Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 3889725A: Method Of Filling Beer Cans

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Today in 1975, US Patent 3889725 A was issued, an invention of Werner Heckmann, Heinz Jordan, Uwe Knabe, Karl Plock, Karl Quest, Friedrich Rademacher, and Dieter Unger, assigned to Holstein & Kappert Maschf, for their “Method of Filling Beer Cans or the Like.” Here’s the Abstract:

The supported devices in an apparatus which fills beer cans orbit about a vertical axis and have upright housings supporting cylindrical centering members which carry deformable gaskets for the mouths of cans. Such cans are supported by a conveyor which orbits with the filling devices and is movable up and down or is held against vertical movement during rotation with the filling devices. The introduction of liquid into the cans takes place subsequent to introduction of a compressed gas, and such gas can be used to bias the gaskets against the mouths of cans during filling. When the filling of a can is completed, the pressure in its interior is increased to facilitate separation from the respective gasket. That supply of beer which remains in a channel of the housing on closing of the beer-admitting valve can be expelled in response to expansion of gas in a chamber which receives such gas by way of the container and is sealed from the container by beer in the channel. The expansion of gas in the chamber takes place in response to opening of a valve which reduces the pressure of gas above the body of liquid in the container.

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Patent No. 3450600A: Malting Apparatus In Series

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Today in 1969, US Patent 3450600 A was issued, an invention of James Richard Allan Pollack, Alan Aldred Pool, and Graham John Ellis, assigned to Arthur Guinness Sons & Co. Dublin, The Irish Mallsters Association, and Rimer Mfg. Co. Ltd., for their “Malting Apparatus In Series.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

[This invention is an] Apparatus for malting steeped cereal grain comprising two vessels one of which is a malting vessel and the other a storage vessel. The internal surface of the malting vessel converges downwardly toward the outlet. Sweeper means within the malting vessel is gyrationally mounted adjacent the outlet, grain engaging means provided on the sweeper, and the sweeper is adapted to sweep over substantially the whole area of the convergent surface for loosening the grain to be discharged. Means associated with the malting vessel for adjusting temperature, humidity, and rate of air flow therein to condition the cereal grain. First transfer means for conveying grain discharged from the malting vessel to the storage vessel. Second transfer means associated with the storage vessel for returning to the inlet means of the malting vessel grain discharged from the storage vessel.

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Patent No. 7735413B2: Method And Device For Brewing Beer

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Today in 2010, US Patent 7735413 B2 was issued, an invention of Klaus-Karl Wasmuht and Kurt Stippler, assigned to Krones AG, for their “Method And Device For Brewing Beer.” Here’s the Abstract:

A device for brewing beer, particularly a wort pan (1), with a container body (2) to receive a wort reservoir (3), the device containing an internal boiler (4) arranged in the container body (2), which is provided with a heat exchanger (5) and a guiding screen (8). A wort forced flow (10) provided with a pump is also provided, which runs through the boiler (4). In order to increase the efficiency of the device, the wort forced flow (10) has a thin-layer distributor (17) for the wort, which contains a pipe subsection (11 b) connected with the pump, which subsection leads above the guiding screen (8) via an outlet opening (13) with reduced outlet cross-section into the container body (2). Above the outlet opening (13), a flow-guiding baffle surface (15) is provided, at which the flow arrives from below, to deflect the liquid towards the wort reservoir (3).

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Patent No. 3585045A: Method For Preparing Beer Wort

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Today in 1971, US Patent 3585045 A was issued, an invention of Conrad Lenz, for his “Method For Preparing Beer Wort.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

According to the method of this invention, a first portion of the continuously prepared mash is transferred from a mash-making zone to a first vessel. A subsequent portion of the mash is transferred from the mash-making zone to a second vessel while the first portion is being heated in the first vessel, and the two portions are then combined, whereupon further heating may follow conventional practice of separating a portion of the mixture from the bulk of the same, heating the separated portion, returning the heated portion to the bulk of the mixture, and repeating such separating, heating, and returning until the mixture reaches the desired temperature. The plant employed in performing the method is provided with a two-way valve in the mash transfer conduit which connects the mash-making apparatus with the mash heating or brewing apparatus. Two branch conduits lead from the valve to two vessels of the mash-heating apparatus, at least one vessel being provided with heating means. The valve may be moved in the usual manner between two positions in which it connects the mash transfer conduit with the branch conduits respectively while blocking the other branch conduit.

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Patent No. 2710818A: Method And Apparatus For Simultaneously Washing Containers And Removing Labels Therefrom

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Today in 1955, US Patent 2710818 A was issued, an invention of Ralph J. Winters, assigned to Ballantine & Sons, for his “Method and Apparatus For Simultaneously Washing Containers and Removing Labels Therefrom.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My present invention relates to the automatic washing of containers carrying labels and more particularly to a method for simultaneously washing such containers, removing and disposing of the labels as well as apparatus for carrying out the same.

In the art of packaging products, particularly products intended for human consumption, highly complex and expensive equipment for substantially automatically handling the containers has been provided. This is especially true in the brewing industry where machinery capable of handling many thousands of bottles per hour has been provided for automatically washing the bottles. In this industry containers such as bottles are used over and over again. Before each use each bottle is scrupulously cleaned. It is conventional for each bottle to have affixed thereto a paper label which washes off or otherwise becomes detached from the bottle during the washing process and settles downward in one or the other of the compartments of the washing machine. While the machines are provided with a dead space at the bottom of such compartments, nevertheless the accumulation of labels is so rapid that in a relatively short time they extend upward sufficiently far to impede the passage of the bottles. To avoid damage which may result therefrom, it has been customary to put the washing machine out of operation to permit manual cleaning and removal of the labels. Manual cleaning is, of course, time consuming and costly. Furthermore, because of the highly caustic washing solutions commonly utilized, care must be exercised in carrying out the removal of the labels to avoid injury to personnel during the operation.

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Patent No. 995001A: Agitating Device

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Today in 1911, US Patent 995001 A was issued, an invention of John H. Hathaway, for his “Agitating Device.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The object of my invention is the provision of a device of the character mentioned which will be so designed as to adapt the same to be readily arranged in a paint-keg, upon the removal of one of the heads of the latter, in such a manner as to permit of the ready manual oscillation thereof therein, in effecting the thorough breaking of the lead or oil contained in the keg.

A further object is the provision of an agitating device as mentioned which will be of an adjustable nature adapting the same for arrangement in kegs of various dimensions; and further a device which will be effectual in operation, and which will be of strong, durable and economical construction.

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Patent No. 651651A: Apparatus For Racking Beer

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Today in 1900, US Patent 651651 A was issued, an invention of Harry W. Colby, for his “Apparatus For Racking Beer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for racking beer, and more particularly to improvements upon the invention or apparatus shown and described in my pending application, Serial No; 616,386, filed December 21, 1896. In the invention and apparatus of my said pending application the beer was forced from the tank into the barrel under pressure, the barrel itself being first filled with air or gas under pressure approximating that of the tank, and the necessary difference of pressure to cause the liquid to flow from the tank into the barrel was maintained by a spring or weight actuated safety valve controlling the vent through which the air or gas escaped from the barrel into the outer air as the barrel filled with the beer. In the practical use of this apparatus I have found difficulty in keeping the safety-valve or its weight or spring so nicely adjusted as to entirely prevent foaming of the beer, especially as the pressure in the tank itself is liable to variation as the liquid is drawn therefrom.

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Patent No. 2641357A: Device For Cleaning Out The Bottoms Of Grain Elevators

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Today in 1953, US Patent 2641357 A was issued, an invention of Lester Jones (presumably not the economist with the NBWA), assigned to Pabst Brewing Co., for his “Device for Cleaning Out the Bottoms of Grain Elevators.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it states that the “invention appertains to the handling of grain, and more particularly to a novel cleaning attachment for a grain elevator.”

In the handling of grain by bucket elevators, there is a clearance between the bottom wall or pan of the elevator housing and the elevator buckets. Consequently, a certain small portion of grain lies in an inactive state on this bottom wall or pan. If this grain is not periodically removed, there is danger that the same will spoil or become infected and contaminate the grain passing through the elevator. This condition is recognized, and provisions have been made to remove the inactive grain, but in all constructions with which I am familiar, it is necessary to shut down the elevator to effect the cleaning thereof. Consequently, there is a tendency to put off the cleaning of the elevator as long as possible.

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Patent No. 20488A: Apparatus For Manufacture Of Beer

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Today in 1858, US Patent 20488 A was issued, an invention of George Habioh, for his “Apparatus For Manufacture Of Beer.” There’s no Abstract, though the description in the application states that he’s “invented an Improved Apparatus for Brewing or Manufacturing Beer.” What follows is a very lengthy explanation, but here’s the start of a fuller explanation.

For this boiling of the wort I use a closed copper or kettle; its steam I employ for new mashing and increase its pressure by a superincumbent column of water. This steam enters directly into the mash, and the increasing height of the water increases also the boiling point of the wort contained in the copper. This increased temperature manifests itself in stirring up again the wort, after it becomes clear, and finally the wort clears itself of all the coagulated albumen. The only thing to be observed is that the temperature should be sufficiently high, 2′. e. the steam pipe must be closed by a sufficient column of water.

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Patent No. 476652A: Beer-Racking Trough

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Today in 1892, US Patent 476652 A was issued, an invention of John Kass, for his “Beer-Racking Trough.” There’s no Abstract, though the description in the application states that he’s invented “a new and useful Beer-Racking Trough,” adding:

My invention relates to beer-racking troughs for barreling beer as the same is taken from reservoirs or vats; and the objects in view are to provide an apparatus of cheap and simple construction adapted to support barrels or kegs during the operation of filling the same, to so construct the apparatus as to permit of observation of the beer during the operation and for conveniently discharging the barrel at the end of each filling and bunging, to facilitate the changing of the position of the pipe with relation to the barrel, and to prevent waste of the beer or contact of the same with the person of the operator during the operation.

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