Improved Method of and Apparatus for Making Vinegar and Maturing Spirits.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Making Vinegar and
Maturing Spirits.
RICHARD HOWARD LEAKER Montague Villa, Kingsdown Bristol Brewers
Architect and Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is principally to accelerate the process of
acidification of alcoholic wort or wash, to collect as far as possible the various
volatile products which are produced during acctification and now generally
wasted, resulting in a considerable loss of the most valuable portions of the
manufacture, namely; the aldehydes, ethers, volatile alcohols and acids which
when collected and retained in the vinegar contribute so greatly to its flavour
aroma and market value as also enhancing the quantity produced.
My improved apparatus is preferably a rectangular or square vessel with parallel
or tapered sides and its height may be about one and half to twice its mean
diameter, it may be constructed of timber or any other acid resisting material.
The vessel is provided with a closely fitting cover with a manhole for access to the
interior when required. The lower portion acts as the usual receiver or reservoir
for the wort or wash during the process of acetification, and immediately above this
reservoir I place a series of moveable shelves, drawers, trays, frames or stages
constructed of timber or other suitable material and formed so as to run in grooves
or rebates or on ledgers fixed inside the vessel, these are preferably inclined at an
angle of about 60 degrees and the shelves, drawers or trays, being on both sides
meet in the centre. They are so arranged that any one shelf, drawer or tray may
be withdrawn for examination, cleansing or repairs without interfering with the
others. This is of importance as the upper portion of the filtering and acetifying
medium is more liable to become clogged and slimed than the lower portion by
reason of the particles of yeast carried over in the fermented wash being deposited
thereon, unless they are removed by a separate process previous to their being
conducted to the acidifier, also if the process of sliming is set up. This arrangement
of easily removable shelves, drawers or trays presents greater facilities for cleansing
and effects a great saving of time and loss of acid, than by the process at present
obtaining whereby the whole of the contents of the acidifier have to be removed
through the cover or manhole, thoroughly cleansed, sterilized and carefully replaced
in position. These sliding shelves drawers or trays are constructed as light as
possible being framed and braced to preserve their form and to receive the filtering
and acetifying medium which is preferably of flannel, hair cloth, blanket, calico,
felt, asbestos cloth or other woven material for holding the wort or wash in
suspension for a time, during the passage of the oxygen through the material from
one tray to another, and to form a nest or bed for the propagation of the acetic
ferment. This filtering and acetifying material is stretched on the upper and lower
faces of the frames, drawers or trays and is secured in position by suitable wood
pins or it may be laced or secured to the trays or frames by twine. This arrange-
inent of the frames, drawers or trays gives an exceedingly large surface for
acidification and the wash being held in suspension for a time while in contact with
the air, the acetifying power is proportionally increased and the time required for
the process decreased. The outer or front ends of the trays or frames are kept in
position and made tight to the body of the vessel by doors with jointing material
and clamps of suitable description. Over the bottom of the vessel attemperating
coils are placed to control & regulate the temperature of the wash in the reservoir

page_text: -
and as it passes to the suction of the circulating pump; these coils are preferably
of such a form that they may be winged up or hinged to the sides by working
in trunnions at the ends so that the bottom of the vessel may be cleansed
without damaging the coils, and this arrangement enables the upper portion of
the wash to be attemperated by raising or lowering them while the attemperating
liquor is free to circulate through the coils and pass out at the discharge end."
A fan or blower is provided and fixed in a suitable position to the acidifying
apparatus, the suction pipe of which is so arranged that the air may be drawn
through a filtering chamber, past a suitable valve into the fan. This filtering
chamber consisting of an enclosed box open at the bottom with a series of drawers
or shelves provided with perforated metal plates and layers of cotton wool or other
suitable filtering material through which the air is drawn into the fan, this suction
pipe is also provided with an inlet above the filtering chamber, the pipe of which
passes upward to a sufficient height, so that the wash cannot be drawn over by the
suction of the fan. Its suction then passes through the cover of the acidifying
vessel to a point a few inches above the upper tray or stage and is provided with
a bell mouth. Two or more branches may be connected to this suction pipe in the
upper part of the acidifying vessel. The delivery pipe of the fan passes down
below the bottom of the acidifying vessel and is so arranged that previous to its
entering the bottom it is enclosed for a portion of its length in a second pipe thus
forming a jacket around it, in the annular space of which a jet of steam is
admitted in order to raise the temperature of the air in the inside pipe to 70 or
80 degrees Farenheit, that the acetification of the descending wash through the
shelves, drawers or trays may be accelerated by the passage of the warm air in its
contact with the wash. This delivery pipe passes up through the bottom of the
acidifying vessel to within a few inches of the lowest tray or stage and is
surmounted, with the usual conical hood to prevent the descending wash entering
the tube. The air laden with a portion of the volatile products and the germs of
the acetic ferment is drawn, by the action of the fan up through the whole of the
acetifying frames and is circulated through & through the vessel until-the-whole
process of acidification is completed, fresh filtered air is admitted as required by
ineans of the valve in connection with the air filtering chamber in order to replace
the oxygen absorbed in the acetic fermentation. A branch pipe is also connected
by a valve on the delivery pipe of the fan. for.connecting to a spray producing
apparatus and wash circulating pipe hereinafter described.
An air pump of suitable description may be used instead of the fan or blower,
and the direction of the air currents may be reversed to carry out the process.
Suitable valves are provided; to. each and all of the connections of the acetifying
apparatus, so that one or more services may be used independently of or conjointly
with the others.
In order that the filtering and acetifying trays, drawers or frames may be kept
constantly saturated with the wort or wash and brought in contact with the acetic
ferment an ordinary circulating wash pump. is provided having a suction pipe
connected with the wash reservoir at the bottom of the acidifying vessel, passing
through the pump the wash is delivered at the top part or cover of the vessel into
an apparatus where it is met by a blast air. jet and distributed in a fine spray over
the surface of the upper tray, drawer or stage of the acidifier, whence it passes
down through the whole of the series of trays, drawers or stages, meeting the
ascending air laden with the acetic ferment and the volatile aldehydes, ethers,
alcohols & acids and is circulated again & again until the operation is completed.
The apparatus for producing the fine spray consists of a conical and adjustable
nozzle for the air supply from the branch pipe in connection with the delivery.pipe
of the blast fan, surrounding this air nozzle is another conical nozzle, the air
nozzle being free to move up and down in the tube of the wash nozzle and it is
provided with a stuffing box and adjusting gear for this purpose. The wash
descends in the annular space between the two conical nozzles and the air from the
fan meeting the flow of wash injects it with considerable force on to the surface of

page_text: a plate of slightly conical form where it is thoroughly broken up and distributed
in a fine spray over the upper surface of the top shelf or tray of the acidifying
vessel.
On the upper part of the vessel and close to the underside of the cover a pipe is
fixed in order to draw off the aldehydes, ethers, volatile alcohols & acids which
collect at the highest point in the acidifying vessel-this pipe ascending upwards
for some distance then descends at an inclination and is connected with the coils
of the condenser, the body of which consists of a wood or metal vessel of suitable
proportions filled with water and kept at a temperature of about 40 to
45 degrees Farenheit. Provision is made for the inlet and discharge of the liquid
used for condensation as desired. The coils are preferably constructed of block
tin or other suitable acid resisting material and decrease in diameter as they reach
the bottom of the condensing vessel, passing through which they are connected to
the suction of a vacuum pump and are again discharged into the acidifying vessel
by the delivery pipe of the vacuum pump. At a point above the upper coil of the
condensing apparatus a branch pipe is inserted surmounted with a small chamber,.
the body of which is fitted with a metallic perforated plate or plates and layers of
cotton wool in order that air may be drawn through the filtering material and
meeting the aldehydes ethers and other volatile products as they pass into the
condensing coils from the acidifying vessel it assists in transforming them into
acetic acid by the addition of the oxygen. A pipe is also connected with the
delivery pipe of the wash circulating pump and controlled by a valve placed in a
suitable position so that a small quantity of the acetified wash may be permitted
to pass down inside the condensing coils with the condensing aldehydes, ethers,
volatile alcohols and acids in order to more effectually accomplish their
condensation.
A steam pipe is provided at the lower part of the acidifying vessel together
with the usual outlets & connections for washing and cleansing the interior, so that
after it has been cleansed in the usual manner the trays, drawers or frames may be
replaced, the doors secured in their places, after which a current of steam may be
permitted to pass up through the frames and escape at the top so that the whole of
the interior may be thoroughly sterilized and any false ferment life destroyed.
The interior may then be dried by passing steam through the attemperating coils
and thus prepared for the reception of another charge of wash.
An apparatus of similar construction may also be used for the purpose of maturing
spirits.
Dated this Fourteenth day of August 1893.
RICHARD HOWARD LEAKER,
Montague Villa, Kingsdown, Bristol.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Making Vinegar and
Maturing Spirits.
RICHARD HOWARD LEAKER of Montague Villa, Kingsdown, Bristol, Brewers
Architect and 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:-
The object of this invention is principally to accelerate the process of acidification
of alcoholic wort or wash in the manufacture of vinegar, and to collect as far as
possible the various volatile products which are produced during acidification, and
now generally wasted, resulting in a loss of from 10 per cent. to 25 per cent. of the
most valuable portions of the manufacture: namely the aldehydes, ethers, volatile
alcohols and acids, which when collected and retained in the vinegar contribute so

page_text: greatly to its flavour, aroma and market value, as also enhancing the quantity
produced.
In order that my invention and the manner of its operation may be clearly
understood, I have appended hereto one sheet of drawings on which Fig. I and
Fig. 2 shew partly in vertical section and partly in elevation the form of apparatus
I prefer, and in carrying the same into effect I construct my improved apparatus
preferably of a rectangular form with parallel or taper sides and its height may
be about one and half to twice its mean diameter and it may be constructed of
timber or any other acid resisting material. The vessel A is provided with a
closely fitting cover A' with a manhole for access to the interior when required.
The lower portion A' acts as the usual receiver or reservoir for the wort or wash
during the process of acetification, and immediately above this reservoir I place a
series of moveable shelves, drawers, trays, frames or stages such as A³ constructed
of timber or other suitable material and formed so as to run in grooves or rebates
as A or on ledgers fixed in the vessel, these are preferably inclined at an angle
of about 60 degrees and the shelves, drawers or trays being on both sides meet in
the centre at A', but the vessel may be constructed to have the shelves, drawers or
trays fitted on one side only: they are so arranged that any one shelf, drawer or
tray may be withdrawn for examination, cleansing or repair without interfering
with the others. This is an important advantage as the upper portion of the
filtering and acetifying medium is more liable to become clogged and slimed than
the lower portion by reason of the particles of yeast carried over in the fermented
wash being deposited thereon, unless they are removed by a separate process or
apparatus previous to their being conducted to the acidifier, and also if sliming
should be set up from other causes. This arrangement of easily removable sliding
shelves, drawers, trays or stages offer great facilities for cleansing, effecting a great
saving of time and loss of acid than by the process at present obtaining whereby
the whole of the stages and their contents have to be removed through the cover
or manhole, thoroughly cleansed sterilized and again carefully replaced in position.
These sliding shelves, drawers or trays A³ are constructed as light as possible
being framed or braced to preserve their form and to receive the filtering and
acetifying medium, yet giving free access to the currents of air over and through
the surfaces of the material which is preferably of flannel, hair cloth, calico,
blauket, felt, asbestos cloth or other woven or braided material A for holding the
wort or wash in suspension for a time during the passage of the oxygen through
the material, from one tray or stage to another and to form a nest or bed for the
propagation of the acetic ferment. This filtering and acetifying material is
stretched on the upper and lower faces of the frames or trays A³ and is secured
in position by suitable wood pins or it may be laced or secured to the trays by
sewing with twine or such like. This arrangement of these trays drawers, shelves
or stages give an exceedingly large surface for acetification and the wash being
held in suspension in a thin body while in contact with the air, the acidifying
power is proportionally increased, the facilities for the growth and propagation of
the acetic ferment enhanced and the time required for the process considerably
decreased. The outer or front ends of the trays are kept in position and made
tight to the body of the vessel A. by doors A with jointing material A and suitable
clamps as A. Over the bottom of the vessel attemperating coils B are placed to
control and regulate the temperature of the wash in the reservoir and as it passes
to the suction of the circulating pump. These coils are preferably of such
a form that they may be winged up or hinged to the sides of the vessel by
working in trunnions as B' at the ends, so that the bottom of the vessel
may be cleansed without damaging the coils and this arrangement also enables
the upper portion of the wash in the reservoir to be attemperated by raising
or lowering their position while the attemperating liquor is free to circulate
through the coils and pass out at the discharge end. A fan C or blower
is provided and fixed in a suitable position to the acetifying apparatus A
the suction pipe C¹ of which permits of the air being drawn through a filtering

page_text: chamber if desired past a suitable valve C into the fan C: this filtering chamber (*
consisting of a enclosed box open at the bottom C with a series of drawers or
shelves provided with perforated metal plates and layers of cotton wool or other
filtering material through which the air is drawn into the fan C. This suction pipe
is also provided with an inlet C above the filtering chamber the pipe C7 of which
passes upward to a sufficient height so that the liquid wash cannot be drawn over
by the fan, its suction end passes through the cover A¹ of the acetifying vessel A
to a point a few inches above the upper tray or stage A' and is provided with a bell
mouth C. Two or more branches in the upper part of the acetifying vessel may
be connected to this suction pipe: the delivery pipe C' of the fan C passes down
below the bottom of the acetifying vessel A and is so arranged that previous to its
entering the bottom of the vessel it is enclosed in a second pipe for a portion of its
length, forming a jacket C10 around it in the annular space of which a jet of steam
is admitted in order to raise the temperature of the air in the inside pipe to
about 70 or 80 degrees Farenheit that the acetification of the descending wash
through the trays A³ may be accelerated by the passage of the warm air in its
contact with the wash and the acetic ferment, this delivery pipe C passes up
through the bottom of the acetifying vessel A to within a few inches of the
lowest tray or stage A³ of the acetifying frames and is surrounded with a conical
hood C to prevent the descending wash entering the tube C. The air laden
with a portion of the volatile products and germs of the acetic ferment is drawn
by the action of the fan C up through the whole of the acetifying frames or
stages A in the directions as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2 of the drawings
and is circulated therein by the fan until the process of acetification is completed,
fresh filtered or unfiltered air as required is admitted by means of the valve C³ in
connection with the air filtering chamber C³ in order to replace the oxygen taken
up and absorbed in the acetification. A branch pipe C is also connected by a
valve on the delivery pipe C° of the fan for connecting to and supplying the spray
producing apparatus and wash circulating pipe hereinafter described. An air pump
of suitable construction may be used instead of a fan or blower and the direction
of the air currents may be reversed to carry out the process: suitable valves are
provided to each and all of the connections of the acetifying apparatus so that one
or more services may be used independently of or conjointly with the others.
In order that the acetifying and filtering trays A³ may be kept constantly
saturated with the wort or wash and brought in contact with the acetic ferment,
an ordinary circulating wash pump such as D is provided having a suction pipe D¹
connected to the wash reservoir or receiver A at the bottom of the acetifying
vessel A and passing through the pump D the wash is delivered by the pipe D2 at
the top part or cover of the vessel into an apparatus E where it is met by a blast jet
of air from the fan C and distributed in a fine spray over the whole surface of the
upper trays or stages A³ of the acetifyer, whence it passes down through the whole
of the series of trays or stages meeting the ascending air laden with the acetic
ferment, the volatile aldehydes, ethers, alcohols and acids as they pass over and
through the trays and is circulated again & again until the operation is completed
and the whole of the alcohol in the wash is converted into acetic acid.
The apparatus E for producing the fine spray consists of a conical nozzle with
adjusting arrangement E¹ for the air supply from the branch pipe C in convection
with the delivery pipe of the blast fan C, surrounding this air nozzle E' is another
conical nozzle E². The air nozzle E' is free to move up and down in the tube of
the wash nozzle E' and is provided with a stuffing box and adjusting gear for the
purpose. The wash descends in the annular space between the two conical nozzles,
and the air from the fan meeting the flow of wash from the pump injects it with
considerable force on to the surface of the conical plate E³ where it is thoroughly
broken up and distributed in the form of a fine spray over the upper surface of the
top shelf or tray A³ of the acetifying vessel A.
On the upper part of the vessel A and close to the underside of the cover A.' a
pipe F'is fixed in order to draw off the aldehydes, ethers, volatile alcohols and

page_text: acids which collect at the highest point in the acetifying vessel, this pipe F
ascending upward for some distance descends at an inclination and is connected
with the coils F¹ of the condenser F' the body of which consists of a wood or metal
vessel of suitable proportions filled with water and kept at a temperature of about
40 or 45 degrees Farenheit. Provision is made for the inlet and discharge of the
-condensing liquid for refrigeration as desired. These coils F¹ are preferably con-
structed of block tin or other suitable acid resisting material and decrease in
diameter as they reach the bottom of the vessel F passing through which they are
connected by the pipe F to the suction of the vacuum pump F and the collected
liquid is again delivered into the acetifying vessel A by the delivery pipe F of
the vacuum pump, at a point above the upper coil F¹ of the condensing
apparatus F a branch pipe F is inserted surmounted with a small chamber F" the
body of which is fitted with perforated metallic plates and a layer of cotton wool
in order that air may be drawn through the filtering material and meeting the
aldehydes, ethers, and other volatile products as they pass onward to the condensing
coils Fit assists in transforming them into acetic acid by the addition of the
oxygen. A pipe F is also connected with the delivery of the wash circulating
pump D and controlled by a valve placed in a suitable position so that a small
quantity of the acetified wash may be permitted to pass down inside the coils Fl
with the condensing aldehydes, ethers, alcohols & acids in order to more effectually
secure their condensation.
A steam pipe G is provided at the lower part of the acètifying vessel A together
with the usual outlets and connections for indicating washing & cleansing the
interior so that after it has been cleansed as is usual the trays or frames A may be
replaced and the doors secured in their places, after which a current of steam may
be permitted to pass up through all the frames and be discharged at the top in
order that the interior throughout may be thoroughly sterilized and any false
ferment life destroyed. The interior may then be dried by passing steam through
the attemperating coils B and prepared for another charge of wash.
Having now particularly described the nature of my invention and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim is.
First. An improved method of, and apparatus for the manufacture of vinegar
from alcoholic wash or liquor consisting of a closed vessel fitted with a series of
moveable shelves, drawers, trays, frames or stages, constructed to slide in grooves
rebates or ledgers fixed within the vessel and covered with a woven or braided
material for holding the wash and acetic ferment in suspension as it
passes onward
to the reservoir below, any one shelf, drawer, tray, frame or stage with its coverings,
being removable without disturbing the others, each or all being kept in position
and the outside made secure by doors with clamps and jointing material,
substantially as herein before described.
Second. An apparatus for the admission and circulation of filtered or unfiltered
air through and over the surfaces of the coverings of the shelves, drawers, trays,
frames or stages in the acetifying vessel by means of a fan, blower or pump, the
suction of which may be connected with an air filtering chamber or with the
atmosphere, and also connected with the upper part of the acetifying vessel-
the delivery from the fan being connected with the lower part of the acetifying
vessel by means of a pipe passing through a jacket heated by steam whereby the
air is warmed in its passage to the acetifying chamber, and the air laden with a
portion of the aldehydes, ethers, volatile alcohols and acids drawn from the upper
portion of the apparatus, is circulated upward over the surfaces through the
coverings in any or all of the shelves, drawers, trays, frames or stages while they'
are in a state of saturation with the descending wort or wash until the operation of
acetify cation is completed. By reversing the action of the fan the direction of
the air currents may be reversed in the apparatus in order to accomplish the same
process, all substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. In connection with the wash circulating pump and the air blast of the
.
.

page_text: fan, blower or pump an apparatus for distributing the wash mixed with the air
from the fan through conical nozzles on to a plate of conical form whereby it is
delivered to the upper part of the acetifying vessel over the top series of trays in
the form of a fine spray, substantially as herein before described.
Fourth. A condensing and collecting apparatus consisting of a vessel of
water or other cooling medium surrounding a series of condensing coils; with an
apparatus for supplying filtered air and acetified wort inside the coils, the discharge
from which is connected with the suction of a vacuum pump, whereby the aldehydes
ethers, volatile alcohols and acids are drawn over from the acetifying vessel and
meeting the air & acetified wort passing onward through the coils are condensed,.
collected preserved and delivered again to the acetifying vessel substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Fifth. An apparatus whereby a jet of steam is admitted to the interior of the
acetifying vessel that the interior of the same may be thoroughly sterilized before
recharging together with the refrigerating & attemperating coils arranged to wing
up at the sides of the vessel & used either for reducing or increasing the temperature
of the alcoholic wash or wort during acetification, and also after the vessel is.
emptied and sterilized using the same coils for drying the interior of the vessel by
passing steam through them; in order to prepare the vessel and its connections to
receive the new charge for acetification, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Sixth. The combination and arrangement of the several parts and appliances for
the acetification of alcoholic wash or liquor in the production of vinegar or
maturing of spirits, constructed arranged and operating as hereinbefore described.
and as shewn in the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.
Dated this 27th day of March 1894.
RICHARD HOWARD LEAKER,
Montague Villa, Kingsdown, Bristol.