IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BREWING
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lawrence, of Colnbrook, in the County of
Middlesex, Brewer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR BREWING."
Sealed the 23rd December 1857, and dated the 29th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lawrence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th June 1857.
I, JAMES LAWRENCE, of Colubrook, in the County of Middlesex, Brewer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR BREWING," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to the mashing and fermenting processes in
browing, and consists in constructing two several descriptions of apparatus to
be used, one of them in or with the mash tun or vessel, and the other in or
with the fermenting vat or vessel. I have found, that by considerably
increasing the number of holes or openings for drawing off the wort through
the bottom of the mash tin, a more perfect extract is obtained than by the use
of only a few or a small number of holes; and my improved apparatus for
effecting this object consists in constructing the bottom or false bottom of the
mash tun or vessel of wire gauze, or closely perforated plates, used in com-
bination with gratings or framings, and either fixed to them or otherwise, or

page_text: of narrow bars so laid together, or side by side, as to leave narrow longitudinal
spaces or openings between. It is well known, also, that in removing the
yeast from the fermenting vat in the ordinary manner, a considerable portion
of the beer is removed along with it, which afterwards settles with a portion
of the yeast, and is technically called "bottoms;" and it is the object of my
improved apparatus to be used in or with the fermenting vat or vessel, to
enable the yeast to be removed with a less portion, or without any of the beer,
and in the state or condition technically called "dry yeast;" and my said
apparatus for this purpose consists of a separator or floating strainer, to be
placed and used at or upon the surface of the beer during the process of
fermentation, and so formed in one or more pieces, and with holes or openings,
as to allow the yeast (as it accumulates or is produced) to rise through the
said holes or openings, and to settle or rest upon the upper surface of the
separator or strainer, and at the same time allow any beer which may rise with
the yeast to separate and run back through the said holes or openings, and the
yeast is simply removed in a "dry" state from the top or surface of the
separator or strainer, taking up very little, if any portion of the beer, or
agitating its surface.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Lawrence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th December 1857..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LAWRENCE, of Colnbrook, in the County of Middlesex, Brewer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Lawrence, Her special licence that I, the said James Lawrence,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Lawrence, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at; all times thereafter during tho
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, usc, exercise, and
vend, within the United, Kingdom of Great Britain anil Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR BREWING," upon the condition (amongst
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jaines
Lawrence, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: 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 James Lawrence, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention has reference to the mashing and fermenting processes in
brewing, and consists in constructing two several descriptions of apparatus to
be used, one of them in or with the mash tun or vessel, and the other in or
with the fermenting vat or vessel. I have found, that by considerably
increasing the number of holes or openings for drawing off the wort through
the bottom of the mash tun, a more perfect extract is obtained than by the
use of only a few or a small number of holes; and my improved apparatus
for effecting this object consists in constructing the bottom or false bottom of
the mash tun or vessel of wire gauze, or closely perforated plates, used in
combination with gratings or framings, and either fixed to them or otherwise,
or of narrow bars so laid together, or sido by side, as to leave narrow longi-
tudinal spaces or openings between. It is well known, also, that in removing
the yeast from the fermenting vat in the ordinary manner, a considerable
portion of the beer is removed along with it, which afterwards settles with a
portion of the yeast, and is technically called "bottoms;" and it is the object
of my improved apparatus to be used in or with the fermenting vat or vessel,
to enable the yeast to be removed with a less portion, or without any of the
beer, and in the state or condition technically called "dry yeast." And my
said apparatus for this purpose consists of a separator or floating strainer, to
be placed and used at or upon the surface of the beer during the process of
fermentation, and so formed in one or more pieces, and with holes or openings,
as to allow the yeast (as it accumulates or is produced) to rise through the
said holes or openings, and to settle or rest upon the upper surface of the
separator or strainer, and at the same time allow any beer which may rise
with the yeast to separate and run back through the said holes or openings,
and the yeast is simply removed in a "dry" state from the top or surface of
the separator or strainer, taking up very little, if any, portion of the beer, or
agitating its surface.
Having thus set forth the nature of each of the improvements comprehended
by my said Invention, I will now proceed also to describe the manner in

page_text: which each of them is to be performed, for which purpose I have prepared the
two accompanying illustrative Drawings, No. 1 and No. 2, which have
reference to each of them respectively.
The Drawing No. 1 is an illustration of the improved description of
apparatus to be used in or with the mash tun or vessel for obtaining a more
perfect extract of the malt or material employed.
Figure 1 is a partly exterior and partly sectional elevation, and Figure 2, a
corresponding plan view, with certain parts removed. In these Figures, A is
an ordinary mash tun; B, its ordinary bottom; C, C, perforated steam pipes
for heating the contents; D, a shaft for carrying agitators or beaters (not
shown in the Drawing), and E, the steam pipe; none of the above-mentioned
parts constitute any feature of the present improvement, otherwise than in
combination with the following parts. But above the ordinary bottom B, and
in addition thereto, is also placed the improved or false bottom to the mash
tun, which is constituted of the sheet or sheets, or pieces of wire gauze H,
resting upon, supported, and strengthened by the cast-iron grating or framing
I, which is made sufficiently stout to enable the workmen to walk upon the
gauzo without injuring it when clearing out the grain from the mash tun.
For convenience, the framing I is made in "sector" shaped divisions or pieces,
eight of which (more or less) may be used to fill up or complete the entire
surface, of which number, three only are represented in the Figure 2, and the
wire gauze upon or over only two of them. The grating or gratings may,
however, be constructed of any other approved form or suitable material. The
object of this part of my Invention is to produce as many currents or streams
as possible through the mass or goods in the mash tun.
The Drawing No. 2 is an illustration of the improved description of
apparatus to be used in or with the fermenting vat or vessel. Figure 3 is a
partly exterior and partly sectional elevation, and Figure 4, a corresponding
plan view, with certain parts broken away or removed. In these Figures, a
is an ordinary modern square fermenting vat or vessel, constructed with a
spreading or enlarged top 6, for collecting the yeast, and with a sliding door or
front c on one side, for convenience of removing the yeast when formed; dis
an agitator, for stirring up or mixing the contents, and exciting fermentation,
and e aud f, a shaft and handles for turning the same; none of the above-
mentioned parts constituting any feature of the present improvement, other-
wise than in combination with the following parts :-m, n, o, is the improved
separator or floating strainer, which I prefer to construct, as represented, of
a wooden framing m, m, with legs n, n, covered with planks o, o, laid on or
lixed to the framing, in such position and manner, as to leave narrow longi-

page_text: tudinal spaces or openings between them, through or between which the yeast
may rise as it accumulates or is produced, and likewise the beer, if any has
passed, may run back again and leave the yeast in the desired "dry" state;
8, 8, is a coil of pipe for cooling or attemperating the beer, which coil is fixed to
and rises and falls with the improved floating separator or strainer; and t, t*,
are admission and exit pipes for the passage of the water to and from the coil,
and which must be so arranged with joints or otherwise, as to allow of the rise
and fall of the coil along with the separator or strainer. Instead of or in
addition to the longitudinal openings or spaces, holes or perforations may be
made in the planks o, o, or metal plates perforated or otherwise, may be
employed instead of wooden planking, the framing being made sufficiently
buoyant.
I would here remark, that my improvement may be employed not only in
connection with a square fermenting vat or vessel as represented, but also with
a circular or other shaped vat or vessel, the form and construction of the float-
ing separator or strainer being altered accordingly.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lawrence, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JAMES LAWRENCE. (L..s.)