IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS FOR CONTAINING AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Donald Nicoll, of 58 and 59, Paternoster Row,
London, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VESSELS FOR CONTAINING AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 6th November 1874, and dated the 8th May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Donald Nicoll at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th May 1874.
I, DONALD NICOLL, of 58 and 59, Paternoster Row, London, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VESSELS FOR CONTAINING AËRATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in vessels for containing
aërated and other liquids, and consists of a cylindrical glass, earthern, or
other vessel having one end thereof closed and fitted at the opposite end
with a close fitting lid or cover. Within this vessel is fitted to work a
piston or plunger actuated from the outside by a rod connected there-

page_text: with, which rod passes through a hole in the lid or cover above referred
to. At the lower part of the vessel an ordinary cock or tap is fitted by
which the liquid is discharged from the vessel when required. Near the
upper end of the vessel an opening is provided for the introduction of
the liquid, which liquid may be aërated with carbonic acid gas or flavored
with essences in the ordinary way. If employed however for containing
fresh brewed beer or other liquids which naturally generate gas, the intro-
duction of. additional gas will in many cases be unnecessary. The
position of the opening for the introduction of the liquid should be
situate immediately below the under side of the piston or plunger when
such piston or plunger is in its highest position, in which position it is
held during the time the vessel is being charged with the liquid and gas
when such is required to be used. When the vessel is charged the
charging aperture is closed and made air-tight.
In order to protect the vessel from fracture it is placed in a tray con-
taining an elastic cushion. to counteract the concussive action of the
piston or plunger. To this tray are connected metal rods which extend
up the sides to a short distance above the top of the vessel, the upper
ends of which rods are connected together over the centre of the lid or
cover so as to form a guide for the piston rod. Lugs are also fitted to
or formed on these vertical rods for the reception of screws or other
fastenings for securing the lid or cover air-tight on the mouth of the
vessel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Donald Nicoll in the Great Seal Patent Office 2
on the 7th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DONALD
NICOLL, of 58 and 59, Paternoster Row, London, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 3
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Donald Nicoll, Her special license
that I, the said Donald Nicoll, my executors, administrators, and 36

page_text: assigns, or such others as I, the said Donald Nicoll, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VESSELS FOR CONTAINING AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Donald Nicoll, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Donald Nicoll, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for containing
aërated and other liquids, and consists of a cylindrical glass, carthen, or
other vessel having a closed bottom and fitted at its upper end with a
close fitting lid or cover, within which vessel works fluid-tight a piston
or plunger connected to one end of a rod by which the said piston is
actuated from the outside of the vessel, such rod passing through a hole
in the centre of the lid or cover. Near the upper end of the vessel is an
opening for the introduction of the liquid, which liquid may be aërated
with carbonic acid gas or flavoured with essences in the ordinary way.
If the vessel be employed for containing fresh brewed beer or other
liquid which naturally generates gas, the introduction of additional gas
will in many cases be unnecessary. At the lower part of the vessel an
ordinary cock or tap is fitted for drawing off the liquid as required.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the Figures on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in both the
Figures.
Figure 1 is a vertical section; and Figure 2, a corresponding plan of
my improved vessel or apparatus for containing aërated or other liquids.

page_text: The vessel A which I prefer to make of earthenware, but which may
be made of glass, porcelain, or any other suitable material is closed at
the bottom and fitted at the top or mouth thereof with a close fitting lid
or cover B. C is a piston or plunger suitably packed to work fluid-tight
within the vessel A. and actuated from the outside by means of a rod D,
which passes through a hole formed in the centre of the lid or cover B.
The liquid is introduced into the vessel below the piston C through the
opening E near the top of the vessel, the piston C being elevated to its
highest position for that purpose. The liquid may be aërated by forcing
carbonic acid gas into it through the opening E, or the liquid may be
flavoured with essences if desired. When the vessel is sufficiently charged
the opening E is closed air-tight by means of a cock or otherwise. F is
a cock or tap fitted near the bottom of the vessel for drawing off the
contents thereof as required. By opening the cock F and depressing
the plunger C the liquid will be expelled from the vessel with great
force.
In order to protect the vessel A from fracture by the concussive action
of the piston or plunger I place it in a metal tray G containing an india-
rubber cushion H, upon which cushion the bottom of the vessel A. is
placed. I, I, are metal rods connected at their lower ends to the tray G,
the upper ends of which rods extend some distance above the top of the
vessel and terminate in a ring J over the centre of the lid or cover,
which ring forms a guide for the rod D of the piston. K, K, are lugs
fitted to or formed on the rods I, I, for the reception of screws K, which
screws serve not only to hold the lid or cover B securely on to the mouth
of the vessel itself, but also to hold the vessel itself in the tray G.
These vessels may be made of any desired capacity, but I prefer to
make them of a size sufficient to contain about nine gallons, such size
being convenient for transport, the rods I serving as handles for that
purpose.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is, or may be used, or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I claim as
my Invention is,―
First. The application to and use in vessels for containing aërated and
other liquids of a piston or plunger, arranged and operated substantially

page_text: in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated
by my Drawing.
Secondly. The combination in vessels or apparatus for containing
aërated or other liquids of the piston or plunger C, charging aperture E,
and discharge cock F, arranged and operating substantially in the
manner herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawing.
Thirdly. Protecting the vessels containing aërated or other liquids
from fracture by securing the same in a tray containing an elastic
cushion, substantially in the manner herein-before described and illus-
trated by my Drawing.
Fourthly. The general construction and arrangement of apparatus for
containing aërated or other liquids, as herein-before described and illus-
trated by my Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Donald Nicoll, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
London,
Patent Agent.
DONALD NICOLL. (L.S.)