Improvements in the Construction of or in connection with Casks and Barrels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of or in connection with Casks
and Barrels.
I, CHARLES COLDICOTT of Summer Place, North Barbourne, in the County of
Worcester, Gentleman, 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 :-
"2
My invention relates to, or is in connection with the construction of such casks
and barrels as are destined to contain liquids, or fluid substances such for instance as
beer, wine, vinegar, molasses, treacle, syrup or the like, the object of which is to
provide a means for and a method of automatically preventing the cask or barrel,
constructed or provided with the attachments forming the subject of my invention,
from becoming unsweet or inusty after use and to guard against what is technically
known as stinkers that is to say, a cask or barrel constructed in the manner
hitherto adopted will, in a very short time after being emptied, and the tap withdrawn
become musty by reason of the decomposition of such of its late contents as remains
adhering to, or impregnating the substance of the cask, or barrel, and in some trades,
notably brewers and wine growers. casks or barrels in this condition are dubbed
"stinkers" by reason of their offensive odour, and such casks or barrels are usually
condemned as unfit for further use, or at least for a similar purpose as it has been
found in practice that any amount of cleansing, even to steaming will not render them
sweet again, fit for a like purpose. This would be avoided if, immediately after
emptying such casks the apertures therein, such as the tap and vent holes were
closed so as to exclude air, and to attain this automatically forms the subject of my
present invention.
With a view to rendering the description hereinafter contained, and the manner of
operating my invention more easily understood I have appended the accompanying
sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a front view of a chamber or box constructed by me for attaching to the
inside of a cask or barrel during the building or reconstruction thereof.
Fig. 2, is a section of a bung or shive forming part of my invention for ventilating
the cask or barrel when in use.
Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1 with part of outer casing removed to shew the
internal arrangement thereof prior to the insertion of the tap.
Fig. 4 is a section of same taken upon the line A B Fig. 1 with tap inserted.
Fig. 5 is an end and side view respectively of the internal perforated tube, the
manner of operating the several parts being fully described in and by the following
statement, similar letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts
throughout the drawings.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a chamber or box A preferably
circular in cross section one end of which is attached to a plate B by any suitable
means, but generally by nuts a screwed upon four or more projections formed upon
the end of A, suitable packing being interposed where necessary so as to form a
fluid and air tight junction between A and B. The opposite end of A has a circular
hole formed in the centre thereof surrounded externally by a projecting flange b.
Within the chamber A 1 provide a tube more particularly shown by Fig. 5, upon
one end of which, or forming part thereof is a plate or shutter D of sufficient
diameter to cover an opening e in the centre of B, and form a fluid tight junction
therewith. The opposite end of C passes freely through the circular hole in A
previously mentioned, and carries upon the end thereof a cork, india rubber, leather
or other suitable washer E and cap or disc F which are held in position by a nut d
screwed upon a threaded projection e upon the end of C. A suitable number of

page_text: .
holes are bored or otherwise formed in Ceither at one end as shewn by Figs. 4
and 5 or at both ends as at Fig. 3. the alternative method being shewn by dotted
circles for purposes to be hereinafter fully explained. Within the case A I
provide two rods G and H one end of each of which is fastened to the case A by
any suitable means, the opposite end passes through holes g formed in D and act as
guides therefor, and continuing on pass through holes formed in B, and upon the
projecting ends are screwed nuts which serve the double purpose of tightening G
and H. and rendering more perfect the junction of A and B. Within the case Å
and surrounding C I place a spiral spring the tension of which keeps D in close
contact with, and covering the opening c in B, and E in close contact with and
covering the flange forming the opening in A, and with a view to prevent leakage
and further insure the exclusion of air I may face D at the point of junction with B
with a leather or other washer to facilitate this. Or I may in certain cases dispense
with the spring i and put spiral springs m and a surrounding G and H as shewn in
Fig. 3, for the same purpose. The apparatus thus formed is attached to the inside
of a cask or barrel, and covering the tap hole formed therein, by means of screws
or bolts passing through holes a formed in the plate B, suitable packing being
interposed between the cask and. B to render the junction air and fluid tight. When
the nuts and a project beyond the face of B as shewn in the drawings suitable
recesses must be provided in the cask to receive these, or recesses may be formed
in B to receive said nuts so that they are flush with the face of B when screwed
home. In cases where an ordinary tap is used the holes only and not the holes f
are used in C, and a hole o is formed in D.
A cask or barrel provided with the apparatus according to my invention as
described, can be filled with fluid and be perfectly tight in so far as regards the
tap hole, until the tap K be driven therein as shewn by Fig. 3 which pressing
against D causes it to recede within A guided by G and H. and the consequent
movement of separates E and and permits the passage of the fluid or liquor
through, Cand o to the tap K. I may in certain cases dispense with the hole o
in D and provide holes in C and use a tap K similar to that shewn at Fig. 3 the
end of which is blocked, and in lieu thereof I provide a number of smaller holes P,
so that when inserted within the cask or barrel and in contact with D as shewn by
Fig. 3 the fluid may enter and pass through and to the interior of K, and
upon the accidental removal of K the plate or shutter D immediately closes upon B,
and E upon, and so prevents waste of the contents of the cask, and when the
cask is empty and K intentionally removed the same action of D and E upon B
and keeps the cask perfectly air tight, and consequently perfectly sweet, for an
almost indefinite period.
In casks or barrels as hitherto made and used the manner of providing the
necessary ventilation has been by boring a hole somewhere in the cask and
inserting a vent peg therein, and if this be accidentally left out after drawing
from the cask the contents is liable to deterioration, and to guard against this 1
construct a bung or shive L as shewn in section by Fig. 2. This may be an
ordinary bung or shive provided with a central bore 9 and a recess a spindle s
passes through upon one end of which is a cover and upon the other end a
similar but smaller cover u, kept in close contact with L by means of a spring w
fixed thereto. The distance between and u being slightly in excess of the
length of 9, a slight depression of t within permits sufficient ventilation
through and the consequent opening between u and L to serve the purpose
needed, and the moment the depression is removed from t, u automatically closes
by the tension of w until again needed for the same purpose. The top of t being
flush with or slightly below the upper surface of L, the filled cask may be rolled
in the usual way without loss of any of its contents.
By the adaptation of my invention to the inside of casks or barrels during the con-
struction thereof and in the manner described, entirely prevents said casks, or barrels
becoming musty when empty, as all air is automatically excluded and the cask or
barrel thereby kept sweet for an almost unlimited period.

page_text: 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 :-
First In the construction of casks or barrels, the use and application of my
invention and the manner of and means for attaching same to existing casks or
barrels substantially as described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Second-In connection with casks or barrels the construction and use of a
chamber or box A in combination with a plate B, and opening flange b, a tube C
with perforations fa plate or shutter D with hole o the washer E and cap F,
and rods G and H and spring i substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and shewn by Figs. 1, 4, and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Third ln connection with casks or barrels the construction and use of a
chamber or box A in connection with the parts B, C, D, b, f, G, H, E, F, e, and d
as' set out in the preceding claim in combination with springs m and n and
perferations and tap K with blocked end and perforations p, substantially as
and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn by Figs. 1 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
Fourth In connection with casks or barrels the construction and use of an
automatic ventilating bung or shive L provided with bore 9 spindle 8 with
covers and and spring w substantially as described and for the purposes
herein set forth and shewn by Fig. 2 of the appended drawings.
Datal thin 10:1 ...
1900
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.