Year: 1887

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 :-
The invention relates to an improved construction of bung-bushes and valves to be
secured within the faucet-hole or bung-hole of a cask, barrel, tub, tank, or reservoir
of any kind; and the object of the invention is to provide a perfect and tight closure
of the cask or reservoir, which closure not only offers the advantage of being proof
against all shocks and shaking during transport, but also of greatly facilitating the
drawing off of the fluid without any loss or escape of the same; a further considerable
advantage of this improved bung-bush and valve is this, that in introducing and
withdrawing the tapping-cock, or in opening and closing the bung-valve, the contents
of the cask or reservoir are not the least agitated or shaken, which is the case with all
the tapping cocks and bungs which are forced or hammered into the hole.
The improved bung-bush and valve is so constructed, that it is applicable for
every purpose and use which may occur in the trade of brewers, distillers, wine-
merchants, oil-merchants, and in fact in any trade, manufactory etcetera, in which
casks, barrels, tubs, tanks, and other reservoirs are used to store or to convey and
transinit fluids of any kind. While all or most of the bung-bushes and valves hitherto
employed serve only one distinct purpose, the improved construction of this invention
allows of a general application, answering nearly every purpose, and it may, therefore,
be termed with good reason a universal bung-bush and valve.

page_text: Referring to the drawings, the improved bung-bush and valve is shown in its
details in figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 and 1ª, 2ª, 3", and 4"; in figure 5 the bung-bush and
valve is shown fitted up and ready for use, with a tapping cock and pressure tapping
pipe introduced for tapping with pressure. Figure 6 shows the same arrangement of
the bung-bush and valve with a similar construction of a self-closing double-valve
tapping cock introduced; figure 7 shows the application of the bung-bush and valve
in combination with a bung-valve, and figure 8 shows a modification in the con-
struction of the bung-bush and valve.
The improved bung-bush and valve is composed of the following parts: A is a
inetal bush of which figure 1 is a central vertical section and figure 1 a plan, the said
bush is threaded on its outer circumference for the purpose of being screwed into the
wood of the side-board or bottom of the cask, to bush the bung or faucet-hole of the
cask or reservoir. The lower opening of the bush A is contracted by a circular
flange projecting inside and having in its upper surface a packing ring a arranged in
a circular groove. Upon the said flange and packing ring a rests an interior annular
bush B, of which figure 2 is a central vertical section and figure 2ª a plan. Another
ring B¹ is screwed into the ring B and both rings B and B are secured in their
position within the bush A by a third ring B2 screwed into a female screw at the
upper end of the bush A. The two rings B and B serve to secure the valve-cup D,
of which figure 4 is a central vertical section and figure 4ª a plan. A packing-ring
serves to tighten the flange of the cup D against the ring or bush B. The bottom of
the valve-cup D has an eccentric aperture o' and the upper edge is cut away at d.
Within the cup D a similar cup C, as shown in figures 3 and 3, is fitted to turn,
having an eccentric aperture o corresponding to the aperture o' in the cup D, and a
notch c in its upper edge. Within the bottom of the cup C an elastic packing d¹ is
arranged in a circular groove.
b
It will be easily seen, that when the cup C keeps its position within the cup D so
as to place the two apertures o and of one over another, as shown in figures 5, 6
and 7, the valve is open and the contents of the cask or reservoir may readily flow out
through the area of the said apertures; but when the valve-cup C is turned to place
its aperture o at the opposite side, as shown in figure 8, the valve is shut and no fluid
allowed to flow out.
Instead of one eccentric aperture, each cup C and D may contain in its bottom
several eccentric apertures, which, when placed one over another, allow the fluid to
pass, and when placed one beside another, effect a tight closure of the cask.
When a pressure tapping-pipe H, as shown in figure 5, is used, a single aperture o
and o in the valve cups C and D will be preferable.
The valve-cup C is turned within the cup D by the tapping cock E having a pin e
screwed or secured into its lower part, projecting therefrom and fitting into the
notch c of the cup C. The outer end of the said pin e slides within the recess d of the
cup D and is limited in its path by said recess.
The screw-cap G, resting on a flange g of the tapping-cock E and preferably
provided with wings, is screwed upon the projecting upper part of the bush A to keep
the cock in position. Any other tapping-cock fitting into the busb and valve-cup C
and provided with a projecting pin e to turn the cup C, may serve instead of the
tapping-pressure-cock E to draw off the liquid.
It will be obvious that in opening or closing the valve C D by a tapping-cock with
a pin, as described, no agitation whatever will be caused of the contents of the cask o
reservoir, the cask and pin are introduced into the bush and valve without any force
like a key, and the valve cup is smoothly turned.
When the cask or reservoir is to be moved, the bush A may be closed by a screw
cap Gas shown in figure 8, capable of being screwed on or off by a key fitting inte
a corresponding recess D. By this means the interior of the bush and valve i
protected against any injury and against the entrance of dust and other impur
matters.
The valve-cups C and D may be made of any suitable metal, or of glass, porcelain
or other suitable material.

page_text: In figure 6 the bush and valve is the same as described before, but the tapping-
cock, serving to open and close the valve CD, is arranged and constructed according
to the same principle, forming itself a self-closing valve, which, together with the
valve CD of the bush A, offers a double valve and double security against any escape
of fluid.
The body of the cock I, provided with an eccentric aperture o³ in its bottom, is
surrounded by a cup J similar to the cup D and provided with grooves i i within
which slide the pins, projecting from the body I. The cup J is surrounded by
an outer shell K, which is connected to the body I by a pine which also serves to
work the cup C, as in the arrangement described with reference to figure 3. The
body I of the cock is capable of turning within the cup J until the pins bear
against the ends of the grooves ii; then the whole apparatus, namely, body I, cup J
and shell K turn together, and the projecting pin fitting into the notch c of the
cup C and sliding within the recess of the cup D, as described, works the valve cup C
in one or the other direction.
e
In the position shown in figure 6, the eccentric apertures o³ and o², o and o¹, of the
cock and valve are all one over another allowing a free passage of the fluid into the
cock. On turning the body I of the cock, the pin e first closes the valve CD by
turning the cup C; then the body I turns within the cup J and the apertures o2 03
slide apart from each other and are shut up in the same manner as the valves C D.
On withdrawing the cock from the bush, no fluid contained within the cock is allowed
to flow back into the cask or to escape. Within the body of the cock, a sieve or
grating L may be arranged to prevent any impurities from passing the cock. When
the valve is to be opened again, the body I of the cock is turned in the opposite
direction, whereby the passage 02 03 is opened first and then the passage o o¹,
by subsequent turning of the respective parts I and within their valve-cups J
and D.
In Figure 7 the arrangement of the improved bung bush and valve is shewn in
combination with a vent-valve M, having a projecting pine and an eccentric aperture o²
in the bottom of its cylindrical body.
When the bung valve is to be opened, the body M is turned so as to place the three
apertures o², o, o¹, all over another as shown; the ball-valve m is then lifted from its
seat by a screw n, and the air may freely enter into the hollow body of the valve M,
and thence into the cask. On turning the body M to the opposite direction, the pin é
closes the valve C, D, the screw n is then turned to release the ball m.
In opening
and closing the bung, not the slightest agitation is occasioned, as with the usual wood
bungs driven into the bung-hole and removed by force. The valve body M may
remain within the bush A as long as the cask is not rolled. Any other construction
of valve permitting the entrance of air, may serve to replace the body M, provided it
be fitted with a pin e to work the valve-cup C. A simple key with a corresponding
pin will suffice to open and close the bung-valve C, D, to admit or shut off
the air.
The modification of the bung-bush shown in Figure 8 serves to simplify its con-
struction. The bush A has no inside flange at its lower end, but an inside female
screw into which the ring B is screwed to hold the valve cup D. The screw-cap G¹
keeps the valve C, D, in place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The construction of a bung-bush and valve, consisting of two or more valve-
cups, each provided with one or more eccentric apertures in the bottom and arranged
to be turned against each other so as to open or close the passage of the bush within
which said cups are secured, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. The combination with a bung-bush and valve consisting of two or more cups
each provided with one or more eccentric apertures in the bottom, and arranged to be
turned against each other within a bush, of a tapping-cock or vent-valve, provided

page_text: with a pin or stud to open or close the bush-valve, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3rd. The combination with a bung-bush and valve, consisting of two or more valve-
cups each provided with one or more eccentric apertures in the bottom, and arranged
to be turned against each other within a bush, of a tapping cock I having in its
bottom an eccentric aperture, a cup J with a corresponding eccentric aperture, and
an outer shell K connected to the body I, to form a valve of its own, and a double
valve in connection with the bush-valve, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.