An Improved Process and Means for the Aeration of Beers or other Liquids in Bottles or Small Vessels.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug, 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process and Means for the Aeration of Beers or other
Liquids in Bottles or Small Vessels.
I, FREDERICK WALTER, of 47 Hassett Road, Homerton, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Mechanical draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to the aeration of beers or other liquids in bottles or small
vessels with compressed gas such as carbonic dioxide, and is designed to effect this in
a convenient and expeditious manner dispensing with the treatment of the beer or
other liquid in large volumes as is at present the practice.
To carry out my process, I employ the compressed gas generated or produced in any
convenient manner, using an intermediate reducing chamber where required, and 1
charge the bottle or small vessel which has been previously filled with beer or other
liquid to be aerated with the said compressed gas by means of an apparatus, herein-
after more fully described, which is adapted to permit the reversal of the bottle or
vessel several times to effect the necessary absorption of the gas under pressure into
the liquid.
Where it is convenient to employ the natural carbonic dioxide imported from
Germany, this is delivered for use in a strong steel or iron vessel called a "bottle"
at a high pressure, too high to be of any use for direct bottle charging. I therefore
employ in such case an intermediate pressure reducing vessel connected to the said
gas supply bottle by a pipe controlled by a cock or valve. The intermediate vessel is
provided with a pressure gauge and safety valve so as to maintain regularity of about
100 to 120 pounds per square inch. This intermediate pressure reducing vessel is
connected by a pipe to the boss of a bottle stand capable of rotation about the said
boss and which holds the bottle so as to make an airtight joint upon a tap through
which the gas pressure is supplied. This tap is provided with a side passage for
snifting when desired and is similar to the apparatus already patented to me under
No. 18013 and date 31 December 1887.
may employ a screwed stopper pierced vertically with an orifice and provided with
a recess in its centre into which I force an indiarubber disc or washer. The lower
part of the orifice is of large diameter and the upper of small diameter. I pierce a
small slot through the india-rubber washer. This washer makes a closed joint under
internal pressure outwards, but when pressed under external gaseous pressure the
washer bulges into the larger part of the orifice and permits the passage of gas into
the bottle.
Should the carbonic dioxide or other gas with which the beer or liquid is to be
charged be generated from chemicals or compressed in any other suitable manner than
as hereinbefore described, the generating vessel if containing a fairly regular and
suitable gas pressure may be connected direct to the said rotating bottle stand or may
be also connected to the said intermediate pressure reducing vessel as hereinabove
described.
I carry out my process as follows:-The bottle is first filled with the requisite
quantity of beer or other liquid and is placed upon a sliding support in the bottle
stand by which the neck of the bottle is forced upwards into the mouth of the
said tap and makes a gas-tight joint therewith. The said tap is now turned on
and the gas rests at the normal pressure of the intermediate gas receiver on the
top of the beer or other liquid. In order to pass the gas through the beer or other
liquid, turn the said rotating bottle stand which holds the bottle, upside down,

page_text: and repeat this action a few times. The beer or other liquid thus becomes
thoroughly impregnated with the gas under pressure. The tap is turned off and
the bottle is removed for driving in the cork or ordinary stopper, but if the
improved aforesaid stopper is used, it is screwed into the bottle before being placed
in the stand. The said stopper is self-closing upon removal of the bottle from the
stand and retains the internal pressure.
This process may be thus rapidly repeated whilst the liquid is in contact only
with the glass bottle, and is not likely to be subjected to the risk of deterioration
or fermentation which might arise from the treatment of the liquid in large bulk by
agitation.
My process also when used with the aforesaid iron "bottles" of compressed gas
as imported from Germany dispenses with the use of generators and impregnators
or copper cylinders with agitators as at present commonly used and is therefore
much more advantageous for the aeration of beer, cider, herb beers and other.
liquids which may readily deteriorate by exposure to the atmosphere or from
contact with various metal vessels or much manipulation in bulk.
Dated this 1st day of November 1888.
>
FELL & WILDING,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process and Means for the Aeration of Beers or other
Liquids in Bottles or Small Vessels.
I, FREDERICK WALTER, of 47 Hassett Road, Homerton, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invon-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the aeration of beers, wines, or other liquids in bottles or
small vessels with compressed gas, such as carbonic dioxide, and is designed to effect
this in a convenient and expeditious manner dispensing with the treatment of the
beer, wine, or other liquid in large volumes as is at present the practice.
To carry out my process, I employ the compressed gas generated or produced in
any convenient manner, using an intermediate reducing chamber where required, and
I charge the bottle or small vessel, which has been previously filled with beer or wine
to be aerated, with the said compressed gas hy means of an apparatus, hereinafter
more fully described, which is adapted to permit the reversal of the bottle or vessel
several times, to effect the necessary absorption of the gas under pressure into the
liquid. Where it is convenient to employ the natural carbonic dioxide imported from
"" bottle at
Germany, this is delivered for use in a strong steel or iron vessel called a
a high pressure, too high to be of any use for direct bottle charging.
"
I therefore employ in such case an intermediate pressure-reducing valve, connected
to the said gas supply bottle by a pipe controlled by a cock or valve. The inter-
mediate valve is provided with a pressure gauge and safety valve so as to maintain
regularity of about 100 to 120 pounds per square inch. This intermediate pressure
reducing valve is connected by a pipe to the boss of a bottle stand capable of rotation
about the said boss, and which holds the bottle so as to make an air tight joint upon a
tap through which the gas pressure is supplied. This tap is provided with a side
passage for snifting when desired and is similar to the apparatus already patented to
me under No. 18013 and date 31st December 1887.
1 may employ a screwed stopper pierced vertically with an orifice and provided with
a recess in its centre into which I force an India-rubber disc or washer. The lower
part of the orifice is of large diameter and the upper of small diameter. 1 pierce a
small slit through the india-rubber washer. This washer makes a closed joint under

page_text: internal pressure outwards, but when pressed under external gaseous pressure, the
washer bulges into the larger part of the orifice and permits the
the bottle.
passage of gas into
Should this carbonic dioxide or other gas, with which the beer or wine is to be
charged, be generated from chemicals or compressed in any other suitable manner
than as hereinbefore described, the generating vessel. if containing a fairly regular
and suitable gas pressure, may be connected direct to the said rotating bottle siand,
or may be also connected to the said intermediate pressure reducing vessel as herein-
above described.
1 carry out my process as follows :-
:―
The bottle is first filled with the requisite quantity of beer or wine and is placed
upon a sliding support in the bottle stand by which the neck of the bottle is forced
upwards into the mouth of the said tap and makes a gastight joint therewith. The
said tap is now turned on and the gas rests at the normal pressure of the intermediate
gas receiver on the top of the beer or other liquid. In order to pass the gas through
the beer or wine, I turn the said rotating bottle stand, which holds the bottle, upside
down, and repeat this action a few times. The beer or wine thus becomes thoroughly
impregnated with the gas under pressure. The tap is turned off and the bottle is
removed for driving in the cork or ordinary stopper; but if the improved aforesaid
stopper is used it is screwed into the bottle before being placed in the stand. The said
stopper is self-closing upon removal of the bottle from the stand and retains the
internal pressure.
This process may be thus rapidly repeated whilst the liquid is in contact only with
the glass bottle and is not likely to be subjected to the risk of deterioration or
fermentation which might arise from the treatinent of the liquid in large bulk by
agitation.
My process also when used with the aforesaid iron "bottles" of compressed gas
dispenses with the use of generators and impregnators or copper cylinders with
agitators as at present commonly used and is therefore much more advantageous for
aëration of beer, wine, cider, herb beers, etc. which may readily deteriorate by exposure
to the atmosphere or from contact with various metal vessels or much manipulation in
bulk.
And in order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
more particularly describe the same reference being had to the drawings hereunto
annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a general elevation of my apparatus for aerating beer or wine in
bottles.
Figure 2 is my apparatus for aërating soda or other water in a gasogene, dispensing
with the use of artificial powders.
Figure 3 is a general elevation of my apparatus for aërating soda or other water in
a store vessel.
Figure 4 is an elevation of my improved stopper.
Figure 5 is a section of the same.
In figure 1, C is an iron "bottle" of compressed gas such as natural carbonic
dioxide, at a very high pressure. The enclosed gas may be allowed to escape by a
stop cock c, but is at too high a pressure to be used direct in charging the beer, wine
or other bottles. I therefore introduce a reducing valve chamber B of usual con-
struction into the exit pipe, from the gas "bottle," and provide it with the pressure
dial b, so that the gas pressure transmitted to the aërating apparatus A may be at a
known and desired pressure. The reduced pressure from the reducing chamber B is
conducted by a pipe to the bosse of a stand E of the aerating apparatus. Upon the
stand E is fitted a rotating bottle head A through which rotating joint is continued a
passage for the gas at pressure, which may be admitted by the hand valve a to the
arious bottle nozzles, and thus to the interior of the bottles F, which are supported
by spring pressed footings G fitted to brackets D, on the arms of the frame in any
lesirable or convenient numbers. The bottles are afterwards corked or closed by an

page_text: ordinary cork or screw-stopper or I may employ a screwed stopper of special con-
truction for the bottles, as shown in figures 4 and 5, which is pierced vertically with
an orifice Pand provided with a recess in its centre into which I force an india-rubber
lisc or washer. The lower part of the orifice p is of larger diameter than the upper.
I pierce a small slit through the india-rubber washer so that it makes a closed joint
under internal pressure outwards but when pressed under external pressure the
washer bulges into the larger part of the orifice and permits the passage of gas into
the bottle.
When the various bottles are thus in communication with the high pressure gas, the
many armed bottle frame may be rotated about the boss e of the stand E so as to invert
the contents of the various bottles, and thus by agitation to ensure full absorption of
the gas by the liquid contents of the bottles. To remove the bottles after charging, the
hand valve a is screwed down to disconnect the bottles from the gas supply, and
the spring pressed footings G are released by the handles & so that the bottles can be
readily removed.
As the bottle is removed, a cork may be driven in or an ordinary stopper screwed
in, but if the improved aforesaid stopper is used it is placed in the bottle before the
latter is placed in the stand, and being self-closing the bottle on removal from the
stand retains automatically the internal pressure.
In figure 2 C is a gas bottle or reservoir at a high pressure. Bis the intermediate
reducing valve chamber, and the reduced compressed gas is thus led by a union joint
into the head H. This head H is provided with a gas passage, and a gas tube K
passing to the bottom of the liquid, and controlled in the head H by a hand valve a.
The gas therefore passes through the volume of liquid in the gasogene vessel and
forms a reservoir of compressed gas in the upper part of the chamber above the
liquid. The usual syphon tube L is provided, dipping to the bottom of the liquid, by
which the contained gas pressure after the gasogene has been charged, will drive out
the aërated liquid through the said syphon tube L, and any convenient external
spout M, controlled by the valve m.
In figure 3, C is again the bottle or reservoir of high pressure gas, B is the reducing
valve chamber through which the gas, reduced in pressure, is carried to a store vessel N.
The vessel is first completely filled with gas at the reduced pressure, and the vessel N
is then filled with water or other liquid for aëration by a pump O operated by hand
or other convenient source of power forcing the liquid into the gas charged vessel N
in the form of a finely divided spray through a perforated rose n.
The passing of the spray through the gas ensures its perfect saturation and aerated
liquid may be withdrawn, after suitable aeration, by a tap at the bottom of the said
vessel N.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and the
manner in which it may be carried into effect; be it known that what 1 claim is :-
1st. A combination of a bottle or vessel containing highly compressed gas, with a
reducing valve to control pressure, and an aërating vessel or bottle containing the
beer or wine to be aërated, substantially, as described.
2nd. The combination of the various parts of mechanism substantially as described
and illustrated in figure 1 for the aëration of beer or wine in bottles mounted on a
rotating frame permitting the inversion of the bottles and control of the gas by a
shut off valve.
3rd. The combination of the apparatus as described and illustrated in figure 2,
representing a gaseous reservoir at high pressure, a reducing valve and an aërating
vessel, fitted with a head containing a gas control valve, a gas tube and controlled exit
syphon tube.
4th. A combination of the parts as described and illustrated in figure 3 consisting
of a reservoir of high pressure gas, a gas pressure reducing valve, and aërating
vessel receiving a charge of liquid in connection with the gas reservoir and supplied
with the liquid to be aërated by a pump in the form of a finely divided spray.

page_text: 5th. In combination with the bottle aërating apparatus as described and illustrated
with respect to figure 1, a bottle stopper containing a slit india-rubber washer acting
as an automatic valve to admit external pressure into the bottle, but to retain internal
pressure when the bottle is charged with gas, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of August 1889
FELL & WILDING,
Per R. A. Hoffmann,
1, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
.