IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES FOR FACILITATING THE TAPPING OF BARRELS AND CASKS CONTAINING LIQUIDS FERMENTED OR UNFERMENTED ALSO APPLICABLE FOR STEAM AND OTHER PURPOSES.
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Fred Robinson of Bradley near Huddersfield in the
County of York Engineer for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND
VALVES FOR FACILITATING THE TAPPING OF BARRELS AND CASKS CONTAINING
LIQUIDS FERMENTED OR UNFERMENTED ALSO APPLICABLE FOR STEAM AND
OTHER PURPOSES.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Fred Robinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1882.
FRED ROBINSON of Bradley near Huddersfield in the County of York Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES FOR FACILITATING THE TAPPING OF
BARRELS AND CASKS CONTAINING LIQUIDS FERMENTED OR UNFERMENTED; ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR STEAM AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
The object of this invention is to prevent waste in tapping and to ensure the
closing of the tap or cork holes when the taps are withdrawn and also to dispense
with the use of corks.
I attach to the outside of barrels and casks a flange with a bush projecting
inwards into the barrel the bush having an open end; connected to the bush is a
guide carrying a spiral spring and valve the flange is recessed and carries a stout
washer of india-rubber or other suitable material and is attached to the flange by
a plate and screws so as to be easily adjustable and renewable. An ordinary tap
is then driven into the hole of the washer and firmly embeds in the same the end
of the tap coming in contact with the valve at the end of the bush, the spring is
depressed and the valve opened, on taking out the tap the spring returns the valve
and so closes the aperture.
Or the bush may have an internal thread and a corresponding thread upon the
tap, and so screw into the bush the end of the tap being of sufficient length so as
to be part screwed up before commencing to open the valve the above methods are
chiefly applicable to Brewers, Spirit, and Oil Merchants and may also be applied
for steam, gas, and the like purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Fred Robinson in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 29th September
1882.
FRED ROBINSON of Bradley near Huddersfield in the County of York Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TAPS AND VALVES
OF
FOR FACILITATING THE TAPPING
BARRELS AND CASKS CONTAINING LIQUID FERMENTED OR UNFERMENTED ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR STEAM AND OTHER PURPOSES
I attach to the outside of barrels, and casks, in lieu of or in addition to corks, a
flanged bush with open end, and having an internal thread, there being a corre-
sponding, thread upon the tap, the shank end of the tap being of sufficient length,
and of such shape that it is part screwed into the bush before the valve is open,
and in screwing out the tap the valve is closed before the tap is free, by this means
- it will be seen that the act of screwing the tap into the bush, taps the barrel
without any loss or waste of the liquid and the act of screwing out the tap, seals
the barrel and so keeps it sweet and prevents it from becoming fusty, a washer of
leather or indiarubber may be placed on the tap and valve to render them perfectly
air tight the bush may be secured to the barrel either by screws, or it may have a
thread formed upon its outside, or it may be made with a flange both outwardly
and inwardly, and the stave of the barrel divided and made to fit round it, and
prevented from turning round by a screw or screws, this is equally applicable to
the bush for the bung hole of the barrel which may be made and fitted in a similar
manner.
Such being the nature and object of this my said invention and in order that
the same may be fully understood I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings
illustrative thereof and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
the same letter referring to the same part in the several views.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows form of tap preferably used.
Fig. 2. shews section of the bush and valve closed.
Fig. 3. shews tap screwed up into the bush, and the valve open.
Figs. 4 and 5 shew details of bush and valve.
Figs 6. 7. 8 and 9 shew double flanged buslies the staves of the barrels being
made to fit the bushes both for the cork hole, and for the bung hole,-A is the
flanged bush with open end and having an internal thread, there being also a
corresponding thread upon the tap B and upon the valve C, the shank end D, of
the tap B, being of sufficient length, and of such shape that it is part screwed.
into the metal bush A before the valve C is open, so far, that the beer will run or
pass through its perforations, a key or projection is preferably formed on the
shank end of the tap which slips into a corresponding key way or groove, in the
hollow plug, or valve C, and in screwing out the tap B the valve C is closed before
the tap is free, by this means it will be seen that the act of screwing the tap into
the bush A taps the barrel, without any loss or waste of the liquid, and the act of
screwing out the tap seals the barrel and so keeps it sweet and prevents it from
becoming fusty; a washer of leather, or indiarubber, may be placed on the tap and
valve, to render them perfectly air tight, the bush may be secured to the barrel
either by screws, or it may have a thread formed upon its outside, or it may be
made with a flange both outwardly and inwardly see Figs 6 and 7 and the stave
of the barrel divided and made to fit round it,-and-prevented from turning round

page_text: by a screw or screws; this is equally applicable to the bung hole of the barrel
which may be made and fitted in a similar manner (see Figs 8 and 9).
Having thus fully described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same may be performed or carried into
effect I would have it understood that what I claim to be secured to me by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is.-
The combination of the tap B, bush A, and the valve or plug C; all constructed
and operating in the manner and for the purposes, herein set forth
The arrangement of double flanged bushes as shewn and described at Figs C 7.
8 and 9.
In witness whereof I the said Fred Robinson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
FRED ROBINSON (L.S.)