Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering Alcoholic Beverages.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 26th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering Alcoholic Beverages.
I, ALFRED DE GAULNE, of Bordeaux, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus for, the clarification,
or filtration, of wines and other fermented liquors, according to which such filtration
is conducted in an atmosphere of carbonic acid gas to the exclusion of atmospheric air.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a case the front of which is fitted
with a removable cover adapted to be fixed air-tight to said front. Upon the top of
this case I place a second and smaller one separated from the first by a partition or
diaphragm.
A box fixed to the side of the small case communicates with the interior thereof
by a single opening. The liquor supply-pipe enters this box and descends to a level
below that of the said opening. The box is also provided with a draw-off cock and
a suitable cleansing orifice.
The smaller case is fitted with a removable door of a similar construction to that of
the larger one. It is also furnished with a level indicator and two tubes with cocks,
one for the escape of air, and the other for the introduction of the carbonic acid gas.
The large case is furnished with the following fittings: a pipe communicating
with a gasometer from which carbonic acid gas is drawn, a draw-off cock for the
filtered wine, and a test cock.
The draw-off cock has combined with it a water seal; or what is better, an
extension of the bottom of the large case divided by a vertical web into two com-
partments communicating with each other only below the web, and at a level below
that of the point at which the draw-off cock is fixed. The said extension is also
furnished with a draw-off cock.

page_text: The partition which separates the two cases has a series of holes formed in it to
which are attached short tubes adapted to hold the filtering materials.
The apparatus above described is operated as follows.
The covers being fixed air-tight to their respective cases and all the cocks shut, the
gas-supply and the air-escape cocks are opened. Carbonic acid gas being heavier
than air, it will fill the lower part of the apparatus first. The air escape is then closed
and the filtration process commences as soon as the liquor supply is opened. As soon
as it has been ascertained that the filtering is going on properly, the empty cask
is filled with gas and the draw-off cock opened. The process of filtration will go on
continuously so long as the liquor is allowed to flow into the top reservoir.
Dated this 26th day of September 1887.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ALFRED DE GAULNE, of Bordeaux, in the Republic of France, 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 refers to the filtration or clarification of wines and other fermented
beverages in an atmosphere of carbonic acid gas.
According to my system of filtering, oxidation of the beverage is obviated, inas-
much as the loss of its natural carbonic acid gas is prevented, and the absorption of
a small excess quantity of this gas is effected without the exertion of a sensible
pressure.
This method of filtering yields new results of considerable value and which may
be summarised as follows
1. The additional quota of carbonic acid maintains in solution a certain proportion
of the natural salts of the wine, thereby imparting perfect limpidity, a distinctive
sparkle, and life; and in the case of red wines, a deeper colour than can be produced
by any other method of clarification.
2. The preservation of the wine with all its limpidity, vivid colour, and bouquet is
assured, inasmuch as the carbonic acid being heavier than air prevents the wine from
absorbing the latter which acts only as a conveyer of germs of mischief which make
the wine sick.
As explained above, the process of filtration must be conducted in an atmosphere
of carbonic acid gas, all atmospheric air being carefully excluded.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my filtering
apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation.
Fig. 3 is a part side elevation illustrating a modified form of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the filter diaphragm; and
Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line A-B thereof.
A is a rectangular chamber, the front of which is provided with a removable cover, B,
adapted to be fixed air-tight to its seat by screws and wing-nuts, C, in combination
with a packing ring of indiarubber. Handles, E, are provided to facilitate the
fixation or removal of said cover.
A second and smaller rectangular chamber, F, is fixed upon the former, but is
separated therefrom by a plate, G, described in detail further on. An extension, H,
is fixed upon one of the sides of said smaller chamber, and communication between
these is established by a single orifice, I. A pipe, J, with a stop-cock, K, supplies
the beverage to the interior of the apparatus, its lower extremity dipping below the

page_text: surface beneath the orifice, I. Access to the interior of the extension, H, for the
purpose of cleaning it is provided at an opening controlled by a screw cover, L. A
draw-off cock, M, is also provided.
The chamber, F, is opened by the removal of a cover, N, of the same construction
as that of the larger chamber, A. A gauge glass, O, is provided for the purpose of
indicating the level of the liquid in the chamber, F. Two pipes, cach with a stop-
cock, are also fitted to the top of chamber; one, P, for the purpose of allowing the air
to escape from, and the other, Q, for the purpose of admitting carbonic acid into, the
said chamber.
The chamber, A, is provided on the outside with the following fittings. A pipe, R
which communicates with a gasometer, and supplies carbonic acid gas therefrom into
the chamber at the bottom thereof; a cock, S, through which the filtered liquid is
drawn off; and another and smaller cock, T, for testing and tasting.
The cock, S, is connected immediately to a liquid seal which may be either a
syphon, U, as illustrated in Fig. 2; or, preferably, an extension, V, of the case, A, as
illustrated in Fig. 3. This extension is divided by a vertical web, W, into two
compartments, communication between which can only take place under said web, i.e., in
the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3.
Inasmuch as the web, W, prevents the liquid in the chamber, A, from flowing away
direct through the cock, S; and the communication between the two compartments
of the extension, V, is below the lowest part of the bore of said cock, it is evident
that the said extension, V, will form a seal as perfect as the syphon, U. A draw off
cock, c, is fixed to the bottom of the extension.
A dipping tube, X, preferably flexible is continued from the cock, S, into the cask
into which the filtered liquid is to be run, the delivery end of it being carefully kept
below the surface of the liquid so long as the apparatus is at work.
The small cock, y, communicates with the gasometer, and supplies carbonic acid
gas during the operation of the apparatus to the interior space of the cask unoccupied
by liquid.
The plate, G, which separates the chambers, A and F; and which is illustrated in
detail in Figs. 4 and 5, has a series of perforations, , formed in it, and furnished
with sockets, a, screwed to the underside of the plate. These sockets are provided with
filtering pockets and indiarubber or wood plugs, b, the latter to be used for the purpose
of stopping off one or more pockets as may be required.
The filtering pockets I make use of, are made of felt, linen, or other suitable
material, and their form and construction may be varied according to circumstances.
Having thus described the filtering apparatus in all its details, I will now describe
its operation.
The pipes, QR and y, communicate with a suitable gasometer filled with carbonic
acid gas under a low pressure which is intended only to drive gas from the gasometer
into the apparatus and to fill the latter quite full. The two covers, B and N, being
fixed, and all the cocks shut, the gas supply is established along the pipe, R, and the
air pipe, P, opened.
Carbonic acid being heavier than air, it will fill the bottom of the apparatus first,
driving before it the atmospheric air which escapes through the pipe, P. When the
whole apparatus is full of carbonic acid, which fact is indicated by the escape of said
gas through the pipe, P, the cock in the latter is closed, and the process of filtration
or clarification may then be started.
The cock, K, is opened; and the liquid to be operated on fills the extension, H,
first, then flows through the orifice, I, into the smaller chamber, F, which it fills; at
the same time beginning to filter through the filtering pockets. The cock, Q, is
opened, and the process of filling is watched at the gauge glass, O. The filtered
liquid falls into the larger chamber, A, and a sample is drawn off through the cock, T,
for the purpose of ascertaining if the process proceeding properly. If it is not, it
is stopped the cover, B, is removed, and what is wrong, rectified. A cock, P,
enables the attendant to satisfy himself that there is not any atmospheric air in the
chainber A.

page_text: If the beverage is limpid, the dip-pipe, X, is put into the cask to be filled, the
cocks, y and S, are opened, and the process of filtration then proceeds until the supply
cock, K, is shut. After that, the liquid in the small chamber, F, will filter through
the filtering pockets, and when it has all passed through, the interior of the apparatus
is still hermetically sealed against the surrounding atmospheric air by the two seals
above described, viz., that in the extension H on the supply, and that in the syphon, U,
or extension, V, on the discharge.
It is thus apparent, that the apparatus-the atmospheric air having been once
expelled from it can work continuously, and be stopped at the end of the day's work
without anything going wrong.
The apparatus may be made in copper, those internal parts which may come into
contact with the beverage being silver-plated, and the other surfaces merely tinned.
It must be understood that the choice of materials for the manufacture of the apparatus
is not limited to the metals mentioned, inasmuch as glass, stoneware, porcelain or any
other appropriate material may be used, as may be desired.
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 filtration of wines and other fermented beverages away from contact with
atmospheric air and in an atmosphere exclusively of carbonic acid gas at ordinary
pressure.
2. The filtering apparatus specially constructed for this purpose, and consisting of
two cases, A and F, separated by a plate, G, providing with filtering pockets; the said
apparatus communicating by pipes, Q, R, y provided with stop cocks, with a
gasometer, for the purpose of supplying carbonic acid gas to every part of the filter
unoccupied by liquid, the supply J and the delivery X being closed by liquid seals.
Dated this 26th day of June 1888.