IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WORT, AND IN APPARATUS USED FOR THIS PURPOSE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris and
Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WORT, AND
IN APPARATUS USED FOR THIS PURPOSE." A communication from abroad by
Heinrich Husak, Revenue Officer, and Adolf Hanl, Coppersmith, both of the
City of Kuttenberg, in the Empire of Austria.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November
1880.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WORT, AND IN APPARATUS USED FOR THIS
PURPOSE." A communication from abroad by Heinrich Husak, Revenue Officer;
and Adolf Hanl, Coppersmith; both of the City of Kuttenberg, in the Empire of
Austria.
The Invention relates to a certain process for drawing off the wort from the
dregs, and to a "separating sluice which is used to accomplish this purpose; and
its object is to obtain more and purer wort, and more solid and heavier dregs than
is possible by the processes of drawing off the wort hitherto in use, and, further,
to furnish an apparatus by which the new process will be easily and surely
executed.
The usual method of drawing off the wort from the dregs or sediment consists in
letting the wort flow down into the working tuns or squares through a pipe in the
bottom of the cooler, or in the side near the bottom, taking care by interposing
filters that as little as possible of the dregs is carried along with the wort, but it is
not possible to avoid this completely. The remaining dregs are then put on sack
filters or filter presses to obtain the wort still retained in the dregs. The wort
resulting by the said process always contains more or less dregs, which, containing
albumen and nitrogenous substances, afterwards make the beer dull or cloudy and
liable to become spoiled.
.
The present Invention draws off the wort from its surface by means of the new
separating sluice" hereinafter described.

page_text: As the cutting edge of the opening of this sluice is only a little below the surface
of the fluid, the latter flows through the sluice very quietly and without stirring
or disturbing the sediment. As the inlet opening of the sluice is lowered in
proportion to the decreasing quantity of the wort, the lighter particles of dregs
Hoating in the wort settle down gradually to the heavier sediment instead of being
conveyed along with the wort.
دو
The result of this process is a greater yield of purer and brighter wort, which is
ready for the fermenting tuns without any filtering. The beer resulting from such
wort is brighter, keeps longer, contains more glucose and more carbonic acid than
beer brewed according to the old process; the yeast is also better and richer.
Besides these advantages the employment of the "separating sluice affords
another one. As the wort is drawn off from the surface in every moment new
particles of the fluid are exposed to evaporation and to the cooling effect of the
atmospheric air, and the cooling of the wort goes on very fast. This effect may be
increased by combining the "separating sluice" with a blower, so that no extra
cooling apparatus of any of the usual pattern is needed, saving thereby beavy
expenses.
"
125
The " separating sluice is constructed as follows:-A cylindrical hollow
chamber containing a revolving screw nut, gearing to turn this nut, and the
bearing for the axle with crank is secured under the bottom of the cooler in a
convenient place.
Through a hole in, the bottom passes a hollow separating cylinder, fitting into
the first mentioned chamber, which is prevented from turning by a suitable device,
and is provided on its lower end with a male screw thread corresponding with the
nut.
'
The top of the "separating cylinder" is fitted on the outside with a sharp
edged brim or flange, the upper side of which is level, and the under side flaring or
inclined.
Near the top is a fine sieve spread across the opening of the cylinder.. In case
the "separating sluice" shall work at the same time as a cooling apparatus a
rotary fan or blower is fitted to the lower end of the cylindrical chamber just where
it is jointed to a pipe carrying off the wort to the working tuns. The "separating
sluice acts as follows:-By means of the crank nut and gearing the second
cylinder is lowered a little under the level of the wort, which at once flows down
through the sluice.
"
The wort moving on its surface converging to the opening of the sluice is divided
or separated by the cutting edge of the brim or flange in two parts, one flowing
through the sluice, the other deflected by the inclined side of the brim or flange
passing to the bottom of the cooler, and depositing the dregs carried along
with it.
دو
The light floating particles are retained by the sieve. When the level of the
wort is sunk to the level of the sluice the separating cylinder is again lowered, and
so on till all wort is drawn off; then the compact dregs remaining in the cooler
may be put in the filter press to separate the little wort still retained by them.
In case the " separating sluice shall act as cooling apparatus a rotary fan or
blower fitted in the lower end of the cylindrical chamber is set in action by a belt
or any other suitable mechanism, throwing a stream of cold and, if wished,
purified air against the thin and extended stream of wort flowing down through
the sluice.
It must be remarked that one or more coolers can be drawn off by one or more
suitably sized "separating sluices;" further, that the form of the sluice can be
varied. It may be made square or of other shape, and the cutting rim or edge may
be raised or lowered by mechanism differing in construction but effecting the same
purpose as that hereinbefore described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th May 1881.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WORT, AND IN APPARATUS USED FOR THIS
PURPOSE.' A communication from abroad by Heinrich Husak, Revenue Officer,
and Adolf Hanl, Coppersmith, both of the City of Kuttenberg, in the Empire of
Austria.
"
The Invention relates to a certain process for drawing off the wort from the
dregs, and to a "separating sluice or apparatus which is used to accomplish this
purpose, and its object is to obtain more and purer wort and more solid and heavier
dregs than is possible by the processes of drawing off the wort hitherto in use, and
further, to furnish an apparatus by which the new process will be easily and surely
executed.
The usual method of drawing off the wort from the dregs or sediment consists in
letting the wort flow down into the working tuns or vessels through a pipe in the
bottom of the cooler, or in the side near the bottom, taking care by interposing
filters that as little as possible of the dregs is carried along with the wort; but it
is not possible to avoid this completely. The remaining dregs are then put on sack
filters or in filter presses to obtain the wort still retained in the dregs. The wort
resulting by the said process always contains more or less dregs, which, containing
albumen and nitrogenous substances, afterwards make the beer dull or cloudy and
liable to become spoiled.
"
The present Invention draws off the wort from its surface by means of the new
'separating sluice" hereinafter described. As the cutting edge of the top opening of
this sluice is only a little below the surface of the fluid the latter flows through the
sluice very quietly and without stirring or disturbing the sediment. As the top of
the sluice is lowered in proportion to the decreasing quantity of the wort, the
lighter particles of the dregs floating in the wort settle down gradually to the
heavier sediment instead of being carried along with the wort.
The result of this "surface drawing off" process, which is simple and natural, is
a greater yield of purer and brighter wort, which is ready for the fermenting tuns
or vats without filtering. The beer resulting from such wort is brighter, keeps
longer, contains more glucose and carbonic acid than beer brewed according to the
old process. The yeast is also richer and better.
Besides these advantages the employment of the "separating sluice" affords
another one. As the wort is drawn off from the surface every moment new particles
of the fluid are exposed to evaporation and to the cooling effect of the atmospheric
air, and the cooling of the wort goes on very fast. This effect may be increased
by combining the "separating sluice" with a blowing apparatus, so that no extra
cooling apparatus of any of the usual patterns is needed, saving thereby heavy
expenses.
It will be understood that the "separating sluice" may be constructed in
various ways, and I will therefore describe as examples only the two arrange-
ments which are represented in the accompanying Drawing. The construction of
the apparatus may be further modified according to circumstances without departing
from the nature of the Invention, so long as it effects the drawing off of the liquid
from the surface and the gradual lowering of the separating cutting edge of the
sluice.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view of the sluice with a portion thereof broken away to show
the gearing; Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof, but showing a slight modification
in the form of the gearing; Figure 3 is a horizontal cross section showing the
casing and the separating cylinder; Figure 4 is a vertical section of a simpler form
of sluice which may be attached to the side of the cooler.
A cylindrical hollow chamber, consisting of a part A containing a revolving screw
nut E, a toothed wheel G gearing into the toothed nut E to turn this nut E, and
the bearing H and O for the axle of the wheel G, which may be rotated by means
of the crank F, and a second part B, which serves as a guide for the separating
cylinder C, is secured by means of flanges M of the part B to the underside of the
bottom of the wort cooler in any convenient place. Through a corresponding hole
in the bottom of the cooler passes the hollow "separating cylinder" C, which,
fitting tightly into the upper part of B, is guided by the latter, and prevented from
turning by the pin I working up and down in a straight groove in the part B. The
lower portion of the cylinder C is provided with a male screw thread fitting the
female screw of the nut E. To the upper portion of the cylinder C is fitted a
separate ring, the top of which forms a sharp edged rim or flange K projecting
outwardly. The upper side of this ring is flat, the underside flaring or inclined.
Near the top a fine sieve L is spread across the opening of the cylinder C. In
case the "separating sluice" shall work at the same time as a cooling apparatus
a rotary fan or blower is fitted to the lower end of the chamber A just where
it is jointed by means of the flanges N to a pipe carrying off the wort to the
working tuns.
"
The separating sluice" works as follows:-By means of the crank F, nut E,
and gearing G, the separating cylinder C is lowered a little under the surface of
the wort, which at once flows over the top of the ring of the cylinder C, and down
through the sluice. The wort moving on its surface converging to the ring opening
of the sluice is divided or separated by the cutting edge K of its brim or flange into
two portions, one flowing through the sluice, the other deflected by the inclined
side of the brim or flange passes to the bottom of the cooler, there depositing the
dregs carried along with it. Light floating bodies are retained by the sieve L.
When the level of the wort is sunk to the level of the edge K the separating
cylinder C is again lowered by turning the crank F, and so on until all the wort is
drawn off. A pointer Q on the crank F travelling over an index P on the nut O
may help to make this lowering regular. Then the compact dregs remaining on
the bottom of the cooler may be put into a filter press to separate the little wort
still retained by them. In case the sluice shall act as a cooling apparatus the
rotary fan or blower in the lower end of the chamber A is set in motion by a belt
or any other suitable means throwing a stream of cold and, if desired, purified
air against the thin and extended stream of wort flowing down through the
sluice.
In Figure 4 is shown a "separating sluice" of different form and construction
which may be attached to the side of the cooler. A square box A¹ which is
connected to the pipe leading to the working tuns is fastened to the side of the
cooler. Opposite to the opening in the cooler is an opening in the box. A slide
guided in ways on the inside of the box closes the openings and separates by
its sharp edge rim K¹ the wort flowing from the cooler over such edge K¹, and
down to the working tuns. The position of the slide is regulated by the screw S
rotated by a crank on its upper end.
One or more coolers may be drawn off by one or more suitably sized "separating
sluices."
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
the same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,―
First. The treatment of wort by drawing it off from the surface he means.

page_text: of a "separating sluice," substantially as herein described and for the purpose
explained.
"
Second. The separating sluice" for the "surface drawing off" of the wort,
consisting of a chamber A, B, adjustable "separating cylinder" C, with sharp
edged cutting rim or flange K, or in lieu thereof a simple adjustable "separating
slide" with cutting edge, substantially as herein shown and described.
6
"
Third. The "separating sluice consisting of the chamber A, B, and the
separating cylinder" C, adjustable by the crank F and the gearing E, and the
accessory mechanism carried by the said parts A and B in combination with
the sharp edged rim K and the sieve L, substantially as herein shown and
described, and for the purpose explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.