Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 541831A: Beer Pump Attachment

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Today in 1895, US Patent 541831 A was issued, an invention of John Fredrick Beyerlein, for his “Beer Pump Attachment.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to means of connection between a source of air pressure and the beer barrel, its object being Vto prevent the fouling of such connection by the beer and froth settling back into it from the beer barrel, as well as to eliminate from the air any dust which it may contain.

The invention consists essentially of a trap of peculiar form introduced into such connecting pipe, and of the various details of construction hereinafter fully pointed out.

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Patent No. 431246A: Mash Machine

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Today in 1890, US Patent 431246 A was issued, an invention of Andrew W. Billings, for his “Mash Machine.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to certain improvements in the apparatus for and method of manufacturing beer set forth in Letters Patent No. 324,523, granted to me August 18, 1885; and my invention consists in combining and heating the materials forming what I term the supplemental mash, which consists of raw grain and malt mixed in proper proportions and under conditions as set forth in said patent, as fully set forth hereinafter, so as to adapt the operation to the character of the material acted upon and reduce the length of time required in making the supplemental mash, and also in certain improvements in the apparatus. In this class of apparatus, as ordinarily constructed, the stirrer blades are immovably fixed in position, or are so arranged and fitted for the one kind of mash to be made that they cannot be used for anything else than for an ordinary mash, nor can they be changed in any manner, and they fail to so agitate the mass as to maintain all parts at the same temperature and in the same condition. In the apparatus as constructed by me the blades are easily and readily changed as to number, position on the arms, their angle to the arms and each other without any danger of their working loose while in motion, thus enabling me to make either a very thick or thin mash and successfully operate with any kind of grain (malted or unmalted) or starch, maintain all parts in the same condition, obtain the largest possible percentage of extract, and to use a very much larger percentage of the raw grain.

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Patent No. 431372A: Mash Tub

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Today in 1890, US Patent 431372 A was issued, an invention of Wenzl Medlin, for his “Mash Tub.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to a combined mash tub and brew-kettle; and it consists in certain features of construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

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Patent No. 2892472A: Filling System

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Today in 1959, US Patent 2892472 A was issued, an invention of Rudolph H. Breeback, assigned to Crown Cork & Seal Co., for his “Filling System.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

Although the system of the present invention is described hereinafter as relating to the delivery of beer from Government tanks to filling machines in a brewery, it is within the scope of the present invention that other carbonated liquids, such as soft drinks, or the like, could be used with this system.

The system of the present invention basically requires a storage tank for the carbonated liquid and a filling machine with a reservoir therein for receiving the carbonated liquid from the storage tank for delivery to containers. The Government tanks used in breweries for brewing and aging beer are normally used as storage tanks for the filling machines, the beer in the Government tanks being transferred directly to the reservoir of the filling machines from which the beer is then flowed into containers. It is of course within the scope of the present invention that any tank which is used to supply the reservoir of a filling machine would be considered a storage tank, within the meaning of the appended claims.

Beer and other carbonated liquids must be handled gently throughout the filling operation, including the transfer from the storage tank to the filling machine. The entrained gases in a carbonated liquid have a’tendency to escape when the liquid is unnecessarily agitated. The foaming resulting from release of gases from the carbonated liquid causes inaccurate filling of containers, as well as loss of flavor of the beverage. Heretofore, beer has been transferred from the Government tank to the reservoir of the filling machine by utilizing differential pressure between the beer in the Government tank and the gas superposing the beer in the reservoir or by pumping beer into the reservoir dependent upon the level of beer in the reservoir. Such prior systems have required that the flow of beer between the Government tank and the reservoir of the filling machine be free due to carbonation, foaming results when beer is flowed. into the reservoir.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a filling system and method whereby beer is continuously flowed from a storage tank into the reservoir of a filling machine while containers are actually being filled, thereby eliminating surges and churning of the beer being flowed.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a filling system and method wherein the beer is continuously flowed from a storage tank into the reservoir of the filling machine While the filling machine is in operation and filling containers, the flow of beer into the filling machine being stopped only when there is a substantial break in the feed of containers to the filling machine.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a filling system and method wherein the beer flow into a filling machine from a storage tank is continuous when the filling machine is filling containers, the continuous flow being varied in rate flow dependent upon level changes of the beer in the reservoir of the filling machine. By increasing the flow of beer .to the reservoir when the level of beer therein is low and by decreasing the flow of beer into the reservoir when the level of beer therein is high, a continuous flow of beer can be maintained while containers are being filled during the course of a working day and stopping and starting 0 the flow is substantially eliminated.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a system and method of supplying beer from a storage tank to a filling machine and then to a container, the influx of beer from the filling machines to the container varying the level of beer in the filling machine reservoir, the level of beer in the filling machine reservoir continuously controlling the rate of flow of beer from the storage tank thereto.

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Patent No. 732682A: Beer Filter

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Today in 1903, US Patent 2085186 A was issued, an invention of Jacob Frederic Wittemann, for his beer “Filter.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to improvements in filters or filtering-presses designed particularly for use in filtering beer and the like. In devices of this nature it is the general aim to provide as large a filtering-surface as possible, and this is usually done by multiplying Heretofore each element has generally consisted of several separate parts which must be assembled and also separately handled when it is desired to change the filter, as by substituting a fresh filtering mass and adding new elements.

The objects of the present invention are to produce a filter composed of interchangeable elements all the parts of each of which are combined in one fixed construction and to so construct these elements that when assembled the beer or other fluid to be filtered has ready ingress to and egress from the filter, while the air, water, or other foreign matter in the filter is readily discharged.

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Patent No. 2085186A: Beverage Cooling System

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Today in 1937, US Patent 2085186 A was issued, an invention of Otto H. Eger, for his “Beverage Cooling System.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to cooling, and, more particularly, to a method of and apparatus for cooling beverages.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for coolinga fiuid or beverage, particularly beer.

Another object of the invention is to use a cooling fiuid for cooling beer passing from a keg to a spigot, the cooling fluid then being used to cool bottles, cans or the like, positioned in a suitable receptacle.

A feature of the invention resides in cooling a cooling medium, passing the cooling medium through a jacket in heat exchange relation with the line through which beer is passed from a keg to a spigot, and then passing the cooling medium through a receptacle adapted to receive bottles or the like, and repeating the cycle.

Another feature of the invention resides in controlling the cooling of the cooling medium, responsive to variations in heat load on the system.

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Patent No. 2322749A: Heating And Treating Wort

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Today in 1943, US Patent 2322749 A was issued, an invention of John F. Silhavy, for his “Heating and Treating Wort.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to heating and boiling wort and more particularly relates to heating and boiling wort by using submerged combustion and passing hot products of combustion through the wort or passing gases through the wort while heating it.

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Patent No. 763606A: Combined Brewing Kettle, Hop-Jack Tank And Cooker

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Today in 1904, US Patent 763606 A was issued, an invention of Carl F. Hettinger, for his “Combined Brewing Kettle, Hop-Jack Tank and Cooker.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to brewing-kettles used in the preparation of malt liquors, and has for its object to provide a brewing kettle which may be converted alternately into a cooker or a hop-jack tank without interfering the preparation of malt liquors.

My improved apparatus or kettle being first used as a cooker, the ingredients are the mass is then conveyed into the usual mash is treated and supplemented in the mash-tub the brewing kettle is cleaned for the reception of the wort from the mash-tub. A hop strainer is then put into position in the kettle, so that after the wort has been boiled hops may be added to the wort in the kettle and the latter be used as a hop-jack tank, as will be hereinafter fully described.

The principal object of my invention is to provide one apparatus to serve the purposes and functions of three apparatus, with bet whereby not only a material saving in the cost of installation of a brewery is gained, but also the space occupied by such apparatus may be used for other purposes or the building may be made so much smaller.

My improved combined cooker, brewing kettle, and hop-jack tank consists of a vessel, an agitator therein, a removable telescoping hop-strainer, means for removing the same, a clean-out in the bottom of said vessel, and means for heating the latter; and my invention further consists of the improvements hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

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Patent No. 3258288A: Can Carrier

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Today in 1966, US Patent 3258288 A was issued, an invention of Lawrence L. Courter, for his “Can Carrier.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to devices for carrying containers and more particularly .relates to devices for grasping a plurality of the ordinary beaded-top type of can by their tops and thus enabling them to be transported in a group.

The uses of the invention may be particularly considered with respect to beer cans, although of course cans containing other commodities may equally well be picked up and carried by my carrier. A feature of present day merchandising of beer is that not only are cans used in place of bottles, but the cans are frequently sold in units of six cans, called picnic-packs or party-packs. These units are customarily put up in paperboard containers of egg-crate construction, having a bottom and four side walls and compartment dividers, and having two opposed walls continued upward and bent inwardly to form handles. Unfortunately such unit carriers do not stack particularly well, and being made of cardboard they can not sustain exposure to dampness such as might result from refrigeration by ice or ice-water. Furthermore their bulk when empty is the same as when full, and when discarded on beaches and picnic grounds they make an unnecessary and unsightly clutter.

It is an object of my invention to provide a carrier of flat configuration which will permit the so-called picnic packs .to be stacked one on top of another.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier which, when stacked, is substantially flat on its upper surface except only for centering rings for positioning cans in a superimposed layer.

A further object of my invention is to provide a carrier having hooks for lifting cans and flanges cooperating with the hooks to maintain the hooks in contact with the beaded rims of the cans.

Still another object of my invent-ion is to provide a carrier of limited flexibility, capable of being snapped on with a single pressure motion to a suitably grouped number of cans, and capable of releasing one can at a time as it may be called for.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier which covers the minimum area of cans carried thereby and none at all below the upper ends of the cans, so that the cans are practically fully exposed for rapid refrigeration, or advertising.

A further object of my invention is to provide a plastic carrier which may be used with cold water to refrigerate cans, and which yet contains so little material that it is economically practical.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a flexible carrier having a handle so constructed and so secured to the body of the carrier that it will normally lie in the plane of the body and yet may be lifted to a carrying position, due to flexibility of the material.

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Patent No. 3327902A: Chilled Beverage Dispensing System

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Today in 1967, US Patent 3327902 A was issued, an invention of Melvin Alterwitz, for his “Chilled Beverage Dispensing System.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The present invention relates generally to a beverage dispensing system. More particularly, it relates to the adaptation of a chilled beverage dispensing system either to a home bar or to a portable picnic ice chest.

In recent years it has become increasingly popular to serve chilled beverages dispensed from bulk containers or tanks in the home as well as out of doors. This has proven to be a more economical as well as practical way in which to serve a large number of chilled beverage drinks, as it obviates the need for purchasing, handling and chilling large numbers of small bottle or can containers. Moreover, there is a degree of added charm in dispensing chilled beverages in the same manner as do commercial establishments.

Some people have gone to the great expense to have a built-in bar put in their homes. Very few, however, have gone to the considerably additional expense to incorporate in their home bars a system for dispensing chilled beverages from bulk containers, such as beer kegs, etc. Typically, these home bar setups require a considerable amount of space and thus require a reasonably large room to accommodate it.

Quite obviously, those living in leased quarters would not undertake the construction of such a home .bar setup knowing that once they moved. out they would either have to dismantle it or leave it behind.

For outdoor gatherings, such as picnics, chilled beverages are customarily served. Typically, in order to chill the beverages to a suitable temperature for drinking, a plurality of small beverage containers are placed in a container, such as an ice chest, filled with ice. The problem of suitably chilling beverages dispensed from bulk containers can be a particularly difficult one when out of doors. Quite obviously, ice in some form has to be used either to cool the-bulk containers or to cool the beverage as it is drawn from the bulk container and dispensed through beverage taps. While it is generally much preferred to be able to dispense chilled beverages from bulk containers, dispensing apparatus which is sufficiently portable and convenient to use is not readily available.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable chilled beverage dispensing system.

An additional object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character which is readily implemented with means for chilling the beverage to be dispensed.

Another object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character for dispensing plural kinds of beverages from different bulk containers.

Still another object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character in which the beverage taps are mounted to swing into position for dispensing from a position of protective concealment.

Yet another object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character which is compact, inexpensive, and simplified in design.

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