Patent GB-682495-A (GB)
Title: Liquid measuring and dispensing machine
IPC: B67D1/00
Filed: 1951-01-25
Abstract: 682,495. Delivering measured quantities of liquid. WHALEY, R. S. Jan. 25, 1951 [Jan. 25. 1950], No. 1977/51. Class 106 (v) A liquid measuring apparatus particularly for delivering a predetermined quantity of beer with a predetermined collar of foam, comprises a measuring chamber 35 having a piston 36 which, during the filling of the chamber, displaces fluid from a cylinder 16 against gas pressure supplied, through a duct 29; on the delivery stroke, the piston is returned at a rate which tvill give the required quantity of foam by the gas pressure returning the fluid through an adjustable valve 32 and, at the end of the stroke, a small quantity of. liquid is left above the piston and, before refilling of the chamber, is subjected to a pressure nearly equal to that of the liquid which will enter through the chamber-filling valve 45, so as to reduce foaming in the measuring chamber. When the apparatus is connected to a fresh barrel, the supply duct 38 is first vented through, a needle valve 150 and then a control handle on a shaft 78 is moved to the " fill position, thus opening the filling valve 45 by means of a lever 86A. As the piston 36 lowers, the piston 18 forces the oil from the cylinder 16 past the valve 32, which is raised along a stem 89 against the action of a spring 93, into a sump 19. On the initial movement of the piston 18, it releases a foot 132 on a spring-loaded rod 118 so that a lug 116 on a floating lever 114 is moved into the path of a lug 119 on the lever 86A and prevents the control handle being moved again until the chamber is full, when a nut 66 on the piston rod 37 depresses the foot 132 and releases the lug 119. The travel of the piston 36 is limited by the engagement of the nut 66 with a stop ring 68 and the nut 66 can be adjusted on the screwed piston rod 37 and locked and sealed in position by screws 70 engaging slots in the piston rod threads, the bottoms of the threads being graduated. When the control handle is moved to the " draw position, the filling valve 45 is allowed to close, a discharge valve 50 is raised by a roller 83 on the lever 86A and then a cam 117 on the shaft 78 actuates a lever 112, spring-pressed rod 99 and lever 96 so that the valve 32 is lifted from its seat to allow the oil in the sump 19 to be forced back into the cylinder 16, thus raising the piston 36 and dispensing the beer through the spout 54. The movement of the control handle towards the "draw" position and, therefore, of the lever 112 controlling the amount of opening of the valve 32 is limited by a graduated screw 157 which is adjusted to limit the upward travel of the valve 50. During the delivery stroke, the floating lever 114 has moved the lug 116 into the path of the lug 119 but this time on the opposite side and at the end of the stroke, the lug 119 is released when the oil piston 18 raises the foot 132. On initiating a second measuring operation, the discharge valve 50 moves down before the filling valve 45 opens so that the small quantity of beer remaining in the bore of the valve 50 below the orifice 52 of the spout is compressed into the measuring chamber to a pressure nearly equal to that of the incoming beer. The upper portion of the apparatus, above the stop ring 68, can be detached for cleaning and the piston 36 has a spigot 160 engaging in a socket at the top of the rod 37 so that it is easily removable. The cylinder 16 may be filled with fluid through the hollow rod 37. after removing a plug 170. A counter 199 operated by the lever 86A on the shaft 78 may be provided. A visual indicator consisting of a pin protruding from the casing, or a bell, may be provided to indicate when the chamber is full, both devices being operated by the movement of the rod 118.