Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-03-05
ATMOSPHERIC GRAIN ELEVATOR.
Remarkable Discovery by Il Toledo ln-
yenter-A Continuance ~ Raise Grain
without the Aid Of Buckets.
Toledo Blade.


One of the most remarkable inven-
tons of the times is now being perfect
ed and experimental upon by Alfred
Wilkin, Of this city. For several
months Mr.. Wilkin has been trying to
study out some more speedy and eco
nomical method of elevating grain IN
bulk than any now in use. The results
as already shown by his yet imperfect
model are astonishing, and promise to
work almost revolution in the grain
carrying trade. The principle made use
of in this curious little machine is simp-
ly that Of atmospheric pressure, or the
exhaust process which has lately been
applied with such wonderful success in
the great Westinghouse atmospheric
brakes. The model which Mr.. Wilkin
has used so far is a small air pump,
rather rudely constructed, yet answer
ing for al! practical purposes at present
Connected with the pump Is a one-nch
tin pipe, syphon shaped, and at the ell
bow or top (some three feet above the
pump is n cylinder somewhat larger
than the pipe and connecting both parts
Of it, Inside Of this Is n smaller perfor-
ated cylinder, while at the lower end of
it is valve through which the grain
drops out. The other arm of the sy-
phOn is extended down into the grain
pile.
When the machine was first ready to
be started some wheat was put into IL
common envelope box to represent the
car Or vessel, and the grain was sucked
up at Il rate that was perfectly astonlsh-
ing. AS some one remarked, at this
rate the complete machine would "draw
the insides out OF vessel in less than
no time" This was making an eleva-
ton Of about five feet, and some who
viewed the remarkable effects Of the
crude air-pump reasoned that IL would
be possible to raise grain only about
thirty-two feet, or as high as the air will
sustain Il column OF water. But, with
out arguing the case, Mr.. Wilkin quiet
y had an additional lot OF pipe made,
and planting his machine in the third
story of the custom-house, forty feet
from the ground, had the satisfaction of
seeing it take up the wheat and corn
out OF the box placed on the ground as
easily rs whirlwind would take up the
dust from the road. The next step was
to place the air-pump in the fourth
story, over fifty feet from the ground,
where the result was similar. The only
drawbacks were the mechanical defects
IN his appliances. This settles the
question about raising grain to great
heights by atmospheric pressure.
The reciprocating pump will be sup
planted III practice by powerful blowers,
which, with their continuous action,
will exhaust the air SO rapidly, the man
utacturers think, that an elght-inch pipe
viii give all the pressure asked for by
the inventor.
The economy of power and the rap
idity of transit Of the grain are, of course
problematical But many Of the great
advantages of the arrangement are APP
parent. Among these is the capacity
for discharging several cars or vessels
Mt the same time by making the sup
ply-pipe fork into several pipes leading
TO the different lots of grain. Then the
expense of shoveling the grain up to the
leg of the elevator, rs under the present
system, is saved. This amounted to
So 50 pr one thousand bush els in Buff
falo last season--$l50 to $500, say, for a
larger schooner. When held at the sur
face of the grain the pipe, while in one
position, would draw up nearly if not
quite all the wheat or corn in the en-
velope box, so that by little moving,
rs u fireman would move the hezzle Of
his hose, it would quickly take Up all the
grain III vessel.
There would be saving Of about
One-half in insurance rates on grain in
store, as there would be no machinery
IN the building-henCe no friction, and
no danger from fire in the building
Not the least among the desirable fea-
lures OF this method would be the cool
ing Of the grain 10y passing it from one
bin to another and cleaning it of dust
and dirt at the same time. The inn
nense benefits Of such system would
confer upon port like Toledo can be
roadil, seen. By making n large re-
duction IL the cost of transferring and
storing grain, not only here, but at
terminal akepointS, supremacy would
be given our great water route which
could not be successfully challenged
hy any railroad combination on earth.