IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR FILLING BOTTLES WITH AËRATED LIQUIDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Breffit, of the City of London, Merchant, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OR FILLING
BOTTLES WITH AËRATED LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 4th June 1878, and dated the 8th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Breffit at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1877.
EDGAR BREFFIT, of the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR CHARGING OR FILLING BOTTLES WITH AËRATED LIQUIDS."
This Invention relates to apparatus for charging äerated liquids into "patent
stoppered bottles," and more particularly for that class of stoppers described in the
Specification of Letters Patent, No. 1025, and bearing date the 9th March 1876, the
object being by its use to adapt any ordinary filling or corking apparatus for this
purpose, and hence I call it an "adapter."
The apparatus consists of a hollow stem or pipe, with apertures or inlets therein
leading to the central passage or bore thereof, and communicating with the bottling
or corking apparatus, said stem being tapped at one end with a thread, and provided
with a screw cap for securing it when it is passed into the nipple of an ordinary
corking or filling machine; or when the bottles are to be filled direct from a
cylinder the stem is made with a flange, which will be screwed to a bench or table,
and the nozzle or pipe from the cylinder will be screwed into the stem, so that the
bore of the stem will be in communication with the outlet from the cylinder. At
the outer end of the stem is provided a second hollow stem at right angles to the
irst, said second stem terminating as a plug for a quarter-way tap or cock, said
cock being attached to the plug by a screwed ring.
Prina B77

page_text: The quarter-way cock is made with a nipple, fitted with a piece or ring of
vulcanized india-rubber, which serves as an air-tight seating for the mouth of the
bottle to be charged, and around the nipple in the metal of the cock is an air
passage, which is led down below the plug to a recess communicating with a
safety port.
In the metal of the cock below the plug is a disc or washer, acted upon by a spring
though a plunger, to close the air passage and port; and a screw plug is provided
to adjust the pressure of the disc, thus furnishing a regulating safety valve for
facilitating the charging and preventing the liability of the bottles to burst in
filling.
On the metal forming the nozzle is tapped a screw thread, on which is secured a
metal guard in case of the bursting of a bottle.
According to a modification, the second stem and quarter-way cock is dispensed
with, and the hollow stem, first above referred to, is tapped at its outer extremity
to receive a flanged ring or recessed and perforated cap, containing within the
flange or recess a centrally perforated flexible disc, the perforation in which com-
municates with the bore of said stemn
In filling bottles stoppered with the spring or valve stopper described in the
Specification of the Patent before referred to, the outer end of the stem of said
stopper is pressed into the perforation of the said flexible disc, and is charged by
the liquid passing under gaseous pressure from the bottling or corking marchine, or
from the cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edgar Breffit in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th June
1878.
EDGAR BREFFIT, of the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR CHARGING OR FILLING BOTTLES WITH AERATED LIQUIDS."
This Invention relates to apparatus for charging aërated liquids into "Patent
stoppered bottles," and more particularly for that class of stoppers described in the
Specification of Letters Patent, No. 1025, and bearing date the 9th March 1876, the
object being by its use to adapt any ordinary filling or corking apparatus for this
purpose, and hence I call it an "adapter."
The apparatus consists of a hollow stem or pipe, with apertures or inlets therein
leading to the central passage or bore thereof, and communicating with the bottling
or corking apparatus, said stem being tapped at one end with a screw thread, and
provided with a cap or nut for securing it when it is passed into the nipple of an
ordinary corking or filling machine; or when the bottles are to be filled direct from
a cylinder the stem is made with a flange, which will be screwed to a bench or table,
and the nozzle or pipe from the cylinder will be screwed into the stem, so that the
bore of the stem will be in communication with the outlet from the cylinder. At
the outer end of the stem is provided a second hollow stem at right angles to the
first, seid second stem terminating in a plug for a quarter-way tap or cock, said
cock being attached or held to the plug by a screwed ring.
The quarter-way cock is made with a nipple, fitted with a piece or ring of
vulcanized india-rubber, which serves as an air-tight seating for the mouth of the
bottle to be charged, and around the nipple in the metal of the cock is an air
passage, which is led down below the plug to a recess communicating with a
safety port.
In the metal of the cock below the plug, air passage, and safety port, is a disc or
washer, acted upon by a spring through a plunger to close the air passage and port;
and a screw plug is provided to act upon the plunger to adjust the pressure of the
disc, thus furnishing a regulating safety valve for facilitating the charging and
preventing the liability of the bottles to burst in filling.
On the metal carrying or surrounding the nipple is tapped a screw thread, on
which is screwed a metal safety guard in case of the bursting of a bottle.
According to a modification, the second stom and quarter-way cock will bo
dispensed with, and the hollow stem first above referred to is tapped at its outer
extremity to receive a flanged ring or recessed and perforated cap, containing within
the flange or recess a centrally perforated flexible disc, the perforation in which
communicates with the bore of the said stem.
In the Drawings,—
Fig. 1 represents arrangement of apparatus for attachment to ordinary corking or
filling machine, the working parts being shown in vertical section.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional plan at a, a, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a like section,
looking upwards, at b, b, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is elevation of bracket as fixed for filling direct from cylinder containing
aerated liquid under gaseous pressure; and Fig. 4a is a top or plan view of
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 represents modification of apparatus for filling bottles fitted with patent
"valve" stopper, before referred to, the bottling cap for receiving the outer stem of
said "valve" stopper being shown in section.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A is hollow stem or pipe with apertures or inlets B leading
to the central passage or bore of stem A, said aperture B communicating when the
apparatus is fixed for working with the liquor outlets or ways of the bottling,
corking, or filling apparatus, said stem A being tapped with a screw thread and
fitted with nut C for securing it when fitted to the filling apparatus to be " "adapted."
A' is continuation of stem A, or second stem, at right angles to A, and terminating

page_text: in a plug A² for quarter-way cock D, said cock being attached to the plug_A³ by a
screwed ring or cap D¹. The quarter-way cock D is made with a nipple E screwed
thereon, and into the central way B¹ of the cock D is screwed a conduit tube B
said tube B being smaller than the passage of nipple E, and passing therethrough.
The passage of nipple E is provided for the escape of air or gas, and is turned out
internally in the shape of a cone at E¹, and terminates at the outer extremity in the
conical piece E2, upon which is fitted a tubular piece F of india-rubber, which will
serve as an air-tight seating for the mouth of bottles whilst bottling, as more fully
herein after explained; Es is a screw cap to hold piece F securely.
In the metal of the cock D and outside of the central way B¹ is formed an air
passage G, partially indicated in dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 2, in connection with and
leading from the internal conical part E¹ and passage of nipple E, to an annular
recess G¹ communicating with the safety port G³, for escape of superfluous gas or
compressed air.
In the metal of the cock below the air passage and annular recess G¹ is placed a
disc or washer H, and below this is a screwed metal piece I fitted with a plunger K,
acted upon from below by a helical spring L through a screw-adjusting plug M, so
as to adjust or regulate the pressure of the disc or washer Hagainst the air passage G
and annular recess G₁, to close more or less the safety port G, and thus furnish a
regulating safety valve for facilitating the charging and preventing the liability of
the bottles to burst in filling.
On the metal of the cock D and around the nipple E is adjusted or screwed a
metal safety guard N, in case of the bursting of a bottle in filling or charging.
In using this apparatus the operation is as follows:-The apparatus is secured to
the filling, corking, or like machine, as before described, and with the aerated or
gaseous liquid ready for use. The bottle, patent stoppered, that is,.with internal
stopper of this or that kind, is now passed into the guard until the tubular nipple
piece or seating F is entered into and securely held by the pressure of the operator's
hand on the mouth of the bottle; the cock D is now made to take a quarter turn
upon the plug A³, and the liquid will flow or rush into the bottle through B
and B¹.
It is well known to soda water bottlers that the air or gas will generally charge
the bottle before it is properly filled with liquid, and resource must be had to what
is known as "sniffing," that is, some of the air must be allowed to escape. This is
provided for in this apparatus by the air passage around the conduit tube B³ com-
inunicating, as before described, with the passage G, and by annular recess G' with
safety port G³; for when the pressure of air or gas becomes too great within
the bottle it acts through the passages upon the disc H, forcing same back on the
spring plunger K, and escaping or "sniffing" automatically by way of port G².
In Figs. 4 and 4" is represented a modification of the stem A of apparatus, said 4
stem A being made with flange or plate O, which will be secured to a bench or
table O'; P is pipe communicating with the charged cylinder.
"
In Fig. 5 is represented modification of apparatus for filling bottles fitted with
patent valve" stoppers. The stem A is tapped at A' to receive the flanged ring
or recessed and perforated cap Q, containing the perforated disc F
In filling bottles stoppered with the spring or valve stopper, described in the
Specification of the Patent before referred to, the outer end of the stem of said
stopper will be pressed into the perforation of the said flexible disc, and be charged
by the liquid passing under gaseous pressure from the bottling or corking machine,
or from the cylinder.
The ordinary cocks of the said bottling or corking machine or cylinder will be
used in this case to let on or cut off the supply of air, or gas and liquid, or liquid
under gaseous pressure, whilst the bottle is being charged, or when the bottle is
removed from the nipple F.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and 5
shown by Drawings how the same may be carried into practical effect, I claim the
apparatus for adapting any ordinary charging, corking, or filling machine for bottling

page_text: aerated liquids into so-called patent stoppered bottles, and automatically effecting
the escape of superfluous air or gas at the same time that the charging operation is
proceeding, substantially as herein set forth, and shown by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edgar Breffit, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
In the presence of
WALTER A. BARLOW,
Patent Agent & Engineer,
6, St. Paul's,
E.C.
E. BREFFIT. (L.S.)