Improvements in Apparatus for the Delivery of a Measured Quantity of Liquid in Exchange for an Equivalent in Coin or the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Juy, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 17th Aug., 1888
Improvements in Apparatus for the Delivery of a Measured
Quantity of Liquid in Exchange for an Equivalent in Coin
or the like.
I, ERNEST GEORGE MATTHEWSON, engineer, of 31, Palace Road, Upper Norwood
in the county of Surrey do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be us
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus of the kind from which a
measured quantity of liquid such as beer, spirits, aerated water and the like, can be
withdrawn after a coin or the like of the proper denomination has been inserted therein;
it has for object to simplify the construction of such apparatus and to render the same
effective and reliable in working.
For the purpose of measuring the liquid, there is employed in apparatus according
to this invention a measuring device or tap, comprising a valve case with plug or
valve and measuring vessels, so constructed and arranged, that while the contents of
one of such vessels are being discharged or withdrawn, another vessel is being auto-
matically and simultaneously charged ready for the next operation, and the inlet and
outlet passages for the liquid are such as to readily admit of the access and escape of
air to and from the measuring vessels during the discharging and charging thereof
respectively.
Now according to this invention I so construct and arrange the plug or valve of such
a measuring tap or device that, after a coin of the proper denomination has been
inserted in a suitable opening in the casing of the apparatus, the said plug or spindle
may be operated by suitable means, such as a lever or plunger, from the exterior of
the casing, and a measured quantity of liquid withdrawn.
A suitable arrangement of apparatus according to this invention is as follows:-Two
measuring vessels are employed, secured to extensions formed on a four way plug or
valve case, fitted with a corresponding plug or valve. The inlet and outlet passages
for liquid or some of them are in the form of slots that admit of the escape of air from
the measuring vessels when they are being filled or charged with liquid, such air
passing upward through an inclined supply pipe to the reservoir or vessel containing

page_text: the liquid to be supplied. An air holo is formed in the valve case to alternately admit
air to the one or the other of the measuring vessels that is for the time being dis-
charged. The plug or valve spindle is formed with two slots intersecting each other
and of a size adapted to receive a coin of the proper denomination. The valve spindle
is surrounded by a correspondingly slotted tube provided with means such as a lever
or handle, and arranged to turn independently of the valve spindle in the absence of a
proper coin.
When however a coin of the proper denomination is inserted in a
suitable slot in the casing of the apparatus, such coin will be guided so as to enter one
of the slots in the valve spindle and the corresponding slots in the surrounding tube,
thereby locking these parts together. If the lever or handle attached to the said tube
be then partially rotated, the plug or valve will be so turned as to discharge the
contents of one of the measuring vessels, and at the same time place the other in com-
munication with the reservoir of liquid, so that the second vessel becomes charged
simultaneously with the emptying of the first. The valve spindle is partly surrounded
by a guard or holder that retains the coin in the locking position until the plug or
valve has been turned to the required extent, whereupon the coin being no longer
held, falls out into a suitable receptacle, and disengages the slotted tube from the valve
spindle.
The bottom of each slot in the valve spindle is made incline to enable a coin to
readily leave such slot when not retained therein by the guard or holder herebefore
mentioned.
A spring or equivalent means may be employed to cause the slotted tube to assume
a position in which its slots correspond with one or the other of those in the valve
spindle, when not being actuated.
In a modified arrangement a plunger or push is employed to operate the valve
spindle by bearing against a coin within one of the slots. A table or plate supports
the coin in position until the plug or valve has been sufficiently operated. Tho
plunger may be operated directly by hand or through the intervention of a lever.
The slot or guide in the casing of the apparatus is such as to allow of the escape
of coins of less value than the proper denomination, before reaching the valve
spindle.
Dated 3rd day of Santamba 1007

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for the Delivery of a Measured
Quantity of Liquid in Exchange for an Equivalent in Coin
or the like.
I, ERNEST GEORGE MATTHEWSON, of 31, Palace Road, Upper Norwood S.E. Surrey
Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus of the kind from which a
measured quantity of liquid such as ale, beer, aerated water and the like can be with-
drawn after a coin or the like of the proper denomination has been inserted therein,
and it has for object to simplify the construction of such apparatus and render the
same effective and reliable in working.
For the purpose of measuring the liquid there is employed in apparatus according to
this invention a measuring device or tap comprising a valve case with plug or valve
and measuring vessels so constructed and arranged that whilst the contents of one of
such vessels are being discharged or withdrawn, another such vessel is being auto-
matically and simultaneously charged ready for the next operation, and the inlet and
outlet passages for liquid are such as to readily admit of the access and escape of air
to and from the measuring vessels during the discharging and charging thereof
respectively.
Now according to this invention, I so construct and arrange the plug or valve of
such a measuring device or tap that after a coin of the proper denomination has been
inserted in a suitable opening in the casing of the apparatus, the said plug or spindle
may be operated by suitable means such as a lever or plunger, from the exterior of the
casing, and a measured quantity of liquid withdrawn.
An arrangement of apparatus according to this invention is as follows :—Two
measuring vessels are employed secured to extensions formed on a four way plug or
valve case, fitted with a corresponding plug or valve. The inlet and outlet passages
for liquid or some of them are in cross section in the form of slots that admit of the
escape of air from the measuring vessels when they are being filled or charged with
liquid, such air passing upward through an inclined supply pipe to the reservoir or
vessel containing the liquid to be supplied. An air hole is formed in the valve case to
admit air alternately to the one or the other of the measuring vessels that is for the
time being, being emptied. The plug or valve spindle is formed with two slots
intersecting each other, and of a size adapted to receive a coin of the proper denomina-
tion. The valve spindle is surrounded by a slotted tube or sleeve, which is provided
with means such as a lever or handle for moving it, and is so arranged, that when it
is rotated in the absence of a proper coin, it will turn independently of the spindle.
When however a coin of the proper denomination is inserted in a suitable slot in the
casing of the apparatus such coin will be guided so as to enter one of the slots in the
valve spindle and the slot in the surrounding tube thereby locking these parts together.
If the lever or handle attached to the said tube be then partially rotated, the plug or
valve will be so turned as to discharge the contents of one of the measuring vessels
and at the same time place the other in cominunication with the reservoir of liquid, so
that the second vessel becomes charged simultaneously with the emptying of the first.
The valve spindle is partly surrounded by a guard or holder that retains the coin in
the locking position until the plug or valve has been turned to the required extent,

page_text: and when the coin is no longer held, it falls out into a suitable receptacle and unlocks
the slotted tube from the valve-spindle. The bottom of each slot in the valve spindle
may be inclined, to enable a coin to readily leave such slot, when not retained therein
by the guard or holder hereinbefore mentioned. A spring or equivalent means may be
employed to cause the slotted tube to assume a position in which its slot or slots
correspond with one or other of those in the valve spindle, when the lever or handle
connected to the tube is not being actuated.
In some cases a plunger may be employed to operate the valve spindle by pressing
against a coin when placed within one of the slots. A table or rim supports the coin
in position until the plug or valve has been sufficiently operated. The plunger may
be operated direct by hand or through the intervention of a lever.
The coin slot or guide in the casing of the apparatus is such as to allow of the escapo
of coins of less than the proper denomination before reaching the valve spindle.
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrates an arrangement of apparatus
according to this invention, Fig. 1. being a vertical section partly in elevation; Fig. 2
an elevation partly in vertical section, in a plan at right angles to fig. 1; Fig. 3 a
sectional plan in the line 1-2 Fig. 1, with the casing of the apparatus removed;
Fig. 4 a horizontal section through the measuring device and the vessel containing the
liquid to be supplied; and Fig. 5 a section on the line 3-4 Fig. 2, but drawn on a
larger scale.
a and b are two measuring vessels secured to opposite sides of the case c of a plug
or valve d. e is a vessel for containing the liquid to be supplied, and f is a pipe or
conduit for placing the interior of the case c, of which it forms part, in communication
with the interior of the vessel e. The case c is formed with four ways or passages 1.2.3.4,
of which 1 communicates with the vessel e, 2 with the outlet of the faucet g, and 3
and 4 with the measuring vessels a and b respectively. The plug d is formed with
two curved ways or passages h and i, which are so arranged that one measuring vessel
may be placed in communication with e, when the other is placed in communication
with the faucet g. The ways or passages 1. 3 and 4 in the case c and h and in the
plug d are made in the form of deep slots, as seen in cross section and as shown in a
Hg. 1 and 2, in order that air may readily escape from the measuring vessels through
the upper parts of such ways or passages and pass to the vessel e, as indicated in fig. 1,
when the said measuring vessels are being filled with liquid. k is a passage formed in
the valve case c for admitting air to each measuring vessel in turn by way of the upper
parts of the ways or passages h and i in the plug d and 3 and 4 in the case c, when
the liquid contents of either measuring vessel are being discharged.
The arrangement of the ways or passages with reference to the ways or
passages 123 and 4 is such, that when the plug is turned through a quarter of a
revolution in either direction, it will place one measuring chamber in communication
with the supply vessel e, and the other in communication with faucet g, and when
moved in the opposite direction, or through another quarter of a revolution in the
same direction, the communications will be reversed, the measuring chamber last filled
being then placed in communication with the faucet, whilst that previously emptied
will be placed in communication with the supply vessel e. By this means whilst one
measuring vessel is being discharged the other is simultaneously and automatically
charged with liquid, ready for the next operation of the apparatus. is the stem of
the plug or cock d, it is formed with two slots m that intersect each other at right
angles as shown more clearly in fig. 3. n is a tube or sleeve capable of turning
partly around the valve stem it is formed with a slot o (see fig. 5) and carries a disc p,
in which is formed a segmental hole g, corresponding to the slot o beneath. is a j
handle for turning the disc p and attached tube or sleeve n; it extends through a slot
in the casings that encloses the apparatus. t is a guard partly surrounding the valve
stem and slotted tube or sleeve n. This guard is formed with a slot t' through which
a coin, that has served to partly rotate the plug d, escapes when the slot m containing
it is brought opposite to such slot and is relieved of side pressure. To facilitate such 5
escape of the coin, the bottom of the slots are preferably inade inclined as shown in
dotted lines in fig. 1.

page_text: u is a coin shoot the lower end of which is so arranged that, when a proper coin is
placed in the apparatus, such coin will be deposited in one of the slots m in the valve
stem. The bottom of the inclined part of the shoot is slotted in order that coins
of less than the proper value may fall through it and thus fail to serve as a means
whereby the valve may be operated.
When a coin of the proper value placed in the shoot u, it will fall into one
or the other of the slots m of the plug stem, and if the handler be at or he
moved to the limit of its stroke in either direction, the coin will pass through the
slot in the disc p, and will fall to the bottom of the slot in the plug stem, a
part of its periphery extending through the slot in the tube n and bearing
against the guard t. If the handle be then partly turned, the adjacent edge of
the slot o will come in contact with the projecting portion of the coin, and the
plug and tube will move together, and by turning them through an angle of 90° the
charged measuring vessel will be placed in communication with the faucet g and
have its contents discharged, whilst that previously emptied will be placed in com-
munication with the supply vessel e and be again filled. When the handler is
released or partly turned in the opposite direction, the coin will fall through the
slot in the guard t, as hereinbefore described. Any suitable means may be
provided for indicating when the apparatus is exhausted of liquid, and for closing
the coin slot.
It will be obvious that other forms of valve may be used for controlling the com-
munications between the measuring vessels and the supply vessel and the spout.
Also that various means may be employed for operating the valve or cock of the
measuring device through the medium of coin or the like; thus the disc p may be
replaced by a toothed wheel arranged to be operated by a rack carried by a
plunger that may be operated by hand from the front of the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for the delivery of a measured quantity of liquid in exchange
for a coin or the like, the combination of a measuring device comprising measuring
vessels and a valve with means whereby the said valve may be operated when a proper
coin or the like is inserted in the apparatus, the said measuring vessels and valvo
being so constructed and arranged that whilst the contents of one of the vessels
is being discharged or withdrawn, another such vessel is being automatically and
simultaneously charged ready for the next operation, substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described.
2. The improved measuring device or tap constructed substantially as herein-
before described with reference to and shown in the drawings annexed, for the
purposes set forth.
3. In apparatus for the delivery of a measured quantity of liquid in exchange for a
coin or the like, the combination with a valve for controlling the passage of liquid to
and from the measuring vessel or vessels of a valve stem with slots m, slotted tube
or sleeve n with means for rotating the same and guard t constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described with reference to and shown in the
drawing annexed.
4. The improved apparatus for delivering a measured quantity of liquid in exchange
for coin or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings
annexed.