Improvements in and in connection with Taps for Casks, Barrels, and other such like Receptacles, for Containing Beer, Wine, Spirits, Oil, and other Liquids.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug.. 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Taps for Casks, Barrels, and
other such like Receptacles, for Containing Beer, Wine, Spirits,
Oil, and other Liquids.
I, WILLIAM SHARP, Inventor, 68 Melody Road, East Hill Wandsworth, in the
County of London do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The objects of this invention & the difficulties it is intended to overcome, are
in relation to the proper tapping & securing of various liquids contained in casks
& such like receptacles, by affixing to the taps used for this purpose a cone shaped
washer or packing composed of india-rubber or other suitable material, & securing
the same as described in this Specification, for the purpose of performing the
operation of tapping in a clean, expeditious & simple manner, & without waste.
I am well aware that other devices for the same purpose have been introduced,
consisting of detached packings composed of various materials, to take the place of
the old system of brown paper, but the invention herein set forth & described by
the aid of the accompanying drawings is as follows:-The drawing Fig. 1 Sheet 1
represents an ordinary wooden tap as used for beer &c. & shows the fixed packing
or cone-shaped washer (A) which is composed of india-rubber or other suitable
material & is about two & a quarter inches in length & one eighth of an inch in
thickness.
The cone or washer commences at an inch & a quarter (or thereabouts) from the
tapered end, & is fixed by fitting the same firmly into the hollow turned out in
the tap for the purpose, which is shaped at each end as shown in those parts of
the drawing marked B, in the sectional drawing, (Fig. 2) so that when the rubber
or other material is sprung into it, it is kept firmly in position by fitting under the
shoulders at each end as shown at those parts marked B & hereinbefore mentioned
in relation to the groove or hollow in the tap. It may also be cemented the whole
of its length in the hollow, or if preferred secured by means of small pins or
screws, or metal ferrules fitting over each end.
The cone or washer may be made in different lengths & varying thicknesses
according to the size & shape of the taps.
The drawing (Fig. 2) on Sheet 1 represents the thickness at about one twelvth
of an inch & shows it let in flush with the tap, but it may in some cases be
advisable, at the end next the nozzle, to have the conical piece fixed slightly above
the level.
Fig. 2 (Sheet 1) is a section of that part of the tap to which the cone is affixed
showing also a section of the packing as attached, with bevelled ends for fitting
under the shoulders at points marked B.
The taps may be made in either wood or metal & of various sizes & descriptions.
Dated this Sixth day of November 1894.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Taps for Casks, Barrels, and
other such like Receptacles, for Containing Beer, Wine, Spirits,
Oil, and other Liquids.
I, WILLIAM SHARP, Inventor, of 68 Melody Road, East Hill, Wandsworth in
the County of London, 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 :-
The objects of this invention and the difficulties which it is intended to overcome,
are in relation to the proper tapping & securing of various liquids, contained in
casks, stone-jars & other such like receptacles by affixing to such taps a cone-
shaped packing of suitable material & firmly securing the same, by one or other of
the methods described in this Specification, for the purpose of performing the
operation of tapping, in a clean expeditious & simple manner & without waste.
I am well aware that other devices for the same purpose have been introduced,
consisting of detached packings, composed of various materials to take the place of
the old system of using brown-paper, but the invention herein set forth & described,
is as follows:-Upon referring to the drawings, filed with my Provisional
Specification, it will be seen that Fig. 1. represents an ordinary wooden tap as used
for beer &c. & shows the conical packing (A) sunk in the tap flush with the
surface. In the case of wooden taps, the groove or hollow is formed in the tail, by
tbe turning out of a sufficient length & depth to take the cone, & in metal taps,
the groove or hollow is formed at the time of casting.
In affixing the conical packing to metal taps, not so manufactured as to receive
the cones.
The grooves or hollows are formed by soldering on to the tails of the
taps, two metal rings or ferrules, of the same thickness as the cones, so that the
tails of the taps may be flush their entire length, when the packing has been
attached.
Fig. 2 (of the drawings before referred to) is a sectional drawing of the tail of a
tap, showing one way of securing the cone, by fitting the same into the groove or
hollow turned out for the purpose & which is shaped at each end, as shown at those
parts marked B, so that when the rubber or other material is sprung into it, it is
kept firmly in position by fitting under the shoulders at each end, as shown at the
parts marked B & hereiubefore referred to. As a modification, the packing may
be fixed to the taps, by dispensing with the shoulders, shaped as at points marked B,
& substituting for the same, square shoulders, so that the cone is merely placed in
the groove or hollow, instead of being sprung into position as described above.
In attaching in the manner last described, the cone may be cemented the whole
of its length in the hollow or groove, or (if preferred) secured by means of small
pins or screws or (in the case of wooden taps) by thin metal ferrules fitting over
each end.
The conical packing may be manufactured of various non-absorbent materials,
suitable for the purpose (india-rubber or other elastic substance preferred) & for
ordinary sized taps, it would be about one eighth of an inch in thickness & two
inches & a quarter in length, but may be made in different lengths & varying
thicknesses according to the shane & sizes of the taps to be fitted.
As described in this Specification the taps may be made in wood or metal & of
various sizes & descriptions.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
Improvements in the construction of metal & wood taps for casks & the like.

page_text: Firstly. By forming (what I term) a groove or hollow in the tails of such taps,
Secondly. By fixing in the said hollow or groove (flush with the tap) a
conical packing, composed of india-rubber, or other non-absorbent material and
Thirdly. By firmly securing the said conical packing, in the aforesaid groove or
hollow, by one or other of the methods described in this Specification.
Dated this Third day of August 1895.
WILLIAM SHARP.