Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN HODSON of Clarence Street, Brewery, Burton on Trent Brewer do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
1
The object of my Invention is to prevent yeast getting into racking back and
casks as it is liable to do under the systems hitherto in use.
The present most usual method on what is known as the Burton Union Swan
neck system is to charge each cask by means of a pipe within a few inches of the
top but there is no action to prevent it a considerable amount of yeast deposits at
the bottom of the cask. With the object of preventing thickening of the beer at
racking from this cause a screw tail cock is inserted at the bottom of each cask
projecting therein about four inches to keep back deposit of yeast and when the
beer on being transferred to the Racking Back is drawn off to this point the screw
tail cock is cautiously lowered in order to run off all the light beer but this is
often attended with bad results as it requires attention which can not always be
relied upon.
'
According to my Invention I dispense altogether with the present method of
charging and filling up from the side of the Union Cask close to the top and I
utilize the aforesaid screw tail cock projecting but slightly (say an inch) from the
interior of, the bottom of the casks and I attach or connect a pipe to each screw
tail cock running the length of the sets of casks. This pipe answering both for
charging each cask during the working and cleansing the Beer of its Barm and for.
conveying the beer when bright to the racking back.
:
I may use a pump for forcing the beer in at the bottom of the Union Casks for
filling up, and thus prevent the deposit of any objectionable amount of yeast or
I may use a receiver from the feeder with a ball cock as a self acting means of
always keeping the Unions filled up.
9

page_text: Improvements in and Apparatus for Tunning or Cleansing Beer.
I JOHN HODSON, of Clarence Street Brewery, Burton-on-Trent, 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:-
The object of my Invention is to prevent yeast getting into the racking back and
the barrels in which the beer is sold, as it is liable to do under the systems hitherto
in use, producing turbidity and ultimate unsoundness.
The present most usual method on what is known as the "Burton Union Swan
neck System" is to charge each Union cask (the casks in which the separation of
the yeast from the beer is effected) by means of a pipe situated at the side of the
cask and within a few inches of the top of the cask but there is no action to prevent
a considerable amount of yeast depositing at the bottom of the said cask and this
is very liable to happen to the injury of the beer-With the object of preventing
thickening or "yeast biting" of the beer with the tendency to unsoundness from
this cause, a screw tail cock has been used it being inserted at the bottom of each
cask projecting therein about four inches with the view of keeping back deposit
of yeast, and when the Beer on being transferred to the Racking Back is drawn off
to this point the screw tail cock is cautiously lowered in order to run off all the
bright beer, but this is often attended with bad results as it requires attention
which cannot always be relied upon-This screw tail cock has not been used for
charging the Union casks but only for drawing off the beer therefrom.
According to my Invention I dispense altogether with the present method of
charging and filling up from the side of the Union Cask close to the top and I use
a cock (preferably a screw tail cock) projecting but slightly (say an inch) from the
interior of the bottom of the Union Casks, and I attach or connect each such cock
to a pipe running the length of the sets of casks. This pipe answers both for
charging each Union Cask during the working and cleansing the Beer of its yeast,
and for conveying the Beer when bright to the racking back. This can be
conveniently effected by means of a three way cock which opens communication
either between the charging main and the Union Casks or between the latter and
the drawing off pipe.
I use a distributing surface or hood or cap over or above the opening of the said
cocks into the Union Casks so that the beer as it enters the said casks is directed
downwards thereby producing agitation or stirring up and preventing yeast
dropping down and remaining as a deposit, but causing it to rise and escape from
the swan necks into the yeast back.
I may use a pump for forcing the beer in at the bottom of the Union Casks for
filling up and thus prevent the deposit of yeast. I may use a receiver from
the feeder with a ball cock, as a self acting means of always keeping the unions
filled up.
In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I will explain the
accompanying drawing which illustrates a part of a range of Union Casks and
their adjuncts arranged according to my invention,

page_text: Figures 1 and 2 are views at right angles to each other part of one of the casks
in Figure 1 being shewn in section. Figure 3 shews one of the screw tail cocks
separately A is the feed trough into which the beer to be treated is received.
From this the charging main B leads; it being continued in a pipe or pipes C
running underneath the row or rows of Union Casks X as shewn in Figure 2 (in
Figure 1 two pipes C are shewn one for each row of union casks) Communication
from the charging main is made with each union cask by T pieces c_and Union
cocks D. E is the outlet pipe for running off the beer from the casks X. A three
way cock is situated at F so that the pipe or pipes C can be put in communication
with the charging main B for charging the Union casks or with the pipe E for
running off their contents. Each screw tail cock D projects but a slight distance
above the bottom of the cask and is shewn as being provided over its outlet part
with a cover hood or deflecting cap or surface d which directs the incoming beer
downwards and prevents deposit of yeast at the bottom of the cask and causes the
yeast to escape by the "swan necks" G into the yeast back H. These swan necks
are or may be of the kind usually employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The improved method or means for preventing deposit of yeast in the union
casks substantially as herein before described.
2. In apparatus on the system of what is known as the "Burton Union Swan
Neck System" a pipe or pipes C and cocks D arranged in connection with the
charging main and the outlet so that the same cocks are used for charging and for
drawing off, both from the bottom of the Union Casks substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. In and for apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described and claimed a cock
with a deflecting surface cap or hood so arranged as to prevent deposit of yeast
in the union casks substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 21st do of Anvil 1000