An Improved Apparatus for Drawing Off Measured Quantities of Liquid.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1900-Accepted. 2nd June. 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Drawing Off Measured Quantities of
Liquid.
I, THOMAS HENRY JOSEPH SMITHSON, of No. 9, Saint Maur Road, Parson's
Green, in the County of London, Chief Enquiry Inspector District Railway,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
The invention consists of an apparatus for automatically supplying a certain
given quantity of liquid and consists essentially of a cylinder which holds a
given quantity of liquid to which cylinder two taps are connected in such a way
that the opening of the one tap automatically closes the other tap and cuts off
the supply of liquid and allows only the certain given quantity to be drawn off.
The invention consists of certain other parts which will be hereinafter de-
scribed.
The apparatus consists of two containers (which may be of any desired size)
for holding the liquid which is to be automatically measured off and supplied
in certain given quantities. The upper container may hold any quantity of liquid-
that is to say for the purpose of this invention may be quite full or only partly
80. To the bottom part of this container. I provide a ball-tap. The bottom of
the upper container is fitted into the top of a second or lower container. At the
bottom of the lower container I fit a cylinder in a vertical position which is
constructed of a size to contain the given quantity of liquid. At the top of the
cylinder is fitted a tap which is normally "open" and at the lower part of the
cylinder is fitted a second tap which normally "closed." These two taps are
connected by a rod in such a way that the opening of the one closes the other.
At the top part of the cylinder (on the opposite side to the tap) is fitted a small
tube carried to the top of the lower container and which exhausts the air in the
cylinder when liquid enters and allows air to re-enter when liquid is drawn
off.
The ball-tap previously referred to is fitted to the upper container and en-
sures that the liquid in the lower container is always at the same level and
therefore at the same pressure on the cylinder.
The working of the apparatus would therefore be as follows:-On a quantity
of liquid being poured into the upper container the liquid at once runs into the
lower container until it reaches a certain given level when the ball-tap shuts
off the supply from the upper container. A certain quantity of the liquid from
the lower container runs into and fills the cylinder the upper tap being open-
the lower tap being closed-preventing the liquid from escaping from the
cylinder. The air in the cylinder escapes up the tube above referred to. When
the lower tap is opened (by pulling down the connecting rod) the liquid in the
cylinder is at once drawn off. As the opening of the lower tap automatically
closes the upper tap the supply of liquid in the cylinder is cut off and only the
quantity of liquid in the cylinder is drawn off. When the rod attached to the
taps is released the lower tap is automatically closed and the upper tap corre-

page_text: spondingly automatically opened by means of a weighted lever and liquid
again enters and fills the cylinder and the liquid as it enters forces the air in
the cylinder through the pipe above referred to and another supply of the given
quantity of liquid is ready to be drawn off.
Dated this 5th day of August 1899
An Improved Apparatus for Drawing Off Measured Quantities of
Liquid.
I, THOMAS HENRY JOSEPH SMITHSON, of No. 9, Saint Maur Road, Parson's
Green, in the County of London, Chief Enquiry Inspector District Railway,
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:-
1
The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for delivering, drawing
off or automatically supplying a predetermined or measured quantity of liquid
and has for its object the production of such an apparatus which shall be cheap
to manufacture, always supply the same amount of liquid and shall not be liable
to get out of order in use.
The invention consists essentially of a liquid containing receptacle supplied
by a reservoir in such a manner that the liquid in the receptacle is maintained
at a constant level and of a second receptacle or measure of a capacity equal to
the amount of liquid to be supplied at one time, which second receptacle or
measure is provided with suitable inlet and outlet cocks or valves so arranged
and connected with one another that opening either one of the cocks or valves
automatically closes the other or vice versa. The inlet cock or valve is in direct
communication with the liquid containing receptacle.
Referring to the accompanving drawing, which is a view in side elevation―
partly in section-of one form of apparatus constructed according to my inven-
tion, A designates the reservoir for supplying the receptacle B with liquid. The
liquid is maintained in the receptacle B at a constant level and pressure by
means of a float valve or ball cock C fitted on the underside of the reservoir A
or any other convenient device may be employed for ensuring a constant level
of the liquid in the receptacle B.
To the lower side of the receptacle B is arranged the measuring receptacle D
which communicates or is filled with liquid by means of the cock or valve E, a
second cock or valve F is provided for emptying the said measuring receptacle 1).
The operating arms or levers e and f of the cocks or valves E, F, are connected
or joined together by means of a rod or link G, the arrangement being such
that when the cock or valve E is open the cock or valve F is closed and when
the cock or valve F is open the cock or valve E is closed. The normal position
of the cock or valve E is an open one which may be ensured by means of a suit-
ably arranged spring or springs or preferably by weighting a continuation e¹ of
the arm or lever e as shown. It will thus be seen that by operating one of the
arms or levers of either one of the cocks or valves preferably by pulling on a
ring attached to the lower end of the rod or link G-the cock or valve E will
be closed shutting off communication with the receptacle B and the cock or
valve F will be opened allowing the contents of the measuring receptacle D to
be discharged. On releasing the rod or link G owing to the spring controlled
or weighted arm or lever e¹ the cock or valve F will be closed whilst the cock

page_text: or valve E will be opened thus allowing the measuring receptacle D to again
become filled from the receptacle B ready for supplying a further measured
quantity of the liquid. To enable the air to escape from the measuring recep-
tacle D when filling and to supply air thereto when emptying I provide an air
tube H fixed in the top of the measuring receptacle D and passing through the
receptacle B, its other open or free end terminates in the air space above the
level of the liquid in the said receptacle B. Air holes or vents bare provided
in the receptacle B and also in the reservoir A should the lid be a closely fitting
or air tight one.
It will be understood that two or more measuring receptacles D each of a
different capacity may be fitted to the receptacle B, and further that the capacity
of each measuring receptacle D may be varied if desired in any convenient man-
ner, for instance by making it in two parts telescoping one within the other or
by forming a pipe like continuation of the cock or valve F within the measuring
receptacle D and providing means for adjusting its height therein or by forming
its walls of a flexible material and providing means for limiting their expansion.
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) An improved apparatus for drawing off or delivering measured quantities of
liquid consisting essentially of a receptacle supplied by a reservoir in such a
manner that the liquid is maintained in said receptacle at a constant level, of a
measuring receptacle with or without means for varying its capacity provided
with inlet and outlet cocks or valves so connected and arranged that when one
is closed the other is open, the inlet cock establishing communication between
the liquid containing receptacle and the measuring receptacle, and of means
whereby provision is made for the escape and entry of air to the measuring
receptacle during filling and emptying operations, as set forth.
(2) An improved apparatus for delivering measured quantities of liquid con-
structed and arranged substantially as herein before described and shown.
Daten
15 Day of May 1900.
Dated HIS Ist way
1000
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C..
Agent for the Applicant.