Improvements in or relating to Vent or Draw Off Taps, with Means for Filling Bottles and like Vessels, with or without Self Action for Closing and Opening Purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1394
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Vent or Draw Off Taps, with Means
for Filling Bottles and like Vessels, with or without Self Action
for Closing and Opening Purposes.
I, DENNIS WICKHAM, of Star Brewery, Ware, Hertfordshire, Brewer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to vent or draw off taps,
with means for filling bottles and like vessels, with or without self action for closing
and opening purposes.
The invention consists of a plug tap with a cross passage and another passage at
right angles in the plug, there being an independent passage in said plug for
opening communication with a distinct passage in the barrel of the tap, and with a
passage
nozzle screwed thereon, said nozzle surrounding the outlet from the main
for the transfer of air or gas into or from a bottle or vessel forced against the
nozzle when a filling has to be effected.
The plug can be operated by hand, or by a contrivance affixed to the nozzle, or
to the barrel of the tap; the opening of the plug can be effected by the bottle or
vessel while being pressed into contact, such as by a rack and pinion, and the
closing effected by a spring, or weight as the pressure is removed.
.
The independent passage in the plug and barrel permits air to escape from the
bottle or vessel while being charged with liquid from the main passage but if said
independent passage be in communication with a compression air, or a gas cylinder,
the liquid while being forced in will become gasated, or aërated, as desired, the
difference of pressure of the liquid and of the gas or air being so arranged that the
proportion can be regulated.
The nozzle can have a soft rubber ferrule on it to make the meeting faces air
tight when the pressure is applied.
The invention is applicable for bottling beers, or what are known as aërated
waters.
H.
GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Dennis Wickham.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Vent or Draw Off Taps, with Means
for Filling Bottles and like Vessels, with or without Self Action
for Closing and Opening Purposes.
1. DENNIS WICKHAM, of Star Brewery, Ware, Hertfordshire, Brewer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to vent or draw off tape,

page_text: with means for filling bottles and like vessels with or without self action for
closing and opening purposes.
The invention consists of a plug tap with a cross passage and another passage at
right angles in the plug, there being an independent passage in said plug for
opening communication with a distinct passage in the barrel of the tap, and with a
nozzle screwed thereon, said nozzle surrounding the outlet from the main passage
for the transfer of air or gas into or from a bottle or vessel forced against the
nozzle when a filling has to be effected.
The plug can be operated by hand, or by a contrivance affixed to the nozzle or
to the barrel of the tap, the opening of the plug can be effected by the bottle or
vessel while being pressed into contact such as by a rack and pinion and the closing
effected by a spring or weight as the pressure is removed.
The independent passage in the plug and barrel permits air to escape from the
bottle or vessel while being charged with liquid from the main passage but if said
independent passage be in communication with a compression air or a gas cylinder,
the liquid while being forced in will become gasated or aërated as desired, the
difference of pressure of the liquid and of the gas or air being so arranged that the
proportion can be regulated.
The nozzle can have a soft rubber ferrule on it to make the meeting faces air
tight when the pressure is applied.
The invention is applicable for bottling beers, or what are known as aërated
waters.
My invention is clearly shown on the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a part section of my tap, Figure 2 being a section on the line b, b, of
Figure ; and Figure 3 is a section on the line a, a, of Figure 1.
A is the plug of the tap. B a through hole therein for liquor. C a passage at
right angles therefrom also for liquor. D is a skew hole with portions of the lip E
removed to permit of a perfect charge of gas. F is the barrel of the tap with
straight up and down passages G, H, one leading from a measured quantity vessel,
and the other to an extension J for insertion into a bottle as near to the bottom of
same as is necessary for preventing agitation and undue formation of foam while
the bottle is being filled, the bottle mouth being then pressed into close contact
with the socket K, or against a rubber cushion thereon. L is a nozzle for the
attachment of a pipe from the source of supply.
The skew hole in the plug is for the passage of gas from the nozzle M, said
nozzle being in connection by a pipe with any gas cylinder under due pressure, one
part of the skew hole can be put in communication with the gas passage N in the
barrel F, this being slauted to lead the gas through to the nozzle K at the side of
the extension J.
I have not shown any method or appliance for operating the tap plug, but it can
be operated by hand, or by any existing method of operating taps of aërators with
or by the bottle itself.
The action is as follows;-- Supposing the plug A to be in connection with the
liquor and the gas reservoir. The plug A is turned into the position, Figure 2, for
the liquor to flow from L to G and charge the measuring vessel, a bottle is then
pressed up against the shoulder of the nozzle K and the tap turned a quarter
round to shut off the passage L and open the straight up and down or through
passages G, H, for the liquor to flow from the measuring vessel and through the
extension into the bottle. Simultaneously with this, the gas passage D in plug A
makes communication from the gas reservoir with the bottle which becomes charged
with gas at the same time as it is filling with liquor.
As soon as the measured quantity of liquor is run in the tap plug A is turned
back to its first position, and the bottle is removed for corking by any well known
process.
It will be understood that should bottling proceed without the use of gas for
aërating the liquid, the skew passage and passages in connection will serve for
venting.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The construction and employment of taps with passages arranged in the manner
shown in the drawings for the supply of liquor and of gas, as hereinbefore
described and for the purposes set forth.
Ine 14th day of November 1094.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Dennis Wickham.