IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLAPSABLE CASKS OR VESSELS FOR CONTAINING FERMENTABLE AND AERATED BEVERAGES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT
to John Hamilton and Robert Paterson, both of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLAPSABLE CASKS OR VESSELS FOR CONTAINING
FERMENTABLE AND AERATED BEVERAGES."
Sealed the 7th June 1870, and dated the 9th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hamilton and
Robert Paterson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 9th December 1869.
We, JOHN HAMILTON and ROBERT PATERSON, both of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLAPSABLE CASKS OR VESSELS FOR
CONTAINING FERMENTABLE AND AERATED BEVERAGES" to be as follows, that is
to say:
This Invention comprises various improvements in collapsable casks
or vessels of the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to the present applicants, and dated 20th March 1869 (No. 847),
and these improvements have principally for their objects. to simplify

page_text: the apparatus and so reduce its cost, to make it more convenient and
satisfactory in use, and to render it less liable to be deranged by persons
not thoroughly acquainted with its construction and working.
In carrying out the present Invention it is preferred to adopt the
modification in which a single ram is arranged to work inside the
outer cask or vessel with the "rolling packing " ring of rubber between
them, and in order to conveniently get this ring into its place a hollow
or concavity is formed round the ram close to its bottom, and the ring
is placed on the ram in this hollow before entering the ram into the
cask; then the upper or outer stop for the ring formed or fixed round
the inside of the cask is made so small that the ring may be rolled
over it when first entering the ram, but it is still sufficient to prevent
the displacement of the ring from internal pressure, particularly as a
safety valve herein-after described is provided for the internal pressure.
By having the ring in a hollow, as described, it is kept clear of the sides
of the cask when entering the ram until it reaches the bead, and its
proper adjustment is thereby much facilitated. Instead of the hollow
being in the ram it may be on the inside of the cask, or there may be
fixed inside the cask two small beads, the space between which con-
stitutes the hollow. After the ram has been entered it is prevented
from moving too far up or out by a two-armed bow hinged to the side
of the cask, the ends of the arms being sprung into holes in the side
so as with the hinge to be held down at three equidistant points. The
upper end of the ram is guided by three or more rollers which are made
of rubber to render their movement easy and to admit of their rolling
over the beads in the side of the cask. When the cask is for ferment-
able beverages the outlet is arranged at the side at a point just below
the lowest position of the rubber ring, but considerably above the bottom
of the cask, but when the cask is for aerated beverages the outlet is
arranged at the bottom. The cask is filled by the same opening that
serves for outlet, being laid on its side so that the opening is upper-
most and the safely valve herein-before referred to is also placed in
the same line so as to be uppermost when the cask is laid down for
filling. This safety valve is in the form of a cylindrical cup or socket.
having in it a plug that is packed by a rubber ring, which ring is rolled
over a small bead when the internal pressure becomes excessive and the
plug is then forced out. The socket or cup communicates with the
interior by one or two small holes, which are so situated as to be within

page_text: the packing ring of the ram only when the ram and ring are in their
highest or outermost positions, and when the ram is not in its highest
position it acts itself as a safety valve, as any pressure generated internally
first raises it to its highest position and finally gets relief by the small
valve at the side. This valve cup also serves as a gauge to show when
the cask is filled, at which time the plug is removed. When the cask
is full the beverage overflows at the cup, but only after any air or gas
that may have been in the interior has passed out. The internal parts
of the cask or vessel are coated with a suitable substance to prevent
corrosion and injurious action on the contents, and it is preferred to use
paraffin for this purpose, a convenient mode of applying it being by
pouring an excess of it into the vessel in a melted state and sufficiently
heated to impart to the parts of the vessel the heat requisite to insure
its proper adhesion.
This treatment with paraffin is done after each.
vessel with all its parts complete has been tested and thoroughly cleaned.
The excess of paraffin is poured out after the vessel has become suffi-
ciently heated, and leaves a uniform and thin but sufficient coating.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Hamilton and Robert Paterson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 8th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
HAMILTON and ROBERT PATERSON, both of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said John Hamilton and Robert Paterson, Her
special licence that we, the said John Hamilton and Robert Paterson,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said John Hamilton and Robert Paterson, our executors, adminis-
trators, 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

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands; and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLAPSABLE
CASES OR VESSELS FOR CONTAINING FERMENTABLE AND AERATED BEVERAGES," upon.
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Hamilton and
Robert Paterson, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing' under our, or their, or one of their lands 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 we, the said John Hamilton and Robert
Paterson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-.
Our said Invention comprises various improvements in collapsable
casks or vessels of the kind described in the Specification of certain
Letters Patent granted to us, and dated the 20th March 1869 (No. 847),
and these improvements have principally for their objects to simplify
the apparatus and so reduce its cost, to make it more convenient and
satisfactory in use, and to render it less liable to be deranged by persons
not thoroughly acquainted with its construction and working.
In carrying out our present Invention we prefer to adopt the modi-
fication in which a single ram is arranged to work inside the outer
cask or vessel with the " 'rolling packing" ring of rubber between
them.
And in order that our Invention, and the manner of performing the
same may, be properly understood, we have hereunto appended a sheet
of explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to and representing
a collapsable cask'as made with our improvements. The same reference
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are
repeated in the Drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan of the cask with the top cover (5) removed, and
Figure 2 is a vertical or longitudinal section. The outer cask or vessel
is a cylinder 1 of tinned sheet iron or other suitable material, and having
at its lower part an inner shell 2 with a closed bottom 3. A strengthen-
ing band 4 is fixed round the middle part of the shell 1, and a lid 5
is adapted to the upper otherwise open end of it. Within the cask

page_text: there is a ram 6 made of tinned sheet iron or other suitable material.
of a generally cylindrical form, and with a closed bottom 7 being.
strengthened by strong ribs or beads S, 9, extending round its sides
internally. The internal space between the bottom 3 of the cask and
the bottom 7 of the ram is that in which the beverage is contained,
and this space is diminished or enlarged in proportion as the ram
descends or rises. A ring of rubber 10 which may be formed with a
hollow core is applied between the ram and the cask, and whilst making
a tight connection between the two easily adapts itself to the move-
ment of the ram by rolling. Thus when the ram 6, 7, is moved
downwards from the position in which it is delineated, and which is its
highest, the rubber ring 10 rolls down the inside of the cask shell 1
until it reaches the position 11, indicated by dotted lines, by which
time the ram will have moved down double the distance, its bottom 7
reaching the cask bottom 3, and the ring 10 having as it were rolled
up its outer surface to a bead 12 formed or fixed thereon. The shoulder
of the inner shell 2 of the cask forms a lower stop for the rubber
ring 10, whilst a small bead 13 is fixed to the cask shell 1 for the upper
stop, and the ring gets properly adjusted every time it is brought against
one or other of these stops, notwithstanding any slight displacement
it may have in an intermediate position. Slight hollows are formed
round the shell 6 of the ram at the parts 12 and 14, corresponding to
the extreme positions of the rubber ring 10, and a deeper hollow 15 is
formed round the shell 6 close to the bottom for receiving and holding
the rubber ring when the ram is being entered into its place. Instead
of the ram being made with the hollow 15 an equivalent hollow may be
made in the side of the cask, or a second small bead may be fixed above
the bead 13, the space between them constituting the hollow. .The
rubber ring 10 is of a size which requires to be slightly stretched to get
it upon the ram and it is (in its free state) of a circular cross section,
and somewhat thicker than the space between the shells 1 and 6
wherein it has to work, so that it is compressed when in that space.
The rubber ring is thus in close contact with the inside of the cask
shell 1, in consequence of its compressed state whilst its stretched state
causes it to cling to the outside of the ram shell 6, and a perfectly
tight joint is thereby insured. When entering the ram 6; 7; into its
place the rubber ring 10 being in the deeper hollow 15 can with a
little force be made to roll down over the stop bead 13, and it at the
same time gets forced up out of the hollow 15 of the shell 6 into its

page_text: proper working position on that shell.
The upper end of the ram- 6, 7,
is guided by four or other convenient number of antifriction rollers 16,
which are made of rubber (with metal eyes) and which easily roll
over the stop bead 13. After the ram 6, 7, is introduced its upward
movement is limited by a holding bow 17 connected by a hinge 18 to
the cask 1, and formed with two arms with the ends turned outwards
to enter sockets 19 formed for them in the cask side 1. The ends of
the holding bow 17 are sprung into or out of their sockets 19, which
are so situated as with the hinge 18 to constitute three equidistant
holding points.
This last described provision is made in order to limit the upward
movement of the ram 6, 7, when filling the cask, and also to resist
the pressure of carbonic acid or other gas generated inside or forced
into the vessel. The top of the ram 6, 7, is open so that on removing
the cask lid 5 ice may be placed on the bottom 7 and the ram may
be moved by hand by means of a handle 26 fixed across between two
bars 21 (of which only one is shown in the section and) which whilst
strengthening the ram also serve to bear weights 22. The weight put
in the ram is optional, but some is always required to cause the
beverage to flow off at the outlet 23 which is situated when the cask is
intended for fermentable beverages not at the bottom but at as high a
point as is possible without the rubber ring 10 having to cross it; and
this arrangement insures that the beverage withdrawn is clear and that
the withdrawing action does not cause the disturbance and remixing of
dregs or deposits. When the cask is intended for aerated beverages the
outlet 23 should be situated at the bottom. A tap 24 is screwed upon
the outlet nozzle 23, which nozzle also serves for filling the cask by.
When filling the cask is laid on its side with the nozzle 23 uppermost,
being steadied by feet fixed upon it in suitable positions, and the
beverage may be led in by a funnel inserted in the nozzle or by a flexible
tube fixed on the nozzle or on the tap 24. An outlet valve 25 is
provided for air or gas and consists of a metal plug inserted through a
rubber ring held in a socket 26. The bottom of the socket communicates
with the interior of the cask by one or two small holes, but these are so
situated as only to communicate with the lower or beverage space when
the ram. 6, 7, is in its highest position, the rubber ring 10 being then
just beyond the holes as shown. When filling the plug 25 is removed
and the filling is continued until the beverage overflowing into the

page_text: socket 26 shows that all air or gas has been expelled. The plug 25 is
held by the rubber ring in the socket with a certain resistance depending
on the size and consequent compression of the ring, but if the internal
pressure becomes excessive from the generation of gas the plug is forced
out and so acts as a safety valve. When the cask is not full of liquid
any gas generated internally first pushes up the ram 6, 7, to its highest
position and then acts on the plug 25.
If preferred the safety plug arrangement just described may be
dispensed with and the parts simplified by making the socket 26 plain
or slightly tapered inside to receive a cork or other convenient stopper.
The cork is removed when filling the cask to let out any air or gas
and to show by the overflowing of the beverage when the cask is quite
full.
The apparatus may also be further simplified by dispensing with the
grooves 12 and 14 herein-before described as formed on the ram; whilst
the stop bead 13 instead of passing continuously round may consist of
short lengths, such as the one shown in face view in Figure 3. We fix
inclines 27, as shown in Figure 3, and in section in Figure 4, on the
upper sides of these short stops 13 to facilitate the introduction of the
rubber ring 10. They case the passage of the ring over the stops and
by holding back any part that may be more advanced than the rest
make the ring at once assume its proper position all round. When the
short stops 13, Figures 3 and 4, are used no special safety valve or plug
is required, as when there is any excess of internal pressure the rubber
ring bulges up between the stops, and after giving relief to the pressure
returns back to its proper position.
The internal parts of the cask or vessel are coated with a suitable
substance to prevent corrosion and injurious action on the contents, and
we prefer to use paraffin for this purpose, a convenient mode of applying
it being by pouring an excess of it into the vessel in a melted state and
sufficiently heated to impart to the parts of the vessel the heat requisite
to insure its proper adhesion. This treatment with paraffin is done after
each vessel with all its parts complete has been tested and thoroughly
cleaned.
The excess of paraffin is poured out after the vessel has become
sufficiently heated and leaves a uniform and thin but sufficient
coating. We prevent the rubber ring (10) from imparting any taste
to the beverages by steeping it in melted paraffin, which permeates its

page_text: substance to a considerable depth and effectually secures the desired
-object:
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we have to state that we
do not restrict ourselves to the precise details herein described or
delineated, but that what we believe to be novel and original, and claim
as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the constructing of collapsable casks or vessels, and the
combining together and treating of their parts substantially in the
improved manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Hamilton and Robert
Paterson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth
day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.
JOHN HAMILTON. (L.S.)
R. PATERSON.
(L.S.)