NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE ADMIXTURE OF LIQUIDS OF VARIOUS DENSITIES OR SPECIFIC GRAVITIES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Bradford at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1880.
WILLIAM BRADFORD, of Number 40, King William Street, in the City of London,
Brewers' Consulting Engineer. "NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING
THE ADMIXTURE OF LIQUIDS OF VARIOUS DENSITIES OR SPECIFIC GRAVITIES."
The Invention relates especially to apparatus for effecting the admixture of the
lighter with the heavier worts in the process of brewing, but is also applicable for
effecting such admixture in other cases.
Referring more especially to the mixing of brewers' worts, it may be explained
that in the process of brewing the first wort, or the richer and heavier infusion of
malt, is drawn off from the cooler into the fermenting back, and the second wort
resulting from the partially exhausted mash, being the poorer and lighter infusion,
is then drawn off into the same back as the first, with the object of mixing the two
worts together, but in consequence of the difference in density of the two worts
they do not mix so as to produce a liquid of uniform density in all its parts
without special means being employed to effect that result; the means heretofore
employed for this purpose are extremely imperfect, and the object of my Invention
is to produce an apparatus which, while being simple and inexpensive, shall be
effective for the purpose in view, which is an important one when it is required to
ascertain accurately the mean density or specific gravity of such mixed liquids.
The Invention consists of certain means whereby the lighter liquid is conveyed
to and distributed through the lower portion of the heavier liquid. For this
purpose I employ a pipe which is carried to the bottom of the fermenting back or
other mixing vat, and is there connected to a series of horizontal branch pipes or
other distributing channels or passages issuing radially or otherwise therefrom,
whereby the lighter liquid passing to the bottom of the said fermenting back or
mixing vat by the aforesaid pipe is delivered to a greater or lesser number of
points in the lower part of the heavier liquid, through which it has a tendency to
rise by reason of its smaller density, but meeting and mingling with the heavier
liquid as it rises it becomes intimately intermixed therewith, and all parts of the
liquid in the back or vat become of a uniform density.
Instead of a series of branch pipes, channels, or passages, radiating or otherwise
issuing from the aforesaid pipe, the latter may be connected with a perforated box

page_text: or strainer of any suitable shape placed at the bottom of the back or vat, or with
the underside of a false bottom perforated with a series of holes, and placed near
the bottom of such back or vat, the arrangements being varied according to the
circumstances and requirements of each case.
When the liquid is introduced from below, as above described, the effect known
as "fobbing" is obviated.
The apparatus above described is also useful for the introduction of the yeast
into the beer whether by pumping or gravitation.