IMPROVEMENTS IN MILLS FOR CRUSHING AND GRINDING MINERAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND FOR HULLING OR SHELLING BEANS. AND OATS, AND OTHER GRAIN AND SEEDS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Corbett, of Park Street Works, Wellington,
in the County of Salop, Agricultural Implement Manufacturer, for the
Invention of
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MILLS FOR CRUSHING AND GRINDING
MINERAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND FOR HULLING OR SHELLING BEANS.
AND OATS, AND OTHER GRAIN AND SEEDS."
Sealed the 21st February 1862, and dated the 29th August 1861.
TROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Corbett at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
August 1861.
I, SAMUEL CORBETT, of Park Street Works, Wellington, in the County of
Salop, Agricultural Implement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVE MENTS IN MILLS FOR CRUSHING AND GRINDING
MINERAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND FOR HULLING OR SHELLING BEANS AND
OATS, AND OTHER GRAIN AND SEEDS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the method herein-after explained of fixing in
the said mills the flat or conical cutting plates by which the grinding or
crushing is effected. The said plates are made of cast steel or chilled cust
iron, or any other hard metallic substance, and are of a disc form, the face
surface of each being either flat or otherwise, as required. By fixing the said
plates according to my Invention, an agricultural labourer can replace them
in case of wear or accident, and they can be fixed at a more uniform distance
from each other when at work than when they are fixed in the ordinary
manner.
In fixing the said plates according to my Invention, I proceed as follows:-
I fix on the mill spindle a cast-iron block turned and bored, to which block I

page_text: fasten the revolving cutting plate either by screws or otherwise, so that when
the said cutting plate has to be removed, it can be replaced at a small expense
by a labourer, without taking the mill to a machinist, as the said block which
carries the revolving cutting plate is turned true on its spindle, so that the
plate cannot be put on wrong or untrue, as the said turned block is not
removed from the spindle ou removing the cutting plate. I also form a recess
in the frame of the mill for the reception of the fast cutting plate, which is
secured to the frame by screws or otherwise, and can be readily removed und
replaced. I also fix two steel springs to the spindle which carries the revolving
cutting plate, which springs make it self-adjusting to any irregularity of
pressure, thereby preventing accidents to the mill in case of nails or any other
hard substance getting iu.
Mills made according to my Invention are simple in construction and
economical in use; they are also very durable, and can be easily repaired
when necessary. My Invention is applicable both to vertical and horizontal
mills.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Corbett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th February 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
COBBETT, of Park Street Works, Wellington, in the County of Salop, Agri-
cultural Implement Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Hei heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Samuel Corbett, Her special licence that I, the said Samuel Corbett,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Samuel Corbett, my executors, administrators, and assigus, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the time therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britam and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MILLS FOR CRUSHING AND GRINDING MINERAL AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND
FOR HULLING OR SHELLING BEANS AND OATS, AND OTHER GRAIN AND SEEDS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Corbett, my executors
or administrators by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of

page_text: their hand and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the aid Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Corbett, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:―
My Invention consists of the several improvements herein-after particularly
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing in mills for crushing
and grinding mineral and vegetable substances, and for hulling or shelling
beans and oats and other grain and seeds.
My Invention consists, firstly, in the improvement, herein-atter described,
in fixing in the said mills the flat or conical revolving, grinding, or cutting
plates or surfaces, by which, with the fast or stationary plates or surfaces, the
grinding, crushing, or hulling is effected.
My Invention consists, secondly, in the improvement, herein-after described,
in fixing in the said mills the fast or stationary grinding or cutting plates or
surfaces, by which, with the revolving plates or surfaces, the grinding, crushing
or hulling is effected.
i
My Invention consists, thirdly, in adapting springs to the spindle carrying
the revolving, grinding, or cutting plate or surface of mills so as to make the
said plate yield and adjust itself to any irregularity of pressure, and thereby
to prevent accident to the said plate or to the mill in case of nails or
other hard substances accidentally getting between the grinding or cutting
surfaces.
My Invention consists, fourthly, in the improvement, herein-after described,
in feeding the grain or other matters to my improved mills.
My Invention consists, lastly, in constructing the grinding or cutting
surfaces of the rotating and fixed plates or discs of mills, as herein-after
described.
The several improvements constituting my Invention are combined in the
mill represented in the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 of which represents
a side elevation, Figure 2, a back elevation, and Figure 3, a horizontal section
of the same, a portion being in plan; Figure 4 represents a plan of one of
the grinding or cutting plates; Figure 5 is a Diagram, illustrating the manner
in which the curves on the grinding surfaces cross each other; and Figure 6
is an edge view of a portion of the fast and rotating plates of the mill, the

page_text: said Figure 6 showing the shapes of the ridges or furrows in the said plates.
The same letters are used to indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the Drawing.
a is the revolving, grinding, or cutting plate of the mill, and is the fast or
The said plates a, b, are
stationary grinding or cutting plate of the same.
Inade of cast steel or chilled cast iron, or any other hard metallic substance,
and are of a disc form, the face surface of each being either flat or otherwise,
as required; c is the spindle of the mill working in the bearings d, e, or the
9, turned true after
framing Fixed on the said spindle is a cast-iron block
it has been fixed on the spindle, to which block the revolving, grinding, or
cutting plate o is fixed the screws and screw nuts h. To the frame / of
the mill I attach a vertical bracket or frame i, i, to which the fixed plate bis
fastened by the screws and screw nuts 7. The accurate adjustment of the
plates a, b, is effected by the set screws m. The grinding or cutting plates
12, which
a, b, and parts connected therewith are covered by a casing or shell
casing prevents the ground matter from flying about, and conveys it to the
delivery spout o, from which it passes to the receptacle placed to receive it.
By fixing the grinding or cutting plates a, b, according to my Invention, an
agricultural labourer can replace them at a small expense in case of wear of
accident, without taking the mill to a machinist, and they can be fixed at a
more uniform distance from each other when at work, than when they are
fixed in the ordinary manner. When the revolving plate a has to be put in
its place on the fixed block g,the said block being turned true on the spindle,
the said plate cannot be put on wrong or untrue, as the said turned block is
not removed from the spindle on removing the said cutting or grinding platea.
The fast or stationary plate 6 can also be readily removed and replaced at
pleasure.
The revolving plate a is made to yield, when undue strain is put upon it, in
the following manner:-At the end of the spindle c is a block p, the said
block being carried by the cross piece or plate q. The cross piece or plate q
slides on the pins or rods r,r, one end of which pins or rods are screwed into
the bearing e; t, t, are screw nuts on the outer end of the rods ", between
which nuts t and the plate y coiled springs u, u, are placed, the said springs
tending to press the block p against the end of the spindle c, and thereby to
force the grinding or cutting plate a into contact with the fixed one b.
Instead of the coiled springs u, u, bow-shaped or other springs may be
employed. When uails or other hard substances areaccidentally introduced
between the revolving and fixed plates a, b, the revolving plate a yields to the
increased pressure, and compresses the springs u, u, thereby allowing the said

page_text: nails or other hard substances to pass from between the plates without
injuring them or the mill. On the pressure being removed, the springs u, u,
by their elasticity press the spindle and rotating plate into their normal
positions; v, v, are screw or lock nuts screwing on the rods r, r, by which the
distance between the grinding plates a, b, can be regulated; the said nuts
bear against the plate q and shoulders on the bearing e By screwing the
nuts v, v, to the proper distance on the rods r,r, the distance between the fixed
and rotating grinding plates a, b, can be adjusted so as to grind the material
to the required degree of fineness.
6.
The feeding of the grain or other matter to the grinding plates or surfaces
is effected as follows-wis the hopper carried by the upright; y is a spout
conveying the grain or other matter to the receiver z, from whence it passes to
the centre of the fast grinding plate of the mill, as best seen in the plan,
Figure 3. The hopper wis provided with a slide 2, to regulate the quantity
of feed; 3 is an arm, one end of which is fixed to the spout y, and the other
end works in an oblique groove 4 in the block or cam 5 fixed on the spindle c
(see Figure 3). By the rotation of the spindle c, the spouty has a horizontal
rocking or shaking motion given to it, and the grain or other matter is thereby
regularly conducted to the receiver z.
I construct the grinding or cutting surfaces of the plates a, b, of the min in
the inanner represented in Figures 4, 5, and 6, of the Drawing, that is to say,
I make on the surface of the plates a series of flat ridges or furrows, the said
ridges or furrows being curved as represented in Figure 4. 1 he ridges or
furrows have no burr or edge upon them, so that sharpening is unnecessary.
The said plates made as described are so adjusted, with respect to each other,
that when in action the ridges or furrows cross each other, as illustrated in
Figure 5, the said ridges or furrows producing on the matter to be ground a
shearing or wrenching action and also outward pressure.
Mills made according to my Invention are simple in construction and
economical in use; they are also very durable, and can be easily repaired
when necessary. They may be worked by steam or other power, or by hand,
as required. My Invention is applicable both to vertical and horizontal
mills.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that. I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention; but I claim, as my Invention,-
Firstly, the improvement herein-before described and illustrated in the

page_text: rccompanying Drawing in fixing the revolving, grinding, or cutting plates on
the spindles of mills for crushing and grinding mineral and vegetable sub-
stances, and for hulling or shelling beans and oats, and other grain and seeds,
that is to say, fixing on the said spindles a truly turned cast-iron block, to
which block the revolving plate is secured by screws and nuts, or in any other
convenient way, the said block permitting the revolving plate to be easily
removed and accurately replaced on the spindle at a small expense in case of
wear or accident.
Secondly, the improvement herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing in fixing the fast or stationary grinding or cutting
plates of mills for crushing and grinding mineral and vegetable substances, and
for hulling or shelling beans and oats, and other grain and seeds, that is to
say, fixing the fast cr stationary grinding or cutting plate by screws and nuts
or otherwise to a frame or bracket secured to the mill frame, the said fast or
stationary plate being capable of being readily removed and replaced in case
of wear or accident.
Thirdly, adjusting the distance between the revolving and fast grinding or
cutting plates by means of screw or lock nuts, as hercin-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly, the method herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawing of making the revolving plate or surface capable of yielding
when nails or other hard substances are accidentally introduced between the
grinding or cutting plates of the mill.
Fifthly, the method, herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawing of feeding grain or other matters to mills constructed
according to my Invention.
Lastly, the method of constructing the grinding or cutting surfaces of mills,
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Corbett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
SAMUEL CORBETT. (L.S.)