A NEW OR IMPROVED VENT PEG
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Max Greger, of Number 7, Mincing Lane, in the City of
London, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED VENT PEG."
Sealed the 8th May 1877, and dated the 2nd March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Max Greger at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1877.
.
MAX GREGEB, of Number 7, Mincing Lane, in the City of London.
OR IMPROVED VENT PEG."
"A NEW
The Invention is especially applicable to vent pegs employed in connexion with
vessels containing fermentable liquids, such as beer, wines, cider, and the like, but is
also applicable to vessels containing other liquids, and has for object the removal of
infusoria germs and other such like substances from the air which enters the vessel
to supply the place of liquid removed from it, whereby fermentation and other
injurious effects upon the liquid are prevented. For this purpose I employ by
preference a vent peg provided with an inlet valve or tap for the admission of air
to the vessel containing the liquid; and my present Invention consists in employing
in connexion with such vent peg a filter or strainer of cotton wool placed in a
passage situated between the said inlet valve or tap and the vessel containing the
liquid, the air being forced to pass through such filter or strainer of cotton wool.
The infusoria germs or other such like substances are thereby removed from the
said air before the latter enters the vessel containing the liquid. The passage con-
taining the cotton wool is by preference adapted with a screwed cap or other air-
tight cover, so that the latter can be readily renewed when required, and in some
cases the vent peg may be provided with an outlet valve to allow of the escape
from the vessel of any superfluous gas that may have been generated therein.
MAX GREGER, of Number 7, Mincing Lane, in the City of London. "A NEW
'D"
18

page_text: vessels containing fermentable liquids, such as beer, wines, cider, and the like, but
is also applicable to vessels containing other liquids, and has for object the removal
of infusoria germs and other such like substances from the air which enters the
vessel to supply the place of liquid removed from it, whereby fermentation and other
injurious effects upon the liquid are wholly or partially prevented. For this pur-
pose I employ by preference a vent peg provided with an inlet valve or tap for the
admission of air to the vessel containing the liquid, and my present Invention
consists in employing in connexion with such vent pegs a filter or strainer of cotton
wool placed in a passage situated between the said inlet valve or tap and the vessel
containing the liquid, the air being forced to pass through such filter or strainer of
cotton wool. The infusoria germs or other such like substances are thereby
removed from the said air before the latter enters the vessel containing the liquid.
The passage containing the cotton wool is by preference adapted with a screwed
cap or other air-tight cover, so that the latter can be readily renewed when required,
and in some cases the vent peg may be provided with an outlet valve to allow of
the escape from the vessel of any superfluous gas that may have been generated therein.
In the Drawing, Figure 1 represents a section of a vent peg constructed in
accordance with my Invention, and Figure 2 plan of same.
A is a chamber,
which may be of any suitable shape and size; in the Figure it is represented as
cylindrical; B is a valve box screwed air tight to the top of the said chamber A,
and connected therewith by a passage C; D is a valve opening inwards, through
which the air which passes into the vessel must pass; and E is a valve opening
outwards, through which any superfluous gas generated in the vessel is allowed to
escape therefrom; F is the stem or nozzle, which is screwed or otherwise fixed air
tight into a hole in the bung or other part of the vessel; H is the cotton wool with
which the chamber A is filled, and through which the air entering by the valve D
must filter before reaching the vessel to which the apparatus is applied. Before
placing the cotton wool H in the chamber A, I prefer to wash it in a non-fermentable
liquid, such as dilute sulphuric acid or any suitable antiseptic, which will clear the
said wool of any fermentable impurities or render the same inocuous.
Figure 3 shews a section of an arrangement similar to that described in reference
to Figure 1 (and Figure 4 a sectional plan of same), but with the addition of a
casing I, containing a long tube J, bent many times at right angles to itself, and
forming a circuitous passage with a number of sudden turns in it. One end of this
tube is connected to the lower end of the chamber A containing the cotton wool H,
and the other end to the nozzle F. The object of this tube or circuitous passage is
to provide a number of chambers or places of deposit in which germs, particles of
organic matter, or other material impurities which may have passed the cotton wool
filter may subside or be deposited before reaching the vessel containing the liquid
or substance to be preserved, this effect being favoured by the number of sharp
angles or corners round which the air has to pass. By preference this tubular
passage or circuitous chamber may be smeared with glycerine or other unfer-
mentable substance so as still more effectually to obstruct and retain any
impurities.
Figure 5 shews a section, and Figure 6 a plan of an arrangement similar to that
described in reference to Figures 3 and 4, but with the circuitous passage J
composed of a series of partitions crossing the chamber A from side to side, such
partitions having holes or openings K through them alternately at the tops and
bottoms, whereby the air is caused to ascend and descend in the compartments
before arriving at the nozzle F. One or more of the compartments is or are to be
filled with cotton wool as before explained in reference to Figures 1 to 4. For con-
venience of placing the cotton wool in position, covering the sides of the partitions
with glycerine, or for cleaning out the compartments of the chamber the latter is
provided with an opening L at top, over which is placed and secured by screws or
otherwise a cover G which closes the said opening L air tight by means of an india-
rubber washer M when the apparatus is in use.
Similar letters refer to like parts in all the Figures,

page_text: When the circuitous passage herein-before described is employed it may, if pre-
ferred, be placed between the inlet valve and the chamber containing the cotton
wool so as to effect the removal of the grosser impurities from the air before it
reaches the cotton wool.
The apparatus may be constructed of metal, glass, wood, ebonite, or other suitable
material or of combinations thereof.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner in which
the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that I make
no claim to the employment generally of cotton wool as a material for filtering air,
as I am aware that the same has been before employed for purposes of scientific
experiment, but what I claim as my Invention is the application and use of a filter
of cotton wool combined with an inlet valve with or without an outlet valve and
with or without a circuitous passage, arranged and adapted substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the Drawing and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Max Greger, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.