US3589684A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Malting apparatus
Assignee: Dixon Malt Co Ltd
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Filing: 1968-05-31
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A malting vessel has a vertical tube set within it, with its ends spaced from the top and bottom of the vessel, and there is a feed screw or a gas stream active in the tube so that a circulation of contents may be set up throughout the vessel, at will. Air or other gas at controlled temperature, humidity and pressure can be injected into the vessel at any time. When a feed screw is used it preferably has a special construction, with a conically flared lower end, the pitch of the screw in this region being progressively inversely proportional to its diameter. A novel method of malting involves the setting up of a circulation of grain in a vessel in such a way that part of the grain batch is rising while another part is falling, gas being optionally injected at least into the part of the circulation where grain is falling.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard Dixon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:21
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12C; C12C1/00; C12C1/15; B; B01; B01F; B01F27/00; B01F27/80; B01F27/92; B01F27/921; B01F27/9211; C12C1/02; C12C1/027; C12C1/033; C12C1/067; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S366/00; Y10S366/601
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A malting apparatus which includes a vessel adapted to receive grain for malting and containing an inner vertical tube having ends spaced from the top and bottom of the vessel, elevating means adapted to elevate grain inside the inner tube from the bottom of the vessel towards the top, gas inlet means adapted to pass gas into the vessel at least adjacent the bottom of the vessel, and gas outlet means adapted to pass gas from the vessel at the top of the vessel, whereby a countercurrent of gas passing from gas inlet to gas outlet may be set up inside the vessel against grain elevated by the elevating means and falling outside the tube from the top of the tube to adjacent the bottom of the vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A malting apparatus which includes a vessel adapted to receive grain for malting and containing an inner vertical tube having ends spaced from the top and bottom of the vessel, elevating means adapted to elevate grain inside the inner tube from the bottom of the vessel towards the top, gas inlet means adapted to pass gas into the vessel at least adjacent the bottom of the vessel, and gas outlet means adapted to pass gas from the vessel at the top of the vessel, whereby a countercurrent of gas passing from gas inlet to gas outlet may be set up inside the vessel against grain elevated by the elevating means and falling outside the tube from the top of the tube to adjacent the bottom of the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elevating means is a nozzle directed to discharge gas up the inner tube and served by a high-pressure gas inlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein means are provided for conditioning the gas discharged from the nozzle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elevating means is a feed screw, working in the inner tube and means are provided for driving the screw in rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the bottom end of the screw sweeps a horizontal, planar baseplate of the vessel, an openable outlet for grain is provided at the bottom of the vessel radially outside of the horizontal, planar baseplate, and the drive means for the screw are reversible whereby on reversal of the drive means and opening of the outlet, the bottom end of the screw aids discharge of grain from the outlet by pushing it from the baseplate radially towards and out of the outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the said baseplate is perforated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 4 wherein, adjacent and above the top of the screw, there is provided a plurality of paddles rotatable with the screw.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inner tube is stationary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said gas inlet means is a gallery peripherally around the vessel and having a gas-passing surface flush with an inner peripheral wall of the vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the said wall has a cylindrical portion and a frustoconical base portion and the said gallery is provided in the said cylindrical portion, closely adjacent the frustoconical base portion, and a second said gallery is provided, spaced from and above the first.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A malting vessel according to claim 1 wherein additional to the said gas inlet means, at least one further gas inlet means is provided, at at least one level between the first said inlet and the said gas outlet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
A malting apparatus which includes a vessel containing an inner vertical tube having ends spaced from the top and bottom of the vessel, a feed screw acting to move grain upwardly inside the inner tube, means for driving the feed screw in rotation aNd means for passing gas into the vessel at least outside the inner tube, the screw being formed around a central shaft which has a conical skirt at its base portion, the base portion of the screw being formed around the conical skirt and fitting within a corresponding conical flared portion of the inner tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
A malting apparatus which includes a vessel containing an inner vertical tube having ends spaced from the top and bottom of the vessel, a feed screw acting to move grain upwardly inside the inner tube, means for driving the feed screw in rotation aNd means for passing gas into the vessel at least outside the inner tube, the screw being formed around a central shaft which has a conical skirt at its base portion, the base portion of the screw being formed around the conical skirt and fitting within a corresponding conical flared portion of the inner tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the screw terminates at its base in a shovel part, protruding below the conical flared portion of the tube and of a size to sweep, during one revolution, the gap between the base of the flared portion of the tube and the bottom of the vessel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the pitch of the base portion of the screw is progressively inversely proportional to the square of the diameter of the conical skirt.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A malting apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the central shaft is hollow and has gas-passing apertures.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
A malting apparatus which includes a vessel containing an inner vertical tube having ends spaced from the top and bottom of the vessel, elevating means comprising a feed screw working in the inner tube to cause a lifting vertical movement of grain in the inner tube, the grain being free to fall outside the inner tube but inside the vessel, variable speed motor means to drive said screw means, and control means to alter the speed of the motor in accordance with temperature conditions sensed in the vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
A malting apparatus which includes a vessel containing an inner vertical tube having ends spaced from the top and bottom of the vessel, elevating means comprising a feed screw working in the inner tube to cause a lifting vertical movement of grain in the inner tube, the grain being free to fall outside the inner tube but inside the vessel, variable speed motor means to drive said screw means, and control means to alter the speed of the motor in accordance with temperature conditions sensed in the vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |