Improvements in Bottle Cleaning Devices.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
Improvements in Bottle Cleaning Devices.
We, HENRY B. FISCHER and CHARLES H FISCHER, Liquor Dealers, both of
229, West 6th Street, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, State of Ohio, and United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly descubed and ascertained
in and by the following statement··
It relates to an apparatus for cleaning and washing bottles and whereby they
are first scoured for the purpose of loosening and removing the more solid substances
adhering to the glass, after which they are rinsed and washed out to remove these
substances as well as any remaining parts of the scouring medium which is used
This latter is preferably sand or any other material having a similar action when
used as hereinafter described
Water 18 the other medium used, first in connection with the scouring medium
and then alone for rinsing purposes
The object 18 to provide a practical and simplified construction for applying these
mediums, first together and then the water alone
The leading feature of our invention whereby such simplified construction is
obtained, consists of a single discharge-pipe whereby these mediums are directed
against the interior of the bottle, the operation being such that by means of
regulating and controlling devices a scouring current and a rinsing current are
alternately passed through the outlet-pipe, being discharged through the same
nozzle
In the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, is
found a full description of the invention, its use, operation and construction, which
latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which-
Fig 1 shows in a central vertical section, the apparatus complete and in
operation
Fig 2 18 an elevation of the same
Fig 3 is a top-view of it, showing it operating upon a flat bottle
Fig 4 is a horizontal section on line 44 of Fig. 1
Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Fig 1, and
Fig. 6 in an elevation shows several of the devices arranged in selles
Sand is preferably used in this case as a scouring medium and water as a
carrier for it, whereby the same is thrown against the interior surface of the
bottle, loosening and removing by its impact as well as frictional contact any
impurities thereon After this combined action of sand and water, the latter 19
used alone for rinsing and flushing purposes, whereby the bottle is washed out,
removing the loosened impurities as well as the sand pieviously used
There are thus used two currents, one being sand carried by water, the other
being water alone, the two directed by an outlet-pipe 8, serving for both currents
which pass alternately therethrough The upper part of this outlet-pipe forms
preferably a removable discharge-nozzle to permit interchange with lower or
higher ones to suit the height and size of the bottle to be cleaned
These latter are supported in an inverted position above the discharge-nozzle

page_text: with this latter preferably reaching into the neck of the bottle, but with sufficient
space below the bottom thereof to permit the current to spread Pipe 8 is supplied
from a pipe 11, which may be a service-pipe of a water-works system where such
is obtainable, since sufficient pressure is required to cause the water to discharge
and reach the bottle with requisite force when the same is placed in a position
above pipe 8 as shown for instance in Fig 1
Pipe 8 is surrounded by a cup or bowl-shaped vessel 13 and has its wall pierced
by one or more lateral holes 14 located at such height as to communicate with
the lower part of vessel 13 This latter contains the scouring medium, sand in
this case, which lies around these openings, so that, water passing up through
pipe 8, an injector- or syphon-like action takes place, whereby the sand is sucked
in through these openings and carried up with the water.
A part of pipe 8 below openings 14 is contracted as shown at 15, so that the
water is ejected in form of a jet, which does not completely fill the upper part of
the pipe, thereby providing room for the entering sand and improving the action
This scouring current, combined of water and sand, strikes first the bottom inside
of the bottle after which it spreads and passes down on the inside thereof and
scours by its contact the bottle thoroughly After this action of the scouring
current has been maintained a sufficient length of time, contingent of course on the
condition of the bottle, a few seconds however being sufficient in most cases, then
its action is discontinued and a current of clear water injected which issues from the
same discharge nozzle and also strikes against the bottom of the bottle where it spreads
and running down on the sides thereof removes all previously loosened impurities,
as well as any remaining sand and thoroughly flushes the bottle out In order to
obtain this flushing current, sand is prevented from entering holes 14 in pipe 8,
which is done by closing such openings for which purpose a lid or cover 16 is
provided for each, which 18 80 supported and connected with means for operation
as to be conveniently accessible from the outside to permit opening of these lids
when the scouring-current 18 required and closing of them when the flushing-
current is wanted.
An independent valve or cock of ordinary pattern is provided for pipe 11 whereby
to shut off the water-supply entirely when the device is not used or while changing
bottles. During this latter operation however it is preferable not to shut off this
particular cock entirely, but to maintain the escape of a small current of water
sufficient to prevent any sand from packing into the contracted passage at 15
Such intentional leakage may be obtained either by a stop, so located as to prevent
complete closure of the particular cock, or the plug of it may have a groove cut in
it which, even if the cock is completely closed, permits a limited quantity of water
to pass
In order to reach the corner between side and bottom of a bottle, when shaped
as shown, in Fig 1, the discharging currents are caused to assume a direction
accordingly This may be done as shown in Fig 1 by supporting a cone-shaped
plug 10 in inverted position above the discharge-opening, or as shown in Fig 6,
by having a tip 12 at the end of the pipe which is bored at an angle to the bore
of the pipe, thereby changing the direction of the discharge from the latter
Since in the case of such a tip being used, the current from it strikes only in
one place, rotation of it or of the bottle becomes necessary to reach all parts of the
latter. The bottle may be rotated by taking hold of it and moving it around on
the bottle-supports. Or the tip may be caused to rotate, which rotation may be
automatic by means of the discharging current For such purpose the tip is loosely
mounted so as to be fice for rotation and its outlet formed on a line passing at the
same time through two different planes At "a" in Fig 6 that direction of the
bore 18 shown which 18 given for the purpose of changing the direction of
the current
At "6" the same bore is shown as it is curved at the same time in another plane
for the purpose of causing the tip to rotate by the reactive force of the discharging
current.

page_text: Catch-springs 20 are provided to prevent the tip from being lifted off by the
force of the current
To prevent splashing of the water which discharges from the bottle, vessel 1:3
18 continued upwardly or for convenience of construction a separate cylindrical
member 17 is superposed Overflow-openings 18 are provided in this latter
through which the surplus-water and any floating impurities pass out, while the
sand settles to the bottom of vessel 13 to be used again
The overflowing water is caught in an annular gutter 19, from which it drains
off through waste-pipe 21
To prevent the water which discharges out of the mouth of the bottle from
unning straight down on pipe 8 where it would wash the sand away from
openings 14, a spreader 22 is provided, suitably supported, which causes the water
to descend near the sides of vessel 13 whereby the sand is given a tendency to
accumulate in the center of the latter where it piles around pipe 8 and holes 14
therein,
To prevent any of the water shed over the outer edge of spreader 22, from splash-
ing through the overflow-openings, where it would gradually carry the sand away,
a guard 23 is provided in front of the latter that is with reference to the flow and
inside of which the water passes down
This guard might be an annular ring secured within member 17 or it may be
the lower part of another cylindrical member 24 slipped into member 17 and
provided with a bead 25, whereby it reats upon the upper edge of the latter
Near the upper part of the structure, that 18 on member 24, when built up as
described, otherwise on the upwardly extended vessel 13, are provided the bottle-
supports 26, upon which the bottle rests while being scoured and flushed. They
are arranged and constructed to support bottles of the usual shapes as they occur,
that is round or square, as shown in Figs 1 and 2, or flat as shown in Figs 3
and 6
They are preferably made of spring-wire, shaped as shown and secured in
sockets 27 on the outside, from which they extend up and into the upper end of
the device Their inner ends are preferably left disconnected so as not to interfere
with then spring-action, permitting them to yield more or less when the bottles
are placed between them.
For opening and closing apertures 14, their lids 16 may have either a sliding
movement past over, or a swinging movement to and from them The latter form
has been adopted, since it obviates friction and cutting of metal-surfaces in case
any sand-grains are caught between For such purpose each lid is mounted on
a lever 28 pivotally supported at 29 and provided with a spring 31 to keep them
noimally closed To open them, means should be used whereby all may be
operated multaneously for which purpose we provide cam-plate 32 having
slots 33 occupied by the upper ends of lever 28 and so shaped and located as to
move the levers upon rotation of the plate This cam-plate is preferably supported
upon a shoulder on pipe 8 and held in place by a nut 30 above it A handle 34
is extended from the plate to the outside for such rotation At the inner ends of
cam-slots 33 flat places are provided in their curves as shown at 35 which, when
entered by the ends of levers 28, cause the cam-plate to remain in such position,
that is for holding opening 14 open, without requiring it to be held so by the
hand on handle 34.
To obviate or reduce friction, the upper ends of levers 28 which occupy slots 33
should be provided with rollers
Where more than one of these devices are used, they may all be mounted upon or
connected to one supply-pipe 11 They should all operate together, for which
purpose all handles 34 are connected by a rod 36, which latter is then provided
with the operating-handle 37 (See Fig. 6)
One drain-gutter 38 and one waste-pipe 21 may also be used for the whole
series Where the devices are not connected to or above a sink, a suitable base 39
may be provided.
-

page_text: Amongst the many advantages which this device possesses, particular attention
is called to the fact that bottles of any shape may be cleaned by it, flat or square for
instance, since the scouring-current reaches any coiners and all parts of the interior
of the bottle which is not possible by mechanically operating scouring and
cleaning devices
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
"claim is:
-
1 In a bottle-scouring device, the combination of a vessel containing the scour-
ing medium, a continuous water-pipe entering and passing through said vessel
terminating above it in a discharge-nozzle, and having lateral openings in its
wall at such height as to be within that part of the vessel occupied by the scouring
medium so that when water is permitted to pass through said pipe, portions of the
scouring-medium are diawn in through said lateral openings and a bottle-support
for sustaining the bottle in an inverted position above the discharge-end of said
pipe
2 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel to contain the scour-
ing-medium, a water-pipe passing through the same, having lateral openings which
communicate with the lower part of the vessel, means to open and close these
openings and supporting-means for holding an inverted bottle above the discharge
end of the water-pipe
3 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel to contain the scour-
ing medium, a pipe passing through the same provided with lateral openings which
communicate with the lower part of the vessel, and adapted to carry alternately a
scouring and & rinsing curient, means to support an inverted bottle above the
discharge end of the water-pipe and a spreader to cause the discharged water to
return to the vessel near the sides thereof.
4 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel to contain the scour-
ing medium, a water-pipe passing through the same, provided with lateral openings
which communicate with the lower part of the vessel, means to support an inverted
bottle above the discharge end of the water-pipe and overflow-openings contained
in the upwardly continued sides of the vessel which are of a size to permit floating
impurities to pass freely out
5. In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel to contain the scour-
ing medium, a waterpipe passing through the same, provided with lateral openings
which communicate with the lower part of the vessel, means to support an inverted
bottle above the discharge end of the water-pipe, overflow-openings contained in
the upwardly continued sides of the vessel which are of a size to permit floating
impurities to pass freely out and a guard 23 interposed between said overflow-
opening to prevent the water from passing directly through the latter.
6 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel to contain the scour-
ing medium, a pipe passing through the same, provided with lateral openings
which communicate with the lower part of the vessel and adapted to carry alter-
nately a scouring and a rinsing-current and means to support an inverted bottle
above the discharge-end of the water-pipe
7 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel, to contain the scour-
ing-medium, a water-pipe passing through the same, provided with lateral openings
which communicate with the lower part of the vessel, means to support an inverted
bottle above the discharge-end of the water-pipe, overflow-openings contained in
the upwardly continued sides of the vessel and an annular drain-gutter surrounding
the latter below these over-flow-openings
8 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel, to contain the
scouring medium, a water-pipe passing through the same provided with lateral
openings which communicate with the lower part of the vessel, and having its bore

page_text: contracted to a smaller diameter below these openings and means to support an
inverted bottle above the discharge-end of the water-pipe.
9 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel 13, a water-pipe 8,
lateral openings 14 therein, lids 16 for these openings, means to open and close
them and a support for holding an inverted bottle above the water-pipe
10. In a bottle-oleaning-device, the combination of a vessel 13, a water-pipe 8,
lateral openings 14 therein, lids 16 for these openings, levers 28 which carry these
lids, means to swing the levers for closing or uncovering openings 14 and a support
for holding an inverted bottle above the water-pipe.
11. In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel 13, a water-pipe 8,
lateral openings 14 therein, lids 16 for these openings, levers 28 which carry these
Lids, a cam-plate 32 with an accessible handle for operating these levers to open or
close openings 14 and a support for holding an inverted bottle above the water-pipe.
12 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel 13, a water-pipe 8,
lateral openings 14 therein, lids 16 for these openings, means to open and close
them, a spreader 22 supported on pipe 8 and a support for holding an inverted
bottle above the water-pipe.
13 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel 13, a water-pipe 8
having lateral openings 14, a member 17 superposed upon vessel 13 to add to the
height of the latter and provided with overflow-openings 18 and a support for
holding an inverted bottle above the water-pipe.
14. In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel 13, a water-pipe 8
having lateral openings 14, a spreader 22 supported on pipe 8, overflow-openings
contained in the upwardly continued sides of vessel 13, a superposed member 24
extending with its lower part in front of these overflow-openings and a support
for holding an inverted bottle above the water-pipe
15 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel 13, the height of
which is increased by the super position of additional members fitted thereto, a
water-pipe 8 having lateral openings 14, and the curved spring-wire bottle-
supports 26 projecting upwardly and turned over the uppermost member and
extending downwardly within the same
16 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel 13, a water-pipe 8
having lateral openings 14, a member 17 superposed upon vessel 13 to add to the
height of the latter and provided with overflow-openings 18, an annular
drain-gutter 19 with waste-pipe 21 below them and a support for holding an
inverted bottle above the water-pipe.
17 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a series of vessels 13, a
water-pipe 8 for each, a supply-pipe 11 for all these water-pipes, lateral openings
in these latter means to open and close them, a connecting-rod attached to these
means in a manner to cause all of them to operate together and bottle-supports above
each vessel
18 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a series of vessels 13, a water-
pipe for each, a supply-pipe 11 for all these water-pipes, lateral openings 14 in
these latter, bottle-supports above each vessel, a superposed member 17 on each of
the latter to increase their height, overflow-openings in them and a drainage-gutter
with waste-pipe, surrounding the whole series of vessels below the overflow-
openings in the latter.
19 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel adapted to contain
the scouring medium, a water-pipe communicating with the same, supporting-
means for holding an inverted bottle above the discharge-end of the water-pipe and
means on this latter whereby the current 18 caused to discharge at an angle
20 In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel adapted to contain
the scouring medium, a water-pipe communicating with the same, supporting-
means for holding an inverted bottle above the discharge-end of the water-pipe and
a tip on this latter so mounted as to be capable of being rotated by the force of
the discharging current.
21. In a bottle-cleaning-device, the combination of a vessel 13, a water-pipe 8

page_text: having lateral openings 14, a member 17 superposed upon vessel 13, to add to the
height of the latter and provided with overflow-openings 18, a guard 23 interposed
in front of them and a support for holding an inverted bottle above the water-
pape
Dated th.. 7411 of Tun 1900
HERBERT HADDAN & Co,
Agents to Applicants, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C,
London