Method and Apparatus for Drawing Off and Transporting Sterilized Liquids without being Contaminated with Germs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application 22nd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
DIUNA.IT
[Communicated from abroad by CALBERA, FITZ, UND CONSORTEN, of
101, 102, Leipzigerstrasse, Berlin, Germany, Manufacturers.]
Method and Apparatus for Drawing Off and Transporting Sterilized
Liquids without being Contaminated with Germs.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, in the County of London,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method for preserving sterilized liquids free from
germus, as also for maintaining them germ-free while drawing off, transporting, or
transferring the same from one vessel into another; it also relates to apparatus
suitable for carrying out these operations.
The methods and apparatus heretofore employed for destroying germs in liquids
that may be injurious to health, may possibly have insured that all the germs were
destroyed, but, excepting when the sterilized liquids were at once enclosed in air
tight soldered tins or jars, (which arrangement is too expensive for transport on a
large scale) such methods were not in any way suited for maintaining the sterility
for a long time and during transport, in particular in large vessels, nor for
preventing the penetration of injurious germs from the atmosphere during the
drawing off of the sterilized liquid, or the transferring thereof from one vessel to
another.
The present invention has for its object to obviate the defects of existing
methods, and in particular to render possible the transport of sterilised liquids, such
as milk in large vessels which are employed repeatedly for the purpose.
The improved process consists in that the sterilised liquid stored in suitable
previously sterilised vessels, is discharged from the same at bottom through a
discharge apparatus while at the same time sterilised air or other sterilised or anti-
septic fluid matter that will not injuriously affect the liquid, is introduced at top.
Such a fluid which is well suited for the purpose is carbonic acid gas.
When
employing such gases, which may be suitably enclosed in a compressed condition
in closed vessels, it is advisable to fix the latter upon the transport vessel.
If air is employed for admission into the transport vessel, to occupy the space of
the discharged liquid, it is essentially necessary to sterilize it.
The manner of effecting this shall be presently described.
On the accompanying drawings apparatus are shown which are eminently suited
for carrying out the above described process.
Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of the transporting vessel A. with an air purifying
apparatus E applied thereto.
Fig. 2 shows another arrangement of the air purifying apparatus E.
Fig. 3 shows an enlarged section through the upper part of the transporting
vessel.
Fig. 4 shows a special construction of the air purifying apparatus.
Fig. 4 shows a cross section through the tube G of Fig. 4.
Figs. 5 and 54 show an instrument which may serve in lieu of the perforated
screw of Fig. 4.
Figs. 6 and 6 show a section and plan of a new closing device for casks.
Fig. 7 shows a vertical section through a filter for gaseous fluids which is
capable of regeneration.
Fig. 8 is a cross section of the apparatus at Fig. 7.
The transporting vessel A. Figs. 1 and 2 provided with suitably rounded
ends B B, which serves for the reception of sterilised liquid. as also the

page_text: discharging devices combined therewith, are so constructed that at the emptying,
the discharge of the liquid is effected very slowly and regularly. In particular the
construction must be such that the walls of the vessel and the connections thereof
offer the smallest possible resistance to the motion of the liquid, and do not cause
sudden increase of motion nor eddies.
For this purpose it is advisable to give the vessel a. cylindrical shape, and to
provide at will a smooth coating such as tin or other suitable material. Tin is
particularly suitable for the purpose as the vessels coated therewith can be readily
perfectly sterilised, by subjecting them to renewed treatment in a tinning bath.
Of course in this case the discharge and admission devices of the vessel, if not
removeable, must be of a metal or alloy that will not be affected detrimentally by
molten tin.
Also, all such constructions must be carefully avoided that do not give ready
access to every part for cleaning, thus forming breeding beds for bacteria. For
this purpose it will be preferable, where screwed connections are used, not to use
internal screw threads but external ones on the vessel.
The vessel A has at each end B and B¹ an opening C and C¹ which can be closed
air tight by a suitable closing device D D¹.
In order to protect these closing devices from injury during the transport of the
vessel it is advantageous to extend the cylindrical walls thereof beyond the bottom
as shewn at Fig. 1. Furthermore particularly in large vessels, the one bottom, or
both, can be provided with a manhole as indicated at Fig. 3, which will enable the
interior of the vessel to be cleansed by hand, in cases where a renewed tinning is
not possible or not desirable or possible on account of the size of the vessel.
These vessels can be readily fransported and stored.
If the vessel is to be emptied without allowing the liquid contained therein to
come in contact with unpurified air, the vessel is firstly stood on end, and the
discharging device, which should be readily cleansible and made as short as
possible, and which must only allow of a gradual discharge of liquid is attached.
Secondly the vessel is then inverted, so that the discharging device is at bottom,
and the upper closing device is opened and has connected to it an air purifying
apparatus i, as shewn at Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 4 and 7 shew some special constructions of such purifying apparatus. They
consist essentially of a vessel E Figs. 1, 2 and 4, which is charged with a material
that will retain the germs of the air passing through, such material being confined
between two perforated plates F and F, which are by preference unequally
perforated. Materials suited for this purpose are charcoal, wadding, cellulose &c.
The two last named materials are however only suitable when the regeneration of
the air filtering medium is to be effected by dry or hot gases.
When using moist regenerating materials charcoal would be particularly
advantageous.
The air passes, in consequence of the suction produced by the discharged liquid,
through the openings of the lower perforated plate F into the apparatus, flows
through the filtering material, and after passing through the openings of the
plate F issues perfectly purified into the tube & which leads the air into the
vessel A.
The apparatus as above described would however not give satisfactory results,
because it would still be possible for germs to rise up along the inner walls of the
vessel.
In order to prevent this, the walls of the vessel are provided with one or more
circular ribs H, arranged at equal distances apart, and preferably inclined upwards.
Figs. 7 and 8 shew an air filter of similar construction, capable of regeneration,
intended for the supply of sterilized air on a large scale. This filter permits of the
regeneration of the filtering material even while it is in operation, which is of
importance for operations on a large scale.
The principal observations on which this part of the invention is based are that
bacteria and similar injurious germs, being heavier than air and many other gases

page_text: or mixtures of gases or liquids, will, when such media are quiescent, or only in very
slow motion, almost all be deposited by gravity so that when, by means of suitable
devices this law of nature is utilised, an already considerably purified air comes to
the filter, and that furthermore, by means of one or more ribs fixed on the walls of
such a filter, and by preference inclined upward, the possible escape of the bacteria
or microbes along the walls of the filter, more particularly when this is already
vitiated to a certain extent by use, is prevented.
For the purpose of purifying air &c. of all mechanical impurities bacteria,
microbes, and the like, the air is introduced into the vertical vessel A' at a.
In the vessel is contained a filtering medium which will resist the action of water,
vapours, etherial oils &c., such for instance as quartz sand, charcoal, and the like,
which is by preference placed upon a perforated bottom plate. At Fig. 7 this
sieve bottom is not shewn, as it is not absolutely necessary.
As filtering medium may also be used wadding cellulose &c. but in that case
liquids or vapours which readily condense, could not be used for the regeneration
of the medium, and this would have to be effected by dry gases.
With vessels of very large size however, the filtering medium can be entirely
dispensed with. In this case, a fine spray of sterilizing or antiseptic liquid is by
preference caused to flow in the contrary direction to the slowly ascending air or
gas current.
The walls of the vessel A' carry one or more flanges C² by preference of coned
form as shewn, which have a series of fine perforations c2 close to the walls of the
vessel. These fine perforations have the object of leading off any condensation
products or rinsing liquid that may accumulate behind the ribs, when the vessel is
being cleansed and rinsed out.
The vessel is made of such ample size relatively to the quantity of gas &c. to be
purified, that the gas &c. can ascend through the filtering medium, in a slow,
quiescent manner and without pressure so that gas &c. freed from bacteria and
mechanical impurities will issue at top through L from the vessel.
After a certain time, the lower layers of the filtering medium are so charged.
with bacteria &c. that it becomes necessary to purify and regenerate the filtering
medium.
This is effected by causing vapours, gases, or liquids to pass into the vessel
through roses D2 arranged at different levels and provided with fine perfora-
tions d².
By the high temperature of the steam &c. or by the chemical or mechanical
action of the gases and liquids, among which latter volatile oils play a very
important part, all the microbes will be killed and all impurities are removed by
washing the filtering medium with sterilised water or other liquid, which is either
introduced through the roses D2 or through a supply rose E' situated near the
top B3 of the vessel A.'.
The liquid percolating through, or the condensible vapours and gases collect in
the receptacle G which communicates with the bottom B2 of the vessel A' by a
pipe F. It should be noted that the top roses are very well suited for effecting
the purification of the filter as also for accelerating and perfecting the filtering
operation while the apparatus continues to act, by causing sterilized or antiseptic
liquid to flow downwards from the same, so as to wash the impurities downwards in
a purely mechanical manner, while by keeping the filtering medium continually
moist, its filtering action will be greatly increased.
Lastly it may be observed that in the cases above mentioned the vessel A¹ may
under certain circumstances be used without the filtering medium.
The above described arrangements relate to those cases in which the deleterious
germs have to be separated from a material which is specifically lighter than these
themselves are. A simple immersion will however allow the said apparatus to be
employed also in cases where the material is specifically heavier than the germs
contained therein.
The principle of the first described arrangement consisted in causing the light

page_text: material to rise vertically or nearly so, so that the germs have a tendency to
subside by gravity. The purely technical alteration which the apparatus requires
for rendering it suitable for carrying out the second method, is of a very simple
nature, it consists in that the flanges on the inner surface of the vessel A require
to be directed downwards instead of upwards the perforations C² being omitted.
The principle of action however is altered in so far, that the liquid to be purified,
being specifically heavier than the injurious gerins, is introduced from the upper
end into the apparatus and issues in a purified condition at bottom.
The purification and regeneration is also in this case effected by the reverse
current system.
It will be obvious that the purifying roses D3 and E' can be employed both for
the introduction of gases, vapours &c. and immediately afterwards for the intro-
duction of liquids.
For emptying the vessels A filled with sterilised liquid, these are suspended
from above and a discharging device, so constructed as to avoid all considerable
movements or resistances, is fitted to the lower opening D while the upper opening
is made to communicate with the air purifying apparatus.
In order during these manipulations to prevent the penetration of hurtful germs
in the sterilised liquid it is advantageous, if the closure is effected by screwed
stoppers and not by paraffined corks, to introduce, between the charging openings
and the screwed cap, after the filling of the vessel, a membrane I Figures 3 and 6,
which has been coated on one side with an antiseptic cementitious material. The
prepared side should be presented to the liquid, and the membrane should be
pressed tight at the circumference upon the lower fixed part of the closure.
Between the screw cap and the membrane a caoutchouc packing K, Figure 3, is
introduced for effecting a hermetic joint, this being only of. such a size that on
removing the cap it will remain together with the membrane upon the end of the
discharge opening.
For a short time the membrane, being cemented on to the surface of the opening,
will then form an absolute hermetic closure against the penetration of hurtful
germs into the sterilised liquid.
The air purifying apparatus is then attached. If however it be preferred not to
connect this directly to the transport vessel the connection of the two may be
effected by a pipe terminating in a perforated awl-like point of metal or glass, as
shewn at Figures 5 and 54. When using such an arrangement it is advantageous
to employ the form of opening shewn at Figures 6 and 64, which is closed by a
bung of good, paraffined cork.
The before mentioned point is then forced through the bung, thus establishing
the communication between the sterilised liquid and the air purifying apparatus.
When the latter is directly fixed to the transport vessel the use of a cork bung
as closure is also advisable.
In this case the connection of the filter with the vessel may be effected by means
of a tubular stem on the former, provided externally with a screw thread for
screwing through the cork, as shewn at Figures 4 and 44.
The awl-like point, Figure 5, as also the tubular screw, Figure 4, must be
perfectly sterilized before use by means of an antiseptic liquid.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Method and Apparatus for Drawing Off and Transporting Sterilized
Liquids without being Contaminated with Germs.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, in the County of London,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 a method for preserving sterilized liquids free from
germs, as also for maintaining them germ-free while drawing off, transporting or
transferring the same from one vessel into another; it also relates to apparatus.
suitable for carrying out these operations.
The methods and apparatus heretofore employed for destroying germs in liquids
that may be injurious to health, may possibly have insured that all the germs were
destroyed, but, excepting when the sterilized liquids were at once enclosed in air
tight soldered tins or jars (which arrangement is too expensive for transport on a
large scale) such methods were not in any way suited for maintaining the sterility
for a long time and during transport, in particular in large vessels, nor for pre-
venting the penetration of injurious germs from the atmosphere during the
drawing off of the sterilized liquid, or the transferring thereef from one vessel to
another.
The present invention has for its object to obviate the defects of existing
methods, and in particular to render possible the transport of sterilized liquids,
such as milk, in large vessels which are employed repeatedly for the purpose.
The improved process consists in that the sterilized liquid, stored in suitable
previously sterilized vessels, is discharged from the same at bottom through a
discharge apparatus while at the same time sterilized air or other sterilized or
antiseptic fluid matter that will not injuriously affect the liquid, is introduced at
top. Such a fluid which is well suited for the purpose is carbonic acid gas. When
employing such gases, which may be suitably enclosed in a compressed condition in
closed vessels, it is advisable to fix the latter upon or within the transport vessel.
If air is employed for admission into the transport vessel, to occupy the space of
the discharged liquid, it is essentially necessary to sterilize it.
The manner of effecting this shall be presently described.
On the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification apparatus are
shown which are eminently suited for carrying out the above described process.
Figure 1 shows a vertical section of the transport vessel A with an air purifying
apparatus E applied thereto.
Figure 2 shows another arrangement of the air purifying apparatus E.
Fig. 3 shows an enlarged section through the upper part of the transporting
vessel.
Fig. 4 shows a special construction of the air purifying apparatus.
Fig. 4 shows a cross section through the tube G of Fig. 4.
Figs. 5 and 54 show an instrument which may serve in lieu of the perforated
screw of Fig. 4.
Figs. 6 and 64 show a section and plan of a new closing device for casks.
Fig. 7 shows a vertical section through a filter for gaseous fluids which is capable
of regeneration.
Fig. 8 is a cross section of the apparatus at Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 shows a vertical section and Fig. 10 a plan of a construction of transport
vessel combined with a receptacle for compressed gases.
The transport vessel A, Figures 1 and 2 provided with suitably rounded
ends B B, which serves for the reception of sterilised liquid, as also the dis-
charging devices combined therewith, are so constructed that at the emptying, the
discharge of the liquid is effected very slowly and regularly. In particular the

page_text: construction must be such that the walls of the vessel and the connections thereof
offer the smallest possible resistance to the motion of the liquid, and do not cause
sudden increase of motion nor eddies.
For this purpose it is advisable to give the vessel a cylindrical shape, and to
provide at will a smooth coating, such as tin or other suitable material. Tin is
particularly suitable for the purpose as the vessels coated. therewith can be readily
perfectly sterilised, by subjecting them to renewed treatment in a tinning bath.
Of course in this case the discharge and admission devices of the vessel, if not
removeable, must be of a metal or alloy that will not be affected detrimentally by
molten tin.
Also, all such constructions must be carefully avoided that do not give ready
access to every part for cleaning, thus forming breeding beds for bacteria. For
this purpose it will be preferable, where screwed connections are used, not to use
internal screw-threads but external ones on the vessel.
The vessel A has at each end B and B an opening C and C' which can be closed
air tight by a suitable closing device D D¹.
In order to protect these closing devices from injury during the transport of the
vessel it is advantageous to extend the cylindrical walls thereof beyond the bottom
as shewn at Fig. 1. Furthermore, particularly in large vessels, the one bottom, or
both, can be provided with a manhole as indicated at Fig. 3, which will enable the
interior of the vessel to be cleansed by hand, in cases where a renewed tinning is
not possible, or not desirable or possible on account of the size of the vessel.
These vessels can be readily transported and stored.
If the vessel is to be emptied without allowing the liquid contained therein to
come in contact with unpurified air, the vessel is firstly stood on one end, and the
discharging device, which should be readily cleansible and made as short as possible,
and which must only allow of a gradual discharge of liquid is attached. Secondly,
the vessel is then inverted, so that the discharging device is at bottom, and the
upper closing device is opened and has connected to it an air purifying apparatus E,
as shewn at Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 4 and 7 shew special constructions of such purifying apparatus. They
consist essentially of a vessel E Figs. 1, 2 and 4, which is charged with a material
that will retain the germs of the air passing through, such material being confined
between two perforated plates and F, which are by preference unequally per-
forated. Materials suited for this purpose are charcoal, wadding, cellulose &c.
The two last named materials are however only suitable when the regeneration of
the air filtering medium is to be effected by dry or hot gases.
When using moist regenerating materials charcoal would be particularly advan-
tageous.
The air passes, in consequence of the suction produced by the discharged liquid,
through the openings of the lower perforated plate F into the apparatus, flows
through the filtering material, and after passing through the openings of the
plate Fissues perfectly purified into the tube G which leads the air into the
vessel A.
The apparatus as above described would however not give satisfactory results,
because it would still be possible for germs to rise up along the inner walls of the
vessel.
In order to prevent this, the walls of the vessel are provided with one or more
circular ribs H, arranged at equal distances apart, and preferably inclined upwards.
Figs. 7 and 8 shew an air filter of similar construction, capable of regeneration,
intended for the supply of sterilized air on a large scale. This filter permits of
the regeneration of the filtering material even while it is in operation, which is of
importance for operations on a large scale.
The principal observations on which this part of the invention is based are that
bacteria and similar injurious germs, being heavier than air and many other gases
or mixtures of gases or liquids, will, when such media are quiescent, or only in
very slow motion, almost all be deposited by gravity so that when, by means of

page_text: suitable devices this law of nature is utilised, an already considerably purified air
comes to the filter, and that furthermore, by means of one or more ribs fixed on
the walls of such a filter, and by preference inclined upward, the possible escape
of the bacteria or microbes along the walls of the filter, more particularly when
this is already vitiated to a certain extent by use, is prevented.
For the purpose of purifying air &c. of all mechanical impurities bacteria,
microbes, and the like, the air is introduced into the vertical vessel A' at a.
In the vessel is contained a filtering medium which will resist the action of
water, vapours, etherial oils &c., such for instance as quartz sand, charcoal, and
the like, which is by preference placed upon a perforated bottom plate. At Fig. 7
this sieve bottom is not shewn, as it is not absolutely necessary.
As filtering medium may also be used wadding, cellulose &c. but in that case
liquids or vapours which readily condense, could not be used for the regeneration
of the medium, and this would have to be effected by dry gases.
With vessels of very large size however, the filtering medium can be entirely
dispensed with. In this case, a fine spray of sterilizing or antiseptic liquid is by
preference caused to flow in the contrary direction to the slowly ascending.air or
gas current.
The walls of the vessel A' carry one or more flanges C2 by preference of coned
form as shewn, which have a series of fine perforations close to the walls of the
vessel. These fine perforations have the object of leading off any condensation
products or rinsing liquid that may accumulate behind the ribs, when the vessel is
being cleansed and rinsed out.
The vessel is made of such ample size relatively to the quantity of gas &c. to
be purified, that the gas &c. can asceud through the filtering medium, in a slow,
quiescent manner and without pressure, so that gas &c. freed from bacteria and
mechanical impurities will issue at top through L from the vessel.
After a certain time, the lower layers of the filtering medium are so charged
with bacteria &c. that it becomes necessary to purify and regenerate the filtering
medium.
This is effected by causing vapours, gases, or liquids to pass into the vessel
through roses D² arranged at different levels and provided with fine perforations d².
By the high temperature of the steam &c. or by the chemical or mechanical
action of the gases and liquids, among which latter volatile oils play a very
important part, all the microbes will be killed and all impurities are removed by
washing the filtering medium with sterilised water or other liquid, which is either
introduced through the roses D² or through a supply rose E' situated near the
top B of the vessel A¹.
The liquid percolating through, or the condensible vapours and gases collect in.
the receptacle G which communicates with the bottom B2 of the vessel A' by a
pipe F2.
It should be noted that the top roses are very well suited for effecting
the purification of the filter as also for accelerating and perfecting the filtering
operation while the apparatus continues to act, by causing sterilized or antiseptic
liquid to flow downwards from the same, so as to wash the impurities downwards
in a purely mechanical manner, while by keeping the filtering medium continually
moist, its filtering action will be greatly increased.
Lastly it may be observed that in the cases above mentioned the vessel A' may
under certain circumstances be used without the filtering medium.
The above described arrangements relate to those cases in which the deleterious
germs have to be separated from a material which is specifically lighter than these
themselves are. A simple inversion will however allow the said apparatus to be
employed also in cases where the material is specifically heavier than the germs
contained therein.
The principle of the first described arrangement consisted in causing the light
material to rise vertically or nearly so, so that the germs have a tendency to
subside by gravity. The purely technical alteration which the apparatus requires
for rendering it suitable for carrying out the second, method,, is of a very simple

page_text: nature, it consists in that the flanges on the inner surface of the vessel A' require
to be directed downwards instead of upwards, the perforations C being omitted.
The principle of action however is altered in so far, that the liquid to be purified,
being specifically heavier than the injurious germs, is introduced from the upper
end into the apparatus and issues in a purified condition at bottom.
The purification and regeneration is also in this case effected by the reverse
current system.
It will be obvious that the purifying roses D2 and E' can be employed, both for
the introduction of gases, vapours &c., and immediately afterwards for the introduc-
tion of liquids.
For emptying the vessels A filled with sterilised liquid, these are suspended from
above and a discharging device, so constructed as to avoid all considerable move-
ments or resistances, is fitted to the lower opening D while the upper opening is
made to communicate with the air purifying apparatus.
In order during these manipulations to prevent the penetration of hurtful
germs in the sterilised liquid, it is advantageous, if the closure is effected by
screwed stoppers and not by paraffined corks, to introduce, between the charging
and discharging openings and the screwed cap; after the filling of the véssel, a
membrane I Figures 3 and 6, which has been coated on one side with an antiseptic
cementitious material. The prepared side should be presented to the liquid, and
the membrane should be pressed tight at the circumference upon the lower fixed
part of the closure.
Between the screw cap and the membrane a caoutchouc packing K, Figure 3, is
introduced for effecting a hermetic joint, this being only of such a size that on
removing the cap it will remain together with the membrane upon the end of the
discharge opening.
For a short time the membrane, being cemented on to the surface of the opening,
will then form an absolute hermetic closure against the penetration of hurtful
germs into the sterilised liquid.
The air purifying apparatus is then attached. If however it be preferred not
to connect this directly to the transport vessel the connection of the two may be
effected by a pipe terminating in a perforated awl-like point of metal or glass, as
shewn at Figures 5 and 54. When using such an arrangement it is advantageous
to employ the form of opening shewn at Figures 6 and 64, which is closed by a bung
of good, paraffined cork.
The before mentioned point is then forced through the bung, thus establishing
the communication between the sterilised liquid and the air purifying apparatus.
When the latter is directly fixed to the transport vessel the use of a cork bung
as closure is also advisable.
In this case the connection of the filter with the vessel may be effected by means
of a tubular stem on the former, provided externally with a screw thread for
screwing through the cork, as shewn at Figures 4 and 4^.
The awl-like point, Figure 5, as also the tubular screw, Figure 4, must be
perfectly sterilized before use by means of an antiseptic liquid.
Figs. 9 and 10 on the accompanying drawing shew respectively a vertical section
and a plan of a construction of the hereinbefore mentioned arrangement of the
transport vessel to be employed when compressed neutral gases (such as carbonic
acid) are to be admitted above the liquid to be drawn off, in place of filtered air,
the arrangement shewn being particularly advantageous as regards both simplicity
of construction and effectiveness of action.
The apparatus consists firstly of an outer vessel a which contains the liquid, that
is introduced and discharged through the stoppered opening C, and secondly an
inner vessel containing a compressed charge of germ-free gas or mixture of
gases. The casing a¹ of the outer vessel is extended beyond the bottom a² and
top a³ sufficiently to prevent any damage occuring, during transport, to the valves &c.
projecting from those parts.
.
The vessel.b might also be fixed on the top a³ of the transport vessel or be

page_text: formed as a compartment thereof but the arrangement shewn is preferable; it is
charged with gas through the cock d fixed on the top a³ of a, while at its inner end
it communicates with the vessel a through an opening e closed by a valve or cock f
which can be opened externally more or less so as to admit a regulated quantity
of the compressed gas into the vessel in order to act with any desired pressure
upon the contents of the latter when these are to be discharged, the pressure being
so regulated that the discharge takes place quietly without disturbing eddies, and
perfectly free from contamination with germs.
On charging the vessel a the gases therein are expelled through the valve or
cock g.
In place of ordinary valves or cocks d and f, cocks having several ways, of
known construction, may be used, in order thereby to enable gas to be admitted
during transport and during discharge of the liquid (which may be poor in gas)
according to requirements.
The charge of gas under pressure need not necessarily be contained in a separate
vessel fixed to or formed on the transport vessel a; it may also be forced
directly into the latter if the liquid stored therein does not absorb such gas.
In order to supply the vessel a directly with such gas under pressure, it may be
charged with pure or sterilised gas in the first instance, and the liquid be then
forced into it so as to compress the gas.
This compression is so regulated that even with thick fluids these can be
discharged rapidly so as not to be subject to contamination by germs of the
atmosphere.
The gas might of course also be introduced under pressure into a space left in
the transport vessel after charging it with the liquid, or the gas and liquid might
be introduced simultaneously under the same pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of enabling sterilised liquids to be discharged from storage or
transport vessels, by replacing the liquid to be discharged by carbonic acid or other
neutral gas, stored in a compressed state in a vessel attached to, or a compartment
forming part of the vessel containing the liquid, and admitted from the former into
the latter when the liquid is to be discharged, substantially as described.
2. In the method of operating referred to in the preceding claim, the modifica-
tion whereby the liquid to be discharged is replaced by a gas or mixture of gases
or air which is continuously drawn or forced in after having passed, immediately
before its entrance into the vessel, through a filter by which the germs are removed
therefrom, so that it enters the vessel in a sterilised condition, substantially as
described.
3. The method of filtering vapours, gases, or mixtures of gases, and simul-
taneously freeing the same from bacteria microbes and other deleterious germs,
wherein the vapours or gases are made to flow in the opposite direction to a
shower of sterilised or antiseptic liquid flowing through the same, and through a
filtering medium, such liquid being made to issue from perforated pipes or roses
arranged in stages one above the other, so that the vapours or gases in ascending
are made to meet fresh quantities of liquid in succession, the vapours at the outer
circumference being directed inwards by deflectors, substantially as described.
4. For carrying out the method of operating set forth in Claim one, the con-
struction of transport vessel herein described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10 of
the drawings wherein purified or germ-free gas or mixture of gases is forced into
the vessel before, during or after filling the same with liquid, or wherein such gas
or gaseous mixture is contained under pressure in a closed receptacle or chamber
fixed or formed within or upon the said transport vessel, and provided with
charging and discharging cocks or valves so arranged and operated that during the
13

page_text: transport of or when discharging the liquid, gas under pressure can be admitted
from the said receptacle to the transport vessel.
5. For carrying out the method of operating set forth in the second claim, the
use of a transport vessel such as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein
the gas or air required for the transport vessel is caused to pass first through a
filter for removing germs, which filter is temporarily connected with the said vessel,
substantially as set forth.
6. Constructing filters such as are referred to in the 5th Claim substantially
as herein described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, consisting
of a vessel provided with supply and discharge openings and whose inner sides
carry a number of separate closed conical rings or flanges directed inwards and
upwards so that the gas or air to be filtered, in ascending through the filter is
deflected by the said rings or flanges from the sides of the vessel to the central
part of the filtering medium.
7. In filters such as are referred to in the 6th Claim constructing the conical
rings or flanges with very small perforations at their lowest point, the perfora-
tions of contiguous rings being arranged so as not to be in line with each other,
for the purpose, on the one hand, of leading off the condensation products that
may collect between the walls of the filter and the rings, while on the other
hand the gas to be purified is prevented from passing up through the said
perforations, substantially as described.
8. In filters such as are referred to in Claims 6 and 7, arranging a number of
perforated pipes or roses one above the other and imbedded in the filtering
medium, for the purpose, on the one hand, of regenerating the filtering medium,
by causing sterilised or antiseptic gases or liquids to enter through the roses,
whereby at the same time the action of the filtering medium is increased by
moistening, and on the other hand in order by the introduction of steam during
the time that the filter is out of action, to boil and sterilise the filtering medium,
substantially as described.
9. For carrying out the method of operating set forth in Claim 3 the use of a
filter of the construction described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 wherein the
purification of the gases is effected, either with or without the use of solid filtering
material, by the action of filtering or purifying liquid issuing from the superposed
roses, operating in combination with the conical perforated rings or flanges at
the sides of the filtering vessel, whereby the condensation products from the gases
are intercepted and led into a closed vessel having a liquid seal, through which
vessel the gas to be purified is made to flow.
10. The use, for effecting a germ proof connection between an air filter of the
kind referred to in Claims 6 to 9, and a transport vessel for sterilised liquid, of an
awl or screw-like connecting piece such as described, with reference to Figs. 4 and 5,
which is made to penetrate through the plug or bung such as shewn at Fig. 6 into
the interior of the vessel, substantially as described.
11. In storage and transport vessels such as are referred to in Claim 5, the use
of a germ proof closure for the inlet and discharging openings consisting of a
membrane coated on its inner surface with an antiseptic cementitious material,
which is secured on the charging or discharging nozzle by means of a screw cap,
with or without caoutchouc or other packing, substantially as described with
reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings.
1
1001
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.