Improved Siphon Vessel for Beer and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1898-Accepted, 10th Dec.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Siphon Vessel for Beer and the like.
I, ALBERT HEINEMANN, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and resident of
No. 12, Reichstagsufer, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement;
The numerous known siphons for beer, in which the beer is under the pressure
of compressed carbonic acid, mostly show the great disadvantage that tubes or
other such parts of the siphon dip into the beer or otherwise come in contact
with the same. Experience has shown that both the taste and appearance of the
beer are thereby impaired and the beer very soon spoiled unless special attention
is paid to most scrupulous cleanliness.
The siphon, on which the present invention is based, is free from these
drawbacks insofar as tubes and the like do not dip into the contents of the
receptacle or come in contact therewith, but the drawing off of the contents of
the vessel is effected through a passage provided in the side of the siphon and
extending to the inclined bottom thereof, which passage may be easily and thor-
oughly cleaned every time the siphon is rinsed out. The compressed carbonic
acid which presses out the contents of the vessel through the passage provided
with a discharge cock is contained in the lid of the siphon which forms a suit-
able receptacle in such manner that a constant carbonic acid atmosphere presses
upon the beer which remains shut off from contact with atmospheric air until
the siphon is completely emptied of its contents. For this purpose, the cavity
in the lid communicates, by means of a nozzle having a correspondingly narrow
passage, with the interior of the siphon with or without a reducing valve so that
according to the emptying of the contents of the siphon, the carbonic acid kept
in the lid under corresponding pressure passes into the siphon and on opening
the discharge cock of the passage in the side of the siphon causes the beer to
be forced out. The carbonic acid consequently serves as a means of conveyance
for the beer to be retailed, as a means for preserving same on account of the
complete shutting off of the air, and also as a means for keeping the beer fresh
insofar as it does not allow the natural carbonic acid of same to escape, but
according to the pressure, causes more or less an impregnation of the beer.
The hollow lid is so arranged that it is hermetically shut off from the siphon
and after releasing a stopper can be filled with carbonic acid of any desired
pressure through a filling hole provided with a back pressure valve. The lid is
however also, hinged to the handle of the siphon in the usual manner by a suit-
able connecting piece so that it may be opened for filling the siphon and also
for emptying the whole contents of the siphon in case the carbonic acid pressure
should fail to act or not be sufficient. In the latter case, the stopper of the lid
is released, the lid opened and the siphon emptied by pouring out its contents
in the usual manner. This provision of the lid also allows of the very important
filling of the siphon by means of the known isobarometric apparatus, the air

page_text: being completely shut off so that when filling the siphon from the barrel, the
beer does not come in contact with air. Directly before the beer is filled into
the siphon vessel, which latter with its lid open is placed beneath the filling
apparatus hermetically closing the siphon vessel, the air is forced out of such
vessel by compressed carbonic acid; after the vessel has been filled with beer
and carbonic acid is forced in again so as to fill the space above the beer, the
lid is closed, so that the contents are preserved by the carbonic acid between
the beer and the lid of the siphon.
Referring to the accompanying drawing which shows a siphon made in accord-
ance with this invention:-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and
Fig. 2 the front elevation of the closed siphon.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section on line x-x of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 the plan of the lid formed as carbonic acid receptacle.
The siphon a is of any suitable form and has a conical neck 6 for the purpose
of securing an air tight sealing or closing by means of the correspondingly
formed lid with packing ring d, such lid being pivotally connected with the
connecting piece f on the siphon handle g by a plate e also formed as handle
so that for filling, cleansing or emptying the siphon by pouring out its contents,
the lid can be flapped back around the pin h.
According to the construction shown, the lid c is in the form of a receptacle
made from metal of adequate thickness in order to offer resistance for the inner
gas pressure and having a rim i behind which the locking levers k engage, which
are pivotally connected to bows 7 which may be flapped up or down in brackets m
of the siphon. In a hole in the top of the lid-receptacle c is inserted a ring n
which receives a screw stopper o and guides a valve p actuated by a spring q
and acting as a back pressure valve. In the bottom of the lid-receptacle is
inserted a nozzle r for the escape of the carbonic acid and the bore of this nozzle
is of such dimensions compared with the valve p for the inlet of the carbonic
acid that the filling of the lid-receptacle can be effected in a short period, that
is to say, the rate at which the gas escapes from the lid-receptacle c into the
siphon a is much less than that at which it enters by the valve p. This is
effected in such manner that after locking the levers of the filled siphon the
stopper o is removed and the hose of the carbonic acid receptacle is screwed into
the thread of the ring n. After the pressure of the carbonic acid in the lid-
receptacle c has reached the necessary limit ascertainable from a manometer
the hose is released; the back pressure valve p automatically closes the ring n
and the stopper o is again screwed therein.
The carbonic acid is not only contained in the lid-receptacle c but also in the
free space between the lid bottom and the liquid level in the siphon.
In the side of the siphon is provided a passage s extending to the bottom which
inclines towards the lower end of the passage so that with adequate pressure of
carbonic acid even the last drop of liquid is discharged from the siphon.
According to the construction shown the passages leads to the upper edge of
the siphon and communicates with a discharge cock t through whose opening
the contents of the siphon are emptied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1/ In a siphon for beer and the like, the combination of a lid c formed as a
carbonic acid receiver and provided with filling hole and back pressure valve,
with means for keeping the lid closed and for the purpose of enabling the siphon
to be quickly opened and shut, and with a discharge pipe s for the liquid, such
pipe arranged independently of the lid substantially as described and shown in
the drawing.
2/ In a siphon for beer and the like, the combination of a lid in form of a

page_text: carbonic acid receiver, which lid may be quickly opened and closed for the pur-
pose of filling the siphon, with a discharge passage provided in the side of the
siphon substantially as described and shown in the drawing.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1898
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.