IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS, TAPS, VALVES, AND VENTS FOR BEER, WINE, AND OTHER BARRELS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ezra Waugh Hammond, Brewer, and Joseph Wilkinson,
Engineer, both of Bradford, in the County of York, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS, TAPS, VALVES, AND VENTS FOR BEER, WINE,
AND OTHER BARRELS."
Sealed the 11th January 1878, and dated the 2nd October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ezra Waugh Hammond
and Joseph Wilkinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
2nd October 1877.
EZRA WAUGH HAMMOND, Brewer, and JOSEPH WILKINSON, Engineer, both
of Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS, TAPS,
VALVES, AND VENTS FOR BEER, WINES, AND OTHER BARRELS."
The object of this Invention is to arrange a valve and tap to suit, the former of
which can be readily applied to any barrel, and when so applied it forms of itself a
tightly sealed orifice; when the tap is inserted, this valve is open, and when the tap
is withdrawn the valve is closed.
We accomplish this in the following manner :-Into the inside of a hollow tube
we insert another movable tube, one end of which forms the head of the valve; the
other end forms a collar or piston fitting loosely into the first-mentioned tube; the
inner end of the outer tube has a projection inwards corresponding with the pro-
jection or collar outwards in the inner tube; the space between the inner and outer
tube, and resting upon the inward projection of outer tube; and thrusting against
the outward projection or collar of inner tube, is a spiral spring; before this spring
is subjected to additional pressure, it keeps end of inner and movable tube
forming the valve against the end of outer tube, faced for its reception, quite
tight.
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The tap we use is an ordinary tap, suitable for the purpose, but the taper end so
constructed and threaded to suit the threads on in the inside of outer tube at the
opposite end from the valve; it will be readily understood that when the threaded
tap is inserted into the outer tube, it will press upon the inner tube, and by com-
CD 037

page_text: pressing the spiral spring, open the valve at the inner end of outer tube. The inner
tube is perforated behind the valve, so that the liquor can pass through and out at
the tap. When the tap is unscrewed and pressure removed from the spiral spring
the valve closes, thus preserving the orifice air-tight.
Our improvement in the vent is constructed on the same principle as the above;
instead of the tap as above described we can use a small key which accomplishes the
same thing as the tap, that is, it opens the vent when screwed in, and the valve
closes when the same is withdrawn.
Another modification of our improvement is as follows:-Into the outer end of
the barrel we fix a flanged ferrule screwed for the reception of the tap; on the
inside of barrel corresponding to the outside flange is secured a washer of the same
shape, forming a valve facing; passing through the upper portion of flange is a
spindle terminating on the inside with a valve resting upon the flange or valve
facing; this valve is kept tight against the valve facing by means of a spiral spring
passing round spindle, and thrusting against the thickened portion of spindle, and
the flange or valve facing; this valve covers the orifice prepared for the reception of
the tap; when the tap, as in the foriner method, is screwed into the orifice, it presses
against the valve and opens the same; when the tap is withdrawn the valve is
closed by the spiral spring and the orifice is air-tight; this arrangement enables
any one to see into the barrel when empty by turning the spindle, one end of which
is attached to valve, and the other or outer end is squared for the reception of a
key; on pressing against the spindle and turning the same with the key, the orifice
is full open, that is, when tap is removed; this latter arrangement when applied
does away with the use of corks.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ezra Waugh Hammond and Joseph Wilkinson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 1st April 1878.
EZRA WAUGH HAMMOND, Brewer, and JOSEPH WILKINSON, Engineer, both
of Bradford, in the County of York. " IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERS, TAPS,
VALVES, AND VENTS FOR BEER, WINE, AND OTHER BARRELS."
The object of this Invention is to arrange a valve and tap to suit, the former of
which can be readily applied to any barrel, and when so applied it forms of itself
a tightly sealed orifice; when the tap is inserted this valve is open, and when the
tap is withdrawn the valve is closed.
We accomplish this in the following manner:-Into the inside of a hollow tube
we insert another moveable tube, one end of which forms the head of the valve; the
other end forms a collar or piston, fitting loosely into the first-mentioned tube; the
inner end of the outer tube has a projection inwards, corresponding with the
projection or collar outwards in the inner tube; the space between the inner and
outer tube, and resting upon the inward projection of outer tube, and thrusting
against the outward projection or collar of inner tube, is a spiral spring; before this
spring is subjected to additional pressure, it keeps end of inner and moveable tube
forming the valve against the end of outer tube, faced for its reception, quite
tight.
The tap we use is an ordinary tap suitable for the purpose, but the taper end so
constructed and threaded to suit the threads on the inside of outer tube at the
opposite end from the valve; it will be readily understood that when the threaded
tap is inserted into the outer tube it will press upon the inner tube, and by com-
pressing the spiral spring, open the valve at the inner end of outer tube. The
inner tube is perforated behind the valve, so that the liquor can pass through and
out at the tap. When the tap is unscrewed and pressure removed from the spiral
spring, the valve closes, thus preserving the orifice air-tight.
Our improvement in the vent is constructed on the same principle as the above;
instead of the tap as above described we can use a small key which accomplishes
the same thing as the tap, that is, it opens the vent when screwed in, and the valve
closes when the same is withdrawn.
Another modification of our improvement is as follows:-Into the outer end of
the barrel we fix a flanged ferrule screwed, for the reception of the tap; on the
inside of barrel, corresponding to the outside flange, is screwed a washer of the same
shape forming a valve facing; passing through the upper portion of flange is a
spindle terminating on the inside with a valve resting upon the flange or valve
facing; this valve is kept tight against the valve facing by means of a spiral
spring passing round spindle, and thrusting against the thickened portion of spindle
and the flange or valve facing; this valve covers the orifice prepared for the
reception of the tap; when the tap, as in the former method, is screwed into the
orifice, it presses against the valve and opens the same; when the tap is withdrawn
the valve is closed by the spiral spring, and the orifice is air-tight; this arrange-
ment enables any one to see into the barrel, when empty, by turning the spindle,
one end of which is attached to valve, and the other or outer end is squared
for the reception of a key; on pressing against the spindle and turning the
same with the key, the orifice is full open, that is, when the tap is removed;
this latter arrangement when applied does away with the use of corks.
In order that our Invention may be more clearly understood we have hereunto
annexed the accompanying Drawings, in which like parts are indicated by like
letters and figures.
Figure 1 represents the timber in section, through which is secured the casing A
of our improved valve; the projection B is the end of a common tap, which is
screwed into the casing A; the end of the screwed part of B, shewn in Figure 2 at
B¹, when screwed into the casing A, forces the valve C outwards off from the inner

page_text: end of casing A at A¹; then the fluid contained in the barrel will pass through the
perforations C¹, formed in the inner tube C2 into the tap, and when the plug of
the same is open the fluid will flow through; D is a cap with perforations D', which
is for the purpose of covering the valve end of casing A, by which means the hops
or other hard substances that may be in the barrel are prevented from getting
on to the face of valve C, and thus preventing the same closing when the tap B is
unscrewed.
Figure 3 shews the casing A out of the timber with the valve C fitted with an
india-rubber face S.
Figure 4 is a section of our improved valve; the casing A is fitted with au india-
rubber washer E, which is shrunk into the recess formed between the projecting
flanges F, the valve face C being conical is drawn into the india-rubber ring or
washer E by means of a spiral spring, which is inserted in the space G; the
action of this spring will be hereafter described.
Figure 5 shews another modification of our improved valve, the face of the valve
is fitted with a parallel or square india-rubber washer H on to the inner tube C2,
and when brought into contact with the end of casing A forms a tightly scaled
orifice.
Figure 6 is a modification of the valve, shewn in Figure 5, and consists in the
casing A being prolonged and made to cover the end of valve C, and thus forms a
cap or cover for protecting the hops or other hard substances from getting on to
the face of the valve, and preventing the same closing; thus the fluid passes through
the perforations D¹.
Figure 7 is a section of a valve with the projecting end of tap B screwed into
the casing A, until the end of the same is in contact with the collar J of inner
tube C2; by screwing the projecting end of tap B further into the casing A, the saine
will compress the spiral spring K and propell the inner tube C2, until the perforations
or grooves C¹ are exposed to the fluid, as shewn in Figure 1.
of
Figure 8 is a section of Figure 7, through line a, b.
Figure 9 is a front end view of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of Figure 5, with the spiral spring removed out
space G.
Figure 11 is a section of the casing A, and shews the inner tube and valve entire,
the spiral spring is removed out of spring space G.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section through our improved valve, which shews the
inner tube C2 entire, with grooves L formed therein, so that directly the inner tube
is moved and the valve C propelled from its seat or facing, the fluid will run along
the grooves L into tap B.
Figure 13 is a section of the casing A, with the inner tube C2 entire, and the
spiral spring K fitted thereon, between the collar J and the flange M, formed in
casing A; it will be easily understood that when the projecting end of tap is screwed
into the casing A it will compress the spring K and propell the inner tube C³,
and open the valve C; when this projecting end is unscrewed the spring K
will expand, and through its action will close the valve C and make the same
perfectly tight.
Figure 14 shews another modification of our improved valve; N is a socket or
casing inserted into the end of a barrel with a flange O on the outside that is
attached to the end of the same, the inside of this socket at N' is screwed for the
reception of a tap end, as before described, the end of this tap which is screwed into
the socket is perforated around the circumference, and when the end comes in con-
tact with the valve facing P it forces the same from off the metallic facing R fixed
inside the barrel and compresses the spiral spring K. When the tap is removed,
the spring K will expand and close the valve; and when it is desired to look into the
barrel, it is accomplished by placing a key on the end of spring spindle K¹, and
compressing the spring, thus clearing the valve from off its face; then by turning
or twisting the spring spindle, say, one quarter of a revolution, the facing
or cover of the valve will be clear of the opening through the socket or

page_text: casing N, and thus the operator will be enabled to see into the inside of the
barrel.
Having now described our Invention, and the manner in which the samo
is to be carried into effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise details herein described and delineated, but that what
we believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to us
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The attachment of a casing to the wine, beer, or other liquor barrel,
having no protrusion above the extreme end of the barrel, containing a valve so
arranged that on the insertion of any ordinary tap with prepared end the
valve is opened, and on the withdrawal of the tap the said valve is closed,
substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The application of a vent for any liquor barrel of the same construction
as named in Claim 1.
In witness whereof, we, the said Ezra Waugh Hammond and Joseph Wilkin-
son, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-ninth day of
March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
eight.
Witness,
JOHN WAUGH,
Engineer & Patent Agent,
29, Tyrrel Street,
Bradford.
EZRA WAUGH HAMMOND. (L.S.)
JOSEPH WILKINSON.
(L.S.)