Improved Apparatus for Aerating Liquids, especially applicable to Fermenting Tuns and Indigo Vats.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Aerating Liquids, especially applicable to
Fermenting Tuns and Indigo Vats.
I, FRIEDRICH GRUMBACHER, of No. 6, Kirchstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, Factory Manager, 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 :-
The object of the present application consists of a new fermentation and aeration
tank for yeast and indigo manufacture and the like which as regards yeast
manufacture distinguishes itself from arrangements of a similar kind hitherto known
by the following characteristics :-
1. That all parts of the ingredients are brought constantly in contact with the
air and that thereby an intimate aeration of the same is effected which can only
be partially attained by means of perforated air tubes as hitherto in use.
2. That the yeast cells do not come into contact with any sharp edges as for
instance occurred in the forcing up of the ingredients into the settling basin.
3. That in consequence of the improvement indicated in the foregoing clause the
ripening of the yeast is considerably quickened.
4. That the carbonic acid which is developed during the formation of the yeast
is continuously and effectively removed and thereby at the same time the growth
of the yeast considerably assisted.
5. That all dead spaces are avoided.
6. That there is less foaming of the contents with an equal amount of access
of air in consequence of the special method of supplying the air on the one hand
and the removal of the carbonic acid on the other.
7. That the whole apparatus can be more easily cleansed because only smooth
rounded surfaces are present and because the supply of air at the same time is
utilised for the delivery of the washing water after delivery of the product into
the settling basin.
This fermenting vessel is also very suitable for use in the manufacture of indigo.
It is well known that the indigo plant is placed in a large vessel under water and
the coloured fluid drawn off into a second vessel. In this latter the fluid is kept
for hours in motion by striking it with shovels and paddles in order to bring it into
intimate contact with the air and effect the oxidation of the indigo white into
indigo blue. It is however impossible by beating with shovels or paddles to
obtain such an intimate contact of the liquid with the air as is possible by the use
of my invention. There will be therefore the greatest advantage and the most
effective utilisation of the indigo plant obtained by the application of my invention
to indigo manufacture.
The accompanying drawing illustrates the subject of the invention as follows:-
Figure 1 shows the settling vessel in section and
Figures 2 to 4 show three modifications of the air conductors.
The constructional arrangement is as follows:-
In the vessel a provided with a conical bottom is placed the mechanism for the
aeration of the contents between the supporting bars 6 which mechanism consists of
the circulation tube c and the air conducting tube d introduced into the vessel from
below. The latter is directed centrally into the circulation tube c.
The upper
end of the circulation tube bears a distributing plate e whose rim is provided with

page_text: teeth Above this plate, and upon the circulation tube e is placed a toothed
stopping hood g. From the lower part of the vessel the tube branches off
provided with a stop cock i which is connected with a circulation tube standing
vertically. Into the latter an sir conducting tube m also discharges in such a
manner that the shorter arm of the U-formed bent air conducting tube reaches into
the lower end of the tube P. The aeration or circulation arrangement placed
either in the vessel a or outside the same can be carried out in the manner shown
in Figures 2 to 4.
According to Figure 2 the circulation tube c is placed centrally with regard to
the aeration tube d. The lower end o of the latter is contracted to form a neck
and to such an extent that it has the same diameter as the circulation tube . The
circulation tube however does not reach as far as the contraction of the air
conducting tube so that the air, in the form of a ring, enters into the material to
be aerated and can correspondingly act upon the same. Through the contraction
of the air conducting tube an equal working is obtained in the circulation tube, and
resistance to the lifting of the product is correspondingly diminished.
Referring to Figure 3 the under part of the circulation tube e is provided with
a chamber p whose lower end is continued with the same diameter as the
circulation tube e, into this chamber p the air conducting tube d discharges. In
both modifications consequently the product to be aerated and lifted enters the
narrowed part o of the air conducting tube d (Fig. 2) or of the chamber p (Fig. 3)
and is then acted on by the air which is blown into the said narrowed part in the
shape of a ring and the product is caused to pass into and up the forwarding
tube c.
According to Figure 4 the lower part of the circulation tube e is widened out
in bell shape and the shorter arm d of the air conducting tube d which is bent
upwards in horse shoe shape delivers into the same. The air here also arises in
bubbles which collect in a body and lift the yeast. Also in place of the circulation
tube and the air conducting tube m these modifications may be employed,
whereby the circulation tube is replaced by the tube e and the air conducting
tube m by the tube d.
The method of operating this new invention is explained by the following:-
Through the tube d air is passed into the lower end of the circulation tube c
which air rises in bubbles in the same and drives up the contents which are above
it, the latter reach the distributing plate e and flow from the same back into the
vessel. The cap g has the object to prevent the blowing out of the products; in
this manner an equal circulation of the contents and aeration of the same is secured.
When the contents are to be discharged into the settling tank the cock i is opened
and through the air conducting tube m air is passed into the tube whereby a
rising of the contents in the tube and delivery of the same into the settling tank
is effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A fermentation and aeration apparatus for the manufacture of yeast, indigo,
aud the like characterised by the arrangement of a circulation tabe provided with
an air conducting tube the upper end of which circulation tube is provided with
a distributing plate and a cap in such a manner that by the introduction of air in
the air conducting tube air bubbles are caused in the lower part of the circulation
tube and thereby a continuous circulation and aeration of the yeast or indigo fluid
is caused for the object of causing a continuous intimate mixture of the same with
the air.
2. A modification of the circulation tube apparatas set forth in Claim 1 in which
the circulation tube is either introduced from above centrally into an air conducting
tube which is narrowed below, or 'the circulation tube is widened below in bell
shape and the air conducting tube is arranged to discharge centrally in the same

page_text: with its bent lower end in horse shoe form or in which the circulation tube
discharges into a chamber narrowed below provided with air conducting tube for
the object of diminishing the resistance which is opposed to the product to be
aerated and lifted.
Dated this 17th day of June 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.