for Beer and other Liquids.
Year: 1884

page_text: for Beer and other Liquids.
I, THOMAS HORSBURGH of Shobnall Road, Burton on Trent, in the County of
Stafford, Brewer's Manager, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION OF FININGS FOR BEER -
AND OTHER LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a new or improved machine or apparatus for the
preparation of finings for beer, wine and other malt liquors; such for example, as
brewers' finings of isinglass; and the object of my invention is to obtain a fine
solution free from lumps or other inequalities, which is effected in a simple and
efficient manner, by the machine or apparatus hereinafter described.
My said invention consists essentially of a cylindrical vessel preferably open at
top, and closed at bottom, which is partitioned off near the said closed bottom, by
a perforated or reticulated plate which divides the upper from the lower compart-
ment, and within this lower compartment, the prepared finings accumulate as
hereinafter described; and within the upper chamber is a vertical axial shaft or
spindle, provided with cross cutters or breaking up expedients of nearly.the
diameter of the vessel-which said cutter arms are arranged radially around the
central shaft or spindle at suitable distances apart; that is, the blades or breaking
up expedients have knife edges all around, with central bosses at their middles,
these bosses are provided with eyes which are threaded or strung upon the central
shaft or spindle, and adjusted at their proper heights and positions by screw pins,
which pass through the bosses, and take into set holes arranged at proper distances
apart down the shaft or spindle-The lower end of the said vertical shaft is
stepped and takes its bearing upon the top of a fixed bevil wheel, situated in the
middle of the reticulated plate, dividing the upper from the lower chamber; and
fixed near the lower end of the said shaft is a rotary brush carrying frame which
revolves with the shaft-Rotary brushes are arranged within this frame and cross
the diameter of the reticulated plate, upon which they act-These rotary brushes
are situated on either side the central axis, and rotate independently within
bearings carried by the frame; the said rotary brushes are provided at their inner
ends with small bovil pinions, which gear with and roll upon the face of the fixed
bevil wheel on the upper side of the reticulated division plate as described; and
.

page_text: crossing the open end of the cylindrical vessel is a cross-bar or bearing plate for
supporting and carrying the upper end of the vertical shaft-Motion being coin-
municated to the shaft by a winch or handle; or it may be driven by a band or
other gear transferred from any convenient source of power-The cross bearing or
bar supporting the shaft is mado detachable so that the whole of the mechanism
can be readily withdrawn from the cylindrical chamber in which they work-Fly
nuts and wormed bolts are used for the fixing down of the said cross supporting
bar when in use.
The series of radial cross cutters or knife edged bars are arranged spirally or
screw like, around their central axia.
The isinglass or other fining substanco to be prepared or blended, with the
requisite amount of liquid is introduced into the upper compartment of the vessel
through its open top; so that on rotary motion being imparted to the central axis
by the handle or otherwise, the knife edged bars or breaking up expedients are
rotated rapidly through the finings for the preparation or blending thereof; that is,
the rotation of the knife edged bars break up, whisk the-lumpy portions of the
isinglass held in suspension, while the other portions of the liquids or semi-liquids
constituting the preparation is agitated, stirred up and blended. The finer from
the courser liquid or sewi liquid substance is separated by its passage through the
perforated or fine neshed division plate; this is effected by the rotary brushes, the
bristles of which forco the prepared finings through tlie imeshes of the division.
plate by the pressure exerted on the bristles of the brush traversing over the
meshes of the plate-The accumulated finings known in commerco as brewer's
finings are drawn off from the lower chamber by a tap or valve.
By the arrangement of gearing the brushes revolvo or traverso the face of the
perforated plate twice, while the driving axis only rotates once―The brushes also,
have an independent rotary motion upon their own axes.
Although I have described the breaking up and, agitating, knife edged, bars or
cutters as used in combination with the straining division plate and brushes, yet
I wish it to be understood that the said parts niny be used separately if desired.
100A

page_text: Beer and other Liquids.
I, THOMAS HORSBURGH of Shobnall Road, Burton-on-Trent in the County of
Stafford, Brewer's Manager, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION OF FININGS FOR BEER
AND OTHER LIQUIDS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of a new or improved machine or apparatus for the pre-
paration of finings for beer, wine and other malt liquors; such for example, as
brewer's finings of isinglass; and the object of my invention is to obtain a fine
solution free from lumps or other inequalities, which is effected in a simple and
officient mannor, by the machine or apparatus herein-after described.
My said invention consists essentially of a cylindrical vessel preferably open at
top, and closed at bottom, which is partitioned off near the said closed bottom, by
a perforated or reticulated plate which divides the upper from the lower compart-
ment, and within this lower compartment, the prepared finings accumulate as
hereinafter described; and within the upper chamber is a vertical axial shaft or
spindle, provided with cross cutters or breaking up expedients of nearly the
diameter of the vessel which said cutter arms are arranged radially around the
central shaft or spindle at suitable distances apart; that is, the blades or breaking
up expedienta have knife edges all around, with central bosses at their middles; .
these bosses are provided with eyes which are threaded or strung upon the central
shaft or spindle, and adjusted at their proper heights and positions by screw pins,
which pass through the bosses, and take into set holes arranged at proper distances
apart down the shaft or spindle. The lower end of the said vertical shaft is stepped
and takes its bearing upon the top of a fixed bevil wheel, situated in the middle of
the reticulated plate, dividing the upper from the lower chamber; and fixed near
the lower end of the said shaft is a rotary brush carrying frame which revolves
with the shaft. Rotary brushes are arranged within this frame and cross the
diameter of the reticulated plate, upon which they act. These rotary brushes are
situated on either side the central axis, and rotate independently within bearings
carried by the frame; the said rotary brushes are provided at their inner ends with
small bevil pinions, which gear with and roll upon the face of the fixed bevil wheel
on the upper side of the reticulated division plate as described; and crossing the
open end of the cylindrical vessel is a cross-bar or bearing plate for supporting and
carrying the upper end of the vertical shaft. Motion being communicated to the
shaft by a winch or handle; or it may be driven by a band or other gear trans-
ferred from any convenient source of power. The cross bearing or bar supporting
the shaft is made detachable, so that the whole of the mechanism can be readily
withdrawn from the cylindrical chamber in which they work.

page_text: The isinglass or other fining substance to be prepared or blended, with thío
requisite amount of liquid is introduced into the upper compartment of the vessel
through its open top; so that on rotary motion being imparted to the central axis
by the handle or otherwise, the knife edged bars or breaking up expediente are
rotated rapidly through the finings for the preparation or blending thereof; that
is, the rotation of the knife edged bars break up or whisk the lumpy portions of
the isinglass held in suspension, while the other portions of the liquids or semi-
liquids constituting the preparation is agitated stirred up and blended. The finor
from the courser liquid or semi-liquid substance is separated by its passage through
the perforated or fine meshed division plate; this is effected by the rotary brushes,
the bristles of which the prepared finings through the meshes of the division plate
by the pressure exerted, on the bristles of the brush traversing over the meshes of
the plate. The accumulated finings known in commerce as brewer's finings are
drawn off from the lower chamber by a tap or valve.
By the arrangement of gearing the brushes revolve or traverse the face of the
perforated plate twico, while the driving axis only rotates once. The brushos also
have an independent rotary motion upon their own axes.
Although I have described the breaking up and agitating knife edged bars or
cutters as used in combination with the straining division plate and brushes, yet
I wish it to be understood that the said parts may be used separately if desired.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a machine constructed according to my
invention for the preparation of finings for beer and other liquids; the said.
machine is provided with both knives and brushes rotated by a common shaft or
central axis.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the said machine figure 1, and
figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of figure 2 on the dotted lines A B.
Figure 4 shows a machine provided with knives only, for the preparation of finings,
and figure 5 represents a machine where brushes are used independently of the
knives. In this last named machine, the finings are roughly prepared by the
machine figure 4 or by other means preparatory to their introduction into the said
machine, to be still further prepared. Figure 6 represents a plan of one of the
blades, and figure 7 is an edge view of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the.
Drawings.
a is a cylindrical vessel preferably opened at its top or upper end, and closed at
bottom, which latter is provided with holes aª a through which the prepared
finings are allowed to pass from the chamber enclosed between the said bottom and
the perforated or reticulated division plate b. This reticulated plate.b is situated
a short distance from the bottom of the vessel and divides the finings to be prepared
from those prepared which have subsequently passed through the perforated plate.
ccc are cross cutters situated in the direction of the diameter of the vessel, and
arranged radially around a central vertical shaft or spindle d, which takes its
bearing in the stepped face of the fixed bevil wheel e, situated in the middle of the
reticulated plate b; while the upper end of the said shaft is supported and kept in
its central position, by a ferrule or bush situated in the middle of the cross piece g
affixed on the top of the open end of the vessel by fly nuts h h taking upon screw
pins h h attached to the sides of the vessel. Rotary motion is communicated to
the shaft d by a winch or handle i. The cutters c which are arranged radially
around the shaft d are provided with all round knife-edges, and at or about the
middle of the blades are bosses c³ having eyes or bushes through their centres
which are strung or threaded upon the shaft, and affixed in their respective relative
positions, preferably by screw pins which pass through the bosses and take into set
holes arranged at proper distances apart down the shaft. Affixed to the shaft near
the lower end thereof, is a frame; which carries a pair of rotary brushes k.k, the

page_text: spindles of which work in bearings on the one side, and ³ ³ on the other side.
The attachment of the frame carrying the rotary brushes to the central shaft is
effected by a sleovo through which the said shaft passes and teminates in tho
stepped face of tlie fixed bevil wheel. Thus the rotary brushes which are carried
by the frame, move with the shaft and also rotato independently within their own
bearings. The said rotary brushes are also provided at their inner ends with bevil
pinions which gear with and roll upon the fixed face of the bevil wheel è on the
top side of the reticulated, division plate b as already described.
Instead of employing the winch or handle for imparting rotary motion to the
shaft carrying the double armed, knives and rotary brushes, the requisite motion
may be communicated from any convenient source of power to the said shaft, by
band or other gear.
The isinglass or other fining substance to be prepared or blended with the
requisite amount of liquid is introduced into the upper compartment of the vessel
through its open top; so that on rotary motion being imparted to the central axis
or shaft by the handle i or by gear as represented in the arrangement sheet 3,
the knife edged bars or breaking up expedients care rotated rapidly through the
finings for the preparation or blending thereof; that is, the rotation of the knife
edged bars c arranged radially around the axis d, break up or whisk the lumpy
portions of the isinglass held in suspension, while the other portions of the liquids
or semi-liquids constituting the preparation is or are agitated, stirred up, and
effectually blended. The finer from the coarser liquid or semi-liquid substance is
separated by the passage of it through the reticulations or perforations of the fine
meshed division plate b by the passage of the said rotary brushes kk. Thus the
bristles of the rotary brushes in their passage over the reticulated plate, forces the
finely divided semi-liquid substanco through the meshes into the division chamber a³
formed between the bottom of the vessel a, and the underside of the plate b. The
accumulated prepared finings thus drained or forced from the upper division is
passed off by the passages a a² to any suitable receptacle.
By the arrangement of gearing, the rotary brushes k k revolve or traverse the
face of the perforated plate b, twico to every rotation of the driving axis in consc-
quence of the brushes and the bevil gear carried by then, having independent
rotary motion of the main axis; so that the rotary motion of the said axis or shaft,
compels the rotary brushes to make two traverses of the said plate to a single
rotation of itself.
In figure 4 the machine is simply for the blending or the breaking up of the
lumpy portions of the isinglass preparatory to its being sieved.
Figure 5 shows an apparatus where the sieve and brushes alone are employed
without the use of the rotating knives.
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
First. A new or improved machine or appliance, for the preparation of tinings
for beer and other liquids, consisting of a vertical rotating shaft or axis, provided
at its upper and middle part with radiating cutter arms; which are spirally dis-
posed; while the lower part of the said rotating shaft or axis, carries a traine
provided with rotating circular brushes, having toothed wheels situated on their
inner ends, which gear with a fixed toothed wheel in the centre of a perforated or
reticulated division plate over which the brushes traverse and rotate, and through
which said plate the prepared tiuings pass, to an under division or receptaclo
beneath; the parts of the machine or appliance being constructed arranged and
operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described and illus-
trated in figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. A single machine for the preparation of brewer's and other_finings
consisting essentially of a vertical rotating shaft, carrying radially disposed cutter

page_text: arms for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated in figure 4 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. In a single machine for the preparation of finings for brewors and other
liquids substantially as described and illustrated in figure 5 of the accompanying
Drawings.