Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Malt.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1888
Specification Accepted, 31st Dec., 1888
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN WASHINGTON TREE, of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Malt.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 a malt growing and drying apparatus having a series of
stirring buckets or rotary lifting devices arranged upon a horizontal shaft carried
parallel to the floor upon which the grain or malt rests, and which stirring buckets or
rotary lifting devices may be varied as to the degree or extent of their lifting capacity,
as will hereinafter be indicated.
For some purposes it is desirable that the grain or malt floor be circular in shape,
although for some reasons an oblong floor is desirable, I have therefore described the
invention as applied to both forms of floor.
When a circular floor is used it is desirable that the bucket shaft be set tangential
to the vertical centre upon which it is caused to rotate and it is also desirable when
this form of floor is employed, that the buckets vary as to the extent or the degree of
their lifting capacity, as will hereinafter be described.
The invention further relates to the employment of a scraper for removing the malt
from the malting floor through a hole in said floor.
It further relates to various details of organization and construction, all of which
will hereinafter be specified.
In the accompanying drawings
Figures 1 to 5 inclusive relate to the apparatus when used with a circular floor.
Figures 6 to 10 inclusive relate to the apparatus when used with an oblong
floor, and
Figures 11 to 13 inclusive illustrate the apparatus as provided with the scraping

page_text: Figure 7 is a section upon the line
Figure 8 is a section on the line
Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the
y
of Figure 6:
of Figure 6.
carriage and hook shown in Figure 8 the said
view being a section taken on the line of Figure 6, and
Figure 10 is a section on the line wow of Figure 6 drawn to an enlarged scale
showing the carriage and chain upon the exterior of the wall of the machine when
used with an oblong floor.
Figure 11 is a vertical section having the stirring drum arranged longitudinally of.
the section.
Figure 12 is a plan of the apparatus and
Figure 13 is a transverse section illustrating the apparatus as provided with a
scraping device.
I will first describe the apparatus as applied to the circular floor Figures 1 to 5
inclusive.
In the drawings, A represents a section of the wall of a malting chamber, which is
cylindrical in shape; a represents the floor, which is perforated throughout as
represented by the section a¹ one perforated section only of the floor being shown in
Figure 1. B is a vertical shaft, preferably located centrally in relation to the malting
chamber A¹ to it is secured a bracket or frame C, which supports the shaft c upon
which the buckets D are mounted, and also the devices for rotating it. The shaft c is
supported at its inner end by a box c¹, carried by an arm of the frame C, and upon
which the box preferably is adjustable or movable in order to vary the tangential
angle of the shaft. The outer end c² of the shaft has a bearing in the hanger c³,
extending downward from the horizontal bar c', forming a part of the frame C, and
extending from the inner part of the frame substantially parallel with the shaft c.
This arm has secured to its under surface at or near its outer end, an antifriction
roll which bears upon the rail or support c which extends about the malting
chamber A, close to or in contact with the wall thereof.
The frame also has the arm c and the stay rod e running from the end of the arm
to the end of the bar (see Figures 1 and 2). The frame C is turned to cause the
buckets D to be moved horizontally over the floor of the malting room upon a circular
path. The shaft c is rotated to turn the buckets while they are being moved over the
floor. The shaft c is set, and the buckets shaped, so as to bring the edge of the lifting
blades upon the same line, and so as to just clear the floor a and the buckets are
represented as varying in the extent of their lifting capacity, the inner bucket
having the least, and the outer bucket the greatest. This is produced by providing
the inner bucket with a less number of lifting blades d than the outer buckets.
And I prefer that the intermediate buckets also be graded in the same way, so that
the outermost buckets shall have the greatest lifting capacity, the next in number
will have less, the third still less, and the fourth or inner one the least.
for varying the capacity of the buckets is because the malt or grain is, by the
advancing movement of the buckets, as a whole, caused to be thrown or moved to
some extent from the centre outwardly making the malt or grain gradually increase
in depth from the centre to the wall of the chamber.
The reason
The shaft B is rotated slowly by means of a worm wheel b and the worm b' upon the
shaft 62. The bucket shaft. c is rotated by means of a sprocket wheel b³ upon the inner
end of the shaft, the sprocket wheel 64 upon a short shaft mounted upon the frame C
and secured to the bevel gear 6, and the sprocket chain 66. The sprocket wheel 64
and its bevel gear 6 are driven by the bevel gear 67 upon a short tubular shaft
having a bearing upon the shaft B a second bevel gear 68 upon said tubular shaft,
and a bevel gear 6 upon the horizontal shaft 610 (see Figures 1 and 3).

page_text: There may be used for moving the grain or malt from the ends of the end buckets
into the path of the same, the guiding plates E E', the first of which is attached
to the hanger and is shaped and bent so that its front edge is in front of the
front edge of the buckets and also bears against the inner edge of the wall or of
the rail and serves to move the grain from the wall inwardly sufficiently to bring
it in front of the outer. bucket, and the plate E¹ is attached to the frame between
the inner bucket and the. sprocket wheel and acts in a similar way in relation to
the inner bucket.
By hanging or supporting the buckets tangentially as distinguished from a radial
line from the centre of the shaft B, I have ascertained that the grain or malt is
more uniformly lifted by the buckets and distributed or dumped, than if they were
arranged radially in relation to the shaft B. The blades of the bucket may have any
suitable shape, and I prefer the curved shape illustrated in Figure 3.
The operation of the machine is as follows: The grain or malt is fed to the
chamber A covering the floor thereof to the depth of a number of inches, and when
desired for the purpose of assisting in the malting process, the mass of grain or
malt is stirred, broken up, and separated by the movement of the buckets through
the mass; the buckets advancing in a line and rotating lift the grain or malt from
the floor of the chamber in comparatively small quantities, and by lifting blades
which deposit in a broken, separated condition, and in a new relation to the rest of
the malt and to the floor of the machine. This changing of the mass continues as
long as it may be desired. It may be used in connection with all the various stages
of the treatment of the grain. By varying the location and capacity of the buckets
and the number of their blades, it enables each lifting blade to do the same amount of
work.. I have ascertained also, that the grain or malt is given centrifugal or
centripetal motion on the floor, according as the buckets are arranged upon a radial
line or upon a line tangential to the centre of the shaft B as distinct from a radial
line, and that midway between the extremes, that is, between the radial line and the
extreme tangential line, there is a position of the buckets that is a neutral one, and
which enables them to take the grain or malt without moving it on the floor, so far as
this centrifugal or centripetal motion of the malt is concerned. And as a rule
I desire that the buckets and shaft should be hung or supported in the neutral relation
to the shaft B, and when so hung or supported the inalt or grain as the buckets are
moved in their circular bath, can be by their rotation upon their supporting shaft,
taken up and dumped on the same path finding and leaving it level and evenly
distributed and not crowding the grain or malt away from or towards the centre of
the machine.
The construction of the apparatus when applied to an oblong floor (Figures 6 to 10
inclusive) is as follows, A is the malting floor. It is shaped like an ampitheatre.
B is the stirring wheel. C is the inner wall of the malting floor, and D is the outer
wall of the malting floor. E shown in dotted lines on Figure 6 is the main driving
shaft. This shaft transmits its power by a bevel wheel E2 and a corresponding bevel
wheel upon the opposite side of the axis of the machine to bevel gears mounted upon
short shafts which are shown in the drawing Figure 8 and lettered E*. These short
shafts E armed with bevel gears at top and bottom engage the bevel gears E³ shown
in Figure 6, running one of them in one direction and the other in the other.
These bevel gears E³ as shown in Figure 8 are provided with sprocket arms e which
sprocket arms e serve to engage a chain F. This chain F as shown in Figure 7 has
flanges which serve to guide it over the guide pulleys f of Figure 8, which guide
pulleys are double flanged pulleys in order to allow of the engagement of the
hooky shown in Figure 6, with the chain. This hook is attached to the inner
carriage G in which rotates the stirrer shaft b, the outer end of the stirrer shaft is
carried by another carriage b₁, the details of which are shown in Figure 10. The
inner end of the stirrer shaft is mounted in a yoke H which yoke is pivoted in
a sliding block H' and the shaft 6 carries a bevel gear h which meshes into another
bevel gear which passes through the axis of the block H' and is provided on its
lower end with a sprocket wheel h³. The block H' slides to and fro lengthwise of

page_text: the machine in ways I. A sprocket chain K shaped in cross section like the double
obelisk of the printer as shown in Figure 7 is run from the main shaft E and
actuates the sprocket wheel 2 and drives the bevel gearing ' causing the shaft b
to revolve. Another chain L upon the exterior of the machine engages with the
carriage b¹ and moves it along being geared in connection with the main shaft to
run at the same rate as the chain F. Stops i are arranged at the ends of the
ways I.
It will be seen by this arrangement that as the chains F and L move at the same
rate the traverse of the stirring wheel B along the sides of the apparatus will so long
as the sides are straight be continuous and in a straight line, but when the sliding
block H¹ reaches the ends of the ways the carriage G will become disconnected from
the chain F because the chain will drop away from the hook g and as the chain L will
continue to move it will turn the shaft b around the geometrical centre of the curved
end of the floor A until the carriage G has been put into a position to engage with the
chain F upon the opposite side of the machine from its first position, when the stirring
wheel will travel down the second straight side of the floor in the reverse direction
from that in which it travelled up the straight side on which it was first engaged.
The ways I, carry guides for presenting the chain K to the sprocket wheel in
a proper position.
The stirring wheel, may be of one size throughout its length or it may be made of a
number of independent or separate buckets like those above described in connection
with the circular form of construction.
The scraping attachment is represented in Figures 11 to 13 inclusive as secured
to the apparatus of one form of circular machine. The construction of the
mechanism for operating the buckets or rotary lifting devices being slightly different
from that described in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, will be briefly described here in
connection with the stirring mechanism.
gear
A is a vertical centre post at the top of which is placed the bevelled gear wheel B
which bevelled gear wheel is run by a bevelled gear upon the main horizontal driving
shaft of the machine. Another bevelled gear D is placed below the bevelled
and revolves with it. These gears may, if desired, be loose upon the shaft A and
supported by collars, or they may be tight on this shaft A and revolve with it, the
shaft being set at its lower end in a step a. The latter is probably the best mechanical
construction. The aerating wheel is shown in Figure 11 at E in longitudinal section,
and at the same letter in Figure 13 in transverse section. The traverse of this wheel
is to the right of Figure 13 and its rotation is from right to left. In order to
support this wheel a frame F is made which frame is provided with collars ff' which
surround the main shaft, and with a horizontal arm f which projects forward from
these collars and with a pendent f³ at its outer end to support the shaft of the stirring
wheel E. To this frame are attached at each end bearings in which the shaft E' is
supported. This shaft E' is driven by. the gear E³, which is itself driven by the
gear D. At the outer end of this shaft E is a pinion E which meshes into a fixed
circular rack Es around the periphery of the machine. The outer end of the frame F
rests upon the carriage F1 and the whole frame is steadied by a diagonal rod or brace
which extends from the horizontal arm f' to the outer end of the frame F, which
brace is lettered f. The shaft of the stirring wheel E is lettered E4, and both of the
shafts EE carry upon their inner ends sprocket wheels connected together with a
drive chain which drive chain is lettered E. Upon the shaft E' of the stirring wheel
at each end are pivotted arms G, which arms are connected with an inclined
scraper G. From about the centre of the frame F which carries the stirring wheel is
mounted an arm g which has upon its end a hook gl and at about the centre of the
scraper is mounted a handle 9*. At the same radial distance from the shaft E as the
hook gl there is placed upon this landlega loop g³ which of course when the scraper
is lifted up can readily be engaged with the hook gl and suspend the scraper above
the floor of the machine and above the malt that is lying upon the floor. Upon the
two ends of the scraper G¹ are shoes G³ which serve to support the scraper above the
discharging hole in the floor when that is opened. In the floor of the chamber in

page_text: which this stirring wheel traverses and rotates there is, at one or more places as may
be desired, a hole H for the closure of which a trap door H is arranged, which trap
door is hinged at one edge and has provided to throw it back and forth a rock shaft H³
to the oscillating arm of which rock shaft is affixed a link which takes hold of the trap
door H2 and by the oscillation of the rock shaft may throw it back and forth. This
trap door is arranged in connection with a primary hopper H and with a chute H'.
The floor of this apparatus may, if desired, be made of cement. If it is to be used
for the sprouting of the malt, the malt will need only to be occasionally stirred, and it
is better to have the floor of cement than to have it perforated. By this arrangement
in which the frame for the stirring wheel is arranged with two main bearings upon
the shaft A with a long horizontal arm f³ near the top, and with the brace f³ from
that to the outer end of the frame and with the shaft which receives and transmits the
power at the top of the frame and above the shaft of the stirring wheel and in which
the said shaft E is run by sprocket wheels and chains, there is great steadiness and
certainty, with little liability of twisting, warping or breaking.
The method of working the rock shaft H is shown in Figure 11. It is by means
of a worm wheel H° and a worm H. Any other suitable actuating device may
however be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a malting apparatus, as a means for stirring, agitating, breaking up, and
separating the malt in the process of manufacture, a series of elevating buckets of
varying lifting capacity mounted upon a progressive rotary shaft, as and for the
purposes described.
Second. In a malting machine, as a means for stirring, agitating, breaking up, and
separating the malt in the process of manufacture, a series of buckets mounted upon a
horizontal shaft having a progressive movement in a circular path, in a cylindrical
chamber, and set tangential to the circular path of movement of the buckets,
substantially as described.
Third. The combination in a malting machine, of the circular chamber A¹ having
the floor a and the wall A, of the central shaft B, a frame C carried thereby, and a
shaft c mounted tangentially in said frame, and carrying or supporting one or more
buckets provided with lifting blades, and the said buckets, as and for the purposes
described.
Fourth. The combination in a malting machine of a chamber A¹, having a floor a,
a circular wall A, the shaft B, the frame C, the tangential shaft c, buckets D, the
rail c, and antifriction roll e, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination in a malting machine, of the circular chamber A¹, having
the floor a and wall A, the shaft B, the frame C, the shaft c, mounted thereon, and the
series of buckets D, mounted upon the shaft and graded as to their lifting capacity,
as and for the purposes described.
floor
α,
Sixth. The combination in a malting machine, of the chamber A¹, having the
and the wall A, the shaft B, the frame C, the tangential shaft c, the buckets D,
carried thereby, the shaft rotating devices carried by the frame C, the bevel gears 6º 67
68, 6, and the shaft 610, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination in a malting machine, of the chamber A³, having the
floor a, and wall A, the rotary frame C, elevating buckets D carried thereby and
the guide or turning plates E E', substantially as described.
Eighth. In a malt growing and drying apparatus, the combination of a malting
floor either circular or oblong in shape, and one or more rotary lifting devices or
buckets carried by a rotary shaft, and means for moving said shaft continuously about
the said chamber in one direction, substantially as described.
Ninth. In a malting machine, a malting floor oblong in shape, having parallel sides
and semicircular ends, the walls C, D of the said malting floor being parallel to each
other, and the straight sides of the said walls equal in length to each other, and the curved

page_text: sides of the inner and outer walls being concentric with each other in combination
with the stirring drum B, adapted to be carried continuously around the malting floor
by chains, F, L, which chains engage with the carriages 61 G and which stirring
drum B is adapted to be revolved upon its own axis by means of gearing applied to
the inner end of its shaft b, and in further combination with the reciprocating
carriage H and its ways I, substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination of the carriage G, its hook g, and chain F arranged and
operated substantially as described.
Eleventh. The combination of the yoke H, shaft b, carriage H¹, chain K and
sprocket and bevel gear h h¹ h', substantially as described.
Twelfth. The combination of the malting floor having semi-circular ends, with the
stirring drum B, the pivotted yoke H, and the exterior driving chain L, substantially
as described.
Thirteenth. In combination with the carriage provided with the malt stirring
apparatus, the scraper G₁ adapted to be raised or lowered at the will of the operator,
and the hopper H, and trapped discharging hole H, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Fourteenth. In combination with an imperforate malting floor, of a substance which
will absorb and retain moisture, an intermittently revolved stirring and aerating.
apparatus, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of November 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.