Improvements in Apparatus for Raising or Forcing Liquids, and for other purposes in which Compressed Air or Gas is required.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th July, 1891-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising or Forcing Liquids, and for
other purposes in which Compressed Air or Gas is required.
I, ARCHIBALD BRUCE of 67 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Plumber,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
<:
This invention relates to apparatus or engines" for raising or forcing beer
and for other purposes in which compressed air or gas is required.
In raising or forcing engines, as is well known, water or other liquid or fluid is
used to compress air or gas in a tank or cylinder. From the cylinder or tank the
compressed air or gas is drawn off for raising beer, blowing organs and other
purposes.
The present invention consists in certain improvements, hereinafter set forth, in
the regulation and control of the water or other liquid or fluid pressure supply and
exhaust.
The engine as constructed under this invention consists, preferably, of a hollow
cylinder or casing having a conical top. To the lower end of this cylinder is
fitted a three way valve, preferably the same as that covered under my prior
Patent No. 7705 of 1888, for inlet and discharge of water or other liquid or fluid
under pressure. To open and close the valve there is fitted to its spindle two
arms carrying between them a shaft or rod on this shaft or rod runs or slides a
weight. The weight may be attached to a small pulley running on the shaft or it-
may be fitted to a sliding collar or sleeve working on the shaft or be otherwise
movably secured thereto. Attached to one of the arms is an upright rod to which
a float is fitted. As the water, if this is used for the pressure, rises in the cylinder
it lifts the float and the float in being lifted raises one of the arms until when it
has reached a certain point the sliding weight will run or slide along the shaft to
the other arm and so turn the valve as to cut off water supply. On the water
sinking in the cylinder the arm formerly raised is, by the sinking of the float,
gradually depressed or lowered until the weight, acting under the impulse of
gravity, runs or slides back again to its former position and so turns the valve as
to supply water to the cylinder.
For regulating the water supply there is fitted to the water inlet of the three
way valve or in other convenient situation a small spindle valve having attached
to its upper end a lever fulcrumed in a bracket at the side of the valve casing.
The lever has preferably a sliding weight on it to enable it to be adjusted to any
desired pressure. The valve is preferably connected to the water inlet pipe by a
universal joint so as to be easily turned in any direction. The aforesaid weighted
lever is attached to the upper end of the vertical spindle of a cup leather valve
which works in a cup or casing connected at its under side by a pipe with the air
or gas outlet from the cylinder of the engine. The valve consists, preferably, of a
metal disc or plate having attached to its under side a cup leather or its equivalent
so as to work tight in the casing or cup. The cup is, preferably, partially or
wholly filled with oil so that the cup leather is always kept lubricated and the
valve, as a consequence, always works freely. In cases where the air or gas pipe
has not a bend in it it is found necessary to have a syphon bend made on or
With this arrange-
connected to it for the purpose of keeping oil within the cup.
ment when the air or gas pressure in the cylinder becomes greater than the
downward pressure of the regulating weight on the lever connected to the regulating
valve, the air or gas bubbles up through the oil in the cup or casing and forces
up the disc and regulating weight so as to close the water supply regulating valve.

page_text: On the pressure falling the weighted lever forces down the disc against the air or
gas pressure and so opens the supply regulating valve.
Dated this 7th day of October 1890.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising or Forcing Liquids, and for
other purposes in which Compressed Air or Gas is required.
1, ARCHIBALD BRUCE, of 67 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Plumber,
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 apparatus or "engines" for raising or forcing beer
and for other purposes in which compressed air or gas is required.
In raising or forcing engines, as is well-known, water or other liquid is used to
compress air or gas in a tank or cylinder. From the cylinder or tank the
compressed air or gas is drawn off for raising beer, blowing organs and other
purposes.
The present invention consists in certain improvements, hereinafter set forth, in
the regulation and control of the water or other fluid pressure supply and exhaust.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings whereon:-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the engine showing the interior parts.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the engine with the cover of the casing removed.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a water trap for the air pipe, and
Fig. 4 is part side elevation of the water supply regulating device.
Referring to the drawings whercon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate similar or like parts.
"
h
The engine as constructed under this invention consists, preferably, of a hollow
cylinder or casing a having a conical top or cover b. To the lower end of this
cylinder is fitted a three way valve e, preferably the same as that covered under
my prior Patent No. 7705 of 1888, for inlet and discharge of water or other fluid
under pressure. To open and close the valve there is fitted to its spindled two
arms e, f, these arms are or may be secured by a stud g, which is screwed into a
collar on the spindle d. The arm flas preferably a pin projecting out from
it. The spindled passes through a bracket i. This bracket has fitted to or made
in one with it a jaw j to which is loosely pinned a "rocker" or cradle "k. This
"rocker consists of a frame in which is fitted, by preference, two shafts h².
On the shafts runs or slides a ball or equivalent weight l. The ball weight is
retained in position between the top of the frame and the parallel shafts 2 so that
it cannot fall out. One end of the frame may have a counterbalancing metal
piece m on it whilst the other end has attached to it, by a bracket or snug n, a
shaft or rodo which may carry a small pulley p at its end. The pulley bears
against an inclined metal strip soldered or otherwise fitted to the bottom of the
The strip may be retained in the inclined position by a stay 7. The
float is connected with the rod o or with a bent projecting piece o' made in one
with or secured to the rod, by means of a chain p' or a rod or equivalent connection.
The float is fitted on a vertical guide standard s secured rigidly to the bottom of
the casing a.
To prevent the float rising too far a pin s¹ is inserted in the rod s.
The arm may have a stop fitted to it to prevent it falling over too far. It is
a cushion of rubber or cork fitted to the frame k for the ball weight to strike
against. The counter balance m strikes the pin on the arm f when it is thrown
over into the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 1. is the air or gas inlet valve
and w the air or gas outlet valve, which valves are of a similar construction to
float .

page_text: those described in my prior l'atents. is a connection for the pipe leading to the
air or gas reservoir or the barrels or other place. X is the water inlet and outlet.
The weight may be attached to a small pulley running on a single shaft or it
may be fitted to a sliding collar or sleeve working on the shaft if so desired.
l
The modus operandi is as follows:-When the apparatus is beginning to compress
air the parts are in the position shown at Fig. 1. As the water, if this is used for
the pressure, rises in the cylinder a, b, it lifts the float and the float in being
lifted pulls up the chain together with the shaft and the "rocker" k. When
the rocker has been lifted up to a little over the horizontal position the weight l
will by gravity run or slide along the shafts & to the other end, and, as a consequence,
the rocker will be suddenly 'thrown over to the position indicated in dotted lines.
When the rocker is thrown over the piece m strikes the pin and knocks down
the arm into the dotted position so turning the valve and cutting off further
water supply and opening the exhaust. On the water sinking in the cylinder the
pulley on the rocker shaft o is caught by the inclined plane, 7, on the float and is
gradually depressed or lowered until the weight, acting under the impulse of
gravity, runs or slides back again to its former position so knocking down the
arme and turning on the valve c to supply water to the cylinder and at the same
time closing the exhaust.
For regulating the water supply there is fitted to the water inlet of the three way
valve or to a pipe connection leading thereto or in other convenient situation a
small spindle valve y (Fig. 4) having attached to its upper end a levery' fulcrumed
in a bracket y which may be at the side of the valve casing as shown in dotted
lines or fitted to the wall as shown in full lines. The lever has a sliding weight y²
on it to enable it to be adjusted to any desired pressure. The valve is or may be
connected to the valve y³ on the water inlet pipe by a universal joint so as to be
casily turned in any direction. The weighted levery is attached to the upper end
of the vertical spindle y' of a piston valve, cup leather, or equivalent valve, which
works in the casing.
The casing is connected, at its underside, at y', by a pipe with the air or gas
outlet w' from the cylinder of the engine. The valve may consist of a piston y
having a rubber packing ring y' attached to it so as to work tight in the casing.
Instead of using a piston, a disc with a cup leather fitted to it may be employed.
The casing is, preferably, partially or wholly filled with oil so that the piston or the
cup leather is always kept lubricated and the valve, as a consequence, always
works freely. In cases when the air or gas pipe has not a bend in it it is found
necessary to have a syphon bend made on or connected to it for the purpose of
keeping oil within the cup. With this arrangement when the air or gas pressure
in the cylinder becomes greater than the downward pressure of the regulating
weight on the lever connected to the regulating valve, the air or gas bubbles up
through the oil in the casing and forces up the piston or disc and regulating weight
80 as to close the water supply regulating valve y³. On the pressure falling the
weighted lever forces down the disc against the air or gas pressure and so opens
the supply regulating valve.
To prevent water at any time passing away along with the air or gas a device as
shown at Fig. 3 may be used. It consists of a casing Z having a connection Z'.to
the air or gas pipe of the engine, a drain pipe Z2 and an air or gas outlet pipe to
the barrels or other place at 73³. In the casing works a float 7 which is guided
by a spindle 7 and has on it two rubber or equivalent seats 2, 77. The casing
has fitted to it preferably two knife edges 76, Z. If water passes along with the
air it accumulates in the casing, raises the float, and lifts the seat or valve Zº off
the knife edge 2, thus allowing the water to escape.. When the water drains off, the.
valve Z is closed by the float falling. If the drain pipe Z2 should choke and the
casing fill with water the float rises and the valve 2' closes against the knife
edge 28 and shuts the pipe 73 to the barrels or elsewhere.
The valves Z & 77 may be of any other suitable construction and be connected
to the casing instead of to the float.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An apparatus for raising or forcing liquids and for other purposes constructed
and operating substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
water
2. The combination with the hereinbefore described apparatus of a
regulating valve substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to Fig. 4 of
the annexed drawings.
Dat is zib day of July 1801
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.