Improvements in Means Employed in the Storage of Hops.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left. 20th Nov., 1896--Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means Employed in the Storage of Hops.
We, LAWRENCE BRIANT, of 24 Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London,
Analytical Chemist, and CHARLES STEPHEN MEACHAM, of Pettridge, Bower
Mount Road, Maidstone, in the County of Kent, Brewer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It has hitherto been customary when storing pockets of hops in cold rooms to
place them each in separate iron vessels of either cylindrical or square shape,
according to the shape of the pocket. As these cylinders or boxes are of con-
siderable weight and inconvenient both in regard to handling, space occupied, and
other ways, we now propose to construct a storage chamber which, whilst being of
sufficient strength to contain, for the purpose of cold storage, a number of pockets
or bales in each chamber, yet, by the peculiar features hereinafter set forth, their
outer walls are enabled to be made from such light material as would not otherwise
be of itself of sufficient strength for such storage. We also avoid the inconvenience
aud expense of having a separate vessel complete with air-tight man-hole for each
individual package by replacing it by a chamber in which a single man-hole is
sufficient for the whole number of pockets or packages to be placed therein.
Furthermore, we provide means to absorb the initial moisture contained in the
air of the room, and also to reduce the moisture of the hops themselves, by the use
of a hygroscopic substance, such as calcic chloride, sulphuric acid or other suitable
substance, stored in the chamber in such a manner as not to come in contact with
the hops stored therein, and we prefer to do this by enclosing the hygroscopic
substance in shallow troughs or chambers in the hottom of the vessel, these being
covered over by perforated or slotted plates of metal or wood.
Further, the chamber is made to withstand changes of pressure in the air
contained therein, which would result from variation of temperature, by a valve or
valves capable of either admitting air to the interior of the vessel or of permitting
it to escape therefrom, according as the outer or interior atmospheric pressure is in
the ascendant. A convenient form of double action safety valve is constructed as
follows.
The body of the valve is in the shape of a hollow T, the base of which is
screwed into the top of the chamber (or other convenient place). One terminal
of the T is made to point upwards and at the open end an india-rubber seating is
formed, on which a disc of metal rests. The opposite terminal of the T points
downwards and also has a metal disc resting on an india-rubber seating. These
two discs act as valves in opposite directions; any increase of pressure within the
chamber raises the disc in the upward valve, thus allowing air to escape, whilst
any reduction of pressure within the chamber, lifts the disc in the downward valve
ard draws air in; when the pressure is steady, no air passes either in or out of the
chamber as both valves remain closed.
The storage chamber is constructed as follows. The floor or bottom of the
vessel is first formed of strong material sufficient to sustain the weight of the
number of packages it will contain. This may be of iron or wood or other
suitable material. If of wood it is covered with a sheet of metal or other substance
impermeable to water. A groove or grooves is formed for the reception of the
by groscopic substance before mentioned, which may be contained in easily

page_text: removable trays or receivers to enable it to be readily changed as may be required
without otherwise opening the storage chamber. The receptacles for the hygro-
scopic material are made of earthenware or other non-corrodible material. A
skeleton framework of the chamber in iron, wood, or other suitable material, is
secured to the bottom. This skeleton is preferably of such shape that all its parts
present a flat surface to the outside, but protruding edges inside, and it is preferably
constructed of T and angle iron either rolled or cast and bolted or rivetted
together. The sides, ends and top of the skeleton chamber are covered with any
light waterproof material, preferably metal, such as light galvanized iron or zinc
or other metal, which is rendered air-tight by soldering or other means and also
joined hermetically with the bottom. A man-hole is left in a convenient place in
the top of the chamber, through which the packages will be lowered or raised, the
whole being hermetically sealed by a lid or cover which forms an air-tight joint on
a suitable seating.
A storage chamber of the above description is easy of construction, very light
in comparison with the weight of the material to be enclosed, and incapable of
being damaged by gaseous expansion or contraction. The definite quantity of
hops. stored in each chamber may be removed from the cold store at any time
without injury to the others in the same store but contained .in other similar
chambers.
We also improve the keeping quality of the hops by absorbing the moisture
from the air and reducing it in the hops themselves.
The above storage chamber may be constructed either singly or as a compound
vessel, a further economy in construction being obtained by the latter in that one
dividing wall serves for two chambers.
1
T11000
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means Employed in the Storage of Hops.
We, LAWRENCE BRIANT, of 24 Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London,.
Analytical Chemist, and CHARLES STEPHEN MEACHAM, of Pettridge, Bower
Mount Road, Maidstone, in the County of Kent, Brewer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
It has hitherto been customary when storing pockets of hops in cold rooms,
either to place them each in separate iron vessels of either cylindrical or square
shape, according to the shape of the pockets or bale or else to maintain a very
low and uniform storage temperature if the pockets are not enclosed in cylinders
or as an alternative to circulate cold dry air by means of an outside freezing
chamber and fan driven. by power.
Research and practical experiments have demonstrated that such extremely low
temperatures are not necessary if the percentage of moisture in. the hops is
sufficiently low.
We propose to obtain the last named conditions of storage, avoiding on one
hand the great incouvenience and expense of separate cylinders for each pocket
and on the other the costliness of the extremely low temperature systems.
This we effect by constructing a storage chamber which whilst being of sufficient
strength to contain, for the purpose of cold storage, a number of pockets or bales
in each chamber, yet by the peculiar features hereinafter set forth, their outer walls

page_text: are enabled to be made from such light material as would not otherwise be of itself
of sufficient strength for such storage. We also avoid the inconvenience and
expense of having a separate vessel complete with air tight manhole for each
individual package by replacing it by a chamber in which a single manhole or
door is sufficient for the whole number of pockets or packages to be placed
therein.
Furthermore we provide means to absorb the initial moisture contained in thes
air of the storage chamber and also to reduce the moisture of the hops themselves,.
by the use of a hygroscopic substance, such as calcie chloride, sulphuric acid or
other suitable substance, stored in the chamber in such a manner as not to come.
into contact with the hops stored therein.
Further the chamber is made to withstand changes of pressure in the air con-
tained therein, which would result from variation of temperature, by a valve or
valves capable of either admitting air to the interior of the vessel or of permitting it
to escape therefrom, according as the outer or interior atmospheric pressure is in the
ascendant.
Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 2 an end elevation partly in section and
Fig. 3 a horizontal section of a storage chamber constructed according to our
invention.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of part of the chamber showing the man-hole or
door.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of part of the man-hole or door and
Fig. 6 is a cross section of the trough for containing the hygroscopic material.
Figures 4, 5, 6 are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1. 2. 3.
The storage chamber is constructed as follows:-The floor or bottom a of the
vessel is formed of strong material sufficient to sustain the weight of the number of "
packages it will contain. This may be of iron or wood or other suitable material...
If of wood it is covered with a sheet of metal or other substauce impermeable to water..
In the drawing it is shown made of metal. A space or recess b is formed for the
reception of the hygroscopic substance before mentioned, which may be contained:
either in the recess itself or in easily removable trays or receivers (not shown) to
enable it to be readily changed as may be required without otherwise opening the
storage chamber, or it may be drawn off by a cock or trapped pipe. The
receptacles for the hygroscopic material are made, of cast iron, earthenware or
other non-corrodible material, this varying according to the moisture absorbent.
employed, and are inserted and removed through end openings in the recess b. The
space or recess b is covered by perforated or slotted plates or boards of metal or
wood. A skeleton framework'e of the chamber in iron, wood or other suitable-
material is secured to the bottom a. This skeleton c is preferably of such shape
that all its parts present a flat surface to the outside, but protruding edges inside,.
and it is preferably constructed of T and angle iron either rolled or cast and bolted
or rivetted together.
The sides, ends and top of the skeleton chamber are covered with any light
waterproof material d preferably metal, such as light galvanized iron rolled iron or
zine or other metal, which is rendered air-tight by soldering, rivetting or other
means and also joined hermetically with the bottom.
A man-hole or doorway is left in a convenient place in the top, ends or sides of
the chamber, through which the packages will be introduced and removed, the
entire being bermetically sealed by a lid, cover or door e which by means of a
suitable seating or packing forms an air-tight joint. In the drawing, the door is
shown in one end of the chamber.
A convenient form of double action safety valve is shown at 9 and is constructed.
as follows:-
The body of the valve 9 is in the shape of a hollow T, one arm of which is.
secured to the chamber at any convenient place, a second arm of the T is made to.
point upwards and at the open end an india rubber or other seating is formed on.

page_text: which a disc g' of metal rests. The third terminal of the T points downwards and
also has a metal disc g' resting on an india rubber or other seating. These two
discs og act as valves in opposite directions, any increase of pressure within the
chamber raises the disc gl thus allowing air to escape, whilst any reduction of
pressure within the chamber causes the disc g' to rise and draws air in ; when the
pressure is steady, no air passes either in or out of the chamber and both valves
remain closed.
A storage chamber of the above description is easy of construction, very light in
comparison with the weight of the material to be enclosed, and incapable of being
damaged by gaseous expansion or contraction. The definite quantity of bops
stored in each chamber may be removed from the cold store at any time without
injury to the others in the same store but contained in other similar chambers.
We also improve the keeping quality of the bops and minimise the degree of
cold required for their preservation by absorbing the moisture from the air and
reducing it in the hops themselves.
The above storage chamber may be constructed either singly or as a compound
vessel, a further economy in construction being obtained by the latter in that
one dividing wall serves for two chambers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improved means employed in the storage of hops, substantially as herein
shown and described.
2. In means employed in the storage of hops, a hermetically closed chamber
constructed of light material and capable of containing a number of pockets or
bales of hops such chamber being provided with a man-hole, cover or door and with
a double action safety valve, substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In means employed in the storage of hops, the combination of a hermetically
closed chamber, capable of containing a number of pockets or bales of hops, a
man-hole, door or cover through which access to the chamber can be had, a double
action safety valve, a shallow trough in the bottom of the chamber to contain
hygroscopic material and a perforated or slotted covering plate or plates or board
or boards substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated November 20th 1896.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents..