IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR TREATMENT OF HOPS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Bankier Freeland, of 4, Chatham Terrace,
Palace Road, Upper Norwood, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR TREATMENT OF HOPS."
Sealed the 7th November 1862, and dated the 12th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Bankier
Freeland at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
on the 12th May 1862.
J, ALEXANDER BANKIER FREELAND, of 4 Chatham Terrace, Palace Road,
Upper Norwood, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR TREATMENT OF Hops," to
be as follows:-
My improvements in the preparation or treatment of hops have for their
object the preserving the aroma of the hops, whilst they are kept in store, and
also the packing them into a smaller space, so that they may be transported
from place to place, and stored more couveniently. For these purposes 'I'
take the hops by preference in the state in which they are usually packed
into the pockets, and I submit them to heavy pressure, and expose them for
some time to a moderate heat whilst under pressure. I proceed, by preference,
as follows: I employ a press having a rectangular trunk, in which the hops
aré put, a metal plate being placed under and another over them; the press is
then set to work to compress the hops between the two plates; when sufficient'

page_text: pressure has been applied, the plates are clamped together, and removed
from the press with the hops between them, in this state they are placed in
a stove, and exposed to a moderate heat until the hops become set; they are
then removed from the stove, allowed to cool, and unclamped. In this manner
a solid block of hops is obtained, which may be kept for a long time without
any considerable loss of the aroma of the hops, and the hops in this
form will occupy comparatively a small space. I prefer to protect the
block during transport, and whilst in store, by sewing it up in a wrapper of
fabric.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Bankier Freeland in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, ALEXANDER
BANKIER FREELAND, of 4, Chatham Terrace, Palace Road, Upper Norwood,
in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Bankier Freeland, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander
Bankier Freeland; my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Alexander Bankier Freeland, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OR TREATMENT OF HOPS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Bankier Freeland, 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 Alexander Bankier Freeland, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the sanc

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My improvements in the preparation or treatment of hops have for their
object the preserving the aroma of the hops whilst they are kept in store,
and also the packing them into a smaller space, so that they may be transported
from place to place, and stored more conveniently.
For these purposes I
take the hops by preference in the state in which they are usually packed
into the pockets, and I submit them to heavy pressure, and expose them for
some time to a moderate heat, whilst under pressure. I proceed by preference
as follows: I employ a press having a rectangular trunk, into which the hops
are put, a metal plate being placed under and another over them; the press
is then set to work to compress the hops between the two plates; when
sufficient pressure has been applied the plates are clamped together,
and removed from the press with the hops between them; in this state
they are placed in a stove, and exposed to a moderate heat until the hops
become set; they are then removed from the stove, allowed to cool, and un-
clamped. In this manner a solid block of hops is obtained, which may be
kept for a long time without any considerable loss of the aroma of the hops,
and the hops in this form will occupy comparatively a small space.
I prefer
to protect the block during transport, and whilst in store, by sewing it up in
a wrapper of fabric.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed more fully
to describe the best mode I am acquainted with for. performing the same,
and I would state that hydraulic or other forms of presses may be employed
in carrying out my Invention; I prefer to use hydraulic presses for the purpose.
The size of trunks used therewith will depend on the power of the press,
and the sizes it is desired to give to the pressed masses or cakes of hops.
On to the piston or follower of the. press an iron plate is first placed, the.
quantity of hops which it is intended to be formed into a pressed mass is placed
in the trunk of the press on to the iron plate; over the upper surface of the
hops in the trunk of the press another iron plate is to be introduced into the
trunk. The size of the iron plates thus used is only slightly less than the
sectional area of the trunk so that they may move freely therein. Pressure
is now to be applied to the piston or plunger of the press, by which the hops
in the trunk will be compressed between the piston or plunger of the press,
and the fixed end or top of the press. The hops having been thus pressed
the two plates above mentioned are to be clamped or held together by any
convenient means, by which the compressed hops will be prevented expanding
when removed from the press. The compressed hops are next to be subjected

page_text: to heat in a suitable heated stove or chamber, (I prefer to use a heat of about
180° to 212° of Fahrenheit,) for about three or four hours. The heat above
mentioned may however be varied, and such is the case in respect to the
time during which the compressed hops are subjected thereto, whilst retained
under. compression. The mass or cake of compressed hops is next removed
from the heated-stove or chamber, and allowed to cool, but the hops are to
be still retained under compression. When cooled the plates are to be
removed, when.-it will be found that the compressed hops will retain the
dimensions, or nearly as may be, to which they have been compressed, and
they may then be covered with canvas or other suitable fabric.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to
the mechanism herein described separately and apart from the use of the
same in carrying out my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Bankier Freeland, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
ALEX. BANKIER FREELAND. (L.S.)