A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND DRAWING OFF ANY GIVEN QUANTITY OF LIQUID FROM A VAT, CASK, CISTERN, OR OTHER VESSEL CONTAINING IT IN BULK
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Shaw and William Blackburn
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1876.
THOMAS SHAW and WILLIAM BLACKBURN, both of Marsh, Huddersfield, in the
County of York. "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING AND DRAWING OFF ANY GIVEN QUANTITY OF LIQUID FROM A VAT, CASK,
CISTERN, OR OTHER VESSEL CONTAINING IT IN BULK."
Our Invention consists of forming a measure or vessel of capacity, so that the
entire or any intermediary quantity or quantities can be withdrawn from the same
out of one or more outlets by means of one special tap or valve of new and novel
construction which we will term the main valve, and for this purpose we construct
within this vessel one or more pipes, partitions, or compartments which terminate at
their bottom ends in the shell or casing of the aforesaid main valve or tap, in which
are made holes or apertures corresponding to the number of aforesaid pipes,
partitions, or compartiments, and corresponding holes or apertures are so arranged in
the plug which fits in the said casing of the valve or tap, that any specified
quantity or quantities can be withdrawn from the measuring vessel by the operation
of the main tap or valve. The height, level, or size of the aforesaid pipes, partitions,
or compartments within the said vessel determine the quantity to be withdrawn by
the operation of the aforesaid tap or valve. Attached to the spindle or other
suitable part of the said valve are projections, fingers, or tappets which operate the
inlet or tap for filling the measuring vessel before described, opening and closing it
as required, according to the amount drawn off therefrom; other projections,
fingers, or tappels may also be employed for actuating an air valve, which may
be placed on the top of or in a suitable position with the aforesaid measuring vessel;
or we may combine this air valve or tap with aforesaid inlet tap, or in any way
suitable manner to obtain a simultaneous action of the two; and we provide an
index or register on the said measuring vessel by which a pointer attached to the
spindle of the main valve or tap will record the actual quantity withdrawn, and
it will be obvious that the same may be placed or set so as to withdraw the specified
quantity required.
The aforesaid measuring vessel may be attached by means of a pipe or pipes to
any kind of cistern, cask, vat, or other vessel containing in bulk what is required to
be measured. It is simple in construction and is not readily liable to get out
of order.

page_text: The aforesaid main valve or tap is also applicable for other purposes than
measuring, inasmuch as that we may employ the same for drawing off hot and cold
water or other different kind of liquids.
Instead of employing the before-described apparatus for measuring, we may
construct on one or more pipes any desirable number of specified measures of quantity
made to contain from a maximum to a minimum, or vice versa, and to each of these
measures or receptacles is applied an ordinary tap or valve with an air valve.
Whatever quantity is required to be drawn or measured off the tap communicating
with the receptacle containing the desired quantity is closed, whilst it is filled when the
tap at the outlet or outlets is opened, and it allows the desired quantity to flow out of
the receptacle or measure. One or more outlets are provided as required for the
whole of the measuring vessels or receptacles formed on the aforesaid pipe or pipes.
The inlet tap to any of the receptacles or measures from which the desired quantity
is required to be drawn off is closed, whilst its contents are being drawn off, the
taps being always so arranged as to be able to draw the specified or required
quantity.
As in the before-described apparatus connection to any kind of cistern, cask,
vat, or other vessel containing the liquid in bulk is adopted.
Our improved apparatus may be made of any suitable material, and more pipes
than one may connect or be attached with them to the cistern, cask, or other vessel
which supplies same, and they may be placed in any suitable position.
It will be obvious that the use of measuring vessels or receptacles constructed
according to our Invention will be advantages to retail dealers for all kinds of
`liquids, inasmuch as a great saving, both in waste and labour, will be effected.