IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRING APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MASH TUNS AND FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JAMES MCFARLANE of Edinburgh in the County of Mid-Lothian, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRING
APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MASH TUNS AND FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in stirring or raking apparatus for mask
tuns or tanks used in the preparation of worts for distillers' or brewers' purposes
and has for its object to effect a more perfect stirring or mixing of the materials in
the tun or tank whilst at the same time a brushing or clearing action is con-
tinuously exerted over the slits in the bottom of the tank thereby keeping them
free for the through ward passage of the materials when mashed.
The apparatus constituting the Invention consists of an upright shaft placed
centrally in the tun or tank and rotated either from above or below. On the shaft
a sleeve is carried so as to be rotated with it and from the sleeve two or more
horizontal arms extend towards the side of the tank or tun. These arms carry a
number of vertical bars or rakes preferably made of wood and they also act as
supports for one, two, or more vertical spindles the spindles being preferably carried
in the arms in ball bearings.
On each of the spindles one, two, or more screw blades are secured horizontally
In the said blades other vertical bars or rakes also preferably of wood are fixed and
on the lower ends of these latter bars or rakes or of some of them auxiliary screw
blades are or may be fastened. The main screw blade at or near the lower end of
each vertical spindle also carries at or near its outer extremity a brush which acts
upon the bottom of the tun or tank and keeps the slits therein clear.
On the main or central shaft a spur wheel is fixed and from it rotatory motion
is communicated to the vertical spindles carrying the screw blades by spur gearing
whilst the whole apparatus is caused to move around the central shaft by a spur
pinion geared with a rack secured circumferentially to the inner side of or carried
above, the tank or tun.
Motion is communicated to the said pinion by a pinion secured on the outer
vertical spindle and geared with a spur wheel on the same shaft or stud with the
rack pinion. The said shaft or stud is carried vertically on the outer end of the
upper horizontal arm and the whole stirring or raking apparatus receives additional

page_text: support at or near this part by two or more wheels or pulleys carried in arms or
brackets projecting from a vertical bar beam or frame secured to the horizontal
arms the said wheels or pulleys running on a path formed on the rack or otherwise
around the tank or tun.
The effect of this arrangement is that the horizontal arms have a circular motion
communicated to them in a horizontal path around the central shaft the bars or
rakes fixed in the said arms stirring the mass. At the same time the screw blades
carried on the vertical spindles supported in the said arms (and which screw blades
therefore have also the like movement) have another rotating motion imparted to
them around their spindles as centres and the bars or rakes fixed in the said blades
farther stir the mass and break up any swirl caused by the rakes on the arms,
whilst the brushes on the lower screw blades brush over the entire surface of the
tank bottom and keep the slits free. Besides these actions the principal and
auxiliary screw blades themselves cause a vomiting or upward inovement in
the mass.
It is preferred that the ball bearings of the vertical spindles and other parts of
the apparatus in the liquid should be secured by keys instead of bolts and nuts.
The apparatus constructed as herein before described besides being used as set
forth is also applicable to be used for other purposes where an analogous stirring or
mixing operation is necessary.
JAMES
MCFARLANE.
By Geo. M. Cruikshank, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
135, Buchanan St., Glasgow,
(Agent).

page_text: I, JAMES M° FARLANE of Edinburgh in the County of Mid-Lothian, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRING
APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO MASH TUNS AND FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES "
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 improvements in stirring or raking apparatus for mash
tuns or tanks used in the preparation of worts for distillers' or brewers' purposes
and has for its object to effect a more perfect stirring or mixing of the materials
in the tun or tank whilst at the same time a brushing or clearing action is
continuously exerted over the slits in the perforated bottom of the tank thereby
keeping them free for the throughward passage of the wort or liquid and when
no perforated bottom is used as for example, in the case of tuns for treating maize
the brushing apparatus keeps the mash from setting in the bottom of the tun
thereby obviating the use of scrapers or trailing cleaners as heretofore.
On the sheet of drawings hereunto appended Figure 1, is a vertical section
showing the application of my said Invention to a tun for mashing maize said tun
not having a perforated bottom Figure 2, is a similar section showing the
application to a mash tun with a perforated bottom. Figure 3, is a plan figure 4,
an elevation on the line A, B, and figures 5 and 6, are details hereinafter more
particularly referred to.
As shown by these figures the apparatus constituting the Invention consists of
an upright shaft C, placed centrally in the tun or tank and rotated either from
above or below. On the shaft C, a sleeve D, is carried and which is also capable of
being rotated. From the sleeve D, two or more horizontal arms E, extend towards
the circumference F, of the tank or tun. These arms carry a number of vertical
bars or rakes G, The horizontal arms E, also act as supports for one, two, or more
vertical spindles H, these being preferably carried in the arms in ball bearings as
more particularly seen in vertical section at a, figure 1.
On
On each of the spindles H, one, two, or more screw blades I, are secured
horizontally and in the said blades other vertical bars or rakes J, are fixed.
these latter bars or rakes or of some of them auxiliary screw blades are or may be
fastened as seen at b, figure 2, to raise and equalize the mash, The main screw
blade I, at or near the lower end of each vertical spindle, also carries on its outer
vertical bar or rake J, a brush or its equivalent c, which acts upon the bottom of
the tun or tank and keeps the slits therein clear. This brush may in some cases
and especially where a perforated bottom is not employed be dispensed with.
On the main or central shaft C, a spur wheel K, is fixed and from it rotatory
motion is communicated to the vertical spindles H, carrying the screw blades I, by
spur gearing L, M, whilst the whole apparatus is caused to move around the
central shaft by a spur pinion N, geared with a rack O, secured circumferentially.
to the inner side of or carried above the tank or tun.
Motion is communicated to the said pinion by a pinion P, secured on the outer
vertical spindle H, and geared with a spur wheel Q, on the same shaft or stud R,
with the rack pinion N.. The said shaft or stud is carried vertically on the outer
end of the upper horizontal arm E, and the whole stirring or raking apparatus
receives additional support at. or near this part by two or more wheels or rollers T,
carried in arms or brackets projecting from a vertical beam or frame U, secured to
the horizontal arms E, the said wheels or rollers running on a path d, formed on
the rack or otherwise around the tank or tun.

page_text: The effect of this arrangement is that the horizontal arms E, have a circular
motion communicated to them in a horizontal path around the central shaft C.
At the same time the screw blades I, carried on the vertical spindles H, supported
in the said arms E, and rotated with them have also another rotating motion
imparted to them with the spindles H, as centres. By this compound motion the
bars or rakes J, fixed in the blades I, stir the mass and the bars or rakes G, break
up any swirl, whilst the brushes or their equivalents c, on the bottom ends of the
outer vertical bars J of the lower screw blades I, brush over the entire surface of
the tank bottom h, and keep the slits free. Besides these actions the principal and
auxiliary screw blades I, b, themselves cause a vomiting or upward movement in
the mass.
It is preferred that the ball bearings of the vertical spindles and other parts of
the apparatus in the liquid should be secured by keys k, instead of/bolts and nuts
and that the screw blades I, should be secured to the vertical spindles H, as seen in
enlarged detailed elevation and plan at figures 5 and 6. This attachment consists
of a key l, fixed in the inner surface of the fitting jaw m, of the screw blade the
said key also entering a recess made to receive it in the spindle H, When so fitted
a wedge piece n, is driven in between the spindle H, and the outer part of the
jaw. The bearing at o, for the wedge is tapered vertically from its upper end so
that the further the wedge is driven down the more securely it holds the screw
blade I, in position whilst by driving the wedge upwards. the arrangement also
permits of the blade being easily removed from the spindle.
The apparatus constructed as hereinbefore described besides being used as set
forth is also applicable to be used for other purposes where an analogous stirring or
mixing operation is necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First For the purpose set forth and for analogous purposes the combination of
parts constituting the improved stirring or mixing apparatus substantially as
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Second In a stirring or raking apparatus the arrangement whereby brushes or
their equivalent are kept constantly in contact with and sweeping over the entire
surface of the perforated bottom substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Thirteenth day of December 1884.