Patent Abstract:
An improved system for filtering particulate matter from a liquid in a brewing pot. The improvement includes a filter assembly positioned about a drain tube. The filter assembly has a screen member surrounded by a shield member. The shield member is positioned between the drain tube and the particulate matter separated from the liquid. The bulk of the liquid, located in a top portion of a reservoir bypasses the screen member and drains through a drain reservoir and the drain tube. After removing the shield member, the remainder of the liquid drains through the screen member or filter and into the drain reservoir preventing the particulate matter from being carried through to a fermentor.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to a method of filtering a liquid from a brewing pot and to a structure, position and location of a filter assembly. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of Prior Art 
         [0004]    It is well known in the beer brewing industry to utilize a filtration system at or near the bottom of a brew pot (boil kettle) to filter hops, trub (protein), grain particles and other particulate matter from the unfermented beer (wort). The unfermented beer needs to be drained from the brew pot and transferred to the fermentor for further processing without these undesirable particulate materials present. Of the particulate matter, pelletized “pellet hops” present the greatest challenge since the “pellet hops” are small in size and numerous in quantity. 
         [0005]    Many methods are currently used in an attempt to remove these particulates. One method is a common perforated false bottom having openings extending through the false bottom. While this method has a fairly high surface area for filtering, the area will frequently plug. It also has a significant drawback in that it impedes the natural convection flow of the boil increasing scorching potential of the wort sugars and also limiting the effective removal of DMS (dimethylsulfide)—an important result of the boil. Many screen type filter systems are also used, but again, the limited surface area results in an unacceptable rates of plugging. A simple and common practice is to whirlpool after the boil allowing the lighter particulate matter to settle to the center of the pot. Unfortunately, when the drain valve is opened and the wort is removed, this settled particulate matter is disturbed and is sucked into the drain system since the wort is drained from or near the bottom of the pot first. Experimentation has shown that only extremely slow drain rates will prevent the settled particulate matter from being disturber or sucked into the drain tube of the drain system, however this process results in unacceptable wait times for draining the pot. Further, if this drain system does not include a filter, these particulates will be carried through to the fermentor negatively affecting beer quality. If this drain system does include a filter, these particulates will be carried to the filtering system and frequently plugging the filtering system. Other marginally effective methods include coarse filters such as stainless/copper scouring pads. Perforated or wire mesh screens are also employed as filters, but if these filters successfully filtering the particulate matter, the filters have been found to be prone to plugging from being too fine, or if too coarse the filter will let the particulate matter to be carried through to the fermentor negatively affecting the beer quality. The present method and process of draining has a unique filtering system overcomes both the tendency to plug, and provides a fast and effective filtration of the particulates giving the brewer a clear advantage. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a system for draining a liquid from a brew pot wherein the liquid is void of significant amounts of particulate matter. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide a filtering medium to prevent particulate matter to be drained with the liquid without restricting the rate of flow of the liquid from the brew pot. 
         [0008]    In yet another object of the invention a filter structure is provided. In yet another object of the invention alternate filter structures are provided. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  shows a side view of an embodiment of a system for draining a liquid from a brew pot. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  shows a top view of an embodiment of the system for draining liquid from the brew pot. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the system for draining liquid from the brew pot. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  shows an enlarged side view of an embodiment of a filter assembly for draining liquid from the brew pot. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of a flow of the liquid being drained from the brew pot. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 3 , the simplest embodiment, a side elevational view, of the invention shows a system  10  for draining a liquid  20 , unfermented beer, the flow lines as representative by the arrows  22  in  FIG. 3  from a brew pot  30  having the liquid  20  and particulate matter  24 , such as hops, trub and grain particles. The system  10  includes the brew pot  30 , a drain valve  12 , a drain tube  14 , and a filter assembly  60 . 
         [0015]    The brew pot  30 , in this application has a cylindrical configuration including a top, or lid  32  having a handle  34  attached to the top  32 . The brew pot  30  has a side structure  36  and a bottom  38  connected together by a radiused portion  40 . The side structure  36 , bottom  38  and radiused portion  40  forms a reservoir  42  therein forming a preestablished height of an initial worth level. A pair of handles  44  are attached to the side structure  35 . The drain tube  14  is affixed to the side structure  36  near the bottom  38  in a conventional manner such as by a removable sealing system or in a fixed configuration. The reservoir  42  of the brew pot  30  defines a preestablished volume. Varying the lengthy of the side structure  36  and/or the bottom  38  will change the preestablished volume accordingly. 
         [0016]    The drain tube  14 , if circular has a preestablished external diameter or if square or if rectangular or hexagonal has a preestablished external width, has a first end  46  position externally of the reservoir  42  and a second end  48  positioned internally of the reservoir  42 . The drain tube  14 , in this application, has a bend, preferably a 90 degree angle, indicated by reference numeral  50 , positioned between the first end  46  and the second end  48  of the drain tube  14 , thus having a generally “L” shaped configuration. The second end  48  faces the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30 . The second end  48 , in this application, has a flat configuration  52  and is spaced from the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  a preestablished distance. As an alternative, the second end  48  could have a different configuration such as a rounded, a mitered or a tapered configuration. A passage  54  communicates between the first end  46  and the second end  48  of the drain tube  14 . The drain tube  14  has a preestablished distance between the second end  48  and the 90 degree angle. 
         [0017]    The drain valve  12  is attached to the first end  46  of the drain tube  14  in a conventional manner such as by a threaded joint or brazing. In operation, the passage  54  in the drain tube  14  communicates from the reservoir  42  to the drain valve  12 . The drain valve  12  is operational between an off position  56 , shown in phantom, and an on position  58 . And, the drain valve  12  is movable through a plurality of positions between the off position  56  and the on position  58 . 
         [0018]    A filter assembly  60  is positioned about the second end  48  of the drain tube  14 . The filter assembly has a screen member  62  encompassing the second end  48  of the drain tube  14  and a shield member  64  encompassing the screen member  62 . In this application, the shield  64  has a finger pull  66  formed therewith or attached thereto. As an alternative, the finger pull  66  could be eliminated from the filter assembly  60 . In this embodiment of the application, the screen member  62  and the shield member  64  has a generally cylindrical configuration having a preestablished height. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  the preestablished height of the screen member  62  and the shield member  64  are less than the preestablished distance between the second end  48  and the 90 degree angle of the drain tube  14 . In this embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , the filter assembly  60  is void of a top member and a bottom member, to be described later. 
         [0019]    Depending on the manner of affixing the drain tube  14  to the brew pot  30 , for example if fixedly attached or if the preestablished distance between the second end  48  of the drain tube  14  and the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  are extremely close a slit or slot  70 , best shown in  FIG. 1B , may need to be added in one or both of the screen member  62  and the shield member  64 . If the drain tube  14  is removably attached to the brew pot and the drain tube  14  sufficiently low as to interfere with the movement of the shield  64  the slit or slot  70  would only need to be provided in the shield member  64 . The size or width of the slit or slot  70  is determined by the preestablished diameter or preestablished width of the drain tube  14 . The size or width of the slit or slot  70  in the shield member  64  further includes a clearance  71  to insure ease of removal. The shield member  64  is void of a plurality of openings. 
         [0020]    The screen member  62 , in this application is cylindrical in configuration and has an inside surface  72  and an outside surface  73 , and is made from a perforated sheet or wire cloth. The screen member  62  has a first end  74  being place in contacting relationship with the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30 , and a second end  76 . As an alternative, the configuration of the screen member  62  could be other than cylindrical, such as square, rectangular, elliptical or hexagonal. In this application, the screen member  62  is made from a perforated screen forming an area of fine openings or perforations  77 . The screen member  62  has a preestablished height “H”. The preestablished height “H” is determined by the initial height or level of the wort. For example, the preestablished height “H” of the screen member  62  should be approximately 10 to 15 percent of the height of the initial wort level. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the height “H” of the screen member  62  is at or above the depth of the sediment or particulate matter in this particular application. The area of fine perforations  77  are interposed the first end  74 , the second end  76  and the inside surface  72  and the outside surface  73 . A drain reservoir  78  is defined within the inside surface  72  of the cylindrical configuration of the screen member  62 . 
         [0021]    The shield member  64 , in this application is cylindrical in configuration, and is made of a non-perforated sheet. As an alternative, the configuration of the shield member  64  could be other than cylindrical, such as square, rectangular, elliptical or hexagonal. In this application, the shield member  64  is made from a solid sheet and is in contacting relationship or is spaced from the screen member  62  a preestablished distance. The shield member  64  has a preestablished height. In this application, the preestablished height of the shield member  64  is the same as the preestablished height “H” of the screen member  62 . However, the preestablished height of the shield member  64  could be slightly higher or lower than the preestablished height “H” of the screen member  62 . As a further alternative, the configuration of the shield member  64  could be different than the configuration of the screen member  62 . For example, the screen member  62  could be of the cylindrical configuration and the shield member  64  could be of the hexagonal configuration without changing the gist of the application. The shield member  64  can be placed either near or against the inside surface  72  or the outside surface  73  of the screen member  62 . 
         [0022]    In another embodiment of the invention, as best shown in  FIG. 2A , the screen member  62  has the area of perforation  77  divided into a first area of openings or perforations  80  and a second area of openings or perforations  82 . The first area of perforations  80  are positioned near the first end  74  and extend toward the second end  76  a preestablished distance. The second area of perforations  82  are positioned near the second end  76  and extend toward the first end  74  a preestablished distance. The preestablished distance of the first area of perforations  80  is less than the preestablished distance of the second area of perforations  82 . The first area of perforations  80  form the area of fine openings or perforations  77  and the second area of openings or perforations  82  form an area of course openings or perforations  84 . The first area of perforations  80  are formed by a plurality of small openings  86  and the second area of perforations  82  are formed by a plurality of larger openings  88 . The first area of perforations  80  or the area of fine perforations  77  have a preestablished distance equal to that of the height of the shield member  64 . The second area of perforations  82  has an opening  90  therein. In this application, with the drain tube  14  being removably attached to the brew pot  30  the opening  90  is an elliptical or slotted opening to ease installation or, as an alternative, an enlarged circular hole and with the application of the drain tube  14  fixedly attached to the brew pot  30  the opening  90  would be a slot positioned in the second area of perforations  82  and extending through the first area of perforations  80  to the first end  74 . As an alternative, the drain tube  14  could also be place in the area of fine openings or perforations  77 . Attached to the second end  76  is a top member  92 . The top member  92 , in this application, has an area of course openings or perforations  94  formed therein, however as an alternative the top member  92  can be void of the area of course perforations  94 . The area of course perforations  94  in the top member  92  are formed by the plurality of larger openings  88  as is the second area of perforations  82  of the screen member  62 . The top member  92  may be removably attached to the screen member  62  or, as an alternative, fixedly attached to the screen member  62 . As an alternative, the second end  76  may extend above the level of the worth. If so no top member  92  would be needed and the height or preestablished distance of the second area of perforations  82  would extend to a distance below the worth and away from the second end  76  of the screen member  62 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0023]    Referring to the filter assembly  60  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in conjunction with the flow shown in  FIG. 3 , the brew pot  30  is filled with wort, liquid  20  in which hops (pelletized or whole) and other particulate matter  24  is shown. When the boil is finished, the particles are suspended in the liquid  20 . After approximately 10-20 minutes of time, the particulate matter  24  have mostly settled to the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  and the remainder of the wort is mostly free of particulates  24 . A method widely known in the art is to first create a whirlpool by briskly stirring the wort. The centrifugal force encourages the lighter particulates to move toward the center and settle mostly in the bottom  24  of the brew pot  30  toward the center in a cone shape, as shown in  FIG. 3 , rendering the particulate matter  24  further away from the filter assemble  60 . Depending on the quantity of particulate matter  24  and the size of the brew pot  30 , the settling time may be shorter or longer than that referenced. With the filter assembly  60  installed, the first end  74  of the screen member is in contacting relationship with the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  and the shield member  64  positioned over the screen member  62  encompassing the screen member  62 . The opening  90  positioned over the drain tube  14  enables the shield member  64  to also be in contact with the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30 . The drain valve  12  may be moves from the off or closed position  56  toward the on or open position  58  allowing the drainage of the wort to begun. Preferential flow lines  22  illustrate the flow path of the wort into the filter assembly  60  and into passage  54  of the drain tube  14 . If no coarse filtration media is provided, the wort will flow directly into the top opening in the shield member  64  down toward the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  and into the space between the second end  48  of the drain tube  14  and the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  through passage  54  and through the drain valve  12 . Noting, as seen by the arrows  20  in  FIG. 3 , little to no flow is experienced in the area of the settled particulate matter  24 , the particulate matter  24  is thereby left undisturbed and is not drawn back into suspension with the liquid where the particulate matter  24  will clog the filter assembly  60  or enter the drain tube  14  and be diverted to the fermentor. When the level of the wort has reached the top of the filter assembly  60 , the shield member  64  is lifted while leaving the screen member  62  in its original position encompassing the drain tube  14  and with the first end  74  of the screen member  62  in contacting relationship with the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30 . The slit  70  and the clearance  71  insure that the shield member  64  can to be removed from the filter assembly  60 , essentially the drain tube  14  and the screen member  62 . It is recognized that if the drain valve  12  is moved to a position high enough along the side  36  of the brew pot  30  to allow removal of the shield member  64  from the screen member  62  the slit  70  is not needed and can be eliminated. Wort can now flow through the screen member  62  whereby only a portion of the wort (in lieu of the entire brew pot contents) needs to be filtered through the area of fine perforations  77 . It is recommended that the wort drain flow rate be reduced, the drain valve is moved from the on or open position  58  toward the off or closed position  56 , to limit disturbing the sediment or particulate matter  24  and improving the yield from the pot, but is not required for operation. It shall also be noted that the additional time from draining, further allows the sediment to compact making filtration more effective and further increasing the yield. Therefore it is shown that the present invention overcomes the limitations of current filtration systems by forcing preferential flow to occur leaving the sediment or particulate matter  24  undisturbed and only requiring a small portion of the wort to be filtered through the area of fine perforations  77 . 
         [0024]    When using the filter assembly  60  as shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  in conjunction with the flow shown in  FIG. 3  the operation is similar. For example, the brew pot  30  is filled with, wort, liquid  20  in which hops (pelletized or whole) and other particulate matter  24  is shown. When the boil is finished, the particles are suspended in the liquid  20 . After approximately 10-20 minutes of time, the particulate matter  24  have mostly settled to the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  and the remainder of the wort is mostly free of particulate matter  24 . The method widely known in the art is to first create the whirlpool by briskly stirring the wort. The centrifugal force encourages the lighter particulates to move toward the center and settle mostly in the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  toward the center in a cone shape, as shown, rendering the particulate matter  24  further away from the filter assemble  60 . Depending on the quantity of particulate matter  24  and the size of the brew pot  30 , the settling time may be shorter or longer than that referenced. With the filter assembly  60  installed, the first end  74  of the screen member in contacting relationship with the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  and the shield member  64  is positioned over the first area of perforations  80  of the screen member  62  encompassing the first area of perforations  80  of the screen member  62 . The opening  90  is positioned over the drain tube  14  enabling the screen member  62  to be in contact with the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30 . The drain valve  12  may be moves from the off or closed position  56  toward the on or open position  58  allowing the drainage of the wort to begin. Preferential flow lines  22  illustrate the flow path of the wort into the filter assembly  60  and into passage  54  of the drain tube  14 . The flow of wort indicated by the arrows  20  will enter the area of course perforations  94  in the top member  90  and/or the second area of perforations  82  of the screen member  62 . If no top member  90  is provided, the wort will flow directly into the top opening of the screen member  62  and/or area of course perforations  94  in the screen member  62  down toward the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  and into the space between the second end  48  of the drain tube  14  and the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  through passage  54  and through the drain valve  12 . Noting, as seen by the arrows  20  in  FIG. 3 , little to no flow is experienced in the area of the settled particulate matter  24 , the particulate matter  24  is thereby left undisturbed and is not drawn back into suspension in the liquid where the particulate matter will clog the filter assembly  60  or enter the drain tube  14  and be diverted to the fermentor. The flow of the wort  20  continues through the area of course perforations  94  in the screen member  62  until the level of the wort is even with the shield member  64 . When the level of the wort has reached the top of the shield member  64 , the shield member  64  is lifted while leaving the screen member  62  in its original position encompassing the drain tube  14  and with the first end  74  of the screen member  62  in contacting relationship with the bottom  38  of the brew pot  30 . The slit  70  and the clearance  71  insure that the shield member  64  can to be removed from the filter assembly  60 , essentially the drain tube  14  and the screen member  62 . It is recognized that if the drain valve  12  is moved to a position high enough to allow removal of the shield member  64  from the screen member  62  the slit  70  is not needed and can be eliminated. Wort can now flow through the area of fine perforations  77  in the screen member  62  whereby only a portion of the wort (in lieu of the entire pot contents) needs to be filtered through the area of fine perforations  77 . It is recommended that the wort drain flow rate be reduced, the drain valve is moved from the on or open position  58  toward the off or closed position  56 , to limit disturbing the sediment or particulate matter  24  and improving the yield from the pot, but is not required for operation. It shall also be noted that the additional time from draining, further allows the sediment to compact making filtration more effective and further increasing the yield. Therefore it is shown that the present invention overcomes the limitations of current filtration systems by forcing preferential flow to occur leaving the sediment or particulate matter  24  undisturbed and only requiring a small portion of the wort to be filtered through the area of fine perforations  77 . 
       SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0025]    Many ramifications of the invention are possible. For example, numerous shapes of the system  10  and the filter assembly  60  and are possible such as rectangular, elliptical, hexagonal etc. Or the filter assembly  60  can be integral to the side  36 , by having the components “U” shaped and/or bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  whereby it is affixed to the side  36 , bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  or the drain tube  14  whereby a portion of the side  36  and/or bottom  38  of the brew pot  30  are utilized to form the preferential flow cavity. In addition, the drain valve  12  may be located low enough in the brew pot  30  that a curved drain tube  14  is not necessary and a straight drain tube  14  may be utilized. Or, the drain valve  12 , if placed sufficiently low in the brew pot  30 , and is used in conjunction with the ramifications that utilize a portion of the side structure  36  of the brew pot  30 , the drain tube  14  can be completely eliminated. Shield member  64  may also be fabricated with hinges for ease of removal. Or made without a pull  66 , or the pull  66  could be of numerous shapes other than that shown in the drawings. The opening  90  can also be eliminated if the design is such that there is no interference with the drain tube  14 . The shield member  64  may also be located on or near the inside surface  72  of screen member  62  in lieu of the outside surface  74  as depicted. While it is preferred to have the shield member  64  in contacting relationship with the screen member  62  to keep the screen member  62  as clean as possible the invention will function adequately if there is a gap or small space between the screen member  62  and the shield member  64 . Numerous screen profiles, shapes, and types can be utilized. Perforations, wire screens being most common, for example, as well as round, rectangular, slotted holes, or expanded metal for making the screen member. It is also known that a bottom and the top member  92  can be affixed to filter assembly  60  further enclosing the filter assembly  60  to prevent particulate matter  24  from entering underneath the invention should it be accidentally bumped during draining. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  System 
           12  Drain Valve 
           14  Drain Tube 
         
           16 
         
         
           18 
         
           20  Liquid (Unfermented Beer) 
           22  Arrow (Flow) 
           24  Particulate Matter (Hops, Trub and Grain) 
         
           26 
         
         
           28 
         
           30  Brew Pot 
           32  Top or Lid 
           34  Handle (Top) 
           36  Side Structure (Brew Pot) 
           38  Bottom (Brew Pot) 
           40  Radiused Portion (Brew Pot) 
           42  Reservoir (Brew Pot) 
           44  Pair of Handles (Side Structure) 
           46  First End (Drain Tube—External of Reservoir) 
           48  Second End (Drain Tube—Internal of Reservoir) 
           50  90 Degree Angle (Drain Tube) 
           52  Flat Configuration (Second End—Drain Tube) 
           54  Passage (Drain Tube) 
           56  Off Position (Drain Valve—Phantom) 
           58  On Position (Drain Valve) 
           60  Filter Assembly 
           62  Screen Member 
           64  Shield Member 
           66  Pull (Shield Member) 
         
           68 
         
           70  Slit (Shield Member) 
           71  Clearance (Slit) 
           72  Inside Surface (Screen Member) 
           73  Outside Surface (Screen Member) 
           74  First End (Screen Member—Bottom)) 
           76  Second End (Screen Member—Top) 
           77  Area of Fine Openings or Perforations (Screen Member) 
           78  Drain Reservoir (Screen Member) 
           80  First Area of Openings or Perforations (Screen Member—First End—Bottom) 
           82  Second Area of Openings or Perforations (Screen Member—Second End—Top) 
           84  Area of Course Openings or Perforations (Screen Member—Second End—Top) 
           86  Plurality of Small Openings (Screen Member—First End—Bottom) 
           88  Plurality of Large Openings (Screen Member—Second End—Top) 
           90  Opening (Second Area of Openings or Perforations—Screen Member—Intermediate) 
           92  Top Member 
           94  Area of Course Openings or Perforations (Top Member)

Technology Classification (CPC): 2