Improvements in Malt-germinating Apparatuses.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 21st Oct., 1887
Improvements in Malt-germinating Apparatuses.
1, PAUL WEINIG, Engine manufacturer, residing at Hanau, Kingdom of Prussia,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatuses in which grain, after having been steeped, is
caused to germinate for the purpose of converting it into malt, and the improvements
consist in the combination, with a movable perforated platform serving to receive the
steeped grain and divided into sections, firstly, of a series of chambers, open at the top,
on the walls whereof the sections of the platform rest with their edges so as to cover
the chambers, and which communicate separately with an exhauster; secondly, of
means for raising the platform and allowing it to be moved so as to fetch the sections
thereof forward from one chamber to the other; thirdly, of mechanism for carrying
out the operation of moving the platform, and fourthly, of means for preventing air
from passing between the platform-sections and their seats.
Each platform section is provided at either end with an upright wall, and the
sections are constructed to close against each other when they are placed in juxta-
position, the end-walls of the different sections then forming lateral walls of the whole
platform. The chambers are of such size and form that when all the platform-sections
are in their normal position, each chamber will be covered by a section, standing with
its frame on the walls thereof. The apertures through which the chambers com-
municate with the exhauster, are provided with valves for controlling the draught
through the perforations of the different sections and the grain lying on the latter.
In order to allow the platform to be moved, each section thereof is provided with
wheels, and under these wheels are arranged rails in combination with eccentrics or
other suitable mechanism for raising the rails together with the platform. For shifting
the platform the apparatus may be fitted with screws journalled in fixed bearings and
having nuts adapted to press against the platform.

page_text: For the purpose of preventing air from passing between the platform-sections and
their seats, strips of any suitable packing-material are interposed between the frames
of. the sections and the walls of the chambers, the said strips being preferably secured
to or sunk into recesses of plates fixed upon the walls. If the said recesses are made
sufficiently large they may also be filled with water or sand in view of producing a
tight joint.
In working with the apparatus the platform is moved forward at certain intervals
of time by the breadth of a division, the division being at the head of the platform is
emptied, returned to the rear end and charged anew.
Dated the Twenty nighth Danisha. 1906
PAUL WEINIG.
By his Agent, Carl Pieper.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Malt-germinating Apparatuses.
I, PAUL WEINIG, Engine-manufacturer, residing at Hanau, Kingdom of Prussia
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:
My invention relates to apparatuses in which grain, after having been steeped, is
left to germinate for the purpose of its conversion into malt, and the improvements
consist in the combination, with a movable perforated platform serving to receive the
steeped grain and divided into sections, firstly of a series of chambers, open at the
top, on the walls whereof the sections of the platform rest with their edges so as to
cover the chambers, and which communicate separately with an exhauster; secondly,
of means for raising the platform and allowing it to be moved so as to fetch the
sections thereof forward from one chamber to the other; thirdly, of mechanism for
carrying out the operation of moving the platform, and fourthly, of means for
tightening the platform-sections on their seats.
On the annexed sheet of drawings an apparatus carried out according to my
invention, is shown by Fig. 1 in longitudinal sectional elevation, partly on line 1, 2,
and partly on line 3, 4 of Fig. 3, the middle portion being omitted. Fig. 2 is a
portion of the view of the left-hand end, and Fig. 3 a transverse section on line 5, 6
of Fig. 1.
The platform is composed of the sections C and one section C³, each section con-
sisting of a perforated plate, or a sheet of strong wire fabric d, resting on and fixed
with its edges to a grating formed by the frame b and the longitudinal. and transverse

page_text: bars b. At either end each platform-section is provided with an upright wall
and
the sections are so constructed as to close against each other when they are placed in
juxtaposition, the walls g of the different sections then forming lateral walls of the
whole platform. A A are the chambers on the walls whereof the platform rests.
These chambers are of such size and form that, when all the sections Care in their
normal position, each chamber A will be covered by a section C standing with its
frame on the walls thereof. The chambers are separately in connection by apertures a
with a channel B leading to an exhauster, such as a suction-fan, (not shown in the
drawing) the said apertures being provided with valves a' fitted with mechanism for
opening and closing them, as shown in Fig. 3, and for thus regulating the draught
through the perforations or meshes of the different platform-sections produced by the
suction apparatus. Preferably the number of chambers is ten.
In order to allow the described platform to be moved so that the sections C will be
transferred from over one chamber to another, each section is provided with two
wheels, and under the said wheels are arranged rails k, in combination with
mechanism for raising the rails together with the platform. This mechanism consists
in the two shafts 1, extending lengthwise under the rails and journalled in bearings o,
and in the eccentrics m keyed on the shafts and acting on the rails through the
medium of the pieces n, straddling the eccentrics. The shafts are capable of being
rotated by means of worm-wheels p fixed to their ends, worms q and shaft r. (In
Fig. 2 but one of these wheels and one worm is shown.) The rails k, made of inverted
U-shaped bars, are guided on upward extensions of the bearings o.
The eccentrics m
and the mechanism for actuating them are so arranged in respect to the other parts
that, when the eccentrics are turned down, the platform-sections will rest on the walls
of the chambers A, whereas when they are rotated by half a revolution, so as to be
turned upward, they will raise the rails and thereby lift off the platform-sections
from their seats, so that the platform may then be moved on the rails. Another half-
revolution of the eccentrics again lowers the platform.
For shifting the platform after it has been raised, two screws such as t, Fig. 1, are
provided for, journalled in fixed bearings u u', and arranged to be simultaneously
rotated by means of two worm-wheel-gearings p¹ (only one shown in Fig. 2) and
shaft, the said screws working in nuts connected to a transverse bar w running
like the platform-sections by means of wheels on the rails k, and fixed to, or bearing
against the platform-section C¹. In order to allow the bar w to be raised together
with the platform, the nuts are arranged to slide vertically in sockets formed on
the bar.
For the purpose of preventing air from passing between the edges of the frames b
and the upper surface of the walls of the chambers A, strips e of any suitable packing
material, as for instance india-rubber, are interposed between the frames and the walls,
the said strips being preferably secured to, or sunk into recesses of plates fixed upon
the walls. If the said recesses are made sufficiently large, they may also be filled
with water or sand in view of producing a tight joint,
The mode of working with the apparatus is as follows: On starting, the platform-
section being above the first chamber A, (i.e. above the one on the left-hand end of
Fig. 1) is charged with steeped grain, and the chamber is put in communication with
the exhauster by opening the corresponding valve a', while the other valves are kept
closed. During the time the grain is thus exposed to the current of air passing
through the same, it is stirred at intervals. This operation may be carried out by
means of the malt-turning-machine described in the specification of the United States
patent No. 223086. After a certain time, say 24 hours, the loaded platform-section C
is raised and moved forward together with the section C, until the former has been
brought over the second chamber A. The section C¹is then returned to its original
position. Into the space thus produced between the first section C and the section C',
another section C is inserted, and, after the sections have been lowered again, it is
also charged with steeped grain, and the charge of both sections C is exposed to the
ventilating current and the turning or stirring operation. After further 24 hours the
third section C is inserted and charged, and so on until all sections and chambers have

page_text: been taken in use. On the following day the first section, now being on the last
chamber A, is emptied and reinserted at the rear end of the platform. Thereafter the
working of the apparatus goes on continuously, one platform-section being emptied,
removed to the rear and reloaded every day.
The object of transferring the platform-sections from over one chamber to the
other is to allow them to be loaded while being at one end of the apparatus and to be
discharged while being at the other end, whereby convenience in the working of the
apparatus is attained. Each chamber A is separately in connection with the exhauster
and provided with a regulating-valve in order that the ventilating current passing
through each portion of malt may be controlled separately according to the progress
of germination and the degree of heat developed by this process in the malt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. In a malt-germinating apparatus, the combination, with a perforated platform
divided into sections C, of a series of chambers A open at the top and communicating
with an exhauster, and means for allowing the platform to be moved along the top of
the said chambers, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The combination, with a perforated platform, divided into sections C provided
with wheels h, and the chambers A, of the rails and means for raising and lowering
them, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The combination, with the perforated platform composed of the sections C, pro-
vided with wheels h, and the chambers A, of the rails k, shafts with eccentrics m,
and means for rotating the said shafts, as hereinbefore described and for the purpose
set forth.
4. The combination, with the perforated platform-sections C and C provided with
wheels h, the chambers A, the rails k, and means for raising and lowering them, of
the bar w and screws t having nuts & connected to the said bar, as and for the purpose.
specified.
5. The combination with the perforated platform-sections C and chambers A, of
packing-strips e, or their described equivalents, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.