Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Supplying Carbonic Acid Gas to Vessels Containing Fermented Liquor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Supplying Carbonic
Acid Gas to Vessels Containing Fermented Liquor.
I, HENRY STILLINGTON GREY STEPHENSON, of Lympsham Manor, in the County
of Somerset, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to the construction of an automatic apparatus for
generating and supplying carbonic acid gas to fermented liquor to preserve such
liquor whilst on draught the arrangement being such that when and so long as there
is a sufficient supply of carbonic acid gas in the vessel containing the liquor to be
preserved the pressure of such gas acting upon the acid liquid in the generator will
force it away from the marble thereby automatically arresting the generation of
carbonic acid gas until a further supply is wanted.
Such an apparatus which can be constructed in various forms, comprises a carbonic
acid gas generator from which the gas is conducted by means of a suitable tube to
the vessel, which I will assume to be a barrel, containing the liquor to be preserved,
say beer. The pipe enters with a tight joint at the vent and thus remains constantly
attached whilst the supply of beer lasts, thereby not only excluding air, but owing to
the carbonic acid gas being in constant contact with the beer the latter has imparted
to it the agreeable effervescence of bottled beer.
The generator comprises a suitable vessel, for example a flask, the bottom of which
is perforated for the admission of acid contained within another vessel into which the
generator is placed when it is to be used. The top of the generator is connected with
the barrel by tubes that may be of glass, flexible tubing being used to make the
necessary connections. Within the generator is placed a sufficient quantity of coarsely
pounded glass, to extend an inch or so above the perforations in its bottom, and above
the powdered glass is placed sufficient marble in small pieces to about half fill the
generator. Hydrochloric acid or common spirits of salts diluted with about an
equal volume of water forms a suitable acid solution to decompose the marble.
When the apparatus is to be used the generator is lowered into the second. vessel
which is then filled to a convenient height with dilute acid which passing through the
perforations in the bottom of the generator and coming in contact with the marble
will immediately cause the generation of carbonic acid gas. Whilst this gas is
escaping and sweeping out the air from the apparatus, the barrel to which the
apparatus is to be connected may be tapped and a hole bored through its upper part
into which is tightly fitted one end of the tube the other end of which is connected to
the generator.
The barrel being then in air-tight connection with the generator, gas will continue
to be evolved until it attains sufficient pressure to force the acid below the level of the
marble when the generation of gas will automatically cease.
On drawing off beer from the barrel the pressure of the gas therein will be reduced
whereupon acid will again enter the generator and cause the generation of more gas
until the pressure thereof again forces the acid below the level of the marble, these
actions being repeated in an automatic manner until the acid or marble or both need
renewal.
DL: ORIL
Sahana 1800
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Supplying Carbonio
Acid Gas to Vessels Containing Fermented Liquor.
I, HENRY STILLINGTON GREY STEPHENSON, of Corcastle, in the County of Cork,
Ireland, and Lympsham Manor, in the County of Somerset, Gentleman, 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:
My invention has reference to the construction as hereinafter described of an
automatic apparatus for generating and supplying carbonic acid gas to fermented
liquor to preserve such liquor whilst on draught, the arrangement being such that
when and so long as there is a sufficient supply of carbonic acid gas in the vessel
containing the liquor to be preserved the pressure of such gas acting upon the acid
liquid in the generator will force it away from the marble thereby automatically
arresting the generation of carbonic acid gas until a further supply is wanted.
Such an apparatus comprises a carbonic acid gas generator from which the gas
is conducted by means of a suitable tube to the vessel, which I will assume to be
a barrel, containing the liquor to be preserved, say beer. The pipe enters with a
tight joint at the vent, and thus remains constantly attached whilst the supply of
beer lasts, thereby not only excluding air, but owing to the carbonic acid gas
being in constant contact with the beer the latter has imparted to it the agreeable
effervescence of bottled beer.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating, diagrammatically an automatic apparatus
according to this invention for generating and supplying carbonic acid gas to a barrel
containing fermented liquor.
The carbonic acid generator comprises a suitable vessel 1, for example a
flask or bottle having say a cubical capacity of one quart, the bottom of which is
perforated at 2 for the admission of acid from another vessel 3 into which the flask
or bottle 1 is placed when carbonic acid gas is to be generated. The top of the
flask or bottle is placed in communication with the barrel 4 by tubes 5 and 6 that
may be of glass, flexible tubing 7 being used to make the necessary connection
between the tubes 5 and 6. Within the flask or bottle 1 is placed a sufficient
quantity of coarsely powdered glass 8 to extend an inch or so above the per-
foration 2 in its bottom and above the powdered glass is placed sufficient marble 9
in small pieces to about half fill the flask or bottle. Hydrochloric acid or common
spirits of salts diluted with about an equal volume of water forms a suitable acid
solution to decompose the marble.
When the apparatus is to be used, the flask or bottle 1 is lowered into the
vessel 3 which is filled to a convenient height with dilute acid; this passing
through the perforation 2 in the bottom of the flask or bottle 1 and coming in
contact with the marble will immediately cause the generation of carbonic acid gas.
Whilst this gas is escaping and sweeping out the air from the apparatus, the
barrel to which the apparatus is to be connected may be tapped and a hole boted
through its upper part into which is tightly fitted the tube 6 to which is secured one
end of the flexible tube 7 the other end of which is connected to the tube 5 fitted
into the mouth of the flask or bottle 1.
The barrel being then in air-tight connection with the generator, gas will continue
to be evolved until it attains sufficient pressure to force the acid below the level of
the marble when the generation of gas will automatically cease.
On drawing off beer from the barrel the pressure of the gas therein will be
reduced whereupon acid will again enter the flask or bottle and cause the generation
of gas until the pressure thereof again forces the acid below the level of the marble,
these actions being repeated in an automatic manner until the acid or marble or both

page_text: need renewal. Space may be economised when necessary by placing the generator
on the top of the barrel.
To prevent waste of carbonic acid due to the barrel not being gas-tight, and
consequently to prevent the generator being intermittently and automatically
brought into action whenever the pressure of gas in the barre! decreases to a
sufficient extent by leakage, it is advantageous to provide the tubular connection 7
between the generator and barrel with a cock that normally closes the communi-
cation between the two, but which is opened each time liquor is drawn off from
the barrel. When the tubular connection is of india-rubber tubing, a pinch cock
of ordinary form may be advantageously used as shewn at 10, this cock being
placed upon the rigid tube 6 whilst drawing off liquor.
Fig. 2 shews in elevation an arrangement of apparatus in which two generators,
each of the construction herein before described, are connected by a T piece 11 with
the tubular connection 7, so that one generator may be in condition for use whilst
the other is being recharged with acid and marble. 12, 12", are cocks, for example
pinch cocks, for controlling the communication between the two generators and the
T piece 11, and 10 is the cock for controlling the communication between the T piece
and the barrel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do
not claim broadly an automatic apparatus for generating and supplying carbonic
acid gas to fermented liquor to preserve such liquor whilst on draught but what
I do claim is :-
1. The construction and arrangement hereinabove described with reference to and
shewn in Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings of the combined apparatus comprising the
perforated flask or bottle 1 (charged with marble above powdered glass) adapted to
stand within and on the bottom of the outer acid containing vessel 3 for generating
carbonic acid gas and the pipes arranged as explained for supplying the gas generated
to a vessel containing fermented liquor as set forth.
2. The modified construction and arrangement of apparatus shewn in and described
with reference to Fig. 2 for the purpose specified.
Dated this 21st day of November 1890.
H. STILLINGTON G. STEPHENSON, F.C S.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.