IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING OR DISCHARGING BEER OR OTHER LIQUID
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George MoCallum and Robert Thomson Harris, both of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING OR DISCHARGING BEER OR
OTHER LIQUID,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George McCallum and
Robert Thomson Harris at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
27th August 1880.
GEORGE MCCALLUM and ROBERT THOMSON HARRIS, both of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING
OR DISCHARGING BEER OR OTHER LIQUID."
This Invention relates to apparatus for raising or discharging beer or other liquid
by means of air or a suitable gas, which is made to press on the surface of such
liquid in the cask or vessel containing it; and it comprises various improvements
in such apparatus. One of the objects of such apparatus is to raise the beer or
liquid from a cellar or vault up to the level of a bar or counter at which the liquid
is retailed; and another object is to do so with the least possible disturbance of the
liquid, either in the cask or vessel or when on its way to the bar.
Various arrangements of apparatus have been proposed or tried for effecting the
purpose in view by means of air or gas under pressure, but have been found liable
to derangement or otherwise defective, and it is the object of the present Invention
to overcome the difficulties that have been met with.
The improved apparatus may be applied in a more or less complete form, according
to circumstances; thus, in the simplest and least costly modification, personal
attention to the apparatus will be required at intervals to open and close certain
cocks or valves, whilst other modifications are completely automatic, and require no
manipulation excepting for making the necessary connections with the casks or
vessels containing the liquid to be operated on.
In all the modifications the air or gas employed is compressed by means of water
descending from a cistern placed at a suitable height above the bar at which the
liquid is to be delivered or retailed, or the water may be taken directly from

page_text: the main through a reducing valve, which will prevent its effective pressure in
the apparatus from being too great. The compressed air is contained in a receiver
of a cylindrical or other convenient form, from which it passes to the casks or
vessels through a system of piping, an important peculiarity of which is that the
pipe first proceeds from the air receiver up to a level a little above that of the
water supplying cistern, or to a height corresponding to that of the pressure of
water employed, and returns thence down to a main pipe fitted with branch pipes,
each having a stopcock. This arrangement of the piping renders it impossible for
water to get into any of the casks or vessels, as it will not rise higher than the
cistern level, and cannot therefore reach tho redescending part of the pipe. The
branch pipes with stopcocks are connected with the tops of the several casks by
flexible tubing, and the lower parts of the casks are similarly connected with the
pipes proceeding up to the taps at the bar. As many casks are apt to allow the
compressed air to escape at the bung, a plate with a rubber lining is provided, and
is pressed hard over the bung hole and part round it by means of a screw spindle,
which is tapped through a cramp bar; this cramp bar is placed the long way of the
cask, and is fitted at the ends with claw pieces which are adjustable to fit different
sizes of cask. A similar cramp bar and plate can be applied to any other leaky
part of a cask.
In the simplest modification of the apparatus the air is compressed by means of
water admitted to the bottom of the receiver through a cock or valve which is
closed by hand when the receiver is full or nearly full of water, another cock or
valve being at the same time opened to let out the water.
In a second modification the air is forced into the receiver by automatic apparatus,
which consists of a vessel of a cylindrical or other convenient form having in it at
its bottom or lower part inlet and outlet valves for the water, whilst at the top
there is an inlet check valve to admit air, and a pipe leading to the air receiver,
this pipe being fitted with a check valve to prevent the return of air. The inlet
and outlet valves for water are opened and shut by means of a lever combined with
a tumbling weight, which last is acted on by a float. The float moves vertically
between stops on a rod, and when it is carried up by the water, and nearly reaches
the top of the vessel, it raises the rod which carries the tumbling weight then
falls, and suddenly shifts the lever so as to shut the inlet valve and open the outlet
valve; and the roverse action takes place when the water has run out to nearly its
lowest level, the tumbling weight being then turned over in the other direction.
Air enters the vessel as the water runs out, and on the entrance of fresh water the
air is forced by it into the air receiver.
In a third modification the action is also automatic. Two vessels are fixed on a
hollow rocking shaft, and communicate with opposite ends of it, the water entering
them alternately through valves at the ends of the shaft, which valves are closed
and opened by the rocking movement either directly or through the action of a
stationary guide acting like a screw, so as to make the shaft move endways when
rocking. The water begins to enter either vessel when that vessel is in its highest
position, and when it has sufficiently filled it the vessel descends and rocks the
shaft. The descent of each vessel is retarded by a catch in connection with an
adjustable weighted lever, which catch is not overcome until there is enough weight
of water in the vessel to insure complete and certain action. When each vessel
descends a valve in its bottom part becomes opened by encountering a stationary
stop, and allows the water to run out. Air may enter each vessel by the water
outlet or by a separate check valve. The air is compressed in the vessels by the
water, and passes off through check valves at the upper parts to the air receiver.
Instead of air carbonic acid or other suitable gas may be employed; and the air
may be purified either before being drawn into the apparatus or when in a com-
pressed state by being passed through moistened lime, or charcoal, or other suitable
purifying agent.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George McCallum and Robert Thomson Harris in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 25th February 1881.
GEORGE MCCALLUM and ROBERT THOMSON HARRIS, both of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING
OR DISCHARGING BEER OR OTHER LIQUID."
Our said Invention relates to apparatus for raising or discharging beer or other
liquid by means of air, or a suitable gas which is made to press on the surface of
such liquid in the cask or vessel containing it, and it comprises various improve-
ments in such apparatus. One of the objects of such apparatus is to raise the beer
or liquid from a cellar or vault up to the level of a bar or counter at which the
liquid is retailed; and another object is to do so with the least possible disturbance
of the liquid either in the cask or vessel, or when on its way to the bar.
Various arrangements of apparatus have been proposed or tried for effecting
the purpose in view, by means of air or gas under pressure, but have been found
liable to derangement, or otherwise defective; and it is the object of our present
Invention to overcome the difficulties that have been met with.
Our improved apparatus may be applied in a more or less complete form, according
to circumstances. Thus in the simplest and least costly modification personal
attention to the apparatus will be required at intervals to open and close certain
cocks or valves, whilst other modifications are completely automatic and require no
manipulation excepting for making the necessary connections with the casks or
vessels containing the liquid to be operated on.
In all the modifications the air or gas employed is compressed by means of water
descending from a cistern placed at a suitable height above the bar at which the
liquid is to be delivered or retailed; or the water may be taken directly from the
main through a reducing valve, which will prevent its effective pressure in the
apparatus from being too great. The compressed air is contained in a receiver of
a cylindrical or other convenient form, from which it passes to the casks or vessels
through a system of piping, an important peculiarity of which is that the pipe
first proceeds from the air receiver up to a level a little above that of the water
supplying cistern, or to a height corresponding to that of the pressure of water
employed, and returns thence down to a main pipe fitted with branch pipes, each
having a stopcock. This arrangement of the piping renders it impossible for water
to get into any of the casks or vessels, because it will not rise higher than the
cistern level, and cannot therefore reach the redescending part of the pipe.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append two Sheets of explanatory
Drawings to be hereinafter referred to, and representing various modifications of
our improved apparatus. In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used
to mark the sume or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a sectional elevation showing the simplest modifi-
cation of our apparatus, and comprising the bar or counter 10, at which the beer
or liquid is to be delivered, and the cellar beneath where the casks or vessels 11
are placed, together with the apparatus. The water for compressing the air is
supplied by means of a cistern 12 placed at a level a little higher than the bar 10,
and from this cistern a pipe 13 fitted with a stopcock 14 passes down to the
bottom of a vessel 15, by preference of a cylindrical form. Air enters this vessel 15
by an inlet check valve 16, which is by preference of a kind hereinafter more

page_text: "
particularly described, and when the water is admitted it forces the air through
a pipe 17, which is continued up to a point 18 a little higher than the cistern 12,
and returns thence downwards, the descending part 19 being fitted with a stop-
cock 20, and communicating with a receiver 21, which is a vessel also by preference
of a cylindrical form. As the water cannot rise up the pipe 17 higher than the
level of the water in the cistern 12 it will be obvious that it cannot get into the
air receiver 21. When the vessel 15 has become full of water the stopcocks 14
and 20 are closed and a discharge cock 22 is opened to allow the water to run out,
whereupon a fresh supply of air will enter by the valve 16, and may in its turn
be forced into the receiver 21, which may by suitably manipulating the stop-
cocks 14, 20, 22, be filled with air of about the pressure of the water. From the
air receiver 21 the air is held by a pipe 23 to a main air pipe 24, which may
conveniently extend along over a series of casks 11, being fitted with branch pipes
having stopcocks 25, of which one is shown. A length of flexible tubing 26
connects the air branch 25 with the cask 11, a metal nozzle coupled to the tubing
being screwed into or otherwise secured in the vent hole of the cask, whilst a
pipe 27 is connected to the bottom of the cask to lead the beer or liquid up to the
bar 10, where a stopcock 28 serves for drawing it off as required, the pressure of
air in the cask causing the liquid to flow on the stopcock 28 being opened.
As many casks are apt to allow the compressod air to escapo at the bung a
plate 29 with a rubber lining is provided, and is pressed hard over the bung hole
and part round it by moans of a screw spindle 30, which is tapped through a
cramp bar 31. This cramp bar 31 is placed the long way of the cask, and is fitted
at the end with adjustable pieces 32, which may either be held by chains passing
round the ends of the cask, as shown in Figure 1, or be made with claws to engage
with the ends of the staves, as shown in Figure 4. A similar cramp bar 31 and
plate 29 may be applied to any other leaky part of a cask.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a modification in which a single large
receiver 33 is used instead of the two 15, 21, of the modification already described,
the water simply compressing the air into the upper part of the receiver, whence
it passes by the piping 17, 18, 19, directly into the air main 24. For the automatic
snifting or air inlet valve (16) there is substituted a valve 34 to be opened by
hand, and a section of which is shown in Figure 5, and a glass gauge tube 35 is
fitted to the receiver to show the quantities of air and water in it.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section, and Figure 7 is a vertical section of a modifi-
cation in which the air is forced into the receiver 21 by automatic apparatus,
which consists of a vessel 36 of a cylindrical or other convenient form, having in it
at its bottom or lower part inlet and outlet valves 37, 38, for the water, whilst in
connection with the top, there is an inlet check valve or snifting valve 16 to admit
air, and piping 17, 18, 19, leading to the air receiver 21, a check valve being
provided at 39 to prevent the return of air. The inlet and outlet valves 37, 38,
for water are opened and shut by means of a lever 40 combined with a tumbling
weight 41, which last is acted on by a float 42. The float 42 moves vertically
between stops 43 on a rod 44, and when it is carried up by the water and nearly
reaches the top of the vessel, it encounters the upper stop 43, and raises the rod 44
which carries the tumbling weight 41 over its centre. The tumbling weight 41 is
on a disk, having the same axis as the lever 40, and when it falls over it suddenly
shifts the lever 40 so as to shut the inlet valve 37 and open the outlet valve 38,
and the reverse action takes place when the water has run out nearly to its lowest
level, the float 42 descending and acting on the lower stop 43, so as to make the
rod 44 turn the tumbling weight 41 over in the opposite direction. Air enters the
vessel 36 by the snifting valve 16 as the water runs out; and on the entrance of
fresh water, the air is forced by it into the air receiver 21. The snifting or air
inlet valve 16, which we prefer to use, is shown in section in Figure 9, and consists
of a valve opening outwards and attached to a flexible diaphragm which closes the
valve when the internal pressure is greater than the external or atmospheric

page_text: pressure, and which is of a large enough size to be not only sensitive, but also to
act forcibly on the valve, and ensure its tight closing. Both the diaphragm and
the valve are protected by external casings or caps which are perforated to give
access to the air.
Figures 8 and 9 are horizontal and vertical sections, showing a modification of
the water valve details in which the lever (40) is dispensed with, the tumbler
disk 41 being fixed on a horizontal spindle, whilst the inlet and outlet valves or
cocks 37, 38, are arranged with their plugs in the same line as the spindle of the
tumbler disk 41, and are directly turned by that spindle.
Figures 2 and 3 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings are a sectional plan and a vertical
section of a modification of our automatic apparatus. In this example, two
vessels 45, 46, aro fixed on a hollow rocking shaft 47, and communicate with
opposite ends of it by passages 48, 49, the water entering them alternately through
valves at the ends of the hollow shaft, which valves are closed and opened
alternately by the rocking movement through the action of a stationary guide 50
acting like a screw, so as to make the shaft move endways when rocking. The
ends of the hollow shaft 47 enter boxes 51, connected by branch pipes 52 with
the water supply pipe, and either passage 48 or 40 is closed by the corresponding
end of the shaft being moved into contact with a stationary valve disk in the
box 51. The water begins to enter either vessel 45 or 46 when that vessel is in its
highest position, and when it has sufficiently filled it, that vessel descends and
rocks the shaft 47. The descent of each vessel 45, 46, is retarded by a catch 53, 54,
forming part of an adjustably weighted lever, which catch is not overcome until
there is enough weight of water in the vessel to insure complete and certain action.
When each vessel 45, 46, descends, a valve 55, 56, in its bottom part becomes
opened by encountering a stationary stop 57, 58, and allows the water to run out.
Air may enter each vessel 45, 46, by the water outlet, or as we prefer, by a separate
check valve 59, 60. The air is compressed in the vessels by the water, and passes
off through check valves 39 at the upper parts to a connecting pipe 61, which by
means of a flexible pipe 62, communicates with the air receiver (21).
Instead of air, carbonic acid or other suitable gas may be employed in any of the
modifications of our improved apparatus; and the air or gas may be purified either
before being drawn into the apparatus, or when in a compressed state by being
passed through or over moistened lime or charcoal, or cotton, wool, or other suitable
purifying agent.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the
precise details herein described or delineated, but that what we believe to be novel
and original, and claim as the Invention secured to us by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The arranging or combining together of parts of apparatus for raising or
discharging beer or other liquid in any of the improved modes hereinbefore
described.
2. The combination of a pipe (17, 18, 19), rising above the level corresponding
to the head of water, with apparatus for compressing air or gas by water, for the
purpose of raising or discharging beer or other liquid, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. The combination of the plate (29), screw (31), cramp bar (31), and adjustable
end pieces or claws (32), for preventing leakage at the bung hole or other part of a
cask or vessel to which compressed air or gas is applied for raising or discharging
beer or other liquid, as hereinbefore described.
4. The combination of the float (42), the rod (44) with its stops (43), and the
tumbling weight (41) for shifting the inlet and outlet water valves, of air-com-
pressing apparatus for raising or discharging beer or other liquid, as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying Drawings.
5. The combination of parts forming automatic air-compressing apparatus for

page_text: raising or discharging beer or other liquid, herein before described with reference to
Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said George McCallum and Robert Thomson Harris,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-third day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
ROBT. T. HARRIS. (L.S.)