Improvements in or relating to the Charging of Liquids with Gas, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application; 7th May, 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
Improvements in or relating to the Charging of Liquids with Gas,
and to Apparatus therefor.
A communication from ALVES M HOFMANN, of 45 South Green Street, Chicago,
Illinois, United States of America, Brewer.
I. ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manuer the same Js to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is especially devised for charging beer with carbonic acid gas,
and for that reason, although the improvement is applicable to charging liquids
generally with gas, the description hereinafter contained is confined to its application
to carbonating beer.
The primary object is so to carbonate beer that the gas shall become so intimately
incor pointed with, or absorbed by, the liquid that it shall not readily separate
thorefiom either in the packages (bai rels or kegs) from which the beer is drawn or
in the vessels from which it is drunk, thereby preventing the beer from becoming
flat or causing it to maintain its liveliness, for an exceptionally long time even when
exposed to the air
To practise this improved process, the procedure involves, generally stated,
forcing the beer, (taking it pieferably direct from the uh cask) into a holder,
which may be adapted to have the been acked off from it, and in so forcing
the beer there is periodically injected into it, against an adequate counter-
pressure, a liquid, which may also be beer, supercharged with carbonic acid gas.
It were, however, within the spirit of this invention to effect the carbonating in
any other suitable manner than with charged liquid. The beer thus mixed with
gas-cbarged liquid is continuously forced into the holder against a suitably high
counter pressure, say of an, till the holder is filled with the changed liquid, which
thus as the filling proceeds displaces the counterpressure-medium at the pressure
of the latter. After the holder has been thus filled to its capacity, with finished
liquid, the operation of forcing the beer into it is continued to greatly increaso
the pressure of liquid therein, which has the effect of causing the gas to be
absorbed by the beer in the holder, on to become so intimately incorporated
with the beer, that the latter will retam it, and thus be prevented from becoming
flat, or from losing its liveliness, for an indefinitely long time
The apparatus for applying the aforesaid process is shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figme 1 is a view of the apparatus in side elevation, partly broken; Figue 2, a
plan view of the same; aud Figure 3, a brokon sectional view, enlarged, of a
ball-valve detail.
A denotes n suitable foundation or bed for the pumping and gas-charging
mechanism. At the rear of the bed is journaled a shaft r carrying at one end a
belt-pulley at which to gear it to the diving-power (not shown), and catlying
also a sprocket wheel p and a pon o, which meshes with a cog-wheel non
counter crank-shaft m and carrying on its axis a cam m'. B is an agitator com-
pusing a cylinder supported on the bed A to contain the supercharged liquid, and
containing a rotary shinft 6 provided with mixing blades and connected through a
sprocket-wheel p¹ on one end, by a chain p', with the sprocket-wheel p to be driven

page_text: מ קמולו
D¹
by rotation of the shaft r. The cylinder communicatos through an inlet-pipe & with
the carbonic acid gas supply (not shown) and is adapted to be charged thereby to a
pressure of 115 pounds to the square inch, or thereabout, a suitable pressure-gage C
being provided for indicating the pressure in the agitator. Dis a pump, supported
on the bed A, and it is preferably of the double-acting variety illustrated, though
it need involve no features of novelty and is therefore not illustrated in detail.
The pump-pistons are connected with the cranks v and v' on the shaft m.
D' 15
also a pump. shown as of the single-acting variety, and supported on the bed A.
this pump having its piston connected with the shaft m at a crank therein, which is
hidden from view, but in the same manner as the connection described of the
The pumps D and D' have a common supply-pipe, which may be
understood as leading from a uh-cnsk in the cellar of a brewery, and the pump
discharges though a pipe into the cylinder of the agitator B. The pump D
discharges through a pipe into a T-head at the base of an upright chambei E,
afloiding a mixing-chamber, the same being preferably in the shape of a cylinder
formed of glass. The agitator B also discharges by way of the T-head into the
base of the mixing-chamber E through a tube containing a shut-off valve
its handle connected with one end of a level 4 fulcrumed at r and, at its opposite
end, engaging the cam m'. The mixing-chamber E discharges through a pipe or
conduit 9 into a holder F, and, for the sake of economy it is preferred that the
pipe g shall branch into at least two bolders F and F by entering them at their
sides aud extending downward there nearly to their bases as shown at y', a three-
way cock being interposed between the branches of the pipe 9, the latter also
containing a liquid-pressure relief-valve g', set at a comparatively high pressure,
say 150 pounds to the square inch, or thereabout
having
A compressed-air (or other gas) supply-pipe leads from a compressor or
compressed-luid reservoir (not shown) and bauches at a three-way cock into
the pipes and 11 containing each a ball-valve 1, the pipe f leading into the
holder F near its upper end, and the pipe similarly entering the holder F. Glass
gages and fare provided on the holders. Another branch e, containing a
pressure-reducing valve d, leads from the compressed-an pipe to a three-way
cock e', from which it proceeds by the branches and, respectively leading int
the gages and f. A branch-pipe e containing a pressure-reducing valve
leads from the branch-pipe e into a back-pressure rebel von G.
At the bases of the holders F and F are shown branch-pipes e and c meeting
at a suitable three-way cock c', which is adjustable to duect the discharge of
the liquid contents of either holder at will into a draw-off pipe e for racking oli
The operation is as follows:
The holder to be filled with carbounted beet (say the holder '18 preparatorily
hlled with an under pressure, say at about 40 pounds to the square inch, (the
preferred limits being from 35 to 45 pounds) and which is admitted therein by
suitably adjusting the valve f, the valve e being closed. When the shaft r 18
genied to the diving power to actuate the pumps D nud D', the former pumps,
continuously, beer from a uh-cask through the chamber E and pipe ginto the
holder. With each stroke of the piston of the pump D which forces beer into
the cylinder of the agitator B cont uning the supply of supercharged beer, the
can m² actuates the lover to open the valve and permit a chuige of the highly
carbonated beet from the agitator to be injected into the mixing-chamber E, entering
the latter and mixing with the contents thereof, introduced by the pump D, against
a counterpressure of air in the system of about 40 pounds to the square inch, as
aforesaid, winch prevents the gas from separating. When the holder 18 com-
pletely full, and has thus displaced the an-pressure therein, and closed the
ball-valve w against the mouth of the pipe the pressure under which it
contained in the holder is, accordingly, that of the air-pressure, say 40 pounds. It
should be stated that the pipe is vented by a relief valve u to release all pressure
above 40 pounds generated by the hilling of the holder Fagainst the air-pressure
therein. Instead of stopping the action of the pumps D and D', or either of them

page_text: after the holder has been completely filled with the beer, it is continued to force
more beer into the already full holder, thereby introducing but a very small
quantity therein, though that is sufficient to greatly compress the liquid contents of
the holder. When this liquid pressure has been raised to that at which the relief-
valve g is set (say 150 pounds), the pipo g will overflow there. Then the pumps
and other machinery are stopped instantly by turning the lever to throw out the
clutch a'.
The contents of the filled holder may be racked off at any time; but for acking,
the pressure in the holder requires to be reduced to the racking-off point, say to
15 pounds to the square ich.
Preparatory to racking, the valve is shut to take the 40 pounds of air-pressure
from the pipe off the holder; aud thereupon the valve e' is opened to permit the
excessive pressure in the holder (150 pounds to the square inch) to be reduced,
which occurs, on opening the valve e, by the surplus liquid contents (n com-
paratively minute quantity) which generated the great liquid pressure in the holder,
spurting out, according to the arrangement shown of the apparatus, through the
pipes and into the holder F1, whereby it is saved. Thereafter the pressure of
air on the bee in the holder comes from the pipe through the pipe e and
reducing-valve d, which is adjusted to reduce the pressure which enters it at
40 pounds to 15 pounds on the outlet side of the valve, and the pressure at 15 pounds
enters the holder F through the pipe e and is maintained thereon during the
racking operation, or while the beer is being drawn off at the pipe c. The back-
pressure reset von G, of course, is only used in racking off, its supply of air-pressure
coming from the pipe, through the pipe e and reducing-valve d and thence
through the pipe and reducing valve therein, which is arranged to still
further reduce the pressure, say to 14 pounds. A relief-valve u 18 provided on
the resoi voir G to permit the venting of any pressure theroin in excess of the
fourteen pounds. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the racking
apparatus, which may be of any suitable construction, is to be connected with the
pipe c and with the back-pressure reservoir G at a pipe 6 indicated by a dotted
representation thereon, to hold the gas against escaping from the beer in racking
it off.
While the contents of the holder F are being racked off, the holder F' may be
undergoing the same operation as that described of the holder F, by turning the
valve f to fill it with the requisite air-pressure, then actuating the pumps D and D'
till the liquid pressure in the holder is inised to, say, 150 pounds to the square
(while the holder F is again
being filled, if desired) the racking pressure is produced, as aforesaid, by closing
the valve and by opening the valve e to admit the surplus liquid from the
holder F into the holder F
the contents of the
It is to be understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the employ-
ment of more than oue holder, with its air-pressure connections, when the valve e¹
could vent into the open ai
As will be observed, the all-important feature of this process is that of raising
the liquid pressure of the gas-charged or finished-liquid contents (whatever the
manuer and means of their introduction) of the holder by forcing additional liquid
into the already full holder. The effect of this is, so to speak, that of compiessing
oi squeezing the gas-charged liquid in the holder and, as the result, enhancing
greatly the intimacy and permanency of incorporation therewith of its contained
gas. By the term "finished liquid," herein employed to designate the contents of
the holder, is meant a liquid fully charged with gas and suitable for consumption.
To cause this liquid to hold its gas, however, the finished liquid is further
subjected to what may be termed a liquid pressure" of, say, 150 pounds, in the
holder, in which the contents are confined against escape. It will be noticed that
this differentiates the process from any other processes in which the finished liquid
is not thus subjected to liquid pressure, but in which pressure 19 applied to the
liquid while the latter is being carbonated and while it is escaping from its

page_text: holder. It is also of great importance for the successful working of this
process, that the charging of the beer with gas, or with the supercharged
liquid, and forcing it into the holder, shall be against an adequate counter-
pressure, as of air, though other gas may be employed for exerting the
counterpressure.
Beer carbonated according to this improved process may, as experience shows,
be exposed for many hours to the atmosphere without losing sufficient of its contained
gas to impair it for drinking, in fact the gas, owing to its intimate incorporation
with the beer, stays with it, and is only freed readily if the beer be agitated in the
Moreover the foam of beer carbonated by this process is thick, like creain,
and very lasting.
air.
The apparatus hetem shown and described is thought to be the best known for
the practise of this process, both in ite general construction and in matters of detail.
But it may be variously modified without departure from the invention provided
any pumping mechanism be employed to force the liquid to be charged with gas
through a conduit having an interposed mixing-chamber into a holder against
adequate counterpressure, and means be provided for periodically charging the liquid
with gas in its course to the holder. It will, moreovei, be noticed, as i distinguishing
feature of this apparatus that the auxing-chamber is interposed between the discharge-
end of the pumping mechanism and the holder, whereby passage of the gas-charged
liquid through the pump is avoided
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the sand inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what mannor
the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of enhancing the incorporation, in a finished quid, of its
contamed gas, which consists in filling a holder to its capacity with, and confining
against escape therefrom the finished liquid and compressing the finished liquid in
baid holder, substantially as described.
2. The process of enhancing the meorporation in a gas-charged liquid of its
contamed gas, which consists in first filling to its capacity a holder, with the
finished liquid, and the cupon compressing said contents, while under confinement
in the holder, by continuing to force liquid against said contents, substantially as
described.
3. The process of charging a hquid with gas, which consists in forcing the liquid
to be charged into a holder against adequate counterpressure and injecting into said
liquid, in its course to said holder and against said counter pressure, a liquid super-
charged with gas, thereby filling said bolder to its capacity with finished liquid, and
continuing the forcing operation into said holder, against its conlined finished-liquid
contents, to raise the liquid-pressuno of said contents, substantially as and for the
pu pose set forth.
4. The process of carbonating beer, which cousists in pumping beer into a holder
against counterpressure, injecting into said beer in its course to the holder and
against counter pressure, beci supercharged with carbonic acid gas, thereby filling
baid holder to its capacity with finished liquid and displacing with the beer so charged
the counter pressuro medium as the supply in the holder increases, and thereupon
aising the pressure of liquid while confined against escape in said holder and
enhancing the incorporation in it of its contained gas by continuing to pump beer
into the holder, substantially as described.
5. The process of carbonating been and preparing it for racking off, which
consists in pumping beer into a holder against counterpressure, minjecting into said
beer, in its couise to the holder and against counterpressure, beer supercharged
with carbonic acid gas, thereby filling said holder to its capacity with boished
liquid and displacing with the beer so changed the counterpressure medium, as the
supply in the holder increases, thereupon raising the pressure of liquid while contined
against escape in said holder and enhancing the incorporation in it of its contained
gas by continuing to pump beer into the holder, and finally discontinuing the supply

page_text: to the holder and reducing the liquid pressure therein to the racking-off point,
substantially as described.
6. The process of carbonating beer, which consists in pumping beer into a holder
against counterpressure, mixing of such beer and super charging it with carbonic acid
gas and poriodically injecting into said beer in its course to the holder and against
counterpressure a suitable proportion of the suporcharged beor, thereby filling said
holder to its capacity with finished liquid and displacing with its liquid contents the
counterpressure medium, as the supply in its holder incieases, and thereupon raising
the pressure of liquid while confined against escape in said holder and enhancing the
incorporation in it of its contained gas by continuing to pump beer into the holder,
substantially as described.
7. The process of carbonating beer and preparing it for racking off, which consists
in pumping beer into a holder against a counterpressure of air of forty pounds to
the square inch, or thereabout, mixing of such beer and supercharging it with
carbonic acid gas and periodically injecting into said beet in its course to the
holder and against said counterpressure, a suitable proportion of the supercharged
beer, thereby filling said holder to its capacity with finished liquid and overcoming
with its contents said counterpressure, as the supply in the holder increases, there-
upon aising the pressme of the liquid in said holder to one-hundred and fifty pounds
to the square inch, or thereabout, and thus enhancing the incorporation in it of its
contained gas, by continuing to pump beer into the holder against the finished liquid
confined therein from escaping, and finally discontinuing the supply to the holder
and reducing the liquid-pressure therein to the racking-off point, substantially as
descubed.
8. In an apparatus for charging liquids with gas, the combination with a
holder of a pump adapted to be connected with the supply of liquid to be charged,
a conduit connecting the pump from its discharge-end with said holder and
containing a mixing-chamber interposed between the discharge end of the pump
and the holder, a gas-charging valve-controlled pipe leading from a supply of the
charging medium into the mixing-chamber, and means for exerting counterpressuje
against the flow of liquid through the mixing-chamber and into the holder,
substantially as described.
9. In an apparatus for changing liquids with gas, in combination with a holder, a
pump adapted to be connected with the supply of liquid to be changed, a conduit
connecting the pump from its discharge-end with said holder and containing a
mixing-chamber intei posed between the discharge end of the pump and holder, a
receptacle for liquid supoi charged with gas, having a valve-controlled pipe
connection with the mixing-chamber, and incans for oxciting counterpress1110
against the flow of liquid through the mixing-chamber and into the holder,
substantially as described.
10. In an apparatus for charging liquids with gas, the combination of a holder
provided with a draw-off device for racking, a pump adapted to be connected with
the supply of liquid to be charged, a condait connecting the pump from its discharge-
end with said holder and leading downward there nearly to its base, a mixing-
chamber interposed in said conduit between the discharge end of the pump and the
holder, a receptacle for liquid supercharged with gas, having a valve-controlled pipe
connection with the mixing-chamber, and means for exerting counter pressure against
the flow of liquid through the mixing-chamber and into the holder, substantially as
described.
11. In an apparatus for charging liquids with gas, the combination with a
holder of a pump adapted to be connected with the supply of liquid to be
charged, a conduit connecting the pump from its discharge-end with said holder
and containing a mixing-chamber interposed between the discharge end of the
pump and the holder, a fluid-pressure relief-valve for the overflow from said
6 holder, a gas-changing valve-controlled pipe loading from a supply of the charging
medium into the mixing-chamber, and means for exerting counterpressure against

page_text: the flow of liquid though the mixing chamber and into the holdot; subsťalitially at
described.
12. In an apparatus for carbonating' beer, the combination with a holder of a
pump Dand a pump D', communicating from their suction-sides with the beer-supply,
an agitator B communicating with the supply of carbonic acid gas and with the
discharge-side of the pump D', a conduit leading from the discharge-side of the
pump D into the bolder and containing a mixing-chamber E communicating with
the agitator through a valve-controlled tube 4, a pressure-relief valve 9 for
the over How from the holder, and counter pressure mechanism on the holder,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In au apparatus for carbonating beer, the combination with a holder of
a pump D and a pump D' communicating from their suction-sides with the beer-
supply and operatively connected with a crank-shaft m carrying a cam m³, an
agitato B communicating with the supply of carbonic acid gas and with the
discharge-side of the pump D', a condunt g leading from the discharge-side of the.
pump D into the holder and containing a mixing-chamber E, a tube connecting
the agitator with the mixing-chamber and containing a valve connected from its
handle with a lever extending into the path of said cam, a pressure-relief valve g'
for the overflow from the holder, and counterpressure mechanism or the bolder,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
14 In an apparatus for carbonating beer, the combination with a holder of a
pump Dadapted to be connected with the supply of beer to be charged, a conduit g
connecting the pump from its discharge-end with said holder and contaming a
mixing-chamber E and a relief-valve 9³, an agitator B communicating with
a carbonic acid gas supply and discharging into the mixing-chamber through a
valve-controlled tube, means for periodically opening the valve in said tube,
a pump D' communicating from its suction-end with said beci-supply and
discharging into the agitatoi, a compressed-air supply-pipe containing a shut-off
valve and discharging into said holder, and a vent-pipe leading from the
bolder aud containing a shut-off valve, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
15. An apparatus for carbonating beer comprising, in combination, a holder
provided with a draw-off pipe, an an-supply pipe containing a shut-off valvo
and leading into the holder, a vent-pipe contaming a shut-off valve and
leading from the holder into a bianche of the pipe / containing a pressure-
reducing valve d, a back-pressure reservon G communicating with said branch e
through a pipe et containing a pressme-reducing valve d', pumping mechamsı
communicating at its suction-side with the beer-supply and from its discharge-side
with the holder through a conduit y containing a pressure-relief valve 9' and a
mixing-chamber E, a gas-charged liquid supply discharging into said mixing
chamber through a valve-controlled tube, and means for periodically opening the
valve in said tube, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially
as described.
Dated the 8th day of 1905
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.