Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Governing the Supply of Grist and Water to Mashing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Governing the Supply
of Grist and Water to Mashing Machines.
I, RICHARD HENRIK BEAMISH, of Ashbourne, Glounthaune, County Cork, Ireland,
gentleman, 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, which relates to brewing ale, porter and other like malt liquors,
consists in machinery or apparatus for controlling and regulating the feed of grist
and the supply of water to the mashing machine, and has for its object to obtain
uniformity of admixture, in definite proportions of the grist and water. The water
is technically termed "liquor."
Below the grist bin, and communicating therewith is a chamber, which may con-
veniently be termed the screw case, in which is a screw propellor fee to rotate in
suitable bearings provided at each end of the spindle on which the screw is formed
or mounted. The screw propelior is preferably driven from the shaft of the mashing
machine.
Communication between the grist bin and the screw case is governed by a valve
situated towards the bottom of the bin.
Above this valve is fixed a hood which protects the valve from the superposed
grist.
The grist is fed through the said valve to the screw case through which it is
impelled by the screw rotating at a given speed according to the rate of feed
required.
From the screw case the grist is conducted by a throat-piece to the mashing
machine.
The throat-piece is fitted with a sliding door or damper governing the communi-
cation between the screw case and the mashing machine.
As the grist enters the mashing machine it is joined by the water or "liquor,"
the supply of which regulated by an adjustable valve. This valve may be
arranged to work either in conjunction with the valve in the grist bin, or
independently.
When the valve governing the water supply is arranged to work in conjunction
with the valve in the grist bin the spindle of the former is connected to a lever
capable of being tilted on a pivot by means of a rod operated through toothed
gearing and a handle or hand wheel. The said lever is connected by intermediate
levers to the valve in the grist bin. Hence both the latter and the water or liquor
supply valve are operated simultaneously.
They are capable of being adjusted and set to pass the grist and water to the
mashing machine in given and variable proportions, as may be required.
The usual stop-valve in the water pipe and the usual "starting" valve for first
admitting water to the mashing machine for heating the same are provided.
At Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated the machinery or apparatus
for controlling and regulating the feed of grist and liquor, in which this invention
consists.
Figure 2 is a part end view.
Situated at the bottom of the grist case a and communicating therewith is a
chamber b in which is a screw propellor c the shaft d of which is carried in
bearings e.
Communication between the grist case a and the screw case is controlled by the
cylindrical (or square, as the shape of the bin requires) valve f free to slide
vertically within the fixed hood 9 which protects the valve from the superposed
grist.

page_text: "
The hood g is held in place by the arms g¹ bolted to it and to the sides g² of the
bin a.
The valve is carried by the rod ½ connected to the arms i bolted to the
valve. The screw case is fitted with a throat-piece ; constituting a passage to
the mashing machine k which is of an ordinary kind. The slide or damper" j¹
governs the communication between the screw caso b and the mashing machine k.
Below the inlet from the throat piece to the mashing machine is the inlet of
the water or liquor pipe in which is a valve m, shown in the section, Fig. 3,
which in the drawing is represented as arranged to work in connection with the
valve fin the grist case by the connecting levers n, n¹ and n³ of which n, pivotted
at x, is connected to the valve rod m¹, the valve rod / being connected to the lever n²
pivotted at y. To the lever n is connected one end of a rod o provided towards its
lower end with screw threads working in a socket firmly secured to a bevel wheel o¹
gearing with a similar wheel o² centred on a spindle p capable of being rotated by
the handle p¹.
g
Below the valve m is a stop valve 9 and between it and the valve m is a valve
which water is first admitted, as usual, for heating the mashing machine k.
by
Towards the lower end of the shaft d of the screw c is a bevel wheels gearing
with a bevel wheel s¹ centred on the shaft k¹ of the mashing machine k. Behind the
wheels is a clutch t.
The method of working is as follows:-
The valves and are first opened to admit water to heat the mashing machine k
and when the latter is sufficiently hot the valve r is closed. The shaft k¹ of the
mashing machine is then rotated and the bevel wheel s¹ having been made, through
the medium of the clutch t, to gear with the wheel s, the screw c is rotated. The
slide jis next drawn out and the valves f and m having been opened to an extent
determined by the adjustment, through the handle p¹, of the rod o' in its socket,
the grist and water pass to the mashing machine in definite proportions and at a
determined rate of supply until altered by a different adjustment of the suid valves
and change of rate of rotation of the shaft d of the screw c.
Instead of working in conjunction, as represented in the drawing, the valves f
and m may be arranged to work separately and independently.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In the process of brewing ale, porter and the like, the interposition between
the grist bin and the mashing machine of a screw propellor arranged to rotate in a
chamber at any desired rate, whereby the grist is fed to the mashing machine at a
uniform speed capable of nice control, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The hooded valve f, or its equivalent, for governing the communication between
the grist bin and the chamber containing the screw propellor.
3. In the process of brewing ale, porter and the like, the use of a valve such as m
for regulating the supply of water to the mashing machine, such valve being arranged
either to be operated independently, of, or, by a system of levers, in conjunction with
the valve in the grist bin.
4. The throat-piece for conducting the grist from the screw to the mashing
machine and fitted with a sliding door such as 1 for governing the communication
with the mashing machine, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The arrangement of rods and levers for enabling the valves f and m to work
in conjunction, and the handles and gearing for operating the same, as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of August 1889.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Applicant's Agent.