An Apparatus for Generating Carbonic Acid Gas under Pressure, to be used in Forcing or Raising Fermented Liquors from One Vessel to Another.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1890-Accepted, 19th July, 1890 .
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Generating Carbonic Acid Gas under Pressure, to
be used in Forcing or Raising Fermented Liquors from One Vessel
to Another.
I, CHARLES ESTCOURT Analytical Chemist 20 Albert Square Manchester County
of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, namely:-
An apparatus by means of which Carbonic Acid Gas is produced under
pressure for the purpose or forcing or raising fermented liquors such as ale porter
lager beer cider wines &c. from one vessel to another or from the containing vessel
to the receptacle or vessel in which such fermented liquor is to be supplied for con-
sumption. In this operation the gas is to a greater or less extent as may be desired
dissolved in the fermented liquor, thus water may also aerated. The apparatus
under my invention consists of one or more generators for the production of Carbonic
Acid Gas under pressure which can be used alternately if desired and which by
suitable appliances may be connected with one or more gas holders either globular or
cylindrical in form as may be most convenient. The pressure in the said gas holders
to be regulated by suitable pressure gauges and controlled by suitable taps and
valves.
The generators are best made cylindrical in form with a spherical bottom and
internally lined with lead up to the point where the charge of acid will reach. The
top of the generator is closed with a tight fitting lid having a species of bayonet or
clamp joint made air tight with washer as required. To the under part of the lid is
attached a small cylinder open at the bottom to its full bore, but constructed at its
junction with the lid to about one third its diameter. In this cylinder and lid a
piston rod moves tightly by its fit in the lid and upper part of cylinder, and moves
tightly the whole length of the cylinder by virtue of a circular valve fixed upon the
piston rod about two thirds its length from the top. Attached to the top of the piston
rod may be the usual appliances for holding weights or suitable spring apparatus both
or either having for their object the keeping the piston rod down at a defined pressure
until the gas generated shall raise it.
To the lower end of the piston rod is attached a cage of material little acted
upon by acid. This cage is best divided into compartments one above another in
which bags of asbestos (or other suitable acid resisting fabric) are placed, filled
with the carbonate or bicarbonate to be used. When the acid charge has been
placed in the generator and the cage filled lowered just out of touch with the acid
the lid is securely fastened on and the piston rod pressed down by placing the
needful weight upon it or by spring apparatus or by hand if needful. The result is
that carbonic acid gas is generated (by contact of carbonate with the acid) which
until its pressure is sufficient to overcome the weight upon piston rod continues to be
evolved. Directly however the gas pressure raises the piston rod on the small
cylinder the carbonate is raised out of contact with the acid charge and the evolution
of gas ceases.
Dated 22nd August 1880

page_text: 1. COMPLETE SPECIFICATION!!
An Apparatus for Generating Carbonic Acid Gas under Pressure, to
be used in Forcing or Raising Fermented Liquors from One Vessel
to Another.
7.
I CHARLES ESTCOURT of 20 Albert Square, Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Analyst do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 the arrangement and construction of an apparatus by
means cf which carbonic acid gas is produced under pressure for the purpose of
forcing or raising fermented liquids such as ales, porters, lager-beer, cider, wines &c.
from one vessel to another or from the containing vessel or vessels to the receptacle or
vessel in which such fermented liquor is supplied for consumption. In this operation
the gas is to a greater or less extent as may be desired dissolved in the liquor, thus
water may also be aerated..
The apparatus under my invention consists of one or more generators for the
production of Carbonic Acid Gas under pressure which can be used alternately if
desired and by suitable appliances may be connected with one or more gas holders
either globular or cylindrical in form as may be most convenient. The pressure in
the said generators or gas holders to be regulated by suitable pressure gauges and
controlled by suitable taps or valves..
The generators are best made cylindrical in form as illustrated by exterior view
Fig. 1 and sectional view Fig. 2 on the accompanying drawing with a semi-spherical
bottom and internally lined with lead up to the point where the charge of acid will
reach.
:
The top of this generator (which by preference swings in its frame upon pivots (a)
is provided with a flange band is closed at this end with a tight fitting lid (c) secured
in position by the usual clamping device (d) the joint between the flanges being made
air tight by means of an intervening washer (e) as required.
To the under part of the lid (c) is attached a small cylinder (f) open at the bottom
to its full bore but constricted at its junction with the lid to about one third its
diameter. In this cylinder is fitted a cupped leather piston g which moves tightly
along the whole length of the cylinder and the rod h of which piston extends through
the lid c and through the tubular neck (i) (rising from such lid) as to. slide, tightly
therein and emerges at the top where it is provided with a collar j.
Around the upper part of this rod h and supported upon the collar is a loose
sleeve piece forming the support for a series of annular weights (1) and whereby
the pressure of gas to be obtained is capable of being adjusted and regulated to
the greatest nicety. Instead of weights a spiral or other spring appliance might be
substituted for keeping the piston rod down at a defined pressure until the gas
generated shall raise it as herein-after described.
To, the lower end of the piston rod his attached a cage m constructed of material
little acted upon by acid. This cage m is best divided into compartments one above
the other in which bags of asbestos (or other suitable acid resisting fabric) are placed
filled with the carbonate or bicarbonate to be used. When the acid charge has been
placed in the generator and the cage filled lowered just out of touch with the acid,
the lid cis securely fastened on and the piston rod h pressed down by placing the
needful weights upon its top or by spring apparatus or by hand if needful. The
result is that carbonic acid gas is generated by contact of the carbonate with the acid-
which until its pressure is sufficient to overcome the weight upon the piston rod
continues to be evolved. Directly however the gas pressure raises the piston in the
small cylinder the carbonate is raised out of contact with the acid charge and the
evolution of gas ceases.
It will thus be observed that my improved apparatus is perfectly automatic in its

page_text: action and keeps up a constant supply of gas to any desired and adjustable pressure
and that the same may be utilised as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
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 I
claim is :-
1st. The improved arrangement and construction of Carbonic Acid Gas producing
apparatus substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated
on the accompanying drawing.
2nd. In a Carbonic Acid Gas generator or producer the employment of a cylinder
and piston supporting the carbonate cage with adjustable weighting apparatus or its
equivalent spring appliance for regulating the pressure and rendering the supply
of gas constant and automatic substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 13th dow of Inne 1800
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office, 53, Market Street, Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.