IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BOILING BEER AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE BOILING OVER OF THE SAME
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Atkinson, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BOILING BEER AND
OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE
BOILING OVER OF THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Atkinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th August 1880.
JOHN ATKINSON, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster.
OTHER LIQUIDS, AND
APPARATUS FOR BOILING BEER AND
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE BOILING OVER OF THE SAME."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
IN
MEANS AND
My Invention relates principally to improvements in apparatus for boiling beer
and other liquids, and in means and apparatus for preventing boiling over from
the pan.
To this end I fit around the lower end and sides of the boiling pan a
steam casing into which steam is led, and I fit within the boiling pan a conically
shaped plate formed with a funnel extending upwards. A seat is formed around
the interior of the pan on which the plate rests. The said plate and funnel may
be made of galvanised iron or copper. Immediately above the top of the said
funnel I place a conically shaped deflector. The said deflector may be connected
by rods to the funnel or may be separate and raised or lowered at pleasure. When
the beer is in a state of ebullition it ascends upwards through the funnel in the
form of a stream, and is spread out and deflected downwards by the said conical
deflector. The beer then falls to its own level and is constantly being circulated
during the boiling operation. I am thus enabled to boil the liquid in a comparative
short space of time, and to impart a beneficial effect upon the beer in consequence
of the rapid circulation, and also to prevent the beer or other liquid boiling over.

page_text: '
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Atkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th February
1881.
JOHN ATKINSON, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR BOILING BEER AND OTHER LIQUIDS, AND IN MEANS AND
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE BOILING OVER OF THE SAME."
My Invention relates principally to improvements in apparatus for preventing
beer from running over in the boiling operation, as will be well understood, but is
also applicable for use in other boiling operations in which the liquids are liable to
boil over, as for example in the boiling of soap. When applying my Invention to
⚫ prevent the boiling over of beer I fit within the boiler an angle iron or other
suitable seating and extending around the interior of the said boiler. To and on
the said seating I place an apparatus consisting of a conically shaped perforated
false bottom, terminating at its apex into an opening or thoroughfare to allow of
the boiling liquids to ascend up the funnel hereinafter mentioned. I form around
the said opening or thoroughfare of the said false bottom a seating, and fit to
rest thereon a cylindrical or other shaped funnel extending above the height
of the contained liquor in the said boiler, and I form, fix, or arrange to or above
the said funnel a suitably shaped crown or deflector, the object of which is to deflect
the stream of boiling liquid issuing up the funnel downwards and onto the liquor
in the boiler at a lower level. By this arrangement the liquid, as for example beer,
is prevented from boiling over the sides of the boiler or vessel in which it is
boiled. I am also enabled to get up and maintain a uniform circulation of the
liquid and to boil down, as in the case of beer, in a much less time than heretofore,
whereby the rapid circulation produces a beneficial effect upon the beer.
And in order that my Invention may be the better understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto two Sheets of Drawings, made to a scale of about one inch
to the foot, and marked with letters of reference, similar letters indicating like
parts in the Drawings. Referring to Sheet 1 of the Drawings my Invention is
shown as applied to the boiling of beer, and consists of the perforated false bottom a,
funnel b, and crown or deflector c. The apparatus is shown in section and fitted
within the boiler A to rest upon the seating d, formed of angle iron and extending
around and within the boiler A. The said apparatus a, b, c, is formed of galvanized
iron, but sheet-copper or other suitable metal may be employed in their construction.
In the example illustrated by Sheet 1 the crown or deflector c is connected to the
upper part of the funnel by means of the rods e. The funnel b and connected
crown or deflector c rests on the seating ƒ formed around the top of false bottom a,
and is readily removed therefrom when the boiling is completed. In this case it
will be necessary to weight the crown c in order that it may resist its being lifted
by the stream of boiling liquid ascending the funnel b and coming in contact with
the under part of the crown or deflector c. For this purpose I pass the iron bar g
over the top of the crown c, but any other suitable arrangement of weighting tackle
may be employed for this purpose. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, represents the apparatus a, b, c,
complete. The part a, b, is in this example riveted together, and the crown or
deflector is arranged to be raised and lowered above the funnel b by means of the
chain h. In such a case the apparatus a, b, may remain in the boiler and only the
crown removed, as indicated by the dotted lines. The openings i formed in the
false bottom a are of an area equal to about the area in the opening in the funnel b
in order that the circulation of the liquor through them respectively may be about
equal. The action upon the boiling liquor, as for example beer, by the employment
of the apparatus is as follows:-The boiling temperature of the liquid being attained
by the steam led into the casing or chamber j, the pressure of steam is increased to,

page_text: say, sixty pounds, which causes the contained liquor in the boiler to ascend the
funnel b, the velocity of which is rendered uniform by maintaining an equal pressure
of steam in the casing j. The stream of liquid flowing upwards through the
funnel bis arrested by the crown or deflector c and inducted downwards to its own
level in the boiler to be again circulated, the return liquor flowing through the
openings in the false bottom a, as indicated by the arrows. It will be readily
understood that by the employment of this apparatus to the boiling of beer the
liability to boil over is prevented, as the liquor is continually returning to its own
level within the boiling vessel during the boiling operation, notwithstanding any
increase in the steam pressure, so long as the crown or deflector is maintained
above the said funnel. I am thus enabled to maintain a uniform circulation of the
contents of the boiler, whereby the more solid matters or substances are prevented
from conglomerating or adhering together, and to reduce the time ordinarily
employed in the process of boiling, the rapid circulation of the contents of the
boiler having in the case of boiling beer a beneficial action thereon. The boiler A
is shown as when heated by a steam chest, but any other suitable arrangement of
heating apparatus may be used to heat the contained liquor, as for example steam
pipes or coils. The Invention is also applicable for employment in all cases where
there is liability to boil over, as for example to the boiling of soap, but I have not
thought it necessary to show it applied to a soap boiling vat, as it is sufficiently
indicated in the Drawings attached hereunto.
Having now described and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and its
application to the boiling of beer, I would have it to be distinctly understood
that what I claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,
First. The employment of the indicated apparatus, consisting of a perforated
bottom, funnel, and crown or deflector, for the purpose of preventing the liquor or
liquids from boiling over the boiling vessel.
And, Lastly. The employment of the indicated apparatus for obtaining a better
circulation in the boiling process.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Atkinson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One
tbousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed and sealed by the said
John Atkinson, in the
presence of
HUGH G. GRANT,
Agent to the Patentee,
Bull's Head Chambers,
Market Place,
Manchester.
JOHN ATKINSON. (L.S.)