US12205A - Mash-machine - Google Patents

Description

.Illlll Illlll l rrnn srl-rains PATIENT0FFICE- ADOLPI-I HAMMER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MASH-MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 12,205, dated January 9, 1855*; Reissued June k20,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ADOLPH HAMMER, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement of the l\[ashMachine for the Use of Brewers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed two sheets of drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a perspective view; Fig. 2, a vertical section, through the middle; Fig. 3, a plan view of the upper arms and boss; and Fig. 4, a plan view o-f the lower arms and boss; like letters indicating the same partsY in all the figures.

The nature of my invention consists mainly in the constructionand application to the mash tun used by distillers-an upper rake, adapted to operate in combination with the usual rake thereof (or its equiva- ,i lent), though in an opposite direction, for

the purpose of effecting a more perfect and rapid mixture of the ground malt and water, in the process of makingv the extract from malt-and producing also thereby a more rich and brilliant extract from the same quantity of malt.

A, is a large wooden vessel, open at the top, called a mash tun. It has fixed across its upper end two strong pieces of wood (a and o) adapted for holding steadily in proper' position the bearings (c and CZ). In the center of the bottom, on the inside of the vessel, a suitable step or bearing (e) is also firmly secured.

B is astrong, cylindrical and central iron shaft adapted to rotate in a vertical position, being held by the step (e) and bearing (c), and has secured to it, near the lower end, a double pair of arms (C and D) by means of a boss (E), through the center of which the shaft (B) is fixed and tightly held thereto by means of the two set screws (f, f,). The arms (C and D) have their inner ends let in to the boss, and are fixedl thereto by rivets or screw bolts, so as to extend'out at right angles from two opposite sides of the shaft (B), parallel with each other, and nearly to the sides of the vessel A. The two outer ends of each pair of these arms are also connected by means of a double-shouldered stay (V) and screw nuts. Insutable holes, made v at regular distances apart along the arms, a series of teeth (F) is placed in vertical positions, the upper ends reaching a little more t-han'half way up the vessel, and the lower ends extending down to within about twelve inches of the bottom. These teeth, arms and boss, constitute what I call the lower rake.

Inclosing the middle portion of the shaft (B) is an outer shaft adapted to rotate freely thereon while bearing upon a ring (g) which is fixed to the central shaft by means of the set screws (h, h.) is an intervening friction collar. Near the lower end of this outer shaft, a pair of single arms (H, PI,) is fixed to a boss (I), through y the center of which the shaft (G) is fixed tightly by means of set screws, or otherwise. rIhese arms are let in to the lower end of the boss and are fixed-thereto by screw bolts, so as to extend out toward the sides of the vessel (A) at right angles from two opposite sides of the shaft (Gr). In' suitable holes made along at regular distances apart through the arms, a series of teeth (K, K), is

placed so as to extend downward, nearly to i the upper arms of the lower rake, and also so as to be capable of passing freely between the upper projecting teeth of the same,.when the two shafts (B and G) are turned in opposite directions. In order to strengthen these teeth in position, small bosses (Ze) are fixed tightly in the holes made in the arms, and through the centers-of these bosses the teeth (K) are placed. These teeth, bosses and arms, constitute what I call the upper in connection with a small bevel pinion` (M) fixed on or near the inner end of the driving shaft (N). On the same shaft (N,) and at a short distance from this pinion (M) 'a' larger bevel wheel (O) is fixed,y which gears in connect-ion with a third bevel wheell (P) fixed on the upper end of the outer shaft (Gr).v The/diameter ofthebevel wheel (L) In both rakes the teeth are placedis about three times that of the pinion (M).

The diameter of the wheel (P) is about speed and in opposite directions-the upper,

with aboutthree or three and a half times the velocity of the lower one.

About an inch or so above the bottom of the vessel (A) a plate iron diaphragm (Q) perforated over' its area with small holes about an inch apart, extends horizontally over the same and rests upon a narrow and continuous ledge (Z) projecting from the sides of the vessel, and also upon small blocks (mi) distributed between it and the bottom of the vessel.

Having thus fully described the machine, I will proceed to describe its operation during the process of mashing. In the first place, water of a proper temperature is run into the vessel (A) until its surfaces reaches about four inches above the lower ends of the teeth of the upper rake. Rotation is now given to the shafts as before described, so that the central shaft (B) shall rotate about fifteen times in every minute-the outer shaft, consequently rotating about 45 or 50 times per minute, and in a contrary direction-both carrying with them their respective rakes. The ground malt is now gradually run into the vessel from a chamber above, so as to fall near the center, when, from the action of the rakes in and above the water, each particle of the malt is perfectly separated from the others, and all thoroughly mashed or mixed intimately with the water. As the ground malt meets with the water in the vessel, its tendency is to oat upon the surface, but by the action of the rakes it is rapidly incorporated therewith; and the mixture consequently rises gradually in height wit-hin the vessel. When the whole quantity of malt however is in, the surface of the mixture should not reach higher than about four inches below the upper ends of the lower teeth It will be perceived that by the action of the machine, two opposite currents are made in the water; and should the rakes not separate all the finest particles ofthe malt from each other, the frictional action between the two currents of the water, accomplishes the separation in the most perfect manner. The whole of the malt being mashed, the motion of the machine is now arrested, and the action of the diastase on the starch contained in the malt commences-and is allowed to proceed until all the starch is converted into saccharine matter, when the extract is drawn off, rich and brilliant, through suitable faucets The shaft being previously inserted in the bottom of the vessel. The machine heretofore used for mashing malt, in consequence of its incomplete and defective character' requires for three hundred bushels of malt, from one to two hours to complete the process of mixing or mashing, and this in a very imperfect manner, as many of the particles of the malt are not separated from each other, and consequently the diastase, which is the converting substance in the malt, is prevented frm acting upon the starch contained in these unseparated particles, and such starch remains undissolved and therefore unconverted into saccharine matter, and lost to the brewer. Besides from the same causes, these malt particles adhering together, are too rapidly precipitated after stopping the motion of the machine, and form a too solid and glutinous mass upon the diaphragm, through which mass the liquor cannot readily pass-the ultimate eect being that in the subsequent process of drawing olf, the liquor forces numerous holes, or separate courses, through the mass, extracting or washing out the saccharine matter contained in those parts of the mass immediately around the holes or courses, but leaving the balance, which is a great deal,unextracted, until subsequently washed out by adding fresh water, which, with what is left of the saccharine matter, necessarily washes out the undissolved starch, and other injurious matters, as mucilage, etc., causing Va turbid and clouded extract, whereas by the use of my machine of a size adapted for three hundred bushels of malt, the process of mixing or mashing is thoroughly completed in about t-en minutes. Thus saving immensely in time-which is of great importance in an economical vview-besides the quantity of saccharine matter obtained is greater and the quality of the extract necessarily much more rich-and also perfectly brilliant and free from starch.

It will be readily perceived, that in mashing with the old machine, the malt is kept in motion so long a time in the water, that the air contained in the malt is driven out and at the same time water is absorbed, increasing the weight of the malt without perfectly separating its particles, there is a consequent too rapid sinking thereof immediately# after the motion of the machine is stopped, and thus there is formed the two solid mass upon the diaphragm-preventing the proper act-ion of the diastase upon the starch, and the subsequent free passage of the fluid extract through the sameresulting in the formation of the holes or separatecourses as before described-the mass, in some instances becoming so stiff or compact as entirely to prevent the extract from passing through it-so that the whole brewing is sometimes lost, whereas, by my process, the time occupied in mashing is so short that the malt can not absorb so much water, nor lose so much air previo-us to the settling of the particles, and consequently, being lighter, the malt settles more slowly, forming a light spongy mass which is most favorable to the actio-n of the diastase and the subsequent formation and separation o-f the saccharine matter with the fluid-the malt itself,.thus acting like a filter, allowing the liquor to run thro-ugh between all the particles thereof, in drawing off, and insures the separation of all the saccharine matter, and consequent-ly the production of a richer and more brilliant extract-free of starch. I construct the vessel or tun (A) of cedar wood; and the rakes, shafts and wheels of iron. The rakes are combined with the shafts so as to be adjustable to any position thereon, suitable for any requisite quantity of malt to be mashed-and the shafts extended high enough above the open end of the vessel to admit the convenient application of a suitable cover to retain the heat.

I do not claim the lower rake, nor the central shaft and gearing, nor the diaphragm, either singly or in combination with a mash tun, as these, or their equivalent devices have been used before for distilling purposes; but

/Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 'Ihe application and use of the upper rake, constructed substantially as described when combined with a mash tun so as to be rotated in an opposite direction to that of the usual rake thereof, and with a more rapid speed, substantially and for thepurpose as described.

A. HAMMER.

Witnesses:

BENJ. MORRISON, MICHAEL R. ASH.

[FIRST PRINTED 1913.]

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