Improvements in Spraying Devices for Cooling Beer and other Liquids.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spraying Devices for Cooling Beer and other
Liquids.
I, CLARENCE COURTNEY HANFORD of Medford, in the County of Middlesex,
and States of Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer, 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 is an improved spraying device or atomiser more especially for
use in cooling beer, ale etc. and the invention relates particularly to that class of
spraying devices in which the operation is performed by the opening of a valve.
In this class of spraying devices it is customary for the valve to open and close so
that its movement is on a line which is the same as a line extending centrally
through the passage or discharge-tube whose end constitutes the seat of the valve.
In other words if this discharge tube is vertical at the portion next the valve-seat,
the valve moves vertically, with the result that the spray flares out on all sides
unless a hood or shield is applied to one side.
In this invention or improvement the valve moves away from its seat not
vertically or at right angles with the face of the seat, but at an angle with the
line of direction of the discharge-passage or delivery-tube, and hence at an angle
other than a right angle with the horizontal face of the valve-seat. By this means
and by means of the shape of the valve and the construction of the parts of the
spraying device, it is made to spray to one side so that the spray is in the shape of
an are of a circle, preferably a semi-circle, so that the device can be placed at a
side of or at a corner of the tank without spraying over the edge.
The invention is especially, but not exclusively, adapted for use in comparatively
small breweries.
In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like
parts,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved spraying device with the actuating
mechanism shown in elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan partly in section on line a-x Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section taken on line y-y Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical section showing a modification.
A is the discharge or delivery-tube, to the upper end of which is screwed a
pipe B and half union B' connecting with the source of supply. The lower
portion A¹ of this tube A is formed into the shape of a half circle, as shown in
Figure 2, and the diametral edge a extends a little lower than the semi-circular
edge a¹ and is provided with a step a².
C is the valve, corresponding in shape with that of the lower portion A¹ of the
discharge pipe, and hence being of the shape of a half circle, and with its diametral
edge C fitting into the step a² and its semi-circular edge C2 at a short distance
from the corresponding edge of the lower end of the discharge-pipe when the valve
is as nearly closed as possible. The stem of this valve is curved, as shown at D'
and thence extends upward in a straight line into the portion D and thence in a
straight line into the portion d. The curved portion D' of the valve-stem is made
triangular in cross section (as shown in Figure 3) with the apex at the upper edge
so that as little obstruction as possible to the spray may be produced. The
portion d is preferably round in cross section and has formed on its periphery a
series of annular discs or rack-teeth d¹. This portion d is adapted to slidé
longitudinally in the web E which is integral with and extends from the discharge
pipe A, and is set at an angle, say of twenty or thirty degrees from a vertical line.
H is a bracket supported by the web E and held in place thereon by the nut h:

page_text: This bracket extends downward, as shown in Figure 1, and is provided with a
horizontal pin or pivot I which constitutes a fulcrum for the lever J, whose short
arm J is provided with teeth J' formed on an arc of a circle and engaging the
discs or rack-teeth d' on the valve stem. The long arm of this lever is provided
with an adjustable weight or counterbalance K; and extending upward from the
lever is a vertical bar L by means of which the lever can be suspended from the
point above it and its long arm raised or lowered.
The normal position of the device is that shown in the drawing. While it is in
this position the beer passing down through the discharge pipe A is 'forced out in
a fine spray diagonally over the curved edge C² of the valve C. If the long arm
of the lever J be lifted the toothed segment J¹ moves the valve-stem longitudinally
and hence not vertically but at a decided angle from a vertical line, so that the
valve C does not drop vertically from its seat but at the same angle at which the
stem is set. The positions of the parts, when the valve is dropped considerably,
are shown in broken lines in Figure 1. As soon as the valve is moved away from
its seat, as above described, so that its diametral or straight edge C¹ is out of
contact with the diametral or straight edge a of the lower portion A of the delivery
tube, the volume of spray not only increases but is thrown to some extent over the
straight edge C' of the valve as well as over the curved edge C², but the volume
passing over the diametral edge is not so great as that which passes over the curved
edge, for several reasons; first, the straight edge is not as long as the curved edge;
second, the straight edge is not so distant from its seat as the curved edge is from
the curved edge a¹ of the delivery tube, and third, because the rear or flat portion
of the lower part A' of the delivery tube is set at a slant (as shown in Figure 1) so
as to tend to guide the liquid toward the curved edge of the valve. What fluid
does spray over the straight edge C¹ does not spray out to such a distance as
that which sprays over the curved edge for obvious reasons, and especially is
this the case when the valve is not moved down far enough to get below the
horizontal line of the lowest end of the rear part of the portion A'.
It will readily be seen therefore that this device may be placed at a side or
corner of the tank, provided the curved edge of the valve faces inward, without
spraying over the edge of the tank. It is also evident that the diagonal movement
of the valve has the effect of throwing the spray which passes over its curved edge
to a greater distance, i.e. to make the direction of its movement more nearly hori-
zontal than would be the case if the valve moved downward vertically, while the
movement of the spray over the straight edge (which is next the side of the tank)
is rendered more nearly vertical. Thus the atomiser may be placed near the side
or corner of the tank and spray a great distance through the air towards the
centre of the tank with corresponding cooling results. This is especially advan-
tageous to small breweries.
The distance or width of the opening between the curved edges C³ and a¹ may
be determined by circumstances.
In the modification shown in Figure 4 the principle is exactly the same, the
only difference in construction being that the movement of the valve-stem is
produced by an internally threaded screw N into which the externally threaded
end of the valve-stem extends, said screw N being provided with an annular
ring N which lies between the web and a cap P.
The circular shape of the disc-teeth d' enables the lever J J' to be moved
around them, as desired, to accommodate itself to any required position in relation
to the tank..
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 spraying device comprising a discharge-pipe or delivery-tube, and a valve
placed at the end thereof and adapted to move from its seat diagonally or at au
angle from the line of direction of the delivery tube, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. A spraying device comprising a discharge-pipe or delivery-tube and a valve
placed at the end thereof and provided with a valve-stem set at an angle with
the delivery-tube and adapted to be moved in the line of the same angle whereby
the movement of the valve from and toward its seat is at an angle with the line
of direction of said delivery-tube substantially as described.
3. The herein described improved spraying device comprising the delivery
tube A of the end of whose lower portion A is formed into the semi-circular outer
edge a¹ and the straight or diametral inner edge a, and the valve C whose outer
edge C2 is curved to correspond with the outer lower edge of the delivery-tube and
whose inner edge C' is straight or diametral to correspond with the inner lower
edge of the delivery tube said valve being adapted to be moved in a line at an
angle with the line of direction of the delivery-tube substantially as set forth.
4. The herein described improved spraying device comprising the delivery-tube A
the end of whose lower portion A¹ is formed into the raised semi-circular outer
edge a¹ and the straight or diametral inner edge a extending to a lower point than
said outer edge and forming a seat for the corresponding edge of the valve and the
valve C whose outer edge C2 is curved to correspond with the outer lower edge of
the delivery-tube and whose inner edge C¹ is straight or diametral to correspond
with the inner lower edge or valve-seat of the delivery-tube said valve being
adapted to be moved in a line at an angle with the line of direction of the delivery-
tube, substantially as described.
5. The herein described improved spraying device consisting essentially of the
delivery-tube A the integral web E the valve C provided with the diagonally
placed valve-stem D D₁d supported by and moving in said web, said portion d
being provided with the discs or rack-teeth d¹ the bracket H supported by said
web and the lever J whose short arm J'is provided with segment gear for engaging
said rack-teeth substantially as set forth.
TEL: 054 dow of Mo 1900
CLARENCE C. HANFORD.