IMPROVEMENTS IN SIFTERS OR SCREENS FOR SIFTING OR SCREENING CINDERS AND COAL, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Blizard Williamson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th December 1878.
WILLIAM BLIZARD WILLIAMSON, of the Firm of W. B. Williamson and Sons, of
the City of Worcester, Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIFTERS OR SCREENS
FOR SIFTING OR SCREENING CINDERS AND COAL, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
My Invention consists of a sifter or screen, the parts of which are constructed
and combined in the manner hereinafter described, which said sifter is especially
suitable for sifting or screening cinders, but may also be used for sifting or screening
coal, coke, sugar, corn, and other materials.
I will describe my improvements as applied to a cinder sifter. I make the body
of the sifter, by preference, of an oval case or chamber of sheet iron. The said case
or body has a fixed cover, having in it a circular hole of a diameter about equal to
half the longest diameter of the said case. In this circular hole a cylindrical re-
moveable vessel. fits the bottom of the said vessel, having a hollow conical central
bearing, which when the vessel is put in its place takes upon a pin or centre on the
bottom of the case or body.
The said cylindrical vessel is perforated with small holes, and is capable of
turning freely on the centre described. The said vessel is provided with a moveable
lid, which when put in its place on the said vessel becomes connected therewith by
means of a bayonet joint or other fastening, so that by rotating the lid the vessel
is made to rotate. The lid is provided with a winch or handle for giving it and
the perforated vessel a rotatory motion. The case or body has a fixed handle at
the side most distant from the cylindrical vessel. To the top of the case and
crossing in the direction of its shortest diameter, a bail bandle is jointed. This
handle has the figure of three sides of a square. The sifter is lifted and carried by.
the said bail handle. The said bail handle serves. also for supporting the sifter in
the required position when in use, as hereinafter described.
In using the sifter the cinders to be sifted or screened are put into the cylindrical
perforated vessel, the latter being in its place in the case or body. The cover is put

page_text: on the vessel and the sifter is turned down into a horizontal position by means of
its fixed handle, the bail handle being turned down to form a foot for supporting
the sifter firmly in the position to which it has been brought, By now rotating
the cylindrical perforated vessel by means of the winch or handle on its lid the
sifting of the cinders is effected, the ash and small cinders or particles passing
through the holes or perforations in the cylindrical vessel into the case or body,
and the larger cinders being retained in the said vessel.
After the sifting has been effected the sifter is raised into an upright position,
the cylindrical vessel is lifted from the case, and the large cinders contained in it
emptied out. By inverting the case the ashes contained in it may be emptied, but
the accumulated ashes of many siftings may be left in the case before it is necessary
to empty it. By varying the size of the holes or meshes of the cylindrical vessel,
particles of any required degree of fineness may be separated.
For sifting cinders or other coarse solid, I prefer to make the cylindrical vessel of
perforated sheet iron, but for fine sifting the said vessel may be made of wire
gauze. The bottom of the case or body of the sifter or screen may be furnished
with a hinged flap or part by opening which the ash and small particles may be
removed;
and when the sifter or screen is large it may be suspended on a frame by
pivots or centres on opposite sides of the case or body, so that the sifter or screen
may be inclined in one or other direction for feeding the cinders or materials into
the perforated vessel, or for removing the ash or small particles from the body
or case.