Improved Method of and Apparatus for Pneumatically Elevating and Conveying Grain and other Finely Divided Materials.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 27th May. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Pneumatically Elevating
and Conveying Grain and other Finely Divided Materials.
We JAMES WALKER of 8 Montrose Villas St. Peters Hammersmith Con-
tractor and Engineer and EDWIN SKELTON PINCHIN of 38 King Henry's Road,
Primrose Hill, Oil and Color Merchant, both in London do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The main objects of our invention is to utilize as much as possible the air
pressure or compressed air which has hitherto been allowed to escape into the air
of the atmosphere with the grain or other finely divided material at the exit end
of apparatus for elevating and conveying such grain or other material. For this
purpose we intercept as it were this air pressure at one or more points between the
entry and the exit end or near the exit end of such apparatus and lead as much as
possible of the compressed air after it has nearly or wholly done its work, and
which may be termed exhaust air, back to the entry end or to any suitable inter-
mediate part of the apparatus in order to assist in the lifting and impelling of the
grain or other material and thus act as an auxiliary to the air coming fresh from
the air compresser. Or we may utilize it for livening or loosening the bulk of the
grain at the entry end of the apparatus before we allow it to escape finally. Or
we may utilize it for or in connection with atmospheric air supply at the entry end.
We thereby increase the economic efficiency of the apparatus.
The invention is applicable to existing pneumatic elevating and conveying
apparatus, and may advantageously be used in connection for instance with the
apparatus described in Barclay and Walkers Patent Specification No. 1123 of 1886
and in Allchin and Walker's Patent Specification No. 9568 of 1889 so as to render
them still more economical in working.
This invention may be carried out in many different ways some of which we
shall now describe.
The exhaust air is conveyed from a place near the exit end or from another part
of the grain elevating or conveying pipe back to the entry end or a place near to
it by means of a pipe encircling the conveying pipe as a mantle.
Ör it is conveyed back by one or more pipes outside of and separate from the
conveying pipe.
In one form of apparatus we provide the conveying pipe with an outer mantle
or annular pipe which starts at the exit end of the said pipe said exit end being
provided with or terminating in an outlet chamber in the form of a taper box one
side of which consists of a hinged flap valve which by an adjustable weight or
spring tends to close the outlet and which by a slotted quadrant can be set to any
required angle of opening according to the difference in material operated upon
and according to other circumstances. The mantle terminates at the grain entry
end of the apparatus in a narrow annular inverted cone aperture through which
the exhaust air enters the grain conveying pipe thus producing a current which
induces the grain to enter said pipe. The air fresh from the air compresser or
compressed air reservoir enters the said pipe by a narrow annular cone opening
higher up.
It will thus be understood that by this arrangement the exhaust air
begins the work of inducing the grain to enter while the air from the air com-
pressor finishes or furthers the work of elevating or propelling. Screw adjustments
may be provided for regulating one or both the annular cone apertures.
The outlet box in this and other examples may be of other suitable shape such
for instance that of a cylindrical double cone truncated at. the grain exit end
which may be made sliding and adjustable. In another form we provide the grain

page_text: entry end with a narrow annular inverted cone aperture for the exhaust air to
enter from a chamber or chambers surrounding this part of the apparatus and
which is supplied with exhaust air by one or two pipes from near the exit end.
The air from the compresser enters higher up as in the previous example.
In another form the grain conveying pipe at the exit end is formed with a
sudden enlargement or chamber which tapers down in a straight line or by pre-
ference in a curve with contrary flexure to the comparatively narrow exit end.
From the top of the enlarged part we lead a pipe to the grain entry end where it
branches into say two pipes which by jet pieces enter an annular chamber; this
latter is higher up provided with a narrow annular cone opening through which the
air from the air compresser enters the grain conveying pipe. Or the chainber at
the exit end may be of a flat wedge from terminating in a narrow outlet opening
and having at the upper end on each side a pipe for the exhaust air which pipes
are led to the entry end or to any intermediate part of the grain pipe to assist
the work therein the air entering it by preference by a narrow annular cone
opening.
When the invention is applied to an apparatus like Figures 1 and 2 of Allchin
and Walkers aforesaid Patent Specification we let the exhaust air enter the supply
pipe to the chamber y and thus assist the action through the nozzles and p and
the pipes s.
Or when applied to apparatus like Figure 3. we convey the exhaust
air to the pipe or pipes thus conveying air of a certain pressure thereto instead
of or together with atmospheric air.
For the grain conveying pipe we apply when require.l telescopic jointing both
for horizontal and for rising or vertical pipes and in the latter cases we provide
counter-weights for balancing.
In grain conveying and elevating apparatus as heretofore made it is obvious that
a great proportion of the dust contained in the grain is eliminated and diffused into
the atmosphere at the exit end but by means of our invention this is to a great
extent obviated, inasmuch as much dust is carried back by the exhaust air and
entered into the grain conveying pipe again. The disparity between the weight of
grain contained and paid for in say the grain. carrying ship and the grain delivered
therefrom to a lighter or a warehouse will thus by our invention be sensibly
diminished.
Dated this 20th d.. CM 1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Pneumatically Elevating
and Conveying Grain and other Finely Divided Materials.
We, JAMES WALKER of 8 Montrose Villas St. Peters Hammersmith,
Contractor and Engineer and EDWIN SKELTON PINCHIN of 38 King Henry's
Road, Primrose Hill, Oil and Color Merchant, both in London 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 :-
The main object of our invention is to utilize as much as possible the air
pressure or compressed air, which has hitherto been allowed to escape into the air
of the atmosphere with the grain or other finely divided material at the exit end
of apparatus for elevating and conveying such grain or other material. For this
purpose we intercept as it were this air pressure at one or more points between the
entry and the exit end or near the exit end of such apparatus and lead as much as
possible of the compressed air after it has nearly or wholly done its work and
which may be termed exhaust air, back to the entry end or to any suitable inter-
mediate part of the apparatus in order to assist in the lifting and the impelling of the

page_text: the air
compresser.
VITUS
act as an auxiliary to the air coming fresh from
Or we may utilize the aforesaid exhaust air for livening or loosening the
bulk of the grain at the entry end of the apparatus before we allow it to escape
finally.
Or we may utilize it for or in connection with atmospheric air supply at the
entry end.
We thereby increase the economic efficiency of the apparatus.
The invention is applicable to existing pneumatic elevating and conveying
apparatus and may advantageously be used in connection for instance with the
apparatus described in Barclay and Walker's Patent Specification No. 1123 of
1886 and in Allchin and Walker's Patent Specification No. 9568 of 1889 so as to
render them still more economical in working.
The exhaust air is conveyed from a place near the exit end or from another
part of the grain elevating or conveying pipe to the place where it is to be applied
or utilized by means of a pipe encircling the conveying pipe as a mantle
Or it
is conveyed by one or more pipes outside of and separate from the grain conveying
pipe.
This invention may be carried out in many different ways some of which we
shall now describe and firstly the application of the exhaust air at the entry end or
at any suitable intermediate part of the apparatus in order to assist in the lifting
and impelling of the grain or other material.
In one form of apparatus illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 3 we provide the con-
veying pipe A with an outer mantle or annular pipe B which starts at the exit end,
Figure 3, of the said pipe, said exit end being provided with or terminating in an
outlet chamber C in the form of a taper box, one side of which consists of a
hinged flap valve D which by an adjustable weight D' or spring tends to close the
outlet and which by a slotted quadrant D³ can be set to any required angle of
opening according to the difference in material operated upon and according to
other circumstances. The mantle terminates at the grain entry end Figures 1
and 2 of the apparatus in an annular chamber B with a narrow annular inverted
cone aperture B2 through which the exhaust air enters the conical inlet nozzle A¹
of the grain conveying pipe A thus producing a current which induces the grain to
enter said pipe. The air from the air compresser or compressed air reservoir
enters by the pipe E and socket piece E¹ into the conical nozzle A' of the said
pipe A through a narrow annular cone opening A2 higher up. It will thus be
understood that by this arrangement the exhaust air begins the work of inducing
the grain to enter while the air from the air compresser finishes or furthers the
work of elevating or propelling. The conical nozzle A' is screwed into the socket
piece E' and the annular chamber B' is screwed on to the socket piece E. Screw
adjustments other than those shewn may be provided for regulating one of or both
the annular cone aperture A2 and B².
The outlet box in this and other examples may be of other suitable shape such
for instance that shewn in Figures 4 and 5 where the grain conveying pipe A
with its mantle B terminates in a cylindrical double truncated cone at the grain
exit end, the lower part C of which may be made sliding and adjustable for
instance in its upper part C. C' is a glass pane for inspecting the interior.
Figures 6 and 7 shew the conveying pipe A with its mantle B and supporting
chaplets B between them.
In another form shewn in Figures 8 and 9 we provide the grain entry end with
a narrow annular inverted cone aperture B2 for the exhaust air to enter from a
chamber B' or chambers surrounding this part of the apparatus and which is supplied
with exhaust air by one or as here shewn two pipes B from near the exit end.
The air from the compresser enters higher up at A2, as in the previous example,
from a chamber E' and pipe E.
In Figures 10, 11 and 12 the outlet box C is prolonged as required by lower
adjustable cone pieces C* C** of metal or rubber or one such cone piece is shewn
in Figure 13,

page_text: The Figures 10, 11 and 12 also illustrate the alternative for the mantle B of
Figures 1 to 7 namely the two exhaust air pipes B or as shewn in Figure 12 in
dotted lines two such pipes B in addition.
In another form shewn in Figure 1+ the grain conveying pipe at the exit end is
formed with a sudden enlargement or chamber C which tapers down in a straight
line or by preference in a curve with contrary flexure to the comparatively narrow
exit end. From the top of the enlarged part we lead a pipe B to the grain entry
end where it branches into say two pipes which by jet pieces enter an annular
chamber, this latter is higher up provided with a narrow annular cone opening
through which the air from the air compresser enters the grain conveying pipe.
Or as shewn in Figures 15 and 16 the chamber C at the exit end may be of a flat
wedge form terminating in a narrow outlet opening and having at the upper end on
each side a pipe B for the exhaust air which pipes are led to the entry end or to
any intermediate part of the grain pipe to assist the work therein the air entering
it by preference by a narrow annular cone opening. Figure 17 illustrates this
latter mode of utilizing the exhaust air the grain pipe A being provided in some
part between the entry and exit end with an annular chamber B¹ with narrow
annular cone opening B2 through which the exhaust air enters the grain pipe A.
In Figure 18 the exhaust air from the mantle or pipe B is introduced through
the narrow annular nozzle B2 above the inlet nozzle A2 for the fresh compressed
air which latter enters by the pipe (or pipes) E and annular chamber E.
or
When the invention is applied to an apparatus like Figures 1 and 2 of Allchin
and Walkers aforesaid Patent Specification we let the exhaust air from the
mantle B around the grain pipe A as illustrated by Figures 19 and 20 enter the
supply pipe B to the chamber B' below the grain pipe entry nozzle A' and thus
assist the action through the nozzles or pipes s for the purpose of loosening
livening the bulk of grain and introducing additional air into same and thus
facilitating the flow of the grain. Atmospheric air may or may not be introduced
by the pipes t. Or when applied to apparatus like Figure 3 of said Specification
No. 9568 of 1889 we convey the exhaust air to the pipe or pipes t' thus conveying
air of a certain pressure thereto instead of or together with atmospheric air.
In the first case the pipe or pipes t' would receive their entire supply from the
exhaust air pipe or mantle B and in the second case the exhaust air would
enter the pipe or pipes t' in a lateral downwardly slanting direction so as to
induce the atmospheric air to enter more forcibly.
Figure 21 illustrates another mode of separating the exhaust air from the
grain at the delivery end of a horizontal grain pipe A where it is provided
with a hood C with adjustable flap K. By means of this hood the exhaust air
is intercepted and by a pipe B or pipes or mantle carried back to be utilized in
any suitable manner.
In Figures 22 and 23 the compressed air enters at the bottom of the grain pipe A,
and the exhaust air nozzle B₁ is below the same. The chamber B with annular
nozzle B² is supplied with exhaust air by the pipe B and can be fixed to the holder
bars 13 at various distances below the grain pipe entry end according to the
character of grain and other circumstances.
Figures 24, 25 and 26 shew another form of apparatus for applying the exhaust
air to the livening of the grain. The exhaust air is by the pipe B conveyed from
the exit chamber C to a ring B' below the grain entry end. This ring has a
number of holes on the upper side and may be provided with a corresponding
number of spring clip guides B having a guide flap B' at one end and another
such B at the other end, so that as one or the other is placed against the outlet
hole in the ring B' the jet is deflected more or less towards the centre of the
ring or towards the outside. The weighing apparatus F may be placed as shewn
in Figure 24 to receive the grain from the chamber C with its weighted flap D.
For the grain conveying pipe we apply when required telescopic jointing both
for horizontal and for rising or vertical pipes and in the latter cases we provide
counterweights for balancing.

page_text: In grain conveying and elevating apparatus as heretofore made it is obvious that
a great proportion of the dust contained in the grain is eliminated and diffused into
the atmosphere at the exit end but by means of our invention this is to a great
extent obviated inasmuch as much dust is carried back by the exhaust air and
entered into the grain conveying pipe again. The disparity between the weight of
grain contained and paid for in say the grain carrying ship and the grain
delivered therefrom to a lighter or a warehouse will thus by our invention be
sensibly diminished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The method of separating or saving a part or surplus of the compressed
air after it has done its work in apparatus for elevating and conveying grain or
other granular material in a pipe from one place to another and before it is allowed
to escape at the exit end consisting in intercepting such air (exhaust air) at or near
the grain pipe outlet end or at one or more points between the inlet and outlet
end, for the purpose of utilizing its remaining pressure or force to facilitate or
improve the action of the apparatus substantially as set forth.
Second. The means for carrying into effect the method firstly claimed consisting
in providing at the grain outlet end an enlargement or a chamber C with or without
adjustable valve D and having at its upper end a return pipe or pipes B (or
annular pipe or mantle B surrounding the grain pipe) for conveying the exhaust
air back to the place where it is to be utilized substantially as described with
reference to Figures 3. 4. 5. 10. 11. 12. 13 15. 16 and 21.
Third. The method of utilizing the exhaust air obtained as firstly claimed con-
sisting in conveying it back into the grain pipe through a jet or nozzle appliance
below the grain inlet nozzle or above the same or at any suitable point between
grain outlet and inlet substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The means for carrying into effect the method thirdly claimed sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figures 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 15. 16 17
and 18.
Fifth. The method of utilizing the exhaust air obtained as firstly claimed
consisting in conveying it to a point below the grain pipe inlet for the purpose
of loosening or livening the body of grain and facilitate its entry into and con-
veyance through the grain pipe, and that either by itself or in conjunction with
atmospheric air induced by the exhaust air substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The means for carrying into effect the method fifthly claimed sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figures 19. 20. 22. 23. 24. 25. and 26.
Dated this 28th
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.