A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING GLASS AND BOTTLES."OTHER
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bull, of No. 4, Lancaster Place, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING GLASS AND
BOTTLES."
OTHER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bull at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February 1879.
WILLIAM BULL, of No. 4, Lancaster Place, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND
CLOSING GLASS AND OTHER BOTTLES."
The machine or apparatus which constitutes this Invention is intended for filling
glass or other bottles with aërated or similar or other liquids, and consists of a
table or stand with an elevated back frame, carrying one or more metrical taps or
valves, through which the liquid is caused to pass on its way into the bottles.
I regulate the quantity of liquid passing through these taps, and adjust the same
to the capacity of the bottles to be charged by the introduction of an intermediate
piston, with an adjusting stroke or movement placed between the ordinary high
pressure cylinder, or vessel, force pump, or other charging vessel and the bottle, and
thus prevent or lessen the breakage of the bottles when being charged under high
pressure, or with high pressure or effervescing liquids. The terminal nipples are of
three kinds; the first, for charging bottles removable from the apparatus for corking
or closing; the second, for charging and corking before removing the bottles; and
the third, a capsizing nipple and bottle holder for charging bottles fitted with
internal and gravitating spring or other like or similar stoppered or self fitted
bottles. The first mentioned nipple is made in any of the ordinary forins, but is
fitted with an annular air escape. The second mentioned nipple is made with a
cork holding chamber, and fitted with a corking piston and lever, and the third
before mentioned nipple and bottle holder is made with a reversing motion. The
nipple in all cases are provided with annular air escapes. The filling taps are fitted
with one or more large plugs, and the bores of these plugs through the liquid
passes are further fitted with changing pistons, so that by changing the plugs or
changing the pistons the quantity of liquid to be delivered by the tap is regulated, and
A71

page_text: "
is always less than the capacity of the bottle to be charged thereby. These taps act
as metrical taps, and may be fitted with counting and registering mechanism if
required for determining the number of bottles charged and quantity of liquid
used by or discharged. In using the said taps the position of the plug and piston is
simply reserved at each filling of the bottles, while the full pressure is always "on
at the upward or outward side of the piston, and thus forces the charge under the
piston into the bottle, while provision is made for the escape of the air by the
aunular openings in the nipples before mentioned. When the piston reaches the
lower or inward side of the bore of the plug it closes the nipple aperture and
prevents more liquid from passing until the position of the piston and plug are
reversed.
The object of forming and fitting the filling tap in the manner described is to
save time and prevent waste of liquid, and further to measure and indicate the
quantity of liquid used, and at the same time lessen or prevent the breakage of bottles
from over filling, and dispense with skilled labour in the filling operation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Bull in the Great Seal Patont Office on the 22nd August
1879.
WILLIAM BULL, of No. 4, Lancaster Place, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND
CLOSING GLASS AND OTHER BOTTLES."
The machine or apparatus which constitutes this Invention is intended for filling
glass or other bottles with aerated or similar or other liquids, and consists of a
table or stand with an elevated back frame, carrying one or more metrical taps or
valves, through which the liquid is caused to pass on its way into the bottles.
.
I regulate the quantity of liquid passing through these taps, and adjust the same
to the capacity of the bottles to be charged (making the quantity delivered at each
stroke somewhat less than the capacity of such bottles) by the introduction of an
intermediate piston, with an adjusting stroke or movement placed between the
ordinary high pressure cylinder or vessel, force-pump, or other charging vessel and
the bottle, and thus prevent or lessen the breakage of the bottlos when being
charged under high pressure, or with high pressure or effervescing liquids. The
terminal liquids are of three kinds; the first, for charging bottles removeable from
the apparatus for corking or closing; the second, for charging and corking before
removing the bottles; and the third, a capsizing nipple and bottle-holder for charging
bottles fitted with internal and gravitating spring, or other like or similar stopped
or self fitted bottles. The first mentioned nipple is made in any of the ordinary
forms, but is fitted with a terminal inverted cup, in which is fitted an annular air
escape, with a spring or weight as required. The second mentioned nipple is made
with a cork holding chamber, and fitted with a corking piston and lever, and the third
before mentioned nipple and bottle holder is made with a reversing motion. The
nipples in all cases are provided with self closing annular air escapes. The filling
taps are fitted with one or more large plugs, and the bores of these plugs through
which the liquid passes vary in diameter, and are further fitted with changing
pistons, so that by changing the plugs or changing the pistons the quantity of
liquid to be delivered by the tap is regulated, and is always less than the capacity
of the bottle to be charged thereby. These taps act as metrical taps, and may bo
fitted with counting and registering mechanism if required to indicate the number
of bottles charged and quantity of liquid used or discharged. In using the said
taps the position of the plug and piston is simply reversed at each filling of the
bottles by means of a lever or handle, while the full pressure is always
the upper or outward side of the piston, and thus forces the charge under the
piston into the bottle, while provision is made for the escape of the air by.the
annular openings in the cup nipples before mentioned. When the piston reaches
the lower or inward side of the bore of the plug it closes the nipple aperture and
prevents more liquid from passing until the position of the piston and plug are
reversed.
"
on at
The object of forming and fitting the filling tap in the manner described is to
save time and prevent waste of liquid, and further to measure and indicate the
quantity of liquid used, and at the same time lessen or prevent the breakage of
bottles from over filling, and dispense with skilled labour in the filling operation.
It will be obvious that any convenient number of taps may be fitted to one frame,
and that the details of construction may be varied at pleasure, according to the
varying circumstances of the case. When required for filling bottles fitted with
internally closed stoppers charged with "still" liquids, the third before mentioned
nipple and bottle holder with a reversing motion is used, and the nipple cup (in
which the air escape is fitted) is furnished with spring clips or finger-pieces, which
are forced open by the mouth of the bottle, as the latter is placed in position for
being charged. When the bottle has been charged and is being removed from the

page_text: machine, the clips or finger-pieces first close partially and grip the end of the
stopper, which for such liquids is formed with a small knob projecting from the
bottle mouth, as the cone of the stopper passes into its closed position in the cork
collar or packing within the bottle mouth; this grip is sufficient to momentarily
arrest the stopper as the bottle is being removed, or give the said stopper a sufficient
pull to close the bottle and secure its contents.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bull, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM BULL.
(L.S.)