Improvements in or relating to Distillers' Safes, said Improvements being also applicable for Check Sampling the Spent Wash at Outlets of "Patent" Stills, and for Taking and Testing Samples of Liquids Generally at Different Times or Stages of Manu- facture.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Distillers' Safes, said Improvements
being also applicable for Check Sampling the Spent Wash at
Outlets of "Patent" Stills, and for Taking and Testing Samples
of Liquids Generally at Different Times or Stages of Manu-
facture.
I, WILLIAM DAWSON of Anderston Brewery, Bishop Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, Brewer, 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 which relates to improvements in distillers safes is a further
development of the invention for which Letters Patent bearing date the 2nd day of
July 1889 No. 10667 have been granted to William Watson Mutter and myself'
and the present improvements have for their object to obtain greater simplicity of
the working parts and especially the parts which are locked up outwith the control
of the person running the still but under the control of the manager or other
responsible official to enable him to test samples of the product.
The improved apparatus as constructed under one modification is illustrated
partly in side and end elevations and partly in vertical section by Figures 1 and 2:
Sheet 1 and in horizontal section on the line x, x by Figure 1 Sheet 2 of the
annexed drawings and as shewn by these figures the spout C by which the product
is conducted to the various compartments of the trough A is as heretofore mounted
beneath the worm end E on a spindle D which is rotated by means of a hand-
wheel M. Near its lower end the spindle D has a toothed segment L keyed upon
it which at periods during the rotation gears with a spur pinion L¹ the said pinion'
being also geared with teeth formed around the circumference of the table I
carrying the sample glasses or receptacles so that in rotating the spindle D when
the segment L comes into gear with the pinion the table is also rotated a distance.
equal to that between the vertical axes of two sample glasses.
The main spindle D is through part of its length enclosed within a stationary
tube D' connected at its upper end to the under side of the trough A and screwed.
at its lower end into a sleeve a having a flange a' at the bottom which forms a
bearing for the rotating table I the said table being secured to another sleeve b
resting and turning loosely upon the flange a¹. In conjunction with the spur
pinion L' a weighted check spindle c is provided the said spindle being carried in
bearings c' on the bottom of the lower trough U and having a crank or projection d
upon it which entering a slot on the under side of the pinion locks the table I in
position. The spindle c has a second crank or projection e, against which in
rotating the spindle D to revolve the spout C the toothed segment L acts to
partially rotate the spindle c and release the spur wheel L leaving the table I free
to be then rotated as long as the segment is in gear with the wheel. The weight f
on the spindle immediately the segment passes out of gear partially rotates the
spindle c in the opposite direction and enters the projection d'into the slot in the
wheel L' thereby again locking the table I in position.
The spindle g of the wheel L passes up into a locked casing hat the top of the
safe where it has a thumb nut upon it the said locked casing also containing the
upper extremity of the spindle for actuating the stop cocks ; which discharge
the sample tubes also the upper end of the rod k for actuating the pump (not shewn
but by which the liquor is pumped up from the trough U to the receiver) and the
upper end of the key spindle for supplying water to the sample tubes when
desired.

page_text: Within the trough A there is adapted to the spindle D the apparatus described
in the Specification filed under the aforesaid Patent for discharging the contents of
the cups which receive the liquor from the spout C, into the sample tubes m or
analogous apparatus for that purpose.
When the manager or other official wishes to test a sample he first unlocks the
cover of the case h and if the test tube m opposite the key n for operating the
discharge stop cocks j should be empty he raises or draws up the spindle g of
the wheel L' until the wheel is clear of or above the path of the segment L and of
the projection d on the check spindle c, the upward movement of the spindle being
stopped by a collar g' striking against the diaphragm g². By thus turning the
spindle g and spur wheel L' which is still geared with the table I the manager
rotates the table until a filled sample tube comes opposite the key n for opening
the discharge stop cock. He then tests the sample and discharges the contents of
the trough U. To do this he turns the spindle whose lower end has fixed on it a
small toothed segment o which gears with a toothed block o' keyed on a horizontal
spindle o the inner end of which has a key seat to fit the key of the stop cock j
the effect being when the segment o is operated to advance the spindle o² hori-
zontally and engage it with the cock j. The toothed block o' on the key spindle
has another series of teeth o³ formed on it at right angles to the first the second
series constituting a segment which gears with a second toothed block o* on the
lower end of the spindle i the said toothed block of having passed into it a guiding
pin of screwed or otherwise fixed in the bottom of the trough U and projecting
vertically upwards therefrom. The spindle i besides its rotative motion to advance
and withdraw the spindle o² is capable of being raised and lowered and to guide it
in both movements it has a feather of at its upper end. When the spindle is raised
the movement through the block of and segment o³ turns the spindle o² and opens
the stop cock to discharge the contents of the sample tube m and until the spindle
has been advanced to fit on the key of the cock the feather of by acting against the
under side of the diaphragm g2 prevents the spindle i from being raised but when
so fitted the feather comes opposite an opening in the diaphragm through which it
is capable of passing upwards the form of the opening at the same time preventing
the spindle from being rotated until it is again lowered and the cock is shut.
The thumb nut on the upper end of the spindle i has as shewn by the larger
detailed views Figures 3 and 4 Sheet 1 two inclined recesses p cut in its upper
surface into which two similarly formed tongues or teeth p² made on or attached to
the interior of the lid of the case h enter. After discharging the sample and
lowering the spindle i should the manager omit to turn the said spindle so as to
withdraw the spindle o from the key of the cock prior to shutting the lid the
thumb nut not being in proper position to receive the teeth will prevent the lid
from being closed or in the act of closing the lid the deepest parts of the
teeth acting on the inclined bottoms of the grooves will cause the spindle i to be
turned so as to withdraw the spindle o from the cock and return it to its normal
position.
The contents of the tubes m successively discharged into the trough U are
pumped up into a receiver by operating the pump rod k or instead of discharging
into the trough U a funnel may project upwards from the bottom of the trough to
conduct the discharged contents into another vessel underneath the top of the
funnel being lower than the path of the segment L. The spindle which also has
its upper end within the locked case h has a key at its lower end for acting upon
a stop cock placed in a water pipe not shewn but led into the safe for the purpose
of supplying water to the sample tubes m as desired.
Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 3 shew a modified arrangement in which the spindle D
whose upper end extends into or through the lid of the case has a square or other
shaped head formed on it over which a key is placed to operate the spindle and
through it the spout C and table I. The spindle has a sleeve 9 encircling the
upper part of it which is clutched to a slceve q¹ whose top end is also within the

page_text: casingh by pins projecting from the upper side of the lower sleeve and entering
grooves in the under side of the upper sleeve. The sleeve q is geared with the
spindle D by a pin s projecting from the spindle into a recess in the sleeve and
when the manager desires to rotate the table I and sample tubes m without rotating
the spout C he lifts the sleeve q until the edge s¹ of the recess rests upon the top
of the pins in which position the recesses in the bottom of the sleeve q are clear
of the clutching pins which enter them the sleeves, 7, 9' and the shaft D being
thereby disconnected. From the bottom of the upper trough A a stationary tube t
extends upwards within which the spindle D rotates and on top of the tube t there
rests the lower end of the sleeve q' which is screwed into the upper extremity of
another sleeve 2 enclosing the tube t and resting on a flange made at its lower end.
The spout C is carried by the sleeve q² and is thus disconnected from the spindle D
when desired by lifting the sleeve q as before described.
A
With this modification a short toothed segment is employed as shewn at L
Figure 4 of the drawings filed under the aforesaid Patent the said segment keyed
on the spindle D gearing periodically as the spindle is rotated with a wheel L'
which gears with a ring of teeth made around the inner circumference of the
table I. The spur wheel which is carried by a stud projecting upwards from the
bottom of the trough U instead of by a spindle g has a slot on its under side and
a check spindle in conjunction with it to lock the table substantially as in the
modification first described. The means for opening and closing the stop cocks are
also the same but in both cases there may be substituted the arrangement shewn by
Figures 2, 3 and 4 Sheet of the drawings and which consists of a box 1 placed
within the lower trough U and along two sides of which grooves 2 are cut.
rectangular frame 3 slides in the said grooves and to one end of it there is attached
a plate 4 which fits the interior of the box. Inside the rectangular frame there is
made or secured on
fitted an eccentric plate 5 within which works an eccentric
the vertical spindle i which operates the stop cocks j. The eccentric plate has
tenons 8 made at its two ends these entering grooves made one in the outer end of
the rectangular frame 3 and the other in a cross bar 9 placed between the two sides
of the frame. The cross bar at its forward end bears against a jawed piece 10
carried by two discs 11 secured on the spindle i and the under disc has a part cut
away to constitute a flat face as shewn by the dotted lines on Figure 4 Sheet 2.
The jawed piece 10 carries a plate 12 in which an eccentric 13 works the said
eccentric having a key 14 projecting through to the front face of the plate 4 to fit
the stop cocks. From the under side of the cross bar 9 a pin 15 projects down-
wards the arm 25 of one of the lower rear jaws in the piece 10 having a hole in it
through which the pin passes and bears on the upper side of the lower disc 11.
When the manager wishes to discharge the contents of any one sample tube he
first turns the spindle i which through the eccentric 6 pushes the rectangular
frame 3 forwards until the key 14 of the eccentric 13 is in gear with the stop cock
of the sample tube, this action also bringing the cut away or straight part of the
lower disc 11 opposite the pin 15 to enable the spindle and its appurtenances to be
raised. The manager by so raising the spindle lifts also the jawed piece 10 and
eccentric plate 12 which latter acting on the eccentric 13 turns it and the key 14
to open the stop cock and discharge the contents of the tube. The upper end of
the spindle is contained in the lock box h before referred to and should the
manager omit to clear the key from the stop cock the lid of the box is prevented
from closing or in the act of closing turns the spindle by the teeth p¹ acting in the
inclined grooves p as before described.
As seen at Figure 5 Sheet 2 of the drawings to obviate the necessity of carrying
the spindle g through the trough A as with the arrangement Figures 1 and 2
Sheet 1 the table I instead of having spur may have bevelled teeth around its
outer circumference the said teeth being geared with a bevel wheel L₁ secured on
one end of a horizontal spindle 20 carried in a bracket or standard 21 bolted to, the
bottom of the trough U and having on its other end a bevel wheel 22 which, as

page_text: occasion requires is geared with a bevel wheel 23 keyed on the spindle g supported
in a footstep 24 bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom of the trough U. On
each rotation of the spindle D the wheel L' gears for the required time with the
segment L thereby rotating the table I, the distance between the vertical axes of
two sample tubes. On the bracket 21 there is centred a lever 26 weighted at one
end and having near its other end a shoulder 27 which enters a notch in the bevel
'wheel L' to lock the table in position. Beyond the shoulder the lever has a palm
or sole 28 against which are inclined wedge shaped pieces 29 made on or secured to
the segment L, acts to depress that end of the lever and free the shoulder from the
notch to enable the table to be partially rotated the weight on the lever returning
the shoulder into the notch in the wheel immediately the segment has passed out of
gear. When the manager wishes to rotate the table I without rotating the spout C
he raises the spindle g (against a flange 30 on the bevel wheel 23 on which the
weighted end of the lever bears when the shoulder 27 is in the notch of the
wheel L¹) thereby freeing the shoulder from the said notch and gearing
the wheel 23 with the wheel 22 which on turning the spindle a rotates the table I
through the wheel L'. When this arrangement is employed the trough U requires
to be somewhat longer than shewn at Figure 1 Sheet 2 to contain the apparatus.
Besides being used for distillers purposes the improved apparatus hereinbefore
described may be employed to take samples for testing or other purposes of liquids
generally in course of manufacture or otherwise.
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 :-
1. In a distillers safe or in conjunction with other apparatus for the manufacture
of other liquid products the combination of apparatus for taking and preserving at
any stage of the manufacture samples of the product which the manager or other
responsible person only can check and discharge substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 Sheet 1 and Figure 1 Sheet 2 of the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In a distillers safe or in conjunction with other apparatus for the manufacture
of liquid products the combination of apparatus for taking and preserving at any
stage of the manufacture check samples which the manager or other responsible
official only can discharge substantially as described with reference to the figures
on Sheet 3 of the appended drawings.
3. In apparatus of the class set forth the combination of the spindle I), carrying
the spout C the sleeve D' surrounding part of the said spindle and through the
connections a, b carrying the table I the segment L on spindle D the spindle y and
(wheel L' geared with said segment and with the table substantially as and for the
'purpose described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1 and Figure 1 Sheet 2
of the annexed drawings.
4. In apparatus of the class set forth the combination of the spindles i and o³
racks o, o, o³, o for operating the sample tubes discharge stop cocks substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. In apparatus of the class set forth the use of the lock box furnished as
described and containing the operative ends of the main spindle D table rotating
spindle pump spindle k with its thumb nut provided as set forth and water cock
spindle or any one or more of them substantially as described with reference to
the annexed drawings.
6. In apparatus of the class set forth the arrangement of sleeves and clutch for
connecting and disconnecting the table I and main spindle D from the spout C
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 Sheet 3 of the
appended drawings.
7. In apparatus of the class set forth the arrangement of apparatus for operating

page_text: the sample tubes discharge stop cocks substantially as described with reference to
Figures 3, 4 and 5 Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings.
8. In apparatus of the class set forth the arrangement of mechanism shewn by
Figure 5 Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings for rotating the table I synchro-
nously with or independently of the spindle D and spout C substantially as
described.
Dated this Thirty-first day of July 1891.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.