Improvements in Aerated Water Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aerated Water Machines.
I, JAMES MEADOWCROFT of Regent Street, Blackburn in the County of
Lancaster, Soda Water Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in aerated water machines the pumps of
which as is well known when pumping carbonic acid gas alone soon become hot
and this heating has an injurious effect on the packing of such pumps. The heating
is more liable to occur when a self acting water regulator is employed as
the machine is more frequently allowed to run without water.
The object of this invention is to obviate the heating of the pump and for this
purpose I employ a second valve in connection with a water regulator which is
opened when the ordinary water supply is shut off from the pump either
automatically or otherwise and this allows a small quantity of water to flow from the
cylinder of the soda water machine to the pump whereby the latter is kept quite
cool. I also use a similar valve when no water regulator is employed so that if the
attendant for any reason wishes to stop the soda water pump from pumping water
he shuts off the ordinary water supply and at the same time or directly afterwards
opens the second valve so as to allow a stream of water to pass from the cylinder
through the pump and back again to the cylinder. This secondary valve also
overcomes the difficulty met with when filling syphons at a high pressure when the
pump will not pump gas unless it is also pumping more water than is required.
With the aid of this second valve the attendant can allow the pump to force a
sufficient quantity of water into the cylinder and then shut off the water supply at
the same time opening the secondary valve and with the help of a very little water
from the cylinder the pump will continue to pump gas into the cylinder until the
requisite pressure is obtained.
According to this invention I employ a valve (preferably an equilibrium valve)
attached to some part of the water regulator and actuated by the levers of such
regulator when the latter shuts off the ordinary water supply to prevent the cylinder
becoming too full then and at the same time it opens the secondary valve. The
inlet to this secondary valve is connected by means of pipes and fittings to the
bottom of the cylinder and between the valve and the cylinder I preferably fix a
small filter for the purpose of preventing any substance from getting into the valve
and preventing it from acting. The outlet from the valve is connected by means of
pipes and fittings either to the gas or water supply pipes and to the pump or to a
separating chamber which will allow the gas to separate from the water and each
can then pass through their own special pipe back again to the pump.
The secondary valve may be affixed to any other part of the soda water machine
and connected directly to the cylinder and inlet pipes and pump or to the outlet and
inlet pipes and a safety valve attached to the outlet pipe.
The secondary valve may also be arranged in the pump head itself.
Dated this 10th day of May 1893.

page_text: UMELCIN SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aerated Water Machines.
I, JAMES MEADOWCROFT of Regent Street, Blackburn in the County of
Lancaster, Soda Water 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 aerated water machines the pumps of
which as is well known when pumping carbonic acid gas alone soon become hot and
this heating has an injurious effect on the packing of such pumps.
The heating is more liable to occur when a self acting water regulator is
employed as the machine is more frequently allowed to run without water.
either
The object of this invention is to obviate the heating of the pump and for this
purpose I employ a second valve in connection with a water regulator which is
opened when the ordinary water supply is shut off from the pump
automatically or otherwise and this allows a small quantity of water to flow from
the cylinder of the soda water machine to the pump whereby the latter is kept quite
cool. I also use a similar valve when no water regulator is employed so that if the
attendant for any reason wishes to stop the soda water pump from pumping water
he shuts off the ordinary water supply and at the same time or directly afterwards
opens the second valve so as to allow a stream of water to pass from the cylinder
through the pump and back again to the cylinder.
This secondary valve also overcomes the difficulty met with when filling syphons
at a high pressure when the pump will not pump gas unless it is also pumping more
water than is required. With the aid of this second valve the attendant can allow
the pump to force a sufficient quantity of water into the cylinder and then shut off
the water supply at the same time opening the secondary valve and with the help
of a very little water from the cylinder the pump will continue to pump gas into the
cylinder until the requisite pressure is obtained.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
in which :-
Fig. is a side elevation of a water regulator, such as is described in
Specification of Letters Patent No. 17814 of the year 1891 granted to the present
applicant and having the improvements for purpose herein described applied
thereto.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pump of an aerated water machine with the
improvements as aforesaid applied thereto.
Fig. 3 is a modification of Fig 2.
According to this invention and referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I employ a
valve 1 (preferably an equilibrium valve) the end of the plug or spindle 2 of which
rests on a lever 3 pivoted at 4 and the other end of this lever 3 is by rod 5 passing
through a hole in said lever connected to the lever 6 of the water regulator. On
the rod 5 and above and below the lever 3 are the nuts 7. 7 by which the movement
of the lever 3 can be regulated and adjusted.
The inlet 8 to this secondary valve 1 is connected by means of pipes and fittings
to the bottom of the cylinder and between the valve and the cylinder I preferably
fix a small filter which may consist of a fine sieve or piece of gauze inserted in the
pipe 8 for the purpose of preventing any foreign substance from getting into the
valve and preventing it from acting. The outlet pipe 9 from the valve 1 is
connected by means of pipes and fittings either to the gas or water supply pipes and
to the pump or to a separating chamber which will allow the gas to separate from
the water and each can then pass through their own special pipe back again to the
Dumi.

page_text: An ordinary safety valve is attached to the outlet pipe 9 when the latter is
connected to the separating chamber of the aerated water machine.
In Fig. 2, 10 is the ordinary pump which is connected by outlet pipe 11 and
fittings to the cylinder, and at 12 is the inlet pipe for gas and water the supply of
which is controlled by means of the valve or tap 13. At 14 is a pipe connected to
the bottom of the cylinder and to the inlet pipe 12 between the valve or tap 13
and the pump 10, and this pipe 14 is provided with a by pass or secondary tap or
valve 15. When the supply of gas and water is cut off by closing the tap or
valve 13, the attendant opens the secondary or by pass tap or valve 15 and the
pump will pump water from the cylinder by way of the pipe 14 and back again
to the cylinder by way of the pipe 11.
When the tap or valve 13 is opened the attendant closes the tap or valve 15.
Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 but the pipe 14 is shewn connected to the
pipe 11 instead of to the cylinder, and the action is similar to that described with
reference to Fig. 2.
It will be obvious that the secondary or by pass valve may be placed in different
position and connected by pipes and fittings as herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what [
claim is :-
1. The use and employment in combination with an appliance for automatically
regulating the height of water in the cylinders of aerated water machines of a
secondary or by pass valve for the purpose herein described.
2. The use and employment in combination with the pump and cylinder of aerated
water machines of a by pass or secondary valve for the purpose and substantially
as herein described.
11001
JAMES MEADOWCROFT,
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.