GB2076380A

GB2076380A - Cask vent plug

Info

Publication number: GB2076380A
Application number: GB8114647A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Glover William & Co Ltd
Current assignee: Glover William & Co Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-16
Filing date: 1981-05-13
Publication date: 1981-12-02

Abstract

A cask vent plug which is particularly intended for use in association with a shive for venting a cask of beer or other liquid comprises a synthetic resin sheath (10) which is externally tapered on its exterior and which has an axially extending bore (11) in which a filter (14) is disposed, said filter being preferably formed of cellulose acetate or paper and being arranged to permit air or other gases to pass through the plug. The plug may have a flange 12, as shown, or a splined portion (21), Figure 3 (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cask vent plug This invention relates to a cask vent plug or spile which is especially intended for use in venting a cask or barrel of a liquid such as beer, the object of the invention being to provide an improved form of cask vent plug.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a cask vent plug which comprises an outer externally tapered sheath which is formed of a synthetic resin material and which has an axially extending bore, together with a filter which is disposed within the bore and which in use permits air or other gases to pass through the plug.

The exterior of the sheath is preferably knurled or splined at its larger end and the latter may have an integrally formed radially outwardly projecting flange. Conveniently, the sheath is formed of moulded polyethylene material or other synthetic resin material and the filter may be formed of cellulose acetate or any other suitable material, such as paper.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figures 1 and 2 are respectively an elevation and sectional view of one example of a cask vent plug -in accordance with the invention, and Figures 3 and 4 are respectively an elevation and sectional view of another example of a cask vent plug in accordance with the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 the example of a cask vent plug shown therein comprises an outer externally tapered sheath 10 which is mouldedfrom polyethylene or any other suitable synthetic resin material. Said sheath 10 is formed in the moulding with an axially extending bore 11 (see Figure 2) and the larger end of the sheath is formed with an outwardly projecting flange 12 which is formed around its outer periphery with knurling or splines 13.

The plug also embodies a filter 14 which may be formed from cellulose acetate material or any other suitable material, the filter being formed as a generally cylindrical plug having an external diameter which corresponds with the internal diameter of said bore 11. Furthermore said bore 11 is undercut at the larger end of the sheath to provide an annular shoulder indicated by reference numeral 15 which serves to prevent the filter 14 from being pushed through the sheath after it has been inserted into said bore from the smaller end of the sheath.

Figures 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention but again there is provided an outer sheath 16 which is externally tapered overthe greater part of its length and which is formed with an axially extending bore 17 in which is inserted a filter 18 which at one end engages an annular shoulder 19 formed at one end of said bore. The sheath 16 may be conveniently moulded from polyethylene or any other suitable synthetic resin and the filter 18 may be formed of cellulose acetate material as before. However in this case the sheath 16, instead of having a flange at its larger end, is formed with a generally cylindrical portion 20 which has knurling or splines 21 formed at its outer periphery.

A cast vent plug constructed in accordance with the present invention is adapted to be used in conjunction with a shive which comprises a larger plug which in use is fitted into whole formed in a cask or barrel, said larger plug having a tapered central bore which is adapted to receive the tapered portion of the sheath 10 or 16. Commonly the shive may be formed of wood such as oak and the taper in its central bore wouid correspond generally with the taper of said sheath so that when the cask vent plug in accordance with the present invention is inserted into a shive, an effective seal can be formed between the shive and the cask vent plug.However the presence of the filter 14 or 18 permits gases such as carbon dioxide to be vented from the cask or barrel or conversely which permits air to pass into the cask or barrel from the atmosphere if for example a sub-atmospheric pressure develops within the cask or barrel during use due to withdrawal of its contents.

Hitherto it is well known to use a spile or peg which is made of a natural porous material such as rattan or oak sap wood but these natural materials may suffer from at least three disadvantages which are all avoided in the case of a cask vent plug made in accordance with the present invention. Thus with natural materials it may be difficult to ensure that the exterior of the spile or plug is truly concentric with the bore of the co-acting shive so that gaps may then exist between the spile and the shive which in turn will lead to uncontrolled venting of the cask or barrel. On the other hand with a cask vent plug made in accordance with the present invention the tapered sheath can be made sufficiently accurately and in a sufficiently flexible material to make it possible to effect a good seal with the interior of the shive.

Secondly in the case of natural materials such as rattan or oak sap wood there is a danger that spiles may become infected by airborne bacteria, rattan for example being normally obtained from the Far East.

In the case of the present invention however the spile or cask vent plug can be manufactured and stored in sterile conditions before it is used.

Thirdly the degree of porosity of natural materials such as rattan or oak sap wood is variable and cannot easily be controlled by the manufacture. In the case of a cask vent plug made in accordance with the present invention however it is possible to control fairly accurately the porosity of the filter material and indeed different filters of differing degrees of porosity may be provided for use as required. To this end the outer sheath of the cask vent plug may be manufactured in a variety of colours which will then provide a code to indicate different degrees of porosity of the filter and the selection of a cask vent plug of any required porosity is thereby facilitated.

Finally, the filter itself, as previously mentioned, will permit air to pass into a cask or barrel when the contents of the latter are withdrawn whilst at the same time the danger of airborne dust or bacteria entering the cask or barrel will be substantially reduced.

Claims

1. A cask vent plug which comprises an outer externally tapered sheath which is formed of a synthetic resin material and which has an axially extending bore, together with a filter which is disposed within the bore and which in use permits air or other gases to pass through the plug.

2. A cask vent plug as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said sheath has an integrally formed radially outwardly projecting flange at its larger end.

3. A cask vent plug as claimed in either of the preceding claims wherein the exterior of said sheath at its larger end is knurled or splined.

4. A cask vent plug as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one end of said bore in the sheath is formed with a radially inwardly extending shoulder.

5. A cask vent plug as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sheath is formed from a synthetic resin material and the filter is formed from cellulose acetate or paper.

6. Acaskventplug substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing.