Improvements in Champagne and Aerated Water Taps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1893-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Champagne and Aerated Water Taps.
I JOSEPH FARRAR, of 3, Caskgate Street, Gainsborough, in the County of
Lincolnshire, Doctor of Medicine 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 improvements in champagne and aerated water taps
(and which I intend to call "Silver Wing" tap) and is of the kind in which a
hollow screwed stem or shank is provided for screwing into the cork of the bottle
and formed with holes for the passage of the liquid therethrough. The top of this
stem or shank is provided with a handle, similar to that used in an ordinary
corkscrew for screwing it into the cork and also for withdrawing the cork when
necessary.
This handle is hollow and has screwed into it at one end a short cylindrical
head-piece into which is also screwed a spindle fitted with a rubber-disc acting as
a valve at its forward end its other end being provided with a handle for screwing
the spindle in or out so as to close or open a passage leading from the hollow
stem or shank, thus shutting off or permitting the escape of the liquid contained
in the bottle. The aforesaid short cylindrical head-piece is hollow at the top and
has a gland screwed into it thereby forming a stuffing box, the said gland at the
same time acting as a support for the end of the spindle, and by means of which
the outward movement of the spindle can be regulated. The said head-piece may
further be provided with a rubber washer through which the spindle passes, but
this is only added as an extra precaution and niay be dispensed with if desired.
And in order more fully to understand my said invention and the manner of
carrying it into practical effect I will describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a general view of my improved tap, and Fig. 2 is a section to an
enlarged scale of the upper part or handle thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view
showing a modification, Fig. 4 is a front end view and Fig. 5 a view at an
enlarged scale of a special form of screw thread.
a is the hollow screwed stem or shank provided with holes or orifices a¹ for the
passage of the liquid.
The handle is formed partly hollow as shown in Fig. 2. and into the upper end
of which is screwed a short cylindrical head-piece carrying at its inner end a
rubber washer d acting as additional packing for the spindle e passing therethrough.
The said spindle is formed with a screw thread e' screwing in'o the inner end of
the head piece e and which with the assistance of the washer and packing p
(which may consist of asbestos, india-rubber or any other suitable substance)
prevents the escape of gas or liquid past the spindle. The forward end of the
spindle is fitted with a rubber disc or block acting as a valve for opening or
closing communication between the hollow stem a and an exit passage g.
The disc
or block is secured in a socket capable of turning easily upon the end of the
spindle e in order to prevent friction when operating the said spindle. The other
end of the spindle is supported by the gland i screwed into the end of the head-
piece c and which can be adjusted so as to limit the outward movement of the
spindle by the enlarged screwed portion e' butting against the end of the said
gland i this end of the spindle being provided with a handle k for the purpose of
operating it.
The top of the body or handle is provided with a flangen, a rubber washer m
being placed between it and the flanged top of the head-piece c or the flange n

page_text: may be dispensed with and the washer placed between the end of the body b and
the head-piece c.
In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the gland i is dispensed with and a series of
packing-washers d¹ surrounding the spindle are carried in the inner end of the
head-piece c, the spindle in this case screwing into the outer end of the said
head-piece.
Fig. 4 is an end view in which the opening for the passage of the liquid is
shown at the body being shown at b. Fig. 5 shows the form of screw which I
prefer to use, in which it will be seen that I use a cone shaped thread. The holes
which are counter sunk are formed in the lower or thinnest part of the cone the
object being to have the least possible pressure against the thread at the part
where the holes are situated when passing it through a cork, and thus to prevent
the holes frome being plugged or stopped up by the pieces of cork which may be
scraped off when inserting the tap.
By means of my invention all waste of the liquid and dripping of the tap is
prevented, it is very simple, and easy of application, and admits of perfect control
of the liquid not a drop escaping without the wish of the operator, the slightest
turn of spindle handle being sufficient to release or cut off the liquid and in the
unlikely event of anything getting out of order the tap can be readily taken to
pieces and rectified.
In the event of the liquid not being sufficiently charged with gas the cork of
the bottle containing it can be withdrawn by means of the said tap, the latter acting
in this case as an ordinary corkscrew, and the bottle recharged.
There being also no loose parts, there is consequently nothing to lose; it is also
neat and compact in appearance and combining lightness with strength.
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. The improved tap for champagne and aerated waters consisting in the
combination of the hollow perforated screwed stem or shank a and the hollow or
chambered handle 6 head-piece c, stuffing box p, screwed spindle e rubber block
or valve f, socket h, passage 9, gland i and operating handle k substantially as
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. The modification as shown and described with reference to Fig. 3 of the
drawings.
3. The improved tap substantially as described and shown and for the purpose
specified.
2
1
1000