Improvements in or connected with Bunging Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Bunging Apparatus.
We, LOUIS WAGNER, of 707 Swan Street, in the City of Baltimore, State of
Maryland United States of America, Machinist, and JOHN MARR of 416 North
Howard Street, same place, Maltster, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
In what may be termed the second fermentation of beer for the purpose among
other things of charging it with carbonic-acid gas to give it the proper life, the
beer is confined or "bunged" in large and strong casks. This operation prevents
the escape of gas generated in the beer, or permits the escape of the excess of gas
only. It is also found desirable and economical to distribute the excess of gas
from any cask or casks among other casks in which the fermentation is slower and
of less amount. For this purpose the said casks are connected with a common gas
conduit through which the carbonic-acid may pass in the direction of the least
pressure.
Our present invention relates to apparatus of this character and has for its
objects to permit the gas to pass from any cask containing an excess of the same,
but always to maintain in said cask all gas generated therein until the maximum
predetermined pressure is attained. Also to permit the entrance of gas provided that
the pressure within the cask is less than the pressure in the gas conduit with which
the gas is connected. Also to provide, outside of or independent of the gas conduit
which extends from one to another of the individual gas pipes of the several casks, a
pressure regulator which may consist of a head or column of water, a spring con-
trolled valve, or other equivalent device. Also to enable casks in various different
positions, for instance in two or more rows at right angles to each other, to be
conveniently connected with the main gas conduit.
With such objects in view our invention consists in the parts and combinations
thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed.
In order to make the improvements more clearly understood we have shown in
the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect,
without however limiting our invention in its practical applications to the particular
construction which, for the sake of illustration, we have delineated. In said
drawings:
Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a series of casks having applied thereto a bunging
apparatus embodying our improvements.
Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, and on a larger scale of that portion of
the apparatus which pertains to a single cask.
Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the same.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views on lines IV-IV, V-V and VI-VI of Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of the connecting gas pipe.
Referring to the drawings 1 indicates the beer casks in which the secondary
fermentation is to be performed, which are frequently termed shavings-casks,
arranged in any suitable number and position for connection with the bunging
apparatus. The latter comprises a main gas pipe 2 which extends in a substantially
horizontal direction through the cellar, and which is connected at suitable intervals
with the individual bunging devices of the several casks. Each bunging device 3
comprises a bung or equivalent means for making gas tight the cask to which the
device belongs, and a conduit leading from the interior of the cask through the said
bung and adapted to permit the ingress or egress of gas according to the direction of

page_text: the pressure. Such conduit may also be employed for racking off the beer when
sufficiently fermented. We may here state that the bung and conduit employed
with the rest of our improved apparatus may be of any desired and suitable
character and forms no necessary part thereof. We however have illustrated and
preferred to employ the vent bung described in detail in and constituting the
subject matter of our Application of even date herewith (No. 5823). In the
drawings 4 indicates the bung and 5 the sleeve or conduit extending therethrough
to the interior of the cask and provided with a suitable cock 7. At the upper end
of the sleeve 5 we prefer to mount a pressure gage 8 by which, when the apparatus
is in operation, the pressure in each cask is indicated. 9 is a screw-threaded
extension of the sleeve 5 provided with a passage 10.
11 indicates a valve chamber provided with a screw-threaded aperture 12 with
which is adapted to be connected, by a T or other coupling 13, the main gas
pipe 2. Leading from the aperture 12 the chamber il is provided with a
passage 14, leading to a space 15 provided with a valve seat 16. 17 is a valve
fitting said seat and adapted to permit the passage of gas through the way 14 in the
direction of the pipe 2. This valve is controlled by a suitable opposing pressure,
as by that of a spring 18, so as to permit the said escape of gas from the cask only
when the pressure in the latter exceeds the said opposing pressure. The latter
should be capable of regulation as to its amount and to this end we mount in a
case 19 screwed upon the chamber 11 a vertically adjustable plunger or screw 20
adapted to engage the spring 18 and compress the same more or less upon the
valve 17 according to the amount of pressure which it is desired to maintain in the
cask. On the opposite side of the valve 17 a passage 22 forms a continuation of
the passage 14 and leads to a space 22ª. The latter has a short passage 23 leading
to a valve seat 24 and controlled by a valve 25 on said seat. This latter valve is
also controlled as to the amount of pressure which will open it, as for instance by
a spring 26, which in practice is adjusted to such tension that the valve 25 will
open only under a somewhat greater pressure than the valve 17. Above the valve 52
a passage or pipe 27 serves as an escape for the surplus gas, which latter it is
preferable to conduct out of the cellar into the open air, or into a receiver in which
it may serve any useful purpose, by extending the pipe 27 as indicated in the
drawings. 28 is a valve case screwed to or formed with the chamber 11 and
provided with a shut off cock 29 which is to be closed when it is desired to cut off
the cask from the rest of the apparatus for racking off or other purposes. 30 is a
screw-threaded coupling sleeve connected with the valve case 28 and adapted to
be connected with or disconnected from the extensions 9 of the conduit 5.
31 is a passage also, leading from the aperture 12 of the chamber 11 to the
space 22 from whence it may have communication with the cask through the
parts 28, 30 and 5.
32 is a valve seat in the passage 31 on which fits a check
valve 33 adapted to permit the entrance of gas into the cask from the pipe 2
whenever the pressure in the latter preponderates, but which will not allow of any
escape or passage of gas from the cask. 34 is a plug which closes the upper end
of the chamber in which the check valve is situated and which may be removed for
assembling or cleaning the parts. The check valve 33 may be kept normally upon
its seat 32 either by gravity as illustrated, or in an equivalent way.
It will be observed from a consideration of the construction and operation of the
apparatus as thus far described that the pressure in the main gas pipe can never
exceed by any material amount that in the various casks connected with it. On
the other hand the carbonic-acid gas pressure in each cask will accumulate up to
the limit which will operate its spring controlled valve 17, and upon exceeding
such limit the extra quantity of gas will pass through said valve and into the main
gas pipe, and thence through the valve 33 of the bunging devices pertaining to any
cask the pressure in which is less than will be the pressure in said main pipe after
the latter shall have received the extra quantity of gas. In the case of excessive
pressure, above the limit of safety, or above the limit for which the valve 25 is
adjusted, the latter will be operated and the excess of gas will pass away through

page_text: the passage or pipe 27 and out of the cellar into the atmosphere or into any
receiver with which the said pipe may be, for economical purposes, connected.
While it is convenient to provide each of the bunging devices with the escape
valve 25, it will be observed that it is not necessary that the valve on each of a
connected series of bunging devices should be operative. One of such valves only,
whichever may be most convenient, need be connected with the pipe 27, and the
adjusting screws of each of the other valves may be turned downwards so as to
compress their valves and render them tight and inoperative. In such case when
there is an accumulated pressure in any cask at a distance from the valve 25 which
is so connected with the escape passage 27, the valve 17 in the bunging device of
the cask having such excessive pressure will be operated, and the excess of gas
will pass into the main pipe 2, from which it will, if it finds no exit into a cask
having a low pressure, actuate the check valve 33 which is contiguous to the
passage or pipe 27 and will pass through the valve 25 of the latter and escape.
If there should be a leak in any one of the casks connected with the main pipe 2,
or if there should be no fermentation of its contents, all the gas could, under the
old system, pass freely from the other casks into the main pipe 2 and would be at
liberty to enter such leaky cask and escape therefrom, but it will be observed that
each of the other casks is so controlled by its valve 17 that its contents can never
lose any of the carbonic-acid gas generated therein until such gas shall have
accumulated beyond the desired quantity and shall have exerted a sufficient
measure to pass the valve 17. In such case the escape of the excess of gas from
the cask is desirable, and will not leave the contents of the cask in a flat condition
as would be the case if the casks were not individually controlled and a leak should
exist anywhere in the series or in their connecting pipe.
It is often desirable to connect the bunging apparatus with one or more casks
which are not situated in the same row or straight line with the other casks. As
it is not practically possible to move such casks into line with the main pipe 2, we
have adapted the latter to be so shifted and modified as to its position as to admit
of bringing into the series of bunged casks any individual receptacle which may be
thus out of line. To this end the pipe 2 at or near each bunging device 3 is
provided with a movable section 35 which is united with that portion of the pipe 2
contiguous to the bunging device by means of a horizontal joint 36 which permits
the section 35 of the main conduit to be turned upward or downward to the desired
degree. The said section 35 is at its other end connected with the main portion of
the pipe 2 by a vertical joint 37. By the operation of these two joints it will be
observed that the said main portion of the pipe 2 can be extended in any desired
direction and at any inclination either horizontal or vertical, so as to reach the
casks desired to be included in the bunged series.
The pipe 2 is of the greater portion of its length made of considerable diameter,
say two or two and a half inches, as indicated at 38, thereby enabling it to contain
a considerable amount of gas without the necessity of employing a receiver.
Having thus described our invention what we claim is :
1. A bunging device adapted to be interposed between a gas conduit and the
cask to be bunged, provided with two independent passage ways, a check valve in
one of said passage ways adapted to operate to permit ingress of gas to the cask,
and a pressure controlled valve in the other passage way adapted to operate upon a
preponderance of pressure in the cask, substantially as set forth.
2. A bunging device adapted for connection with a gas conduit, and with a cask,
provided with a check valve to permit the ingress of gas to the cask and prevent
the egress therefrom, an automatic valve adapted to open to permit such egress and
means acting to keep this automatic valve normally closed for controlling it so as
to prevent its opening excepting under a predetermined accumulated pressure in the
cask, substantially as set forth.
3. A bunging device having a check valve adapted to permit the ingress of gas
into a cask and to prevent the egress of the same, a pressure controlled valve

page_text: normally closed and adapted to open upon the accumulation of the predetermined
amount of gas in the cask to permit the egress of the same, and a second pressure
controlled valve independent of the main gas conduit and communicating with the
passage way of the bunging device and adapted to operate at a pressure exceeding
that at which the first pressure controlled valve operates, substantially as set
forth.
4. In a bunging device the combination with a suitable casing or chamber having
an orifice adapted to be connected with a gas conduit and a second orifice adapted
to be connected with a cask, of the pressure controlled valve 17, the check valve 33
independent of the first mentioned valve, and independent passage ways in the said
bunging device controlled by the said valve as described, and both extending from
the first mentioned orifice to the second mentioned orifice, substantially as set
forth.
5. A bunging device having a suitable chamber or casing, an outwardly opening
spring-controlled check valve 17 therein, the inwardly opening check valve 33
independent of the valve 17, and a second pressure controlled valve 25 adapted to
operate only at a higher pressure than that which will actuate the valve 17, as and
for the purposes described.
6. The combination with a plurality of casks, of suitable vent bungs therein,
sleeves or conduits 5 in the said bungs, a series of bunging devices connected with
said sleeves and provided each with a check valve 33, a pressure-controlled exit
valve 17, a main gas pipe or conduit connecting with said bunging devices beyond
the said valves, and a pressure-controlled valve or escape 25 independent of the
main gas conduit and connected with one of said bunging devices, substantially as
set forth.
7. A bunging device having the valve chamber 11, a passage way therethrough
controlled by a valve 17, means for keeping the latter yielding upon its seat, a
check valve 33 controlling a second passage way through the said valve chamber,
a second pressure-controlled valve 25 operating at a different degree of pressure
from that actuating the said valve 17, and a cut off cock 29, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 20th day of March 1894.