Patent GB-416954-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in washing machines for agricultural produce
IPC: A23N12/02
Filed: 1933-10-04
Abstract: 416,954. Washing vegetables. MIAG MUHLENBAU UND INDUSTRIE AKT.- GES., 41, Rossstrasse, Brunswick, Germany. Oct. 4, 1933, Nos. 27248, 27249, and 27250. Convention dates, April 13, Sept. 5, and Sept. 12. [Class 28 (ii).] Stones and other heavy refuse separated in the washing of agricultural produce such as root crops, vegetables, seeds, grain, &c. are carried along a trough by a worm conveyer and discharged into a hopper situated in the washing tank below the discharge end of the worm, and passed from the hopper either directly or through an intermediate receptacle into a discharge pipe along which they are conveyed by the introduction into the pipe of compressed gas or water or other liquid under pressure. The stones separated in the washing tank a are discharged by a worm conveyer b into a hopper c which opens into a discharge pipe d leading over the edge of the washing tank to a tank f in which the stones and the water are separated. The stones are forced along the pipe d into the tank f by water under pressure introduced through a nozzle g connected to a valved supply pipe e. In the form shown in Fig. 2, the nozzle g is located on the same side of the hopper c as the tank f, the stones being drawn up the pipe d by suction. In this case the end of the pipe d may be closed or open or provided with a sliding or gate valve. The pipe e is provided with a control valve m to govern the amount of water passed into the discharge pipe d. The water from the tank f may be returned to the washing tank a, for example so as to produce a lateral current as shown in Fig. 2, or may be returned by a pump to the supply pipe e and nozzle g. The separating tank may form part of the washing tank and have a removable stone catcher. The water supply pipe e may be provided with a valve, in addition to the control valve m, which is opened and closed intermittently. In the form shown in Fig. 5, the valve q is connected to a roller q2 which is acted on by a rotary camp. In Fig. 6 the valve q is connected to the arm of a float s in a water tank t, the valve being opened when the pull due to the rising float overcomes the tension of a spring s<1>. In Fig. 9 a bucket-wheel z located between the discharge of the worm conveyer b and the hopper c is set in motion by the falling stones and the arms z<1> act on a rod u<1> connected by a lever n to the valve q. In another modification, the valve q is dispensed with and the intermittent flow produced by a syphon arranged in the water tank t. As shown in Fig. 6, an intermediate receptacle k may be provided between the hopper c and the pipe d and a sliding gate i which closes as the valve q opens and vice versa may be provided in conjunction with the hopper c or receptacle k to prevent the escape of the water from the pipe e through the hopper into the washing tank and to prevent grain &c. from entering the pipe d during the discharge. In a modified form the sliding gate i, which then fulfils the latter purpose only, may be situated in an outlet pipe depending from the end of the worm conveyer casing into the hopper c.