Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Drawing and Delivery of Liquids Stored in Vaults, Cellars, or the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1891-Accepted 13th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Drawing and
Delivery of Liquids Stored in Vaults, Cellars, or the like.
I, SYLVESTER JENKINS, Clerk, of Junction House, Lansdale, in the County of
Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to apparatus for delivering liquids, and consists of certain
improvements, which are fully set forth in the following Specification, and shown in
the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.
The object of my invention is to provide a convenient apparatus for filling
receptacles with liquids or other articles in a cellar from an upper room, and then
raising the filled receptacles from the cellar. My invention is particularly adapted
to use in bar rooms for the delivery of ale and other liquids which by their nature
must be kept in a vault or cellar. Ordinarily, it is necessary for the attendant to
descend into the cellar, whenever it is desired to draw a glass of ale, or pressure
devices are employed to raise the liquor to the upper room. Elevators have been
devised heretofore in which the receptacle is lowered to the cask and filled therefrom
by operating a valve from the upper room, but in none of these devices has it been
possible to fill a number of separate glasses upon each lowering of the elevator
platform, and it has been usual when a number of glasses were to be drawn, to fill
a large receptacle and subsequently pour the liquor therefrom into the different
glasses at the bar.
In my apparatus, however, it is possible at one operation of the elevator to fill a
number of glasses or receptacles in succession, the apparatus operating automatically
to bring each glass successively in position under the spigot of the barrel and
notifying the attendant in the upper room when cach glass has been filled.
In carrying out my invention, 1 employ a support for the glasses or receptacles,
which is raised and lowered in an elevator shaft, and by means of suitable mechanism
is rotated upon reaching a position under the spigot of the barrel, the rotation
being interrupted by means of stop mechanism until each glass has been filled, when
the weight of the liquid or article introduced into the receptacle automatically
causes the operation of the stop mechanism to permit the support to rotate so as to
bring the next receptacle or glass in position under the spigot.
In connection with these devices employ an alarm or indicator, which notifies
the attendant in the upper room when each receptacle is filled and after the proper
number have been filled the support is raised in the elevator shaft.
My invention also consists of certain novel improvements and combinations of
parts which are hereafter more fully set out and claimed.
In the drawings :
Fig. 1 is an illustrative view of my improved apparatus showing the elevator
shaft in vertical section and the support for the receptacles and its operative
incchanism and the barrel in side elevation:
Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional. view of my improved apparatus on the line a―
of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus for intermittently rotating the
support for the receptacles;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the receptacle support;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the same on the line y-y of Fig. 4; and
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the stop mechanism removed from the other
parts.
"A is an elevator shaft extending from the upper room into the cellar or lower

page_text: room where the barrel or reservoir B is located. The upper portion of the shaft A
preferably terminates in a table A. C is a valved spigot or delivery opening
connected with the barrel B in any convenient manner, and movable into the
elevator shaft A. C¹ is a rod connected with the spigot C and extending up into
the upper room, whereby the spigot C may be moved out into shaft A and the
valve may be simultaneously opened. D is a rotatable frame provided with a series
of supports or holders E for the receptacles or glasses E. F is a central rod
carrying the frame D and journaled in a frame G. H H are guides in the elevator
shaft A upon which the frame G is guided in its ascent and descent.
I is a rope
connected with the frame G and adapted to be wound upon a drum 1' by means of
a handle to raise and lower the frame G. The drum 1' is carried upon a drum 13,
and a rope 13 provided with a weight 1 is connected with the drum at a point a
short distance from the drum 12, as shown in Fig. 2. With this construction it will
be seen that the rope 13 will be wound upon the drum 12 when the frame Gis
lowered and will be unwound therefrom when the frame G is raised. When the
frame reaches the top of the elevator shaft, as shown in Fig. 1, the rope 13 will be
entirely unwound from the drum [2 and a leverage will be obtained from the point,
so that the effect of the weight will be increased sufficiently to hold the frame G
with the required degree of strength at the top of the elevator shaft and prevent it
accidentally descending by any slight, jar or increase of weight. If desired, any
other convenient means may be employed for raising and lowering the frame in
the elevator shaft A.
The supports EE for the glasses are supported by springs connected to the
frame. By means of adjusting screws (Fig. 5) the tension of the springs may be
adjusted. Normally, each support E is supported above the frame D by means of
these springs, so that when the weight upon the support E is increased by the
addition of the liquid, the spring J will be depressed.
K is a pin or projection carried by each support E or spring J extending through
an opening in the frame D. Carried by each pin K is a finger L. It is apparent
that the fingers L may be otherwise connected with the supports E as desired.
Mis a bracket journaled upon the central rod F, having an arm N journaled in
it. The outer end of the arm N is formed with an extension or bent-over portion a
which is adapted to engage the end of the finger L. O is a hammer carried by the
arm N adapted to strike a gong O which may be arranged upon the central rod F
or in any other convenient position. N' is a spring connecting the arm N with the
frame and tending normally to move the hammer into contact with the
gong The tendency of this spring is also to turn the bracket M journaled upon
the rod F. Stops mm may be used arranged upon the frame G to limit the move-
ment of the bracket M in either direction.
Carried by the arm N is a curved or segmental projection P with which the
pins Q upon the rotary frame D successively come into contact when the frame
This projection P and the pins Q act in conjunction with the arm N and
fingers in the manner hereafter more fully described to intermittently interrupt
the rotation of the frame D.
rotates.
P is a guard to protect the bearings of the arm N and bracket M. from contact
with the liquor that may be spilled.
Carried by the rod F is a pinion engaging with a rack R which is carried by
a lever S pivoted to the frame G at s. A spring S between the lever S and frame G
operates the rack and thereby rotates the rod F. T is a locking lever pivoted at s
or in any other convenient position and adapted to press against the lever S to
normally lock the lever S and rack R from acting. T' is a spring of greater
power than the spring S₁ between the lever T and the frame G. This spring
normally forces the lever T against the lever S, overcoming the action of the
spring S. The lever T projects out beyond the frame G, so that when the frame
is lowered in the shaft, the lever will strike the base of the elevator shaft or any
obstruction arranged therein, and will be moved, overcoming the tension of the
spring T, thereby releasing the lever S and permitting it to be operated by the
:

page_text: action of the spring S. The lever T thus forms a lock for the lever S. G' is a
guard upon the frame G to protect the rack and pinion and the rod F from contact
with any liquor.
It is obvious that the rotation of the frame D and supports E might be accom-
plished in many other ways than by the particular mechanism specified, and while
I prefer the construction shown and described consisting of the rack and pinion and
the springs S and T. I do not limit my invention so far as its other features are
concerned to the particular form of mechanism employed to rotate the frame and
glass supports.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The glasses E are placed in the supports E and the apparatus is lowered in the
shaft A by means of the rope 1. As heretofore set forth, the rod F is locked
against rotation by the lever T and its spring T1; but upon reaching a position at
the bottom of the shaft the lever T is raised and the rod is free to rotate by the
action of the spring S'. Rotation is however prevented by the arm N and
projection P which are respectively in contact with one of the fingers and pins Q.
The spigot C is then turned, allowing the liquor to flow into the glass under it.
As the weight supported by the spring J is increased by the addition of the liquor
in the glass, the spring will be depressed, allowing the support E to descend so as to
move the finger below the end of the arm N. The action of the spring N' will
rotate the arm N, and as the curved or segmental projection P is turned, the
pin Q will be free to pass, and by the action of the spring S¹ the rod F and
frame D will rotate until the next glass is brought into position under the spigot,
when further motion will be arrested by the arms N and projection P engaging
with the finger I and pin Q, in the manner heretofore described.
The arm N which acts as the stop for the finger I, it will be observed, is a
yielding or spring stop, so that its action in arresting the rotation of the frame D is
gradual and there is no jar, while the greater portion of the strain is taken by the
segmental projection P, which also constitutes a yielding stop for the pin Q, the
bracket M being free to move slightly. By this construction also the friction of
the parts is reduced to a minimum. It is apparent, however, that the projection P
and pin Qmay, if desired, be omitted, the entire strain being taken by the
arm N.
When the finger L comes in contact with the arm N it moves it against the
operation of the spring N', and thus moves the hammer away from the gong 0,
so that each time the arm N is released by the finger L the gong O' is sounded.
The attendant is thus notified when each glass has been filled, and when the desired
number has been obtained the apparatus is raised in the shaft A.
If desired the spigot C may be turned off after each glass is filled and until the
next is brought into position by the rotation of the apparatus, in order to prevent
any spilling of the liquor. i have found, however, in practice that this precaution
is unnecessary, since the quantity of liquor spilled is extremely small if the glasses
are so arranged that their adjacent edges touch.
By adjusting the tension of the springs which support the glass holders E, the
amount of liquid to be received before each operation of the rotatable frame may
be regulated. It is apparent that any convenient form of springs may be employed,
and if desired the separate glass holders E E may be dispensed with, and the
supports for the glasses may be made integral with the springs.
I prefer the details of construction which have been shown, but I do not limit
my invention to them, as it is apparent that they may be varied in many ways
without departing from the principles of it.
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 :-
1st. A rotatable frame for supporting a series of receptacles in combination with

page_text: means to raise and lower the frame, and a stop to intermittently arrest the rotation
of the frame.
2nd. A rotatable frame for supporting a series of receptacles in combination
with means to raise and lower the frame, and a stop to intermittently arrest the
rotation of the frame, with an alarm actuated by the stop.
3rd. The combination of a rotatable frame with means to raise and lower it, a
lock to lock the rotatable frame against rotation, and means to actuate the lock
when the frame is lowered to unlock the frame and permit it to rotate.
4th. The combination with a vessel having a delivery opening or spigot, of a
rotatable frame having a series of supports which are carried successively under
the delivery opening or spigot, and means to intermittently arrest the rotation of
the frame.
5th. The combination with a vessel having a delivery opening or spigot, of a
series of spring supports for receptacles, means to rotate said supports to move the
receptacles in succession under said delivery opening or spigot, and a stop arranged
in the path of said supports when in their normal positions but out of the path of
said supports when depressed, whereby each of said supports will be arrested by
said stop in passing under the spigot but when drepressed by the weight of the
liquor received in the receptacle will be released and free to rotate.
6th. The combination with the rotatable frame D, of the supports E carried
thereby and supported by springs J, the fingers L carried by the supports E, and a
stop arranged in the normal path of said fingers L, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
7th. The yielding stop N arranged in the path of the fingers L.
8th. The hammer O carried by the yielding stop N, and the gong 01.
9th. The pins Q carried by the spring supports of the rotatable frame in com-
bination with the stop P in the path of the pins Q.
10th. The bracket M in which the stop P is pivoted and the spring N¹ for the
bracket and pivoted stop.
11th. The combination with a vertically movable frame, of a rod journaled
therein, a rotatable supporting frame for a series of receptacles carried by said rod,
a rack and pinion for rotating said rod, devices to operate said rack, a locking
lever to normally lock said devices against operation, and means to actuate said
lever when the vertically movable frame is lowered to unlock said devices.
12th. The combination of a vertically movable frame for a receptacle, a vessel
having an outlet for discharging liquor or other material into said receptacle when
it has been lowered, an alarm and devices to sound said alarm actuated by the
support for the receptacle when the receptacle has been filled.
13th. The combination of an elevator shaft, a supporting frame vertically
movable therein, a lifting rope connected with said frame, a drum about which said
lifting rope passes, a smaller drum arranged concentric with the first drum, and
a counterbalanced rope adapted to be wound upon the smaller drum and connected
to the larger at a distance from the periphery of the smaller drum, whereby
the leverage of the counterbalanced rope is greatest when unwound from the
smaller drum.
1
D 1001
SYLVESTER JENKINS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.