Improvements in Appliances for Tapping Casks and like Vessels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1896-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Tapping Casks and like Vessels.
We, JOSEPH HENRY MCCULLOUGH, of 7 Lombard Street, Belfast, Ireland,
Public Accountant, and ROBERT CRAWFORD, of 10 Alfred Street, Belfast,
Ireland, Laundryman, 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 :-
It has been proposed to tap a cask or like vessel, which has a hole filled by
a cork or plug, by screwing a suitable stop cock into a nut plate fixed on the cask
in such a position that the stem of the stop cock, as it advances, pushes the cork
or plug into the cask thus putting the bore of the stop cock in communication with
the interior of the cask. This invention relates to an appliance of this kind so
constructed that there is no objectionable projection from the end of the cask, and
that the stop-cock, when screwed home, by means of a single washer makes a perfectly
tight joint, this washer being of such elasticity that, while tightening the joint, it
allows the stop cock to be turned to suitable position for outflow of the liquid from
the cask.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section with part of
the stop cock in elevation, shewing an appliance according to this invention
on the end of a cask.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the plate and nut.
A is the end of the cask having a hole stopped by a cork or plug B. On the end
of the cask is screwed or otherwise fixed a plate C with a packing washer under it
to make a tight joint. The plate C has an internally screwed hole which is
larger than the hole of the cask so that the cork or plug can be freely driven
through it. A round nut D is screwed into the hole of the plate C by a suitable
forked wrench engaging holes in the face of the nut, which is of such thickness
that when it is screwed home against the end of the cask, its outer face is a little
under the face of the plate C while its inner face partly overlaps the cork or plug
preventing it from becoming displaced by internal pressure or otherwise. The
stop cock E has its stem screw threaded to fit the hole in the nut D and is
perforated with several holes near its end, the stop cock also has a collar F of
diameter larger than the external diameter of the nut D, and the face of this
collar is a little recessed leaving a slightly projecting annular margin. On the
stem of the stop cock is placed an elastic packing washer consisting of two annular
discs G G of leather with a distance piece or ring H between them all rivetted
together, and in the space between the two discs G G is a caoutchouc or other
elastic ring K. On screwing the stem of the stop-cock into the hole of the nut D,
the end of the stem pushes the cork or plug B inwards, the stem taking its place,
and on continuing to screw, the elastic packing washer becomes compressed between
the face of the plate C outside of the nut D and the annular margin of the
collar F, thus making a tight joint, the caoutchouc ring being more or less
compressed between the discs G G. Even after the cock is screwed so far in as to
make this joint tight, the elasticity of the washer allows it to be screwed somewhat
farther so as to turn the cock farther round if necessary to bring its mouth into
suitable position for outflow.
We would have it understood that we make no general claim to the tapping
of a cask or barrel by screwing a stop cock into a plate or nut fixed on the

page_text: cask and thereby pushing in the cork or plug which stops the hole in the
cask, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination of an internally screwed plate fixed on the cask, a nut screwed
thereinto of less thickness than the plate, a stop cock having a screwed stem and a
recessed collar and a compound elastic washer, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. A compound elastic washer such as is above referred to, consisting of two leather
discs with intermediate ring rivetted together and an elastic ring between the discs,
substantially as described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.