Improvements in Bungs for Barrels and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bungs for Barrels and the like.
I, ARCHIBALD EDWARD MC KECHNIE, of Lafayette Baths, Lafayette Place,
New York, County of New York, and State of New York, United States of
America, Gentleman, 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 particularly to improvements in barrel bungs, anch as are
usually made of wood or analogous material and so constructed as to permit the
admission of a spigot or the like by forcing the same through the central part of
the bung, and its objects are,
First, to construct a bung of a single piece of wood or like material in such
manner that the separable part may be readily raptured or broken away from
the bung proper as the spigot or like removing agency is forced therethrough;
Second, to provide a simple and efficient means for preventing, the separable or
ruptured portion from being wholly detached from the bung proper when it is
driven into the inner sido of the barrel or cask.
The invention will be fully understood by referring to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the improved form of bung as it appears before
it has been compressed, and
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same as shown in position in a metallio
bushing secured in a barrel or cask.
The improvement in the bung proper, consists in so cutting the grooves 9-9,9'-
that they extend past each other, the inner groove gg extending upward and
the outer or face groove g-g extending downward in the manner shown in Figure 1.
This operation of grooving takes place, as will be understood by those skilled in
the art of manufacturing bunge, at the same time that the bung is turned. It
is Dow steamed aud placed in a cone-shaped die and caused to assume the usual
cone shape, the grooves g g' being closed up as shown in Figure 2 so that the bung
is practically solid. It will readily be understood that with such a bung, when the
spigot is placed on the outer face of the separable or cored portion A and forced
inward through the agency of a mallet or otherwise, it will easily rupture at points
between the grooves and will not therefore detach the entire bottom of the bang,
as often occurs with well known forms of bungs.
The improved means for preventing the separable part A from being wholly
detached from the bung proper when it is forced into the barrel will now be
described.
Referring to Figure 1: S represents a staple of fine wire having one leg of
sufficient leugth to extend almost eutirely through the body of the bung and also
through the integral or separable portion A, the head portion of the staple lying in
a vertical plane, and a short leg beiug provided which is forced inward through the
side of the bung at a point near the outer surface thereof. This staple is placed
in position in the bung before it has been steamed and compressed and may either
be driven directly into the wood proper, or holes may be first bored therein for its
insertion if deemed necessars.

page_text: After the staple has been inserted and the bung steamed, it is then put
into a conical shaped die as before aud compressed into the form shown in
Figure 2.
Referring Dow to Figure 2: B' represents in sectional view a part of a barrel
or a barrel head, and B' a well known form of metallic bung bushing screw-
threaded therein, B illustrating the improved bung in position in the barrel, and
S the staple or holding device, the free end of the long leg of the staple resting
now at a point near the bung bushing. When it is desired to draw off the contents
of the barrel, the spigot is placed on the outer face of the removable or separable
part A and forced inward with a hammer or mallet in the usual manner. In doing
this the separable part ruptures at points between the countergrooves g―9.
and gg at the same time the long leg of the staple is drawn out and as it
nears the edge of the groove g' it is turned up in the form of a hook, thus allowing
the part A to slide downward until the spigot forces it to one side but not allowing
it to be disconnected therefrom. It will be observed that the short leg of the
staple being held firmly, in. position by the bung bushing B' there is no
possibility of the disruptured part A becoming detached from the bung proper
when the spigot is forced home, nor is there any danger of disrupturing the entire
bottom of the bung. If desired, the upper surface of the central or detachable
core A may be removed to any depth in order to facilitate the admission of the
spigot.
Having now particularly described and ascortained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is :--
1. A bung provided with a separable part which is integral therewith and
means for holding the separable part after it has been sovered from the bung
proper.
2. A bung made of a single piece of wood and provided with a separable
part or detachable core which is integral therewith and of substantially the same
depth as the bung, in combination with meaus for holding the separable part
after it has been severed from the bung proper, said bung having been given
a conical shape under pressure so as to close the grooves and make it practically
solid.
3. A bung made of a single piece of material having a central core which
is integral therewith, said core being formed by grooves in the opposite faces
of the bung proper, in combination with means for holding the core or separable
part after it is detached from the bung, said bung having been compressed after
the grooves were formed so as to close them and make it, the bung, practically
solid.
4. A bung having a separable part which is integral therewith, in combination
with a holding device consisting of means secured to the separable part and at a
point near the bottom of the bung and extending outward and upward in a plane
with the axis thereof to a point near the outer face thereof.
5. A bung constructed of a single piece of material and provided with a
separable part which is integral therewith, in combination with a holding device
which extends laterally through the bung and the separable part, thence upward
in a plane of the axis of the bung aud to a point near the outer surface
thereof.
6. A bung constructed of a single piece of wood and provided with a central
detachable core or separable part which is integral therewith, in combination with
a holding device in the nature of a staple having a long leg extending through the
bung and the separable part, the short leg being embedded in the lateral face of
the bung and the head of the staple being substantially parallel with the axia
thereof.
'
7. A bung constructed of a single piece of wood having grooves in its opposite

page_text: faces which overlap each other, said bung being provided with a holding device
which extends therethrough, all the parts being compressed so as to close the
grooves and constitute a solid bung.
Dated this 17th day of November 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.