Year: 1886

page_text: .I GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the General Patent Office, No 4 South Street,
Finsbury, in the county of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication from abroad by Prosper Prat, Physician, of
Lanidut, Finisterre in the Republic of France,) 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 the construction of improved venting apparatus for
casks and like vessels from which the contents are required to be gradually drawn
off whereby the liquid in the vessel is preserved from deterioration and an artificial
atmosphere is produced within the vessel the said apparatus being also applicable
for generating gases for other purposes.
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In order to enable the invention to be fully understood I will describe the same
by reference to the accompanying drawing.
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Figure 1, shews a vertical section of an arrangement of apparatus designed to be
used as an air filter, a'hydraulic venting apparatus etc.
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Figure 2, is an arrangement of apparatus which can be used as a gazogène.
The air filter is constructed of a vessel which may be in the form of a bell, or
hollow globe a bottle or the like through the bottom of which is inserted one or
several tubes a, serving for the introduction of atmospheric air into the apparatus
to replace the liquid which is being gradually drawn off."
The tubes a, are provided with cocks or the like for preventing the surface of the
liquid contained in the apparatus from evaporating or becoming soiled. A similar
result can be obtained by suitably arranging balls of wadding in the upper ends
of these tubes and the filtering power of the apparatus would in this case be
increased.
In order to utilize this apparatus as an air filter, it is connected to the vessels
containing the liquids which it is desired to preserve from deterioration the appa-
ratus is filled up to a certain height with a suitable antiseptic liquid such as
1

page_text: thymol, sulphide of carbon, solution of alcohol ozoneine or the like the upper end
of the central tube b, projecting beyond the surface of the liquid. All the cocks
or the like being opened and the liquid being drawn off from the vessel the
atmospheric air will descend into the apparatus through the tubes a, and will pass
through the liquid at the same time stirring it and will finally enter through the
tube b, into the vessel containing the liquid which it is desired to preserve.
J.
In order to modify the air in its passage so as to only extract one of its
component parts either alone such as nitrogen for example or combined such as
sulphurous acid I suspend by means of a metal rod c,' above the liquid contained in
the apparatus a piece of phosphorus. This rod being heated will ignite the
phosphorus which will burn so long as there is any circulation of air.
Under the same conditions, sulphur could be burned so as to more or less destroy
the oxygen of the circulating air. If however the filtering power of the apparatus
thus utilized is found to be not sufficient to insure the indefinite preservation of
the liquid which is being drawn off from the vessel the said apparatus can be freed
from time to time of the anti-ferment contained therein and a little disulphide of
soda for instance (when it does not already contain any), may be placed therein on
the one hand while on the other hand hydrochloric or sulphuric acid is introduced
with the result that sulphurous acid is immediately produced which is another
most wholesome and very generally used antiseptic being particularly suitable for
destroying myco-derma-aceti. A like quantity of both these elements will suffice
to supply a barrel with this gas and in this manner in all cases where it is
inconvenient to employ sulphur the advantages of this method can be obtained.
The liquid contained in a vessel to which the improved apparatus is applied can be
withdrawn, subjected to the action of sulphur and impregnated with gas without
the said liquid coming in contact with the surrounding atmospheric air. All gases
produced by the mixture of two given gasogenous substances may be likewise
utilized whether liquid or solid and whether in their natural state or in solution.
•
The process described by reference to figure 2. is particularly suitable for
producing considerable pressure and the result of the operation will be obtained
so much the more rapidly and surely according as the apparatus employed has a
relatively considerable capacity and strength. When used as a gazogène the mode
of application of the apparatus is the same as when used as a filter and the liquids
impregnated with gases can be drawn off in exactly the same manner as liquids
which are simply being preserved.
1
By means of the apparatus shewn in figure 2, either sulphurous acid, carbonic
acid, nitrogen or oxygen can be obtained. according to requirements. These gases
when produced can be used to impregnate any liquid therewith either contained
within the apparatus (in, which case the gaseous liquid is drawn off through the
tubes a, a, through the tube T, T, T-T, T, or T, T¹, serving to collect isolated
gases) or in a vessel suitably arranged above or below the apparatus; by the same
means any required atmosphere can be produced and maintained above a liquid
which is being drawn off or in a hermetically closed apparatus for the transport of
milk preserved food and the like for example. The jointed and screw threaded
rod d, supports at its lower extremity the second gazogenous element the contact
of which with the other element suspended by means of the rod c, or contained
within the liquid can be regulated as required.
'
Figures 3 and 5 are similar views to figures 1 and 2 but shewing modifications
in the construction of the apparatus shewn in the said figures.
In each apparatus one of the tubes a, is provided with a bulbous or cup-like
portion for the purpose of containing for a certain time one of the gasogenous
substances which is generally liquid or in solution the other substance having been
already poured into the other tube so as to cover the bottom of the apparatus
up to a certain height. This bulbous or cup-like portion acts as a partition by
keeping momentaneously separated the substances which when mixed will produce
the required gas,
]

page_text: The contact is effected either by stirring by insufflation or by inclining the
apparatus. The same result may be obtained by using exhausting and forcing
apparatus provided with a forced and separated means of introduction.
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
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The improved apparatus suitable for the preservation of liquids contained in
vessels from. which they are required to be gradually drawn off and for the
production of artificial atmospheres and of all gases or gaseous- liquids sub-
stantially as and for the-purposes herein before described and represented in the
accompanying drawing.