IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF AERATED LIQUIDS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Solicitors, at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
AERATED LIQUIDS." A communication from Hendrik Beins and Jan Frederik
Raine hath of Cravingan
in the Kingdom of Holland
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th January 1881.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort
on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF AERATED LIQUIDS." [A communication from Hendrik
Beins and Jan Frederik Beins, both of Groningen, in the Kingdom of Holland.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the apparatus used in generating
carbonic acid gas, and in supplying carbonic acid gas to liquids contained in bottles
suitably constructed to receive effervescing drinks.
The Invention relates, firstly, to the apparatus for generating the gas. It consists
of a retort, preferably cylindrical in form, which is provided with a central heating
chamber, and is inserted in a cup shaped vessel of somewhat larger diameter than
the retort, the vessel being closed at top by an overlying flange with which the top
or cover of the retort is provided. The enclosing vessel is fitted centrally with a
tube which is open at its opposite ends, and constitutes a flue for conducting into
the central chamber of the retort the heated gases of combustion derived from a
gas burner or other source of heat. These gases as they reach the top of the flue
turn over the top edge thereof, and entering the central heating chamber pass
down it and along the bottom and up the sides of the retort, around which they
circulate as in a surrounding flue, and finally escape by. a vent made in the side of
the enclosing vessel.
In this retort bi-carbonate of soda or bi-carbonate of potash is placed, and being
there subjected to the heat of the gases of combustion circulating within the heating
chamber and around the sides of the retort, carbonic acid gas will be rapidly

page_text: generated. A pipe rising from the cover of the retort conducts this gas as it is
generated to a cooler and condenser, after which it is ready to be delivered to the
apparatus which forms the second part of this Invention.
Connected with the gas reservoir by a pipe or otherwise is a hollow horizontal
shaft, so mounted as to permit of its receiving a rotary motion from a winch
handle or otherwise. This shaft is provided with a series of nozzles along its
length, into which are fitted hollow plugs of hard india rubber or vulcanite for
carrying each a bottle charged with liquid to be aërated. The head of each plug is
faced at its opposite sides with a washer of soft india rubber, the one to bed against
the nozzle of the hollow shaft, and the other against the tip of the bottle which the
plug is intended to supply with carbonic acid gas.
Through the centre of this plug, from the inner end to near the outer end, a
passage is made for conducting the gas from the hollow shaft to the bottle attached
to the plug. This passage instead of running directly through the plug turns at
right angles, and opens into an annular recess made in the head of the plug. The
exit end of the passage is closed by a valve of india rubber, which opening
outwards allows of the egress of the gas to the bottle, but prevents any liquid in
the bottle entering the passage and passing to the hollow shaft.
The bottles are held in place by means of cages attached to the shaft, and capable
of ready disengagement therefrom. Supposing the hollow shaft to be fitted with
the number of bottles it is designed to carry, such bottles being formed with
internal valves or some equivalent contrivance for retaining within them the liquid
with which they have been charged, carbonic acid gas at a suitable pressure is
admitted to the hollow shaft, and passing through the hollow plugs it will enter
the several bottles carried by the shaft. A rotary motion is now to be imparted to
the shaft and kept up for some fifteen minutes for the purpose of thoroughly
agitating the liquid contained in the bottles and insuring a complete admixture
of the gas therewith. The rotation of the shaft is then to be stopped, the supply
of gas thereto cut off, and the bottles removed to give place to another set, after
which the aërating operation may be repeated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th July
1881.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort
on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF AERATED LIQUIDS." A communication from Hendrik
Beins and Jan Frederik Beins, both of Groningen, in the Kingdom of Holland.
This Invention relates to improvements in the apparatus used in generating
carbonic acid gas, and in supplying carbonic acid gas to liquids contained in bottles
suitably constructed to receive effervescing drinks.
The accompanying Drawing shews an elevation of the improved apparatus, the
parts being shewn developed or extended out so as to give a clear view of the
arrangement.
The Invention relates firstly to the apparatus for generating the gas. It consists
of a retort A, A, preferably cylindrical in form as shewn, and provided with a
central heating chamber or flue C closed at the top, and is inserted in a cup shaped
vessel B, B, of somewhat larger diameter than the retort, the vessel being closed at
top by an overlying flange with which the top or cover of the retort is provided.
The enclosing vessel is fitted centrally with a tube, which is open at its opposite
ends, and constitutes a flue for conducting into the central chamber of the retort
the heated gases of combustion derived from a gas burner or other source of heat.
These gases as they reach the top of the flue, turn over the top edge thereof, and
entering the central heating chamber, pass down it and along the bottom and up
the sides of the retort, around which they circulate as in a surrounding flue, and
finally escape by a vent made in the side of the enclosing vessel.
In this retort bi-carbonate of soda or bi-carbonate of potash is placed, and being
there subjected to the heat of the gases of combustion, circulating within the
heating chamber and around the sides of the retort, carbonic acid gas will be
rapidly generated. A pipe rising from the cover of the retort conducts this gas as
it is generated and mixed with steam to a cooler and condenser D, where it is
cooled by means of cold water; the water condensed by the action of the cooler
passes to and remains in the vessel E, while the carbonic acid gas is conducted to
and is collected in the cylindrical vessels F, F, under any desired pressure ready to
be delivered to the apparatus which forms the second part of this Invention.
Connected with the gas reservoir G by a pipe M (or otherwise), is a hollow
horizontal shaft P, P, so mounted as to permit of its receiving a rotary motion from
a winch handle R or otherwise. This shaft P is provided as shewn with a series
of nozzles along its length, into which are fitted hollow plugs of hard india rubber
or vulcanite for carrying each a bottle charged with liquid to be aërated. The head
of each plug is faced at its opposite sides with a washer of soft india rubber, the
one to bed against the nozzle of the hollow shaft, and the other against the lip of
the bottle which the plug is intended to supply with carbonic acid gas.
Through the centre of this plug from the inner end to near the outer end a
passage is made for conducting the gas from the hollow shaft to the bottle attached
to the plug. This passage instead of running directly through the plug turns at
right angles and opens into an annular recess made in the head of the plug. The
exit end of the passage is closed by a valve of india rubber, which opening outwards
allows of the egress of the gas to the bottle, but prevents any liquid in the bottle
entering the passage and passing to the hollow shaft.
The bottles are held in place by means of cages attached to the shaft and capable
of ready disengagement therefrom. Supposing the hollow shaft to be fitted with

page_text: the number of bottles it is designed to carry (sixteen being shewn in the Drawing),
such bottles being formed with internal valves or some equivalent contrivance for
retaining within them the liquid with which they have been charged, the carbonic
acid gas is conducted from the cylindrical vessels F, F, by the cock K and tube L
into the vessel or reservoir G, to be there compressed to a suitable pressure, say, for
example, five or six atmospheres. The carbonic acid gas is then conveyed from the
vessel or reservoir G by the pipe M, and the cock N being opened the gas passes to
the rotating shaft P, P, and passes through the hollow plugs to the bottles. The
pipe O being connected with the rotating shaft P, P, by means of a socket joint the
shaft P, P, is now rotated by means of the crank handle R for about fifteen
⚫ minutes while the gas is being introduced for the purpose of thoroughly agitating
the liquid contained in the bottles, by which means a complete admixture of the
gas with the liquid is ensured.
The rotation of the shaft is then to be stopped, the supply of gas thereto cut off,
and the bottles removed to give place to another set, after which the aërating
operation may be repeated.
It is necessary that the pipes H, L, M,,should be of the length shewn, because the
cocks K and N should be near the hands of the attendant who rotates the shaft,
for he has, as the absorbing or mixing process proceeds, to allow carbonic acid gas
to pass out of the vessels F, F, into the vessel or reservoir G, or to draw it from the
vessel G and conduct it into the bottles, which he is enabled to do by operating the
cocks K and N.
This attendant should also have the means of avoiding loss of carbonic acid gas
in case of the bursting of one or more of the bottles, which sometimes takes place, in
which case the cock N is turned, thereby stopping the passage from the vessel G
into the rotating shaft P, P.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the best means
with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the
Invention, but what is claimed and intended to be protected by the herein in-part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The combination of parts forming the improved apparatus for aërating liquids, the
whole arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes
bereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty third day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand