Improvements in the Preparation of Malt, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar. 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Malt, and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, RUDOLF GENGE, of Colonnaden 15, Hamburg, Germany, Distillery
Inspector, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The experiments hitherto conducted for the purpose of preparing malt in a
mechanical-pneumatic manner have not so far led to any successful result; so
that, in spite of the manifold disadvantages connected with hand-working, the
latter is still preferred to the mechanical-pneumatic preparation for the production
of a malt adapted to fulfil all requirements.
Now, this invention has reference to improvements in the preparation of
malt in a pneumatic manner, and in apparatus, comprising a germinating-drum and
appurtenances, therefor.
The essential conditions that a malt-process must satisfy are:-(1) the
maintenance of an even temperature which should be as low as possible;
(2) the maintenance of a constant degree of humidity; (3) the removal of the
carbonic acid developed during the germinating-process; and (4) a suitable turning-
over of the grain.
The first condition is obtained by processes hitherto in use, but not in au
advantageous manner, and the method of maintaining the standard of humidity
hitherto employed is very imperfect.
Now, the aforesaid conditions are ensured by the present process according to
which the barley is transferred from the steeping-vat into a drum of suitable con-
struction in which the germination is effected. During this process fresh air is passed
continually through a passage or flue, the cross-section of which can be regulated
as desired by a slide, into the drum, the said air being brought to the desired
temperature whilst passing through said passage or flue, by means of water or
cold air which is circulated through a pipe arranged within the said passage or
flue. The air is conducted into the drum in such a manner that it can escape
through the grain only, the drum being for this purpose kept closed except at that
part of the periphery which is covered by the grain, whilst the cooling water or
the air employed for the purpose of cooling the air admitted to the interior of the
drum is conducted through the drum by means of a pipe-system, in such a manner
as to cause moisture to be condensed upon those parts of the said pipe-system
situate within the grain. In this way the said cooling air or water serves to
maintain the degree of humidity necessary for the malting-process and also to
suitably cool the germinating-matter, thereby rendering a very strong ventilation
unnecessary.
The carrying away of the carbonic acid formed during the germination-process
is effected by means of the passage or flue that serves to conduct the cold air; so
that the ventilation of the grain is effected in an entirely automatic manner
without the employment of fans, compressors, or the like. During these operations
the grain is continually turned over by slowly rotating the drum, the turning over
being effected from the bottom upwards, because the layers of grain that are
situate on the drum-casing, are carried round by the drum and ultimately
delivered upon the germinating-matter as an uppermost layer. As soon as the
germinating-process is completed in this manner, the germinating-matter is removed
· from the drum which is then charged with fresh material.

page_text: The accompanying drawings illustrate a germinating-apparatus constructed
according to this invention,
Fig. 1 being a vertical section on the line A B of Fig 2; and
Fig. 2 a vertical section on the line C D of Fig. 1.
The germinating-drum comprises a cylindrical perforated casing a carried by end
walls that are fixed on a horizontal shaft c which rotates in bearings c'. The
interior of this drum communicates by means of a perforated nave d with a flue or
chimney in which a cooling-pipe 9 is arranged. The cooling-pipe g is in
communication by means of the hollow ended shaft c, with one end of a
pipe-system h which is located within the drum, and the other end of which opens
into the opposite end of the shaft, which is provided with a suitable outlet. On
the exterior of the drum is provided a number of flaps i which are arranged after
the manner of a Venetian blind and which are held closed against one part of the
periphery of the drum by means of any suitable means such for an example as a
ring of T-iron. For this purpose springs m provided with rollers / are attached
to the several flaps, and by means of these springs the flaps are pressed against
the casing of the drum. The ring k is at one part cut away or bent outwardly so
that at this place the flaps i open by their own weight and allow of the exit of the
air from the drum. The drum is provided with a toothed ring n with which gears
a worm o by means of which a slow rotation can be imparted to the drum. An
opening in the drum-casing, normally closed by a slide p or other suitable closure,
permits of the drum being readily charged and emptied.
Dated this 20th day of December 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Preparation of Malt, and in Apparatus
therefor.
1, RUDOLF GENGE, of Colonnaden 15, Hamburg, Germany, Inspector of
Distilleries, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The experiments hitherto conducted for the purpose of preparing malt in a
mechanical-pneumatic manner have not so far led to any practically successful
result, so that, in spite of the manifold disadvantages connected with hand-working,
the latter is still preferred to the mechanical-pneumatic preparation for the
production of a malt adapted to fulfil all practical requirements.
Now this invention has reference to improvements in the preparation of malt in
a pneumatic manner, and in apparatus comprising a germinating-drum and
appurtenances therefor.
The essential conditions that a malting-process should satisfy are :-(1) the
maintenance of a low temperature, which should be as even as possible; (2) the
maintenance of a constant degree of humidity; (3) the removal of the carbonic
acid developed during the germinating-process; and (4) a suitable turning-over of
the grain.
The first condition is obtained by processes hitherto in use, but not in an
advantageous manner, and the method of maintaining the standard of humidity
hitherto employed is very imperfect. Now the aforesaid conditions are fulfilled by
the present process according to which the barley is transferred from the steeping-
vat into a drum of suitable construction in which the, germination is effected.
During this process fresh air is passed continually through a passage or flue, the

page_text: cross-section of which can be regulated as desired by a slide, into the drum, the
said air being brought to the desired temperature whilst passing through the said
passage or flue, by means of water or cold air which is circulated through a pipe
arranged within the said passage or flue. The air thus cooled is conducted into
the drum in such a manner that it can escape through the grain only, the drum
being for this purpose kept closed except at the lower part of the periphery which
is covered by the grain, whilst the water or the air employed for the purpose of
cooling the air admitted to the interior of the drum, is conducted through the drum
by means of a pipe-system, in such a manner as to cause moisture to be condensed
upon those parts of the said pipe-system situate within the grain. In this way the
said cooling air or water serves to maintain the degree of humidity necessary for
the malting-process and also to suitably cool the germinating-matter, thereby
rendering a very strong ventilation unnecessary.
The carrying away of the carbonic acid formed during the germination-process
is effected by means of the passage or flue that serves for the entrance of the cold
air. The ventilation of the grain is thus effected in an entirely automatic manner
without the employment of fans, compressors, or the like. During these operations
the grain is continually turned over by slowly rotating the drum, the turning over
being effected from the bottom upwards so that the layers of grain that are situate
on the drum-casing, are carried round by the drum and ultimately delivered upon
the top of the germinating-matter as an uppermost layer. As soon as the
germinating-process is completed in manner described, the germinating-matter is
removed from the drum which is then recharged with fresh material.
The drawings filed with my Provisional Specification illustrate a germinating-
apparatus constructed according to this invention,
Fig. 1 being a vertical section on the line A B of Fig. 2; and .
Fig. 2 a vertical section on the line C D of Fig. 1.
The germinating-drum comprises a cylindrical perforated casing a carried by
end walls b that are fixed on a horizontal shaft c which rotates in bearings c². The
interior of this drum communicates by means of a perforated nave d with a flue or
chimney in which a cooling-pipe g is arranged. This cooling-pipe is in communi-
cation through one end of the hollow shaft, with one end of a pipe-system h,
located within the drum, and the other end of which opens into the opposite end
of the shaft which is provided with a suitable outlet as shown. By the passage of
the cooling fluid through the pipe or pipe-system h, the latter is cooled whereby
moisture in the air within the drum is condensed thereon and subsequently transferred
to the grain undergoing the malting-process. On the exterior of the drum is
provided a number of flaps i which are arranged after the manner of a Venetian
blind and which are held closed against one part of the periphery of the drum by
means of any suitable means such for example as a fixed ring k of T-iron. For
this purpose springs m provided with rollers are attached to the several flaps, and
by means of these springs the flaps are pressed against the casing of the drum.
The ring is at one part either cut away, or bent outwardly as shown so that at
this place the flaps open by their own weight and allow of the exit of the air
from the drum. The drum is provided with a toothed ring n with which gears
a worm o by means of which a slow rotation can be imparted to the drum. An
opening in the drum-casing, normally closed by a slide p or other suitable closure,
permits of the drum being readily charged and emptied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what i
claim is :-
1. In the preparation of malt, the herein described process for effecting the
germination of the soaked grain in a pneumatic manner, consisting in continually
turning over the soaked grain and subjecting it to the cooling action of air that is
previously cooled to the desired temperature by a suitable cooling device and is
caused to flow through the drum in such a manner that it can escape only through

page_text: the mass of grain, in maintaining a practically constant degree of humidity of the
germinating grain by condensation of moisture effected by means of a pipe-system
arranged within the drum, and through which the cooling fluid previously used for
cooling the air is caused to flow, the said pipe-system also aiding in cooling the
mass of grain, and in conducting away from the drum the carbonic acid formed
during the germinating-process substantially as set forth.
2. For carrying out the process referred to in the preceding claim, apparatus
comprising a rotary drum having a perforated periphery provided with external
flaps adapted to be automatically opened and closed as set forth, a pipe or passage
such as in communication at one end with the said drum, and serving as an inlet
for cold air to and as an exit for carbonic acid from the said drum, a cooling device
such as a coiled pipe 9 located within the said pipe or passage and a pipe-system
such as h arranged within the drum and in communication with the said cooling
device g and through which said cooling device a cooling fluid is caused to flow,
the arrangement being such that the air admitted to the drum is cooled to the
required temperature for effecting the germinating-process, and a determined
degree of humidity is maintained in the drum, so that an excessive ventilation of
the germinating-matter is rendered unnecessary substantially as described.
3. The improved malting-apparatus constructed, arranged and operating as
described and shown.
Dated this 15th day of January 1894.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.