Improvements in the Construction of Union Casks Used in Brewing Operations.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Union Casks Used in Brewing
Operations.
I, WILLIAM CUTLER, of Cannon Works, Constitution Hill, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention to be as follows:
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
union or fermenting casks used in brewing operations.
According to my invention I construct union casks with a framework of wood,
metal, or other suitable material, but preferably of galvanized cast iron, to which
plates of glass are fitted and rendered fluid-tight by means of cement.
The ribs which form the framework of the cask are rebated to receive hard
cement, to form an even bearing for the glass and the ends of the cask are
similarly formed, the ends carrying the spindles.
Both the longitudinal ribs and the ends are fitted with glass plates of suitable
shape and strength to resist internal pressure, the ribs and ends are bolted
together and the joints between them and the glass rendered fluid tight by a
suitable cement.
By means of my invention increased durability and freedom from acidity is
secured, and there is no danger of sediment or dirt being overlooked as in the
use of ordinary wooden unions.
Dated 17th November 1898.
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in the Construction of Union Casks Used in Brewing
Operations.
I, WILLIAM CUTLER, of Cannon Works, Constitution Hill, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, 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:-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
union or fermenting casks used in brewing operations, and consists in construct-
ing such casks of glass plates held together in the desired form by a framework
of wood, metal, or other suitable material.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
Price 27

page_text: tained reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fermenting or union cask' formed of glass
plates in a framework of metal, the joints or connections of the latter being
omitted for greater clearness.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line 1-2 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of one of the ribs of the frame illustrating
a method of attaching the same to the end frames.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of an end frame of a cask constructed not to revolve.
The framework is made up of a number of ribs a and end frames 6 the latter
being preferably cast in one piece, the whole of the framework being preferably
of galvanized cast iron. The end frames may carry spindles c, which may be
made hollow to communicate with the interior of the cask, by which the cask
may rotate in bearings mounted on a suitable frame or support or they are
fixed to cross beams (Fig. 5) by plates 7. and bolts, as shown. Plates of glass d,
d', are fitted to the ribs and end frames and are held in place by means of cement
which also renders the joint-fluid-tight; preferably the end plates of glass d
are arranged to support the side plates d as shewn in Fig. 3, e representing the
cement. If the glass used has an uneven surface, I prefer to bed the glass in a
hard cement to form an even bearing for the glass and render the joint fluid-
tight after the bed has set. The cement is located in grooves or rebates as shewn
in Fig. 3.
The ribs a are formed of a section, approximately, as shown in Fig. 2 (the
rebates and cement being omitted) and are bolted to the end frames in any suit-
able manner, one method being shown in Fig. 4. Each corner of the end frame
is formed with a pair of lugs f, f, and similar lugs 9, 9, are formed on the ends
of the ribs; bolts h, h, serve to fix the ribs to the end frames. Similarly I pro-
vide plates which fit between the lugs f and serve to fix the glass firmly; the
plates are also grooved to receive coment and are bolted to the end frames.
The end frames 6 may be formed with an opening m. (Fig. 5) to allow of
the introduction of a man's arm with a hose pipe or a brush, whereby the interior
may be thoroughly cleansed, the opening being normally closed by a suitable
plug.
It will thus be seen that the interior of the cask is completely lined with
glass, no metal being exposed to the liquors. By these means increased durability
and freedom from acidity are secured, and there is no danger of sediment or
dirt being overlooked as is the case when ordinary wooden unions are used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. A union cask for brewing purposes, constructed of glass plates held together
in the desired form by a framework and rendered fluid-tight by cement, sub-
stantially as set forth."
2. In a union cask for brewing purposes, the combination of glass plates form-
ing the surface or sides and ends of the cask, a pair of end frames provided with
spindles, a number of ribs attached to and connecting such end frames, and
cement for fixing the glass plates and rendering the joints fluid-tight, sub-
stantially as set forth.
3. In a union cask for brewing purposes, the combination of a pair of end
frames, a number of ribs connected to the end frames so as to form a framework,
a pair of lugs at each corner of the end frames, a pair of lugs at each end of each
rib coinciding with the lugs on the end frames and fixed thereto by bolts and
nuts, a plate between each pair of end frame lugs, a number of glass plates of
the desired shape, and cement for fixing and rendering the joints fluid-tight,
substantially as specified,

page_text: 4. In a union cask for brewing purposes, the combination of a pair of end
frames, a number of ribs connected to the end frames to form a framework, a
plate or lug integral with each of said end frames for supporting and fixing the
union on a suitable support, a number of glass plates of the desired shape, and
cement for fixing and rendering the joints fluid-tight, substantially as set forth.
5. In a union cask for brewing purposes of the description aforesaid, the
combination therewith of an opening for admitting cleansing appliances to the
interior, and a suitable plug for closing said opening, substantially as specified.
Dated 17th Assonat 1800
WILLIAM CUTLER.
By George Downing & Sons,
Chartered Patent Agents, 8, Quality Court, London, W.C.,