Patent GB-190429543-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Sterilizing, Preserving and Aerating Foods, Liquids and Organic Substances and Treating Materials with Gases.
Inventor: HEMMING HENRY JOSEPH RANDOLPH
Filed: 1904-12-31
Granted: 1906-03-31
Abstract: 29,543. Hemming, F. J. R. Dec. 31. Oxidizing oils.-A process and apparatus for treating materials with gases is described with reference to the preservation of liquids and is said to be applicable to oxidizing oils. In the case of preserving, the process consists essentially in first removing all air by passing inert gas at a suitable pressure into the containing vessel and then releasing the pressure and finally passing in at any desired pressure gas which remains in the vessel. The apparatus, as used for preserving a substance such as milk, consists of a bottle frame D attached to a shaft or axle C mounted revolubly in standards A. One end of the shaft may carry a wheel or arm (not shown), which may be connected to a cam in order to cause the shaft and frame to oscillate. A number of supports E are also attached to the shaft carrying cages for bottles with the necessary pipes, guards, &c. together constituting the bottle frame. The bottles rest on stools I actuated by springs or by screw or hydraulic pressure, and may be arranged so as to be operated by a lever. The carbon dioxide or other gas is conveyed from the cylinder K through the bearing of the shaft, and thence to the top of each bottle cage by branch pipes which terminate in small orifices. At the top of each cage is a tap Q, Fig. 4, with ways R, S, T capable of opening the way into and out of a bottle or of merely connecting one branch pipe with the next. Such taps may be connected to their corresponding stools so that the breaking of a bottle will automatically cause the gas to be shut off from the cage but open the bye-pass to the next. All such taps in a row may be connected to a common rod which may be automatically operated so as to permit the taps being open only when the bottles are upright. Two cylinders X, Y, one X called the "gas holder," and the other Y the " gas economizer," are preferably interposed. The economizer Y can be connected to the rest of the system by the tap A and to the atmosphere by the tap A<2>. Valves A<3>, A<4> control communication of the bottle-frame system with the outside air. They may be automatically actuated by attachments A<5>, A<6> on the frame being revolved. In operation, the vessels, filled to a convenient level with milk, say, are placed on the stools I with their necks forced against a rubber seating. The pressure is adjusted by a reducing- valve, and the gas holder X is filled by the tap Z, which is afterwards closed. The gas is then admitted to the bottle frame and the economizer W by the taps A<8>, A'. The greater portion of the air will be driven by the current of gas into the economizer. The economizer tap A<1> is then closed and the outlet tap A<2> momentarily opened. The bottle frame having been oscillated to effect an absorption of the gas, the economizer tap A<1> is opened, while the tap A<8> is closed. The gas with any air will flow into the economizer, which is then emptied again by the outlet A' with the tap A closed. The economizer tap A is then closed, and communication opened with the gas cylinder K, the bottle frame oscillated, the tap A<8> closed, and the bottles turned mouth downwards. The bottles may then be sealed by opening the valves A<5>, A<6>. The gas which escapes from the outlet during the latter part of the displacing process may be re-used for the first displacing process, and economy in gas may be effected by the use of an air pump to assist in the extraction of the air in the vessels.