US827148A - Fermenter. - Google Patents

Description

N0- s 27,14s. PATENTED JULY 31, 1906.

D. GORDON.

FBRMENTER. APPLIOATION FILED AUG.13, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

h ATTORNEYS PATEN'IED JULY 31,1906. No. 827,148" D. GORDON. FERMBNTBR, APPLIGATION FILED AUG.13,,1904.

2 SEEETSSHBBT 2- iATTORNEYS III IIIIII/ s toCa similar conical portion of the cylinder,

. treating cocoa-beans, and particularly to ap- .UNITED STATES Pg m: OFFICE.

' DOUGLAS GORDON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO "MARCUS MASON & COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N J Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

FERMENTER.

tain new and useful Im rovements in Fermenters, of which the fol owing is a specifica tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,'forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to machinery for paratus in which the beans may be fermented.

- My device comprises a closed barrel or cylinder having suitable means for ventilating same and provided with means by which the barrel or cylinder may be revolved and with means for controlling the ventilation. Preferably the barrel or cylinder is arranged substantially horizontally, but with a slight inclination toward the rear, or that end pierced by the ventilating-holes.

The object of my invention is to economically ferment a large quantity of cocoa-beans at one time, causing the action to take place equally through the entire mass, so that the resultin product will be uniform.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed to describe an embodiment thereof havingrefe'rence to the accompanying drawings, illustrating same, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a fermenting apparatus embody ing my invention. Fi 2is an end view of the same looking in t e direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same lookin in .the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1. ig. 4 is a view in central vertical lon itudinal section through the device.

e machine consists enerally of a cylinder or barrel 1, rotatabTy mounted upon a truck or carrier 2. The cylinder or. barrel 1 comprises a c lindrical shell 3 which maybe of wood or ot er materiallined withwood or other acid-resisting substance, a rear end head 4, rigidly secured to the cylindrical and cross-bars 7 7, engaging hooks 8 8 upon 0 posite sides of the said shell, serve to keep t ehead place. Metal straps or hoops 9 encircle the barrel or cylinder and serve to strengthen'same, two of the said metal stra s or'hoops 10.10 servin also as circular trac s Patented July 31,1906. Application filed August 18,1904. 8oria1No.,220,614.

for supporting; the cy inder and u on which it is adapted to be revolved. T e truck'2 comprises a framework 11 and wheels 12, Which may be arranged to run on suitable tracks, as may be desired. The frame 11 is preferably arranged at an angle with respect to the axes of rotation of the Wheels12, so that the cylinder sup orted thereby will have a slight rearward inciination.

The framework 1]. of the truck supports two longitudinal shafts 13 and 14, journaled in suitable bearings 15, arranged upon opposite sides of the vertical lane in which the axis .of rotation of the cy inder 1 lies. The shafts 13 each carry two flange-supporting wheels 16,- arrange to engage the circular tracks 10. The said wheels 16 are preferably loosely mounted upon their respectlve shafts. so thatthey will turn freely thereon. The shaft 13 constitutes a drive-shaft and is provided at one end with a handle 17 and at the other end with a sprocket-pinion 18. The

shaft 14 constitutes adriven shaft and is pro vided with a sprocket spur-gear 19. A

sprocket-chain 20 connects the spur-sprocket 19 with the pinion-sprocket 18 in driving relation. The shaft 14 carries a gear-pinion 21,

rigidly secured thereto, which is arranged. in

mesh with a gear-ring 22, secured around the cylinder or barrel 1. Power applied to the handle 17 to rotate the shaft 13 will slowly rotate the shaft 14, by reason of the sprocketand-chain connection and will thereby slowly rotate the cylinder or barrel, the flanged wheel 16 turning freely upon the shafts, and

revolubly su porting the cylinder.

The cylin or is provided longitudinally on its interior face with angular trou he 23,

forming a plurality of longitudinal 'c annels within the cylinder at the interior face thereof. The troughs pass through the rear stationary head 4, so that the said channels inclosed thereby open to the atmosphere, as at 24, throughthe said end head. Doors or gates 25, secured to the interior of the" end too head 4, serve as means for closing or opening fices 27, arranged near the outer edge thereof,

and 0 ening into the interior of the cylinderbarre against its inner face.

The cylinder or barrel may be-conveniently provided with a charging-opening 28, which may be closed when the machine is operating by a door 29.

The apparatus is operated as follows: The cylinder is first charged to about two-thirds full with unfermented cocoa-beans, which it is desired to ferment. It may be partially charged, as a matter of convenience,-w hen the front head 5 is removed, as a lar er-quantity maybe admitted therethrough than through the charging-orifice 28. After the machine has been partially charged the head 5 must be placed in position and secured therein by means of the cross-beams 7. The remainder of the charge is then inserted "through the charging-opening 28 and the door'29 finally closed. Tie passage of gases, air, or va or through the openings 27 may be contro ed by manipulation of the doors '25. In first starting up the machine it is usual to leave all the doors open. so as to admit free passage therethrough, and so to allow the escape of gases, vapors, and the like from the interior of the cylinder durin fermentation of the beans. After a pre etermined length of time, which may be for certain classes of beans and in certain climates say twelve hours, the cylinder will be partially rotated by power applied to the handle 17 and the doors or gates 25 may be readjusted, if desired. on the first partial turning of the cylinder it is usual to close the three doors or gates, which are at that time in the lowest positions, leaving the three upper doors open. This will ordinarily give enough ventilation for the apparatus. The apparatus will now be left again for another, say, twelve hours, so that the fermenting process may continue, and at the end of that time the cylinder may be given another partial revolution and the doors 25 again readjusted,'so that the three lower doors will be closed and the three upper doors open. The cylinder may be partially rotated at intervals thereafter until the process of fermentation is complete, and at each partial revolution the doors may be readjusted, and, finally, if desired, all the doors during the final treatment may be closed and the orifices 27 only relied upon for ventilation. Usually, however, one or more of the doors or gates 25 are left open during the whole rocess. The actual time that is allowed to a se between the turning movements of the ermenting-cylinder Wlll de end entirely upon the class of cocoa treate and the climate in which it is treated or the heat of the room in which the apparatus is contained. In Trini- .,dad, for instance, in a room at ordinary atinospheric temperatures itis usual to give the cylinder about one-third of a revolution every twelve hours for from seven to ten days.

the process of fermentation is that during this period a considerable quantity of acid is preferably left open during the first 'part of A given ofl by the beans, which will fall toward the bottom of the cylinder and will flow out through the lowermost channel. This acid will of course also flow out through the small orifices 27.

The form of the troughs 23 is such as not only 'to inc'lose channels, as s ecified, but to act as means for tumbling t e beans when the cylinder is rotated and the cylinder -is preferably filled, but about two-thirds full, so as to permit such free tumbling whereby all the material may get equal treatment.

After the process of fermentation is complete the front head 5 may be removed and the contents-of the barrel removed.

It will thus be seen that my apparatus rovides means whereby the beans may be sfi'rfited in their os'itions during the fermenting rooess, so t at all portions of the mass may erment equally, and it will also be seen that the apparatus is exceedingly accessible for cleansing urposes, it being understood that the oyl-in or requires thorough cleaning, usually between every fermenting operation.

The .device is a simple one, easy to handle, unlikely to get out of order, the interior is ready of access, and the device as a whole is sim lo and inexpensive to manufacture.

. i at I claim is-- 1. In apparatus of theclass described, the combinationwith a rotatableeylinder-rnoun'ted with its axis oblique to the horizontal, of a removable head therefor at its higher .end, means for securing the door thereto, perforated longitudinal vent-ilating troughs 1n the said cylinderagainst the interior face thereof, said troughs opening through the head at the lower end of the cylinder, and means for controlling discharge from the channels through the said head, said head ha ing also a series of orifices therethrou h, communicating with the interior of the cy inder in proximity to the inner face thereof.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a carrier and a cylinder rovided on 1ts inner face with l-ongitudina perforated ventilating-channels discharging through the rear head, and also with a circular series of orifices opening to discharge through the rear 'head, in proximity to the interior face of the cylinder.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a carrier and a substantially horizontal cylinder rotatably mounted thereon, said cylinder provided on its inner facewith longitudinal troughs extending throu h the rear head and provided with means or controlling same, the walls of said troughs perforated throughout, connecting the channels theremg: with the interior-chamber of said 5. Inapparatus of the class described, the 15 m and the rear head provided with a combinatlon with .a sugport, two longitudiof orifices therethrough comnal shafts'ean'ied there y; and arranged at a rn-withthe interior of the 'eyiinder, slilght angle to the horizontal, supporting- 5 in proximity to the'interiorfaeethereof. ro ers looselzamountedthereon gearmg'eon- '4. In apparatus of-the 'elass described, the neeting the s v ft'storotateat erents ds, :0 combination with a support, of two longituand a driveinion secured on one 0 said shafts thereby, supporting-rollshafts, of a eyinder supported upon said rollemlooael mounted thereon, anngeonneet-'. ers, said cylinder having a gear nng arranged 4o ing the v to rotate at iiiferent sgeeds in mesh with theteeth of said dnveinion.,. and a drive-{Sim secured on one 0 said DOUGLAS GOR 0N shafts ofa'ey der supported upon said ro ll- In presenoe of- J em,audi: 1inder a'gear-nng arranged Fnossm 'ABBOTI, inmeahwlththetoeth of saiddrive-piniofn. Q HENRY H. THAYEB.

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