FIG. 1.
FIG. 4.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 3.
FIG. 5.
Taps are used for the purpose of letting off or stopping at pleasure the flow of liquids from vessels or through pipes. The forms of stop-cocks are very various, but the form shown at [fig. 1] is by far the most general; it consists of a short curved tube, having an upright cylinder in the centre in which a plug with a handle turns; this plug is perforated in the direction of the length of the handle, so that when this is turned crosswise the communication is shut off ([figs. 2], [3], and [4]). The “nose” or end of the tap is sometimes prolonged into a spout, for filling bottles, &c., as in [fig. 5].