Improvements in the Treatment of Cereals for Food and other purposes, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application,- 15th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Cereals for Food and other
purposes, and in Apparatus therefor.
A communication from Joix Josiah Sheppard, Merchant Miller, of Terminus
Hotel, Calais, in the Republic of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the treatment of grain such as maize, rice, wheat and
rye and to the apparatus required for carrying out such treatment.
The process
consists substantially in cleaning the grains without bruising or damaging them
and at the same time removing any substance that might deteriorate the value
of the product. This part of the process may be effected in any well known
apparatus.
As above set forth various grains may be treated by this process and they may be
treated and used separately or they may be treated and used in combination.
After the above mentioned cleaning process the grain is steeped or damped with
water preferably hot and agitated if necessary so as to further cleanse and prepare
it for the next step in the process which is the steaming or germ destroying stage,
in which the grain is subjected to the action of steam.
For this steaming process
the grain is placed in its moistened condition in a metal kettle preferably horizontal
and containing a wire reel which is filled with the grain and the steam admitted
into the space between the walls of the kettle and the reel the steam of course
vibrating the reel and so coming in contact with the grain. The reel is kept in
motion so as to keep the grain separate and distinct and prevent amalgamation and
by this arrangement also each grain is equally subjected to the action of the steam.
This part of the process will occupy a longer or shorter time according to circum-
stances but usually about twenty minutes is found to be a suitable length of time
the pressure of the steam being varied to accomplish this. The kettle is preferably
made of iron or brass and has a central shaft which carries the revolving reel the
shaft being carried at one end in a stuffing box mounted in a cup and ball or
equivalent joint so as to allow of the shaft being moved out of its usual plane and
the other end being carried in a bearing suitably provided in the kettle and adapted
to be moved up or down as may be required. This end of the kettle may be hinged
or made entirely removable and the operation is that after the steaming process is
finished the end of the kettle may be removed and that end of the reel shaft dropped
so that the reel instead of lying horizontal lies at a right angle and still continuing
to revolve delivers the grain at its lower end. Suitable means are provided for
admitting the steam to the kettle for drawing off condensed water and for admitting
the grain to the reel.
After the steaming process the grain should be conveyed promptly to a stone disc
mill which completes the treatment. This mill is preferably constructed with
circular stones lying in a vertical plane one of the stones being secured upon a
horizontal shaft which passes through a central opening in the other stone the
second stone being secured in the casing of the mill. Upon the shaft is provided
a worm which acts as a conveyor and which towards the interior of the stones is
spread so as to act as a distributor and throw the grain between the stones the
central portions of which are recessed so as to provide space for the grain and to
leave only a small portion of the stones say about 1 to 2 inches to act upon the
grain. The revolving stone runs at a high speed and as the grain passes between
the stones it is sufficiently heated to dry off the moisture which it has taken up in
the previous parts of the complete process. The revolving stone may with

page_text: advantage be provided with openings so that it may act as a fan to suck air
between the stones and thus prevent excessive heat and keep the product clean
and free from dust and prevent clogging. A separate fan or blower may be used
instead of the openings in the stone or in addition thereto if desired.
The hull of the corn and the complete bran of the other cereals can now be
separated by subjecting the product to one of the well known means for accom-
plishing this purpose say a gravitation purifier with air blast or the like.
The product thus obtained is particularly adaptable for use in the brewing of
ale, stout and beer in conjunction with a limited quantity of barley malt; it may
also be employed for baking and cooking purposes.
Dated this 14th day of April 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Cereals for Food and other
purposes, and in Apparatus therefor.
A communication from JoHN JOSIAH SHEPPARD, Merchant Miller, of Terminus
Hotel, Calais, in the Republic of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., 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:-
This invention relates to the treatment of grain such as maize, rice, wheat and
rye and to the apparatus required for carrying out such treatment.
The process
consists substantially in cleaning the grains without bruising or damaging them
and at the same time removing any substance that might deteriorate the value
of the product. This part of the process may be effected in any well-known
apparatus.
As above set forth various grains may be treated by this process and they may be
treated and used separately or they may be treated and used in combination.
After the above mentioned cleaning process the grain is steeped or damped with
water preferably hot and agitated if necessary so as to further cleanse and prepare
it for the next step in the process which is the steaming or germ destroying stage,
in which the grain is subjected to the action of steam after which the grain should
be promptly conveyed to a stone disc mill to complete the treatment.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a section of the kettle with the reel in its horizontal position.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 with the end of the kettle removed.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the kettle with the reel in its inclined
position.
Figs. and 5 are respectively a longitudinal and a transverse section of the mill.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 A represents the kettle which is preferably constructed of
brass or iron and supported at a suitable height above the floor by frames or
stanchions B. This kettle at the end A may be permanently closed but the end
or cover is made removable and may be fastened to the kettle and the joint
between the two made in any convenient manner. A³ is a combined door and
hopper through which the material to be treated is charged into the reel.
Cis the steam pipe and ("¹ the branches therefrom connecting with the interior
of the kettle and each or any one or more of which may be provided with a valve C³
or the steam pipe C may itself be provided with one or more valves.
D is the condensed water pipe which is also provided with a valve D¹. It is
preferred that the bottom of the kettle A should incline slightly towards the
pipe D.

page_text: E is the wire reel which is mounted on the shaft E by means of the disc E'
which closes-in one end of the reel and by a wheel-like frame E3 which admits of
the discharge of the contents of the reel through its other end. This reel structure
is supported or strengthened by one or more intermediate rings E and suitable
longitudinal rods and if desired by additional frames like E: it is also provided
with a door E' by the removal of which when beneath the hopper A³ the material
to be treated may be charged into the reel E.
The shaft E at one end is supported in a stuffing-box F mounted on the closed
end A of the kettle by means of a cup and ball joint Flor equivalent and at this
end said shaft is also provided with fast and loose pulleys F At its opposite end
the shaft E is supported in a block F3 which is pivotted in a fork F provided with
a nut F so that by means of a screwed shaft Fe said fork and the bearing block
may be raised and lowered, the bracket or sling F7 secured to the wall of the
kettle A serving to guide the block vertically.
After the material has been sufficiently treated in the reel E the cover A may
be removed and by turning the hand wheel F in the proper direction the adjacent
end of the reel will be lowered so that by its further rotation the contents will be
discharged through the then open end of the kettle.
In Figs. 4 and 5 G represents the fixed or stationary stone which is secured
within the case H in any desired manner and G is the rotating stone which is
secured to the shaft 1. G is the screw conveyor also secured to shaft I and
working within a central opening Gin the stone G and which at its inner end
terminates in a distributor G which rotates in a chamber G³ formed by the
juxtaposition of the two inner or recessed faces of the stones G and G'.
The case His formed with a shoot H' for introducing the material to be ground
and above the mouth of this shoot is the mouth J' of a shoe J pivotted at J' to
the case H.
Gis a lateral recess in the stone G for leading the material from the shoot H
to the conveyor G. The shoe on to which the material is fed from a hopper or in
other convenient manner is vibrated by means of the bent lever K pivotted at K
to the shoot H' and the upper end of which is suitably connected with the shoe
while its lower end which may be forked or slotted is operated on by an
eccentric K'
L is a sweeper secured to the shaft I for moving the ground or treated material
towards the outlet 11 Fig. 5. Mare two bearings one on each side of the
case H, N is the driving pulley. P is the base on which the case H is mounted.
The revolving stone G may with advantage be provided with openings so that
it may act as a fan to suck air between the stones and thus prevent excessive heat
and keep the product clean and free from dust and prevent clogging, or a separate
fan or blower may be used instead of the openings in the stone (or if desired in
addition thereto.
The process of treating the grain according to this invention is carried out as
follows:-
The grain is first, in any well-known apparatus, cleaned without bruising or
damaging it and at the same time has removed from it any substance which might
deteriorate the value of the product.
The grain is then steeped in or damped with water preferably hot and agitated
if necessary so as to further cleanse and prepare it for the next or steaming or
germ-destroying stage carried out in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
For this purpose a desired quantity of the grain in its moistened condition is
charged through the doors and hopper AE into the reel B after which the said
doors are closed, the reel B at this stage being in its horizontal position as shown
at Fg. 1. The reel B is then rotated and steam is admitted through the branches C¹
into the space between the walls of the kettle and the reel and so coming in contact
with the grain.
The rotation of the reel keeps the grains separate and prevents amalgamation
and also causes each grain to be equally subjected to the action of the steam.
This

page_text: part of the process will occupy a longer or shorter time according to circumstances
but usually about twenty minutes is found to be a suitable length of time the
pressure of the steam being varied to accomplish this.
After the steaming process is completed and the supply of steam has been cut off
the cover A is removed and the hand wheels and screw F are turned in the
direction necessary to lower the adjacent end of the shaft E' and reel E so that
said parts will assume the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 3 and the
rotation of the reel being continued its contents will gravitate towards and out of
the then-open end of the kettle A.
The grain after leaving the kettle is then promptly taken to the mill shown in
Figs. 4 and 5 and introduced through the shoot I so that it will be conveyed by
the conveyor (to the chamber G wherein the distributor G serves to throw it
between the grinding surfaces of the stones which surfaces by reason of the inner
sides of the stones being recessed to form the chamber Gare preferably only
about 1 to 2 inches wide. The revolving stone G' runs at a high speed and
as the grain passes between the stones it is sufficiently heated to dry off the moisture
which it has taken up in the previous parts of the complete process.
The hull of the corn and the complete bran of the other cereals can now be
separated by subjecting the product to one of the well-known means for accomplishing
this purpose say a gravitation purifier with air-blast or the like.
it may
The product thus obtained is particularly adaptable for use in the brewing of
ale, stout and beer in conjunction with a limited quantity of barley malt;
also be employed for baking and cooking purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The herein described process of treating cereals consisting in first cleaning
the whole or untreated grain then steeping in or moistening with water then
steaming to destroy the germs and then grinding and drying it substantially as
described.
2. In apparatus for treating cereals the combination with a kettle such as A of
a wire or equivalent reel or cage such as E so mounted within the kettle that it
may be rotated either in a horizontal or inclined position substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus for treating cereals a cage or reel such as E carried in bearings
one of which comprises a universal joint and the other a screw or equivalent slide
whereby the said reel or cage while still revolving may be depressed from the
horizontal line substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus for treating cereals the combination with a universal joint such
as F of a stuffing box such as connected with or forming part of and moving
with one member of said universal joint substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a mill for treating cereals the combination with a fixed stone disc such as G
and a rotating stone disc such as G' of a central opening such as G³ in which works
a screw conveyor G and a chamber such as formed by the recesses in the
stones and in which chamber rotates a distributor such as substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a mill for treating cereals the combination with a fixed stone dise such as G
of a screw conveyor (working within a central opening in said dise and a lateral
recess Gleading from the inlet shoot to the central opening substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of September 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.