IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS FOR FLUIDS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles James Waddell, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS FOR
FLUIDS."
Sealed the 14th October 1879, and dated the 19th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles James Waddell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1879.
CHARLES JAMES WADDELL, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS FOR FLUIDS."
My Invention relates principally to beer-taps, that is to say, to taps used in the
drawing-off of fermented liquors from casks; but taps constructed in accordance
with my Invention may also be used to draw off wines, spirits, and other liquids.
The taps to which my Inventiou relates are formed with plugs, which are partially
rotated by means of keys to open the thoroughfares, and the principal object of my
Invention is to prevent or to render more difficult any tampering with the said
taps. To this end I so form and arrange the tap as that it is impossible to remove
or loosen the plug whilst the tap is in the tap-hole in a cask; I fit the plug
within a barrel formed in the body of the tap, the axis of the plug being in the
direction of the length of the body of the tap; the smaller end of the conical plug
is outwards, the plug being passed into position through the end which passes into
the cask; the plug is kept in position by means of a part which screws into the
end which passes into the cask or which is otherwise fixed or fitted therein, a spring
or washer of cork, leather, or other suitable material being by preference interposed
between the plug or a shank formed thereon and the said part; when the tap is
not in use the plug can be removed when the said part has been unscrewed or
removed, but when the tap is fixed in the tap hole it is not possible to remove the
said plug; the outer end of the plug is formed to be acted upon by a key, which
is introduced through a suitable key hole formed in the front or outer end of the
tap; I prefer to form wards in the said end, as, for example, in one arrangement
1 so form the passage through which the key is introduced as that the said key
has to be passed in through a front key hole, and then partially rotated before it
can act upon the plug, and I prefer to form the body of the tap in one piece so
that access to the plug cannot be had by unscrewing any part of the said body.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles James Waddell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
October 1879.
CHARLES JAMES WADDELL, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS FOR FLUIDS."
My Invention relates principally to beer taps, that is to say, to taps used in the
drawing off of fermented liquors from casks; but taps constructed in accordance
with my Invention may also be used to draw off wines, spirits, and other liquids.
The taps to which my Invention relates are formed with plugs, which are rotated
by means of keys to open the thoroughfares, and the principle object of my Inven-
tion is to prevent or to render more difficult any tampering with the said taps.
To this end I so iform and arrange the tap as that it is impossible to remove or
loosen the plug whilst the tap is in the tap-hole in a cask; I fit the plug within
a barrel formed in the body of the tap, the axis of the plug being in the direction
of the length of the body of the tap; the smaller end of the conical plug is out-
wards, the plug being passed into position through the end which passes into the
cask or other vessel; the outer end of the plug is formed to be acted upon by a
key, which is introduced through a suitable key-hole formed in the front or outer
end of the tap;
prefer to form wards in the said end, as, for example, in one
arrangement I so form the passage through which the key is introduced as that the
said key has to be passed in through a front key hole and be partially rotated
before it can act upon the plug, and I prefer to form the body of the tap in one
piece so that access to the plug cannot be had by unscrewing any part of the said
body.
The
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I have attached here,
unto a Sheet of Drawings, made about the full size, of the example selected for
illustration and marked with letters of reference, corresponding marks indicating
the same parts in the various Figures. Referring to the said Drawings, Fig. 1
represents an outside view of one of my improved taps, Fig. 3 representing a
longitudinal section of the same. In Fig. 3 a is the shell or body of the tap, and b
is the plug. The said plug is represented separately by Fig. 6, Fig. 7 being a
front end view; and Fig. 8, a section on the line C. The said plug is conically
formed as is usual, and is provided with a shank in which are cored or formed slots
or openings c, which communicate with a passage d formed in the plug.
conical seating for the plug formed in the body a is arranged with its axis about
in line with the main part of the body a, the smaller end of the cone being to the
front of the tap, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. The core or passage in the conical
part of the body a is made sufficiently large for the plug to be passed through the
said core into position. The plug is retained in position by means of a part e,
which is screwed into the end of the passage in the body a. A washer of leather,
cork, or other suitable material is interposed between the end of the part e and the
end of the shank of the plug in order that the plug may be retained in position
with a slightly elastic pressure. It will be seen that the plug is entirely enclosed
within the body of the tap. When the tap is used access can only be had to the
end of the plug which projects into a small chamber f formed in the front end of
the body a.
The said front end of the plug is suitably formed to be acted upon by
means of a key. In the example the end of the plug is formed with a stump to
suit a barrel key, and with a recess into which the "bit" of the key may enter.
Fig. 2 is a front end view of the body a; Fig. 4 represents a section on the line A;
and Fig. 5, a section on the line B in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the front end of
the body a is formed with a key hole, having a slot for the passage of the "bit
of the key. When the key has been pushed in a short distance its further entry is
arrested in consequence of the inner part of the key hole being as it were turned
; 81 17

page_text: round to some extent, as indicated in Fig. 5.
It is now necessary to rotate the key
to the extent of about a quarter turn, when it may be pushed inwards to engage
with the plug of the tap. The keyway may be formed to require the key to be
turned less or more than is indicated. The key can only engage with the plug
when the outflow passage g is turned away from the bib of the tap, and as a con-
sequence it is impossible to withdraw the key without closing the tap. Wards may
be applied to the keyway to render it more difficult to open the tap without the
proper key. That part of my Invention which relates to the keyway is also
applicable to taps having their plugs otherwise arranged than as indicated in the
Drawings. Access cannot be had to the plug to loosen it in its seating whilst the
tap is in use, but when it is withdrawn from the cask the part e can be unscrewed
and the plug can then be withdrawn and the parts be cleansed, or the tightness of
the plug in its seating can be re-regulated. The form of the tap renders it less
liable to injury when being driven into the cask.
The barrel or seating into which the plug fits may be lined with cork or with
any other suitable material if considered to be advisable. I do not confine myself
to the precise form of tap nor to the form of the key or keyway, nor to the turning
of the key when entering.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it to be understood
in conclusion that I claim,-
First. The tap formed substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indi-
cated hereinbefore, and in and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The tap so formed as that the plug is passed into position through the
end which is within the cask or tap hole when the tap is in ordinary use, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
And, lastly. The construction of the keyway, substantially as set forth and
indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles James Waddell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord 1879
Signed, sealed, and delivered this
Sixteenth day of October 1879,
in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON.
CHARLES JAMES WADDELL. (L.S.)