IMPROVEMENTS IN MALTING GRAIN AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Denton Abel at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1882. Communi²
cated to him from Abroad by Dr Ludwig Mautner, Ritter von Markhof, of
Vienna in the Austrian Empire
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN MALTING GRAIN AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR [Communicated to him from Abroad by Dr Ludwig
Mautner, Ritter von Markhof, of Vienna in the Austrian Empire]
"
In order to obviate the great disadvantages which the ordinary malting in vats
presents, it has often been tried to effect the germinating of the grain in revolving
drums, and in order to prevent too great a rise of temperature and to afford the
grain the necessary moisture, currents of moist air have been forced through the
grain in the drums.
This method, termed "the pneumatic system of malting" which has latterly
been much employed, has however the great disadvantage that the grain receives
too much air, and with it, too much moisture, and that the strong current of air-
disturbs the germinating process when this has arrived at a certain stage.
The present improved process is distinguished from all existing germinating
processes in this, that with an arrangement for ventilating the germinating grain
are combined arrangements having for their object to absorb as completely as
possible the radiated heat produced by the germinating process.
For this purpose the germination of the grain is effected in rotating drums of
thin wire or woven or plaited wire so that the heat generated in the grain can be
radiated through the openings or meshes of the drum, which are made as large as
is admissable without permitting the grain to fall through.
During the very slow rotation of the drum the air is forced or drawn from the
outside through the mass of grain, while at the same time the heat radiated from
the drum is absorbed and conducted away by surfaces formed of a good heat
conducting material arranged in proximity to the drum.
It will be seen therefore that whereas in the pneumatic malting process the heat
developed in germinating is reduced by conduction (for which purpose of course a
very large quantity of air has to be passed through) by the present improved
process, the heat generated is caused to radiate from the ever changing surface of

page_text: the mass of grain, and is absorbed by suitable surfaces, the current of air passing
slowly through the grain being only employed for effecting a change of air or
ventilation in the interior of the mass.
The malting apparatus arranged according to the present invention consists of a
number of wire drums arranged side by side, which are caused to rotate slowly by
any known means, while between each two drums is arranged a partition wall of
good heat conducting material, which may either be flat or corrugated.
The chamber in which the malting operation is carried on receives a supply of
cool and moderately moistened air from a fan or blower, which air is drawn
through the mass of grain in the several drums by means of one or more exhausters
the conduit pipes of which communicate with boxes arranged at one point close
against the drums and which are provided with cloths at their edges fitting closely
against the surface of the drum and held in position by bands cords or chains
passed round the drum so as to oblige the whole of the air to pass. through the
grain before it can enter the box.
In order to prevent a too rapid wearing away of the cloths the drum is by
preference provided externally with stiffening ribs formed of half round iron.
By the rotation of the drums the portions of grain lying on the outside will
continually change and will radiate heat should their temperature exceed that of
the malting room. In order that this radiated heat may be absorbed as rapidly
and completely as possible, the before mentioned partitions are provided and these
as well as the floor, walls and ceiling of the malting chamber are coloured black.
Should it be found requisite the partitions and floor may be made hollow and be
cooled by circulation of water or other means.