An Automatic Spшe or valve Adapted for Admitting AIN IO DUUR Barrels or other Vessels.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Mar., 1889
An Automatic Spшe or valve Adapted for Admitting AIN IO DUUR
Barrels or other Vessels.
I, GEORGE TODD of 13 High Street, Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Brass Founder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention, which relates to a new or improved spile or valve for automatically
admitting air into casks containing beer or other liquors or into other vessels from
which liquid is periodically drawn off, consists of a conical tubular stem on the outside
of which a tapered screw-thread is formed by which it is fastened by being screwed
into a hole bored in the wood of the cask or other vessel, or the said tube may be
otherwise fixed into the vessel. At the upper part of the tube a flange is situated
and, to this flange a metallic or other covering plate of the same size and shape is
fixed by means of screws. Between the flange and covering plate a disc of India-
rubber is fixed being held at its edges only by the pressure upon its edges of the
flange and covering-plate produced by the screws which bind them together. That
part extending from some distance within the flange towards the tube hereinbefore
referred to is made taper so that the India-rubber disc if pressed upon may be caused
to descend into it. At one side of the covering plate a hole is made communicating
with the India-rubber disc, and at some distance from this hole, a hole is also made in
the India rubber disc communicating with the pipe leading into the cask or other
vessel.
The action of the apparatus is as follows: When beer or other liquid is drawn off
from the cask or other vessel in which the spile or valve constituting this Invention is
placed, a partial vacuum becomes formed below the India-rubber disc and the pressure
of the atmosphere acting upon the disc therefore causes it to be depressed, whereby
communication is at once made between the hole in the covering plate and the hole
in the disc so that air immediately passes into the cask or other vessel until the
balance of pressure between the interior of the cask or other vessel and the external
atmosphere is restored.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Spile or Valve Adapted for Admitting Air into Beer
Barrels or other Vessels.
I, GEORGE TODD of 13 High Street, Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Brass Founder 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:—
My Invention, which relates to a new or improved spile or valve for automatically
admitting air into casks containing beer or other liquors or into other vessels from
which liquid is periodically drawn off, consists of a conical tubular stem on the outside
of which a tapered screw thread is formed by which it is fastened by being screwed
into a hole bored in the wood of the cask or other vessel, the said tube may bo
otherwise fixed into the vessel. At the upper part of the tube a flange is situated
and to this flango a metallic or other covering plate of the same size and shape is
fixed by means of screws. Between the flange and covering plate a disc of India-
rubber is fixed being held at its edges only by the pressure upon its edges of the
flange and carrying plate produced by the screws which bind them together. That
part of the spile extending from some distance within the flange towards the tube
herein before referred to is made taper or otherwise hollowed so that the India-rubber
disc if pressed upon may be caused to descend into it. At one side of the covering-
plate a hole is made communicating with the India-rubber disc, and at some distance
from the hole, a hole is also made in the India-rubber disc communicating with the
pipe leading into the cask or other vessel.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When beer or other liquid is drawn off
from the cask or other vessel in which the spile or valve constituting my Invention is
placed, a partial vacuum becomes formed below the India-rubber disc and the pressure
of the atmosphere acting upon the disc therefore causes it to be drepressed, whereby
communication is at once made between the hole in the covering plate and the hole in
the disc so that air immediately passes into the cask or other vessel until the balance
of pressure between the interior of the cask or other vessel and the external atmosphere
is restored.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
The improved spile is shewn in perspective view at Figure 1, and at Figure 2, the
upper part or covering-plate A, is removed. Between the covering plate A, and the
top of the under part B, a flat piece of India-rubber is held by means of the three
screws which, on being tightened, cause the India-rubber to be firmly gripped all
round its outer edge. In the covering-plate A, there is a hole X, and in the India-
rubber is another hole Y. When liquid is drawn off from the cask or other vessel
by an ordinary tap, the lowering of the liquid therein, causes a partial vacuum, and
the pressure of the atmosphere, acting upon the India-rubber through the hole X, in
the covering-plate, depresses the India-rubber so that air at once passes into the cask
through the hole Y.

page_text: In using my improved spile, it should not be put into the cask until beer or other
liquid therein is ready to be drawn, but a common wooden spile should be placed in
the vent hole in the cask, for enabling any pressure of gas or air that may generate
therein, to be freely let off by lifting the wooden spile.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improved spile or valve constructed and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn on the annexed drawings.