Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Storing and Distributing Aërated Beverages.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1893
'Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Storing and
Distributing Aërated Beverages.
I, Alfred CowAN, of Selsdon Terrace, South Croydon, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a novel method of storing beverages, such as beer
containing a sufficient quantity of carbonic acid gas, or other beverages aërated
under more or less pressure, in vessels of sufficient size, so that the contents can be
drawn off as desired into glasses, instead of being kept in tightly closed bottles as is
ordinarily the case. Also of improvements in the apparatus or means whereby the
aerated beverage is so drawn off when required.
It is applicable more especially to hotels, and other places, where such aërated
beverages are constantly required to be supplied in greater or less quantities, but
it is also applicable to domestic or private use, or in other situations of the
like kind.
In order to put my invention in operation, I use cylindrical or barrel shaped
vessels or drums, of sufficiently strong material, preferably metal, galvanized,
enamelled, or otherwise coated inside with a substance not acting injuriously upon
the liquid or beverage which the vessel is to contain.
I make these vessels of such size that they can be easily transported from place
to place, and in suitable positions, but preferably in the ends of the vessel, I fit
sockets, through which it can be filled and the contents drawn off as desired.
These two sockets are, preferably, of different sizes the larger one at the bottom
being used for washing out the vessel when necessary and for drawing off the
beverage, whilst the smaller upper one is to allow the passage of the gas.
These sockets are preferably in the form of short cylinders, open at their upper
end which has an external flange by which the socket is attached to the vessel (the
socket being inside the latter) and closed at the inner end by a flange having
a central opening the upper edge of which, or a projecting face round it, serves as a
seat for a valve. The opening is provided with a short cylindrical projection
below which is screwed inside to receive a corresponding hollow cylindrical valve
open below but closed above. This valve has a projecting flange round its upper
part which can be screwed down upon the valve seat, preferably with the
intervention of a flange of india rubber or other soft material. A number of small
holes are made through the sides of the cylindrical valve at a short distance below
its upper flange, through which the liquid in the vessel passes when the valve is
unscrewed from its seat. Into the outer open end of the socket is screwed a
cylindrical chamber, the upper end of which (which may be more or less contracted
in diameter) is provided with a stuffing box through which passes a spindle the
inner end of which has a square socket which fits upon a corresponding square
projection upon the upper end of the valve, so that by turning the spindle by means
of a lever or handle or wheel upon its outer end the valve can be opened
or closed.
In the side of the outer chamber is an opening provided with a union coupling,
by which a pipe of any suitable material can be connected with it.
In order to fill the vessel it is brought to a reservoir containing the aërated
beverage, and the large valve is connected by a flexible or other pipe of sufficient
strength to a corresponding valve at the lower part of the reservoir, whilst the

page_text: smaller valve is connected by a similar pipe to a valve at the upper part of the
reservoir, so that when all the valves are opened the vessel becomes filled with
the beverage under pressure.
The valves are then closed and the pipes disconnected and the filled vessel is then
removed to the place where its contents are to be drawn off as desired, and where
it may be covered by a moveable cover which may be made as ornamental as
desired. The lower valve chamber is then connected by a flexible or other pipe
(passing through the ornamental casing) with a cock or tap, and the lower valve
being opened the contents of the vessel can be drawn off into glasses through the
tap, in such quantity as may be desired, by the internal pressure of the gas in the
vessel.
It will be seen that by my invention aërated beverages are supplied under
sufficient pressure in portable vessels of sufficient size, instead of in separate bottles,
and can be very readily drawn off as required, whilst the apparatus may be made
as ornamental as desired and is very easily and economically worked and used.
I do not confine myself to the precise form and details of the apparatus used in
carrying out my invention which may be varied more or less as may be found
advisable in different circumstances.
Dated this 21st day of Anril 1893
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Storing and
Distributing Aërated Beverages.
1, ALFRED COWAN, of Selsdon Terrace, South Croydon, in the County of
Surrey, 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 and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
My invention relates to a novel method of storing beverages, such as beer
containing a sufficient quantity of carbonic acid gas, or other beverages aërated
under more or less pressure, in portable vessels of sufficient size, so that the contents
can be drawn off as desired into glasses, or in any desired quantity instead of being
kept in tightly closed bottles as is ordinarily the case. Also of improvements in
the apparatus or means whereby the aĕrated beverage is so drawn off when
required.
It is applicable more especially to hotels, and other places, where such aërated
beverages are constantly required to be supplied in greater or less quantities and
where the facility of supplying them as required without the necessity of opening a
specially stoppered bottle every time will be important, but it is also applicable to
domestic or private use, or in other situations.
In order to put my invention in operation, I use portable cylindrical or barrel
shaped vessels or drums, of sufficiently strong material, such as metal, galvanized,
enamelled, or otherwise coated inside with a substance not acting injuriously upon
the liquid or beverage which the vessel is to contain.
I make these vessels of such size that they can be easily transported from place
to place, and in suitable positions, but preferably in each end of the vessel, I fit two
hollow sockets, one at or near the top and the other at or near the bottom, through
which it can be filled and the contents drawn off as desired.
These two sockets may be of the same size, but they are preferably of different
sizes the larger one at the bottom being used for washing out the vessel when
necessary and for drawing off the beverage, whilst the smaller upper one is to allow
the passage of the gas in filling the vessel, as hereinafter described.
The sockets described receive adjustable valves, preferably constructed as

page_text: follows, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a
longitudinal section through the upper valve and socket.
a is the socket in the form of a short cylinder, open at its upper end which has a
flange by which the socket is attached to the vessel cand having a central opening
the upper edge of which, or a projecting face round it, serves as a seat for a valve.
The opening is provided with a short cylindrical projection d below, which is
screwed inside to receive a corresponding hollow cylindrical valve e open below but
closed above. This valve has a projecting flange fround its upper part which can
be screwed down upon the valve seat, preferably with the intervention of a flange
of india rubber or other soft material at g.
A number of small holes are made
through the sides of the cylindrical valve e at a short distance below its upper
flange, through which gas can pass into the upper part of the vessel when the valve
is unscrewed from its seat (or in the case of the lower valve, through which the
aërated beverage is admitted to and drawn off from the portable vessels). Into
the outer open end of the socket a is screwed a cylindrical chamber i, the upper end
of which (which may be more or less contracted in diameter) is provided with
a stuffing box k through which passes a spindle the inner or lower end of which
has a square socket m which fits upon a corresponding square projection n upon the
upper end of the valve e (as shewn in plan in Figure 2) so that by turning the
spindle by means of a lever or handle or wheel o upon its outer end the valve can
be opened or closed.
In the side of the outer chamber is an opening p provided with a union
coupling r, by which a pipe s of any suitable material can be connected with it.
In order to fill the portable vessel it is brought to a reservoir in which the
aërated beverage is kept stored under sufficient pressure, and the lower of the two
valves is connected by a flexible or other pipe of sufficient strength to a corre-
sponding valve at the lower part of the reservoir just described, whilst the upper
valve is connected by the pipes to a corresponding valve at the upper part of the
reservoir, so that when all the valves are opened the portable vessel becomes filled
with the beverage under pressure, through the lower valve whilst gas can pass into
it from the reservoir through the two upper valves.
The lower valves are similar in construction, but inverted in position.
The valves are then closed and the pipes disconnected and the filled portable
vessel is removed to the place where its contents are to be drawn off as desired, and
where it may be covered by a moveable cover or case which may be made as
ornamental as desired. The lower valve chamber is then connected by a flexible
or other pipe (passing through the ornamental cover or case) with a cock or tap,
and the lower valve being opened the contents of the vessel can then be drawn off
into glasses or other receptacles through the tap, in such quantity as may be
desired, by the internal pressure of the gas in the vessel, the upper valve remaining
closed.
It will be seen that by my invention aërated beverages are kept under sufficient
pressure in portable vessels of sufficient size, instead of in separate bottles, and can
be very readily drawn off in any quantity as required, whilst the apparatus
may be made as ornamental as desired, and is very easily and economically worked
and used.
I do not confine myself to the precise form and details of the apparatus used in
carrying out my invention which may be varied more or less as may be found
advisable in different circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved method of storing and distributing aërated beverages, by the
use of a large reservoir containing the beverage under pressure, a small portable
vessel filled by arranging it in a convenient position near the reservoir, and
connecting its upper part with the upper part of the large reservoir by a moveable

page_text: pipe, and its lower part with the lower part of the large reservoir by a second
inoveable pipe, adjustable valves connected with the pipes being arranged at both
the upper and lower ends of the large reservoir, and of the portable vessel, and a
pipe provided with a tap or valve being connected with the valve at the lower end
of the smaller vessel when the latter is in the position where it is to be used,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The regulating valve, consisting of the screwed socket d, screwed hollow
valve e having holes h, spindle and stuffing box k, and opening p with union
joint and pipe s, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 19th day of January 1894.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.