An Improved Method and Means of Drawing-off Beer or other Liquids from Casks or other Containers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1889-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method and Means of Drawing-off Beer or other
Liquids from Casks or other Containers.
I, FREDERIC BARNES, of Coombedale Road, East Greenwich, Kent, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method and means of drawing off beer and
other liquids from a series of casks, barrels or other containers; the Invention being
of special utility where there are a number of casks as in a publican's cellar which
may be required to be drawn from in continuous succession to meet any average or
expected demand, and for which provision is desired to be made, the main object
of the Invention being to avoid the inconveniences attendant upon the present
system of from time to time connecting the engine with a fresh barrel as one becomes
exhausted.
To this end the Invention consists essentially in the connection of each cask,
barrel or other container from the tap-holo thereof with a reservoir or closed container
common to the series, and the top of which is placed below the level of the aforesaid
casks so that the contents of the latter will as occasion may necessitate gravitate
thereinto, the connection of the casks being made by separate depending pipes
connected with the casks in a usual manner and provided with a suitable stop-cock
so that the flow therefrom can be stopped or regulated as desired, and the series of
pipes preferably opening into the roservoir at any suitable position well above its
bottom.
Another independent connection is made from the upper part or vent-hole of each
barrel to the upper part of the said reservoir, such connection being made by a series
of raised pipes each provided with a stop-cock, and the inlet ends of which dip
down into the reservoir for a short distance.
The reservoir is further provided with an air-inlet pipe provided with a suitable
stop-cock and fitting into its top part and ending about flush therewith, and with an
outlet pipe leading from a part well above its bottom to the engine by the operation
of which the beer (or other contents) is drawn off, and it is also preferably adapted
with an internal strainer for preventing the passage of any hops or the like or any
other solid matters.
Tho said reservoir may consist of an ordinary cask or barrel suitably adapted, or of
any other suitable closed container made of any suitable shape, size and material
according to its intended application and use.
The special advantages attendant upon the application of the present improvements
are that a supply according to the average or expected demand can be put in
connection with the common reservoir from which the beer is directly drawn, and
that the quality is kept more even as the contents of the several casks are mixed,
and there is less disturbance of the contents each time the drawing is effected;
and that the necessary supply of air to each cask is automatically supplied imme-
diately the contents of the reservoir are drawn below the level of the air-escapo
pipes leading therefrom to the casks, upon which the reservoir is again gradually
filled up.
1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method and Means of Drawing-off Beer or other
Liquids from Casks or other Containers.
I, FREDERIC BARNES, of Coomhedale Road, East Greenwich, Kent, Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to an improved method and means of drawing off beer and
other liquids from a series of casks, barrels or other containers; the Invention being
of special utility where there are a number of casks as in a publican's cellar which
may be required to be drawn from in continuous succession to meet any average or
expected demand and for which provision is desired to be made, the main object of
the Invention being to avoid the inconvenience attendant upon from time to time
connecting the engine with a fresh barrel as one becomes exhausted.
To this end the Invention consists essentially in the connection of each cask, barrel
or other container, 1, from the tap-hole, 2, thereof to a reservoir or closed container, 3,
(common to the series of casks) the top of which is placed below the bottom lovel
of the casks so that the contents of the latter will, as occasion may necessitate,
gravitate into the reservoir; the connection of the casks being made by separate
depending pipes, 4, connected with the casks in a usual manner, and provided with
a suitable stop-cock or stop-cocks, 5. so that the flow therefrom can be stopped or
regulated as desired, the series of pipes preferably opening into the reservoir at any
suitable position below a transverse strainer, 15. for preventing the passage of hops
and the like.
Another independent connection is made from the upper part or vent-hole, 6, of
each barrel to the upper part of the reservoir, 3, such connection being made by a
series of independent elevated air inlet pipes, 7. a separate one for each cask, each
being provided with a stop-cock or stop-cocks, 8. and the one end of each of which
terminates within the reservoir about Hush with the top thereof and may be made
with an enlargement, as at, 9. if of small diameter.
The reservoir is further provided with an air inlet pipe, 10. entering thereinto a
short distance below the level of the pipes, 7. and which pipe may be fitted with a
stop-cock, 11, situated in the bar if necessary so as to allow of the supply of air to
the reservoir, 3, being easily shut off at night leaving all the connected barrels
airtight. The reservoir is also provided with one or more outlet pipes, 12. provided
with stop-cocks, 13. and leading from a part above the strainer, 15. to the engine or
engines by the operation of which latter the beer (or other contents) can be drawn
from the reservoir to any part or parts of the house.
The said reservoir may consist of an ordinary cask or barrel suitably adapted, or of
any other suitable closed container made of any suitable shape, size, and material,
according to its intended application. 1, however, prefer to make the reservoir, 3. of
the conical formation represented on the accompanying drawing, as then but a small
surface of contained liquid is exposed to the air which enters the reservoir, and such
sediment as collects on its conical bottom, 16. can be readily let out by the sludge
tap, 17. and, morcover, the strainer can be readily fixed between the opposite
flanges, 18. upon the top and bottom parts of the reservoir being bolted together.
When the beer or other liquid is drawn from the reservoir, 3. by means of the
engine or other means used, the liquid sinks in the reservoir below the inlet of the
air supply tube, 10. whereupon air enters the reservoir and passes through the air-
tubes, 7, into the barrels, and by so doing allows the beer or other liquid to gravitate
therefrom by means of the connecting pipes, 4. into the reservoir through the
strainer 15. the flow continuing after the air inlet, 10. has been again closed until the
reservoir is again filled and at such time stopping up the air tubes, 7. and so prevents
the contents (whether air or fluid) passing to or from either or any of the barrels into
the other or others keeping both or all air tight.

page_text: The special advantages attendant upon the application of the present improvements
are that a supply of beer or other liquid according to the average or expected demand
can be put in connection with the common reservoir from which the beer is directly
drawn, and there is less disturbance of the contents of the casks when the drawing
is effected, and a portion of beer can be drawn from the top of one barrel simultaneously
with a portion out of the bottom of another barrel or the contents of various casks in
different stages of depletion can be mixed in the reservoir before being drawn by the
engines for consumption, and by so doing the quality of the beer is kept more
uniform; and that the barrels are kept perfectly air tight when they are not being
drawn from and, the beer is kept from turning sour, and when they are being
drawn from there is only the measure of air admitted into the barrels corresponding
with that of the fluid being drawn, and such measure is automatically supplied
immediately the contents of the reservoir are drawn below the level of the air-inlet
pipe upon which the reservoir is again gradually filled up as aforesaid, and that any
number of engines can be fixed to the reservoir and the contents drawn therefrom at
any number of Bars in the house and at all of the samo quality.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The hereinbefore described improved method of drawing off beer or other liquids
from casks or other containers.
2. The herein before described improved means of drawing off beer or other liquids
from casks or other containers.
Dated this 20th day of November 1889
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.