IMPROVEMENTS IN VATS FOR CHEESE MAKING
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Thompson, of Radbourne, in the County of
Derby, Farmer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VATS FOR CHEESE
MAKING."
Sealed the 27th August 1858, and dated the 12th March 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Thompson at.the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th.
March 1858.
I, THOMAS THOMPSON, of Radbourne, in the County of Derby, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VATS*
FOR CHEESE MAKING," to be as follows:-
This Invention is intended to act upon the curd when removed from the
cheese or curd-forming pan, for the purpose of forcing out all the remaining
whey, so that the curd may be prepared in a dry and superior manner for
being placed under the cheese press.
The apparatus consists of à circular vat or vessel into which is fitted a false
bottom or tray perforated over the whole of its surface. This tray is kept at *
a distance from the real bottom of the vat by means of ribs on its under side,'
and on this tray the curd is placed. Attached to a suitable framing and actuated
by a screw is a perforated presser; this being caused to descend upon the curd'

page_text: forces out all the whey, which finds an escape by means of the chamber
between the false and true bottoms of the vat, and from thence by a spout or
pipe attached to the said vat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th September 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,, THOMAS
THOMPSON, of Radbourne, in the County of Derby, Farmer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN VATS FOR CHEESE MAKING," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Thompson, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
66
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas-Thompson, do-hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Drawings, that
is to say:
This Invention of "Improvements in Vats for Cheese Making," consists of
apparatus intended to act upon the curd when removed from the cheese or
curd forming pan, for the purpose of forcing out all the remaining whey, so
that the curd may be prepared in a dry and superior manner for being placed
under the cheese press.

page_text: The apparatus consists of a circular vat or vessel into which is fitted a false
bottom or tray perforated over the whole of its surface. This tray is kept at,
a certain distance from the real bottom of the vat by means of ribs on its under
side, and on this tray the curd is placed. Attached to a suitable framing and
actuated by a screw is a perforated presser; this being caused to descend
upon the curd forces out all the whey, which finds an escape by means of the
chamber between the false and true bottoms of the vat, and from thence by
a spout or pipe attached to the said vat..
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention of "Improvements
in Vats for Cheese Making," I will proceed to describe more in detail the
manner of carrying the same into practical effect. And in order that the Inven-
tion may be clearly understood, I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of illustra-
tive Drawings, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
Figure 1 in the accompanying Drawings represents an exterior elevation,
and Figure 2 a vertical section of my improved vat; the vat framing, &c. in
Figure 1 being represented as of metal, and in Figure 2 as of wood. A, A, is
the framing supporting the vat B, B, and I would here remark that in order
to obtain a more extended draining surface, I make these vats shallower and
of much larger diameter than usual; C, C, is the false bottom of the vat which
is perforated over its entire surface, and is kept at a certain distance from the
real bottom of the vat by transverse ribs a, a, underneath, leaving a chamber
or space b, b, between the false and real bottoms. D, D, is a perforated
presser, the batten E, E, at the back of which is provided with grooves c, c,
on its under side so as not to close the perforations; F, F, is a metallic
screw, provided with a cross handle G, G, and working in a nut H, H, fixed
in the upper part of the framing.
The use of this apparatus is as follows:-
The curd being taken from the cheese pan, wrapped in a cloth and placed
on the false bottom C, C, the perforated presser D, D, is then caused to
descend by means of. the screw F, F, thus imparting a great amount of
pressure to the curd, the whey escaping by means of the holes in the false
bottom C, C, and also upwards through the presser D, D, but all finding its
way ultimately to the space b, b, under the false bottom, and is
tubs or other suitable receptacles by the tap J, (see Figure 1.)
run off into
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention of
"Improvements in Vats for Cheese Making," together with the manner of
carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I
claim as my Invention, the general combination and arrangement of the vat

page_text: with its false bottom, perforated presser, and screw, as shewn in the Drawings,
and above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord'
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
THOMAS THOMPSON. (L.S.)