Improvements in a Process and Apparatus for Treating Malt Liquors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in a Process and Apparatus for Treating Malt
Liquors.
I ALFRED EMANUEL FEROE, of Madalin, Tivola Village, in the County of
Duchess and State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman 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:-
Accompanying this specification to form a part of it, there is a sheet of
drawing containing four figures, illustrating my improved apparatus. Of these
illustrations
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, with the upper and lower tanks
and cooler shown in vertical section.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the cooler, taken on the line x-x of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken through part of the side, part of the
bottom of the upper tank or cylinder, and also through the draw-off pipe and its
stuffing-box.
Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 2, Fig. 1, showing part of the upper
tank, the intake of the draw-off pipe being indicated where within the tank as
turned up and down by a dotted line.
The several parts of the apparatus illustrated are designated by letter reference,
and the functions of the parts are described as follows:
The letter A designates the upper one of the two cylinders or tanks, both of
which stand vertically.
The cylinder or tank A is provided with a closed top, which can be removed for
cleaning the tank interior, and with its top there is connected a supply pipe d', by
which beer is discharged into the tank A, from a fermenting tank or tun not shown.
This cylinder or tank A is provided with an interiorly placed cylinder a³, which is
open at its top and bottom, and within which last named cylinder there is arranged
a vertical shaft a³, made to journal in a gas-tight connection in the top and bottom
of the tank or cylinder A. The upper end of the vertical shaft a³ is provided with
.a pulley a', by which said shaft may be rotated.
The letter a designates an agitator having the form of a conveyor or propeller
wheel by which, when the shaft a³ is rotated, the beer will circulate up through
the inner cylinder a², to pass out of its top and downwardly between the exterior
of the cylinder a², and the interior of the cylinder or tank A, for circulation and
equalization of temperature.
This tank or cylinder A is provided with an observation window O', located in
the side of the tank near its top, and 02 another observation window located in the
side of the tank near its bottom, by which the condition of the beer within the tank
or cylinder A may be observed.
The letter W designates a water gauge located in the side of the tank or
cylinder A, by which the quantity of liquid contained in the tank may be determined.
The letter C' designates a coil of pipe arranged within the tank of cylinder A, by
which hot or cold water may be passed through said pipe to increase or diminish
the temperature of the beer within the tank, and thus maintain the desired
temperature to attain the best results. The letter I designates a safety-valve
connecting with the tank or cylinder A, and the letter M designates a thermometer

page_text: which also connects with the tank A. The letter G designates a pressure guage
which is connected to the pipe 2, leading from the tank A.
The letter L designates an adjustable draw-off cock or pipe arranged to have its
horizontal part turn in a stuffing-box 1, and where extended outside of the tank
this pipe L is provided with a turn-handle by which its intake upturned end 1³,
where within the tank may be turned so as to draw off beer at a higher or lower
point or level above the sediment. The outer end of this pipe L connects with the
pipe d³, by means of a ball and socket joint Be in which to turn and he operated by
the handle h, and this pipe d' connects at its lower end with the cooler J, and leads
from the latter to connect with the bottom of the filtering cylinder B, and it is
provided with valves v and v².
P
The letter P designates an air-pump operated by a steam cylinder R, and
d² a pipe connecting with said pump and the cylinder or tank A, and intermediate
with the pipe d', the latter being provided with the valve and the connecting
pipe d, with valves and , and the pipe with which the pipes d² and d' connect,
the former having a valve v by which means, when the valves and are open, and
the valves and closed, air or carbonic acid gas may be supplied by the pump
to the tank A for pressure. The pipe connects with the circulating pipe C
arranged to run back and forth in the cooler J, and the discharge end of this
pipe C also connects with the pipe do, where leading to the filtering tank of
cylinder B. This cooler J, through which the beer is passed by means of the
pipe C², consists of a rectangular enclosure, provided with vertical partitions j³,
which connect with the bottom of the enclosure and the ends of the latter, so as
to break joints and thus produce a circulating passage for the pipe C³, the latter
passing through the cooler in the direction indicated by arrows, and brine cooled
down to a low temperature entering the cooler at e3 and passing out therefrom ate*
in the direction indicated by arrows, the cold brine moving in a direction opposite
to that of the beer in the pipe C. The cooler J may be used, or its use omitted, as
conditions of temperature may necessitate.
The filtering tank B has a closed top Ts, adapted to be removed for cleaning
the interior of the tank, and the latter is provided with a centrally located stuffing-
box 2, arranged centrally in the tank top for the passage of a piston-rod or bar b
operating the filter F, and by which means the filter may be raised or forced
downwardly in the tank B. This filter F, at its perimeter, is provided with a
rubber flange or packing f³, by which it is adapted to make a piston engagement
with the interior of the tank B in which it is located. This filter between its
center and piston-form rim is on its outer upper and its under face provided with a
wire gauze 9 covering, having intermediately placed perforated or corrugated
plates g' having passages through them, there being interposed between them any
suitable material which will on the passage of the beer through it, take from the
latter all substances tending to make it cloudy or murky. When moved down-
wardly, this filter is adapted to have its flanged edge rest on the bottom of the
tank or cylinder. The letter G³ designates a gauge for ascertaining the vertical
depth of the liquid in the tank B, to which it is attached.
The letter n designates a pipe which is upcast from the side of the tank or
cylinder B, and upon this pipe there is arranged a safety-valve S and a pressure
gauge H, which latter will indicate the pressure upon the beer above the piston-form
filter when the latter is being moved downwardly, and the letter H2 another
pressure gauge, which will indicate the pressure upon the beer below the piston when
the latter is moved downwardly; and the letter M designates a thermometer
connected to the side of the filtering tank B.
The letter do designates a pipe leading from the bottom of the tank B to a racking
apparatus A3, connected with the bung-hole of the barrel B³, said pipe connecting
with the tank B above the filter, after the latter has been moved downwardly to
rest on the bottom of the cylinder B, and d a pipe provided with valves " and 3,
connecting the racking apparatus with the top of the cylinder A to equalize the
pressure upon the tanks and barrel when the valves of the pipes d' and d are open.

page_text: The pipe d³ connects with the discharge pipe of the safety-valve I on the tank or
cylinder A, and also with the pipe d' leading downwardly to enter the top of the
filtering cylinder B, so that when the valves and 4 on the pipe d³, leading to
the pump and tank A, are closed and the valve on the pipe d³, as well as the
valve, are open, all excess of pressure on the tank or cylinder A is transferred
to the filtering cylinder B, for maintaining an equilibrium of pressure on the
two tanks.
When employing the apparatus herein illustrated and described, to carry out my
improved process, the application of its several process steps in the treatment of
malt-liquors is accomplished as follows:
The liquid is confined under a pressure greater than that produced by fermentation
(as in the cylinder A), with the liquor at that stage of the fermentation when
nearly ready to rack into barrels or casks for future use or storage, and allowed to
stand therein until the yeast and sediment have settled, and the fermentation and
carbonation completed, the applied pressure facilitating sedimentation. The liquor
is then drawn off from above the sediment, and is cooled to such an extent as
will render insoluble the semi-soluble albuminoids, which tend to cloud the liquor
when cold, with the liquor then still under pressure passed upwardly through a filter,
whereby there is none of the loss of gas which occurs when the liquor is agitated,
and filtered by its descent under the action of gravity. Thus employing sedi-
mentation under pressure for the removal of the yeast and other settlings, and the
completion of the fermentation, then cooling it, and filtering it.
My improved process in these respects differs from an older process in which
liquors, poor in carbonic acid gas, were cooled and filtered, and to which carbonic
acid gas was afterwards added; and from another older process in which the
liquor was subjected to the main fermentation, then passed through filter without
previous sedimentation under pressure before filtration, then carbonated by the
Kraeusen process or by carbonic acid gas being afterwards added to carbonate
When operating my improved apparatus for the various purposes for which it
is designed, it is used as follows:
it.
"
All the valves on the pipes are closed excepting the valve v' on the pipe d', when
the fermenting liquid is run into the tank A from the fermenting tank or tun
through the pipe d', until the tank is filled to a proper depth as indicated by its
upper sight opening O', or by its liquid gauge with the liquid when it has nearly
reached that stage of fermentation in which it is usually barreled or put into large
casks for storage. If desired, at this stage of the operation, any suitable ferment-
able substances may be employed by adding them to the liquid, but I prefer to
omit their use, as it takes more time to get the beer in condition for use, which is
objectionable. After the tank A has been thus filled to a proper height, close the
valve on the pipe d' and open the valves and on the piped, and by means
of the pump P, force into the tank A air until the pressure as indicated on the
gauge G, will be sufficient to prevent the insoluble matter produced by the
fermentation while within the tank A, from rising to the surface of the beer.
The proper temperature for fermentation may be had or maintained by passing
warm or cold water through the coil C', within the tank A, as occasion requires.
By slowly operating the shaft a³, the propeller wheel or agitator will keep in
motion all the beer above the settlings, without disturbing the settlings. By
reversing the motion of the propeller wheel and running it rapidly it will rouse
the beer to facilitate fermentation when desired.. When the fermented liquor in
tank A is in the proper condition to filter and rack, if it be ale, it should be cooled
down to-several degrees below the temperature at which it is to be drawn for
consumption by passing it through cooler J. This will render the semi-soluble
albuminoids insoluble, so that they can be removed by filtration. If the liquor
be lager beer, it will usually be cool enough without further cooling before
filtration.
During the fermentation in the tank or cylinder A the excess of carbonic acid.
gas developed, when exceeding the required pressure, will by the safety-valve I, be

page_text: discharged into the tank B by means of the pipes d and d", with the valves * and *
open, and the valves and closed, thus reaintaining an equilibrium of pressure
en the tanks A and B, if sufficient gas is formed by the fermentation. If not
enough is produced, the deficiency must be made up by pumping air into tank B
before running the beer from tank A into tank B, and when any excess of pressure
-is forced into the latter tank, it is relieved by the safety-valve S°.
When the fermentation in the tank A has reached its termination, or the beer
has reached a proper condition for filtering, the valves and on the pipe dare
opened, and the beer will flow by gravity from the tank A into the filtering tank B
or the cooler J through the latter to the filter F, having been raised to the
upward limit of its movement, the upturned end of the draw-off pipe L, indicated
at P, will be above the line of the sediment in the bottom of the tank or
cylinder A, and as the lower stratum of the beer immediately above the sediment
reaches the end of the draw-off pipe, the latter may he turned by its handle h so as
to draw the beer off from the latter without disturbing it, the window O' making
clearly visible the position of the beer over the sediment, and the extent to which
the draw-off pipe may be turned to closely draw off the beer without disturbing the
sediment.
As the beer flows through the pipe d into the filtering tank or chamber, the
valve on the pipe d is opened, likewise the valve on the pipe d with the
valve closed by which connection the gas and air in the chamber of the filtering
cylinder or tank B is displaced by the entering beer will be discharged into the
cylinder or chamber A, thus maintaining a uniform pressure in both cylinders.
When all the beer contained in the tank or cylinder A has thus passed into the
filtering tank, a strong additional pressure can be placed on the beer by pumping
air into the tank B, in excess of the gas pressure in the beer. The more the gas
in the latter is compressed while filtering, the finer will be the head on the beer.
The valves and u should be closed and the filter moved slowly downwards by
power applied to its piston-rod until it reaches the bottom of the tank, the beer
passing up through the filter with all the floculent and other suspended matter
being caught by the filter and with the latter resting on the bottom of the tank
interior slightly below the discharge pipe d', leading to the racking apparatus.
This manner of filtering beer under compression produced by a greater pressure
on the beer than that of the gas-pressure in it, and by the action of a filter forced
downwardly through the beer without agitating it, forms a prominent feature of
my invention, by which practically all the gas in the beer is retained, which cannot
be done by passing beer through a filter in the usual way under insufficient
pressure, and the agitation attending the present methods. By my improvement
the applied pressure upon the heer co-operates with the pressure of the filter in its
descent to prevent the separation of the nascent carbonic-acid gas produced in the
beer from fermentation. Instead of the filter shown and described, any well
known form of filter which will perform like functious, may be used, and while I
have described my improved process as applied to the treatment of still ales and
lager beer, it may also be used for the treatment of very lively present-use ales.
While my improved process may be carried out by using the apparatus which I
illustrate and describe, I do not limit my improved process to the use of the
particular means which I illustrate and describe, as other apparatus may be used
to perform the same process steps in their same order.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of ales and other fermented liquors, the herein described
process of treating them previous to filtration, which consists in confining
fermenting hopped beer wort in a tight vessel at that stage of fermentation when
its subsequent fermentation in said tight vessel will sufficiently carbonate it for
use, then facilitating sedimentation by applied pressure, then carbonating it by its

page_text: own fermentation while under the applied pressure, ripening it by continued
fermentation, and when sufficiently carbonate, separating it from the yeast and
sediment precipitated by the applied pressure, then cooling it to render the semi-
soluble albuminoid matter in it insoluble so that it may be removed by filtration,.
substantially as set forth.
2. The herein described process of treating carbonatel ales and other fermented!
liquors, which consists in fully carbonating them for use.; subjecting them to
sedimentation under applied pressure, drawing them off from above the yeast and
sediment, cooling them to render the semi-soluble matters insoluble, then filtering
them under a uniform circulating pressure equal to or in excess of the gas pressure
in the carbonated liquors, substantially as set forth.
3. The herein described process of producing chilled and filtered ales and other
fermented liquors, naturally carbonated for use, which consists in carbonating them.
by their own fermentation and drawing them off from the sediment precipitated
during fermentation, then subjecting them to a cooling process to render the semi-
soluble matters insoluble, then conducting them into a tight vessel and passing a.
filter downwardly through them, while under pressure and practically without
agitation, thereby retaining all their gas and flavour and removing the insoluble-
matters from them, substantially as set forth.
4. The herein described process of treating and preparing ales and other
fermented liquors for use, which consists in confining the partly fermented liquor-
in a tight vessel at that stage of fermentation when nearly ready to rack into
packages for use, or in casks for storage; subjecting it to sedimentation under
applied pressure and to carbonation by a continued fermentation, with its own gas,.
ripening it by continued fermentation, separating it from yeast and sediment.
precipitated during fermentation, cooling it to contract and more thoroughly retain
the gas, as well as to render the semi-soluble matters insoluble, then filtering and
racking it under a uniform circulating pressure, equal to or in excess of its own gas.
pressure.
or
5. In an apparatus for treating malt liquors, the combination with a tank or
cylinder provided with an inlet pipe for the entering liquor, and a
pipe for its
discharge, and an inlet pipe by which gas may be forced into said tank for pressure,.
of an observation window at the top and bottom of the tank formed in the cylinder
sides; a coil arranged within said tank for the circulation therein of warm
cold water; a cylinder open at the top and bottom arranged within said tank; and
a vertical shaft journaled in the top and bottom of said tank, and where passing
through the interior cylinder, provided with a conveyor wheel whereby the liquor
may be caused to circulate in said tank, substantially in the manner as and for the
purposes set forth.
6. The combination with the tank A, having the inlet pipes d¹, d², and at the
pipe d, provided with valves, and having the observation windows O' and O2,.
constructed and arranged substantially as described; of the interior cylinder a²,
open at the top and bottom; and provided with the interior shaft a³, having
thereon the conveyor or propeller wheel a', said shaft being journaled in the
top and bottom of the tank A; and the turndown draw-off pipe L, connecting
with said tank A, and the pipe ds, substantially as and for the purposes set.
forth.
7. The combination with the tank A, provided with the supply pipe d', and gas.
or air pipe d', of the temperature regulating coil pipe C, arranged within said
tank A; the interior cylinder a², open at the top and bottom, and arranged within.
said tank; the vertical shaft a³, centrally journaled in the top and bottom of said
tank; the propeller as arranged upon said shaft where within the cylinder aand.
the draw-off cock or pipe L, constructed and arranged to operate substantially in
the manner as and for the purposes set forth.
8. The combination with a cylinder A, constructed and arranged to receive malt.
liquor from a tun or cask, and provided with an observation window at its side
near its bottom, of the draw-off cock L, having an upturned end where within the

page_text: tank and provided with a handle where extended through and beyond the tank, and
a ball socket connected with a stationary conduit pipe, by which handle said
upturned end of the pipe may be turned so as to draw liquor from the tank at
different levels, substantially as shown and described.
9. In an apparatus for treating malt liquors under pressure, other than that
generated by the fermentation of the liquor, the combination with a cylinder
provided with intake means for liquor and pressure, and a safety-valve, a draw-off
cock, an interiorly arranged circulating coil, through which warm or cold water
may be passed to regulate the temperature, and having an interiorly placed
cylinder, open at top and bottom, and a vertical shaft provided with a conveyor
wheel whereby a circulation may be maintained in the tank above the sediment,
substantially as described; of a filtering cylinder being provided with a piston-form
filter operated to move downwardly through the liquor, and pipes connecting the
filtering cylinder and the upper cylinder, whereby the pressure in both is equalized,
substantially as shown and described.
10. In an apparatus for treating malt liquors under pressure other than that
generated by the fermentation of the liquor, the combination with a tank or
cylinder having an inlet pipe for the liquor and a pipe for the gas producing
pressure, both of which pipes are constructed with suitable valves, and provided
with a safety-valve, observation windows, a draw-off cock, and having an interior
coil for regulating temperature, and provided with an interior cylinder containing
a vertical shaft and propeller wheel for agitating the liquor above its sediment; of
a filtering cylinder having a closed top below the before named tank, and provided
with a pipe leading from the upper tank or cylinder, and having a piston-form
filter arranged to be passed downwardly through the liquor in the filtering tank,
and a pipe connecting the upper tank and filtering cylinder whereby the pressure
upon the latter and the upper tank are equalized, substantially in the manner as
and for the purposes set forth.
11. In an apparatus for treating malt liquors under pressure other than that
generated by the fermentation of the liquor, the combination with a tauk or
cylinder provided with an inlet pipe for entering liquor, and a pipe for its discharge,
and an inlet pipe by which gas or air may be forced into the tank, said pipes having
suitable valves; and a safety-valve on said tank, of a coil arranged within said
tank where by the use of warm or cold water therein, the temperature of the
liquor may be regulated; and an interior cylinder open at the top and bottom
within said tank, said cylinder having an interiorly arranged conveyor or propeller
mounted on a shaft whereby circulation of the liquor above its sediment may be
had; a cooler connected with the pipe leading from said tank; a filtering cylinder
located below the before named cylinder and provided with a piston-form filter
operated to descend through the liquor contained therein; a pipe connecting said
cooler with the filtering chamber, and a pipe connecting said filtering cylinder with
the upper tank whereby an equalized pressure is had upon both, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
12. The combination with the tank A, provided with an inlet pipe d¹, for
supplying malt liquor, and the pipe d² for delivering gas or air to produce pressure
upon said tank, said pipes having suitable valves, of a draw-off pipe or cock L,
connected to the lower side of said tank A; the filtering cylinder B arranged
below the tank A, and provided with the pipe d³, connecting said filtering cylinder
with the draw-off cock L; the piston-form filter F, operated to be moved down
through the liquor.in the tank B; the pipe d, connecting the top of the filtering
tank with the top of the tank A; the pipe d' connecting with the filtering cylinder
above the filter F, when moved downwardly to rest on the tank bottom; and also
connecting with a.racking apparatus; and a pipe de connecting the latter with the
top of the tank A, substantially in the manner as and for the purposes set forth.
13. The combination with the tank A, provided with an inlet. pipe d¹, whereby
gas or air pressure may be applied to the interior of said tank, of the safety-valve I,
connected to said tank, A, the filtering tank B, provided with a safety valve S³,

page_text: the draw-off pipe L, the pipe d connecting said draw-off pipe with the tank B,
the pipe d³, connected with the safety-valve I on tank A, and with the tank B by
which any over pressure on the tank A may be transferred to tank B, and any
over pressure on the latter be discharged by the safety-valve S, substantially as
set forth.
14. In an apparatus for treating fermented liquor and for barreling it unler
pressure, the combination with the tank A. for the treatment and sedimentation of
the carbonated liquor; of the cooler J, connecting with said tank A; the filtering
cylinder B, and a pipe connecting the top of the latter with the top of the tank B;
a pipe connecting said cylinder B below its filter with a racking apparatus, and a
pipe connecting the latter with the top of the tank A, said pipes being provided
with valves whereby an equalized pressure may be maintained in said tanks and
racking apparatus and barrel, substantially as shown and described.
15. In an apparatus for clarifying and barreling malt liquors under pressure,
the combination with a tank for containing the liquor during the completion of
the sedimentation, and fermentation, and provided with a pipe for supplying
pressure thereto, and also provided with a heating and cooling coil; a cooler; a
filtering apparatus; a pipe connecting said tank with the cooler and provided with
a valve; a pipe connecting said cooler with the filtering apparatus, and provided
with a valve; a pipe provided with a valve connecting said filtering apparatus
with a racking apparatus; and a pipe provided with a valve connecting said
racking apparatus with the top of said tank, whereby the air pressure displaced in
the barrel by the entering liquor will be conveyed to said tank, and the pressure
upon the liquor within the barrel be retained, to prevent any loss of gas, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.