Improvements in Siphon Apparatus for Decanting Liquids from Bottles and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Siphon Apparatus for Decanting Liquids from
Bottles and the like.
I, HECTOR JOSEPH BONAVENTURE THIROUX, of No. 4, Rue Thimonnier, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Doctor of Medicine, 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 an improved device or apparatus intended for the
decantation of liquids by means of compressed and filtered air such liquids being
contained in a closed vessel such as a bottle, cask, carboy or the like which is
capable of being pierced at certain points to permit of the application of the
apparatus thereto.
The construction and operation of the apparatus will be readily understood
by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents the apparatus in vertical section adapted to a bottle con-
taining a liquid of any kind.
Figure 2 is an external elevation of the same in which the perforator is replaced
by an ornamental knob which is screwed upon the same thread as the said
perforator which is shown detached.
Figure 3 shows the apparatus separate from the bottle traversing an india
rubber stopper and ready for placing in a bottle or carboy from which the stopper
or cork has been previously removed; this being for cases in which it is not
desired to employ the perforator but merely the decanting siphon.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through an apparatus applied to a carboy
containing liquid.
Figures 5 and 6 respectively represent an air pump body of different forms
which may be employed in connection with this apparatus.
Figure 7 shews a mouthpiece for enabling air to be blown into the carboy
in order to start the siphon tube in cases in which it is not desired to use an
air pump.
Figures 8 and 9 shew a special arrangement which constitutes rather a con-
structional detail than an improvement in principle.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3. A is the vessel in which the liquid L to be
decanted is contained. B is the stopper. C is the vessel for the reception of
the liquid. D is the drawing-off siphon tube. E is the air pump, represented
as an india rubber bulb, provided with a valve a opening inwards and with a screw
threaded portion b by means of which it is fixed to the filtering vessel F, con-
taining cotton wool for filtering the air coming from the exterior.
G is the tube for the admission of air into the bottle A which tube forms a
continuation of the filter F. H is the perforator forming the trocar and intended
to pierce the stopper in the manner of a punch. The cork accumulating in the
central passage c of the perforator, which is slightly conical, forms shavings which
are discharged through the aperture d of the trocar. The extremity e of this
metallic trocar constitutes a circular cutting edge. The other extremity is pro-
vided with a screw threaded portion f by means of which it is attached to the
part I forming the top of the apparatus.

page_text: At the lower portion of the perforator two solid wings or projections g are
provided, enabling the trocar to be manipulated after the fashion of a corkscrew
for the purpose of perforating the cork or stopper before placing in position the
decanting siphon apparatus shown in Figure 2.
K is the ornamental knob which replaces the perforator H when the cork is
perforated and the apparatus placed in position as in Figure 2.
The operation of the improved device or apparatus when applied to a bottle
containing mineral waters is as follows:-
In the operation of perforating the stopper the perforating trocar may remain
fixed to the upper portion of the apparatus, or it may be unscrewed and manipu-
lated in the manner of a corkscrew. By double movement of rotation and pressure
the perforator penetrates the stopper, first of all removing during its passage the
cork, which enters the central passage cand afterwards issues from the aperture d
in shavings or small particles. When the perforator has passed through the
stopper it is withdrawn.
The stopper having been perforated the tube D of the siphon is forced into the
stopper until its lower extremity touches the bottom of the vessel containing
the liquid and so that the aperture of the air admission tube G is free from the
stopper and is situated in the upper part of the vessel A.
The hollow india rubber bulb E, ordinarily full of air, upon being pressed in
the hand of the operator forces the air which it contains through the filter F
containing cotton wool, into the vessel A. This air presses upon the free surface
of the liquid and causes this latter to rise in the drawing-off tube D from which
it flows into a glass or other suitable receptacle C.
When the pressure of the hand on the bulb E is released it resumes its normal
shape and a partial vacuum is produced within the apparatus, the valve a opening
under the influence of atmospheric pressure; upon again compressing the bulb
the operation above described is repeated and a fresh quantity of liquid flows
out through the siphon tube D. By repeating this operation of the compression
and expansion of the bulb E the contents of the vessel a may be completely drawn
off.
The bulb E may be replaced by any other device constructed upon the same
principle of admitting and forcing air, such for instance as a pump.
The filtration of the air by means of the cotton wool placed in the vessel F
is a great advantage; as dust germs are prevented from entering the vessel A,
and the liquid not liable to undergo abnormal fermentation and to become
decomposed or ferment under the influence of the microbe elements contained in
the air.
This filtering device is more especially useful when it is desired to decant
partially, and a little at a time, certain commonly used liquids such as mineral
waters, wine, cider, beer, organic and medicinal liquids and so forth.
In cases in which the employment of the perforating trocar is not of any
absolute utility, the decanting device provided with an india rubber stopper
mounted upon the apparatus (Figure 3) and capable of adapting itself directly
and hermetically to the aperture of the vessel containing the liquid to be decanted,
may be employed.
This is the case, for example, with liquids contained in vessels provisionally
closed by means of a cork, this being removed and the decanting siphon adapted
to the vessel.
One of the most important applications of the decanting siphon is that with
reference to the consumption of table mineral waters, the high price of which
necessarily limits the consumption.
By means of the apparatus above described, each consumer may receive the
mineral water, for example, for his own use in carboys or cylinders of 50 or 60
litres dispatched from the thermal station at a reasonable price. To this carboy
is fixed the decanting siphon above described thus enabling the liquid to be

page_text: withdrawn as required, the natural gases which it contains being preserved owing
to its isolation from the exterior, and in addition to this, the compressed air
which serves for the decantation being filtered before reaching the carboy, no
atmospheric germs are able to enter and contaminate this liquid which thus
preserves its natural constitution and purity until it is completely consumed,
and this in spite of the fact that the air in cellars of large cities is more or less
contaminated. As regards mineral waters, the means hitherto employed are far
from presenting the same guarantees of wholesomeness and facilities of application.
With respect to this latter, it is in fact sufficient, in order to facilitate the
serving of table waters in an attractive manner, to provide a table fountain or
fountain siphon constructed upon the principle of the apparatus above described
and represented in Figures 2 and 3. This apparatus may, for example, be com-
posed of a glass vessel of any suitable kind or form, preferably one of an attractive
appearance and of a decorative nature, and of from one to three litres capacity accord-
ing to requirements. To the mouth or aperture of such an apparatus is secured the
decanting siphon (Figure 3) provided with its india rubber stopper, which may
readily be removed when recharging the table fountain at the carboy, whilst this
fountain possesses the advantage, as compared with incompletely utilised bottles
of mineral waters, of preserving intact the gaseous principles which the water
may contain.
The same remarks are applicable in the case of beer, cider and the various
liquid alimentary products.
On the other hand, in the case of the decantation of acids and poisonous or
corrosive liquids, the decanting siphon possesses the advantage over other siphons
that it is operated entirely by atmospheric pressure, no organ such as the mouth
or hand being placed in contact with the dangerous fluid. Owing to this property,
the apparatus above described may be applied to numerous purposes in the
industries.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 shew a modification of the apparatus above described;
in the explanation of the operation, the apparatus is assumed to be adapted to a
carboy containing mineral waters.
A is the carboy, D¹ is the siphon tube, E¹ E3 E3 E represent the air pump,
F1 is the filter vessel provided with cotton wool, R¹ is the cock a¹ and b¹ are
retaining valves.
Assuming the stopper to be perforated and the decanting tube D' arranged in
position upon the filled carboy, assuming also that the cock R¹ is open, now by
causing the bulb or air pump E¹ arranged upon the apparatus to operate, the
liquid will fill the tube D¹ the extremity of the longer arm of which with the
cock R¹ should extend somewhat below the bottom of the vessel.
When the liquid commences to flow out through the extremity of this arm
the tube D acts as a siphon and it is no longer necessary to operate the pump.
The liquid will continue to flow out through the longer arm of the siphon
when once this has been filled until the liquid in the carboy is exhausted or until
the cock R¹ is closed.
By this means, when once the siphon has been started, the vessel may be
emptied in several operations, drawing off the liquid in an intermittent manne
by opening and closing the cock R¹ on each occasion. The bulb or air pump
is only used when first filling the siphon tube D¹.
This latter may also be filled by blowing air into the vessel through the
mouthpiece E3 which is screwed upon the apparatus in place of the bulb or air
pump, which then becomes unnecessary.
In this modification the air which enters the vessel whilst the siphon is being
started, first of all enters by compression and is always filtered by the filtering
vessel F1 filled with tightly packed cotton wool. The siphon having once been
charged or started, the air enters the vessel owing to suction due to the vacuum
which is produced in proportion as the liquid flows out of the vessel; it is invari-
ably filtered through the cotton wool in the vessel F¹.

page_text: Figure 8 shows a vertical section of an apparatus adapted to a carboy for
containing the liquid to be drawn off.
In this Figure D2 is a siphon tube in a single piece and terminating in the
cock R...
I'
M is the sleeve or mounting for the decanting siphon, C is a small metallic
cap. which is screwed upon the sleeve or mounting M³.
Ja is an india rubber ring forming a joint between the mounting M2, the small
cap C and the tube D³.
F is the filtering chamber provided with cotton wool.
:
P2 is a metallic nipple hermetically secured to a branch of the sleeve M² and
provided with an internal screwed passage into which is inserted a screw plug V².
This latter has also an air passage o which as will be readily seen may be closed
or opened at will by screwing or unscrewing the said plug into or out of the
nipple P2 for the purpose of admitting air to the carboy or closing the same as
desired. A suitable washer I2 is provided on the plug V2 as shewn for the purpose
of effecting an air tight joint when the plug is screwed home.
E Figure 9 is the air pump which may be screwed into the nipple in place
of the screw V2 in order to start the apparatus.
This arrangement in no wise alters the theoretical principle of the apparatus:
its advantage consists in the fact that:-
1. The tube D2 may be employed for decanting vessels of different sizes by
fixing the cap C at different heights upon this tube.
2. The small screw V2 provided with an air supply passage o, the siphon 12
being started by means of the air pump or by means of air forced into the vessel
in any suitable manner, enables (1). The air to enter the vessel at will when
it is opened for drawing off the liquid, the cock R2 being also open, and (2). Pre-
vention of the escape of the gases of the liquid contained in the carboy whilst
this latter is being emptied, after each drawing, for example, when the liquid in
question is an aerated mineral water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that, what
I claim is
A decanting siphon operating by means of compressed and filtered air and
serving for the decantation of liquids in general which are contained in a closed
vessel, such as that described with reference to the accompanying drawing,
together with a device enabling the decanting siphon to be always ready to
operate, the longer arm of which latter may be provided with a cock, by means
of which, when once the siphon has been charged or started, the liquid may be
drawn off as required thus dispensing with the action of the air pump, which
latter may also be entirely dispensed with and replaced by a mouthpiece through
which air is forced in order to start or charge the siphon.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1899..
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.