IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CARBONIC ACID GAS, TO BE USED IN THE AERATION OF DRAUGHT ALE AND OTHER BEVERAGES
Year: 1884

page_text: "
WILLIAM ALDER How of Abbess Roding Ongar Essex Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR
PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CARBONIC ACID GAS, TO BE USED
IN THE AERATION OF DRAUGHT ALE AND OTHER BEVERAGES, to be as follows:-
Draught Ale and other beverages frequently lose their agreeable pungency and
become what is termed stale or flat, and will not flow freely from the tap, without
the aid of a vent hole for admitting atmospheric pressure. My object therefore is
to enable inexperienced and other persons to readily and safely generate carbonic
acid gas for the aeration of beverages and to cause draught ale and other drinks to
flow by its pressure, or to generate and interpose a supply of carbonic acid gas
between the draught beverage and the common air, thus retarding the tendency to
grow stale or flat.
Sulphuric Acid is one of the ingredients which I use, but it being highly corrosive
and dangerous particularly in the hands of inexpérienced persons, I convert it into
a solid substance resembling lard in appearance, so that it will not spill or splash
even should a vessel containing it be accidently broken. This will also render it
less violent in its action and yet not destroy its general usefulness.
The following modes of opperating will illustrate the nature of my invention.
I use the tub and bell of a gasometer and another vessel which I disignate the
'Acid Vessel" because I generally put into it any suitable acids, salts, or mixtures;
and into the tub of the gasometer I put a solution of Bi-Carbonate of Soda or other
suitable carbonate or mixture. This I disignate the "Alkali Vessel" I place the
"Alkali
acid vessel in such a possition, that when the bell descends in the tub or
Vessel" it will actuate a valve, or stopper so as to form a connection between the
contents of the "acid vessel" and Alkali Vessel" Gas will be at once generated
and pass up through the alkali solution and become divested of any acid spray
which it may carry from the acid vessel. As the pressure of gas increases within
the bell it will rise and stop the connection between the contents of the "Acid
Vessel" and the "Alkali Vessel," when the generation of gas will cease, or partially
cease as required, thus the bell will continue to rise or fall automatically according
"

page_text: to the pressure of gas and connecting or disconnecting the ingredients contained in
the two vessels until they are exhausted. The gas is conveyed to the beverage by
pipes or other suitable arrangements.
I sometimes reverse the arrangements of the ingredients by putting the acids,
salts, or mixtures into the "Alkali Vessel" and the alkalies into the "Acid Vessel."
It is not necessary in all cases that a bell should rise or fall, as an elastic cover,
valve, or piston fitted to a suitable vessel may form a means of connection or
disconnection between the contents of the "acid vessel" and alkali vessel. In
some cases I prefer a slow continuous generation of gas by putting together
ingredients which act slowly. And in other cases instead of automatically connecting
or disconnecting the ingredients it may be done by hand.

page_text: Improvements in the Mode or Process of and Apparatus for
Generating Carbonic Acid Gas to be Used in the Aëration
of Dancht Ale and atha DARASA NAS
WILLIAM ALDER How of Abbess Roding Ongar Essex, gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR
PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CARBONIC ACID GAS TO BE USED
IN THE AERATION OF DRAUGHT ALE AND OTHER BEVERAGES and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
Draught Ale and other beverages frequently lose their agreeable pungency and
become what is termed stale or flat, and will not flow freely from the tap without
the aid of a vent hole for admitting atmospheric pressure. My object therefore is
to enable inexperienced and other persons to readily and safely generate, Carbonic
Acid gas for the aëration of beverages and to cause draught ale & other drinks to
flow by its pressure or to generate and interpose a supply of carbonic acid gas
between the draught beverage and the common air, thus retarding the tendency to
go stale or flat.
Sulphuric acid is one of the ingredients which I use for generating carbonic acid
gas but being highly corrosive and dangerous in its liquid state I convert it into a
solid substance resembling lard so that it will not spill, splash or flow from the
vessel containing it. This I effect by mixing with the sulphuric acid about an
equal weight of alum according to the stiffness required which stiffness I vary by
using less alum and adding sufficient water to cause it to set.
I use any suitably covered air-tight vessel by which I obtain a falling and rising
action. This may be best illustrated by a tub and bell or cover of a gasometer and
another vessel which I use, and which I designate the "generator" or "acid vessel "
because the gas is generated therein and I generally put into it the above mentioned
solid sulphuric acid, or any suitable acid, salts or mixture, and into the tub of the
gasometer, I generally put a solution of bi-carbonate of soda or other suitable
carbonate or mixture. This I designate the "Alkali vessel." I place the generator
or "Acid vessel in such a position that when there is little or no pressure of gas
under the bell or cover of the Alkali vessel the alkali will enter the mouth of the
generator or acid vessel, and so form a connection between the contents of the
generator or acid vessel, and alkali vessel. Gas will then be generated and passing
up through the alkali solution becomes divested of any acid spray which it may
carry from the generator or acid vessel. And for further purification it passes
through a purifier before leaving the gasometer or other covered vessel. As the
pressure of gas increases under the bell or cover, it will stop the connection between
the contents of the generator or acid vessel and the alkali vessel, either by depressing

page_text: 7th For reversing the position of the ingredients substantially as and for the
purposes herein before mentioned.
8th The combination of the foregoing claims with the bell and tub of a gasometer
or any other suitably covered vessel substantially as and for the purposes herein
before described.