AN IMPROVED PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR MAKING MALT, AND FOR DRYING HOPS, CORN, AND OTHER GRAINS AND SEEDS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Fleetwood, of Elm Grove House, Southsea, in
the County of Southampton, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR MAKING MALT, AND FOR DRYING HOPS,
CORN, AND OTHER GRAINS AND SEEDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Fleetwood at the
.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, .on. the.
19th November. 1855.
I, JOHN FLEETWOOD, of Elin Grove House, Southsea, in the County of,
Southampton, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR MAKING MALT, AND FOR DRYING.
HOPS, CORN, AND OTHER GRAINS AND SEEDS," to be as follows:-
My improved apparatus consists, firstly, of a cylinder of any convenient and
desired size, composed of perforated zinc, or perforated galvanized iron, or
of any other suitable perforated material or materials, and which cylinder:
may be made single or with a smaller cylinder in the interior thereof. For
the purpose of making malt, the cylinder is arranged so that it shall revolve.
upon its axis, and rotating partially within a semi-cylindrical vessel placed
beneath it and containing water, and which may be called the cistern. The
barley is put into the cylinder, which is then caused to revolve, by which means
every grain is submitted to the action of the water. In order to prevent the
grain from moving in a mass, the interior of the cylinder may be constructed
with suitable divisions or contrivances for that purpose. When the grain has
become sufficiently germinated or grown, the cistern is removed, and the water.

page_text: having been withdrawn, it is reversed in position, and placed over the cylinder,
so as to enclose the same. Heat is then to be applied to the lower portion of
the cylinder, the revolution thereof being continued, whereby the malt will be
effectually dried. When the malt is sufficiently dried, the cistern may be again
placed under the cylinder, in order to receive its contents, which may then be
passed over a screen for the purpose of cleansing the same, if that process has
not been effectually performed by the perforated cylinder itself.
This apparatus may also be applied to the drying of hops, corn, and other
grains and seeds, and may be so constructed as to go into a very small com-
pass, and to be perfectly portable. The moving power may be obtained by
means of apparatus similar to that of the common roasting jack, or any other
suitable or convenient moving power may be employed..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of tlie Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Fleetwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th May 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FLEETWOOD, of Elm Grove House, Southsca, in the County of Southampton,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Fleetwood, Her special licence that I, tho said
John Fleetwood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Fleetwood, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter, during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR MAKING MALT, AND FOR DRYING Hops,
CORN, AND OTHER GRAINS AND SEEDS," upon the condition. (amongst others) that.
I, the said John Fleetwood, my exécutors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in.
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Fleetwood, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and 'ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
My improved 'apparatus consists, firstly, of a cylinder, of
any convenient and
desirable size, composed of perforated zinc, perforated galvanized iron, or of
galvanized iron wire, or of any other suitable perforated or reticulated material
or materials, and which cylinder may be made single, or with a smaller cylinder
in the interior thereof. For the purpose of making malt, the cylinder is
arranged so that it shall revolve upon its axis, rotating partially within a semi-
cylindrical vessel placed underneath it, containing water, and which may be
called the cistern. The barley is put into the cylinder, which is then caused to
revolve by the means herein-after mentioned, in such a manner that every
grain is submitted to the action of the water. In order to prevent the grain
from moving in a mass, or growing, or matting together, the cylinder is con-
structed with suitable perforated shelves, placed longitudinally, and fastened in
any suitable manner to the internal surface of the periphery of the cylinder,'
and converging towards the axis thereof. The effect of this arrangement will
be to prevent the grain from moving in a mass. The shelves being perforated
will allow the grains or seeds to pass through, but if the same be grown or
matted together, they will, by the revolution of the cylinder, be carried nearly
to the top thereof, and will then drop into a sifter or cradle placed in the inte-
rior of the cylinder, and actuated by a spindle running parallel with the axial
line thereof; and passing through the pivots upon which the cylinder turns, but
being unconnected therewith, so that the revolution of the cylinder shall not
affect the sifter or cradle, such spindle terminating externally at one end
with a handle, for the purpose of moving the same, and thereby shaking and
sifting the inatted grain, which will thereby be loosened and separated, and
then returned to the cylinder. The sifter or cradle and shelves should be
constructed of galvanized iron wire, or of any other suitable perforated or
reticulated material or materials. When the grain has become sufficiently
germinated or grown, the cistern should be removed, and the water having
been withdrawn therefrom, it is to be reversed in position, and placed over the
cylinder, so as to enclose the same. Heat should then be applied beneath the
lower portion of the cylinder, the revolution thereof being continued, whereby
the malt will be effectually dried. The heat may be applied by means of a
hot-air flue from an ordinary fire-place, or in any manner which may be found
convenient. When the malt is sufficiently dried, the cistern may be again
placed under the cylinder, in order to receive its contents, which may, if neces-

page_text: sary, be passed over a screen, for the purpose of cleansing the same, if that
process has not been effectually performed by the perforated cylinder itself.
Although the principal use to which the said improved apparatus is proposed
to be applied is that of making malt, yet it may also be used for the purpose
of drying hops, corn; and other grains and seeds, and vegetable substances, in
which case the article or articles to be dried having been placed in the cylinder,
the latter should be covered by the cistern, and heat having been applied, the
process will be conducted in the manner herein-before described with reference
to making malt.
The moving power for the purpose of causing the said cylinder to revolve
may be obtained by means of apparatus, similar to that of the common roasting
jack, or any other suitable or convenient moving power may be eniployed, the
same being connected to the cylinder by means of the pivots upon which the
same revolves, or in any other suitable manner.
My said improved- apparatus may be so constructed as to go into a very
small compass, and to be perfectly portable, and, will consequently be very.
useful to colonists and others to whom space and, convenience of removal or.
carriage are objects of consideration.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said:
Invention, and. the manner in which 'the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have herein-before described, as;
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or
main features of the said Invention; nor do I claim the several and respec-1
tive parts thereof as being novel and original; but what I consider to be. novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention or improved apparatus.
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited. Letters Patent, is, the
general arrangement and combination of the several parts, which, together
combined, form the apparatus herein-before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Fleetwood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
:
Witness,
W CURTIS, Surgeon,
Harting, Sussex.
JOHN FLEETWOOD. (L.S.)