FORMS AND MODES OF FITTING GLASS AND OTHER BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING EFFERVESSING, AERATED, AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN THE OPENING AND CLOSING MEDIA FOR SECURING AND LIBERATING THE CONTENTS OF SUCH BOTTLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER VESSELS OR APPARATUS FOR SECURING AND LIBERATING HIGH PRESSURE OR OTHER CONTENTS THEREOF
Year: 1876

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Bull, of Knights Hill, Lower Norwood, in the
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of
FORMS AND MODES OF FITTING GLASS AND OTHER BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING
EFFERVESSING, AERATED, AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN THE OPENING AND
CLOSING MEDIA FOR SECURING AND LIBERATING THE CONTENTS OF SUCH
BOTTLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
VESSELS OR APPARATUS FOR SECURING AND LIBERATING HIGH PRESSURE OR
OTHER CONTENTS THEREOF."
ealed the 21st October 1876, and dated the 26th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bull at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1876.
WILLIAM BULL, of Knights Hill, Lower Norwood, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMS AND MODES OF FITTING GLASS AND
OTHER BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING EFFERVESSING, AERATED, AND OTHER LIQUIDS,
AND IN THE OPENING AND CLOSING MEDIA FOR SECURING AND LIBERATING THE
CONTENTS OF SUCH BOTTLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER VESSELS OR APPARATUS FOR SECURING AND LIBERATING HIGH PRESSURE
OR OTHER CONTENTS THEREOF."
This Invention relates, first, to glass and other bottles for containing effervessing,
aerated, and other liquids; secondly, to other vessels or apparatus, pipes, and tubes
for containing high pressure or other liquids, steam, air, or gases; and, thirdly, to
taps, valves, and opening and closing media used or connected therewith.
The object of the Invention as regards glass or other bottles is to dispense with
corks, strings, and wires in securing the effervessing, aerated, or other contents of
such bottles, and at the same time to provide opening and closing media whereby
the gases of such liquids may be more effectually confined when closed, while any
required portions of the gaseous and liquid contents may be liberated and dis-
charged when opened without removing such closing media and without deteriorating
the remaining contents, and further as regards such bottles and other vessels or.
apparatus, pipes, tubes, taps, valves, and the like, the object of the Invention is to
utilize the internal pressure of or from their contents as the means for securing
the closing medium in its closed position and for holding it stationary in other
positions.

page_text: In carrying out the first part of the said Invention I form glass and other bottles
with a hollow cross head, or with two apertures opposite each other, or one at the
top and the other at the bottom, and fit the same with an equilibrium or other
plug made of glass or other material, the necessary liquid, air, or gas-tight condition
being effected by linings or collars of compressed or uncompressed cork, leather, or
other simple or compound material. The plug, which-may be made solid or hollow,
and in one or more parts; is formed or fitted with a flange or head at one end
for moving it as required, this end of the plug for a certain portion of its length is
made cylindrical, and traverses a collar or stuffing box fitted and secured in one of
the apertures or terminal openings of the cross head before mentioned, which is thus
permanently closed. The opposite end of the plug is made conoidal or in the shape
of a frustrum of a cone to fit into and close and open the other aperture or terminal
opening of the cross head as the plug is moved forwards or backwards. The
conoidal end of the plug when slightly enlarged is constantly pressed forward in
its socket in the last-mentioned aperture or terminal opening of the cross head
when closed by the internal pressure of or from the contents of the bottle. This
pressure can, however, be regulated as required by increasing or diminishing the
diameter of the superior end of the frustrum of the cone, and making this diameter
more or less greater than the diameter of the cylindrical end of the plug. In all
cases the centre portion of the plug between the inner end of the stuffing box and
the inner end of the discharging aperture socket is free from contact with the
cross head or bottle, so that the contents may entirely surround this portion of
the plug (which is made less in diameter than the ends) when closed. The equi-
librium of the plug is effected by making the diameters of the superior end of the
frustrum of the cone and of the cylindrical end equal. For more effectually securing
or confining the gaseous contents of such bottles or other vessels I prefer to give
preponderence to the "fore pressure of the plug, so that while it is thus held in
its closed position perfectly liquid and air or gas-tight, it can be opened or moved
and replaced instantaneously with sufficient facility by means of its flanged head
as and when required.. The stuffing box or collar and plug are so arranged or
connected that when they have been fitted in position in the bottle the latter
cannot be withdrawn from the bottle without removing the former, so that there
are no loose or detached parts to be lost or misplaced when the bottle is in use. In
place of the stuffing box I sometimes fit the cylindrical end of the plug with an
elastic diaphragm, and close and secure one of the plug apertures therewith.
"
In carrying out the second part of the said Invention, or applying the equilibrium
plug and connected devices to other vessels and apparatus for securing and liberating
bigh pressure or other contents thereof, I adapt a short pipe, tube, or cylinder with
a flanged or other side opening or aperture, and fit the plug in such pipe, tube, or
cylinder so as to form an equilibrium valve or tap self-securing when closed as
before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Bull in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th October
1876.
WILLIAM BULL, of Knights Hill, Lower Norwood, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FORMS AND MODES OF FITTING GLASS AND
OTHER BOTTLES FOR CONTAINING EFFERVESSING, AERATED, AND OTHER LIQUIDS,
AND IN THE OPENING AND CLOSING MEDIA FOR SECURING AND LIBERATING THE
CONTENTS OF SUCH BOTTLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER VESSELS OR APPARATUS FOR SECURING AND LIBERATING HIGH PRESSURE
OR OTHER CONTENTS THEREOF."
This Invention relates, first, to glass or other bottles for containing and liberating
effervessing, aërated, and other liquids; secondly, to other vessels or apparatus,

page_text: pipes, and tubes for containing and liberating high pressure or other liquids, steam,
air, or gases; and thirdly, to taps, valves, and opening and closing media used or
connected with such bottles, vessels, apparatus, pipes, and tubes.
The object of the said Invention as regards the said glass and other bottles is to
dispense with loose corks, strings, and wires in securing effervessing, aërated, or
other contents of the same, and to provide permanent or integral opening and
closing media whereby the gases or virtues of such liquids may be more effectually
confined when closed, and whereby any required portion of the gaseous and liquid
contents may be liberated and discharged, and the remaining portion be instantly
resecured, and further as regards such bottles and other vessels, pipes, tubes, taps,
and valves, and opening and closing media, the object of the said Invention is to
utilize the internal pressure of or from their contents as the means for securing
the closing medium in its closed position, and to render the said medium more
easily movable when closed.
In carrying out the first part of the said Invention I form glass or other bottles
with a hollow cross head or with two cylindrical truncated or flanged apertures
opposite each other or otherwise, one at the top and the other at the bottom, and
fit the same with an equilibrium or other plug made of glass or other material, the
necessary liquid, air, or gas-tight condition being effected by linings or collars of
compressed or uncompressed cork, leather, or other simple or compound material.
The plug, which may be made solid or hollow, and in one or more parts, is formed
with a flange, head, or knob at one end for moving it as required; this end of the
plug for a certain portion of its length or shoulder is made cylindrical where it
traverses the cork or other collar or stuffing box, fitted and secured in the rear
aperture of the hollow cross head or in the bottom of the bottle; the opposite
end of the plug is made in the form of a frustrum of a cone with its inferior
diameter outwards, the superior diameter of the cone and the diameter of the
cylindrical portion of the plug at the flanged head are made equal or nearly so,
while the centre portion of the plug is made of less diameter. The conoidal end
of the plug fits into and closes the lined discharging aperture of the cross head or
ordinary bottle neck. The plug when thus formed and placed in position in the
bottle or other vessel, pipe, tube, tap, or valve, charged with or under high pressure
liquid, steam, air, or gas, is in equilibrium, and may be moved with facility
whatever- such pressure may be. By increasing the superior diameter of the cone
of the plug or making its area greater than the area of the cylindrical shoulder
of the plug, the tendency of such pressure will be to close and secure the plug
in its closed position, and thus the internal pressure of the contents of such bottles
and the like may be utilized for securing the said plug and contents.
The stuffing
box and plug can be so arranged that when these have been fitted in position in
the bottle the plug cannot be withdrawn therefrom without first removing the said
stufting box, gland, lining, or collar secured thereto, so that there are no separate or
loose or detached parts to be lost or misplaced when the bottle is in use. When
properly made and fitted the friction or grip of the stuffing box and conoidal
socket and internal pressure of the liquid are sufficient to retain the equilibrium
plug in the required position when closed, and secure the contents of the bottle
from escaping, but for greater or absolute security one or both of the ends of the
plug may be secured with a pin, strap, ring, male and female screw, or other suitable
device or devices, the same being, however, by preference attached to or a permanent
part of such bottle or plug. The plug can be permanently fitted with a conoidal
cork at the discharging aperture end, and with a cork collar at the shoulder or
flange and so that the said plug and corks or collars can be made to move
altogether, and be thus removable partially or entirely from the bottle for washing
or cleansing purposes, or otherwise as required, or the conoidal cork only may be
permanently fitted to the plug, and the shoulder of the latter made to traverse
the cork collar or stuffing box at the opposite end. The equilibrium plug can be
adapted to a double aperture tap or valve, which may be fitted to or form part

page_text: of other vessels or apparatus, pipes, or tubes for containing or stopping and liberating
high pressure liquids, steam, air, or gases.
In applying the equilibrium plug as a permanent fitting in lieu of corks to
ordinary bottles I make the plug hollow with a curved end at the top fitted with
a knob or head, and with a flanged end at the bottom fitted with a cork or other
elastic under washer. I first pass the straight end of the tube through the knob
or head and collar or stuffing box to be inserted, fitted, or fixed in the mouth of
the bottle, I then fix the flange and washer upon the bottom end of the tubular
plug and insert it in the bottle and secure the collar or stuffing box in position. The
tube is made of sufficient length to extend to and press upon the bottom of the
bottle, and when in this position self-securing by the pressure of the contents
of the bottle upon the flange before mentioned. The tube is made to traverse
the collar or stuffing box air-tight, or the bottom of the bottle may have a cork or
other elastic washer connected thereto, and receive the end of the plug instead of
the under washer before mentioned as being fixed to the tube, or both washers may
be used if required. To open and close the bottle thus fitted it is only necessary
to raise and lower the plug, when raised the effervescing, aerated, or other high
pressure liquid will discharge itself in whole or in parts as required by its own
pressure, and the bottle may again be instantly closed, and the remaining portion
of its contents resecured by simply pressing down the plug to its normal position.
In witness whereof, 1, the said William Bull, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM BULL. (L.S.)