Improved Apparatus for Raising or Forcing Beer, Spirits, or other Liquids.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Raising or Forcing Beer, Spirits, or
other Liquids.
I RICHARD SMITH of Brandwood Works Stacksteads in the County of Lancaster
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 :-
This invention relates to the construction of apparatus for raising elevating or
forcing beer spirits, wines, water or other liquids from casks, vats, pans cisterns or
other closed vessels or receptacles, to a higher level by means of compressed air.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the
annexed drawing and the following explanation thereof.
The drawing represents (for the sake of illustration) the application of my invention
to two casks of beer or other liquid for the purpose of elevating the contents thereof
to a higher level, say from the cellar where the casks are placed to a bar or other
place on a higher level where the beer or other liquid is required to be drawn.
The apparatus consist principally of an airtight cylinder or roservoir a (preferably
in a vertical position) to which is fitted an air tight pump or compressor b by means.
of which it may be charged with compressed air, to any convenient pressure con-
siderably above that which is necessary for the elevation of the beer or other liquid to
the level required.
On the drawing the air pump or compressor is shown as fixed into the top or cover
of the reservoir a and provided with a hollow plunger b₁ (which is perforated at the
botton) and is fitted with india rubber valves 611, but if preferred the air pump or
compressor may bo of any other suitable construction and placed outside the
reservoir a.
This pump or compressor is used for the purpose of charging the reservoir a with
air at a considerable pressure and may be provided with a safety valve and also
with a pressure gauge c to indicate the pressure of the air inside the reservoir at
any time.
The reservoir a is also fitted with a diminishing valve & which will be loaded to the
pressure required in the casks or vessels e, for the purpose of elevating the beer or
other liquid. The outlet of the valve is connected by the main pipe f and branches g
to the upper part of the casks or vessels e which may be arranged either in a vertical
or horizontal position as shown each cask or vessel being connected by a tap and
pipe h to the taps in the bar or other place above, where the beer or liquid is to be
drawn.
Both the main pipe f and the branch pipes g are provided with stop taps i so that
any or all of the casks or vessels may be cut off from or put into communication with
the compressed air reservoir a. The main pipe falso is fitted with a pressure gauge f',.
to indicate the pressure at any time in the pipes and casks or vessels.
The diminishing valve is regulated and set so as only to allow the pressure required
in the pipes and in the casks or vessels to pass, and it is then immediately closed by
the spring d¹ so that the pressure in the pipes can never exceed that required for
elevating purposes, and will always remain constant whatever the pressure in the
reservoir a may be, and it is found that this pressure not only serves to elevate the
beer or other liquid but it also aerates it to a certain extent, and at the same time
precipitates all sediment and makes the beer or other liquid perfectly clear and fine.
It will be evident that as the beer or other liquid is drawn off although the pressure
in the pipes and casks or other vessels will remain the same, the pressure in the
reservoir will become gradually diminished and whenever it appears on the pressure

page_text: gauge that this pressure has become lower than is desirable the air pump or com-
pressor must be worked by means of its lever k until the gauge c indicates that it
has been raised to the desired height.
It is not absolutely necessary but I consider it preferable so to proportion the
capacity of the reservoir a to the usual draught or consumption of liquor that it shall
ordinarily only be requisite to recharge the reservoir with compressed air (say) once
in the day.
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 combination in apparatus for raising or forcing beer, spirits, or other liquids, of
a compressed air reservoir fitted with an air pump or compressor and a diminishing
valve leading therefrom to the main and branch pipes communicating with the casks
or other vessels so that although the air may be compressed to any desirable extent
in the said reservoir, the pressure in the pipes and casks or vessels shall be constant
and not at any time exceed the required minimum substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawing annexed.
T 1
1000
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.