IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF PRODUCING VINEGAR, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Kesseler, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the
Empire of Germany, Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF PRODUCING VINEGAR, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR." A communication from Victor Michaelis, of Rollingergrund, in
the Grand-dukedom of Luxemburg.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Kesseler at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1879.
"
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
PRODUCING VINEGAR, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from
Victor Michaelis, of Rollingergrund, in the Grand-dukedom of Luxemberg.
This Invention relates to apparatus for and improvements in obtaining vinegar,
the object being by use of revolving apparatus to produce vinegar io a ready and
handy manner.
The apparatus consists chiefly of a barrel mounted upon suitable bearers or
supports, the interior of which barrel is separated by a horizontal lath, grating into
two portions, whereof the upper one may preferably be the smaller. The said
upper space is pressed full of beech shavings, and the openings in said grating are to
be just sufficiently large to prevent the shavings from dropping through into the
other compartment.
Instead of shavings, charcoal, or grape pulp remaining after the expression of
the grape juice may be employed.
Just below the lath grating there is in the head of the barrel a horizontal tube
for admission of air, and on the opposite side in the top there is an ordinary tup
for allowing the air to pass out. To set the apparatus going, the vinegar stuff is
admitted through a bung hole or opening immediately below the lath grating by
means of a knee funnel, then the tap for the admission of air is closed, and the
barrel is turned halfway round, whereby the shavings are brought underneath, and
will be immersed in the vinegar stuff.
After about fifteen minutes the barrel is brought into its former position again,
and the inlet and outlet taps for the air are opened. The temperature of the

page_text: shavings will now begin to rise; a rapid influx and efflux of air will now com-
mence, and the temperature of the shavings will soon be above that of the
surrounding air.
The apparatus is now in working order, and it will only be requisite to turn the
barrel several times a day to cause the shavings to be re-immersed in and saturated
by the liquid. These revolutions have to be made as quickly as feasible, so that
the shavings pass through the liquid instantaneously, and the barrel lay with the
air outlet upward; before turning the barrel the taps are of course closed and
re-opened when this is completed.
The number of the turns per day will vary from the begining to the end of the
operation, and also with the nature of the materials employed.
A thermometer inserted in the bottom of the upper compartment will show the
progress of the fermentation and formation of vinegar, and admit of the regulation
of the number of turns and the conducting of the process without chemical analysis,
and to mark the accomplishment of the purpose, that is, the complete transform-
ation of the stuff into vinegar by the decrease of the temperature at that time.
When this is done, the vinegar is drawn off through a tap in the bottom of the
barrel, and refilling with vinegar stuff takes place.
Although the highest percentages of acid in spirits of vinegar will not by this
process be attained as readily as with that of upright vats, the new process has the
advantage of cheaper installation and simplicity in working, and a good average
commericial product is obtained.
The system will offer special advantages for making vinegar from very slimy
stuffs, as for example, fruits, wine, the juice of beetroot, honey, beer, or grain, which
cannot or hardly ever be utilized in upright vinegar apparatus, because of the
slime speedily gathering on the shavings.
If the shavings in this revolving apparatus are covered with slime, steam from
any generator that is handy will be admitted through the air inlet tap before the
apparatus is refilled, and the steam admission is continued until the condensed
water runs clear from the tap below, and the apparatus is then as good as new.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Kesseler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th April 1880.
CARL KESSELER, of 63, Mohrenstrasse, Berlin, W., in the Empire of Germany,
Civil Engineer and Patent Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
PRODUCING VINEGAR, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from
Victor Michaelis, of Rollinger-grund, in the Grand-dukedom of Luxemberg.
This Invention relates to apparatus for and improvements in obtaining vinegar,
the object being by use of revolving apparatus to produce vinegar in a ready and
handy manner.
The apparatus consists chiefly of a barrel A mounted upon suitable bearers or
supports B, the interior of which barrel is separated by a horizontal lath grating C
into two portions, whereof the upper one may preferably be the smaller, as shown
in Figures 1 and 2. The said upper space is pressed full of beech shavings, and the
openings in said grating are to be just sufficiently large to provent the shavings
from dropping through into the other compartment. Instead of shavings, charcoal,
or grape pulp remaining after the expression of the grape juice may be employed.
Just below the lath grating C there is in the head of the barrel a horizontal
tube 6 for admission of air, and on the opposite side in the top there is an ordinary
tap for allowing the air to pass out.
The grating or partition may be altogether dispensed with, however, and the
whole apparatus may be filled with shavings, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, in
which case it will be requisite to provide suitable ways for the admission, and also
outlets for the air. The proper progress of the fermentation is depondent on the
free and continuous renewal of air, which being a main factor in the new process
must be secured as efficiently as possible. In the apparatus entirely filled with
shavings this is provided for in the following manner:- The air-valves b and c are
at their inner openings provided with caps of wickerwork d and e, which, as the
use of metal nails or screws has to be avoided, are secured by means of plugs (or
pins) of wood. The large superficies of these caps admits of a free draught of the
air through the shavings, but instead of wickerwork caps boxes or covers of wood
which are pierced with a great number of holes may be used.
To set the apparatus in operation, the vinegar-stuff is admitted through a bung-
hole or opening immediately below the lath grating by means of a knee shaped
funnel, then the tap for the admission of air is closed, and the barrel is turned
halfway round, whereby the shavings are brought underneath, and will be
immersed in the vinegar stuff.
After about fifteen minutes the barrel is brought into its former position again,
and the inlet and outlet taps for the air are opened. The temperature of the
shavings will now begin to rise; a rapid influx and efflux of air will commence,
and the temperature of the shavings will soon be above that of the surrounding
air.
The apparatus is now in working order, and it will only be requisite to turn the
barrel several times a day to cause the shavings to be re-immersed in, and saturated
by the liquid. These revolutions have to be made as quickly as possible, so that the
shavings pass through the liquid instantaneously, and the barrel will rest with the
air-outlet upwards; before turning the barrel the taps are of course closed and
reopened when this is completed.
The number of the turns per day will vary from the begining to the end of the
operation, and also with the nature of the materials employed.
A thermometer inserted in the bottom of the upper compartment will show the
progress of the fermentation and formation of vinegar, and admit of the regulation
of the number of turns, and the conducting of the process without chemical
analysis, and to mark the accomplishment of the purpose, that is, the complete
transformation of the stuff into vinegar by the decrease of the temperature at
that time.

page_text: When this is done the vinegar is drawn off through a tap in the bottom of the
barrel, and refilling with vinegar-stuff takes place.
In the manufacture of vinegar from spirits of wine, the very high percentages of
acid are as easily obtained by the new process as in that with upright standards.
To manufacturers of vinegar from spirits of wine this system also offers the
advantages of very low cost of installation and great simplicity of working.
This process will offer special advantages for making vinegar from very slimy
stuffs, as for example, fruits, wine, the juice of beetroots, honey, beer, or grain,
which cannot or can hardly ever be utilised in upright vinegar-apparatus, because
of the slime speedily gathering on the shavings.
If the shavings in this revolving apparatus are covered with slime, steam from
any generator that is handy will be employed and admitted through the air-inlet
tap before the apparatus is refilled, and the steam admission is continued until the
condensed water runs clear from the tap below, and the apparatus is then as good
as new.
If the very simple apparatus that has been herein described is to be worked, it
will be sufficient to place several of these revolving vinegar makers on a pair of
beams, leaving sufficient space in front of the first of the number to allow it to
make a full turn.
If the apparatus are to be turned, the upper vent taps are closed, and one barrel
after the other is turned right round, and the taps are reopened; on the next
occasion the turn will be in the opposite direction.
Although this method is entirely new, and altogether different from any of the
hitherto known processes, it nevertheless is of such simplicity that it would be easy
to work according to the same with but slight alterations in the fittings of the
apparatus; for instance, instead of rolling the barrels to and fro, spindles might be
fixed in their centres, and each barrel be turned in its place.
Several barrels could also be placed on one spindle, and as they would equipoise
each other the friction of the spindle would alone have to be overcome in turning
them.
All this, however, is mere matter of modification, and is mentioned to avoid any
circumvention of this Invention by modifications or so called improvements, which
are based upon the particulars herein specified.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
claim,―
First. The improved process of making vinegar by periodical passing of the
shavings or other medium through the vinegar stuff by turning the apparatus, and
the use of the said apparatus for such purpose, substantially as berein set forth and
described in reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The apparatus for the manufacture of vinegar mounted and turning on
an axis or several combined turning on a common axis, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Kesseler, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Second day of April, One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
CARL KESSELER. (L.S.)