Improvements in Liquid Dispensing Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Liquid Dispensing Apparatus.
I WILLIAM MILES FOWLER of Stamford in the County of Fairfield and
State of Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :—
My invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensing apparatus in which
provision is made for locating one or more sample packages of the liquid to be.
dispensed, along the front bar, in sight of the purchaser, in connection with a self-
helping mechanism or mechanisms which are arranged to be thrown into operative
position by the action of the attendant, during the operation of measuring the
amount to be dispensed, and registering the same.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of a portion of a front bar, showing two sample
packages of liquid and their respective self-helping and measuring mechanisms as
they appear from the exterior, one of the self-helping mechanisms being shown
elevated in operative position, and the other in closed position.
Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through a portion of the bar, showing the
sample packages and self-helping mechanism in side elevation, and the measuring
mechanism in section, the self-helping mechanism being represented in its closed
position; and
Fig. 3 is a similar transverse section, showing the self-helping mechanism
elevated in operative position, and partly in section, and the measuring mechanism
in the position corresponding with the elevation or operative position of the self-
helping mechanism.
It is to be understood that the number of sample packages and self-hèlpers, and
corresponding measuring mechanisms, may be more or less than two, as may be
found desirable, and that whatever the number of such packages may be, within
reasonable limits, the measuring mechanisms corresponding thereto will be under
the control of operating levers, which, during the measuring operation, serve to
operate a common register operating shaft, about which they rock, and which
serve to prepare a record, and register the prices.
The top of the bar is denoted by A, and, for the purpose of exhibiting the
sample package beneath it, it is preferably provided with transparent plates a,
fitted therein, over that portion of the bar where the sample packages are located.
The bar is provided with a cooling chamber, or cooling chambers, B, underneath
its top, in which chamber or chambers the sample package or packages of the
liquids to be dispensed are arranged. In the present instance, I have shown the
sample packages as consisting of bottles C, with suitable labels c, so arranged that
they can be read through the transparent plate a. Within the cooling chambér or
chambers B, the pipe or conduit D, through which the liquid to be dispensed is
passed from the measuring receptacle to the self-helping mechanism, is coiled. I
prefer to arrange the coils so that they will lie beneath the sample package C, the
latter being so located with respect to the pipe D and the self-helping mechanism,
that the liquid presents the appearance of coming from the package C, as it is
drawn into the glass.
The self-helping mechanism consists of a tube E, hinged as at e, so as to be
rocked back and forth from its closed position, shown in Fig. 2, to and from its
upright or operative position, as shown in Fig. 3. At the point where the tube E
is hinged, it is also connected with the pipe D, for the admission of liquid from the
pipe D to the tube E.`

page_text: The tube E is provided, at its upper end, with a spout e', and also is provided
with a spring-actuated valve F, preferably seated near its base, and provided with
a stem, which extends upwardly through the top of the spout, where it is provided
with a head f, on which pressure may be exerted to open the valve F, either
directly, by placing the finger on the head ¹, or, as I prefer, by means of a valve-
operating lever, hinged to the plate a' at the back of the tube E, and extending
forwardly in position to bear upon the head f¹. The plate a¹ is intended to cover
tightly the opening in the top of the bar through which the self-helping mechanism
is elevated into operative position.
The measuring receptacle consists of a short cylinder G, in which a spring
actuated plunger H is adapted to slide. The end of the cylinder G, opposite the
plunger H, is provided with a port g, through which the liquid enters the receptacle
from a supply pipe D', connected with a suitable general supply, which supply is
assumed to be under a sufficient head or pressure to overcome the tension of the
spring h, which, by its connection with the plunger-operating rod ', tends to force
the plunger H at all times toward the inlet end of the cylinder G. The plunger-
operating rod extends through a tubular projection g¹ of the cylinder G, and is
provided with a screw-threaded end g, on which are seated an adjusting nut g³,
and a jam-nut g, for the purpose of determining the extent of movement of the
plunger H within the cylinder G, and hence for determining the amount of liquid
which may be dispensed at one time.
Communication between the cylinder and the supply and dispensing pipes D₁
and D, is established and cut-off alternately by means of a rocking valve I seated
on the register shaft K, and within a sleeve L, and operated by a lever N, which
extends through a narrow slit a² in a housing A' at the inner side of the bar.
The housing A¹ is intended to completely enclose the measuring mechanism, so
that it cannot be tampered with, and access thereto can only be had by parties
intentionally provided with means for that purpose. The valve-operating lever Mis
conveniently provided, at its outer end, with a handle m, and within the housing A
it is provided with a segment m', the extent of which segment is preferably a semi-
circle or more, so that the rim of the segment may form a closure of the slit a in
the housing A throughout the stroke of the lever M in either direction. The
sleeve L is provided with ports in communication with the pipes D and D', and
also in communication with the port g leading to the interior of the cylinder G,
and the valve I is provided with a port i, which, when the operating lever M is in
its upright position, forms open communication between the supply pipe D' and the
interior of the cylinder G, cutting off, at the same time, communication between
the cylinder and the pipe D; and when, the operating lever M is in its depressed
position, as shown in Fig. 2, the said port i forms open communication between the
interior of the cylinder G and the pipe D, and at the same time cuts off communi-
cation between the supply pipe D¹ and the interior of the cylinder G.
The segment m¹ of the operating lever m is connected with the self-helping
mechanism, to elevate the latter into operative position, as the lever is depressed, as
follows:-
:―
An operating rod N is loosely connected, at one end, to the segment m', at a
distance from the centre of movement of said segment, and at its opposite end it is
provided with a slide n, swivelled to one end of an arm O, fixed to rock with the
tube E. The rod N is provided with a shoulder n', which forms the limit of the
sliding movement of the slide n on the rod, in one direction, while the slide is
permitted to move freely on the rod in the opposite direction. From this structure
it will appear that when the lever M is depressed, as represented in Fig. 2, the
self-helping tube E may be raised into upright position, if so desired, independently
of the movement of the lever M, the slide n simply moving along the rod N, away
from the abutment on the rod, and when the lever M is elevated, it will simply
slide the rod N idly through the slide n into the position shown in Fig. 3.
The operation is as follows:-`
The purchaser, having designated the liquid he wishes to purchase from the

page_text: samples exposed to him, the attendant first lifts the lever M from its depressed,
into its upright, position, permitting the designated liquid to flow from the supply
into the measuring receptacle G, forcing back the plunger H and its actuating
spring h. Such upward movement of the lever M at the same time, through the
rod N, will rock the self-helping tube E into its upright position, as shown in Fig. 3,
provided the same has not been already elevated. The attendant will then depress
the lever M, cutting off the supply of liquid, and rocking the valve I in_position
to open communication between the measuring receptacle and the pipe D. The
purchaser may now help himself to as much of the liquid as he wishes, by placing
his glass under the spout e', and depressing the valve F. When through, the tube E
may be shut down within the bar, out of sight, and out of the way of dust and
injury, and will be ready for a repetition of the operation whenever the demand is
made.
While I prefer the use of transparent plates at the top of the bar above the
cooling chamber in which the sample is located, such structure is not essential to
the practical operation of the apparatus, as the several different liquids to be
displayed may be indicated by labels ou the top of an opaque covering, or the labels
may be omitted entirely, and the matter left to the attendant to throw up, into
operative position, the self-helper corresponding to any liquid which may be
designated by the purchaser.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [.
claim is :-
1. In combination, a self-helping mechanism comprising a discharge conduit and
a valve for opening and closing it, a measuring receptacle connected with a liquid
supply and with the self-helping mechanism, and a valve located at the juncture of
conduits leading to the supply, to the measuring receptacle, and to the discharge
conduit, for alternately opening and closing communication between the measuring
receptacle and the supply, and between the measuring receptacle and self-helping
mechanism, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination, a series of self-helping mechanisms, each comprising a
discharge conduit and a valve for opening and closing it, a measuring receptacle
for each self-helping mechanism, connected with a liquid supply and with the self-
helping mechanism, valves for opening and closing communication between each
measuring receptacle, and a supply and self-helping mechanism corresponding to
the measuring receptacle, valve operating levers, and a common rotary shaft about
which the valve operating levers are mounted, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination, a self-helping mechanism, comprising a discharge conduit and
a valve for opening and closing it, a measuring receptacle provided with a spring-
actuated plunger, and connected with a liquid supply and with the self-helping
mechanism, and a valve for opening and closing communication between the
measuring receptacle and the supply and self-helping mechanism, substantially as
set forth.
4. In combination, a swinging self-helping mechanism, comprising a discharge
conduit and a valve for opening and closing it, a measuring receptacle connected
with a liquid supply and with the self-helping mechanism, a valve for opening and
closing communication between the measuring receptacle and the supply and self-
helping mechanism, a valve-operating lever, and a connection between the valve-
operating lever and the swinging self-helping mechanism, for throwing the self-
helping mechanism into operative position during the operation of the valve,
substantially as set forth.
5. In combination, a suitable cooling chamber provided with a transparent top,
one or more sample liquid packages located within the cooling chamber, beneath
the transparent cover, a self-helping mechanism corresponding to each package, and
mounted along the top of the chamber, to swing upwardly into operative position,
and downwardly out of sight, a measuring receptacle for each self-helping

page_text: mechanism, connected with a suitable supply and with the self helping mechanism,
a valve for controlling the admission of the liquid to, and its discharge from, the
receptacle, valve operating mechanism, and a connection between the valve
operating mechanism and the swinging self-helping mechanism, for swinging the
self-helping mechanism simultaneously with the operation of the valve, substantially
as set forth.
6. The combination with the discharge mechanism and the measuring receptacle
connected with a supply and with the discharge mechanism, of a housing for
enclosing the measuring receptacle, an elongated slit through the wall of the
housing, a valve operating lever extending through the slit in the housing, and
provided with a segment within the housing, the rim of the segment being extended
upon opposite sides of the operating lever, to close the slit through the housing,
as the lever is moved in opposite directions along the slit, substantially as set forth.
.7. The combination with the discharge mechanism, of a measuring receptacle
connected with a supply and a discharge mechanism, means for controlling the
admission of liquid to, and its discharge from, the measuring receptacle, a spring
actuated plunger within the measuring receptacle, and means for adjusting the
plunger, to increase or decrease the extent of its stroke within the chamber,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1894.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.