IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF YEAST FROM BREWERS' FERMENTING VESSELS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Percy Smith, of Sevenoaks, in the County of Kent,
Brewer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING
THE REMOVAL OF YEAST FROM BREWERS' FERMENTING VESSELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Percy Smith at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1881.
PERCY SMITII, of Sevenoaks, in the County of Kent, Brewer.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF YEAST FROM BREWERS'
FERMENTING VESSELS."
This Invention relates to apparatus for automatically carrying off or removing
from the surface of the beer the continually forming yeast generated in brewers'
fermenting vessels. The Invention consists of the combination and arrangement
of the following parts:-
Two tubes are employed made of strong block tin, tinned copper, brass, or any
other suitable material which will not injuriously affect or be affected by the
contents of the fermenting vessel, the lower portion of one tube fitting loosely
over the other in order to admit of two or more specially prepared rubber or other
packing rings fitting over that part of the inner tube covered by the outer one.
By the pressure of these rings against the tubes a perfectly liquid tight joint will
be formed, the upper tube being vertically moveable and consequently adjustable
to any required heighth, the rings acting as rollers when the pipe is raised or
lowered and giving sufficient frictional pressure to hold the moveable tube in a firm
and vertical position. The lower tube is formed with a flange at its base, said
flange being bolted or otherwise secured to a hollow triangular or other shaped
box fixed to and passing through an opening formed in the side of the vessel. To
the top of the moveable tube is affixed a handle, hand wheel or wheels, or other
suitable device, which may be within easy reach of the top or side of the vat or
vessel, for the purpose of raising or lowering the tube at any time during fermen-
tation to permit of the retention or conducting away of the yeast as required, which
tube when the vessel is filled is adjusted to the level of the beer or above it as
required. As the yeast is formed it passes out from the vessel through the tubes
out at the side of the vessel and is conducted away, and thus the labour, time, and
objections of hand skimming is avoided.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Percy Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th April
1882.
PERCY SMITH, of Sevenoaks, in the County of Kent, Brewer.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF YEAST FROM BREWERS'
FERMENTING VESSELS."
This Invention relates to apparatus for automatically carrying off or removing
from the surface of the beer the continually forming yeast generated in brewers'
fermenting vessels.
The Invention consists of the combination and arrangement of the following
parts, which will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings which form part of this Specification, and in which
Fig. 1 represents in elevation, partially in section, a brewers' fermenting vessel
fitted with apparatus in accordance with my Invention.
Fig. 2 represents the fermenting vessel with my apparatus shown in section,
the same letters of reference representing corresponding parts in both Figures of
the Drawing. Two tubes A, B, are employed, made of strong block tin, tinned
copper, brass, or any other suitable material which will not injuriously affect or be
-affected-by-the-contents of the fermenting vessel C, the lower portion of tube A
fitting loosely over the tube B in order to admit of two or more specially prepared
rubber or other packing rings c, d, fitting over that part of the inner tube B covered
by the outer tube A. By the pressure of these rings c, d, against the tubes A, B,
a perfectly liquid tight joint will be formed, the upper tube A being vertically
moveable and consequently adjustable to any required heighth, the rings acting as
rollers when the pipe is raised or lowered and giving sufficient frictional pressure to
hold the moveable tube A in a firm and vertical position. The lower tube B is
formed with a flange at its base, said flange being bolted or otherwise secured to a
hollow triangular or other shaped box D fixed to and passing through an opening
formed in the side of the vessel. To the top of the moveable tube is aflixed a
handle E, band wheel or wheels, or other suitable devices (which may be within
easy reach of the top or side of the vat or vessel) for the purpose of raising or
lowering the tube A at any time during fermentation to permit of the retention or
conducting away of the yeast as required, which tube when the vessel is filled is
adjusted to the level of the beer or above it as required.
As the yeast is formed it passes out from the vessel through the tubes A, B, out
at the side of the vessel through the box or channel D, and is conducted away by
means of a trough or other suitable device, and thus the labour, time, and objections
of hand skimming are avoided. The vessel C may be provided with attemperators
or suitable heating devices if desired, and the moveable tube A may be made
smaller than tube B and adapted to travel within it instead of without. The
moveable tube A is preferably supplied with a funnel or enlarged top, while to
prevent its being drawn completely off the fixed tube B both tubes may be flanged,
as indicated at e, e, f,f, or the flanges may be dispensed with and a loose rod
employed provided with nuts at each end and passing through fixed cross pieces
attached to both tubes.
I am aware that it has before been proposed to remove yeast from fermenting
vessels by means of adjustable sluices, and also by single pipes, and I do not claim
such arrangements as my Invention, but what I do claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is,―
The combination and arrangement of parts hereinbefore described, forming the

page_text: improvements in apparatus for facilitating the removal of yeast from brewers'
fermenting vessels, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Percy Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
in the presence of
A. SMITH,
Sevenoaks,
Kent.
PERCY SMITH. (L.S.)