IMPROVEMENTS IN BREWING APPARATUS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Davison, of 1, London Street, in the City
of London, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREWING APPARATUS,”
Sealed the 18th May 1873, and dated the 19th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Davison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th November 1872.
I, ROBERT DAVISON, of 1, London Street, in the Oity of London, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREWING AFPARATUS," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the construction of the apparatus used
in brewing, of such materials and in such a manner as to secure the
maintenance of an uniform temperature and a more equal distribution of
heat in the mash tun throughout a complete mash, in order to obtain
the full amount of extract from the malt. Also to provide a more
controllable and effective distribution of heat during the process of
boiling; also to maintain a more uniform temperature in all states of the
atmosphere throughout the entire process of fermentation and cleansing;

page_text: and, lastly, to prevent the ordinary liability to galvanic action, atmos-
pheric influence, want of cleanliness or taint, throughout.
The construction of the apparatus, in order to secure the above pur-
poses, consists mainly in dispensing with the use of metal or wood as
ordinarily employed, and with the liability of being acted upon by the
external atmosphere, and substituting for the same solid brickwork,
concrete, or other suitable material, lined with a glazed surface in the
larger vessels, and the use of earthenware, porcelain, or glass for the
smaller kind, as well as for the pipes, gutters, and the like. Also in
substituting for the ordinary metal taps and cocks a spring disc or
stopper of innocuous material applied to every aperture. Likewise the
pumps required for pumping the worts are intended to be made of stone-
ware or other similar known substance or material.
The larger vessels or utensils used in brewing are intended to be con-
structed (as above stated) of solid brickwork or concrete lined with a
glazed surface, so jointed and united with the external work as to make
one solid homogenous structure, which shall be free from woody odour,
oxydation of iron, or other sources of impurity usually found in the
present structures.
66
This mode of construction admits also of the mash tun or macerator"
(as I prefer to call it) being altered in form from that now in use, and
made in the form of a horizontal cylinder, partially of glazed brickwork
or concrete, lined inside with highly glazed or vitrified segments jointed
together, and with suitable perforated draining plates and channels
leading to the under back; also grain discharge and other necessary
appendages, including a simple and effective masher and sparger where
required. By this mode of construction also a more complete control is
effected over the internal heat by the non-escape of steam externally
through the body of concrete and brick casing.
The under back, when constructed of the ordinary form (circular) but
of the said new materials, may be made so as to constitute one structure
with the mash tun or macerator, the upper part being for the mash, and
the lower part for the reception of the raw wort.
Also, in the substitution for the ordinary brewing copper, into which
the wort passes from the under back, of a steam boiler-shaped vessel
(which may be called the "hop macerator "), the lower half of such

page_text: vessel being made of copper and semi-cylindrical, with flanges all round,
thereby forming a pan for the fire to act upon below, or when the boiling
is to be effected by steam the said pan must be doubled to receive the
steam, while the upper half thereof, resting on the said flanges, may
either be composed of glazed brickwork or ordinary brickwork, lined
with thin copper throughout the entire length, except that at the middle
of the length of the vessel a vertical receiver or the "macerator," equal
to the diameter of the vessel, is constructed of copper, with a slotted
bottom, in order to contain the hops and macerate them therein at the
discretion of the brewer, instead of subjecting them at all times to the
violent ebullition of the boiling wort. By this means the hop back may
in most cases be dispensed with.
The fermenting tuns, or, as I prefer to call them, the "fermenters,”
will be constructed of the same form and materials as the "macerator,"
that is say, cylindrical, and laid horizontally with glazed syphon or swan-
necked pipes at top, for the discharge of the yeast forced up the same
by the internal carbonic acid gas into the yeast trough provided for it.
This form of vessel for the "fermenter" has the advantage of admitting
no more atmospheric air into the interior than is absolutely necessary for
carrying on a healthy fermentation, and at the same time it affords the
means of introducing a simple rotative hollow attemperator, for the
passing of cold water in order to keep down the fermentation as required,
such attemperator being also formed so as to act either as a stirrer or a
beater for separating the yeasty particles, and thereby hastening the
cleansing process; or fermenters may be constructed of the ordinary
form of the same materials as the macerators, with a solid top or cover,
with suitable discharge pipes.
In the case of the cleansing vessels, I prefer to make them in two,
three, or more cylinders, of glazed earthenware or similar material, and
after placing them in ranges vertically, with proper overflows, earthen-
ware or glass connecting pipes or gutters, to surround or embed each
vessel with a "Alling-in" of good concrete, containing an admixture of
cocoa-nut or other suitable fibre, for making it more unitedly binding in
all its parts. These cleansing vessels I prefer to call "cleansers."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,.
filed by the said Robert Davison in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
DAVISON, of 1, London Street, in the City of London, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Davison, Her special licence that
I, the said Robert Davison, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Robert Davison, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should.
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREWING APPARATUS,” upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Davison, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner tho same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Davison, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Brewing Apparatus" has for its-
object the construction of the apparatus used in brewing of such
materials and in such a manner as to secure the maintenance of an
uniform temperature, and a more equal distribution of heat in the mash
tun throughout a complete mash, in order to obtain the full amount of

page_text: extract from the malt; also, to provide a more controllable and effective
distribution of heat during the process of boiling; also, to maintain a
more uniform temperature in all states of the atmosphere throughout the
entire process of fermentation and cleansing; and, lastly, to prevent the
ordinary liability to galvanic action, atmospheric influence, want of
cleanliness; or taint, throughout. -
The construction of the apparatus, in order to secure the above pur-
poses, consists mainly in dispensing with the use of metal or wood as
ordinarily employed, and with the liability of being acted upon by the
external atmosphere, and substituting for the same solid brickwork,
concrete, or other suitable material, lined with a glazed surface in the
larger vessels, and the use of earthenware, porcelain, or glass for the
smaller kind, as well as for the pipes, gutters, and the like; also, in
substituting for the ordinary metal taps and cocks a stopper, adjustable
or otherwise, of innocuous material, applied to every aperture. Likewise,
the pumps required for pumping the worts, are intended to be made of
stoneware or other similar known substance or material.
The larger vessels or utensils used in brewing are intended to be
constructed (as above stated) of solid brickwork or concrete, lined with a
glazed surface, so jointed and united with the external work as to make
one solid homogeneous structure, which shall be free from woody odour,
oxydation of iron, or other sources of impurity usually found in the
present structures.
"
This mode of construction admits also of the mash tun or "macerator
(as I prefer to call it) being altered in form from that now in use, and
made in the form of a horizontal cylinder partially of glazed brickwork
or concrete, lined inside with highly glazed or vitrified segments, jointed
together, and with suitable perforated draining plates and channels
leading to the under back; also grain discharge and other necessary
appendages, including a simple and effective masher and sparger, where
required. By this mode of construction also a more complete control is
effected over the internal heat by the non-escape of steam externally
through the body of concrète and brick casing.
The under back, when constructed of the ordinary form (circular), but
of the said new materials, may be made so as to constitute one structure
with the mash tun or macerator, the upper part being for the mash and
the lower part for the reception of the raw wort.

page_text: Also, in the substitution for the ordinary brewing copper into which
the wort passes from the under back, of a steam boiler-shaped vessel
(which may be called the "hop macerator "), the lower half of such
vessel being made of copper and semi-cylindrical, with flanges all round,
thereby forming a pan for the fire to act upon below, or when the
boiling is to be effected by steam the said pan must be doubled to receive
the steam, while the upper half thereof resting on the said flanges may
either be composed of glazed brickwork or ordinary brickwork, lined
with thin copper throughout the entire length, except that at the middle
of the length of the vessel an opening is made in the top of the same of
a diameter equal to that of the vessel, in which may be placed when
required a receiver constructed of copper, with a slotted bottom, in order
to contain the hops and macerate them therein, at the discretion of the
brewer, instead of subjecting them at all times to the violent ebullition of
the boiling wort. By this means the ordinary hop back may in some
cases be dispensed with.
The fermenting tuns, or, as I prefer to call them, the "fermenters,"
will be constructed of the same form and materials as the " macerator,"
that is to say, cylindrical, and laid horizontally, with glazed syphon or
swan-necked pipes at top for the discharge of the yeast forced up the
same by the internal carbonic acid gas into the yeast trough provided for
it. This form of vessel for the "fermenter" has the advantage of
admitting no more atmospheric air into the interior than is absolutely
necessary for carrying on a healthy fermentation, and at the same time
it affords a means of introducing a simple rotative hollow attemperator
for the passage of cold water, in order to keep down the fermentation as
required, such attemperator being also formed so as to act either as a
stirrer or a beater for separating the yeasty particles, and thereby
hastening the cleansing process; or fermenters may be constructed of
the ordinary form of the same materials as the macerators, with a solid
top or cover, with suitable discharge pipes.
In the case of the cleansing vessels, I prefer to make them in two,
three, or more cylinders, of glazed earthenware or similar material, and
after placing them in ranges with proper overflows, earthenware or glass
connecting pipes or gutters, to surround or embed each vessel with a
." filling-in" of good concrete, containing an admixture of cocoa-nut or
other suitable fibre for making it more unitedly binding in all its parts.
These cleansing vessels I prefer to call "cleansers."

page_text: by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented
brewing apparatus constructed of the materials and in the manner
referred to..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, shewing a mash tun of the present form,
constructed by forming an external casing of brickwork A, in cement, to
the required diameter, and an internal casing of glazed earthenware
plates B, curved to suit the internal circumference of the vessel, with
external flanges. The space between these two casings of brickwork
and glazed earthenware is then filled in with good cement concrete C,
composed of five parts of clean river shingle or broken burnt clay to one
part of the best Portland cement, or a concrete otherwise suitably
formed. The under_back D may be also constructed in like manner, and
so form one structure (as shewn in Fig. 1) with an intervening bottom E
for the mash tun, also of concrete, with all necessary draining channels
and perforated plate F. The cover G of the mash tun may also be
formed of concrete, as shewn.
Figures 2 and 8 are longitudinal and transverse sections, shewing my
improved form of mash tun or "macerator" (as I prefer to call it),
which is in the form of a horizontal cylinder, constructed as before, of
concrete, with an outer casing A of brickwork in cement, and an internal
casing of glazed earthenware plates B or glazed bricks, with all necessary
draining plates F of perforated stone or other ware, or, if preferred, of
copper with sawn slots therein, and all necessary draining channels H
and taps I, made of stone, or other delft ware, to convey the wort
to the under back or copper. This form of "macerator" admits of the
insertion and working therein of a simple and effective masher and
sparger when required, either in addition to or without an external
mashing machine now in ordinary use.
The advantages to be derived from this mode of constructing the
"macerator” consist in the complete preservation of the internal heat
by the non-conducting property of the materials of which the vessel is
composed, and by the non-escape of steam during the operation.
The internal masher (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2) consists of a
hollow axis K of gun metal or other suitable metal, with stuffing box

page_text: and driving gear at one end for giving required motion to the arms L.
These arms are also made of gun metal, and are hollow, with pins or
rakes cast on them, and with numerous fine holes drilled in the arms on
either side to allow of the hot water issuing therefrom in a shower between
the interstices of the malt simultaneously throughout the entire length
of the vessel, and with the flow of hot water regulated by a tap at the
supply end.
The form of "macerator" above described admits of the use of an
external machine as before mentioned, which may be placed in any
convenient position on the top or connected to the pipe M, shewn and
described as available either for this purpose or for the dry ground malt
from the grist case above, but which is not shewn in the Drawing.
Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal and transverse sections, shewing my
improvements relating to hot liquor and wort-boiling vessels, in substi-
tution for the ordinary brewing copper, which improvements consist in
dispensing with large and expensive circular hammered copper bottoms,
and substituting thinner metal of easier construction, and affording a
larger amount of heating surface, and thereby economising fuel. These
vessels are intended to be made cylindrical, as shewn, the lower half being
semi-cylindrical, with flanges turned back all round, and securely built
in brickwork, while the upper half is made to consist of glazed bricks or
earthenware flanged plates, as before described; or, when preferred, the
said upper half may be formed of thin copper, and rivetted to the flanges
of the lower half, with ordinary brickwork outside. A circular opening
is or may be made in the middle of the length of the vessel at the top of :
the same, which opening may be either left for the escape of steam or
vapour as usual, or may be made useful for the suspension of a suitable
receiver or vessel N, made of slotted copper plates, or a copper wire
basket for macerating hops, sugar, or the like, at the discretion of the
brewer, instead of boiling the same in the body of the wort.
The boiling may be effected either as usual by means of the heat from
an ordinary furnace, or by means of steam. In the latter case the
bottom of the vessel will require to be made double, in order to form a
steam chamber, as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The boiling may
also be carried on in a vessel, as represented at Fig. 6, the interior of 3
which is formed of highly glazed brickwork in best Portland cement,
tested to stand a boiling temperature, with an outer casing of sound
brickwork grouted at every course with fresh made liquid mortar, the

page_text: space between being filled in with best cement concrete, with angle
iron rings to form a chain bond at distances not exceeding four feet apart..
The boiling is to be effected by means of a steam coil or other suitable-
heater O, made of copper or other pure metal, having an adequate amount
of heating surface, and it is preferred to make the steam boiler or generator
of the same material as this heater.
When a hop back is used the same is to be constructed in a similar
manner and of the like materials as the mash tun or “macerator," and
of any form best suited to the position required, and of such thickness of
structure as is suited to the contents of the same, with an occasional
circuit of iron bond in the middle of the structure (say at every two feet
six inches of the depth). The bottom of the hop back is to consist of
parallel lines of saddleback earthenware lumps sloping towards parallel
lines of earthen or stoneware, slotted plates, or plates of copper, with
sawn slots, such copper plates being let into frames of oak, as now made;
these plates and dividing lumps to be about two feet from centre to.
centre, so leaving channels about ten inches wide by six inches deep
under the perforated plates leading into one main channel or gutter
towards the coolers or refrigerators.
Figures 7 and 8 represent in longitudinal and transverse section one of
my improved fermenting tuns or "fermenters" (as I prefer to call them)
constructed of the same form and materials as the " macerator" herein.
before described, that is to say, cylindrical, and laid horizontally. P; P, are
glazed syphon or swan-necked pipes for the discharge of the yeast forced
up the same by the internal carbonic acid gas into the yeast trough Q
provided for it. R. is a simple rotative hollow attemperator (adapted to
this form of fermenter) for the passage of cold water to keep down the
fermentation as required, such attemperator being also furnished with
beaters or stirrers 8, 8, for separating the yeasty particles, and thereby
hastening the cleansing process. This attemperator, with the beaters or
stirrers, is to be provided with a reversing motion so as to admit of its
being driven in either direction alternately or as required.
Fig. 9 is a transverse section shewing an ordinary form of fermenter,
either round or square, in plan, and constructed of the same materials as
that last mentioned, with a solid top or cover and suitable discharge
pipes. A modification of the attemperator R can be easily adapted and
applied to these forms of fermenter.

page_text: Figures 10 and 11 are longitudinal and transverse sections shewing
my Invention as applied to cleansing vessels, or "cleansers," as I prefer
to call them. These vessels are in substitution for those at present
known by the names cleansing puncheons, pontoes, unions, and such
like. These "cleansers" are sometimes made, as shown in Figures 10
and 11, in two, three, or more parts, of glazed earthenware or similar
delft material, and after being put together and placed in ranges (with
proper overflows of earthenware or glass and connecting pipes or gutters)
each vessel is surrounded or embedded with a filling-in of good concrete,
containing an admixture of cocoa-nut or other suitable fibre, making it 1
more thoroughly binding in all its parts; or, where economy is an object,
these vessels may be constructed of curved bricks or half bricks strongly
glazed with white glaze on the inside, as shewn at Fig. 12, or with
curved segmental plates of earthenware, with flanges outside, as shewn
in Fig. 13, jointed in either case with cement, and filled in with concrete,
as before described, or the said curved bricks or half bricks may be
simply coated over externally with good cement.
In some cases it may be advisable to place the "cleansers" in a lying
or horizontal position, as shewn in Fig. 14, instead of vertically.
The outlet in the bottom of each vessel is to be fitted with an earthen-
ware or stoneware adjusting stopper S, to let off the bright fluid apart
from the thick deposit. The stopper is shewn on an enlarged scale in
plan elevation and section at Fig. 15.
The connecting pipe T or apertures of communication between the
cleansers and the feed-head U admits of the passage of the fluid from
end to end of the set of vessels, as well as of the introduction of an
attemperator consisting of a pipe and return pipe, the entrance for which
is intended to be at V, Fig. 10; or the cleansers may be constructed
with an attemperator formed of a hollow ring of earthenware Z, forming
part of the sides of the vessel, with an ordinary pipe connection for the
required circulation of water from vessel to vessel. Each "cleanser is
to be fitted with a stopper top W or man-hole, with a swan-necked
pipe X inserted therein for the purpose of leading to the yeast trough Y.
After the completion of these several vessels into a combined structure
in the manner described, they and all the larger vessels previously
described are to be charged either with carbonic acid gas, or that gas in
solution in water, and kept full for some days, so as to convert all the limo
99

page_text: in the cement near the interior surface into carbonate, so as to render it
insoluble in solutions of sugar of which the worts are chiefly composed.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim
as of my Invention is,—
First. The construction of apparatus used in brewing in such a manner
as to dispense with the use of metal or wood as ordinarily employed
therein, and to substitute for the same solid brickwork, concrete, or
other suitable material, lined with a glazed surface in the larger vessels,
and earthenware, porcelain, or glass for the smaller kind, as well as
for the pipes, taps, cocks, and pumps for the purposes herein-before
described.
Secondly. The improved form of " macerator" herein-before described.
Thirdly. The improved apparatus for boiling in substitution for the
ordinary brewing copper, as herein-before described.
Fourthly. The improved form of fermenters herein-before described.
Fifthly. The improved forms of cleansers, with their appurtenances, as
herein-before described.
Sixthly. The rotative attemperator and stirrers or beaters, as herein-
before described.
And, lastly. The earthenware or stoneware adjusting stopper, as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Davison, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
year of our
Witness,
W. A. JACKSON,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane.
ROBT. DAVISON. (L.S.)