IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TAPS OR COCKS FOR LIQUIDS, AND IN FERRULES FOR INSERTING TAPS IN CASKS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES."
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Russ, of Winchester, in the County of
Hants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
TAPS OR COCKS FOR LIQUIDS, AND IN FERRULES FOR INSERTING TAPS IN CASKS
OR OTHER RECEPTACLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Russ at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
April 1874.
I, EDWIN RUSS, of Winchester, in the County of Hants, do hereby
:declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF TAPS OR COCKS FOR LIQUIDS, AND IN FERRULES FOR INSERTING
TAPS IN CASKS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES," to be as follows:-
:-
The primary object of this Invention is the construction of cocks or
taps in such manner that every drop of liquid shall be drawn out of the
same each time the tap or cock is closed, thereby preventing the accu-
mulation of fungi at or near the mouth of same, which now takes place

page_text: quick, and time is allowed for the accumulation of the fungi or other
extraneous matter in the pipe, thereby causing a taste to the first liquid
drawn, and this more particularly applies to cases where a small quantity
is drawn at a time, say a single glass of wine, as from my wine and
spirit cabinets for which Letters Patent were granted to me the 3rd
August 1872, No. 2320.
By this my present Invention the objection above referred to in taps
and cocks of the ordinary construction is entirely obviated. Morcover
I produce cocks or taps which are perfectly liquid-tight as well as being
simple in action and inexpensive to manufacture.
My Invention consists in the employment in taps or cocks of a piston
caused to rise and fall in a cylinder or pipe, such piston being brought
up and above the liquid aperture for the escape of the liquid, and brought
down below the said aperture and to the very bottom of the discharge
pipe when the tap is closed.
A convenient way of making a tap or cock acccording to my Inven-
tion is as follows:-Supposing the tap is to be of wood (but of course it
may be made of any suitable material; such as brass or white metal) I
line the discharge pipe internally with a ring of glass or of other suitable
material in order to have a smooth and even surface for the piston to
move up and down in when operated as hereafter described. I prefer
to make the piston of cork, and screw or otherwise attach it to a rod
passed into and nearly through the centre thereof sufficiently far at any
rate to hold it securely; where the piston terminates the screw passes
through a collar nut and is continued upwards at a different pitch, being
then a very quick or archimedian screw terminating at top in a handle
or hand wheel. By turning this handle one way or the other the piston is
caused to rise or fall; when up, it uncovers an aperture for the flow of
liquid; when down, it fills up the discharge pipe extending to the bottom
thereof, the base of which and of the piston are flush with one another
so that no liquid remains standing in the body of the cock, and the
aforesaid disadvantages attending the use of ordinary cocks in this respect
are obviated. In some cases the piston or plunger may be, slightly
tapered, and provision may be provided for expanding the diameter of
same as it becomes dry or contracts from wear or other causes. Of
course I do not limit myself to the precise form of screw described

page_text: although I have found an archimedian screw to answer the purpose
well as it gives a quick rise or fall to the piston for opening or closing,
and holds the piston tight down when the top is closed.
In order to facilitate the insertion of my improved tap and other taps
into casks and other receptacles, I use a metal ferrule screwed outside so
as to fit, or cut its way through the receptacle and screwed inside to fit
the tap. The ferrule is made with a hexagon head or other well known
appliances for screwing it in by.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edwin Russ in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWIN
Russ, of Winchester, in the County of Hants, send greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edwin Russ, Her special licence that
I, the said Edwin Russ, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Edwin Russ, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others; from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF TAPS OR COCKS FOR LIQUIDS, AND IN FERRULES FOR INSERTING TAPS IN CASKS OR
OTHER RECEPTACLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edwin Russ, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should.
1.par-
ticularly describo and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edwin Russ, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing
forming a part of this Specification :-
The primary object of this Invention is the construction of cocks or
taps in such manner that every drop of liquid shall be drawn out of the
same each time the tap or cock is closed, thereby preventing the accu-
mulation of fungi.at or near the mouth of same, which now takes place
more especially when the draught from the cask or other vessel is not
quick, and time is allowed for the accumulation of the fungi or other
extraneous matter in the pipe, thereby causing a taste to the first liquid
drawn, and this more particularly applies to cases where a small quantity
is drawn at a time, say a single glass of wine, as from my wine and spirit
cabinets for which Letters Patent were granted to me the 3rd August
1872, No. 2320.
By this my present Invention the objection above referred to in taps
and cocks of the ordinary construction is entirely obviated. Moreover I
produce cocks or taps which are perfectly liquid-tight as well as being
simple in action and inexpensive to manufacture.
My Invention consists in the employment in taps or cocks of a piston
caused to rise and fall in a cylinder or pipe, such piston being brought
up and above the liquid aperture for the escape of the liquid, and brought
down below the said aperture and to the very bottom of the discharge
pipe when the tap is closed.
A convenient way of making a tap or cock according to my Invention
is as follows:-Supposing the tap is to be made of wood (but of course it
may be made of any suitable material) such as brass or white metal), I
line the discharge pipe internally with a ring of glass or other suitable
material in order to have a smooth and even surface for the piston to
move up and down in when operated as herein-after described. I prefer
to make the piston of cork, and screw or otherwise attach it to a rod
passed into and nearly through the centre thereof sufficiently far at any
rate to hold it securely; where the piston terminates the screw-passes
through a collar nut and is continued upwards at a different pitch, being
then a very quick or archimedian screw terminating at top in a handle
or hand wheel..

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation of onc
arrangement of tap or cock constructed according to my Invention;
Figure 2 shews the same tap in section with the plunger down so that
liquid cannot flow through same; and Figure 3 is a view also in
section of a similar tap with the piston raised so that liquid is free to
run through or by same from the cask or other vessel to which it is or
may be attached. a is the piston rod of the cock lined or surrounded
with cork, felt, or other suitable material 6, or the lining might be on
the tap or cock barrel and not on the piston if desired.
c is the upper
and screw end of the piston; d, handle for operating same; g is a cap
through which the screw c works.
Figure 4 is a view in section of a tap of similar construction, only
with a lining of glass, porcelain, or such like material to the barrel
through which the piston works. By turning the handle d one way or
the other the piston rod a with lining 6 is caused to rise or fall, when up
it uncovers the aperture for the flow of liquid, when down it fills up
the discharge pipe extending to the bottom thereof, the base of which
and of the piston are flush or nearly so with one another, so that no
liquid remains standing in the body of the cock, and the aforesaid dis-
advantages attending the use of ordinary cocks in this respect are
obviated. In some cases the piston or plunger may be slightly tapered,
and provision may be made for expanding the diameter of same as it
becomes dry or contracts from wear or other causes.
Figure 5 shews in side elevation a modified form of tap constructed
according to my Invention, having the piston conical or of a tapered
form; Figure 6 shews the same tap in section with the piston or plunger
down so that liquid cannot flow through the tap; and Figure 7 is a
similar view of the same tap shewing the piston raised in the position it
occupies for allowing the outflow of liquid. a is the piston rod lined or
surrounded by cork or other suitable material b and corresponding in
shape with that of the barrel 6' in which it is free to slide or to move
up and down. c is valve on top of plug; d, flexible diaphragm above
piston and tap barrel; e, male screw taking into female thread on hand
nut or handle f; g is a cap screwed down by screws and covering the
diaphragm d and other parts. According to the direction in which the
handle is turned so the piston rod a and lining 6 are raised or lowered
and the aperture for the flow of liquid is thus opened or closed as in the
other arrangement just described. Of course I do not limit myself to

page_text: the precise form of screw described although I have found an archimedian
screw to answer the purpose well, as it gives a quick rise or fall to the
piston for opening or closing and holds the piston tight down when the
tap is closed.
In order to facilitate the insertion of some kind of taps, such as taps
made of wood, into casks or other receptacles, I use a metal ferrule
screwed outside so as to fit or cut its way through the receptacle, and
screwed inside to fit the tap. The ferrule is made with a hexagon head
or other well known appliance for screwing it in by. Figure 8 is a view
of this ferrule n, shewing a tap screwed into same.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. The construction and employment of taps or cocks for drawing
off liquids with piston, plunger, or plug operated or caused to rise and
fall, and in such manner that the plunger or piston is pushed down or
forced to the very bottom of the outlet pipe, all substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings, together with any mere modifications
thereof.
Second. The employment of ferrules in connection with taps, sub-
stantially in manner and for the purpose described with reference to
Figure 8 of the accompanying Drawings..
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Russ, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
TAITYT