IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MALTING
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company,
Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
MALTING." A communication from David Gruber, Brewer, of Koenigshoffen,
near Strassburg. in the Empire of Germany.
Sealed the 23rd December 1879, and dated the 26th June 1879,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th June 1879.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, nt
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MALTING." [A communication from David
Gruber, Brewer, of Koenigshoffen, near Strassburg, in the Empire of Grmany.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
malting, which improvements comprise an arrangement and method of working the
saturating chamber, from which the damp air is obtained for the germinating
chamber.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I construct a chamber of any suitablo
material, such as wood, iron, stone, or the like, and it can be made of any desirable
shape. A grate is provided and covered with coke, pieces of brick, or any other
bodies or substance offering an extended surface to the air and water; a water
pipe with a rose throwing a fine spray upon the coke below is placed above; the
water used for this is to be cooled or drawn from a well; a second grating may
be covered with icc, so as to still further cool the damp air; there is a canal or
channel for conducting air to the above named grating; the air is introduced by a
ventilator, a heated chimney, or the like; a chimney connects the said canal with
the outside air. An opening is provided under the first named grate and serves to
connect the space under this grate with the outside air, a valve or shutter serving
to regulate the draught; a valve serves to conduct the germinating air into the
chamber or permit its escape into the air.
The great advantages obtained by this method are as follows, that is to say :-
Pure and suitable air for germination can be admitted at will and spontaneously
through the said opening below the grate, and at the same time the air that has
All

page_text: been used may be allowed to escape through the chimney. For this purpose a
flap-valve is introduced in such a manner that when it is in one position the
chimney is closed, and when in another position the aforesaid canal is closed.
When in the latter position a partial vacuum is produced, by which the air is drawn
in through the aforesaid opening below the saturation chamber, whence it passes in
a highly moist, cold, and pure state into the germinating chamber; this is of great
importance, as experience has shewn that the carbonic-acid-gas given off by the
germinating substances is not retained by the coke as was supposed, but the same
quantity is given off by the coke as was absorbed thereby. Thus it will be seen
that if the same air is returned into the germinating chamber over and over again
the said air will become so spoiled and saturated with carbonic-acid-gas that neither
can a workman or attendant breathe nor can the germinating process go on properly.
This necessitates the opening of the windows, and the germinating air comes in
contact with the more or less dry atmospheric air, and is thus much reduced in its
efficiency.
In the apparatus as described the germinating air can be returned to the
germinating chamber, as may seem desirable, when the first and powerful pro-
duction of carbonic acid gas is terminated; for instance, in winter, when the
germinating chamber has to be heated. To effect this the opening below the grate
is closed by help of the aforesaid valve or shutter, and the flap-valve is shut in a
certain position; the air is then driven by the ventilator up through the saturating
chamber into the germinating chamber.
If several germinating cylinders are contained in one germinating chamber there
are sure to be one or more in the most powerful stage of producing carbonic acid
gas. Now in order to let off the air strongly impregnated with gas, and to return
the air not so much impregnated into the cylinders, I construct the said cylinders
with means for aspiration at each end in connection with two saturating chambers,
each provided with a chimney.
By a proper manipulation of the valves the before named ventilation is effected;
the ventilation can be effected by heated chimneys or by ventilators, but even if
chimneys are used I prefer to attach a ventilator to each cylinder, and which can
be used in case of need.
I may employ closed saturating chambers connected directly with the cylinders
and not with the germinating chamber.
As the air comes out of the saturating chamber it is at its lowest temperature,
and becomes warmer in passing into the germinating chamber; it is therefore
necessary to connect the saturating chamber directly with the cylinders in order to
obtain the air at its lowest temperature; to this end the saturating chamber is not
open but closed, and connected by a canal with branch canals leading to each
cylinder.
By this arrangement the air either fresh or more or less charged with gas comes
direct from the chamber to the cylinders and reaches them at its lowest
temperature.
I provide false bottoms of novel construction made of perforated metal, and
designed to provide as large a ventilating bottom as possible. A false bottom made
according to this Invention is constructed of three flat pieces placed at angles to
each other, that is to say, the bottom consists of one horizontal and two oblique
sheets. The upper edge does not extend above the surface of the grain, so that the
air cannot pass into the canal without passing through the grain.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 26th December
1879.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MALTING." A communication from David Gruber,
Brewer, of Koenigshoffen, near Strassburg, in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to malting, and comprises an arrangement for and method
of working the saturating chamber, from which the damp air is obtained for the
germinating chamber.
The said improvements are illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in
which
Figures 1 and 2 are horizontal sections.
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical longitudinal sections, and
Figures 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sections of the said apparatus.
A is a chamber constructed of any suitable material, such as wood, iron, stone,
or the like, and it can be made of any desirable shape; B is a grate covered with
coke, pieces of brick, or any other body or substance offering an extended surface
to the air and water; and above the same is arranged a water-pipe with a rose C
for throwing a fine spray upon the coke below; the water used for this purpose
must be cooled artificially or drawn from a well.
A second grating D may be arranged to still further cool the damp air; E is a
canal conducting air to said grating; the air is introduced by a ventilator, heated
chimney, or the like; the chimney F connects the canal E with the outside air;
the opening G serves to connect the space under this grate B with the outside air,
a valve or shutter H. serving to regulate the draught; the valve H¹ serves to
conduct the germinating air into the chamber or permit its escape into the atino-
sphere; the heated chimney I can be substituted for the ventilator.
The great advantages obtained by this Invention are as follows, that is to say:-
Pure and suitable air for germination can be admitted at will and spontaneously
at G, and at the same time the air that has been used may be allowed to escape
through the chimney F. For this purpose a flap-valve H1, H2, is introduced in
such a manner that when it is in the position shewn at H¹ the chimney is closed,
and when in the position shewn at H the canal E is closed. When in the position
as last shewn a partial vacuum is produced, by which the air is drawn in through
the opening G below the saturation chamber, from whence it passes in a highly moist,
cold, and pure state into the germinating chamber. This is of great importance, as
experience has shewn that the carbonic acid gas given off by the germinating
substances is not retained by the coke as was supposed, but the same quantity is
given off by the coke as was absorbed thereby. Thus it will be seen that if the
same air is returned into the germinating chamber over and over again the said air
will become so spoiled and saturated with carbonic acid gas that no workman or
attendant can breathe, nor can the germinating process go on properly. This
condition of the air necessitates the opening of the windows, and the germinating
air comes in contact with the more or less dry atmospheric air, and is thus much
reduced in its efficiency.
In the apparatus as described the germinating air can be returned to the
germinating chamber, as seems desirable, when the first and powerful production
of carbonic acid gas is terminated; or, for instance, in winter, when the germinating
chainber has to be heated. To effect this result the opening G is closed by the aid of
the aforesaid valve or shutter H and the flap-valve is shut in the position shewn
at H; the air is then driven by the ventilator round and up through the saturating
chamber into the germinating chamber.

page_text: If several germinating cylinders are contained in one germinating chamber one
or more of the same will be in the most powerful stage of producing carbonic acid
gas. Now in order to discharge the air strongly impregnated with gas and to
return the air not so much impregnated into the cylinders again I construct the
said cylinders with means for aspiration at each end in connection with two
saturating chambers, each provided with a chimney.
By a proper manipulation of the valves q, H, and H', the ventilation is effected
as above described. The ventilation may be effected by heated chimneys or by
ventilators, but if chimneys are used I prefer to attach a ventilator to each cylinder,
which can be used in case of need.
Closed saturating chambers are connected directly with the cylinders and not
with the germinating chamber.
As the air leaves the saturating chamber it is at its lowest temperature, and
becomes warmer on passing into the germinating chamber; it is therefore necessary
to connect the saturating chamber directly with the cylinders in order to obtain
the air at its lowest temperature; to this end the saturating chamber is not open
but closed and connected by a canal F' with branch canals q' leading to each
cylinder.
By this arrangement the air, either fresh or more or less charged with gas, comes
direct from the chamber A to the cylinders, and reaches them at its lowest
temperature.
I employ a novel form of false bottom of perforated metal to provide as large a
ventilating bottom as possible as follows, that is to say:-The false bottom e is con-
structed of three flat pieces e', el, e', placed at any suitable angle to each other, as
shewn in the Drawing, so that the said false bottom consists of one horizontal and
two oblique parts. The upper edge of the oblique parts does not extend above the
surface of the grain, so that the air cannot pass into the canal without psasing
through the grain.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. The arrangement of the air canals with the malting apparatus provided
with the valves H, H', H", and q, which in conjunction with ventilators or heated
chimneys serve at will either to introduce fresh air or to cause the circulation
of the air in the germinating chambers, substantially as set forth.
Second. The direct connection of the saturating chamber with the germinating
cylinder, as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The improved false bottoms, substantially as described and as shewn in
the Drawing for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twelfth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
FRANK WIRTH. (L.S.)