IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS OR APPARATUS FOR THE INFUSION OF COFFEE AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Beverley, Fenby, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of “Improve-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Beverley Fenby
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th March 1874.
I, JOSEPH BEVERLEY FENBY, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS OR APPARATUS FOR THE INFUSION OF
COFFEE AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the novel construction of vessels or apparatus
for infusing coffee and other like substances in such a manner as to
effect the thorough and speedy incorporation-of the hot water with the
coffee or other like substance, the efficient clearing and straining of the
infusion, and the retention of the aroma and heat of the beverage.

page_text: According to my Invention the said vessels are constructed with three
separate chambers or compartments, two of which are wholly or partially
contained within the other, which forms the outer vessel or body of the
urn or pot. This outer vessel may be of any desired shape or design, as
in the case of ordinary urns and pots. Within this outer vessel is fitted
a cylinder provided with fine perforations, for the purpose of straining
the infusion when the latter is drawn off from the outer vessel. In the
upper part of this perforated cylinder is fitted a smaller cylinder for
containing the coffee or other substance to be infused. In the bottom
or sides (or both) of this smaller cylinder are holes or passages com-
municating with the aforesaid perforated cylinder. These holes or
passages are covered by a diaphragm or diaphragms, which will prevent
the descent of the dry coffee or other substance into the perforated
cylinder beneath, but which will permit the more or less ready descent
of the liquid.
When water is poured upon the coffee or other substance in this
smaller cylinder, the said coffee or other substance is washed past the
diaphragm or diaphragms and through the holes or passages into the
perforated cylinder, and thus an intimate mixing action is ensured
between the water and the substance to be infused. To further insure
this intimate mixing action the descending liquid is caused to fall upon
a dash plate, which serves also to distribute the mixture of water
and coffee or other substance more equally within the perforated
cylinders.
In some cases a small turbine is provided and so arranged that the
descending liquid causes it to revolve and agitate the mixture of water
and coffee or other substance.
.
To ensure the retention of the aroma and heat of the beverage a
syphon trap is fitted beneath the mixing cylinder, and through this trap
the mixture of water and coffee or other substance passes on its way 3
from the mixing cylinder to the perforated cylinder. A small portion of
the liquid romaing in the tran and nuovants the areas

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Beverley Fenby in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPIt'
BEVERLEY FENBY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in tho
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby,
Her special licence that I, the said. Joseph Beverley Fenby, my,
executors; administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Joseph Beverley Fenby, 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 VESSELS OR APPARATUS FOR THE INFUSION
OF COFFEE AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, my exccutors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain tho
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Offico
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, 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 accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Invention:-
My Invention consists in the novel construction of vessels or apparatus
for infusing coffee and other like substances in such a manner as to
effect the thorough and speedy incorporation of the hot water with the
coffee or other like substance, the efficient clearing and straining of the
infusion, and the retention of the aroma and heat of the beverage.

page_text: According to my said Invention the said vessels are constructed with
three separate chambers or compartments, two of which are wholly or
partially contained within the other, which forms the outer vessel or
body of the urn or pot. This outer vessel may be of any desired shape
or design, as in the case of ordinary urns and pots. Within this outer
vessel is fitted a cylinder provided with fine perforations, for the purpose
of straining the infusion when the latter is drawn off from the outer
vessel. In the upper part of this perforated cylinder is fitted a receptacle
or tray for containing the coffee or other substance to be infused. In the
bottom, or sides, or both of this receptacle or tray are holes or passages
communicating with the aforesaid perforated cylinder. These holes or
passages are covered by a diaphragm or diaphragms, which will prevent
the descent of the dry coffee or other substance into the perforated
cylinder beneath, but which will permit the more or less ready descent
of the liquid.
J
The accompanying Drawing shews a vertical section of a coffee pot.
constructed according to my Invention. This pot has three separate
chambers or compartments A, B, and C, and the cylinder containing the
compartments A and B fits partially into the chamber C, as herein-before-
described. By modifying the shape or size of the chamber C, a pot or
urn of any size or design may be constructed, as shewn in the Drawing.
At d, d, are fine perforations for straining the infusion which passes into
the chamber C. The tray E forms the receptacle for the dry coffee, and
the diaphragm F prevents the falling of this coffee in its dry state
through the opening G in the tray E. This diaphragm F is attached
to the tray E by feet h, h, as shewn, so that clear passages are left, as
indicated by the arrows, and these passages form the communication
with the perforated cylinder B.
'
When water is poured into the chamber or compartment A, the coffee
is casily washed through these passages into the compartment B, where
it falls upon the dash plate I, and is thereby uniformly distributed over
the perforated plate d, and thus an intimate mixing action is insured
between the water and the substance to be infused. The said dash plate
not only insures this intimate mixing action, but serves also to distributo
the mixture of water and coffee or other substance mere equally within
the perforated cylinder.
The coarsely perforated plate J is designed to prevent the movement
or disturbance of the coffee grounds by the shaking or tilting of the pot

page_text: 2
which would destroy the clearness of the infusion in the chamber C.
The perforated pillar K. merely supports the tray E. The tube L supplies
the air passage.necessary for free pouring from the pot, and this tube is
securely fastened, to the plate d. The parts J, K, E, and F are all
securely fastened together, and slide freely as one piece or structure on
the tube L. The button M serves as a stop to the sliding of the above-
mentioned parts, and also allows the whole of the apparatus contained in
the cylinder A, B, to be withdrawn from the pot. Such withdrawal
also brings away all the strained grounds, and leaves an open way'
through which the interior of the chamber C may be examined and
cleaned. n, n, are perforations in the said button M, to allow the air to
pass down the tube L into the compartment C.
In some cases a small turbine is provided and so arranged that the
descending liquid causes it to revolve and agitate the mixture of water
and coffee or other substance.
To ensure the retention of the aroma and heat of the beverage a
syphon trap may be fitted beneath the mixing cylinder, and through this
trap the mixture of water and and coffee or other substance passes on its
way from the mixing cylinder to the perforated cylinder. A small portion
of the liquid remains in the trap and prevents the escapc of vapour from
the infusion.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shewn how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practise, I
wish it understood that I claim,―
First. In a vessel or apparatus for the infusion of coffee and for other
like purposes, the tray at the top or upper part of the same, as herein
set forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. Providing the said vessel or apparatus with a dash plate, as
herein set forth and for the purpose specificed.
Third. The coarsely perforated plate arranged in combination with the
finely perforated plate and within the said vessel or apparatus, in the
manner herein set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The provision for removing the grounds. from the said vessel
by taking out the central portion of the apparatus, as herein set forth.
Fifth. A vessel or apparatus for the infusion of coffee and for other
like purposes, consisting of the above-described parts constructed, com-

page_text: us nerein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Beverley Fenby, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- ɛ
four.