Method for treating whole kernels of feed grain

A process for treating whole kernels of feed grain, said process comprising:

• providing a treating area;
• introducing whole kernels of feed grain into said treating area;
• supplying water to said whole kernels of feed grain introduced into said treating area so that said kernels having water supplied thereto have plasticized hulls enclosing interior portions when in said treating area;
• contacting said whole kernels of feed grain in said treating area with blunt projections on a first movable element to loosen portions of the hull from the interior portions of the kernels to cause the hulls to blister;
• thereafter contacting said kernels that have been blistered by contact with the blunt projections on said first movable element with cutting members on a second movable element to open said blisters to thereby perforate the hulls substantially without shattering the kernels and substantially without removing the hulls;
• applying water to said interior portions of said kernels of feed grain through said perforated blisters therein;
• and
• removing said kernels with said perforated hulls from said treating area.

A process for treating whole kernels of feed grain, said process comprising:

• introducing kernels of feed grain into a treating area;
• applying water to the exterior of said hulls of kernels within said treating area to plasticize said hulls so that said kernels have plasticized hulls enclosing interior portions when in said treating area;
• loosening portions of the hulls that have been plasticized from the interior portions by repeatedly impacting said hulls with blunt elements at said treating area to cause blistering of said hulls;
• perforating said blisters on said hulls by repeatedly impacting said blistered hulls with scarifying elements at said treating area substantially without shattering the hulls and substantially without removing the hulls;
• supplying water to said interior portions of said kernels of feed grain through said perforated blisters therein, said water supplied to said whole kernels of feed grain and supplied to said interior portions of said kernels of feed grain being supplied from a source that is adjustable with respect to total rate of flow and so that the total weight of water supplied per unit of time is equal to the difference between the total weight of water intended to be contained in the fully treated kernels delivered from the treating area during such unit time and the total weight of water contained in the untreated kernels which are introduced into the treating area during such unit of time;
• and
• removing said kernels from said treating area after the hulls have been blistered, the blisters perforated, and water applied.