IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GLOBES, CYLINDERS, OR CONDENSERS OF THE LIQUID AERATING MACHINES COMMONLY KNOWN AS SODA WATER MACHINES.”
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Moy Thomas, of 10, Albion Road, Stoke Newington,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE GLOBES, CYLINDERS, OR CONDENSERS OF THE LIQUID
AERATING MACHINES COMMONLY KNOWN AS SODA WATER MACHINES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Moy Thomas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October 1879.
HENRY MOY THOMAS, of 10, Albion Road, Stoke Newington, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GLOBES, CYLINDERS,
OR CONDENSERS OF THE LIQUID AERATING MACHINES COMMONLY KNOWN AS SODA
WATER MACHINES."
This Invention relates to the aërating machines commonly called "soda water
machines." It consists in an improved construction of the vessel known as the
globe, cylinder, or condenser, hereinafter called the cylinder, wherein is performed
the impregnation with gas of liquids such as water, or water and solutions
resembling natural or artificial mineral waters. This cylinder may, as in ordinary
cases, be made of copper, coated internally with tin or silver as a safeguard against
any contamination of the liquid by metallic deposits. The object of my Invention
is principally to abolish the use of a certain instrument called the "agitator."
The instrument in question consists of a spindle, which enters the cylinder and is
fitted with vanes for the purpose of mingling the gas and liquid therein contained
by means of the application of suitable motive power from without. The necessity
for this agitator arises from the fact that it is not practicable effectually to amal-
gamate the liquid and gas merely by their simultaneous introduction into the
cylinder through the same channel without some additional process of agitation.
According to my Invention a cylinder is provided the internal arrangement of
which is such that the necessary agitation is performed without the aid of any
external mechanism. The utility of this Invention will be immediately recognized
when it is considered that by this arrangement the application of the power
required to work the usual form of agitator is dispensed with, and that as no
operation is performed from without upon the liquid contained in the cylinder, the
necessity of making water-tight joints for the spindle of the agitator to revolve in

page_text: is obviated. In this way a considerable saving is effected upon the cost of erecting,
maintaining, and working the machine. It is well known that the packing or
hydraulic cup leathers used to prevent leakage through the openings in the cylinder
which receive the spindle of the agitator are the cause of a certain amount of
friction, and in some cases of metallic deposits in the liquid. Again they are
expensive, and liable at any time through wear to cause a leakage, which may
necessitate the stoppage of the whole operation of manufacture until a new leather
can be procured and inserted. The following is a description of the manner in
which I propose to perform the agitation of the liquid in an atmosphere of carbonic
acid gas-I construct a cylinder in two halves, as is usual, and capable of being
bolted together at the flanges. This cylinder when completed may be mounted in
any kind of framework, whether combined with the pumps of the aërating machine
or mounted separately. The position should occupy in its framework is such
that a line drawn throughout the length of the cylinder should be vertical, that
is to say, that the flange where the two halves of the cylinder are connected should
be in a horizontal position. The upper part of this cylinder is provided with a
distinct compartment in the following manner :- -Before connecting the upper half
of the cylinder with the lower half I connect with the lower half another half
cylinder smaller in height and in diameter than the half of the cylinder by which
it is finally enclosed. This enclosed half cylinder I connect by brazing or soldering
the flange to the sides of the lower half of the cylinder just below the flange; but
this connection may be made by binding the flange of this inner half cylinder
between the flanges of the cylinder proper, in which case, however, two rings of
packing are required instead of one to prevent leakage at the junction of the two
halves of the cylinder. This inner half cylinder being smaller in height and in
diameter than the upper half of the cylinder proper, a space is formed between the
outer side of this inner half cylinder and the inner side of the outer half cylinder
(which covers the inner half cylinder), in which the liquid may for the time being
be witheld from the body of the cylinder proper. Into this space the liquid and
gas are first introduced by means of a suitable pump or pumps, such as are now in
use with ordinary soda water machines, and it is during its progress from this
space to the cavity of the lower half of the cylinder that the liquid absorbs a further
quantity of the gas in the following manner :-I remove the crown of the dome of
the half cylinder, contained by the two halves of the cylinder proper, and I intro-
duce in its stead a band or ring of metal which is fitted with a perforated plate or
gauze, and I provide this perforated plate or gauze with a small tube projecting on
each side of the perforated plate or gauze for a purpose to be presently explained.
In this manner when the compartment formed in the upper part of the cylinder, as
above described, is filled with liquid, any further introduction of liquid will cause
In the mean time
the same quantity to flow over the perforated plate or gauze.
the gas which has become disengaged from the liquid with which it was introduced
into the cylinder will have occupied that part of the cylinder which is not occupied
by the liquid. The liquid which covers the perforated plate or gauze will pass
through the perforations, and the tube in the perforated plate or gauze will
provide free communication with the upper part of the cylinder above the water
level, and with the body of the cylinder, so that the pressure of the gas within
the cylinder will be in all parts equal, and the liquid will fall through the
perforated plate or gauze freely in the form of drops or spray, and in its
descent to the lower part of the cylinder will absorb a certain quantity of
gas in addition to that which it had already absorbed by its introduction into
the compartment formed in the upper part of the cylinder simultaneously with
the gas. The pipe connecting the cylinder with the bottling cock or bottling
machine is introduced into the lower part of the cylinder, and conveys the
liquid which accumulates there after it has fallen through the perforated plate or
gauze. The band or ring of metal which is fitted with the perforated plate or
gauze is intended to provide a sharp edge to prevent the liquid which passes
through this perforated plate or gauze from running down the walls of the cylinder

page_text: instead of falling through the body of the cylinder in the atmosphere of gas, as is
required. The upper half of the cylinder I provide with a cap or manhole, through
which the perforated plate or gauze may be examined or cleaned without disturbing
the joint of the cylinder at the flanges. I also attach a safety valve and pressure
gauge as are usually employed, and I further provide a draw-off-cock in the upper
half of the cylinder near the flange for the purpose of withdrawing at pleasure the
liquid from the separate compartment formed in the upper part of the cylinder, or
for washing out this compartment. The water gauge for ascertaining the extent of
the accumulation of the aërated liquid in the bottom of the cylinder is attached to
the lower half of the cylinder. Communication is established between the lower
part of this water gauge and the liquid accumulated in the bottom of the cylinder,
but the top of the water gauge is made to communicate by means of a pipe with
the top of the cylinder at about the highest level the water should at any time
attain above the perforated plate or gauze.
In this manner if the liquid be intro-
duced into the cylinder in greater quantities than can pass through the perforated
plate or gauze in the given time, then some of the liquid will pass down the pipe
into the top of the water gauge instead of passing through the perforated plate or
gauze. In this case the person in charge of the machine will be made aware of the
fact that the introduction of liquid into the cylinder is too rapid, and can remedy
the evil by adjusting the gas and water cocks, or by reducing the speed of the
pumps, as the case may require. The inner half cylinder I construct of thinner
sheet metal than the metal of which the cylinder proper is formed, because as the
pressure bears upon this enclosed half cylinder in all directions equally it is not
required to resist any strain such as is brought to hear upon the cylinder proper.
Consequently sheet tin is a suitable material of which to construct this inner half
cylinder. It is obvious that in addition to the perforated plate or gauze in the
dome of the onclosed half cylinder intermediate perforated plates or gauzes of a
similar kind may be introduced into the body of the cylinder, if deemed necessary,
for the better conversion into spray of the liquid during its passage from the upper
to the lower part of the cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Moy Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
April 1880.
HENRY MOY THOMAS, of 10, Albion Road, Stoke Newington, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GLOBES, CYLINDERS,
OR CONDENSERS OF THE LIQUID AERATING MACHINES COMMONLY KNOWN AS SODA
WATER MACHINES."
This Invention relates to the aërating machines commonly called soda water
machines. It consists in an improved construction of the vessel known as the
globe, cylinder, or condenser, hereinafter called the cylinder, wherein is performed
the impregnation with gas of liquids, such as water, or water and solutions
resembling natural or artificial mineral waters. This cylinder may, as in ordinary
cases, bo made of copper coated internally with tio or silver as a safeguard against
any contamination of the liquid by metallic deposits. The object of my Invention
is principally to abolish the use of a certain instrument called the "agitator." The
instrument in question consists of a spindle which enters the cylinder, and is
fitted with vanes for the purpose of mingling the gas and liquid therein contained
by means of the application of suitable motive power from without. The necessity
for this agitator arises from the fact that it is not practicable effectually to
amalgamate the liquid and gas merely by their simultaneous introduction into the
cylinder through the same channel without some additional process of agitation.
According to iny Invention a cylinder is provided the internal arrangement of
which is such that the necessary agitation is performed without the aid of any
external mechanism. The utility of this Invention will be immediately recognized
when it is considered that by this arrangement the application of the power
required to work the usual form of agitator is dispensed with, and that, as no
operation is performed from without upon the liquid contained in the cylinder, the
necessity of making water-tight joints for the spindle of the agitator to revolve in
is obviated. In this way a considerable saving is effected upon the cost of erecting,
maintaining, and working the machine. It is well known that the packing or
hydraulic cup leathers used to prevent leakage through the openings in the
cylinder which receive the spindle of the agitator are the cause of a certain amount
of friction, and in some cases of metallic deposits in the liquid. Again they are
expensive, and liable at any time through wear to cause a leakage, which may
necessitate the stoppage of the whole operation of manufacture until a new leather
can be procured and inserted. The following is a description of the manner in
which is performed the agitation of the liquid in an atmosphere of carbonic acid
gas: I construct a cylinder in two halves A, B, as is usual, and capable of being
bolted together at the flanges. This cylinder when completed may be mounted in
any kind of framework (such as P, Q, R, Fig. 6), whether combined with the
pumps of the aërating machine or mounted separately. The position it must
occupy in its framework is such that a line drawn throughout the length of the
cylinder should be vertical, that is to say, that the flange where the two halves of
the cylinder are connected must be in a horizontal position. The upper part B of
this cylinder is provided with a distinct compartment D in the following
manner-Before connecting the upper half B of the cylinder with the lower half A,
I connect with the lower half A another half cylinder C smaller in height and in
diameter than the half B of the cylinder by which it is finally enclosed. This
enclosed half cylinder C I connect by brazing or soldering the flange to the sides
of the lower half A of the cylinder just below or at the flange, but this connection
may be made by binding the flange of this inner half cylinder C between the
flanges of the cylinder proper A, B, in which case however two rings of packing
are required instead of one to prevent leakage at the junction of the two halves

page_text: A, B, of the cylinder. The inner half cylinder C being smaller in height and in
diameter than the upper half B of the cylinder proper A, B, a space is formed
between the outside of this inner half cylinder C and the inside of the outer half
cylinder B, in which the liquid may for the time being be witheld from the body of
the cylinder proper. Into this space the liquid and gas are first introduced through
the inlet E by means of a suitable pump or pumps, such as are now in use with
ordinary soda water machines, and it is during its progress from this space D
to the cavity of the lower half A of the cylinder that the liquid absorbs a
further quantity of the gas in the following manner:-I remove the crown
of the dome of the half cylinder C, and I introduce in its stead a band or ring of
metal, which is fitted with a perforated plate H or gauze, and I provide this
perforated plate H or gauze with a small tube G projecting on each side of the
perforated plate H or gauze, for a purpose to be presently explained. In this
manner, when the compartment D formed in the upper part of the cylinder A, B,
as above described, is filled with liquid, any further introduction of liquid will
cause the same quantity to flow over the perforated plate H or gauze. In the mean
time the gas which has become disengaged from the liquid with which it was
introduced into the cylinder will have occupied that part of the cylinder which is
not occupied by the liquid. The liquid which covers the perforated plate H or
gauze will pass through the perforations, and the tube G above referred to
will provide free communication with the upper part of the cylinder above the
level of the liquid covering the perforated plate H and with the body of the
cylinder, so that the pressure of the gas within the cylinder will be in all parts
equal, and the liquid will fall through the perforated plate H or gauze freely in the
form of drops or spray, and the rate of this fall will be in no way influenced by
the impulse of the pump. In its descent to the lower part of the cylinder the
liquid absorbs a certain quantity of gas in addition to that which it had already
absorbed during its progress by easy stages from the lower part of the compartment
D to the level of the perforated plate H. The pipe connecting the cylinder with
the bottling cock or bottling machine is attached to the draw off cock M in the
lower part of the cylinder, and conveys the liquid which accumulates there after it
has fallen through the perforated plate H. The band or ring of metal which
encircles the perforated plate H provides a sharp edge to prevent any of the liquid
which passes through the perforated plate H from running down the walls of the
cylinder instead of falling through the body of the cylinder in the atmosphere of
gas, as is required. The upper part of the cylinder I provide with a cap or man-
bole O, through which the perforated plate H may be examined or cleaned without
disturbing the joint of the cylinder at the flanges. I also attach a safety valve I
and a pressure gauge K, as are usually employed, and I further provide a draw-off
cock in the upper half of the cylinder near the flange for the purpose of with-
drawing at pleasure the liquid from the separate compartment D in the upper part
of the cylinder or for washing out this compartment D. This cock, which is
omitted in the Drawings, may form part of the inlet connection or be fixed in the
inlet pipe. The water gauge L for ascertaining the extent of the accumulation of
the aërated liquid in the bottom of the cylinder is attached to the lower half A. of
the cylinder. Communication is established between the lower part of this water
gauge L and the liquid accumulated in the bottom of the cylinder, but the top of
the water gauge L is made to communicate by means of the pipe ƒ with the upper
part of the cylinder at about the highest level the liquid in the compartment D
should be allowed to attain at any time above the perforated plate H. In this
manner if the liquid be introduced into the cylinder in greater quantities than can
pass through the perforated plate H in the given time, then some of the liquid will
pass down the pipe finto the top of the water gauge L instead of passing through
the perforated plate H. In this case the person in charge of the machine will be
made aware of the fact that the introduction of the liquid into the cylinder is too
rapid, and can remedy the evil by adjusting the gas and water cocks of the pump
or by reducing the speed of the pumps, as the case may require. The enclosed half

page_text: cylinder CI construct of thinner sheet metal than that of which the cylinder proper
is formed, because as the pressure bears upon this enclosed half cylinder C in all
directions equally it is not required to resist any strain such as is brought to bear
upon the cylinder proper; consequently sheet tin is a suitable material of which to
construct this half cylinder C. It is obvious that in addition to the perforated
plate H in the dome of the enclosed half cylinder C, intermediate perforated plates
or gauzes of a similar kind may be introduced into the body of the cylinder, if
deemed necessary, for the better conversion into spray of the liquid during its
passage from the upper to the lower part of the cylinder. In Fig. 5 a gauze N of
this description is shewn fitted accross the lower part of the enclosed half cylinder
C. The inlet connection E communicates with a circular perforated tube, Fig. 1,
which encircles the enclosed half cylinder C, and causes the liquid and gas to be
introduced simultaneously on all sides in the annular compartment D. Figure 1 of
the Drawings shews the perforated inlet pipe as continued within the cylinder;
Fig. 2, a section of the cylinder, but full view of its outside fittings; Fig. 3, a
plan of the upper part of the enclosed half cylinder C; Fig. 4, a section of the
enclosed half cylinder C removed from the cylinder proper; Fig. 5, a plan of the
underside of the enclosed half cylinder C shewing an additional gauze N, above
referred to; and, finally, Fig. 6 is a full view of the complete cylinder mounted
in a tripod frame P, Q, R, seperate from the pump by which the liquid & gas are
supplied. Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the inanner
in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
claim the use of a perforated plate or gauze for the purpose of producing the
agitation of the liquid without the use of an agitator; but what I do claim is :-
1°, the use of the separate compartment D, in which the liquid is delayed during
its passage through the cylinder, and absorbs part of the gas which escapes from
each charge of liquid and gas introduced into the lower part of this compartment D
previous to its passage through the perforated plate H; 2°, the enclosed balf
cylinder C for the purpose of forming the compartment D; 3°, the combination of
the tube G with the perforated plate H for establishing an equilibrium of pressures
above and below this perforated plate H; and 4°, the combination of the tube f
with the water gauge L, by means of which the water gauge performs the double
function of disclosing the extent of the accumulation of aërated liquid in the bottom
of the cylinder, and at the same time defining the highest level above the perforated
plate H that the liquid should at any time be allowed to attain, all substantially as
herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Moy Thomas, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.