Improvements in the Apparatus for the Making and the Drying of Malt.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1892-Accepted, 16th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Apparatus for the Making and the Drying
of Malt.
ALFRED GOUGH Senr. 10 Wedmore Gardens, Upper Holloway, London, N.
Commission Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention' to 'be 'as
follows:-
The grain is put into a circular chamber (or apparatus), which is steeped in water
the usual time, after which the water is drawn off. The grain is kept in the
apparatus to germinate & to be dried (or cured) unless the malt is conveyed by
elevator to another apparatus to be dried. The apparatus (or any number of them)
is prefable hung loose upon a fixed shaft for the purpose of being revolved, when
the grain or malt should be turned. The apparatus is prefable made of iron (to
any size desired either in diameter or the width). The sides are partly (about
two fifths) of sheet metal or plates, this part is made water tight for the purpose
of steeping the grain, the other part is covered with woven wire cloth or perforated
sheet metal. The outside rim is of sheet metal or plates to which gearing is fixed,
for driving purposes. Perforated air flues or tubes which may be made with woven
wire (or, partly of woven wire) are fixed inside which may be closed or opened at
each end for the purposes of regulating the temperature of the grain. Fans are
also fixed inside for the purpose of regulating the temperature, a door is made in
the rim for the purpose of charging & emptying the apparatus, also for the purpose
of examing the grain or malt during the process. Dispersers are fixed inside to
cause the grain to thoroughly mix, when the apparatus is being revolved.
Dated this 17th day of September 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Apparatus for the Making and the Drying
of Malt.
'I, Alfred' GouGH, Senior, 10 Wedmore Gardens, Upper Holloway, London,
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 :-
This invention has for object, the construction or arrangement. of machinery or
apparatus to facilitate the steeping and germinating of grain, and drying and curing
thereof for brewers and distillers uses.
•
For the purposes of my invention, I construct, a drum of large diameter and of
somewhat narrow proportions in cross section. This drum is composed of part a
close chamber for steeping and germinating purposes, and part partitioned off by a
series of passages open or partially open at the ends as flues for cold air to pass
through to regulate temperature during germination. The part in which the 'flues
are arranged have communicating channels one with the other.
The drum is hung loosely on a fixed shaft and is partially enclosed in a flue way,
it is capable of rotation by edge gear, and just beyond the vertical centre, elevator
buckets are arranged to dip into a well for the removal of grain or malt, which
may be run there from the drum when a sliding valve or door is opened.
The partitions of the flue part of the drum may be provided with fans set
transversely in pockets prepared for the purpose in that part of the drum where
[DQ77

page_text: the flues are, as also the flue walls themselves, being of open meshed or perforated
metal for the free flow of cold air among the grain for cooling it. The same flues
serve for the passage of air from a fan arranged over a furnace, which air
commingles with the heat of the furnace and of the gases from the fuel combustion
to effect a sufficient heating for curing the grain that is within the drum.
I provide means for regulating the air current.
My invention will be clearly understood by referring to the aunexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of my complete apparatus for the successive
steeping, germinating drying, and the curing processes, with the door R open for
the reception of grain from the shoot A.
Figure 2 a similar sectional elevation with the drum in position for the grain
germinating drying and curing process.
Figure 3 an end elevation of the drum and the rotating gear.
Figure 4 part sectional elevation of the drum to show the transverse fans in open
meshed pockets.
Figure 5 part transverse section of drum showing more clearly the arrangement
of the flues therein, so as not to interfere with the filling of that part of the drum
in which the grain or malt can arrange itself to fill the spaces between the flues.
The grain is fed by the shoot A to upper part of drum B when in the position
shown at Figure 1, to charge the chamber C, the sides of which are water tight.
Here, by the application of water, the grain is steeped.
The drum can now after the completion of steeping be turned any required
number of times at intervals to facilitate an even "growth" of the grain during its
germination, and when this is complete, the drum by the pinion D is turned into the
position, as at Figure 2, the grain being then between the flues G, G, as indicated,
and the drying operation commences, the drum being revolved as often and as long
as necessary the pipe F being open, after draining to allow the steam to escape
during the drying the drum is hung loosely on the shaft H and is partly enclosed
in an air and gas expansion chamber I next a furnace J, so that the heat from the
furnace may, on its way to the chimney, pass through the flues G, G, of the drum,
coupled with the air from the fan K, be utilized for drying the malt, the air supply
may be afterwards shut off, so that the fire heat can be utilized for the curing
operation.
When the malt is sufficiently cured, the door of the drum is opened, and the
malt in a cured condition flows into the well E to be lifted by the elevator
buckets L, L, to an upper floor of a building for storage, or elsewhere, as desired.
In order to establish an equality of cold air or heat through the several
flues G, G, of the drum for the germinating, drying, and curing, I provide
shutters M, M, as seen at Figure 3, which can be closed to any desired extent.
+
It will be observed that the flues through the drum are arranged in zigzag order
to avoid undue pressure of the grain, and when it is desired to expedite the cooling
and drying by the application of external air, I provide some of the flues G, G,
with transverse fans N, N, see Figures 4 and 5, which can be set revolving by a
band on their pullies P, P.
Q, Q, are dispersers.
The drums may be in any number arranged side by side in different flue ways
of separate furnaces and are free upon the shaft, and capable of rotation singly by
means of the pinions, and instead of the gear on the drums being on the side, as
shown in the drawings, it may be preferable that it be in the centre of each drum
for equalizing the balance and for ease of rotation.
S
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction and employment of a partitioned drum, such as I'show in the
aunexed drawings, within which drum, grain, such as barley can be completely
operated upon for the steeping, germinating, drying, and curing, as set forth.

page_text: 2. A wheel like drum B with close compartment C, perforated horizontal
flues G, G, and part perforated side walls in contiguity with said flues G, G.
The 16th day of June 1892.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Alfred Gough.