IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FARINACEOUS SUBSTANCES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF STARCH AND FERMENTED AND DISTILLED LIQUORS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
** IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FARINACEOUS SUBSTANCES FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF STARCH AND FERMENTED AND DISTILLED LIQUORS." -A
communication from abroad by William Adamson, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Scaled the 29th June 1875, and dated the 2nd February 1875.
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd February 1875.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FARINACEOUS SUBSTANCES
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF STARCH AND FERMENTED AND DISTILLED LIQUORS,"
a communication to me from abroad by William Adamson, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, to be as
follows:-

page_text: :
conversion into beer, distilled spirits, or starch. In order to obtain this
object it is proposed to employ heated hydrocarbons, which have the
effect of predisposing the farinaceous matter of which it is customary,
to manufacture fermented liquors, alcohol, and starch to instant and
rapid fermentation, the heat stimulating the chemical action of the
hydrocarbons.
:
In carrying out this Invention, grain, corn, roots, nuts, seeds, or other
farinaceous substances, either in a whole or crushed condition, may be
subjected in a suitable vessel to the direct action of heated hydro-
carbons, by preference such as are of a volatile character, as benzine or
benzole for example; but it is preferred to subject the farinaceous sub-
stances to the action of hydrocarbon vapor under heat and pressure in-
the following manner :-The farinaceous matter is placed on a perforated
diaphragm in a closed vessel containing a supply of volatile hydro-
carbon, which is vaporized by a steam heating coil or otherwise. The
vapor, which may be under more or less pressure, passes upwards and
permeates the mass, and soon deprives it of all resinous, gummy, oily,
and other matters which tend to impede fermentation, and which
descend and find a lodgement in the bottom of the vessel below the
diaphragm, whence they may be withdrawn at intervals, the vapor after
passing through the mass of farinaceous matter being conducted to a
cooler and then condensed prior to its being introduced in a liquid form
into the vessel and there revaporized. During this operation the heat of
the hydrocarbon has such an effect on the grain, as to reduce it to a
condition which insures rapid fermentation, thereby aiding the hydro-
carbon to bring about the desired result.
The fermented product may be converted by the usual process into
starch of a superior quality, as regards purity and color, owing to the
removal from the grain of its coloring ingredients; or the fermented
product may be converted into beer, or by distillation into alcohol of a
better quality than that produced from farinaceous matter treated in the
ordinary manner for fermentation.
The yield, whether it be starch, beer, or alcohol, is much greater after
this rapid fermentation than, if the farinaceous matter is fermented

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting. .
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 THE TREATMENT OF FARINACEOUS SUBSTANCES FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF STARCH AND FERMENTED AND DISTILLED LIQUORS," a com-
munication to me from abroad by William Adamson, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the 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 Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
· NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, that is to say :—
The said Invention has for its object so preparing grain and other
farinaceous substances as to facilitate their fermentation and their con-
version into beer, distilled spirits, or starch..

page_text: Heated hydrocarbons predispose the farinaceous matter of which it is
customary to manufacture fermented liquors, alcohol, and starch to
instant and rapid fermentation, the heat stimulating the chemical
action of the hydrocarbons.
Grain, corn, roots, nuts, seeds, or other farinaceous substances, either
-in a whole or crushed condition, may be subjected in a suitable vessel
to the direct action of heated hydrocarbons, by preference, such as are of
a volatile character, as benzine or benzole for example, but it is preferred
to subject the farinaceous substances to the action of hydrocarbon vapour
under heat and pressure in the following manner:-The farinaceous
matter is placed on a perforated diaphragm in a closed vessel containing
a supply of volatile hydrocarbon which is vaporized by a steam heating
coil or otherwise. The vapour, which may be under more or less
pressure; passes upwards and permeates the mass, and soon deprives it
of all resinous, gummy, oily, and other matters which tend to impede
fermentation, and which descend and find a lodgment in the bottom of
the vessel below the diaphragm, whence they may be withdrawn at
intervals, the vapor after passing through the mass of farinaceous
matter being conducted to a cooler and then condensed prior to its
being introduced in a liquid form into the vessel and there revaporized.
During this operation the heat of the hydrocarbon has such an effect on
the grain as to reduce it to a condition which insures rapid
fermentation, thereby aiding the hydrocarbon to bring about the
desired result.
.
The fermented product may be converted by the usual process into
starch of a superior quality, as regards purity and color, owing to the
removal from the grain of its coloring ingredients; or the fermented
product may be converted into beer, or by distillation into alcohol of a
better quality than that produced from farinaceous matter treated in the
ordinary manner for fermentation.
The yield, whether it be starch, beer, or alcohol, is much greater after
this rapid fermentation than when the farinaceous matter is fermented
without the preparatory hydrocarbon treatment.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention

page_text: secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
the mode, substantially as herein described of preparing farinaceous sub-
stances for conversion into starch, beer, or alcohol.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth
day of July One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.