Improvements in the Method of Malting and Drying Grain, and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th May, 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in the Method of Malting and Drying Grain, and in
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
I JAMES SLEEMAN, of Taunton in the County of Somerset, Maltster, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to simplify and expedite the process of malting
and drying grain by means of improved machinery or apparatus.
In carrying out my invention I construct and make use of an airtight chamber of
brick, iron, or other suitable material. This chamber serves all the purposes usually
effected by steeps, malting floors and drying kiln, without removal of the grain from
the chamber; so that the germinating case being charged with grain, such grain,
before removal from the case or chamber becomes finished malt.
The air tight chamber is provided with controllable inlets, through which fresh
air, heated air, and water, may pass, with appliances for controlling the temperature
and purity of all air admitted thereto.
Suitable bearings are fitted to the walls of the chamber, upon which the trunnions
or other supports of the germinating case may be fitted.
The germinating case is cylindrical, or polygonal, and so mounted that it may be
caused to rotate, by means of pulleys, toothed wheels, or other suitable gear.
The chamber is used in such a manner that it becomes first a cistern, in which the
grain can be steeped, while it is in the case, by lowering the journals or supports of
the case, and slowly or intermittently revolving the case in the water. The chamber
next becomes a germinating room, for which purpose it is supplied with fresh air at
a suitable temperature: the germinating case being raised and the water drained
from the chamber. Thirdly, the chamber is used as a kiln for drying the malt or
grain, for which purpose any source of heat may be used.
The lower half of the case is filled with malt or grain, and the case is fitted with
a longitudinal tube, which tube is fitted with a number of radial perforated tubes or
pipes, dipping into the lower part of the case among the malt or grain. In addition
to these tubes a longitudinal flattened tube or case is fitted, perforated with holes on
both sides. This flattened case is also in communication with the central tube.
Air (and if necessary, water) is forced through the central tube, which air finds
its exit amongst the malt or grain, and thereby aerates the malt.
The upper half of the central tube is fitted with radial arms or beaters.
The cylindrical part of the case is formed of perforated metal or woven wire work,
which allows the air to escape, and the case is so mounted in the air tight chamber,
that it may admit of being revolved by pulleys, toothed wheels, or other gear. The
case is also fitted with doors or other apertures for charging and discharging the
grain..
The central tube, with its arms and perforated tubes, is capable of being revolved
in the case, for the purpose of turning and stirring the malt.
1000
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Malting and Drying Grain, and in
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES SLEEMAN, of Taunton, in the County of Somerset, Maltster, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my invention is to simplify and expedite the process of multing
and drying grain by means of improved machinery or apparatus.
In carrying out my invention, I make use of an air-tight chamber, formed of brick,
iron, or other suitable material. This chamber serves all the purposes usually effected
by steeps, malting floors, and drying kilns, without removal of the grain from the
chamber; so that, the germinating case being charged with grain, such grain before
removal from the chamber, becomes finished malt.
The air-tight chamber is provided with controllable inlets, through which fresh
air, heated air and water or steam, may pass into the chamber; and with appliances
for controlling the temperature and purity of all air admitted thereto.
Suitable bearings are fitted to the walls of the chamber, in which the tubular
trunnions of the germinating case revolve. These bearings are sometimes so fitted
that the case may be raised and lowered in the chamber as required, without
admitting the external air-the bearing and stuffing boxes being fitted in slides for
that purpose. But I sometimes retain the case at one constant level in the chamber,
and cause the water to rise therein and be drained therefrom, as required.
The germinating case may be cylindrical or polygonal, and so mounted that it
may be caused to rotate by means of pulleys, toothed wheels, or other suitable gear.
The chamber is used in such a manner that it operates first as a cistern, in which
the grain can be steeped, while it is in the case, either by lowering the case into the
water, or by causing the level of the water to rise to the case; the case being slowly
or intermittently caused to revolve in the water.
The chamber is then (secondly) used as a germinating room; for which purpose
it is supplied with fresh air at a suitable temperature;-the germinating case
being raised out of the water or otherwise freed therefrom,--the water being drained
from the chamber.
Thirdly: The chamber is used as a kiln, for drying the malt or grain; for which
purpose any source of heat may be used.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, showing the arrangement
of my invention in which the axial line of the revolving case is retained in a fixed
position.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional elevation.
a is an air-tight chamber, constructed of brick, iron, or other suitable material.
b. b are air inlets capable of being opened or closed. c is the inlet for water.
d is the outlet for water. c is a louvred outlet for air. f is a fan for exhausting
air and gas from the chamber. c is a slide for opening and closing the passage
to the air outlet, and rendering the same air-tight when closed. g is the revolving
malting or germinating case, covered with woven wire or similar material. his
the central tube of the malting case. i.i are perforated radial tubes, the inner
ends of which are open to the central tube h, and the outer ends of the same
radial tubes being stopped by screw plugs or caps. j are perforated flattened tubes
fitted to the radiating tubes and communicating therewith. k. kare the doors for
charging and discharging malt or other grain. o. are annular toothed rings
fitted to the malting case 7. p is one of the pinions meshing into the toothed

page_text: rings o for causing the malting case to revolve. is the pinion shaft carrying
pinions p. r. are fast and loose pulleys fitted to the shaft p. s. s are revolving
wheels upon which the germinating case g revolves, and by which it is supported.
t is a driving pulley for causing the central tube h and its connections to revolve.
The case being charged with grain through the doors k, water is admitted to
the chamber through the inlet c. As soon as the chamber a is sufficiently filled the
case 9 is caused to revolve, together with the central tube h and its connections,
whereby the grain is thoroughly washed and cleansed, the foul water being drained
away through d.
Fresh clean water is then admitted, and steeping commenced, during which
process the malting case and the tubes inside the same are intermittently or con-
tinuously rotated. Air may also at the same time be forced among the steeping
grain. As soon as the grain is sufficiently steeped, the water is drained away and
germination commenced, pure air being forced through either or both of the
inlets b. 6, thence through the central tube h, thence through the radial tubes i
and the flattened longitudinal tubes j. This air escapes through the perforations
in the tubes i and j, out among the malt, which is thereby aërated.
i
Cocks are fitted to the radial pipes (not shown in the drawings) whereby the
air can be shut off from some of the pipes ii, as required, the cocks being placed
near the junctions with the tube h.
The gas generated during germination is drawn away and carried off by the
fan f.
The malting case is rotated, either intermittently or continuously, during the
process of germination, and the malt is thoroughly turned and separated by
the rotation of the case. The central tube / and its connections rotate inside the
case either in unison therewith or separately from the tubes.
When germination is complete, warm air (which may, at the commencement of
the kilning process, be moistened by a jet of steam) is forced through the tubes and
out among the malt, and the heat of the air gradually increased until the kilning
process is completed, and the malt properly cured; the malting case (either in
unison with the tubes or separately) being revolved during the process of kilning.
When complete, the malt is discharged through the doors k to a band or conveyer,
and carried away.
All air and water admitted to the chamber and malt or grain, is first purified, and
its temperature controlled, so that the chamber and the malt are kept at the particular
temperature best suited to the particular stage of the work; but I do not claim any
special means for tempering and purifying such air and water.
The following advantages are obtained by the use of my invention:-
1. The malting case may be charged with grain, such grain, before it leaves the
case, being washed, steeped, germinated and kilned, with little or no manual labour,
and leaving the case finished malt.
2. The washing of the grain through the rotation of the case and internal tubes, is
completely effected.
3. The steeping, in perfectly clean pure water, is evenly effected, and it can be
aerated during steeping.
4. The germination is more uniform than by ordinary methods; and, owing to
the fact that the grain is thoroughly cleansed, and that all air and water admitted is
first thoroughly purified, and the temperature of the air and water controlled,-the
danger of mould or other damage is reduced to a minimum, and the malting can be
carried on regardless of the outside temperature.
5. The kilning is more perfect, since the heated air being continuously and
uniformly dispersed by the tubes, which turn the grain over in the revolving case,
every grain receives practically the same treatment, and the same amount of heat;
and the whole mass is gradually dried and cooked, the reek being carried away by
the fan immediately it is given off by the malt.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:.
The improvements in the method of malting and drying grain, and in machinery
or apparatus therefor, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the drawings.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
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