Improvements in Apparatus for Filling Barrels with Beer and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Filling Barrels with Beer and
the like.
I, GEORG BEER, of Passau, Bavaria, in the Empire of Germany, Brewer, 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 relates to improvements in apparatus designed for filling barrels
with beer and other foaming liquids, the object being to construct apparatus
whereby a barrel can be filled up to the bung and without foam, also whereby
when the barrel is filled it is indicated to the operator, and overflow and con-
sequent waste is prevented. The invention consists of apparatus which when
introduced into the barrel and passed to the bottom of same automatically opens
and allows the liquor to flow quietly into the barrel, and when the latter is filled
the liquor remaining in the feed apparatus is automatically prevented from
flowing out of same when withdrawn from the barrel until it is placed in another
barrel and re-opened.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the annexed drawings in
which:
-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the lower part of the improved filling
apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a cross section on line C, D in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper part of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a cross section on line A, B in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shews the complete apparatus in position on a barrel.
According to this invention my improvements consist of a metal tube 1 bent
in the form of an elbow at the top and closed at the end by a disc 2 fixed thereto
by a nut 2". A movable sleeve 3 fits round the lower end of the tube 1 and is
also provided with a washer 4. The object of the sleeve 3 is to open and close
the openings 5 in the tube 1 when the apparatus is respectively placed in and
taken from the barrel.
The frame A is connected to a cap 6 in which is a pipe 9 for introducing air,
and fixed to or forming part of the cap is a bush 10 on the tube 1, the lower
end of said bush bearing a flanged casting 7. Between this casting 7 and the
cap 6 is a glass cylinder 8 hermetically closed at both ends by the said cap and
casting.
The interior of this cylinder 8 is in communication with the barrel by means of
openings 12 and channels 17. On the lower edge of the flanged casting 7 is a
washer 14 and the casting terminates in a screwed socket 13 into which is screwed
a tube 15 carrying a washer 16. A cylindrical case 18 extends round the said
tube 15 and encloses a spring which presses the inner edge of the case against
the washer or packing ring 16. The lower end of the cylinder 18 is tapered and
covered by an india rubber packing ring 19 to prevent any escape of air when

page_text: the apparatus is fixed to the barrel (see Fig. 5). The case 18 is formed with an
annular recess 21 which communicates with the interior of the case by means of
openings 22 and with the interior of the barrel by means of channels 25.
The beer or liquid is supplied through the upper bent part of the tube 1 which
is provided with a handle for convenience. The tube 1 slides in a frame A¹ on
the top of which is a screw 11. This screw (see Fig. 1) is connected to the
shaft A (see Fig. 3) by means of a nut 23 provided with two handles or rings.
The fixing device consists of a shaft A which carries a rack 24, said rack extending
through a guide 25 which contains a toothed block 26 adapted to engage with the
said rack so as to approximately fix the apparatus when placed on the barrel.
A cam or block 27 (see Fig. 4) regulates the amount of movement of the shaft A
in the guide 25 so as to admit of the rack 24 being moved clear of the toothed
block 26 when adjusting the device. The apparatus is counterbalanced by a
weight so as to be easily raised and lowered.
The action is as follows:-The apparatus is set on the barrel and tightly fixed
thereto by pressing down and turning the handles of the nut 23. Thereby the
upper edge of the cylindrical case 18 is pressed against the washer or packing
ring 14 and the recess 21 will be in communication with the openings 22 in the
case 18. The tube 1 is then pushed down to the bottom of the barrel and the
air channels 17 hitherto closed by the tightening washer or packing ring are
opened and air is introduced by an air-pump through the pipe 9 and enters the
barrel through the glass cylinder 8, openings 12, and channels 17.
By pushing the tube 1 to the bottom of the barrel the movable sleeve 3
automatically opens the openings 5 (see Fig. 1) by sliding upwards on the end
of the tube 1 and beer enters the barrel without foaming. When the barrel
is filled the excess of beer rises into the glass cylinder 8 thereby shewing that
the barrel is full. The tube 1 is then raised so that the sleeve 3 will close the
openings 5 and thus prevent the further escape of beer and the washer or pack-
ing ring 4 will close the air channels 17. When the barrel is filled the beer
or liquid is in a state of compression which would cause a certain quantity of
beer to gush out when the apparatus is removed from the barrel; the cylindrical
case 18 is to prevent this. When the apparatus is opened and put into operation
the compressed beer enters the channels 25, recess 21, and openings 22, and
fills the interior of the case 18 and by means of the spring pressing the inner
edge of the case against the washer or packing ring 16, the channels 25 and
recess 21 are thereby automatically closed at once when the apparatus is taken
away. The beer collected in the case remains there until placed on another
barrel, when the contents are discharged as before.
The device is fixed by pressing the handles of the nut 23 downwards and giving
them a partial turn so that the shaft A is turned slightly, thereby causing the
rack 24 to engage with the toothed piece 26 and to lock the shaft A in the
holder 25. When the apparatus is taken from the barrel an opposite turn is
given to the handles and the rack is put out of gear with the toothed block 26
and the shaft A is free to slide up and down.
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: -
(1) The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts con-
stituting the improved apparatus as and for the purpose herein described and
substantially as illustrated by the annexed drawings.
(2) In apparatus for filling barrels with liquor the feed tube 1 the holes 5,
and sleeve packing ring 19 case 18 communicating by channel 25 with the
interior of the barrel being filled, such communicating ways being opened when
the barrel is being filled, and closed when the apparatus is withdrawn from the
barrel, as herein described and substantially as illustrated by Fig. 1 of the
annexed drawings

page_text: (3) In apparatus for filling barrels with liquor a feed tube 1 cylinder 8 with
openings or channels 12, 17 communicating with the interior of the barrel being
filled, opened when the feed tube is inserted in the barrel and closed when the
apparatus is withdrawn, as and for the purpose herein described and substantially
as illustrated by Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings.
(4) In apparatus for filling barrels with liquor a feed tube 1 connected with an
adjustable shaft A comprising a rack 24 and toothed block or piece 26 held in
the block or guide 25 all in combination as and for the purpose herein described
and substantially as illustrated by Fig. 3 of the annexed drawings.
1
1 1000
GEORG BEER.
By his Agents,
Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.