An Improved Apparatus for Locking Spirit Taps and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Locking Spirit Taps and the like.
I, THOMAS ALFRED WALLACE, of 25 Oscar Street, St. John's, Deptford, in
the County of Kent, Brass Turner and Finisher and Beer-engine Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for locking spirit taps and the like and is more
especially applicable where two or more taps are placed in line with each other
horizontally as is generally the case in spirit bars, hotels, and like places.
"
Adjacent to the T-handles or "crutches" of the taps I arrange a strong bar
sliding vertically or nearly so in suitable guides and placed in such a position that
when down it clears the T-handles or "crutches and allows them to be turned at
will but locks them when raised. This bar is raised at or near the ends by two
oppositely-moving levers of suitable shape linked together at their lower ends by
toggle or sliding links or the like and provided with suitable stops. These links
may also be fitted with a padlock or other known contrivance whereby they may
be locked together at will to hold the sliding bar up and thereby prevent the
opening of the taps.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of January 1894.
THOMAS ALFRED WALLACE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Locking Spirit Taps and the like.
I, THOMAS ALFRED WALLACE of 25 Oscar Street, St. John's, Deptford, Kent,
Brass Turner and Finisher and Beer-engine Maker, 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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus for locking spirit taps and the like and is
particularly applicable where two or more taps are placed in line with each other
horizontally as is generally the case in spirit bars, hotels, and like places.
"
Adjacent to the T-handles or "crutches of the taps I arrange a strong bar
sliding vertically or nearly so in suitable guides and placed in such a position that
when down it clears the T-handles or crutches and allows them to be turned at will
but locks them when raised. This bar is raised at or near the ends by two levers
linked together at their lower extremities in any convenient manner and provided
with suitable stops. The links may also have a padlock or any other known
contrivance whereby they may be locked together at will to hold the sliding bar
up and thereby prevent the opening of the tap.
The accompanying drawing shows different views of one forni of my invention,
Fig. 1 being a front elevation with the taps unlocked, Fig. 2 a similar view with
the taps locked, and Figs. 3 and 4 sectional elevations on X X, Fig. 2, looking in
opposite directions. In these views the same letters indicate the same parts.
Behind the crutch handles A of the taps is placed a strong bar a arranged to
slide vertically in brackets formed with feet b¹ by which they are attached to a
plate or board carrying the apparatus. The raising and lowering, of this bar is
effected by two levers c pivotted to the brackets and joined by a link d. At
some convenient part of this link d is attached a handle e which slides in a guide f
Price 1

page_text: attached firmly to the board which carries the brackets b or to any other convenient
fixture. The handle has a catch which enters a notch in the guide f and locks the
bar up as shown in Fig. 2. The handle e and guide fare fitted with lugs e¹ and f
respectively through which a padlock can be passed when the apparatus is in the
position shown in Fig. 2. I have also provided the bar a in this case with a pin gl
which enters a fixed pocket g when the bar is raised to give additional locking
power to the said bar. This pin and pocket will not be required in cases where
the bar is strong enough in proportion to its section to possess sufficient rigidity.
The arrangement of levers may be modified in some cases; for instance, they
may move in opposite directions and be joined by toggle-links or the like.
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 :-
(1.) In apparatus for locking spirit taps or the like, the combination of a bar
moving vertically or nearly so with suitable actuating levers and links substantially
as described..
(2.) The construction and combination of parts forming the spirit-tap locking
device as shown in the accompanying drawing and substantially as described.
Dated this 11th day of September 1894.
THOMAS ALFRED WALLACE.