A NEW OR IMPROVED TAP FOR SELF MEASURING AND REGISTERING WINES, SPIRITS, AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Sidebotham, of Blackpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Architect, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED TAP FOR SELF
MEASURING AND REGISTERING WINES, SPIRITS, AND OTHER LIQUIDS.”
Sealed the 18th June 1880, and dated the 27th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Sidebotham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th December 1879.
JOHN SIDEBOTHAM, of Blackpool, in the County of Lancaster, Architect. "A
NEW OR IMPROVED TAP FOR SELF MEASURING AND REGISTERING WINE, SPIRITS,
AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
My Invention consists in the use of two tubes working one inside the other
actuated by a handle or lever; by pulling the handle down to a fixed point a
certain quantity of liquid is allowed to flow out, and an indicating finger is at the
same time moved on a dial showing the amount of liquid withdrawn.
Egress and ingress pipes are inserted into the outer casing or tube, the egress
below and the ingress at the top; these pipes are alternately opened and closed by
the inner tube; when the handle is in one position the given quantity of liquid to
be withdrawn is allowed to flow into the inner or measuring tube, and when the
handle is moved down to the fixed point the measured quantity flows out and the
ingress is closed by the same action of the handle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Sidebotham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th June
1980.
"
JOHN SIDEBOTHAM, of Blackpool, in the County of Lancaster, Architect. A
NEW OR IMPROVED TAP FOR SELF MEASURING AND REGISTERING Wine, Spirits,
AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
My Invention consists in the use of two tubes working one inside the other, the
inner one being actuated by a handle or lever; by moving this handle to a certain
fixed point a certain quantity of liquid is allowed to flow out, and an indicating
finger is at the same time moved on a.dial showing the amount of liquid
withdrawn.
Egress and ingress pipes are inserted into, connected to, or formed with.the outer
casing or tube, the egress being below and the ingress at the top; these pipes are
alternately opened and closed by the inner tube; when the handle is in one position
the ingress pipe is opened, the egress pipe closed, and the given quantity of liquid
to be withdrawn is allowed to How into the inner or measuring tube, and when
the handle is moved into another position the ingress pipe is closed, the egress
pipe opened and the measured quantity of liquid allowed to flow out.
In the Drawings Figure 1 represents a transverse section of one of my new or
improved measuring taps as fitted in a case for use; Figure 2, a side view, Figure 3
a longitudinal section, Figure 4 a back view, and Figure 5 a front view of the
same; and Figure 6, a view of the registering mechanism with the dial face
removed. Similar letters refer to like parts in all the Figures.
A is the outer tube or case which is shewn as bored out to a conical form to
receive the inner or measuring tube or hollow plug B which is shaped to fit the outer
casing accurately; the inner end of this measuring tube or plug B is by preference
cast closed, as shewn, the outer end being closed by a cover C screwed into or
otherwise suitably attached and secured thereto. The space comprised between
the inner periphery of this inner tube or plug, and the inner and outer ends
constitutes the measuring space or chamber and is to be made of the capacity
necessary to contain the quantity of liquid it is desired to measure each time.
The inner tube or plug is retained in the outer tube or case by means of a cross
bar D secured to the outer casing or by any other suitable means. E is the pipe for
supplying liquid to the tap, and F the pipe for withdrawing the liquid therefrom,
E and F are holes in the periphery of the inner tube B which may be brought
respectively to correspond to the ingress and egress pipes E and F; F2 is a tube to
regulate the contents of the tap; G is a handle secured on the stem H, which stem
is connected to or formed with the cover C; I is a projection from the handle,
which when the said handle is in the vertical position comes against a stop J on
the outer casing, and when the handle is in the horizontal position shewn by
dotted lines, comes against a similar stop K, also on the outer casing. The outer
casing A is prolonged to form a space L which contains the registering mechanism
covered with a dial plate M and glass cover N. The operation of the tap is as
follows: When the handle G stands in the vertical position, as shewn, the hole E³
in the inner tube corresponds to the ingress pipe E, and an air space 0 in
the inner tube corresponds to the vent hole P, in the outer casing, the hole F¹ in
the inner tube being stopped by the outer casing. Liquid flows through the
ingress pipe E and fills the inner tube, the air escaping therefrom by the air
passago O and vent hole P, until the measuring space is filled when the valve Q
which is made of light material such as cork, or gutta-percha, floats up into the
position shewn in dotted lines, and closes the air passage O. When the handle G
is turned into the horizontal position, as shewn in dotted lines, Figure 4, the hole E¹
in the inner tube is turned away from the ingress pipe E, and the hole F" is turned

page_text: to coincide with the egress pipe F, the air passage R then coincides with the vent
hole P, and the liquid in the measuring tube is delivered through the pipe F. On
turning the handle G again into the vertical position, the measuring tube is again
filled and so on.
The registering apparatus shown in the Drawings indicates the number of
measurements made by means of a train of wheels which gives motion to two
hands or indices similar to those of a clock. On the spindle S (see Figure 6)
projecting through from the inner tube B into the space containing the registering
apparatus is secured a disc T, which carries the hinged click U in such manner
that when the handle G is turned down the said click assumes the positions
shewn in dotted lines so as to turn the ratchet wheel V by one tooth each time
the said handle is moved. When the handle is turned back the click slips over the
teeth of the ratchet wheel, being jointed for that purpose and furnished with a
spring to return it to its original position. The ratchet wheel V is prevented from
moving backwards by the pawl W. The movement of the ratchet wheel
communicates motion to a suitable train of wheels X to which the hands or indices
Y, Z, are connected in a measure well understood in connection with clockwork so
as to indicate in any desired manner the number of measurements made.
Any other arrangement of registering or indicating apparatus may be employed,
but I have found the above suitable and convenient for the purpose.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim as my Invention is,--
First. The new or improved self measuring tap, constructed and arranged
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the Drawings, and for the
purpose set forth.
Second The combination of the aforesaid self measuring tap with indicating
apparatus for the purpose of registering the number of measurements made by the
said self measuring tap, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the Drawings
In witness whereof, I, the said John Sidebotham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty
•
5 Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the said John Sidebotham,
in the presence of
ISAAC THOMAS,
Solicitor,
Southport.
JOHN SIDEBOTHAM (L.S.)