Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
I, HERBERT EDWARD BRICE, of 81, Alexandra Road, Edgbaston, in the City of
Birmingham, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the class of combined taps and means known in com-
merce as self measuring taps, and has for its objects, the simplification of the
construction and operation of such taps.
The improved apparatus consists of a glazed vessel or measure adapted to hold
a predetermined quantity of liquor, and which may have a scale upon the side for
the purpose of indicating different quantities of liquid, and having directed axially
through its middle, a hollow pipe or inlet with a pierced dome coming at the
bottom of the said vessel or measure, and with the upper end extending upwardly
and outwardly through the crown or measure and through which liquid flows into
the measure from a cask or other vessel.
Directed up the passage of the inlet pipe is a plunger tube with the lower end
forming the delivery nozzle for discharging the liquid measured. This plunger
tube, which works within the enlarged lower part of the delivery tube, is hori-
zontally divided off into two compartments, each pierced with holes through its
side and with a valve coming on the outside between the two compartments and
adapted to be forced up by a spring to a seating formed at the top of the inside
enlargement of the delivery pipe, so as to normally cut off all communication
between the measure and the cask barrel or other vessel to which the tap is fitted.
The said plunger tube, which may work through a gland or stuffing box in a union
or other connection, has outwardly directed arms or cross bars, made fast to a cross
head or bar sliding upon the delivery tube or equivalent, by vertical connecting
rods or ties, which may work through, and be guided by eyed lugs standing from
the edge of the cover and having between them and the cross bar, a coiled or other
spring for taking the valve up to its seating and the parts to their normal positions,
but cutting off the supply and admitting of the delivery of the liquid. The cross
bar may have a finger pieco and the measure may have projecting from it, a thumb
piece, so that when the said thumb and finger pieces are pressed together the plunger
tube is brought into communication with the measure for filling.
Mounted upon one side of the crown of the measure is a vent, which may con-
sist of a base plate supporting glazed or other outer walls surmounted by a cap,
the whole being secured together by vertical tie bars and which vent chamber is
in communication with the inside of the measure by a passage through the crown.
The middle of the base supports an upright stem or needle upon which a float,
having a conical valve on its upper end, rises and falls, with the valve being adapted
to seat itself upon a like seating terminating the passage wherethrough air enters
into or escapes from the vent chamber and to close the passage on the liquid rising
to a given height in the measure.
To fill the vessel, place the finger and thumb upon the rests and press them
together, when the top hole in the plunger tube comes opposite the pierced enlarge-

page_text: ment in the delivery tube and the liquid then enters and fills the vessel and also rises
in the vent chamber, lifts the float and closes the air inlet. Then to deliver the
measured liquid release the thumb and finger pieces, when the spring which was
compressed by the former operation, takes the parts back to their normal positions
with the lower outlet or hole in the plunger tube into communication with the
vessel, hence the delivery. The re-admission of air into the vent chamber on the
falling of the float with the liquid admits of the free emptying of the measure.
Dated this 5th day of May 1897.
Improvements in Measuring Taps.
- I, HERDERT EDWARD BRICE,, of 81, Alexandra Road, Edgbaston, in the City of
Birmingham, Manager of Works, 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 the class of combined taps and measures known in com-
merce as self-measuring taps, employed for measuring off and delivering predeter-
mined quantities of wines, spirits and other liquids, and has for its objects, the
simplification of the construction and operation of such taps.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a front elevation of a liquid-
measuring apparatus or self-measuring tap constructed according to one form of
my invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the said tap, taken upon the dotted liner,
Figure 1.
Figure 4 represents another vertical section (but with parts in elevation) of the
said tap or measuring appliance but taken at a right angle to that represented in
Figure 3, viz., upon the dotted line ¹, Figure 3.
The whole of these said Figures 1 to 4 represent the parts of the tap in their
normal position, and with the outlet passages through which the measured liquid
flows away, open, whilst the inlet passages by which liquid enters the measure from
a cask or like vessel are closed.
Figure is a like vertical section as Figure 3, but with the parts in the posi-
tions which they are made to assume when the delivery outlets are closed whilst
the inlet passages are open to admit of the required quantity of liquid passing into
the apparatus.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing
The improved liquid measuring and delivering tap or apparatus as represented
in the said figures, consists of a vessel or measure a, comprising a glass cylinder or
body part al, with metallic top and bottom or end caps a³, a³. The said measure
is adapted to hold a predetermined quantity of liquid, and may have a graduated
scale upon its side for the purpose of indicating different quantities of liquid,
whilst directed axially through its middle is a stationary hollow liquid supply pipe
or inlet passage b, terminated at its lower end, in a pierced and dome-shaped
chamber 610, coming at the bottom of the said vessel or measure and being made
fast thereto by the screwed lower end 6, engaging in a like wormed socket exten-
sion a', in the bottom end cap a³, whilst the upper end of the said inlet pipe

page_text: extends upwardly and outwardly through the crown cap a³, of the measure and leads
to a cask or other vessel containing the liquid to be measured off and delivered.
The bore of this supply pipe, adjacent to its termination in the dome chamber,
is enlarged for a distance upwards at 63, to receive the upper and axially bored end c¹,
of a sliding plug or plunger c, the lower continuation, of which constitutes the
delivery nozzle for discharging the liquid measured. The sliding plug or plunger
socketting and working within the enlarged lower part of the delivery tube is
horizontally divided off from the lower and delivery pipe end by a solid middle
part c³, each bored portion being pierced with side holes c, c³, respectively, whilst
the outside of the solid portion of the plunger coming between upper and lower
tubular ends is surrounded by a valve d, which fits within the inside of the valve
chamber 60, and is kept up to its seating 6, at the top of the said chamber, (in
order to prevent leakage from the inlet pipe) by the expanding action of a spring e,
encircling the supply pipe and coming between a nut a, on the crown cap a³, and
the underside of the eye f, of the top cross head f¹, of a sliding frame f, the lower
ends of the vertical rod sides f³, of which are connected to a bottom cross head f³,
the eye, of which encircles, and is made fast by screwing or otherwise to, the
sliding delivery pipe by which the valve is, as aforesaid, carried and wherewith it
slides.
By the valve thus being kept up to its seating in the valve chamber, it normally
cuts off all communication between the measuring vessel and the cask barrel or
other vessel to which the tap is fitted, as the holes, are presented to the solid
walls of the supply pipe (as seen in Figures 3 and 4) and no liquid can pass from
the plug of the supply pipe into the interior of the measure. The said plunger tube
may work through a gland or stuffing box 910, screwing into the lower open end 65,
of the valve chamber, whilst the vertical connecting side rods or ties directed
between the top cross head sliding over the fixed supply pipe and the lower cross
bead or bar secured to and sliding with the delivery tube or equivalent, may work
through, and be guided by eyed or gapped lugs a', standing from the edges of the
crown of the measure. The top cross bar f¹, of the sliding frame has a pusher or
thumb piece fo, and the crown of the measure has projecting from it, a finger
piece a so that when the said thumb and finger pieces f, as, are pressed together
the sliding frame is depressed, carrying with it the sliding plug or plunger and the
holes c, in the upper end, which sockets into the lower end of the supply pipe,
are brought into communication with the measure, so that liquid may pass into the
same for filling and measuring.
Mounted upon one side of the crown of the measure is a vent arrangement g,
which may consist of a base plate g', supporting a veut chamber ³, which is in
communication with the inside of the measure by a passage 93, through the crown.
Located within the interior of the said chamber is a cork or other float g', having a
conical valve plug, on its upper end, adapted to seat itself (when the float is
raised by liquid filling the vent chamber) into a like seating, terminating the
passages g', wherethrough air enters into or escapes from the vent chamber, and
to close the passage when the liquid has risen to a given height in the said chamber.
The said float is guided in its rising and falling movement by a ball-ended stalk
extension 98, of the valve plug, taking through a hole 9', in the crown of the
chamber.
To fill the vessel, place the finger and thumb upon the rests and press them
together, when the top holes c, in the sliding plug or plunger tube come into the
valve chamber, which is in communication with the interior of the measure through
the holes in its sides, so that the liquid flows into the valve chamber and then
enters and fills the vessel and also rises in the vent chamber, lifts the float and
closes the air inlet when no more liquid can pass into the measure. Then, to
deliver the measured liquid, the thumb and finger pieces are released, when the
spring which was compressed by the former operation, takes the parts back to their
normal positions as represented in Figures 1 to 4, and brings the lower outlets
or holes e, in the delivery part of the plunger tube into communication with the

page_text: valve chamber. The further supply of liquid being cut off, the measured quantity
in the measure flows away through the valve chamber and down the delivery pipe
portion of the sliding plunger. The float in the vent chamber falls with the liquid
and removes the plug from the air valve, so that air is again admitted into the vent
chamber and the free emptying of the measure is accomplished.
The spring for effecting the return of the parts to their normal and delivering
positions after depression of the plunger for filling, may be arranged to encircle
the side connecting rods of the frame and be disposed between the ears on the crown
cover of the cylinder and the ends of the top cross head, whilst the vent may be of
any suitable construction and be arranged on any part of the tap so long as it is
in communication with the measuring vessel.
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:-
:
First In liquid measuring taps or measuring and delivering appliances,
the employment of a sliding plunger or plug, provided with two separated chambers
or passages adapted respectively to make communication between the liquid supply
pipe and the interior of the measure, for filling, when the plug is in one position,
and between the said measure and the outlet pipe for delivering the measured
liquid, when the plug is in another position.
Secondly: In a liquid measuring and delivering tap or appliance, the combina-
tion with a measuring vessel and a fixed inlet pipe, terminated in a pierced sided
valve chamber, of a sliding plug or plunger having separated passages as referred
to in the preceding claim, one part of which takes into the inlet pipe, whilst the
lower end is continued into a delivery pipe, and a spring returned frame or equiva-
lent for operating the sliding plug, the whole arranged and operating substantially
as and for the purpose herein described and set forth.
:
Thirdly In a liquid measuring and delivering pipe, of the construction substan-
tially as referred to in the preceding claims, the combination with the same, of an
air vent, adapted to be opened and closed by a valve plug carried by a float which
is lifted and lowered by the rising and falling of liquid in the vent chamber, sub-
stantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly: The combination with a self measuring tap having a finger or
thumb rest preferably carried by an immovable part of the apparatus, of a pusher
or thumb piece, operatively connected with the sliding plug or valve, substantially
as described and set forth.
Dated this 4th day of March 1808
HERBERT EDWARD BRICE,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.