Improvements in Delivery Bottles for Refreshment Bars, Spirit Counters, and similar Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMINTE DI CIFICATION.
Improvements in Delivery Bottles for Refreshment Bars, Spirit
Counters, and similar Purposes.
I FRIEDRICH ULFFERS of 27 Burgstrasse, Berlin in the Empire of Germany,
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 :-
The construction of bottles described in the following specification is especially
designed for supplying the finer kinds of liquors such as spirits, liqeurs, and other
beverages which are usually sold in small glasses, and to enable them to be served in
a thoroughly brisk and appetising condition, and also to facilitate the delivery of
essences, acids, and dangerous liquids in labotaries, chemist shops, and drug stores,
and render possible the manipulation of other fluids not usually or easily mixed or
sub-divided at present.
The principle of construction hereafter described is susceptible of much variation in
application both as regards the shape as well as the materials employed. The
following description explains the construction of a single bottle for the retailing
of spirits for which purpose bottles of glass with metal mounts are not usually
employed.
In the accompanying drawings the Figs. 1 to 9 shew in vertical section and
elevation bottles and details of the contrivances for closing or fastening them.
By
Fig. 1. shews a vertically fixed bottle, F, with a small cylinder a, b, c, d, near its
mouth as shown in Fig. 3, and having a somewhat restricted neck at its upper end.
At the lower end of the bottle is the outlet f, g, an enlarged section of which is shewn
in Figs. 8, & 9.-Inside the outlet is the rod 1, the end of which is ground to fit the
outlet and which passing through the entire length of the bottle, F, and through the
neck b, c, terminates at the india rubber washer . The metal cone, m, n, o, p. Fig. 2,
is fastened hermetically by means of cement around the cylinder a, b, c, d. The
upper edge n, o, of this cap as shewn in a somewhat different form in the enlarged
vertical section Fig. 3, is concentrical with b, c, and is slightly bevelled inwards at the
point of contact. Around the glass rod 7, and fastly cemented thereto is the conical
annular india rubber cap, k, (Figs. 2. 3) the construction of which is fully shewn in
Figs. 4, 5, & 6 and which is so placed that its lower edge forms an air-tight contact
with, n, o, when the glass rod, l, sits in its conical seat within the outlet f. g.
means of the combined working of the cap, h, and the glass rod, 1, an easy and exact
cut off is obtained, which can be regulated by the relative proportions and position of
the two parts, as neither would be in the closed position independently of the other.
Further, as the ground end of the glass tube rests only lightly on its seat it will form
a tight joint without any danger of its becoming fixed and too difficult to open.
It is especially to be noticed that the working of the two closed joints is obtained
by simply lifting without any twisting motion.
As soon
as the air entrance
through, k, is obstructed the end of the rod, 7, closes the outlet f. g, so that no
trace of air below can enter the bottle, and the easy fitting of the rod end ensures
the certainty of the relative proportions between the air admitted and the fluid
discharged being properly maintained. So much is this the case that in con-
sequence of the elasticity of the enclosed air left in the bottle no dropping even
in the smallest degree is possible. This arises partly from the elasticity of the
cap, k, and the favorable form of the bearing, n, o, on which it falls, a slight weight
or pressure being sufficient to make, k, sit perfectly air-tight. This pressure is
supplied by the metal top q, r, s, t, which also serves as the lifting handle of the
closing arrangement, k, l, to these the indiarubber cap, k, is suspended. The mode
of suspension results from the peculiar shape of the cap, k, which is formed of the
Do37

page_text: short indiarubber tube, i, Figs. 4, 5, 6, turned over at one end as Fig. 5, shews,
and stretched over a light hollow metal cone, a, as shewn in Fig. 6, the outer fold
forming the annular projection or bearing indicated by,,.
The downward turned cone a, of the india rubber tube, i, through its soft india
rubber exterior and concentric shape sits airtight on the edge of the hearing, n, o,
notwithstanding that it is of very light weight. Fig. 7 shews a perspective view of
the cap, k, and rod, 1, and of a flange C, D, which is connected at the tubular
extension, e, forming the upper end of the cap, k. By means of the flange C, D, the
cap, k, and the rod, l, are suspended to the outer case 7, r, s, t, in a very flexible
manner as shewn in Fig. 3. The metal case 7, r, s, t, of Figs. 1. 2. 3 has on its
under side a cavity sufficiently large to come down easily over, m, n, o, p, and with
sufficient space for the india rubber cap k, to close easily upon n. v.
At the top of the case q, r, s, t, is a circular socket inside which is a screw thread
for the reception of the ornamental knob, u, which at its lower end carries a thread
to screw into the socket of the case. This knob, u, screws tightly upon the india
rubber flange C, D, which is thereby compressed between, u, and the inside ledge or
shoulder of the case.
In a central cavity of the knob, u, is the indiarubber washer, e, to which pressure
can be applied by the thumb screw, w, so that it can be pressed firmly or lightly
against the end, 7, of the glass rod, l.
This simple but important contrivance renders it unnecessary to provide for wear
of the working parts as it makes the exact length of the glass rod unimportant. It
also provides it with a soft end bearing during the adjustment allowed by the thumb-
screw, te, in order to regulate the closing of, k, l. Therefore when the lower edge
of q. r, s, t, rests on the foot of the metal cone m, n, o, P at m, p, the cap, k, sits with
corresponding pressure on n, o, and the lower end of, 1, rests as lightly in its seat
at f, g, as the intentionally rapid and safe action of the bottle requires.
The perfect adjustment and special corresponding action of parts here attained
protects the glass bottle from every possible danger arising from the action of the
glass rod, l, inside, both when drawing off, as well as from unskilful manipulation,
when used for retailing purposes. Moreover it follows from the fact that, k, closes
at the lightest pressure, and is always kept dry, that the very important advantage is
gained that the Indiarubber does not perish but continues to act properly for an
extraordinarily long period.
The closing of, 7, Fig. 8, operates easily and exactly with a pressure of only
400 grammes (14 ounces).
By lightly lifting the cap, u, drops can be caused to fall from the bottle. By a
stronger pull a small or large stream can be made to run, and in all cases the
flow can be stopped instantly by simply pressing down the cap. It is in fact so
easy that it forms a diverting pastime to use this apparatus, as the smallest glass
can be filled to any desired level. The simple plain glass rod, l, has nothing in
common with a pump or with the piston of a syringe, and the liquor does not
spurt at the outlet, f, g, as is evident from the fact that a single pull causes it to
drop or flow.
For special uses as for example for purposes in which exact counting of drops
desirable, the lifting and lowering of the cap can be easily effected by means of a
guide-screw or other mechanical arrangement. The principle of the corresponding
double-closing action would in such case require no modification.
The operation of filling the bottle is, like that of emptying it, entirely under
observation and control the glass protecting the contents from all undesirable contact.
In this way the highest demands of scrupulous cleanliness are satisfied. Hence it
will be seen that while it is specially adapted for acids and corrosive liquids as it has
no interior metallic surfaces with which the liquids or their gases can come into
contact; it is also valuable for applying dyes in solution, and many other fluids used
in manufactures for which at present Guttaporcha or Vulcanite is employed. As
therefore it combines great precision and convenience with great security it has a
wide field of usefulness in laboratories and for similar uses.

page_text: The filling of the bottle is performed in the ordinary manner that is to say by
closing the outlet f, g, from below in any preferred way and lifting off the cap and
rod k, l, and, filling the bottle through the orifice, b. c. It is also particularly claimed
that for uses where a constant supply is needed, a special feed-opening may be
employed which shall be air-tight and self-acting so that an automatic supply can
be laid on by the usual means such as tubular connection with a suitably placed
reservoir. This can be effected without difficulty and without disturbing the even
and steady flow of the fluid, thus making the bottle an apparently inexhaustible
fountain.
In every case my system admits of adaptation to requirements as regards the
shape of the bottles or of their supports. For example bottles such as shewn in
the drawing might be firmly supported by a metal band around their middle and
the support might be fixed or adjustable. The bottles, when several are required,
could be arranged in step order near each other, or in circles revolving around a
vertical axis, or in any other attractive and convenient manner.
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;
Supply bottles with supports for retailing spirits and similar purposes having in
combination the following parts, namely, a readily closed outlet g, which by means of
the thumbscrew w the soft washer, v, the interior rod, l, in connection with a closing
action of the upper orifice, formed by the small metal cone.., the expanded india-
rubber cap, k, one end of which is made fast to the rod, 1, the guiding and charging
case, r, s, t, the knob or top, u, whereby the flange C, D, is compressed, the
cone m, n, o, p, cemented on to the cylindrical neck of the bottle a, d, and its circular
bearing n, o, or their equivalents as herein explained and set forth."
Dated this 20th day of O
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.