An Improved Method for Closing Bung-holes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method for Closing Bung-holes.
I, CARL ERNST MULLER, of 10 Wallstrasse, Bromberg, Prussia, Engineer,
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 :-
The subject of the present invention is an arrangement for closing bung-holes, in
which the tedious knocking-in of the bung is dispensed with, and any damage to
the barrel, through knocking out the bung (whereby barrels are frequently badly
injured), is altogether precluded.
The annexed drawing shows this closing arrangement.
Fig. 1. is a view from above.
Fig. 2. a section through the line
Fig. 3. is a view from below.
of Fig. 1. and
The box a is driven into the staves of the barrel, or screwed in, or fastened by
means of small nails n; it is of somewhat conical shape and at its lower edge has
three pins c, projecting inwards, and which serve to hold fast the closing stopper,
and prevent it from dropping out or turning. The stopper consists of a metal
disc d which is provided, below, with slanting projections, and a round metal disc e,
A screw g
between which two discs there is an elastic disc fcovered with leather.
passes through these three discs d, e, f; this screw g has at its lower end, put
through it, a pin h, and rests, at the other end, with its head i on the uppermost
disc e.
The closing of the barrel is effected by introducing the closing stopper d, e, f,
into the box a, and tightening up the screw g by means of a spanner (which in
Fig. 2. is indicated in dotted lines), whereby the projections of disc d are made to
catch underneath the pins c; on further tightening the screw g, the upper disc e,
being pressed upon by the screw-head i, will press the elastic disc against its
leather covering, which will thus be pressed against the inside of the box a, thus
hermetically sealing the stopper d, e, f. On turning back the screw-head i, the
stopper d, e, f, will rise from the box, through the reaction of the oblique projections
of disc d, sliding over the projecting pins c of the box.
In order to be able, in the event of the barrel being sent by rail or boat, to affix
lead-seals to the stopper, a wooden or cardboard disc k exactly fitting into the
box a, is covered over the stopper d, e, f, and fastened by a cord passed through
the holes of the box and thereupon sealed in the usual way.
Damage to the seal, by rolling of the barrel, is precluded by the fact that the
seal will lodge within the box a.
This innovation affords a possibility of easily closing and opening a barrel, which
should be a material advantage, especially in the case of breweries.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A bung closing arrangement for barrels, characterised by a metal box a inserted
in the barrel stave, and which at its lower edge is provided with projections c, and

page_text: further by an elastic disc f covered with leather or fitted with a leather washer,
and which by means of two non-elastic discs e, d, surrounding it, and connected
with each other by a screw, is pressed against the box, whereby the projections
fitted to the lowermost disc are made to catch against the projections of the box.
Dated this 13th day of April 1896.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.