Improvements in Apparatus for Filling Bottles or other Receptacles with Liquids.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Filling Bottles or other Receptacles
with Liquids.
We, WILLIAM ALEXANDER BOWIE, of 14 Tierney Road, Streatham Hill, in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman, and ERNEST JAMES DODD, of 2 Eveline
Villas, Leicester Road, New Barnet, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bottle filling apparatus of the kind referred to in the
Specification of our prior Patent No. 65066 dated the 8th day of March 1893,
wherein we described an apparatus in which a number of bottles or other
receptacles to be filled with liquid were placed upon a movable tray that was
capable of being elevated in such a manner as to bring a series of syphon tubes,
communicating with a tank containing the liquid, into the mouths of the bottles
and at the same time to start the filling operation by causing a float to be
immersed in the liquid contained in the aforesaid tank.
According to our present invention we construct the apparatus of a suitable
framework on which we arrange a rocking bar having arms on each side thereof,
and from one of these arms wo suspend a plate which is adapted to receive a
number of syphon tubes whose distance apart coincides with the distance between
the centres of a similar number of bottles or other receptacles to bo filled, which
are supported on a tray beneath. From the other arm of the rocking bar we
enspend a movable platform on which is located the receptacle or tank containing
the liquid for filling the bottles, the said receptacle or tank being provided at
or near its bottom with a number of short tubes which are connected to the
before mentioned syphon tubes by means of flexible tubes. When the platform
carrying the liquid receptacle or tank is depressed to its lowest position and the
syphon plate and syphon tubes elevated to their highest position, the lovel of
the liquid in the receptacle or tank is below the highest point of the syphon tubes,
and the flow is consequently stopped but when the motion of the rocking bar is
reversed the syphon plate and syphon tubes are depressed to their lowest position,
and the liquid receptacle or tank is elevated to its highest position. When the
parts are in this position the said syphon tubes enter the mouths of the bottles
beneath, and the level of the liquid in the receptacle or tank is above the highest
point of the syphon tubes, consequently the liquid is caused to flow through all
the tubes simultaneously. The said syphon tubes are so arranged that they
descend some distance into the bottles so that when the liquid rises sufficiently
in the bottles to reach the syphon tubes, connection is established between the
liquid in the bottles and that in the receptacle or tank whereby the level of the
liquid in the bottles and the tank is equalized.
For the purpose of controlling the height and quantity of liquid in the receptacle
or tauk, we may employ two adjustable devices, one of which may consist of a
screw and nut so arranged that the liquid receptacle or tank can be raised or
lowered independently of the rocking bar and sufficiently to regulate the hoight
of the liquid in the receptacle or tank to ensure the filling of the bottles to any
required extent. In order to also ensure that a sufficient quantity of liquid for
charging the said bottles shall be admitted to the receptacle or tank from the
Bource of supply at one time, we may employ a wooden.or other float within this
Equid receptacle, the said float being provided with means for . enabling its

page_text: position to be varied. These means may consist of a vertical tube projecting
from the float and having a screw threaded portion that engages with a butterfly
nut supported by the framework of the platform carrying the tank. By turning
this butterfly nut in one or other direction the position of the float can be readily
adjusted. The tank is furnished with a feeding cook the plug of which is pro-
vided with a pulley. Over this pulley is passed a chain carrying at one end a
loose weight and connected at its other end to a hinged weight or pivotted arm
which is held in ita raised position by what we may term a sear and trigger
arrangement. The loose weight is made heavy enough to revolve the aforesaid
pulley, and thereby open the cock, when the binged weight or pivotted arm is
raised and held up by the sear and trigger arrangement, the latter being so
devised that when sufficient liquid has entered the receptacle or tank the before-
mentioned float in its ascent causes the aforesaid Bear and trigger arrangement
to be thrown out of gear, and the hinged weight or pivotted arm to be released.
The release of the hinged weight or pivotted arm, which latter is heavier than
the loose weight, causes the latter to be raised and the pulley on the plug of the
cock to be turned to close the cock.
The liquid receptacle or tank may he open or closed at the top, and in the
latter case the tubular projection on the float would be adapted to work through
a socket or opening in the covor.
In bottling some liquids we find it advantageous to uso in addition to the tank
already mentioned an intermedinte tank having a suitable float-valve at its top
to allow the necessary air to enter.
Dated this 18th day of October 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Apparatus for Filling Bottles or other Receptacles
with Liquids.
We, WILLIAM ALEXANDER BOWIE, of 14 Tierney Road, Streatham Hill, in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman, aud ERNEST JAMES DODD, of 2 Eveline
Villas, Leicester Road, New Barnet, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
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 bottle filling apparatus of the kind referred to in the
Specification of our prior Patent No. 5066 dated the 9th day of March 1893. In
the apparatus described in the said specification the bottles or other vessels to be
filled were arranged on a tray which could be elevated to bring a series of syphon-
tubes communicating with a liquid tank or reservoir, into the mouths of the
bottles, the elevation of the said tray simultaneously starting the filling operation
by causing a weight or displacer to be immersed in the liquid contained in the
aforesaid tank.
According to our present invention we avoid the necessity of elevating the
bottles or other vessels to be filled and instead of immersing a weight or displacer
to start the filling operation, we depress the filling or syphon-tubes a sufficient
distanco below the level of the liquid in the tank to start the flow of the liquid into
the bottles by the action of gravity. We also provide means whereby the entrance
of liquid to the aforesaid tank and the quantity of liquid supplied to the bottles
are mechanically controlled, as will be heroipafter explained.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried

page_text: into enect we will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal soction of our improved bottling machine, shewing
the position the parts occupy prior to a filling operation.
Figure 2 is a similar view but shows the position the parts occupy after a filling
operation.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1. 1. of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary view shewing a modified arrangement of the means
for controlling the liquid supply to the tank.
Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary views similar to Figure 4 but shew a further
modification.
"
a a are the bottles to be filled which are situated in a receptacle or tray A that
is adapted to he slidden into and out of the machine on rollers A' A'; bb are the
Alling or syphon-tubes mounted in a movable tube-plato B; and C is the tank
which is carried by a movable platform or frame D.
The aforesaid tube-plate B and frame D are suspended from the opposite ends of
a rocking arm or beam E which is pivoted at e in the upper portion of the framing
of the machine. This beam is capable of being rocked by means of a hand-
lever E', a part of which has been broken away in the drawings in order to avoid
confusion.
The tube-plato B consists of a metal plate having a series of apertures therein
for the reception of the filling or syphon tubes which are furnished with collars &¹
that real upon shoulders formed within the aforesaid apertures. These filling or
syphon tubes are retained in place by means of metal atrips or bara b³ affixed to
the upper surface of the tube plate by screws . The corners of the tube-plate
are formed with lugs & which engage with guide strips &ª ¿ª on the framing of the
machine so as to guide the said tube-plate during its ascending and descending
movements. 6º are stops with which the guide strips are furnished to limit
the descont of the tube-plate. The filling or syphon-tubes are provided with
nozzles b' which enter the bottles or other vessels when the filling operation takes
place, and the opposite ends of the said filling or syphon-tubes are connected by
flexible pipes to a series of short tubes & projecting from the lower part of the
tank C.
The movable platform or frame D supporting this tank is furnished with guide
bars D' which work in recesses D' formed in the brackets D D that project from
the framing of the machine. On the platform or frame D are fixed uprights D* D'
whose upper ends are connected by a cross-piece D' coupled to the rocking
beam E.
Pivoted at to the said platform D is a bent arm d whose upper end d* lies in
the path of an adjustable stop or projection ƒ on a float F located within the
tank C. Near the lower end of this bent arm is a notch which is BO situated
that a tooth on a pivoted lever handle will engage therewith when the latter
is sufficiently elevated. This lever-handle has a weighted end and its
fulcrum is carried by the platform D.
G is an inlet pipe for feeding the tank C with liquid and is provided with a
cuck on the plug of which is mounted a grooved pulley g'. A chain passes
around this pulley and is connected at one end to the lever-handle d' while its
other end is free and carries a weight g³.
The before mentioned adjustable stop consists of a set-screw which is adapted
to n.ore or less enter a socket f1 carried by the flont F so that the distance of the
head of this screw from the float can be varied.
When the lever-handle dis raised by the operator into, the position shewn.
in Figure 2 it is retained in this position by the engagement of the tooth with
the notch d³, and simultaneously with the raising of the lever-handle, the cock g is
opened by reason of the weighted end of the chain descending and turning the
pulley g' and its plug. Liquid then euters the tank C, the above mentioned parts
remaining in their lorked position until the float Fasconds high enough to press its
.

page_text: adjustable stop against the end d* of the bent arm d as shown at Figure 1. The
pressure of the stop fagainst the end of the bent arm causes this latter to turn
about its pivot and release the lever-handle by disengaging the tooth d³ from the
notch, with the result that the said lever-handle at once falls and, through the
intervention of the chain and pulley g', oporates the cock 9 in the reverse
direction thereby shutting off the further supply of liquid to the tank.
During the filling of the tank the empty bottles are placed in proper position in
the machine and the hand lever E' is then actuated to rock the beam E into the
position shown in Figure 2. This movement causes the tube-plate B to descend
and bring the nozzles & of the filling or syphon-tubes into the bottles, and at the
same time causes the tank C to ascend high enough to bring its contenta above the
level of the filling or syphon tubes. The filling of all the buttles then commences
to take place simultaneously owing to the flow of the liquid from a higher to a
lower level; the completion of the filling operation being effected by the syphonic
action of the syphon tubes b. The liquid in the tank C is thus transferred into the
bottles in such a manner that the level of the liquid will be the same in all the
bottles irrespective of any slight inequality in their capacity, the filling operation
ceasing when the level of the liquid in the tank and the bottles is the same. The
beam E is then rocked by the hand lever E' in the opposite direction thereby
bringing the parts again into the position shewn at Figure 1. The lever handle
is then once more elevated to bring about a refilling of the liquid tank C ready for
charging a fresh series of empty bottles.
It will be seen that by adjusting the length of the stop fou the font F', the
release of the lever handled and the consequent shutting off of the liquid supply
to the tank can be effected in accordance with any desired lavel of liquid that is
required within the said tank C so that the quantity of liquid with which the tank
is supplied can be varied to suit the capacity of the bottles to be filled.
In order to permit of the more convenient attachment of the nozzles b' to the
tube plate, the said tube plate may be made in the form of a frame and the nozzles
be carried by bars which are capable of being bolted to the said frame in any
desired position thereon.
If desired we may employ in conjunction with the tube-plate another plato
having holes therein corresponding with the nozzles in the tube plate and provided
with conically shaped sockets on its under side, so that as the tube-plate descenda
these sockets will enclose the mouths of the bottles and act to bring them into
aligument with the nozzles.
Although we have shewn and described the liquid tank C mounted on a movable
platform D we may if found more advantageous disconnect this platform from the
rocking beam E so that the said tank will not be moved when the beam is rooked.
In this case the depression of the movable tube-plate must bo sufficient to bring the
filling or syphon-tubes below the level of the liquid in the tank so that the said
liquid can flow into the bottles to the desired level.
We may substitute telescopic tubes for the flexible pipes b³.
In some cases instead of employing a number of tubes for connecting the tank
to the flexible pipes we may provide a single transverse pipe of comparatively
large diameter which communicates with the said tank Cat only one or two
points.
When it is desired to provide the tank C with a cover we may arrange the
adjustable device for controlling the supply of liquid to the said tank in the manoer
shewn at Figure 4, wherein the float is provided with a rod F' passing through
the cover F. This rod is furnished with an adjustable finger F which when the
float rises to its uppermost position projects through an opening in tho covor
and strikes against the lower end of an adjustable rod d' carried by the end d* of
the bent arm d. This bent arm is thereby shifted to release the lever-bandle d' in
a manner analogous to that already stated.
In bottling some kinds of liquids it may be found advantageous to use an
intermediate tank between the tank C and the source of supply, the said

page_text: intermediate tank being provided with a suitable float-valvo at its top to allow
of the entrance of air.
In some cases we provide means for enabling the length of the chain supporting
the tank from the beam E to be varied, so that the tank can be slightly raised or
lowered for the purpose of adjusting the level to which the bottles will be filled
with liquid. These means may consist of a screwed-hook suspending the
aforesaid chain and passing through a stirrup piece carried by the beam. A
butterfly nut screwing on to the said hook enables the latter to be raised or
lowered and the tank to be thereby adjusted.
It will sometimes be found advantageous to provide the tank with means for
indicating the level of the liquid in the said tank, and for also indicating when the
operation of filling the bottles has been completed. For this purpose we may
provide the tank with a gauge glass whoso lower end communicates with the lower
part of the tank and we furnish the said gauge glass with an adjustable plug, (which
may be in the form of a screw) for more or less closing the passage between the
gauge glass and the tauk so that by suitably adjusting this plng we can cause.
the liquid in the gauge glass to descend more slowly than that in the tank.
Instead of arranging the aforesaid weighted lever handle to be operated
manually, we sometimes arrange it as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 so that it
operates automatically. In this construction the weight is provided with a
pivoted weighted finger which is capable of turning about its pivot in one
direction but not in the other direction. This pivoted finger is formed with a
projection or nose do which when the beam E is rocked to raise the frame D
carrying the tank, comes against a fixed rail or stop H whereby the said pivoted
finger is caused to turn into a position to allow the weighted arm to pass above the
said rail or stop, without altering the position of the said arm with relation to its
pivot as will be seen on reference to Figure 5. When however the frame carrying
the tank descends, the said nose d¹º catches against the fixed rail H and the pivoted
finger being unable to more when acted upon in this direction, the weighted arm is
raised into a position to bring it into engagement with the notch in the bent
arm d as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 6. In this position the weighted arm
keeps the inlet cock open until released by the float in the tank C striking the
upper end of the bent arm d and shifting the latter about its fulcrum as hereinbefore
explained. When the said weighted arm is thus released it assumes the position
shewn by the full lines in Figuro 6 and is supported by a stud du with which tho
said bent arm d is provided. As in the previous arrangements the weighted arm
works in conjunction with a cord or chain passing around a grooved pulley g' on the
inlet cock g, but in the present construction we dispense with the weight g' and
after passing the said cord or chain around the pulley g' its ends are attached to the
extremities of a rod or bar g' which rests in the groove of the aforesaid pulloy g'
and is pivotally connected at its lower end to the weight d'. By these means, when
the weighted arm turns about its pivot the said rod or bar g' is caused to move
longitudinally and act on the cord eurrounding the pulley gl thereby opening or
closing the inlet cock in accordance with the direction in which the said cord is
pulled by the said rod or bar. If desired instead of using a cord for operating the
pulley we may provide the aforesaid bar g' with ratchet teeth to engage with
corresponding teeth in the said pulley g'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is —
1. A bottling apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, wherein the
necessity of elevating the bottles to be filled, is avoided.
2. In apparatus for bottling liquids a rocking beam from which is suspended at
one end a tube-plate and at the other end a filling tank substantially as described
and for the purpose specified.
3. In apparatus for bottling liquids, the combination with the filling tank of a

page_text: mechanical contrivance for controlling the inlet of liquid to the said tank
substantially as described with reference to Figures 12 and 3, or to Figure 4,
or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The apparatus for bottling liquids substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of July 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.