An Improved Apparatus for Forcing or Raising Beer or other Liquids.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Forcing or Raising Beer or
other Liquids.
1, JOHN RAE of 46 Bank Street, Hillhead, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for automatically forcing or
raising beer or other liquids from the casks or other receptacles to the taps, cocks, or
other discharge apparatus from which the beer or other such liquid is drawn off.
The apparatus constituting the Invention consists of a vessel connected with a
water pipe, the upper part of the vessel being covered over by a dome or its
equivalent and the entire vessel rendered air-tight. In commencing to work with
the apparatus it is naturally filled with air at the atmospheric pressure and as the
water rises therein the air becomes compressed whereby it is forced into the cask or
other receptacle and acting upon the upper surface of the beer or other liquid forces
such beer or other liquid up a pipe connected to the cock, tap or equivalent thereof
through which such liquid is to be discharged.
Within the vessel a casing is contained of less diameter than the vessel and this
casing is supported at some distance from the bottom of the vessel.
This inner casing has a perforated or open bottom, and within it a float is contained,
through the centre of which the spindle of. a valve in the bottom of the outer vessel
passes. When the water has reached a certain height within the inner casing the
float rises and when the float has reached its predetermined highest level it simul-
taneously causes a lever to open a small valve or its equivalent whereby air compressed
in the vessel above the water is allowed to escape. The release of the compressed air
allows the valve in the bottom of the vessel to be opened by the action of a weight
on the lever to which the said valve is connected and thus the water which had
previously compressed the air is allowed to escape. So soon as the water has sunk to
11 37

page_text: the necessary level, the float which sinks with it comes to bear upon a projection
on the valve spindle and the weight of the sinking float thus again closes the valve in
the bottom. Water is again admitted into the vessel when the float again rises
simultaneously with the compression of the air until it again reaches the height at
which the compressed air is allowed to escape when the weighted lever again opens
the valve in the bottom of the vessel and the actions herein before referred to are
repeated.

page_text: .An Improved. Apparatus for Forcing or Raising, Beer.,or
other Liquids.
I JOHN RAE, formerly of 46 Bank Street Hillhead in the county, of Lanark North
Britain, but now of 2 Albert Drive, Crosshill, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain Traveller 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 Jand
by the following statement:-
J
My invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for automatically, forcing or
Faising beer or other liquids from the casks or other receptacles to the taps, cocks, or
other discharge apparatus from which the beer or other such liquid is drawn off.
The apparatus constituting my Invention consists of a vessel connected with a
water pipe, the upper part of the vessel being covered over by a dome or its equivalent
and the entire vessel rendered air-tight.
In commencing to work with the apparatus it is naturally filled with air at the
atmospheric pressure and as the water rises therein the air becomes compresset
whereby it is forced into the cask or other receptacle and acting upon the upper
surface of the beer or other liquid forces such beer or other liquid up a pipe connected
to the cock, tap or equivalent thereof through which such liquid is to be discharged.
Within the vessel a casing or tank is contained of less dimensions than the vessel
and' this casing or tank is supported at some distance from the bottom of the
vessel.
.
This inner casing or tank has a perforated or open bottom, and within it a float is
contained, through the centre of which the spindle of a valve in the bottom of the
outer vessel passes. When the water has reached a certain height within the inner
casing or tank the float rises and when the float has reached its predetermined
highest ievel it simultaneously causes a lever to open a small valve or its equivalent
whereby the compressed air remaining in the vessel is allowed to escape." The release
of the compressed air allows the valve in the bottom of the vessel to be opened by
the action of the weighted or loaded lever to which the said valve and spindle is con-
nected and thus the water which had previously compressed the air is allowed to
escape. So soon as the water has sunk to the necessary level, the float which sinks
with it comes to bear upon the projection on the valve spindle and the weight of
the sinking float thus again closes the valve in the bottom. Water is again
admitted into the vessel when the float again rises simultaneously with the com-
pression of the air notil it again reaches the height at which the compressed air
remaining in the vessel is allowed to escape when the weighted lever, again opens
the valve in the bottom of the vessel and the actions herein before referred to are
repeated.
In order that my Invention. may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I bave hereunto appended three explanatory sheets of drawings in the several
Figures of which corresponding parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Figure 1, is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved, apparatus made in
accordance with and constituting my Invention.

page_text: Figure 2, is a transverse vertical section of the same.
Figure 3, is a plan of the same.
In the simplest form of my improved apparatus for automatically forcing or
raising beer or other liquids, the outer vessel made of cast iron or other suitable
metal or material is marked A. On one side of this outer vessel A, is the pipe
connection B, for attaching the vessel to a water pipe or other source of water
supply and in the bottom of the outer vessel A, is an exhaust or discharge
orifice, as hereinafter described. Flanged to the outer casing of the vessel A,
is the dome or equivalently shaped cover or lid D, bolted or otherwise secured to the
outer vessel A, and made air and water tight on the working of the improved
apparatus. Mounted on the top of the cover or lid D, are the respective valve con-
nections E, with its valve arrangements for conveying the compressed air into the
cask or other receptacle and the port F, for supplying an inflow of air when the
vessel is being exhausted of water. As these connections or mountings are well
understood and I believe ordinarily in use with similar apparatus further reference
thereto will not be made only when found necessary in the better description of the
novel features of my Invention. A further small outlet valve F, is constructed on
the cover or lid D, whose function will be hereafter fully explained.
On one side of the outer vessel A, supported at some distance from the bottom is
an inner casing or tank A¹. Working within the inner casing or tank A', is a
float G, having a spindle G1, passing loosely though its axis, at the top of the said
spindle G, is connected a weighted or loaded lever. H, carried on a fulcram h,
supported in the bracket 12.
Formed on the lower end of the spindle G³, is the valve J, for closing and opening
the orifice C, alternately from time to time in the working of the apparatus. A
curved lever marked I, is pivoted-at, whose outer and longer end rests within the
bifurcated bracket h', (seen more particularly at Figure 2) which is secured to the
weighted or loaded lever HI, and whose shorter end is connected to a plug or
plunger b. When the weighted or loaded lever H, rises or falls by the proper
functions or working of the apparatus the said plug or plunger b, moved by the
curved lever inward or outward in the valve B, and thereby regulates the supply of
water to the vessel.
The lower end of the spindle G₁, of the rubber diaphragm valve E, formed with an
eye, engages with the pivoted end of the lever I, and acts as an auxiliary in regulating
the supply of water for giving the desired pressure. of air.
The mode of operation of my improved apparatus is as follows
:-
Assuming that the vessel A, (from Figure 1, of the drawings) has been exhausted
of water, the float G, is at its lowest position, and the port in the valve B, is opened
for resupplying the apparatus with water, which flows into the bottom of the outer
vessel A, when it rises gradually until it reaches the bottom of the inner casing or
tank A', when it percolates through the hole or holes formed in its underside. As
the water rises the air becomes compressed and is forced 'through the perforated
tube F, to the cask or other receptacle.
The water having attained a level sufficient to buoy the float G, which is capable
of acting independently of any other working part of the apparatus rises with the
water and is so timed that at a certain elevation within the vessel A¹, it raises the
valve F, off its seat, seen in dot and pick lines at Figure 2, thus allowing
the remaining compressed air to escape through the said valve F2. So. soon as this
takes place the counterweighted or loaded lever H, is capable by the weight imparted
to it of raising the valve J, and exhausting the vessel of water.
It is here explained that the compressed air within the vessel A, and A', is of itself
capable of keeping closed the valve J, thus acting against the counterweighted or
loaded lever H, whose tendency is to raise the spindle G', and the valve J, off its
seat and which it indeed does so soon as the pressure is removed by the escape of the
coinpressed air through the valve F, in the manner last described.
The float G, when in its lowest position assists as a weight in keeping the valve J,
down upon its seat, but as the water rises within the vessel A', the float G, rises with

page_text: it and therefore becomes no longer of service as a weight, the air now being com-
pressed performs the same functions as the float, G, did by acting upon the surface of
the flange of the valve J, until such times that a counteraction takes place by the
counterweighted or loaded lever H, raising the spindle G¹, and valve J, when the
vessel becomes exhausted of water, after which the spindle G₁ falls into its first
position and with it, the curved lever I, which opens the part in the valve B, for a
further supply of water.
The same automatic action goes on indefinitely so long as the valve B, is turned on
for the supply of water to the apparatus until the desired pressure of air is obtained.
When it is desired to shut off the apparatus a stop cock (not shewn in the drawings)
attached to the valve B, is turned off.
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 :-
:-
1. The general arrangement and construction and combination of parts constituting
the apparatus for raising and forcing beer or other liquids, substantially as herein-
before described and shown upon the annexed sheets of drawings.
2. In apparatus for raising or forcing beer or other liquids the arrangement of an
inner casing A¹, contained within another vessel A, of less dimensions than the said
outer vessel and supported at some distance from the bottom, the said inner casing A¹,
having an open or perforated bottom, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and shewn in Figures 1 and 2, of the annexed drawings.
3. In apparatus for raising or forcing beer or other liquids the arrangement of a
spindle G, passing through the centre of a float G, working in the said inner casing A¹,
having at its lower end a valve J, for the discharge of water and at its upper end a
weighted or loaded lever H, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and shewn upon the annexed drawings.
4. In apparatus for raising or forcing beer or other liquids the arrangement con-
sisting of a curved lever I, actuated by the rise and fall of the said weighted or
loaded lever H, connected to a plunger or plug b, contained within the valve B, for
cutting off and supplying water to the outer vessel A, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and shewn upon the annexed drawings.
5. In apparatus for raising or forcing beer or other liquids, the arrangement of
valve opened and closed by a lever, actuated by the rise and fall of the said
float G, fitting loosely on the spindle G', substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and shewn upon the annexed drawings.
Dated this 25th day of March 1889
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Agents.