IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BOTTLING AERATED LIQUIDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Foster and Samson Barnett, senior, both of
No. 23, Forston Street, Hoxton, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BOTTLING AERATED LIQUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Foster and
Samson Barnett at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th
December 1880.
FREDERICK FOSTER and SAMSON BARNETT, senior, both of No. 23, Forston
Street, Hoxton, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR BOTTLING AERATED LIQUIDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for bottling aerated
liquids.
When in bottling aerated liquids it is desired to obtain a cork with a champagne
head we employ a bottling apparatus consisting of a cork guide and compressor of
funnel like form, and which is made in two parts hinged together so as to open
longitudinally from top to bottom. One of these parts is fixed upon a convenient
support, and the other is moveable about the hinge joint. By a locking lever or
screw the moveable part of the cork compressor can be forced closely up to the fixed
part.
The lower end of each part is made with a projecting lip to enter or nearly enter
the neck of the bottle. Just above the lip which surrounds the mouth from which
the cork is delivered there is a flange, and the flange carries on its under side a
semi-circular pad or lip of india rubber which, when the parts are closed together,
forms a complete ring to receive the neck of the bottle. The bottle to be filled with
the aerated liquor is pressed upward by a treaddle or like contrivance until its
mouth bears firmly against the india rubber lip or pad. The lower end of the cork
compressor is then in position to deliver the compressed cork into the neck of the
bottle. A Buid tight joint between the two parts of the cork compressor is formed
by means of projecting ridges on the one part entering grooves in the other part,
and the said grooves are lined with a soft material. For the free admission of the

page_text: liquor to the bottle there is an aperture on the fixed side of the cork compressor,
and in the aperture there is a valve so shaped on its exterior side that it takes the
form and taper of the cork compressor, allowing the cork to be driven over it into
the bottle without abrasion. The valve is opened by the pressure of the aerated
liquid when the supply cock from the reservoir is turned on. This valve when the
supply is stopped is closed by means of a spring which draws it back. Between
the outlet valve and the supply cock an additional valve is fixed to let out the
confined pressure between the supply cock and the outlet valve, enabling the outlet
valve to close quickly and with certainty. This additional valve is so operated
upon that it becomes opened when the supply cock is closed and closed when the
supply cock is open.
In the operation of bottling a cork is first forced in to the upper part of the cork
compressor, and the bottle is pressed up to the india rubber lip or pad, as already
explained. The joints will then all be tight, for the pressure of the bottle against
the india rubber not only prevents escape between it and the glass or between the
india rubber ring and the flange which supports it (on which latter for greater
security there is a raised ridge), but it also spreads the india rubber so as to bring
the two parts of the ring into fluid tight contact with each other and with the lower
ends of the ridges, by which the side joints are made tight. The cork being in its
place prevents any leakage taking place over the top of these ridges. On the.
bottling cock being opened the bottle fills without any loss either of liquid or gas.
The cork is now driven home, not completely into the neck of the bottle, but
sufficient is left out to form the champagne head. This portion of the cork is
allowed to remain in the cork compressor, and to release it the compressor is opened,
the plunger of the machine being kept on the cork in the meantime, so that when
opened the thumb can be placed on the top of the cork and the bottle withdrawn
for the purpose of stringing and wiring. The cork is then tied or wired down in the
usual way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Foster and Samson Barnett in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd June 1881.
FREDERICK FOSTER and SAMSON BARNETT, senior, both of No. 23, Forston
Street, Hoxton, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR BOTTLING AERATED LIQUIDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for bottling aerated
liquids.
When in bottling aerated liquids it is desired to obtain a cork with a champagne
head we employ a bottling apparatus consisting of a cork guide and compressor of
funnel like form, and which is made in two parts hinged together so as to open
longitudinally from top to bottom. One of these parts is fixed upon a convenient
support and the other is moveable about the hinge joint. By a locking lever or
screw the moveable part of the cork compressor can be forced closely up to the fixed
part.
The lower end of each part is made with a projecting lip to enter or nearly enter
the neck of the bottle. Just above the lip which surrounds the mouth from which
the cork is delivered there is a flange, and the flange carries on its under side a
semi-circular pad or lip of india rubber which, when the parts are closed together,
forms a complete ring to receive the neck of the bottle. The bottle to be filled with
the aerated liquor is pressed upwards by a treaddle or like contrivance until its
mouth bears firmly against the india rubber lips or pad. The lower end of the
cork compressor is then in position to deliver the compressed cork into the neck of
the bottle. A fluid tight joint between the two parts of the cork compressor is
formed by means of projecting ridges on the one part entering grooves in the other
part, and the said grooves are lined with a soft material. For the free admission
of the liquor to the bottle there is an aperture on the fixed side of the cork com-
pressor, and in the aperture is a valve so shaped on its exterior side that it takes
the form and taper of the cork compressor, allowing to be driven over it into the.
bottle without abrasion. The valve is opened by the pressure of the aerated liquid
when the supply cock from the reservoiris turned on. This valve when the supply is
stopped is closed by means of a spring which draws it back. Between the outlet
valve and the supply cock an additional valve is fixed to let out the confined
pressure between the supply cock and the outlet valve, enabling the outlet valve to
close quickly and with certainty. This additional valve is so operated upon that
it becomes opened when the supply cock is closed and closed when the supply cock
is open.
In the operation of bottling a cork is first forced in to the upper part of the cork
compressor, and the bottle is pressed up to the india rubber lip or pad, as already
explained. The joints will then all be tight, for the pressure of the bottle against
the india rubber not only prevents escape between it and the glass, or between the
india rubber ring and the flange which supports it (on which latter for greater
security there is or may be a raised ridge), but it also spreads the india rubber so
as to bring the two parts of the ring into fluid tight contact with each other and
with the lower ends of the ridges by which the side joints are made tight. The cork
being in its place prevents any leakage taking place over the top of these ridges.
On the bottling cock being opened the bottle fills without any loss either of liquid
or gas. The cork is now driven home, not completely into the neck of the bottle,
but sufficient is left out to form the champagne head. This portion of the cork is
allowed to remain in the cork compresser, and to release it the compressor is
opened, the plunger of the machine being kept on the cork in the meantime, so that

page_text: when opened the thumb can be placed on top of the cork and the bottle withdrawn
for the purpose of stringing and wiring. The cork is then tied or wired down in
the usual way.
In order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed,
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of apparatus constructed according to our Invention for
bottling aerated liquids; Figure 2 is a plan; and Figure 3 is a sectional elevation
of the same. a¹ and a² are the two parts of the divided cork guide and compressor.
The part a¹ is fixed to a convenient standard or support, and the part a² is hinged
to the part a¹ by the hinge a*. b is a locking lever mounted upon a stud fixed
into the part a; it has a curved horn to engage with the grooved roller c mounted
upon a stud fixed into the part a². These instruments afford the means to hold the
two sides of the cork compressor very securely together, and to lock and release
them rapidly. The parts a¹ and a² have lips at their lower end, so that when
they are closed together and the apparatus is in use the cork is led well down into
the mouth of the bottle and cannot expand until it is actually in the neck. The
bottle stands during the operation in a cup like holder immediately beneath. The
holder is pressed upwards by a treadle, and the mouth of the bottle is thus squeezed
against the india rubber pad or lip d. This pad or lip d is also divided or is in
two parts, and one part is carried, as shown by each side of the cork com-
pressor a', a². The part a¹ of the cork compressor also is provided with a ridge a¹×
upon either side of the cavity, through which the cork is driven; and in the part a²
there are narrow grooves a²x, in which a soft material, such as vulcanized india
rubber, is lodged; the parts a** may be made removable to facilitate the fixing
of the india rubber. The ridges a¹× closing against the soft material in the
grooves a³× forms a tight joint, preventing escape laterally between the parts a¹
and a These grooves and ridges are carried up and turned inwards to meet the
cork in the position this occupies in the cone or compressor when the supply cock is
opened.
t
Escape in a downward direction is effectually prevented by the pressure of the
mouth of the bottle against the pad d as already explained. e is the supply cock
for admitting the aerated liquid to be bottled from the vessel in which it is con-
tained in quantity. As shown in the Drawing, this cock is of a valular
construction; the valve is held towards its seat by a spring, and is pressed down to
permit the liquid to pass by a lever handle facting against a plug g, which in turn
abuts upon a piston formed upon a stem attached to the valve; the structure of the
supply cock may however be varied. h is a valve fitted into an aperture in the
side of the cork compressor, by which the aerated liquid flows into the bottle when
the supply cock is opened. This aperture is below the place which the cork at this
time occupies in the cork compressor. The outlet valve h is provided with a spring
which tends to hold it in its seat; this spring is overcome by the pressure of the
gas when the supply cock is opened, and the liquid passes the valve freely, but
immediately the supply cock is closed and the pressure in the passage between it and
the valve / is relieved, as hereinafter described, the outlet valve h closes by the action
of its spring, and forms a smooth surface for the cork to pass over, so that in forcing
the cork home it may not be abraided. is the pressure relief valve; it has a
spring beneath it tending to move it to its seat, but, as shown in the Drawing, it is
open, the prolongation beyond the axis of the hand lever f operating through a
button upon a stem projecting from the top of the valve and pressing it down-
wards. Immediately however that the hand lever f is pressed down to open the
supply cock this valve rises to its seat, and no escape of liquid takes place past it.
Then, again, on the closing of the supply cock the relief valve i opens, the strength
of the springs and the areas of the valves e and i being such as to ensure this taking
place. By the opening of the valve i the pressure is relieved in the passage between

page_text: the supply cock and the outlet valve, and the latter is enabled to close tight to
prevents abrasion of the cork.
Immediately on the closing of the supply cock the cork is forced down and caused
to enter the neck of the bottle by bringing down upon it the ordinary plunger,
with which the apparatus is provided..
->
We have not thought it necessary that this plunger should be represented in the
Drawings. The plunger is so set that it does not drive the whole of the cork into
the neck, but it leaves enough of the cork out of the bottle and remaining still in
the cork guide to form a champagne head. The cork compressor is opened whilst
the plunger is kept down upon the cork, and then the bottle is removed and the
cork is tied down or wired in the usual way.
A similar arrangement of apparatus is applicable when bottling by gravitation, a
method resorted to in some cases when bottling wines which have been aerated.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim,—
First. The cork compressor divided throughout and rendered pressure tight,
substantially as described.
Second. The valve in the delivery aperture in the cork compressor, which valve
when closed completes the interior surface of the cork compressor so that the cork
may be driven over it without abrasion, substantially as described.
Third. The spring loaded outlet valve in the delivery aperture in combination
with the pressure relief valve operated in conjunction with the supply cock,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Foster, have
hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
hereunto set my
of our Lord One
FRED. FOSTER. (LS.)