A Combined Vent and Tap, chiefly designed for Wine or Beer Casks and like Receptacles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Vent and Tap, chiefly designed for Wine or Beer
Casks and like Receptacles.
I, ARTHUR HENRY HALL, of "Tintern Hall," West Cliff Gardens, Bourne-
mouth, in the County of Hants, Artist, 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:-
In casks, barrels, jars and like receptacles, as used at present for containing
beer, wine and like liquors or liquids of any kind, the tap by means of which the
liquor or liquid is drawn, and the vent peg which governs the admission of air to
the cask or like receptacle.are operated independently of each other, and as these
two are situate at a considerable distance apart it commonly happens that when
once withdrawn the vent peg is not replaced or replaced in such a manner as to be
air-tight, thus rendering the beer, wine, or other liquor flat and unpalatable.
This invention has for its object to provide for the opening and closing of the
vent orifice, simultaneously with the tap and by the same movement of a key or its
equivalent.
In the accompanying drawing is shewn a cask or barrel with a tap and vent
combined according to my invention.
A indicates a cask or barrel having hoops a, and a head B in which is inserted a
tap C of special construction to be hereinafter described. In the usual position is
fitted a bung d and through this passes the vent peg D in which is formed a
passage e which communicates with and fornis a continuation of the interior of a
flexible or other tube E. The other end of this tube is connected with the upper
part of the tap C in such manner, that when the plug c of the latter is turned, it
opens the interior of the air tube E, and consequently the cask or barrel A, to the
surrounding atmosphere.
The tap preferably employed is formed with a small passage c¹ in its upper part,
this being connected with the air tube, while a passage c³ formed in the plug is
arranged to open or close this passage cl to the atmosphere either at the same
moment as, or an instant earlier than, the tap is opened for the purpose of allowing
the liquor to flow out.
Almost any description of existing tap may be adapted for use with this
invention, and it may be operated either by a fixed or loose key, as desired.
When the tap is turned for the purpose of withdrawing a portion of the liquor
in the barrel or cask, the same movement simultaneously opens the vent passage,
and allows of the free in-flow of the air to the interior of the cask. When the tap
is closed the same movement closes the vent passage and prevents further access of
air to the cask or barrel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For use with casks, barrels, and like receptacles, as used at present for
containing beer, wine, and like liquors, or liquids of any kind, the use of a tap and
vent combined, substantially as shewn and described.
2. A combined tap or vent arranged in such manner that the opening or closing
of the tap simultaneously opens or closes the vent opening substantially as shewn
and described.

page_text: 3. The combination of a tap having the usual liquor passage, and an air passage
controlled by the movement of the plug, a vent opening to the interior of the cask
or barrel, and a tube connecting the air passages in the tap with the vent opening,
substantially as shewn and described.
4. In a tap and vent the combination of the tap body C, having a passage c¹,
the plug c having a passage c³, the tube E, and the vent peg D having a passage e,
substantially as described and shewn.
5. For use with a vent and tube, the tap having air passages cl and c², connected
with the air tube E and the vent peg, substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 30th day of July 1896.
W. H. MURCH,
Upper Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Agent for the Applicant.