IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE DISPENSING OF FLUIDS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: αρματωντο ναοι 0101.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE DISPENSING OF FLUIDS
AND APPARATUS THEREFOR to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to vessels for containing fluids, and comprises an improved
method of, and means for, withdrawing the same therefrom without affecting their
volatile principles.
t
For the finest and most perfect productions of the chemical laboratory and the
uses of these productions in the arts, it is desirable to provide a vessel having
the requisite quality of holding such productions and having means whereby the
quantity of fluid required may be withdrawn without opening the said vessel,
thereby preventing the deterioration, by frequent exposure to evaporation, of the
remaining fluid.
According to the method at present employed of dispensing fluids, the stopper is
first removed from the bottle and then the required quantity of fluid is taken
therefrom. Some of the volatile principle is thus lost each time the bottle is
opened; it is also necessary to lift the bottle and its contents.
The improved method consists 1st, in providing the stock bottle with means
whereby its contents may be drawn off while it remains in its place thus avoiding
liability to accident, 2nd in compressing the confined air whereby any desired
quantity from one drop upwards can be withdrawn, the liquid remaining being
protected against evaporation which evaporation disturbs and greatly deteriorates
the quality, and 3rd in arranging a syphon, when such is used, in such a manner
that it is filled by means of a device that exhausts the air in it and in that manner
forces the syphon into action.
According to the present invention the vessel, which may be of any suitable
size and shape, has placed over the neck a flexible airtight diaphragm of such

page_text: material as the nature of the liquid will permit. To this diaphragm, and passing
through it; is hermetically secured a tube which is formed as a syphon. By
pressing slightly downward upon the syphon and diaphragm the confined air of
the vessel will be compressed and fill the syphon. If small quantities only are to
be drawn I regulate this by the size and form of diaphragm. To withdraw larger
quantities I provide an air-vent, which, if opened after filling the syphon tube as
above described, will allow the liquid to flow and at the same time retain the
volatile principle in the vessel, as only external air is drawn in to the extent of
liquid removed. The vent will regulate the flow through the syphon, and if shut
off will stop the flow.
According to a modification of this invention the tube terminates above the
diaphragm in a cup. Dipping a brush in this cup and pressing it will force up the
liquid in contact with the bristles of the brush, the pressure regulating the quantity,
from a slight moistening of the tip to a full and dripping brush. On withdrawing
the brush the superfluous liquid will at once recede to the air-tight vessel, so that
evaporation can only take place in the small opening of the tube which is to be as
small as the rapidity of supply to the brush will permit. For denser liquids, or a
large supply, I make the diaphragm of circular or conical shape, which gives large
and powerful compression, and also light which enables the withdrawing of
superfluous liquid from the cup.
To facilitate refilling the bottle without disturbing the attached apparatus I may
place the diaphragm over the bottom of a stopper, in and through which a tube
having a ball-shaped cup with a funnel at its upper end passes. The said funnel
facilitates the dipping of a pen or equivalent instrument requiring to be constantly
refilled. The diaphragm is directly over and exposed to the action of the liquid
when its nature will permit, and the stopper is recessed on the upper side to guard
the cup from injury, and on the lower side to permit movement of the diaphragm.
In cases where the liquid would corrode the diaphragm, I may use the stopper as a
guard by letting the tube fit tightly in it and place the diaphragm over a vent, the
said diaphragm being sufficient for the purpose of compressing the air for forcing
up the liquid to the cup, and on the pressure being removed allowing it to recede.
According to another modification the diaphragm is placed over the neck of the
bottle and is in the form of a segment of a ball, and the tube passes loosely through
the stopper. At the side of the tube is placed a vent opening through the
diaphragm, and a cap is provided for closing the vent. By pressing the diaphragm
downward and compressing the air in the vessel to fill the syphon and then taking
off the cap, the flow will continue until the vent is closed by the cap. By lifting
the diaphragm the liquid in the tube will be drawn back into the vessel. By
placing a cap over the opening of the syphon or constructing it where permissible
with a stop-cock the vessel will be air-tight even to the small extent of the opening
of the tube.
By attaching a tube to the syphon of a bottle to be refilled and placing the said
bottle on a lower level than the supply, and by attaching the said tube to the free
end of the syphon of the supply bottle and then compressing the diaphragm to
expel air from the bottle and lifting the same, the syphon will be brought into
action. By opening the vents the liquid will syphon into the bottle to be filled,
the air escaping only as the liquid takes its place without loss of any volatile
principle of the latter in either vessel. If both bottles are provided with the
air-tight diaphragms or bulbs and vents, and if the vents are connected by a tube,
the air will pass from one bottle to the other in volume corresponding with the
liquid passed through the syphons and tube without admitting any external air.
A volatile substance is thus enabled to be dispensed in such quantities as
required, the volatile principle being absolutely protected from loss by providing
vents and a stop-cock.
This invention also serves as an air gauge and indicator of escaping volatile
principle. By pressing the tube downward it will fill; if the least escape is
possible the liquid will recede, if perfectly air tight it will remain steady. This

page_text: gives proof of a proper adjustment and enables faults to be corrected. Another
great advantage of my invention is, that the diaphragm can be so adjusted that it
will allow for the expansion of the confined air or gas caused by difference of heat
of night and day or Winter and Summer without forcing the liquid to exposure in
the cup. This expansion will lift a glass stopper thereby allowing the liquids to
evaporate.
Volatile varnish is at present used by pouring small quantities in a cup in which
is dipped the brush. The varnish is thus exposed to evaporation and great loss of
volatile principle, namely of the solvent of the gum. It will be seen that by my
invention the varnish is confined and only comes into contact with the point of a
brush to the extent required; on withdrawing the brush the varnish immediately
recedes and is protected.
Inks used by draughtsmen, writing fluids & that require constant exposure are
deteriorated by evaporation and a large percentage thus goes to waste. By my
method this is avoided as the liquid is at all times protected; and by the dip of
the pen or other instrument in the cup the solution required is brought into contact
with such instrument and at once recedes when the pen or instrument is withdrawn
whereby the ink is protected. Imperfect adjustment is easily detected by pressing
and holding the cup steady; if the liquid recedes air is escaping, if it remains
stationary the vessel is airtight. By making the cup and diaphragm light, the
confined air when expanding will lift it and not force the liquid to exposure or
cause it to over-run the aperture of the tube and overflow the sides of the bottle,
as it would do with any other construction on variation in the temperature of the.
atmosphere.

page_text: Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE DISPENSING OF FLUIDS,
AND APPARATUS THEREFOR," 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 the dispensing of fluids, and comprises an improved
method and apparatus for withdrawing or supplying small quantities of liquid
from a bottle or other vessel in such a manner that the liquid remaining in the
said bottle or vessel does not lose any of its volatile principles or deteriorate.
For the finest and most perfect productions of the chemical laboratory, in a
liquid form, and the uses of these productions in the arts, it is desirable that the
bottles or vessels, having the requisite quality of holding or containing such pro-
ductions, should be provided with means whereby the fluids which they contain
may be dispensed without opening the said vessels, thereby preventing the
deterioration of the said fluids by frequent exposure to evaporation.
According to the method at present employed of dispensing a fluid, the stopper
of the bottle containing the same is first removed, and then the required quantity
of fluid is taken from the bottle. Some of the volatile principle of the fluid is thus
lost each time the vessel or bottle is opened; it is also necessary to lift the bottle
and its contents.
The present invention consists 1st, in providing the stock-bottle with means
whereby its contents may be drawn off without moving the bottle, thus avoiding
liability to accident, 2nd, in compressing the air confined in the bottle whereby any
desired quantity, from one drop upwards, can be withdrawn, the liquid remaining
being protected against evaporation, which evaporation disturbs and greatly
deteriorates the quality; and 3rd, in arranging a syphon, if desired, in such a
manner that it is filled by means of a device that exhausts the air from it and in
that manner forces the syphon into action.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing a bottle provided with means for
withdrawing small quantities therefrom, according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a vessel provided with means for supplying
liquid to a brush.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of apparatus adapted for
supplying a pen, or other instrument requiring to be frequently refilled.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation showing means for protecting the volatile
principle of the fluid while dispensing and also while refilling the bottle.

page_text: Figure 6 is a sectional elevation illustrating a method of ascertaining whether a
vessel is airtight.
A, Figures 1 and 2, indicates a vessel which may be of any suitable size and
shape, and over the neck of which is stretched a flexible airtight diaphragm B, of
such material as will not be affected by the liquid. To this diaphragm, and
passing through it, is hermetically secured a tube F which is formed as a syphon.
By pressing slightly downward upon the syphon and diaphragm, the confined
air in the vessel A will be compressed and fill the syphon F with liquid.
If small quantities of liquid only are to be drawn, I regulate this by the size
and form of the diaphragm B. To withdraw larger quantities I provide an air
vent a, which, if opened after filling the syphon-tube as above described, will
allow the liquid to flow, and at the same time retain the volatile principle of the
liquid remaining in the vessel, as only external air is drawn in to the extent of
liquid removed. The cover b over the vent a will regulate the flow through the
syphon, and if closed, will stop the flow.
The form and arrangement of the vessel A, diaphragm B, tube F and vent a may
be modified according to the situation and requirements.
According to the modification shown in Figure 3 the apparatus comprises a
vessel A, a diaphragm B, and a tube C. The latter terminates at its upper end,
above the diaphragm B, in an oval cup D. Dipping a brush in this cup and
pressing it, will force up the liquid in contact with the bristles of the brush, the
pressure regulating the quantity, from a slight moistening of the tip to a full and
dripping brush. On withdrawing the brush the superfluous liquid will at once
recede to the airtight vessel, so that evaporation can only take place in the small
opening of the tube, which is as small as the rapidity of supply to the brush
will permit.
For dense liquids, or for giving a large supply, I make the diaphragm or com-
pressing device B of spherical or conical shape which diaphragm permits a powerful
compression, and which is easily lifted for enabling the withdrawing of superfluous
liquid from the cup D back into the vessel.
In the modification shown in Figure 4 the diaphragm B, to facilitate refilling
the bottle A without disturbing the attached apparatus, is placed over the bottom
of a stopper G, through which the tube C passes, and terminates in a cup D.
This cup is in the form of a segment of a ball, and has a funnel at its upper end
to facilitate the dipping of a pen or equivalent instrument required to be constantly
refilled.
The diaphragm B as shown is placed directly over, and exposed to, the liquid
when its nature will permit this. The stopper G is recessed at g_to guard the
cup D from injury, and at g¹ to permit movement of the diaphragm B.
In cases where the liquid would corrode the diaphragm, I use the stopper as a
guard, and fit the tube tightly in it. The compressing device is then placed over
a vent as shown at B¹ in Figure 5. This device, which is in the form of a ball
or bulb, is of such size that, when compressed, the liquid is forced into the cup by
the air, and on the pressure being removed the liquid recedes. The liquid is
prevented from contact with the air except at the opening of the tube C.
As shown at the right hand of Figure 5 the compressing device B is placed over
the neck of the bottle A, and is in the form of a segment of a ball or of a bulb.
By placing this bulb over the stopper H, as in Figure 6, through which stopper
the tube C passes loosely, it will have the same action as the device shown in
Figure 5 if airtight. At the side of the tube C Figure 5 is placed the vent b
opening through the bulb B, and the cap c¹ is provided for closing the vent.
By pressing the bulb downward and compressing the air in the vessel to fill the
syphon, and then taking off the cap c' the flow will continue until the vent is
closed by the cap c¹. By lifting the bulb B the liquid in the tube will be drawn
back into the vessel. By placing a cap c over the opening of the syphon or con-
structing it, where permissible, with a stopcock e² the vessel will be airtight even
to the small extent of the opening of the tube

page_text: I
By attaching a tube J to the syphon C of a bottle A to be refilled, and placing
the said bottle on a lower level than the supply; and by attaching the said tube J
to the free end of the syphon C¹ of the supply bottle A¹, and then compressing the
compressing device B₁ to expel air from the bottle A¹ and lifting the same, the
syphon will be brought into action. By opening the vents bb₁ the liquid will
syphon into the bottle A, the air escaping, only as the liquid takes its place, with-
out loss of any volatile principle from either vessel.
If both bottles are provided with airtight bulbs B and vents, and if the vents are
connected by a tube J1, the air will pass from the bottle A to the bottle A¹, in
volume corresponding with the liquid passed through the syphons and the tube J,
without admitting any external air.
A volatile substance is thus enabled to be dispensed in such quantities as required,
the volatile principles being protected from loss by providing the vents 6 b¹ with
the stopcocks e. e¹.
Figure 6 illustrates the mode of ascertaining if there is any escape of volatile
principle. By pressing the bulb B downward the tube C will fill; if the least
escape takes place the liquid will recede from the tube; but if the vessel is
perfectly airtight the liquid will remain steady and at the same height. This
arrangement enables faults to be discovered and corrected.
Another great advantage of my invention is, that the diaphragm or bulb B cân
be so adjusted that it will allow of the expansion of the confined air or gas, caused
by differences of temperature, without forcing the liquid to exposure in the cup D.
This expansion will lift the glass stopper of an ordinary bottle thereby allowing
the liquid to evaporate.
Volatile varnish is at present used by pouring small quantities into a cup into
which the brush is dipped. The varnish is thus exposed to the loss of volatile
principle as the solvent of the gum evaporates. It will be seen that by my
invention, as shown in Figure 3, the varnish is confined, and only comes into
contact with the point of a brush to the extent required; on withdrawing the
brush the varnish immediately recedes and is protected.
Inks used by draughtsmen, writing fluids &, that are constantly exposed
deteriorate by evaporation and a large percentage thus goes to waste. By my
invention, as shown in Figure 4, this deterioration is avoided, as the liquid is at all
times protected; and by dipping the pen or other instrument into the cup the
solution required is brought into contact with such instrument, and at once recedes
when the pen or other instrument is withdrawn, whereby the ink is protected.
Imperfect adjustment is easily detected by pressing and holding the cup D steady;
if the liquid recedes in the tube, air is escaping; if it remains stationary the vessel
is airtight. By making the cup and diaphragm or bulb light, the confined air,
when expanding, will lift it, and not force the liquid to exposure or cause it to
overrun the aperture of the tube and overflow the sides of the bottle, as it
would do with any other construction, on variations in the temperature of the
atmosphere.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. The method herein described of withdrawing liquid from a vessel in small
quantities, which method consists in confining the air over the said liquid so that
when the said air is compressed it will cause the liquid to rise in a delivery tube
or in a syphon, and when again allowed to expand will permit the liquid to recede
from exposure, substantially in the manner set forth.
Second. The vessel A, the mouth of which is hermetically closed by a thin
flexible diaphragm B, in combination with the tube C hermetically fitted into said
diaphragm and passing through the same down into the said vessel, so that the
orifice at the lower end of said tube is sealed by the contents of the bottle, sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
"

page_text: Third. The vessel the mouth of which is hermetically closed by the diaphragm B,
in combination with the syphon F fitted hermetically into the said diaphragm, sub-
stantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fourth. The diaphragm B having the vent a and placed on the neck of the
bottle A, in combination with the syphon F, substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth..
Fifth. The diaphragm B having the vent a provided with a flap b to cover the
said vent, and placed over the neck of the bottle A, in combination with the
syphon F, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Sixth. The stopper G having the diaphragın B attached to it, in combination with
the tube C, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Seventh. The vessel A having the bulb B, syphon C and vent b, in combination
with the vessel A¹ having the syphon C¹ and the vent b¹, and with the connecting
pipes JJ, the pipe J¹ connecting the vents b and b whereby the bottle A. may be
filled without exposing the liquid to the air, substantially as, and for the purposes,
set forth.
Eighth. The vessel A having the bulb B attached to the stopper H, in combination
with the syphon C, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Dated this 18th day of August 1885.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.