A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR AERATING BEER OR WORT DURING THE PROCESS OF FERMENTATION
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Simmons, of Chertsey, in the County of Surrey,
Brewer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR AERATING
BEER OR WORT DURING THE PROCESS OF FERMENTATION,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Simmons at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1877.
GEORGE SIMMONS, of Chertsey, in the County of Surrey, Brewer. "A NEW OR
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR AERATING BEER OR WORT DURING THE PROCESS OF
FERMENTATION."
The object of my Invention is to expose a thin stream of the fermenting liquid
to the atmospheric air for the purpose of aërating it. And my Invention consists in
the construction and employment in the fermenting vessel of an apparatus through
which a stream of the liquid rises to a point above the level of the yeast head,
and which liquid, after being exposed to the air, returns to the vessel.
This apparatus is by preference composed of a parachute or hollow cone having
holes, from which parachute is carried up a tube, and to the top of this tube is
attached a spreader.
The apparatus is placed in the fermenting vessel with the parachute resting on
the bottom thereof, and with the spreader about 9 to 18 inches above the level of
the fermenting liquid. And in order to accommodate the level of the spreader to
the height of the yeast head, I make the spreader adjustable, and this may con-
veniently be done by having the tube before described telescopic.
When this apparatus is in the fermenting vessel and fermentation is going on, a
circulation of the liquid is kept up through it owing to the difference in pressure
between the carbonic acid gas immediately above the liquid, and the atmospheric
air above the spreader, aided by the gas generated in the portion of the liquid in
the parachute and tube, so that the liquid continues to flow from the top of the
tube and to run over the spreader, thereby becoming exposed to the air, and back
into the fermenting vessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Simmons in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th January
1878.
GEORGE SIMMONS, of Chertsey, in the County of Surrey, Brewer. " A NEW OR
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RATING BEER OR WORT DURING THE PROCESS OF
FERMENTATION."
The object of my Invention is to expose a thin stream of the fermenting liquid
to the atmospheric air for the purpose of aerating it. And my Invention consists
in the construction and employment in the fermenting vessel of an apparatus
through which a stream of the liquid rises to a point above the level of the yeast
head, and which liquid, after being exposed to the air returns to the vessel.
This apparatus is composed of a parachute or hollow cone, having holes or being
open at the bottom, from which parachute is. carried up a tube and to the top of
this tube is attached a spreader.
The apparatus is placed in the fermenting vessel with the parachute immersed in
the fermenting liquid, and with the spreader at a suitable distance above the level
of the said liqnid. And in order to accommodate the level of the spreader to the
height of the yeast head, or to adjust the height of the apparatus as required,
the apparatus may be fitted with a counterbalance weight.
The accompanying Drawing illustrates how my Invention may be carried into
effect.
A is the fermenting vessel; B, the beer or liquid line; and C, the yeast; D is the
parachute or hollow cone ; E, the tube carried up therefrom; and F, the spreader,
as before described; G is a bar or cross piece at the upper part of the tube, to
which a cord or chain H is attached. This cord is carried over pulleys I, I, and
has a counterweight K at its other end.
When this apparatus is in the fermenting vessel and fermentation is going on, a
circulation of the liquid is kept up through it owing to the pressure of the carbonic
acid gas generated during the process of fermentation, causing the liquid to rise up the
tube E. The liquid, continuing to rise, flows from the top of the tube and runs
over the spreader F back into the fermenting vessel, after having been exposed to
the air.
And having now described the nature of my said. Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the new or improved apparatus
constructed and acting substantially as herein-before described, for aerating beer or
wort during the process of fermentation.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Simmons, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth of January, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy sight