Improved Means for Closing and Opening the Bung-holes of Casks or Barrels.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Closing and Opening the Bung-holes of Casks
or Barrels.
We JOHN WALTER FLOWER Brewer AUGUSTUS FREDERICK FLOWER Brewer and
ROBERT JOHN COUSINS Engineer of the Brewery Fontmell Magna Shaftesbury
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:
Our invention relates to improved means for closing and opening the bung holes of
casks or barrels and consists of a cap or stopper and of a key of peculiar construction
for securely locking and unlocking the latter.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of the cap or stopper and of the
bush into which it fits Fig. 2 being a section of the same applied to the bung hole of
a cask or barrel. Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, are respectively an elevation, a plan, a vertical
section on line xx of. Fig. 6 and a horizontal section on line y y of Fig. 5 of our
Hapal key.
is the bush of brass or other suitable metal screwed in the bung hole of the
barrel A. This bush is furnished with two vertical recesses into which fit, when
inserted in or withdrawn from the said bush, corresponding projections p p of the cap
or stopper C.
The latter boars upon a washior w and is centrally rossed as shown in Fig. 2 to
receive a key of peculiar construction hereinafter more fully described.
When the
cap C is inserted in the manner above stated in the bush B it has to be turned round
in order to be locked, the projections p p bearing them against the under surface of
the bush Fig. 1. But in order to unlock this cap it is requisite to turn the saine until
the projections p
coincide with the recesses rr (Fig. 2) and then to pull the cap out
while the former slide in the latter.
Q
This turning and pulling motion is effected by means of our improved key the base
of which is tightened in the central recess of the cap or stopper owing to the expansion
of its outer peripherial ring R. This expansion is carried out in the following manner.
The key consists of a body b provided with a flange at the bottom and formed
integrally with a central spindle s which is surrounded by a barrel s formed integrally
with a circular plate P. An outer expansible steel ring R split at g is provided on its
upper edge with a series of notches n. &c. forming an equal number of pro-
jections m etc. both of which fit within corresponding notches n &c. and
projections m¹ etc. of the plate P while the lower edge of the said ring which
forms the outer periphery of the base of the key rests upon the bottom flange of the
body b. Curved openings o o... &c. are formed at regular intervals between the
body b and the ring R, these openings assuming the shape clearly shown in Fig. 6
and containing each a elliptical cam c one end of which bears against a small circular
recess j formed in the inner periphery of the ring R while the other bears against the
curved edge of the openings
.
·
&c.
•
The spindles carries a double handle H while the spindle s¹ carries a single
handle H keyed thereon at R by means of the collar q.
The base of the key being placed in central recess of the cap or stopper C the
handle H is pressed against the handle H whereby the spindle s¹ and with it the
plate P is turned.
The ring R connected to the plate P in the manner above described is also turned
which causes the cams c c... &c. to be moved lengthwise in the openings o o.
00...&c.
and hence to expand the ring R thus causing the base of the key to fit tightly in the
recess of the cap or stopper which is now turned by means of the bandle H until the
projections p p
coincide with the recesses r, r, when on pulling out the handle H
the cap or stopper C will be withdrawn from its bush B.
•
I Price 21

page_text: The said cap or stopper is replaced in the bush B by a similar operation of
the key.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: +
1) The improved means for opening and closing the bung holes of casks or
barrels consisting of a bush screwed in the bung hole of the cask and of a centrally
recessed cap or stopper fitting in the said bush in the manner above described in
combination with a key composed of an expansible base, of a spindle and of a barrel
and of two handles for the purpose of locking and unlocking the said cap or stopper
from its bush substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
2) The improved key for locking and unlocking the caps or stoppers fitted in the
bung hole of casks or barrels arranged constructed and operating substantially as
described and shown and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1890.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.