Improved Valve Fittings for Use in Fermenting Vats or Stone Squares
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
66
Improved Valve Fittings for Use in Fermenting Vats or Stone
Squares."
I, JOHN SINCLAIR, Brewer, of 288, Radford Road, Hyson Green, Nottingham.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the valve fittings which are used in the stone slab inter-
mediate between the upper and lower fermenting vats or "stone squares" used in
the manufacture of beers and the like.
In the fittings hitherto in general use the valve seating consists of a flanged
tubular casting having the valve spindle guide in one therewith, and the whole has
been permanently fixed with cement into a hole through the said stone dividing
slab. This arrangement has necessitated the fixing of the "organ pipe" (used to
prevent frothing of wort in the lower vat) to the lower part of the casting within
the lower vat by a bayonet joint or otherwise. The objection to this is that this
pipe must remain in position during the fermentation and until the beer is racked,.
thereby rendering it necessary that the beer pumped into the upper vat should
descend to the base of the lower vat. on the valve being opened. This method of
discharge causes but a feeble and unsatisfactory circulation in the lower vat
so large a mass and surface of cement as is used for fixing the fitting affords a locus
for the secretion of injurious bacteria.
also
The object of my improvement is to remedy these defects and to this end I
employ a fitting consisting of a tubular casting fitted into a hole in the stone (it may
be any existing hole) and secured by a nut at the base so as to be removable when
required. The valve seat is on the top of and its spindle passes through a loose and
removable circular casting with valve-spindle-guide cross bar, fitting into a recess in
the upper part of the said tubular casting: when desired to run the wort into the
lower square the "organ pipe" is inserted and fixed to the casting by a taper or
shoulder or otherwise conveniently. When the lower vat is full the pipe is with-
drawn and the locse valve-spindle-guide casting and valve placed in position.
When the beer has been pumped into the upper vat, on the valve being raised it
flows direct through the loose ring casting upon the top of the liquor in the lower
vat and so a more uniforın, vigorous and efficient circulation is obtained. By my
improvement no cement need be exposed to the fermentation and a more compact
and cleanly arrangement is produced which is easily adaptable to the holes made
for existing fittings.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Agent.

page_text: Improved Valve Fittings for Use in Fermenting Vats or
Squares."
66.
Stone:
I, JOHN SINCLAIR, of 288, Kadford Road, Hyson Green, Nottingham, Brewery
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 :-
My invention relates to the valve fittings which are used in the stone slab inter-
mediate between the upper and lower fermenting vats or "stone squares
"used in
the manufacture of beers and the like.
55
In the fittings hitherto in general use the valve seating consists of a flanged
tubular casting having the valve spindle guide in one therewith, and the whole has
been permanently fixed with cement into a hole through the said stone dividing
slab. This arrangement has necessitated the fixing of the "organ pipe" (which
projects into and is used to prevent frothing of wort in the lower vat) to the lower
part of the casting within the lower vat by a bayonet joint or otherwise. The
objection to this is that this "organ pipe must remain in position during the
fermentation and until the liquor is racked, thereby rendering it necessary that
the liquor pumped into the upper square should descend to the base of the lower
square on the valve being opened. This method of discharge causes but à feeble,
and unsatisfactory circulation in the lower square; also so large a mass and surface
of cement as is used for fixing the fitting affords a locus for the secretion of injurious
bacteria.
The object of my invention is to remedy these defects and to provide for the
removal of the " organ pipe" when not required and I will now fully describe
my improvements in reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings; in
these
Fig. 1 is a section through a stone slab and the fitting, showing the " organ
pipe "in position to receive the wort and the valve just raised from its
seating.
Fig. 2 is a section through the fitting with valve and "organ pipe" withdrawn
and the loose valve-seat and guide placed in position ready to admit the beer to the
lower square. Fig. 3 is a plan of same and
Fig. 4 shows in plan the loose ring hereinafter described.
In carrying out my invention I employ a fitting consisting of a tubular casting C
coned or parallel interually provided with a circular top flange c' and adapted to be
detachably fitted into a hole H in the stone slab S, which may be any existing hole
cut to the proper size. The flange c of the casting C is bedded upon a small
quantity of cement and the lower end of the casting projects below the slab and is
threaded to receive a nut N by which the whole is firmly drawn up and secured,
but may be readily removed when required. V is the valve upon the top of which
a ring such as may conveniently be provided for a lifting chain or connection and
visits guide spindle. .' is the "organ pipe" shown coned as usual, it is preferably
supported in the casting C by a flanged head p fitting and resting in a recess c²
therein, and said head is provided with a cross spindle-guide c. The surface of the
flanged head p forms the valve seat when the "organ pipe" is in position and it is
or may be prevented from lifting and well secured by lugs and jaws such as p³ ³
like a bayonet joint or otherwise suitably. D is the loose and removable circular
casting or ring provided with a cross spindle-guide d and it is adapted, when the
organ pipe" is drawn out and removed, to fit well into the recess c and its surface
then forms the valve seat.
66

page_text: Thus the organ pipe is inserted and removed from the top or upper square and it.
will be obvious that when inserted it might be supported in the casting by a plain
shoulder or even by its coned sides and the loose ring placed above it to receive and
form the seat of the valve, but the arrangement above specified is the most.
convenient and therefore preferred. With this improved arrangement when it is
desired to run the wort into the lower square 2 the "organ pipe "P is inserted and
secured in the casing C by jaws as shown and explained.
When the lower vat 2 is
sufficiently full the valve V, and "organ pipe" P are removed (from the upper side.
of the slab) then the loose ring D and valve V are placed in position. During
rousing the valve is closed, and the beer pumped into the upper square 1: on the
valve V being raised it flows direct through the loose ring-casting D upon the top.
of the liquor in the lower square 2 and so a more uniform vigorous and efficient
circulation is obtained. By my improvement as will be seen, no cement need be.
exposed to the fermentation and a more compact and cleanly arrangement is
produced which is easily adaptable to the holes made for existing fittings.
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 :-
:-
"
1. The improved valve fittings for fermenting vats or stone-squares consisting of
a tubular casting C detachably fitted in the stone slab and adapted to receive from.
its upper side either a removable " organ pipe or a loose ring, either of these.
forming a seat for the valve V and adapted for use at the times in the manner and
for the purposes hereinabove set forth.
2. In fittings such as above referred to, the use as a valve seat (at the required
time) of the loose ring herein described and illustrated in the drawings, whereby-
the "organ pipe" may be removed when not required.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1897.
For the Applicant,
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent..