IMPROVE- MENTS IN SODA WATER MACHINERY AND PLANT
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM BRUCE, Mineral Water Engineer 17 Beaumont St Liverpool in the
County of Lancashire do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SODA WATER MACHINERY AND PLANT 'to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a Soda Water plant which in its operation excludes the
atmospheric air in the process of manufacture.
3 The first is a pump double action having two hydraulic cone leathers let into
grooved recesses in the centre of the barrel. The barrel is in two halves and is
screwed together in the centre by a brass collar The two halves are screwed right
& left hand threads as also the brass collar inside. It has a solid plunger working
in the barrel of the pump inside the two hydraulic cone leathers The top & lower
extremity of the pump has two stuffing boxes for the piston rod to work through
the said rod being connected to the plunger by a suitable sling and guides for the
true vertical working of the plunger by the crank keyed on to shaft. It has four
valves preferably brass balls with leather washer seating let into the pump barrel
in the usual way. In its operation it draws gas & water at the lower suction valve
at the upstroke and forces through the upper or rising main valve from the top
half of the barrel to the saturator cylinder. The down stroke it reverses the action
bringing into operation the other pair of valves precisely in the same manner. The
plunger remaining encased in the barrel of the pump both in the up & down stroke
excluding the possibility of drawing atmospheric air possessing also the advantage
of making two different kinds of water i.e. alkaloid water in one half the pump
& plain filtered carbonate water in the other. It has four or two taps for gas
& water in the usual way. The leather cone washers are screwed together back to
back the plunger of the pump working inside them and the pump can be made to
work either horizontally or vertically on suitable cast iron frame work pedestal
shaped if vertical and suitable bed plate as used for mounting steam engine
cylinders if horizontal.
Its quite feasible to make waters at two different pressures by having two
cylinders one connected to each half of the barrel of pump the pipes being con-
nected in the usual way this is a qualification possessed by no other pump in the
market at the present time and is useful when required to fill syphons say at
14 atmospheres and ordinary bottles at half that pressure one pump and one set of
gearing answering for both.

page_text: The water supplied to this is stored in a cistern constructed in such a manner as
to be hermetically sealed against the atmospheric air having a suitable filtering
medium inside it being connected direct to the main supply pipe.
The cistern is allowed to fill to overflow the air contained therein when empty
being allowed to escape either by a tap or valve at the top. When filled to
overflow the tap or valve is shut a connecting pipe from the top of the bell of
gasometer is opened this pipe has a check valve so that as the pump uses up the
water in the cistern the space or vacum gets filled up with carbonic acid gas from
the bell of gasometer so that when the water is turned on from the main to
replenish the cistern it the cistern is full of compressed carbonic acid gas by this
means the water gets partially carbonated before it ever gets pumped into the
saturating cylinder. In the construction of the Soda Water machine on this principle
if vertical I utilise the main shaft to both work the pump and agitate the water
in the cylinder by carrying it through the cylinder through two stuffing boxes in
which case I make it the shaft of Nuntz metal or other suitable metal and fit
fans to it on the centre of the shaft inside of cylinder and carry the same on two
pedestals of the pillar frame to which the pump & saturator are fitted on in the
usual way. The soda water machine is then fitted with fast & loose pullies
fly wheel and usual mountings. In conjunction with this Soda Water Machine
I use preferably a lead generator of large dimensions as regards height and
vertically placed on cast iron stand when required to be charged it is filled with
the requisite quantity of whiting and water allowed to enter to overflow a pipe con-
necting the gasometer bell from the top to the top of generator. At the proper height
of the generator a tap is fitted and allowed to run the superflous water out the space
being filled from the gasometer so that in generating the gas you begin with the
generator charged with whiting water & working space carbonic acid gas It will
be seen that by this means I exclude all atmospheric air in the process of manu-
facture from the making of the gas to the finished product in the saturating
cylinder.

page_text: WILLIAM BRUCE, Mineral Water Engineer 85 Westmoreland Place Liverpool
I do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SODA
WATER MACHINARY AND PLANT and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The nature and object of my patent is to manufacture aerated waters by a
process that will exclude the atmospheric air from the generator to the finished
product in the cylinder.
First I design a generator that admits no atmospheric air when being charged
with check valve tap & glass ball acid check valve Secondly an improvment to
bell of gasmeter with check valve and flexible-pipe. Thirdly a double action ram
plunger displacement pump in two halves with double hydraulic leathers in
centre.
It will be seen that my claim embraces a series of improvements to each piece
of the machinary used in the manufacture of aerated waters. Commencing with
the generator, I preferably make this of lead and vertically fixed on cast iron stand
with fast & loose pullies on one side to the extremity of spindle shaft and fitted
with gun metal or leaden copper agitators inside generator and a handle at the
other extremity to work the agitator either by hand or power. The body of
generator is either a cast lead cylinder or 25lb sheet lead with burnt seams about
4 feet high and 18 inches diameter. The top is domed over without being
flanged and has a brass cap suitable for the whiting at top and also one at bottom
for the spent charge to be discharged. On top are two screwed unions one leading
to the purifier or gasometer the other to the pipe from the acid box. In which
I insert a glass ball check valve to prevent blow back of vitrol through the acid
box. In ordir to make the action of generator antiatmospheric I fit it with a
valve tap about midway on the cylinder having a small bend upwards. I next
attach a flexible pipe by preference with a check valve on top of gasometer bell to
generator direct or to the pipe between the generator and purifier. In operation
I charge the generator with the necessiary amount of whiting keeping closed the
valve tap on body of generator. I then fill the generator with water (the belt
being off the pullies understood) screw down the cap on top quite air tight and
open the valve tap on body of generator The excess water now runs out to the
level of the tap and the vacum space fills up with carbonic gas from the bell of
gasometer. It will be seen that the valve tap opening outward with a small bend
outside pointing upwards will not admit air passing in again when the excess
water runs out as it automatically closes itself. When this tap ceases to flow it is
shut off and the acid poured in vitrol box gradually passes into the generator which
begins to make gas in the ordinary way.
In a vertical generator the bottom is flanged on to the body in the usual way in
order to affix the agitator fans inside or renew the same when worn out or.
broken.
In order to carry out this antiatmosperic principle throughout the whole plant
used in the manufacture of aerated waters I design a double action namn with a

page_text: solid or hollow ram displacement plunger same diameter as barrel of pump. The
length of ram to vary according to size of pump and length of stroke. The pump
barrel I preferably made in two halves. Each half is screwed outside at one
extremity where it is recessed out for the hydraulic leathers inside of the barrel,
This outside screw is right hand thread on one half & left hand thread on other
half. Two hydraulic leathers cone shaped as now in general use are inserted into
each half of the barrel of pump in the recessed out extremity and the two barrels
are brought together with the ram in the centre working inside of the hydraulic
leathers. A strong gun metal collar with a corresponding right & left hand thread
with a slotted rim outside now brings the two halves together making one barrel
constructed as here described the two halves of barrel with hydraulic leathers in
position back to back the ram inside are all fitted together simply by screwing the
collar round by a key made to fit into the slotted rim of the collar. In order to
make it double action I place a suction & rising main valve on each half of barrel
of pump and two stuffing boxes for piston rod to work through. This piston rod
passess right through the ram and is connected to sling & guide at one extremity
and through the bottom stuffing box to ensure a true parallel movement of the ram
inside the barrel of pump. On tail pieces of suction valve I affix a Tee (T.) piece
for 2 index cocks for gas and water. It will be seen a pump constructed as herein
described and shown in accompanying drawings of same must of necessity be proof
against the entrance of atmospheric air. Without tying myself down to any
special design of frame work I preferably mount the vertical pumps on an octagnal
pillar with all the usual attachments of fly wheel fast & loose pullies guide &
aling & aerated water cylinder with mountings. A bed plate on the lines of a steam
engine is an excellent way for mounting the horizontal pumps.
I preferably use gun metal or other suitable substance such as glass agate &°
ball valves on leather washer seating or any other pattern of valve suitable.
The other advantages of a pump constructed as herein described are that alkali
waters can be worked off through one half of the barrel and plain carbonated
water through other half simultanously at two different pressures. Double action
pumps I know are in use at present but constructed with bucket leather plunger
the barrel being in one piece necessitating a constant friction inside the barrel of
pump at every stroke of the plunger. It is not possible the waters can be made at
two different pressures in one barrel nor two different waters either as they would
become mixed inside in consequence of the up or down stroke shifting the charge
instead of forcing it up through the rising main valves. The advantages of
hydraulic cone leathers over the cupped bucket leather plungers are first the friction
in my design of pump is only on the ram of pump and not on the barrel secondly
the friction is proportionate to the pressure the pump is worked at. The charge
taken into one half will not shift into the other half of the barrel of pump at each
stroke of the pump ram With my double action pump two cylinders can be
supplied at different pressures say one at 200 lb to sqr inch to fill syphon the other
cylinder 100 lb to sqr inch fill ordinary bottled goods a qualification not possessed
by any other machine in the market to my knowledge.
In order to carry out the anti atmospheric principle I construct a filter cylinderical
shaped standing upright. It is devided in two compartments by a perforated
circular piece of sheet block tin the upper devision contains the filtering medium
granulated carbon sponge &. The lower devision is for the filtered water. This
lower devision I connect to bell of gasometer precisely as the generator &
gasometer the check valve opening to admit gas into filter in lower devision
when the water is drawn off in excess of the quantity passing through the filtering
medium in upper devision. The water if drawn from the waterworks main passes
direct to the pump through the filter without coming into contact with the
atmospheric air. Should the pumping capacity of pump exceed the filtering powers
of filter no harm is done as the pump then draws carbonic acid gas from the
gasometer bell-through the filter. To cleanse filter the water is shut off from the
upper devision and turned on from the main into the lower devision à plug on top
.

page_text: wow pa
top chamber into bottom gets partially carbonated before it reaches the pump.
The check valve N. when used on bell of gasometer answers the purpose of
preventing the gas going back into bell when the generator is at work otherwise it
Swould go through that channel instead of through the purifier. When the same
valve is required for the filter it is affixed close to filter and a branch pipe from the
other connects it in such a manner that gas passes freely into filter but water
cannot get from filter into gas pipe.
N. Check valve as ordinarly used and seperately illustrated connected to the
bell of gasometer to allow the ingress of carbonic gas into filter but no water into
pipe from filter to gasometer.
U. Upper chamber of filter for containing granulated carbon sponge or other
filtering medium.
V. Lower chamber of filter when emptied of water contains carbonic gas from
bell of gasometer into which the filtered water is stored.
W. Outlet pipe leading to soda water pumps or to solution pan.
:
✗. High pressure tap for cleansing the filtering medium by reversing the flow of
water upwards shutting tap Yand opening plug Z.
Y. Supply tap from main to filter.
Z. Plug to allow waste water to escape when cleansing filter.
A. Tinned gun metal or Muntz metal metal piston rod connected to ram plunger
of pump at one extremity or part and suitable sling guide or slide to crank on
main shaft.
B. Hollow or solid ram plunger with piston rod passing through 2 stuffing boxes
at the two extremities of pump. C. C. Two hydraulic cone leathers blocked to fit
ram and the recessed part of the two halves of pump barrel. D. Stuffing box
through which the piston rod works. A similar one lettered E at the other
extremity of the other half of the barrel. E Place where stuffing as shown-in
detail on other half barrel D. F Gun metal or other suitable substance ball
valves.
G. Leather washer seating for ball valves.
H. Valve box of suction valve with nut & tail piece the barbed arrows showing
the place where indexed cocks fit on to Tee piece for supplying pump with
gas & water.
I. Upper valve box showing tail piece binding down the leather washer seating
for ball valve.
J. Unfinished half barrel of pump showing it screwed into collar to finished
half K with hydraulic leathers and ram plunger in position.
K. Finished half of double action pump horizontal patern showing construction
suction and rising main valves with stuffing box of piston rod at one extremity
and screwed into corresponding half J by collar with hydrawlic leathers in recessed
part of barrel ram plunger being inside The screwed parts of the two half barrels
are right & left hand threads.
L. Brass or gun metal collar screwed right & left hand threads inside and a
strong slotted rim on outside for screwing up barrel together with the hydraulic
leathers.
M. Gasometer made on the lines of those in present use.
N. Check valve opening outwardly so that the vacum caused in generator when
surplus excess water is run out the gas fills up the space but when the generator is
working the gas goes through generator into gasometer in the usual way. O. Lead
or other suitable substance generator constructed as those now in use except the
fitting on of valve tap P. on the body of generator at such a height as to regulate
the quantity of water required to neturalise the charge of whiting.
P. Valve tap with small bend pointing upwards to regulate the quantity of water
left in generator. In operation the whiting is put in generator and then filled up
with water the cap at the top is screwed down air tight the valve tap P. opened

page_text: .
the pressure of gas from bell of gasometer drives out the excess water tap P is closed
and generator set to work.
By this means the generator never admits atmospheric air when recharged.
Q. Flexible rubber pipe 3 ply canvass by preference to convey gas from bell of
gasometer to generator when being charged. The second part of my patent
consists of a vertical pump constructed on same principle but from the nature of
its vertical construction, I bave altered the valve boxes placing one pair of rising
main and suction valves in one valve box affixing one double valve box to each
half of pump barrel. The worded matter is applicuble to both pumps.
The figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. correspond to A. B. C. D. E. F. G.
.H. I. J. K. L.
The letters R. S. T. are pedestal pillar stand fly wheel in back ground. The
slotted space in centre of pillar is for the valve to fit into barrel of pump when the
same is fitted into the inside of pedestal stand.
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
The attachment of valve tap to body of generator.
The use of a check valve and connecting pipe from top of bell of gasometer to
generator and the introduction of a glass ball check valve in the pipe leading from
acid box to generator and filling the generator up with water and excluding the
atmospheric air as herein described.
The second article I claim to have made an improvement on is the double action.
pump both horizontal and vertical patern.
In principle and constructive mechanism I claim originality of my double action
anti atmospheric pump throughout in every detail substantially as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Lastly the filter.