IMPROVEMENTS IN SIPHONS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIPHONS," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This Invention consists of a flexible siphon tube attached to a metal tube
adapted to enter the liquid and provided with a rubber base and strainer at the
lower end.
The invention also consists of a device for starting the siphon constructed in
such manner that the flexible tube may be conveniently grasped and compressed
and the point of contact of the device with the tube shifted forward, thus expelling
the air from the tube and drawing the siphon into action.
The Invention also consists of the special construction, arrangement and
combination of the parts of the device, all as hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formning part of this
specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
both figures.
Figure 1 shows the Invention applied to a barrel ready for use, and Figure 2 is
a plan view of the starter and a part of the flexible tube.
Referring to the drawings T represents the flexible tube of the siphon, M the
metallic tube, and S represents the siphon starter which is applied to the flexible
tube T. The metal tube M is by preference bent at its upper end as shewn at m,
to properly receive the flexible tube T. At its lower end the metal tube M is
provided with the strainer o and base plate N of flexible rubber which is attached
to the tube M by the arins p, leaving a space between the lower end of the tube M
and the base N for the free ingress of liquid to the tube M. The base N is flexible
so that it may be worked through the bung hole of the vessel O, and it serves to
support the tube M, above any sediment that may be in the barrel and thus
prevents the sediment from being drawn off with the liquid. The siphon starter S
is composed of the two grasping plates A, B. These are duplicates of each other,

page_text: and are struck from sheet metal, so as to form the side arms, a, b, by which the
plates are pivoted together, and also to form the shorter arms or projections a¹, b¹,
in which the rollers c, d, are journaled.
C, C, are side springs, arranged to cause the rollers c, d, to grasp the tube T, and
collapse it, as shown in full lines in figure 1; but these springs might be omitted,
if desired, leaving the plates A, B, free to be grasped by the hand of the user for
compressing the siphon-tube.
To the forward end of the plate A, is attached the loop E, which surrounds the
siphon-tube T, and serves as a guide to prevent the rollers c, d, from running off
from the tube T, when the device is moved forward upon the tube for putting the
siphon in action, and to the near end of the plate A, is attached the ring F, which
surrounds the tube T. When the springs C, C, are not used, this ring F will be of
considerable length, to act as a brace between the rear ends of the plates A, B, for
locking the rollers c, d, in position for collapsing the tube T, to cause the device to
act as a faucet; when desired, for stopping the flow through the siphon; but when
the springs are used this ring F will be made only of suitable size for dropping
over the rear end of the plate B, for holding the rollers c, d, apart as shown in dotted
lines in figure 1 to permit the free flow of fluid through the tube after starting the
siphon. For starting the siphon, the device will be placed upon the tube T, and
drawn backward on the tube near to the point where the tube ends the barrel O,
or other receptacle containing the liquid. The tube will now be compressed by the
rollers c, d, either by the springs C, C, acting upon the plate B, or by pressing the
forward ends of the plates A, B, together by the hand, and then the device will be
shoved or drawn forward upon the tube a distance somewhat greater than the
length of the short arm of the siphon, which forward movement of the device will
expel the air from the tube and cause it to fill with liquid, so that upon releasing
the tube from between the rollers c, d, the liquid will flow. If the springs are used,
the rear end of the plate B will now be pressed inwardly and the rear end of the
plate B inserted in the lower end of the ring F, thus holding the rollers c, d, apart,
and not pressing upon the tube T, so that the device may remain upon the tube,
and not interfere with the flow of liquid; and when the device is so situated, if
it is desired at any time to stop the flow of liquid through the tube without breaking
the action of the siphon, it is only necessary to slip the ring F off from the plate B,
whereupon the spring C, C, will cause the tube T to be compressed by rollers c, d,
and the flow cut off. If no springs are used, the flow will be stopped by bracing
the rear ends of the plates A, B, apart by the ring F, above mentioned.
Instead of using the rollers c, d, the plates A B might be made with fixed rounded
grasping-surfaces for collapsing the siphon tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The siphon-starter S, tubes T, and M, combined as described.
2nd. The tube M, having base N, for supporting the tube M, as set forth.
3rd. The tube M having strainer o, and base N as described.
4th. The tube M having base N attached to the tube by the arms p, as set forth.
5th. A siphon-starter consisting of pivoted grasping plates A, B, carrying opposite
rollers substantially as described.
6th. A siphon-starter composed of grasping-plates A, B, having opposite rollers
and actuated by suitably arranged springs.
7th. The siphon-starter herein described, consisting of two spring-pressed plates
hinged to each other, and carrying opposite rollers for grasping a tube, one of the
spring-pressed plates being provided with a ring at one end for engaging with the
rear end of the other plate, substantially as shown and described.
8th. The siphon-starter herein described, consisting of two spring-pressed plates
hinged to each other, and carrying opposite rollers for grasping a tube, one of the
spring-pressed plates being provided with a ring at one end for engaging with the

page_text: rear end of the other plate, and a guide-loop for the tube at its opposite end,
substantially as shown and described.
9th. In a siphon-starter, the combination with the hinged plates A, B, formed
with side arms, a, b, by which the plates are hinged together, and with the side
arms, a¹, b¹, of the rollers c, d, journaled in the arms a¹, b¹, substantially as shown
and described.
10th. In a siphon starter, the plate A, provided with the loop E, and ring F, in
combination with the hinged plate B, the plates A, B, being adapted for grasping
and collapsing the siphon-tube, substantially as described.