IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE TAP OR BUNG HOLES OF CASKS, BARRELS AND LIKE RECEPTACLES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, HENRY FORMAN, of Chellaston, in the county.of Derby, Quarry Proprietor,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVED MEANS OR
APPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE TAP OR BUNG HOLES OF CASKS, BARRELS AND LIKE
RECEPTACLES," to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the production of cheap and simple apparatus
for automatically closely or stopping the bung or tap holes of casks, barrels, und
like receptacles and thereby preventing the fouling of such.
I provide a suitable metallic plate having an orifice or opening coincident with
the tap or bung hole of the barrel, cask, or similar receptacle and capable of being
screwed or otherwise attached to the same.
This plate also carries a lug or stop opposite the pivot of the valve or closer
hereafter described.
This pivot is placed at some little distance from the tap or bung hole and is fixed
to the said plate and has one end of a helical or clock spring attached thereto.
I arrange a valve or moveable plate with a recess on its under side having an
oval slot in the top of the same to fit on the pivot aforesaid and with a pin or stud
to engage with the aforesaid spring which fits in the said recess.
This valve or moveable plate also carries a guide pin or stud capable of moving
in a slot in the first named plate secured over the tap or bung hole.
This slot is formed nearly straight on one edge and curved or waved on its other
and has at its end a curved recess or extension at right angles to the slot for the
guide pin or stud in the moveable valve or plate to engage.
A rivet or nut keeps the valve or moveable plate on the pivot.
This valve or moveable plate carried a lug or boss to fit a key possessed by an
attendant or other person.
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The apparatus being fitted to a cask or barrel or like receptacle the valve
or moveable plate may be turned on the pivot by means of the key, the slot and
guide pin giving it a slightly eccentric motion in turning, causing it to uncover the
tap or bung hole and be locked to the fixed plate by the before named guide pin
dropping in the before named extension in the slot,

page_text: A cork or bung can now be inserted and on tapping or pushing the valve
or plate its guide pin will leave the extension of the slot and the spring will now
force its end against the cork or bung projecting from the barrel or cask nipping
the same.
.
.
If now a tap be pressed on the cork or bung and so pushed in, the moveable &
valve or plate will rest against the tap now in the hole.
When the tap is withdrawn the valve or moveable plate flies over the tap or
bung hole to its stop or lug and closes the same, preventing the cask, barrel, or like
receptacle from fouling by dirt or extraneous matter entering the hole.

page_text: This valve or moveable plate E carries a lug, boss, or recesses to fit a key
possessed by an attendant or other person. I prefer recesses formed by projections
or lugs P. P. P as shewn on the drawings but other forms can be used, the key of
course is made to fit these.
The apparatus being fitted to a cask or barrel or like receptacle the valve
or moveable plate E may be turned on the pivot C by means of the key, the
slots G, J, and guide pin I giving it a slightly eccentric motion in turning causing
it to uncover the tap or bung hole and be locked to the fixed plate A by the before-
named guide pin I dropping into the beforenamed extension M in the slot J by
riding over the projection N and abutting on it.
A cork or bung Qcan now be inserted and on tapping or pushing the valve or
plate E, its guide pin I will leave the extension of the slot M, clear the projec-
tion N, and the spring D will force its end or edge against the cork or bung Q
projecting from the barrel or cask nipping the same as clearly shown in Fig 3. If
a tap be now pressed on the bung or cork so as to force or push it into the cask,
barrel or like receptacle the moveable valve or plato Ẹ will rest against the tap
now in the hole. When the tap is withdrawn the valve or moveable plate E flies
over the tap or bung hole and is stopped by the guide pin I abutting on the upper
edge of the alot or opening B (or if desired an external stop on plate A can be
provided) and so closes the said hole preventing the cask barrel or like receptacle!
from fouling.
The key being retained at the brewery store or factory at which the cask or liko
receptacle is filled the valve or plate cannot be removed until it is returned to the
point or place of issue..
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
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A valve or closer for the tap or bung holes of casks barrels or like receptacles
consisting of a fixed plate having an orifice or opening to allow access to the bung
or tap hole and provided with a guide and locking slot for the travel of a guide pin
carried by a valve or moveable plate pivotted to the said fixed plate the said valvo
or moveable plate having a circular and slightly eccentric motion on its pivot, by
means of a key, and provided with an actuating spring to operate the same,
substantially as described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.