Improved Means for Stoppering Bottles and like Receptacles and for Measuring and Registering the Liquid withdrawn therefrom.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Stoppering Bottles and like Receptacles and for
Measuring and Registering the Liquid withdrawn therefrom.
I, JACQUES known as
THEOPHILE PERIER, of 32, Grande Rue a Asnieres,
(Seine), in the Republic of France Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
My invention relates to an improved stopper for use with bottles or other recep-
tacles, which stopper is provided with means for controlling the pouring-out of liquid
therefrom, measuring the liquid so poured, and counting the number of times
liquid has been poured out.
cock having
My improved apparatus is characterized by the combination of
two passages, with a valve arranged in the interior of the stopper so as to permit
the pouring of the liquid from the bottle or receptacle in equal measured quantities,
and also by the application of a counter for indicating the number of equal parts
of liquid withdrawn, thus preventing refilling or the addition of a foreign liquid
without detection, when the receptacle has been entirely or partially emptied.
I have shown, in the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, the
arrangement which forms the subject of my invention.
In this drawing:-
Figure 1 is an external view of my improved pouring-out, measuring and
counting stopper.
Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof showing the position of the valve after the
introduction of the liquid into the measuring chamber and during emptying.
Figure 3, which is also a vertical section, shows the position of this valve during
the introduction of the liquid into the measuring-chamber.
Figure 4 shows, separately, the position of the cam during emptying.
Figure 5 shows, separately, the said cam acting on the stem of the valve to
permit the introduction of the liquid into the measuring-chamber.
In these figures, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
As will be seen the plug a of the cock is formed with a passage b for the liquid
and with a passage c for the admission of air. During emptying, the passages
6 and c are arranged so as to register with passages 6¹, c¹, formed in the cock and
opening into the measuring-chamber d in the stopper p.
The upper end of the stem e of the valve f rests, under the action of its spring 9,
against a cam h keyed on the plug a of the cock.
On the plug a
mounted a worm i which actuates a toothed wheel k the num-
ber of teeth in which corresponds to the number of equal parts of liquid to be
withdrawn from the receptacle; a ratchet-wheel 7 is also keyed on the plug a and
prevents any movement of the plug in a backward direction by means of a catch
or pawl m mounted on the support n of the wheel k. Finally a cap o covers the
counting mechanism.
:-
The operation is as follows:-
The apparatus being at rest, the valve f bears against its seat. By turning the

page_text: plug a through half a revolution, the cam h presses back the stem e, which takes
with it the valve f so as to permit the introduction of liquid from the body of the
bottle into the measuring-chamber d on inverting the bottle. If the plug a be
then turned through a further half revolution, the valve f will seat itself and the
liquid enclosed in the chamber d will run out through the passages bland b.
During the rotary motion of the plug, the worm i will turn the wheel k through
a certain distance, this action taking place each time the plug is moved until the
whole of the liquid contained in the bottle is poured out. At this moment the
operation of the apparatus will be arrested, since the wheel k is provided with a
smooth or blank part ¹, and any movement of the plug in a reverse direction either
during the partial emptying of the liquid contained in the receptacle, or after it
is completely emptied, is prevented by the pawl m which always engages with
the teeth of the wheel l.
The capacity of the measuring-chamber d being, for example, one-fortieth of
the total capacity of the bottle, the wheel k will be arrested after the completion of
the 40th operation, that is to say, when the receptacle is entirely empty.
If, when the bottle is partially empty, liquid be fraudulently introduced into the
bottle, the wheel k, after its rotation, that is to say, after the 40th pouring-out
will arrest the operation of the apparatus and the excess liquid will be imprisoned
in the bottle and the fraud will thus be exposed.
It will be the same if, after completely emptying, the bottle be filled afresh,
the liquid introduced remaining imprisoned therein.
If desired, the wheel k can be rigidly secured to a frame arranged at the exterior
of the apparatus and moving in front of an index in such a manner as to indicate
the number of equal parts of liquid withdrawn from the receptacle.
I can also vary the form, dimensions and details and the materials employed
in the construction of my apparatus without departing from the nature of my said
invention.
1
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Means for Stoppering Bottles and like Receptacles, and for
Measuring and Registering the Liquid withdrawn therefrom.
I, JACQUES known as THEOPHILE PERIER, of 32, Grande Rue a Asnieres,
(Seine), in the Republic of France, Merchant, 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:-
My invention relates to a system for closing bottles and any other receivers of
glass or any other material, by means of an apparatus, which has the following
objects.
(1) To render the bottles inviolable that is to say to prevent them being refilled
with liquid, entirely or partly, after they have been emptied; or further, should any
one succeed in refilling them fraudulently either through the neck or through any
other orifice, my apparatus will prevent the pouring out of this new liquid, which
thus remains in the bottle.
(2) To measure exactly the quantity of liquid poured out, in order that
no excess of liquid may be poured out, and to vary the quantity of liquid poured
out, either by changing the size of the measuring device or by making it operate
several times successively.

page_text: (3) To count the number of times the measured quantity of liquid has been
poured out, thus giving the quantity consumed which allows of controlling the
attendants who serve the liquids, for instance waiters, bar-maids, etc.
In the annexed drawing:-Fig. 1 shows the exterior view of the apparatus;
Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the axis of the apparatus when_closed; Fig. 3
is a vertical section through the axis of the apparatus when opened.
Another
It is essentially composed of a cylindrical body which is placed in the neck of
the bottle and traversed by the tap proper of special form, as described liereinafter.
This tapa is provided along its axis with two passages, the one c having a
rectangular form and ending in the hole z. This passage is capillary and intended
for the passage of the air necessary to replace the liquid poured out.
larger passage serves for the liquid and ends in the hole y. The under part of
the plug contains an empty chamber d having exactly the capacity of the measure
to be given; it is this chamber d which I call the measurer; it can be closed at its
under extremity by a plate or valve in the form of a flat disk f provided with
cork or any other convenient material and mounted on the end of a vertical rod e.
This rod e carries towards the top a flange or shoulder X against which there
presses a spiral spring g lodged in a cylindrical hollow of the plug. The upper
extremity of the rod e comes into contact with a piece h of eccentric form, and
mounted on the axle of the tap a.
When the eccentric disk h is in the position of Fig. 2 the projecting part is
lifts
directed upwards and as it does not touch the top of the rod e the spring g
the rod e and consequently the disk f is applied on the under orifice of the apparatus
and closes it hermetically. When on the contrary the tap a is turned half a revolu-
tion so that it takes the position of Fig. 3, the projecting part of the eccentric
pushes the end of the rod è downwards and presses on the spring g and the disk f
sinks, opening the under orifice of the apparatus.
In order to pour out the liquid contained in the bottle, it is first necessary to fill
the measurer with the quantity of liquid which it can contain, this quantity
of liquid contained in the measurer d is then poured into the glass, without any
further drop escaping from the bottle.
In order to fill the measurer d, it is sufficient to turn the bottle upside down
and to place the tap in the position of Fig. 3. The disk no longer closes the bottom
of the apparatus and the liquid fills the measurer d. In order to pour this
measured liquid into a glass one must give to the tap half a revolution, in order
to put the hole y into communication with the passage 6 of the measurer and the
hole z into communication with the passage c; the exterior air can thus enter
through the passages c and el and the liquid can escape through the passages b
and 6. But by turning the tap a in order to place it into the position of Fig. 2,
one has closed the disk f and no more liquid will enter the measurer d.
The plug is surrounded by a layer of cork or any other convenient substance
allowing of fixing it hermetically into the neck of the bottle; I can also make this
layer of a cement, which will simultaneously serve for fixing the apparatus solidly
into the neck of the bottle. By providing the neck of the bottle with swellings
corresponding to circular grooves provided round the tap, I could thus fix the
apparatus in order that it cannot be displaced from the neck of the bottle without
breaking this bottle, which will prevent it from being fraudulently refilled. When
cement is not used, the apparatus can be fixed on the bottle by means of a wire
or any other device provided with a wax or lead seal.
I will now proceed to describe how my apparatus serves for counting the num-
ber of times, the liquid has been poured out, for instance the number of small
glasses of liquor which have been sold. This counting device is placed at the top
of the plug and protected by a cap of metal or any other convenient material. Figs.
4 and 5 show it in a front view. The protecting cap o (Figs. 2 and 3) protects the
wheel of the counter and the rest of the mechanism is lodged in the body of the
tap. Figs. 4 and 5 correspond with the two positions of Figs. 2 and 3. The ratchet
wheel is regulated by a spring m which forces it to turn for one tooth always in

page_text: the same direction. The wheel i carries a projection in a broken line which makes
the toothed wheel turn one tooth further, and the wheel k advances one tooth
for each complete revolution of i. The wheel has forty teeth and a free space of
the width of two teeth is reserved so that at the end of 40 operations of pouring
out one can no more operate the counter. One is then obliged to send the apparatus
back to the work shop where the wheel is replaced at its starting point, corres-
ponding to zero. The blade causes the spring m to remain in the plane of the
ratchet wheel 1. I may place an indicator on the axle of the wheel of the counter k
and this indicator will be displaced on an exterior dial-plate not shown in the
drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The before described system of plug for counting, measuring and pouring
out liquid, in combination with a bottle or any other receiver of glass or any other
material, by means of a wire, cement or any other other manner of fastening: this
manner of fastening being rendered inviolable by means of a lead or wax seal or
any other means.
2. In the plug as in Claim 1 the arrangement of a chamber of known capacity
serving for measuring the quantity of liquid which must pass each time through
the tap.
3. In the plug as in Claim 1 the counter composed of ratchet and tooth wheel
device which is displaced one division on each revolution of the key of the tap and
which indicates the number of times the apparatus has been in operation.
4. In the plug as in Claim 1 the arrangement of a valve the movement of which
combined with a mechanism depending from the operation of the tap, allows the
liquid to leave the bottle, but prevents the fraudulent introduction of the new liquid
or if one has succeeded in introducing some liquid, prevents this new liquid from
leaving.
5. In the plug as in Claim 1 the arrangement of a tap with air communication
for allowing the quantity of liquid in the measurer to escape.
6. In the plug as in Claim 1 the combination of these three systems of measur-
ing, counting and pouring out the liquid to obtain the inviolability of a bottle
or any receiver, by preventing any fraudulent introduction of the liquid to regulate
exactly the quantity of liquid and to count the number of times the liquid has
been poured out.
All substantially as illustrated and described.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.