Improvements in the Construction of Cellars for Storage and Fermenting Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Cellars for Storage and
Fermenting Purposes.
I, OTTO HOFMANN, of Gorkam/Strobel, Silesia, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Empire
of Germany, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of cellars for storage
and fermenting purposes the floors of which have hitherto been paved with cement
whilst the walls and ceilings or arches of the same were provided with air shafts.
These air shafts were for the purpose of protecting the interior of the
cellar against the warmth of the surrounding soil and air. In the winter time the
natural low temperature was made use of to cool the cellar. Notwithstanding these
arrangements the temperature in a closed cellar soon rises considerably.
I have discovered that the flooring of cellars tends to facilitate this rising of the
temperature as the deeper one penetrates into the earth the greator the rise in the
temperature and the floor being the lowest part of the cellar the fact is explained.
In order to remedy this disadvantage I provide a free space below the flooring of
the cellar, which in the winter time can be in connection with the cold outside air.
Also cold air can be drawn or forced into this space or refrigerating pipes can be
provided in the space so as to maintain the cellar at a certain temperature.
In the annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a section through the cellar. Fig. 2 is a
horizontal section with parts in plan view of the bottom construction. Fig. 3 is a
longitudinal section through the bottom construction. The construction of the
bottom is in accordance with the load the floor has to carry.
Between the cellar walls a and b of Fig. 1 a strong foundation c of suitable
material is laid and hereupon at suitable distances four or more rows of iron or the
like chairs are erected vertically. Upon these chairs d girders are laid and
secured and between these archings e of brickwork or the like are arranged. These
archings are levelled or sloped by means of a layer of suitable material which is
then covered with a stout layer of asphalte for other suitable material.
The thus formed space beneath the floor can be in connection with the shafts or
air passages of the side walls or arches or with a special ventilating shaft. It is
only possible to obtain a certain temperature in the cellar by the arrangement of a
free air space beneath the entire floor thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
ب
An improved construction of cellar for storage and fermenting purposes in which
the same is provided with an air space arranged below the whole floor thereof, such
air space being in connection with the known ventilating passages of the walls, or

page_text: with a special ventilating device or devices in order to maintain a certain
temperature in the cellar by drawing out the warm or forcing in the cold air.
Dated this 25th day of October 1898.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.