off. In the bottom of the casing I place a spiral spring, and on the top of
this latter a plug of metal or other suitable material. To the top of the casing I fix
a flange or disc with an orifice bored out and screwed at the centre. The casing is
inserted through an orifice in the cask just large enough to admit the same, the
flange coming outside the cask to which it is fixed by small wood screws.
When it is required to draw the contents from the cask a suitable tap is screwed
on to the orifice of the flange or disc, upon which the plug which is actuated by the
spiral spring is forced back from its sent, allowing the liquid to pass through some
appropriate orifices formed around the cylindrical casing and out at the tap.
For the venting of the cask I employ a cylindrical casing smaller but similar to
the last mentioned, the only difference being that I force the plug and spring by
finger pressure. When the pressure is withdrawn the plug returns to its seat and
hermetically closes the vent aperture.
My improved taps are also applicable to air valves.
For the purpose when desired to avoid the inconvenience of tapping the cask-in
the usual manner I make a fixed tap in the cylindrical casing of the following
description: A cylindrical metal casing similar to the others, and fitted in the same
manner to the head of the cask. At the end of the casing farthest from the flange
or disc I make some perforations, which are opened by drawing forward with the
hand, a cylindrical hollow plug is placed inside, and of the same length as the cylinder
casing; around this hollow plug I have a spring for the purpose of bringing the
same back again to its normal or closed position when desired.
To draw off the liquid, the hollow plug to the head, a tap is formed, and to which
a convenient ring or hook for the purpose of drawing the same forward by the hand is

page_text: held in position by a catch; the tap is turned by means of a key. When the cask is
empty, by releasing the before-mentioned catch, the spiral spring draws back the
hollow plug, so closes the orifice formed at the end of the cylindrical casing,
and the head of hollow plug and tap is then flush with the flange or disc.
For filling the cask I also employ a perforated cylindrical casing, but of a much
larger diameter with spiral spring pressing a plug or valve against its seating, so
closes the orifice formed in the centre of the flange or disc. When it is required to
fill the cask a funnel is screwed into the orifice, which forces back the plug and
spring, thus allowing the liquid to enter the cask through a number of orifices
formed around the cylindrical casing. Upon unscrewing the funnel from the orifice
formed in the flange or disc, the plug, actuated by the spiral spring comes forward to
its normal position, thus hermetically closes the aperture and rendering the use of
bungs unnecessary.