Improvements in Faucets or Cocks, combined with a Carbonic Acid Gas Reservoir and Pressure-reducing Valve.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar.,
1898
Improvements in Faucets or Cocks, combined with a Carbonic
Acid Gas Reservoir and Pressure-reducing Valve.
I, ROBERT REICHERT, of 4, Odenkirchener Street, Rheydt, in the Province of the
Rhine, German Empire, Brewer's Agent, 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 faucets or cocks for beer and the like, in
combination with a carbonic acid gas reservoir and a pressure reducing valve, and
has for its object various improvements in the construction of the same.
The invention consists of the following devices, shown in the one sheet of drawings,
which I have caused to be annexed to this specification, in which similar letters of
reference show similar parts, and in which:
Figure 1 is a vertical section through my improved apparatus,
Figure 2, 3 & 4 illustrate details and modifications.
The faucet or cock A, Figure 1, provided with a part of suitable shape for insertion
into the cask of beer or the like, is connected to the carbonic acid gas reservoir B,
the contents of said reservoir being conveyed to such degree, to the liquor, that the
same can be drawn off or discharged from the upright tube a.
In order to employ the carbonic acid gas to fuller advantage and in the smallest
quantities, it is desirable to keep the same under high pressure in each receptacle.
As, however, the desired pressure is too great to be placed in direct connection with
the liquor within the cask, I prefer to interpolate between the said reservoir B and
the faucet A, an expansion chamber C so arranged that by means of the pressure
reducing valve D (Figure 1) the said carbonic acid gas is conveyed to the liquor only
in quantities proportionate to the amount of liquor drawn off.
To economize space the expansion chamber C is arranged around, or encompasses
the carbonic acid gas reservoir B and in consequence of the said expansion chamber
communicating direct with, or terminating within the faucet, a special connection
by tubing between the carbonic acid gas reservoir B and the faucet A is not required.
The pressure reducing valve between the carbonic acid gas reservoir and the
expansion chamber consists, as shown in Figure 1, in general of a valve proper (b)
with valve rod (6') said valve rod being securely connected to a diaphragm (62) whilst
behind the said diaphragm, a flexible or yielding continuation, in the form of a
spiral spring (63) is provided, said spring pressing against the knob (65) actuated by
the hand lever (64).
The modus operandi of this valve D in such, that as soon as pressure is imparted
to the lever (64) the valve proper (b) is lifted from its seat and causes the
diaphragm (62) to also yield to this pressure. The carbonic acid gas can now escape
from the reservoir (B) into the expansion chamber (C) in the direction of the arrow
shown in the drawing in Figure 1. As soon as the pressure within the said expansion
chamber and the interior of the valve communicating with said chamber C has
reached a certain limit, (viz. a pressure somewhat greater than the resistance of the
spring b³), the said spring will be compressed and cause the diaphragm (6²) to return
Drice 7

page_text: to its normal position, whereby, as is apparent, the valve (b) actuated by the valve
rod (b) of the diaphragm must also return to its closed position.
The expansion chamber (C) is now filled with carbonic acid gas at a pressure,
governed as herein before described by the strength of the spring (6³), so that the
beer or other liquor can be drawn at the desired pressure. The gradual drawing off
of the liquor will of course reduce this pressure whereupon the same can be equalised
by causing more carbonic acid gas to enter, by actuating the lever (64).
Figure 2 is a modification of my invention, the pressure reducing-valve (D) having
another form. Here the valve (b) does not directly actuate the valve rod (6¹) but by
the aid of a double-armed lever (67) pinioned at (66). This reducing valve acts in
the same manner as the one previously described.
Figure 3 shows a further modification of my invention with regard to the pressure
reducing valve (D).
Here the said valve (D) operates not by means of a hand lever, but automatically,
in such manner, that the spring (63), the elastic or yielding continuation of valve
rod (61), is in this case compressed by a set screw (68).
When thus the pressure within the interior of the valve casing, or more precisely,
within the interior of the expansion chamber (C) is less than the pressure of tension
of the spring (63) the said spring will automatically actuate the diaphragm (62) which
will effect the opening of the valve (b) and permit of carbonic acid gas entering
the expansion chamber (C) and also the interior of the valve casing, until the pressure
of the said carbonic acid gas within the expansion chamber and the valve casing
becomes again somewhat greater than the tension of the spring.
In this manner a permanent automatic regulation of the pressure in the expansion
chamber (C) is effected.
Furthermore the said expansion chamber can, as shown in Figure 1, be provided
with a back pressure or safety valve (c), in order to render my improved apparatus
safe in operation and to obviate the possibility of the automatic operation of the
valve developing too great a pressure.
Figure 4 shows a modified form of the faucet, the drawing off tube (a) in this case
instead of ascending vertically, is given, within the head of the faucet, the form of a
spiral. In this construction (Figure 4) the said head of the faucet forms a cooling
chamber or reservoir (E), said reservoir (E) serving to hold any cooling liquid or
substance such as ice and the like, for the purpose of enabling the liquor contained in
the barrel to be drawn off in a cool state.
It will be apparent that in such form of faucet, the liquor drawn from the barrel
or the like, must pass through a comparatively longer path within the cooling
chamber (E) which must, as indicated, have the effect of cooling the said liquor,
before the same is drawn off through the tap or cock (d).
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 I
claim is
1. The combination with a faucet (A) and with a carbonic acid gas reservoir (B),
of an expansion chamber (C) located between said faucet and reservoir, for the purpose
as described.
2. The combination with a faucet (A) and with a carbonic acid gas reservoir (B),
of an expansion chamber (C) located between said faucet and reservoir, said chamber
being arranged so as to surround the said reservoir and to terminate within the said
faucet, for the purpose as described.
3. The combination with a faucet (A), a carbonic acid gas reservoir (B) and an
expansion chamber (C), of a pressure reducing valve (D) located between the said
reservoir and expansion chamber, for the purpose as described.
4. The combination with a faucet (A) a carbonic acid reservoir (B) and an
expansion chamber (C), of a pressure reducing valve (D) having a valve rod (61), a
diaphragm (6), elastic means (63) and press button (65), said parts adapted to actuate
the valve proper (6), in the manner and for the purpose as described.

page_text: 5. The combination with a faucet (A), a carbonic acid gas reservoir (B) and an
expansion chamber (C), of a pressure reducing valve (D), having a valve rod (6¹), a
diaphragm (62), elastic means (63) and set screw (68), said parts adapted to auto-
matically actuate the valve proper (b) in the manner and for the purpose as
described.
6. The combination with a faucet (A), a carbonic acid gas reservoir (B), an expansion
chamber (C) and a pressure reducing valve (D), of a cooling chamber (E), arranged
in the head of the said faucet (A), through which cooling chamber (E) the drawing
off tube (a) is adapted to forin a spiral, for the purpose and substantially as
described.
Dated this 19th day of January 1898.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.