Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Delivering Liquids and Preventing Frauds, especially applicable for Use in Public- houses and like Places.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1394-4ccepted, 12th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Delivering Liquids
and Preventing Frauds, especially applicable for Use in Public-
houses and like Places.
I, JOHN HOOKER, of Lancaster Place, Station Road, Beccles, in the County
of Suffolk, Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The apparatus has a measuring vessel to which liquid is admitted by a cock
normally closed with its handle locked-the handle however being freed on the
insertion of a coin, or preferably a token, into the apparatus, and it can then be
turned admitting liquid into the measuring vessel, being again locked in its new
position.
In the measuring vessel is a float which when it has risen to a certain height
makes an electric contact thereby releasing the handle which is turned back again
by a spring cutting off the supply to the measuring vessel and delivering the liquid
already in it.
A second contact is provided slightly above the other and this is upon a bell
circuit so that if the attendant attempts to obtain too much liquid by holding the
cock open the float closes the circuit through this second contact and the bell
is rung
In order to deliver different quantities of liquid on the insertion of different sized
coins or tokens several handles are provided each of which on being freed by the
proper coin or token and turned carries a pair of contacts such as above described
over the float, such pairs of contacts being at different and suitable heights.
The handles are all on the same spindle and are connected to it in such manner
that the spindle can be turned by any one of the handles without moving the other
handles.
In order to prevent a second charge of liquid being obtained without the
insertion of a second coin or token by allowing the handle to fly back sufficiently
far to avoid the bell contact and to draw off the liquid in the measuring vessel but
not sufficiently far for it to be locked the following device is adopted :-Loose upon
the spindle is a ratchet wheel carrying a contact in a bell circuit whilst the spindle
carries a pawl. When the apparatus is being used legitimately this pawl rides up
a hinged incline without taking into the teeth of the ratchet wheel and at the end
of the stroke of the handle drops down onto the ratchet wheel and' during the
return of the handle lies beneath the incline only escaping from under its tail when
the handle is locked. If then the handle is arrested before it has reached its
lucked position the pawl is still beneath the incline so that if the bandle is turned
back again the pawl takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel turning it and closing
the bell circuit. A similar device is adopted to prevent each handle from being
turned back before its stroke is fully completed.
In order to prevent any great waste of liquid being possible either by negligence
or accident a second or safety float may be provided to cut off the supply of liquid
at any time when the measuring vessel contains more than its proper maximum
quantity.
The act of closing the bell circuit may be made to cut off the supply of liquid.
For this purpose the weighted handle of a cock is supported by the armature of an
electro-magnet in such manner that if the armature is attracted the weight is
released and falls between two spring contacts simultaneously cutting off the supply

page_text: and closing the bell circuit, the bell continuing to ring till the weighted handle is
raised again which can only be done by opening the box.
In some cases it is desirable to supply several kinds of liquid from the same
apparatus. This is done by means of valves, either working with the tap, or
leading direct into the measuring vessel.
If the valves lead directly into the measuring vessel, the tap is used only as an
outlet, there being as many inlet pipes and valves as may be required.
The valves may however be connected to the tap and be so arranged that the
openings of all the valves lead into one general passage into the measuring
.vessel.
In this case the tap acts as an inlet and outlet.
A locking apparatus or bar is used in order to keep valve open as long as
necessary,
When the desired amount has been measured, an electro magnet attracts an
armature attached to the locking bar, and allows the valve to close, and cut off
the supply, and at the same time the tap returns to its normal position and the
liquor is delivered.
Or in the case of a machine with two or more taps where the inlet and delivery
are through the same tap, a cog wheel may be fixed at the bottom of the spindle
carrying the handles. The taps are placed in such positions round this wheel as to
be turned by bringing intermediate wheel to gear with the wheel at the bottom of
spindle, and the wheel fixed to the tap. Arrangements are made so that on turning
the lever to put into position the valves or intermediate wheel required, an
intercepting plate is placed in the way of the coin or token that has been placed in
the slot, so that all coins or tokens representing the values of any particular liquor
may be all placed in the same receptacle the receiving drawer being divided off
into as many divisions as required. The reason for this is, that as liquors vary in
price, the various " counters placed in the machine will thus be given their
correct value.
"
Dated this 6th day of February 1894.
JOHN HOOKER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Delivering Liquids
and Preventing Frauds, especially applicable for Use in Public-
houses and like Places.
I, JOHN HOOKER, of Lancaster Place, Station Road, Beccles, in the County
of Suffolk, Printer, 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 :-
The apparatus has a measuring vessel to which liquid is admitted by a cock
normally closed with its handle locked-the handle however being freed on the
insertion of a coin, or preferably a token, into the apparatus, and it can then be
turned admitting liquid into the measuring vessel being again locked in its new
position.
In the measuring vessel is a float which when it has risen to a certain height
makes an electric contact thereby releasing the handle which is turned back again
by a spring cutting off the supply to the measuring vessel and delivering the liquid
already in it.
A second contact is provided slightly above the other and this is upon a
bell circuit so that if the attendant attempts to obtain too much liquid by holding
the cock open the float closes the circuit through this second contact and the bell
is rung.
In order to deliver different quantities of liquid on the insertion of different sized

page_text: coins or tokens several handles are provided each of which on being freed by the
proper coin or token and turned carries a pair of contacts such as above described
over the float, such pairs of contacts being at different and suitable heights.
The handles are all on the same spindle and are connected to it in such manner
that the spindle can be turned by any one of the handles without moving the other
handles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 a plan of an apparatus made according
to this invention. In these figures some of the parts are omitted and the outer case
and the frame are removed or broken away in places.
b is
a a a a are the handles working in slots in a circular portion a¹ of the case.
the measuring vessel, the float in it, b2 a rod attached to the float and carrying a
contact 6 at its upper end. C is a cock connected by the pipe c' to the bottom of
the measuring vessel b and also to the inlet pipe c² and outlet pipe and nozzle c³. The
cock is turned by the spindle c' and c is a helical spring attached to the spindle and
tending to cut off the vessel b from the inlet pipe c² and open it to the nozzle c³.
The bosses a² of the handles a are loose upon the spindle c and are slotted to
receive pins e fixed to it so that the spindle can be turned by any handle without
moving the others. Each handle a has fixed to it an L shaped hook a³ the end of
which enters a fork at one end of a lever d the handle being prevented from turning
in one direction by the fork and in the other by the hook d¹ fixed to the upper
branch of it. The levers are pivotted at d and their other ends close the bottoms
of tubes a leading from slots in the top of the apparatus. These slots are only of
just sufficient size to allow the proper coin or token to pass so that mistakes are
impossible. When tokens, they are preferably of different thicknesses as well as
diameters. When a suitable coin or token put into one of the slcts it descends
its tube d until it is arrested by the corresponding lever d upon which it rests
tending to turn the lever about its pivot d². If therefore the proper handle be now
turned the first part of its motion allows the forked end of the lever to rise taking
the hook out of the path of the hook a³ thus unlocking the handle.
The bosses a are of metal and have discs a made in one piece with them and
projections from these carry plates a° of vulcanite or other non-conducting material.
These parts are shown separately in end elevation, longitudinal section and plan
at Figures 3, 4 and 5. a is an annular plate of vulcanite let into the discs at; and
a conducting
a are two annular plates of metal let into the vulcanite. a is a
trip let into the vulcanite plate a. This strip is connected by the conductor a
to the annular plate a'. all is a plate of metal on the underside of the vulcanite a³,
it is connected by the bolt a" and conductor as to the annular plate a. a is a
contact maker on the underside of the handle, it is pivotted at a to the strip of
metal a its end being held out of contact with the plate a" by the spring a fixed
to the strip a. a" is a bevelled nose of metal. e is an electro-magnet and e' is its
armature which is mounted on a spring or springs e² carrying a vertical bar e³.
One end of coils of the magnet e is connected to one pole of a battery (not shown)
and the other end to the four conducting springs e fixed to the frame of the
machine each of which bears on the annular plate a' of one of the handles. The
other pole of the battery is connected by flexible wires (not shown) to the contact
maker 63 on the top of a rod fixed to the float 6' and also to the bell f. The latter
is also connected to the four springs f' fixed to the frame of the machine each of
which bears on the annular plate a of one of the handles.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-One of the handles having been
unlocked as above described by the insertion of a suitable coin or token into the
proper slot the handle is turned against the spring c³ until its nose a¹ is caught and
held by the bar e³. The act of turning the handle also turns the spindle c' and
cock c admitting liquor by the pipes c² and c' to the measuring vessel b and closing,
the outlet pipe c
Turning the handle also brings its contact a¹ above the,
contact 6 of the float.

page_text: The liquor rising in the vessel 6 carries the float b' with it until the contact 6ª
touches the contact a". Thereupon a circuit is completed from the battery through
the contacts and a", the strip a", conductor a, annular plate a', spring e¹ and
electro-magnet e back to the battery. The closing of the circuit through the
electro-magnet e causes the latter to attract its armature e' thereby freeing the
nose a from the bar e allowing the handle a and spindle c' to be turned back again
by the spring c causing the cock c to cut off the supply from the vessel band open
the latter to the nozzle ca thus delivering the liquor. If the handle be held so as to
keep the cock c open after the magnet e has attracted its armature the float 61 and
contact 6 continuing to rise compresses the spring a¹ and forces the nose of the
contact maker a¹ into contact with the plate a". Thereupon a second circuit is
completed from the battery through the contacts and a", plate a", bolt a",
conductor a, annular plate a³, spring f and the bell back to the battery thus
ringing the bell.
In order to prevent a second charge of liquid being obtained without the
insertion of a second coin or token by allowing the handle to fly back sufficiently
far to avoid the bell contact and to draw off the liquid in the measuring vessel but
not sufficiently far for it to be locked the device shown in plan and side elevation
at Figures 6 and 7 is adopted :-Loose upon the spindle is a ratchet wheel g
(shown but without its mechanism in Figure 1) carrying a contact g' which when
as is hereinafter described is brought against a fixed contact (not shown) completes
a bell circuit whilst the spindle c carries a pawl g². When the apparatus is being
used legitimately this pawl rides up an incline g³ hinged at 9 without taking into the
teeth of the ratchet wheel and at the end of the stroke of the handle drops down
onto the ratchet wheel and during the return of the handle lies beneath the
incline only escaping from under its tail when the handle is locked. If then
the handle is arrested before it has reached its locked position the pawl g' is still
beneath the incline ga so that if the handle is turned back again the pawl takes
into the teeth of the ratchet wheel turning it so bringing the spring g' against the
fixed contact and closing the bell circuit. A similar device is adopted to prevent
each handle from being turned back before its stroke is fully completed. This
is shown separately in plan and side elevation at Figures 8 and 9. h are racks
fixed to each of the discs at by pins . are pawls pivotted at ³ to the frame
of the machine and are inclines pivotted at h³ to the discs. The pawls h² are
shown in Figure 1 but the other parts are omitted.
In order to prevent any great waste of liquid being possible either by negligence
or accident a second or safety float j (Figure 1) may be provided to cut off the
supply of liquid at any time when the measuring vessel contains more than its
proper maximum quantity. This float has fixed to it a conducting strip carrying
two pins which when the float is raised come into contact with springs fixed
to terminals to which are attached wires of a branch of the bell circuit which
is therefore closed with the result next described.
The act of closing the bell circuit may be made to cut off the supply of liquid.
For this purpose the weighted handle of an additional safety cock k (shown in
Figure but not in Figure 2) is supported by an arm 2 fixed to the armature k³
of an electro-magnet k in such manner that if the armature is attracted the
weight which is of metal is released and falls between two spring contacts k
(one only of which is shown) simultaneously cutting off the supply by turning the
cock and closing the bell circuit by connecting the contacts, the bell
continuing to ring till the weighted handle is raised again which can only be done
by opening the box.
In place of having a separate handle for each different quantity of liquid a
single handle may be used. In this case means are employed by which the act of
putting a coin or token into the machine interposes at a corresponding height a
contact in the path of the float. Figures 10 and 11 are a side elevation and plan
of a machine in which this is done. In these figures the outer case, the frame-
work, the coin guides and many other parts of the machine are omitted. There is

page_text: a single handle a which is mounted loose on the spindle c* of the cock c and pulled
ione direction by a helical spring (not shown) attached to the hook a¹8. The
magnet e of Figures 1 and 2 is replaced by the magnet rigidly attached to the
pindle c. Its armature is pivotted at land is pressed upwards by the spring 1.
On its upper side is a lug which when the armature is not being attracted by
the magnet lies in the path of the handle so that when the handle is turned it
carries the armature and magnet with it so turning the spindle c* and cock c.
At the end of its course the armature is held by the catch m pivotted at m¹ and
pressed upon by the spring m². When a circuit is closed, as hereinafter described,
through the electro-magnet l, it attracts its armature thus freeing the latter from
the catch m whereupon it is caused by the spring to fly back turning the cock
back to its original position. If the handle be held after carrying the magnet to
its extreme position the attracting of the armature frees the lug from the handle
so that the arunature and magnet fly back and turn the cock as soon as the circuit
is closed whether the handle be held or not, the bell and bell circuit may therefore
be dispensed with. When the maximum quantity is to be drawn off the circuit is
closed through the magnet by the meeting of the contacts 63 and n (which is
adjustably fixed to the frame) but in other cases a moveable contact is by the
insertion of any suitable coin or token interposed at the corresponding height
above the measuring vessel, this is done in the following manner :-The single
lever d carries the bottoms of all the coin tubes (in Figures 10 and 11 only two
are shown but it will be understood that there may be more), one of these d is a
simple incline on the end of the lever d just like those shown in Figures 1 and 2
but the others are the ends of levers do (only one is shown) pivotted at d to the
lever d. The effect of a token or coin resting on the lever d' is twofold, it first
raises the tail end of the lever & pivotted to the frame of the apparatus until it
comes against the contact de pivotted at de to the frame of the apparatus and
secondly as soon as the handle begins to be moved it turns the lever d and unlocks
the handle. The effect of bringing the contacts d' and d³ together is to close a
circuit through the electro-magnet o causing it to attract its armature o¹ and turn
it about the pivot o2 causing the wire o³ attached to the armature to depress the
catch of which is pivotted at o' to the spindle c*. When therefore the handle is
turned the catch of carries the triangular contact plate o (which is mounted loose
on the spindle c¹) with it against the spring o' and therefore the float in rising
brings the contact 63 against o instead of n closing the circuit through the
magnet as before. The catch o has a projection on it which as soon as the
handle begins to move passes beneath the triangular plate of so that the catch of
cannot rise again until the return of the handle although the circuit through the
magnet o is broken as soon as the coin or token drops off the lever d³.
Although as above described I prefer to employ electricity for effecting the
various operations it is obvious that mechanical means may be substituted.
Figures 10 and 11 also show another way of actuating the safety cock k. Its.
spindle has fixed to it a helical spring k tending to close the cock but the
spindle is normally preventing from turning by the catch which takes into the
notch k in a disc fixed to the spindle. The catch k is fixed to the armature k¹º
of the electro magnet k¹¹. When however a circuit is closed through the magnet
(which may be done in any of the ways described above) it attracts its armature
frees the catch and allows the spring to close the cock k.
In some cases it is desirable to supply several kinds of liquid from the same
apparatus. This is done by means of valves, either working with the tap, or
leading direct into the measuring vessel.
If the valves lead directly into the measuring vessel, the tap is used only as an
outlet, there being as many inlet pipes and valves as may be required.
Such an arrangement is shewn in side elevation and plan at Figures 12 and 13,
These figures show only sufficient of the lower part of the machine to enable the
following description to be understood in its other features the machine is similar
to those before described. The spindle c of the cock c has fixed to it arms c

page_text: connected by a vertical rod c³, these parts are only shown in Figure 13-p p p p
are the valves upon the four inlet pipes 99 99 they all lead directly into the
bottom of the measuring vessel b. p p p p are arms fixed to the spindles of the
valves and are attached to springs (not shown) which tend to keep the valves
closed and the arms against stops p² p² p² p². p³ p³ p³ p³ are rods pivotted at one
end to the arms and being hooked at the other. These rods work in guides q' and
are pulled by springs (not shown) towards a vertical shaft r having four cam
surfaces gol gol god upon it. The upper end of the shaft r is connected by bevilled
gearing to the spindle 2 of an indicator 3 working in front of a dial. Turning
the indicator to a suitable position causes one or other of the cams to force
the corresponding rod på sideways until its hook lies in the path of the rod c8 with
which it engages when the handle is turned the further movement of the handle
opening the valve and admitting the proper liquor into the measuring vessel.
ssss are four safety cocks on the supply pipes. The arms ss ssl fixed to their
spindles are connected to the rod s² to one end of which a spring (not shewn) is
attached tending to pull it end wise and close all the valves. The latter are
however normally held open because the rod s² is prevented from moving by reason
of a catch s at its other end engaging with the armature s of the electro-magnet s³.
When however a circuit is closed through the coils of the latter by any of the
safety devices described in reference to the other machines the armature is
attracted the rod s² freed and all the valves s simultaneously closed by the spring.
The valves p may be connected to the tap c instead of to the measuring vessel
the arrangement being such that the openings of all the valves lead into one
general passage into the measuring vessel.
In this case the tap acts as an inlet and outlet.
Arrangements are made so that on turning the lever to put into position the
valve required, an intercepting plate is placed in the way of the coin or token that
has been placed in the slot, so that all coins or tokens representing the values of
any particular liquor may be all placed in the same receptacle the receiving
drawer being divided off into as many divisions as required. The reason for this
is, that as liquors vary in price, the various tokens placed in the machine will thus
be given their correct value.
This device is shown in diagram at Figure 14. t is a tube placed beneath the
end of the lever or levers and having two outlets t¹ t' leading into different
receptacles. is a plate pivotted at t³ pulled in one direction by the spring t* and
in the other by the rod to, the latter is pivotted to one end of the lever to whose
other end is acted on by a cam on the cam shaft r.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not claim generally the use of a measuring vessel and float but that what
I claim in combination with them is —
1. A delivery cock locked in its closed position until freed by the rising of the
float.
2. A two-way cock locked in its supply and delivery positions until freed by the
insertion of a coin or token and by the rising of the float respectively.
3. An electro-magnet for freeing the cock through which a circuit is closed by
the rising of the float.
4. An electro-magnet for freeing the cock through which a circuit is closed by
the rising of a contact on the float against a contact on the handle of the cock.
5. A bell which is rung when the proper quantity in the measuring vessel is
exceeded by a circuit closed by the rising of the float above the proper level.
6. A cock for cutting off the supply of liquid which is turned when a circuit is
closed by the rising of the float above the proper level.
7. A second or safety float for cutting off the supply of liquid when the quantity
in the measuring vessel exceeds the proper maximum.
8. The device for preventing a second charge of liquid being obtained without

page_text: the insertion of a second coin or token substantially as described with reference to
Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings.
9. The device for preventing the return of the handle before the completion of
its stroke substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the
drawings.
10. Apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of
the drawings.
11. Apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figures 10 and 11 of
the drawings.
12. Apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figures 12 and 13 of
the drawings.
Dated this 15th day of October 1894.
JOHN HOOKER.