Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 7th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th July, 1888
I, ALEXANDER MCGLASHAN of Catherine Lane, 100 Stirling Road, Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in apparatus for raising or forcing
beer and other liquids, has reference to the utilization of the ordinary water pressure
for effecting the necessary amount of air pressure to be forced into the cask or other
vessel containing the liquid, to be raised from the cellar or other place to the drawing
off tap.
In carrying out my Invention, I employ a small airtight water cistern which is in
communication at its bottom with a pipe from the ordinary water supply of the
premises, the outflow water pipe being also at the bottom of the cistern and preferably
at the central part thereof. Above the said outflow, I pivot the lever of a ball float
and preferably upon the same axis as that of the said lever I mount a tumbling
weight. Over the said outlet for the water I mount a sliding valve and I operate the
said valve by the one or lower arm of the balancing or tumbling weight. When the
float is at the bottom of the cistern the water inlet is open and outlet closed but
as the water rises towards the top of the tank and carries the float with it the
tumbling weight is also caused to follow the float until the weight reaches a vertical
position when it falls forward and in so doing kicks back the slide from over the
outflow aperture and allows the water to run out when the water has reached the
required height. The water inlet valve is opened and closed by a tappet upon
the slide of the outflow valve, and is so arranged that as the outlet valve is closed
the inlet valve is simultaneously opened. The slide valve is closed over the water
outlet by the tumbling of the weight in the opposite direction when the float reaches
its lowest position, the under leg of the weight kicking the slide over the water
outlet.

page_text: The water inlet valve is so arranged as to be always closed by the pressure of the
water and so that as the valve of the outflow is kicked back by the weight and the
outflow opened the inlet valve closes automatically. A convenient method for
causing the tappet upon the slide over the outlet to open the said inlet valve is to
employ a short pivotted arm, the free extremity of which is provided with an anti-
friction wheel against which the tappet strikes and causes the arm to be forced against
a spindle carrying the said inlet valve; or in lieu of this arrangement may form
a tappet upon the opposite extremity of the slide and employ a similar valve for the
outlet as that described with reference to the inlet. In order to get the necessary
pressure of air in the air reservoir, which may be of the ordinary description, the
water tank is automatically emptied and filled a sufficient number of times until the
pressure of air in the reservoir and at the top of the water tank reaches the required
pressure. In order to regulate to any required pressure automatically, I employ a
regulating valve. The said valve is fixed in a small bent pipe which leads from the
water inlet pipe of the cistern to the valve through which the water issues into the
cistern. The regulating valve is actuated by a rod or spindle which passes through
the top of the water tank. The spindle is supported by a diaphram of India rubber
or other like material mounted upon the top of the cistern.
A weighted lever gives the necessary pressure upon the top of the spindle, the
weight upon the lever or its position thereon regulating the amount of air pressure
that required to be kept in the air reservoir. When the pressure of air in the
water tank reaches a required pressure of say 10 lbs. to the square inch, it overcomes
the weight on the lever and raises up the diaphram sufficient to close the regulating
valve and this cuts off the water supply to the water inlet valve. As soon as the
air pressure is below that of the weight upon the regulating valve the diaphram
drops or collapses sufficient to open the regulating valve and allow a little more
water pressure to enter the tank and so feed a further pressure of air.
A check valve is preferably used in the pipe leading from the top of the water
tank to the air reservoir in order to prevent the return of the accumulated air
pressure. To prevent any liability of the water in the tank rising too high and
finding its way into the air tank I prefer to mount the air conducting pipe imme-
diately above the ball float so that a valve mounted below the check valve may be
operated by the float striking a spindle of this valve and closing the valve against
any further air supply and so causing the apparatus to stop working.
Datad this 6th dow of September 1887
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioner's Agents.

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MCGLASHAN of Catherine Lane, 100 Stirling Road, Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, 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 :—
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for raising or forcing beer or
other liquids.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereto appended three explanatory sheets of drawings in the several
Figures of which corresponding parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Figure 1, is a side elevation of the apparatus for raising or forcing beer or other
liquids constructed according to the improvements comprised under my Invention.
Figure 2, is a vertical section of the same with some parts of the interior shown
in elevation.
Figure 3, is a horizontal section of the same on the line A, B, Figures 1 and 2.
The apparatus consists of the casing or tank A, which is formed of two parts,
namely an upper and lower part united together by bolts passing through the
flanges B, B.
In the lower part of the hollow casing or tank A, the pipe C, is fixed by which
water is admitted from the source of supply which may be a water main or a pipe
leading from a tank placed at a sufficient height to give the necessary head or pressure.
When the vessel or tank A, is empty the float D, attached to the arm E, is at its
lowest position, namely in the lower of the two positions marked by dotted lines in
Figure 2. When in this position the float D, does not operate upon or influence the
weight F, carried upon the tumbling lever G. Both the float D, with its lever E, as
well as the weight F, with its lever G, are carried upon a central piu H, common to
both. When the float D, is in its lowest position shewn at Figure 2, the weight F,
and tumbling lever G, are in their lowest position as indicated by the dotted lines in
Figure 2, and in that position the tapet I, acts upon the projection J, on the back of
the valve K, thereby pushing the valve K, into its extreme backward position. When
the valve K, is thus pushed backwards, it uncovers the orifice L, of the branch
pipe M, leading from the inlet pipe C, and thus allows the water arriving through the
inlet pipe C, to escape through the orifice L, into the casing or tank A. The water
thus arriving gradually fills the casing or tank A, and as it rises therein the float D,
rises with it, thus moving its lever E, upwards upon its axis H, and as the tapet

page_text: p'ece N, upon the lever E, bears upon the tumbling lever G, the said lever G, with
its weight F, becomes gradually raised from its lowest to its highest position. So
soon then as the rising of the float D, has brought the tumbling lever G, and the
weight F, to a position just beyond a vertical line the weight F, causes the lever G,
to overbalance and fall into the second position thereof shewn in dotted lines in
Figure 2. The motion of the lever G, due to the overbalancing of the weight F,
causes the tapet O, on the lever G, to be brought into contact with the other side of
the projection J, on the back of the valve K, and therefore to move the valve K, into
such position that it not only closes the admission orifice L, but at the same time
uncovers the escape orifice P, thus allowing the water which had passed into the
casing or tank A, to escape.
As the water rises in the vessel or tank A, through being admitted thereinto in the
manner hereinbefore described, the air in the said vessel or tank becomes compressed,
and in being compressed passes, as indicated by the arrows through the holes e, up
around the lower part of the valve Q, and thence through the holes a, to the interior
upper parts thereof, which is formed tubular, and fits so as to slide when moved
upwards or downwards (as hereinbefore described) in the cylindrical valve casing b.
On passing from the valve Q, the compressed air lifts the valve R, from off its seat,
at the same time escaping by the passage Z, to the cask or other vessel from which
beer or other liquid is raised or forced by the action of the compressed air
entering it.
In the event of pressure accumulating in the tank or vessel A, more rapidly than
is required provision is made for preventing or checking the inflow of water through
the orifice L. This consists of a valve not shown in the drawings but which is
carried upon the lower part of the stem S. When the pressure is at or below
the necessary point or degree within the vessel A, the weighted lever T, pressing
upon the upper end of the stem S, keeps the valve on its lower part open so
that there is no interference during such time with the flow of water through
the pipe C, and orifice L, but when the air pressure rises above the predetermined
degree then it acts upon the elastic diaphragm U, whose central part is fixed to the
spindle S, and whose periphery is secured between the flanges of the hollow vessel W,
as shown at Figures 1 and 2. The excess pressure in raising or lifting this flange U,
at the same time lifts the spindle S, and the valve at its lower end, thus causing that
valve to close against its seat and shut off the inlet of water. When the pressure
within the vessel A, has again become lowered to its normal extent, through the drawing
off of beer or other liquid from the vessel or cask in which the compressed air acts, the
weighted lever T, acting upon the spindle S, causes the said valve to be again opened
so that water again flows in through the inlet L. The upper part of the valve
spindle S, is provided with adjusting and jam nuts m, and n, by which the extent of
opening of the valve in the lower part of stem S, is regulated.
In order to allow air to pass into the vessel or tank A, during the time that
the water is flowing out through the escape orifice P, and therefore to prevent the
formation of a partial vacuum therein, a valve X, is provided which is lifted by the
pressure of the atmosphere when the pressure of air within the vessel A, becomes less
than the atmospheric pressure.
As the level of water within the vessel or tank A, becomes lowered through the escape of
water by the orifice P, the float D, with its lever E, and attachments becomes similarly
lowered until reaching the lowest position when the point of the lever Y, acting upon
the tumbling arm G, brings that arm with its weight F, just over or beyond the
vertical position when the weighted tumbling arm falls back again into the first position
hereinbefore described and shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 2, this falling action
of the tumbling lever G, causes its tapet I, to again strike upon the projection J, on
the back of the valve K, and therefore to move that valve from off the admission
orifice L, and to close over the escape orifice P, water being thus again admitted into
the interior of the tank or vessel A, the float D, again begins to rise and the action
herein before described of the water rising and compressing the air and of again
escaping are repeated in continuous succession.

page_text: The valve Q, (as hereinbefore described) is fitted so that its upper tubular portion
shall slide first in the lower part of the cylindrical casing b, the lower part of the
valve being guided by the stem c, situated in a hole in the guide d, and upon the flange
of the valve there is carried an India-rubber ring d. The object of the arrangement
is that whilst compressed air escapes freely around and through the valve, yet water
being denser than air (if it should by accident rise in the vessel to the level of the
valve Q) in place of flowing freely around and through the said valve, causes the valve
by its pressure to be moved upwards, and close the India-rubber ring d, against the
valve seat, thus preventing the passage of water into the cask or vessel when the beer
or other liquid to be forced or drawn is contained.
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
1. The general arrangement and construction and combination of parts constituting
the apparatus for raising or forcing beer or other liquids substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn upon the annexed sheets of drawings.
2. In apparatus for raising or forcing beer or other liquids the arrangement consisting
of the elastic disc U, within the casing W, and connected to the valve stem S, acted
upon by the weighted lever T, or by an equivalent weighted arrangement for the
purpose of partly or wholly closing the influx of water into the tank or vessel A, as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn upon the annexed drawings.
3. The arrangement and construction of the valve Q, which permits of air flowing
freely around and through the said valve but which the pressure of water, should the
water accidentally rise in the vessel A, to the level of the valve Q, shuts, substantially as
herein before described and shewn upon the annexed sheets of drawings.
Dated thin fith den 1000
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Agent.