IMPROVEMENTS IN RACKING APPARATUS OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CASKS AND OTHER VESSELS WITH LIQUIDS
Year: 1878

page_text: Manu-
LETTERS PATENT to John Smith, of Derby, in the County of Derby,
facturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RACKING APPARATUS OR
APPARATUS FOR FILLING CASKS AND OTHER VESSELS WITH LIQUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Smith at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd April 1878.
JOHN SMITH, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN RACKING APPARATUS OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CASKS AND OTHER VESSELS
WITH LIQUIDS."
My Invention relates to apparatus used in filling casks and other vessels with ale
or other liquids; and my said Invention consists of the improvements herein-after
described in the said apparatus, by which improvements an immediate indication
is afforded when the cask or vessel is full, and the filling of the casks or vessels
is effected without the loss or waste of liquid, which occurs in using the ordinary
apparatus for filling them.
I will describe my Invention as applied to the filling of barrels with ale from the
tank or "square" in which it is ordinarily contained previous to its transfer to barrels.
The tank or "square" is provided near its bottom with a tap or stop-cock, to which
a copper or an india-rubber or other flexible pipe is attached by a union joint or
other coupling. The length of the flexible pipe may be varied to suit the particular
The collar fixed to one end of the
locality in which the apparatus is to be used.
elastic tube, and by which the said tube is connected by a union joint to the tap of
The other end of
the tank, is constructed in the manner herein-after described.
the elastic tube is connected to an adapter of the following kind:-The said
adapter consists of a taper hollow plug covered with a casing of india-rubber or
other elastic material. This adapter, in consequence of its taper figure, will fit into
bung holes of various sizes. On the summit of the adapter is a valve which can be
opened and closed by the turning of a handle or thumb plate, and the india-rubber

page_text: tube is bound upon the end of the entrance pipe of this valve, the said adapter,
valve chamber, and entrance pipe being cast in one piece. In the adapter is a pipe
of small diameter. This pipe opens on the outside of the adapter, and at a short
distance from its smaller end. This pipe proceeds from the said opening along the
interior of the adapter under the valve seat into the entrance pipe of the valve.
There it is joined to a flexible pipe of smaller diameter running inside the larger
flexible pipe herein-before described, and terminating in the collar by which the
tube is connected to the tank. This collar has a hole in one side in which a short
metallic tube is fitted. There is thus a continuous passage between the opening on
the side and near the end of the adapter, and the metallic tube in the hole in the
collar connected to the tap in the tank. This continuous passage I will call the air
tube.
The apparatus is used as follows:-The collar of the flexible tube is fixed by the
union joint to the tap of the tank; the barrel to be filled is brought under the
adapter, and the said adapter is inserted into the bung hole of the barrel. The tap
of the tank is opened, and the valve on the adapter is also opened. Alc from the
tank passes through the flexible tube, valve, and adapter to the barrel, the air
escaping through the air tube. As soon as the level of the ale in the barrel has
risen to the level of the hole in the side of the adapter (which hole constitutes the
inner end of the air tube), ale passes up the air tube and runs from the metal tube
in the collar connected with the tap of the tank. The passage of ale from the air
tube indicates to the attendant that the barrel is full, and he closes the valve of the
adapter and removes it from the filled barrel, which is replaced by an empty one.
The small quantity of ale passing out of the air tube is received in a trough under
the tap of the tank, and passes from the said trough by a pipe into a receptacle
placed under the pipe for its reception. The attendant is immediately informed by
the escape of ale through the air pipe that the barrel is full, and the filling of the
barrel is effected without any loss.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Smith in the Great Soal Patent Office on the 25th September
1878.
JOHN SMITH, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RACKING APPARATUS OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING CASKS AND OTHER VESSELS
WITH LIQUIDS."
My Invention relates to apparatus used in filling casks and other vessels with
ale or other liquids, and my said Invention consists of the improvements herein-
after described in the said apparatus, by which improvements an immediate indica-
tion is afforded when the cask or vessel is full, and the filling of the casks or vessels
is effected without the loss or waste of liquid which occurs in using the ordinary
apparatus for filling them.
I will describe my Invention as applied to the filling of barrels with ale from the
tank or "square" in which it is ordinarily contained previous to its transfer to
barrels:-The tank or "square" is provided near its bottom with a stop-cock, to
which a copper or an india-rubber or other flexible pipe is attached by a union joint
or other coupling. The length of the flexible pipe may be varied to suit the par-
ticular locality in which the apparatus is to be used. The collar fixed to one end
of the elastic tube, and by which the said tube is connected by a union joint to the
tap of the tank is constructed in the manner herein-after described. The other end
of the elastic tube is connected to an adapter of the following kind :-The said
adapter consists of a taper hollow plug, covered with a casing of india-rubber or
other elastic material. This adapter, in consequence of its taper figure, will fit into
bung holes of various sizes. On the summit of the adapter is a valve which can
be opened and closed by the turning of a handle or thumb plate, and the india-
rubber tube is bound upon the end of the entrance pipe of this valve, the said
adapter, valve chamber, and entrance pipe being cast in one piece. In the adapter
is a pipe of small diameter. This pipe opens on the outside of the adapter, and at
a short distance from its smaller end. This pipe proceeds from the said opening
along the interior of the adapter under the valve seat into the entrance pipe of the
valve. There it is joined to a flexible pipe of small diameter running inside the
larger flexible pipe herein-before described, and terminating in the collar by which
the pipe is connected to the tank. This collar has a hole in one side, in which a
short metallic tube is fitted. There is thus a continuous passage between the
opening on the side and near the end of the adapter, and the metallic tube in the
hole in the collar connected to the tap in the tank. This continuous passage I will
call the air tube.
The apparatus is used as follows:-The collar of the flexible pipe is fixed by the
union joint to the tap of the tank, the barrel to be filled is brought under the
adapter, and the said adapter is inserted into the bung hole of the barrel. The tap
of the tank is opened, and the valve on the adapter is also opened. Ale from the
tank passes through the flexible pipe, valve, and adapter to the barrel, the air
escaping through the air tube. As soon as the level of the ale in the barrel has
risen to the level of the hole in the side of the adapter (which hole constitutes the
inner end of the air tube) ale passes up the air tube and runs from the metal tube
in the collar connected with the tap of the tank. The passage of ale from the air
tube indicates to the attendant that the barrel is full, and he closes the valve of the
adapter and removes it from the filled barrel, which is replaced by an empty one.
The small quantity of ale passing out of the air tube is received in a trough under
the tap of the tank, and passes from the said trough by a pipe into a receptacle
placed under the pipe for its reception. The attendant is immediately informed by
the escape of ale through the air tube that the barrel is full, and the filling of the
barrel is effected without any loss.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my Invention may be performed.

page_text: Figure 1 represents in longitudinal section; Figure 2, in side elevation; and
Figure 3, in end elevation, partly in cross section, racking apparatus or apparatus
for filling casks and other vessels, the said apparatus being constructed according to
my Invention.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
a is the india-rubber or other flexible pipe, which is connected at one end to the
inetallic collar b, and the latter is attached by the union joint c to the tap of the
tank or "square," as herein-after described.
A copper or other rigid pipe may be used instead of a flexible one.
The adapter, which is connected to the other end of the elastic (or other) pipe a
consists of a taper hollow plug e covered with a casing of india-rubber or other
elastic material f. By means of the taper figure of the plug e it will fit bung holes
of various sizes. On the top of the taper hollow plug e is a chamber g containing
a valve h worked by the handle h², the seat of the said valve h being formed at
the front of the entrance pipe i of the valve chamber g. By driving home the
valve h by turning its handle h* the adapter is closed, and by removing the valve
from its seat by the reverse motion of the handle h² the passage of liquid through
the adapter is permitted. The hollow plug e, the valve chamber g, and the entrance
pipe i are made in one piece.
The air tube in the apparatus is constructed as follows:-In the plug e is a
pipe of small diameter opening on the outside of the adapter, and at a short
distance from its smaller end, as represented at 2, the open end being perforated
to prevent the ingress of solid matter from the barrel or cask. The pipe k in the
plug e is connected by a short piece of copper tubing near the valve seat to the
flexible pipe m, which passes along the interior of the outer flexible pipe a, and
opens into a small exit pipe n made in and projecting from the collar b, on which
the union joint c is secured, as represented. A continuous passage is thus made
between the opening in the side and near the end of the plug e of the adapter, and
the side of the collar b of the union joint.
Instead of using a valve, as represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3 for opening and
closing the passage through the adapter, a stop-cock may be used, as represented in
Figures 4 and 5, where the said stop-cock is marked 2. In this case a barrel q
for the plug of the stop-cock to work in is used instead of a valve chamber at the
summit of the hollow plug e of the adapter.
Figure 6 represents in perspective a tank or "square" for containing ale, to
which tank racking apparatus constructed according to my Invention is applied.
In the said Figure 6 one of the adapters is shewn having a valve for closing it,
and the others are shewn having stop-cocks for closing them.
In using the apparatus the collar b of the flexible pipe a is fixed by the union
joint o to the tap on the tank or square &. Along the tank or square is a shallow
trough t, the outlet end n of the air tube being supported over the said trough, as
represented. The trough t is for the purpose of receiving the overflow of the ale
from the barrels being filled. The ale received in the trough t passes to the
barrel u
8
Having connected the apparatus to the tank or "square" 8, the barrel v to be
filled is brought under the adapter, and the hollow taper plug e of the said adapter
is inserted into the bung hole of the said barrel, as represented in Figure 6. The
tap of the tank s is now opened, and the valve or stop-cock of the adapter is also
opened. Ale from the tank passes through the flexible pipe a, valve chamber g,
and hollow plug e to the barrel v, the air displaced from the barrel passing through
the air tube in the interior of the adapter, and escapes at the outlet pipe n. As
soon as the level of the ale in the barrel has risen to the level of the perforated or
inner end at 7 of the air tube, ale passes along the said air tube and runs from the
pipen in the collar b, and is received in the shallow trough t, from whence it
passes into the receiving barrel u.
By the overflow or passage of ale from the air tube at n the attendant is
informed that the barrel is full, and he closes the valve or stop-cock of the adapter,

page_text: "
and lifting the plug e from the bung hole of the said filled barrel suspends the
apparatus on the hook w supported from the tank or square s, as represented in
Figure 6, where the most distant apparatus is shown so suspended after a barrel
has been filled and removed. The filled barrel being removed an empty one is put
in its place, the adapter is detached from its hook, and the plug of the adapter is
put into the bung hole of the empty barrel, and the valve or stop-cock of the
adapter is opened, when the filling operation is repeated.
By my Invention the filling of the barrels is effected with great rapidity and
case, and without the loss or waste of liquid, which occurs in using the ordinary
racking apparatus.
The racking apparatus is readily removed from and attached to the tank or
'square," and the same racking apparatus can be used at different tanks or
"squares," as may be required.
Figure 6 represents partly in elevation and partly in section, and Figure 7 in
plan, a modification of the racking apparatus already described to be used pre-
ferably for filling casks or barrels at a distance from the vat or tank. Figure 8
represents a portion of the same detached; and Figure 9 represents in perspective
the manner in which this racking apparatus is used.
In this modification of my Invention the hollow taper plug e and the valve or
tap chamber are constructed as before described, but to the entrance pipe of the
adapter a long hose 2 (see Figure 9) is connected, the said hose being coupled to
the vat 3 by the union joint at 5. The hose 2 is made of sufficient length to reach
the barrels placed in a row to be filled.
The air and overflow flexible tube x, instead of passing through the interior of
the apparatus in this modification passes out at the side of the valve or cock
chamber, the hollow taper plug e of the adapter having an internal or inlet pipe k,
of the construction before described, to which the side outlet flexible tube x is con-
nected by the short metallic pipe, Figures 64, and 7. The end of the air and
overflow tube most distant from the adapter is connected with a funnel y, having
an arch-like crossing bar z, so that any liquid flowing into the said funnel y from
the tube x is readily seen by the attendant.
The way in which the apparatus is used will be understood by referring to
Figure 9, where it will be seen that the barrels to be filled are arranged in rows
and the attendant in filling the first barrel 6 of the row places the plug e of the
adapter in the bung hole of the said first barrel 6, and afterwards places the funnel y
of the air tube x in the bung hole of the next barrel 7. The stop-cock 4 on the
vat 3 having been opened the cock or valve of the adapter is opened, when the
barrel 6 is filled by the passing of the ale through the long flexible pipe 2 and
adapter, the air from the barrel escaping by the side air tube x. Immediately the
barrel 6 becomes full the ale escapes through the side air tube x and flows down
the funnel y into the second barrel 7, the overflow of the ale at the arch-like bar
of the funnel indicating to the attendant that the barrel is full. The valve or stop-
cock of the adapter is now closed and the apparatus is applied to the second and
third barrels of the row, that is to say, the plug of the adapter is placed in the bung
hole of the second barrel 7 and the funnel y of the air tube is placed in the bung
hole of the third barrel. The valve or stop-cock of the adapter is again opened
when the second barrel is filled. In this way the several barrels of the row may
be readily filled, the overflow of ale from the barrel being filled being received in
the next barrel to be filled.
Instead of placing the funnel y in the next barrel to be filled, so that the overflow
of ale passes into the said barrel, the said funnel may be placed in an independent
vessel for receiving the overflow.
The apparatus last described, although especially useful for filling casks or barrels
at a distance from the vat, may be used in place of the apparatus represented in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, for filling casks or barrels from the tank or "square."
In order to make the plug of the adapter fit bung holes of large size a remove-
able taper collar, having an india-rubber covering, may be placed upon the said

page_text: plug of the adapter, as illustrated in Figures 10, 11, and 12, where the removeable
taper collar is marked 8.
Instead of using a linen hose or nozzle at the smaller end of the plug of the
adapter, I prefer to use an adjustable metal nozzle of the construction represented
in Figure 13. This nozzle consists of two tubes of different diameters, the smaller
tube 10 sliding in the larger outer tube 11. The outer tube 11 is screwed to the
smaller end of the plug of the adapter, and the bottom of the said outer tube is
split or divided so as to make it elastic, and is furnished with a conical screw 12.
Screwing on the screw 12 is a screw collar 13; by means of the said screw collar
the inner tube 10 may be fixed to and released from the outer tube 11. After the
inner tube has been released it may be adjusted in the outer tube to suit the
depth of the barrels to be filled, and afterwards fixed by driving home the screw
collar 13.
Although I have only described my Invention in connection with the filling of
barrels or casks with ale, yet my said Invention is also applicable to the filling of
casks, barrels, and other vessels with liquids generally.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention
of improvements in racking apparatus, or apparatus for filling casks and other
vessels with liquids.
First. The combination of an adapter, the parts of which are constructed and
used substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 6 of the accompanying Drawings, with the flexible or other pipe ordinarily
coupled to the tap of the vat, tank, or "square" containing the ale or liquid to be
transferred to the barrels, casks, or vessels.
Secondly. The combination with adapters of an air and overflow tube, the said
air and overflow tube consisting of a continuous passage opening on the side of
and near the bottom of the plug of the adapter, passing inside the flexible or other
pipe and terminating in one side of the coupling collar, the said air and overflow
tube being constructed substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described,
and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The modification of the adapter and its air and overflow tube, herein-
before described, and illustrated in Figures 64, 7, 8, and 9 of the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, applying to the adapter an external air and overflow tube
connected with the side of the valve or cock chamber of the said adapter, the
distant end of the said air and overflow tube being provided with a conical funnel,
the several parts being constructed and used substantially as described and illus-
trated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Smith, have hereunto set my hand and
seal. this Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
Witness,
JOHN SHELDON,
Clerk to John Smith.
JOHN SMITH. (L.S.)