Improvements in Apparatus for Racking Liquids or Filling Casks or Vessels with Liquids.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Racking Liquids or Filling Casks
or Vessels with Liquids.
We, WILLIAM CRAWFORD, of 49, Arlington Street, Glasgow in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Tinsmith, and WILLIAM WHITSON CRAWFORD of the
same place, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows,
that is to say :-
Our said invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus for racking
liquids or filling casks or vessels with liquids, our improved apparatus being con-
venient and economical in use and comprising devices for preventing waste by
automatically stopping the supply on a cask or vessel becoming full.
Our improved apparatus consists of valve and valve-actuating mechanism which
may be connected to a single supply pipe, or to each of a number of supply pipes
communicating with a vat or tank or reservoir of any kind, the supply pipe or
branch being, in each case, flexible or jointed or provided with a telescopically
movable part to allow of the discharge pipe or nozzle being easily inserted into
and withdrawn from the bung-hole or inlet of the cask or vessel.
The supply valve for each cask or vessel may be any suitable one of the
numerous existing varieties of valve applicable for domestic water supply apparatus
or analogous uses; it being however desirable to employ a valve of a kind closing
easily. The valve is arranged to be opened by hand by means of its spindle or by
means of a lever or handle acting on it in any convenient way.
The discharge spout proceeding from the valve is made with a flange to rest
upon the sides of the bunghole or inlet of the cask or vessel, and with a tube
extending down into the cask or vessel a suitable distance. The liquid passes into
the cask or vessel not from the bottom of the tube but through holes in the sides of
the upper part of the tube which is bridged or closed just below the holes.
According to one modification there is placed inside the tube a float which has
fixed to it a wire or small rod passing up through a small tube extending from the
bridge at the upper part of the larger tube up through to the outside of the
discharge spout. As the liquid fills in, it eventually raises the float and moves its
wire or rod upwards. According to another modification the liquid rising in the
larger tube as the cask or vessel fills compresses the air forcing it up the small
tube to a casing closed by a flexible diaphragm.
Either the wire or rod of the float or the Hexible diaphragm acts on parts which
bring about the closing of the supply valve. In one modification a lever hammer
is arranged to fall on the valve spindle on being moved over its upper centre by
the action of the float or diaphragm. In another modification a spring or weight
arranged for closing the valve but detained by a catch when the valve is opened
is released by the withdrawal of the catch by the action of the float or diaphragm.
Instead of the parts moved by the float or diaphragm acting directly on the
supply valve they may act on a small valve which controls the supply valve as in
some existing arrangements of water supply valves.
The parts moved by the float or diaphragm may be arranged to cause an electric
or other bell to ring when a cask or vessel becomes full; and where electrical
connections can be conveniently applied the action on the supply valve may be
transmitted through such connections.
A cradle may be provided for supporting each cask or vessel in a position for

page_text: being filled, such cradle having fixed to it a bracket for carrying and guiding the
valve mechanism.
A
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Januo1905
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Racking Liquids or Filling Casks
or Vessels with Liquids.
We, WILLIAM CRAWFORD, of 49, Arlington Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Tinsmith, and WILLIAM WHITSON CRAWFORD, of the
same place, Clerk, 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, that is to say :—
Our said invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus for racking
liquids, or filling casks or vessels with liquids, our improved apparatus being con-
venient and economical in use, and comprising devices for preventing waste by
automatically stopping the supply on a cask or vessel becoming full.
Our improved apparatus consists of a valve and valve actuating mechanism,
which may be connected to a single supply pipe, or to each of a number of supply
pipes, communicating with a vat or tank or reservoir of any kind, the supply pipe
or branch being, in each case, flexible or jointed, or provided with a telescopically
movable part, to allow of the discharge pipe or nozzle being easily inserted into
and withdrawn from the bung hole or inlet of the cask or vessel.
The supply valve for each cask or vessel may be any suitable one of the
numerous existing varieties of valve applicable for domestic water supply apparatus
or analogous uses, it being, however, desirable to employ a valve of a kind closing
easily. The valve is arranged to be opened by hand by means of its spindle or by
means of a lever or handle acting on it in any convenient way.
The discharge or delivery spout leading from the valve is arranged to project
down a suitable distance into the cask or vessel to be filled, and has formed in or
connected with it an open-bottomed air chamber in which air is compressed by the
rising liquid as the liquid approaches the top of the cask or vessel. The air
chamber communicates by a small passage or pipe with a chamber closed by a
flexible diaphragm, and when the air is compressed it moves out the diaphragm
which acting on a lever brings about the closing of the valve by the action of a
weight or spring.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append two sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing some examples of our
improved apparatus.
Figures, 1, to 4, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings are vertical sections of modifications
of our improved combination of supply valves and automatic closing devices; and
Figure, 5, on Sheet, 2, is an elevation, on a reduced scale showing the mode of
applying the apparatus for filling a cask or vessel. In these drawings the same
reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever
they are repeated.
In the modification shown in Figure, 1, the port, A, communicating between the
supply inlet, A 1, and outlet, A 2, of the valve piece, is closed by a disk valve, B.
the spindle, B 1, of which extends out through a stuffing box, and has externally a
head, B2, and a collar, B 3, a hand lever, B4, acting between the head and colla
being provided for opening the valve to an extent determined by an adjustable
thimble, B 5, screwed on the spindle. To the outlet, A 2, of the valve piece there
is fixed a delivery spout or pipe, C, which is to be entered down through the bung

page_text: hole or inlet aperture of the cask or vessel to be filled. At the lower end of the
spout, C, an open-bottomed air chamber, D, is formed, and the liquid finds its way
into the cask or vessel through openings, C 1, above the air chamber. The air
chamber, D, communicates by a small tube or passage, D 1, with an enclosed space
at one side of a flexible diaphragm, D 2, which is held by its edge by a cover, D3,
screwed to a back part, D4, formed on or fixed to the valve piece. The
diaphragm, D 2, has fixed to its middle a spindle, D 5, which extending out through
a hole in the cover, D 3, is arranged to act on a lever, E, having a weight, E 1, at
its upper end, the lever being centered on a small bracket, E2, formed on the
part, D4. When the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in Figure, 1,
the weight, E 1, is slightly to the outer side of its centre, but when the
diaphragin, D2, is pressed out by the air, it moves the weight to the other side of
its centre, and the weight immediately falls on the head, B 2, of the valve spindle
and closes the valve,. B.
In the modification shown in Figure, 2, a spring, F, is applied for closing the
valve, B, the spindle, B 1, of which is shown as having fixed on it a cross handle, B 6,
for opening the valve by. The valve is held open by a detent lever, F 1, which
engages under a collar, F2, fixed on the valve spindle, B 1, the lever being made to
engage by an adjustable spring, F 3, whenever the valve spindle is sufficiently raised.
The detent lever, F 1, is acted on by the diaphragm, D2, as in the first modification
whenever the air in the chamber, D, becomes sufficiently compressed by the rising
of the liquid in the cask or vessel.
In the inodification partly shown in Figure, 3, the air chamber, D, is constituted
by an annular space between an inner tube, C 2, through which the liquid finds its
way into the cask or vessel, and an outer tube, C3, fixed to the valve piece. This
figure also shows the valve piece as made with a flange, G, having attached to it a
rubber washer, G 1, together with a nozzle, G 2, to which may be attached a flexible
pipe, G3, for leading away froth when formed by the action of filling a cask or
vessel with beer or other liquid.
In the modification shown in Figure, 4, our automatic closing device is shown as
applied to a known kind of valve in which the port, A, is closed by a flexible
diaphragm, H, the diaphragm being held in the closed position (in which it is
shown) by the pressure of the liquid on its upper side to which it has access
through a small aperture, H 1. To open the valve a small valve, H 2, is made to
open an outlet from the space above the diaphragm, this small valve being
controlled by a weighted lever, H 3, and being held in a closed position by a spring
catch, H 4. When the diaphragm valve, H, has been opened and the liquid thereby
allowed to flow into the cask or vessel has about filled it, the action of the
compressed air (as in the other modifications) lifts the diaphragm, D2, which by
its spindle, D 5, acts on the lever, H 3, and makes it close its small valve, H 2 ; and
thereupon the liquid entering above the valve diaphragm, H, makes it in a short
time close the port, A.
In practically applying our improved apparatus it is convenient to arrange it as
shown in Figure, 5 (Sheet 2). The cask, J, is placed on a cradle, K, formed on a
base plate, K 1, which has also formed on or fixed to it a pedestal, K 3, to carry the
valve apparatus. The valve apparatus, L, is coupled to a tubular piece, L 1, which
is formed with a joint lug, L 2, fitting between the sides of a fork, K 4, formed at
the upper end of the standard, K 3, the parts being connected by a joint pin, K 5.
The tubular piece, L1, has fixed to it a counterweight, L3, and is provided with
a coupling, L4, for the attachment of a flexible hose pipe, M, through which the
liquid from the store tank or vat finds its way to the apparatus. In Figure, 5,
the apparatus is shown as adapted for dealing with a frothing liquid, the details in
connection with the bung hole of the cask, J, being as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figure, 3. In order to secure tightness between the valve apparatus, L,
and the cask, J, the tubular piece, L1, is connected by a pair of links, N, to a
screw nut, N 1, which can be drawn down by means of a handled screw spindle, N 2,

page_text: held in a bracket, K 6, formed on the standard, K 3, so as to press the valve
apparatus, L, firmly on the cask, J. The froth tube, G 3, may extend to the upper
part of the tank or vat from which the liquid is being drawn, so that there may be
no waste due to the frothing.
The parts moved by the diaphragm (D2) may be arranged to cause an electric
or other bell to ring when a cask or vessel has become full; and where electrical
connections can be conveniently applied the action on the supply valve may be
transmitted through such connections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
In apparatus for racking liquids or filling casks or vessels with liquids, the com-
bination of an automatically closable supply valve with an air chamber or pipe in
which air is compressed by the liquid when filling or nearly filling the cask or
vessel and a flexible diaphragm adapted to be acted on by the compressed air and
by its consequent movement to bring about the closing of the supply valve, the
parts being arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Tenth day of October 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.