AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CLEANING, DRESSING, AND HULLING GRAIN AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND OP MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Sealy Allin, of Midleton, in the
County of Cork, Ireland, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF CLEANING, DRESSING, AND HULLING GRAIN AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND
OP MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
"
Scaled the 4th April 1876, and dated the 7th October 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Scaly Allin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th October 1875.
I, SAMUEL SEALY ALLIN, of Midleton, in the County of Cork,
Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Ax
IMPROVED METHOD OF CLEANING, DRESSING, AND HULLING GRAIN AND SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES, AND OF MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN,” to be as follows:-
I cause the grain to be operated on to pass first over any sufficient
apparatus with the object of separating extraneous matter; and the form
of apparatus I prefer for the purpose consists of a double sifting
surface, the upper coarse to permit the grain and smaller matters to pass

page_text: through, while carrying on to the end all more bulky substances, the
lower fine, so as to carry the grain on to the end whilst permitting all
smaller substances to pass through; I then lead it to a machine fitted
with a series of inclined planes, the inclination of which I vary as
required by the condition of the grain, and along each of which a
current of air is blown or drawn, keeping the grains playing up and
down, the heavier gradually descending whilst the lighter ascend, for the
purpose of separating from the grain all defective berries & all
matters approaching the grain too nearly in bulk and weight to be
separated by sifting.
In some cases, as for instance ordinarily when treating rice, instead
of this machine I cause it to pass over a sorting surface divided by
ridges and in part smooth, in part rough. The grain thus separated I
then submit to the hulling or decorticating process, but inasmuch as
the grains to be treated vary infinitely both in their own character and
structure and in the degree to which it may be desirable to decorticate
them, it is not possible to indicate a uniform routine for all, but the
process I employ is briefly this:-I cause them to pass between a
succession of surfaces as may be necessary, and of these surfaces I
employ 3 kinds; 1st., one composed of an open grating of stecl
strips, on edge, so fixed as to permit the passage between them of air
impelled by blast or otherwise, and also the matter removed from the
grain; 2nd., one composed altogether of clastic substances as cork and
rubber, and their compounds, when necessary corrugated by compres-
sion or by structural arrangement; 3rd., a rubbing or brushing surface
composed of substances more or less elastic and fibrous, as felt, cloth &
leather, the object of which is to polish the grain and to remove from it
all filaments and particles, wholly or in part detached by the previous
action.
In the decortication of wheat for instance, it would ordinarily be sub-
jected to the action of a pair of surfaces, of which one was a steel
grating and the other clastic, then to that of a pair of elastic surfaces,
and finally, to that of a pair of fibrous ones, when necessary passing it
through the inclined planes to remove by ventilation all accompanying
particles. When the wheat requires it I damp before any of the
rubbing actions, and if desirable dry it or its offals after; rice and other
grains would cach demand its special modification of the process.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Sealey Allin in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
SEALY ALLIN, of Midleton, in the County of Cork, Ireland, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Sealy Allin, Her special
licence, that I, the said Samuel Scaly Allin, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Sealy
Allin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any timo
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CLEANING, DRESSING, AND HULLING GRAIN
AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND OF MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Sealy Allin, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Sealy Allin, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawings :—
This Invention is designed to accomplish the sorting, cleaning, and
bulling, or decortication of grain in an expeditious and effective manner
by a novel arrangement of apparatus, the construction and action of
which may be thus described :—

page_text: The
The grain to ho operated on previous to its subjection to the hulling
or decorticating process is first sorted and cleaned, so as to have removed
therefrom all extraneous gritty and other foreign matters.
apparatus I prefer to employ for this purpose combines several novel
features herein-after more particular referred to, the general arrange-
ment of which consists first of an upper vibrating frame, provided with
upper and lower trays, the upper one of which first receiving the grain
is composed of a coarse perforated or open mesh, through which the
grain or other smaller matters pass, whilst the more bulky substances
are carried off from the machine; the second or lower tray has openings
in it of a smaller size, over which the grain as it traverses has the
smaller particles or dust extracted therefrom. The grain or other
particles leaving this lower tray are received by a hopper, and fed into
a machine fitted with a series of adjustable inclined planes or tables,
arranged in tiers with suitable coverings. The inclination of these
planes can be varied as required, individually or collectively, according
to the condition or quality of the grain being operated on. Each incline
with its covering forms an independent thoroughfare or passage, into
which a current of air is admitted from a fan through suitable openings,
provided with valves turning on eccentric spindles which regulate tho
admission of air thereto as required.
The grain as it descends through openings to the series of inclined
planes is acted upon in succession by the ascending currents of air, the
counter action of which retards its downward course, and so causes it
to play upon the inclines in a manner which allows the grain and
heavier particles gradually to descend in succession, from table to table,
whilst the lighter impurities, such as defective berries and all matters
approaching the grain too nearly in bulk and weight to be separated
by sifting aro driven upwards and blown off through apertures into
sorting chambers, the first and nearer one of which receives the heavier,
and the second or more distant one the lighter particles.
The grain as it falls from the lower incline of the series of planes is
thoroughly clean and in a fit condition for undergoing the decorticating
process, but I would remark before entering on the description of the
decorticating machine, that in some special cases, as for instance, when
treating rice, I prefer to use in lieu of or in addition to the machine I
have described, a sorting surface composed of a series of ridges
constructed longitudinally on the upper surface of an inclined table to

page_text: which a lateral vibratory motion is given, the said ridges having a form
curvilinear or inclined on one side and vertical on the other, the curved
or inclined sides are partially covered with fibrous material, which make
them in part rough and in part smooth. The rice or other grain is fed
on to this table through a hopper at its elevated end, from which point
consequent upon the tremulous motion given to the inclined table, it
is precipitated in its downward traverse outward from the central groove
or channel of the table towards the outer edges thereof with more or
less force according to the weight or bulk of the grain, the result of
which is that the heavy pure grain becomes discharged over the edges
of the table into a receiver before arriving at the lower extremity
thereof, during which the lighter particles will be continually shaken
off, so as to fall according to their weight into receivers placed at the
bottom end of the table. The grain, of whatever description, when
separated and cleaned is then submitted to the hulling or decorticating
and polishing processes, but inasmuch as the grains to be treated vary
infinitely both in their own character and structure and in the degree
to which it may be desirable to decorticate them, it is not possible to
indicate an uniform routine for all, I will therefore describe as an
example an arrangement of decorticating machine composed of a series
of revolving discs placed in tiers, one above the other, supported in
suitable framing. The grain as it travels through this machine is acted.
upon by the discs in succession, the decorticating surfaces of which are
of three kinds. The first of the series is composed of a grating of steel
or other metal strips fixed on edge, and so arranged in their supporting
frames that they will form ridges similar to the " cracking" or lines
of a mill stone, the interstices or spaces between each strip forms a
passage for air created by blast or exhaust, and also permits the bran or
matters removed from the grain to pass away.
In some cases in licu of an elastic stationary surface I should employ
a grid composed of a strip of metal coiled in a spiral direction and cast
on the arms of the supporting disc. The second series of discs are
composed altogether of elastic substances, such as cork or india-rubber
and their compounds or the like, which have their acting surfaces
corrugated by compression or by structural arrangement finally. The
third series being designed as a rubbing or polishing surface is composed
of substances more or less elastic and fibrous, such as felt, cloth, or
leather, the object of which is to polish the grain and remove therefrom

page_text: in which the steel strips are secured to their supp
frame.
Fig. 7 represents the horizontal wheel or framing carrying the seg-
mental sections forming the decorticating surface.
Fig. 8 represents as an example an arrangement of decorticating diso
composed of a continuous ribbon of steel forming a spiral or concentric
line from the eye to the outer frame thereof, a space being left between
each coil of the metal strip, so as to give the disc on its working or
upper surface a spiral gridded character.
And Fig. 9 represents a detached sectional view of a portion of the
decorticating discs, shewing as an example a means I employ for
damping the partially decorticated grain immediately it leaves the first
pair of discs.
In Fig. 1 a, a, is the framing or casing of the sorting or cleaning
machine; b is the double vibrating tray suspended by the chains or
blades 6', actuated by a crank or its equivalent, which gives it the
necessary shaking or vibratory motion. The grain falling from the
hopper a¹ is first fed on to the higher surface of the tray b², through the
meshes of which it and similar or smaller particles pass, whilst the
larger and more bulky substances are discharged or fall over the end
thereof.
The grain and extraneous matters falling on to the lower tray b³ are
by reason of the fineness of the meshes of such tray sifted so as to have
extracted therefrom all dust and small particles, the grain only or
5 substances of a similar size and any adhering particles being allowed to
pass into the hopper c, from whence they are gradually and continuously
fed by the roller c³ on to the inclined table c³, down which the substances
heavier than the grain descend, and pass from the machine out of the
outlet c³, during which time the grain and all lighter particles mixed
O therewith are caused to ascend by the counter action of the air current,
the lighter particles then detached being blown away through the
aperture c, the grain itself falling over the edge into the inclined
channel c³, down which it is directed, so as to rebound on to the second
inclined table d, which with its cover d¹ forms the first of the series of
5 the thoroughfares or adjustable channels 1, 2, 3 and 4, up which
currents or blasts of air are directed. Immediately the current of air

page_text: again comes into contact with the falling grain the then remaining
lightest loose particles mixed therewith are blown away through the
second opening e into the receptacle e', the grain itself and substances
of a similar size and weight, which in this channel are superior to the
resistance of the draught, fall on to the incline d, and gradually descend
thereon, during which time the defective berries and other light particles
not previously removed receive a retrogressive movement up the incline
until they are finally blown off into the receiver e³. The descending grain
and other particles not separated therefrom as they arrive at the bottom
of this incline d fall on to the next incline d², which with its cover d³
also forms a passage for a current of air. The grain and other matters
received on this incline d' are acted on in manner similar to that which
they received on the previous incline d, and so on during their descent
through the series of similar inclines 3 and 4 in succession, until the
grain in a thoroughly clean and puro state is discharged through the 1
outlet fready to undergo the subsequent operation of decortication.
The inclined tables with their coverings are each connected by the
hinges 9, 9, 9, with the case or framing a at their upper ends, whilst
their lower ends are supported by the swivel bearings h, h, h, h, actuated
by handles or suitable gearing outside the framing. The partial turning 2
of the bearings h give greater or less inclination to the inclined
surfaces d, d', d³, ď³, d', d³ and dº, to suit the quality or condition of the
grain passing through the machine.
The current of air passing through the machine is generated by a fan
and enters into the casing through the inlet where it impinges against 2
the baffle board i', so that it may have an equality of pressure in the
chamber, from whence it passes through the thoroughfares ³, 1º,,
,, and is directed to the particular inclined thoroughfare through
which it is designed to blow. The pressure of the air current passing
through these thoroughfares is regulated by the eccentric block 3
valves j.
In the cleaning and sorting of rice I prefer to use a sorting surface,
such as that shewn as an example at Fig. 2, in which k is an inclined
table suspended by spring blades k², k³, k³, k³, or their equivalent in such
a manner that a vibratory shaking motion may be transmitted thereto 3
through the medium of a crank in a direction transverse to its length.
The upper surface of the table & is grooved longitudinally so as to form

page_text: a series of ridges on each side of the central groove opposed to each
other, and by preference similar in design to that shown in the
diagram K. The sloping or curved surfaces of these grooves are covered
with a fibrous material which will excite a slight degree of friction and
prevent substances passing over them too freely.
The rice or other seed to be sorted and cleaned is fed on to the upper
clevated portion of the inclined table, the inclination and lateral
shaking action of which precipitates or throws the heavier particles and
pure seeds in a direction across the ridges over and down which they
traverse with a laboured diagonal to-and-fro motion until they are
finally discharged over the sides into the trough and receiver k³, the
remaining lighter particles according to their weight and substance
travel down the grooves or ridges and central channel until they arrive
at the bottom where they are received as they fall from the table into the
Shoppers,, and, the hoppers *, *, leading to one common outlet
receive the coarser particles and the central hopper
particles.
the lighter
Having now described the methods I adopt for sorting and cleaning
grain, together with the mechanism employed therefor, I will proceed
> to describe in detail the mechanism and process of decortication which
will be clearly understood on reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
In these Figs. A, A; are the standards and framing of the machine,
and B is the central vertical driving shaft supporting and giving motion
to the series of discs C, 0³, and 0³, herein-after more particularly
5 described. These discs C, C³, and O' work in conjunction with the
upper fixed discs D, D', and D³; also more particularly described
hereafter, the said upper discs D, D', and D³ are secured and adjusted in
their position by the brackets and screws i fixed to the framing A.
Each of the discs O, C³, and C³ is provided with a key groove capable of
O sliding on a fixed key or feather m secured to the central shaft B. The
manner of supporting and adjusting the said discs on the shaft B is
accomplished by means of the lock nuts n, n, n, screwed upon pro-
jecting threads secured to the central shaft. The nuts n, n, n, form
adjustable bearing surfaces which give the required elevation to their
5 respective discs, for example, the distance or space at which each disc is
individually placed relative to its upper fixed disc is determined by the
screwing or unscrewing of the nuts n, m, n, and the simultaneous raising

page_text: or lowering of such lower discs is accomplished by the raising of the
central shaft B through the medium of the set screw o acting at its
lower end on the footstep bearing E.
The decorticating surface of the disc C seen more clearly at Fig. 4 is
composed of a number of segmental frames, vide Fig. 5, the whole of t
which are supported by and rest upon the horizontal wheel C, vide
Fig. 7. The segmental frames are arranged to swivel upon pivots o, 0, 0,
projecting from the outer ring of the supporting wheel or frame C.
Each segmental frame is filled in with a number of steel strips placed
radially to the centre of the disc, a space being left between each
strip which transforms the whole into a gridded surface capable of being
adjusted so as to throw or place the lines of the steel strips before
the centro on either side thereof according to the direction in which the
disc is being driven, the dotted lines in Fig. 4 shews the position of the
segmental frames when the disc is running from left to right. If 1
running in the opposito direction then the segments will be reversed so
as to occupy a similar position on the opposite side of the centre, as
shewn in full.
The segmental frames when adjusted in their position, according to
the direction it is intended to run, are fixed by the conical block P,
which is screwed down thereon by the nut q.
The decorticating disc C when adjusted in its position on the central
shaft, with respect to the yielding or elastic surface of the fixed upper
disc D, as before described, has a space left between it and the said
upper disc, into and between the surfaces of which the grain enters at å
the central orifice 7, and is by reason of the centrifugal velocity of the
lower disc coupled with the inclination of the strips and segments
forced between the two surfaces towards the outer edge thereof, the
frictional rolling action to which the grain is subjected whilst passing
over and between the revolving surface of the said steel strips, and the å
elastic surface of the upper fixed disc causes it to be stripped of its
outer skin or covering of bran, the particles of which as they become
detached are drawn off and cleared away from the decorticating surface
by suction or otherwise (created by a fan) through the spaces of the
lower disc into the receiver F, from whence they pass clear of the
machine by the spout S. The grain so far decorticated falls in a con-
tinuous stream over the outer ring of the lower disc C into the conical
hopper G, which directs it to the ¡central eye of the second pair of
ๆ

page_text: discs C, D, which, by preference, are composed altogether of elastic
substances such as cork or india-rubber and their compounds, and so
arranged that the surfaces of the said discs will assume a slightly
ribbed or corrugated character. The action of this second pair of discs
5 complete the decortication of the grain, after which the said grain with
any adhering filaments is passed into the hopper G', which conveys 'it'
to the third or lower pair of discs O³, D³, which being composes of
substances more or less elastic and fibrous effects a rubbing action upon
the grain which removes therefrom all filaments and particles wholly or
in part detached by the previous operation, and discharges them into the
hopper G, by which they are conveyed from the machino in a clean
and polished condition.
I would remark that with respect to the disposition of the decorti-
cating discs, I should' in special cases arrange them so that the
¡ second under pair would be of a character similar to that of the first
pair.
.
I also prefer to use in certain cases in lieu of the elastic disc herein-
before described, a disc similar to that shewn at Fig.. 8, the working
surface of which is composed of a continuous steel ribbon or strip, so
) arranged as to form a spiral or series of nearly concentric circles placed
‹at about a sixteenth of an inch apart, giving the whole surface thereof
an open spiral grid-like appearance.
$
I would here remark that if damping should provo desirable between
the stages of decortication, I prefer to effect it in or similar to the
manner shewn at Fig. 9, in which it will be seen that the partially
decorticated grain immediately it leaves the first pair of discs comes
into contact with a moistened cloth t or other absorbant material, from
which it receives an additional damping before again passing to the
action of the second pair of decorticating discs D', O¹.
Having now, described the nature of my said Invention, together
with the method I employ for carrying the same into practical effect, I
wish it to be understood in conclusion that I do not wish to confine
myself to the exact arrangement of the parts shewn and described, as,
the same may be varied with more or less advantage, according to the
quality or kind of grain being acted upon, therefore what I declare as
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
mo by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—

page_text: First. The application of a cover or lid to inclined planes, whethor
fixed or adjustable, to be employed for sorting grain or the produco of
grain, as herein substantially described and set forth.
Second. Constructing such [inclined planes and their lids so as to
make them adjustable, together with the parts in combination therowith
as shewn at Fig. 1, Sheet 1, to be employed in the manner heroin
described for those and similar purposes.
Third. The arrangement and adaptation of the grooved or ridged
vibrating table, shewn at Fig. 2, to be employed for the purpose of
assorting grain in the manner shewn and described.
Fourth. I would here remark that although I am cognizant of the
fact that steel blades placed on the periphery of a drum or cone have
heretofore been used in combination with special mechanism for de-
corticating grain, I claim in contradistinction to such previous use,
arranging and constructing the surfaces of discs of radial steel strips or
a combination of adjustable segmental sections composed of radial steel
strips or ribs, between which spaces are left, for the purposes of de-
cortication, as herein described and shewn at Figs. 4, 5 and 6.
Fifthly. Arranging and constructing the surface of discs of a spiral
strip of steel, as described and shewn at Fig. 8 of the Drawings.
And, Lastly. The novel employment of an intermediate damping
medium for re-damping grain after the commencement not of cleaning
but of decortication, as shewn according to one method in the diagram
given as an example at Fig. 9 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Scaly Allin, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this the Fifth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
Witness,
THOMAS WRIGLEY.
S. S. ALLIN. (L.S.)