IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF GRAIN, AND IN THE PROCESS OF MALTING, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Rowland Taylor, of the City of Oxford,
Brewer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
GRAIN, AND IN THE PROCESS OF MALTING, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
Sealed the 29th May 1866, and dated the 1st December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Rowland Taylor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st December 1865.
I, WILLIAM ROWLAND TAYLOR, of the City of Oxford, Brewer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT:
OF GRAIN, AND IN THE PROCESS OF MALTING, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is, first, to temperate the grain whilst in the
cistern during the process of malting; second, to extract the foetid oil and
other impurity contained in the grain; third, to prevent the formation of
mould or the decomposition of those grains which do not vegetate; and,

page_text: fourth, to introduce a light which shall have the same action upon the grain
as total darkness, at the same time admitting air to the sprouting grain.
In carrying out this Invention I construct the cistern in the following
manner-Of whatever shape it may be I introduce a perforated false bottom
with as many holes in it as possible, the false bottom being constructed of
wood, porcelain, or any other suitable material. Under or above the false
bottom I introduce perforated coils or pipes of any suitable shape or form.
The water or temperated water which flows in at the bottom is drawn off at
the top of the cistern by means of a perforated pipe surrounding the top of the
cistern, every hole or perforation sucking equally. The pipe is on a perfect
level, and as the syphon when put in action requires more liquid than the
whole of the perforations in the pipe will supply, a perfect suction from every
hole is obtained; or the water may be introduced at the top in a divided
state and drawn off at the bottom. The temperature of the corn is regulated
by causing water or temperated water in a divided state to flow on the top of
the grain, such water running in at the top and at the same time running off
at the bottom. In those cases where the duty is charged by weight of corn
the cisterns may be constructed of any shape or form, and the water or tem-
perated water introduced therein in any convenient manner, and machinery
of any kind may be used for the purpose of 'agitating and of extracting any
inipurity contained in the said grain. It is further proposed to introduce into
the cisterns employed in steeping the grain a solution, herein-after described,
for retaining the starch and other constituents in a sound state in damaged
grain, thereby preventing the decomposition of the damaged grain during the
time of steeping, or before the grain is thrown out of the cistern. The
solution which I propose to use, as herein-before described, is a solution of
bisulphate of lime, which I make as follows:-I pass sulphurous acid. gas into
milk of lime till the solution becomes clear and smells of. sulphurous: acid;
then I evaporate carefully without boiling, when bisulphate; will be left;
but I prefer adding the above solution without evaporating it to the water
in the cistern, or to the water employed for sprinkling the corn when it
is on the malting floor, as herein-after described. A constant supply of
water or temperated water is caused to pass through the grain during the
time of steeping from the time of wetting to the time of draining. Whilst
the grain is vegetating upon the floors it is further proposed to sprinkle the
said grain with the above-described solution of the bisulphite of lime, or with'
any other 'solution which will have the effect of preventing the decomposition
of those grains which do not vegetate, thereby retaining the said grains in a

page_text: sound state. All windows or shafts for the admission of light and air to malt-
houses are to be covered with canvas, calico, or any other suitable material of
a yellow colour, or of any other colour which may be equivalent in its action
upon the grain to darkness, whereby the effect of darkness upon the grain is
obtained with the advantages of light in the malt house.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Rowland Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROWLAND TAYLOR, of the City of Oxford, Brewer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent; bearing date the First day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the Twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give. and grant unto me, the
said William Rowland Taylor, Her special license that I, the said William
Rowland Taylor, my executors, administrators; and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Rowland Taylor, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the terin therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF GRAIN, AND IN THE PROCESS OF MALTING,
AND IN THE APPARATUS. EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others)
that. I, the said. William Rowland Taylor, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Rowland Taylor, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-.
My said Invention has for its object, firstly, to temperate grain whilst in

page_text: the cistern during the process of malting; secondly, to extract the foetid oil
and other impurity contained in the grain; thirdly, to prevent the formation
of mould or the decomposition of those grains which have not germinated or
vegetated; and, fourthly, to introduce a light which shall have the same
action upon the grain as total darkness, at the same time admitting air to the
.sprouting grain.
In carrying out my Invention in practice I construct the cistern in the fol-
lowing manner, of whatever shape it may be :-I introduce a perforated false
bottom with as many holes in it as possible, the false bottom being constructed
of wood, porcelain, or any other suitable material. Under or above the false
bottom I introduce perforated coils or pipes of any suitable shape or form.
The water or temperated water which flows in at the bottom is drawn off at
the top of the cistern by means of a perforated pipe surrounding the top of
the cistern, every hole or perforation sucking equally. The pipe is on a
perfect level, and as the syphon when put in action requires more liquid than
the whole of the perforations in the pipe will supply a perfect suction from
every hole is obtained, or the water may be introduced at the top in a divided
state and drawn off at the bottom. The temperature of the corn is regulated
by causing water or temporated water in a divided state to flow on the top
of the grain, such water running in at the top and at the same time running
off at the bottom, or vice versa.
Figure 1 of the annexed Sheet of Drawings represents a side elevation with
à portion broken away of a steeping cistern and appurtenances constructed
and arranged according to my Invention, and Figure 2 is a corresponding plan
of the same.
Either cold or
A, A, (Figure 1) are the sides of the cistern which may be constructed in the
usual manner, and B (Figure 2) is a perforated false bottom extending over the
whole of the bottom of the cistern, and composed of perforated tiles, as shown,
or otherwise constructed. Round the inner sides of the cistern and near the
top edge thereof there is fitted a perforated pipe C, and beneath the false
bottom is situate another perforated pipe or coil of pipes D.
temperated water (that is to say, water which has had its temperature
elevated) is admitted into the cistern either through the bottom pipe D, and
drawn or run off through the perforations in the top pipe C and branch dis-
charge pipe E, which is provided with the stop cock F for that purpose after
passing up through the grain, or is admitted on to the grain from the top
pipe C (the stop-cock F being then closed) and allowed to descend through
the grain and pass off through the perforated pipe D by the drain pipe G and

page_text: stop-pipe H, which is to be opened for that purpose, or through the ordinary
or usual drain pipe. I is. the ordinary waste or overflow pipe to prevent any
accidental overflowing of the cistern. Should it be desired to maintain the
water level below the perforated pipe C, then the bent pipe K, which is fur-
nished with an air tube Z to prevent its acting as a syphon, and also with
telescopic or extending joints or slides at X, X, is brought into operation by
depressing the portion X,.X, to the desired level by, means, of the telescopic
slides and by opening. the cock L in the branch M leading into the bottom of
the cistern and closing the cock H in the pipe G, the pipes M and G are.
connected outside the cistern by the bent pipe K, so that the water as it
escapes must pass up and down the bent pipe K, the level of the bend thereof:
corresponding to the level at which the water will remain in the cistern. It
will thus be obvious. that the level of the water in the cistern will not rise.
bigher than the top of the bend in the pipe K, at which height the overflow
through the said pipe will commence.
.
In order that the water employed for steeping the grain may be of the
proper temperature, I propose to admit both hot and cold water together with
the same set of pipes, and to regulate the admission of the hot water accord-
ing to the temperature required which may be readily indicated by a thermo-.
meter placed at or near the part where the hot and cold water unite.
N is the inlet pipe for hot water fitted with a stop-cock n, and O. the inlet
for the cold water, also provided with a stop-cock o. These two pipes unite.
at a, where branches lead off to the upper and lower perforated pipes C and D,
respectively. c, c', and d are stop-cocks in the pipes C and D, by adjusting
which the flow is directed either through the pipe D from the bottom of the
cistern upwards, or through the pipe C from the top of the cistern down-
wards. By adjusting the hot and cold water cocks n and o the temperature.
of the water entering the cistern may be varied to any desired extent.
those cases where the duty is charged by weight of corn the cisterns may be
constructed of any shape or form, and the water or temperated water intro-
duced therein in any convenient manner, and machinery of any kind may be
used for the purpose of agitating and of extracting the foetid oil and other.
impurity contained in the said grain.
In
I further propose to introduce into the cistern employed in steeping grain
a solution, herein-after described, for retaining the starch and other con-
stituents in a sound state in damaged grain, thereby preventing the. decom-
position of the damaged grain during the time of steeping, or before the grain
is thrown out of the cistern. The solution which I propose to use, as

page_text: described above, is a solution of bisulphite of lime which may be prepared as
follows: I pass sulphurous acid gas into lime suspended in a sufficient
quantity of water until the solution of the lime is effected, and I then add
such solution to the water in the cistern or to the water employed for
sprinkling the corn when it is on the malting floor, as herein-after described,
or ordinary lime water may be used, or stone lime may be placed in the
cistern or under the false bottom. I cause a constant supply of water or
temperated water to pass through the grain during the time of steeping from
the time of wetting to the time of draining; and whilst the grain is vegetating
upon the floors I propose to sprinkle it with the above-described solution. of
the bisulphite of lime or with any other solution which will have the effect of
preventing the decomposition of those grains which have not germinated or
vegetated, and thereby retaining the said grains in a sound state.
I also propose to cover all windows or shafts for the admission of light and
air to malt houses with cavas, calico, or any other suitable material of a
yellow color or of any other color which may be equivalent in its action upon
the grain to darkness, whereby the retardation of the germination or vegetation
of the grain is effected whilst the advantages of light and air in the malt house
are retained.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the application and use to and in the steeping of grain in the process
of malting of a cistern provided with a perforated false bottom and with pipes
for admitting and drawing off the water or temperated water, arranged and
operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Second, the application and use of agitators or stirrers for operating upon
the corn whilst steeping in the cistern with a view to the extraction of the
foetid oil and other impurities therefrom.
Third, the application and use of a solution of bisulphite of lime, lime
water, or stone lime or an equivalent solution, whether applied to the corn
whilst steeping in the cistern or sprinkled over it whilst it is germinating or
vegetating upon the floors, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourth, the admission to malt houses of a yellow or other light having the
effect of darkness upon the grain, whilst at the same time the air is not

page_text: excluded, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Rowland Taylor, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Thirty-first day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
WILLIAM ROWLAND TAYLOR. (L.S.)