An Improved Bung for Beer Kegs and similar Receptacles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Bung for Beer Kegs and similar Receptacles.
We, LOUIS WAGNER, Machinist, and JOHN MARR, Maltster, the former of
707 Swan Street and the latter of 416 North Howard Street, both in the City of
Baltimore, State of Maryland, United States of America, 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 an improved expansible bung for beer kegs and similar
receptacles.
The object is to provide a bung which will fit different sized bung-holes, and
may be readily tightened therein, and also relaxed for removal when desired.
To this end the invention consists in the novel features of construction and
combinations of parts hereinafter described.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 shows a section view of the bung inserted in the bung-hole of a keg.
Fig. 2 shows a view of the outer end of the bung.
Fig. 3 shows a view of the inner end of the bung.
Fig. 4 shows a detail of a spiral spring which is embedded in the rubber plug.
The letter A, designates a tapered hollow rubber plug which has a cylindrical
bore a, for a portion of its length, and a shoulder b, at the outer end of this
cylindrical bore. The interior wall of this rubber plug beyond said shoulder is
tapered, as at c, to correspond with the exterior. The inner end of the plug has a
conical seat d. A stem, B, fits the bore, a, and has both end-portions, C, C', screw
threaded as shown, one having a right-hand and the other a left-hand thread.
A nut D, is screwed on the outer end of the stem and fits against the shoulder b;
this nut has an annular flange f, fitting the tapered interior wall, c, and extending.
nearly to the outer end of the hollow rubber plug to give it stability at that'
part. Longitudinal ribs g, are formed on the exterior of the flange, f, and engage
grooves, gl, in the rubber plug, to prevent the nut from turning at the same time
permitting it to move longitudinally of the hollow plug. A cap-nut, E, is
Ecrewed on the opposite or inner end of the stem and has a conical part d', fitting
the seat d. Screws, /, extend through the cap-nut, E, into sockets, h¹, in the
rubber plug, and prevent the cap-nut from turning therein, but allow it to move
longitudinally. The outer end of the stem is squared as at i, to receive a wrench
or similar tool for turning it.
The bung, thus constructed, is inserted into the bung hole as shown in Fig. 1,
and a wrench applied to the square-end i; a slight turn of the stem will draw the
cap-nut inward on the thread, C, forcing the conical part, d, upon the seat, d. At
the same time the nut, D, at the opposite end is forced inward upon the shoulder, b.
The result of these two nuts being thus drawn toward each other is obviously
an expansion of the rubber in the bung-hole. The central cylindrical part of the
stem, B, fills the cylindrical bore of the plug, A, and prevents the latter from
collapsing under this pressure; the result is an expansion of the inner end of the
plug over the inner edge of the bung-hole as illustrated by broken lines, o, in
Fig. 1. By applying the wrench to turn the stem in the opposite direction the nuts
are moved outward from each other and the bung relaxes and may be readily
removed. A pin, e, projecting from the square-end, i, of the stem prevents the
latter being turned sufficiently to allow the cap-out to become detached.
It will be seen a bung of this construction may be fitted to holes of various
sizes and may be very readily tightened therein and also relaxed and removed.

page_text: By our construction of a stem with two oppositely threaded end-portions, each
carrying an expanding nut, a very slight turn of the stem will suffice to expand
or contract the bung, as both the nuts advance or recede on the stem toward or
away from each other. at once; in a construction where a single nut screws on the
end of a stem which has a head at the opposite end and only the one thread, it is
obvious twice the movement is required to tighten or release the bung as only one
nut travels on the stem. By our construction a fraction of a turn of the stem
will be sufficient to tighten or release the bung. The arrangement of a double-
ended oppositely-threaded stem carrying a nut on each end, thus greatly expedites
the use of an expansible bung.
We have shown a spiral spring F, embedded in the rubber plug, A, to supply
elasticity in case the rubber becomes non-elastic after a period of use. This
spring will be found advantageous but may be dispensed with, and our invention is
not limited to its use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A bung comprising a hollow tapered elastic plug having a conical seat at one
end and an internal shoulder near the other end; a stem extending through said
plug and having oppositely threaded end-portions; a nut on one of said end-
portions and fitting against the conical seat; and a nut on the other of said end
portious and fitting against the internal shoulder.
2. A bung comprising a hollow tapered elastic plug having a conical seat at one
end and an internal shoulder near the other end; a stem extending through said
plug and having oppositely-threaded end portions; a nut on one end fitting the
conical seat; and a nut on the opposite end fitting against the internal shoulder
and having ribs which engage grooves in the hollow plug for the purpose
described.
3. A bung comprising a hollow tapered elastic plug; means for expanding the
same in the bung-hole; and a spiral spring embedded in the said plug.
4. A bung having a hollow expansible sleeve of suitable elastic material such
as rubber, spreading or expanding devices within and near the inner and outer ends
of the same, means for forcing said devices together, and a spring situated
intermediately between said spreading devices for elongating and restoring the
proper shape to the elastic sleeve, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day
BAG
LOOT
BAG
6חמש
L. WAGNER,
J. MARR,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.