Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A method of separating mash into draff and clarified beer wort in a cylindrical upright vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion conically converging toward an apertured support forming the bottom of the vessel, comprising the steps of positioning a filter including a fibrous cellulose sliver layer on the apertured support; introducing a mash stream into the vessel near the upper portion tangentially against an inner circumferential side of the vessel so that solid components in the mash are forced against the side of the vessel due to centrifugal force; allowing the solids to settle and become deposited as a cake on the filter; filling the vessel to a predetermined level to provide above the cake a beer wort composed of two fractions, one of which is clear upper layer and the other of which is a lower layer containing suspended solids and being located above and proximal to the cake; applying suction to the apertured bottom of the vessel to draw the lower layer containing suspended solids downwardly through the cake to thereby intercept the suspended solids in the cake and accumulate clear wort below the filter until all of the lower layer is removed from the vessel; and withdrawing the upper clear layer in the vessel out of the same upwardly from above the cake.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
219 words
A method of separating mash into draff and clarified beer wort in a cylindrical upright vessel having an upper portion and a lower portion conically converging toward an apertured support forming the bottom of the vessel, comprising the steps of positioning a filter including a fibrous cellulose sliver layer on the apertured support; introducing a mash stream into the vessel near the upper portion tangentially against an inner circumferential side of the vessel so that solid components in the mash are forced against the side of the vessel due to centrifugal force; allowing the solids to settle and become deposited as a cake on the filter; filling the vessel to a predetermined level to provide above the cake a beer wort composed of two fractions, one of which is clear upper layer and the other of which is a lower layer containing suspended solids and being located above and proximal to the cake; applying suction to the apertured bottom of the vessel to draw the lower layer containing suspended solids downwardly through the cake to thereby intercept the suspended solids in the cake and accumulate clear wort below the filter until all of the lower layer is removed from the vessel; and withdrawing the upper clear layer in the vessel out of the same upwardly from above the cake.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of removing said cake and sliver together for subsequent use as animal fodder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising the step of washing said cake with water from within said vessel, and withdrawing the washing water through said cake.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the step of washing is carried out repeatedly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said suction-applying step includes evacuating a suction chamber connected to the bottom of the vessel so that the lower layer of wort is drawn through said cake and said fibrous cellulose sliver into said suction chamber and accumulates therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
In an apparatus for producing beer wort from a mash, a combination comprising a cylindrical upright vessel having an apertured conically convergent potton and a circumferential wall; a filter on said bottom, said filter including a fibrous cellulose sliver layer; a mash inlet above said bottom and positioned to discharge a stream of mash tangentially against an inner side of said circumferential wall; a suction chamber connected to said bottom and having a conical lower portion; a conduit communicating with said suction chamber and leading from the side thereof to apply vacuum to said suction chamber and suction to the apertured bottom of the vessel to draw wort downward through the bottom; a wort outlet from the suction chamber communicating with the bottom of said conical down portion; and a wort conduit communicating with said vessel near the center thereof and above said filter and operative for withdrawing wort above the filter upward and out of the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
In an apparatus for producing beer wort from a mash, a combination comprising a cylindrical upright vessel having an apertured conically convergent potton and a circumferential wall; a filter on said bottom, said filter including a fibrous cellulose sliver layer; a mash inlet above said bottom and positioned to discharge a stream of mash tangentially against an inner side of said circumferential wall; a suction chamber connected to said bottom and having a conical lower portion; a conduit communicating with said suction chamber and leading from the side thereof to apply vacuum to said suction chamber and suction to the apertured bottom of the vessel to draw wort downward through the bottom; a wort outlet from the suction chamber communicating with the bottom of said conical down portion; and a wort conduit communicating with said vessel near the center thereof and above said filter and operative for withdrawing wort above the filter upward and out of the vessel.