Beer or other Liquids, Applicable also for Motive Power Purposes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Beer or other Liquids, Applicable also for Motive Power
Purposes.
I JOSEPH HILL, of 3 Clarence Street, Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Auctioneer 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 has for its object improvements in apparatus for raising and
forcing beer or other liquids or fluids by an automatic hydro-pneumatic arrange-
ment for maintaining an uniform or comparatively uniform pressure of air in an
air, or a combined air and water chamber, in which water is admitted from the
main or from a cistern, and compresses atmospheric air within the said air chamber
from which it is conducted by a pipe or pipes to the vessel containing the liquid
to be raised or forced in the manner hereinafter described.
In order that the said invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters refer to like parts in the various figures.
The apparatus is shown in sectional elevation Figure 1. Figure 2 is a front
transverse section of the valves, and Figure 3 is a back elevation. Figure 4 is a
horizontal section through ports. Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of another
modification of pump and Figure 6 is a vertical section of the valve showing it in
a different position to that in Figure 5.
The vessel A is provided with an inlet controlling valve B, permanent inlets B¹ B¹
and an outlet valve C having an upper disc C³ of larger diameter, working in a
suitable frame D which is secured to or forms part of the base of the vessel A.
The valve B is shown of the piston type, and is actuated by the projection or
tappet lever or screw E at the one end of the float rod F of which F¹ is the
fulcrum. The valve B has a lever E¹ working on the fulcrum F¹ and the tappet E
engages with the part E2 of the lever E¹. The float G has a certain limit of play
before causing the projection E to engage with the piston valve B, whereby the
supply is closed by a comparatively short movement, and in a similar manner
opened when at the lower level and this distance is determined by the adjustment
of the tappet or tappets E before referred to, to limit the play in either direction.

page_text: In order to allow of the descent of the water or liquid in the vessel A an air
inlet valve H is provided at a convenient part thereof, and in order to shield the
same it is advantageously provided with a cap I secured around the said valve in
such a manner as not to affect the free admission of air therethrough.
In the event of a sudden displacement of the liquid to be raised and the con-
sequent simultaneous fall and subsequent rise of the float with the liquid for a
further but intermittent compression of air it is essential that there should be
sufficient air capacity, and this is increased by providing a dome K which allows of
the vessel being somewhat reduced in size.
At the upper part of this dome K is provided an annular chamber L containing
a back pressure valve M communicating with the pipe N which by the annular
space before referred to is capable of being moved to suit requirements without
affecting the free delivery of the compressed air.
The pressure of air can be regulated according to requirements by means
of a valve O upon which a spring is caused to bear, and the pressure of this is
increased or decreased by turning the hand wheel P thus affording increased
resistance or vice versa which is indicated by the point Qu
The arrangement of valves B and C whereby the outlet valve C is automatically
opened or closed or in a neutral position is effected by the passage of water from
the permanent inlets B¹ in combination with the valve B the holes or apertures B¹
being open to annular space C2 on the underside of the disc C' to which is con-
nected the outlet valve C, but which latter is of lesser area than the disc above,
and does not offer so much resistance to the water admitted through B' above the.
Baid valve so that as the pressure increases or decreases, the parts CC¹ rise and fall
according and relatively to the work that is being done.
".
11
"
1.
1
**
When the float is up the air has been forced through the back pressure valve,
and simultaneously the double valve ascends by reason of the pressure of water
acting on the larger surface of the upper disc, causing the said double' spindle valve
to ascend and the waste outlet from the vessel to be opened; thus the float is'con-
stantly rising and falling, thereby pumping air into the casks:
The valve C answers the purpose of controlling the inlet to vessel 'A as well as
the outlet to waste. This outlet is opened by the lift of the disc valve C by the
action of the ball float on 'the piston valve which when the water in the vessel has
risen to a certain height uncovers the inlet B communicating with the upper part
of the disc C and acts as a cushion, the water from this passage B2 passing away
continually to waste through the opening B³ communicating with the waste pipe.
The water then being admitted above the disc C and through D2 whilst the outlet
is closed and at a certain level being resisted by the pressure of air the discs CC¹
are caused to rise owing to their relative areas thus first bridging the outlet and
inlet to vessel then opening the outlet and closing the inlet from the chamber C².
The water inlet consists of 3 passages as shewn in the sectional plan of the valve
chamber. The intermediate passage is controlled by the horizontal valve, and
regulates the admission to and the exit of water from the upper side of the piston
valve.
ני
To allow of the admission to or the exit from, above the said valve the controlling
valve must in either case be open whereby it admits of the ascent or descent of the
double valve. In the ascent of the valve, (the horizontal valve being open), the
return water, though flowing towards the supply, passes away by the groove at
the underside communicating with the waste pipe as shewn.
It will thus be observed that this escape or inlet is but as one is to two, and
that relatively one third of the water used passes away to waste, and is passing by
the exit continuously.
The valves C C are connected by the central stem.
This apparatus can be placed on the counter, or in any other convenient part
and by an air pipe as before referred to is 'connected by a spigot or other suit-
able coupling to the upper part of the barrel admitting air under pressure above
the liquid to be raised, and forcing it out in the usual manner, but in some cases

page_text: it may be reversed, and the outlet effected by a syphon pipe passing through
the bung.
It will be seen that the one apparatus can be so connected as to raise the
liquid contained in one or more casks or other closed vessels, all that is necessary
being to turn on a tap instead of by the cumbersome pumps in general use.
Figure 5 shows in vertical section a modified form of apparatus.
The valves in this modification operate in a precisely similar manner to those
before described.
The valve B is secured to the tube B* and this latter is controlled by a spherical
float G provided with a diametrical tube forming part thereof which embraces the
inner sleeve B* and is free to rise and fall a certain distance without actuating the
valve B to which the said sleeve is connected. This sleeve B* is also free to slide
a certain distance on a central air tube N which passes from the base of the
vessel A and extends upwards to the top of the said vessel and is received within
the socket formed by the air inlet valve H.
This end of the pipe is perforated as shown at n in order to allow of a free
passage down the said tube of the air that has been compressed within the said
vessel. The air tube socket before referred to is provided with an air inlet
valve El in order to prevent the formation of a vacuum within the vessel but to
allow of the necessary supply of air on the descent of the water as before described
with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 6 is a detail of the automatic valve C C in this view shown in its
lowermost position and admitting water to the vessel A. with which the passages B¹
are now in direct communication.
The object of the adaptation of a central tube for the outlet of the air enables the
pipes to be all connected and coupled at the underside of the vessel and improves
the general appearance as compared with Figure 1 without departing from the
essential features thereof.
In some cases a separate pressure chamber may be employed in a similar
manner to a gasogene or seltzsogene and the vessel or vessels may be of glass or
earthenware and protected by a network of cane or wire.
For the purpose of safety and for general indication I find it advantageous that
a pressure gauge should be applied between the regulating valve and the barrel, and
the application of this adaptation I have shewn at Figure 5.
It is obvious that air compressed by the means hereinbefore described can be
utilized for motive power, or other useful purposes such as tinmans' or braziers'
work or for driving fans.
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:
First: The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
automatic hydro-pneumatic apparatus for raising or forcing beer or other liquids,
and operating substantially in the manner herein set forth with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Second The employment of a cylindrical vessel A in combination with a con-
trolling valve B combined inlet and outlet valve C C' and water passages B¹ B2
operating in conjunction with a spherical float mounted on a lever, and actuating
the valve B substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Third: The particular construction of valve frame and water passages, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth with reference to
Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth: The arrangement of piston or slide valve actuated by a pivotted or
vertically rising and falling float for controlling the valve C C¹ substantially in the
manner herein set forth with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: Fifth: In automatic hydro-pneumatic apparatus the employment of a central air
pipe with a valve sleeve thereon, and controlled by a spherical float, in combination
with the air inlet valve as herein set forth, and described with reference to Figure 5
of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth: The application of an air outlet passing through the underside of casing
and effected by a pipe extending upwards to a height above the level of the water
and open or perforated at the top for the passage of air therethrough as applied to
raising or forcing beer or other liquids and for other analogous purposes.
Seventh The application of an air pressure gauge or indicator on the air pipe
in combination or not with a spring or lever valve, showing the pressure of
atmospheric air in the barrels and for the purpose of safety indication.
Dated this 14th dor of Annil 1000
BREWER & SON,
For the Applicant.