Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating the Supply of Water to the Condensing Cylinders of Aerated Water Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1892-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating the Supply of Water to
the Condensing Cylinders of Aerated Water Machines.
I, JAMES MEADOWCROFT, of Regent Street Blackburn in the County of
Lancaster Soda Water Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
According to this my invention, the apparatus consists of a small hollow
cylinder or globe made of glass, copper, brass, or other suitable material, suspended
on one end of a lever to the other end of which lever is connected a suitable
weight to counterbalance the weight of the small cylinder or globe, and also the
small cylinder or globes necessary fittings. The lever is carried at its centre on a
stud or pin, which is fixed to the front of the condensing cylinder or other suitable
part of the aerated water machine. The small cylinder or globe is connected at its
top or highest part by means of a flexible tube to the top of the condensing
cylinder, and the bottom or lowest part of the small cylinder or globe is also
connected with the bottom part of the condensing cylinder by means of a similar
flexible tube attached to the said lever is a connecting rod or link and this rod or
link is connected with a press down water valve in such a manner that when the
lever moves up or down the connecting rod or link, opens or shuts the water
valve.
The action is as follows:-When the aerated water machine is set in motion, the
outlet tap of condensing cylinder is opened, and all the water and carbonic acid
gas is blown out. The tap is then closed and as the condensing cylinder and also
the small cylinder or globe is then empty, the small cylinder or globe is just
counterbalanced by the weight on the opposite end of the lever, and the lever is
then in a horizontal position, and the connecting rod or link is holding the water
valve open, thus allowing a free supply of water to the soda water pump or pumps.
This valve controls the supply of water to the pump or pumps and as the valve is
open the pump or pumps are supplied with water and force it along with. the
necessary quantity of carbonic acid gas into the condensing cylinder, and when
this action continues the water line or level in the condensing cylinder begins to
rise, and as it does so a portion of the water passes from the condensing cylinder
through the bottom flexible tube into the small cylinder or globe attached to the
end of the lever, and the air or gas in the small cylinder or globe is forced through
the top flexible tube into the condensing cylinder. The small cylinder or globe
which is fixed at a suitable height in comparison with the condensing cylinder now
receives a portion of the water pumped by the pump or pumps into the condensing
cylinder & thus becomes heavier than the counterbalancing weight, and the end of
the lever to which the small globe or cylinder is attached is moved in a downward
direction.
This movement of the lever causes the connecting rod or link to press down &
close the water valve, and so stops the supply of water to the pump or pumps and
thus prevents the condensing cylinder from becoming too full. By moving the
counterbalancing weight nearer to or further from the centre of the lever, the
height or level of the water in the condensing cylinder is regulated as required.
I also use as modifications or alternative methods of the foregoing appliances, a
similar small cylinder or globe in the form of a float or ball valve, and instead of
using a counterbalance weight, I allow the small cylinder or globe to float on water
contained in a suitable vessel, the small cylinder or globe being connected to a
lever, the opposite end of which is fixed to the water vessel by a stud or pin. The
י.

page_text: small cylinder or globe is connected by flexible tubes to the top and bottom of the
condensing cylinder as in the first mentioned method.
Also a similar small cylinder or globe connected with flexible tubes and floating
on water as in the last mentioned preceding method, but instead of an open vessel,
it is enclosed in an air tight vessel or box, through which box or vessel both the
gas and water required to be pumped have to pass on their way to the pump or
pumps.
Dated this 16th day of October 1901
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Regulating the Supply of Water to
the Condensing Cylinders of Aerated Water Machines.
I, JAMES MEADOWCROFT, of Regent Street, Blackburn in the County of
Lancaster, Soda Water 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 :-
According to this my invention the apparatus consists of a small hollow cylinder
or globe made of glass, copper or other suitable material, suspended on one end of
a lever to the other end of which lever is attached a counterbalance weight or a
spring which counterbalances the weight of the small cylinder or globe and its
fittings. The lever is carried at or near its centre on a stud or pin, which is fixed
to the front of the condensing cylinder or other part of the aerated water machine.
The small cylinder or globe is connected at its top or highest part by means of a
flexible tube to the top of the condensing cylinder, and the bottom or lowest part
of the small cylinder or globe is also connected with the bottom part of the con-
densing cylinder by means of a similar flexible tube. Attached to the said lever is
a connecting rod or link and this rod or link is connected with a press down water
valve in such a manner that when the lever moves up or down the connecting rod
or link opens the water valve.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a com-
plete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
forming a part of this Specification in which:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus for purpose aforesaid.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 drawn partly in section.
According to this my said invention I employ a small hollow cylinder or globe 1
made of glass, copper, brass, or other suitable material, suspended on one end 2 of
a lever 3 which is forked at its end 2 as shewn by Fig. 2 and in this forked end are
formed the slots 22" which receive the pins 3* 3* fixed one on each side of the
cylinder or globe 1, such pins 3 3 being the axis of the said globe or cylinder.
To the end 5 of the lever 3 is attached a counterbalance weight or a spring 4
which counterbalances the weight of the small cylinder or globe I and its fittings.
The lever 3 is carried at or near its centre on a fulcrum stud or pin 6 which is fixed
to the back plate or foundation plate 7 carried on the front of the condensing
cylinder or other part of the aerated water machine. The small cylinder or globe 1
is connected at its top or highest part by means of a flexible tube 8 to the top of
the condensing cylinder and the bottom or lowest part of the small cylinder or
globe 1 is also connected with the bottom part of the condensing cylinder by means
of a similar flexible tube 9. Attached to the said lever 3 is a connecting rod or
link 10 and this rod or link 10 is connected with a press down water valve 11 in
such a manner that when the end 2 of the lever 3 moves up the connecting rod or
link 10 opens the water valve, and when the end 2 of the lever 3 moves down
the water valve 11 is shut.
13 is the connecting pipe between the flexible tube 8 the top of the soda water
cylinder, and 14 is the connecting pipe between the flexible tube 9 and the bottom

page_text: of the soda water cylinder, 15 is a screw for regulating the tension on the spring 4
and end of the lever 3 and determining the position of the cylinder or globe 1 so
regulating the height of water in the soda water cylinder. 16 is an arm or bracket
for carrying the regulating screw 15. 17 is the connecting pipe to the water
supply tank and 18 is the pipe to the ordinary soda water pump.
The action is as follows:-When the aerated water machine is set in motion the
outlet tap of the condensing cylinder is opened, and all the water and carbonic acid
gas is blown out. The tap is then closed, and as the condensing cylinder and also
the small cylinder or globe is just counterbalanced by the spring 4 or weight on
the opposite end of the lever 3 and the lever 3 is then in a horizontal position
(see Fig. 1) and the connected rod or link 10 is holding the water valve open thus
allowing a free supply of water to pass to the ordinary soda water pump or pumps.
The valve 11 controls the supply of water to the pump or pumps and when the
valve 11 is open the pump or pumps are supplied with water which is forced by
such pumps along with the necessary quantity of carbonic acid gas into the con-
densing cylinder, and when this action continues the water line or level in the
condensing cylinder begins to rise, and as it does so a portion of the water passes
from the condensing cylinder through the bottom flexible tube 9 into the small cylinder
or globe 1 fattached to the end of the lever 3 and the air or gas in the small
cylinder origlobe 1 is forced through the other flexible tube 8 into the condensing
cylinder. The small cylinder or globe 1 which is fixed at a suitable height in
relation with the condensing cylinder now receives a portion of the water forced
by the pump or pumps into the condensing cylinder and thus the globe 1 becomes
heavier than the counterbalancing weight or overcomes the spring 4 and the end of
the lever 2 to which the small globe or cylinder 1 is attached is moved in a down-
ward direction.
•
The movement of the lever 3 causes the connecting rod or link 10 to press down
and close the water valve 11 and so stops the supply of water to the pump or pumps
and thus prevents the condensing cylinder becoming too full. By moving the
counterbalancing weight nearer or further from the centre of the lever 3 or
adjusting the tension of the spring 4 the height or level of the water in the con-
densing cylinder is regulated as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
'
The application and employment in combination with the main cylinder of an
aerated water machine of a supplementary external and balanced cylinder or globe
such as 1 operated and operating in manner herein described and substantially as
illustrated by annexed drawings.
DALed This Lam
TONGA
178180 MOSTRY DIJINLY LONG
JAMES
MEADOWCROFT,
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Penny Bank Chambers, Waterhouse Street, Halifax.