Improvements in Bottling and Delivering Fermentable Liquors, and in Bottles or Containers for the same.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Bottling and Delivering Fermentable Liquors, and
in Bottles or Containers for the same.
We, JOHN FULLER SPONG, of 30, Camberwell Green, in the County of Surrey,
and SPENCER RAY, of The Winchester Brewery, Camberwell Green, aforesaid, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Many attempts have been made to bottle beer in what are known as siphons
but hitherto all such attempts have failed. This appears to be due to the fact that
compressed carbonic acid (which is the gas usually used for charging siphons) is
absorbed in large quantities by the beer and when the latter is drawn off this gas
instead of escaping freely when given off as in the case of soda water forms per-
sistent bubbles so that little else but froth can be obtained. Compressed air on
the other hand has a deleterious effect on the liquor. The same objections arise
to a greater or less extent in the case of other liquors liable to fermentation such
for example as lemonade.
According to this invention we obviate these evils by employing nitrogen for
charging the siphons, nitrogen being a gas of which only a small quantity can
be absorbed by a liquid and which does not promote fermentation.
We provide an opening in the vessel preferably in the neck or shoulder so that
the vessel may be readily cleaned after use. This opening is closed with a stopper
and in place of charging the liquor with gas before it is introduced into the siphon
as is usual we fill the siphon through this opening and then a compressed charge
of preferably sterilized nitrogen is forced into the syphon through the nozzle of
the apparatus, the trigger being depressed to open the valve of the siphon.
To further guard against the partial escape of the nitrogen through the upper
part of the head of the siphon during the operation of charging the vessel with
nitrogen we construct the head of the siphon with an air-tight flexible diaphragm
of some suitable material, which diaphragm is placed between the heel of the
trigger and the upper part of the valve rod, and which diaphragm is so actuated
by the trigger of the siphon that it depresses the valve of the apparatus; or the
rod of the valve at the upper end may be provided with a cup-shaped piece of
india-rubber which, during the charging of the siphon with compressed nitrogen,
presses on the valve rod thus preventing any escape of gas.
We also add a cup or shield to the lower orifice of the tube in the siphon bottle
to guard against the deposits at the bottom of the vessel being drawn up into the
tube when the siphon is in use.
The invention is equally applicable to the delivery of liquors from larger vessels
such as casks.
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1
1007

page_text: Improvements in Bottling and Delivering Fermentable Liquors, and
in Bottles or Containers for the same.
We, JOHN FULLER SPONG, of 30, Camberwell Green, in the County of Surrey,
and SPENCER RAY, of The Winchester Brewery, Camberwell Green, aforesaid, 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:
Many attempts have been made to bottle beer in what are known as siphons
but hitherto all such attempts have failed. This appears to be due to the fact that t
compressed carbonic acid (which is the gas usually used for charging siphons) is
absorbed in large quantities by the beer and when the latter is drawn off this gas
instead of escaping freely when given off as in the case of soda water forms per-
sistent bubbles so that little else but froth can be obtained. Compressed air on
the other hand has a deleterious effect on the liquor. The same objections arise
to a greater or less extent in the case of other liquors liable to fermentation such
for example as lemonade.
According to this invention we obviate these evils by employing nitrogen for
charging the siphons, nitrogen being a gas of which only a small quantity can
be absorbed by a liquid and which does not promote fermentation.
We provide an opening in the vessel it may be in the neck or shoulder so that
the vessel may be readily cleaned after use. This opening is closed with a stopper
and in place of charging the liquor with gas before it is introduced into the siphon
as is usual we fill the siphon through this opening and then a compressed, charge
of preferably sterilized nitrogen is forced into the siphon through the nozzle of the
apparatus, the trigger being depressed to open the valve of the siphon.
We find however that an opening in the neck or shoulder causes difficulties in
manufacture and gives rise to danger of breakage we therefore prefer to make
the cap of the siphon with a screw thread inside engaging with a screw upon or
fixed to the neck so that the whole of the top can be removed and the inside of the
siphon got at for cleaning.
To further guard against the partial escape of the nitrogen through the upper
part of the head of the siphon during the operation of charging the vessel with
nitrogen we construct the head of the siphon with an air-tight flexible diaphragm
of some suitable material, which diaphragm is placed between the heel of the
trigger and the upper part of the valve rod, and which diaphragm is so actuated
by the trigger of the siphon that it depresses the valve of the apparatus; or the
rod of the valve at the upper end may be provided with a cup-shaped piece of
india-rubber which, during the charging of the siphon with compressed nitrogen.
presses on the valve rod thus preventing any escape of gas. The syphon should
not be completely filled with liquor and the air should be displaced from it.
We also add a cup or shield to the lower orifice of the tube in the siphon bottle
to guard against the deposits at the bottom of the vessel being drawn up into the
tube when the siphon is in use.
The invention is equally applicable to the delivery of liquors from larger vessels
such as casks..

page_text: the upper part of an ordinary valve rod c¹, d being the shoulder against which the
helical spring presses and e a cup shaped ring of india-rubber.
Figure 3 shows the lower part of the tube f of the siphon provided with shield g.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The use of compressed nitrogen for delivering fermentable liquors from
syphons and other receptacles.
2. The air tight flexible diaphragm placed between the heel of the trigger and
upper part of the valve rod.
3. The use of a cup shaped piece of india rubber situated at the upper end of
the valve rod.
4. The shield placed at the lower end of the siphon tube.
5. Improvements in bottles or containers for fermentable liquors substantially as
described and shown in the drawing.
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1007
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.