Improvements in Air Compressing Apparatus for Raising Beer or other Liquids.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1897-Accepted, J0th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Air Compressing Apparatus for Raising Beer or
other Liquids.
I, NORMAN JOSEPH LOCKYER, of 14 Regent Square, Lenzie, in the County of
Dumbarton, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for compressing air for use in raising liquids
such as beer from barrels in cellars for delivery at the counter, the improved
apparatus being operated by water under regulated pressure from the town's
supply or other source and the desired air pressure being maintained notwith-
standing variable consumption:
The improved apparatus comprises a cylindrical or other vessel to which water
is admitted from the main for the purpose of compressing air within the vessel
and from which it is exhausted to admit a fresh air supply before repeating the
compressing operation. The water is admitted through a pressure regulating
valve hereinafter referred to and thence through an inlet in the lower end of the
air vessel or casing, a waste water outlet being fitted in proximity to the inlet
and both terminating in a valve casing in which is fitted a piston valve adapted to
cover or close the outlet as the inlet is opened and vice versa to close the inlet as
oulet is opened. The operation of this valve is effected automatically by means
of a weighted tumbler lever which in turn is actuated by a float rising with the
inflowing water and descending on the discharge of the waste water, the inlet
being opened on the descent of the float to its lowest point and the discharge
outlet being opened when the float has by the filling of the casing been raised
to its highest level. The valve being opened, water under pressure enters and
gradually fills the casing, the air within it being compressed and forced through
a non return valve fitted at the top whence it passes through a flood preventer
hereinafter described to a pressure chamber or directly to the barrels from which
the beer is to be raised. As the water enters the casing the float rises with it,
being guided in its movement by a slotted tube extending vertically upwards from
the bottom of the casing. On reaching nearly to its highest point the float comes
into contact with a cross piece on the upper end of a rod inside the slotted tube,
and having at its lower end a slotted bar which can freely rise and fall inside the
vertical tube. The slotted bar engages one arm of a bell-crank whose other arm
is connected by means of slotted links to the piston valve which controls the ad-
mission and discharge of the water. A third arm on the bell-crank spindle is
fitted with a weight and acts as a tumbler to operate the valve quickly.
When the annular float comes in contact with the cross piece on the vertical
rod it continues to ascend with the water, and the slotted bar at its lower end
rises with it and tilts the bell crank until the arm carrying the weight passes the
vertical position when the. tumbler falls over by gravity. A pin in the end of
the second arm of the bell crank is by this movement caused to traverse the slot
in the links connected to the piston valve and push over the valve so as to close the
inlet port and shut off the supply of water under pressure at the same time opening

page_text: the discharge port through which the water in the casing runs out. The partial
vacuum thus caused opens an air valve through which a fresh supply of air enters.
As the water level falls the float descends, until it rests on projections on the
slotted bar, and as the water level continues to fall the weight of the float resting
on the projections increases until it becomes sufficient to overcome the resistance
of the weighted tumbler arm. The bell-crank then falls back into the original
position and moves the piston valve with it, thus allowing a fresh supply of water
under pressure to enter the casing through the inlet port."
For the purpose of regulating the pressure of the water entering the air com-
pressor, and thus regulating the pressure of the air delivered, an automatic pressure
reducing or regulating valve is provided on the inlet pipe from the main. This
is composed of a casing having a valve closing on the inlet orifice and attached
to a metallic, leather or other diaphragm held down by a spring the pressure on
which is regulated by screw nuts or by a weighted lever. From the chamber
formed under the diaphragm the water enters the air compressor by the inlet port
before referred to. Whenever the pressure on the under side of the diaphragm
exceeds a given amount, the spring is-compressed and the valve reduces or closes
the water supply until the pressure in the air compressor, and consequently-that
under the diaphragm, is reduced by the reduction of air pressure in the casks
owing to beer being consumed or to leakage.
In the event of failure of the mechanism in the air compressor, it is necessary
to prevent the entrance of water under pressure into the air pipes and thus into
the casks. For this purpose I provide a combined non-return valve chamber and
a flooding-preventing device. This is composed of a closed casing connected to
the upper end of the compression vessel by an orifice fitted with a self-closing
non-return valve and having in it a float having on its upper side a valve adapted
to close against a seat formed on the outlet for the compressed air, the float being
conveniently guided by an extension of the valve spindle into the air delivery
pipe. So long as air is being delivered by the compressor through the valve in
the orifice over the air compressor, the valve on the float remains off its seat,
and the float does not move. When water, however, passes the non-return valve,
the float rises and the valve on it takes its seat closing the air delivery pipe to
the casks. This apparatus is designedly somewhat difficult to restart after a
failure of the air compressor, so as to render necessary an examination of the
parts.
1000
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER.
Chartered Patent Agent.
62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Air Compressing Apparatus for Raising Beer or
other Liquids.
1, NORMAN JOSEPH LOCKYER, of 14 Regent Square, Lenzie, in the County of
Dumbarton, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
mauner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained-
in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for compressing air for use in raising liquids
such as beer from barrels in cellars for delivery at the counter, the improved
apparatus being operated by water under regulated pressure from the town's
supply or other source and the desired air pressure being maintained notwith-
standing variable consumption,

page_text: -The Invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings,. Figure 1 being a
vertical section of the apparatus, Figure 2 a modification of a detail, and
Figure 3, 4 and 5 are respectively views to a larger scale of the air escape and
flood preventing, valve, of the water admission valve and of the pressure regulating
valve.
The improved apparatus comprises a cylindrical or other vessel A to which
water is admitted, from the main for the purpose of compressing air within the
vessel and from which it is exhausted to admit a fresh air supply before repeating
the compressing operation. The water is admitted through a pressure regulating
valve B hereinafter referred to and thence through an inlet C in the lower end of the
air vessel or casing A, a waste water outlet 1 being fitted in proximity to the
inlet and both terminating in a valve casing E in which is fitted a piston valve F
adapted to cover or close the outlet D as the inlet C is opened and vice versa to
close the inlet C as the outlet 1) is opened. The operation of this valve F is effected
tomatically by means of a tumbler lever G which in turn is actuated by a float H
rising with the inflowing water and descending on the discharge of the waste
water, the inlet C being opened on the descent of the float H to its lowest point as
shown by the drawing, and the discharge outlet 1 being opened when the float H
has by the filling of the casing A been raised to its highest level as indicated by
the dotted lines. The valve F being opened, water under pressure enters and
gradually fills the casing A, the air within it being compressed and forced through
a non return valve I fitted at the top whence it passes through a flood preventer
hereinafter described to a pressure chamber or directly to the barrels from which
the beer is to be raised. As the water enters the casing A the float H rises with
it, being guided in its movement by a slotted tube J extending vertically upwards
from the bottom of the casing A. On reaching nearly to its highest point the
float comes into contact with a cross piece or disc K on the upper end of a rod L
inside the slotted tube J, said rod L having attached to its lower end a slotted bar M
which can freely rise, and fall inside the vertical tube J. The slotted bar M
engages one arm of a bell-crank N whose other arm is connected by means of slotted
links to the piston valve F which controls the admission and discharge of the
water. The third' arm G on the bell crank spindle l' is fitted with a weight G¹
and acts as a tumbler to operate the valve quickly.
When the annular float H comes in contact with the cross piece or disc K on the
vertical rod L-it continues to ascend with the water, and the slotted bar M at its
lower end rises with it and tilts the bell crank N until the arm G carrying the
weight G passes the vertical position when the tumbler falls over by gravity. A
pin N in the end of the second arin of the bell crank N is by this movement caused
to traverse the slot in the links O connected to the piston valve F and push over
the valve so as to close the inlet port C and shut off the supply of water under
pressure at the same time opening 'the discharge port D through which the water
in the casing A runs out. When the discharge port D is opened an annular
passage F formed around the piston valve F brings a passage F's leading from the
outside of the casing A into communication with 'an air tube P and thus permits
Fa fresh supply of air to enter the casing A or the partial vacuum caused by the
discharge of the water may open an air valve Q in a pipe P secured on the casing
as shown at Figure 2 to admit a fresh supply of air.
As the water level falls the float H descends, until it rests on projections R on
the slotted bar M, and as the water level continues to fall the weight of the float H
resting
on the projections R increases until it becomes sufficient to overcome the
resistance
nce of the weighted tumbler arm C. The bell-crank N then falls back into
the original position and moves the piston valve F with it, thus allowing a fresh
supply of water under pressure to enter the casing A through the inlet port C.
For the purpose of regulating the pressure of the water entering the air com-
pressor A, and thus regulating the pressure of the air delivered, the automatic
pressure reducing or regulating valve B is provided on the inlet pipe T from the
This is composed of a casing U having a piston valve U closing on the
main.

page_text: annular inlet orifice and attached to a metallic, leather or other diaphragm U*
held down by a spring, the pressure on which is regulated by screw nuts, or by a
weighted lever Us as shown. From the chamber formed under the diaphragm
the water enters the air compressor by the inlet port C. Whenever the pressure
on the under side of the diaphragm U exceeds a given amount, the spring is com-
pressed, or the lever U³ lifted, and the valve reduces or closes the water supply
until the pressure in the air compressor A, and consequently that under the
diaphragm U2, is reduced by the reduction of air pressure in the casks, owing to
beer being consumed, or to leakage.
In the event of failure of the mechanism in the air compressor A, it is necessary
to prevent the entrance of water under pressure into the air pipe V and thus into the
casks. For this purpose I provide a combined non-return valve chamber and a
flood-preventing device. This is composed of a closed casing W connected to the
upper end of the compression vessel A, by an orifice fitted with the self-closing
non-return valve I already mentioned, and having in it a float W having on its
upper side a valve W adapted to close against a seat W formed on the outlet
for the compressed air, the float W being conveniently guided by an extension of
the valve spindle Ws into the air delivery pipe V. So long as air is being delivered
by the compressor A, the valve W3 on the float W remains off its seat W₁, and
the float W does not move. When water, however, passes the non-return valve I,
the float W rises and the valve W3 on it takes its seat W closing the air delivery
pipe to the casks. This apparatus is designedly somewhat difficult to restart
after a failure of the air compressor A so as to render necessary an examination
of the parts. The non-return valve I cannot rise from its seat sufficiently to permit
of the float W being raised by the air pressure, and thus prevent the valve W
upon the float from stopping the delivery of air to the casks."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that whai
I claim is:-
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved air compressing apparatus
for raising beer or other liquids substantially as herein before described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. Apparatus for compressing air for use in raising beer or other liquids, consist-
ing of a casing A wherein the air is compressed, a pressure regulating valve U
through which water from the main or other source of supply is admitted to the
casing A, a piston valve F within the casing arranged to control both the admission
and discharge of the water and operated through the slotted links O and tumbler
lever G by the rising and falling of a float H, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for compressing air for use in raising beer and other liquids
the combination with the casing A, of the piston valve F arranged to admit water
from the main to compress air admitted to the casing A, and also to discharge the
water after compression and discharge of the air, said valve F being automatically
actuated by means of a float H, operating through a tumbler lever G and
connections to the valve F, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th dow of Anril 1907
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER.
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather, Chartered Patent Agents,
62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.