A Contrivance for Readily Ascertaining the Temperature of Liquids in Barrels or other Receptacles without Opening same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Contrivance for Readily Ascertaining the Temperature of Liquids
in Barrels or other Receptacles without Opening same.
I, EUGEN WELTIN, of Constanz in the Duchy of Baden, Germany,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In carrying out my invention, I form on the top of the cask, a small hole, in
which I insert a metal tube closed at its lower end, and connected at the top to a
small flange, by which it is fastened tightly down to the cask, the opening of this
tube is closed by means of a moveable stopper.
When it is desired to ascertain the temperature of the cask, this stopper is
withdrawn, and the lower end of a thermometer tube is placed inside the metal
tube, the scale containing the indicating figures, being above the opening.
The thermometer is secured in the neck of the tube by a small wedge of india
rubber or suitable material, which prevents the exterior air penetrating to the
bulb of the thermometer.
By means of this appliance, it is no longer necessary to open the cask in order to
ascertain the temperature; nor is it necessary to insert a tap to draw off part of the
contents, and liquids such as beer, which it is necessary to protect from contact
with the exterior air, can have their temperature ascertained without being injured
or tampered with in any way.
Dated this 18th dow of t
1005
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
A Contrivance for Readily Ascertaining the Temperature of Liquids
in Barrels or other Receptacles without Opening same.
I, EUGEN WELTIN of Constanz, in the Empire of Germany 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:-
Hitherto, in order to ascertain the temperature of liquids contained in closed
casks or other vessels, it has been necessary to make a hole in such vessel or cask,
through which a thermometer is introduced and so the temperature of the liquid is
determined; or, as an alternative method, a tap is sometimes inserted in the cask
and some of the liquor is drawn, from which the temperature of the contents of the
cask may be ascertained.
Without opening or broaching the cask, it has been up to the present time impossible
to determine the temperature of its contents. The consequence is that (especially in
the case of any liquor such as beer, which spoils by exposure to the air) once a cask
has been broached, the contents must be forthwith used or bottled, whether it is of
the right temperature or not.
The object of the present invention is to provide a remedy for this inconvenience

page_text: by means of an apparatus which will show the temperature of the liquid contained
in a cask or similar vessel, without involving the necessity of opening, broaching,
or tapping it, and even without the thermometer employed coming in contact with
the liquid.
The apparatus, as represented in longitudinal section, taken on the central line,
in Fig. 1 and in elevation in Fig. 2, consists of a tube (a) of suitable length and
diameter, closed at one end, open at the other, and furnished, in the case under
consideration, with a wide rim (b) in the form of a flange, having a few screw-holes.
The apparatus is fastened to the empty cask, barrel, or other vessel, in such a
manner that the part (a) passing through a hole made in one of the staves for this
purpose, will penetrate into the interior of the cask, so that, later on, when the
latter is filled with its destined contents, the tube (a) which has been inserted
through the hole (f) will be immersed in and entirely surrounded by the liquor put
into the cask. The rim or flange (6) is countersunk in the outer surface of the cask
and made perfectly staunch by an obturating ring (9) placed underneath and suitably
fastened by a screw (c) or other device.
In order to ascertain the temperature of the contents of the vessel, the cork
which is used to close the opening of the tube on the outside, is withdrawn; a
thermometer (e) is then introduced right to the end of the tube (a). It is sufficient
to leave it there a few minutes and when it is taken out, it will show the temperature
of the liquid surrounding the tube (a).
The advantages of the above-named apparatus are self-evident. Especially in
the case of beer barrels, it allows the retailer to ascertain, at any moment, the
temperature of the beer in cask, without being obliged, as heretofore, to broach,
or tap, the cask. If he finds the beer too warm, he can put ice to the cask and
again my apparatus will enable him to take care that it does not become too cold.
Of course, the apparatus may be inserted in any part of the cask. To prevent the
admission of air at the sides of the thermometer, a ring (a¹) made of india-rubber,
or other suitable substance, may be arranged around it, so as to completely stop the
opening.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is:
An apparatus by which the temperature of liquids, contained in closed or open
vessels, may be easily ascertained, the said apparatus consisting of a hollow
extended body (a) which, being well fastened and made perfectly staunch, in a
hole bored through one of the staves of the vessel, extends for nearly its whole
length into the interior of the said vessel (which may be a cask, barrel or other
similar recipient) the end of the tube, thus entering the vessel, being closed, and
the end appearing outside the vessel being open, but kept corked except when the
apparatus ia utilised, which is done by removing the cork and introducing into the
tube, that is to say the body of the apparatus, a thermometer to ascertain the tempera-
ture of the liquid in the said vessel, contact of the thermometer with the liquid and
the entrance of air into the liquid being entirely prevented, the whole as described
and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of February 1896.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.