IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE BOTTLING OF BEER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE BOTTLING OF BEER
OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH' 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 methods of, and apparatus for, bottling beer and other
liquids.
The said invention has for its objects; first to supply beer or other liquids into
bottles or receptacles without bringing the liquid into contact with the atmospheric
air, or to deprive the bottle or receptacle, as much as it is possible to do so of its
atmospheric air before the liquid is filled thereinto, thereby providing a process
for putting liquids into receptacles, which prevents deterioration in the quality of
the liquid during the filling operation and the natural strength and flavor of the
liquid is preserved or its souring or other deterioration is avoided so long as it is
kept sealed or stoppered in the bottle or receptacle; and Second to charge the
liquid, after filling with an effervescing gas, a flavoring extract, a sweetening
compound, an antiseptic or preservative agent or other desired material.
The said invention accordingly consists partly in filling bottles or receptacles by
first withdrawing the atmospheric air therefrom, and filling the liquid therein in
vacuo; It also partly consists in charging the liquid with an effervescing gas or
other agent or material after being filled into the bottle or receptacle in vacuo.
This invention further comprises the novel combination, and arrangement of
parts of the bottling apparatus as hereinafter described.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the various figures of
which are hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 shows a sectional diagram of a form of apparatus provided with the
present improvements.

page_text: In the said Figures, A. indicates a vat or tank for holding a supply of beer, and
which has a cock or valved outlet a to which is suitably attached or coupled a
reducer or filling tube B terminating in a tapered or other suitably configured end b
having a washer or packing b¹, The filling tube B has a cut-off C and one pipe
connection D with a cock d leading to an air pump or exhausting device E; and
another pipe F with a cock f leading to a tank or gas-holder G filled with effervescing
gas or other desired charging agent under pressure or otherwise.
The operation of this part of the apparatus is as follows: The bottle, or
receptacle to be filled, which may be a barrel, tank or otherwise is pushed up against
the tapered or nozzle end 6 of the tube B, or the latter may be moved down upon
the former to effect an air tight coupling or connection between the nozzle 6 and
the stopper opening. The cocks a and f being then closed and the cocks C and d
opened the exhaust mechanism E is put into operation whereupon the air in the
receptacle H and tube B is exhausted therefrom, or a vacuum is formed therein.
The cock d is then closed and the cock a opened. The beer or liquid in the tank A
then flows into the pipe B and fills the receptacle. The air therein having previously
been exhausted such liquil is filled into the receptacle in vacuo or does not come
in contact with atmospheric air, consequently, if the liquid be beer or analogous
material it does not froth or effervesce, the receptacle is almost instantly filled with
the beer and it is preserved from deterioration during the filling operation, and after
being sealed in the receptacle into which it is so filled, it cannot sour but retains
its natural flavor and strength so long as it is kept sealed.
To charge the liquid or beer, after being filled into the receptacle with the
effervescing gas or other compound in the tank or gasometer G, the cocks C and a
are closed and the cock f opened. The gas under pressure in the tank G then passes
to and charges the liquid in the receptacle, after which the cock f is closed and the
tube B or its nozzle b is withdrawn from the said receptacle; the valve or stopper
automatically closing to seal the receptacle as such withdrawal or uncoupling is
effected.
Instead of using a charge of gas, a sweetening or syrup compound may be forced
or allowed to flow by gravity into the filled bottle, or any other suitable antiseptic
or reservative agent or compound may be employed.
If desired, the sweetening or flavoring extract may be used in addition to the
gas-charge, in which case the tube B will have an additional pipe with a valve for
connection with the tank holding the flavoring extract or supply.
Beer or other like liquids, juices or extracts of all kinds of fruits and vegetables,
or other liquids or materials may be filled into bottles or receptacles by the above
described processes.
Instead of using a single end tube B for filling one bottle at a time, the said
tube may have multiple ends as shown in Figure 2 (which is a sectional elevation,)
so that a number of bottles may be simultaneously filled.
The various cocks above enumerated may be successively opened and closed by
hand or grouped in series and provided with operating levers for simultaneously
moving the cocks of each series. To effect a more rapid filling of the receptacles
the tube B is provided with any suitable form of vacuum chamber appropriately
arranged or coupled thereto and into which passes the surplus liquid remaining in
the tube B after the filling operation is accomplished. So, too instead of making
or providing separate cocks for the pipes B D and F they may all lead to a single
valve having three or more separate ways or channels and a common outlet or
nozzle b, whereby a single controlling valve is provided for effecting the requisite
or successive communications with the liquid supply tank, the exhaust mechanism
and the charging or other tanks.
If desired, the nozzle b may be provided with a plunger which is manually or
otherwise operated for depressing a valve in the stopper, when such is used, after
the said nozzle and stopper are coupled preparatory to the filling.
It is obvious that the various appurtenances comprising the filling apparatus, as
well as the means for charging the filled receptacle, above described, may be

page_text: differently arranged and constructed to perform the results above set forth and
I do not, therefore, limit this invention to any particular construction and arrange-
ment of the said appurtenances as the invention embraces any combination of
devices for accomplishing the methods hereinbefore described of filling liquids or
other material into receptacles.
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:
First. The method of filling bottles or other receptacles, which method consists
in first forming a vacuum in or exhausting the atmospheric air from the bottle and
then filling it, substantially as set forth.
Second. The method herein described of exhausting the air from receptacles and
then filling them with a liquid or other material, substantially as set forth.
Third. The method of filling liquids into bottles or other receptacles, which
method consists in first exhausting the air from the receptacle, then filling it and
then charging the liquid with an effervescing gas or other agent, substantially as
set forth.
Fourth. The filling process herein described when combined with a charging
process as set forth.
Fifth. In a filling apparatus, the combination of a supply tank, exhaust
nechanism and valved pipes or connections, substantially as shown and described.
Sixth. A filling apparatus comprising a supply tank, exhaust mechanism, and
pipe connections with or without a vacuum chamber, substantially as described.
Seventh. A filling apparatus comprising a supply tank, an exhausting or air
pump. device, a charging or other tank and valved pipe connections, substantially
as set forth
Eighth. A filling apparatus comprising a supply tank, a filling tube and exhaust
mechanism with pipe connections, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. A filling apparatus in which the liquid or material is filled into a bottle
or receptacle previously exhausted of its air, a filling tube with different valves, or
a single controlling valve for the said tube and its pipe connections, substantially
as described,
Dated this 8th day of July 1884
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.