Improvements in Vessels for Measuring Liquids.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vessels for Measuring Liquids.
1, DONALD ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR MACKINTOSH of Edgefauld House, Spring-
burn, Glasgow, Wine and Spirit Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :—―
This invention relates to vessels or measures for measuring out beer, ale and other
liquids.
When using the beer measures as heretofore made, the barman is either in the
habit of blowing on the beer in order to ascertain if the required quantity is being
supplied to the customers or he, perhaps, gives an extra pull of the pump so as to
supply sufficient liquid to compensate for the froth. In the former case the blowing
is very objectionable, as if the barman is suffering from disease he is very apt to
communicate contamination to the liquid and so to the customer; in the latter case
by constantly giving a small extra supply the profits accruing from the sale of the
liquid are either entirely lost or seriously diminished.
This invention has mainly for its object to provide a simple construction of
measuring vessel in the use of which it will not be necessary to either blow on the
liquid or give an extra supply.
The invention consists, under one arrangement, in making the measuring vessel,
which may otherwise be of any ordinary construction, with a tube or passage way
either down the inside or outside. When the tube or passage way is fitted to the
inside or outside it may be either a circular or other sectioned tube or it may be
merely a semi-circular or other suitably shaped strip of metal soldered to the side
of the vessel. The tube or passage way is, preferably, open at each end. If the
passage way is on the outside of the vessel it may cominunicate through an opening,
made in the side of the vessel with the inside.
Instead of having a tube or passage way as herein before described, the vessel
may have a hollow handle which at the top communicates with the inside of the
vessel or there may be fitted a small spout, stroup or its equivalent to the side of
the vessel at the point where the liquid should, to give proper measure, rise to.
A small lid may be fitted over the opening at the top of the tube, passage way, or
the hollow handle or over the opening of the spout for preventing the liquid after
being measured from being spilled out. Or in lieu of a lid a small ball, butterfly or
other valve may be fitted in or in connection with the tube, passage-way, handle or
spout for closing it if desired at any time. The valve may be worked by a suitable
knob or handle.
With a vessel having these improvements, immediately the liquid rises slightly
above the proper height it overflows down or into the passage way, tube or equivalent.
The supply of beer or other liquid is then immediately cut off. The drippings or
overflow may be collected in a pan or tray or in another vessel over which the
measure is held when being filled.
With my invention the exact quantity of liquid is always given to customers, no
blowing off of froth is necessary and no loss results from over supply.
Dated this 28th day of January 1891
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vessels for Measuring Liquids.
I, DONALD ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR MACKINTOSH of Edgefauld House, Spring-
burn, Glasgow, Wine and Spirit Merchant, 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 vessels or measures for measuring out beer, ale, and
other liquors.
When using the beer measures, as heretofore made, the barman is either in the
habit of blowing on the beer in order to ascertain if the required quantity is being
supplied to the customers, or, he, perhaps, gives an extra pull of the pump so as to
supply sufficient liquid to compensate for the froth. In the former case the blowing
is very objectionable, as, if the barman is suffering from disease, he is very apt to
communicate contamination to the liquid and so to the customer, and, in the latter
case, by constantly giving a small extra supply the profits accruing from the sale
of the liquor are either entirely lost or seriously diminished.
This invention has for its object to provide a simple construction of measuring
vessel in the use of which it will not be necessary to either blow on the liquid or
give an extra supply.
In effecting this object the vessel is so made that a little liquor trickles from it
as soon as it is full and thus indicates to the barman that the supply is to be
cut off.
The invention may be carried out in various ways, but, by way of illustration, I
have appended two explanatory sheets of drawings showing methods of con-
struction.
On the drawings:
:―
Fig. 1, shows in part side elevation one form of my improved measure;
Fig. 2 shows, in section, a different form; and
Figs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 show, in part side elevation, other forms of the measure.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the incasure Fig. 5, and
Fig. 7 is a front view, partly broken away, of the measure Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 is a detail view.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate similar or like parts.
The measure a, Fig. 1, is of the ordinary construction save that it has an
enlarged rim fitted on top so as to contain the froth and at the lower edge of
the rim b, and just above the top of the measure a proper, there is fitted a spout c
through which any excess of liquor will flow and immediately indicate to the
barman or attendant that the vessel is full without necessitating the blowing away
of froth. Instead of having a spout c the handle d may be made hollow, as
indicated in dotted lines at e, so that any excess of liquor can run off by the channel
and indicate to the barman that the measure is full.
In Fig. 2. the measure is very similar to Fig. 1 except that instead of using a
hollow handle or spout, the excess of liquor escapes through a hole f and into a
tube fitted to the outside, or, if prefered, the inside of the measure.
I
In Fig. 3 a valve or door o is shown as used for closing the escape hole f. The
door is hinged, at h, to the inside of the rim and normally pulled close by the
spring i so as to prevent any of the contents of the vessel spilling down the tube
when it is being carried about. When the vessel is being filled the door is pushed
open by pressure ou the spindle j, as shown, so that any excess can escape and
indicate that the vessel is full, whereupon the door is immediately closed.
In Fig. 4 the vessel has a tube k with a hole in it for opening and closing the
orifice in the vessel. The tube à can be turned round, by the handle mr, within
the tube 9, so as to open and close the passage from the interior of the vessel to the
tube 9.

page_text: Fig. 5 is very similar to Fig. 3. Instead of having a spring action for the door o,
however, the door o is made sufficiently heavy as to close by its own weight. The
spindle or rod j is hinged or jointed to the door at j. Fig. 6 shows a view of the
door, in its closed position, looking from the interior of the vessel.
Figs. 7 and 8 show a sliding door o' as adapted to cover the hole. The door o¹
which slides in guides p, (see Fig. 11), has a spindle 7 connected to it, around
which fits a spiral spring, and which can be made to, normally, press down the
door oor pull it up (as shown). The door is opened or closed by the pressure or
pull (as the case may be) of the finger or thumb.
Fig. 9 shows the orifice closed by a pistons which is or may be normally held
in the open position, as shown, and be pressed down, against the action of the
spring, to close the orifice. t are stops to prevent the piston going down
too far.
Fig. 10 shows a measure with an interior tube g and the top of which is closed by
a valve u, kept in its normal closed position by the spring lever v. By pressing the
thumb on the lever the valve is opened.
With a vessel having these improvements, immediately the liquid rises slightly
above the proper height it overflows down or into the passage way, tube, or
equivalent. The supply of beer or other liquid is then immediately cut off. The
drippings or overflow may be collected in a pan or tray or in another vessel over
which the measure is held when being filled.
With my invention the exact quantity of liquid is always given to customers, no
blowing off of froth is necessary, and no loss results from over supply.
It is to be clearly understood that although I have shown various ways of
carrying out my invention I do not confine myself thereto as the construction may
be further modified without departing from the principle of the invention.
Any other forms of suitable valve or door may be used besides those shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A vessel for measuring beer, ale, and other liquids so constructed, that,
immediately the vessel is filled, a small quantity of the liquid is allowed to trickle
away down a tube, spout, or passage-way and thus indicate to the attendant that
the vessel is filled, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. The several modified constructions of measure, substantially as herein before
described and shown on the drawings annexed.
1001
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.