Improvements in Churns.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1899--Accepted, 12th May, 1900
Improvements in Churns.
A communication from abroad by THOMAS JEFFERSON CHENEY, of 38, Dearborn
Street, Chicago, in the United States of America, Hardware Salesman.
I, TIMOTHY HOLLAND, of 1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement: —
This invention relates to that class of churns in which an agitator in the
churn receptacle is connected with operating mechanism placed beneath the
receptacle by a shaft extended through its bottom for revolving the agitator.
The advantages of this construction are that the operating mechanism can be
more compactly disposed of with relation to the receptacle, and the operating
shaft does not interfere with the use of an ordinary cover on the top of the
receptacle. As ordinarily constructed a packing is used where the shaft passes
through the bottom to prevent leaking. This increases the friction on the
shaft and is otherwise objectionable; and one of the objects of my improvement
is to provide means, other than a packing, in this class of devices, for preventing
leaking where the passes through the bottom of the receptacle.
The invention also relates to the class of churns in which a combined agitator
and aerator is used; and a further object of my improvement is to provide an
improved agitator and aërator with a view of effecting proportionally less
agitation by the movement of the agitator, and greater aeration and distribution
of the air introduced into the liquid by the agitator, and in this way to secure
equally as good or better results with much less expenditure of power.
These objects are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of churn of the class mentioned, provided
with the above improvements.
Figure 2 is a top view, the cover being removed.
Figure 3 is a detail, showing in enlarged' side elevation, a connecting cap
piece of the tubular shaft of the agitator.
Figure 4 is a detail showing an end view of a detached part.
In the drawings, A is base piece, provided with radial extensions A', having
sockets for legs A² for supporting the base above the floor. This piece has a
vertical extension at one side, to the upper end of which the drive wheel B
is pivoted, and in the lower end of which is journalled a shaft B connected by
a gear with the drive wheel.
The shaft B is also journalled in a vertical piece a', depending from the
bottom of the base piece and provided with a mitre gear b', engaging a gear b²
of the operating shaft C, journalled in a central depending tubular extension a²
of the base piece. D is the churn receptacle rested upon the base or secured
thereto by bolts d. The bottom of the receptacle is provided with a central
perforation for admitting the shaft C, and this perforation is surrounded by

page_text: the bore of a stationary tube E, secured to the bottom of the receptacle by
means of a liquid tight joint, so as to prevent any escape of liquid from the
receptacle into the tube. Said tube is extended from the bottom up to top of
the receptacle above the level of any liquid which it is intended to contain.
The shaft C is extended through the stationary tube E, and provided with a
head c or enlargement, which will rest upon the top end of the tube and support
the shaft in the tube. The upper end c¹ of the shaft is square. F is a larger
revoluble tube, the lower end of which is fitted to revolve upon the stationary
tube E, and the upper end of which is connected with the square end c¹ of the
operating shaft C, by means of a cap piece F¹, having a square central opening
to fit the square end of the operating shaft, and slots f¹ for engaging pins f
on the revoluble tube, so as to cause said tube to revolve with said shaft. The
slots have lateral or horizontal extensions at the top, whereby the cap can be
turned slightly on the revoluble tube, so as to cause the pius to enter the
horizontal portion of the slot, and thereby support the weight of the tube sus-
pended on the cap piece, and prevents its dropping down upon the bottom of
the receptacle. Near the lower end of the revoluble tube F are several openings e,
and around each of these is secured to said tube the smaller open end e¹ of a
flattened flaring tube G. The several tubes G radiate from the revoluble tube F
with their larger ends opened, and are placed edge to edge in a plane perpen-
dicular to the axis of rotation, so that in rotation they follow each other and
the sharp edges cut through the liquid in the receptacle, near the bottom, with
much less friction or resistance, than would be the case if broader areas were
pushed square against the liquid. Both the interior and the exterior of these
Hattened tubes are smooth; and even from end to end, and open at both ends,
so as to prevent as little resistance as possible to the movement of the liquid
upon and through them. When. submerged and not in action the liquid fills
them and extends up in the revoluble tube F to its level in the receptacle, but
when in rotation centrifugal action causes the liquid in the revoluble tube F,
and the tubes G, to be thrown out and displaced by air drawn down through
said tube F. The increment of volume outwardly in the radiating outwardly-
flaring tubes, aids centrifugal action and so produces an increase of down draught
in the revoluble tube F, over what non-flaring tubes, similarly arranged, would
produce, and the air thus taken in, passes out through horizontally wide and
vertically-narrow exits, at the ends of the flattened tubes G, and is thereby more
widely distributed throughout the liquid at the bottom, than heretofore.
This form of agitator and aërator, as compared with former forms, produces
in the liquid less agitation through the agency of the dasher movement, and
greater agitation through the agency of the introduced air. It therefore can be
operated with less power than previous devices of this class. Another advantage
which it possesses over prior constructions, is that it can be operated in either
direction with facility and effect.
The circular motion of the liquid in the receptacle is retarded by narrow
perforated plates H, supported against the wall of the receptacle by wire rings h,
adapted to fit within the receptacle, and hold the plates with one edge against
the wall of the receptacle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. In a churn of the class mentioned, the combination with a receptacle for
containing the liquid, provided with a central perforation in the bottom, of a
stationary tube, secured with one end over the perforation by a liquid-tight
connection with the bottom, and extended up in the receptacle above the space
for containing the liquid; the operating shaft extended through the bore and
projecting above the open end of the stationary tube, and provided with means
for supporting it vertically therein; a revoluble tube mounted on the stationary

page_text: tube and connected with the projecting upper end of the operating shaft so
as to revolve therewith; an agitator mounted on the revoluble tube; and
operating mechanisms connected with the operating shaft below the bottom of
the receptacle, as specified.
2nd. In a churn of the class mentioned, the combination with the receptacle
for containing the liquid, of a revoluble tube arranged vertically with its open
upper end above the space for containing the liquid; a series of open ended
flaring tubes, radially mounted upon the revoluble tube in a plane perpendicular
to the axis of rotation within the space for containing the liquid; the smaller
ends of said flaring tubes being connected so as to communicate with the bore
of the revoluble tube, and the larger ends being flattened toward a plane per-
pendicular to the axis of rotation, so as to straighten the upper and lower sides
of said tubes, and form an acute, ovate, or inverse wedge shaped opening and
exterior for said tubes; and mechanism for operating said revoluble tube, sub-
stantially as specified.
Dated this 16th dor of May 1899
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant, 1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.