IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FILLING BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery
Lanc, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FILLING BOTTLES AND OTHER
VESSELS." A communication from abroad by Peter M Cartee Sher-
wood, of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
Amorion
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 9th September 1874, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVED APparatus
FOR FILLING BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS," and have petitioned Her Majesty
to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal

page_text: Figure 7 shows a syphon arranged to admit discharge tubes or nozzles
of different sizes.
Figure 8 represents a top view of the device for holding bottles by the
neck and keeping them in place while being filled, the position of which
is seen in Figure 5, as attached to the reservoir by slotted arms.
In the Drawing A represents the reservoir which contains the fluid
with which the empty bottles are to be filled; B, the supply pipe with
valve chamber C; D, the supply pipe valve; E is the valve stem guide;
F, the valve stem with screw for reception of the swivel nut I; G, the
float with bearing H, which sustains the swivel screw nut I for adjusting
the height of the float on the valve stem in relation to the quantity of
fluid with which the bottles are to be filled; K is the syphon attached
to the reservoir by a tubular hinge fastening L; M, the cock, through
which the air in the syphon is drawn out preparatory to the fluid being
forced into the syphon by the pressure of the atmosphere; N is the
shorter leg placed in the fluid in the reservoir, while O is the longer leg
carrying the valve. This valve consists of a circular aperture P near to
the lower end of the leg O of the syphon, and a tube or sheath R, which
slides freely over the aperture and on the said leg. The leg O has also
near its lower end a flange S connected to the said leg by a screw t, the
object of the flange S being to sustain a packing ring for reception of
the tube R, so that as the tube R is by means of the spring v pressed
down upon the packing the said tube will not only close the aperture P
but make a water-tight joint with the packing ring during the interval
of removing the filled bottle from the stand w, and placing an empty
one thereon, and thus the charge is retained in the syphon in the
meantime.
+
The operation of the Invention is as follows:-The fluid being let on
will flow down the supply pipe B through the valve chamber C´ and
into the reservoir A, ascending in the reservoir A until it strikes
the float G, thereby closing the plug valve D. The float being already
adjusted by means of the valve stem F and swivel nut I to the desired
height of the fluid in the bottle to be filled, and the shorter leg of the
syphon immersed in the fluid, I next draw the air from the syphon
5through the cock M and close the cock again, and I now introduce the
bottle to be filled on the valve end of the syphon, and in doing so press
the neck of the bottle against the flanger of the valve, and the base of

page_text: the vessel resting on the stand w, where it is plain to be seen that the
syphon valve will be opened and the bottle filled to the desired height,
and as the fluid is drawn off from the reservoir the float will drop and
the supply valve open enough to supply the place of that drawn off,
and as the bottle is removed the spring will, press the sheath R on its
seat and the syphon valve will be closed again and retain its charge for
the next bottle without aid from the attendant.
.
I would here remark that any number of syphons may be used
without alteration or addition to the device except enlarging the
reservoir. B¹ is an adjustable shelf attached to the outside of the
reservoir by the slotted arms c¹, and held in place by bolts on each side,
as seen at d¹. The bottle on the shelf is placed as being filled by the
syphon. The delivery end of this syphon E' is provided with a valve
with an extension stem e¹, the valve being opened when the stem strikes
the bottom of the bottle or vessel. The length of the stem can be
adjusted to suit the vessel by screwing or unscrewing the stem. The
other or receiving end of this syphon is also provided with a valve,
which is opened and closed by the slotted arm f¹, which is attached to
the inner side of the reservoir. The valve g is attached to the flanged
sleeve h. The flange or collar i has a pin j, which slides in the slot of
f. The syphon is hinged to the top of the reservoir at q, so that when
the delivery end is drawn from the reservoir the valve is closed, and
when it is pushed towards the reservoir it is opened. The syphon H¹ is
open at its receiving end, but its delivery end is provided with a valve
which acts automatically. I is the valve, whose stem is attached to the
collar m by wires n; o is a collar on the syphon; p is a spiral spring
between the two collars.
In filling, the nozzle of the bottle is pushed against the collar m,
which lifts the valve, and the liquid flows in. When the bottle is
removed the spring closes the valve. This syphon (as well as all the
others) is hinged to the top of the reservoir, as seen at q.
J, Figure 6, represents a syphon attached to the inner, front side of
the reservoir, and provided with a valve, which is actuated by working
the syphon back and forth on its pivot hinge q. The end of the syphon
is provided with packing; and packing is also attached to the reservoir.
The packing of each is seen at ¹. The extent. of the movement is
governed by a slotted plate and pin, seen at S¹, and the valve is closed

page_text: by the reaction of the spring t, which draws the two packing plates (or
valve and seat) together, making a tight joint..
K' (Figure 7) represents a syphon with its end arranged to attach
delivery tubes of different sizes. For this purpose I attach a collar u to
the syphon and cut a screw thread therein, so that any delivery tube
provided with a corresponding screw can be attached, as seen in the
Drawing.
For measuring out definite or fractional quantities of liquid from tho
reservoir I provide a separate vessel L with glass or transparent portion
marked off or graduated so as to indicate certain quantities. This vessel
I attach by a set screw to the cock V in the reservoir. The delivery
tube to this measuring vessel is similar in its construction to one herein-
after described, but the valve v¹ is made tapering, and the sliding sheath
or sleeve w¹ is made to fit.. The liquid enters the tube laterally from
the reservoir through suitable orifices, and is discharged through the
lateral orifices. The sleeve w¹ has a flange x, against which the bottle
is pressed in filling. The collar is attached to an enlarged portion y of
the sleeve, which enlarged portion encloses a spiral spring, and is
provided with a bayonet fastening device, as seen at Z, so that the valve
can be left open as long as may be desired. When the sleeve is released
from the fastening pin the vessel is closed by the recoil of the spring.
This bayonet fastening is applied to the delivery tube of the measuring
vessel L', the fastening pin being seen in Figure 5.
.
For holding bottles by the neck or keeping them in place when being
filled I attach a bar a to the reservoir, and make it adjustable thereon
by two slotted arms 6 (one each side, as in the case of the shelf B¹). By
the slotted arms the bar a, as well as the shelf B¹; is fastened out. or in
so as to accomodate the bottles or vessels, and they are both made
otherwise adjustable by the thumb screws d¹ at their ends, as seen at the
Drawing.
The tapering ground valve ¹ and sleeve w¹, and also the bayonet
fastening, are applied to the filling faucet, seen at y¹, Figure 5. This
faucet screws into the reservoir, and is designed for filling bottles
independent of the other apparatus.
In the following Figures improvements and modifications are shown;
all operating upon the same principle with appendages differing in con-
struction somewhat, but essentially the same.

page_text: Figure 9 shows a plan, by which the desired level in the tank of the
bottle filler is regulated by another device or way than by the valve and
float described heretofore in the machine; the Figure represents a cask.
An india-rubber tapering cork is inserted in the bung hole; through
the cork a metal tube runs, and attached to the top of the metal tube
is an india-rubber or other kind of hose or tube, which leads down into
the filler tank, and has a metal tube or pipe at its end. This metal tube
runs through a ring fastened to the upper interior side of filler tank, and
'the tube is made fast at any desired height by a thumb screw attached
to the ring. The cask and bottle filling machine are in about the same
relative position seen in the Drawing. The cask has a faucet inserted
in its head. From this faucet a tube or hose leads down into the bottle
filler tank, having at its end (which should reach down nearly to the
bottom of the tank) a strainer or rose sufficiently heavy to keep the hose
perpendicularly in place. The object of this appliance is that upon the
liquid from the cask being let into the filler through the faucet and hose
it will rise only to the height that the end of the tube is set at, upon
covering the end of which tube it will stop the ventage and cause the
flow from the faucet to ceasc. This is a way less apt to roll liquids than
the valve and float.
In Figure 10 the syphon is shown with adjustable neck holder, by
which the bottles are held in place. The end of the syphon which hangs
in the tank brings up against a bar arranged to run from side to side of
the tank. This prevents the outside. tube of syphon from striking
against the neck holder. The spiral spring running from the hook in
the syphon up to a bar across the top of the filler is intended to hold
the bottle.neck tightly against the neck holder, and prevents the bottle
slipping off.
Figure 11 shows an improvement made upon neck holders. It
consists in the notches, instead of being simply cut into the bar like the.
letter V as heretofore, being replaced by movable picces, as shown in
the Drawing, with slots, and secured by screws; thus the pieces may
be made to set at a proper distance apart for any bottle neck.
Figure 12 shows a sectional view of one of the pieces of the guide bar,
which are made right and left.
Figure 13 shows another neck holder made to hold bottles by the
antine
fomones of the nool
This consists of arsting with coation

page_text: for the working of the right-hand piece, which is attached by a pivot,
and acts by a band or wire spring, as seen in the Drawing, pressing
against the shaped finger. The casting and piece have half-round cuts
in them for the reception of the bottle necks.
Figure 14 shows the use of thic same syphon where the action is
reversed, the outside limb consisting of tubular sheath, flange, nut, &c.,
being used in this case as the inside, and moved to open and shut the
orifice, by which the liquid enters by the action of the syphon in the
slot, the outlet being an orifice in the tube, as shown herein at the end
of the syphon outside of the tank.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. Placing the valve at the discharge end of the syphon and
operating the same by an automatic movement, said valve consisting of
the aperture P, the packing ring u, the sheath R, 1, and spring v, or
their equivalents, substantially as set forth.
2ndly. The peculiar arrangement of the parts which produccu niformity
of supply and discharge, viz., the valve D, valve stem F, nut I, and
float G when in combination with the reservoir and syphon, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth and described.
3rdly. The valves as arranged on the interior and exterior ends of the
syphon E¹, said syphon being combined with a reservoir, as described.
4thly. The valve arranged as described on the delivery end, of
syphon H with the collars m, o, spring p, yoke n, substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
5thly. The bayonet fastening Z in combination and arranged with a
tapering valve v¹, the spiral spring and the sleeve w¹ having enlarged
portion y, and the flange x adapted to fit the mouth of the bottle, all
operating as described, whereby as the bayonet catch is released the
sleeve w is thrown outward to close the orifice in the valve v¹, as and
for the purposes specified.
6thly. The C shaped syphon J hinged to the top of the reservoir at q,
and provided at its interior end with a packing adapted to work
against a packing affixed to the reservoir A, the whole constructed and
operating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 7thly. The adjustable bar a and shelf B' constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as shown and described in combination with the reservoir A
for the purposes specified.
8thly. The faucet y¹ embracing the tapering valve v¹, sleeve w², and the
bayonet fastening Z, substantially as described and for the purposes set 5
forth.
9thly. The various apparatus and devices described in Figures 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, and 14 for the same purposes, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander. Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of September 1
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
HARRY SWALES,
7
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)