Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 3279534A: Percolator For A Brew Kettle

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Today in 1966, US Patent 3279534 A was issued, an invention of Robert C. Gadsby, Joseph Schwaiger and Frank H. Schwaiger, assigned to Anheuser-Busch, for their “Percolator for a Brew Kettle.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an improved percolator for brew kettles, such as are used in the brewing industry. Another object is to provide in such a percolator a plurality of flat heating sections which can be easily cleaned and replaced or repaired if necessary. Another object is to provide an improved percolator design which is shaped to distribute heat in a predetermined manner :and which is shaped so as to create a natural flow of the liquid being heated within the percolator. Another object is to provide a percolator of a design in which there is little likelihood of trapping condensate therein. Another object is to provide connectors between the relatively flat heater sections which prevent entrapment of the liquid so as to prevent the overheating of any liquid which might otherwise become entrapped.

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Patent No. 5458253A: Bottle Cap

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Today in 1995, US Patent 5458253 A was issued, an invention of Michael Shapcott, for his “Bottle Cap.” Here’s the Abstract:

A crown seal for sealing an opening of a bottle including a flange having between twenty-eight and thirty-two flutes around the circumference thereof. Each flute comprises depression having a generally triangular surface area between a pair of ridges. The additional flutes provide more points of contact with the bead are provided, ensuring a securement of increased strength between the crown and bottle.

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Patent No. 1006008A: Faucet-Auger

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Today in 1911, US Patent 1006008 A was issued, an invention of Stephen Noland Ross, for his “Faucet-Auger.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in faucet-angers and the main object thereof is to produce a device of this kind that will be efficient in operation, durable, inexpensive to manufacture and one that will be economical in that with its use there is no waste of the contents of the barrel or keg upon which said auger is applied.

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Patent No. 3765903A: Isomerised Hop Extract

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Today in 1973, US Patent 3765903 A was issued, an invention of Brian Clarke, Robert Hildebrand, David Lance, and Alexander White, assigned to Carton and United Breweries Ltd, for their “Isomerised Hop Extract.” Here’s the Abstract:

A process for the preparation of an isomerised hop extract for use in the flavouring of food or beverages which comprises adding to a solution of humulones or their salts a metal ion of calcium, magnesium, nickel, manganese or zinc, which metal ion forms with the humulones a metal ion-humulone complex which then precipitates from the solution. The metal ion-humulone complex is then heated in solid or paste state or in suspension or dissolved in an organic solvent to form a metal ion-isohumulone complex in high yield. The metal ion-isohumulone complex is substantially insoluble and can be used as a bittering additive, without regeneration to a soluble salt of isohumulone, by finely grinding such metal ion-isohumulone complex.

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Patent No. 4963175A: Keg Cooler Tub

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Today in 1990, US Patent 4963175 A was issued, an invention of Donald E. Pace, for his “Keg Cooler Tub.” Here’s the Abstract:

A transportable keg cooler tub comprising a circular tub-like base with a pliable flexible canvas sleeve extending upwards from the top edge of the base. The sleeve enclosing a plastic liner in intimate contact with ice cubes filling the space between the liner and the enclosed beverage keg. A portion of the plastic liner pulled through an orifice on the bottom outside perimeter of the base providing drainage for the ice contained by the plastic liner.

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Patent No. 5564568A: Insulating Cover For Keg Beer

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Today in 1996, US Patent 5564568 A was issued, an invention of Pleasant P. Rankin, Sr., for his “Insulating Cover For Keg Beer.” Here’s the Abstract:

An insulating cover for keg beer. The cover consists of a relatively flexible insulating material which substantially surrounds one or more kegs of beer. In a first embodiment the cover closely conforms to a single keg of beer, and thus has a cylindrical shape. Handles are provided on the exterior of the cover for easier manual transport of the keg and cover combination. The insulative properties are sufficient to maintain a relatively constant cool temperature without the use of ice, although multiple-use sealed freeze packs may be placed within the cover. In a further embodiment the cover is sized to fit upon a pallet and enclose up to four kegs. A side wall and top of the cover is openable to remove one or more of the kegs.

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Patent No. 2017365A: Device For Tapping Kegs

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Today in 1935, US Patent 2017365 A was issued, an invention of August L. Klein, assigned to the Blatz Brewing Company, for his “Device For Tapping Kegs.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to apparatus for increasing the pressure in beer kegs; and more particularly, a utility device which may be used where expensive tapping apparatus is not available.

Although my invention is not limited to the dispensing of beer, beer is often stored in kegs and at picnics and other functions, difficulty is experienced in dispensing the same. It is common practice to place in the side of the keg a wooden spigot, but due to lack of internal pressure, the beer or liquid flows very slowly. My invention increases the internal pressure so that the contents of the keg are under pressure and will be forced out through the spigot.

The prime object of the invention is to provide quickly attachable means whereby the internal or head pressure may be increased, thus facilitating the dispensing of the contents of a drum or keg.

Another object is to provide means for indicating the internal pressure so that the operator will be guided in this respect.

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Patent No. 5564602A: Beer-Dispensing System And Apparatus

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Today in 1996, US Patent 5564602 A was issued, an invention of James Cleland and Melvin Kyees, for their “Beer-Dispensing System and Apparatus.” Here’s the Abstract:

A beer-dispensing apparatus including a source of cooled pressurized gas-ladened beer, an elongate beer delivery line extending from the source of beer to a remote beer-dispensing station, a normally closed beer-dispensing valve at the beer-dispensing station, a liquid glycol chilling and recirculating unit, a heat exchanger beer delivery structure including an elongate beer-conducting balance line smaller in inside diameter than the beer delivery line and connected with and extending between the beer delivery line and the valve, an elongate glycol-conducting tube extending longitudinally of and in heat transfer relationship with the balance tube and connected with the glycol chilling and recirculating unit to cause chilled glycol to continuously circulate through it; a thermally insulated heat-storing aluminum body about the balance and glycol tubes; glycol flowing through the glycol tube progressively lowers the temperature of beer flowing downstream through the balance tube to the valve.

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Patent No. 5676369A: Method Of Playing A Brewing Game

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Today in 1997, US Patent 5676369 A was issued, an invention of Mark Keathon DeWeese, for his “Method of Playing a Brewing Game.” Here’s the Abstract:

A method of playing a board game related to brewing procedures and the science of brewing. The game includes a board having an endless path divided into a plurality of continuous spaces including a starting space and spaces with indicia upon them corresponding to hops, barley, yeast, brewing science and speciality beer styles. At least two players start by moving their playing pieces along a path according to a roll of the die. Upon landing on a space, a player must pick a card corresponding to that space. The card may require the player to correctly answer a question or may award or hinder his progress in the game. If the card requires an answer, which is correctly answered, the player is allowed to roll again and continue around the board. Upon passing the starting point the player is awarded a piece of brewery equipment. Players continue collecting brewing equipment while moving around the board. Play is terminated when a player receives all of the equipment necessary to operate a brewery.

The finished game was released. I have a copy of it, though I don’t recall where I got it. I think I only tried it one time, and I honestly don’t remember how it played, which I suppose in and of itself isn’t a ringing endorsement.
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Patent No. 711162A: Beer-Barrel-Tapping Device

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Today in 1902, US Patent 711162 A was issued, an invention of Joseph Holbach, for his “Beer-Barrel-Tapping Device.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The object of this invention is to provide an efficient and convenient device for tapping a beer-barrel and drawing off the beer without injury to or loss or escape of the beer; and with this and other objects in view the invention consists in a device of the class specified constructed as hereinafter described an claimed.

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