IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND CORKING BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS WITH AERATED LIQUIDS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Gillies, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND CORKING BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS
WITH AERATED LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 30th June 1876, and dated the 7th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Gillies at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1876.
JAMES GILLIES, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND CORKING
BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS WITH AERATED LIQUIDS."
This Invention, which relates to certain improvements in apparatus for charging
and corking bottles or other vessels with aerated liquids, consists in the first place
of improved means by which the neck of the bottle is made tight with the
discharge orifice of the apparatus, by which the bottle or other vessel is charged
with aerated liquids. This part of the Invention consists of an inverted india-
rubber cup, of the form of a deep cup leather, held by a box nut in the extremity
of the orifice through which the aerated liquid is passed into the bottle or other
vessel. The channel or pipe by which the aerated liquid passes to this orifice has
a branch formed upon it leading into the hollow space of the india-rubber cup, so
that when the aerated liquid passes through the charging orifice into the bottle or
other vessel, it also passes through the channel or branch into the hollow space
of the india-rubber cup ring, and by its pressure closes that tight against the neck
of the bottle or other vessel and prevents the escape of liquid or gas.
The second improvement constituting this Invention. consists of an improved
guard or shield, which by opening allows the bottle to be easily inserted in the
machine, and when placed therein at the time of charging closes around the bottle,
so that in the event of the bottle being fractured the broken pieces are prevented
from being scattered about and doing injury.
•
The improved shield consists of a circular framework of wires or metallic bars,
each half of which is carried upon a vertical axis so that it can move around
thereon, the same being closed by the action of a wedge, or inclined plane, or the
equivalent thereof, acting upon levers situate at or carried upon the axes on which
[Price And

page_text: the two halves of the shield or guard are carried, these halves of the shield or guard
being opened by the action of springs when the inclined plane or wedge is released,
or the actions or functions of the inclined plane or wedge and springs in operating
the two halves of the shield or guard may be reversed..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Gillies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st July 1876.
JAMES GILLIES, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING AND CORKING
BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS WITH AERATED LIQUIDS."
My said Invention, which relates to certain improvements in apparatus for
charging bottles or other vessels with aerated liquids and for corking them when
BO charged, consists in the first place of improved means by which the neck of the
bottle is made tight with the outlet orifice of the charging apparatus.
In the second place my said Invention relates to an improved guard or shield,
which by opening allows the bottle to be easily inserted in and removed from the
machine.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to
the annexed Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say -
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly
in section; and Figure 2, a front elevation of a bottle charging and corking.
apparatus, and on which the improvements constituting my said Invention are
shewn applied.
With reference to the first improvement which relates to means whereby the
neck of the bottle is made tight with the discharge orifice of the apparatus by
which the bottle or other vessel is charged with nerated liquids, the Invention
consists in providing the said orifice with an inverted india-rubber cup of the form
shewn at a, Figure 1, and at Figure 3, which is a longitudinal section of the
charging apparatus. The cup a is held in the lower extremity of the discharge
orifice b by means of a box nut c, which is screwed on to the said orifice, as seen
at Figures 1 and 3. The bottle or other vessel to be charged with aerated liquid
rests upon the sole d, which is raised so as to hold the bottle with its mouth against
the india-rubber cup a by depressing the treddle e which acts through the crank
on the axis of the weighted lever f. The lever is connected by the rod A. to a
vertically sliding frame B, and to the said frame the weighted end of a lever C is
attached by a rod or chain. The lever C is centred on a pin or stud fixed in the
framing of the apparatus, and a heel or spur g formed on its free end, as seen at
Figure 2, bears against a heel made on the sole d, which slides vertically in the
guide H. By this arrangement, when the treddle e is depressed it draws down the
sliding frame B, and the weighted end of the lever C thereupon falling, the spur g
at the free end of the lever raises the sole d, carrying the bottle or other vessel
until the said bottle or vessel is jambed with its mouth against the india-rubber
cup a
The channel in the charging apparatus, through which the aerated liquid
passes to the discharge orifice b, has a branch formed in it leading into the hollow
space of the india-rubber cup a, as seen at k, Figure 3 of the Drawings, so that
when the aerated liquid passes through the orifice b into the bottle or other vessel,
a portion of the said liquid also passes through the branch into the hollow space
of the india-rubber cup ring a, and by its pressure therein closes the ring tightly
against the neck of the bottle or other vessel, and prevents the escape of liquid or
gas. A considerable saving of aerated liquid is thereby effected. The charging

page_text: apparatus, otherwise than as made with the branch k and provided with the india-
rubber cup ring a, is of ordinary construction.
The second improvement embraced under my said Invention relates to a guard
or shield which surrounds and encloses the bottle or other vessel when placed on the
sole d, and which in the event of the bottle being fractured whilst being charged
with the liquid prevents the pieces from being dispersed and doing injury.
As shewn at Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings, the improved shield consists of a
circular or partly circular framework F, of wires or metal bars, each half of which
framework is carried upon a vertical axis or spindle m. The two halves of the
shield or guard F are so arranged as to be capable of moving through an are
outwards from each other, as indicated by the dotted lines at Figures 2 and 4
(which latter Figure is a horizontal section of the shield) when it is desired to place
a bottle or other vessel on the sole d preparatory to charging the same, and of
being closed round the bottle or vessel when the same has been adjusted in position
on the sole d, and when the charging thereof is about to be commenced, that is to
say, the closing of the separate halves of the shield or guard F round the bottle or
other vessel is effected, whilst the sole d carrying the bottle is being raised by
depressing the treddle e, as herein-before described. Such closing of the shield or
guard is performed by a plate spring n, Figures 1 and 2, which is fixed at its upper
end to the framing of the machine and at its lower end acts upon pins o, secured in
the guard or shield.
The depressing of the treddle e, whilst having the effect of raising the bottle or
other vessel into position for charging it and of permitting the separate halves or
portions of the guard or shield to be closed around the bottle or other vessel by
the spring n, has also the effect, by partially drawing down the frame B, of causing
the corking pin p to force the cork downwards in the channel or passage r, until
the lower end of the cork enters below the line 8, Figure 1. By this means when
the charging cock or valve t is opened and the aerated liquid allowed to flow along
the channel i to the bottle, escape of gas or liquid is prevented at the joint of the
corking channel r, with the charging apparatus b, by reason of the bottom of the
cork having passed below the said joint, at the same time the cork is not forced
so far down as to close the entrance to the relief valve u When the bottle or
other vessel has been charged with the aerated liquid the corking pin p is caused
to drive the cork home into the neck of the bottle by depressing the treddle G,
which is keyed on the axis of the lever f, the said lever being thereby caused to
draw the frame B downwards. The corking of the bottle having been so effected
the pressure on both treddles e and G is released, when the weighted end of the
lever fimmediately returns the frame B to its first or highest position, the said
frame in rising lifting with it the weighted end of the lever C which operates the
sole d. The sole having then no further support from the heel g of the lever sinks
vertically downwards to its lowest position, and the charged bottle or other vessel
is removed and substituted by an empty one; to permit of which being effected,
each half of the guard or shield has previously swung round on its axis m into the
position shewn in dotted lines at Figure 2, that is into its open position. The
opening of the guard or shield is performed by an inclined plane J, formed on or
fixed to the front of the frame B, acting whilst the frame B is ascending to its first
position on inclined or cam surfaces made on the guard or shield at w, Figure 1.
The inclined or cam surfaces w are also seen at Figure 4 of the Drawings.
Under another arrangement of the guard or shield the functions of the spring n
and inclined plane J are reversed, that is to say, the inclined plane is employed in
closing the shield round the bottle or other vessel as the sole d ascends and the
frame B descends, whilst the spring n is employed in opening the guard or shield
whilst the frame B is ascending and the sole d descending into the position whereat .
the bottle is removed from the machine.
With reference to the india-rubber cup a herein-before described, it is to be
understood that I do not confine myself to construct the said cup precisely as seen
at Figures 1 and 3 of the Drawings, as any analogous form of cup, having a space

page_text: on its back part into which a portion of the aerated liquid can be conducted from
the charging channel i, may with equal facility be employed for the purpose set
forth.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner, in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The employment at the discharging orifice of bottle charging and corking
machines of an india-rubber cup, formed with an annular or other space on its back
or upper side, as shewn at Figures 1 and 3 of the Drawings, into which a portion
of the aerated liquid is conducted, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Second. The improved guard or shield formed in two parts and capable of being
opened and closed, substantially as herein-before described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, and 4, of the appended Drawings.
Third. The mechanism, consisting of the inclined plane J, inclined or cam
surfaces w, spring n, and pins o, by which the improved guard or shield is opened
and closed at the proper intervals, substantially as herein-before described with
reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
In witness whereof, I, the said James Gillies, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
JAMES GILLIES. (L.S.)