Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 1132218A: Bottle-Filling Machine

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Today in 1977, US Patent 1132218 A was issued, an invention of Adolph Schneider, for his “Bottle-Filling Machine.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states that the “present invention relates to that type of mechanism used for the purpose of packaging carbonated liquids, or analogous substances, under pressure:”

The objects of the present invention are, to provide a stationary support upon which the to-be filled packages rest during the filling operation; to provide a series of pistons, one of which will actuate the filling tube of the bottle filling mechanism, and the other or. which will actuate the sealing head; to provide a series of cylinders for said pistons, one piston being contained in each cylinder; to arrange system of pressure supply ducts for conveying pressure to said cylinders for the purpose of actuating the pistons; to arrange a series of ducts for exhausting the pressure from the said cylinder so arrange these ducts, if desired, as to enable them to perform double functions, namely, that of an inlet and an exhaust duct; to provide an automatically operated valve for controlling the flow of liquid from the source of liquid supply to the filling tube, and in arranging this valve so that it is automatically operated at a time approximately when the filling tube has reached its lowermost position; to provide a method of establishing communication between a source of air pressure less than the sure of the liquid in the tank and the liquid of the bottle; to provide a valve for controlling the flow of said air whereby said valve will be automatically operated to establish said air communication at practically the same time that the communication is established to permit the flow of liquid from the filling tube into the bottle; to provide an arrangement whereby one of the set of pistons may be power driven in both sections, and the other of said pistons can be power driven in one direction only, with the last mentioned piston being moved in the opposite direction by contact with the first mentioned piston; and to provide a telescopic connection between the source of liquid supply and the filling tube, and a telescopic connection between the source of air supply and the sealing head.

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Patent No. 4011896A: Apparatus For Rapidly Dispensing Beer Into Open Cups

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Today in 1977, US Patent 4011896 A was issued, an invention of John W. Nilon and Thomas J. King, for their “Apparatus for Rapidly Dispensing Beer into Open Cups.” Here’s the Abstract:

Beer is stored in vessels located in a refrigerated storage area before passing through dispensing lines connected to a plurality of dispensing taps. The dispensing lines are maintained in heat-exchanging relationship with cooling apparatus which further depresses the temperature of the beer below that of the refrigerated storage area. By the time the beer reaches the cooling taps, the temperature of the beer is sufficiently depressed so as to permit the beer to be dispensed at a high rate into drinking containers which pass beneath the taps.

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Patent No. PP15663P2: Hop Plant Named ‘YCR Accession No. 4’

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Today in 2005, US Patent PP15663 P2 was issued, an invention of Charles E. Zimmermann, assigned to Select Botanicals Group, L.L.C., for his “Hop Plant Named ‘YCR Accession No. 4.'” Here’s the Abstract:

A new hop plant (Humulus lupulus) is disclosed. The new variety is used for its aromatic properties. The new variety is moderately tolerant to powdery mildew, and produces a medium size moderately compact cone with good pickability and storageability. The cones mature relatively late, and produce an exceptional yield of approximately 2200 to 3000 pounds per acre (2466 to 3363 kg/ha).

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Patent No. EP 0009614B1: A Brewing Process

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Today in 1984, US Patent EP 0009614 B1 was issued, an invention of Kenneth Hartley Geiger, assigned to Labatt Brewing Company Ltd., for his “Brewing Process.” There’s no Abstract, but buried in the description is says that the “object of the present invention is to reduce or even eliminate the disadvantages of the above processes if the wort produced from the malt is subjected to fermentation for a period sufficient to allow the yeast to substantially develop prior to the introduction of an adjunct comprising a highly fermentable sugar and optionally, other conventional adjunct materials,” then continues with this:

This object is achieved by the present invention by initially fermenting a malt wort with brewers’ yeast until said yeast is partially developed to at least about one-half of the maximum amount of development obtainable during the fermentation, thereby providing a partially fermented wort, thereafter introducing an adjunct comprising a highly fermentable sugar into the partially fermented wort over a period of time such that the Plato value of the fermenting wort substantially does not increase and osmotic shock is avoided and then continuing the fermentation, the degree of attenuation in the brewing process being 80% or more.

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Patent No. 784596A: Filling Apparatus For Liquids

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Today in 1905, US Patent 784596 A was issued, an invention of Simon Schlangen, for his “Filling Apparatus for Liquids.” There’s no Abstract per se, but this is pretty close, from the introduction:

The invention relates more particularly to apparatus for filling barrels, kegs, and similar packages with liquid, such as beer, under pressure, and has for its objects to improve the suspending means by which the closing head and filling-tube are carried, so as to insure the proper contact of the closing-head with the bung-hole or filling-hole of the barrel, keg, or package, to insure the positive opening-of the valve controlling the discharge of the filling-tube when the filling-tube has reached the limit of its descent, to improve the construction and operation of the appliance carrying the closing-head and the filling tube in connection with a fluid-pressure cylinder having therein a piston by which the cross-heads carrying the closing-head and the filling-tube are raised and lowered, to utilize the waste pressure from the filling-package in actuating’ the piston by which the closing head and the filling-tube are raised and lowered, to place the control of the pressure and the liquid under a single valve, to improve the construction and operation of the valve by which the fiI’Iid-pressure and the liquid are controlled, to improve the means by which the inflow and outflow of the pressure between the filling-tank and the to be filled package is regulated and controlled, to prevent the foaming of the liquid within the package and insure the fillingI of the package with the liquid to its full capacity without waste of liquid, to furnish an intermediate controlling means for the pressure between the one controlling-valve and the to be filled package by which the flow of the pressure in either direction will be regulated and controlled, to furnish a relief-valve by means of which the requisite amount of pressure from outside will be supplied to prevent an explosion at the withdrawal of the filling-tube, and to improve generally the construction and operation of the several parts and mechanisms which enter into the “construction of the apparatus as a whole.

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Patent No. 4436228A: Keg Tapping Apparatus Having Improved Retainer

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Today in 1984, US Patent 4436228 A was issued, an invention of John A. Frey, assigned to Hoff-Stevens, Inc., for his “Keg Tapping Apparatus Having Improved Retainer.” Here’s the Abstract:

A keg tapping apparatus includes a keg unit secured within the neck of a keg by a retainer and a tavern unit coupled to the keg unit by the retainer. An operating handle opens valves associated with the keg unit to establish fluid communication between the keg and fluid inlet and outlet fittings on the tavern unit. The retainer has a body which includes a generally cylindrical bore and notches which communicate with the bore. Complementary inserts received within the notches are integrally attached to the body and define coupling lugs which project into the bore for coupling connection with the tavern unit. The inserts are made from a harder material than the body.

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Patent No. 3720355A: Portable Beer Siphon Device

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Today in 1974, US Patent 3720355 A was issued, an invention of Mack S. Johnston, for his “Portable Beer Siphon Device.” Here’s the Abstract:

The device includes a keg adapter mounted within a 1 1/2 inch keg opening and a dispenser coupler secured to the keg adapter, the adapter and coupler having gas and liquid passages for permitting ingress of gas into the keg and outflow of beer from the keg. The gas passage receives gas from a hand operated portable plunger type pump with the beer dispensing outlet including a spout. The coupler is secured to the adapter by rotating the former relative to the latter which, in turn, opens normally closed gas and liquid valves in the adapter. A liquid valve is disposed in the coupler and displacement of the spout opens the valve to permit outflow of beer therefrom.

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Patent No. 1662146A: Coaster

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Today in 1928, US Patent 1662146 A was issued, an invention of Grant Calvin Elliott, for his “Coaster.” There’s no Abstract, but in the description it states that the “invention relates to certain improvements in coasters and it is an object of the invention to provide a dish of this kind provided with a spoon holder and wherein the spoon holder is provided with a drain delivering to the coaster or dish.” The description continues.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved coaster whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use.

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Patent No. 3796143A: Device For The Germination And Drying Of Malt

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Today in 1974, US Patent 3796143 A was issued, an invention of Gisbert Schlimme and Manfred Tschirner, for his “Device for the Germination and Drying of Malt.” Here’s the Abstract:

A device for the germination and drying of malt charged onto the radially outer portion of an annular rotating rack and gradually shifted radially inwardly by means of rotary worm means extending radially across said annular rack and being suspended by threaded spindles for movement downwardly and upwardly between charge and discharge openings in an outer wall surrounding said annular rack.

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Patent No. 1020212A: Beer-Tap

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Today in 1912, US Patent 1020212 A was issued, an invention of Edward A. Lukowski, for his “Beer-Tap.” There’s no Abstract, but in the description states that it’s an “invention relat[ing] to beer taps and has for its main object to provide an improved beer tap, capable of being readily inserted in the bushing without the use of a mallet or other device for pounding upon the tap. A Another object is to provide a beer tap in which the danger of leakage is reduced to a minimum.”
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