Improvements in the Manufacture of Brewers' "Finings" and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: BESE
Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 15th Jan., 1889
"
Improvements in the Manufacture of Brewers' "Finings" and in
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
I, EDGAR THATCHER, of Heath Brewery, Nailsea, in the County of Somerset, brewer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
According to this invention, which relates to the manufacture of "finings" used for
clarifying beer, ale and other liquors, the isinglass or other material from which the
finings are extracted is contained with the accompanying liquid in a barrel or other
suitable receptacle towards the bottom of which is placed a cylindrical vessel perforated
around the sides and supported at or near the bottom of a frame which is inserted in
and clamped or otherwise secured to the said receptacle.
The vessel is centred on a vertical shaft and is made to rotate by manual or other
power applied to the said shaft. At the centre of the cover of the vessel is an orifice
through which the contents of the receptacle in which it is, as aforesaid, placed have
free access to the interior of the perforated vessel, and, by the centrifugal action due to
rotation of the latter, the finings are strained in passing out therefrom through the
perforations therein. The vessel, which is readily detachable from the driving shaft,
is partitioned internally for imparting the requisite movement to the contents.
By a brush or brushes carried on the frame and having bristles in contact with the
exterior of the perforated vessel, the perforations in the latter are kept clear.
To the frame are attached baffle plates which prevent rotation in the barrel of the
contents above the perforated vessel.
By the use of this machine the "finings" obtained are more thoroughly aërated and
are less liable to contain ungelatinized matter than when they are expressed by brushes
rotating inside a stationary vessel or sieve containing the material from which they are
obtained; skin and other undissolved matter being retained in the perforated vessel.
Dated this 1st day of March 1888.
332
NICHOLAS WAILS,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Brewers' "Finings" and in
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
I, EDGAR THATCHER of Heath Brewery, Nailsea, in the county of Somerset, brewer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularl: described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention consists in an improved method of and in apparatus for the production
of "finings" used by brewers for clarifying ale and other liquors. According to this
invention the isinglass or other material from which the finings are produced is, with
the proper quantity of water, placed in a barrel or tub. In this is immersed a per-
forated cylindrical vessel to which rotatory motion is imparted, the vessel being
supported in a frame which is clamped or otherwise secured to the barrel or tub.
Through orifices provided in the cover of the cylindrical vessel the contents of the
barrel are admitted thereto and as the vessel rotates, the contents are expelled by the
centrifugal force through the perforations. The finings are thus strained in passing
out of the cylindrical vessel back into the barrel or tub.
To the frame in which the perforated strainer is supported are attached baffle plates
which prevent rotation in the barrel of the contents above the strainer. The perfora-
tions in the said strainer are kept clear by a brush or brushes attached to the frame
and having bristles in contact with the periphery of the strainer.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, the figure thereon represents a vertical
section of a machine constructed and arranged for treating brewers' "finings" in
accordance with this invention.
In the barrel a is received the isinglass or other material from which the finings are
produced. Also the requisite quantity of liquid. Immersed in the mixture and
supported in a frame b clamped to the barrel is a cylindrical vessel c perforated around
the wali. This vessel is centred on a shaft d. In the example illustrated the vessel c
is shown arranged for rotation by the shaft d and bevel gearing e operated through the
shaft S, but it will be understood that the vessel may be otherwise rotated.
In the cover g of the straining vessel c are orifices i by which the mixture passes
into the strainer. In the straining vessel are vanes v which rotate with the shaft d
and force the liquid round in the vessel. As the latter rotates the contents are, by the
centrifugal force, driven out through the perforations in the wall and thus the finings
are strained, skin and other undissolved matter being retained in the vessel c. Attached
to the frame is a brush the bristles of which impinge upon the exterior of the
vessel c and keep the perforations therein clear and unobstructed.
By the baffle plates or wings k fixed to the frame the contents of the barrel a which a
are above the straining vessel c. are prevented from revolving with the strainer.
The shaft d is divided in the sleeve or coupling to admit of the withdrawal of the
vessel c for cleaning, or when the finings have been sufficiently strained.
C

page_text: By the use of the apparatus in which this invention consists the finings obtained are
more throughly aërated and are more effectually freed from ungelatinized matter than
when they are expressed by brushes rotating within a stationary vessel or sieve con-
taining the material from which they are obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of brewers' "finings," the use of a perforated vessel immersed
in the mixture from which the finings are produced and rotated therein so as to strain
the mixture and separate the finings from skin and other undissolved matter,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The baffle plates k for preventing revolution of that part of the contents of the
receptacle in which the straining vessel is immersed which are above the same, sub-
stantially as described.
3. A stationary brush or brushes such as h, attached to the frame b, or otherwise
conveniently secured, the bristles of which impinge upon the exterior of the straining
vessel, e as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
4. The combination of parts constituting the improved machine for treating brewers'
"finings," constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described
and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 30th day of November 1888.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Applicant's Agent.