Small scale grain malting apparatus and method
AssigneeSprowt LLC
InventorsChristopher Abbott, Mark Emmons
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for malting grain having a hollow cylindroconical vessel and a first, smaller removable false bottom retaining grain used in cleaning, steeping and resting the grain and a second, larger removable false bottom used in germinating and kilning the grain. The apparatus also includes a pump, a cooling system, a fan, a heating system, a humidifier, an aeration system, valves, tubing and ducting for treating grain with water and air. Sensors communicate with a controller and control the pump, the cooling system, the fan, the heating system, the humidifier, the valves, and the aeration system.
Claims20
An apparatus for malting grain comprising:
- a hollow vessel having a vessel bottom and a vessel midsection;
- a first false bottom, removably positioned into a narrow end of the vessel, near the vessel bottom, retaining grain;
- a second false bottom, removably positioned into the midsection of the vessel, retaining grain;
- a fan connected to and in fluid communication with the vessel via top and/or bottom ducting and allowing air flow through the vessel and the first and second false bottom;
- a heating system, in fluid communication with the fan and the vessel via the top and/or bottom ducting to heat air from the fan;
- a humidifier, in fluid communication with the fan and the vessel via the top and/or bottom ducting to humidify the air;
- sensors, to measure temperature and moisture;
- and
- a controller, in communication with the sensors, and controlling the fan, the heating system and the humidifier;
- wherein the first false bottom is used for cleaning and steeping grain and the first false bottom, the valve and the grain are removed from the vessel following cleaning, steeping and resting, and;
- the second false bottom is inserted into the vessel and the grain is returned to the vessel for germinating and kilning.
A method for cleaning grain, steeping grain, resting grain, germinating grain and kilning grain, comprising:
- positioning a first false bottom removably into a narrow end of a hollow vessel, near a vessel bottom, retaining grain;
- cleaning the grain by filling the vessel with water and overflowing the water, removing non-grain foreign matter;
- removing the first false bottom, the valve and the grain from the hollow vessel following cleaning, steeping and resting of the grain;
- positioning a second false bottom removably into the midsection of the hollow vessel, retaining grain and returning the grain on top of the second false bottom;
- circulating air through the hollow vessel and a second false bottom, removably positioned into a midsection of the vessel, by a fan connected to and in fluid communication with the vessel via top and/or bottom ducting;
- heating the air with a heating system in fluid communication with the fan and the vessel via top and/or bottom ducting;
- humidifying the air with a humidifying system, in fluid communication with the fan and the vessel;
- measuring temperature and moisture with sensors;
- and
- controlling the fan, humidifying system and the heating system with a controller based on an output from the sensors.
A method for malting grain, including:
- filling a container with water and grain;
- cleaning the grain with water;
- steeping the grain with water;
- air resting the grain;
- germinating the grain;
- free drying the grain;
- curing the grain;
- and
- optionally roasting the grain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.