Improvements in Vent, Gimlet, and Sampling Taps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vent, Gimlet, and Sampling Taps.
We,
BARON JOHN DAVENPORT, of Falconer Row, Bath Row, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Brewer, and HERBERT WILLIAM PAYNE of the firm of
Payne & Griffiths, Severn Street, Birmingham aforesaid, Brassfounder, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the construction of vent, gimlet and sampling taps,
whereby they are applicable to casks or other vessels for admitting air to the vessel
and withdrawing liquid without waste, and whereby the pressure of gas within
the vessel may be overcome by means of the extra pressure beyond that due to the
atmosphere, which we are enabled to introduce for the purpose of ensuring a steady
flow of liquid from the tap, also for permitting of the escape of gas from the barrel
which has been generated while under seal in a manner superior to the present
system now in common and general use by the insertion of porous plugs.
In carrying our invention into effect we construct a venting gimlet tap applicable
to casks and other vessels having a boring bit, or ordinary gimlet end, the upper
end of which is secured to a tap, valve or cock, having an ordinary wooden or other
manipulating handle for boring the hole by means of the gimlet end. This tap or
cock we provide with a conical plug, having an ordinary flattened or winged end
for manipulation, for controlling the passage or opening within the plug which
communicates with a central hole running down the plug and terminating in a cross
hole in the gimlet portion in the one direction, and which communicates also in the
other direction with a tube or union which we attach to, or form upon the end of
the conical part of the plug. Thus, when the wing head of the plug is turned, it
will make a connection from the atmosphere outside the vessel and the liquid within
it; thereby allowing the gas to escape from within the vessel and the liquid then
to be withdrawn from the tube as desired.
The lower portion of the tap viz. that to which the gimlet is secured, we form
as a taper plug to effectually scal and close the hole made by the gimlet, in boring,
so that no liquid shall escape except from the tube. The handle we attach to the
end of the tap body by means of a nut and screw, or by any ordinary well known
contrivance. Sometimes we form the tapered portion at the gimlet head as a
screwed surface instead of a plain plug.
When constructing a long adjustable boring plug for allowing the communication
to be made with the liquid below its upper surface, and thus to obtain a sample
from the body of the liquid instead of from the head or surface of the same, we
arrange the boring bit or gimlet upon a sliding tube, which tube has its central hole
drilled into from the outside near to the gimlet end, while the air inlet we provide
for by inserting a smaller tube preferably within the outer tube, and cause the end
of this small inner tube to be attached to the outer tube, and a small hole there
made at a point above the liquid inlet to air tube so that the air forces down the
surface of the liquid causing it to flow up the tube, and thereby to be sampled.
Instead of a small internal air tube we sometimes drill a hole down the solid rod
which carries the gimlet, which hole leads to the surface of the liquid, while
another hole passes lower down to the body of the liquid.
For convenience in attachment to the barrel we sometimes provide a separate
gland plug which we secure to the barrel, and through which we pass the tube
carrying bit, so that the liquid shall not escape up the side of the tube when it is
being drawn up and down to suit the varying heights of the liquid within the

page_text: vessel. The tap and connection at the head or top of the tube being arranged as
before described for our improved venting plug.
To render our improved tap and sampling tube as strong as possible, and, at the
same time, to allow of its being made delicate enough for wine or other sampling,
where a small tube only is required, we protect the tube by means of an outer
case or guard, the tap being placed at the upper portion of this guard, and the
handle for boring the hole and manipulating the sampler, we attach preferably to
the guard, so that no damage shall result by twisting the smaller or delicate tube.
This case too we sometimes allow to enter the barrel the liquid being prevented
from escaping by means of a washer which bears against the surface of the vessel.
The guard or case we also form with a conical surface either screwed or plain at
one portion for entering the cask or vessel and thus preventing escape of the
liquid, or we attach a guard to the gland nut as before described, and manipulate
it in the same manner.
Dated this 10th day of March 1891.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vent, Gimlet, and Sampling Taps.
We, BARON JOHN DAVENPORT, of Falconer Row, Bath Row, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Brewer, and HERBERT WILLIAM PAYNE, of the firm of
Payne & Griffiths, Severn Street, Birmingham, aforesaid, Brassfounder, 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 :-
Our invention relates to the construction of vent, gimlet and sampling taps,
whereby they are applicable to casks or other vessels for admitting air to the
vessel and withdrawing liquid without waste, and whereby the pressure of gas
within the vessel may be overcome by means of the extra pressure beyond that
due to the atmosphere, which we are enabled to introduce for the purpose of
ensuring a steady flow of liquid from the tap, also for permitting of the escape of
gas from the barrel which has been generated while under seal, in a manner
superior to the present system now in common and general use by the insertion
porous plugs.
of
In order that our invention may be understood we append hereunto 3 sheets of
explanatory drawings.
In carrying our invention into effect we construct a venting gimlet tap as set
forth in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings applicable to casks and other vessels,
having a boring bit A, or ordinary gimlet end, the upper end of which is secured
to a tap, valve or cock B, having an ordinary wooden or other manipulating
handle C, for boring the hole by means of the gimlet end. This tap or cock we
provide with a conical plug E, having an ordinary flattened or winged end E¹ for
manipulation, for controlling the passage or opening e within the plug which
communicates with a central hole d running down the plug and terminating in
a cross hole in the gimlet portion in the one direction, and which communicates
also in the other direction with a tube or union F which we attach to, or form
upon the end of the conical part of the plug. Thus, when the wing head of the plug
is turned, it will make a connection from the atmosphere outside the vessel and the
liquid within it; thereby allowing the gas to escape from within the vessel and the
liquid then to be withdrawn from the tube as desired. We carry the hole d right
through the upper portion at & for enabling a wire to be introduced for cleaning.
purposes. The lower portion of the tap ri.-that to which the gimlet is secured,
we form as a taper plug D to effectually seal and close the hole made by the

page_text: gimlet A in boring, so that no liquid shall escape except from the tube or
passages d
The handle C we attach to the end of the tap body by means
of a nut and screw or by any ordinary well known appliance. Sometimes we
form the tapered portion D at the gimlet head as a screwed surface instead
of a plain plug.
When constructing a long adjustable boring plug for allowing the communication
to be made with the liquid below its upper surface, and thus to obtain a sample from
the body of the wine or other liquid instead of from the head or surface of the same,
we arrange the boring bit or gimlet A upon a sliding tube Gas shown in Fig. 2 the
tube has its central hole g drilled into from the outside near to the gilet end,
while the air outlet we provide for by inserting a smaller tube G¹ preferably within
the outer tube, and cause the end G³ of this small inner tube to be attached to the
outer tube, and a small hole then made at a point above the liquid inlet to the air
tube, so that the air or the pressure introduced at K by blowing or by means of
a connection from a pressure pump forces down the surface of the liquid causing
it to flow up the tube, and thereby to be sampled. Instead of a small internal
air tube we sometimes drill a hole down the solid rod which carries the gimlet,
which hole leads to the surface of the liquid, while another hole passes lower
down to the body of the liquid.
For convenience in attachment to the barrel we sometimes provide a separate
gland plug H and gland nut H' which we secure to the barrel, and through which
we pass the tube G carrying the bit A, so that the liquid shall not escape up the
side of the tube when it is being drawn up and down to suit the varying heights
of the liquid within the vessel. The tap and connection at the head or top of
the tube being arranged as before described for my improved venting plug.
To render our improved tap and sampling tube as strong as possible, and, at the
same time, to allow of its being made delicate enough for wine or other sampling,.
where a small tube only is required, we construct one form of our tap as illustrated
in Fig. 3 whereby the tube is protected by means of an outer case or guard L L
the tap E with its air and liquid branches K F attached as in Fig. 2 being placed
at the upper portion of this guard; the handle C for boring the hole and for
manipulating the sampler being attached preferably to the guard, so that no
damage shall result by twisting the smaller or delicate tube G. We sometimes
allow the case to enter the barrel the liquid being prevented from escaping by
means of a washer which bears against the surface of the vessel. The guard or
case we however prefer to form with a conical surface H either screwed or plain at
one portion for entering the cask or vessel, and thus preventing escape of the liquid,
or we attach a guard to the gland nut Has before described, and manipulate it
in the same manner. Fig. 4 is a section through the guard showing the tap in
section together with its side guiding ribs E2, E within the grooves of the guard.
Fig. 5 is a section through the guard at X Y showing the guiding grooves L' L'
and the tube G in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The construction and arrangement of vent taps, gimlet taps, and sampling
taps, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction of taps or cocks for application to gimlets or gimlet tubes,
having double passages therein for independent air and liquid supply and delivery
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The construction of sampling taps and appliances having sliding tubes or
passages for permitting air to be delivered to the upper portion of a vessel and
liquid to be taken from a lower portion of the same vessel, substantially as

page_text: herein before described and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 10th day of December 1891.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.