IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE BETTER PRESERVATION OF BEER, PORTER, AND OTHER BEVERAGES, MORE ESPECIALLY WHEN ON DRAUGHT, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Atkins, of Gorey, in the County of Wexford, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE BETTER PRESERVATION OF
BEER, PORTER, AND OTHER BEVERAGES, MORE ESPECIALLY WHEN ON DRAUGHT,
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
33
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Atkins at the Oflice
GE
»
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1880.
WILLIAM ATKINS, of Gorcy, in the County of Wexford. IMPROVEMENTS
RELATING TO THE BETTER PRESERVATION OF BEER, PORTER, AND OTHER
BEVERAGES, MORE ESPECIALLY WHEN ON DRAUGHT, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
When beer, porter, and the like is on draught, and sinks so low in the barrel or
other vessel that a partial vacuum ensues and prevents the outflow, it is customary
to bore a hole in the barrel to let in air, or to tilt the barrel and let in air at the
cock; in either case the contact with the outer air causes the beer to become flat,
and it loses too its surplus carbonic acid.
Now my Invention is designed to prevent this evil by admitting carbonic acid
instead of air; the carbonic acid also, if ever so slightly at a higher pressure than
that of the carbonic acid already contained in the beer, is partially absorbed by it,
and is given out again on being drawn, thereby increasing the head and giving a
slight additional piquancy or freshness thereto.
On or near the barrel or other vessel or vessels containing the liquid on draught
I place a carbonic acid generator, preferably with automatic feed, so that whenever
the pressure in the barrel goes down below a certain point a fresh supply of carbonic
acid passes from the generator into the barrel.
A convenient way of regulating the supply of gas is to pour a supply of dilute
acid into the generator, and arrange the latter in such manner that the gas shall, as
it is generated, displace the acid till the latter sinks below the level of the limestone
or other carbonate in the generating chamber, and remains in that position until
the gas, becoming partially exhausted by being admitted into the barrel, allows the
acid to again mount in that part of the generator and attack the carbonate again.
From the generator proceeds a small flexible pipe or series of pipes armed at the
end or ends with a cock or cocks with long tapering spouts. A hole is bored in
cach barrel when full or nearly so, and the long spout of the cock rammed in air-,
tight; the cock is turned on when required, bringing a slight constant pressure
of carbonic acid on the interior of the barrel till the entire liquid contents are
drawn off.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Atkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
August 1880.
"IMPROVEMENTS
WILLIAM ATKINS, of Gorey, in the County of Wexford.
RELATING TO THE BETTER PRESERVATION OF BEER, PORTER, AND OTHER
BEVERAGES, MORE ESPECIALLY WHEN ON DRAUGHT, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.”
When beer, porter, and the like is on draught, and sinks so low in the barrel or
other vessel that a partial vacuum ensues and prevents the outflow, it is customary
to bore a hole in the barrel to let in air, or to tilt the barrel and let in air at the
cock; in either case the contact with the outer air causes the beer to become flat,
and it loses too its surplus carbonic acid.
Now my Invention is designed to prevent this evil by admitting carbonic acid
instead of air; the carbonic acid also, if ever so slightly at a higher pressuro than
that of the carbonic acid already contained in the beer, is partially absorbed by it
and is given out again on being drawn, thereby increasing the head and giving a
slight additional piquancy or freshness theroto.
On or near the barrel or other vessel or vessels containing the liquid on draught
I place a carbonic acid generator, preferably with automatic feed, so that whenever
the pressure in the barrel goes down below a certain point a fresh supply of carbonic
acid passes from the generator into the barrel.
A convenient way of regulating the supply of gas is to pour a supply of dilute
acid into the generator and arrange the latter in such manner that the gas shall, as
it is generated, displace the acid till the latter sinks below the level of the limestone
or other carbonate in the generating chamber, and remains in that position until
the gas, becoming partially exhausted by being admitted into the barrel, allows the
acid to again mount in that part of the generator and attack the carbonate again.
From the generator proceeds a small flexible pipe or series of pipes armed at the
end or ends with one or more cocks or nozzles, each provided with a long tapering
spout.
A holo is bored in each barrel when full or nearly so, and the long spout of the
cock or nozzle rammed in air-tight; the cock is turned on when required, bringing
a slight constant pressure of carbonic acid on the interior of the barrel till the entire
liquid contents are drawn off.
The apparatus as now in use by me is shown in the Drawing, in which Fig. 1 is
a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 sectional half plan through line x, x. A is the
nozzle; it can be provided with a cock, or, better still, the cock can be placed as
shown in the Drawing at C. B, flexible tubo to convey gas from the generator to the
nozzle A; C, cock; D, gas chamber open at the bottom; E, outer chamber con-
taining acid; F, funnel for supplying chamber E with acid; G, holder containing
broken chalk or other carbonate; H, holes in same admitting acid whenever the
supply of gas has so diminished that the level of the acid rises above the floor of

page_text: air-tight, when it will go on working automatically till the barrel is empty or the
materials be quite exhausted.
In public-houses and other places it may sometimes be desirable to have a very
large generator that will work for a long period without attention, and that can be
used at heavy pressure and the gas from it let into the barrels. In this case large
iron or copper vessels lined with lead, instead of the above glass or earthenware
apparatus, are used. If a heavy pressure bo required the acid for the generator,
preferably in this case sulphuric, can be placed in an upper story and the generator
itself in the basement, the vessels being connected by a tube having its lower end
at or near the bottom of the generator. The generator then becomes a tank with
man-hole to introduce chalk, and preferably provided with a blow-off cock and
cleaning out plug. If a lining not corrodable by hydrochloric acid be used instead
of lead muriatic acid can be employed as before, in which case the blow-off cock
would clear out the residual salt, which is very deliquescent, and would always
remain liquid.
One advantage of using the gas under pressure is that it can be made to lift the
liquid to any height less than that of a column of beer equal in weight (at the
generator) to the column of dilute acid. In this way no puinps are required in the
public-house, as all that is necessary is to have the acid tank at some point abovō
the bar-room, and the generator and barrel down below.
Having now described my Invention and two modes of carrying it into effect, I
wish it to be understood that I do not lay claim to the principle of forcing carbonic
acid into liquids generally, or for the purpose of aerating them so as to make an
effervescing beverage, nor yet the principle of having an ordinary cylinder or
reservoir of carbonic acid at heavy pressure from which a little of the gas can be
turned at intervals into a liquid or its container as requirod, but that what I
believe to be new, and desire to claim under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
First. The application to barrels or other receptacles containing beer, porter, or
other alcoholic beverages or non-effervescing beverages, more especially on draught,
of a supply of carbonic acid from a generator generating the same as required,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Second. The mode of preserving beer, porter, and other beverages herein
described, namely, supplying the barrel or other container with a supply of carbonic
acid of constant or nearly uniform pressure, so as to exclude the air and maintain
the desired "head" upon the liquor.
Third. The manufacture of apparatus for the better preservation of beer, porter,
or other beverages, more especially when on draught, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Atkins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
WILLIAM ATKINS. (L.S.)