Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1887
Complete Left, 19th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
I WILLIAM HUMPHREY KNOWLES of 53 New Oxford Street in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus particularly adapted for forcing or raising
beer or other liquids by means of the pressure of a gas upon the beer or liquid in the
barrel or cask, although the gas generated may obviously be used for other purposes.
The apparatus employed for this purpose consists of a strong metal casing in which
is loosely placed a cell of lead or other material which will be but slightly affected by
the acid used.
This leaden cell is preferably charged with dilute sulphuric acid. The top or cap
of the metal casing contains a chamber which when the top is on is separated from
the lower portion by a thin diaphragm or partition in which is what may be termed a
"hit and miss" valve which may be conveniently operated from the exterior of the
casing by means of a rod and handle the former passing through a suitable stuffing
box. This cap before being put on is filled with a suitable material such as carbonate
of soda, whiting or similar substance which when mixed with the dilute acid will
form carbonic acid gas. The filling of the cap may be conveniently done through
the opened valve. The valve is then closed and the cover placed on the body of the
vessel and secured by suitable bolts, a convenient method being by forming the holes
in said cover of a keyhole shape which will allow the bolt-heads to pass through at
one point when the cover may be slightly turned and the bolts screwed down upon
Price 8d

page_text: the narrower portion this construction obviates the necessity of removing the bolts
when the apparatus is to be recharged. A suitable safety valve, pressure gauge and
outlet tap are provided at some point on the lower chamber.
"
When it is desired to generate the gas the handle connected to the "hit-and-miss
valve is slightly turned to partially open same allowing a small quantity of the material
contained in the cap to fall into the dilute acid when the gas will be at once formed
the pressure in the chamber being indicated upon the gauge while if the pressure
should become too great the safety valve will open and relieve same.
The carbonic
acid gas generated may be passed by a flexible or other tube from the outlet tap to
the top of the beer or liquid in the barrel or container when the pressure will serve
to force the liquid up to the required point where it may be drawn off from a tap.
The gas will to a certain extent mix with the liquid and aërate same.
Dated the 20th day of July 1887.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: or Raising Beer and other Liquids or for other Purposes.
A communication from abroad by PAUL RICHARD POHL, of 913, Walnut Street, in
the City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer.
I, WILLIAM HUMPHREY KNOWLES of 53 New Oxford Street in the County of
Middlesex, 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 relates to apparatus particularly adapted for forcing or raising beer
or other liquids by means of the pressure of a gas upon the liquid in the barrel or
cask although the gas generated may obviously be used for other purposes.
To clearly explain the nature of the invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of same.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the top of the diaphragm, and
Fig. 4 is a plan of the apparatus or a top view of Fig. 1.
A represents an outer metal casing of sufficient strength to resist the internal
pressure of the gas generated and having an outlet b. In this casing is loosely placed
a removeable cell a of lead or of other material which will be but slightly affected, if
at all, by the acid used. This leaden cell is preferably charged with dilute sulphuric
acid. A strong metal top or cap B rests upon the flange of this receptacle A and
contains a chamber as shown, which, when the top is on, is separated from the vessel
below by a diaphragm or partition C. This chamber is adapted to contain carbonate
of soda, whiting, or similar carbonating material which when mixed with the diluto
acid in the chamber below will generate carbonic acid gas. The diaphragm may
conveniently be divided into two parts which are hinged together at the points d d
as shown in Fig. 3, one half being bolted or secured by screws in the projections e
formed on the cap B when casting. The other half of the diaphragm can be opened
for the purpose of introducing the carbonating material and is afterwards held
in place by a catch f. Secured on the top of the diaphragm is a plate g which is
bent at right angles and forms a shield or cover for an opening h, across which pass
the arms of a disc adapted to be rotated by an external handle, the rod E of which
passes through a suitable stuffing box in the cap B. At the base of the rod E and
close upon the disc is a small ratchet wheel k with which engages the free end of a
spring pawl 1, the other end being secured on the top of the shield g. This shield
prevents the material in the cap B.from falling directly into the receptacle below
except as the arms i sweep it. as they pass over the diaphragm down the opening h.
Below this opening may be placed if desired a deflecting plate ; as shown.

page_text: The cover B is reversed for the purpose of filling through the hinged diaphragm
and may be secured when in place on the vessel A by forming holes in the flange of
said cover of a keyhole shape to allow of the heads of bolts screwing into the flange
of the vessel A, passing through at one point, when the cover will be slightly turned
and the bolt heads be screwed down upon the narrower portion, this construction
obviating the necessity of removing the bolts when the apparatus is to be recharged.
A method however which has been found convenient is that shown in the drawings
where the cover has three wedge shaped projections H upon its flange which engage
with the corresponding wedge shaped faces of clips L formed upon the flange of the
vessel A.
For the purpose of aiding the making of a tight joint between the cap and the
vessel, a vee shaped ridge n may be formed upon the flange of the latter, and this
enters a corresponding groove in the flange of the cap B. In this way a fairly tight
joint is formed without the necessity of employing packing material, though the
latter should generally be used.
To assist in giving the necessary turn to the cover for forcing and withdrawing the
wedges H from the clips L, suitable handles M, M, are provided.
A suitable safety valve, pressure gauge, and outlet tap may be provided upon the
outlet 6, but these are not shown, as any known and convenient forms may be used.
When it is desired to generate gas the rod E is slightly turned, and one or more of
the arms will sweep a quantity of the carbonating material into the acid in the vessel
below, when the gas will at once begin to form, the pressure being indicated upon the
gauge at the outlet b. The purpose of the pawl and ratchet k is to indicate either by
feel or by sound the number of arms which pass over the opening h so that an idea
of the amount of carbonating material passed into the vessel may be arrived at.
The carbonic acid gas generated may be passed by a flexible or other tube from the
outlet tap to the top of the beer or liquid in the barrel or container, when the pressure
will serve to force the liquid up to the desired point where it may be drawn off from
a tap. The gas mixes with the liquid and aërates same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me. by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for generating carbonic acid gas the combination of a chamber
such as A, for containing dilute acid with a readily removable cover such as B, adapted
to contain a supply of carbonating material and having a diaphragm carrying a valve
or feed arrangement operated by an external handle for regulating the supply of said
material to the acid, substantially as set forth.
2. In an apparatus for generating carbonic acid gas the combination with the
vessel A, of the cover B, having hinged diaphragm C, shield g, sweeping arms i, a
ratchet and pawl and operating rod E passing through a suitable stuffing box, sub-
stantially as set forth.
3. In an apparatus for generating carbonic acid gas, the combination of a diaphragm
adapted to separate the carbonating material from the acid with shield g and sweeping
arms, the latter operated by an external handle for the purpose of regulating the
supply of carbonating material to the acid, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 18th day of Anril 1888.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.