IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING BOTTLES TO PREPARE THEM TO RECEIVE BEER OR OTHER FERMENTED IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH TREAT
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Read, of 34, Old Broad Street,
in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TREATING BOTTLES TO PREPARE THEM TO RECEIVE BEER OR OTHER FERMENTED
Sealed the 6th April 1869, and dated the 9th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Read
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th October 1868.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS READ, of 34, Old Broad Street, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN TREATING BOTTLES TO PREPARE THEM TO RECEIVE BEER OR OTHER
FERMENTED LIQUOR, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH TREATMENT," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in treating bottles to
prepare them to receive beer or other fermented liquor, and in apparatus
employed in such treatment.

page_text: In order to control the fermentation of beer or other fermented liquor
and prevent it from turning sour it is common to place in the bottle to
receive the liquid a small quantity of a solution of bi-sulphite of lime;
other liquids yielding sulphurous acid have also been similarly used.
According to my Invention I apply the material in the form of a fine
spray coating every part of the interior of the vessel and also filling
the vessel with an atmosphere of sulphurous acid gas; this is done
immediately before the bottle is filled.
To operate upon bottles I employ an apparatus consisting of a pail-like
vessel with a closely fitting cover; within the vessel the bi-sulphite of
lime or other similar liquid is placed, and in connection with this vessel,
by preference within it, is a pump cylinder and plunger. The plunger is
operated by a handle on the outside, and when depressed forces a portion
of the liquid up to a nozzle situated at the bottom of a socket in which
the neck of the bottle is inserted. The jet issuing from the nozzle is
broken up into a spray inside the bottle, and any excess of the liquid
runs out of the inverted bottle and back into the pail or vessel. A screw
or other suitable adjustment is provided, so that at each motion of the
pump handle the proper quantity of liquid may be injected. Other
apparatus may be substituted for the plunger to give the pressure
necessary to produce. the jet.
In order that the annaratue may not be comoded be the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Thomas Read in the Great Seal Patent 2
Office on the 9th April 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
THOMAS READ, of 34, Old Broad Street, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her g
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year of

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Thomas Read, Her special
licence that I, the said William Thomas Read, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Thomas Read,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN TREATING BOTTLES TO PREPARE THEM TO RECEIVE BEER OR
OTHER FERMENTED LIQUOR, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH TREATMENT,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Thomas
Read, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Thomas Read, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
accompanying this Specification as herein referred to.
With the view to control the fermentation of beer or other fermented
liquor and prevent it from turning sour it is common to place in the
bottle to receive the liquid a small quantity of a solution of bi-sulphite
of lime or other liquids which yield sulphurous acid.
Now my Invention comprises the application of a preventive or
preservative solution or fluid, such, for instance, as those above mentioned,
in the form of a fine spray diffused throughout the interior and upon the
inside surface of the bottle. The atmosphere contained within the bottle
is thus also charged with the sulphurous acid or other gas evolved from
the said solution or fluid; this I effect immediately before the bottle
is filled with the beer or other liquid.

page_text: The apparatus I employ in the above application of the preventive or
preservative fluid is shown in the accompanying Drawings, and consists
(as shown by Figs. 1 & 2) of a pail or vessel a with a closely fitted
cover b, and within this vessel (a) the bi-sulphite of lime or other
preventive or preservative fluid is placed, and in connection with this
vessel and by preference inside thereof is a pump cylinder c and
plunger d. The plunger of the pump is operated by a handle or lever e
on the outside, which when depressed injects a portion of the fluid
through the nozzle f situate at the bottom of a socket g, in which the
neck of the bottle h is inserted. The jet of fluid issuing from the nozzle f
is broken up into a spray inside the bottle, and any excess of the fluid
runs out of the inverted bottle h and back through an outlet at the bottom
of the socket (g) into the pail or vessel (a).
At Fig. 2 a plan of the nozzle is delinated. For bringing the lever
or handle to its position of rest after each action an indian-rubber or
other spring i is provided. A screw / or other suitable adjustment
limits the play of the lever handle, and thus regulates the quantity or
charge of the fluid injected. 1, 2, denotes the induction and eduction
valves through which each charge of the fluid passes, and m the
conduction pipe conveying the liquid to the nozzle for discharge into
the bottle.
In order to avoid corrosion in the apparatus I prefer to construct the
cylinder c, the plunger d, the valves l, l, the conduction pipe m, and
nozzle of ebonite. The plunger rod may be constructed of metal
protected by being enclosed in india-rubber tubing, the lever or hande,
crank, and bearings (being outside) of metal, and the containing vessel a
of wood.
Instead of the plunger and pump apparatus or arrangements above
described, any other apparatus or arrangements may be substituted
whereby a jet or spray of preventive or preservative fluid may be injected
into bottles for the purposes above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put
in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of applying
bi-sulphite of lime or other preventive or preservative fluid to bottles in

page_text: the form of a jet or spray, as herein-before described or referred to, and
the apparatus or mechanical arrangements used for the purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Read, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
ALEXANDER P. WRIGHT,
Secretary to the
Inventor's Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross.
W. T. READ.
(L.S.)