Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Registering the Supply of Liquids.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1888
Specification Accepted, 20th Apr.,
1888
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Registering the
Supply of Liquids.
I, FRANCIS EDWARD MAC MAHON, of No. 2 Princes Mansions, Victoria Street,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 apparatus for measuring and registering the supply or
consumption of liquids, and although principally applicable for the use of licensed
victuallers it is also adapted for other purposes such for instance as checking the supply
of paraffin and other oils.
The essential features of the Invention are a measuring tap which at each turn of
the handle supply a definite quantity of liquid and at the same time make contact
between the conductors of an electrical circuit. In connection with this circuit is an
instrument of the Morse type which records the number of contacts upon a "tape'
or strip of paper.
"
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of one
form of a measuring tap, Figure 2 a sectional plan of the same and Figure 3 a plan of
the underside, Figure 4 shews section of a modified form of tap.
In the first form of tap A represents an outer casing or shell which may be of
any material but will preferably be of glass so that the purchaser may see that
the measure is filled. Within this shell is the measure B which for the reason
mentioned will be also of glass and to the top of this measure is attached a spindle C
which passes through the outer casing and is provided with a handle D. To the
bottom of the measure B is connected a short spindle E which passes through the
casing and on to the end of this spindle E is fitted a nut F. A ground seating A¹
is formed in the casing A and a rim B¹ is formed on the measure so that they
form together a fluid tight joint, the two parts of which can be moved upon each
other. A supply pipe G is connected with the outer casing and as fluid passes
through this pipe it can enter the measure through the opening 6 when the two
openings are juxtaposed. The measure is thus constantly full and when it is
required to supply a purchaser the handle D is turned and the opening 6 is
removed from the "supply" G and therefore the further inlet of liquor is stopped.

page_text: The same motion of the handle places an orifice 6¹ in the measure opposite an
outlet pipe a' in the casing and thus the measure can empty itself. A spiral
spring around the spindle C carries the tap back to its original position as
soon as it is released so that no negligence on the part of the attendant can prevent
the measure from being refilled.
The registering apparatus consists of a Morse or other suitable electrical apparatus
which will perforate or mark a strip of paper each time the tap D is turned. To
complete the circuit one of the wires may be connected to the outer casing as shewn
at and the other to a spring contact maker K fixed to the counter. When the
tap is turned, a projection f on the nut F makes contact with the spring K and
the circuit is completed the result being that the paper is marked or perforated.
Figure 4 shews another form of measuring tap consisting of a measure L provided
with a three way cock M. When closed the communication between the supply
pipe N and the measure is open so that the measure is filled; when the tap
is turned to supply a consumer the communication between the supply and the measure
is closed and that between the measure and the outlet P is opened.
The measures shewn are adapted to be fitted to the counter as fixtures, but it will
be readily seen that similar measures may be applied to bottles with slack wires or
helical springs for the electric circuit so as to admit of the bottle being moved for the
purpose of serving consumers.
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:
The combination in apparatus for supplying liquors of a measuring tap such as
herein described with electrical apparatus for registering each turn of the tap the
whole constructed and operating substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 9th day of February 1888
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.