Improvements in Apparatus for Racking Liquids or Filling Casks or Vessels with Liquids.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1893-Accepted, 22nd July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Racking Liquids or Filling Casks or
Vessels with Liquids.
We, JOHN LUMSDEN OATTS, of 87, West Regent Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Solicitor, and WILLIAM CRAWFORD, of
49 Arlington Street, Glasgow, aforesaid, Tinsmith, 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, that is
to say :-
This invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus for racking
liquids, or filling casks or vessels with liquids, the improved apparatus being
convenient and economical in use, and preventing waste by automatically stopping
the supply on a cask or vessel becoming full. The improved apparatus is suitable
for racking various kinds of liquids, such as beverages, and oils, whilst appropriate
modifications of it may be used for acids or corrosive liquids. The present invention
comprises improved modifications of the apparatus described in Patent Specification
No. 605 of 1892.
In carrying out the invention a supply valve is employed which is arranged to be
closed by a spring (or it might be by a weight) when a detent or catch lever which
holds the valve open is released. The detent or catch lever is acted on by a
diaphragm which is subjected to air pressure in a passage or tube extending down
into the cask or vessel receiving the liquid, the bottom end of the passage or tube
being open so that the liquid as it increases in depth causes an increase of air
pressure which acting on the diaphragm makes it release the detent or catch lever
on the cask or vessel becoming full or as full as the parts are adjusted for.
And in order that the said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood there are hereunto appended two sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to, and representing various modifications of
our improved apparatus.
Figures, 1, and, 2, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings are a plan and a sectional end
elevation of one modification of the improved apparatus, shown as in position for
filling a cask.
Figures, 3, 4, and, 5, on Sheet, 2, are enlarged vertical sections of modifications
of the valve and parts connected therewith.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In the modification shown in Figure, 3, the valve piece, A, is made with a supply
inlet nozzle, A 1, to which, in use, a flexible supply pipe, B, is attached either
directly or with an intermediate pipe, B 1, (Figures, 1, 2,) such supply pipe
delivering the liquid from a tank or other large vessel which is not shown. A
port, A 2, in the valve piece, A, communicates by a curved passage with a tube, C,
which when in use projects down into the cask or vessel, D (Figures, 1, 2,) and
which is curved to facilitate its introduction. The port, A 2, is closed by a disk
valve, E, on the bottom end of a spindle, E 1, which extends up through a stuffing
box, A 3, and has a collar, E 2, and handle, E3, fixed on its upper end; and the
valve is pressed downwards by a helical spring, F. To the bottom of the valve
piece, A, there is fixed an outer curved tube, C 1, surrounding the tube, C, and
with it extending down into the cask or vessel, D, when in use; and the upper
end of the space between the two tubes, C-1, and, C, communicates by a small
passage, C2, with a casing, G, fixed on the valve piece, A, and having fixed
in it by means of a cover, G 1, a flexible diaphragm, G 2: This diaphragm, G 2,
has fixed to its centre a spindle, G 3, the outer end of which is grooved or

page_text: forked so as to embrace and act on one end of a catch lever or detent, H, the
other end of which engages under the collar, E 2, of the valve spindle, E 1,
when the valve is raised to the open position. The catch lever, H, is acted on
by an adjustable helical spring, H1, on a stud fixed in the valve piece, A, the
spring moving the catch lever so as to engage under the spindle collar when the
'spindle is raised. The valve-spindle collar, E 2, has also acting on it the inner
forked end of a small hand lever, E 4, which may be used for opening the
valve quickly. The valve piece, A, has jointed to it a fork, A 4, with pointed
prongs for supporting it steadily upon the cask or vessel, D, when used without
other support; and to retain the valve piece, A, in the bung hole or inlet of
the cask or vessel, D, there is fixed to the tube, C 1, at the side opposite to
that at which the fork, A 4, is fitted, a piece, C 3, having saw teeth or ratchet
teeth which engage in the edge of the bung hole or inlet.
When a cask or vessel is being filled and when the level of the liquid therein
reaches the bottoms of the tubes, C 1, C, the liquid confines the air in the space
between these tubes; and as the liquid rises it compresses the confined air, and
ultimately when the cask or vessel is full or nearly so the pressure of the confined
air becomes sufficient to move the diaphragm, G 2, so as to release the catch
lever, H, whereupon the spring, F, closes the valve, E. A small air hole, C 4, is
provided to admit air when the apparatus is lifted out of the cask or vessel so that
the liquid in the tube, C, may at once run out, the inner part of this air hole being
guarded by a strip of metal.
In racking some liquids or beverages such as ale it is desirable to diminish
tendency to form froth and to provide for the removal of froth if formed. The
modification shown in Figure, 4, is designed for use with frothing liquids. The
inner tube, C, is extended and has attached to it a flexible tube, C 5, which may
reach downwards so as to deliver the liquid at the bottom or lower part of the
receiving cask or vessel. In addition, the part of the valve piece, A, which rests
on the top of the cask or vessel, D, is made with an annular cavity, A 5, up into
which any froth formed may rise, a rubber ring, A 6, being fixed round the bottom
to form close contact with the top of the cask or vessel. In connection with the
upper part of the froth cavity, A 5, a nozzle, A 7, is formed on the valve piece,
into which is screwed a metal tube, J, to lead away the froth, the outer end of the
tube, J, having attached to it a flexible tube, J 1, (Figures, 1, and 2,) for leading
the froth into a gutter or other receptacle, L 1.
Figure, 5, represents a modification suitable for use with acids, the body of the
valve piece, A, being made of, or lined with lead or other material not appreciably
or rapidly acted on by the corrosive liquid with which the apparatus may be used.
To protect the flexible diaphragm, G 2, from corrosive action a trap, K, is provided
through which the compressed air must pass on its way to the diaphragm. The
small air passage, C 2, is continued in a tube, K 1, extending up within an inverted
cup, K2, which cup dips into water or other suitable liquid placed in the trap. If
any acid ascends with the air it is caught by the water or liquid in the trap and
thereby prevented from reacking the diaphragm, G 2. The trap can be emptied
and the liquid in it renewed when required through screw plugs, K 3, K 4.
To facilitate the entering and withdrawing of the valve piece from casks the
apparatus shown in Figures, 1, and 2, is provided, and comprises a double cradle, L,
for two casks D, one of which may be being filled, whilst a previously filled cask is
being replaced by an empty one. A single valve piece, A, is sufficient for
operating alternately with two casks, and it is supported so as to be easily moved
from one cask to the other. The double cradle, L, is placed across a gutter, L 1,
for running off waste, and consists partly of wood bearers, L2, and partly of a pair
of castiron sole plates, L 3, each of which sole plates has fixed in it at a little
distance back from the cradle a vertical rod or pillar, M. To the two pillars, M,
there is fixed a horizontal rod, M 1, the attachment being by socket pieces, M2,
provided with pinching screws and which can be fixed at a suitable height on the
pillars, M. On the horizontal rod, M 1, there is fitted loosely a tube, M 3, which

page_text: has suspended to it by a link, M 4, a bar, M 5, jointed to the link. This bar, M 5,
is fixed on the outer ends of two pipes, one, J, being the one hereinbefore referred
to for leading away froth, and the other, B 1, being a pipe fixed to the valve
piece, A, at one end, and having a flexible supply pipe, B, coupled to its other end.
On the lower pipe, J, a sliding weight, J 4, is fitted which when in the position in
which it is shown in Figures, 1, and, 2, serves to hold the valve piece, A, firmly
and steadily in position in the cask, D. When about to change the valve piece, A,
from one cask to another the weight, J 4, is moved along the pipe, J, towards the
supporting rod, M 1, whereby the moving of the valve piece is facilitated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we-
claim is :-
1. For racking liquids or filling casks or vessels with liquids, the improved
combination of parts comprising an automatically closing supply valve held open.
by a catch lever or detent, a diaphragm to release the catch lever or detent by
the action of air compressed in a confined space or passage by the filling liquid
as its level rises in the cask or vessel, and accessory minor parts as, substantially,
hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved valve piece with supporting and holding parts substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figure, 3, of the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved valve piece with outlet for froth substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figure, 4, of the accompanying drawings.
4. The improved valve piece for corrosive liquids substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figure, 5, of the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination of parts for cradling casks or vessels and for supporting and
adjusting the valve piece and other parts substantially as herein before described
with reference to Figures, 1, and, 2, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Fourteenth day of June 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.