Improvements in Apparatus for Tapping or Withdrawing Liquids from Casks and other Vessels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 9th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Tapping or Withdrawing Liquids
from Casks and other Vessels.
I, JUDSON NOAH KNAPP, of Syracuse, County of Onondaga, and State of New
York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 to improvements in apparatus for tapping or withdrawing
liquids from casks and other vessels and has for its object the production of a
device which is particularly practical and simple in construction, is highly
effective in use, and permits the passage of fluids therethrough in opposite
directions; and to this end, it consists, in the combination, construction and
arrangement of the component parts of a tapping apparatus, as hereinafter fully
described and pointed out in the claims. In describing this invention, reference
is had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which
like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of this improved
tapping apparatus, shown as operatively secured to a portion of a barrel or other
receptacle, parts of said apparatus being broken away.
Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively, vertical sections taken on lines 2-2 and 3-3,
Figure 1.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are, respectively, isometric views of the tap or bushing, the
key or valve-piece, and the plug for operating said key or valve-piece.
Figure 7 is an isometric view of a detached portion of the tap or bushing.
Figure 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8-8, Figure 4.
Figure 9 is an isometric view of the nut arranged in the inner end of the tap
or bushing and movable lengthwise of the key or valve-piece.
Figure 10 is an elevation of a spring for engaging said nut.
Figure 11 is an isometric view of a wrench for operating the key or valve-
piece.
This improved tapping apparatus is secured to a suitable barrel or other re-
ceptacle and preferably consists of a tap or bushing A, a key or valve-piece B,
a plug C, and a pipe or conduit D. The tap or bushing A is usually inserted into
an aperture e formed in the end-wall el of the barrel or other receptacle provided
with this invention, but, it is obvious that if desired, said tap or bushing may be
secured to a side wall of said barrel or other receptacle. The inner end of the
aperture e and the adjacent portion of the periphery of the tap or bushing A
are usually threaded, and the outer ends of said aperture and tap or bushing are
formed with separated shoulders e, a, which engage an interposed packing
ring a. The threaded surfaces of the aperture e and tap or bushing A facilitate
the securement and removal of the tap or bushing, and the packing ring a
obviates the escape of any liquid between said threaded surfaces. It is obvious,
however, that the tap or bushing may be otherwise secured to the barrel or
receptacle provided with this improved tapping apparatus.

page_text: •
The tap or bushing A is preferably formed with a substantially circular engaging
face a and inlet and outlet-fluid-passages which usually consist of a substantially
central lengthwise chamber a³, inlet and outlet-openings a as a³, and an inlet-
conduit or groove aº. The chamber a³ is preferably formed with a closed inner
end and a tapering central portion decreased in diameter towards said closed inner
end. The inlet-opening a' is usually arranged above the outlet-openings a³ as best
seen in Figure 1, and said inlet and outlet-openings usually extend outwardly
from the chamber to the exterior face or periphery of the portion of the tap
or bushing which projects beyond the inner face of the wall e¹. The inlet-conduit
or groove a opens from the outer or upper end of the chamber a³ and extends
substantially lengthwise of said chamber between the inlet-opening a and the
circular engaging face a². The lower end of the chamber a³ of the tap or bush-
ing A is usually provided with lengthwise shoulders a and an annular shoulder as
The construction of these shoulders may be facilitated by forming the lower end
of the tap or bushing A of a separate piece of metal or other suitable material
having its upper end secured to the lower end of the remaining or upper portion
of said tap or bushing. It is apparent, however, that the tap or bushing may,
if desired, consist of a single piece of metal or other suitable material.
As clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2, the key or valve-piece B is arranged within
the chamber a of the tap or bushing A and is usually formed with a substantially
circular engaging face b and inlet and outlet-fluid-passages which usually consist
of a central lengthwise chamber 1, an inlet-conduit or groove 62, and outlet-
openings 63. Said key or valve-piece is rocked on a longitudinal axis by the
plug Cor a suitable wrench C', Figure 11, for moving the inlet-conduit or groove 63
and the outlet-openings 63 into and out of alinement with the inlet and outlet-
openings a¹ a5 a5, of the tap or bushing A. The central portion of the key or
valve-piece decreases in diameter towards the inner or lower end of said key or
valve-piece and usually closely fits the central portion of the tap or bushing A.
The upper end of the key or valve-piece is preferably enlarged and formed with an
upwardly inclining annular shoulder 64 arranged slightly above an annular
shoulder a at the upper end of the tapered or central portion of the chamber a³.
The lower end of the key or valve-piece B is usually threaded for engaging a
nut 65 which is movable lengthwise of said lower end, and is prevented from
revoluble movement by the shoulders a' of the tap or bushing A. A suitable
spiral spring 66 encircles the inner or lower end of the key or valve-piece B and
is engaged with the nut 65 and the annular shoulder as of the lower end of the
chamber a³. The threads upon the inner end of the key or valve-piece for engaging
the nut 65 are preferably so inclined that as said key or valve-piece operates to
move the conduit or groove 62 and the outlet-openings 6363 out of alinement with
the inlet and outlet-openings a, a5 a5, the nut b5 is drawn upwardly for additionally
tensioning the spring 66 and compelling the same to hold the key or valve-piece
downwardly with additional force. The nut 65 and the spring 66 form a particularly
practical and effective means for firmly holding the key or valve-piece B in
position, but it is obvious that any other suitable means may be used, if desired.
The plug C is secured within the upper end of the chamber a³ of the tap or
bushing A and is formed with inlet and outlet-conduits cc for communicating
with the inlet and outlet-fluid-passages of the tap or bushing A and the key or
valve-piece B. The outer end of the inlet-conduit c is usually arranged at an
angle with the conduit c¹ for forming a convenient and effective handle or lever
which facilitates the securement of said plug in operative position within the tap or
bushing. The inner end of the conduit c usually consists of a chamber c² surround-
ing the adjacent portion of the outlet-conduit c¹, and an opening which extends
from said chamber to the exterior of the plug C for' communicating with the
inlet-conduit or groove a. The inlet-conduit c is usually provided with an
enlarged portion, and a tubular valve c which is arranged within said enlarged
portion, is formed with a flexible wall, and communicates with the outer or upper
end of said conduit c. The flexible wall of the valve c is formed with a lengthwise

page_text: slit or slot c, and a spiral spring c is usually arranged within said valve for
preventing undue bending of its flexible wall. The pressure within the valve c
opens the slit or slot and the pressure within the enlarged portion of the
conduit closes said slit or slot. The valve is particularly simple and effective,
but it is obvious that any other suitable valve may be used if desired.
The plug C is provided with annular engaging faces and suitable shoulders
or lugs c c The faces 8 care arranged above the corresponding faces a² b of
the tap or bushing A and the key or valve-piece B, and suitable yielding washers
or packing rings are normally interposed between said faces 8c, a2b for prevent-
ing communication between the inlet and outlet-fluid-passages of said tap or
bushing and key or valve-piece. The shoulders or lugs el project from opposite por-
tions of the periphery of the plug C and are preferably formed with inclined
upper faces which engage the upper faces or shoulders of opposite partially circular
grooves ao in the inner face of the tap or bushing A. Opposite lengthwise
grooves a extend from corresponding extremities of the grooves a¹0 to the outer
end of the tap or bushing A and permit the entrance of the shoulders or lugs clo
to the grooves a 10. The shoulder or lug c preferably consists of a half round
projection which extends from the lower end-face of the plug C into the upper end
of the chamber b¹ of the key or valve-piece B and engages a perforated shoulder 67
provided in the upper end of said chamber. The shoulders or lugs c¹0 hold the
plug C in its operative position and the shoulder or lug c forms a particularly
simple means for engaging and partially rotating the key or valve-piece B.
The pipe or conduit D communicates with the outlet-openings as a³ of the tap or
bushing A, and extends downwardly to the bottom wall, not illustrated, of the
barrel or other receptacle provided with this invention. As preferably constructed,
the pipe or conduit D consists of sections dd' telescoping one within the other, the
bottom end of the lower section d¹ being formed with suitable openings. The top
end of the upper section d is usually enlarged for encircling the lower or inner
end of the tap or bushing A, and is suitably secured to said tap or bushing. The
section is generally formed with a transversely extending chamber which is
provided with an opening in one end and upper and lower openings dd com-
municating with the upper and lower portions of the pipe or conduit D. A valve-
piece is arranged in the chamber d³, and is formed with openings d, which are
alined with the openings ³ ³ for permitting the passage of the outgoing fluid
from either the lower portion of the pipe or conduit 1) or the chamber d², to the
upper portion of said pipe or conduit. The valve-piece do is actuated by a suitable
operating member having one end engaged with said valve-piece and its opposite
end passed through an aperture e in the adjacent side or wall e¹ of the barrel or
other receptacle provided with this invention. A suitable packing ring e and
collar e encircle the outer end of the operating member for preventing leakage of
the fluid from the barrel or other receptacle around the operating member 8. A
socket-wrench e7, shown by dotted lines, in Figure 1, may be used for turning the
operating member ds and actuating the valve-piece do.
C
This improved tapping apparatus is usually used in connection with barrels or
receptacles from which the liquor is forced by the pressure of an incoming fluid, as
air, and, consequently, said apparatus is so constructed as to permit both the
entrance of the air and the outflow of the liquor. In the operation of this
improved tapping apparatus, the incoming air or other fluid passes from the inlet-
conduit c into the upper end of the chamber a beneath the upper packing ring f,
and flows through the conduit or groove a into the space interposed between the
shoulders a whence it passes through the conduit or groove and the inlet-
opening at to the interior of the barrel or other receptacle. The outgoing fluid
or liquor passes from either the chamber d² or the lower end of the pipe or
conduit D, through the tubular valve-piece to the upper end of the pipe or
conduit D, and thence escapes through the openings a, b to the chamber 1
of the key or valve-piece B, whence it passes to the outlet-conduit c¹ of the plug C.
After the desired quantity of liquor has been withdrawn from the barrel or other

page_text: receptacle to which this improved tapping apparatus is secured, the plug C is
partially rotated until its shoulders or lugs clo are alined with the lengthwise
grooves all of the tap or bushing A, whereupon said plug may be readily with-
drawn. No escape of the liquor takes place upon the withdrawal of the plug C,
as the partial rotation of said plug moves the conduit or groove 62 and the outlet-
opening out of alinement with the inlet and outlet-openings as, as a³ of the tap
or bushing A. The operation and construction of this invention will now be
readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompany-
ing drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination of a tap or bushing for insertion into an aperture in a cask
or other vessel and having inlet and outlet-fluid-passages, and an engaging
shoulder, a movable key or valve-piece arranged within the tap or bushing at the
inner side of the engaging shoulder and provided with inlet and outlet-fluid-
passages for communicating with the former passages, and means projecting
within the tap or bushing and detachably interlocking with the shoulder of the
said tap or bushing and the key or valve-piece, for moving the said key or valve-
piece, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein shown and described.
2. The combination of a tap or bushing for insertion into an aperture in a cask
or other vessel, and having inlet and outlet fluid-passages, a movable key or valve-
piece arranged within the tap or bushing and provided with inlet and outlet fluid-
passages for communicating with the former passages, and a plug formed with
shoulders detachably interlocking with the tap or bushing and the key or valve-
piece, for moving the said key or valve-piece, the said plug having inlet and outlet-
conduits for communicating with the said passages, substantially as, and for the
purpose, herein shown and described.
3. The combination of a tap or bushing for insertion into an aperture in a cask
or other vessel and having a substantially central chamber and inlet and outlet-
openings extending outwardly from the chamber to the exterior of the tap or
bushing, and a movable key or valve-piece arranged in the chamber of the tap or
bushing and provided with a conduit or groove opening from the periphery of the
key or valve-piece and communicating at one end with the chamber of the tap or
bushing and at its opposite end with the inlet-opening of the said tap or bushing,
the said key or valve-piece being also provided with a substantially central
chamber and an opening extending outwardly from the chamber to the exterior of
the key or valve-piece for communicating with the outlet-opening of the tap or
bushing, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
4. The combination of a tap or bushing for insertion into an aperture in a
cask or other vessel and having a substantially central chamber, inlet and outlet-
openings extending outwardly from the chamber to the exterior of the tap or
bushing, and an inlet-conduit or groove opening from the said chamber, a key or
valve-piece arranged in the chamber of the tap or bushing and provided with
inlet and outlet-fluid-passages for communicating with the said openings and
conduit or groove, and a plug detachably interlocking with the tap or bushing
and the key or valve-piece, for moving the key or valve-piece, the said plug being
formed with inlet and outlet-conduits for communicating with the inlet-conduit or
groove of the tap or bushing and the outlet-fluid-passage of the key or valve-piece,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
5. The combination of a tap or bushing for insertion into an aperture in a cask
or other vessel and having inlet and outlet-fluid-passages, a key or valve-piece
arranged within the tap or bushing and provided with inlet and outlet-fluid-
passages for communicating with the former passages, a plug projecting within
the tap or bushing and detachably interlocking with the tap or bush-
ing and the key or valve-piece, for moving the key or valve-piece,

page_text: the said plug having inlet and outlet-conduits for communicating with the said
passages, and a valve arranged within the inlet-conduit of the plug, substantially
as, and for the purpose, described.
6. The combination of a tap or bushing for insertion into an aperture in a cask
or other vessel and having a substantially central chamber formed with an engag-
ing face, a key or valve-piece arranged in the chamber and provided with a screw-
threaded inner end, means for partially rotating the key or valve-piece, a non-
revoluble nut adjustable lengthwise of the screw-threaded end of the key or valve-
piece, and a spring interposed between the said nut and the engaging face of the
tap or bushing, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
7. The combination of a tap or bushing for insertion into an aperture in a cask
or other vessel and provided with inlet and outlet-fluid-passages, a key or valve-
piece arranged in the tap or bushing and having inlet and outlet-fluid-passages
for communicating with the former passages, means for operating the key or valve-
piece, a pipe or conduit communicating with the outlet-fluid-passage of the tap or
bushing, the said pipe or conduit being provided with a transversely extending
chamber interposed between its opposite extremities and formed with openings in
one end and in its upper and lower portions, a second valve-piece arranged in
the chamber and formed with openings for communicating with the former
openings, and an operating member to be arranged in another aperture in the said
cask or other vessel, for actuating the second valve-piece, substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth.