Improvements in the Malting of Grain.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1895-Accepted, 1st June 1895
Improvements in the Malting of Grain.
1, JOHN WASHINGTON FREE, of 149 West 55th Street, New York City, in
the State of New York one of the United States of America, Manufacturer,
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:-
The malting of grain is a process, the duration of which, in any particular case,
depends very largely upon the temperature of the atmosphere to which the grain is
exposed, but the success of the process is largely dependent not only upon its
duration but upon other conditions, such as the degree of humidity and purity of
the atmosphere in which the germination and drying of the grain takes place.
Heretofore, so far as I am aware, practically nothing more than the natural
conditions at hand, such as the state of the atmosphere outside the malting or
drying house, have been taken advantage of in facilitating the process, as in
ordinary ventilation, involving the exclusion of the outside air in cold, or the
admission of the same in warm weather, according as it seemed desirable to hasten
or retard the natural processes going on in the grain.
From this it has resulted that uniform success in malting is rare, and too great
difference, in the character of the results accomplished by maltsters, generally exists,
to be accounted for by their various degree of skill alone.
Recognizing these facts, I conceived the plan of producing artificially the
ideal conditions which have been recognized among maltsters, so as not only to
secure uniformity in the attendant conditions of each operation, independently
of the outside influence of humidity and temperature, but also in character of the
product.
I have, therefore, designed a malting house, which may include a drying room or
kiln, or if not, then the same provisions may be applied to the kiln also, in
connection with which I employ a source of cold air, and a source of warm air,
with flues for conveying the same respectively from such sources, and delivering it
to the different portions of the house, and a system of ventilation.
'
The supply of either cold or warın air, or both, is regulated, both as to quantity
and proportion, by suitable devices for the purpose, and the ventilation is effected
by a positive draught, so that the exact conditions of the air in the maiting house
generally, or in any chamber or compartment in which the malting process may be
going on, may be readily ascertained and controlled.
In the present case, in illustration of my improvements, I have shown in the
accompanying drawing a malting house with a number of growing floors or
compartments, including a drying floor, but it will be understood that the invention
is applicable generally to any chamber, compartment or receptacle in which grain
may be malted.
The drawing shows a malt-house in vertical transverse section. The grain to be
malted is carried in any convenient manner to the upper Hoor L, where are located
the soaking tubs I, and the grain is emptied from the tubs into any one of the
series of growing chambers M below.
Each of these chambers M is provided with an apparatus for stirring the grain,
but this is indicated in one of the chambers only. Any means or device may be
employed for this purpose, though I prefer to use a special apparatus B' designed
by and patented to me under No. 8375 of 1893.

page_text: As the germination of malt takes a longer time than is required to soak it for
germination, or to dry it after germination, three or more growing chambers are
provided for one soaking chamber L, and one drying chamber N, and proper
provision will, in practice, be made for conducting the grain from any of the upper
floors to the desired floor below.
In the construction shown in the drawing the- drying chamber is below the
growing chambers M, and the germinated grain from any of the growing chambers
is to be conducted, as above described, to the drying chamber.
Below the level of the drying chamber are a series of chambers or
compartments O, P, Q. In one of these compartments, as Q, is located a
furnace C, from which rises a chimney, 7. This chimney communicates by flues q
with the upper portion of each of the growing and drying chambers, and these
flues g', are provided with shut-off valves or dampers c, as shown, by which they can
be opened into or shut off from the interior of the chimney q.
In the chamber O, is a bank of pipe B for steam or hot water heated by the
furnace in the compartment Q, and air circulating among or forced up around the
pipes is heated and made to pass up through the perforated floor of the drying
chamber N, to dry the malt in that chamber.
A flue o also leads from the compartment O to the chambers M, with each of
which connection is made through a branch o', entering said chambers near the
floor. In each of said branches is a damper or valve d, by means of which the
amount of warm air admitted to any one of said chambers may be controlled and
regulated. Between each floor and in the flue o, is also a shut-off valve f, by which
the tue may be closed to the chamber above.
The compartment P is a refrigerating chamber and contains ice, or any means
for artificially cooling the air. From this chamber rises a Alue P, which
communicates by means of branches p', with the upper portion of each of the
growing chambers M, and in each of which branches is a valve or damper è, as
shown in the upper chamber M, the valves in the other chambers being concealed
behind the flue o.
By means of the valves d and e, the amount or proportion of warm or cold air,
or both, is or may be regulated, thus permitting the operator to maintain the
temperature of the growing chambers at any desired degree, while the branch flues
connecting with the chimney q, allow the air in these chambers to be constantly
drawn off, and thus prevented from injuring the malt, which it would do if it were
allowed to remain'in contact with it, without ventilation.
The flues for conveying the hot and cold air to the growing chambers are closed
at their upper ends, and it will be understood that any suitable apparatus may be
employed to create a forced draught of either. The presence of the adjustable
valves or dampers serves to check and modify the draught through the flues and
to distribute the air which the flues deliver equally to the different chambers. It
will also be understood that the purpose of connecting the ventilating branches q¹
with the chimney is to take advantage of the draught therein, and that any other
similar flue with special means for creating a draught therein may be substituted
for this.
In lieu of the specific devices herein shown and described for accomplishing the
objects of this invention, any other equivalent means for the same purpose may be
employed, the invention not being limited in this respect.
The take-up or draught y should be connected with both the growing and the
drying chambers, but no connection need be made between the hot and cold air
flues and the drying chamber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the malting chambers, of an air heater, an air cooler,
an air flue leading from the said heater to the malting chambers, another air flue

page_text: leading from the said cooler to the malting chambers, a ventilating flue, and
controlling valves, whereby either heated or cooled air may be admitted. to
any one of the said chambers, independently of every other one, substantially as
described.
2. The combination with the malting chambers, of a hot air flue o with branches
entering the lower portion of each chamber, the cold air flue p with branches
entering the upper portion of each chamber, the draught or take-up flue q with the
branches from the upper portion of each chamber, and controlling valves or dampers
in each of the branches of the several flues, as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1895.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.