AN IMPROVED CLARIFYING APPARATUS FOR USE IN BREWERIES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "AN IMPROVED CLARIFYING APPARATUS FOR USE IN BREWERIES."
A communication from abroad by Emil Welz, of Breslau, and August Rittner,.
of Schweidnitz, both in Prussia, Civil Engineers.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd April 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED CLARIFYING APPARATUS FOR
USE IN BREWERIES." [A communication from abroad by Emil Welz, of Breslau,
and August Rittner, of Schweidnitz, both in Prussia, Civil Engineers.]
The present Invention relates to an improved clarifying apparatus to be used in
the operation of brewing.
The clarifying apparatus heretofore employed for brewing purposes consist of
square or cylindrical vessels, which are open at the top, and which have a flat
double bottom, the upper bottom being provided with small holes, as in a sieve.
When the mash to be filtered enters such a clarifying vessel the dregs or returns
and the like settle down on the said sieve bottom, thus forming the necessary
filtering layer for the wort above it. The clear or filtered wort is drawn off by
means of pipes applied between the parts forming the said flat double bottom. This
process of drawing off the clear wort (in consequence of the flat form of the double
bottom) takes place very slowly, as the filtering material forms too compact a mass
and obstructs the passage of the wort. Such obstruction occurs more particularly
when the malt is too finely ground and the hulls are torn up too much. For this
reason the malt is ordinarily ground coarsely, and this accounts for the malt never
having been fully utilized. Furthermore, in consequence of the slowness with
which the process is effected, the wort and the dregs become cold and acid very
soon.
The clarifying apparatus constructed according to this Invention, and hereinafter
described, is designed.for the purpose of permitting the filtration to be effected

page_text: more rapidly and for securing a more thorough extraction, even when the malt is
finely ground, than is possible with apparatus heretofore employed.
In the accompanying Drawing the said apparatus is illustrated in vertical
section.
This apparatus comprises a vessel of cylindrical or polygonal form provided with
a funnel-shaped or conical double bottom; the upper bottom is provided with small
holes, as in a sieve. This said apparatus being closed by a flat or vaulted cover is
made perfectly air and steam tight. It is lined with material which is a bad
conductor of heat in order to prevent cooling, and is provided with a manhole, a
safety-valve, and a pressure-gauge. a represents pipes leading from the space
between the said double bottom, and serving the double purpose of conducting the
clear wort out of the apparatus and conducting hot water and steam into the latter.
b represents pipes leading from the cylindrical or polygonal part of the apparatus,
which pipes are capable of rotating in stuffing boxes. The pipes 6 can be turned
in such a manner as to be kept on a level with the declining surface of the fluid;
c is a pipe through which the mash to be filtered flows into the apparatus; d is a
pipe connecting the apparatus with a force-pump for the purpose of creating air
pressure in the apparatus; e is a vessel for the reception of the clear wort flowing
from the apparatus, whence the wort passes to the copper.
The operation of this improved clarifying apparatus, is as follows, that is to
say:
The mash to be filtered is pumped through the pipe c into the apparatus, where
it is left for a short time, that is to say, until the dregs have settled down. This
will require about half an hour more or less. The cocks in the pipes.a are then
opened to draw off the clear wort filtered through the dregs on the bottom, as above
described. This process occupies much less time than is the case with the apparatus
.as heretofore used, as by means of the funnel-shaped form of the bottom the filtering
surface is considerably increased, whilst the wort runs out from the dregs by the
shortest route. The wort standing above the dregs is also clear near its surface, as
in consequence of the apparatus being closed so as to be steam-tight no steam can
escape from the vessel, and consequently cooling of the wort, cannot take place, so,
that the latter will remain undisturbed and without motion. It is obvious that as
all agitation of the contents of the vessel is prevented the dregs will descend to the
bottom quietly and uniformly. The clear wort standing above them is drawn off
by means of the upper or rotating pipes b.
'
After the clear wort has run out of the apparatus air is forced into the latter
through the said pipe d. In consequence of the pressure thus created within the
apparatus the remainder of the wort still adhering to the dregs is completely
pressed out, and the dregs themselves are pressed until they, are as dry as is
practicable. This being completed the stirrer or paddle f is put in motion for the
purpose of again loosening the dregs. Hot water is then conducted into the vessel
through the pipes a in order to lixiviate any particles of wort which may still, be
contained in the dregs. The dregs are now left undisturbed to allow the same. to
settle, and thereupon the liquid containing the lixiviated wort is drawn off in a
bright state through the pipes a. This being effected pressure is again exerted.
within the apparatus to press the remainder of the wort from the dregs.
I may make the said double bottom in either of these forms, viz.,
or
or of other funnel-shaped form, but for practical use I prefer the form shewn in the
Drawing.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a clarifying apparatus for brewing purposes, the combination with an
air and steam tight, vessel lined with material which is, a bad conductor of heat of a
funnel-shaped double bottom, the upper part of which is perforated, substantially
as set forth

page_text: Second. In a clarifying apparatus for brewing purposes, a funnel-shaped or
conical double bottom, substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.
Third. In a clarifying apparatus for brewing purposes, the arrangement of
pipes a and pipes b, by means of which arrangement the bright wort can be drawn
off from between the parts forming the double bottom as well as from the surface
of the fluid, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with the said improved clarifying apparatus of the
means for producing atmospheric pressure within the said apparatus for the purpose
of pressing out the dregs, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty second day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. ROBT, LAKE. (L.S.)