Improvements in Means for Tapping Casks and Barrels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Tapping Casks and Barrels.
I GEORGE WILSON LUNN of 21 Yorkshire Street Oldham in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to prevent the unpleasantness which frequently
results from the unskilful tapping of barrels containing beer or stout, when the
liquid splashes the operator, sometimes even driving the tap from his hand, and
being wasted in considerable quantities. I have therefore devised a simple
contrivance which can be applied to barrels of ordinary construction.
My invention consists of an outer shell or tube which can be secured by a
flange and a nut (or otherwise) to a metal bush fixed into the end of the barrel
at the tap-hole thereof, or to a hard wood or other plate provided with means
for clamping it tightly against the end of the barrel and with a suitable leather
or other washer for making a tight joint around the ordinary tap hole. When
the barrel is full this metal bush or the tap hole is fitted with a cork in the
usual way.
Inside the outer shell above named is an inner shell or tube capable of end wise
motion, but not of rotary motion, and this inner shell or tube is actuated when
required by a screwed spindle passing through a nut at its outer end and through
a gland or stuffing box at the outer end of the outer shell, outside of which the
said spindle is provided with a handle, key, or other convenient means for rotating
the same.
The inner tube is prevented from revolving by any convenient means, such as
a flat side, or sides, or a pin and slot or otherwise.
Instead of the screwed spindle I may fix a sliding spindle to the end of the
inner shell or tube, the said spindle passing through the stuffing box in the end
of the outer shell or tube, and thus the inner tube can when required be driven
inwards by a hammer, mallet or equivalent means.
The body of the barrel tap is cast in one piece with or fixed to one side of
the outer shell; or it may be made in one piece with or fixed to the end of the
inner shell or tube, which in this case is made longer and screwed on the outside,
and passes through the end of the outer shell which is at that part formed with
a corresponding screw thread, a check nut making the joint secure.
During transport or storage whether full or empty the metal bush above
described is covered by a blank screwed cap, but when it is desired to tap a full
barrel this cap is removed and my appliance fixed in its place; and the tapping
is performed as follows:-
When the tap is fixed or formed on the outer shell or tube, the inner shell
is forced in by screwing or hammering as above described; the inner end thereof,
which is closed and perforated like the end of an ordinary tap, pushes the cork
from the tap hole and projects into the barrel. The inner shell or tube is so
perforated or otherwise formed that the beer can pass into the outer one and
thence to the tap. ·

page_text: When however the tap forms part of the inner shell or tube, the latter is
screwed inwards until its inner end displaces the cork and projects into the barrel.
It is then locked by the checkinut, and the tapping is complete.
It will be seen that according to this invention the person who taps the barrel
can use either an ordinary tap or my appliance.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1894.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Means for Tapping Casks and Barrels.
GEORGE WILSON LUNN of 21 Yorkshire Street Oldham in the County of
Lancaster 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 following statement :-
'My invention consists of an outer shell A Fig. 1 or tube which can be secured by
a flange and a nut J (or otherwise) to a metal bush F fixed into the end of a barrel
or cask at the tap hole thereof, or to a hard wood or other plate provided with
means for clamping it tightly against the end of the barrel or cask, and with a
Buitable leather or other washer for making a tight joint around the ordinary tap
hole. When the barrel is full, this metal bush or the tap hole is fitted with a cork
in the usual way.
Inside the outer shell above named is an inner shell B Fig. 1 or tube capable of
endwise motion, and this inner shell or tube is actuated when required by a screwed
spindle C passing through a nut at its outer end and through a gland or stuffing
box at the outer end of the outer shell D, outside of which the said spindle is
provided with a handle, key, or other convenient means for rotating the same.
The inner tube is prevented from revolving by any convenient means, such 'as a
flat side, or sides, or a pin and slot or otherwise.
Instead of the screwed spindle I may fix a sliding spindle Fig. 2 to the end of
the inner tube, the said spindle passing through the stuffing box in the end of' the
outer shell or tube, and thus the inner tube can when required be driven inwards
by a mallet or other equivalent means. The body of the barrel tap E is cast in
one piece with or fixed to one side of the outer shell Fig. 1; or it may be made in
one piece with or fixed to the end of the inner shell Fig. 3 which in this case is
made longer and screwed on the outside, and passes through the end of the outer
shell which is at that part formed with a corresponding screw thread, a check nut I
making the joint secure.
During transport or storage whether full or empty the metal bush above
described is covered by a blank screwed cap, but when it is desired to tap a full
barrel this cap is removed and my appliance fixed in its place; and the tapping is
performed as follows.
When the tap is fixed or formed on the outer shell or tube Fig. 1, the inner shell
is forced in by screwing or hammering as above described; the inner end thereof,
which is perforated like the end of an ordinary tap pushes the cork from the tap
hole and projects into the barrel. The inner shell or tube is so perforated or
otherwise formed that the beer can pass into the inner and outer shell and thence
to the tap in the ordinary way.
When however the tap forms part of the inner shell or tube H, Fig. 3 the latter
is screwed inwards until its inner end displaces the cork and projects into the
barrel. It is then locked by the check nut I, and the tapping is complete.
.
It will be seen that accordingly to this invention the person who taps the barrel
can use either an ordinary tap or my appliance.

page_text: 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:
1st. An outer shell or tube with a flange and flange nut at one end, and stuffing
box at the other as described.
2nd. An inner shell or tube to work in the outer shell by a screwed spindle
rotated by key or handle.
3rd. An inner shell with smooth spindle so as to be-driven by mallet.
4th. An inner shell screwed on the outside to screw in the outer shell as described
in drawing.
Naraba, 10h 10ni
GEORGE WILSON LUNN.