IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS OR TAPS FOR MEASURING FIXED QUANTITIES OF LIQUIDS, AND FOR REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE SAME
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Lillie, of the City of Manchester, Engineer,.
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS OR TAPS FOR MEASURING
FIXED QUANTITIES OF LIQUIDS, AND FOR REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE
SAME."
Sealed the 7th October 1864, and dated the 12th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Lillie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
April 1864.
I, JOSEPH LILLIE, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS OR TAPS FOR
MEASURING FIXED QUANTITIES OF LIQUIDS, AND FOR REGISTERING OR INDICATING
THE SAME," to be as follows:-
My improved taps or cocks are intended chiefly for measuring and drawing
off spirituous liquor in certain fixed quantities, such, for instance, as are
customary in the retailing of spirits, and for counting and indicating the
number of measures thus drawn. I make the plugs of these taps hollow, in
the form (in preference) of a cylindrical chamber, and of a capacity corre-
sponding with a certain fixed measure. I prefer to make the inlet orifice of
the plug, which communicates with the supply pipe, and the outlet orifice
communicating with the spout, each in the shape of a narrow vertical slot.
The inlet and the outlet orifice of the plug, are not, as in ordinary taps, placed
opposite each other, but they are so disposed that whilst the inlet orifice
corresponds with the supply pipe the outlet orifice is closed; and, again, that

page_text: when the outlet orifice corresponds with the spout the inlet shall be closed.
By turning the plug in one direction, so that the inlet orifice is opposite to
the supply pipe, but the outlet orifice is closed, the chamber formed in the plug
is filled, and by turning the plug so as to bring the outlet orifice opposite the
spout while the inlet orifice is closed it is emptied. The vent hole, for the
escape and admission of air during the filling and emptying of the measure,
is formed in the roof of the plug or measure, and I make the roof, in
preference, in the shape of a flat cone, to facilitate the escape of the air, when
the measure is nearly full of liquid, to the highest part of the roof, in which
the vent hole is formed. A valve or stop actuated by a float closes or opens
the vent hole as the measure is filled or discharged. In the centre of the
measure I form a cylindrical stud, moulded, cast, or otherwise fixed to the
plug bottom, which serves as a guide to the spindle of the float valve. This
stud also serves for holding one, two, or more cylindrical plates or discs,
which are provided with a hole in the centre and slipped over the stud. The
object of these discs is to vary the capacity of the measure so that the same
plug can be used for several measures. I make these discs of china or other
ceramic substance. The handle of the plug may be attached as most desirable,
or it may be cast in one piece with the plug in the form of a fly wheel. The
handle or the plug is connected with a suitable counter or registering appara-
tus, in such a manner that every measure filled and discharged is marked
and registered by the same. I attach the registering apparatus either on the
top or at the bottom of the tap. I also construct my taps so as to have the
plug fixed, and the body of the tap turning round the same. In this case the
spout may at the same time serve as handle. I also construct apparatus
composed of several taps of different capacities fitted one above the other,
which I call the compound tap. The indicators may be fitted each over its
corresponding tap, and marked with the necessary divisions, letters, and figures
on the periphery of a wheel or disc, but I prefer to dispose the several
indicators one above the other. On the top of the whole apparatus I form the
plug of the lowest tap, with an arbor passing through the hollow bosses and
arbors of the taps above. Thus if there are four taps the arbor of the bottom
tap passes through the hollow bosses and arbors of the three taps above it,
the arbor of the next tap passes through the hollow arbors of the two taps
above it, and so with the next, the arbor of each plug being connected with
its corresponding indicator. The separate taps may be cast or made in
separate pieces, but I prefer to make them in one casting, and I supply the
several taps from one supply pipe by a channel, communicating with each, a
similar channel connecting the several taps forming the spout.. I intend to

page_text: make the tap of suitable metal, but I also intend, in preference, to line the tap.
or casing with and to form the plugs of a substance known as Leoni's, Adamas'; .
or other non-corrosive ceramic substance. The plugs, which are conical, are.
held in the taps by means of a stud formed on the bottom of the plog, and
passing through a plate or disc across the bottom of the tap, and secured by
a pin or nut packed by an india-rubber washer, so as to preserve a uniform
pressure of the cone in its seating.. I also intend to form the entire tap of..
glass or china, or other vitreous or ceramic and non-corrosive substance...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Lillie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
LILLIE, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters-
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Lillie, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Lillie,.
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Lillie, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COCKS OR
TAPS FOR MEASURING FIXED QUANTITIES OF LIQUIDS, AND FOR REGISTERING
OR INDICATING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Joseph Lillie, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and. cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent..
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the. said Joseph Lillie, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-:

page_text: My improved taps or cocks are intended chiefly for drawing off and
measuring spirituous liquors in certain fixed quantities, for instance, such as
are customary in the retailing of spirits, and for counting, indicating, and
registering the number of measures thus drawn.
In carrying out my Invention I make the plug of the tap hollow, and
closed at the top and bottom, thus forming a cylindrical chamber of a
capacity corresponding with the desired measure. The body of the tap
surrounding the plug has on one side a narrow vertical slot, opening into a
short pipe cast to the tap, and which forms the connection with the supply
pipe, whilst a second similar slot, which may be opposite to the supply pipe,
opens into the spout. The plug has two similar slots forming the inlet and
the outlet of the chamber or measure, and they are so disposed that whilst the
inlet communicates with the supply pipe the outlet is closed, and the chamber
or measure is filled with the liquid. By turning the plug to the extent of
the width of a slot, the inlet will be closed, as well as the outlet, and by
further turning the plug till the outlet opens into the slot communicating
with the spout, the liquid will flow off. I prefer to make the relative position
of the inlet and the outlet such that by giving the plug a turn of one-tenth
of a revolution in one direction the inlet shall be open, and by giving a turn
of one-tenth of a revolution in the opposite direction the outlet shall by open.
The vent hole for the escape and admission of air during the filling and
emptying of the measure is formed in the roof of the plug or measure, and. I
make the roof conical, rising from the circumference towards the centre, to
facilitate the escape of the air, when the measure is nearly full of liquid, to
the top of the cone, in which the vent hole is formed. A valve or stop
actuated by a float closes or opens the vent hole, as the measure is filled or
discharged. In the centre of the measure I form a cylindrical stud, moulded,
cast, or otherwise fixed or attached to the plug bottom, which serves as
guide to the spindle of the float valve. This stud also serves for holding one,
two, or more cylinders or discs, which are provided with a hole in the centre
to fit the stud. The object of these. discs is to vary the capacity of the measure
in accordance with the cubical contents, so that the same plug can be used
for various measures. I make these discs of china or other ceramic substance.
The handle of the plug may be attached as most desirable, or it may be cast
in one piece with the plug in the form of a fly wheel. The handle or the
plug is connected with a suitable counter or registering apparatus, in such a
manner that every measure filled and discharged is marked and registered
by the same. I attach the registering apparatus either on the top or at
the bottom of the tap. I prefer to let the body of the tap project above the

page_text: plug, so as to form a cylindrical box, into which the counter or indicator is
fitted, and which can be closed by a lid, and locked if desired. I also con-
struct my.taps so that the plug can be fixed or screwed to a bracket or shelf,
and the body of the tap made to turn round the same, a flexible tube in this
case forming the connexion, with the supply pipe. The spout may at the same
time serve as handle. In order to facilitate the off-flow of the liquid from
the tap, I make the bottom of the measure slanting, in preference, at angle
of 45° towards the outlet slot. I also construct apparatus composed of
several taps of different capacities fitted one above the other, which, apparatus
I call the compound tap. The indicators or counters may be fitted each over
its corresponding tap, and marked with the necessary divisions, letters, and
figures on the periphery of a a wheel or disc, but I prefer to dispose the several
indicators one above the other on the top of the whole apparatus, and for
this. purpose I form the plug of the lowest tap with an arbour passing through
hollow arbours of the taps above. Thus if there are four taps the arbour of the
bottom tap passes through the hollow bosses and arbours of the three taps above
it, the arbour of the next tap passes through the hollow arbours of the two taps
above it, and so with the next, the arbour of each plug being connected with
its corresponding indicator. The body of the several taps is cast or made in
one piece. The several inlet slots are connected with a channel or passage,
communicating with the supply pipe, and a like passage connects the outlet
slots and forms the spout; but be it understood that in all cases each plug
or measure works independently of the others. In order to ensure a proper
action of the valve in the vent hole, and to prevent its sticking fast in its
seating, I cause the valve to be depressed every time when the plug is turned
for discharging the measure. This may be effected by means of a projection
or inclined plane attached to the top of the plug or to the handle, being
brought to bear on the top of the valve at the desired moment; or it may
be effected by means of a 'spring attached to the body of the tap, which being
raised and again liberated by an inclined plane will strike or press upon the
valve. The plugs, which are made slightly conical, are held in the taps by
means of a stud, formed at the bottom of the plug, which passes through a
plate placed across the bottom of the tap, against which it is secured by means
of a nut or pin packed by an india-rubber washer, or by a spiral or other
spring. I make the body of the tap and the plug either entirely of metal, or
of Leoni's, Adamas', or other ceramic or vitreous substance, or of metal lined
with such ceramic substance.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood, that

page_text: what I claim as the Invention to be secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly, the combination of measuring tap or cock, as described, with a
counter or registering apparatus.
Secondly, the use of loose cylinders or discs, for the purpose of varying the
capacity of the measure, as described.
Thirdly, the making the bottom in the inside of the measure or plug
slanting towards the outlet slot, in the manner and for the purpose as
described.
Fourthly, the making the roof of the measure or plug. conical, in the
manner and for the purpose as described.
Fifthly, the making the plug a fixture, whilst the body or casing of the tap
revolves in the manner as described.
Sixthly, and lastly, the construction and use of the compound tap, composed
of several plugs or measures of different capacities and working independently
of each other in one outer casing, in the manner and for the purpose as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Lillie, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of.October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
JOSEPH TITTIE
rol