US4126707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of processing grain
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-10-04
•
Granted: 1978-11-21
•
Expires: 1996-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A method for processing grain to provide a flour or grit product suitable for human consumption and by-products suitable for use as animal feed and industrial products which includes forming a slurry of the grain with water and passing the slurry through a plurality of pump stages having turbine pumps equipped with turbine pump impellers to remove the husks from the grain kernels without cracking a substantial portion of the kernels. The slurry is then passed through a centrifuge to remove excess water, surface dried and passed through an aspirator to separate the husks from the grain kernels. The dehusked kernels are sent through a centrifugal impact cracker to break up the kernel and separate the germ and oil from the endosperm. The broken kernel pieces are then milled to produce flour.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin R. Hart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:24
CPC Classifications
B; B02; B02B; B02B1/00; B02B1/04; A; A23; A23K; A23K40/00; A23L; A23L7/00; A23L7/10; A23L7/198; B02B3/00; B02C; B02C9/00; B02C9/04; F; F16; F16J; F16J15/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S426/00; Y10S426/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of processing grain comprising the steps of: mixing water with the grain to form a slurry; pumping the slurry successively through a plurality of pump stages, each stage having a turbine pump and a turbine pump impeller, in each turbine pump, raised to provide sufficient clearance so that the pump will pass the grain as a whole kernel and separate the husks from the kernels without cracking a substantial percentage of the kernels; centrifuging the slurry to remove the water from the grain; surface drying the grain; and then aspirating the grain to remove the husks from the kernels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of processing grain comprising the steps of: mixing water with the grain to form a slurry; pumping the slurry successively through a plurality of pump stages, each stage having a turbine pump and a turbine pump impeller, in each turbine pump, raised to provide sufficient clearance so that the pump will pass the grain as a whole kernel and separate the husks from the kernels without cracking a substantial percentage of the kernels; centrifuging the slurry to remove the water from the grain; surface drying the grain; and then aspirating the grain to remove the husks from the kernels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of pumping comprises utilizing a plurality of pumping stages with pressure reducing valve means intermediate successive pumping stages to maintain a low pumping pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein each of the pumping stages utilizes a low efficiency open bowl turbine pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the grain is a sorghum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the sorghum is milo.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: cracking the aspirated kernels; sizing and separating the cracked kernels; and milling the sized kernels into flour.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein the milling occurs in a hammer mill.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the step of cracking is performed by using a fan having flat blades extending radially outward from a central rotating shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein the step of cracking is performed by passing the grain through a centrifugal impact cracker.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the mixing step comprises adding approximately 2 pounds of water to 1 pound of grain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the grain is wheat and further comprising the step of milling the wheat kernels, resulting from aspirating the wheat, to form flour.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of processing grain to prepare flour comprising the steps of: mixing the grain with water to form a slurry; pumping the slurry successively through a plurality of turbine pumps; separating the husks from the grain using a turbine pump impeller in each pump, the impeller being sufficiently raised to remove the husks from the grain without cracking a substantial amount of the kernels; centrifuging the slurry to remove the water; drying the husks and the surface of the kernels; aspirating the grain to remove the husks from the kernels; cracking the kernels using a centrifugal fan; sizing and separating the cracked kernels; and then milling the sized kernels into flour.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of processing grain to prepare flour comprising the steps of: mixing the grain with water to form a slurry; pumping the slurry successively through a plurality of turbine pumps; separating the husks from the grain using a turbine pump impeller in each pump, the impeller being sufficiently raised to remove the husks from the grain without cracking a substantial amount of the kernels; centrifuging the slurry to remove the water; drying the husks and the surface of the kernels; aspirating the grain to remove the husks from the kernels; cracking the kernels using a centrifugal fan; sizing and separating the cracked kernels; and then milling the sized kernels into flour.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1035839A
Cited
US1258076A
Cited
US2329403A
Cited
US2620841A
Cited
US2806501A
Cited
US3222183A
Cited
US3419056A
Cited
US3471855A
Cited
US3962479A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-20 | 1982-05-22 | 1982-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-20 | 1986-05-22 | 1986-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-20 | 1990-05-22 | 1990-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |