Improved Liquor Gauges, applicable to Kegs, Casks, Barrels, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Liquor Gauges, applicable to Kegs, Casks, Barrels,
and the like.
I JOHN TEBBS HIPWELL, of 100 Broad Street, Portsmouth, in the County
of Hampshire, Hotel Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to.
be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to liquor gauges, and the main object of my invention is
to provide simple and effective indexed gauges, to be fitted on the outside of spirit
kegs, casks, beer barrels and the like, whereby the amount of liquor in, and the
consumption from same in a given time can always be readily ascertained.
In making an improved self registering gauge according to one form or modifi-
cation of my invention to be fitted to spirit kegs, casks, and the like, I first provide
a glass tube corresponding to the height of keg, or cask, to which it will be
connected, in a vertical direction. Each end of the glass tube-to be hereinafter
called the gauge glass, will be fitted into a brass or other metal socket, which
with a half turn passes through orifices provided in the side of keg, or cask, one
at the top, and one at the bottom, or as near to same as possible thus the level
of the liquor in the gauge glass is always the same as that in the keg, or cask.
If preferred the bottom part of the gauge glass may be connected to the cask
tap, behind the cock, instead of by a socket fitting direct to the cask, as herein-
before described.
Further the gauge glass is marked and indexed in such a manner that at a
glance it can be seen at any time the quantity of liquor in gallons, quarts, pints,
half pints, and gills, that is in the cask, or keg, and consequently from a previous
reference, the exact amount that has been consumed in the interval.
To prevent the contents of a cask being tampered with the plug, or lid, at
the top of cask is securely locked so that none but authorized persons can
unlock same, the plug is slightly perforated so as to admit air as the liquor is
drawn.
In another form or modification of my invention applicable more especially to
beer barrels and the like (in which special provision has to be made for gas
pressure) the gauge glass, instead of communicating direct with the interior of the
barrel, it, would be suitably connected by a lead or other metal tube to the tap at
the underside, and before the cock of same, and from the top of the gauge glass,
another lead or other metal tube would pass, and be suitably connected to a vent
plug fixed in the bung, the top of the gauge glass will be held in position by a
suitable connection to the rim of barrel and will be marked in divisions shewing
gallons; quarts, pints, and half pints; all the connections will probably be by screw
unions thus allowing the fittings to be easily taken to pieces for cleansing.
The vent plug which I provide with my apparatus for all casks, has two distinct
outlets, the pipe or tube led from the top of the gauge glass being connected with
one outlet, and the other does duty as an ordinary vent by placing therein a
common porous plug, by this arrangement the gas pressure in cask, and gauge
glass, is balanced.
It is noted that I do not limit myself in the construction of my apparatus to the
use only of an indexed glass tube, the tube may be of plain glass, enclosed in a case
of brass or other metal, with the front part left open and the metal case indexed so
as to indicate the various measures; the metal case would protect the glass tube, or
In

page_text: when using a plain glass tube the same may be affixed to the front of an index
board.
Dated this 30th day of January 1891
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
20, Laura Place, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
-
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Liquor Gauges, applicable to Kegs, Casks, Barrels,
and the like.
I; JOHN TEBBS HIPWELL of 100 Broad Street, Portsmouth, in the County
of Hampshire, Hotel Keeper, 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:
My invention has for its object to produce an efficient guage or similar appliance
for accurately indicating the amount of liquer contained in kegs, casks, barrels and
the like, as also the quantity which may, from time to time, be withdrawn, in
effecting which, I have considered the necessity of making provision for equalising
the pressure of gases evolved from fermentous or gaseous liquors, such for instance
as beer.
•
Assisted by the accompanying two sheets of drawings which illustrate my
invention and form part of this Specification, I now proceed to describe the
appliance; similar letters of reference being employed to denote like parts in the
various figures.
Figure 1 represents a cask disposed vertically and having my improved appliance
adapted thereto; and Figure 1A is a part side elevational view of same showing
the guage tube disposed in rear of the cock.
Figure 2 is a part side elevational view of the device, the cock (not shown)
being independent thereof..
Figure 3 shows a plan of the head of a cask showing the méthod which I adopt
of securing the plug or bung, and
Figure 4 is a part sectional elevational view of same.
Figure 5 shows a cask disposed in a horizontal plane having my improved
appliance adapted thereto..
Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view of a valvular vent peg; and
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are types of compound taps which I prefer to use in combi-
nation with the indicating guage.
In the production of the indicating guage in its simple form according to my
invention, I employ a glass tube A of suitable calibre, and of a length to correspond
with the height of a keg, cask or equivalent receptacle B and dispose it vertically.
For the side attachment, each end of said tube A is fitted into a socket a of brass
or other suitable metal or material, to which is adapted a short length of tube b
which is to be inserted into perforations formed in the side or other convenient
part of the keg, cask or the like, and as near as possible to the extreme top and
bottom thereof.
For the front attachment, I pass the tube into the socket a which is formed at
the rear of the cock G, (Figures 1 and 2). In rear of said tube A or, in any other
convenient position relative thereto, is disposed a flat scale C, divided preferably to
indicate gallons, quarts, pints, gills; but inasmuch as the variation in the height of
the liquor in the tube A, upon withdrawing a gill from say, a 36 gallon cask, would
be inappreciable to the ordinary observer, consequent on the superficial area of the
liquor contained therein, and would be difficult for anyone to read with any degree
of accuracy; I adapt to said scale C, and use in conjunction therewith, a
micrometric scale D, by means of which, the amount of liquor withdrawn may be
determined with great ease and accuracy.
An indicating or registering guage, formed in the manner above described, is

page_text: applicable for kegs, casks and the like, having either parallel sides as shown in
dotted lines Figures 1 and 2, or having convex sides as shown in full lines, but, in
the latter type, the divisions would be made to vary in accordance with the
variation in the diameter of the interior of said cask from the centre to the ends or
heads.
In addition to the scale being divided equally or unequally, as circumstances
required, a suitable guide would be provided whereby the value of each division
would be accurately shown relative to the size and shape of the keg, cask or the
like. If desired, the divisions of the scale C may be marked directly upon the
glass tube A.
At Figures 3 and 4 is shown the method which I adopt for securing the plug or
bung of a keg, cask or the like, as a preventive against adulterating or otherwise
tampering with the contents. It comprises a bar E terminating at one end in a
short curved tongue c which takes into an eye-bolt d, screwed or otherwise secured
to the barrel B, the other end having a perforation formed therein, into which takes
a staple e also secured to the barrel B, and which is finally fastened by means of a
padlock for by equivalent means. A hole ¹ is formed in the centre of the bar E,
to allow of the ingress of air through the vent peg y to replace the liquor with-
drawn from the keg, cask or the like B..
At Figure 5 is illustrated a modification of the arrangement above described for
registering the fluid contents, and is more particularly applicable for kils, barrels
casks and like receptacles for containing beers and other gaseous liquors, wherein it
is necessary to provide means of compensation for the varying pressure of the gas.
In this arrangement therefore, I connect the upper socket a with a valvular vent
peg g by means of a length of pipe of pliable metal or other suitable material.
This vent peg y (Figures 5 and 6), which may be attached to the pipe by means
of a unioni consists of a conical tube of usual form, but having a second tube j
adapted thereto for part of its length, within which latter is inserted a valve of
any suitable substance or material, porous or otherwise as may be desired. A valve
formed of a plug of cane F, (shown in dotted lines Figure 6) from which the
juices have been removed, offers many advantages inasmuch as excessive expansion
of gases is prevented by the facilities offered for the escape thereof through the
longitudinal channels in the substance of the cane, and which are sufficiently large
to allow of the ingress of air to replace liquid withdrawn, at the same time, they.
are too small to allow of the admission of particles of dust, dirt and other
foreign matter. The valve may be locked or otherwise secured in any convenient
manner.
At Figures 7, 8 and 9 are shown double cocks which I prefer to use in con-
junction with my improved indicator guage. The cocks shown at Figures 7 and 8
are for use with a beer engine, the pipe from which is secured to the cock by
means of the union after the conical end has been screwed or otherwise inserted
into the cask B, the guage tube being disconnected during this operation. In
Figures 7 and 8 the guage tube is shown connected to the rear tap of the cock G.
By this arrangement the pipe from the engine may be disconnected without
affecting the liquor in the
tube.
guage
At Figure 8 the tube A is adapted to the front tap of the cock G in which
arrangement the liquor can only enter the tube after having passed into the tap,
with the result that when the tap is turned off, the liquor will remain in the tube,
The cock at
and would not then register the contents of the receptacle B.
Figure 9 which is similar to that illustrated at Figure 7 is for domestic use and
for use where the liquor is drawn directly from the cask instead of by means of
an engine.
The guage tube and scale described in reference to Figure 5 is secured at its
upper end to the cask by means of the device m, in form somewhat similar to a bird's
foot, two claws n being above and so bent as to grip the iron band of the cask B,
and the other claw o being below the rim and provided, if desired, with a screw to

page_text: ensure rigidity; the other end is screwed or otherwise secured to the scale as
shown.
Instead of the exposed glass tube as before described to serve as a guage, I may,
under some circumstances, insert said tube in a metal or other protective casing
having an open face, or I may employ a case or guage tube of metal or of a
material other than glass, in the front of which is inserted a slip of glass, the
divisions of the scale being marked either upon the glass or upon the protecting
case or upon both as may be desired.
From the foregoing it will be seen that, at any time, the exact amount of liquor
withdrawn from the receptacle may be ascertained with the greatest accuracy, and
by reference to the last reading recorded, the amount in the till should correspond
with the value of liquor withdrawn; thus, the possibility of the misappropriation
of the liquor is absolutely prevented.
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 :-
:
First In guages for indicating or registering the liquid contents of kils. casks
barrels and equivalent receptacles the combination with a guage tube of an
indicator scale the graduations thereof denoting definite quantities being marked
at equal or unequal distances apart substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
Second-In registering guages for indicating the liquid contents of kils casks
barrels and like receptacles the combination with a guage tube of a micrometric
scale in conjunction with a graduated scale substantially as herein described and
shown in the drawings.
Third In combination with an indicating or registering guage the employ-
ment of a cock having two taps as described and shown in the drawings.
Fourth In the indicating and registering device herein described the adapta-
tion thereto and employment therewith of a valvular vent peg substantially as set
forth and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 31st day of August 1891.
EDGAR GEORGE,
29, Chesterfield Grove, East Dulwich, S.E., Agent.