US548618A

US548618A - Steep-tank

Info

Publication number: US548618A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1912-10-22

Description

(No ModeL? H' PRINZ' S'IEEP TANK. Y No. 548,618. Patented ont. z2, 18Q5; 1

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IINTTED STATES PATENT @E'ErnEs WILLIAM H. PRINZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEEP-TAN K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,618, dated October 22, 1895.

Application tiled Getober 1,1894.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAu H. PRINZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improveniente in Steep-Tanks; 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.

This invention relates to a novel construction in a steep-tank employed for steeping barley and like cereals, and more especially relating to a steep-tank for steeping barley to bring the same to a condition for germinating in the manufacture of malt.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby the steeping can be can ried on and the steep-tank emptied under the most favorable circumstances, at the same time providing means whereby the steep-water can be admitted from the upper or lowerl end of tlie'tank.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a view, partly in vertical section on the line 1 I of Fig. 2 and partly in side elevation, of the lower end portion of a steep-tank and the accompanying parts constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a View of the same, partly in horizontal section, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l and partly in top plan. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation ofthe sieve or strainer.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the lower end portion of the conical lower end of a steam-tank, said steam-tank being usually cylindrical at its upper end portion and conical at its lower end portion, as shown, whereby the grain can run out of the same after steeping. Communicating with the lower end portion of the tank A is a spout or pipe 2, into which the grain passes and which cornmunicates with asuitable passage 3 for leading the grain as may be desired. Between the passage 3 and pipe 2 a quick-closing gatevaive I of approved construction is located to control the passage of the grain.

At the present time there are various prosnn No. 524,695. et@ man.)

cesses for steeping grain, which vary in many particulars, but which can be carried on in a steeptank of ordinary construction, as above referred to. For instance, in some processes the steep-water is admitted at the top of the tank and is drawn olf at the bottom, while in others the steep-water is admitted at the bottom and overows at the top of the tank. Further, in some processes the grain, together with the steep-Water, is allowed to run under its own pressure from the tank, whereas in other cases a pump is located in the passage leading from the steep-tank to create a suction to draw off the steep-grain and to force it to any suitable point.

A steep-tank constructed to carry out any of the above-mentioned or other processes in use usually cannot he employed for other purposes without alterations that are expensive and troublesome and which serionslyinterfere with the working of the plant, and it is the object of this invention to provide a steep-tan k suitable for carrying out the above processes which are most commonly in use.

At the lower end of the steep-tank 1 is a shoe 5, having an upper-daring or bell mouth 6 to receive the lower conical end of the steeptank. The main portion 'Zof this shoe 5 has an opening about equal to the opening in the lower end of the steep-tank, which is also about the same as theopening of the spout 2. The lower end of the shoe 5 has a dange 8, by means of which it can be connected with the lange 9 at the upper end of the spout 2 in a familiar manner. In said Fig. 1 I have shown a removable nozzle lO, fitting within the lower end of the shoe and provided with an annular flange 1l, located between the anges 8 and 9 of the shoe and spout,and by means of which it is held in position. The said nozzle 10 is smaller than the opening through the shoe 5,and the upper end of said nozzle flares outwardly, as shown at 12, to

avoid an obstructionat the upper end thereof.-

The flanges 8, 9, and 1l are usually held in place by bolts in an obvious manner.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by the use of the nozzle l0 I am enabled to regulate the size of the opening in the lower end of the steep-tank as found necessary or convenient, either by the re` moval entirely of the nozzle or by the inser- IOC tion of nozzles having different-sized openings, and thus provide a steep-tank with an opening for the passage of the grain that is adjustable. This feature is highly important and necessary in certain processes for steeping grain where the steep-tank may empty into another steep-tank or may empty directly into the passage that conveys the steep-grain to the place where it is to be germinated. In the former case the grain runs freely from the tank, while in the latter case a centrifugal pump is usually employed to take the grain from the steeptank and convey it to the place to be germnated, and it is found impracticable to employ the sam e-sized opening in either case, for whereas at one time the steep grain and Water would pass off in the correct proportion, yet at another time the grain would clog and obstruct the operation, which would cause a loss of time'and money. Thus by employingr the adjustable opening in the lower end of the steeptank above described l am enabled to avoid this difficulty.

To adapt the steep-tank so that it may be used when the steep-water is fed from above or below, I provide the spoutZ with a port 13, communicating with a branch 14, having two

ports

15 and 16, each of which is controlled by a valve 17. Between the branch 14: and the port 13 I arrange a chamber or enlargement 18, in which is located a sieve or strainer 19 to prevent the passage of the grain into the branch 14. This chamber is preferably rectangular in cross-section, and the sieve or strainer 19 is held by a frame 20, Fig. 3, that slides within guide-grooves 2l in the side of the chamber. Atthe lower end and opposite said guide-grooves is an opening or slot 22 to permit the passage of the frame 20, and the lower side of the frame is provided with a flange 23 to rest against the lower faces of the port and branch and to be secured to the same in any convenient manner-for instance, by bolts 24, as shown in Fig. 1. By this construction the said strainer or sieve can be readily removed for cleansing or renewal. The port 15 of the branch communicates with any suitable pipe or passage through which the steep-water can pass as it drains from the steep-tank, and in such case the port 16 is closed, while when it is desired to admit water to the tank from the lower end the port 15 is closed and the port 16 opened and fresh water admitted through said port 16. In this way it will be seen that the steep-Water can be admitted at the upper end of the tank and drained off at the lower end through the port 15. The steep-water can also be admitted at the lower end of the tank through the port 16 and can overflow at the upper end, as the process is sometimes carried on.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a steep tank provided at its lower end with an opening, a shoe secured to the lower end of said steep tank and around said opening, a spout secured to said shoe and a nozzle located within said shoe and secured between said shoe and spout, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a steep tank having a spout at its lower end, of a branch communicating with said spout, and a strainer located between said branch and spout, said strainer consisting of a sieve 19 held by a frame 2O that is adapted to pass through a slot 22 at one side of said branch and enter guide groovesin the inner walls of said branch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM H. PRINZ. Witnesses:

HARRY COBB KENNEDY, RUDOLPH WM. Lo'rz.