IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING OR FORCING LIQUIDS PROM CASES, BARRELS, AND OTHER VESSELS OR RECEPTACLES
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPFCIFICATION left by Thomas Cook at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th February 1868.
I, THOMAS COOк, of Penfold Terrace, Peckham, in the County of
Surrey, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING OR FORCING LIQUIDS PROM
CASES, BARRELS, AND OTHER VESSELS OR RECEPTACLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in raising or forcing
the fluid or liquid contents of casks, barrels, and other vessels, and
is intended to be used as a substitute for pumps, and especially for
those used in the ordinary, beer engine, the object of the Invention.
being to expel liquids from barrels or other vessels by pressure instead
of drawing it therefrom by pumps.
In order to effect this object a collapsed flexible bag of india-
rubber or other suitable elastic material is attached to a tube and
inserted through the bung hole of the cask or vessel, the bag being of
sufficient capacity as to fill the interior of the cask or vessel when
such bag is distended with air under pressure derived from suitable

page_text: arrangements of apparatus for the purpose. The neck of the bog
or the tube is passed through the bung, and the neck or tube is
then connected to a pipe or tube leading from a reservoir of air made
somewhat on the principle of a gas holder, the dome or cover of
which is to be weighted sufficiently to create a pressure of air and
distend the flexible bag in order that by its expansion within the
cask or vessel the liquid contents thereof may be forced or expelled
to the required elevation for withdrawal by a pipe and ordinary tap.
An
In the case of drawing beer from a cellar to the upper floor a
pressure of about fifteen pounds to the inch would generally suffice
to force the beer with the same effect as now produced by the
ordinary engine; but if it should be required to raise the liquor to a
greater height the air holder can be proportionately weighted.
opening is made near the top of the air holder, and is provided with
a tap or screw plug, in order that when the dome has descended to
its lowest position air may be readmitted, and the dome raised ready
for further operation, and the pipe conveying the air to the bag is
also provided with a tap, which must be closed while the dome is
being raised, in order to prevent the return flow of air from the bag
to the holder. The pipe leading from the cask and conveying the
beer or other liquid therefrom should also have a tap near the cask
or vessel for safety or for turning off the supply from the delivery
pipe.
Instead of the ordinary form of air holder a coil of flexible tubing
may be used, filled with air, and placed in a circular vessel or
cylinder (or a bag may be placed in a receptacle and compressed by
weights after the principle of a bellows) with a series of weights on
a disc placed on the surface of the coils, by which means the air
will be forced into the bag with the same result.
By these improvements the expense and inconvenience of the beer
engine will be dispensed with, there being no liability of the parts
to get out of order or to become choked with foreign substances, as
is now the case with the pumps.
Vent pegs can be dispensed with according to this Invention, as
there is no occasion for the entrance of air to permit the flow from
the cask and consequently the beer is prevented from becoming tart
or sour even with a very slow draught, which is not the case where
a spile is necessary as heretofore.

page_text: Other arrangements may be adopted for effecting the required pressure
of air, the principle of the Invention being the same, and the air
holder or coil of tubing may be sunk in a space below the level of
the collar in cases where it may be more convenient or desirable
than to clevate the same above the ground line.
Although compressed air is the best means of inflating the bag water
may be employed on the same principle, but air being clastic and
compressible a more rapid and powerful flow of liquid will be effected
by its use than by the use of water.
Liquids may be raised from closed tanks or other vessels on the
same principle as that described for raising or forcing beer from
casks.