Improved Apparatus for Automatically Supplying Gas to Closed Vessels at a Regulated Pressure.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 30th Aug., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by JACOB J. RAUER, of San Francisco, in the State of
California, United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improved Apparatus for Automatically Supplying Gas to Closed
Vessels at a Regulated Pressure.
I, MORRIS LACHMAN of St. George's Club, Hanover Square in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 an automatic gas and pressure regulator especially appli-
cable to liquids such as beer, in which it is desirable to retain a certain amount of
carbonic acid gas, and to maintain a regular pressure within the cask or receptacle
while the liquid itself is gradually diminished by being drawn off.
In carrying out this invention, I make use of carbonic acid gas contained in a
compressed state in a receiver, and this receiver I connect, through the regulating
apparatus, with the vessel containing the beer or other liquid on draught. The gas
regulating apparatus may be described as consisting of a chamber in which
fitted
an elastic diaphragm, the movement of which controls the supply of the compressed
gas from its receiver to the vessel containing the beer or other liquid on draught.
When the pressure of the gas in the barrel is at its normal height, it will cause the
elastic diaphragm, through a cut off valve which it controls, to close the passage by
which the compressed gas passes from the reservoir to the barrel; but so soon as this
pressure falls by the drawing off of liquid from the barrel, the diaphragm, yielding
to the superior force of the atmospheric pressure, coupled with the action of gravity,
will open the valve, and allow compressed gas from the reservoir to pass into the
barrel.
In the accompanying drawings :-
:-
Fig. 1 shows in side elevation an arrangement of pressure regulating apparatus
formed with a hollow peg for attaching it to a barrel, a screw cap piece of the
regulating apparatus being removed to show its internal arrangement.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken on the line 1-2 of Fig. 1 ; and
Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-4 of fig. 1.

page_text: A is a conical chamber cast with an annular seat A* in or near its largest diameter
for the reception of an elastic diaphragm B. This seat is chamfered for the purpose
of exposing to the action of the gas the largest available surface of the diaphragm.
A is the hollow peg cast with the chamber A, and forming a communication between
it and the barrel containing the beer or other liquid on draught. A² is a boss or lump
forming part of the casting, and intended to receive the blows of the mallet by which
the apparatus is fitted in place. The smaller end of the chamber A is closed by a
screw plug A³, and the larger end by a screw cap A¹. These removable parts A³ A+
are provided to enable the diaphragm and its attachments to be fitted in place. Fitted
into one side of the casting A, and projecting into the conical chamber, is a gas
supply tube C, which is bent at right angles, at its inner end, to take a central position
in that chamber. This tube C is connected, as will be hereafter explained, with the
compressed gas receiver. In its inner end are drilled two parallel channels c c¹, the
one, c, ending in the channel which leads to the receiver, and the other, c', passing
out into the chamber A. The passages c I make some sixty fourth of an inch in
diameter, more or less, and the ends of the passages, at the extremity of the tube C,
I cover by an elastic cap e². The diaphragm B is bedded on the annular seat A*,
shown at figs. 2 and 3, it being introduced into the chamber through the opening
covered by the screw cap A. This diaphragm is fitted at its centre with a screw b
and it is stiffened near its periphery by attachment to a metallic ring 6, which
receives the pressure of the screw cap A when that cap is tightened up in place.
as
To the central screw b is attached a saddle piece B', which straddles the tube C
within the chamber, and is fitted at its forked extremities with a plate 62, which is
intended to bear on the elastic cap c², and cause it to seal the orifice c which it covers.
To admit air to the back of the diaphragm B, a small hole is made in the casting. The
diaphragm will thus be free to play in accordance with the varying opposed pressures
to which it is exposed.
In figs. 2 and 3, the apparatus is shown out of action. This position of things will
not however occur when the apparatus is applied to a barrel, the balance of pressure
on the diaphragm being inclined to one side or the other.
Fig. 4 shows the apparatus as applied to a barrel, and also connected with a com-
pressed gas reservoir; and fig. 5 shows the diaphragm with its appendages detached.
In both the figures the position of the parts is such that the supply of gas is cut off,
the plate pressing upon the elastic cap c³, and thereby closing the passage c.
Suppose, now, that by the withdrawal of liquid from a barrel to which the apparatus
is fitted, the gas contained in the barrel becomes attenuated; the diaphragm, being
no longer supported by that pressure against the external pressure of the atmosphere,
and the weight of its attachments, will drop and release the elastic cape from the
pressure of the plate 6. The compressed gas will then flow down the channel c and
up the channel c', into the chamber A, and thence by the passage A' into the barrel,
thereby restoring the normal pressure of the gas in the barrel. So soon as this occurs,
the diaphragm will be again raised, and the pressure of the plate & on the elastic
cap will be renewed, and the further supply of gas will be cut off. This, it will be
obvious, will occur whenever liquor is withdrawn from the barrel, and thus the flatness
of the beer or other liquid will be avoided, and its sparkling character will be kept up
to the last.
I have said that in fig. 4 the connection of the gas regulating apparatus with the
gas supply reservoir and the barrel is shown. This is in elevation.
Fig. 6 shows the same in plan view. In these figures, D is the gas reservoir; E is
a cut off valve of ordinary construction interposed between the reservoir and the gas
regulating apparatus, and F is the barrel connected by a vent peg and suitable pipe
with the gas regulating apparatus.
From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that the automatic
action of the apparatus is due to the varying pressures to which the elastic diaphragm
is subjected on its opposite sides, and that the means by which the movements of
the diaphragm are caused to close and open the gas supply passages, may be indefinitely
varied.

page_text: In fig. 7 I have shown, in sectional elevation, a modification of the automatic regu-
lating apparatus. In this example, the gas supply tube C, instead of being fitted with
an elastic cap for covering the gas passages, is fitted with a closed box or chamber,
which covers the passages cc', and in this box plays a dise valve 3 fitted to a stem
attached to the centre of the diaphragm B.
This valve stem passes through a vertical opening drilled through the solid portion
of the bent end of the tube C, and slides freely therein as in an air-tight guide.
In this arrangement, as in that first described, the gas passage c will be closed so
long as the normal pressure is maintained below the diaphragm, but as that falls, the
valve & will fall, and open a way for the passage of the compressed gas from the
reservoir to the barrel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
1st. Controlling the passage of compressed gas from a reservoir to a vessel in which
it is desired to maintain an equable pressure by means of an elastic diaphragm or its
equivalent, such diaphragm being so fitted as to yield to opposing pressures, and in
yielding, to open or close the channel for the gas in the manner above set forth.
2nd. The means described with reference to the accompanying drawings for opening
and closing automatically the gas supply passage c for the purpose above set forth.
Dated this 8th day of June 1887.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.