Improvements in the Method of Malting and Drying Grain, and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1890-Accepted, 14th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in the Method of Malting and Drying Grain, and in
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
1 JAMES SLEEMAN of Taunton 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 effect improvements in the method of malting and
drying grain, and in machinery or apparatus for effecting the same. My present
invention or some part or parts thereof, being also applicable to, and capable of being
used in connection with certain inventions having a similar object to the present
invention, and with the air tight chamber described in the Specification filed with my
first application No. 108918.
My invention consists of a malting case, which is covered with woven wire,
perforated metal, or other suitable material, which allows the free passage of the air,
and is capable of being revolved upon suitable bearings by pulleys, toothed wheels,
or other means.
This malting case is preferably of cylindrical shape and through the case longi-
tudinally a number of tubes formed of perforated metal, or of a metal framework
around which is wrapped a woven wire envelope.
These tubes are fitted to corre-
sponding openings in the ends of the case, and when open, form continuous air
passages through both ends and body of the case. To each end of every passage a
slide is fixed which can be closed and the passage of air through either end of the
case stopped.
At each end of, but at a little distance from the case, I place an air tight chamber,
or hollow drum to serve as a reservoir for air. These air reservoirs are made to com-
municate by means of controllable passages with the perforated tubes, running through
the malting case, before referred to, so that air can be forced or drawn through the
perforated tubes from or into these air reservoirs, and the malt or grain, in the body
of the malting case, be thereby aerated; or air may be drawn or forced through the
perforated tubes without the intervention of the air reservoirs.
These longitudinal tubes may or may not communicate with each other by means
of cross tubes. To some or all of these longitudinal tubes, running through the
malting case, I attach radial arms or spikes, which may or may not be tubular and
perforated. When desirable to close the ends of the radial tubes, I do so by means of
caps which can be screwed on or taken off for cleansing the tubes.
A similar arrange-
ment of screw caps may be fitted to the longitudinal tubes.
These longitudinal tubes are so fixed as to be capable of being, either independently
or in unison revolved by toothed wheels or other suitable gear.
The malting case may revolve independently of the tubes, and all or any of the tubes
may be revolved within the case independently of the case.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Malting and Drying Grain, and in
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
JAMES SLEEMAN, of Taunton 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 effect improvements in the method of malting and
LD 077

page_text: drying grain, and in machinery or apparatus for effecting the same. My present
invention, or some part or parts thereof, being also applicable to, and capable of being
used in connection with a certain invention having a similar object to the present
invention, and with the air tight chamber described in my former specification
No. 108910.
My invention consists of a inalting case, with is covered with woven wire, per-
forated metal or other suitable material, which allows the free passage of the air, and
is capable of being revolved upon suitable bearings by pulleys, toothed wheels, or
other means.
This malting case is preferably of cylindrical shape and through the case longi-
tudinally a number of tubes formed of perforated metal, or of a metal framework
around which is wrapped a woven wire envelope. These tubes are fitted to corre--
sponding openings in the ends of the case, and, when open, form continuous air
passages through both ends and body of the case. To each end of every passage a
slide is fixed which can be closed and the passage of air through either end of the case
stopped. These slides are so made that, by the revolution of the case the slides or
some of them, are caused to act automatically, and shut off or admit air to the passages
as required.
At each end of the case I construct an airtight chamber, or ho.low drum to serve as
a reservoir for air. These air reservoirs are inade to communicate by means of con-
trollable passages with the perforated tubes, running through the inalting case, before
referred to, so that air can be forced or drawn through the perforated tubes from or into
these air reservoirs, and the malt or grain, in the body of the malting case, be thereby
aërated; or air may be drawn or forced through the perforated tubes without the
intervention of the air reservoirs. These air reservoirs are supplied with air by air-tight
tubes, which run through the outer chamber.
The longitudinal tubes are sometimes fitted with cross tubes, so as to communicate
with each other, and in other cases such cross tubes are dispensed with.
When the longitudinal tubes are fitted with cross tubes they are so fitted in the case
as to be capable of being revolved, either independently or in unison with the case by
means of toothed wheels or other suitable gear.
The malting case may revolve independently of the tubes, and all the tubes
may be revolved within the case independently of the periphery of the case.
The circumference and ends of the malting case may or may not be formed with
notches or indentations running from the circumference towards the central line of
the case. When so formed each indentation extends longitudinally and continuously
the whole length of the case, so that when the case is charged with grain or malt, the
walls of these indentations form wedges of air space running into the mass of grain
or malt.
When the case is being revolved, the walls of these indentations serve as shelves
or lifts to carry the malt or grain upwards and let it fall again, and thereby turn it
over.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation (partly in section) illustrating my invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, showing the tubes running through the rotating
case.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the malting case illustrating the indentations, when applied
thereto, and Fig. 4 is a section, on the line 1-2 of Fig. 2.
a is an airtight chamber, which may be constructed of brick, iron, or other suitable
material. bbare passages for air. c is an inlet for water. d is an outlet for water.
e is a louvred outlet for air and gases. f is a fan for exhausting the air and gas from
the chamber. is the revolving malting and germinating case, covered with woven
wire or similar material. h h are air-tight chambers, fitted at each end of the
revolving case. kare perforated tubes fitted with selfacting valves at each end
(the valves not being shown in the drawings).

page_text: These valves may be either slide or flap valves and they are so fitted that, when
below the horizontal diameter of the case, they open and allow air to pass from the
chambers hand, when above such horizontal diameter, the valves close the ends of
the tubes.
Selfacting valves are not required to the tubes m m as these are too near the centre
to be usually covered with malt at any part of the revolution of the drum.
the wedge formed channels in the periphery of the drum.
n n are
The malting case being charged with grain, water is admitted into the chamber a
by the inlet c. As soon as there is sufficient water in the chamber the malting case
is caused to revolve by means of the driving pulley p and wheels as as described
in 1089180). When the grain is thoroughly washed the foul water is drained away
through d. Fresh clean water is then admitted and steeping is commenced. During
steeping the inalting case is revolved either intermittently or continuously in the
water. When the steeping is completed all the water is drained off and germination
commences, for which purpose fresh pure air is admitted by being forced through the
inlet tubes bb into the air reservoirs hh, and from thence through the lower set of
tubes (with their valves open) into the body of the case and among the malt.
During germination the malting case is also revolved, either intermittently or
continuously, and the gas and foul air are drawn away by the fan f
The indentations or lifts n n carry the malt or grain up and drop it again, and
so completely turn it over and separate the grains.
When the case is revolving the weighted valves shut off the air from the upper
series of tubes and thus prevent the passage of air to those tubes which are not
covered by grain. When carried down again these valves open, and, in their turn,
permit the passage of the air.
The valves to the central tubes may be fixed open or shut, as desired.
When germination has been completed, hot air is forced in among the malt
(instead of cold fresh air, as before) and the malt is dried and cured, the malting
case being revolved during the process, so that the malt is being constantly turned
over while hot air is being forced among the grains, and the reek and damp air
is at the same time carried away by the fan as fast as it is given off by the
malt.
All air and water admitted to the chamber are previously purified, and the air is
tempered and rendered dry or humid as required by the particular stage of the
process; but I do not claim any special means for tempering and purifying such
air and water.
I fit suitable doors or apertures for the charging and discharging of the malting
case.
The following advantages are obtained by the use of my invention :-
1. The malting case may be charged with grain, such grain, before it leaves the
case, being washed, steeped, germinated and kilned, with little or no manual labour,
and leaving case finished malt.
2. The washing of the grain, through the rotation of the case and internal tubes,
is completely effected.
3. The steeping in perfectly clean, pure water, is evenly effected, and it can be
aërated during steeping.
4. The germination is more uniform than by ordinary methods; and, owing to the
fact that the grain is thoroughly cleansed, and that all air and water admitted is first
thoroughly purified, and the temperature of the air and water controlled,--the danger
of mould or other damage is reduced to a minimum, and the malting can be carried
on regardless of the outside temperature.
5. The kilning is more perfect, since the heated air being continuously and
uniformly dispersed by the tubes among the grain, as it is turned over in the
revolving case, every grain receives practically the same treatment, and the same
amount of heat; and the whole mass is gradually dried and cooked, the reek being
carried away by the fan immediately it is given off by the malt.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
lion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The improvements in the method of malting and drying grain, and in machinery
or apparatus therefore substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
2. In combination with machinery for malting and drying grain the application
and use of the revolving case a, fitted with chambers h h and perforated tubes having
self-acting valves which automatically close, when inverted by rising above the
horizontal diameter of the case and open when falling below the same, substantially
as herein before described and illustrated_by_the_drawings.
Dated 27th May 1800
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.