A Novel or Improved Tap for Drawing Off Quantities of Liquid Exactly to Measure, and Recording the Quantity Drawn Off.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1895-Accepted, 27th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Novel or Improved Tap for Drawing Off Quantities of Liquid
Exactly to Measure, and Recording the Quantity Drawn Off.
I, GERARD BARKER, of Lynn Street, West Hartlepool, in the County
of Durham, Grocer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to taps and is more especially applicable to taps for drawing
off whiskey and the like spirits in the small and exact quantities in which these
articles are usually sold for retail consumption, the object being that the taps be
so constructed that the quantity discharged therefrom on opening the tap may be
exactly to measure and that each such measure be duly and automatically recorded
on an indicator or series of dials in such a manner that the money due on the
quantity of spirit drawn off can be accurately and readily ascertained for the
purpose of preventing fraud.
In constructing a tap according to my invention a cylindrical plug capable of
moving about its centre is fitted into a fixed cylindrical casing the contact between
which is sufficiently accurate to combine a spirit tight fit with easy movement. The
communication between the spirit keg discharge pipe and the delivery spout of the
tap is controlled by the plug in the manner required for the purposes of my
invention, that is to say that whatever quantity of spirit is to be passed through
the tap is first received into suitable measuring vessels controlled by the plug the
movement of which to effect the discharge of the said spirit is conveyed by a
suitable train of wheels or other equivalent mechanism to an indicator on the dials
of which each discharge is recorded automatically. Each movement of the plug in
the direction of discharging liquor is communicated to the registering mechanism by
means of tappets extending from the tail end of the said plug which tappets actuate
the pegs of a contrate wheel in oue direction and slip past them in the reverse
direction without imparting motion thereto, provision being made to prevent a
backward movement of the said contrate wheel which would disturb the record on
the dials, but it must be understood that the indicating mechanism may be varied
both in principle and detail in any manner required to suit the particular tap to
which it is attached.
But in order that the liquor may be discharged from the tap in the exact
quantities in which it is to be sold for retail consumption, that is in a half or full
measure as the case may be I provide a vessel divided into two separate chambers
or preferably two cylindrical vessels, so that the contents of both have to be
discharged for a full measure and of only one vessel for the half measure.
A suitable position being assigned to the opening from the supply pipe into the
plug through the outer fixed casing corresponding to an opening or duct in the plug
leading through branch ducts into each of the measuring vessels, it will be found
that when the plug is turned about its centre and the duct is brought opposite to the
supply pipe that the spirit will flow into and fill up both measuring vessels
simultaneously. Each measuring vessel has its own separate passage or duct
converging into one and the same delivery spout, which ducts are partly formed
n the casing and partly in the plug so that when the plug is in one position both
the eduction canals are closed and when the plug is turned say a quarter round one
eduction canal is opened and the liquor discharged from one measuring vessel only,
nd if the plug is turned no further only a half measure of liquor is passed through
DQ077
.

page_text: The
the tap, but when the plug is turned further round, the eduction canals are opened
from both vessels and a full measure of liquor is discharged through the tap.
plug is then turned back to the closed position and the vessels again refilled.
But in order to obtain satisfactory results from my improved tap as hereinbefore
described it is found in practice that it is essential to check the inrush of the liquor
into the measuring vessels to prevent what corresponds to priming in a steam
generator and also to make suitable provision in the said vessels for the admission
and expulsion of air. The former difficulty I overcome by providing baffling hoods
by which the inrush of liquor is arrested and siphoned in the direction of its
discharge into the vessels. The admission and expulsion of air I provide for in the
form of an air valve such as an inverted cup suspended bell fashion from a spindle
or crown bolt passing through suitable means of support at the upper part of each
measuring vessel, the said valve being intended to have a loose fit and limited
vertical play, and be made light and buoyant so that it moves up and down as the
liquor or air exerts the greater pressure and forming an annular space between
itself and the vessel, allows theingress and egress of air in the manner required.
1004
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent,
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent,.
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.
A Novel or Improved Tap for Drawing Off Quantities of Liquid
Exactly to Measure, and Recording the Quantity Drawn Off.
I, GERARD BARKER, of Lyun Street, West Hartlepool, in the County of
Durham, Grocer, 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 relates to taps and is more especially applicable to taps for drawing
off whiskey and the like spirits in the small and exact quantities in which these
articles are usually sold for retail consumption, the object being that the taps be so
constructed that the quantity discharged therefrom on opening the tap may be
exactly to measure, and that each such measure be duly and automatically recorded
on an indicator or series of dials in such a manner that the money due on the quantity
of spirit drawn off can be accurately and readily ascertained for the purpose of
preventing fraud.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the sheet of
drawings hereto annexed and from which description and illustration it will be
readily understood how the essential features of my invention can be generally
applied to taps of the kind intended to automatically measure and record the
quantity of spirit or the like liquor passed through them.
In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of the tap, and Figure 2 a corresponding
left end view of the same with suitable registering mechanism attached thereto in
each figure in the manner required for recording the quantity of liquor passed
through the tap. Figures 3, 4 and 5 are sectional plan views of the tap itself taken
on line of Figures 1 and 2, but with the plug shown in the three cardinal
positions respectively riz.:-the closed position, the half measure position, and
the full measure position. Figure is a central vertical section corresponding
to Figure 1, but with the register removed therefrom and the plug a cut into
to show more clearly the ports and passages in the tap.
A cylindrical or tapered plug a capable of moving about its centre is fitted into a
fixed cylindrical casing b, the contact between which is sufficiently accurate to be

page_text: spirit tight. The communication between the spirit keg discharge pipe c and
the delivery spout d is controlled by the plug a in the manner required for
the purposes of my invention, that is to say that whatever quantity of spirit is.
to be passed through the tap is first received into suitable measuring vessels e¹ e
controlled by the plug a, the movement of which to effect the discharge of the:
said spirit is conveyed by a suitable train of wheels or other equivalent
mechanism to an indicator on the dials of which each discharge is recorded:
automatically in the manner shown by way of example in Figures 1 and 2, in
which three dials are shown as representing units, tens and hundreds respectively
when taken from left to right. Each movement of the plug a in the direction
of discharging liquor is communicated to the registering mechanism by means
of the tappets a¹ a² extending radially from the tail end of the said plug which.
tappets are brought into contact with the pegs of the contrate wheel g, the.
tappets being hinged towards their outer ends so as to act in the direction of:
the arrow only and to slip past the pegs of the contrate wheel in the opposite.
direction without imparting motion thereto, provision being made to prevent a
backward movement of the said contrate wheel which would disturb the record
on the dials. The object in view is as follows:-The tappet a' lifts the contrate:
wheel so far round for a quarter turn of the plug a, which corresponds in.
the particular construction of tap shown in the drawings to the half measure of.
liquor and if the plug is given a second quarter turn, that is a half turn in all,
the contrate wheel g gets a second lift from the tappet a corresponding to the
discharge of a full measure of liquor, the said movements of the contrate wheel.
being duly transmitted to the train of wheels operating the pointers of the
dials. But the above described registering mechanism is only to be taken as
illustrating what is suitable in this respect for the purposes of my invention
and may be varied as to its construction both in principle and detail in any
manner required to suit the particular tap to which it is attached.
But in order that the liquor may be discharged from the tap in the exact
quantities in which it is to be sold for retail consumption, that is in a half or full
measure as the case may be, I provide a vessel divided into two separate
chambers or preferably two separate cylindrical vessels e¹ e as shown in Figure 1.
so that the contents of both vessels have to be discharged for a full measure
and of only one vessel for the half measure. A suitable position being assigned.
to the opening from the supply pipe e into the plug a through the outer fixed
casing corresponding to an opening or duct h in the plug a leading through
its branch ducts into each of the measuring vessels ele² respectively it will be.
readily seen that when the plug a is turned about its centre and the duct his
brought opposite to the pipe c that the spirit will flow into and fill up the measuring
vessels ele simultaneously. Each measuring vessel ele has its own separate
passage or duct converging into the same delivery spout d. These are partly
formed by the eduction canals d'd cut into the casing b and converging into the
delivery spout d.as distinctly shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, and partly by the part
circumferential slots ³h so cut into the plug a that when the plug is in the
position shown in Figure 3 both the eduction canals d' d' are closed and when the
plug is turned a quarter round to the position shown in Figure 4 the eduction
canal d is opened and the liquor discharged from measuring vessel e¹ only whilst
the eduction canal d still remains closed, and if the plug a is turned no further than
this only a half measure of liquor is passed through the tap. But when the plug a
is turned half round that is to the position shown in Figure 5, the eduction
canals d' are both opened and the contents of both vessels ele making a full
measure of liquor are discharged through the spout d. The plug a can then be
turned back to the closed position as shown in Figure 3 when the measuring
vessels ele are again refilled.
In connection with the foregoing description of the action of the plug a, it must
be understood that referring to Figure 1, eet are the outlet passages of the
measuring vessels e' e' respectively and correspond in position with the slots h h*

page_text: in the plug, whilst are the inlet passages corresponding in position with the
delivery ducts in the plug a which slots and ducts are omitted in the figure
to avoid a confusion of dotted lines.
But in order to obtain satisfactory results from my improved tap as herein before
described it is found in practice that it is essential to check the inrush of the
liquor into the measuring vessels e¹³ and also to make suitable provision for the
admission of air as the liquor is drawn off without the possibility of leakage by
reason of the provision so made for the admission of air. The former difficulty
I overcome in the construction of tap shown in the drawing by providing the baffling
hoods by which the inrush of liquor is arrested and siphoned in the direction
of its discharge into the vessels e¹e and this detail of construction is found to be
effectual in producing a quiet inflow of liquor which rises steadily and equally and
80 expels the air through the air valve provided in each of the vessels e¹ e² as the
said vessels fill up with liquor. Or the same result may be attained by suitably
throttling the inlet passages j, in which case the hoods j¹ may be dispensed
with.
The saine form of air valve described in the Specification of my Letters
Patent No. 9075 of 1893 and illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings thereto
annexed may be used in this case to provide the requisite ingress and egress of air
to and from the measuring vessels ele as the liquor is drawn from or flows into
the said measuring vessels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that I do not limit the invention to the precise arrangement of parts for effecting
its purpose as shown in the drawings hereto annexed as these may be readily
modified without departing from the essential or characteristic features thereof
and the arrangement shown in the drawings is to be taken as a convenient and
reliable form of construction for carrying my invention into effect and I declare
that what I claim is:
A tap for drawing off liquor exactly to measure and consisting essentially of two
measuring vessels in which the liquor is supplied and from one or both of which
the liquor is again drawn off by turning a plug within a plug casing both of which
are furnished with suitable and corresponding ducts or channels for controlling
and passing the liquor through the said tap to be used in combination or not with
suitable mechanism for automatically registering the liquor so passed through, all
constructed, arraged and operating as a whole, substantially as and for the
purpose as hercnbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of March 1905
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent.
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.