IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING SPIRITS AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Martin French at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th May
1867.
I, JAMES MARTIN FRENCH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING SPIRITS AND OTHER
LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the improved arrangement or arrangements of
parts herein-after described of instruments or apparatus for measuring spirits
and other liquids, the object of my Invention being to permit of the rapid
drawing off of measured quantities of liquid from a barrel or reservoir.
I will describe my Invention in connection with an instrument or apparatus
for use in liquor shops and elsewhere for measuring small quantities of spirits.
A vessel of a size proper to hold the quantity of liquor it is wished to measure
or draw off is supported in a bracket at top and bottom, the said bracket being
connected by means of an inclined tubular arm with the barrel or reservoir
from which the liquor is to be drawn. A vertical plug similar to that of a
stop-cock, but of greater length, and having a handle or thumb plate at its top.
passes through the axis of the measuring vessel and the two arms of the
bracket supporting it. The said plug has two passages in it at top, one large
and the other small, which communicate when the plug is in one position
with passages of corresponding size in the inclined tubular arm described;
these passages in the upper part of the plug open into the top of the

page_text: measuring vessel. The bottom of the plug has a passage in it which is in
communication with or shut off from the delivery pipe according to the position
of the plug, and also opens into the measuring vessel. When the plug is in
its ordinary or normal position the passages in its upper part communicate
with the passages in the inclined tubular arm, the liquor passing down the
larger passage and filling the measuring vessel, while the air from the said
measuring vessel escapes through the smaller passage into the cask or
reservoir. When it is wished to draw off the contents of the measuring vessel
the plug is turned through a quarter of a revolution. The communication
between the passages in the inclined tubular arm and the top of the measuring
vessel are closed, and that between the bottom of the vessel and delivery pipe
is opened, a small air hole at the top being at the same time opened. The
liquor runs out of the measuring vessel into the glass or receptacle placed to
receive it while air enters the measuring vessel at top. As soon as the
contents of the measuring vessel have been drawn off the plug is restored to
its normal position, when the measuring vessel is refilled ready to be again
drawn off. Instead of making the plug pass through the axis of the measuring
vessel it may be made to work in a barrel forming the lower part of the
supporting bracket and the measuring vessel for containing and delivering the
liquor be placed in front of the said bracket; but I prefer the arrangement
first described. By making an additional hole or holes in the plug the liquid
may be drawn off continuously or without measuring it by bringing the plug
into the required position.