Improved Appliance for Drawing Off the Contents of Casks, and for Sealing same when Empty.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improved Appliance for Drawing Off the Contents of Casks, and for
Sealing same when Empty.
I, WILLIAM PLATTEN, of 21, Peveril Road, City of Sheffield, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a tap having a long tubular end provided with a series of
rows of holes or like apertures for the passage of the liquid from the cask into the
interior of the tap, its extreme end having a screw threaded part for the purpose of
engaging with a detachable.cap or sealing piece provided with a flange or end
plate.
In the tap hole of the cask I force a sleeve or ferrule of rubber or the like, approxi-
mating to the form of a cotton bobbin but with trumpet shaped ends of larger
diameter than the said taphole, and a centre hole or bore through which the tubular
end of the tap can be forced.
I secure this rubber sleeve by means of a metallic washer which is screwed to the
end of the cask and grips the extreme edge of the sleeve.
The cap or sealing piece has a tubular part which fits within the sleeve from the
inside of the cask, the flange closing upon the rubber and making a liquid proof
joint.
When it is desired to draw off the contents of the cask, the end of the tap is screwed
into or upon the correspondingly screwed part of the sealing piece which is just within
the taphole, until it forms a continuation of the tap.
The tubular part of the tap is then forced through the sleeve until the series of
holes are within the cask, carrying the attached sealing piece with it and leaving the
liquid a clear passage through the holes to the tap.
When the cask has been emptied, the tap is drawn back through the sleeve until
the cap is within the sleeve and further movement is stopped by the flange or end
plate, the tap is then unscrewed and removed leaving the cask sealed and preventing
the admission of air which would cause the cask to foul.
The 6th dow of Anvil 1900

page_text: Improved Appliance for Drawing Off the Contents of Casks, and for
Sealing same when Empty.
I, WILLIAM PLATTEN, of 21, Peveril Road, City of Sheffield, Gentleman, 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 has for its object to construct a combined tap for drawing off the
contents of casks either by hand with a plug tap, or a tap constructed for connection
with a beer machine; and the means by which the cask is sealed when the tap is
withdrawn.
The combined appliance is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1, represents an ordinary plug tap with an elongated end, and the sealing
plug.
Fig. 2, section of the end of cask, showing the sealing plug and retaining screw on
an enlarged scale.
Fig. 3, front outside view of Fig. 2.
In carrying out my invention I construct a tap of any suitable construction as
regards its front part A, having a long tubular end or shank B, provided with a
number of holes C, communicating with its interior, and a screw threaded end D.
This end D, is to engage with the interior of a sealing plug or stopper E, which is
also screw threaded, and has a flange E², at the opposite end.
In the tap hole of the cask, which I prefer to make with a shallow recess of larger
diameter as shown in Fig. 2, I force a sleeve of rubber or the like F, provided at its
front end with a collar or flange F1, and at the rear with a flaring end F2, and I secure
the sleeve in its position by means of a metal plate G, which is also shown in Fig. 3,
and which has a larger hole through it than that of the rubber sleeve.
When the cask is sent out to the consumer it is sealed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,
the sealing plug E, is drawn within the sleeve F, with its flange E², pressing tightly
against the end of the sleeve, and secured from being accidentally pushed inwards by
a retaining screw H, of composition, wood, or the like.
When it is required to draw off the contents, the screw H, is removed, the end of
the tap D, is screwed into the plug E, and its tubular barrel B, forced through the
sleeve, carrying the plug with it; the holes C, are then within the cask, and the tap
is ready for use.
When the contents of the cask are withdrawn, the tap is pulled through the sleeve,
until the plug is within the sleeve as shown in Fig. 2, the tap is then unscrewed and
removed, and is replaced by the screw H.
It will thus be seen that the tap cannot be removed from the cask until the plug
or seal is within the sleeve, the grip of the sleeve being required to hold the plug
while the tap is unscrewed; thus the cask is automatically sealed whenever the tap is
removed, and fouling is prevented.
The ubber sleeve is similar to that which I use in my invention described in
Specification No. 23620, 1894, my present invention being an improvement upon
that portion of my former invention which relates to closing the tap hole.
Having thus 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. As a means for drawing off liquids from casks, and sealing same when the cask
is emptied; a tap having a tubular barrel provided with perforations for the passage

page_text: of the liquid, a screw threaded end to engage with a sealing plug having a flanged
end, in combination with a rubber sleeve held within the taphole, as hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings.
The combination with a tap having a perforated cylindrical barrel B, of a detachable
5 cylindrical sealing plug E, provided with a flange or cap E2, as hereinbefore described
and shown.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant, Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.