Patent US3853713A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3853713A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for processing granular and other materials
Assignee: Phildon Eng Co Pty Ltd
•
Filing: 1972-10-02
•
Granted: 1974-12-10
•
Expires: 1992-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of malting including the use of apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum mounted with its axis substantially horizontal and being rotatable about that axis, and which is divided longitudinally by a perforated floor member into a grain compartment and a fluid compartment. The process involves steeping, germination and drying of the grain, and each of those stages is performed with the grain contained within the drum. In the steeping stage the drum is rotated so that liquid can mix with grain in the grain compartment, and when the drum is held stationary with grain supported on the perforated floor, excess liquid drains into the fluid compartment. In the germinating and drying stages, the drum is held stationary at least part of the time with the grain supported on the perforated floor member, and a stream of air is caused to flow upwardly through the floor member and the bed of grain. Air entering the space above the bed of grain in both the germinating and drying stages is extracted from the drum, and in the germination stage at least some of that extracted air may be recirculated to the fluid compartment of the drum. The air stream may be humidified in the germinating stage before entering the drum, and is heated before entering the drum in the drying stage.
Inventors
- 👤 G Colclough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:54
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12C; C12C1/00; C12C1/15; C12C1/02; C12C1/027; C12C1/033; C12C1/067; C12C1/10; C12C1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
GRAIN TREATING APPARATUS INCLUDING: A CYLINDRICAL DRUM LOCATED WITH ITS AXIS SUBSTATIALLY HORIZONTAL AND BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT THAT AXIS, SAID DRUM HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END; A PERFORATED FLOOR MEMBER EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID DRUM AND DIVIDING SAID PORTION INTO A GRAIN COMPARTMENT AND A FLUID COMPARTMENT; AN END WALL AT SAID FRIST END OF SAID DRUM DEFINING A GRAIN TRANSFER ADJACENT SAID FIIRST END OF SAID DRUM DEFINING A GRAIN TRANSFER CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID END WALL AND SAID INTERNAL TRANSVERSE WALL; CONVEYOR MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID END WALL AND SAID INTERNAL TRANSVERSE WALL; DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FCONVEYOR MEANS AND OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID CONVEYOR MEANS IN EITHER A GRAIN FEEDING OR A GRAIN DISCHARGING DIRECTION; A FEED OPENING ASSOCIATED WITTH SAID GRAIN COMPARTMENT WHEREBY GRAIN IS FED TO SAID GRAIN COMPARTMENT FROM SAID CONVEYOR MEANS DURING MOVEMENT THEREOF IN SAID GRAIN FEEDING DIRECTION; A CONTROLLABLE OPENING IN SAID TRANSVERSE WALL SECTION WHEREBY GRAIN IS PASSED TO SAID CONVEYOR MEANS THROUGH SAID GRAIN TRANSFER COMPARTMENT DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS AND SAID GRAIN DISCHARGE DIRECTION; SE INLET AND OUTLET OPENIGS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SECOND END OF SAID DRUM, LOCATED REMOTE FROM SAID GRAIN TRANSFER MEMBER; INLET DUCT MEANS AND OUTLET DUCT MEANS CONNECTABLE TO SAID ILET AND OUTLET OPENINGS RESPECTIVELY; AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS WITH SAID FLUID AND GRAIN COMPARTMENTS RESPECTIVELY.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
GRAIN TREATING APPARATUS INCLUDING: A CYLINDRICAL DRUM LOCATED WITH ITS AXIS SUBSTATIALLY HORIZONTAL AND BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT THAT AXIS, SAID DRUM HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END; A PERFORATED FLOOR MEMBER EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID DRUM AND DIVIDING SAID PORTION INTO A GRAIN COMPARTMENT AND A FLUID COMPARTMENT; AN END WALL AT SAID FRIST END OF SAID DRUM DEFINING A GRAIN TRANSFER ADJACENT SAID FIIRST END OF SAID DRUM DEFINING A GRAIN TRANSFER CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID END WALL AND SAID INTERNAL TRANSVERSE WALL; CONVEYOR MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID END WALL AND SAID INTERNAL TRANSVERSE WALL; DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FCONVEYOR MEANS AND OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID CONVEYOR MEANS IN EITHER A GRAIN FEEDING OR A GRAIN DISCHARGING DIRECTION; A FEED OPENING ASSOCIATED WITTH SAID GRAIN COMPARTMENT WHEREBY GRAIN IS FED TO SAID GRAIN COMPARTMENT FROM SAID CONVEYOR MEANS DURING MOVEMENT THEREOF IN SAID GRAIN FEEDING DIRECTION; A CONTROLLABLE OPENING IN SAID TRANSVERSE WALL SECTION WHEREBY GRAIN IS PASSED TO SAID CONVEYOR MEANS THROUGH SAID GRAIN TRANSFER COMPARTMENT DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS AND SAID GRAIN DISCHARGE DIRECTION; SE INLET AND OUTLET OPENIGS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SECOND END OF SAID DRUM, LOCATED REMOTE FROM SAID GRAIN TRANSFER MEMBER; INLET DUCT MEANS AND OUTLET DUCT MEANS CONNECTABLE TO SAID ILET AND OUTLET OPENINGS RESPECTIVELY; AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS WITH SAID FLUID AND GRAIN COMPARTMENTS RESPECTIVELY.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein second internal transverse wall means is provided in said drum adjacent said second end to prevent direct communication between said air inlet opening and said grain compartment and to define an air transfer chamber between said outlet opening and said grain compartment, and including valve means in said wall means to permit selective communication between said air transfer chamber and said grain compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said inlet and outlet duct means are connectable so that air withdrawn from said grain compartment can be recirculated into said fluid compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor means includes a conveyor tube extending through said first end wall of the drum and held against rotation with said drum, a helical screw conveyor element rotatably mounted within said tube and connectable to said drive means, an external feed opening in said tube through which grain can be introduced into said tube for influence by said screw conveyor element, and a further opening in said tube within said grain compartment through which grain is fed to said grain compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said further opening is a lateral opening in an end portion of said tube which defines an impeller casing, and an impeller is rotatably mounted within said casing and is drivably connected to said screw element for rotation therewith, the arrangement being such that said screw element is operative to urge grain into said casing and said impeller is operative to throw that grain outwardly through said lateral opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein fan means are provided within the said inlet duct means and are operative to cause air to flow through said duct means toward said air inlet opening; an air intake duct section connected to the intake side of said fan means and including a control valve which is operative to open and close said duct section; a recirculating duct section extending between said intake side of said fan means and said outlet duct means; and a recirculating valve provided for opening and closing communication between said outlet duct means and said recirculating duct section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein humidifying means is proVided in said recirculating duct section between said recirculating valve and said intake side of the fan means, and a controllable opening is provided in said recirculating duct section intermediate said recirculating valve and said humidifying means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein air heating means is connected to said intake duct section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each said duct means is connectable with said end wall through a respective tubular sealing member which is movable towards and away from said end wall and is arranged to engage said end wall to form a substantially fluid-tight seal around the respective said opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein vane means are provided within said grain compartment and are arranged to urge grain lengthwise in respect to said drum in response to rotation of said drum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2202536A
Cited
GB648711A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |