Improvements in Apparatus for Malting, Drying, and otherwise Treating Grain and for analogous purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Malting, Drying, and otherwise
Treating Grain and for analogous purposes.
I, JAMES SLEEMAN, of Carlton House, Portishead,. in the County of Somerset,
Maltster, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:--
The object of my invention is to construct cylinders or drums used for malting
drying, and otherwise treating grain and for analogous purposes in a new or
improved manner and on a new and improved principle whereby the grain or the
like may be turned, separated and dispersed in a more effectual manner than with
apparatus as at present in use.
According to my invention, I form the cylinder or drum so that the space (or
spaces) occupied by the grain or the like when in its normal position about two-
thirds of the diameter of the cylinder or drum is of a lesser width or depth (or
collective widths or depths) than the space contained in the other third, the latter
being at the top of the cylinder or drum when in its normal position. Or about
two thirds may be of a smaller diameter (or collective diameters) than the other
third, the cylinder or drum being also in some cases of lesser width or depth as
well as of smaller diameter.
The drum or cylinder may be covered by metal impervious to air or other fluid
or by perforated metal or gauze like material according to the uses to which the
drum or cylinder is to be applied in some cases part is covered by metal impervious
to air or other fluid and part by perforated metal or gauze-like material.
"
The drum or cylinder is preferably mounted to revolve so that the grain
ring" or rings" is or are completely broken up and mixed by reason of the
different and greater dimensions of the upper portion of the drum or cylinder,
an operation which has hitherto been unsuccessful with other apparatus. When
the vessel is fixed (as one of a series or by itself) the grain or the like is
supported therein by false bottoms which are removed when desired causing the
grain or the like to fall by gravity into a larger space whereby the grain cakes
become broken up and the grain thoroughly mixed.
In all cases the air or other fluid is compelled to pass or circulate through the
grain or the like the space or spaces for which is or are situated between the
air or other fluid supply and the corresponding exhaust hollow perforated parti-
tions of a height about two thirds of the diameter of the drum or cylinder being
employed for the purpose. Suitable covers are adjustably fitted to the surface of
the grain or the like when necessary to prevent waste of air or other fluid.
It will thus be seen that the narrow space or spaces is or are provided for
germination and aeration and the wider space or chamber is for mixing separating
and dispersing.
Dated 20th Tanuo 1900

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Malting, Drying, and otherwise
Treating Grain and for analogous purposes.
I, JAMES SLEEMAN, of Carlton House, Portishead, in the County of Somerset,
Maltster, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to construct cylinders or drums used for malting
drying, and otherwise treating grain and for analogous purposes in a new or
improved manner and on a new and improved principle, whereby the grain or the
like may be turned, separated and dispersed in a more effectual manner than with
apparatus at present in use.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying diagrammatical drawings in
which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
Fig. represents, a vertical section and Fig. 2 a vertical section, at right
angles to Fig. 1, of a drum.
Fig. 3 is a modification.
Fig. 4 is a section drawn to a smaller scale of drum formed with a still
larger top space.
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a transverse section and front elevation of a vessel
constructed on the same principle as the drum shown in the previous figures.
Fig. 7 illustrates the principle applied to a fixed vessel.
Fig. 8 illustrates a number of drums combined to form a single cylinder.
a is the space normally occupied by the grain and b is the top space; the
former extends to about two thirds of the height of the drum or vessel and the
latter being the other third or thereabouts. The grain space a is narrower than
the top space b which is enlarged transversely or horizontally so as to accommodate
the whole of the contents of the grain space a, the cubical capacity of one space
preferably corresponding approximately with that of the other. Thus when the
drum or vessel is inverted or rotated the grain falls into the top space and the
variation or difference in the dimensions causes the grain to disperse or distribute
in such a manner that the cakes or rings are completely broken up and the grain
thoroughly separated and turned.
The drum shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is constructed with an impervious top space
shell, shown by thick lines, and a reticulated or gauze-like material is used for
the grain it can also be formed wholly of reticulated or gauze-like material when
intended for use in the open air: similarly, the whole drum may be encased in an
impervious material as shown by dotted lines, in Fig. 1 the portions a¹ forming
chambers one for receiving and distributing air or other fluid and the other for
exhausting purposes. In Fig. 2 the drum is shown mounted on an axle c on or
with which the drum may rotate.
Fig. 3 is a modification of Fig. 1, the side a² being partly perforated and partly
impervious to air or other fluids; the part shown by dotted lines is analogous to
that shown and described with reference to Fig. 1 and forms a chamber a¹ for
exhausting or driving air or other fluid through the grain contained in the narrow
portion a of the drum.
Fig. 4 shows a section drawn to a smaller scale of a drum or vessel with the
upper or top space further enlarged by the increased diameter of that part of the
shell, which enlargement may be used in combination with or instead of the
horizontal (axial) bulging of the sides illustrated in the former figures.
Although a shaft attached to the drum is a convenient method of mounting

page_text: my improved drums or vessels, any other convenient means for rotating or rocking
may be employed to invert the drum or vessel in order to discharge the grain from
the grain space a into the top space b and so, by reason of its different dimensions,
break up and separate the caked grain without damaging the same, in a manner
unattainable with the ordinary malting drums.
In Figs. 5 and 6 a vessel is shown capable of oscillating upon an axle c, the
vessel being formed with a narrow grain space a and an enlarged top space b. The
latter may be divided by a division b¹ and strengthened by webs d; also a hinged
or other cover ³ may be arranged to cover the grain when aerating or germinating,
to ensure even aeration. This vessel may be hinged or pivoted at or near one
end thereof to a fixed base and the vessel raised or lowered according to require-
ments by tackle of any suitable description.
A fixed vessel is shewn in Fig. 7 fitted with an enlarged space b for the dispersal
of the grain. The vessel is fitted with hollow divisions analogous to the arrange-
ment described in my former Letters Patent No. 18412 98 with reference to Fig. 3,
and beneath the grain spaces of the vessel a number of baffle or dividing plates bl
are preferably fitted to help in breaking up the cakes or mass of grain when it is
liberated from the vessel, suitable false or moveable bottoms e being fitted to the
vessel. A second vessel, similarly constructed to the upper one, is shewn below
the dispersing space, and any number of the vessels may thus be used with the
intermediate dispersing spaces 6 where desirable; or a suitable conveyor may be
fitted at the bottom of the space b to return the grain to the same or another
vessel on the same level.
It will be understood that two or more of the drums may be combined to form a
multiple machine as shown in Fig. 8, where expedition is required, the top spaces
being united so as to form one long space b and the grain spaces a being separated
from each other by their walls forming double divisions or chambers a', (alter-
nately supply and exhaust) separated by an impervious division wall and connected
by suitable trunks, air ways etc., analogous to those described and illustrated in
my said former Letters Patent No. 18412 98.
Suitable manholes, inspection openings, valves, covers, and other fittings are
employed where desirable.
The drum or vessel may be mounted in a room, a tank or pit, hot air chamber
or kiln, or the like, the drum or vessel being for the most part preferably
reticulated or perforated in such cases; or the drum or vessel may be encased in
impervious material and supplied with fluids under pressure.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the shapes of drums
or vessels illustrated herein as they may be considerably varied, the essential
feature of my invention being the different size and (or) shape of the top space
relatively to the lower or grain space, whereby when the grain is discharged from
one to the other the cakes or rings become thoroughly broken up, separated and
redistributed, a process hitherto attended with only partial success when effected
by other machines.
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: -
1. A drum or vessel for malting, drying, and otherwise treating grain, con-
structed with the grain space of a less width or depth than the top or dispersing
space, the grain space occupying about two-thirds of the diameter or height
of the drum or vessel when in its normal position, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. A drum or vessel for the purposes aforesaid, consisting of a shell formed
wholly of perforated or reticulated material or partly of the said reticulated
material and partly of a material impervious to air or fluids, formed with a
narrow grain space and wider or larger top-space, constructed substantially as
described and illustrated by the drawings.

page_text: 3. A drum or vessel for the purposes aforesaid, consisting of a shell formed
wholly of a material impervious to air or fluids, a narrow grain space and a wider
or larger top space, and one or more chambers formed by divisions of reticulated
material, constructed and arranged substantially as described and illustrated
by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
4. A drum or vessel for the purposes aforesaid, consisting of a lower part or
grain space (about two-thirds of the diameter) of narrow width or depth, and an
upper space of greater diameter with or instead of the before described horizontal
enlargement constructed and arranged substantially as described and illustrated
by Fig. 4 of the drawings.
5. The combination of two or more of my improved drums to form one cylin-
drical machine having an enlarged top or dispersing space extending throughout
the length of the machine and a number of grain or germinating spaces divided by
double chambers (alternately supply and exhaust) each formed of reticulated
material with a division wall impervious to fluids, substantially as set forth and
illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings.
6. A fixed vessel for malting and otherwise treating grain, consisting of a vessel
fitted with hollow divisions forming spaces for grain (a) and air or other fluid (a¹),
the grain being supported on false or moveable bottoms e, a larger distributing
space b, fitted with (or without) baffle or dividing plates 6', operating substantially
as set forth with reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings.
Dated 30th November 1899.
JAMES SLEEMAN,
By George Downing & Sons,
Chartered Patent Agents, 8, Quality Court, London, W.C.,