Patent GB-949671-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to malting processes
IPC: C12C1/00
Filed: 1958-11-19
Abstract: <PICT:0949671/C3/1> <PICT:0949671/C3/2> <PICT:0949671/C3/3> In the continuous malting of grain, the grain is steeped in water in containers 1, Fig. 1, the steeped grain is withdrawn in batches and drained on couches 5, each batch of grain is spread in a band of predetermined depth on germinating troughs 12, individual quantities of grain of each batch are displaced increments of distance towards the discharge (left) end of the troughs in a series of displacement movements originating at the discharge end (each successive batch being withdrawn and drained in time to be introduced and spread as a band in the space left clear as all the individual quantities of the grain of the previous batch are moved progressively towards the discharge end), each individual quantity of germinating grain is removed as it reaches the discharge end and transferred to the top of a pile, warm air is circulated through the pile and dried, malted grain is withdrawn substantially continuously from the bottom of the pile.  The couches 5 have an inclined perforated partition 6, Fig. 2, for the drainage of water through a line 7, openings 8 closable by a slidable plate 9 coupled to a screw 10 to which is fastened an operating handle 11, and air lines 7A.  In a preferred procedure, a malt stirrer is used for displacing the grain on the troughs, the malt is dried as a slowly descending pile in a kiln and the dried, malted grain is then stored in containers 69.  The malt stirrer consists of curved racks 18, Fig. 3, each pivoted at 19 to the wheeled chassis 16 of the malt stirrer and pivoted at 19A to a hydraulic jack, itself pivoted to the chassis at 23, and a jib 25 mounted on the curved racks by a toothed wheel 26 and plane rollers 27 engaging a plain portion of the racks 18, whereby both the positioning and inclination of the jib may be readily adjusted.  The jib carries rollers 28 wrapped by an elevator belt 29 fitted with <PICT:0949671/C3/4> <PICT:0949671/C3/5> <PICT:0949671/C3/6> buckets 30.  A scraper blade 32 slidable vertically in a guide 33 levels the grain during movement of the chassis.  It is stated that the jib may be mounted on a subsidiary wheeled chassis carried on and disposed transversely to the main chassis.  The malting kiln consists of a casing 34, Fig. 6, divided into five vertical sections by vertical perforated partitions 35, 36, 37 and 38, these sections comprising two outer sections 39 and 40, two intermediate sections 41 and 42 through which the grain descends from a hopper 58, and an inner section 43, the sections 39, 40 and 43 being divided by horizontal partitions 44 into four sets of chambers. Hot air from a duct 46 is blown by pumps 45, 48, 50, 52 and 54 sequentially through the lowermost chamber of the inner section 43 to the lowermost chambers of the outer sections 39 and 40, thence through the second, third and fourth chambers in turn, the exhausted air being drawn off to atmosphere from the fourth chambers of the outer sections 39 and 40. The dried grain is discharged through opened ports 64, Fig. 8, in a collector 59 and slots 62, Fig. 10, into the interior of a rotating drum 61 and as the drum rotates the grain falls out through the slots on to a conveyer that transports it to the storage containers 69. Baffles (not shown) are provided to direct grain from the two compartments or from different parts of the same compartment in simultaneously moving streams towards the slots.  If desired, the air may be warmed before it is introduced into any of the chambers, as by pipe connection 56 with pump 50.