Improved Means or Method of Treating Barley and other Grain for its Conversion to Malt for Brewing, Distilling, or other Purpose, and in the Construction of Apparatus connected therewith.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Method of Treating Barley and other Grain for
its Conversion to Malt for Brewing, Distilling, or other Purpose,
and in the Construction of Apparatus connected therewith.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM MAX KARSTEN, of Derwent Villa, Mayes Road,
Wood Green, in the County of Middlesex, Composer of Music, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, which has been communicated to me from abroad
by Erich Kasten of Mannheim M 5, 5, Germany, Civil Engineer, to be as
follows:-
According to the well known practice of treating barley and other suitable grain
for conversion into malt, the grain is first steeped to thoroughly soak it and when
soaked sufficiently it is transferred to the malting floors and spread thereon, and in
order to keep it moist and assist the germination of the grain it is sprinkled with
water and turned from time to time to remove the carbonic acid and other gases
and admit fresh air.
This turning over is an important work in connection with malting grain, and
can only be done by skilled workmen, the results depending on their care and
attention. Even under the best conditions, the results are only moderately
satisfactory as great damage is done to a quantity of the grain by treading even if
the men wear rubber or felt soled shoes.
The grain after germinating to the condition required is carefully subjected to
hot air until sufficiently dried to be transferred to the kilns for burning (roasting).
Now the object of this invention is to overcome all the objections that now
prevail in the process of converting grain into malt, and to treat the grain in a
more economical and less costly manner with better results, and by the aid of the
machinery hereinafter described, thus doing away with a great proportion of han 1
labour.
To enable the method of germinating and withering the grain to be effected, so
that all operations can be carried on continuously, the grain is first steeped or
soaked in the manner now set forth.
There are, say, six vats for steeping or soaking the grain, and for the purpose
of illustrating this method to enable the process of germinating and withering to
be carried into effect continuously day and night I will number the rats, say,
from 1 to 6.
No. 1 vat is filled with grain and water, and after the grain has soaked for,
say, 12 hours No. 2 vat is filled with grain and water, and the water from No. 1 is
drawn off and fresh water supplied. After the grain in No. 2 vat has been soaking
for, say, 12 hours, the water from Nos. 1 and 2 vats is drawn off and fresh supplied,
and No. 3 vat is filled with grain and water. When the grain in No. 3 vat has
been soaking, say, 12 hours, the water is drawn off, and fresh supplied, as also is
the case with Nos. 1 and 2 vats No. 4 vat is at this time, filled with grain and
water, and after the grain has been soaking for, say, 12 hours, the water is drawn
off together with the water from Nos. 1, 2, and 3 vats, and fresh water supplied to
all of them. No. 5 vat is now supplied with grain and water, and after the grain
has been steeped or soaked for 12 hours, the water is drawn off, as also is the
water from Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 vats, fresh water being supplied to all of them.
No. 6 vat is now filled with grain and water, and after the grain has been soaking,
say, 12 hours, the water is drawn off, as also is the case for Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4,

page_text: and 5 vats, fresh water being supplied to all of them. The grain in No. 1 vat has
now been soaking for say, 72 hours, which is considered sufficient to render it in
condition to be transferred to the germinating or growing chamber, and to enable
the vet to be refilled with grain and water, and the other vats to be treated in the
manner hereinbefore set forth, so that the grain is in soak, or steeped for 72 hours
in each vat, this enables me to continuously carry out my process of germinating
and withering. The water from the vat (in this case No. 1) is first drawn off, and
the grain transferred to the chamber or apartment where it is caused, by the
treatinent hereinafter set forth, to germinate, such chamber being hereinafter
referred to as the germinating chamber.
I will now describe my method of treating the grain for germination purposes
together with the apparatus by which this method is carried into effect.
The air to be moistened for treating the grain is first passed into a kind of tower,
or long chamber where it is met by a shower of water which falls from the top
through sprayers, roses, or other suitable device to thoroughly moisten, or
impregnate the air which in a moist condition (like mist) is carried through suitable
channels (or direct) into the germinating chamber, which preferably has two beds
for containing the grain, each bed having an openworked or perforated bottom, and
underneath a series of passages (say 18), so that the moistened or wet air shall pass
direct through the grain into the passages to a general outlet to keep the grain
sufficiently moistened to effect the germination, and to get rid of any impurities,
such as carbonic acid, I shift and turn the grain by mechanical means as hereinafter
more fully described."
When the grain has sufficiently germinated, it is removed to another apartment
or chamber called the withering room to be carefully dried ready for the kiln.
This process is also of great importance for unless the germinating process is
promptly and energetically interrupted, the malt (for such the grain now becomes)
loses substance.
The withering chamber is constructed much after the same style as the
germinating chamber, and the malt which is taken from the germinating chamber
in quantities equal to about that contained in one vat is spread upon the floor in
layers of much less depth than that in the germinating chamber, so that the dry air
can pass through said malt more readily and with great effect.
The warm air for drying the malt is taken from the kilns, or from an apparatus,
or chamber heated by fuel or steam, or hot water pipes. Both in the germinating
and withering chambers, the air is drawn through one main passage by au
exhauster. The malt thus treated is ready for the kiln to be treated in the
usual way.
The germinating chamber is so constructed that when the operation of germination
is being carried on, it is perfectly airtight, except to the inlets of moistened air and
the passages underneath the beds.
The beds (preferably two in each chamber) are made with perforated or open-
worked bottoms resting upon and over partitions to form passages (preferably 18 under
each bed) all leading into one common or main passage at the centre.
The ceiling or wall is made with an opening, or openings as an inlet for the
moistened air, or the ceiling may be formed with channels or passages having
openings leading into the chamber and corresponding or not in position to the
passages below the beds, and such passages on the ceiling may be provided with
mistifiers, or spray producers to be used should the grain, or any portion of it,
require to be wetted to a greater degree than can be effected by the air-which has
been moistened in the tower only. The object of the channels in the ceiling is that
the moistened air in being sucked through the chamber shall pass through and act
upon all the grain in the bed, and not at one part only as would be the case if the
inlet was placed near the outlet.
At the sides of each bed, I provide a track or rails for carrying a framework on
wheels, which framework carries an elevator or appliance comprised of long
buckets arranged around an endless band carried by pinions affixed to the framework,

page_text: said pinions being in gear with a pulley, to which is connected an endless cord or
rope (driven by power), which cord or rope through the pulley drives the pinion,
and consequently the endless chain of buckets for lifting the growing grain, and
shifting it in layers to another part of the bed, thus opening out the grain to
release it of its impurities, such as carbonic acid, which are carried away by the
moistened air through the passages underneath the bed. The endless rope as well
as driving the buckets also moves the framework along, so that all the grain in the
bed is acted upon. By this elevator, the germs are not interfered with.
Suitable valves are provided in the inlet and exit passages of the germinating
chamber, so that should one portion of the grain require moistening more than
another, same can readily be done by opening the valves over and under that
particular spot, and if desired employ the mistifiers or sprayers, which are also
regulatable as to quantity or heaviness of spray produced.
It will be understood that the water used for moistening the air is of a suitable
temperature to properly effect the germination of the grain.
The exit, or main passage from the germinating and withering chamber lends
into a high shaft which carries the used air and the impurities such as carbonic
arid from the grain and malt above the building, thus obviating any chance of
the fresh air entering the moistening tower becoming impregnated, or vitiated
by same.
Dandhi onl
*1 100.4
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said F. W. M. Karsten.
Improved Means or Method of Treating Barley and other Grain for
its Conversion to Malt for Brewing, Distilling, or other Purpose,
and in the Construction of Apparatus connected therewith.
1, FREDERICK WILLIAM MAX KARSTEN, of Derwent Villa, Mayes Road,
Wood Green, in the County of Middlesex, Composer of Music, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, which has been communicated to me from abroad by
Erich Kasten, of Mannheim M 5 5, Germany, Civil Engineer, and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in aud
by the following statement:-
According to the well known practice of treating barley and other suitable grain
for conversion into malt, the grain is first steeped to thoroughly soak it and when
soaked sufficiently, it is transferred to the malting floors and spread thereon, and in
rder to keep it moist and assist the germination of the grain it is sprinkled with
water and turned from time to time to remove the carbonic acid and other gases
and admit fresh air. This turning over is an important work in connection with
malting grain and can only be done by skilled workmen, the results depending on
their care and attention. Even under the best conditions, the results are only
moderately satisfactory as great damage is done to a quantity of the grain by
treading, even if the men wear rubber or felt shoes. The grain after germination
to the condition required is carefully subjected to hot air until sufficiently dried to
be transferred to the kilns for burning (roasting).
My invention will be clearly understood by the following description with
reference to the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a building with the germinating chamber broken
from the moistening tower and withering rooms.

page_text: :
Figure 2 is a cross section of the germinating chamber showing the moist air
channel, the sprayers, the germinating beds, the elevator, and the exhaust
channel.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the moist air channel and a portion of the germinating
beds.
Now the object of this invention is to overcome all the objections that now prevail
in the process of converting grain into malt and to treat the grain in a more
economical and less costly manner with better results and by the aid of the
machinery hereinafter described thus doing away with a great proportion of hand
labour.
To enable the method of germinating and withering the grain to be effected so
that all operations can be carried on continuously, the grain is first steeped or
soaked in the manner now set forth.
There are, say, six vats for steeping or soaking the grain, and for the purpose of
illustrating this method to enable the process of germinating and withering to be
carried into effect continuously day and night. I will number the vats, say,
from 1 to 6.
No. 1 vat is filled with grain and water, and after the grain has soaked for say
12 hours No. 2 vat is filled with grain and water, and the water from No. 1 is
drawn off and fresh water supplied. After the grain in No. 2 vat has been soaking
for say 12 hours, the water from Nos. 1 and 2 vats is drawn off and fresh supplied
and No. vat is filled with grain and water. When the grain in No. 3 vat has been
soaking say 12 hours, the water is drawn off and fresh supplied, as also is the case
with Nos. 1 and 2 vats. No. 4 vat is at this time filled with grain and water, and after
the grain has been soaking for say 12 hours the water is drawn off together with the
water from No. 1, 2, and 3 vats and fresh water supplied to all of them, No. 5 vat
is now supplied with grain and water, and after the grain has been steeped or.
soaked for 12 hours the water is drawn off as also is the water from Nos. 1, 2, 3,
and 4 vats, fresh water being supplied to all of them.
No. 6 vat is now filled with grain and water and after the grain has been soaking
say twelve hours, the water is drawn off, as also is the case for Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
vats, fresh water being supplied to all of them.
The grain in No. 1 vat has now been soaking for say 72 hours which is considered
sufficient to render it in condition to be transferred to the germinating or growing
chamber, and to enable the vat to be refilled with grain and water, and the other
vats to be treated in the manner hereinbefore set forth, so that the grain is in soak
or steeped for 72 hours in each vat, this enables me to continuously carry out my
process of germinating and withering.
The water from the vat (in this case No. 1) is first drawn off and the grain
transferred to the chamber or apartment where it is caused by the treatment herein-
after set forth to germinate, such chamber being hereinafter referred to as the
germinating chamber.
The grain in each vat is successively transferred to the germinating chamber
and as the vats are emptied they are again filled with grain and water to be operated
on in the manner before set forth and so keep up a successive operation until all
the grain is operated upon.
The vats may be employed at any part of the premises, or they may be arranged
on a floor above the germinating, beds hereafter referred to so as to be emptied
direct on to the beds when required.
I will now describe my method of treating the grain for germination purposes
together with the apparatus by which this method is carried into effect.
The air to be moistened for treating the grain is first passed into a kind of
tower A or long chamber where it is met by a shower of water which falls from
the top through sprayers, roses, or other suitable device Band on to angled plates C,
or other devices to break it up into mist like form to thoroughly moisten or
impregnate the air ascending the tower A from the opening D which air in a moist
condition (like mist) is carried through suitable channels E (or direct) into the

page_text: germinating chamber which has (preferably) two beds F for containing the grain
each bed having an openworked or perforated bottom G and underneath a series of
passages H (say 18), so that the moistened or wet air shall pass direct through the
grain into the passages H to a general outlet to keep the grain sufficiently
moistened to effect the germination, and to get rid of any impurities such as.
carbonic acid 1 shift and turn the grain preferably every twelve hours by
mechanical means as hereinafter more fully described.
When the grain has sufficiently germinated it is removed through the doorway f
to another apartment or chamber K called the withering room to be carefully dried
ready for the kiln. This process is also of great importance for unless the
germinating process is promptly and energetically interrupted, the malt (for such.
the grain now becomes) loses substance.
The withering chamber K is constructed much after the same style as the
germinating chamber but of much greater superficial area and the malt which is
taken from the germinating chamber in quantities equal to about that contained in
ope vat is spread upon the floor to a much less depth than that in the germinating
chamber, so that the dry air can pass through said malt more readily and with
greater effect to speedily extract the moisture and thus interrupt the growth of the
malt.
The warm air for drying the malt is taken from the kilns arranged alongside as.
at L, or from an apparatus or chamber heated by fuel, steam, or hot water pipes.
(not shown on the drawings).
Both in the germinating and withering chambers, the air is drawn through one-
passage M by an exhauster. The malt thus acted upon is ready to be passed into.
the kiln by the doorway g to be treated in the usual way.
The germinating chamber is so constructed that when the operation of germina-.
tion is being carried on it is perfectly air tight except to the inlets of moistened air
and the passages H underneath the beds F.
The beds F (preferably two in each chamber) are made with perforated or open
worked bottoms G resting upon and over partitions N to form passages H
(preferably 18 under each bed) all leading into one common or main passage Jut
the centre. The ceiling or wall is made with an opening or openings as an inlet for
the moistened air, or the ceiling may be formed with channels or passages having
openings on each or either side leading into the chamber and corresponding or not
in position to the passages below the beds, and such passages on the ceiling may be
provided with mistifiers or spray producers to be used should the grain or any
portion of it require to be moistened to a greater degree than can be effected by
the air which has been moistened on the tower only; or as shown in the drawings
the channel P may be formed as depending from the ceiling Q and supported by
posts R and situated directly over the main channel J, said channel P having
openings with valves or shutters S on each side and for each bed, adjacent to which
openings are nozzles T taking a supply of water from troughs U along the bottom
of the channel P for spraying purposes over the grain in the beds as required.
The nozzles T receive their supply of air by the pipe V, and each one has a tap
for opening or closing purposes, said tap being actuated by a handle W situated
above the path X between the beds F, F.
The object of the channels in the ceiling is that the moistened air in being
sucked through the chamber shall pass through and act upon all the grain in the
bed and not at one part only as would be the case if the inlet was placed near the
outlet.
At the sides of each bed, I provide a track or rails for carrying a framework on
wheels, which framework carries an elevator or appliance comprised of long
buckets Y arranged around an endless band Z carried by pinions a affixed to the
framework, said pinions a being in gear with a pulley 6 to which is connected an
endless cord or rope c (driven by power), which cord or rope c through the pulley b
drives the pinion a and consequently the endless chain of buckets Y for lifting the
growing grain and shifting it in layers to another part of the bed, thus opening out

page_text: the grain to release it of its impurities, such as carbonic acid, which are carried
away by the moistened air through the passages underneath the bed. The endless
rope as well as driving the buckets also moves the framework along by its crossed
wrapping round the pulley wheel b, so that all the grain in the bed is acted upon.
By this elevator the germs are not interfered with.
Suitable valves S and d are provided in the inlet and exit passages of the
germinating chamber so that should one portion of the grain require moistening
more than another, the same can readily be done by opening the valves over and
under that particular spot, and if desired employ the mistifiers or sprayers which are
also regulatable as to quantity or heaviness of spray produced.
It will be understood that the water used for moistening the air is of a suitable
temperature to properly effect the germination of the grain.
The exit or main passage from the germinating and withering chamber leads into
a high shaft e, which carries the used air and the impurities such as carbonic acid
from the grain and malt above the building, thus obviating any chance of the fresh
air entering the moistening tower becoming impregnated or vitiated by same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what mauner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what [
claim is :-
:-
1. The improved means or method of treating barley and other grain for con
version to malt for brewing, distilling, or other purpose, and the construction or
arrangement of apparatus connected therewith, substantially as described and
illustrated by the annexed drawings.
2. Constructing apparatus (for conversion of grain into malt) with a tower for
moistening the entering air and connected with a passage or passages at or near the
roof of the germinating chamber, said passage or passages having valved openings
and mistifiers or sprayers on each or either side for saturation of the grain
contained in the beds arranged underneath, as described and substantially as shown
on the annexed drawings.
3. In apparatus for conversion of grain into malt, constructing a passage or
passages at or near the ceiling or roof and between, over, or around the beds of a
germinating chamber, said passage or passages having mistifiers or sprayers for
moistening the air passing from said passage through valved openings arranged on
each or either side of the passage or passages, the whole being in combination as
and for the purposes set forth.
The 24th day of January 1895.
R. CORE GARDNER,
Fellow Society of Patent Agents,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said F. W. M. Karsten.