An Improved Process for Filtering Beer and other Liquids and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1892-4ccepted, 15th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for Filtering Beer and other Liquids and
Apparatus therefor.
I, JOHN SUTTON, of Islip, in the County of Suffolk, and State of New York,
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention comprises an improved means of filtering beer and other liquids by
employing suction on the outlet side of the apparatus, instead of applying pressure
on the inlet side. To this end I employ a stand pipe up which the liquid may be
forced by suitable pressure. The said pipe is bent over at the top and continued
in downward direction by an outlet pipe to the 'filter and thence to the discharge
opening where a cock or cocks are provided for emptying into suitable receptacles.
The liquid to be filtered is forced up the stand pipe near to where the bend occurs,
but it must not be forced into the bend by pressure from the inlet as such
pressure would cause the sediment &c. to pass over and into the filter which would
speedily become clogged and rendered useless thereby. Instead I prefer to force
water up the outlet pipe and over the bend to meet the liquid in the inlet pipe,
forming a continuous stream. Then by allowing the liquid in the outlet pipe to
fall by gravitation it operates to draw the liquid to be filtered through the outlet
pipe and the filter by suction in the manner of a syphon. By this means the
liquid is freed from much of its sediment and heavy matter before entering the
filter and the efficiency of the filter prolonged for a longer time besides being
rendered more satisfactory in operation.
The starting point of the inlet pipe may be provided with a piece of rubber
tubing having cocks for turning the supply on or off. This rubber tubing may be
readily connected with the casks containing the liquid to be clarified.
The cocks may admit the liquid from one or more casks at the same time, and
either one may be shut off from the trap or cask, or may be opened to it, and
without stopping the operation, thus permitting another tank or cask to be coupled
ready for its liquid to flow to the trap or inlet pipe by turning the cock to suit.
This trap-vessel may be of any suitable form and size, (and transparent or not)
but somewhat larger in diameter than the inlet pipe. Within the trap-shell, about
midway of its length, is a division having a circular passage through it, centrally
placed, its ends forming an upper and a lower seat for the upper and lower floating
ball-valves acting directly over each other. The floating ball when the liquid
ceases to flow, and the air and gases enter instead, will descend and centralize and
fit tightly to its seat when the liquid surface is so pressed upon and lowered by the
incoming pressure of air and carbonic acid or other gas into the chamber,
and will thus prevent the air and gases passing from the cask to the lower
chamber and to the inlet pipe. A floating ball is provided in the lower
chamber to prevent a back-flow of liquid from the column through the chamber
and valve-passage to the cask. The usual check-valve may be used there or
elsewhere, as required, instead. The balls show their positions while the current
of liquid is passing from the cask or casks to the column. These ball-valves
cannot choke. They are self-acting and prevent the air and gases entering the
column and filtering apparatus, and prevent the return of liquid from the column
should intermittent pressure occur or the operation be stopped. In this event the
ball would be pressed to its seat by the weight of liquid in column. The liquid-
conducting pipe may be cast or made with the trap-shell and is connected to the
column by coupling, or otherwise. Its bottom end, opening within the chamber

page_text: may be there enlarged and grated, if required, to prevent the ball reducing the
area of the outlet to the column.
The bottom end of the chamber collects any descending sedimentary matter
coming from the cask's trap or column, which may be let off occasionally by a
blow and cleansing cock, which also serves for emptying column and trap.
The filter may be situate at any suitable position on the outlet pipe between its
upper and lower ends, being adapted to receive and discharge the liquid by
suitable cocks. A greater or lesser suction power is secured according to the
height at which the filter is placed upon the outlet pipe. I may also combine
suction power with the inlet pressure of the unfiltered liquid.
In my invention the liquid in the inlet pipe is raised by the pressure in the cask
to such height only that its surface may always stand below the return-bend. The
force necessary to pass the liquid through the filter in every case is a force due to
the weight of a descending column of liquid, which weight will either force the
liquid through the filter from the inlet side or suck or draw it through the same
from the outlet side, or both.
This process for filtering and outletting of the liquid, where the filter is placed
intermediate of the outlet pipe ends, will cause less compression of the inlet-
surface of the filtering mass or its fibres and pores by the lessened pressure of the
entering liquid. Consequently there will be less closing up of the innumerable
and imperceptible pores or facial spaces in the filter mass, as the impurities will
be drawn or sucked farther to the interior of the filtering material by the
outletting liquid and suction than is possibe in any case when filtering under
pressure only on the inlet side, such inlet-pressure serving to retard more and more
the passage of liquid through the filter by the impurities sooner plugging up and
finally plastering over the whole area of the receiving or inletting surface of the
filtering material, thus causing the impurities to enter but partially into its depth
aud the filter to become clogged and in a shorter time be unfitted for necessary
and continuous work. The greater the liquid-pressure on the inlet side the more
difficult will be the filtering and the sooner the operation will terminate from
clogging. The greater the weight or suction on the outlet side, the liquid column
or vacuum being kept unbroken, the freer and more copious will be the flow of
the filtered liquid in a given time and longer will be the operation without
stopping to cleanse the filtering material.
Suitable chambers may be formed around the pipes, into which chambers heat
or cold in suitable form may be introduced for heating or cooling the liquid being
filtered as may be desired.
By conducting the liquid to be filtered upwardly to a predetermined height
under a constant pressure within the vat I provide a convenient arrangement for
warming the denser liquids and cooling the thinner liquids, and at the same time
provide for the settling of sediment, so that the liquid led from the top or upper
portion of the standing column will be in a great measure freed from sediment before
being led to the filter. I also provide for introducing the liquid to the filter under
its own weight exerted upon the inlet side or upon the outlet side, or upon both,
so that the filtering is done without employing the exhaust mechanism-such, for
instance, as an exhaust-pump-which would tend to withdraw from the liquid
the gases which it is desirable should be retained therein, since the liquid and
gases are confined within a continuous pipe from the tank to the storage-receptacle.
The elevation of the liquid above the vat also provides for storing the liquid
upon floors where plenty of light may be had, above the cellar in which the vat-is
usually located, and provides for the varying of the pressure upon the inlet and
outlet side of the filter, as may be desired.
Dated this 27th day of October 1891
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: An Improved Process for Filtering Beer and. other Liquids and
Apparatus therefor.
I, JOHN SUTTON, of Islip, in the County of Suffolk and State of New York,
United States of America, Engineer, 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 improvements in process and apparatus for filtering beer
and other liquids in which the liquid to be filtered is conducted under vat-pressure
to a point above the vat, and is conducted thence to the filter or filters, located in
any desired position on a level with, above, or below the vat, and thence to the
barrels or other receptacles in which the filtered liquid is to be stored.
The casks, in which beer or liquid of a similar nature is stored, are usually
placed in the cellar or vaults beneath a building. When it is desired to filter the
liquid in order to clarify it previous to placing it in barrels, it is conducted from
the cask to a filter, also in the cellar or vault, and is from the filter conveyed away to
the barrels in vault or above the same. It has been customary to force the liquid
from the cask or casks under pressure exceeding atinospheric pressure, by which
means the liquid was forced through the filter from the inlet side thereof. In such
process the pressure exerted upon the liquid in the cask is continued therein through
the filter, so that the liquid in the filter is subjected to the same pressure and pressure
from the same source as that in the cask, less the friction in passing through
filtering materials, &c. By my improvement I cause the liquid to be passed
through the filter by the force due to the weight of a falling column of the
liquid less the friction. This may either be by suction exerted at the outlet side
of the filter, whereby the liquid is caused to be drawn through the filter by the
weight of the descending column, or it may be by pressure exerted by the falling
column to force the liquid into and through the filter from the inlet side. Again,
it may be accomplished by employing both of these means in conjunction with
each other in order to effect the passage of the liquid through the filter.
A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
:―
Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating apparatus adapted to carry my improvement
into effect, together with several floors of a building, the latter being shown in
section, pressure alone being used on either floor.
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing apparatus of a somewhat modified form, the
pressure being on the inlet side and the vacuum on the outlet side.
Fig. 3 is a similar view showing apparatus also somewhat modified, the vacuum
being used alone.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details of a trap employed.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A represents the vat, and B a stand-pipe into and up which the liquid to be
filtered is forced from the rat by pressure exerted upon the surface of the liquid
in the vat A. The pressure may be also exerted by an ordinary force-pump
(denoted at P in the drawings) adapted to force air or any gas, as may be desired,
into the vat. The vat pressure may be sufficient to raise the liquid to the line a
Fig. 1, only, from whence the liquid will be siphoned off to the filter, or it may be
sufficient to force it throughout the length of the pipe B and to its entrance to
the filter. The pipe B is here represented as standing upright, and the liquid is
conducted from its upper end to the filter. It may, however, be in any other
shape than straight and upright, and the liquid may be led to the filter from a
point below its upper end. The liquid here shown as delivered from the lower
part of the vat through a cock a' into a pipe a', (shown as a piece of flexible hose

page_text: connected near one of its ends to the cock a¹). I prefer to use this flexible hose,
so that connection may be made with any of the different vats of a series, as
shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The hose has a combined stop and flushing cock a³
to prevent the liquid from escaping when changing. The upper end of the hose
from the vat A is coupled to any suitable kind of cock 2 (here shown as a three-
way cock) for the purpose of admitting liquid, air, and gas to the trap-chambers
or vessel 3. They may admit the liquid from one or more vats at the same time,
and one or more of them may be shut off from the trap or vat, or may be opened
to it and without stopping the operation, thus permitting another tank or vat to be
coupled ready for the liquid to flow to the stand-pipe B by turning the cock to
suit. This trap forms a sediment vessel and may be of any suitable form and
size, (transparent or not), and may be provided at pleasure with a division-wall 3',
of any suitable height, for separating the ascending liquid from the descending
impurities. It is desirable that the combined trap and sediment vessel be somewhat
larger in diameter than the column B. Within the trap-shell, about midway of its
length is a division having a circular passage through it, centrally placed, its ends
forming an upper and lower seat 44' for the upper and lower floating ball valves
acting directly over each other. The floating ball 7, when the liquid ceases to
flow and the air and gases enter instead, will descend and centre and fit tightly to
its seat when the liquid surface is pressed upon and lowered by the incoming
pressure of air and carbonic acid or other gas into the chamber 5, (see dotted ball),
and will thus prevent the air and gases passing from the rat to the lower chamber 6
and to the column B. The floating ball 8 in the lower chamber is to prevent a
back flow of liquid from the column through the chamber and valve passage to the
vat. (See dotted ball seated.) The usual or other check-valve may be used there
or elsewhere where required instead of the balls. The positions of the balls or
valves are indicated while the current of liquid is passing from the vat or vats to
the column. The ball valves have the advantage of not choking, while they are
self-acting and prevent the air and gases entering the column and filtering
apparatus and prevent the return of liquid from the column should intermittent
pressure occur or the operation be stopped. In such event the ball 8 would be
pressed to its seat by the weight of liquid in the pipe or column B. The liquid-
conducting pipe B₁ may be cast or made integral with the trap-shell 3 and is
connected to the column B by a suitable coupling B', its bottom end opening
within the chamber 6, where it may be enlarged and grated, if required, to prevent
the ball 8 from reducing the area of the outlet 9 to the column or pipe B.
C is the liquid and air and gas inlet or conduit from the cock 2 to the chamber 5
placed to suit. The bottom of chamber 6, which may be of suitable size and shape,
collects any descending sediment coming from the vats, trap, or column, which
matter may be led off, as occasion may require by the blow and cleansing cock D³,
which also serves for flushing as well as for emptying the column or trap 3. This
provision for gravitating and removing sediment from the liquid before it is led to
the filter is a matter of great importance, as it serves to relieve the filter in a great
measure from clogging material, and extends its operation.
M M¹ are removable covers to admit the balls to their chambers.
N is a vent for leading off air and gases when so required, and may be controlled
or self-acting.
O is a cock connecting with the interior of the trap chamber or vessel 3, opening
centrally between the seats of the ball valves, and serving to break the vacuum
which may occur and release the ball valves from their seating by air or water
pressure.
In operation the cocks a' and 2 being opened and pressure applied to the surface
of the liquid in the vat A, the liquid will be forced therefrom upwardly into and
through the trap 3 and into the pipe B. from which it may be siphoned off
through one or more return bends b, which may be transparent or not, or the
pressure may be sufficiently great to force it through the pipe B to the entrance to
the filter. For the purpose of keeping the pressure within the vat uniform, I

page_text: provide either the vat or the pump with a suitable safety valve D, which may be
adjusted to secure the desired pressure.
E represents that portion of the conducting pipe which communicates at one end
with the inlet side of the filter and at its opposite end with the column or pipe B, and
E represents that portion of the conducting pipe which communicates at one end
with the outlet side of the filter and at its opposite end with the apparatus for
delivering the liquid into the storage receptacles. In the present example of my
invention I have shown the pipe E connected with the upper end of the pipe or
column B by a return bend b, and the latter is provided with a suitable vent b¹.
In the pipe E is a cock f, and in connection therewith there may be a sediment
trap, if desired. Near the cock fand arranged in the pipe E so as to communicate
with the latter is a coupling or flushing cock f¹. Any well known or approved
means may be provided for relieving the filter and pipes where required of pent up
gases and foam. In Fig. 1, I have shown the pipe El leading from the outlet of
the filter extended upwardly from the filter and arranged to discharge the filtered
liquid into the storage receptacles g at a point above the filter. The return bend,
where the pipe E' changes from an upward direction to a downward one is denoted
by G. The pipe E' may be carried laterally or upwardly to any required distance
in order to exert any desired back pressure upon outlet side of the filter and also to
determine the pressure or velocity with which the liquid shall be discharged into
the storage receptacles at the different heights. The liquid will be backed up
against the outlet end of the filter whenever the discharge is above the end of the
filter, and the amount of back pressure upon that side of the filter will depend upon
the height of the discharge above the filter. The discharge end of the pipe E¹ is
provided with branches having suitable cocks g³, and said discharge pipe is also
provided with a vent and a flushing cock g. The liquid is discharged into the
storage receptacles g by manipulating the cocks gs. A suitable trap g' having a
vent cock g is employed for preventing entrance of air and for drawing off liquid
which may be in the branch pipe and cocks g³, on stopping operation.
In starting the apparatus I open the cocks a' and the cock 2 of the gas and liquid
trap and force the liquid from the cask upwardly through the traps into the stand-
pipe B to the required height, it being sustained at a by vat pressure. I then close
the cock and open the cock f¹ in the pipe E, opening the vent in the return
bend b. I then let in liquid, preferably water, under pressure into the pipe E by
any suitable pipe or hose connecting with the coupling cock". The liquid thus
forced into the pipe E rises and overflows through the return bend b meeting the
column of liquid in the pipe B at a, the contained air being forced out through
the vent . The vent is now closed or closes itself, the cock fopened, and at the
same time the supply of water is shut off at the coupling cocks f. The outlet
cock g' in the pipe G and filter vents are also opened, together with the cocks in
the branch pipes 9%. The water or liquid from the pipe E will now flow by gravity
through the filter F, the pipe G, and out through the branch pipes and cocks g³ to
waste. This results in a siphoning action, which causes the liquid in the pipe B to
be sucked from a only and to be drawn over and through the return bend b.
The beer or liquid from the pipe B will then in turn descend by gravity
through the pipe E, united with and following the flushing water and will with
it pass through the filter F, where it will be clarified, passing through the pipe G
and out through the branch pipes and cocks g. When the clarified liquid begins
to flow from the branch pipe and cocks g or either of them, as the case may be, it
may be conveyed into the barrels g by any suitable means. Thus it will be
observed that the pressure exerted upon the liquid in the vat A operates only to
force liquid therefrom to a certain height froin which it is lifted and siphoned off
by vacuum force or suction and its liquid weight, and that in this example of my
improvement the liquid is forced through the filter from the inlet side thereof not
by
exerted
pressure
upon the liquid in the vat A but by the force due to the weight
of the falling column of liquid in the pipe E. The clarified liquid may be dis-
charged in its receptacles either on the vault floor or upon floors above.

page_text: When the liquid is held in the pipe or column B under a pressure which is not
sufficient to force it through the return-bend b, the apparatus may be started by
manipulating the cock f¹ and vent 6¹, so as to fill the pipe E with water under
pressure to free of air and also the return bend b. The vent 6' may then be closed
or will close itself and the liquid will start to flow from the pipe or column B by
siphoning action. When the water has escaped through the cock f¹ or from cock g³
as desired and the liquid to be filtered appears, the cock f¹ may be closed and the
When the vat
liquid will then be caused to travel through the filter F, &c.
pressure is sufficient to force the liquid to be filtered directly to the inlet side of the
filter, there will of course be no need of the above described steps in starting, unless
required to remove the air.
In the examples of my improvement illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 provision is
made for exerting a greater pull on the outlet side of the filter by the column of
liquid in the pipe E¹ and a lesser pressure upon the inlet side by decreasing the
length of the column in the pipe E.
This process for filtering and outletting of the liquid Figs. 2 and 3, will cause less
compression of the inlet surface of the filtering mass or its fibres and pores by the
lessened pressure of the entering liquid. Consequently there will be less closing
up of the innumerable and imperceptible pores or facial spaces in the filter mass, as
the impurities will be drawn or sucked farther to the interior of the filtering
material by the outletting liquid and suction than is possible in any case when
filtering under pressure only on the inlet side, such inlet pressure serving to
retard more and more the passage of liquid through the filter by the impurities
Booner plugging up and finally plastering over the whole area of the receiving or
inletting surface of the filtering material, thus causing the impurities to enter but
partially into its depth and the filter to become clogged and in a shorter time be
unfitted for necessary and continuous-work. The greater the liquid pressure on the
inlet side the more difficult will be the filtering and the sooner the operation will
terminate from clogging. The greater the weight or suction on the outlet side, the
liquid column or vacuum being kept unbroken, the freer and more copious will be
the flow of the filtered liquid in a given time and longer will be the operation
without stopping to cleanse the filtering material.
It is to be understood that my process and apparatus are adapted for use in
filtering any desired kind of liquid and that the filter may be placed on any floor
of a building with, above, or below the casks, as may be most advantageous.
The pipe B may, if desired, be provided with separate cocks s, provided with
outlets and air valves or vents, from which liquid in said pipe may be delivered
at any desired point in its height to the filter. Where one of the cocks s is
used, the liquid from the cask A will only be forced to a height in the pipe
coincident or approximately so with the cock, so that when a lesser pressure is
required, (to suit the article to be filtered) the pressure on the vat being
lessened to suit, much wear and tear of tank and apparatus, power, &c., may be
economized.
In all examples of my invention the liquid is raised by pressure in the vat A, up
the column B, and is thence led either by siphoning or pressure to the filter or
filters, and this provision for elevating the liquid in a column above the vat by
pressure upon the liquid in the vat before transferring it to the filters is a very
prominent feature of my improved apparatus for reasons which will appear in the
following paragraph.
Around the uprising column or pipe B and spaced therefrom I locate a tube C¹.
The space between the exterior of the pipe B and the interior of the tube C¹
forms a heating or cooling chamber through which any suitable refrigerating
or heating medium may be passed for the purpose of chilling and condensing
the liquids gases, and foam, or for thinning liquids which may be too dense
for purposes of rapid and effective filtering. An inlet pipe ; and an exit pipe
are shown for the purposes of keeping up a circulation of the heating or cooling
medium about the pipe B. Means for heating or cooling the liquid may also be

page_text: applied to the pipes E E¹ if desired. The uprising column or pipe B may be of
sufficient size to supply pipes leading therefrom to several filters instead of one, and
the structure is such that the warming and cooling may be accomplished in a very
convenient and economical way, while at the same time the liquid may be freed to
a great extent of its sediment before being led to the filters. It also provides for
introducing the liquid to the filter under its own weight exerted upon the inlet or
upon the outlet side, or upon both, and does away with the necessity of using an
exhaust mechanism-such, for example, as an exhaust pump-to draw the liquid
through the filter, and thereby prevents the loss of such gases as it is desirable
should be retained therein. It also provides a simple and ready means for dis-
charging the filtered liquid upon floors with, above, or below the vat, and where
plenty of light and pure air may be had.
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 process of filtering liquid, consisting in conducting the liquid in a closed
conduit from the supply-tank to its exit from the filter and during its passage
forcing it to a certain height at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure and then
causing the liquid to pass by siphoning through the filter by force due to the weight
of a descending column of the fiquid, substantially as specified.
2. The process of filtering liquid, consisting in forcing the liquid to a certain
height at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure, then siphoning the liquid off
from that point and causing it to pass through the filter by force due to the weight
of a descending column of the liquid, substantially as specified.
3. The process of filtering liquid, consisting in forcing the liquid to a certain
height at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure and then causing the liquid to
pass through the filter by siphoning it from the filter, substantially as specified.
4. The process of filtering liquid, consisting in forcing the liquid to a suitable
height at a pressure exceeding the atmospheric pressure and then causing the liquid
to pass through the filter and into the barrels by the combined suction and pressure
of the inletting unfiltered liquid and the combined suction and pressure of the
outletting filtered liquid, substantially as specified.
5. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a vat and a filter, of a pipe or
column extending upwardly from the vat and communicating with the filter, a
sediment chamber at the base of the pipe or column, and means for maintaining
pressure within the vat to force the liquid to be filtered up the said pipe or column,
substantially as set forth.
6. In filtering apparatus, the combination, with a vat and a filter, of a pipe or
column extending upwardly from the vat and communicating with the filter, a
chamber surrounding the uprising pipe or column for cooling or heating a sediment
chamber at the base of the column, and means for maintaining pressure in the vat
to force the liquid to be filtered up the pipe or column, substantially as set forth.
7. In filtering apparatus, the combination, with the vat and filter, of an uprising
pipe or column leading from the vat and communicating with the filter, a sediment
chamber at the base of the column and partition within the column in proximity
to the sediment chamber for separating the upward flow of the liquid from the vat
and the downward passage of the sediment, substantially as set forth.
8. In filtering apparatus, the combination with the vat and filter, of the uprising
column leading from the vat and communicating with the filter and the sediment
chamber at the base of the column, the said sediment chamber having a valve-
opening in its top for the admission of the liquid from the vat, an opening to the
uprising column at its side, and a blow-off' cock at its lower end and a cock in the
side of the chamber for breaking the vacuum between the ball-valves, substantially
as set forth.
9. In filtering apparatus the combination with the vat and filter and hose for
connecting the vat with a trap chamber of a flushing and stop cock at the vat end

page_text: of hose, to retain the liquid when changing to another vat, and for driving the
liquid from the whole apparatus on finishing the operation, by flushing with water,
substantially as set forth.
10. The improvements in process for filtering beer and other liquids and
improved apparatus therefor substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore set
forth, described, and illustrated.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.