IMPROVEMENTS IN BARRELS FOR BEER AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smedley, of Burton-on-Trent, Brewer's Manager,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BARRELS FOR BEER AND OTHER
LIQUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smedley at thọ
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1881.
WILLIAM SMEDLEY, of Burton on Trent, Brewer's Manager. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BARRELS FOR BEER AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
This Invention of improvements in barrels for beer and other liquids relates to
the method and means to prevent the barrels or casks becoming spoilt when the
beer is drawn off and the tap taken out from want of corking by carelessness, or
from not having a cork at hand to close the opening from whence the tap has been
taken out, the consequence of such neglect being that the cask inside becomes spoilt
and stinking, which it would not do if the opening had been properly corked as
soon as the tap had beon withdrawn.
This Invention provides at hand and ready for use the proper sized cork for the
opening. I construct a brass cup similar to a hat with a flange or rim, the cup
just holding the proper sized cork. I bore in the cask head, sufficiently deep, but
not through it, a hole to take the cup, the flange then resting on the head is screwed
or nailed on it. In the bottom of the cup I also insert a short worm screw or
cork screw, or the cup itself may be screwed with an internal screw to hold the
cork, and the proper sized cork being inserted in the cup is screwed on to the screw
or screwed into the cup when that is screwed. When home, the cork projects about
half of its depth, which is sufficient for taking hold of to unscrew to take out of
the cup, and it is always ready at hand to insert in the place of the tap when the
cask has been emptied.
The projection of the chimes of the cask protect the portion of the cork protruding
from the cup and prevent it being knocked off or broken, and the cork is securely
held till wanted; the cup may be made deeper and even project through into the
barrel, but it would necessitate packing the flange to prevent the cask leaking, and
the metal projecting into the cask would require some covering to prevent it doing
harm to the liquid.
In casks fitted in this manner and with a cork the exact size always at hand,
there will be no excuse for neglect in closing the aperture from whence the tap has
been taken.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Smedley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
March 1882.
WILLIAM SMEDLEY, of Burton on Trent, Brewer's Manager.
IN BARRELS FOR BEER AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention of improvements in barrels for beer and other liquids, relates to
the method and means to prevent the barrels or casks becoming spoilt when the
beer is drawn off and the tap taken out from want of corking, by carelessness, or
from not having a cork at hand to close the opening from whence the tap has been
taken out, the consequence of such neglect being that the cask inside becomes spoilt
and stinking, which it would not do if the opening had been properly corked as
soon as the tap had been withdrawn.
This Invention provides a receptacle at hand, and in which ready for use can be
placed the proper sized cork for the opening. I construct a brass or other metal
cup similar to a hat, with a flange or rim, the cup just holding the proper sized
cork. I bore in the cask head, sufficiently deep, but not through it, a hole to take
the cup, the flange then resting on the head is screwed on it. In the bottom of
the cup I also insert a short wormn screw or cork screw, or the cup itself may be
secured with an internal screw to hold the cork, and the proper sized cork being
inserted in the cup is screwed on to the screw or screwed into the cup when that
is screwed. When home, the cork projects about half of its depth, which is
sufficient for taking-hold-of-to-unscrew-to-take-out_of_the_cup, and it is always
-ready-at-hand-to insert in the place of the tap when the cask has been emptied.
The projections of the chimes of the cask protect the portion of-the-cork-
protruding from the cup and prevent it being knocked off or broken, and the
cork is securely held till wanted; the cup may be made deeper and even project
through into the barrel, but it would necessitate packing the flange to prevent the
cask leaking, and the metal projecting into the cask would require some covering
to prevent it doing harn to the liquid.
In casks fitted in this manner and with a cork the exact size always at hand,
there will be no excuse for neglect in closing the aperture from whonce the tap has
been taken.
In the Drawings forming part of this Specification, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, show view
from below, section view, the cask head in section, and view from above of one
form of cup to hold the cork. The head of the cask in section. In this form the
cup is fitted with a screw upon which the proper sized cork, just sufficient for
the tap hole, is to be screwed.
In Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, are shewn similar Drawings of the other variety with an
internal screw for holding the cork, the cup might also be made plain, trusting to
the compression of the cork when forced into the cup as being suflicient to hold it.
The flange of the cup may be nailed, or screwed, or rivetted to the head of the
cask, or it may have a slight outside thread cut on or cast with it by which it can
be firmly held into the receptacle in the cask head made for it.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,―
The cup, substantially as described and applied to a cask for holding an ordinary
cork for closing the tap hole when required.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smedley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.