GB2518810A - Automated brewing kettle - Google Patents

Abstract

A brewing kettle suitable for brewing beers and other foods and drinks, that has means to enable the boiling contents of the kettle to be removed from the kettle and re-circulated into the kettle via pipe work thereby maintaining the sterility of the kettle and circulation components. Preferably brewing kettle 2 has an internal heating element 10 and a lid 1; the contents of the kettle 2 may be pumped from the base of the kettle via a pump and heat exchanger 11 and returned to the vessel via a pipe 7. When the contents of the kettle are to be dispensed a switch 9 allows the contents to be dispensed via an outlet 8. The brewing kettle may have a condenser 3 to condense steam from the boiling process. The brewing kettle 2 may have filters 5, 6 within the kettle and circulation pipes.

Description

Patent Application Automated brewing kettle

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to an automated brewing kettle primarily designed for the commercial brewing of beers and the preparation of other foods and drinks.

Beer brewing systems and methods have been in existence for centuries. Large and small commercial systems are typically elaborate and sophisticated requiring the supervision of an expert brew master. Conventional commercial brewing kettles are impractical for businesses that want to produce beer either for supply to other businesses and or for in-house use in their premises. They are too large and require constant hands on attention. Brewing kettles are open to infection frequently spoiling the brew and produce significant amounts of steam encouraging moulds to form in the brewing area.

To overcome these problems, the automated brewing kettle's invention has a unique array of pipe work that enables the brew to be recycled through the pipe work while it is boiling and so maintaining sterilisation of the pipe work throughout the process.

Steam emanating from the brew is condensed to water and dispensed to waste preventing the problems caused by a humid steamy working environment.

The flow of the materials being brewed is driven around the brewing system by a pump. The pump, heaters and valves open and close at specific times during the process and are controlled by a specific computer programme making the process virtually automatic and requiring little intervention by the operator.

The brew kettle contains a heat exchanger to reduce temperature of the materials being brewed as required.

The beer brewing system and method of this current invention simplifies and streamlines the elaborate beer brewing systems currently used, and requires only one operator who need not be especially skilled in beer brewing.

A still further advantage of this invention is that it provides a method and system for brewing beer which is less costly than that purchased from any other brewery.

These and other advantages will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: There is a brewing vessel (2) which is fabricated out of a food grade material capable of withstanding high temperatures and of a diameter and depth to ensure an efficient rolling boil that is a very necessary element in the process of brewing beers. This vessel has a lid (1) capable of causing a seal to enable boiling under pressure. It contains a removable primary filter basket (5) which may be suspended in the vessel and may contain a variety of grades of filter mesh. The vessel contains a heating element (10). The vessel's outlet at its base contains a removable secondary filter plug (6).

The pipe work leading from the outlet takes the fluid being boiled to a pump (11) which drives the fluid on to a switchable connector (9) which enables the fluid to be directed back into the vessel at times when it is important that boiling fluid is recycled though the pipe work to maintain its sterility.

The switchable connector enables the fluid to also be directed to the outflow (8) for dispense into a fermenting or other vessel. The outflow may also be connected to other pipe work for example to connect it to a pipe suitable for spray cleaning vessels or the vessel itself.

There is a second outlet at the top of the side wall of the vessel to enable steam to flow through a condenser (3) to prevent any build of steam in the working environment around the vessel.

Claims (8)

1. CLAI MS1. A design of pipe work that enables the re circulation of boiling fluid to ensure sterilisation of the pipe work and its contents.
2. 2. The design of the kettle to ensure a rolling boil.
3. 3. The design of the kettle enables varying brew volumes.
4. 4. The method of condensing the steam generated by the boiling liquor.
5. 5. The method of dispensing the finished brew to fermentation vessels.
6. 6. The methods of filtration.
7. 7. The specific software that controls the operation of the brew process and cleaning programmes.
8. 8. The method of cooling the brew wort prior to fermentation