Improvements in connection with Draw-off and other Taps or Cocks.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Draw-off and other Taps
or Cocks.
I, FREDERIC HUGHES, of 20, Paget Road, West Dulwich, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
a
My invention relates to improvements in connection with draw-off and other
taps or cocks, and the object is to render them air-tight. Although more
especially intended for use with beer jars and similar receptacles, I do not restrict
it to that one use, as it may be modified for use under other conditions and
circumstances. In carrying my invention into effect, I proceed in or in about the
following manner. I provide a "barrel" portion having through it a passage for
the fluid, this portion I prefer to make polygonal in outline so as to be easily
rotated by a spanner or wrench. Attached to or forming part of the barrel is
"tail" having a quick pitch screw thread on its exterior for permitting it to
be readily screwed into a tap hole which may be provided with a female screw
thread to accommodate the thread on the "tail." Passing through the "tail,"
and through the passage in the barrel is a flexible tube or hose forming a lining,
the outer end of which may form the nose of the tap. The other end of this
tubing may have a bead round it to enter a groove in the inside of the tail, or
the end may be turned back over the end of the tail so as to prevent leakage.
Screwing into the barrel is a plug or some other contrivance for pinching or
compressing the flexible tube and wholly or partly preventing any fluid passing
through the tube. Behind the "barrel" is a washer, and behind that is a boss or
bead preferably of less diameter than the washer and intended (when the tap ia
screwed in) to be forced into a groove provided for its reception in the face of the
receptacle. Instead of having a boss or bead on the washer, a separate ring may
be used. Any other means may be employed for making a tight joint. The plug
and barrel of the tap may be constructed to take any size of flexible tube or hose,
and thus be available as a readily applied temporary stop cock. In use (assuming the
tap has been screwed into the hole provided for it in the receptacle) the fluid will
flow into the flexible tube or lining, and the flow may be opened, regulated, or shut
off by screwing the plug up or down, or by bringing into action the other contrivance
provided for compressing or collapsing the flexible tube. My improved tap is
noiseless, and applicable to gas, water, or any other fluid.

page_text: CIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Draw-off and other Taps
or Cocks.
I, FREDERICK HUGHES, of 20, Paget Road, West Dulwich, 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:
My invention relates to improvements in connection with draw off and other
taps or cocks and the object is to render them air tight. Although more especially
intended for use with beer jars and similar receptacles, I do not restrict it to
that one use, as it may be modified for use under other conditions and circumstances.
In carrying my invention into effect I proceed in or in about the following
manner making reference to the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 shows a
side view and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of one of my taps applied to a jar or
similar receptacle.
I provide a barrel or body portion a having preferably a polygonal cross section, so
as to be easily turned by a spanner or wrench. Attached to or forming part of a
is the tail b having on its exterior a quick pitched screw thread to enable it to be
readily screwed into the tap hole c which is provided with an internal thread to
receive it. a and b are bored out from end to end and through the bore is passed
the flexible tube or hose d forming a lining. The tube d is provided at opposite
ends with beads e and f and the length of d is made less than the length of the bore
of a and b. This decrease of length of d is for the purpose of preventing displacement
of the exit end of d when it is pinched as hereinafter explained. In placing d
within a and b it is pushed through as far as the bead at one end will allow. The
other beaded end is then drawn through and on allowing it to spring back d is
effectually held within the bore of a and b, and leakage also prevented. Instead of
having a bead at the tail end of d, it (d) might be folded back over the end of b.
If desired one end of d might be prolonged beyond its bead to facilitate drawing d
through a or b as already mentioned. Screwing into a or into a projection thereon
is a plug g for pinching or compressing d and wholly or partly preventing any flow
of fluid through d. Any other contrivance may be used instead of g to effect the
same purpose. At the end of a is a ring like projection h and beyond that is a
washer i. In the face of the receptacle j or in that of the flange of the part internally
threaded as a bung hole is a groove k to accommodate the ring h so that when a is
screwed up against the washer i will be held securely between h and k. Any other
means may be used for ensuring a tight joint between a and j. a and b might be
made to take any sized tube d and thus to be readily applied as a temporary stop-
cock. Assuming the tap has been screwed into the hole provided for it and that g
is screwed up so as to leave a free passage through d, then the fluid can flow
through, but the flow can be reduced or shut off altogether by screwing down g or
bringing into action any equivalent means for compressing d. The taps can be
made of any suitable material or combination of inaterials and may be so modified as
to be applicable to gas, water or any other fluid and I do not therefore confine
myself.precisely to what is shown on the drawings or described in this specification,
as considerable variation is possible without departing from the essential feature of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
-
1. Draw off and other taps and cocks having the bore lined with a flexible tube or

page_text: hose which tube or hose can be pinched or compressed by the action of a screw plug
or other means so as to wholly or partly prevent the passage through the bore of the
tap or cock of the beer, water, gas or other fluid in connection with which the tap or
cock is employed, the whole substantially as described in the above specification and
exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
2. Draw off or other taps or cocks constructed substantially as described in the
above specification and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of April 1898.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, E.C., Agents.