Improvements in Apparatus for Germinating Grain, also for Drying and Mixing Grain, and other Products.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1898
Improvements in Apparatus for Germinating Grain, also for
Drying and Mixing Grain, and other Products.
ALFRED GOUGH, Saffron Walden, Essex, Maltster, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to facilitate & to improve the germinating of grain
& the higher drying of malt (without impairing the color) for brewers & distillers
purposes, the apparatus is also suitable for the thorough drying & mixing of grain
and other products. For the purpose of this invention a shaft or spindle is laid
horizontal and to revolve upon bearings, on each end of shaft a disc is hung, arms
of equal number (preferable four) are fixed to each disc, the arms are somewhat
circular & preferable from nine to twelve inches in width & of sufficient strength to
carry the weight required, woven wire or perforated metal sheets are fixed on both
the edges of each arm & extend from the arms on one disc to the arms on the other
disc, thereby forming chambers (I call these chambers by way of describing them)
the woven wire, or metal sheets are fixed at the (disc) end of arms to angle irons
which angle irons run parallel with the shaft & are fixed between every two of the
arms (consequently if there are four arms on each disk there will be four angle irons)
a space is left between the angle irons & the shaft for the free circulation of the
contents from one chamber to the other, the space between the ends of arms (that
is from arms one one disc to the arms of the other disc) are enclosed by iron doors,
these doors are hung to the angle irons which are fixed to the end of arms (on both
edges) on one disc & are extended to the arms of the other dise, for the purpose of
fastening the woven wire to slide valves are fitted in each iron door for discharging
contents, thereby avoiding too great a rush at the commencement of discharging
but the doors must be opened to effect a clearance, a number of spreaders are fixed
diagonally in each chamber for the thorough mixing of the contents when the
apparatus is revolved. Pockets are made in each chamber for the purpose of
extracting samples, the same pockets may be used for ascertaining the temperature.
The apparatus may be revolved by fixing tooth gearing to one of the disc or may be
driven from the shaft, should the shaft be too long between the two disc
intermediate disc and arms should be added. The object of the arms being
somewhat circular is to give the chambers (when the apparatus is used for malting)
a position that will facilitate the even growth of grain during germination & check
the grain from rushing too rapidly from one chamber to the other, thereby avoiding
injury to the germ or rootlets. The malt may be dried at a much higher temperature
(without impairing the color) in consequence of the facilitaties for immediate & if
necessary continuously revolving, during the curing process & changing position of
the malt. Shields are fixed to the frame to direct heat as required. When the
apparatus is used for drying a pan for holding the fuel is simply placed under the
apparatus between two sets of arms or chambers.
Dated thin Olot day of Man 1807

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Germinating Grain, also for
Drying and Mixing Grain, and other Products.
I, ALFRED GOUGH, of Saffron Walden, Essex, Malster, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to facilitate and to improve the germinating of grain
and the higher drying of malt (without imparing the colour) for brewers and distillers
purposes, the apparatus is also suitable for the thorough drying and mixing of grain
and other products.
For the purpose of this invention, a shaft or spindle is laid horizontal and' to revolve
upon bearings, on each end of shaft a disc is hung, arms of equal number (prefer-
ably four) are fixed to each disc, the arins are somewhat curved or segmental and
preferable from nine to twelve inches in width and of sufficient strength to carry the
weight required. Woven wire or perforated metal sheets are fixed on both the edges
of each arm and extend from the arms on one disc to the arms on the other disc,
thereby forming separate chambers (I call these chambers, by way of describing
them), the woven wire or metal sheets are fixed at the (disc) end of arms to angle
irons, which angle irons run parallel with the shaft and are fixed between every two
of the arms (consequently if there are four arms on each disc, there will be four angle
irons) a space is left between the angle irons and the shaft for the transfer of the.
contents from one chamber to the other during the rotation, the space between the
ends of arms (that is from arms on one disc to the arms on the other disc) are enclosed.
by iron doors, these doors are hung to the angle irons which are fixed to the end of
arms (on both edges) on one disc and are extended to the arms on the other disc for
the purpose of fastening the woven wire to, slide valves are fitted in each iron door
for discharging contents thereby avoiding too great a rush at the commencement of
discharging but the doors must be opened to effect a clearance, a number of spreaders
are fixed diagonally in each chamber for the thorough mixing of the contents when
the apparatus is revolved. Doors, as pockets, are made in each chamber for the
purpose of extracting samples, the same pockets may be used for ascertaining tem-
perature. The apparatus may be revolved by fixing tooth gearing to one of the discs
or may be driven from the shafts, should the shaft be too long between the two discs,
intermediate discs and arins should be added, the object of the arms being somewhat
circular is to give the chambers (when the apparatus is used for malting) a position
that will facilitate the even growth of grain during germination and check the grain
from rushing too rapidly from one chamber to the other, thereby avoiding injury to
the germs or rootlets, the malt may be dried at a much higher temperature (without
impairing the colour) in consequence of the continuous revolving during the curing
process and change of position of the malt, shields are fixed to the frame to direct
heat as required when the apparatus is used for drying, a pan for holding the fuel is
simply placed under the apparatus between two sets of arms or chambers.
My invention will be clearly understood by the annexed diagram in which A, A,
are the curved arms. B the disc, one being at each end and secured to the
shaft C as to be rotatable slowly by belt on the pulley D, or by gearing, as
desired.
The shaft and apparatus are supported by standards E, E, or as desired. F, F, are
wire work or perforated metal sides connected to the curved arms A, A, and constituting
winged casings which are held at the respective distance apart by angle rods or
bars G, G. H, H, are sliding or hinged doors or covers affixed to the angled bars &, G,
for removal when the grain or other material has to be inserted or removed. I, I, are

page_text: test pockets capable of being removed for testing samples when desired for ascertaining
the colour or other necessary operation without stopping the apparatus. J, J, are
deflectors within the apparatus against which the grain can gently fall and so be
separated and turned over during the revolutions of the apparatus.
The apparatus is open as regards the central part, so that grain can fall from the
descending leaf or container into its lower neighbour or into the lower of the opposite
one or to flow partly into one and partly into the other, the grain being to a certain
extent continually changing its position, so that each part of each separate grain and
the whole charge collectively is under the same treatment.
K represents a pan in which fuel can be burnt for the necessary heat to be imparted
to the apparatus and grain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The apparatus shown on the accompanying diagram, consisting of winged casings
of meshed sides connected at the ends to discs, fixed on a shaft and closed at their
outer parts only, the inner parts being open for the passage of the grain or other
product under treatment, substantially as described.
2. The improved construction of apparatus for germinating grain also for drying
and mixing grain and other products, as represented on the annexed diagram and
as described.
The 21st day of February 1898.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Alfred Gough.