A MACHINE FOR DAMPING AND POLISHING SPLIT PEAS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Litster, the younger, of Edinburgh, in the County
of Midlothian, North Britain, for the Invention of "A MACHINE FOR
DAMPING AND POLISHING SPLIT PEAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Litster at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1879.
GEORGE LITSTER, the younger, of Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian,
North Britain. "A MACHINE FOR DAMPING AND POLISHING SPLIT PEAS."
This Invention, which relates to a machine to be used for damping and polishing
split peas, has for its object to get rid of the existing practice of damping split
peas by manual operation, and to clean and polish the surfaces thereof.
The machine constituting this Invention consists of a cylindrical casing or
drun which is slowly rotated upon an axle on which it turns loosely, For the
purpose of driving the drum it is provided at one end with a spur circle, with
which is geared a spur pinion on a driving shaft provided with a clutch for
throwing it into and out of gear. The central shaft is provided with agitators,
which by preference are arranged spirally on that portion of the shaft inside the
drum. This shaft and agitators are driven quickly. There is also provided an
adjustable heavy scraper suspended loosely upon the central shaft, and which as
the drum moves slowly round is carried upwards by the movement of the peas
until arriving at its highest position, when its weight causes it to fall over and
scrape off any of the split peas which have adhered to the sides or ends of the
drum. The drum is provided with a door for charging and emptying it of the
split peas. The damping is effected by placing water or admitting steam into the
drum.
When working this Invention practically the drum is charged about three
fourths full of peas,
In place of arranging the bearings of the drum to run loosely upon the central
shaft as herein-before described, the bearings of the drum may be supported
independently of the central shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Litster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th December
1879.
GEORGE LITSTER, the younger, of Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian,
North, Britain. "A MACHINE FOR DAMPING. AND POLISHING SPLIT PEAS."
My Invention relates to a machine to be used for damping and polishing split
peas, and has for its object to get rid of the existing practice of damping split
peas by manual operation, and to clean and polish the surfaces thereof.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing represent elevations at right
angles to each other, and Figures 3 and 4 represent vertical sections (taken at
right angles to each other respectively on the lines 1, 2, Figure 2, and 3, 4, Figure 1)
of a machine constructed according to my Invention. On the shaft or axle a is
mounted loosely a cylindrical casing or drum A, having fixed to one end a spur
circle b with which gears a spur pinion c on a shaft C, provided with a clutch c¹
for engaging in a clutch box on the pulley c2 by a band passing over which the
shaft C is driven, so that the drum A may be rotated slowly or allowed to remain
stationary according to the position of the said clutch c¹. The central shaft or
axle a is driven quickly by a band passing over the pulley d, and to it at the part
inside the drum A are fixed agitators e, which are, by preference, arranged spirally
upon the said shaft. Upon the shaft a is suspended loosely by the arms f³ a heavy
scraper, which as the drum noves slowly round is carried upwards by the move-
ment of the split peas, until on arriving at its highest position its weight causes it
to fall over and scrape off any of the split peas which have adhered to the sides or
ends of the drum A. The split peas are fed into and discharged from the drum A
through a door in the periphery of the drum, the said drum being charged about
three fourths full of split peas. The damping is effected by placing water or
admitting steam into the drum A, which steam may be admitted through the
axle a, which in this case would be made hollow with openings therefrom into the
interior of the drum A for the discharge of the steam. For convenience of illus-
tration I have omitted from Figures 1, 3, and 4 the bearings in which the drum
and shafts rotate.
The machine may be driven by any suitable and convenient motive power. The
bearings of the drum A may either run loosely upon the shaft or axle a, or they
may be supported independently of the said axle a.
The druin A may be made of any suitable material. It is represented in the
Drawing as having sides of wood and a periphery of sheet metal strengthened by
strips of wood.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner, in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The machine for damping and polishing split peas constructed essentially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying Drawing, that is to say,
a machine consisting of a rotating drum in which is a heavy scraper, acted upon
by and acting on the split peas, essentially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, 1, the said George Litster, the younger, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.