A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE TO BE USED IN 'FINING' OR IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF ALES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Emanuel Gregory, of Rhodeswell Road, Lime-
house, in the County of Middlesex, Licensed Victualler, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS TO BE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Emanuel Gregory at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th November 1871.
}
I, EMANUEL GREGORY, of Rhodeswell Road, Limehouse, in the
County of Middlesex, Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS
TO BE USED IN 'FINING' OR IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF ALES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a means of "fining" or improving the con-
dition of ales by the adention and use of which the present inconvenient

page_text: and unsightly plan with its attendant evil of a wet and oftimes fetid mess
upon the cask and floor is avoided, and entire cleanliness is secured.
This instrument or apparatus consists of a chamber of a funnel,
conical, taper, or other shape convenient for the purpose. Across the
upper part of the chamber are one, two, or more arms forming or
carrying the bearings, in which can slide vertically a plunger rod pro-
vided generally at its upper end with a knob or handle. This plunger rod
extends downwards to the narrowed or reduced end of the chamber and
is there provided with a diaphragm or plunger exactly fitting the mouth
or orifice of the same, so that the said mouth or orifice can thereby be
closed or opened.
In most cases I prefer to make the plunger rod hollow and provide it
with an internal spiral or coiled spring, and at the upper end of the
plunger rod a slot is made into which a projection or stud on a disc
carried by the coiled spring can enter. The disc is made of such a
relative diameter to the hollow plunger rod that a certain amount of
play is allowed, and the projection or stud when forced inwards will
release the spring and thereby operate the diaphragm or plunger at the
orifice or mouth of the chamber.
In use the instrument or apparatus thus constructed has its lower
end entered into the cask or barrel, packing rings or washers of a
suitable size being employed to fit and make air-tight the bung hole.
Into the chamber is then poured the requisite quantity of ale and the
diaphragm or plunger being opened by pressure on the plunger rod the
fining" action will commence, the matter caused from fermentation
or working rising into the chamber, and as it does so being replaced
in the cask by the ale from the chamber.
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Emanuel Gregory in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EMAMUEL
GREGORY, of Rhodeswell Road, Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex,
Licensed Victualler, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Emanuel Gregory, Her special licence
that I, the said Emanuel Gregory, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Emanuel Gregory, my executors,
administrators, and 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED INSTRU-
MENT OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN 'FINING' OR IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF
ALES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Emanuel
Gregory, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Emanuel Gregory, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This Invention relates to a means of "fining" or improving the
condition of ales by the adoption and use of which the present incon-
venient and unsightly plan with its attendant evil of a wet and oftimes
foetid mess upon the cask and floor is completely superseded and entire
cleanliness is secured.

page_text: This instrument or apparatus consists of a chamber of a funnel,
conical, taper, or other shape convenient for the purpose. Across the
upper part of this chamber are one, two, or more arms forming or
carrying the bearings, in which can slide vertically a plunger rod, pro-
vided generally at its upper end with a knob or handle.
This plunger
rod extends downwards to the narrowed or reduced end of the chamber
and is there provided with a diaphragm or plunger exactly fitting the
mouth or orifice of the chamber, so that the said mouth or or orifice
can thereby be closed or opened.
In some cases I prefer to make the plunger rod hollow and provide it
with an internal spiral or coiled spring, and at the upper end of the
plunger rod is made a slot into which a projection or stud on a disc
carried by the coiled spring can enter. The disc is made of such a
relative diameter to the hollow plunger rod that a certain amount of
play is allowed, and that the projection or stud when forced inwards will
release the spring and thereby operate the diaphragm or plunger at the
orifice or mouth of the chamber.
The spring may be and is in some cases placed externally around the
plunger rod.
In order that the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is effected, may be particularly described and ascertained,
this Specification is accompanied by a Sheet of Drawings showing one
convenient arrangement of my apparatus. This Sheet of Drawings has
figures and letters of reference marked thereupon, the like letter being
used to denote a similar or corresponding part in each Figure.
In these Drawings Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 2 a section, Figure 3
a top view, and Figure 4 a bottom view of the apparatus.
The plunger rod is marked a, the plunger a¹, the plunger rod and
spiral spring casing b, the spiral spring c, the projecting catch for the
purpose of arresting or detaining the plunger in the position shown in
Figure 2 is marked d, and e is a stop piece which limits the travel of
the plunger rod.
In use the instrument or apparatus thus constructed has its lower
end entered into the cask or barrel, packing rings or washers f of a
suitable size being employed to fit and make air-tight the bung hole. a
Into the funnel-shaped chamber is then poured the requisite quantity of

page_text: ale, and the diaphragm or plunger a¹ having been opened, as shown in
Figure 2, by pressure on the plunger rod a the fining action will com-
mence, the matter caused through fermentation or working rising into
the chamber and as it does so being replaced in the cask by the ale
from the chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is effected, I wish it to be
particularly understood that what I claim is, the arrangement or
arrangements of apparatus or of the instrument herein described or in
the accompanying Drawings illustrated in and for the purpose herein-
before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Emanuel Gregory, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
EM¹. GREGORY. (L.S.)