New or Improved Means for Facilitating the Tapping of Barrels, Casks, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Means for Facilitating the Tapping of Barrels,
Casks, and the like.
I, ANDREW HOWAT, of 8, Clothorn Road, Didsbury, Manchester, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide means for effecting the ready tap-
ping of barrels, casks and the like, especially by unskilled persons, and for such
means to be simple in construction, cheap in manufacture and leaving no per-
manent fixed metal part within the barrel when the tap is removed.
According to my invention I employ any ordinary tap to which I apply a
spigot or tubular extension with parallel sides. Upon this spigot 1 mount a
ring or sleeve somewhat shorter than the said spigot and fitted internally with a
gland or other suitable packing, which when tightened up gives the spigot a
frictional sliding fit within the sleeve.
Upon such sleeve I provide one portion of a screwed coupling designed to
be coupled to another portion permanently fixed upon the barrel or cask to be
tapped and placed concentrically around the opening through which the liquor
is usually withdrawn.
In tapping a barrel the said sleeve is coupled to the barrel by the said por-
tions of the coupling being united, thus firmly attaching the tap and causing
the end of the spigot portion to lie directly opposite the said opening, or the
bung which closes such opening.
A sharp blow or push upon the front of the tap then drives the tap end for-
ward within the ring or sleeve, and against the bung, which latter it immediately
forces into the barrel or cask. The liquor in the barrel can then flow into the
tap and when the tap is opened through the tap, and in such way the barrel is
tapped in a minimum of time and with a minimum of labor.
When all the liquor is drawn off the tap is uncoupled and a screwed cap is
applied to that part of the coupling remaining on the barrel to seal the barrel
and to protect the thread of the coupling from damage in transit.
To afford absolute security against leakage the ring or sleeve may be adapted
to screw on to a screwed boss on the tap, so that after tapping as aforesaid, a
turn or two of the tap will unite the ring or sleeve and the tap body, and, with
the aid of a washer between, effect a fluid-tight joint. This connection is also
useful in holding the tap steady whilst opening and closing the same. Any other
simple form of connection may be employed.
To prevent the ring or sleeve getting separated from the tap and to allow of
removal for cleaning or repairs, I prefer to close the spigot by a small perforated
bush which has a flange slightly greater in diameter than that of the spigot.
As a modification the gland packing may be in that portion of the coupling
on the barrel, or I may employ two glands one in each of the said parts of the
coupling, and as a further modification the entire coupling may be permanently
located on the barrel and the manner of forcing in the bung may vary. In lieu

page_text: of a sliding action the spigot may have a screw action, and the pressure be
obtained by hand or other means.
1
1
1040
ANDREW HOWAT.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
New or Improved Means for Facilitating the Tapping of Barrels,
Casks, and the like.
I, ANDREW HOWAT, of 8, Clothorn Road, Didsbury, Manchester, Engineer, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
My invention has for its object to provide means for effecting the ready tap-
ping of barrels, casks and the like, especially by unskilled persons, and for such
means to be simple in construction, clieap in manufacture, and leaving no per-
manent fixed metal part within the barrel when the tap is removed.
According to my invention I employ any ordinary tap to which I apply a
spigot or tubular extension with parallel sides. Upon this spigot I mount a
ring or sleeve, somewhat shorter than the said extension, and fitted internally
with a gland or other suitable packing, which when tightened up gives the spigot
a frictional sliding fit within the sleeve. Upon such sleeve I provide one por-
tion of a screwed coupling designed to be coupled to another portion permanently
fixed upon the barrel or cask to be tapped and placed concentrically around the
opening through which the liquor is usually withdrawn.
In tapping a barrel the said sleeve is coupled to the barrel by the said por-
tions of the coupling being united, thus firmly attaching the tup and causing
the end of the spigot portion to lie directly opposite the said opening, or the
bung which closes such opening. A sharp blow or push upon the front of the
tap then drives the tap end forward within the ring or sleeve and against the
bung, which latter it immediately forces into the barrel or cask. The liquor in
the barrel can then flow into the tap, and, when the tap is opened, through the tap.
and in such way the barrel is tapped in a minimum of time, and with a minimum
of labor.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood I have
hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings in which Fig. 1 illustrates a side exterior
view of my improved tapping devices and shews the several parts in position
ready for tapping the barrel.
Fig. 2 illustrates a similar view and shows the position of the several parts
after the barrel is tapped.
Fig. 3 illustrates a longitudinal section. Fig. 4 illustrates a modified detail.
To the tap body (A) I apply a tube or tubular extension (B), with parallel
sides, and equal in bore to the passage of the tap. The free end of such exten-
sion is fitted with a cap (B), and its sides are perforated. Upon such tube (B)
I mount a ring or sleeve (C) fitted internally with a packing of cork or other
suitable material (D), which being held tightly in position by a gland (E) ensures
of a fluid light (yet sliding frictional) abutment with the sides of the tap exten-
sion (B). One end of such sleeve is provided with a flange (F) and a screw
thread (G).
Upon the barrel or other like object to be tapped, and concentrically around
the bung hole, I place and fix, by screws or other suitable means, an annular

page_text: boss (H), the inner circumference of which is provided with a screw thread (I)
corresponding to the screw thread (G) on the ond of sleeve (C).
With the bung hole closed by a cork (J) (see Fig. 1), and the boss (H) in
position the tapping of the barrel is as follows:-The sleeve (C) is first drawn
to the free end of the tube (B), the cap (B) preventing its being drawn too
far. The screwed part (G) of the sleeve is then screwed into the screwed part (I)
of the boss (H) until the face of the flange (F), or an intermediate packing ring
or pliable washer (K) meets the face of the boss, as shewn in Fig. 2, and with
au additional turn or two by a spanner or jack applied to the hexagon por-
tion (L), the two screwed parts are perfectly coupled up. Either by hand, or a
mallett, the person engaged in tapping the barrel then pushes, or administers a
blow to the front end of the tap (which is, by preference formed with a striking
part (M) for the purpose), and under the force thus applied the tube (B), with its
free end directly opposite the cork (J), slides forward against such cork (J),
until it falls into the barrel, and the shoulder (A) of the tap body meets the
gland (E), as shewn in Fig. 2, when the barrel is fully tapped and the liquor can
he drawn off as, and when required.
In such manner the most unskilled person can tap a barrel without the slightest
risk of a spill or waste of liquer.
In Fig. 4 I shew how by forming the gland (E) so as to be well within the
sleeve, and by applying a screw thread on the shoulder (A) of the tap body, I
may by a turn or two of the tap body after it meets the sleeve (C), cause it to
engage with the sleeve, and so further ensure against leakage, but in practise I
have not found it necessary.
In lieu of a sliding action the tube (B) may have a screw action i.e. screwing
through the sleeve (C).
As a further modification the sleeve (C) may be formed with radial studs to
permit of hand tightening of the screw connection.
When the barrel is empty the sleeve (C) is uncoupled from the boss (H), and
a bung is then inserted in the bung hole. To prevent damage to the screw
thread (I) in driving in the bung the mouth of the boss is slightly bevilled or
countersunk as illustrated.
Having now 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
1:-In means for facilitating the tapping of barrels, casks and the like, a tap
with tubular extension, a coupling sleeve on such extension, a coupling boss on
the barrel, cusk, etc., around the bung hole, and the said tubular extension adapted
to move through the sleeve and force the bung into the barrel, cask, etc., sub-
stantially as herein described and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
2. In means for facilitating the tapping of barrels, casks and the like, a tap
with tubular extension, a coupling sleeve on such extension, a coupling boss on
the barrel, cask, etc., around the bung hole, a screw thread (or like connection)
on the shoulder of the tap body by which it may engage with the coupling
sleeve, substantially as herein described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
3: In means for facilitating the tapping of barrels, casks and the like the
formation, arrangement and combination of parts (or their mere mechanical
equivalent) substantially as herein described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 8th day of Aug 1000
ANDREW HOWAT.
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. Inst.P.A.,
Manchester.