GB2135692A - Steeping vessel for malting - Google Patents

Abstract

A steeping vessel (10) has a floor (12) that can be raised a sufficient distance (h2) to allow personnel or a robot to cleanse below said floor (12) said floor is then being lowered to a distance (h1) for steeping, which distance (h1) allows the volume of water used in steeping to be reduced from that required if distances h2 and h1 were not adjustable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved steeping vessel for malting This invention relates to a steeping vessel as used for example in the art of malting.

These vessels are often large and the question of hygene demands that all surfaces be accessible to scrupulous cleansing by frequent hosing down.

In some vessels a foraminous floor is used to permit airation of the contents and this is not only difficult to clean on its undersurface and on the surrounding wall surface beneath it, what in the art is called the 'plenum' a space that it is essential to keep as low in volume as possible to reduce the volume of water used in steeping.

According to the present invention we provide a steeping vessel comprising an internal floor so arranged that it can be rasied and lowered. In practice the distance said floor is raised is a sufficient distance merely to allow cleansing of its under surface and other surfaces beneath it, and then said floor is lowered for steeping.

The internal floor may be of a foraminous construction to allow the passage of air therethrough and raised and lowered by pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical jacks, said floor may also be raised and lowered by other means such as pulleys hoists or by electricaily driven screws.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description given by way of example only with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing in which:- Figures 1 and 2 respectively are side elevation and plan of a steeping vessel.

A steeping vessel 10 has a ground floor 11 and a foraminous internal floor 1 2 that is arranged to be raised a distance h2 and lowered to a distance .

h, above the ground floor 1 The raised floor is shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 1. In one example the steeping vessel 10 may be a right cylinder of circular form having a diameter of five metres (16.4 ft) with distance h1 of 300 mm (1 foot) and distance h2 of two metres (6.5 ft) to allow the entry of personnel, alternatively the floor may be raised a distance h2 of only one metre (3.28 ft) to allow a robot to enter.

in the lower position steeping can take place the vessel 10 being filled with grain and water.

When steeping is terminated and cleansing of the under surface of floor 12 is required said floor is raised a distance h2 a distance that may be such as to allow the easy entry of human personnel or a remotely controlled mechanical device, such as a robot equipped to hose down said under surface of said floor and the surrounding surfaces.

The floor 12 is raised by jacks 131 132133134 and provided with supports 14, 142 143.

A drain 15 is provided as shown and a distributor arm for loading and discharging the grain is shown at 16 on spindle 17.

1. A steeping vessel comprising an internal floor so arranged that said floor is raised a distance sufficient only to allow for cleansing below said floor and then lowered for steeping.

2. The steeping vessel as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the floor is raised and lowered by means of pneumatic, hydraulic and or mechanical jacks.

3. The steeping vessel as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the floor is of a foraminous form to allow the passage of air therethrough.

4. A steeping vessel constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described in the example.

5. A steeping vessel constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved steeping vessel for malting This invention relates to a steeping vessel as used for example in the art of malting. These vessels are often large and the question of hygene demands that all surfaces be accessible to scrupulous cleansing by frequent hosing down. In some vessels a foraminous floor is used to permit airation of the contents and this is not only difficult to clean on its undersurface and on the surrounding wall surface beneath it, what in the art is called the 'plenum' a space that it is essential to keep as low in volume as possible to reduce the volume of water used in steeping. According to the present invention we provide a steeping vessel comprising an internal floor so arranged that it can be rasied and lowered. In practice the distance said floor is raised is a sufficient distance merely to allow cleansing of its under surface and other surfaces beneath it, and then said floor is lowered for steeping. The internal floor may be of a foraminous construction to allow the passage of air therethrough and raised and lowered by pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical jacks, said floor may also be raised and lowered by other means such as pulleys hoists or by electricaily driven screws. The invention will be more fully understood from the following description given by way of example only with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing in which:- Figures 1 and 2 respectively are side elevation and plan of a steeping vessel. A steeping vessel 10 has a ground floor 11 and a foraminous internal floor 1 2 that is arranged to be raised a distance h2 and lowered to a distance . h, above the ground floor 1 The raised floor is shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 1. In one example the steeping vessel 10 may be a right cylinder of circular form having a diameter of five metres (16.4 ft) with distance h1 of 300 mm (1 foot) and distance h2 of two metres (6.5 ft) to allow the entry of personnel, alternatively the floor may be raised a distance h2 of only one metre (3.28 ft) to allow a robot to enter. in the lower position steeping can take place the vessel 10 being filled with grain and water. When steeping is terminated and cleansing of the under surface of floor 12 is required said floor is raised a distance h2 a distance that may be such as to allow the easy entry of human personnel or a remotely controlled mechanical device, such as a robot equipped to hose down said under surface of said floor and the surrounding surfaces. The floor 12 is raised by jacks 131 132133134 and provided with supports 14, 142 143. A drain 15 is provided as shown and a distributor arm for loading and discharging the grain is shown at 16 on spindle 17. CLAIMS

1. A steeping vessel comprising an internal floor so arranged that said floor is raised a distance sufficient only to allow for cleansing below said floor and then lowered for steeping.

2. The steeping vessel as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the floor is raised and lowered by means of pneumatic, hydraulic and or mechanical jacks.

3. The steeping vessel as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the floor is of a foraminous form to allow the passage of air therethrough.

4. A steeping vessel constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described in the example.

5. A steeping vessel constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing.