Improved Apparatus for Measuring and Delivering Liquids, and for Indicating such Deliveries and their Monetary Values.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Measuring and Delivering Liquids, and
for Indicating such Deliveries and their Monetary Values.
We, FRANCIS GWYN GRIFFITH, of Llansannor House, near Cowbridge,
Gentleman, and JOHN EDWIN GUNN, of Westgate Street, Cardiff, Accountant,
both in the County of Glamorgan, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improved apparatus for measuring and delivering liquids,
and for indicating such deliveries and their monetary values; and is specially
applicable for checking the amount of wine and spirits drawn and sold in bars and
similar establishments.
The instrument, being complete in itself, is capable of being applied to a cask or
similar vessel in the ordinary way, it having a tubular projection that can be driven
into the cask, or it can be attached to an ornamental stand on the counter, and a
pipe be taken therefrom to the source of supply.
The liquid to be measured and indicated passes through the aperture in the before
mentioned tubular projection, and flows thence to a conical plug valve or cock in
which are formed various openings or ports to be hereinafter described.
The conical plug has, at its larger diameter, a circular disc, and on its face, near
the outer periphery, a groove is turned into which a glass tube or cylinder with
open ends is inserted. A corresponding disc with groove is placed on the other
end of the glass cylinder, the grooves being filled with a suitable material in order
to insure a perfectly tight joint.
Screwed rods are also provided so as to screw the joints up. The plug, discs and
glass vessel are free to revolve in the conical shell surrounding the plug.
The internal diameter and length of the glass vessel are proportioned to the
desired maximum quantity of liquid to be measured at one operation. When
it is desired to draw and measure the full capacity of the cylinder in one
operation, the plug is turned in a direction so that an orifice in it comes opposite
to a similar orifice or port in the apparatus communicating with the source of
supply. The liquid then rises up into the glass vessel, the air being expelled
through a vent placed in a suitable position, the liquid of course following it.
To draw off this quantity, the cylinder is revolved for a portion of the circle,
when a port in the plug communicating with the cylinder is brought opposite a
similar port communicating with the delivery nozzle.
It will be seen that as in this operation the cylinder has been moved through
a portion of the circle, the air orifice in the top disc has taken a new position and
the opening in the end of the vent has been closed, so that whatever liquid may
have gone up into it will not form any portion of the quantity to be measured.
A disc of metal is attached to the bottom end of the air pipe, and is pressed into
close contact with the top disc of the cylinder by a suitable spiral spring, the two
surfaces in contact forming a liquid and air-tight joint.
A series of orifices in the valve disc is made opposite the air vent in the top disc
of the cylinder, the air entering these openings when the liquid is being drawn off.
Thus far we have described the apparatus for measuring a certain quantity of
liquid filling the entire capacity of the glass cylinder, and we further provide for
say three distinct volumes of liquid to be drawn from the cylinder.
When it is desired to draw off one third or two thirds, tubes, respectively, one
third and two thirds the height of the interior of the measuring cylinder, are fixed
into the disc or head of the conical plug. Orifices or ports are made from each of
the tubes to communicate with the port of the delivery. When the cylinder is

page_text: revolved to the required position, the liquid descends to the height of the before
mentioned tubes. An air opening in the top dise is also in communication with
the atmosphere so as to allow of the liquid being drawn off.
When there are three ports in the plug, two are at the opposite ends of the
transverse diameter, and the third the one, through which the cylinder is filled, is
at the rear end of the other; so that during the time of filling, the ports are all
shut off from the nozzle of the tap. Each motion of the cylinder is therefore
through an arc of 90°.
The receiving and delivery ends of the ports in the plug are, preferably, not in
the same plane, the inner mouth of the tap nozzle being extended so that they can
all deliver into it when they are brought into position.
The description so far relates entirely to measuring the liquid. We will now
proceed to describe the method of indicating the number of times the apparatus has
been filled and emptied or partially emptied.
To do this we place an indicator in a convenient position at the top of the
apparatus and three projecting pins on the top disc strike a communicating
projection on the indicator, which indicates three times every time the cylinder is
caused to revolve a complete circle. Corresponding monetary values are marked on
the face of the indicator.
A suitable ratchet is provided so as to prevent the possibility of the apparatus..
being turned the wrong way.
Dated this 24th day of October 1890.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Measuring and Delivering Liquids, and
for Indicating such Deliveries and their Monetary Values.
We, FRANCIS GWYN GRIFFITH, of Llansannon House, near Cowbridge,
Gentleman, and JOHN EDWIN GUNN, of Westgate Street, Cardiff, Accountant,
both in the County of Glamorgan, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improved apparatus for measuring and delivering liquids,
and for indicating such deliveries, and their monetary values; and is specially
applicable for checking the amount of wine and spirits drawn and sold in bars and
similar establishments.
The instrument, being complete in itself, is capable of being applied to a cask
or similar vessel in the ordinary way, it having a tubular projection that can be
driven into the cask, or it can be attached to an ornamental stand on the counter, and
a pipe be taken therefrom to the source of supply.
The liquid to be measured and indicated passes through the aperture in the
before mentioned tubular projection, and flows thence to a conical plug valve
or cock in which are formed various openings or ports to be hereinafter described.
The conical plug has, at its larger diameter a circular disc, and on its face, near
the outer periphery, a groove is turned into which a glass tube or cylinder with
open ends is inserted. A corresponding disc with groove is placed on the other
end of the glass cylinder, the grooves being filled with a suitable material in order
to insure a perfectly tight joint.
Screwed rods are also provided so as to screw the joints up.
The plug,
dises, and glass vessel are free to revolve in the conical shell surrounding the
plug.
The internal diameter and length of the glass vessel, are proportioned to the
desired maximum quantity of liquid to be measured at one operation
When it
is desired to draw and measure the full capacity of the cylinder in one operation,

page_text: the plug is turned in a direction so that an orifice in it comes opposite to a
similar orifice or port in the apparatus communicating with the source of supply.
The liquid then rises up into the glass vessel, the air being expelled through
a vent placed in a suitable position, the liquid of course following it.
To draw off this quantity the cylinder is revolved for a portion of the circle,
when a port in the plug communicating with the cylinder is brought opposite a
similar port communicating with the delivery nozzle.
It will be seen that as in this operation the cylinder has been moved through a
portion of the circle, the air orifice in the top disc has taken a new position and the
opening in the end of the vent has been closed, so that whatever liquid may
have gone up into it will not form any portion of the quantity to be measured.
A disc of metal is attached to the bottom end of the air pipe, and is pressed
into close contact with the top disc of the cylinder by a suitable spiral spring,
the two surfaces in contact forming a liquid and air-tight joint.
A series of orifices in the valve disc is made opposite the air vent in the top
disc of the cylinder, the air entering these openings when the liquid is being
drawn off.
Thus far we have described the apparatus for measuring a certain quantity of
liquid filling the entire capacity of the glass cylinder, and we further provide for,
say, three distinct volumes of liquid to be drawn from the cylinder.
When it is desired to draw off one third or two thirds, tubes, respectively,
one third and two thirds the height of the interior of the measuring cylinder, are
fixed into the disc or head of the conical plug. Orifices or ports are made from
each of the tubes to communicate with the port of the delivery. When the
cylinder is revolved to the required position, the liquid descends to the height of
the before mentioned tubes. An air opening in the top disc is also in communi-
cation with the atmosphere so as to allow of the liquid being drawn off.
When there are three ports in the plug, two are at the opposite ends of the
transverse diameter, and the third the one, through which the cylinder is filled, is
at the rear end of the other; so that during the time of filling, the ports are all
shut off from the nozzle of the tap. Each motion of the cylinder is therefore
through an arc of 90°.
The description so far relates entirely to measuring the liquid. We will now
proceed to describe the method of indicating the number of times the apparatus has
been filled and emptied or partially emptied.
To do this we place an indicator in a convenient position on the apparatus and
three projecting pins on the top disc strike a communicating projection on the
indicator which indicates three times every time the cylinder is caused to revolve
a complete circle. Corresponding monetary values are marked, on the face of the
indicator.
A suitable ratchet is provided so as to prevent the possibility of the apparatus
being turned in the wrong direction.
In order that our invention and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, we will now describe them in detail
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part
of this Specification.
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation.
Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating the mechanism for working the indicator.
Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line z-z of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of our invention.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the cock-plug taken through the way or port.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are, respectively, side elevation partly in section, front elevation,
and transverse vertical section on the line y-y of Fig. 5.
of
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A is the tail of the cock, and a the supply port
the apparatus. B is the cock plug. Its port bis right-angled and is thereby
adapted to establish a communication between the cock tail A and the measuring
vessel C. The latter is of glass and is fast to the plug so that they can only move

page_text: together about their vertical axes. It is conveniently held between two discs c, c¹
the former an expansion of the cock plug. When the latter and the vessel are in
the position shewn in Fig. 1, the vessel C is filled, and when in the position
illustrated in Fig. 3, both supply, air, and delivery ports are closed. Dis a disc
supported in any suitable way above the disc c. The two are held air- and fluid-
tight against each other by a suitable spring device G. E is the exhaust air pipe
leading into the top of the barrel or equivalent main supply from which the liquid
is drawn. e is the corresponding port through the disc D and e that through the
disc c¹. It is by means of these two ports that a communication is established when
required between the vessel C and the barrel aforesaid. f is a second port through
the disc D so positioned that when the vessel C is open to the delivery C¹, the
air exhaust port being likewise closed, the port e' coincides with the port fso as to
supply air to the vessel C.
H is the registering and indicating mechanism for quantity and monetary value
either or both. It is operated from the measuring vessel or some of its addenda by-
any suitable device, e.g., a rod / adapted to be moved with a reciprocating vertical"
motion by a projection on the disc c engaging in a suitable shaped groove h² on
the face of an extension on the end of the rod.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 44, the modification illustrated therein consists in making
the cock plug B horizontal, its way or port 6 being right angled accordingly. The
vessel C is supported between the barrel of the cock and the plate or disc D and
it and the plug move together by any suitable mechanism. One motion is, with
the cock-way or port as illustrated in Fig. 44 through a right angle and back
again.
I is the air pipe controlled by a double seat float valve i. As the liquid rises
in the vessel C, the air escapes from it past the valve, and when it all has been
driven out by the rising liquid the latter closes the valve upon its top seat.
The other members are counterparts of the corresponding ones in the con-
struction illustrated in the preceding figures and described therewith. They are
consequently marked with the same reference letters. Any suitable registering
and indicating mechanism for quantities or monetary values either or both may
be adapted to be operated as in Fig. 1.
Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the modification illustrated herein relates to
means by which varying quantities of liquid can be measured and registered. The
figures shew the mechanism as constructed for measuring and registering three
distinct quantities of liquid. N and O are two vertical pipes standing up in the
measuring vessel for respectively two thirds and one third of its height. Each
has its respective port n, o in the cock-plug, both adapted in respect of position
to coincide with the delivery C₁ when the vessel C is brought into the proper
position. The quantity delivered from the cock when one of the ports, n or 9,
coincides with the delivery C is that standing in the vessel C above the top of the
respective vertical pipe. Convenient handles p for turning the vessel, and indicating
plates q adapted to shew the operative position of it with reference to the ports in
the cock-plug, are also provided.
Our invention is not limited to constructing the apparatus for only thirds
inasmuch as it may be made to measure any other aliquot portions by modifying
the number of vertical pipes and their respective ports in the cock-plug
accordingly.
rare pins on the top disc adapted to engage with and actuate the registering
mechanism. The latter may be and preferably is of a duplicate construction
adapted to register and indicate both quantities drawn and their monetary values.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is,
1. The combination of supply port, measuring vessel, ported cock-plug, measuring
vessel, discs, and air exhaust pipe.

page_text: 2. The combination of supply port, measuring vessel, ported cock-plug, measuring
vessel, discs, and air exhaust, with a quantity registering and indicating mechanism
as set forth.
3. The combination of supply port, measuring vessel, ported cock-plug, measuring
vessel, discs, and air exhaust, with a quantity and monetary value registering and
indicating mechanism as set forth.
4. The combination of supply port, measuring vessel, ported cock-plug, and
double seated valve as set forth with reference to Fig. 4.
5. The combination of supply port, measuring vessel, ported cock-plug, and
double seated valve, with a quantity registering and indicating mechanism as
set forth.
6. The combination of supply port, measuring vessel, ported cock-plug, and
double seated valve, with a quantity and monetary value registering and indicating
mechanism as set forth.
7. The combination with a supply port and a ported cock-plug, of a measuring
vessel, vertical pipes of varied heights, their respective delivery ports and an
air vent for measuring different quantities as set forth with reference to Figs. 5,
6, and 7.
8. The combination with a supply port and a ported cock-plug, of a measuring
vessel, vertical pipes of varied heights for measuring different quantities, their
respective delivery ports, an air vent, and a quantity registering and indicating
mechanism, as set forth.
9. The combination with a supply port and a ported cock-plug, of a measuring
vessel, vertical pipes of varied heights for measuring different quantities, their
respective delivery ports, an air vent, and a quantity and monetary value registering
and indicating mechanism, as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of July 1891
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.