AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TAPPING AND • VENTING' CASKS, BARRELS, OR OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Shore, of Parkgate, Rotherham, in the
County of York, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR TAPPING AND • VENTING' CASKS, BARRELS, OR OTHER
SIMILAR VESSELS.”
Sealed the 19th December 1871, and dated the 23rd August 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Shore at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd August 1871.
I, JOHN SHORE, of Parkgate, Rotherham, in the County of York,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "An
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TAPPING AND VENTING' CASKS, BARRELS, OR OTHER
SIMILAR VESSELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for tapping and venting
casks, barrels, or other similar vessels, being specially applicable for
drawing beer or other fermented liquors or liquids from casks or barrels

page_text: when these liquors or liquids are drawn therefrom by any apparatus
such as or similar to an ordinary "beer engine" or pump.
The apparatus consists essentially of a conical metal tube enclosing
a sliding block tin pipe, which latter at its upper end is connected with
the beer engine or other similar pumping machine by means of an 5
ordinary "union joint" or other suitable connection, and is (when
adjusted with its bottom end at the required height in the barrel or
vessel) held in position and air-tight by means of an india-rubber or
other suitable ring and screw cap at the upper part of the metal tube.
Crossing this tube and in one casting therewith is a second conical tube 1
in which a perforated plug is fitted, and through the perforation of
which the block tin pipe passes. This plug is secured by a screw
cap, and is provided with an outer squared end. At the smaller end
of this second tube is fitted an air inlet valve regulated in its action
by a spiral spring or other equivalent means, so as to admit sufficient 1
air into the barrel when required to allow of the free action of the
pump or engine.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The beer engine or pump
being actuated, and the beer or other liquor being thereby withdrawn
from the cask or other vessel creates a partial vacuum in the interior
of the said cask or vessel. The pressure of the outer air overcoming
that of the spring or its equivalent then forces the inlet valve inwards,
and thereby opens a communication between the exterior air and the
interior of the cask, and so allows the necessary amount of air to rush
past the valve in the cross conical tube and down between the first 2
conical tube and its enclosed pipe into the cask, when the spring or its
equivalent will be enabled to force the valve into its original position
until more liquor is withdrawn from the cask.
By the employment of this improved apparatus there will not be any
necessity for the cask stand or support arrangement now in use, and 8
known as the "gantry," for the barrels can be put on end, and so
remain until emptied by the apparatus; it will likewise dispense with
the necessity for "tilting" and its usual injurious consequences, the
liquor or liquid drawn being "fine" throughout. Also with regard to
"tapping" there will be a further advantage, the tap being hit or pushed 8
in vertically instead of horizontally as hitherto, so that the tapping will
be much more easily accomplished and with much greater safety, as

page_text: there will be less chance of the escape of the beer or other liquid, the
tap being knocked or pushed in tight at once.
'
.
Before "tapping "however it will be necessary to remove the enclosed
pipe and the screw top and ring which secure it in position and turn.
the perforated plug to prevent the escape of the beer when the conical
tube can be knocked in the barrel vertically similar to the manner in
which ordinary beer taps are knocked in horizontally, after which the
pipe is replaced and secured, being adjusted with its bottom near the.
bottom of the cask or barrel, and the apparatus is again rendered ready
for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Shore in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd February 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SHORE, of Parkgate, Rotherham, in the County of York, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of August, in. the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in
tho thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Shore, Her special
licence that I, the said John Shore, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Shore, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others;
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR TAPPING AND VENTING CASKS; BARRELS, OR OTHER SIMILAR VESSELS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Shore, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Shore, do hereby declaro the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, and on reference being had to tho
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say:—
33.
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for tapping and self-
venting casks, barrels, or other similar vessels, being specially applicablo
for drawing beer or other fermented liquors or liquids from the same
when any apparatus such as or similar to an ordinary "beer engine
or pump is used for that purpose, by the employment of which improved 1
apparatus numerous and important advantages (herein-after mentioned)
are obtained.
The Invention will be more readily understood on reference being
had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the following
description or explanation thereof, that is to say :—
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figure 1 represents. a.
vertical central section of the improved apparatus (full sizo), and Figure
2, a side elevation of the same (½ size) in position and as applied to a
cask or barrel.
1
The apparatus consists of a conical metal tube or tap à enclosing a 2
sliding block tin pipe b, which is provided at its upper end with a
tap a* in connection with the beer engine or other similar pumping
apparatus. When the improved apparatus is applied to a cask or barrel
as shown in Figure 2, the pipe b is adjusted with its bottom end at
any required height in the barrel so as to draw from any desired part. 2
thereof, and is held firmly in such position and air-tight by an india-
rubber ring c or other suitable packing secured by a screw cap or
packing gland d at the top of the tube a. Crossing the tube a and in
onc casting therewith is a second conical tubo e in which a perforated
plug is fitted, through the perforation of which the pipe b passes. a
The plug is provided with an outer squared end g so that it may be
turned on or off when necessary, and is secured in its position by a
screw cap, or by a cap which can be regulated by 3 small screws
passing through into the end of the tube or plug case e so that the
plug may be worked freely. At the smaller end of the tube e is fitted
a self-acting air inlet or venting valve i regulated in its action by a
spiral spring (or other equivalent means) so as to admit sufficient air
into the barrel as the liquid contents is withdrawn to allow of the free

page_text: action of the pump or engine. The valve is secured in position by a
hollow cap, screwed on to its stem 2, and enclosing the spring j, and
is limited in its movements between the inner end of the plug ƒ and
an interior annular projection of the tube e. The spring; bears at
one end against the outer part of another projection y of the tube e
and against the inner part of the cap k, so as to force the same out-
wards and keep the outer face of the valve continually against the
projection, and prevent the entrance of air into the barrel. The
end of the tube e enclosing the spring and cap is formed cylindrically.
It may be here observed however that the whole of the venting part
can be formed separately and screwed into the end of the perforated
plug case or tube e.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The beer engine or pump
being actuated, the beer or other liquid or liquor is withdrawn from
the cask or other vessel, and passes up the pipe b, creating thereby a
partial vacuum in the interior of the cask or vessel. The resistanco
to the pressure of the external air being thereby diminished the latter
as soon as the vacuum is sufficient to allow of its overcoming the
outward pressure of the spring or its equivalent forces the same inwards,
and so opens a communication between the external air and the interior
of the cask, and allows of the necessary amount of air to restore the
equilibrium of the external and internal pressures to rush past the
valve and into the tube e and down between the tube a and the pipe ō
into the cask. When the equilibrium of the pressures is thus restored
the spring or its equivalent is enabled to exert its outward pressure
again, and in so doing forces the venting valve into its original position
until more liquid or liquor is withdrawn from the vessel, when the
operation as above described is repeated.
By the employment of this improved apparatus the following ad-
vantages are obtained:-The casks or other vessels can be set on end
and so remain until emptied by the improved apparatus, thereby
dispensing with the "gantry" arrangement hitherto in use for sup-
porting the barrels when they are laid horizontally; it likewise dispenses
with the necessity for " tilting" and its usual injurious consequences,
and allows of the liquor or liquid being drawn fine throughout, and
as the sliding pipe 6 can be adjusted at any required height in the
barrel, it need never come in contact with the hops or sediment, and -
in hot weather the liquor or liquid being drawn from the lower part

page_text: of the barrels as they stand on the floor is kept cool and so allows the
upper portion as it descends to become cooled in its turn.
The arrangement for venting also being self-acting requires no
attention after the apparatus is applied to the vessel, and so dispenses
with the present system of boring holes in the vessels and inserting 5
pegs therein which require taking out several times (to admit air) during
the drawing of a barrel.
Also with regard to tapping there is a further advantage, the tap a
being hit in vertically (and knocked up tight in the vessel at once)
instead of horizontally as hitherto, so that it is much more casily accom- 1
plished and with much greater safety as there is less chance of any
escape of the beer or other liquid or liquor.
Before the tapping however it is necessary to remove the sliding
pipe b, the screw cap or packing gland d, and the ring c which secure it
in position, and also to turn the perforated plug so as to prevent any 1
escape of the contents of the vessel, after which the tube a is knocked
in the vessel vertically similar to the manner in which ordinary beer'
taps are knocked in horizontally. The pipe 6 (the plug of the tap a*
being first turned off) and the cap d and ring care then replaced and
the plug turned on, after which the cap & ring are secured, the pipe 2
being adjusted as required with its bottom at any height in the vessel,
& the tap a* being then connected to the pipe & & its plug turned
on the apparatus is again set in working order without there having.
· been any escape of the contents of the vessel.
And amongst other advantages may be mentioned the great economy 2
in the space occupied, as according to this system of arranging the
barrels in ordinary sized cellars, ½rd more barrels can be stored
in the same space than if they were laid horizontally as hitherto
usual.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention 3
for "An Improved Apparatus for Tapping and Venting Casks, Barrels,
or other similar Vessels," together with the manner in which the same.
is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I would
remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the improved
apparatus for tapping and self-venting casks, barrels, or other similar
vessels, and its general construction and arrangement substantially as
herein-before described and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of

page_text: Drawings, or any mere modification thereof having the same or a
similar effect.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Shore, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.