Today in 1956, US Patent 2758030 A was issued, an invention of Augusto Z. Metz, for his “Apparatus For And Method Of Drawing Off The Wort In Making Beer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to the production of beer, and more particularly to an apparatus and a method for drawing off from the tubs or other vessels in which the mashing operation is carried out, the extract or wort which is to be delivered to kettles in which the brewing operation is continued.