IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONNECTIONS OF APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF LIQUORS OR LIQUIDS FROM CASKS.”
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bardsley and Riley Hargreaves, both of Oldham,
in the County of Lancaster, Brassfounders, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONNECTIONS OF APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF LIQUORS OR
LIQUIDS FROM CASKS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bardsley and Riley
Hargreaves at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May
1876.
JAMES BARDSLEY and RILEY HARGREAVES, both of Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster, Brassfounders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONNECTIONS OF APPARATUS
FOR DRAWING OFF LIQUORS OR LIQUIDS FROM CASKS."
Our Invention relates principally to the apparatus for drawing off malt liquors
by means of beer pumps or engines.
Previously to our Invention, the pumps have been connected with the casks
containing the liquors by means of hanging pipes of comparatively great length.
According to our Invention, we employ a short pipe to connect each cask in a
range of casks containing liquor with a fixed pipe which communicates with the
pump.
In the arrangement which we consider to be most suitable, each cask is con-
nected by means of a short pipe, which we prefer to be made of vulcanized
caoutchouc with a casting which is screwed to the front of the stillage. The said
casting is formed or provided with a stop-cock and with an union for connection
with the tap fixed in the cask, and is also formed with side branches, to which
intermediate connecting pipes may be joined so that all the castings on the stillage
may be connected together. These branches may be formed with couplings or bo
arranged for soldered joints, as preferred, or the said connection may be effected by
means of pipes screwed into the said castings. An end casting in the range, or
one of the connecting pipes, is connected with a pipe leading to the pump. The
last-named pipe may be fixed against a wall or otherwise fixed, as it has not to be
moved when the casks are changed.
When using the improved arrangement the short elastic pipes are disconnected

page_text: and connected when full casks are substituted for cnpty ones, the metal pipes not
being disturbed.
By opening any particular cock in one of the aforesaid castings the liquor may
be drawn from a selected cask, or by opening more than one cock the liquor may
be drawn from more than one cask.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Bardsley and Riley Hargreaves in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd November 1876.
JAMES BARDSLEY and RILEY HARGREAVES, both of Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster, Brassfounders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONNECTIONS OF APPARATUS
FOR DRAWING OFF LIQUORS OR LIQUIDS FROM CASKS."
Our Invention relates principally to the apparatus for drawing off malt liquors
by means of beer pumps or engines.
Previously to our said Invention the pumps have been connected with the casks
containing the liquors by means of hanging pipes of comparatively great length.
According to our Invention, we employ a short pipe to connect cach cask in a
range of casks containing liquor with a fixed pipe which communicates with the
pump.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we have appended
hereunto a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters of reference, to which Drawings
we will now refer.
Fig. 1 represents a frout elevation of a stillage with our Invention applied
thereto; and Fig. 2 is a plan of the pipes and connections which are attached to
the Baid stillage.
In Fig. 1A represents a stillage which may be of any ordinary or suitable
construction; and B, B, represent casks mounted on the said stillage. For con-
venience of representation the said casks are not drawn to scale, and appear small
in proportion to the other parts. On the front of the stillage junctions C, C, are
secured by means of screws or by other suitable means. Each junction is cast in
suitable metal, and two of them are formed with two branches a, a, the ond
junction to the left hand having only one branch. Each junction is also formed
with a tap or cock b, and is fitted or formed with a coupling or union joint c.
A thoroughfare communicating with the branches is formed in the junction, the
plug of the said tap serving to open or close the said thoroughfare as may be
required. The three junctions are connected together by means of pipes d, d, which
are soldered or secured to the said branches. The junction which is to the right
hand is connected by means of one of its branches with a pipe e, which is supposed
to be in communication with a pump or beer engine. Each of the taps f, which
are driven into the casks as is usual, is formed or fitted with an union g. Short
lengths of connecting pipes are arranged to couple together and connect the
taps with the junctions c. Each of the said connecting pipes is preferably made
wholly or partially of vulcanised caoutchouc, and is firmly attached by each end to
the short pipes or nozzles upon which the nut parts of the unions are mounted, as
will be well understood. In the example three such connecting pipes serve for
six casks, so that any pipe can be uncoupled from the tap of one cask and be
coupled with the tap of an adjacent cask. When a fresh cask is to be connected
with the beer engine it is only necessary to couple up the end of the pipe / with
the tap which has been driven into the cask, and to open tho said tap and also the
tap b. The arrangement represented in the Drawing permits a single pump to
be connected with one, two, or three casks at the same time, whereby liquor from
one, two, or three casks may be drawn off together, either in equal or unequal
proportions as regulated by the taps.
It will be seen that the necessity for having the ordinary hanging pipes is

page_text: obviated, as the pipo e may be attached to a wall, or to a pillar, or post, and be
thereby protected from injury as the said pipe has not to be disturbed when the
casks are changed.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise arrangement represented, as modifi-
cations may be made therein, as for example, the number of junctions C may be
greater or less than three, and, if preferred, there may bo a junction to each cask
or two connecting pipes h may be arranged to couple up to one junction. A
BCrow valve may be substituted for the tap b, and the pipes & and e may be screwed
into or on to the branches, or be coupled therewith by means of unions, or be
otherwise attached as preferred or as most suitable to the nature of the materials.
The connecting pipes may be made of other material than caoutchouc if con.
sidered to be desirable.
'
.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said Invention, and
the manner in which we carry the same into effect, we would have it to be under-
stood that we claim,-
First. The arrangements for connecting casks containing liquor or liquid with
the pumps employed to draw off such liquor or liquid, substantially as set forth
and indicated herein-before and in and by the accompanying Drawings
And, Secondly. The junctions C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
and indicated herein-before and in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness, I, the said James Bardsley, for myself, and on behalf of the said
Riley Hargreaves, have hercunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
Signed and sealed by the said
James Bardsley, in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentees,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
JAMES BARDSLEY. (Ls.)