Improvements in and connected with Metallic Bungs and Vents for Casks and Barrels.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1891--Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Metallic Bungs and Vents for
Casks and Barrels.
I, CHARLES LEIBMAN KLINE of 72 West 102nd Street in the City and State
of New York, United States of America, Engineer, 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 metallic.self venting bungs and to such bungs in com-
bination with other apparatus for preventing the bushing in which the bung is
contained from becoming heated too much or from being covered with pitch in the
processes of cleaning and reglazing casks or barrels.
The first part of my invention is concerned with the bung itself, and the second
part thereof is concerned with a device which I call a false bushing, and which
replaces the bung while the keg or barrel is being cleansed or glazed.
My invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a bung constructed according to these improve-
ments and shewing the vent closed;
Figure 2 is a similar view shewing the vent open;
Figure 3 is an elevation of the metallic bung;
Figure 4 is a top view of the same;
Figure 5 is a plan of the metallic bushing which surrounds the bung;
Figure 6 is a vertical section of the same;
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a plan and a section of a screw-threaded valve
seat employed in my apparatus ;
Figures 9 and 10 are front and side elevations of the vent valve;
Figure 11 is an elevation of a portion of the key which I use for operating the
vent;
Figure 12 shews a modified form of vent valve;
Figure 13 shews an elevation of my false bushing inside a bushing which is set
into a barrel stave, the latter being shewn in section;
Figure 14 is a plan view of the same, a portion of the false bushing being cut
away; and
Figure 15 is a vertical section through the stave and the false and true bushings.
Referring to the drawings and to the letters of reference thereon, A. is a section
of a barrel stave in which my bung is secured. B is a bushing made of suitable
metal and screwed into an opening in the bung stave.A. At is an opening for a
screw, which is intended to secure the bushing from being loosened after it has been
put in place. The bushing B is internally screw-threaded to receive the bung C,
whose exterior is correspondingly screw-threaded. At the top of the bung are
shewn key-holes c, c, c, c, to receive a key for turning the bung into place. In the
top of the bushing B is formed a depression to which corresponds a shoulder e on
the bung. By means of an intermediate bushing of soft rubber, a perfect joint is
formed at this point, which effectually prevents the leakage of gas or liquids from
the interior of the barrel. To further assist in accomplishing the same object, the
lower part of the bung is made slightly conical in shape, and the interior of the
bushing B is shaped to correspond. In this way the pressing of the bung home to
its seat makes a gas and liquid tight connection which admits of no danger of
leakage.
By reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that there is an air chamber in
the interior of the bung and also that within this air chamber is a valve and vent
apparatus D, which screws from below into the top plate of the bung, and is

page_text: provided with a ring or shoulder d for making a tight connection with the said top
plate in combination with a suitable bushing g of soft rubber.
In the top of the vent D is a squared aperture for receiving the end of a key K
by means of which the vent can be turned from the outside. From the aperture
referred to a passage F goes through the solid body of the vent, and opens into the
clamber in the bung, except when the mouth of the opening is closed by a valve G.
(See Figures 1, 2, 9, and 10.) The said valve normally closes the opening, but
under certain circumstances, as will be seen, it is opened to allow a circulation of
air for venting purposes.
The valve G is lined with soft rubber, as shewn and is
provided with a stop h, which limits its backward movement. In place of a hinged
valve or gate I may employ a free conical valve held in place by one or more bars
or stops, (Figure 12).
'
Below the vent D is a screw threaded stop I which closes the lower end of the
bung after the vent has been screwed into place. This is formed so as to have a
bearing at every point of its rim and it bears against the lower end of the bung
when the stop or plug is screwed home.
"
In the normal position of the parts, the plug I is secured tightly in place and the
vent D is driven home within a conical opening at the top of the plug. For this
purpose the lower end of the vent is cone-shaped and it forms a seat for the vent.
It should be stated also that the plug I is provided with a central passage; which
opens into the barrel. Now, this being the normal arrangement of the parts, it is
evident that the barrel will be perfectly sealed by my apparatus, and that no leakage
whatever can take place. But after the tap has been inserted, and it is desired to
draw some of the liquor from the barrel, the key K may be inserted and the vent
be given half a revolution. By this means the vent is slightly lifted and the parts
appear as shewn in Figure 2. Thus a free passage is given for the air to enter as
soon as the valve G is lifted. This latter movement is accomplished automatically,
only the slightest pressure being needed to operate the said valve. Consequently
the liquor will flow with perfect freedom, and at the same time there will be no
escape of gases through the bung to the external air.
To provide against the lifting of the valve G by the gases in the barrel, I have
made a ledge & near the base of the vent, the position of which compels such gases
as might tend to escape, to pass around the bottom of the valve without being able
to get under it. In this way the valve is only pressed tighter and closer by the
effort of the gases to free themselves. To aid in this, I may also extend the vertical
walls of the vent far enough to pass beyond the limit of movement of the
valve Gas is clearly shewn.
In using my invention, I first see that the bottom of the bushing B is glazed
like the rest of the interior of the valve. At the same time, the other parts of
my bung which are exposed to the liquor within the barrel, for example the
plug, and the bottom of the bung itself, are suitably galvanised or protected to
prevent corrosion. I may also galvanise the outer end of the bung if it is found
desirable.
The use of my bung does away with several of the losses which occur at
present. There are no bungs to be thrown away, my metallic bung being
practically indestructible with ordinary usage. There are no vents to be lost
or thrown away, the vent in my apparatus forming a permanent part of the
bung. The interior glazing of the barrel is not injured by shock or pounding,
as there is no necessity for pounding in order to remove the bung. For the
same reason there is no need for the renewal of the bung stave more than any
other stave, and the whole barrel will wear out at the same time.
The second part of my invention consists of a false bushing which is to be
screwed into the bushing B for the purpose of protecting it from the effects of
the extreme heat to which it is subjected in the process of cleansing and
re-glazing, and also to protect it from the pitch or resin which is used in the
latter process.
L is the false bushing which is screwed into the bushing B as shewn. At

page_text: the top of the bushing L is a shoulder which fits into the depression on the top
of the bushing B. Starting from the said shoulder on the false bushing is a
ledge which extends over the top of the bushing B and keeps it from being
soiled or clogged with the pitch or resin used in the re-glazing.
The action of the parts is obvious. The inner bushing takes up the heat
which would otherwise go to the outer bushing, and prevents the latter from
getting sufficiently hot to char the barrel. Moreover the same inner or false
bushing keeps off the pitch or resin both from the inner walls of the bushing B,
and from the top ledge or flange thereof, thus leaving the outer bushing free
from clogging and dirt.
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―
1. A metallic venting bung, constructed arranged and operating substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In a metallic venting bung, a hollow bushing capable of being permanently
inserted into a barrel and having an end opening, in combination with a valve
seating on a perforated plug screwing into the said opening, and an adjustable
vent terminating in a valve fitting upon the valve seat of the plug substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In a metallic venting bung, the combination with a bushing, of a vent
screwed therein, an air passage in the vent, and a valve closing the said
passage; substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
4. In a metallic venting bung, the combination with a bushing, of a vent screwed
therein, an air passage in the vent, a valve closing the said passage, and ledges or
shoulders and walls projecting beyond the outer limit of motion of the said valve;
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
5. In a metallic venting bung, an adjustable perforated plug having a valve
seating, and an adjustable vent carrying a corresponding valve, the said vent
having a shoulder limiting its movement away from the valve seat; substantially
as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
6. In a metallic venting bung, the combination and arrangement with an
adjustable perforated plug having a valve seating thereon, of a vent carrying
the corresponding valve the vent being adjustably secured in the upper wall of
the bung and having a circular shoulder co-operating with the inner surface
of the said wall; substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
7. A metallic bung having an air passage through it, the said air passage
being controlled at each of two points by a valve, one of the said valves being
automatic and the other being formed in part by an adjustable portion of the
bung so as to be capable of being operated by hand; substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
8. In combination with the bushing of a metallic bung, a false bushing capable
of being temporarily secured within the bung bushing: substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
9. As a new article of manufacture, a false bushing for metallic bungs, capable
of being temporarily secured within the bung bushing; substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
10. In combination with a metallic bushing in one of the staves of a barrel,
a false bushing capable of being temporarily secured into the first named bushing;
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
11. In combination with a metallic bushing in one of the staves of a barrel,

page_text: a false bushing capable of being temporarily, secured within and having a flange
covering the upper end of the first named bushing; substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
12. In combination with a metallic bushing in one of the staves of a barrel,
said bushing having a depression at the top and being internally screw threaded, a
false bushing correspondingly screw threaded and having a shoulder fitting into the
said. depression; substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
13. In combination with a metallic bushing in one of the staves of a barrel the
said bushing having a depression at the top and being internally screw threaded, a
false bushing correspondingly screw threaded and having a shoulder fitting into the
said depression and having also a flange which when the false bushing is in place
covers the end of the first named bushing; substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
14. The hereinbefore described method of venting casks and barrels; substan-
tially as and by the means set forth.
15. The hereinbefore described method of preventing charring in the process of
cleansing and re-pitching casks and barrels substantially as and by the means set
forth.
Dated this 14th day of December
WILLIAM E. ‘HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.