Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 18th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
I, CHARLES LAST, of 7, Gloucester Road, Trowbridge, in the County of Wilts,
maltster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates, firstly, to improvements in treating malt during germination
and drying and, in this regard, consists in providing in each "floor" or germinating
chamber a flue or flues or air passage or passages, preferably two, formed inside or
outside the walls next the "kiln house." One flue or set of flues or air passage or
passages opens at one end into the growing "floor" or chamber by apertures preferably
situated slightly above the level of the malt, and at the other end the said flue or set of
flues or air passage or passages opens into the space below the fire-bars of the furnace.
The communication is under control by means of valves, slides or dampers."
Carbonic acid and other gas, impure air and vapour evolved from the malt, more
especially during the process of turning, are carried off by this set of flues and readily
discharged through the furnace by the effect of the vacuum created by the
furnace and a current is induced in the flues or air passages and over the surface of
the malt. A second flue or set of flues or air passage or passages opens into the
"floor" by apertures preferably situated near the ceiling. At the other end the
second flue or set of flues opens into the "kiln house" and the air conducted by it or
them passes through the "kiln house," part thereof going through the furnace and
part directly into the kiln pit. The communication is controlled by means of doors
governing the exits into the kiln pit, and so constructed as to tend, when open, to
deflect the air upwards.
By these flues or air passages a current of air is induced over the germinating malt
and the temperature of the growing floors or chambers is capable of nice regulation.
To protect the malt from the effect of direct draughts of air and from consequent
uneven growing, and also to shield it from the damaging effects of direct exposure to
the sun's rays, the apertures by which the air is admitted to the "floors , or chambers
are governed by shutters which are constructed to incline inwards from the bottom
when opened. The air is, as it enters, thus deflected upwards towards the ceiling and
the sun's rays are obstructed without excluding the necessary light.

page_text: This invention relates, secondly, to the treatment of malt while on the drying floor
of the kiln, and consists in means for rapidly discharging the steam or vapour generated.
in the early stages in the process of drying. According to this invention there is
provided for this purpose in the kiln roof an upper and lower outlet or series of outlets,
the upper preferably furnished with a cowl or cowls. A second outlet or series of
outlets or windows, controlled by shutters, is also provided in the roof at a lower level
than the outlets above mentioned. The steam or vapour generated is allowed to escape
through the lower openings and when this has taken place the said openings are closed,
the desired temperature is maintained and the upward draught continued through the
upper apertures.
This invention relates, thirdly, to an improvement in the kiln pit and consists in
constructing the same with straight sides directly converging towards the bottom in
the form of a truncated cone or pyramid. With this form of pit no place of lodg-
ment is afforded for malt-dust, "combings or refuse descending through the
perforations of the drying floor, and the heated air is assisted to rise more directly to
the floor.
دو
This invention relates, lastly, to an improvement in the furnace of a malt kiln and
consists in making the fire-bars of increasing depth from the front to the back of the
furnace. By the adoption of such fire bars the air entering between them is more
uniformly and efficiently heated and the draught thereby increased.
1
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Malt Houses and Kilns.
I, CHARLES LAST, of 7 Gloucester Road, Trowbridge in the county of Wilts,
maltster, 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 relates, firstly, to improvements in treating malt during germination
and drying, and, in this regard, consists in providing in each "floor" or germinating
chamber air passages communicating with the kiln house.
The air passages are arranged in series or sets, one set being situated towards the
ceiling and the other towards the bottom or floor of each drying chamber. Each
passage is governed by a slide or damper. By the said passages carbonic acid and
other gas, impure air and vapour evolved from the malt, more especially during the
operation of turning the same, are conducted and discharged into the kiln house, the
current being induced in that direction by the draught of the furnace.
Of the current passing into the kiln house, part goes through the furnace and part
directly into the kiln pit through apertures controlled by doors so constructed as to
deflect the current upwards to blend with the products of combustion of the fuel in
the furnace.
To protect the malt from the effects of direct draughts or currents of air and to
obviate consequent uneven growth, and also to shield it from direct exposure to the
sun's rays, the apertures by which the external atmosphere is admitted to the "floors"
or chambers are fitted with shutters constructed to incline inwards in such manner as
to deflect the incoming air upward and also to obstruct the sun's direct rays without
excluding the necessary light.
This invention relates, secondly, to the treatment of malt while on the drying floor
of the kiln, and consists in means for rapidly dissipating the steam, vapour or
"reek"
given off in the early stages of the process of drying.
For this purpose two series of outlets are provided in the upper part of the kiln,
one series being at a higher level than the other. The lower series is provided with
shutters for closing the outlets when required.
The steam, heavy vapour or "reek" evolved from the malt is allowed to escape
through the lower series of outlets, and when this has taken place the shutters afore-
said are closed and the upward draught is maintained through the higher series of
outlets.
This invention relates, thirdly, to an improvement in the kiln pit, and consists in
constructing the same with straight sides directly converging towards the bottom in
the form of a truncated cone or pyramid. With this form of pit no place of lodge-
ment is afforded for malt-dust, "combings" or refuse descending through the
perforations of the drying floor, and the heated air is assisted to rise more uniformly
to the floor.
This invention relates, lastly, to an improvement in the furnace of a malt kiln, and
consists in making the fire bars deeper at the back than at the front. By the adoption
of such fire bars the air entering between them is more readily and efficiently heated
and the draught is thereby increased.

page_text: Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal
section of a malt house and kiln adjoining. Fig. 2 is a partial transverse section
through the kiln.
According to that part of this invention which relates to the treatment of malt
during germination and drying, the wall A which separates the drying "floors" B
from the kiln house C is provided at intervals both towards the ceiling and towards
the floor of each chamber with passages a which communicate with the "floors" and
the kiln house. Each passage is governed by a door a¹.
Through the passages a carbonic acid and other gas, impure air and vapour evolved
from the malt, more especially during the operation of turning the same, are
conducted and discharged into the kiln house C, a current being induced in that
direction by the draught of the furnace D of the kiln. The external atmosphere is
admitted to the growing chambers through the windows E governed by the shutters F
constructed to incline inwards, as seen at Fig. 3, in such manner as to deflect the
incoming air upwards and to exclude the direct rays of the sun, and draughts, but, at
the same time, admitting the necessary light and air.
Of the current which passes, as aforesaid, into the kiln house, a part goes through
the furnace D and a part directly into the kiln pit & through apertures H controlled
by doors I so arranged as to deflect the current upward.
2
This invention consists, secondly, in providing a double set of outlets K and L in
the upper part of the kiln. The lower set L is provided with shutters M. The steam,
reek" evolved from the malt in the early stage of drying is allowed to
escape through the lower series of outlets. The shutters are then closed and the
necessary upward draught passes through the upper apertures K.
vapour or
This invention consists, thirdly, in constructing the kiln-pit G with straight sides n
directly converging towards the bottom. No place is afforded for lodgement of malt
dust, "combings" or refuse descending through the perforations in the floor o, and the
heated air rises more evenly to the floor.
This invention consists, lastly, in the adoption for the furnace of fire bars r which
are deeper at the back than at the front.
By the use of such fire bars the air as it ascends between them becomes more
uniformly and effectually heated and an increased draught is induced in the furnace
This invention is also applicable to drying hops.
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 use in treating malt, when in the growing chambers, of passages such as a
whereby a current is induced over the malt towards the kiln, and carbonic acid and
other gas or fumes are conducted to the furnace, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. In a malt kiln, providing above the kiln floor two sets of apertures or windows
such as K and L at different heights, the latter fitted with shutters, for the escape of
steam vapour or "reek" given off by the malt while being dried on the kiln floor,
substantially as herein before described.
3. Providing a malt kiln pit with straight sides converging from the floor
downwards, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying
sheet of illustrative drawings.
4. In the furnace of a malt kiln, the employment of fire bars such as r of increasing
depth from the front to the back of the furnace, as hereinbefore described and shown
on the accompanying drawing.