IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR MEASURING OR REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS
Year: 1884

page_text: We WILLIAM ALFRED MORRISON BROWN of Guilford Street, Leeds, Wine and Spirit
Merchant and JOHN MEGSON PORTER of Cookridge Street, Leeds, Architect, both
in the County of York do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR MEASURING OR
REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS" to be as follows:-
Our invention is applicable to measuring the flow of liquids generally, but we
find it especially useful for measuring the quantities of spirits and similar liquids
as they are drawn or served out from the cask or vessel containing them.
For this purpose in addition to the cask or vessel containing the liquid, we
provide an intermediate vessel. From the bottom of this intermediate vessel a pipe
passes to a two way cock through which the liquid is drawn. A second pipe also
passes to the same cock from the vessel or cask containing the liquid. By this
means the cask or vessel containing the liquid and the intermediate vessel may be
placed in communication, when the spirit or liquid within the cask or vessel passes
from the same through the cock to the intermediate vessel; whilst it is impossible
to draw the spirit or liquid directly through the cock from the cask or vessel
containing it. Also the flow through the first pipe from the cask or vessel
containing the supply or source is stopped, whilst the liquid is being drawn or
served out from the intermediate vessel.
The intermediate vessel is formed preferably of a glass barrel, within it is
provided a float, which rises and falls with the liquid therein. A vertical stein is
attached to the float and carries at its upper end a horizontal cross or contact piece,
whilst the lower end of the stem is provided with a conical valve or stopper. This
conical valve or stopper is for the purpose of stopping a hole in the cover of the
intermediate vessel through which the stem of the float passes, so that when the
float reaches the top of the intermediate vessel, the upper end or cover thereof is
closed tight, thus preventing any overflow or loss of liquid.
On the cover or lid of the intermediate vessel are provided two pillars one or
both of which is formed of ebonite or other non-conducting material. Round or
through this, several small horizontal strips of brass or copper are placed at such
distance apart that the cross or contact piece above mentioned in passing from one
to the next below indicates a decrease of th or other proportion of a gill of the

page_text: liquid in the intermediate vessel. These horizontal strips are joined to one
continuous strip at the back of the pillars whereby they are connected to an
electrode on the cover.
Near to the two way cock is provided an electric switch, operated from the cock,
so that the circuit is opened or disconnected so long as the cask or vessel containing
the liquid is in communication with the intermediate vessel; the circuit being
closed or completed only when the liquid is being drawn from the intermediate
vessel through the cock.
Besides being opened or closed by the switch just mentioned the circuit is closed
or opened by the contact piece attached to the stem of the float, according as the
contact piece comes opposite the horizontal brass strips on the ebonite pillars
or not.
An electric counter or register is placed at any convenient position in the circuit,
and by the above described arrangement registers the amount of spirit or other
liquid drawn from the intermediate vessel.

page_text: We WILLIAM ALFRED MORRISON BROWN of Guilford Street, Wine and Spirit
Merchant, and JOHN MEGSON PORTER of Cookridge Street, Architect, both in
Leeds Yorkshire,, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR MEASURING OR REGULATING THE
FLOW OF LIQUIDS, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The object of our invention is to manufacture an improved form of apparatus
for measuring and registering the flow of liquids, such apparatus being more
especially applicable to measuring and registering the quantities of spirits as they
are drawn or served out from the cask or vessel containing such spirits.
Our invention consists of the following parts with the usual adjuncts vizt.
1. A separate vessel or receiver and float.
2. A two way Cock.
3. A galvanic Battery.
4. A counting apparatus, actuated. by electro-magnets.
The spirit is drawn from the cask or other vessel, by means of a pipe, which
leads to one of the ways in the two-way cock. When being so withdrawn from
the cask it enters the separate vessel; and thereby raises the float. The rising of
the float continues until the receiver is filled, or until it is so far filled as to be
level with the height of the spirit in the cask.
The mechanism is so arranged that when the liquid is being drawn from the
cask, and entering the receiver, and the float is consequently rising. therein,
the electric current is interrupted, and prevented from operating the counting
apparatus.
When it is desired to draw spirit from the receiver into a glass tumbler or other
article for delivery, the cock is turned through a quarter of a circle. This
operation shuts off the liquid from the cask and opens a way from the receiver to
the delivery nozzle. When the liquid in the receiver commences to fall, the flont
descends therewith, and such movement downwards causes intermittent electric
currents to pass, by the momentary completion of the circuit, whereby the counting
apparatus is operated, and caused to register the number of impulses imparted
thereto; and such counting apparatus thereby indicates the quantity of spirit or
other liquid withdrawn from the cask.
The float may be of any suitably buoyant material, and may be fitted with a
vertical rod or wire, passing through the cover of the receiver, and carrying a
cross-head; or a very thin wire may be attached to the float and pass over a
pulley; or a cord may be similarly fitted. The object being to utilize the descent
of the float in effecting. intermittent impulses, or momentary completions of the
electric circuit.
Having thus stated the nature of our invention, we will now proceed more
particularly to describe and ascertain the same with the aid of the accompanying
drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, and
wherein we show two arrangements for carrying the same into effect by way of

page_text: example. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one arrangement for the separate vessel
or receiver. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of another arrangement of the same
vessel. Fig. 3 is a side view of the upper part of Fig 2. Fig 4 is a plan view of
the upper part of Fig. 2 with the pulley removed. Fig. 5 is a view of the pulley
and contact wheel. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the two-way cock
in the position in which the spirit is passing from the cask into the receiver.
Fig. 7 shews the same cock with the passage shut off from the cask, and the
through-way open passing spirit from the receiver through the delivery spout.
Fig. 8 is a view of the end plate at the stem of the cock. Fig. 9 is a section of
the plug of the cock, taken on a line with the cam, and Fig. 10 is a section of the
same on a line with the delivery passage.
In Fig. 1a is a cylindrical vessel, which may be of glass, or any other suitable
material. b is the lower cover and c is the upper cover, d is a pipe which is
united to the pipe d' of Figs 6, 7 and by which means the vessel a is filled.
e is a float, forined of india rubber, or of other material coated with india rubber.
f is a rod of non-conducting material fitted to the float e. This rod passes through
the cover c and is fitted with a metallic cross-head g, which rises and falls with the
float c.
When the float e rises to the cover it acts as a valve and stops the aperture
or air vent c¹ in the cylinder cover, and thus prevents the loss of the liquid by
leakage, when the receiver a has been filled. hh are two vertical rods fitted to the
cover c, and insulated from the receiver; the rod his entirely of metal, and
the rod has a metallic back, and ebonite face. Short metallic pins pass through
the ebonite from the back to the front, and form points of metallic contact for
completing the electric circuit. The cross-head g presses slightly against the two
rods hand h. When the cross-head is in contact with one of the studs or pins in
h¹ the current passes through the cross-head to or from the rod h. But this passage
of the electric current only takes place when liquid is being drawn from the
receiver a. When the receiver is being filled from the cask, the current is inter-
rupted and broken, as herein after mentioned. ii are a pair of electro-magnets
fitted to a support i¹, and k is an armature fitted with a spring hinge at k¹. When
the vessel a has been filled the cross-head g rises towards, and slightly raises the
armature (the current being broken). When the tap is turned on to withdraw
spirit from the receiver a, the circuit is immediately completed, and the armature
presses down the cross-head g. This action of the armature releases the ball float
from the vent cl, and allows air to enter, as the float descends, and the liquor is
drawn off.
The figures 6 to 10 illustrate the construction and method of operating the two-
way-cocks. The plug is formed with a through-way passage and a groove l
The passage m leads from the cask, or other source of supply, and the passage d¹
is in communication with the receiver a. nn' is a switch arrangement for uniting
and breaking the circuit of the electric current. When the tap is in the position
shewn in Fig. 6, the liquor is passing from the cask into the receiver, as shewn by
the arrows in Fig. 6. The electric circuit is broken by the separation of the
switch n from n', (which are placed in the circuit for that purpose); but when the
tap is turned, as shewn in Fig. 7, the switch is put into contact with n¹, and
the current can then pass. This is effected by the wire o, which recedes into
the groove when the tap is turned as shewn in Fig. 6, but which wire is pressed
outwards when the tap is turned as shown in Fig. 7. The wire o is forced
outwards against the ebonite block n³, which causes n and n¹ to be in metallic
contact, so as to pass the current.
In Fig. 7 the passage m is shut off by the plug 1, and the through-way l' allows
the liquid to pass from the receiver, through the pipe d', to the delivery nozzle d²
as shewn by the arrows.
.In Fig 2 the float e is shewn fitted with a flexible line or cord f, which passes
over the pulley p, and is partly counterbalanced by the weight f¹. The pulley p
(see Figs 2. 3. 4 and 5) is made fast on an axle p¹. A ratchet wheel q is also
fitted to the pulley and axle, so as to rotate therewith. A contact switch p³ is

page_text: fitted on the axle, as shewn, having a spring p³, whereby it is held to the axle
with slight friction. The axle is supported in bearings p' as shewn. On the same
axle, the metallic pin wheel is fitted. This wheel rotates with the pulley and
axle in one direction only, viz:-that shewn by the arrow in Fig. 3, being driven
in that direction by the ratchet wheel q, and pawl operating on such ratchet
wheel. 8 is a small block of ebonito, against which the lower end of the switch p².
impinges when the pulley is turning in an opposite direction to the arrow. When
the pulley is moving in the direction of the arrow the switch p² is in contact with
the metallic conducting screw t. A light metallic spring u is fitted as shewn; tho.
end u² of which carries a small block of ebonite, through which a stud or pin u¹
passes to its surface. As the wheel rotates, with the pulley, in the direction of the
arrow, the pins ¹ come in contact, successively, with the point ul, and, each one of
such contacts completes the electric circuit.
It will thus be seen that when the wheel is rotating in the direction of the
arrow, through the falling of the float, the switch p² is in contact with the screw t,
and the pins coming in contact with the stud u', the current is intermittently
completed and broken; but when the wheel is rotated in a contrary direction to
the arrow one of the pins r¹ comes in contact with the ebonite end u³, and the
switch p2 leaves the screw t and impinges against the ebonite block 8. Thus the
circuit is entirely broken, and the wheel ceases to rotate while the float e is
rising.
When using the arrangement shewn in Fig. 1 the circuit is completed and
broken by the action of the wire o, and switch n; but when using the arrangement
shewn in Figs 2. 3. 4 and 5, the wire o and switch n are not necessary, as tho
switch p serves the same purpose.
We sometimes place the receiver on the same level as the cask, and make the
length equal to that of the cask; in which case no valve is required at c', and
the rod or cord (as the case may be) simply passes through a hole in the cover.
But when the receiver is placed at a lower level than the cask, a valve is required
to prevent the overflow of the liquid when the receiver is full; and such valve
may consist of the float itself as shewn in Fig. 1, or of any other of the well-known
forms of valves suitable for the purpose.
The counting and registering apparatus consists of a pair of electro-magnets, and
a reciprocating armature, as shewn in Figs. 11. 12. and 13, where v v are the
magnets, wis the armature and is the counter. The armature w is fitted with
two pallets ww which alternately drive the wheel y in one direction only; this
wheel is fitted to the initial axle of an ordinary counting apparatus, which records
the number of impulses imparted to the electro-magnets. Fig 14 illustrates the
general arrangement of our invention, as applied to an ordinary cask of spirit; in
which Figure A. is the cask, a is the receiver containing 'the float, m is the pipe
leading from the cask to the two-way cock, and d is the pipe leading to the
receiver a. B is the battery and C is the counting apparatus.. The current passes
by the wire 1 to or from the connections on the top of a, then by the wire 2 to
the counting apparatus C, from whence the wire 3 carries the current to or from
the battery B.
Many modifications may be made in the foregoing examples and methods of
carrying out our invention and we do not confine ourselves to the foregoing or any
precise details in imparting electrical impulses to counting and recording mechanism,
controlled by a float or other suitable appliance, for the purposes herein before
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1 The method of and apparatus for measuring, indicating, and recording the
flow of lianids. by the use of intermittent electric currents controlled by a foot or

page_text: other suitable appliance substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
and shewn on the drawings.
2 The arrangement of an air vent c¹ to the receiver a, which is closed when the
float is in its highest position, so as to prevent overflow of the liquid, and is opened
by the pressure of the armature of a magnet substantially as described and shown
in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
3 The arrangement of switches n n¹ in combination with the wire o, whereby
the position of the plug controls the passage of the electric current, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figs 6. 7. 8. 9 and 10 of the drawings.
4 The arrangement of the rotating pulley p, actuating the wheel r, with the
switches and contact pieces p², u and u in combination with the rotating pins r¹,
substantially as described and shewn on the drawings.
5 The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming our improvements in the means or apparatus
employed for measuring or regulating the flow of liquids, substantially as herein-
before described and shewn on the drawings.