Grain, and Sifting or Separating the Meal.
Year: 1885

page_text: Grain, and Sifting or Separating the Meal.
I, RALPH HOWARTH, of Corn Mill Machine Works River St Rochdale in the
County of Lancaster, Corn Miller, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPLITTING, CRUSHING OR GRINDING GRAIN
AND SIFTING OR SEPARATING THE MEAL" to be as follows:-
My invention relates principally to that class of machinery for splitting crushing
or grinding grain and sifting or separating the meal, in which a suitable number
or sets of splitting crushing or grinding rollers are employed, and actuated in
combination with a series of rotary sifting or separating reels but parts of my
improvements forming this invention, are equally applicable to other classes of
splitting crushing or grinding and sifting or separating machines.
The objects of my improvements are to combine a suitable number or sets of
splitting crushing or grinding rollers and sifting or separating machines in such a
manner that the same will take up considerably less space, will be more certain in
action, give a better effect, be less costly, more easily fixed in the mill, and require
less attention than heretofore has been the case.
To this end I fix or arrange on a suitable foundation two pairs of double faced
pillars, carrying on each side or face in suitable bearings, a certain number or sets
of splitting crushing or grinding rollers..
Between these two pairs of double faced pillars; I arrange in suitable bearings,
carried by the said double faced pillars, a suitable number of rotary sifting or
separating reels. These rotary sifting or separating reels are brought into commu-
nication with the said splitting crushing or grinding rollers in such a manner that
the grain which is fed from a hopper or conduit onto the first set of splitting
rollers, preferably situated at the top of the pillar, will be carried and discharged
direct onto a rotating sifting or separating reel, by means of a worm formed
& employed at the respective end of the said rotating sifting or separating reel.
The latter is internally provided with a spiral blade fixed to the inner periphery
thereof, which causes the substance, during the rotation of the sifting or separating
reel, to travel from the inlet end to the opposite or lifting end of the rotary sifting
or separating reel, at which end the substance is lifted to the centre of the rotary
lifting or separating reel; and discharged onto another worm employed or formed

page_text: on the respective end of the said sifting or separating reel, and afterwards fed
onto a second set of crushing or grinding rollers from whence the substance is
delivered into a second rotary sifting or separating reel, situated below the first
named one, all arranged on one side or face of the pillar, and in the described
manner, so on, brought to a third set of crushing or grinding rollers and afterwards
onto another worm, or direct to a pair of elevators by means of which the
substance is lifted and discharged onto a worm formed or employed at the inlet
end of a third rotary sifting or separating reel arranged at the top and on the
other side or face of the pillar.
This described operation is repeated until the substance to be treated has passed
as many sets of crushing or grinding rollers and rotary sifting or separating reels,
as may be found necessary.
Upon each rotary sifting or separating reel a brush is arranged for the purpose
of keeping the rotary sifting or separating reel clean, and underneath the latter
a worm for carrying away the meal.
The worms which carry the substance to be treated from the splitting, crushing
or grinding rollers to the rotary sifting or separating reel, or vice versa, are formed
on each end and around the axis thereof, parallel with the splitting, crushing or
grinding rollers.
In order to facilitate the breaking up or splitting of the wheat along the crease
by the splitting rollers I feed the grain to be split from a hopper or conduit onto
the periphery of one of the set of splitting rollers and arrange immediately in front
thereof a suitable metal or other rigid cover, preferably hinged, the free or lower
end reaching between the set of grinding or crushing rollers in such a manner,
that when this cover is lifted, when hinged, the free end will just clear the adjacent
grinding or crushing roller, and when the substance has left the cover it is gripped
by the splitting rollers while in the longitudinal position.
The said cover is so formed that the part near the hinge or upper end is further
away from the periphery of the splitting roller, than is the case on its free or lower
end, and is, inside, formed or provided, from distance to distance with longitudinal
impediments, such impediments being formed either by gimping the cover inwardly
or providing its inner side with suitably formed. strips, in order that the, wheat
will be caused to assume the right position by being placed longitudinally onto
the periphery of the splitting roller, for the purpose of being split or broken along
the crease, in the case of wheat.
In order to facilitate the grinding of the inside of the grain and preventing as
much as possible the breaking up of the bran or skin of the grain I also place over
the top of the crushing or grinding rollers a similar cover as already described, but
without impediments, for the purpose of causing the rollers to grip the substance
while such substance is either longitudinal or vertical, but not cross-wise with the
crushing or grinding roller.
To ensure a constant cooling of the splitting, crushing or grinding rollers, I cause
the current of air to travel over the top of the periphery and underneath the
covers of the splitting crushing or grinding roller instead of underneath the latter,
as heretofore has been the case, which method of ventilating the splitting, crushing
or grinding rollers requires much less air and causes also less waste of flour and
purifies the substance before splitting crushing or grinding.
The lifting end of each rotary sifting or separating reel, I form with a suitable
number of radial scoops or buckets, which lift the substance under treatment and
deliver the same onto the worms already described, whieh latter are arranged to
rotate in a cylindrical casing or tunnel, the upper part of which, nearest to the
lifting end of the rotary sifting or separating reel, is cut open so as to permit the
said scoops or buckets to discharge their contents onto the worm.
In order to prevent any escape of substance at such point, I form on the inside
of the said rotary sifting or separating reel, and near the said cylindrical casing or
tunnel, a ring being V shaped in section, by means of which any substance that
might escape instead of being delivered onto the said worm through the cut part

page_text: of the said cylindrical casing or tunnel, will be guided off from the end of the
sifting or separating reel and brought back again into the scoops or buckets.
I also form the cut portion of the cylindrical casing or tunnel with a flange
which is an additional security against the escape of the substance from the
cylindrical casing or tunnel.
The power to be transmitted to the splitting crushing or grinding rollers I obtain
from a suitably situated driving shaft which I provide with a suitable number of
rope pulleys.
Each of such rope pulleys transmits motion by means of a rope to another rope
pulley fixed on the respective splitting, crushing or grinding roller shaft.
By this means and method of driving, a great saving of space and more effective
driving is obtained, the power being delivered near the bearing of the splitting
crushing or grinding rollers, causes the latter to run easier and steadier.

page_text: Grain, and Sifting or Separating the Meal.
I, RALPH HOWARTH of Corn Mill Machine Works River St. Rochdale in the
County of Lancaster, Corn Miller, 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 :—
My invention relates principally to that class of machinery for splitting
crushing or grinding grain and sifting or separating the meal, in which a suitable
number or sets of splitting, crushing or grinding rollers are employed, and actuated
in combination with a series of rotary sifting or separating reels, but parts of my
improvements forming this invention, are equally applicable to other classes of
splitting, crushing, or grinding and sifting or separating machines.
The objects of my improvements are to combine a suitable number or sets of
splitting crushing or grinding rollers, and sifting or separating machines in such
a manner that the same will take up considerably less space, will be more certain
in action, give a better effect, be less costly, more easily fixed in the mill and
require less attention than heretofore has been the case.
And in order that my invention may be better understood I have caused to be
appended hereunto four sheets of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures..
Fig. 1, Sheet I, and Fig. 2 Sheet II are side elevations respectively.
Fig. 3 Sheet III is an end elevation, and Figs. 4 and 5 Sheet III vertical cross
sections at A-B and C-D respectively.
Fig. 6. Sheet IV is a vertical cross section of the feeding cooling & purifying
device. Fig. 7, Sheet IV is a vertical cross section and Fig. 8 a longitudinal section
of the lifting device.
In carrying out my invention and referring to the figures generally I fix or
arrange on a suitable foundation a, two pairs of double faced pillars a¹ and a
carrying on each side or face in suitable bearings and bracket b, bolted thereto,
a suitable number or sets of splitting crushing or grinding rollers c², c³, c³, c², c³.
Between these two pairs of double faced pillars a¹ and a² I arrange in suitable
bearings c carried by the said double faced pillars a¹ and a³, a suitable number of
rotary sifting or separating reels e¹, e³, es, et, es.
These rotary sifting or separating reels are brought into communication with the
said splitting crushing or grinding rollers c¹, c³, c³, c, c³, in such a manner that the
grain which is fed from a hopper or conduit f, see Fig. 1. Sheet I, onto the first set
of splitting rollers c³, preferably situated at the top of the pillar a¹ will be carried
and discharged direct into the rotating sifting or separating reel e¹, by means of
a worm f¹, formed and employed at the respective end of the said rotating sifting
or separating reel e¹.

page_text: The latter is internally provided with a spiral blade g fixed to the inner
periphery thereof, which causes the substance, during the rotation of the sifting
or separating reel e¹ to travel from the inlet end to the opposite or lifting end of
the rotary sifting or separating reel, at which end the substance is lifted by a
suitable lifting device hereinafter described more particularly, to the centre of the
rotary sifting or separating reel e¹ and discharged onto another worm f' employed
or formed on the respective end of the said sifting or separating reel e¹ and after-
wards fed onto the second set of crushing or grinding rollers c³, from whence the
substance is delivered by means of the worm f³ into a second rotary sifting or
separating reel e situated below the first named one e¹ all arranged on one side or
face of the pillars a' and a³ and in the described manner (viz by spiral blades g
and lifting device) so on, brought to a third set of crushing or grinding rollers c
and afterwards onto another worm f³ or direct to a pair of elevators / by means of
which the substance is lifted and discharged onto a worm f6 see Fig. 2 Sheet II,
formed or employed at the inlet end of a third rotary sifting or separating reel e³
arranged at the top and on the other side or face of the pillars a¹ and a².
This described operation is repeated until the substance to be treated has passed
as many sets of crushing or grinding rollers and rotary sifting or separating reels
as may be found necessary by means of the lifting devices and worms, as for
instance shown in the drawing, viz five splitting crushing or grinding rollers c¹, c³,
c, c, c, and five rotary sifting or separating reels e¹, e³, e³, et, e³.
Upon each rotary sifting or separating reel a brush o see Fig. 5 Sheet III is
arranged for the purpose of keeping the rotary sifting or separating reel clean,
and underneath the latter, worms p for carrying away the meal.
The worms which carry the substance to be treated from the splitting, crushing
or grinding rollers to the rotary sifting or separating reels, or vice versa, are
formed on each end and around the axis or shaft q thereof, parallel with the said
splitting, crushing or grinding rollers.
In order to facilitate the breaking up or splitting of the wheat along the crease
by the splitting rollers, I feed the grain to be split from a hopper or conduit fonto
the periphery of one of the set of splitting rollers c¹, and arrange immediately in
front thereof a suitable metal or other rigid cover r, see Fig. 4, Sheet III and
Fig. 6 Sheet IV, preferably hinged at a but may also be fixed, the free or lower end
reaching between the set of grinding or crushing rollers c¹ in such a manner that
when this cover r is lifted, when hinged, the free end will just clear the adjacent
splitting roller c¹, and when the substance has left the cover r it is gripped by the
splitting rollers c¹, c¹, while in the longitudinal position.
The said cover r is so formed that the part near the hinge or upper end is
further away from the periphery of the splitting roller c¹, than is the case on its
lower end, and is, inside, formed or provided, from distance to distance, with
longitudinal impediments ¹, such impediments being formed either by gimping
the cover inwardly or providing its inner side with suitably formed strips, in
order that the wheat will be caused to assume the right position by being placed
longitudinally onto the periphery of the splitting roller, for the purpose of being
split or broken along the crease, in case of wheat.
In order to facilitate the grinding of the inside of the grain, and preventing as
much as possible the breaking up of the bran or skin of the grain I also place
over the top of the crushing or grinding rollers c³ etc, a similar cover as already
described, see Fig. 4 Sheet III but without impediments, for the purpose of causing
the rollers to grip the substance, while such substance is either longitudinal or
vertical, but not cross-wise with the crushing or grinding rollers.
To ensure a constant cooling of the splitting, crushing or grinding rollers,
I cause the current of air to travel over the top of the periphery and underneath
the covers of the splitting, crushing or grinding rollers, instead of underneath the
latter, as heretofore has been the case which method of ventilating the splitting,
crushing or grinding rollers requires much less air and causes also less waste of
flour and purifies the substance before splitting crushing or grinding.

page_text: The lifting end of each rotary sifting or separating reel see Fig. 7 Sheet IV,
I form with a suitable number of radial scoops or buckets which lift the
substance under treatment and deliver the same onto the worms f* etc already
described, which latter are arranged to rotate in a cylindrical casing or tunnelv
the upper part of which, nearest to the lifting end of the rotary sifting or
separating reel, is cut open so as to permit the said scoops or buckets to
discharge their contents onto the respective worm.
In order to prevent any escape of substance at such point I form on the end
inside of the said rotary sifting or separating reel, and near the said cylindrical
casing or tunnel va ring w being V shaped in section, by means of which any
substance that might escape instead of being delivered onto the said worm through
the cut part of the said cylindrical casing or tunnel will be guided off from the
end of the sifting or separating reel and brought back again into the scoops
or buckets u.
I also form the cut portion of the cylindrical casing or tunnel v, with a flange
which is an additional security against the escape of the substance from the
cylindrical casing or, tunnel v.
The power to be transmitted to the splitting crushing or grinding rollers
I obtain from a suitably situated driving shaft which I provide with a suitable
number of rope pulleys.
Each of such rope pulleys transmits motion by means of a rope y to another rope
pulley y fixed on the respective splitting crushing or grinding roller shaft, see
Figs. 1 & 2 Sheets I & II.
By this means and method of driving, a great saving of space and more effective
driving is obtained, the power being delivered near the bearing of the splitting
crushing or grinding rollers, causes the latter to run easier and steadier.
It will be understood that the lifting and feeding devices and method of
purifying and cooling the grain and driving the rollers described, are also applicable
separately to other kinds of splitting crushing sifting or separating machines, for
the treatment of grain.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. The general arrangement & combination of parts constituting my im-
provements for the purposes, & substantially in the manner herein before described
& shown.
Second. The combination of the splitting, crushing or grinding rollers & sifting
or separating reels all arranged longitudinally & parallel to each other, on double-
faced pillars, in such a manner as to cause the substance to be treated, to pass first,
all the rollers and reels mounted on one side or face of the pillars and afterwards
those mounted on the other side or face of the double-faced pillars, substantially as
herein before described & illustrated.
Third. The rotary lifting device composed of radial scoops or buckets in
combination with the V shaped concentric ring fixed to and rotating with the
end of the sifting or separating reel in combination with the stationary tunnel v
its end projecting into the sifting or separating reel, being cut half-open & near the
latter formed with a flange x, for the purpose substantially as described & shown
hereinbefore.
*
Fourth. The rigid cover r hinged or fixed & provided with longitudinal
impediments in combination with the splitting rollers, & without impediments
with the crushing or grinding rollers, substantially as & for the purpose herein-
before shown & specified.
Fifth. The method of keeping the splitting, crushing or grinding rollers cool,
and purifying the grain by causing a stream of air to operate on the grain & pass
over the periphery of the rollers & between the rigid hinged or fixed cover r,
substantially as hereinbefore described & shown,

page_text: Sixth. Driving the splitting crushing, or grinding rollers, by means of ropes;
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Seventh. The application of the rotary lifting device named in Claim 3,
& method of feeding, cooling, purifying and driving named in Claims 4, 5 & 6
to other kinds of sifting or separating reels & splitting, crushing or grinding
rollers respectively, as set forth.