Improvements in Malting Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
the City of Cincinnati, County of Hamilton, State of Ohio, United States of
America, Accountant.]
Improvements in Malting Apparatus.
I, WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, C.E., of 62, Saint Vincent Street, in the City of
Glasgow, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 object of this invention is to provide an efficient device whereby the
process of malting barley or other cereals may be automatically effected with
certainty and absolute uniformity.
I have illustrated my device in the accompanying drawings in which;
Fig. I represents a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved malting
apparatus,
Fig. II an end view of the same partly in section, and
Figs. III and IV detail views.
The peculiar features and exceptional advantages of the device will be apparent
by reference to the accompanying drawings in which A and B respectively
represent two concentric cylinders attached to the same heads, the inner one
being open at one end. The structure is revolubly supported on roller bearings 2
and encircled, near one end, by a cogged ring 3 adapted to engage a worm
wheel 4. Stationary circular air chambers 5, diametrically larger than the
inner cylinder, are joined to the ends of the same by gasket rings or other suit-
able means adapted to maintain contact therewith without interfering with the
rotary movement.
The inner ends of these chambers are encircled by cogged rings 6, which
engage pinions 7 and impart motion to a series of shafts S, extending through
the grain chamber, which are journaled in the cylinder heads, and provided at
intervals with screw shaped disks or scrapers 9. The inner cylinder is perfor-
ated throughout its length and circumference to admit air which passes through
the entire contents of the grain chamber and is drawn thence by an exhaust
fan into the perforated tubes 10 and discharged as shown by darts in the
drawing. In order to provide against a too free discharge of the air and insure
a thorough distribution thereof through the contents of the grain chamber, the
perforations in the tubes 10 are gradually reduced in size or number as they
approximate the point of final discharge, as shown in Fig. IV.
The operation of the device will be readily understood. The charge of grain
being introduced through suitable gates 11, into the space between the outer
and inner cylinders, the apparatus is set in motion. It is evident that the mass
will be overturned from the circumference toward the center and being more or

page_text: less moist during the sprouting process, the grains will tend to accumulate and
.adhere to the surface of the inner cylinder, thereby preventing a free com-
mixture, and at the same time obstructing the perforations by particles of chaff,
fragments of sprouts and the like. The current of air being thus practically
excluded, a thorough and uniform mixture of the mass is rendered impossible.
This serious defect is entirely obviated by the arrangement of the shafts 8,
which necessarily revolve at a rate of speed differing from the cylinders, making
several revolutions to one of the latter, and causing the scraping disks to pass
and repass over the entire surface of the inner cylinder thereby keeping it free
from accumulation of adhering matter and preventing any obstruction of the
air holes. Every portion of the matter is thus subjected to uniform agitation as
well as the free action of the air. A further important advantage is secured by
the gradual reduction of the size or number of the perforations in the outlet
tubes 10. It is easily demonstrated that the discharge of air through a tube
or openings of uniform size is accelerated as it approaches an exhaust fan. By
reducing the outlet as described, the current is rendered more equable and the
effect more uniform and effective.
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:-
1. In an apparatus for malting corn, barley or other grain, the combination
of the concentric cylinders A and B, forming an annular grain chamber, and
means for forcing a current of air through the same, of a series of shafts extend-
ing longitudinally through the grain chamber and provided with mixing disks
or scrapers, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes
herein specified.
2. In an apparatus for malting grain, the combination with the concentric
cylinders and the herein described series of shafts extending longitudinally
through the grain chamber, and the mixing disks attached thereto, of the grad-
uated perforations in the air outlet tubes, adapted to equalize the action of the
air upon the contents of the grain chamber, substantially as herein specified.
Dated this 13th day of February 1899
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER.