IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF WINE, BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS FROM CASKS OR OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1878

page_text: ..t
LETTERS PATENT to William Shanks, of Bow, in the County of Middlesex,
7 1
*
Foreman, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF WINE,
BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS FROM CASKS OR OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 28th March 1879, and dated the 1st October 1878.
:
'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Shanks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st. October 1878.
WILLIAM SHANKS, of Bow, in the County of Middlesex, Foreman.
-" IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF WINE, BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS FROM CASKS OR
OTHER VESSELS."
"
This Invention relates to an improved construction of syphon apparatus for
drawing off wine, beer, or other liquids from casks. or barrels into bottles or other
receptacles. It has been found that when ordinary syphons are used a disturbance
of the sediment at the bottom of the cask takes place, and that if the liquid be
drawn off in the ordinary way it will not be sufficiently clear for bottling.
t
The main objects of the present Invention are, first, to prevent the disturbance
of the sediment in the liquid by drawing off the latter from near the surface instead
of from the lower part of the barrel; and second, to provide a means for indicating
the variations in the level of the liquid in the cask as the beer or wine is drawn off.
The apparatus consists of a syphon-shaped pipe, the longer leg of which is placed
outside the cask when in use, and is secured to the chine of the cask by means of a
clip and screw or other analogous device, and is provided at its lower end with a
tap and nozzle. The shorter leg of the syphon will be placed inside the cask
and is of sufficient 'length' to extend down to and rest on the bottom so that it may
be held steady. To the lower end of this leg is attached by a suitable joint a
flexible or other tube which is perforated at its' outer end and is provided with a
tubular float which will keep the perforated end of the movable tube near the
surface of the liquid in the barrel or cask so that the syphon may always draw off
Puisa 917

page_text: the clearest part of the liquid. A vertical glass pipe (attached to a suitable scale
if required) is adapted to the barrel of the drawing-off cock and extends upwards
parallel to the outer and longer leg of the syphon; by this means the attendant can
always see the exact height of the liquid in the cask and can consequently calculate
the quantity of beer or wine remaining therein.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Shanks in the Great Seal. Patent Office on the 1st April
1879.
WILLIAM SHANKS, of Bow, in the County of Middlesex, Foreman. ❝ IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR DRAWING OFF WINE, BEER, AND OTHER LIQUIDS FROM CASKS OR
OTHER VESSELS."
This Invention relates to an improved construction of syphon apparatus for
drawing off wine, beer, or other liquids from casks or barrels into bottles or
other receptacles. It has been found that when ordinary syphons are used a
disturbance of the sediment at the bottom of the cask takes place, and that if
the liquid be drawn off in the ordinary way it will not be sufficiently clear for
bottling.
It has therefore been proposed to fit syphon tubes with floats for suspending
the supply tube of the syphon in the clear liquid, but hitherto such contrivances
have not been found to work satisfactorily, and moreover to ensure a useful
apparatus a means for shewing the level of the liquid in the cask was found
requisite. Now the object of this Invention is to provide a simple and efficient
apparatus which will not only prevent the disturbance of the sediment during the
drawing off of the liquid, but will shew the variations in the level of the liquid in
the cask as the beer or wine is drawn off.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews in side elevation the syphon appa-
ratus applied to a barrel, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. a, a, 18 a
bent syphon pipe the shorter limb of which is inserted in the cask while the longer
limb stands in front of the cask and is secured thereto by a screw clip 6 which is
fastened to the chine of the cask. The clip b is cast in one with the bent barrel of
the tap c, the socket of which is fitted with a conical plug as usual; 6' is a socket
of the clip provided with a vertical opening into which the syphon tube is screwed.
Fitted to a side opening in this socket is a bent tube d which leads to a glass gauge
tube d' that is attached to a scale board d² made fast to the external limb of the
syphon. Jointed to the inner limb of the syphon is a tube e which carries at its
free end a tubular float f; this float is pivotted to the tube e so as to be capable of
maintaining its vertical position while the tube drops with the fall of the level of
the liquid in the cask. Below this float the tube e is pierced with rows of holes
at its sides, and by reason of the float these holes will be maintained on a level
with the clear liquor in the cask. Through these holes the liquid will pass into the
syphon tube a and finding its way through the socket b¹ to the tube d will indicate

page_text: in the glass gauge tube d' the varying height of the liquid in the cask. It will
now be understood that by turning on the tape the liquid will be drawn off from
near the surface, the tube e falling nearer to the bottom of the cask as the height
of the liquid decreases, and being held clear of the sediment by the bottom of the
float, ultimately resting upon the side of the cask. When therefore the clear liquid
is run out the syphon will cease to act.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improved Apparatus for
Drawing Off Wine, Beer, and other Liquids from Casks or other Vessels," and
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood
that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
The arrangement of syphon apparatus constructed and operating substantially as
and for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Shanks, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
W. SHANKS. (L.S.)