Improvements in or relating to Beer Engines for Preventing Waste of Liquor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Beer Engines for Preventing Waste
of Liquor.
I, JAMES HENRY KETTELL, of Old Vaults, High Street, Crewe, Licensed Victualler,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:
My invention consists of a trough or drip catcher into which the liquor dripping
from the taps of a beer or like engine falls and collects, and which said drip catcher
is connected with a pipe (hereinafter called the drip return pipe) leading to the
pipe through which the fresh liquor is raised from the barrel. In the length of
the drip return pipe is a non-return valve, and over such valve is a plate or
diaphram with one or more small holes in it. The fresh liquor pipe is also fitted
with a non-return valve.
In the drip catcher aforesaid I arrange a float connected to a stem or spindle
carrying a valve which, with the float in its lowest position and the drip catcher
empty, rests upon and closes the orifice leading to, or opening into, the aforesaid
drip return pipe.
When the drip catcher fills with drippings from the tap the float is lifted from
its seating, and allows the liquor to drain into the pipe, and with the pipe full
and in ordinary working the float is kept just clear of its seating.
By connecting the drip catcher with the fresh liquor pipe in the manner afore-
said the otherwise waste liquor is mixed and delivered with the fresh liquor, and
so fully utilised. Owing however, to the valve plate aforesaid a small portion
only of the said otherwise waste liquor (according to the size of the hole or holes)
is drawn at each pull of the fresh liquor, hence the presence of the otherwise waste
liquor if "flat," will not contaminate the fresh liquor.
To keep the liquor free from contamination I provide the drip catcher with a
sieve or strainer.
1
1007
Improvements in or relating to Beer Engines for Preventing Waste
of Liquor.
I, JAMES HENRY KETTELL, of Old Vaults, High Street, Crewe, Licensed Victualler,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
[Price 8d1

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention consists of a trough or drip catcher into which the liquor dripping
from the taps of a beer or like engine falls and collects and which said drip catcher
is connected with a pipe (hereinafter called the drip return pipe) leading to the
pipe through which the fresh liquor is raised from the barrel. In the length of
the drip-return pipe is a non-return valve, and over, or in advance of, such valve is
a plate or diaphram with one or more small holes in it.
The fresh liquor pipe is also fitted with a non-return valve.
In the drip catcher aforesaid I arrange a float connected to a stem or spindle
carrying a valve, which, with the float in its lowest position and the drip catcher
empty, rests upon and closes the orifice leading to, or opening into, the aforesaid
drip return pipe.
1
When the drip catcher fills with drippings from the tap the float is lifted from
its seating, and allows the liquor to drain into the pipe, and with the pipe- full
and in ordinary working the float is kept just clear of its seating.
By connecting the drip catcher with the fresh liquor pipe in the manner afore-
said the otherwise waste liquor is mixed and delivered with the fresh liquor, and
so fully utilised. Owing however, to the perforated plate aforesaid a small portion
only of the said otherwise waste liquor (according to the size of the hole or holes)
is drawn at each pull of the fresh liquor, hence the presence of the otherwise waste
liquor if "flat" will not contaminate the fresh liquor.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will
now proceed to describe the same with the various figures and letters of reference
marked thereon.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of my improved waste liquor returning
apparatus (about 2/3rds full size) as adapted for use with one engine only.
Fig. 2 represents an exterior view of the application of my apparatus to a series
of engines, with facilities for connecting and disconnecting any or all to the drip
catcher.
(A) designates the drip catcher made, by preference, of sheet metal, adapted to
lie beneath the level of the ordinary drip tray (A') beneath the beer engine taps (A2)
and receive the drippings therefrom, as shewn more clearly in Fig. 2.
Within such drip catcher is the float (B), carrying, or connected to valve (C) with
stem (C) taking into the open end of the drip return pipe, the end or mouth of
which is adapted to form the seating of valve (C).
The drip-return pipe is, by preference, made up in sections (D¹), (D²), (D³),
(14) (D³) and (D), connected together by unions (E), (F), (G) and screwed
sockets (H) of part (1³). The sections (1)³) (D6) form part of the fresh liquor pipe
from barrel to engine. In the part (D) is a small guide (C3) for stem (C¹) to
slide through, which also acts as an abutment for the nut (C³) which, when
adjusted, determines the rise of the float (B).
In the section (D) is a non-return valve (I) and between such valve and the
float valve (C), and fitted (by preference) between the end of section (D¹) and
section (12), as shewn, is a porous diaphram or perforated disc (J).
In the part (D6) (or fresh liquor pipe) is another non-return valve (K), also
provided with stem (L), guide (M) and nut (N).
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Drippings from the taps, or waste
liquor flowing into the drip catcher (A) slowly, or en masse, lift the float (B), and 5
flow into the drip-return pipe. In starting the apparatus it is desirable to fill
such pipe with waste liquor, so that the float (B) is fully raised when the engine
is used.
With the said pipe therefore full, and the float (B) raised, it will be seen that at
each "pull" of the fresh liquor, a quantity of the waste liquor in drip-return 5
pipe will be drawn with it, and thus be utilised. By reason however, of the
perforated plate (J) the quantity of waste liquor drawn with the fresh

page_text: liquor is only a small amount for each "pull," said plate serving
retard the flow and thus prevent the fresh liquor being made "
addition of too much of the waste liquor.
flat" by the
To further retard, or regulate, the quantity of waste liquor drawn at each pull I
may provide a regulating valve (0) (by preference) at the bend of the drip return
pipe which will serve to increase or decrease the area of the passage, and which,
after adjustment, may be set by nut. I may use said regulating valve in place of,
or in addition to, the plate (J).
Upon letting go the pump handle after each pull the liquor in the fresh liquor pipe
is prevented running back into the barrel owing to the non-return valve, (K), and
thus the waste liquor is prevented mixing with the fresh liquor in the barrel whilst
the valve also serves to keep air out of the barrel.
If the level of the liquor in the drip return pipe falls below the inlet opening, the
valve (I) closes such opening until more waste liquor enters the drip catcher, and
raises the float, when the waste liquor is again drawn upon by the engine, but
owing to the small quantity of waste liquor drawn at each "pull," and the fresh
and waste liquor which runs back after each "pull" the float nearly always at
its highest level and the action is continuous.
To prevent cork and other objectionable matter getting into the drip catcher, I
provide a fine sieve (P) in the mouth of the drip catcher as illustrated, held by tight
fitting ring (P) which can readily be removed for cleaning purposes.
To permit of my improved apparatus being used with two or more engines, i.e., re-
turn the waste liquor to any one of two or more engines, I provide the arrangement
shewn in Fig. 2.
The part (D) of the drip-return pipe is connected
branches (R), (R¹) (R2) connected respectively by couplings (S) to the
to pipe (Q) with
engines (T), (T¹), (T³).
When one or other of the branches require to be disconnected a screwed cap (U)
is applied to end (V) of part (D5), and the plug (W) to the end of part (X).
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1: In apparatus for preventing waste of liquor and returning same through
engine, the use and combination of a drip catcher, fitted with float and valve, a
drip return pipe to beer engine or fresh liquor pipe, with non-return valve in said
return pipe and fresh liquor pipe, and a perforated disc, porous diaphram, or
regulator in said return pipe, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth
and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of Canto
1000