US409151A - kasten - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) a sheets-sheen 1. E. KASTEN. PNBUMATIG MA'LTING APPARATUS. No. 409,151. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

N. Pneus. Pnnwumgnpmr. washingxm bfc.

(N0 Model.) 3 SheetB--Sheet 3.

E. KASTEN. PNBUMATIG MALTING APPARATUS.

No. 409,151. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

N. Pzmzs, Phomnhogmhaf. wumngmn. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERICH KASTEN, OF MANNHEIM, BADEN, GERMANY.

PN EU MATIC MALTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,151', dated August 13, 1889.

Application tiled September 18, 1888. Serial No. 285,653. (No model.) Patented in Germany June 22, 1888, No. 48,366, and in Austria-Hungary November ZO, 1888, No. 27,742 and No. 46,384.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, ERICH KAsTEN, engineer, subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Mannheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, in the Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Malting Apparatus, for which I have obtained Letters Patent in Austria dated November 20, 1888,No. 27,742; in Hungary dated November 20, 1888, 46,384, and in Germany dated June 22, iSSS, No. 48,366; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or iigures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a malting-house. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion thereof, and Fig. 3 is a like horizontal section illustrating my improvements. Fig. 4is a vertical transverse section of two adjacent malting-iioors and part of the mechanism for elevating' such floors, as well as of the mechanism for transferring the contents from one Iioor to another, one of said oors being shown in its elevated position. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the malting-floors and the elevating mechanism. Fig. 6 isa side elevation of some of the fioors and the elevating and transferring mechanisms; and Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the same, shown partly in section.

The invention relates to the art of malting, and has for its object to provide means whereby the various manipulations of the grain during the process may be effected mechanically, and whereby such process of malting is improved and accelerated by the use of moist and dry air, according to the condition of the grain.

To these ends the invention consists in the construction and relative arrangement of the malting-floors, in malting-tloors adapted to be elevated so that the contents thereof may be readily discharged onto the malting-lioor next adjoining, in the mechanism for elevating the malting-ioor, in the mechanism for transferring the grain from one floor to another, and in structural features, combinations of parts, and details, substantially as hereinafter described, and as set forth in the claims.

The invention further consists in a substantially air-tight malting-chamber, a plurality of adjacent perforated malting-floors, a suction-chamber below each of said iioors, and an air-supply duct provided with a valved outlet-port for each of the said floors, in combination with an air-exhaust duct and a branch duct for and connecting each suctionchamber with said exhaust-duct, and a valve in each of said branch ducts, substantially as hereinafter described,and set forth in the claims.

Before describing the invention in detail I would state that the malting-tloors are ar ranged in the malting-chamber in two rows; that all of said floors are movable vertically, except the last floor of each row; that the wit-hering-iioors are also stationary and are preferably inclosed by masonry, one of the walls thereof being formed by the partition X, that separates the malting-floor from the withering-chamber; that the inclosing-walls of all the malting-loors, movable or stationary, are constructed of sheet metals, as are the iioors themselves, as well as the witheringfloors; that trapvalves are arranged to close hermetically ports formed in said partitionwalls X, for transferring the grain from the last malting-loor to the withering-floor trapvalves which I have deemed unnecessary to show, as the construction of such is Well known, said valves being provided with means for opening and closing the same by hand; that under each of the nialting-tloors, as Well as under the withering-doors, a chamber e is formed; that there is a portable or traveling mechanism provided for each row of nialtingfloors for elevating said floors and transferring the contents thereof from the elevated floor to the next floor thereto and, finally, that there is one or more steepingvats or tubs for each row of malting-floors, so arranged that the steeped grain therein may be transferred to the first malting-:Iioor of each row.

In the drawings, H indicates the malt-house, of appropriate construction A, the malting- IOO chamber; i, thc withering chamber; I to XVII, the movable maliing-loors of a row; XVIII, the last or stationary malt-ing-tloor of each row; and XIX, the withering-doors arranged, respectively, in said malti iig-chamber A and withering-cllamber I3.

On the upperI floors of the malt-house are located the steeping-vats D, provided with ducts D, :for conveying the steeped grain to the malting-Jloors I. The chambers c', below 'the malting-iloors I to XVIII, are in comuninication with an air-exhaust duct E, arranged between the two rows ot ioors by means of branch ducts c, the corresponding chambers of the withering-floors being likewise connected to said duct E by means of branch ducts e8 e, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3,) the duct E being provided with suitable ports e, Fig. 2. Each duct e of the movable malting-iioors is provided with a gravity-valve d', Fig. 5, whose stem a2 lies in the path of alug or rod 9, depending from the under side of the frame of said malting-fioors, so that as the loor is elevated the valve will automatically close, while as the iioor returns to its normal position the actuating-rod 0 will impinge upon the valve-stem a. The object of this arrange mentis to prevent thepassage of air through the grain on the malting-Iioor while said iioor is being elevated and during the transfer of the grain thereon to another Iioor.

The duets c of the stationary maltingfloors, as well as the ducts e3 or the duct c of the withering-doors, are similarly provided with valves or dampers, (not shown,) and adapted to be operated by hand to regulate the exhaust of the air, or, in other words, to regulate the volume of air drawn through the grain on the said tloors, the duct E being connected with a suitable exhaust apparatus.

To still further regulate the exhaust of the air, I provide at the opposite ends of the duets e dampers e2, Fig. l, by means of which the communication between any one of the chainbers c of the movable malting-fioors may be eut oit when necessary.

The air supplied to the withering-ehamber B may be taken directly from the outer air. if of proper temperature, or such air may be previously brought or reduced to the required temperature by heating or cooling, as the case maybe; or, if desired, the waste air from the malt-kilns may be utilized in the withering-chamber.

The air supplied to the malting-chamber is drawn by the exhauster from a chamber or turret C into a distributing-duct F, that extends the full length of the malting-chamber A between the rows of malting-iloors, said duct f being provided along its oppo site sides with ports y, equal in number to the number of malting-floors, said ports being provided with valves or dampers (not shown) for regulating the amount of air admitted to the malting-chamber. The air drawn in from turret C is preferably made to pass lirst into a duct or chamber F', for the purpose of purifying and moistening said air, water being injected in a `fine spray into said chamber or duct F.

In practice I arrange at each of the ports fy of the duct F a spraying` device or atomizer for the purpose of moistening or further moistening the air drawn in, suitable means being provided for drawing oit any surplus water not absorbed by the air. I have deemed it unnecessary to show these spraying devices in the drawings, as such are well known in the arts, and as I do not desire to claim these otherwise than as a mere element in combination with the air-duct F and its ports.

The transferring of the grain from malting-lioor to malting-iioor is effected by first elevating a malting-iioor above the level of the malting-iioor next adjacent thereto and then transferring the grain i' rom said elevated floor onto the next below.

rlhe mechanism for elevating the maltingfloors and for transferring the grain is supported from a carriage. G, mounted on wheels and traveling on rails g', supported by stainlards G', arranged on opposite sides of the two rows of malting-lioors. Thus in operation the steeped grain is fed or dumped from the steeping-vats I) onto the maltingtloors I. After remaining there an appropriate time these iioors are elevated and the contents transferred to floors II, and a fresh charge of steeped grain being' then fed to lfloors I, the grain being thus transferred trom floor to Hoor until all the floors are charged, the grain from the last iioor XVIII being transferred to the withering-doors XIX in chamber ll, and when all the floors are supplied the process becomes a continuous one, as will be readily understood.

The movable making-floors are each composed of a supporting-frame I of iron gil-ders bolted together, to which is secured a perforated licor 2, preferablyof sheet metal, said floor being incloscd on three sides by vertical walls 3 3 3b, Fig. 5, the fourth or one of the longitudinal sides of the floorbeinglcft open. This fourth side is, however, closed when the malting-fioor is in its normal position by a stationary partition 5, secured' to metallic standards (i, arranged between the contiguous movable malting-floors and their suction-chambers c', the open side of each floor faein g the iioor next thereto, so that as each floor is elevated the grain may be transferred to the next floor. A tight joint between the edge of the perforated licor, along the open side, and the stationary partition 5 is obtained by means of a packing 7, of leather or equivalent material, secured to said floor and moving with it along said partition 5 when said floor is elevated. The standards (i ot the fixed partition 5 engage U iron braces 4, Fig. (i, bolted to the edges of end walls El and 3 of the floor, and serve to guide said floor in :its up and down movements, like braces or ties being secured centrally to said end walls to give the necessary strength or rigidity.

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To each end girder of the Hoor-frames l, on opposite sides of the central U-braces 4, is secured alug or bearingS, Figs. 5 and 6, with which engage the hooks n2 of the lifter-rods n of the lifting mechanism presently to be described. The frame l of the movable malting-floors is so constructed as to bear evenly upon the face of the walls of the chambers e below said ioors, so as to form a tight joint therewith.

The devices or mechanisms for elevating the malting-iioors and transferring the grain from one to another are constructed and arranged as follows:

G indicates the carriage upon which these mechanisms are mounted, said carriage being supported by three pairs of wheels W traveling on the rails g', hereinbefore referred to. At one end of the malting-chainber Ais arranged the drivin g-shaft a for said carriage, said shaft carrying at opposite ends abeltpulley P. At the opposite end of said chamber, and on opposite sides thereof, are arranged tension-pulleys P, over which travel the driving belts or ropes that propel the carriages and operate the lifting and transferring mechanisms.

The shaft a may be driven from any suitable prime motor, or more conveniently from the motor that drives the exhaust-fan. The main driving-rope ir is arranged as follows:

From the driving-pulley P. the upper part of the rope passes over a guide-pulley g on the carriage G, thence around the under side of a driving-pulley Q, looselyT mounted on the main driving-shaft of said carriage, and from the under side of said driving-pulley Q said upper part of rope passes over a second guide-pulley q', and then over the tensionpulley P.

From the driving-pulley P the lower portion of rope x passes under pulley q, over pulley Q, under pulley q', thence under tension-pulley P', said pulleys q Q q having each two grooves for the purpose.

On the driving-shaft Y) of the carriage G is mounted a friction-clutch c between two bevelpinions d g, both loose on said shaft and provided with cone-hubs, upon which the clutch operates. As shown in Fig. 5, the bevel-pinion d has an extended tubularhub d', to which is keyed the belt-pulley Q, so that when the clutch cis brought in engagement with the cone-hub of pinion d the shaft b is revolved in one direction. When, on the contrary, the clutch c is brought in contact with the conehub of pinion g, said shaft will be rotated in a reverse direction through the medium of the intermediate pinion f, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

The clutch may be operated in any suitable n1an1ie1'as, for instance, by means of the system of levers h and t', (shown in Fig.

7,) said lever h encompassing the frictionclutch.

The shaft b carries two bevel-pinions 7s, that mesh with bevel-wheels l, mounted on the upper end of short vertical shafts M, which shafts also carry a pinion m, that meshes with the toothed wheel n, whose hubs are screwthreaded interiorly, and in which hubs work the screwthreaded lifting-rods n. These rods are arranged in pairs at opposite ends of the carriage and are connected by a rod 0, Figs. 5 and 6, and are provided with the lifting-hooks n2, that engage thelugs or bearings 8, hereinbefore referred to.

By means of the mechanism described the malting-floors are elevated and lowered for transferring the grain from one floor to another and returning such floor to its normal position.

Between the cheeks or lateral standards of the frame of the carriage Gr is arranged a conveyer L, whose buckets or scrapers L extend the full length of the malting-floor, and said conveyer is operated from the shaft of the guide-pulley q', on which is mounted a beltpulley q2, belted to a pulley 13 on a shaft q, mounted on the conveyer-frame K. The latter shaft carries a pinion (14, thatmeshes with a gear-wheel g5 on the drivingshaft of the conveyer, as more plainly shown in Fig. 7, the direction of motion of the conveyer being indicated by arrow, Fig. et. Motion in one or the other direction over the series of maltingiioors is imparted to the carriage G by means of the following mechanism:

A friction-clutch s, operated by a shiftinglever t, Fig. 5, is mounted on a short shaft S, which shaft also carries a belt-pulley s. The friction-clutch s is arranged to operate upon a friction-cone r, keyed to the short shaft of the intermediate bevel-pinion f, hereinbefore described. The belt-pulley s is belted to a pulley 'v' on a counter-shaft o, and on saidl shaft fu, which extends across the carriagefra'me, are mounted sprocket-wheels w, that are connected by chains w', Figs. 5 and 6, to like sprocket-wheels wzon the driving-axle of the right-hand pair of wheels W of the carriage (l.

By means of the described mechanism the carriage can be moved in either direction on the rails g by properly manipulating the clutch-coupling s on shaft S.

lt will be observed that the main drivingbelt, through the medium of theintermediate mechanism, serves to propel the carriage to and fro on the rails g to operate the conveyer L and to elevate and lower the malting-iioors. Vhen one of these floors is to be elevated, the carriage is run over it, so that the hooks n2 on the lifter-rods will engage the lugs or bearings S at opposite ends of the floor. The clutch-lever t' is now manipulated to bring the clutch c in contact with the cone-hub of pinion d, thus revolving the shaft b and bevelwheels n through the intermediate gear Z m to cause the rods fn to ascend through the hubs of said wheels fn. until the floor has been elevated to the conveyer, when said iioor will be in a position relatively to the next adjoining floor to transfer the grain from the .IOO

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former to the latter, which is effected by the mechanism previously described, the elevator being set in operation the moment the clutch c is brought into engagement with the conehub of pinion d, the grain being scraped off the floor and transferred to the adjoiningone below.

By a reversal of the clutch c the pinion g will be actuated through the medium of the intermediate pinion f, and the shaft f; will be rotated in a reverse direction to lower the maltingdloor. Finally, the clutch s maybe brought into operation to move the carriage G over another malting-floor.

It will be readily understood that the conveycr and its operating mechanism maybe dispensed with and the transfer effected by manual labor, in which case a suitable staging is secured to the carriage for the workmen.

I Iaving described my invention, what I claim isl. In a malt-house, a plurality of adjacent verticallyanovable perforated nialting-floors inclosed on three sides, and a stationary partition interposed between the floors and formin the inclosing-wal l for the open side of such floors, in combination with an. elevating meehanism arranged above said floors and adapted to be moved from one door to another and connected therewith, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a inalthouse, a plurality of adjacent vcrtically-movable perforated inalting-tloors inclosed on three sides, and a stationary partition interposed between the floors and forming the inclosing-wall for the open side of such floors, and in combination therewith a eonvcyer or scraper arranged above said floors and operating to transfer the malt from one lfloor to another, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In a malt-house, a plurality of adjacent vertically-movable perforated malting-iloors inclosed on three sides, and a stationary partil ion interposed between the floors and forming the inelosing-wall for the open side of such floors, in combination with an elevating mechanism adapted to be connected te said floors, and a conveyor or scraper, both mounted on the same support and adapted to be moved to and fro above the malting-ioors, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l, In a malt-house, a plurality of adjacent verticallyanevable perforated malting-fioors inelosed on three sides, and a stationary partit-ion interposed between the floors and forming the inclosing-wall for the open side of such iioers, and in combination therewith a conveyer or scraper, a wheeled carriage therefor, an elevated way for said carriage, and a driving` mechanism for the cenveyer mounted on said carriage, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a malt-heuse, a plurality of adjacent vertically-movable perforated malting-floors inclosed on three sides, and a stationary partition interposed between the floors and ferming` the inclosing-wall for the open side of such Iloors, and in combination therewith an elevated way, a wheeled carriage adapted to travel on said way, and an. elevating meehanism mounted on said carriage for elevating the floors, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

G. In a malt-house, a plurality of adjacent and vertically-movable nialti|igiioois cour prising a rectangular frame, a perforated floor secured thereto, and vertical inclosingwalls arranged on one side and at opposite ends of said trame,in combination with a sta tionary partition arranged to close 4the fourth open side of the floor,substantially as and for the purposes specified,

7. In a malt-house, a plurality of adjacent and vertically-movable nialting-floors eomprising a rectangular frame, a perforated floor secured thereto, and vertical inelosing-walls arranged on one side and at opposite ends of said frame, in combination with a stationary inelosing-wall arranged to close the fourth open side of the floor, and a packing secured te the edge of said floor along the open side to form a tight joint with the stationary inclosing-wall, substantially as and for the purposes specified. j

S. The combination, with a plurality of contiguous' or adjacent vertically-movable perforated malting-floors provided with lugs or bearings S at opposite ends, of an elevated way, a carriage adapted to travel to and f'ro on said way, and a lifting mechanism comprising the serew-threaded hooked rods la', the hooks of which are adapted to engage the lugs or bearings 8 of the floors, the bevelwheels n, having interiorly-threaded hubs in which said rods work, and a driving-gear for driving said bevel-wheels, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

0. The etmibinatien, with a plurality of contiguous or adjacent vertically-movable perforated maltii'ig-floors, of an elevated way, a carriage adapted to travel to and fro on said way, a eonveyer or scraper comprising anendless belt arranged te travel in a horizontal plane and provided with convcyer buckets or scrapers, mechanism forimparting motion to said belt, and an elevating mechanism for elevating the malting-floor to said eonveyer mounted on said carriage, substantially as and for the purposes specified.V

l0. In a malt-house, a vertically-movable perforated nialtiiigfloor, a suction-chamber below said iloor, an air-exhaust duct connected with said chamber, and a gravity-valve interposed in said connection, said valve hav ing its stem in contact with the floor or a projection thereon when said 'floor is seated on the suction-chamber to hold the valve open, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

ll. In a maltl1ouse,a plurality of contiguous or adjacent vertically-movable maltingfloors, a suction-chamber below each floor, an ail-exhaust duct connected with said cham ICO IIO

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bers, a gravity-valve in said connections, said valves having their stems in contact with their respective malting-floors to hold the valve open When the floor is seated on the suctionchamber, an elevated Way, a carriage adapted to travel to and fro on said Way, and an elevating mechanism mounted on said carriage for elevating` the floors, whereby, when a malting-loor is elevated, the valve will automatically close to cut off the communication between the suction-chamber and air-exhaust duct, substantially as and for the purposes speciiied.

l2. In a malt-house, a malting-chamber, a series of contiguous or adjacent verticallymovable perforated malting-floors, and a stationary malting-fioor at the end of the series, a withering-chamber adjacent to the maltingchamber, a perforated withering-floor in said chamber, and a suction-chamber arranged under each of said floors, and in combination therewith an airduct in communication with the .malting -'chambc1', a separate airsupply for the withering-chamber, and an airexhaust duct common to all the suction-chainbers of the floors, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. In a malt-house, a substantially air-tight inalting-chamber, a plurality of contiguous or adjacent vertically movable perforated malting-iioors, and a suction-chamber under each of said doors, in combination With an air-distributing` duct provided with separate outlet-ports for each malting-floor, means for combining moisture With the air admitted, an air-exhaust duct, a separate connection between the suction-chamber of each maltingfloor and said air-exhaust duct, anda valve in said connection, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof IafiiX my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

ERICH KASTEN. Vitnesses: Y

J. GEIsAL, CHR. LUTZ.

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