AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VENT PEGS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Weston, of Landsdowne Crescent,
Landsdowne Road, South Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Gas
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF VENT PEGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Weston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th December 1872.
I, JOHN HENRY WESTON, of Landsdowne Crescent, Landsdowne
Road, South Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Gas Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VENT PEGS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to an improvement in the construction of vent
pegs as a means of controling the effervescent properties of beer, ale,
wines, and all other like fermenting material, whether the same be
enclosed in casks, barrels, bottles, or any wooden, glass, earthenware, or
other vessels, and consists of a vent peg constructed of metal, porcelain,

page_text: .
.
wood, or other suitable substance, in the form of a cylinder terminating
with a lever, screw, or worm, for fixing in what is ordinarily termed the
spigot or vent hole. This screw is hollow in its construction for the
purpose of receiving the contrivance herein-after referred to. In the
cylinder which is perforated on either side I-place a spiral spring or other
elastic contrivance provided or terminating with a plug or valve made of
metal, cork, gutta percha, rolled or packed yarn, wood, or other adapt-
able substance. This spring acting upon the valve or plug forces the
same beyond the orifice of the cylinder into the screw or worm above
referred to, and thereby renders the vessel from the spigot hole hermeti-
cally sealed.
In order that ventilation into the material may be supplied at the
ready pleasure of the operator I place on either side of the plug or valve
two thumb buttons: By this means the spring and plug are easily raised*
or lowered for the admission of the requisite amount of vent.
In cases where large quantities of fermented material are being con-
stantly withdrawn, and in order to secure continuous vent, the
perforation in the cylinder is supplied with rests or bayonet loops for
the purpose of supporting the aforesaid thumb buttons, and thus retain
the aforesaid spring and plug in position.
17
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Weston in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY WESTON, of Lansdowne Crescent, Lansdowne Road, South
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Gas Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Weston, Her special licence
that I, the said John Henry Weston, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I the said John Henry Weston, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no

page_text: others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VENT PEGS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Henry Weston, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Weston, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 relates to an improvement in the construction of vent
pegs as a means of controlling the effervescent properties of beer, ale,
wines, and all other like fermenting material, whether the same be
enclosed in casks, barrels, bottles, or any wooden, glass, earthenware,
or other vessels, and consists of a vent peg constructed of metal, porce-
lain, wood, or other suitable substance, in the form of a cylinder A,
terminating with a lever, screw, or worm "B," for fixing in what is ordi-.
nary termed the spigot or vent hole. This screw is hollow in its
construction for the purpose of receiving the contrivance herein-after
referred to. In the cylinder which is perforated on either side I place a
spiral spring C or other elastic contrivance provided or terminating with a
plug or vȧlve D made of metal, cork, gutta percha, rolled or packed yarn,
wood, or other adaptable substance. This spring acting upon the valve
or plug forces the same beyond the orifice of the cylinder into the screw
or worm above referred to, and thereby renders the vessell from the spigot
hole hermetically sealed.
In order that ventilation into the material may be supplied at the
ready pleasure of the operator I place on either side of the plug or
valve two thumb buttons e. By this means the spring and plug are
easily raised or lowered for the admission of the requisite amount of
vont

page_text: In cases where large quantities of fermented material are being con-
stantly withdrawn, and in order to secure continuous vent, the
proportion in the cylinder is supplied with rests or bayonet loops for
the purpose of supporting the aforesaid thumb buttons and thus retain
the aforesaid spring and plug in position.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Weston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.