New or Improved Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the Temperature of Fermenting Liquids, Applicable for other similar Uses.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1887
Complete Left, 24th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
New or Improved Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the
Temperature of Fermenting Liquids, Applicable for other
similar Uses.
1, WALTER WILLIAM DAVENPORT, of 15, Nursery Terrace, Hunter's Lane,
Birmingham, Warwickshire, Maltster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention has reference to new or improved apparatus for automatically
regulating the temperature of fermenting liquids applicable for other similar uses
such for instance as for regulating the temperature of greenhouses and other places
where an uniform temperature is required to be maintained.
In carrying out my invention as applied to the automatic regulation of the tempera-
ture of fermenting liquids, for instance in breweries, I form a thermometer of a tube
preferably of brass having within it a smaller tube so as to leave an annular space
between them. This annular space forms the bulb of the thermometer and is con-
nected by a smaller tube to an expansion chamber which is preferably in the form of
a series of disc expansion boxes each box consisting of two thin sheet metal concave
discs connected together at their outer edges so as to form a box between them.
These boxes are placed side by side and connected together centrally thus forming
an elastic chamber which will be lengthened by an increase of internal pressure
and will shorten when that pressure is decreased. That end of the expansion
chamber which is connected to the tube leading from the bulb part, is fixed to the
framework of the apparatus or otherwise secured and the other or closed end is free
to be moved by any variation of pressure inside. The bulb, tube and chambers are
filled with alcohol or some other expansive fluid and the outer end of the expansion
chamber is connected either directly, or by a multiplying lever or levers, or by
other means, to the tap or valve by which the flow of cold water for cooling the
fermenting liquid is regulated.
The apparatus above described operates as follows:-The bulb part is immersed
In the fermenting liquid and when the temperature thereof increases beyond its normal
point the expansion of the alcohol causes the expansion chamber to lengthen out,

page_text: when the motion of its upper end acting upon the cold water valve or cock canses
it to open farther and more cold water to pass to the fermenting liquid which latter,
in gradually cooling, cools the thermometer bulb and causes the expansion chamber
and the valve or cock and the flow of cold water therefrom to gradually resume
their normal state thus automatically regulating the temperature of the fermenting
liquid as required.
In order that the amount of expansion of the expansion chamber and the normal
temperature of the fermenting liquid may be altered and set as may be required I
provide at any convenient part and in connection with the expansion chamber a second
chamber preferably similar to the first expansion chamber but larger and provided
with a screw or other means by which it can be compressed and the density of the
alcohol increased, or allowed to expand and the density of the alcohol diminished.
Thus by adjusting the screw the norinal point where the flow of cold water remains
constant or ceases can be varied as desired so as to maintain the fermenting liquid at
any desired temperature. In connection with the said adjusting screw is an index
divided into degrees and shewing by the position of the finger at what temperature
the flow of cold water will commence and that temperature be maintained constant.
The apparatus when applied to the automatic regulation of the temperature of
greenhouses and other places is similar to that above described with reference to the
regulation of the temperature of fermenting liquids the free end of the expansion
chamber being connected to the gas supply cock by which the greenhouse or other
place is heated or it may be connected to a ventilator or to the furnace damper so that
the gas supply cock, ventilator or furnace damper will be automatically opened and
closed by the expansion or contraction of the expansion chamber.
Doted this 92nd dow of June 1887

page_text: New or Improved Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the
Temperature of Fermenting Liquids, Applicable for other
similar Uses.
I, WALTER WILLIAM DAVENPORT, of 15, Nursery Terrace, Hunter's Lane,
Birmingham, Warwickshire, Maltster, 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 has reference to new or improved apparatus for automatically
regulating the temperature of fermenting liquids applicable for other similar uses
such for instance as for regulating the temperature of greenhouses and other places
where an uniform temperature is required to be maintained.
In carrying out my invention as applied to the automatic regulation of the
temperature of fermenting liquids for instance in breweries I provide a thermometer
bulb which may consist of a tube of brass having within it a smaller tube or rod so
as to leave an annular space between them. This bulb is connected by a smaller tube
to an expansion chamber which is preferably in the form of a series of disc expansion
boxes each box consisting of two thin sheet metal concave discs connected together
at their outer edges so as to form a box between them. These boxes are placed side
by side and connected together centrally thus forming an elastic chamber which
will be lengthened by an increase of internal pressure and will shorten when that
pressure is decreased. That end of the expansion chamber which is connected to the
tube leading from the bulb part is fixed to the framework of the apparatus or other-
wise secured and the other or closed end is free to be moved by any variation of
pressure inside. The bulb, tube and chambers are filled with alcohol or some other
expansive fluid and the outer end of the expansion chamber is connected either
directly, or by a multiplying lever or levers, or by other means, to the tap or valve
by which the flow of cold water for cooling the fermenting liquid is regulated.
The apparatus above described operates as follows:-The bulb part is immersed in
the fermenting liquid and when the temperature thereof increases beyond its normal
point the expansion of the alcohol causes the expansion chamber to lengthen out,
when the motion of its upper end acting upon the cold water valve or cock causes it
to open further and more cold water to pass to the fermenting liquid which latter in
gradually cooling, cools the thermometer bulb and causes the expansion chamber and
the valve or cock and the flow of cold water therefrom to gradually resume their
normal state thus automatically regulating the temperature of the fermenting liquid
as required.
In order that the amount of expansion of the expansion chamber and the normal
temperature of the fermenting liquid may be altered and set as may be required I
provide at any convenient part and in connection with the expansion chamber a
second chamber preferably similar to the first expansion chamber but larger and
provided with a screw or other means by which it can be compressed and the density
of the alcohol increased or allowed to expand and the density of the alcohol
diminished. Thus by adjusting the screw the normal point where the flow of cold
water remains constant or ceases can be varied as desired so as to maintain the
fermenting liquid at any desired temperature. In connection with the said adjusting

page_text: crew is an index divided into degrees and shewing by the position of the finger at
what temperature the flow of cold water will commence and that temperature be
maintained constant.
The apparatus when applied to the automatic regulation of the temperature of
greenhouses and other places is similar to that above described with reference to the
regulation of the temperature of fermenting liquids, the free end of the expansion
chamber being connected to the gas supply cock by which the greenhouse or other
place is heated, or it may be connected to a ventilator or to the furnace damper, so
that the gas supply cock, ventilator or furnace damper will be automatically opened
and closed by the expansion or contraction of the expansion chambers.
In order that the invention may be well understood the invention is further
described more particularly and with reference to the accompanying drawings which
shew what is considered to be the best way for carrying the said invention into effect
but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preciso details
illustrated.
Fig. 1 illustrates this invention as applied to the regulation of the temperature of
a fermenting liquid by controlling the flow of cold water through an ordinary
attemperator immersed therein, Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation, Fig. 3 a side
elevation and Fig. 4 a plan partly in section of the upper part of the same on an
enlarged scale.
a
"
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
A is "round
containing a fermenting liquid which is required to be maintained
at a certain temperature and B is an ordinary attemperator, part only of which is
seen on the drawing, immersed in the liquid and through which cold water flows from
the supply tank C which latter is provided with a ball-cock for automatically main-
taining the water at a constant level. The tank C is connected by a pipe c to a small
tank D containing the valve E by which the flow of water through the outlet pipe F
to the attemperator is automatically regulated as hereinafter described. The tank D
is carried by a standard G, which also supports the expansion chambers and other
parts of the apparatus as hereinafter described. H is the bulb part of the apparatus
which is immersed in the fermenting liquid and consists of the outer tube H closed
at the lower end and having an internal tube or rod H₁ of the same or other metal
fixed to the outer tube at each end so as to form a stay for the lower end and to
counteract the expansion or contraction of the metal used until the alcohol has
attained the surrounding temperature. The bulb H is connected by the small tube I
and passages and i in the upper part of the standard G to the two expansion
chambers and K. Each of these expansion chambers are by preference formed of
a series of disc expansion boxes marked j and k respectively as shewn, each box con-
sisting of two thin sheet metal concave discs connected together at their outer edges
so as to form a box between them. These boxes are also connected together centrally
so as together to form an elastic chamber. The expansion chambers J, K are each
open at their lower ends which are fixed to the upper part of the standard G in
connection with the passages h, i and the tube I. The upper end of the expansion
chamber J is free to rise and fall with any variation in its internal pressure and
immediately above the upper end is provided the lever L hinged at one end to the
bracket M and connected at its free end by the links to the valve E which
controls the flow of water through the pipe leading to the attemperator. The
expansion chamber J is preferably immersed as shewn in the tank D through which
the cooling water flows so as the better to render the apparatus sensitive to changes
in the temperature of the cooling water. The pressure of the water tending to close
the valve E is counterbalanced by the balance weight O acting through the lever o
and tending to raise the valve E. Or instead of the valve E and balance weight an
ordinary equilibrium valve may be used and the supply tank C dispensed with. The
second expansion chamber K has an adjusting screw P working in a tube P fixed in
its upper end and the upper part of this screw bears against a screw 9 working in the
frame Qformed with the upper part of the pillar G to which the expansion chamber K
is fixed. On the screw p is a milled wheel p² by.which the screw is turned and an

page_text: index cylinder p³ divided into equal parts which with the index finger p* indicate in
degrees Farenheit the particular temperature at which the fermenting liquid is
required. In this particular case the index cylinder is marked from 50° to 80°. The
bulb H, tube I, passages h, i, and expansion chambers J, K are all filled with alcohol
or some other expansive fluid which can readily be done through the small holes k² in
the upper part of the chamber K, these holes being afterwards closed by the washer 3
jointed on to the top of the expansion chamber K by the nut 4. The index finger pt
is in this instance formed with the washer k³, a peg on the washer fitting in one of
the holes prevents its turning round when the nut is being screwed up.
The apparatus above described operates as follows:-The bulb part H is immersed
in the fermenting liquid which is required to be maintained at an uniform temperature
and the adjusting screw P is turned until the finger pt indicates on the cylinder p³
the temperature at which the fermenting liquid is required to be maintained. If the
fermenting liquid is then below that temperature the contraction of the alcohol will
have caused the expansion chambers to contract also and the valve E will be closed;
but when the temperature of the fermenting liquid has attained to the temperature
indicated by the finger p¹ the alcohol will have expanded sufficiently to raise the
valvo E just far enough to allow the proper quantity of water to circulate through the
attemperator as will maintain the liquid at that temperature. On a slight increase in
the temperature of the fermenting liquid the expansion of the alcohol in the bulb H
will increase the pressure thereof and cause the expansion chamber J to lengthen
and raise the lever L and valve E so as to increase the flow of cooling water
through the attemperator and bring down the temperature of the fermenting liquid
to its normal point. Thus by adjusting the screw P a greater or less amount of
expansion of the chamber K can be obtained and the degree of temperature at which
the alcohol will expand or contract sufficiently to cause the expansion chamber J to
operate on the lever L can be varied as desired.
Any variation in the temperature of the cooling water passing through the
tank D influences the alcohol in the passage i below the tank (which is made of
large area for that purpose) and in the expansion chamber J and causes the expansion
chamber J to either expand or contract so as to increase or diminish the quantity
of cooling water passing through the valve E in proportion to the temperature of
the same.
In a similar manner any variation in the temperature of the atmosphere will act
upon the alcohol in the expansion chamber K and in the passage h and by increasing
or diminishing the density of the alcohol will cause the expansion chamber J to expand
or contract and diminish or increase the quantity of cooling water passing to the
attemperator.
The passage between the top of the pipe I and the expansion chamber K is by
preference contorted into the form of a syphon and the passage i between the top of
the pipe I and the expansion chamber J is similarly contorted into a syphon so as to
prevent as far as possible the alcohol in the chambers J, K and bulb H mixing
together or with one another.
It will be evident that the cubical contents of the bulb H, chamber K and its
passage h, chamber J and its passage i, have to be proportioned in accordance with
the contents of the "round" A and the normal temperature of the fermenting liquid
required, the temperatures of the atmosphere and of the cooling water; in practice I
have found that where the temperature of the cooling water is about 52° Farenheit,
the fermenting liquid ranging from 56° to 72°, and the atmosphere from about 486
to 75° the cubical contents of the bulb and chambers should be about as follows,
that is to say -

page_text: immersing the bulb H in a tank or vessel through which the heating water circulates,
the free end of the expansion chamber J being arranged to control, by the lever L
or otherwise (the tank D being dispensed with), the cock which supplies gas for
heating the heating water, or the furnace damper or a ventilator so that the gas
supply cock, furnace damper or ventilator will be automatically maintained the proper
amount opened or will be closed by the expansion or contraction of the expansion
chambers; or the bulb H and pipe I may be dispensed with and the chambers J and K
and their connections used alone so as to be only acted upon by the temperature of
the atmosphere in the greenhouse or other place.
The shapes of the expansion chambers illustrated are what I have found to answer
well in practice but it will be obvious that other shapes may be used without departing
from the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. In an apparatus for automatically regulating the temperature of fermenting
liquids and for other like uses the combination, with a bulb or expansion chamber for
immersing in the liquid of which the temperature is required to be regulated, of two
other expansion chambers internally connected therewith and all filled with an
expansible liquid and acted upon respectively by the temperature of the cooling water
and the temperature of the atmosphere and arranged to control the flow of the cooling
water and provided with means substantially as described by which the apparatus can
be set to increase or diminish the flow of the cooling water at any particular temperature
of the fermenting or other liquid, so as to maintain the fermenting or other liquid at
that temperature, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The new or improved apparatus for automatically regulating the temperature
of fermenting liquids and for other like uses constructed and arranged to operate sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1888.