US327035A - Art of manufacturing starch - Google Patents

Description

(No ModeL) F. P. STIKER.

ART 0F MANUFACTURING STARGH.

No. 327,035. -atented Sept. 29, 1885.

WITNESSES @l Q y FLAVIUS P. STIKER, OF BUFFALO, ASSIGNOR TO THOMSON KINGSFORD, OF OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

ART OF MANUFACTURING STARCH.

SPECITFICATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,035, dated September 29, 1885.

VApplication filed July 22,1885. (No model.)

To all whom 25 may concern:

Be it known that I, FLAvIUs P. STIKER, of Buffalo, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvemeut in the Art of Manufacturing Starch, of which the following` is a specication, ref` erence being made to the accompanying drawing.

In the manufacture of starch from grain it to is necessary to soak or steep the grain untilit becomes soft and swollen, or in such condition. for example, that it may readily be mashed between the thumb and finger. It is not desirable, however, that its kernels be broken or disintegrated, but merely softened. This has heretofore been accomplished by soaking in tepid water or other suitable liquid in open or covered vessels under ordinary atmospheric pressure. The objection to this method is that 2o it takes a long time and is too expensive. Grain has also been steeped under pressure in a closed vessel and agitated so as to rapidly soften and disintegrate it, making a pulpy mass or mash-as, for example, is set forth in the patent of Fox, No. 257,930. This is also very objectionable in the manufacture of starch, although not objectionable for some other purposes, such as the production of beerwort or alcoholic mash.

3o My object is to speedily and thoroughly steep grain for the manufacture of starch without agitating it, or disintegrating it, or highly heating it, but simply to bring it quickly to the same condition it has after having been soaked a sufficient time in tepid water under ordinary atmospheric pressure.

My improvement in the manufacture of starch therefore consists in immersing grain in asteeping-liquor in a closed vessel and apply- 4o ing artificial pressure within the vessel to such a degree as to greatly speed the softening operation. The result is the grain will be quickly steeped without disintegration, and so economically prepared without waste or deterioratiou of starch-producing qualities for the subsequent steps in the manufacture of coui- :tuercial starch. In order to accomplish such steeping and softening most advantageously, I employ a steeping-tank of peculiar construe.- 5o tion in some respects, which I will describe by aid of the accompanying drawing, showing a vertical central section of my improved steeping-tank.

In the drawing, A indicates my improved steep-tank, preferably made of sheet-irou; but any other material may be used which Will stand the required pressure, which pressure may vary according to the nature. kind, and quality of grain to be steeped. This tank is preferably made cylindrical withaconical bot- 6o tom and closed top.

A indicates a manhole for introducing the grain; but any other convenient arrangement with a cover for closing the opening may be used.

B indicates a safety-valve of ordinary con struction, whereby any excess of pressure may be relieved.

O indicates a pressure-gage,also of ordinary construction,to indicate the degree ofpressure. 7c

D indicates a thermometer,of ordinary construction, forindicating the temperature of the contents ofthe tank.

E indicates a pipe, with a valve, E, for introducing the steep-liquor, or for the introduction of steam or warm air to keep up the desired temperature.

F indicates the outletpipawith avalve, F', for drawing off the steep-liquor.

G indicates the discharge-valve for remov- So ing the steeped grain. l

H indicates an internal tube extending from near the top of the tank to near its bottom, this tube being open at its top and perforated near its bottom for obtaining a thorough circulation' of the steep liquor, which enters through the pipe E aud passes out at the top I of the tube, causing a circulating current in the direction indicated by the arrows-that is to say, up in the interior of the tube H, in 9o which there is no grain, and out of its top, thence downward through thegrainin thetank, and again through the perforatious near the bottom of the tube, thus accomplishing athoroughly even mixture with the grain in the tank.

Instead of the steep-liquor, which is usually tepid Water, air, or various moist gases or steam may be introduced at E for the saine K indicates a ladder for descending into the tank, when desired, for the purpose of cleaning or repairing it.

L L indicate stays for strengthening the tank and bracing the tube II.

M M indicate brackets resting on crossbeams or any suitable framework (not illustrated) for supporting the tank.

N indicates an opening, to which may beattached a pipe with an ordinary valve (not illustrated) for introducing the vfluid for causing pressure, which may be employed instead of the pipe E, if desired.

In operation it is convenient to partly fill the tank with the steep-liquor and then introduce grain,` and then add more steep-liquorV through the pipe E, thus causing the desired circulation; but the operation of filling may be varied at. will. After the man-hole has been closed pressure may be applied either at N or at E by means of air, sulphurous acid, carbonic acid.orothersuitablegases,oreven steam or liquids may be used for thepurpose. Pressure may also be obtained by chemical reaction insideot'thetankitself. Af'terthegrainissuftciently steeped, which with my apparatus will usually occupy about ten hours, more or less, the

steep-liquor is drawn oit' at F, and the steeped and softened grain discharged at G, which is an opening provided with an ordinary valve at the bottom ot the tank. By means of this closed tank and internal tube open at the top, but closed against the admission of grain at the bottom, and the application of pressure by articial means the steep-liquor is caused to more rapidly penetrate the interior of the kernels of grain, thereby greatly reducing the time required for steeping and softening, and

also preventing the escape of unwholesonie or deleterious emanations in the atmosphere, and preventing the disintegration of the kernels of grain or injury of the starch-producing qualities of the grain or Waste.

I am aware that grain has been treated in closed vessels under pressure in the presence of steam or Warm liquor-as, for example, for certain purposes in the above-mentioned patent, which seeks to extract starch from grain; but such treatment is not adapted and is on the contrary destructive in a large measure to the manufacture of commercial starch; hence What I deem to be my invention, and seek to secure by Letters Patent otl the United States, is-

l. As an improvement in the art of manufacturing starch, the method of steeping grain herein described, which consists inconfining it in a steeping-liquor Within a closed tank and applying artificial pressure, so as to speed# ily soften but not disintegrateit, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, With a closed tank, A, l

provided with appliances for admitting grain,

steep-liquor, and fluids for exerting artificial pressure, of an .internal tube, H, open at its top and perforated atits bottom and arranged so as to exclude grain and aid in the circulatnion of steepingfluids, substantially as set orth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my naine.

FLAviUs P; sTiKER.

Witnesses:

J AMES SANGSTER, JENNIE M. CALDWELL.

Images