US2083866A - Barrel tapping means - Google Patents

Description

June15,1937.` f F; E, RICE 2,083,866

BARREL TAPPING MEANS Filed May 6, l1935 Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES access BARREL TAPPING MEANS Frank E. Rice, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Ameri'- can Bush Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1935, Serial No. 20,010

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tappet and more particularly to a system of dispensing small amounts of the contents of barreled liquids, such as beer.

There are in favor at the present time pony or eighths barrels or kegs, for sale to consumers, such as householders, who prefer draft beer, but who cannot readily handle and accommodate full sized barrels. Such small barrels and kegs are equipped with various and sundry discharge means of many different kinds and constructions.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a dispensing system wherein a removable faucet structure is utilized in conjunction l5 with a novel bushing structure applied to barrels by the barrel manufacturers. The faucet structure is purchased by the consumer and retained by him for application to such barrels or kegs as he may purchase from time to time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a two part separable bushing structure, for barrels, having one part providing uid passageway and containing stopper means for controlling fluid flow through the passageway.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a two part separable bushing structure having one part providing a fluid passageway and containing stopper means for controlling fluid ilow through the passageway and also provided with means for connection with a source of air or gas pressure to supply pressure within a barrel.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bushing having a wrench operable stopper and a separable faucet structure appli- 35 cable to the bushing structure and having wrench means for actuating the stopper.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide novel stopper means for tap bushes whereby the usual cork may be elimi- 40 nated.

The invention has for an additional object the provision of a tap bush having self-contained stopper means operable at will for opening or closing the bush to fluid flow.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a combined bush structure and draught tube construction wherein the tube is permanently connected to the bush structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing system for beer barrels and the like, including a combined bush structure and draught tube construction wherein the tube is permanently connected to the bush structure and 55 wherein a removable faucet structure may be (Cl. 22S-3) applied to the bush for dispensing the barrel contents.

Another and yet further object of the present invention is to provide a bored bush part with an axially movable stopper within the bore for controlling fluid flow.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bush and faucet structure which may be economically manufactured, which is simple in operation, and which is constructed for long and continued use.

Generally speaking, the bushing structure is constructed so that by removal of one part, access may be had to the interior or" a barrel for applying pitch to the interior, as well as means for filling the barrel at a brewery. The removable part has a bore for fluid passage, with a self-contained stopper movable within the bore, for opening or closing said passage to uid ow. The stopper is actuated by wrench means constituting part of the faucet structure. The bushing structure has no part projecting above the plane of the barrel head, so that any suitable seal, such, for instance, as a revenue stamp, may be applied over the bush structure after the barrel has been filled and is ready for sale. 'I'he seal has to be destroyed when the faucet structure is applied to the bush structure for use.

The above, other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, accompanying drawing, and appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of the dispensing system of the present invention, and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure l is a vertical, central or axial sectional view, through a bush structure and faucet structure, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing certain parts in elevation, and with the stopper means in position to close fluid flow through the bushing structure.

Figure 2 is a vertical or axial section through the bushing structure of the present invention showing the draught tube, and stopper, in elevation.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line III-111 of Figure l, and

Figure 4 is a fragmental sectional View through a portion of a wooden barrel showing, in place, a bushing structure of the present invention thereto applied.

The drawing will now be explained.

The illustrated form of bushing structure includes two parts or members, one part A, the outer part or member, and the inner removable part or member B. The outer part A, in the form illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is adapted to be welded to the head I of a metal barrel in which a suitable opening has been made for the bushing. The outer part A has a central opening of considerable extent and of sufficient size so that access to the interior of a barrel may be had when the inner part B is removed, for applying pitch to the interior of the barrel. The outer part A has its central opening threaded for a portion of its length as at 2 and with a portion; defining a flange 3 of less diameter than the threaded opening, thus providing an annular shoulder 4.

The inner part or member B is formed with a portion 5 which is bored with bores of varying diameters and which projects beyond the inner surface of the cuter member A of the bush. The intermediate bore B is of greatest length and communicates at its upper end with a larger bore 7 which is interiorly threaded to receive a cooperating threaded portion 8 of a faucet structure, designated generally as C. The intermediate bore 6 communicates with a smaller bore 8 which in turn communicates with alarger bore IG in which is secured the upper end of a draught tube II. The junction of the bores 6 and 9 forms a shoulder i2 which constitutes a valve seat, within the inner part B. The inner part B is threaded to engage the threads of the bore 2 of the outer part A and connects these parts together. A sealing washer or gasket I3 is interposed between the inner and outer parts B and A respectively and rests on the annular flange 3 of the outer part A. The inner part B is further provided with a bore I4 to receive an air valve member I5. An angular bore I 6 communicates with the bore I4 and opens through a side of the inner part B so that air or gas, under pressure, may be admitted to the interior of the barrel when desired. Normally, the valve I 5 is closed by a cap II which may be removed for application to the air valve structure of a hose or other suitable pressure supply connection.

Preferably the inner member B may be cored, as at 58 to reduce the weight of this part.

The bore 6, is threaded at I8 near its upper end, that is, near its junction with the larger bore l.

A plug designated generally as D has an enlarged intermediate portion I9 which is exteriorly threaded to engage the threads I8 of the bore S. The plug D has a hollow interior 20 for a portion of its length, opening' through the upper end of the plug. The plug also has openings 2I serving as communication means between the hollow interior of the plug and its exterior. The lower portion 22 of the plug is counter-bored at 23 to receive a stopper 24, which is supported in the portion 22 of the plug by means of a pin 25, which at its lower end has a head 26 for resting against the lower extremity of the stopper and its upper end is bored to receive a pin 2.1 which secures the pin 25 in place in the plug. The outer diameter of the portion 22 of the plug is less than the diameter of the bore 6 so that fluid passing upwardly from the draught tube II may circulate around the stopper 24 and enter the openings 2I in the plug then pass upwardly through the hollow interior 28, and outwardly through the faucet structure;

The upper extremity of the plug D, on its exterior, is provided with a wrench fit, such as the hexagonal end 28.

The faucet structure C includes a discharge tube 23, formed as a continuation of the part 8 of the faucet structure and is preferably curved so as to discharge the contents of a barrel downwardly into a suitable receptacle such as a glass, stein, or pitcher. The part 8 and the discharge tube 23 may be integrally formed, as by drawing, or, if desired, may be made of separate parts suitably connected to each other. The part 8 of the faucet structure is preferably of greater diameter than the tube 2S and has a hollow interior 30 in which is carried a wrench 3| supported on the lower end of an actuating rod 32, suitably supported in the faucet structure and illustrated as extending through a portion of the tube 29 of the structure. The wrench 3| is secured to the rod 32 by means of a suitable fastening means, such for instance, as a pin 32. The wrench 3I has a hood portion 33 shaped to fit over the wrench fit end 28 of the plug D, in the present instance a hexagonal hood constituting acap wrench. The hood is apertured as at 34 so thatfluid contents fromthe barrel may escape from the hollow interior 2U of the plug B, outwardly through the wrench 3i and into the discharge tube 29.

The upper end of the rod 132 is secured in the faucet structure C by means of a packing 35 and a gland nut 36 to prevent escape of fluid alongthe rod 32. A convenient handle or wheel 37, is secured to the outer end of the rod 32 as by a pin 38. The rod 32 is loosely supported within the faucet structure C, so as to be axially movable to iit the wrench 3| over the wrench end 28 of the plug D, as the faucet structure C is applied to the bushing for use. Preferably, the portion 8 of the faucet structure is threaded so as to be threaded into the bore l of the inner part B of the bushing structure for connecting the faucet structure to the bushing structure.

When it is desired to fill a barrel provided with a bush structure of the present invention, the stopper 24 may be moved away from the seat I2 by a suitable wrench applied over the extremity 2S of the plug D and the plug rotated in the direction to move the stopper from its seat whereupon beer or other liquids may be supplied to the barrel through the plug D. If on the other hand, this is not rapid enough, the plug may be entirely removed or else, if desired, the inner part B may be removed from the outer part A thus affording a larger opening for filling. In any event before the barrel has been filled the stopper 24 is moved against the seat I2 by a suitable wrench supplied to the plug D and the bushing sealed by means of a revenue stamp or other seal 38 pasted over the entire bushing structure. This is possible inasmuch. as no part of the bushing structure projects beyond the plane of the head I of the barrel, that is, beyond the plane defined by the upper margins of the outer part A of the bushingstructure. Figure 2 shows such a seal applied over the bushing structure of the present invention.

When it is desired to use the dispensing system of the present invention to withdraw beer from a barrel, the faucet structure C is applied to the bushing structure by screwing the part 8 of the faucet structure into the threaded bore 1 of the bushing structure. The handle 3'I is manipulated so that the wrench 3| ts over the en'd 28 of the plug D whereupon the plug D is given a rotation in the direction to withdraw the stopper 24. from against its seat I2.A If there is insufficient pressure within the barrel, additional pressure may be'created by applying an air pump to the nipple I or connecting a source of gas pressure to the nipple for creation of pressure within the barrel suiiicient to force the contents up through the tube I I and out through the discharge tube 29 into a receptacle held at the end of the discharge tube. After the receptacle has been filled, the handle Sl is rotated in the opposite direction to move the plug D to seat the stopper 24- and thus close fluid passageway through the bush. This operation may be repeated as many times as there are receptacles to be lled and until the contents of the barrel are wholly exhausted.

The draught tube Il extends toward and terminates closely adjacent the bottom of the barrel so as to withdraw from the barrel substantially all of its contents. After the barrel has been emptied, the faucet structure C is removed by unscrewing the portion 8 from the inner part B of the bushing structure whereupon the barrel may be returned to the brewery for reuse. The householder retains in his possession the faucet structure C to use on other barrels of beer that he may, from time to time, purchase.

It will be observed that the dispensing structure of the present invention is one which is simple in design, economical to manufacture, and highly eiiicient in use. The present invention eliminates the need for the usual cork employed in tap bushes, as at the present, thus doing away with having to force the cork into the barrel as is common practice at the present time.

The fact that the bushing structure of the present invention is self-contained enables its use on any and all kinds and types of barrels, such as steel and wood, to make available for instant use a faucet structure of the lpresent invention.

Figure 4 illustrates the adaptation of the bushing structure of the present invention to a wooden barrel. There a head 35i of a wooden barrel is provided with a suitable aperture in which is threaded the outer member A of a two part bushing structure of the present invention. The inner part B is constructed as the part heretofore described, and everything else is the same as heretofore described.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A dispensing system for tapping beer barrels and the like including a bushing structure and a faucet structure, said bushing structure comprising two separable parts, one of which is provided with a central opening of substantial size, the other of which is removably arranged in said opening, said other part having a central bore and supporting a draught tube communicating with said bore, a stopper movable in said bore to open and close communication between said bore and tube, a plug threaded in said bore and connected to said stopper and rotatable for actuating it in the manner stated, said plug having a hollow interior above the stopper and having means providing ilow communication with the interior from the exterior of the plug, said plug being normally disposed to close communication between the tube and bore, said faucet structure adapted to be applied to said bushing and being provided with a delivery tubey adapted to receive fluid from the barrel when the stopper is moved away from closing position, said faucet structure having wrench means engageable with said plug to i actuate it to open and close communication between the tube and bore, said wrench means having means for flow passage therethrough, and handle means on said faucet structure for actuating said plug by said wrench means.

2. A tap bush structure for beer or like barrels comprising separable outer and inner members which are threaded together in relatively immovable relationship for normal use, said inner member having a shouldered bore through it for fluid passage, a stopper within said bore and movable against and away from said shoulder for controlling fluid flow, a plug within said bore and carrying said stopper and in threaded engagement with said bore to move said stopper as said plug is rotated, said plug having an end adapted for a wrench fit, said plug being hollow through said end and having provision for fluid flow oommunication between the hollow interior thereof and the exterior of said plug below said end, and a spout structure applicable to said bush having a discharge spout and carrying a wrench for engaging said plug, the portion of said wrench engaging said plug being apertured to afford fluid flow communication between the hollow interior oi" said plug and said discharge spout, and means carried by said spout structure for manual operation of said wrench and plug.

FRANK E. RICE.

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