Improvements in Soda Water Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1893-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Soda Water Machines.
I, JAMES MEADOWCROFT, of Regent Street, Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, Soda Water Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for manufacturing soda
water, and other aerated or carbonated beverages the object being to construct a
machine, the pump, and other working parts of which will be more accessible; and
also to provide means whereby the working of the pump can be seen by an indicator,
and also by an improved saturator or mixer. Heating of the pump is also.
prevented by water passing from the cylinder of the machine, when overcharged,
to the water, or gas supply pipe, and so on to the pump which again forces the:
water or gas and water into the cylinder.
According to this invention I fix, preferably at the end of the machine, slide
bars, or guides in which works a slide block, or cross head, cast to, or formed on
which is a bracket to which the plunger of the pump is attached. The
slide block is operated by crank, and rod in the ordinary manner and motion
is imparted to the plunger of the pump, the latter being fixed on a shelf, or bracket
at the end of the machine, and thus the valves of the pump are quite accessible,.
and can be removed without stopping the machine.
The gas indicator cousists of a glass, and metal vessel connected by pipe with
the pump, the open end of the said pipe extending to about half way up the
interior of the vessel. A water inlet pipe is at the bottom of the vessel, and the
gas inlet pipe is at the top, the end of this pipe extending to nearly the bottom of
the vessel. A perforated plate is fitted into the interior of the vessel, and above the
mouth of the gas inlet pipe, and below the mouth of the water overflow, or outlet pipe..
It will be seen that all water passing to the pump goes by way of the indicator,
and thus a constant supply of fresh water is maintained in said indicator.
The saturator comprises a preferably cylindrical, or rectangular vessel inside of
which are a series of double plates having raised or conical centres and to the lower
plates I fix tubes, or cylinders which encircle the raised, or conical portions of the
next lower double plates. The upper plates of each series is perforated with small
holes, and the top, or apex of the raised part of the lower plates is also open.
The gas and water in passing through the saturator becomes thoroughly amal-
gamated, and the tubes or cylinders form spaces in which gas lodges, and forms.
cushions preventing strain on, and breakage of the saturator, and pump.
"
In connection with the cylinder I employ preferably two ordinary "blow back
or safety valves, one of which is used as the ordinary safety valve, the other being
arranged to blow off at a lower pressure, and to this valve I fix a tube which
extends some distance below the ordinary water level in the cylinder.
When the pressure in the cylinder becomes too great water only escapes
up the tube and out off the valve, and so by way of pipe to the ordinary gas or
water supply pipe, and back to the pump so that the latter is prevented from
becoming heated by pumping gas only when the water supply has been shut off
by the action of a water regulator.
The above mentioned "blow back" or safety arrangement is used only in com-
bination with the "water regulator described in Specification of Letters
"

page_text: Patent No. 17814 dated 17th day of October 1891, and granted to the present
applicant.
Dated this 13th day of October 1892.
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Soda Water Machines.
I, JAMES MEADOWCROFT, of Regent Street, Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, Soda Water Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 improvements in apparatus for manufacturing soda
water and other aerated or carbonated beverages, the object being to construct a
machine the pump and other working parts of which will be more accessible, and
also to provide means whereby the working of the pump can be seen by an
indicator, and also by an improved saturator or mixer. Heating of the pump is
also prevented by water passing from the cylinder of the machine when overcharged,
to the water or gas supply pipe, and so on to the pump, which again forces the
water, or gas and water into the cylinder.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a soda water machine, having my
improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section,. of a soda water machine, with my
improvements applied thereto.
According to this invention, I fix preferably on the end of the machine, slide
bars or guides 1. 1, in or upon which works a slide block or cross head 2, cast to or
fixed on which is a bracket 3, to which the plunger 4 of the pump 5 is attached.
The slide block 2 is operated by crank 6 and connecting rod 7 in the ordinary
manner, and motion is imparted to the plunger 4 of the pump 5, the latter being
fixed on a shelf or bracket 8 at the end of the machine, and as the connecting rod 7
from the crank 6, to the slide block 2, is fixed behind the pump 5, instead of above
and down each side of such pump as heretofore the pump 5 and its valve are
quite accessible, and can if necessary be examined whilst the machine is still
running.
The gas indicator consists of a glass and metal vessel a connected by pipe 10
with the pump, the open end or funnel 11 of the said pipe 10 extending to above
half way up the interior of the glass vessel 9. A water inlet pipe 12 is at the
bottom of the vessel 9 and the gas inlet pipe 13 is at the top of said vessel; the end
of this pipe 13 extending to nearly the bottom of the vessel. A perforated plate 14
is fitted into the interior of the vessel 9, and above the mouth of the gas inlet
pipe 13, and below the mouth of the water overflow or funnel 11 of outlet pipe 4.
It will be seen that all water passing to the pump 5 goes by way of the indicator,
and thus a constant supply of fresh water is maintained in said indicator. By means
of this indicator the suction of the pump 5, and the action of the suction valve is
clearly seen, both as regards the quantity of gas and water taken at each stroke of
the plunger.
The saturator comprises a preferably cylindrical or rectangular vessel 15, inside
of which are a series of double plates 16. 16. having raised or conical centres 17. 17,
and to the lower plates I fix tubes or cylinders 18, which encircle the raised or
conical portions 17 of the next lower double plates 16. The upper plates 16 of
each series is perforated with small holes 19, and the top or apex of the raised

page_text: part 17 of the lower plates is also open. The gas and water in passing through
the saturator, becomes thoroughly amalgamated, and the tubes or cylinders form.
spaces 20 in which gas lodges and forms cushions, preventing strain on, and
breakage of the saturator and pump.
The action is as follows:- When the pump 5 is set in motion, carbonic acid gas
is drawn through the gas inlet pipe 13, and water is drawn through the water-
inlet pipe 12 into the indicator 9, and thence by way of funnel 11 and pipe 10 into
pump 5. The gas and water is forced along pipe 27 through the various chambers
and passages in the saturator 15, through outlet pipe 28, which is connected to the
inlet pipe 29 of the cylinder 30, which can be fixed as is usual, either into the
machine itself, or in any other convenient position.
In connection with the cylinder I employ preferably two ordinary "blow back'
or safety valves 21. 22 (see Fig. 2) one of which is used as the ordinary safety
valve 21, the other 22 being arranged to blow off at a lower pressure, and to this
valve 22, I fix a tube 23, which extends some distance below the ordinary water
level in the cylinder 30.
-
When the pressure in the cylinder 20 becomes too great, water only escapes up.
the tube 23, and out of the valve 22, and so by way of pipe 25 to the ordinary gas.
or water supply pipe, and back to the pump 5, so that the latter is prevented
from becoming heated by pumping gas only when the water supply has been shut.
off by the action of a water regulator.
The above mentioned "blow back" or safety arrangement is used only in.
combination with similar "water regulators" such as that described in Specification.
of Letters Patent No. 17814, dated 17th day of October 1891, and granted to the
present applicant.
The action is as follows:-The valve 22 is set to "blow off" or "blow back"
at a pre-determined pressure, and if the pressure reaches that point, and the water
does not cover the lower end of the pipe 23, gas only is blown back into the supply
pipes, and to the pump 5, whilst if the high water level is reached, aerated water
only is blown back, and as whenever the high water level is reached, the water
supply to the pump is automatically cut off by the action of a water regulator such
as described in Specification of Letters Patent 17814 of the year 1891, granted to
the present applicant; the pump 5 is then pumping gas only, and is liable to
become heated, but the action of the valve 22 and pipe 23, prevents this by
allowing the surplus water to pass from the cylinder into the supply pipes, and back
again to the pump 5.
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.) In soda water machines, the use and employment of the slides 1. 1, slide
block 2, together with the bracket 3 carrying the plunger 4, all in combination,
and as, and for the purpose herein described, and as illustrated by the annexed
drawings.
(2.) The vessel 9, having a gas inlet and water inlet, together with the single
pipe 10, funnel 11, and perforated plate 14, all in combination, and constituting the
improved water indicator as and for the purpose herein described, and as illustrated
by Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
(3.) The improved water indicator having a gas inlet and water inlet, together
with the single pipe 10, for conveying both gas and water to the pump in soda
water machine as herein described, and as illustrated by Fig. 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
(4.) The vessel 15 in which are the double plates 16. 16, having conical or raised
centres 17. 17, and the tubes or cylinders 18, all in combination, and constituting
the improved saturator, as herein described, and as illustrated by Fig. 1 of the
annexed drawings.
(5.) In combination with a water regulator, the use of the valves 21. 22, to the

page_text: latter being attached the tube 23, as and for the purpose herein described, and as
illustrated by Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of July 1893.
JAMES MEADOW CROFT,
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Penny Bank Chambers, Waterhouse Street, Halifax.
JAMES
MEADOWCROFT,
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Penny Bank Chambers, Waterhouse Street, Halifax.