Specification of Richard Shannon : apparatus for brewing, distilling, &c.

  • Richard Shannon
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Richard Shannon : apparatus for brewing, distilling, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Shannon s Improvements in the Process of Prewing, Distilling, Dotting, <$fc. NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso I, the said Richard Shannon, do hereby declare that my said discovery and application of a new principle for improving the process of brewing, distilling, evaporating, raising, applying, and condensing steam or vapour, from aqueous, spirituous, saccharine, saline, and other fluids; which expedites the process, improves the quality, and 5 causes a great saving of time, fuel, and expence in each, with the invention of a suitable apparatus and utensils on an improved principle, correspondent to these intentions, part of which improvements are applicable to the utensils now in use, are described in the manner following (that is to say):— By covering and making the mash tun air-tight, and caseing it round under ] 0 and over with a steam-tight caseing; so as during the mashing and soaking of the malt and grain used, the heat may be preserved or raised and regulated to any pitch by the application of steam both in and between the caseing of the mash tun; by which contrivance the whole of the farina and substance of the grain may be as effectually extracted in one, or at most in two 15 mashings, as is now done in three or four. The steam, conducted by a proper tube or pipe, is to be also employed by sweetening and cleansing all the brewing, distilling, and vinegar making utensils and casks employed in each, &c., so as in future to prevent furring, foxing, &c., even in the inmost crevices. That the coolers for cooling the worts shall have double bottoms. 20 The first, in which the worts are laid, should be graten’d, railed, or latticed bottom, covered with lead, (wood having infinitely less conducting power than metals,) for quickly conducting or transmitting the heat of the worts and wash to the atmosphere or any other cooling medium employed; the outer or under bottom may be made of wood as usual. Between these, cold air or water is to be im- 25 pelled to expeditiously cool the worts by imbibing and carrying off the heat. The heated water to be employed for the purposes of brewing, &c. and the heated air for the combustion of the fuel under the brewing coppers, stills, &c. by which contrivance air may be passed with a velocity that compensates for it being 850 times lighter than water. By these means the worts can be laid 30 to any thickness, and cooled to any time. This is much facilitated by a metallic pump and dated spiral tube, through which cold air or water is passed during the ascent and descent of the worts. The brewing coppers, stills, &c. are to be long cylinders, double at the ends, and proper arms, doors, and tubes with the usual means of charging and discharging them at present used, and 35 of working them off’, cleansing, &c. They are to be of one, two, or three or more diameters long; that is, so many times longer than broad, by which means the heat is brought nearer the centre of the contained fluid. Under which, instead of one immense fire, (as now practised) two or more are to be