Improvements in Tankards, Flagons and other Vessels for Beer and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tankards, Flagons and other Vessels for Beer and
the like.
I CONRAD BRAUN, of 2, Linkstrasse, of Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German
Empire, banker, 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:.
This invention relates to tankards, flagons, bottles, jars and other vessels for
keeping liquors, especially beer, under carbonic acid, and has for its object to
obviate the drawbacks which such vessels have hitherto possessed, more especially
as regards the loss of carbonic acid. I effect this object by not only causing the
beer or other liquor, to retain the carbonic acid already therein contained, but I
also add a quantity of carbonic acid, by which means the liquor constantly
maintains its original good flavour, or is constantly kept in good condition.
In order to make my invention clear, I refer to the accompanying drawing, in
which similar letters denote similar parts, and in which:
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved flagon or vessel, partly in section, in
which construction, the carbonic acid is introduced at or from, the bottom of the
vessel:
.
Figure 2 shows a main portion in elevation and also in section, of a modified
form of my improved vessel, in which construction the carbonic acid is introduced
in the lower part of the body of the vessel, and
Figure 3 a sectional view of a further modification, in which carbonic acid is
introduced from or through the cover of the apparatus.
As before mentioned my improved vessel is intended for the reception of liquors
containing carbonic acid, as for instance beer or the like, the characteristic feature
of my invention being, that the liquor is caused to preserve its natural carbonic
acid, or carbonic acid previously therein contained, and thus always to keep in
good condition. It is well known that upon the opening of vessels containing
liquors under carbonic acid, that the said carbonic acid would escape, for which
reason 1 artificially add an extra quantity of carbonic acid, and it is this added
quantity which escapes, when the vessel is opened.
To provide a space or receptacle for the subsequently added carbonic acid, my
improved vessel is so constructed, that the said space (to contain the subsequently
added or artificial carbonic acid), is arranged between the surface of the liquor
(when the vessel is full) and the cover or stopper of the vessel, and, that further
a stopper is provided, which tightly closes the vessel, and lastly means are provided
to force carbonic acid into the liquor in an easy and convenient manner.
To carry out these three conditions, the following construction has been
chosen :
In order that the improved vessel may always take up a certain additional

page_text: quantity of artificial carbonic acid, for the purpose mentioned in the preamble of
this specification, there must always be, between the surface of the liquid and
the stopper, a definite or approximately non varying space. This is attained
by causing the top-portion of the vessel (said top-portion forming the inlet and
simultaneously the outlet of the vessel), to be in an inclined plane, in con-
sequence of which, the said vessel can only be filled to a certain height, namely
to the lowest edge a of the stopper or inclined outlet, in such manner, that
between this edge a and the uppermost portion of the outlet, a space A¹ remains
empty.
It is also shown in the drawing that the inlet opening serves simultaneously
as outlet for the liquor and in this connection it should be remarked, that the
principle of the invention would be attained, if the inclined inlet were located
upon any other part of the vessel, whereby the said inlet opening could then have
any optional shape.
The air tight closure of the stopper necessary for the above constructions (said
stopper as above stated, being in an inclined plane), is attained by the employ-
ment of the said stopper B, which fully covers the inclined opening of the
vessel, by means of a conical part of the same, for which, if necessary, an
elastic packing-ring of india-rubber or the like is employed, the said cap b being
pressed against and into the inlet cpening by means of a bent fork or yoke c,
adapted to suitably rotate. This pressure is effected by the bar c sliding over the
surface, the said surface being opposite to the inclined inlet and located
eccentrically, as regards the rotating point of the fork c. The said bar e, by
means of a projection provided upon the same, moves upon the surface
whereby the stopper B is pressed tightly against the inlet, in proportion as the
said bare approaches a normal position to the mouth or opening of the vessel.
It is practical to form the path upon a projection or nose, rigidly attached
to the outer casing of the vessel, the same can however, be constructed in any
other suitable manner, also the shape and form of the vessel can be varied within
certain limits without departing from the principle of the invention.
In order to prevent the stopper being lost or mislaid, it is desirable to attach
the same by means of a chaine to the projection d.
To fill the above mentioned space A' of my improved vessel with carbonic acid
gás, the vessel A must be provided at any point of the same, with a suitable valve,
usually in the form of a return or relief valve. This may be effected, as shown
in figure 1, either at the bottom of the vessel, or, as shown in figure 2, at any
point in the body of the vessel, or, according to figure 3, from the stopper of the
vessel.
9
This return valve consists chiefly of a valve-rod, provided with a knob f³,
opposite to which knob is a valve-plate f, the said valve-rod being held tightly
closed by means of a spiral spring f'. Upon connecting my improved vessel with
a carbonic acid supply, the said carbonic acid streams through the tube g (the
said tube being provided with a packing-ring g², which enters and fits tightly
into the valve-casing f). Hereby the valve plate f2 is lifted from its seat fant
thus permits the carbonic acid streaming out through the openings to enter
into the interior of my improved vessel; thus the said artificial carbonic acid,
as shown in figures 1 & 2, forces its way through the liquor, becomes collected
in the space A¹, whereas in the construction shown in figure 3 the carbonic acid
enters directly into the said space A¹.
Figures 2 & 3 show the before mentioned return-valve in a closed condition,
whereby the feed tube y is either above, or at the side of this valve.
In conclusion it will be seen, that in the drawing, the inclination of the plane
of the outlet is such, that the highest point of said outlet is nearest to the handle
of the vessel. The direction of this inclination with regard to the said handle of
my improved vessel, can however be optionally altered, or such inclination may
be omitted, in which case my improved vessel would resemble the form of
a bottle.

page_text: 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:-
:-
1. In a tankard, flagon, or other vessel, an inlet of such vessel being located
upon an inclined plane, for producing a space in the upper portion of said vessel,
substantially as described.
2. In a stopper for tankards, Hagons, or other vessels, the combination of a
sng way or path (1) arranged eccentrically to the rotating point of a bent bar
or lever e with a cover or stopper (B), and adapted to press the said bar or lever ;),
together with the stopper against the mouth or inlet of the said vessel, in
proportion as the said bare approaches a normal position, substantially as
described.
3. In a tankard, flagon, or other vessel, the combination with a return vaive
(ff), said valve being located for example, firstly at the bottom, secondly in the
body or wall, and thirdly in the stopper or cover of said vessel (A) with means
whereby the valve rod f (upon insertion of the carbonic acid supply pipe) is
aslapted to be returned to its open position, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of October 1897.
CONRAD BRAUN.
By Cassell & Co.
22 Glasshouse St Regent St London W.
Agents for the Applicant.
CONRAD BRAUN.
By Cassell & Co.
22 Glasshouse St Regent St London W.
Agents for the Applicant.