Improvements in or relating to the Aëration of Liquids.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Aëration of Liquids.
1, EDWARD WILLIAMS, of No. 1 North Road, Aberayron, in the County of
Cardigan, Wales, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
My invention relates to apparatus for aërating beverages and other fluids by the
introduction of carbonic acid gas whereby they are preserved and made more
sparkling and refreshing. My invention however is more particularly adapted for
the revivifying or re-acrating of such beverages as have undergone fermentation,
such for example as beer, porter, cider etc., standing in casks or barrels partly
emptied or not the contents of which have become flat, insipid or stale through the
dissipation of the original charge of carbonic acid gas.
The apparatus I prefer to use consists of a pipe, one end of which is preferably
tapered; this passes through the cask and dips into the beverage to be treated, and
the pipe is screwed into the cask or vessel. The pipe is provided with a tap for
regulating the flow of the aërating gas to the liquid under treatment, and its upper
end is screw-threaded to receive the vessel in which the carbonic acid gas is
generated. This vessel is preferably provided with a hollow screw cap and a bent
tube for carrying off the gas and is divided inside by a movable diaphragm of
perforated zinc or wire gauze. Above the diaphragm is swung a cradle held in
position by any suitable catch connected with a rod passing outside the vessel which
on being depressed disturbs the equilibrium of the cradle and causes it to upset its
contents into the body of the generator.
:―
The following is the mode of setting the apparatus in action The pipe having
been tightly screwed into the cask and the generator onto the pipe a solution of a
carbonate or bi-carbonate preferably of soda is placed in the lower portion of the
generator and a sufficient quantity of water or other menstruum is added so as just
to cover the perforated diaphragm. An acid preferably citric or tartaric acid
either in crystal, powder or solution is placed in the cradle swung above the
diaphragm. The button of the rod communicating with the cradle is then pressed
down by the operator by which means the catch is released and the cradle losing
its equilibrium will discharge its contents into the solution below thereby generating
a discharge of carbonic acid gas which passes through the pipe into the cask or
vessel containing the beverage to be treated and coming in contact under pressure
is partly absorbed thereby re-aerating or revivifying the liquid.
If it is desired to introduce the carbonic acid gas at considerable pressure the
gas may be collected from any generator or supply into a vessel provided at its
lower end with a screw thread and tap, the vessel can then be secured to the cask
containing the liquid and the gas discharged into it at considerably greater pressure
than in the method described above..
It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction of
apparatus above set forth as obviously modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit of my invention.
Date : 10th of Cantambor 1901
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Aëration of Liquids.
I, EDWARD WILLIAMS of 1 North Road, Aberayron, in the County of
Cardigan, Wales, Surgeon, 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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus for aërating beverages and other fluids by the
introduction of carbonic acid gas whereby they are preserved and made more
sparkling and refreshing. My invention however is more particularly adapted for the
revivifying or re-aërating of such beverages as have undergone fermentation, such
for example as beer, porter, cider, etc., standing in casks or barrels partly emptied
or not the contents of which have become flat, insipid or stale through the
dissipation of the original charge of carbonic acid gas.
The apparatus I prefer to use consists of a pipe, one end of which is preferably
tapered, this passes through the cask and may dip into the beverage to be treated,
and the pipe is screwed into the cask or vessel. The pipe is provided with a
tap for shutting off the gas after the liquid is charged, and its upper end is screw
threaded to receive the vessel in which the carbonic acid gas is generated.
In the accompanying drawings,-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the gas generating vessel, and
Fig. 2 is an elevation, with the upper part partly broken away, of the tube
by which the said vessel is connected to the barrel or other reservoir, the contents
of which are to be aërated or impregnated with carbonic acid gas.
A is the gas generating chamber which is formed in two parts a a' each preferably
provided with a flange A so as to admit of the two parts being secured together as
by bolts and nuts B or equivalent means, the joint between these two parts being
preferably checked as shown and made tight by means of a leather or equivalent
washer B
A is the outlet end of the chamber A, which is externally threaded to screw into
the upper end K³ of the tube shown in Fig. 2 as hereinafter described. C is a tube
soldered or otherwise, tightly secured in the outlet A' and which passes up
along the side of the chainber A and at its upper end is bent over and secured
to a dome or cover D so as to place the under side of said dome directly in
communication with the outlet A".
D' is a basin or trough into which the mouth of the dome D dips and which may
be supported by clips such as D2 secured to the dome D and which is adapted
to contain sufficient water or other liquid to form a liquid seal around the immersed
edge of the dome. The trough D' may however be supported in any other con-
venient manner as by a bracket secured to the tube C. The basin D' is of larger
diameter or superficial area than the dome D so as to allow the gas to pass between
the overlapping edges.
E is a glass or equivalent vessel supported in any convenient manner as by the
shaft F which for this purpose in the accompanying drawings, is shown as formed
in two parts which are secured together by a screwed joint F and one of which
parts is formed with a ring or hoop F2 which fits in between a projecting rib E
formed around the cylindrical part of the vessel E and a removable ring E which
fits into a groove or annular recess formed in the vessel E as shown, or if desired
the hoop F may be split and bolted together at one or more parts of its circum-
ference so that it may be sprung or otherwise introduced between the rib and
ring E' E both of which in this arrangement may be formed as integral parts of
the vessel E, or the vessel E may be supported in the hoop F or connected to the
shaft F in any other desired manner.
The shaft F passes through a gland and stuffing box A³ and at its outwardly
extending end is provided with a handle F³ or hand wheel or equivalent to admit
of its being rotated.

page_text: The inner end of the shaft F is supported in a bearing A the stuffing box and
gland A3 providing the necessary support for the opposite end. The shaft is
prevented from moving longitudinally outwards by a collar or sleeve F
The vessel E is closed by a stopper G which is perforated to receive two
tubes H H the former reaching to near the bottom of the vessel for admitting air
to its interior and the latter for allowing the contents of the vessel to flow out
when said vessel is inverted as hereinafter described, this latter tube being
preferably contracted at its outlet end as shown. This arrangement is used when
the vessel is to contain an acid solution or liquid but when the acid is to be used in
a solid or powdered form, the vesse! E is not closed by a stopper and may have a
large wide mouth or be made in the form of a tray or trough.
J is a shaft extending across the lower part of the chamber A and supported at
one end in a bearing A³ and near its opposite end by the gland and stuffing box A.
On the outwardly projecting end of shaft is secured a handle or wheel Jor
equivalent to admit of its being rotated, and to prevent it from moving longitudi-
nally outwards, a collar or sleeve J' is secured on it at the inner side of the wall of
chamber A. On the shaft is secured the blade or stirrer J³ the edges of which
are recessed as at J so that when it is rotated or oscillated it will not come
in contact with the tube C.
The tube shown in Fig. 2 consists of a lower part K with perforations K', a taper
screw K for enabling it to be screwed into a barrel or other such vessel, a nut
shaped or equivalent part K for enabling a spanner or equivalent to be applied
when screwing the tube into the barrel, a cock K and an internally screwed
part K³ for receiving the outlet end A2 of the gas generating chamber A as before
described.
The parts K K K K K K for convenience when herein referred to as
a whole are referred to as the tube K.
When it is desired to aürate the contents of say a barrel or impregnate them
with carbonic acid gas the tube K is inserted into the bung-hole or into any other
convenient part of the barrel so that the perforations K are preferably submerged
in the liquid to be treated and the taper screw K³ is screwed into said hole until a
tight joint is made, a spanner being applied to the part K³ for assisting in this
operation if desired. The vessel A is then screwed to the upper end of the tube K
a washer L (Fig. 1) being used for securing a tight joint between these two
parts. The upper part or cover a of the vessel A is then removed and a solution
of a carbonate or bi-carbonate preferably of soda is poured into the part a'; or the
solution may be made in said part a. The stopper G is then removed from
the vessel E the mouth of which is then directed upwards and a solution of acid,
preferably citric or tartaric acid, is introduced into said vessel E after which the
stopper G is replaced. Sufficient water or other liquid is then poured into the
trough D to submerge the edge of vessel D. The cock K is turned off' and
the cover a is bolted down upon a' the washer B making a tight joint between the
two parts a a'. The shaft F by means of the handle is then slowly turned so
that the vessel E will be inverted and the contents will run out through the tube H¹
air being meanwhile admitted into the vessel E through the tube H. The acid
solution being thus poured on the carbonate or bi-carbonate solution will cause
carbonic acid gas to be evolved and this gas will pass through and be washed by
the liquid in the trough D' and pass through the tubes C and K and perforations K'
preferably into the liquor to be aërated or impregnated, or if desired into the
upper part of the vessel containing such liquor. When necessary the contents of
the bottom of the vessel A may be mixed, agitated or stirred by turning the
shaft J.
The operation when the acid is used in solid form such as crystals or powder will
be well understood, the tray or receptacle containing such crystals merely being
tilted so as to discharge its contents into the carbonate or bi-carbonate solution in
the lower part of chamber A.
By the before described apparatus beverages or other liquids may be aërated and

page_text: preserved or made sparkling, and more palatable, and refreshing by introducing or
re-introducing the carbonic acid gas.. Beverages which have undergone fermentation
for instance beer, porter, cider and the like or which, have originally been charged
with carbonic acid gas and on consumption have become flat, insipid or stale through
the dissipation or deficiency of carbonic acid gas intended to be contained in such
beverages may be charged or re-charged with carbonic acid gas so as to preserve
and render them more fresh and. palatable..
This operation moreover prevents the introduction of such deleterious. germs
into the beverages as might be admitted were the atmosphere allowed to come into
contact with them.
The cock K admits of the contents of a cask of other vessel being repeatedly
charged with carbonic acid gas and it also admits of one gas generating vessel A
being used for aërating the contents of several casks each provided with a similar
pipe K and cock K.
It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction of
apparatus before described and shown in the accompanying drawings as such
arrangement is merely given as an example and is capable of being modified without
departing, from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed;, I declare that what I
claim is,―
1. The combination with a barrel or other vessel the contents. of which are to
be aërated or impregnated with carbonic acid gas of a carbonic acid gas generator
substantially as described.
2. In apparatus such as described the combination as parts of the same carbonic
acid gas generating vessel of a removable cover tray or vessel capable of being
inverted and a gas washer substantially as described.
3. In apparatus such as described the combination with a vessel such as A having
a removable cover a of a tray or vessel capable of being inverted contained
within the vessel A and a shaft such as E. extending to the outside of vessel A
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings..
4. In apparatus such as described the combination with a vessel such as A of a
vessel such as E. or tray capable of being inverted contained within it a shaft such
as F extending to the outside of vessel A to invert the vessel E a gas washer
such as D D tube C and stirrer such as J J³ substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete aërating
or carbonic acid gas generating and impregnating apparatus substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of May 1892
EDWARD
WILLIAMS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.