Quantity of Liquid Drawn from Casks or other Receptacles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Quantity of Liquid Drawn from Casks or other Receptacles.
I HENRY LLOYD SNAITH NICOL of View Bank Leysmill by Arbroath in the
County of Forfar, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention which relates to improvements in apparatus for measuring and
registering the quantity of liquid drawn from casks or other receptacles is especially
applicable for the use of retailers, as from its character it will enable them to ascertain
readily the amount or quantity of liquid at all times drawn from the cask as well as
to measure the desired quantity to be supplied from time to time.
The Invention consists of a pipe or tube having a double plug or cock which is
fitted or screwed to the cask or other receptacle containing the liquid, the plug or
cock next to the cask establishing communication between the cask and the cylinder
or measuring chamber and the other plug or cock for drawing off or distributing the
liquid for consumption or otherwise. Betwixt the two plugs or cocks, and on the
same pipe or tube is situated a vertical chamber or cylinder for holding the desired
quantity of liquid, inside of which is a floating ball of cylindrical form which may
be in two parts if desired to prevent the escape of the liquid when the cylinder is
charged, and whose upper end has attached thereto a caoutchouc or other suitable
washer. In the cap or cover of the cylinder is inserted a small tube or pipe for
admission of air, whose inner end has also a suitable washer affixed thereto.
Attached to each side of the chamber or cylinder is a support upon which rests the
apparatus for recording or registering the quantity of liquid drawn from the cask
or other receptacle, said apparatus being fixed or placed within a suitable casing
or box.
To fill the chamber or cylinder with the desired quantity of liquid I turn the dis-
tributing or draw off plug towards the cask, which has fitted thereto a segment of a
toothed wheel, gearing into the segment of another toothed wheel fitted to the plug or
cock nearest the cask, such motion causing the communication between the cask and

page_text: the measuring chamber to open and fill the cylinder, whilst the distributing or draw
off plug or cock closes. To draw off the measured liquid the operation above
described is reversed, communication between the cask and measuring chamber is
closed, whilst the desired measured quantity of liquid to be served or supplied escapes
from the cock or plug.
Attached to the inner segment wheel at the centre thereof is a rod, connected to a
small crank or lever on a horizontal shaft of the Registering apparatus, which upon
every motion of distributing plug or cock revolves, causing a ratchet pivoted to
another crauk or lever on the reverse side of the same horizontal shaft to move a
toothed wheel, a distance equal to the desired quantity of liquid, which we shall here
call a nip or glass, such quantity being indicated by a needle or pointer, shewn on
a dial and actuated by the said wheel. This wheel which indicates from 1 to 50 nips
has keyed to it a small pinion wheel, which actnates a second toothed wheel to
indicate on the dial from 50 to 500 nips, or every 10 nips, while a third wheel
actuated by a pinion wheel on the second, indicates from 500 to 5000 or every
100 nips.
On the plug or cocks and segment wheels being reversed it sends the ratchet back
ready for the next movement.
To prevent the Registering apparatus having a backward movement, the first
toothed wheel above referred to is blocked by a suitable ratched pivoted to the frame
of the registering apparatus.
It is to be understood that although the present apparatus is made to suit the
measurement of liquid to the extent of a nip or half glass, that by an apparatus on
the same principle the parts could be enlarged or altered to suit any other convenient
measure.
Dated this 26th day of March 1888.
D. DRYSDALE AUSTIN,
101, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioner's Agent.

page_text: improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Registering the
Quantity of Liquid Drawn from Casks or other Receptacles.
1, HENRY LLOYD SNAITH NICOL of View Bank, Leysmill by Arbroath in the
County of Forfar, North Britain, Engineer, 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 which relates to Improvements in apparatus for measuring and
registering the quantity of liquid drawn from casks or other receptacles is especially
applicable for the use of retailers as from its character, it will enable them to ascertain
readily the amount or quantity of liquid at all times drawn from the cask as well as
to measure the desired quantity to be supplied from time to time.
The invention consists of a pipe or tube having a double plug or cock which is fitted or
screwed to the cask or other receptacle containing the liquid, the plug or cock next to
the cask establishing communication between the cask and the cylinder or measuring
chamber and the other plug or cock for drawing off or distributing the liquid for con-
sumption or otherwise. Betwixt the two plugs or cocks, and on the same pipe or tube
is situated a vertical chamber or cylinder for holding the desired quantity of liquid,
inside of which is a floating ball of cylindrical form which may be in two parts if
desired to prevent the escape of the liquid when the cylinder is charged and whose
upper end has attached thereto a caoutchouc or other suitable washer. In the cap or
cover of the cylinder is inserted a small tube or pipe for admission of air; whose inner
end has also a suitable washer affixed thereto.
Attached to each side of the chamber or cylinder is a support upon which rests
the apparatus for recording or registering the quantity of liquid drawn from the
cask or other receptacle, said apparatus being fitted or placed within a suitable
casing or Box,
To fill the chamber or cylinder with the desired quantity of liquid, I turn the
distributing or draw off plug towards the cask which has fitted thereto a segnent of
a toothed wheel into the segment of another toothed wheel fitted to the plug or cock
nearest the cask, such motion causing the communication between the cask and the
measuring chamber to open and fill the cylinder whilst the distributing or draw off
plug or cock closes. To draw off the measured liquid the operation above described
is reversed, communication between the cask and measuring chamber is closed, whilst
the desired measured quantity of liquid to be served or supplied escapes from the
cock or plug.
Attached to the inner segment wheel at the centre thereof is a rod connected to a
small crank or lever on a horizontal shaft of the Registering Apparatus which upon
every motion of distributing plug or cock, revolves causing a ratchet pivoted to
another crank or lever on the reverse side of the same horizontal shaft to move a
toothed wheel a distance equal to the desired quantity of liquid, which we shall here
call a nip or a glass such quantity being indicated by a needle or pointer shown on a

page_text: dial and actuated by the said wheel. This wheel which indicates from 1 to 50 nips
has keyed to it a small pinion wheel, which actuates a second toothed wheel to indicate
on the dial from 50 to 500 nips, or every 10 nips while a third wheel actuated by a
pinion wheel on the second, indicates from 500 to 5000 or every 100 nips.
On the plug or cocks and segment wheels being reversed it sends the ratchet back
ready for the next movement.
To prevent the Registering apparatus having a backward movement the first toothed
wheel above referred to is blocked by a suitable ratchet pivoted to the frame of the
Registering apparatus.
It is to be understood that although the present apparatus is made to suit the
measurement of liquid to the extent of a nip or half glass, that by an apparatus on the
same principle the parts could be enlarged or altered to suit any other convenient quantity.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood & readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed:-
Figs. 1 and 3 are respectively front and side elevations of the liquid measuring and
registering apparatus constructed according to and constituting my present Invention.
Figs. 2 and 4 are sections of the same taken respectively on the lines A B. Fig. 3
and D. Figure 1.
This Invention consists of a horizontal arrangement of two straight-way plug
cocks E and F connected together by and communicating with a central vertical
measuring cylinder or chamber G. The main portion of the chamber G and the
casings of the cocks E and F are by preference cast in one piece as shewn on the
annexed drawings, but they may be made separately if desired. The cock E-whose
screwed end I is secured to the cask or other receptacle containing the liquid-
establishes communication between the said casks and the measuring chamber G
whilst the other cock or tap F, draws off the liquid from the measuring chamber G
for consumption or otherwise. This chamber G which is constructed to hold exactly
the desired quantity of liquid is provided internally with a cylindrical float J to
prevent the escape of the liquid through the air pipe K when the cylinder is charged.
To ensure that this result is attained an India Rubber or other washer L is affixed to
the top of the said float J, and a ring M of similar material placed around the
inward projecting end of the air pipe K, so that an air tight joint is formed between
the float J and air pipe K when the former is floated upwards and pressed against
the end of the latter. Attached to each side of the measuring chamber G is a
support N upon which rests the apparatus for recording or registering the quantity
of liquid drawn from the cask or other receptacle, said apparatus being contained
within a suitable casing or Box O. To operate the cocks E and F simultaneously the
plug P of the cock is furnished with a segmental wheel Q which gears with a
similar segmental wheel R on the plug S of the cock E so that when the plug P is
revolved through a quarter of a revolution by means of the handle T the plug S
revolves through an equal distance but in the opposite direction. The passage ways U
and W in their respective plugs S and P are set at right angles to each other so that
when the cock E is open, F is closed and vice versa. On the accompanying drawings
the cock E is shown closed whilst F is open and consequently the Chamber G is
empty. To fill this measuring chamber G with the desired quantity of liquid, I turn
the handle T from left to right through a quarter of a revolution making the
passage-way U in the plug S to coincide with the entrance and discharge orifices
of the casing V and thereby opening communication between the casks and measuring
chamber G whilst the cock F is closed, the passage way W in the Plug P being
placed at right angles to the entrance and discharge orifices of the casing X. To
draw off the measured quantity of liquid now contained within the chamber G the
operation above described is reversed the handle T being turned from left to right
when communication between the cask and chamber G is cut off, whilst the cock Fis
opened and discharges the desired quantity of liquid.
The registering apparatus is operated from the cock E by means of a rod Y whose
lower end is attached to the segmental wheel R, whilst its upper end is connected
to a cranked lever Z on one end of a horizontal rocking shaft b, near whose opposite

page_text: end a lever "a" is situated and actuates a hooked pawl d. On every alternative
quarter revolution of the plug S that is, on the upward motion of the rod Y or every
time the measured quantity of liquid is withdrawn from the chamber G, rotation
is imparted to the first or ratchet wheel C by the pawl d dragging the wheel with
it through a certain space. Upon the motion of the plug being reversed the pawl d
slides over the points of the teeth and is ready again to push the wheel C through
the same space as before. A detent e prevents the ratchet wheel c from receding,
while the pawl d is moving over the teeth so that in this way the reciprocating
movement of the pawl d is rendered inoperative in one direction that is when the
chamber G is being filled. Upon the axis of the first or ratchet wheel C is keyed
a pinion which gears with the wheel g on whose axis is secured the pinion h driving
the wheel j. The pointers are placed upon the successive axes of the before-
mentioned train of wheels. The dial plates are fixed and a separate pointer travels
round each dial respectively. The first dial plate indicates the numbers, from 1 to 50,
the second from 50 to 500, & the third from 500 to 5000.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
--
First. The general arrangement & combination of parts constituting the improved
apparatus for measuring and registering the quantity of liquid drawn from casks or
other receptacles substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to the annexed
drawings.
Second. In liquid measuring and registering apparatus the arrangement of the cocks E
and F in relation to the measuring chamber G substantially as & for the purposes
herein before set forth with reference to the annexed drawings.
•
Third. The combination of segmental wheels Q and R & rod Y for operating the
plug cocks E and F and registering apparatus substantially as hereinbefore set forth
with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this 24th day of December 1888