IMPROVE- MENTS IN BEER TAPS
Year: 1884

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I EDMUND SQUIRE NORCOMBE of 107 Bath Row Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BEER TAPS to be as follows: and refers to that class of Taps that are
intended to cut a circular way through the cork in the Cask or Barrel for the
purpose of "Tapping" the same. Hitherto the core of the cork remains in the
tube, and has to be removed, previous to again using the Tap and the omission of
so doing often results in the cork being forced into the cask, and waste is the result.
Again owing to the longitudinal slit for inserting of a knife for removing the
core-extending to the mouth of the tube-the strain frequently alters the circular
form of the mouth, and it ceases to cut the required hole in the cork. Instead of a
knife edge, I employ a serrated, or saw edge-so that the core travels more easily
through the short entire portion of the tube-when it reaches a part where one
half of the tube has been cut away, it meets with an incline, so that when the tube
has passed through the cork, the core is at a considerable angle, and on the
withdrawel of the Tap,-the major portion of the core is broken off, and the
liability of a choked tube is entirely prevented. In the accompanying drawing
Fig 1 is a vertical section. A. the tube portion of the tap shewing the serrated
edge, or mouth made by preference of Phosphor Bronze, from its greater hardness.
B that portion from which one half of the tube has been removed. C the incline,
and the dotted line D shews where the core generally breaks off, on the withdrawel
of the tap from the empty cask. Fig 2 is a section shewing the end, or mouth of
the serrated tube.
Dated 1. a
1004

page_text: I EDMUND SQUIRE NORCOMBE of 107 Bath Row Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN BEER TAPS and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
and refers to that class of Taps that are intended to cut a circular way through the
cork in the Cask or Barrel for the purpose of Tapping the same. Hitherto the
core of the cork remains in the tube and has to be removed previous to again
using the Tap, and the omission of so doing often results in the cork being forced
into the Cask and waste is the result. Again owing to the longitudinal slit for the
insertion of a knife for removing the core-extending to the mouth of the tube, the
strain frequently alters the circular form of the mouth, and it ceases to cut the
required hole in the cork. Where there is not a longitudinal slit in the tube,
the core has to be withdrawn by the aid of a corkscrew. Instead of a knife edge
I employ a serrated or saw edge so that the core travels more easily through the
short entire portion of the tube,when it reaches a part where one half of the tube
is cut away and it meets an incline so that when the tube has passed through the
cork, the core is at a considerable angle to the tube, and on the withdrawal of the
Tap the major portion of the core is broken off, or the core is expelled from
the tube in the act of "tapping" a fresh cask, and the liability of a choked tube is
prevented.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig 1 is a vertical section. A. being the tube
portion of the Tap shewing the serrated mouth or edge, made by preference of
Phosphor Bronze on account of the greater hardness and durability. B that
portion from which one half of the tube has been removed for the core to drop out
of. C the incline D the core of the cork. D2 the dotted line shewing where the
core generally breaks off on the withdrawel of the Tap from the empty cask.
Fig 2 is an end view of the serrated mouth of the tube.
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:
First. Making the tube portion of the Tap with a serrated edge so as to cut its
way through the cork in the cask or barrel.
Second. having an open portion of the tube and an incline by which the core of
the cork is broken off on the withdrawel from the empty cask, or it is expelled in
the act of "tapping" a fresh cask.
Dated this 29th day of September 1884.
EDMP S. NORCOMBE.