IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXPRESSING LIQUIDS FROM SPENT HOPS AND SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Edward Bennett, of 167, Kingsland Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Brewers' Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR EXPRESSING LIQUIDS FROM SPENT HOPS AND
SUBSTANCES."
OTHER
Sealed the 21st December 1877, and dated the 28th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Edward Bennett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1877.
JAMES EDWARD BENNETT, of 167, Kingsland Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Brewers' Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXPRESSING LIQUIDS
FROM SPENT HOPS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for expressing liquids from
spent hops and other substances, and consists mainly of a rotating drum or central
upright, fitted eccentrically within a cylinder or vessel.
The drum carries a sliding plate or blade which exactly, or nearly, fits the cylinder
at the ends or edges that it is pushed to and fro within the drum by a rubbing
action against the cylinder casing or vessel.
The extremities of the blade or plate are perforated or slotted, as are also the
sides and bottom of the casing for the expressed liquor to pass through when the
pressure by rotation takes place, as hereafter explained.
The central upright I purpose making hollow, and with perforated or slotted side
walls or surface, in order that expressed liquor may pass through the same to a vat
or receptacle, as also the liquor from the cylinder.
The central upright is driven by spur gearing through the intermediation of worm
and worm wheel, but this method of driving or rotating the central upright may be
varied to suit circumstances. The upper part of the casing or vessel has an opening
through which the spent hops or other substance from which the liquor has to be
expressed are shot by hand, or by a shoot or spout, as desired. The upper part has
also a lid, flap, or shutter, by opening which more or less the feed of the substance is
regulated, and by which the substance is prevented leaving the casing by the
discharge opening.

page_text: The lower part of the cylinder casing has an opening through which the com-
pressed substance is permitted to fall into a receptacle, or be removed by hand, if
necessary, the charging hole at the upper part being directly beyond the discharging
opening.
The cylinder or casing has a-recess in one part of its periphery into which a spring
or other tappet or wiper plate is caused to engage by the onward circular travel of
the material under operation, after the substance has been compressed sufficiently,
the spring then yielding to allow the plate to swing and the narrowest passage to
open previous to the substance being finally pressed and discharged.
The sliding plate or blade, while the compressing is being effected, gradually
slides through the central upright, consequently the substance that was supplied to
the broadest part of the vessel becomes reduced in bulk by the expression of the
liquid, and the compression of the material by the excentricity of the cylinder and
upright and the sliding action of the blade combined.
Instead of the outer casing being stationary, it may be rotated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Edward Bennett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
December 1877.
JAMES EDWARD BENNETT, of 167, Kingsland Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Brewers' Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXPRESSING LIQUIDS
FROM SPENT HOPS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of parts forming
an apparatus for expressing liquids from spent hops and other substances, by which
apparatus an intermittent feed, compression, and delivery of the material can take
place, and the liquid expressed, extracted, or separated therefrom during a continuous
action of the moving parts, all as hercin-after set forth.
My Invention is clearly shown in the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a
plan view of a machine for expressing liquids from spent hops and other substances.
Figure 2 is a plan view of same, with the top or cover removed, and Figure 3 a
sectional elevation.
A is the outer cylindrical vessel, perforated or slotted in part of its circumference;
B is an inner drum stepped into the bottom C eccentrically that it may rotate
within the vessel A by external top gearing. This drum is perforated, and also
slotted, in which slots a blade or plate D is fitted somewhat loosely to enable it to
slide to and fro by a rubbing action against the inner wall of the outer casing as it
is carried round by the drum. The ends of this sliding plate are perforated, or they
may be slotted, for the passage of the liquid from the substance under treatment,
the liquor then falling upon the bottom C of the casing, which is also perforated to
enable the liquor to pass through into a tub or stillion" E arranged beneath, and
into which the liquor from the perforated or slotted wall of the outer casing also
falls as it is expressed from the hops or other substance. The bottom C of the vessel
has an opening at F through which the substance falls after compression by the
sliding plate D into a receptacle beneath.
:...
The inner circumference of the vessel A. has a recess G in a portion of its wall of
the same depth as the sliding plate, into which recess the plate H is caused to take

page_text: by the pressure of the substance as it is being pressed or pushed round by the sliding
plate.
The plate H moves on pivot pins, and is caused to come out of the recess when
the sliding plate has passed it by the action of the spring J, which encircles a curved
rod fixed to a tail piece K, the other end of the rod being fitted loosely in an eye
or lug L as a guide. A counterweight may be used instead of the spring.
M is a hopper, into which the hops or other substance is fed to the apparatus, and
N is a fall-down flap (single or double) hinged to the fixed cover P, through the
aperture in which the substance falls into the vessel A after the passing of the sliding
plate D, the charge being then ready for the sliding plate to act upon it, also to lift
up the full-down flap, to temporarily close the aperture, after which the flap falls
again, and a fresh charge falls into the vessel A.
The upper pin or stem Q of the drum B, which is out of the centre of the vessel
A, passes through the top or cover, and carries a spur wheel R, geared into by a.
pinion S, which is on an axle T of a worm wheel U, receiving its motion by the worm
or endless screw V fitted on the transverse shaft W, this being rotated by hand or
by power, as found convenient.
In the foregoing I have referred to the apparatus as a vertical one, but by
modifying it, as is shown in Figures 4 and 5, I can express or remove liquor from
spent hops and other substances, and also compress the substance by fitting the
drum B horizontally, if desired.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
Firstly. The apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the annexed Drawings,
and as before described, for expressing liquids from spent hops and other substances,
the parts of the apparatus, by their peculiar construction and combination, enabling
an intermittent feed, compression, and delivery of the substance, and the extraction
of liquid therefrom during a continuous action of the moving parts, as set forth.
Secondly. I claim the modification of apparatus shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the
annexed Drawings, as and for the purposes described.
Thirdly. I claim the combination of an internal drum, provided with a sliding
plate, moved to and fro by a rubbing action against the inner wall of a cylinder or
vessel, within which a compression of spent hops or other like substance can be
effected and the liquor extracted therefrom, as set forth..
In witness whereof, I, the said James Edward Bennett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES EDWARD BENNETT. (L.S.)