IMPROVEMENT IN MILK SKIMMERS
Year: 1888

page_text: I, MARY CHILTON ATKINSON, of the City of Baltimore in the State of Maryland,
United States of America, lady, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENT IN MILK SKIMMERS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved milk skimmer whereby all the cream on the
surface of milk may be lifted therefrom bodily.
The construction of the improved skimmer whereby the desired result is accom-
plished, will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing which
illustrates what is deemed the best means of carrying the invention into effect. In
the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1, is a top view of the skimmer.
Fig. 2, is a diametrical section of the skimmer showing the position it occupies on
a milk pan when the milk is set for the cream to rise.
Fig. 3 is also a diametrical section showing the skimmer as it is when the cream is
being lifted from the surface of the milk.
The skimmer consists of two circular plates A, B, one fitting in close contact with
the other, and the two secured together at the centre by a pivot bolt, c; both plates
may have, but it is important that at least the lower one has, a horizontal flange, d,
which is designed by resting on the rim of the milk pan to support the skimmer.
Each circular plate has perforations, e, which are formed over its entire surface ;
these perforations are so located that when the two plates are turned on their pivot
and have a certain position with respect to each other, the perforations of one plate
will coincide with those in the other, as seen in Figure 2; and when the plates are
turned to a different position the said perforations will not coincide, but on the con-
trary the space, f, between the perforations of one plate will close or cover the
perforations of the other plate as seen in Figure 3.
The upper plate has on its rim a handle, g, and the lower plate two stops, h, spaced
apart as far as it is designed the plates shall move or turn; the handle has position
and is movable between the stops, thereby the stops limit the movement of the plates.

page_text: To confine the cream when pouring it, so as to ensure its delivery at a given point
on the rim, as if poured from a spout, two guard plates I are attached on opposite
sides of the rim, in the present instance, each plate extends about one-fourth of the
way around the rim; the length, however, of these plates may vary, being a matter of
judgment. One end, i, of one guard-plate has position near one end, i, of the other,
but a space or opening, k, separates said ends; this opening between the ends of the
guard plates, serves as a spout.
The aforegoing described parts comprise the improved skimmer, which is adapted
to set on the rim of any ordinary milk-pan L.
In operation the skimmer is set on the rim of the empty milk-pan, the two plates
are turned, as seen in Figure 2, that is with the perforations above and below coin-
ciding the pan is filled by pouring the milk through the skimmer; the milk should
have the same depth in the skimmer as the cream will occupy when it shall have risen
to the surface; the scale-marks, n, in the upper plate will serve as a guide for the
depth. After the milk has been standing the usual time it will be found that the
cream has risen through the perforations and has collected above the plates A B.
When it is desired to skim or remove the cream, the upper plate is partly turned by
grasping the handle g, and moving it against the other stop this closes the per-
forations. The skimmer containing the cream may now be lifted bodily from the
milk-pan and tilted to deliver or turn the cream out through the spout opening k,
into any receptacle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. A milk-skimmer consisting of two circular plates, each having an upturned
rim, the lower one of which is provided with a horizontal flange, and both plates
having the flat surface within the rim perforated, and one plate fitting closely within
the other, and the two pivoted together at the centre to admit of partly turning, and
means to limit the extent of the turning movement, as set forth.
2nd. A milk-skimmer having a perforated plate with a rim, and provided with a
spout composed of two guard-plates attached to the rim in such position as to leave
a space or opening between the adjacent ends of the plate, as set forth.
Dated this Twentieth day of August 1888.
MARY CHILTON ATKINSON.