IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND BOTTLING SODA WATER AND OTHER AËRATED LIQUIDS."
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Ferguson at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1878.
JOHN FERGUSON, of Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, Soda Water Manufacturer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND BOTTLING SODA
WATER AND OTHER AËRATED LIQUIDS."
This Invention relates to improvements in machinery or apparatus for making
and bottling soda water and other aërated liquids.
According to my Invention I employ a central horizontal cylinder of any con-
venient diameter and length in which to effect the mixture of the gas and liquid.
These are introduced in the proper proportions and quantity by pumps of ordinary
construction. The said cylinder is traversed by a horizontal shaft carrying wing
beaters (or a beater), which by the revolution of the said shaft beat up and
intimately mix the gas and liquid, thus aërating the latter.
The bottle filling is effected on both sides of this cylinder, and the description of
bottle used is any of what are known in the trade as patent bottles, that is, bottles
in which the stoppers are contained inside the bottles, which are filled whilst in an
inverted position, the stoppers falling into the necks of the bottles, and being main-
tained there by the pressure within.
Along each side of the said cylinder is provided a series of horizontal apertures
or valves, into which the mouths of the inverted bottles to be filled are inserted,
such apertures being formed in india-rubber or other similar suitable material, so
that the bottle mouths may fit in tightly to prevent the escape of liquid during the
filling.
Communicating with each of these apertures is a pipe, which enters the said
mixing cylinder in a horizontal (or nearly so) direction; and each is intersected
between the said mixing cylinder and the said aperture by a four-way cock, by
which the flow of the liquid from the said cylinder to the bottles is governed; and
each of the said four ways may be of different diameter, so as to regulate the
quantity of liquid that can flow through in a given time. These cocks are all in a
line, and are all connected by a horizontal bar, so that all are turned on and off at
the same moment by the one motion of the said bar.

page_text: Each of the said horizontal pipes after entering the said cylinder is connected
with another pipe leading in the interior thereof to the bottom, so that the aërated
liquid is always drawn from the bottom of the cylinder. Thus the bottles to be
filled are all inverted and placed each tightly in one of the said apertures; the said
horizontal bar is then turned sufficiently to bring the one desired of the said four
ways of each of the several cocks into position to allow the liquid from the cylinder
to pass when the pressure in the cylinder forces the aërated liquid up the internal
pipes through the horizontal pipes at the side into the bottles, thus filling all at the
same time. Immediately they are sufficiently full the said bar is turned, so as to
shut off the liquid, and the bottles are removed.
In case of accidentally not turning off the liquid in time, and so either bursting
the bottles or forcing them from their seatings, a small vertical pipe called a snift
pipe is made to enter each of the said bottles when in position for filling, and rising
nearly the height of the bottle. This tube is open at the top, and at the bottom
leads into a horizontal pipe, so that any excess of liquid admitted into the bottles
is thus carried away and no injury is done.
The height of the snift pipes may be regulated, and they are all attached, so that
all are raised and lowered at one operation.
Each of the said horizontal pipes is also provided with a valve for letting off
waste liquid. These on the one side of the cylinder are also all connected, so as to
be worked by one movement.
I also provide means for introducing syrup (or other liquid) into the bottles at
the same time that they are being filled with the aërated liquid. Connected by a
pipe with each of the said horizontal tubes is small vertical cylinder or pump;
these are situated in a row, and are fed by a common cistern containing the syrup.
Each of said syrup cylinders is provided with a piston, the stroke of which may be
regulated; and all the pistons on one side of the main cylinder are connected, so as
to act at one and the same time. The upward stroke of the pistons fills the portion
of the cylinders below them, and the downward stroke forces the syrup into the
bottles;
this is accomplished by an ordinary pump valve arrangement.
In order to economise labour the bottles to be filled as above described are
arranged in rows in boxes or frames before they are brought to the machine to be
filled. For example, supposing there are to be twelve apertures or valves on each
side of the main horizontal cylinder to enable twelve bottles to be filled on each side
at the same time, these twelve bottles are placed side by side in a box or frame in
such positions that the box or frame may be turned over the said apertures or
valves of the machine, and the twelve bottles will fit the twelve apertures.
During the filling, the boxes or frames may be clamped to the machine by any
suitable means, and after the filling they may be carried away by endless bands, or
by hand, or other suitable means, as required or preferred.