Improvements in or appertaining to Bungs or Stoppers for Casks, Barrels, or the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb. 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL DEVITICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Bungs or Stoppers for Casks,
Barrels, or the like.
I, HENRY GIBBON, of 91, Raglan Street, St. Helens, in the County of Lancaster,
Millwright, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to bungs or stoppers for casks, barrels or the like. The said
invention is so designed that the bung can be readily applied to, or removed from, a
cask by an operator, and air admitted to allow the liquor contained in the cask to be
drawn off without removing the bung.
In carrying out my invention, I provide a socket adapted to be secured in a hole or
opening located in the bulge of the cask or in other suitable position. It may be
secured in said opening in several different ways, for example, it may be driven in
and held in position by frictional resistance, or screwed in, or it may have lugs adapted
to be bolted to the sides of the cask.
The bung is adapted to fit into the said socket. It is provided with one or more
peripheral projections or studs, and part of the inner periphery of the socket is
provided with an equivalent number of grooves or threads. These latter pass
preferably round a portion of the bung (being made slightly spiral if desired),
and each terminates at one end in a groove which passes transversely across the
socket.
To fit the bung in the socket, the former is manipulated so that the projections
register with the transverse grooves aforesaid, and when the bung is pushed home, it
is rotated, the spiral or circular grooves thereby engaging the studs, and holding the
bung firmly in place so that it cannot be withdrawn until the studs and grooves are
released from engagement by rotating the bung back to its initial position. The bung
may be provided with a handle or a square, hexagonal, or other shaped projection
or depression adapted to receive a spanner or other. tool to facilitate it being
rotated.
I
propose to construct the bung with a vent hole, having a valve kept normally
closed by a spring. When the liquor is drawn, the pressure induced by the vacuum
in the cask, causes the valve to open and air is thereby admitted into the cask. If
desired, a valve may be also provided for permitting gases, generated in the cask
during the process of fermentation, to escape before attaining a dangerous degree
of pressure and without allowing access of external air whose oxygen aggravates the
process.
Dated thin 5th day of Fabe 1800
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Bungs or Stoppers for Casks,
Barrels, or the like.'
I, HENRY GIBBON of 91, Raglan Street, St. Helens in the County of Lancaster,
Millwright, 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 relates to bungs or stoppers for casks, barrels or the like. The said
invention is so designed that the bung can be readily applied to or removed from a

page_text: cask by an operator, and air admitted to allow the liquor contained in the cask to be
drawn off without removing the bung.
The manner in which I carry my invention into effect may be understood by
the following description, reference being had to the accompanying, drawings, in
which,
Figure 1 is a transverse section of the bung and its attachments in position in a cask,
the section being taken on lineæ a Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bung and its retaining socket detached from
each other, and from the cask.
A, is a socket adapted to be secured in a hole or opening located in the bulge of
the cask B or in other suitable position. It may be secured in said opening in several
different ways, for example, it may be driven in and held in position by frictional
resistance alone, or it may be screwed in as shown at a, or it may have lugs adapted
to be bolted or otherwise attached to the sides of the cask.
The bung C is adapted to fit into the said socket. It is provided with one or
more peripheral projections or studs D which are adapted to be passed into an
equivalent number of transverse grooves E in the socket. The inner ends of the
grooves E enter a peripheral groove E¹ in the socket, and the parts of said groove
adjacent to one or both sides of the grooves E are by preference made slightly spiral,
at least on their outer walls, as seen at e. It will be obvious that, instead of a
continuous groove running round the periphery of the socket, short grooves, each
extending round only a portion of said periphery and each connected with a trans-
verse groove E, could be employed, but the former arrangement will in general be
found more convenient of construction.
To fit the bung in the socket, the former is manipulated so that the projections D
register with the transverse grooves E aforesaid, and when the bung is pushed home
(as for example on to a seat e¹) it is rotated, the spiral or circular grooves thereby
engaging the studs, and holding the bung firmly in place so that it cannot be with-
drawn until the studs and grooves are released from engagement by rotating the bung
back to its initial position. The bung may be provided with a handle or with a
square, hexagonal or other shaped projection c¹, or a depression adapted to receive a
spanner or other tool whereby it may be rotated.
A ring e² of leather, indiarubber or the like may be inserted between the bung C
ard seat el to form a tight joint. The socket A may be screwed into the cask by
means of a suitable key inserted into the transverse grooves E.
I may sometimes construct the bung with a vent hole F, having a valve G kept
normally closed by a spring H. The valve and spring are kept in place by a screw
plug J, which may be adjusted by means of a key inserted into the hole j in the plug.
When the liquor is drawn, the pressure, induced by the vacuum in the cask, causes
the valve to open and air is thereby admitted into the cask. If desired, a valve may
be also provided for permitting gases, generated in the cask during the process of
fermentation, to escape before attaining a dangerous degree of pressure, and without
allowing access of external air whose oxygen aggravates the process.
It will be obvious that the bung C might be extended inwards beyond the end of
the socket, and provided with a stud or studs adapted to bear upon inclined planes on
the end of the socket, the said inclined planes being the mechanical equivalent of the
inclined parts e of the grooves E¹. In this case, the transverse slots E would be
continued to the extreme inner end of the socket, and it would be preferable to form
the seat nearer the outer end of the socket.
'
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. A bunging or stoppering device for a cask or the like, having a socket adapted
to be secured within a hole in the cask, and a bung fitting said socket and secured
therein by a device consisting of a stud or studs on the one part, and a peripheral

page_text: groove or grooves, or the mechanical equivalent thereof as described, on the other
part, substantially as described.
2.. In combination with the improved bunging device, a spring-valved vent for
sustaining or relieving the pressure in the cask, substantially as described. .
Dated this 5th day of November 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.