Device for Automatically Closing or Sealing Barrels, Casks, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Automatically Closing or Sealing Barrels, Casks,
and the like.
We, THOMAS PARRY of 72 Lennard Road, Penge, Surrey, Hop Merchant, and
HERBERT ANSELL SKINNER, of 3 Thurlby Street, High Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock,
Manchester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as
follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide means which can be readily fixed in
the usual tap or bung hole of a barrel, cask or the like, and serve for carrying a
valve, which under the action of a weight or spring will automatically prevent the
outflow of liquor, until such times as it is deliberately pushed back by the barrel
tap, or reseal, the barrel when such tap is withdrawn and the barrel is drained,
which latter is the special feature of our invention, in that it prevents any sediment
left in the barrel from fermenting by contact with the outside air.
In accordance with our invention, we screw into the tap or bung hole of the
barrel (when empty) a metal or similar plug, having a suitable screw thread for
taking into the wood, when turned by ratchet tool, or spanner, which grips the
notched or hexagon flange of the plug. Through this plug a hole is formed, large
enough to receive the usual tapered extremity of the tap body, or a cork or wooden
bung, and said hole is excentric with the plug flange and body, so that a sufficient
face of metal on the smaller end of the plug is left for the hinge or fulcrum of a
valve, and so that such hinge shall lie within the radius of the plug body, nd
form no obstruction to its passing through the hole in the barrel.
The valve, which is suspended from the said hinge, lies over the hole of the
plug, and by the aid of a spring (by preference encircling the hinge pin) always
keeps such hole closed, until it is desired to "tap" or refill the barrel, when the
wooden bung being removed, and the tap inserted into the plug, the inlet end
thereof strikes the valve face, and being pushed forward, causes such valve to
retire, and so allow the liquor to flow out through the tap.
This same valve when the tap is withdrawn automatically follows the tap end,
and so reseals the barrel, and prevents the further outflow of liquor, or prevents the
ingress or egress of air, and serves to keep the barrel sweet.
To give increased purchase to the valve, or to cause it to be raised perfectly
clear of the plug opening, we provide its working face with a small inclined block
or projection, taking into the plug opening (when closed), and against the lower
en of which block the tap end first strikes, and, as it proceeds to enter the barrel,
gradually, increases the lift of the valve.
In lieu of screwing the plug directly into the bung hole it may screw into a
special ring or fixing previously applied to the bung hole, and thus allow of repairs,
or the interchanging of one plug for another.

page_text: If desired the valve, or valve facing may be faced with leather, india-rubber or
other suitable material for the more perfect sealing of the barrel, but a scraped
valve surface is thought to be sufficient.
In lieu of hinging the valve to the plug, it may be loose, and enclosed within a
set of rods or guides fixed to or forming part of the plug, and, by means of a spring
acting upon its rear side, such valve may be fed along said guides against the valve
seating.
In this latter modification the valve may be spherical.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Automatically Closing or Sealing Barrels, Casks,
and the like.
We, THOMAS PARRY of 72 Lennard Road, Penge, Surrey, Hop Merchant, and
HERBERT ANSELL SKINNER of 3 Thurlby Street, High Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock,
Manchester, 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:-
The object of our invention is to provide means which can be readily fixed in
the usual tap or bung hole of a barrel, cask or the like, and serve for carrying a
valve, which under the action of a weight or spring will automatically prevent the
outflow of liquor, until such times as it is deliberately pushed back by the barrel
tap, or reseal, the barrel when such tap is withdrawn and the barrel is drained,
which latter is the special feature of our invention, in that it prevents any sediment
left in the barrel from fermenting by contact with the outside air.
In accordance with our invention, we screw into the tap or bung hole of the
barrel (when empty) a metal or similar plug, having a suitable screw thread for
screwing into the wood when turned by ratchet tool, or 'spanner, which grips the
notched or hexagon flange of the plug. Through this plug a hole is formed, large
enough to receive the usual tapered extremity of the tap body, or a cork or wooden
bung, and said hole is eccentric with the plug flange and body, so that a sufficient
face of metal on the smaller end of the plug is left for the hinge or fulcrum of a
valve, and so tha. such hinge shall lie within the radius of the plug body, and
form no obstruction to its passing through the hole in the barrel.
the
The valve, which is suspended from the said hinge, lies over the hole of the
plug, and by the aid of a spring (by preference encircling the hinge pin) always
keeps such hole closed, until it is desired to "tap" the barrel, when
wooden bung being removed, and the tap inserted into the plug, the inlet end
thereof strikes the valve face, and pushing it forward, causes such valve to
retire, and so allow the liquor to flow out through the tap.
When the tap is withdrawn the valve automatically follows the tap end and reseals
the barrel, and prevents the further outflow of liquor, or prevents the ingress or
egress of air, and serves to keep the barrel sweet."
And in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings, and will now
proceed to describe the same with the figures and letters of reference marked
thereon.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side exterior view. Fig. 2 a front view, and Fig. 3 a rear view
(about full size) of our improved barrel tapping and sealing device and illustrating
the position its several parts occupy when the barrel is closed, or before the tap
is introduced.
Fig. 4 shews the position of the parts when the barrel is tapped.
In accordance with our invention we employ a metal (by preference brass or
gun" metal) plug (A), of suitable diameter, and screw threaded as shewn with a
coarse thread to permit of its being readily screwed into the barrel as illustrated in
Fig. 4. Through, or in, this plug is an opening (B), which lies eccentric to the
outside circumference of the plug for the purpose of leaving a space at (C) sufficient
to carry a set of lugs (D), and to permit of such lugs lying within the radius of the
screwed body part in passing through the hole in the barrel. These lugs (D) carry
a cross pin (E), which in turn carries the arm or pendant (F), and spiral spring (G).
The arm (F) carries the valve (H) by means of shank or stem (H) passing through
it, and split pin (H2) behind it. The face of the valve (H) and its seating (A),
against which it is held by the spring (G), are both ground, and form a perfect
joint or seal.
When screwed into the barrel (which is done when the barrel is empty) the plug
and the valve assume the position shewn in Fig. 1, i.c., with the flange (A2) screwed
against the exterior face of the barrel, and if need be provided with a suitable
cement or packing, and the valve (H) closed against its seating (A). To add
to the security of the plug a cork or wooden bung may be fitted in to the
opening (B), and in this connection our invention possesses an important feature,
since it embodies the ordinary form of sealing the barrel, as well as our improved
valvular scal.
In tapping" the barrel the bung is removed, and the tap inserted and quickly
pushed forward against the valve (H) until it can go no further and fits tightly in
the opening (B). at which instant the valve (H) occupies the position shewn in
Fig. 4, where it offers no resistance to the tap, but rather tends to hold it in
position.
The barrel is thus "tapped," and without the inconvenience or trouble hitherto
incurred, and rendering it possible for a brewer to send out barrels of beer, etc.,
more or less ready "tapped," and without the loss of loose bungs, etc. Moreover,.
when the tap is withdrawn and the barrel empty, the barrel is automatically re-
sealed, and the interior of the barrel prevented going sour by contact with the
outside air.
To ensure of the valve being well thrown back or lifted when the tap is inserted,
we provide a "snug" or inclined projection (I), which causes the lift of the valve
to be quick, and sufficient to raise it clear of the tap.
In lieu of a "flap" form of valve, we may employ a spherical or other shaped
valve, or otherwise mount it, but we prefer the form of valve and the method of
mounting previously described. The mounting of the valve by means of the
stem (H) held loosely in the hole (H) of arm (1) constitutes a "universal joint"
and enables the valve to always find a proper seating.
To facilitate the screwing of the plug into the barrel we form the flange (A) of
hexagon or like form, or in the alternative, and also for lessening the weight of the
plug, we cast it with holes or notches (A) into which a suitable key may fit.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts forming our improved barrel or
like tapping appliance, as set forth.
2. A plug (A) formed with eccentric opening (B), and carrying a self-closing
valve, as and for the purposes set forth.
3. A plug with eccentric opening (1), notches (A) and lugs (1), as and for the
purposes set forth.

page_text: 4.The combination of plug (with valve (Hcarried loosely by stem (H') in
arm and held to its seating by spring (G) (or its equivalent), as and for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1897
THOMAS PARRY,
HERBERT ANSELL SKINNER,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.