Improvements in Means for Measuring Liquids in connection with Jar Filling Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1900-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Measuring Liquids in connection with
Jar Filling Machines.
I, JOSEPH FLETCHER, of 109, Balfour Road, Highbury New Park, London, N.,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention for improvements in means for measuring liquids in connection
with jar filling machines has for its object an improvement in machines of the
class in which the liquids is first passed into a glass vessel so that the quantity
therein can be seen and correctly measured before transferring to the jar or
receptacle to be filled and has for its object more especially means whereby the
out put of the machine can be considerably increased while it is simplified and
made more reliable in use. It also consists of a double arrangement in which
one apparatus is caused to supply the place of a portion of the mechanism to
the other and vice versa thus further simplifying the machine and more than
trebling the out put of a single machine.
In machines of this class the arrangement employed consists briefly in passing
the liquid from a cask into a glass receptacle properly graduated the liquid being
driven from the cask by means of the pressure of the gas therein.
As the liquid
fills into the glass chamber air escapes from a special cock which is closed when
the required filling has been obtained thus stopping a further entry of liquid.
The liquid entry pipe is now closed by means of a cock working in connection
with another cock by which liquid can pass away from the glass receptacle to the
filling mechanism and the air cock being open the liquid passes away in a measured
quantity into the jar or receptacle to be filled.
According to this invention the main features of the machine are retained but
the air cock is not connected to the atmosphere but is connected to a small
gasometer arrangement suitably mounted upon the frame. The rising drum of
this has of course a water seal or the like and as liquid is filled into the measuring
chamber the air passes into the gasometer and lifts it. When the liquid entry
cock is closed and the exit pipe opened the liquid passes out of the measuring
vessel as in the arrangement already in use. Air returns to it from the gasometer
and the emptying is more quickly effected as the air returns not only by the
suction consequent on the exit of the liquid but has a certain pressure due to
the weight of the rising drum of the gasometer so that the measuring chamber is
very quickly emptied.
This latter feature results in a considerable increase in the out put of the
machine, as, whereas heretofore the measuring chamber was emptied simply by
the weight of the liquid and the speed at which air could re-enter to take its
place, it is now forced out by the pressure of the air.
In a slightly modified arrangement the use of the gasometer is dispensed with
and a double apparatus is employed the measuring chamber of one of which acts
as the gasometer of the other one and vice versa. The two apparatuses are con-
nected together and operated by the same mechanism so as to empty and fill
alternately.

page_text: The air pipe is arranged to connect the two measuring chambers and the liquid
entry and exit pipes are provided with valves all operated by one handle so that
when one measuring chamber is filling the other is emptying and vice versa.
One of the measuring chambers being placed in connection with the cask from
which it is to be filled air passes from it into the other measuring chamber until
the required amount of filling has been attained. The valves are then reversed
so that liquid can enter the other measuring chamber and air passes through into
the one already filled and drives liquid therefrom, its exit valve being now open
to the filling apparatus. On again reversing the valves the operation is similar
for the other measuring chamber and as in all cases the air has a considerable
pressure as it is forced out of one chamber into the other, the measuring chambers
are very quickly emptied and the machine can be worked at considerable speed.
The rack and pinion gear usually employed for raising and lowering the filling
nozzle into and out of the jars to be filled are worked by one mechanism the rack
in one case being on one side of the pinion and in the other case on the other
side thereof so that according to which side of the machine is emptying liquid
so the corresponding nozzle will be lowered into the jar to be filled. This inven-
tion is especially intended for use for filling beer and like liquids into stone jars
but is of course applicable in all cases in which liquid is supplied to the measuring
and filling machine under pressure.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1800.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent to the Applicant.
Improvements in Means for Measuring Liquids in connection with
Jar Filling Machines.
I, JOSEPH FLETCHER, late of 109, Balfour Road, Highbury, N., but now of
Narford Works, Narford Road, Northwold Road, Clapton, London, N.E., Engineer
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 follow-
ing statement:-
-
This invention has for its object improvements in machines of the class in
which the liquid is first passed into a glass vessel so that the quantity therein
can be seen and correctly measured before transferring to the jar or receptacle
to be filled and has for its object more especially means whereby the output of
the machine can be considerably increased while it is simplified and made more
reliable in use.
In machines of this class the arrangement employed consists in passing the
liquid from a cask into a glass receptacle properly graduated the liquid being
driven from the cask by means of the pressure of the gas therein. As the liquid
fills into the glass chamber air escapes from a special cock which is closed when
the required filling has been obtained thus stopping a further entry of liquid.
The liquid entry pipe is now closed, the air cock opened and the measured quantity
of liquid allowed to pass from the glass chamber to the jar or receptacle to be
filled.
According to my invention the main features of the machine are retained but
the air cock instead of being connected to the atmosphere is connected to a vessel
which may be a second measuring chamber or a separate gasometer. In the case
of two similar chambers they are filled and emptied alternately and the air from
one chamber as it is being filled passes into the other and empties it. The air

page_text: 4
connection between the two chambers has a valve at each side and is adjustable
according to the quantity of liquid to be measured.
The liquid passes from the chambers through a special form of cock and dis-
charge pipes to the vessel to be filled and the pressure of the air or gas within
the measuring chamber forces the liquid rapidly out.
In order that this invention may be more readily understood, reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a front view of a double filling apparatus constructed according to
my invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view;
Fig. 3 a plan of the frame work with all other parts removed; and
Figs. 4 and 5 are details to an enlarged scale of the form of cock I employ with
this apparatus.
A A are the two measuring vessels of glass and if required accurately graduated.
These are fixed upon the upper end of the frame B which is formed for convenience
with separate side pieces carrying the measuring vessels and other parts and bolted
to the lower or main portion of the frame. The whole apparatus can run upon
wheels in the manner shown or may be fixed as found desirable. On the lower
part of the frame are fitted the two carriers C which receive the jars, glasses, or
other vessels to be filled.
.
t
The measuring vessels A are connected by the pipe 1) having vertical parts of
considerable length which extend downwardly through the glands a into the
measuring vessels. The connecting pipe at each end is provided with a valve
closed by the float d which is raised by the liquid when the vessel is filled to the
required height. The connection D can be raised or lowered through the glands a
according to height of liquid desired.
It will be seen that if liquid is forced into one of the measuring vessels air
passes from the top of the said vessel into the second one until the cork float is
raised by the liquid and closes the valve of the first vessel when further entry
of liquid is resisted by the remaining air in the vessel, which cannot escape.
When the inlet of the first vessel is closed and the outlet opened the air in the
second vessel, compressed to a certain extent, forces the liquid through the outlet
and this action takes place in each vessel alternately by means of the apparatus
hereafter described.
The bridge piece 6 of the frame B carries the cock E shown in details in Figs. 4
and 5 and this can serve to charge and discharge the measuring vessels A alter-
nately. These vessels are provided at the bottom with an opening which serves
as outlet and inlet and the pipes F connect the cock at each side to one of the
measuring vessels. To the lower side of the cock are fitted the flexible connecting
pipes G passing to the discharge pipes H which are raised and lowered during
the operation of the apparatus. These pipes are carried by the sliding plates h
moving in vertical guides in the sides of the frame so that the discharge pipes
are raised or lowered as the vessels receiving the liquid are filled or emptied.
For filling, the discharge pipe is lowered into the receptacle to within a short
distance of the bottom and is afterwards raised by the apparatus hereafter de-
scribed to allow the receptacle to be removed. The pipes and G are removed
in Fig. 2.
The frame carries the lever J pivoted at j immediately below the cock E and
this lever is actuated by means of the handle 1 turning it around the pivot and
raising or lowering the discharge pipes H through the links connected to the
sliding plates.
The handle j also turns the cock shown in Figs. 4 and 5 by means of the forked
arm K (dotted in Fig. 5) with which a pin at the back of the handle engages so
that on turning the handle in one direction the arm is turned in the opposite
direction as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.
Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 which illustrate the cock in detail the casing
of the cock is formed in two main parts screwed together one of which carries

page_text: the four screwed connections to which the pipes F and G are fitted as above
described. The stud e is screwed to the cross piece 6 of the frame and serves to
support the cock. The spindle L of the cock is operated by the forked arm K
shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and carries the plate having the external quadrant
upon it and provided with a passage adapted to unite either of the two pairs of
side passages communicating respectively with the pipes F and G. With the
spindle in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the left hand pipes F and G are
placed in communication and the measuring vessel A upon the corresponding side
would discharge its contents. At the same time the passage of the cock leading
to the second measuring vessel is open through an aperture in the inside disc 2
also carried by the cock spindle and operated simultaneously with it. This
disc has two apertures placed at a suitable distance apart and adapted to connect
one or other measuring vessel with the liquid-supply according as the forked
arm K is turned to the left or right.
The liquid is supplied by a pipe leading from the barrel or other source screwed
to the connection e¹ on the back of the cock, the casing at the back having
sufficient space to allow the liquid to pass through either of the two open ports.
14 is a washer of leather or other suitable material placed between the disc and
the inner surface to form a tight joint and prevent escape of liquid and the
spring serves to press the disc down upon its seat. It will be seen that by
turning the handle to the left or right one measuring vessel is placed in con-
nection with the liquid supply while at the same time the other vessel is con-
nected to the discharge pipe and the liquid with which it is supposed to be already
filled is discharged by the pressure of the air or gas due to the entering of the
liquid into the first vessel, through the discharge pipe into the receptacle pre-
pared for it. On turning the handle in the opposite direction the action is re-
versed and the second measuring vessel is filled while the first has its contents
discharged through the discharge pipe belonging to it which is lowered by the
apparatus into the receptacle at the same time as the other discharge pipe is
raised.
In apparatus of this kind in which only one measuring vessel is employed the
air from the vessel passes into a gasometer upon the frame having a water seal.
On discharging the liquid the air from the gasometer which is under slight
pressure returns to the chamber and assists in expelling the liquid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1) In a measuring apparatus for liquids of the kind described, a measuring
vessel, a second closed vessel in connection with it into which the air from the
first vessel is forced as liquid enters, and means for discharging the measuring
vessel allowing the air under pressure to eject the liquid, substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
(2) In a measuring apparatus of the kind described, the combination of two
measuring vessels, connected with each other at their upper ends by a pipe, stop
valves in the said pipe, a cock having passages connected to the liquid supply,
the measuring vessels and discharge pipes, and means for operating the said
cock to fill and discharge the measuring vessels alternately, substantially as de-
scribed and for the purposes specified.
(3) The improved apparatus for measuring liquids in an automatic manner, con-
structed and operating substantially as described and shown in the accompanying
drawings and for the purposes specified.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.