Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Washing, Cleansing, or Purifying Casks, Bottles, or other Receptacles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Washing,
Cleansing, or Purifying Casks, Bottles, or other Receptacles.
I JOHN ST. PATRICK MACARDLE of Cambricville Brewery Dundalk in the County
of Louth, Ireland, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
According to this invention one or several casks or other receptacles may bo
thoroughly cleansed at the same time by firstly subjecting the interior of the cask or
casks to the action of a jet or jets of steam or other vapour or gas which may or
may not be combined with softening disinfecting or other materials or matter in
vapour form or otherwise. When this action has continued for a sufficient length of
time water or other cleansing agent is then admitted. The water may conveniently
be admitted at boiling point but under some circumstances this is not necessary.
is also evident that other liquids may sometimes be advantageously substituted for
the water.
It
A convenient form of apparatus to be employed for the purpose may be constructed
as follows:-
A closed vessel or container is arranged and mounted in any suitable position and is
provided with water and pressure gauges. Pipes are led to it in such manner as
to allow of admission of steam or other vapour or gas and also for allowing of
charging the container with the liquid. Suitable valve or valves is or are arranged
for the purpose of admitting or shutting off the flow through a pipe or pipes to to
another vessel which is provided with a series of nozzles or the like which are suitably
formed for insertion into the bung hole or other opening in the cask or other receptacle,
and pipes with valves are also arranged for admission of steam or vapour alone. The
pipes and valves for admission of vapour and liquid to the vessel or container firstly
described may be arranged in such manner that the steam or vapour and liquid may
be admitted either under pressure or not or singly or together so that the casks after
having first been subjected to a thorough steaming or to the action of a suitable gas
or vapour may then be thoroughly cleansed or rinsed by the action of the water or by
the combined action of a liquid and gas or vapours.
Dated this 25th day of March 1890
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Washing,
Cleansing, or Purifying Casks, Bottles, or other Receptacles.
I JOHN ST. PATRICK MACARDLE of Cambricville Brewery, Dundalk, in the County
of Louth, Ireland, 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 :-
According to this invention one or several casks or other receptacles may be
thoroughly cleansed at the same time by firstly subjecting the interior of the cask or
casks to the action of a jet or jets of steam or other vapour or gas which may or may
not be combined with softening disinfecting or other materials or matter in vapour
form or otherwise; under ordinary circumstances I employ steam at a comparatively
low pressure which has the effect of softening the solid or organic matters inside of
the casks or other vessels. When this action has continued for a sufficient length of

page_text: time water or other cleansing agent is then admitted.. The temperature of the water
may conveniently be from about 212° F. or upwards. It is also evident that other
liquids may sometimes be advantageously substituted for the water and I complete
the process by admitting high pressure steam for the purpose of removing all the
water and assisting in drying the interior of the casks or other vessels. The casks
when cleansed, may be stacked and allowed to cool, or may be immediately cooled by
cold air delivered by a fan or other suitable apparatus and conveyed into the casks by
pipes and connections.
As applied for cleansing casks a convenient form of apparatus to be employed for
the purpose may be constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying
drawing in sectional elevation.
A closed vessel charger or container A is arranged and mounted in any suitable
position and is provided with water gauge B, safety valve S and pressure gauge C.
The admission of steam or gas is effected by the pipe D for steam or gas under
pressure whilst the pipe M serves to admit the water or liquid. The admission of
water at any temperature to the charger A is effected by the pipe M through the
three way cock E to the requisite quantity as indicated by the water gauge B. Steam
at a high pressure is then admitted to the charger A by the steam pipe D through
the three way cock E and the perforated pipe 0, raising the water in the charger A
to any required temperature of say 212° F. or upwards, a relief cock N for the
discharge of air from the charger being provided as shown. In order to save time,
whilst the water is being admitted and heated in the charger A steam at a reduced
pressure is passed through a reducing valve F by a pipe G through a three way
cock into the vessel or pipe K and by nozzles L into the casks which in the
drawing are indicated by dotted lines.
The casks rest on a suitable floor or framing referred to by the letter Q. The
admission of low pressure steam into the cask in the first instance effects the
softening of solid or organic matters which are present inside of the casks.
When the water in the charger A has been sufficiently heated and brought to al
suitable pressure as shown by the steam gauge Cit is discharged by the three way
cock H into the pipe K and thence through the perforated nozzles I into the casks
in the form of a spray of boiling water and steam. All the water having been
discharged, this mixed spray is then followed by the admission of high pressure steam
passing through the charger A and pipe K and by the nozzles L into the casks which
removes all the water from the casks by way of the bung holes.
The nozzles are pierced in such manner as to allow the spray to play on or
reach every part of the interior of the casks under treatment and although I have
only shown the apparatus provided with one pipe or vessel K it is evident that two or
more may be employed in conjunction with one charger, the capacity of the latter
being regulated by the number of casks required to be treated at one and the same
time. It is also under certain circumstances convenient to arrange cocks or valves so
as to shut off certain of the nozzles or parts of the pipe or vessel K.
The casks when cleansed may be, stacked, and allowed to cool or may be immediately
cooled by means of cold air delivered by a fan or other means and conveyed into
the casks by pipes, and nozzles similar to the pipe K and nozzles L shown on the
drawing or if convenient the fan may be connected direct to the pipe K of the
apparatus.
The pre-admission of low pressure steam in the first instance to the interior of the
casks serves to soften solid or organic matters present in the casks the pressure used
being such as shall not injure the material composing the casks or vessels under
treatinent. The admission of boiling water and steam at a high pressure, in.. a
combined spray thoroughly destroys all microbe life or organic matter removing same
and searching and scouring every portion of the interior of the casks, or vessels. The
high pressure steam being then admitted for a limited period forces out any, water
present and aids in drying the casks or the like. By means of, this process, one man
can treat and cleanse an infinitely larger number of casks and in a more efficient
manner than by any other, yet invented, whilst the apparatus itself is more, economical.

page_text: as regards the consumption of water and steam than any other for the same purpose,
as cold water can be supplied to the charger in such quantities as may be required
and heated by steam, thereby dispensing with a hot water tank or the draining of the
water supply from the main boilers of the brewery or other establishment where
apparatus of this kind is used.
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
First. The method of washing cleansing or purifying casks or other vessels con-
sisting in subjecting the interior of the vessel or vessels to the action of a jet or jets of
steam or other softening vapour or gas and then to the cleansing liquid such as
boiling water and steam in a combined spray the liquid being then removed from
the cask.
Second. The method of washing cleansing or purifying casks or other vessels
consisting in subjecting the interior of the vessel or vessels to the action of a jet or
jets of steam or other softening vapour or gas and then to the cleansing or
Scouring liquid such as boiling water and steam in a combined spray the liquid being
then removed from the cask by the action of high pressure steain substantially as
described.
Third. The apparatus for washing cleansing or purifying casks or other vessels
consisting of a charging vessel provided with pipes and valves for the admission of
steam or vapour and water or other liquid either together or separately and having a
vessel or pipe with cock or valve and with discharging nozzles for insertion into the
said casks or vessels substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fourth. The construction of apparatus shown on the drawing.
Dated this 20th dow of Tetaber LX4
lotober
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.