Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Yeast and similar Substances.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1891-Accepted. 14th Feb.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ALFRED JOERGENSEN, of Copenhagen, in the
Kingdom of Denmark, Experimentalist, and AXEL BERGH, of Stockholm, in
the Kingdom of Sweden, Engineer.]
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Yeast and similar
Substances.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
By his important scientific labours Dr. E. Chr. Hansen has caused a new
departure in fermentation, and his system has been introduced into every country.
One feature of this system is the propagating apparatus for the production of
absolutely pure yeast.
The improved apparatus hereinafter described is designed to be used for the
continuous development of a large quantity of absolutely pure yeast which can be
readily developed further in practice.
In the construction of this apparatus the principal object has been to obviate the
infection, in order that, on the one hand, the operation can be effected through the
medium of a sterilized liquid, and that, on the other hand, a mastery can be easily
obtained over the aeration necessary for the yeast.
The said apparatus differs essentially from the apparatus heretofore employed for
similar purposes and presents several advantages.
It comprises two cylinders which are placed one above the other and communicate
with each other through a pipe and a cock.
Sterilized air can be conducted through an air-filter and thence through two pipes
and three cocks to both cylinders.
The wort is preferably introduced in the sterilized state into the lower cylinder
directly from the brewery, or it may be sterilized in the same cylinder by admitting
steam to a chamber at the lower part of a casing which surrounds the aforesaid
cylinder.
After the desired quantity of wort has been admitted the air is introduced in a
suitable manner. For this purpose the third or lower of the above-mentioned cocks
communicates with a pipe which is arranged in the lower cylinder at a short
distance from the bottom of the same, this pipe being closed at one end and
provided with small holes at the inner and outer sides. The three cocks are so
placed that the air is forced through the filter directly into the said pipe from
which it issues on both sides. At the same time an agitator which is preferably
made of helical form and arranged as closely as possible to the bottom and sides of
the lower cylinder is caused to rotate for the purpose of stirring the wort. The
cooling is effected by causing cold water to pass from an annular pipe surrounding
the upper part of the said cylinder along the outer periphery of the latter or to
circulate either in the chamber at the lower part of the casing round the cylinder
or in the entire casing.
A quantity of the aerated and cooled wort is forced by air-pressure into the
upper cylinder, which is sterilized by steam or in any other suitable manner.
Absolutely pure yeast produced in the laboratory is introduced through a pipe into
the upper cylinder and is intimately mixed with the wort by means of the helical
agitator arranged at the bottom of this cylinder.
In order to enable the quantity of wort which has been introduced into the lower
cylinder and forced upwards into the upper cylinder to be indicated without the use
of a gauge-glass, a float is connected by means of an arm to a spindle which extends
D077

page_text: to the outside of the cylinder and carries a hand which indicates the level of the
liquid in the said cylinder.
When the yeast has been intimately mixed with the wort in the upper cylinder
the infected wort can be caused to pass through the above-mentioned cock and pipe
back to the lower cylinder either at once or after it has been allowed to ferment in
the upper cylinder.
After the wort contained in the lower cylinder has likewise been infected, and
the yeast has been properly mixed with the same a definite quantity is forced into
the upper cylinder. The infected wort and both cylinders must be kept at a
temperature adapted for the nature of the fermentation.
As this apparatus has for its object to produce pure yeast for use on a large scale,
it is a matter of course that this yeast can be removed either when the fermentation
has reached its highest stage or after the yeast formed has fallen to the bottom of
the cylinder. In the former case the entire mass is stirred on the third or fourth
day of fermentation by means of the above-mentioned agitator is then removed and
added to the wort in a large fermenting vessel. In tlie latter case the beer
standing over the yeast is let off through the pipe near the bottom of the cylinder
and the lower three cocks, as the said pipe occupies such a position that enough
beer will remain in the cylinder in order to keep the sediment sufficiently liquid for
removal. The superfluous air and the carbonic acid produced escape through two
bent pipes connected with the upper and lower cylinder.
In either of these cases a sufficient quantity of fermenting wort must be forced
beforehand into the upper cylinder for enabling a fresh fermentation to be subse-
quently commenced therewith in the lower cylinder.
When the yeast has been removed the lower cylinder is cleaned and sterilized
the wort is introduced in the manner described and infected with the yeast formed
in the upper cylinder under similar conditions, whereupon the upper cylinder is
cleaned and sterilized.
It is evident that the second cylinder instead of being arranged above the first
as hereinbefore described can be placed by the side of the same. The pipe through
which the two cylinders are connected extends so far down in the first cylinder that
the level of the liquid will not descend below the same.
Sediment yeast can be used in the second cylinder which is previously sterilized.
In this case the latter can be made of comparatively small size. After the beer
has been discharged by means of pure air, a suitable quantity of the agitated
sediment yeast is forced into the cylinder and kept therein until this cylinder has
been supplied with aerated and cooled wort.
It will be readily understood that the improved apparatus is also adapted for the
development of other organisms than those used for the production of yeast for use
in the manufacture of beer and spirits.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Yeast and similar
Substances.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
By his important scientific labours Dr. E. Chr. Hansen has caused a new
departure in fermentation, and his system has been introduced into every country.
One feature of this system is the propagating apparatus for the production of
absolutely pure yeast.

page_text: The improved apparatus hereinafter described is designed to be used for the
continuous development of a large quantity of absolutely pure yeast which can
readily be further developed in practice.
In the construction of this apparatus the principal object is to obviate the
infection, in order that, on the one hand, the operation can be effected through
the medium of a sterilized liquid, and that, on the other hand, a mastery can be
easily obtained over the aeration necessary for the yeast.
The said apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and differs
essentially from the apparatus heretofore employed for similar purposes and
presents several advantages.
It comprises two cylinders A and B which are placed one above the other and
communicate with each other through a pipe a and a cock b.
Sterilized air can be conducted through an air-filter C and thence through two
pipes c and d and three cocks e, f and to both cylinders.
The wort is preferably introduced in the sterilized state into the lower cylinder
directly from the brewery, or it may be sterilized in the same cylinder by admitting
steam to the space i at the lower part of a casing n which surrounds the aforesaid
cylinder A.
After the desired quantity of wort has been admitted the air is introduced at
a pressure and suitably regulated. For this purpose the lower cock y communicates
with a pipe k which is arranged in the lower cylinder A at a short distance from
the bottom of the same, this pipe being closed at one end and provided with small
holes at the inner and outer sides. The cocks e, and are so placed that the air
is forced through the filter C directly into the said pipe & from which it issues on
both sides through the aforesaid small holes. At the same time an agitator / which
is preferably made of helical form and arranged as closely as possible to the bottom
and sides of the lower cylinder A is caused to rotate for the purpose of stirring the
wort. The cooling is effected by causing cold water to pass from an annular pipe m
surrounding the upper part of the said cylinder along the outer periphery of the
latter or to circulate either in the chamber i at the lower part of the casing, round
the cylinder or in the entire casing.
A quantity of the aerated and cooled wort is forced by air pressure into
the upper cylinder B which is sterilized by steam or in any other suitable
manner.
Absolutely pure yeast produced in the laboratory is introduced through a pipe
into the upper cylinder and is intimately mixed with the wort by means of the
helical agitator p arranged at the bottom of this cylinder.
In order to enable the quantity of wort which has been introduced into the lower
cylinder and forced upwards into the upper cylinder B to be indicated without the
use of a gauge-glass, a float r is connected by means of an arm to a spindle 2
which extends to the outside of the cylinder and carries a hand or pointer s which
indicates the level of the liquid in the said cylinder.
When the yeast has been intimately mixed with the wort in the upper cylinder B
the infected wort can be caused to pass through the above-mentioned cock and
pipe a back to the lower cylinder A. either at once or after it has been allowed to
ferment in the upper cylinder B.
After the wort contained in the lower-cylinder A has likewise been infected, and
the yeast has been properly mixed with the same, a definite quantity is forced into
the upper cylinder B. The infected wort in both cylinders must be kept at a
temperature adapted for the nature of the fermentation.
As this apparatus has for its object to produce pure yeast for use on a large
scale, it is a matter of course that this yeast can be removed either when the
fermentation has reached its highest stage or after the yeast formed has fallen to
the bottom of the cylinder. In the former case the entire mass is stirred on the
third or fourth day of fermentation by means of the above-mentioned agitator / it
is then removed and added to the wort in a large fermenting vessel. In the latter
case the beer standing over the yeast is let off through the pipe k near the bottom

page_text: of the cylinder and the cock g as the said pipe occupies such a position that
enough beer will remain in the cylinder, in order to keep the sediment sufficiently
liquid for removal. The superfluous air and the carbonic acid produced escape
through two bent pipes and u connected with the upper and lower cylinder.
In either of these cases a suflicient quantity of fermenting wort must be forced
beforehand into the upper cylinder B. for enabling a fresh fermentation to be
subsequently commenced therewith in the lower cylinder A.
When the yeast has been removed the lower cylinder A is cleaned and sterilized
the wort is introduced in the manner described and infected with the yeast formed
in the upper cylinder B under similar conditions, whereupon the said upper
cylinder is cleaned and sterilized.
It is evident that the cylinder B instead of being arranged above the first as
hereinbefore described, can be placed by the side of the same. The pipe through
which the two cylinders are connected extends so far down in the cylinder A that
the level of the liquid will not descend below the same.
Sediment yeast can be used in the cylinder, B which is previously sterilized.
In this case the latter can be made of comparatively small size. After the beer has
been discharged by means of pure air a suitable quantity of the agitated sediment
yeast is forced into the cylinder and kept therein until this cylinder has been
supplied with aerated and cooled wort.
It will be readily understood that the improved apparatus is also adapted for
the developement of other organisms than those used for the production of yeast
for use in the manufacture of beer and spirits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
First. A propagating apparatus for the continuous development of microscopic
organisms in the production of yeast and similar substances for use in breweries,
distilleries and the like this apparatus comprising a large cylinder A and a small
cylinder B which communicate with each other through the cock band the pipe a
terminating at such a distance from the bottom of the cylinder A. that a certain
quantity of liquid will always remain in the latter after a sufficient quantity has
been conveyed to the cylinder B the operation being carried out substantially as
herein before described.
Second. A propagating apparatus for the development of organisms in the
production of yeast and similar substances, comprising a cylinder which for the
purpose of aerating the wort, provided in proximity to its bottom with a pipe
bent at one end and perforated on its inner and outer sides, substantially as herein-
before described.
Third. In a propagating apparatus for the development of organisms in the
production of yeast and similar substances, the employment, in the cylinder A of a
Hoat connected with a spindle which carries a hand or pointer for indicating the
level of the liquid in the said cylinder A.
Fourth. A propagating apparatus for the development of organism in the
production of yeast and similar substances comprising a fermenting cylinder which
is provided close to its bottom with a helical agitator so that it will serve to set
the liquid in movement and to separate the yeast in the liquid from the bottom and
sides of the said cylinder.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.