Improvements in Taps for Casks and other Vessels.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec.. 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Taps for Casks and other Vessels.
I EDWARD HAZLEHURST of 22 St. Thomas Street North, Werneth, Oldham in
the County of Lancaster Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
My said invention relates to taps for withdrawing liquids from casks and other
ressels and refers more particularly to an improved form of tap and bush for which
I have obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent No. 9948 of 1890. The said
improved tap was designed to fulfil the double function of a key and tap so that by
inserting and turning the hollow key portion of the tap the liquid was allowed to
flow out the hollow portion being meanwhile locked in the seating or bush, while by
turning the said key portion back to its original position the flow of liquid was
stopped and the hollow key unlocked so that it could be withdrawn from the bush
or seating. I found in practice that in withdrawing the hollow key a portion of
liquid remained in the hollow key and was lost, and also that it was of advantage
to have some means for stopping and re-starting the flow of liquid without turning
the hollow key itself. Accordingly in the Specification annexed to my said prior
Patent I described and illustrated a spring pusher knob spindle and valve for
stopping the inner end of the hollow key except when the knob and spindle were
pushed in. I find however that the spring is apt to become weak, clogged and
inactive and besides to maintain the flow of liquid, continuous pressure must be
kept up on the knob. To counteract these disadvantages and in accordance with
my present invention I enlarge the spindle near the inner end of the hollow key to
about the internal diameter of the inlet and screw this enlarged portion of the
spindle and also the interior of the inlet end of the hollow key with preferably a
quick thread.
I then cut away portions of the screwed spindle so as to permit
liquid to pass and furnish the end of the spindle with a disc or valve which may or
may not be faced with leather or rubber to press upon the annular lip of the inlet.
The outer end of the spindle passes through a packed gland and is furnished
with wings or means for turning the spindle so as to draw the disc valve up against
the inlet end and so close the same or to move the valve away from the inlet and so
re-established the flow of liquid. The quick pitch of the screw thread causes the
valve to be fully opened and closed in a half or quarter turn of the spindle. The
screw permits very secure closing of the valve and when open it remains so until
closed. Thus I can either use my improved hollow key tap without the use of or
without reference to my present invention or after placing the hollow key tap in
position it can be used as an ordinary tap to draw off the liquid by merely turning
the spindle carrying the valve. Instead of the screwed spindle with valve at the
inlet end of the key I might apply the valve at other positions in the length of the
key or I might apply it at right angles to the length of the key and might
manipulate it otherwise than by a screw.
When used in connection with my improved hollow key tap the auxiliary
tap might take the form of a plug tap or a revolvable plug or cylinder
within the inner hollow plug of the bush or seating. I do not confine the appli-
cation of the primary form of my invention to my improved hollow key tap
hereinbefore referred to as the same might be applied to taps of a different
construction but based on the same principle.
Dated this 12th day of March 1901
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James' Square, Manchester, Agents,

page_text: COMT DIE DI MUITIATION.
Improvements in Taps for Casks and other Vessels.
I, EDWARD HAZLEHURST, of St. Thomas Street North, Werneth, Oldham, in
the County of Lancaster, Commercial Traveller, 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 :-
This invention relates to taps for drawing off liquids, which are constructed with
a hollow key fitting into a bush secured to the structure to which the tap is to be
applied, such as shown and described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted
to me No. 9948 of 1890. In the tap as hitherto usually constructed, when with-
drawing the hollow key, a portion of the liquid remained therein, and was spilt and
lost, and this invention is specially designed with the object of giving more, and a
better control over the liquid than I have hitherto obtained, as I find that the
spring, pusher, knob, spindle, and valve, described and shown in the Specification
of my former Patent is not reliable, as the spring is apt to become weak, clogged
and inactive, and a continuous pressure is required upon the knob to maintain the
flow of liquor.
It consists essentially in enlarging the spindle near the end of the hollow key,
and forming thereon a screw with portions of the thread cut away to allow a passage
for the liquor, and forming on the inner surface of the hollow key a similar screw
thread with which the screw on the spindle engages, practically combining with
the fixed bush and hollow key an auxiliary screw valve by which the inner end of
the hollow key can be closed to prevent the flow of liquor at any time when the
said hollow key is in position in the fixed bush.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
as an example I have shown a tap suitable for drawing off liquids from a barrel
or cask.
Fig. 1. front elevation.
Fig. 2. longitudinal section.
Fig. 3. front elevation of hollow key and auxiliary valve.
Fig. 4. transverse section on line X Y Fig. 2.
The hollow casing or barrel A of the tap which fits into the vessel or structure
to which the tap is applied, and the hollow plug B which fits into the casing or
barrel A, and with it forms the tap proper, are constructed particularly as shown
in the Specification of my former Patent 9948 of 1890, and may be formed either
with a screw thread, or with a flange or other means for securing it in position.
On the inner end of the hollow key C which fits into the plug B is formed
internally a screw thread c, and through the centre of the hollow key C passes the
spindle Ď with a screw thread thereon, and provided at one end with the valve E.
The screw thread d on the spindle D, corresponds with and engages with the internal
screw thread c of the hollow key C. The valve E on the end of the spindle D has
a seat on the end of the hollow key C and is brought to or from its seat by turning
the screwed spindle D. The other end of the spindle D passes out through a gland
or stuffing box F formed at the other end of the hollow key C and is provided with
a knob or handle d' by which it is turned. The thread d formed on the spindle D
is preferably a quick pitch to cause the valve E to be opened or closed by a half
or quarter turn of the spindle.
The tap forming the subject of the invention may be applied to any vessel or
structure containing gas or liquid which require to be drawn off at intervals. And
the hollow plug tap and hollow key may be applied to such purposes as the gauge
glass fittings and the check feed valves or blow-off cocks of steam boilers as shown
in Fig. 5.
In operation, the hollow case or barrel A with the plug B fitted in it is con-
nected to the vessel, the tap remaining closed until the hollow key C is inserted.

page_text: When the liquid is required to be withdrawn, the hollow key C is inserted, the
pin b on its end engaging with a slot in the hollow plug B, and the bent groove c¹
with the pin on the fixed outer casing A so that when the key is turned, the plug B
is turned with it to open the tap, and the key cannot be withdrawn without turning
it back again and closing the tap. The valve E at the end of the hollow key C is
then opened by turning the screwed spindle D. The flow of liquid can at any
time be stopped without withdrawing the hollow key C by closing the valve E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A tap formed with a fixed casing A and hollow plug B having a hollow key C
provided with an internal screw thread at its inner end, a screwed spindle D which
engages therewith, a valve E opened and closed by the turning of the second
spindle D, and a packing gland F substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. A tap having the several parts constructed and arranged substantially as
described and shown.
31
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P D
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1001
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.