Improvements in Apparatus for Making Coffee, Tea, and other Infusions.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Coffee, Tea, and other
Infusions.
I, JAMES CHILDS of Cedar Lea, Clapham Common, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for making coffee,
tea, and other infusions.
The apparatus is similar in some respects to that described in the Specification of
my Patent No. 14578 in the year 1888.
The vessel in which the infusion is made is completely closed, it is attached to
a standard and through the standard boiling water under a small pressure is
supplied.
As the apparatus is arranged according to the present invention the standard
carries two vessels usually of cylindrical form; in one of these the infusion is
prepared and it is then drawn off into the other vessel or receiver and stored until
it is required for use. The vessels are each of them so made that the bottom or
lower part can be removed. The material to be used say coffee is placed in the
lower part of the infusion vessel resting upon a filtering mat of swansdown or
other suitable fabric. The bottom is then replaced and locked by a screw which
presses the face against two concentric packing rings which make a tight joint.
There is a cock upon the standard having several water ways or passages through
it and by turning this cock boiling water is admitted to the infusion vessel below
the filtering mat. The standard also contains a steam pipe and whilst the cock is
in this position steam passes into the storage vessel and warms it ready for use.
The boiling water passes up through the filter mat and amongst the coffee, it fills
the infusion vessel, the air escaping at the top by a valve which is closed by a float
when the vessel is full or a tap opened and closed by hand may be provided to let
out the air. The steam pipe in the standard surrounds the water pipe which
ensures the water being always at the boiling temperature. When the infusion is
made the cock is turned to another position and it then admits steam to the top of
the infusion vessel and opens a connection from the bottom of the infusion vessel
into the storage vessel. The pressure of the steam then drives the infusion
through the filtering mat in the former vessel and it enters the storage vessel.
I'resently another movement of the cock shuts off the steam from the infusion
vessel and admits it to the upper part of the storage vessel. The infusion vessel
may then be opened and a fresh charge of coffee put into it. The infusion as it is
required for use is drawn off by opening a tap at the lower part of the storage
vessel and the steam pressure then drives the liquor out through a filtering mat
which the storage vessel contains similar to that in the infusion vessel. Thus the
liquid is always delivered hot and fine and bright and all exposure to the air by
which aroma might be lost is avoided.
Dated this 11th day of Sentember 1890.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Making Coffee, Tea, and other
Infusions.
I, JAMES CHILDS, of Cedar Lea, Clapham Common, in the County of Surrey,
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 has for its object improvements in apparatus for making coffee,
tea and other infusions.
The apparatus is similar in some respects to that described in the Specification of
my Patent No. 14578 in the year 1888.
The vessel in which the infusion is made is completely closed, it is attached
to a standard and through the standard boiling water under a small pressure is
supplied.
As the apparatus is arranged according to the present invention the standard
carries two or more vessels usually of cylindrical form; in one of these the infusion
is prepared and it is then drawn off into another vessel and stored until it is
required for use. The material to be used say coffee is placed in the lower part
of the infusion vessel resting upon a filtering mat of swansdown or other suitable
fabric. The bottom is then replaced and locked by a screw which presses the face
against a packing ring which makes a tight joint. There is a cock upon the
standard having several water ways or passages through it and by turning this
cock boiling water is admitted to the infusion vessel below the filtering mat. The
standard also contains a steam pipe and whilst the cock is in this position steam
passes to warm the storage vessel. The boiling water passes up through the filter
mat and amongst the coffee, it fills the infusion vessel, the air escaping at the top
by a valve which is closed by a float when the vessel is full or a tap opened and
closed by hand may be provided to let out the air. The steam pipe in the standard
surrounds the water pipe which ensures the water being always at the boiling
temperature. When the infusion is made the cock is turned to another position
and it then admits steam to the top of the infusion vessel and opens a connection
from the bottom of the infusion vessel into the storage vessel. The pressure of
the steam then drives the infusion through the filtering mat in the former vessel
and it enters the storage vessel. Presently another movement of the cock shuts
off the steam from the infusion vessel and admits it to a steam jacket at the bottom
of the storage vessel. The infusion vessel may then be opened and a fresh charge
of coffee put into it. The infusion as it is required for use is drawn off by opening
a tap at the lower part of the storage vessel. Thus the liquid is always delivered
hot and fine and bright and all exposure to the air by which aroma might be lost
is avoided.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus constructed as above described.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through one of the infusion vessels and
through the cock on the standard which carries it.
Figure 3 is a front view and Figure 4 a horizontal section on a larger scale of
the cock and
Figures 5 and 6 are cross sections on the lines a b and c d Figure 4.
A is a storage vessel, B B are two infusion vessels one on either side of it.
CC are two standards by which the vessels are carried. For smaller apparatus a
single standard carrying one storage vessel and one infusion vessel might be used if
desired. In the apparatus shown in the drawings the storage vessel can be supplied
with infusion from either one or other of the infusion vessels on either side of it.

page_text: Through each standard rises a steam pipe D from the top of a steam boiler not
shown in the drawing.
Through each steam pipe rise up two pipes E E¹ the lower ends of which extend
to below the water level in the boiler. One pipe E¹ goes to a draw off cock F the
other pipe E opens into a passage G₁ of the shell G of the cock shewn in
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. Through the shell of the cock six passages are formed.
One, the passage G' above mentioned, a second passage G2 which opens into the
steam space at the top of the pipe D. Two horizontal passages G³ G₁-one G³
for passing steam to a steam chamber J. at the bottom of the storage vessel A-
the other G for passing infusion from the infusion vessel B to the storage
vessel A.
Also two other horizontal passages G³ Gone G³ for passing steam to a pipe H
which rises up and opens into the top of the infusion vessel B-the other G for
passing water from the boiler to the bottom of the infusion vessel.
In the plug I of the cock are three radial passages I¹ 12 I³ all opening into one
another. When the plug is in the position shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 all these
ways through the plug are closed.
If the plug be turned so that the end of the passage I¹ is opposite to the
passage G and 13 opposite to Go liquid can pass from the infusion to the storage
vessel and if the plug be turned into a position such that 13 is opposite to G¹
and 12 to G water can pass from the boiler to the bottom of the infuser B. The
water is led from the passage Go through a passage B2 on the exterior of the
removable bottom B' of the vessel B and to the underside and to the interior of
this bottom as described in the Specification of my before mentioned Patent and
as is shewn in Figure 2.
In the plug are also four other radial passages Iª I³ I and I' all opening into
one another.
When the plug is in the position shewn in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 steam is passed
from the boiler through the passages II in the plug I to the passage G³ and so
to the steam chamber at the bottom of the storage vessel A.
When the plug is turned into position to pass liquid from one vessel to the other
the passage I' is brought opposite to the passage G2 and 16 opposite to G³-steam
can then pass to G³ and so to the top of the infuser and force the liquid in the
infuser out into the storage vessel. When the plug is turned into position to pass
water from the boiler to the infuser then the passage I is brought opposite to G²
and I to G³ and steam can pass through G³ to the steam chamber J at the bottom
of the storage vessel but is shut off from G. In order at this time to allow air to
pass from the infuser as it becomes filled with water a small tap K' is opened
which is on the lower end of a pipe K led downwards from the passage into which
the passage G opens-the pipe K is thus open to the pipe H which leads to the
top of the infuser and air can pass out from the infuser through this pipe. When
it is seen that liquid comes from the tap then it is known that the infuser has
been filled with liquid-and the plug of the cock I is turned to the off position.
L is a tap on the under side of the movable bottom of the infuser by which
the infusion can be drawn off if desired if the tap K₁ be again opened to admit
air to the upper part of the receiver. M is a pipe passing from the bottom of the
steam chamber direct to the steam pipe in one of the standards C so that any
water condensed in the steam chamber may flow back freely to the boiler. N is
a tap by which infusion can be drawn off at any time from the storage vessel.
The removable bottom B₁ of each infusion vessel B is shewn at Figure 2 as
being held up tightly against a packing ring which is around the bottom of the
infusion vessel by means of a screw O screwed through a bar P which at its
ends is fixed to rods P¹ which project downwards from the vessel B but other
means for holding the removable bottom securely against the bottom of this vessel.
might be adopted.
The removable bottom has handles B³ extending sidewise from it by which it
can readily be withdrawn when the screw O is slackened.

page_text: 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 apparatus for making infusions the combination of a standard with arms
extending from it carrying two vessels one a vessel in which the infusion is to be
made the other a vessel in which it may be stored when made and a cock on
the standard the plug of which has several passages through it by which when
the plug is turned into one position boiling water is admitted to the infusing vessel,
and when turned into another position admits steam to the upper part of the
infusing vessel and connects the bottom of this vessel with the lower part of the
storage vessel so as to force the infusion into this latter vessel substantially as
described.
2. The construction of apparatus for making infusions substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described.
JAS. CHILDS.