AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND SEPARATING GRAIN OR SEEDS FROM THE IMPURITIES THEREIN CONTAINED
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Davidson and Robert Mather Davidson of the
City and County of Newcastle upon Tyne, Millers and Corn Merchants, and
Alexander Miller, of Gateshead in the County of Durham Engineer for an
T
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Davidson, Robert
Mather Davidson and Alexander Miller at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 14th September 1882.
JAMES DAVIDSON and ROBERT MATHER DAVIDSON of the City and County of
Newcastle upon Tyne, Millers and Corn Merchants, and ALEXANDER MILLER of
Gateshead in the County of Durham Engineer "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR
CLEANING AND SEPARATING GRAIN OR SEEDS FROM THE IMPURITIES THEREIN
CONTAINED;"
Our invention relates to original improvements and new combinations in
machines known as "separators" for cleaning and separating grain or seeds.
For separating and cleaning grain from its impurities the machine is constructed
with riddles of different sizes of perforation, also of different sizes of meshes, of
round wire placed length ways of the machine all fixed like drawers in a frame or
chest set on springs at a proper angle so as to give the grain a smooth action on
the riddles.
The grain as it is delivered from or by the feed onto the first Riddle is acted upon
by the exhaust (created by a fan at the back of the machine) in its fall onto this
Riddle; the chaff, light substances, and any very light imperfect grain, being thus
taken out, and the riddles, by this action of the exhaust are kept clear of being
choked thus increasing the capacity and efficiency of each riddle. The large straw
and other refuse, larger than the grain, is passed over the back end of the riddle
into a proper receptacle provided for the same.

page_text: The meshes of the first riddle allow the grain, peas, tares, or other foreign
matters (not previously extracted) to pass through, falling onto the second riddle,
which allows the grain, both large and small, to pass through its meshes, as also
soil and sand, but retains peas, tares, and such other substances of similar size, as
may have passed through the first riddle, which are carried to a proper receptacle
at the back of the machine.
The third riddle allows the small grain, sand, soil, and other small impurities to
pass through the meshes, but it retains the large grain, which is carried to the back
end of the riddle and there delivered into a trunk and in its fall is again subject to
the action of the Exhaust extracting imperfect grains and light foreign substances
(not previously extracted by the first action) which are carried into a receptacle
provided for the same.
The cleaned perfect grain is then conveyed to other machines, if necessary, for
further treatment before being conveyed to the mill stones. The small grain
passing from the third to the fourth riddle is then cleaned of any sand or other
small impurities retained during the passage of the grain through the various
riddles described, which are either carried away by the exhaust in falling between
the riddles or fall through the meshes of the fourth riddle and are conveyed to the
receptacles provided.
The grain from its first entry into the machine is subject to the action of the
Exhaust.
The number of the riddles and the sizes of their meshes or perforations will
depend upon the nature and condition of the grain or seeds to be cleaned and
separated, as more or less than four may be used. The fan, which we use, in
combination with the riddles, in this machine has its centre eccentric to that of its
casing, so that the blades in one portion of their revolution, run close up to the
interior of the casing, gradually leaving it as the air is delivered at the outlet.
With the fan constructed on our principle we find considerably less power is
required for driving the machine, and although the number of revolutions are less
it is in every respect effective in creating a very powerful and effecient exhaust
The advantages secured by this machine are, as follows:-The grain or seeds are
separated from all the lighter particles of foreign substances before they are
delivered onto the first riddle, the meshes of which are thereby kept clear of
accumulation of refuse which chokes them in ordinary separating machines
involving frequent cleaning.
The substances smaller than the grain or seeds, which the first action of the
exhaust has not extracted, fall through the various riddles instantaneously, giving
increased capacity to the Riddles.
All foreign substances (not extracted by the exhaust) are carried to the back
ends of the respective riddles, and there delivered into proper receptacles.
The open and perfectly accessible position of the riddles makes it easy to
withdraw any or all of them when required, without stopping the machine.
The grain or seeds are, in passing through the machine, always subject to the
action of the exhaust are more thoroughly cleaned and the large sound grain or
seeds are separated from the small and shrunken. The fan is enclosed in a
chamber which forms part of the machine and the whole machine is perfectly
accessible for cleaning or repairs at any time when necessary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Davidson, Robert Mather Davidson, and Alexander Miller in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th March 1883.
JAMES DAVIDSON and ROBERT MATHER DAVIDSON of the City and County of
Newcastle upon Tyne Millers and Corn Merchants and ALEXANDER MILLER of
Gateshead in the County of Durham Engineer AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR
CLEANING AND SEPARATING GRAIN OR SEEDS FROM THE IMPURITIES THEREIN
CONTAINED
Our invention relates to original improvements and new combinations in machines
known as " separators"
" for cleaning and separating grain or seeds
For separating grain and cleaning it from its impurities the machine is
constructed with riddles of different sizes of perforation or of different sizes of
meshes of round wire, placed length ways of the machine, fixed (like drawers) one
above another in a frame or chest which is set on springs at a proper angle so as
to give the grain a smooth action on the riddles
The grain whilst being delivered by a feed and falling on to the first Riddle is
acted upon by an Exhaust blast created by a Fan at the back of the machine, and
the chaff light substances, and any very light imperfect grain are thus taken away,
and the Riddles by this action of the Exhaust, are kept clear of being choked and
thus the capacity and efficiency of each Riddle are increased. The large straw and
other refuse, larger than the grain, are passed over the back end of the Riddle into
a proper receptacle provided for the same
The meshes of the first Riddle allow the grain together with foreign matters
such as peas tares &c, not previously extracted, to pass through and to fall on to
the second Riddle which allows the grain, both large and small, to pass through its
meshes, as also foreign matters such as soil and sand, but retains peas, tares, and
such other foreign substances of similar size, as may have passed through the first
Riddle, and these are carried to a proper receptacle at the back of the machine
The third Riddle allows the small grain, sand, soil, and other small impurities to
pass through the meshes, but it retains the large grain which is carried to the back
end of the Riddle and there delivered into a trunk, being again subjected in its fall
to the action of the Exhaust which extracts imperfect grains and light foreign
substances (not previously extracted by the first Exhaust action) which are carried
into a receptacle provided for the same
The clean perfect grain is then conveyed to other machines, if necessary, for
further treatment before being conveyed to the millstones
The small grain, passing from the third to the fourth Riddle, is then cleaned by
it of any sand or other small impurities retained during the passage of the grain
through the various Riddles previously described, and such impurities are either
carried away by the Exhaust whilst falling between the Riddles, or fall through
the meshes of the fourth Riddle and are conveyed to the receptacles provided
A similar process may be applied to the separation of seeds and to cleaning them
from impurities
The grain or seed from its first entry into the machine is subjected at every stage
to the action of the Exhaust
The number of the Riddles and the sizes of their meshes or perforations will
depend upon the nature and condition of the grain or seeds to be cleaned and
separated, as more or less than four may be used. The Fan, which we use in
combination with the Riddles, in this machine, has its centre eccentric to that of its
casing, so that the blades, in one portion of their revolution, run close up to the
interior of the casing, gradually leaving it as the air is delivered at the outlet.
With the Fan constructed on our principle we find considerably less power is
required for driving the machine, and although the number of revolutions are less
(being in fact only about one half the speed, required in ordinary separators)
whereby the wear and tear and liability to fire by overheating is greatly.

page_text: reduced, it is in every respect effective in creating a very powerful and efficient
Exhaust
The advantages secured by this machine are as follows
The grain or seeds are separated from all the lighter particles of foreign
substances, before they are delivered on to the first Riddle, the meshes of which 5
are thereby kept clear of the accumulation of refuse, which chokes them in ordinary
separating machines and which involves frequent cleaning.
The substances smaller than the grain or seeds, especially sand or soil, which
the first action of the Exhaust has not extracted, fall through the various riddles
instantaneously, thus giving increased capacity to the Riddles.
The open and perfectly accessible position of the riddles makes it easy to
withdraw any or all of them, when required without stopping the machine.
The grain or seeds are, in passing through the machine, always subject to the
action of the Exhaust, are more thoroughly cleaned, and the large sound grain or
seeds are separated from those which are small and shrunken.
The Fan is enclosed in a chamber which forms part of the machine, and the
whole machine is perfectly accessible for cleaning or repairs at any time when
necessary.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
1
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrates our invention as we have carried 2
it into practical operation with success.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the machine, Fig. 2 an end view of the
front of the machine and Fig: 3 a cross section on the line A. B of Fig: 1
shewing the receptacles, provided at the back ends of the various riddles, for the
grain and the impurities separated therefrom. The same figures refer to corre-
sponding parts on all the views.
1, is the hopper into which the material to be separated is delivered having an
adjustable slide to regulate the supply; 2 the revolving feed roller (driven by a
belt in the direction of the arrow) by. which it is carried into the spout 3, at the
mouth of which it first meets with the exhaust blast of the fan by which the chaff,
small straw, light refuse substances and any very light imperfect grain are drawn
away up the channel 4 into the chamber 5 at back whence they are delivered at
side by the spout 5º, the other material falling on to the front end of the first
riddle 6 on its passage over which it is again acted upon by the blast from the fan
through the opening 4°. The first riddle 6 with the other riddles 7, 8, and 9 are
carried like trays or drawers in a frame 10 to which a shaking motion is given by
spring bars 11 and 12 and by eccentrics 13 (on a shaft 14 at front of the machine)
connected by the rod 15 with the frame 10. The meshes of the first riddle 6 allow
the grain, peas, tares or other similar substances (and such impurities as have not
been already extracted by the blast) in their passage over it to pass through on to
the second riddle 7 the large straw and other substances, which will not pass
through the meshes or have escaped the blast, being carried to the back end and
delivered into the receptacle 16 and thence out at side by the Spout 16". The
second riddle 7 allows the grain (both large and small) as also soil and sand to
pass through its meshes on to the third riddle 8, but retains peas, tares and other
substances of similar size which are carried onward to the back and delivered into
the receptacle 17 and thence out at side by the Spout 17%. An additional shaking
motion is given to the riddle 7 by tapping it with a small hammer 18 operated by
a cam 19 on shaft 20 revolved by a belt. In falling from the second riddle 7 to
the third riddle 8, and during their passage over the latter riddle, the large and
small grain as well as foreign substances, are again subject to the action of the
The third
blast, through the channel 21 acting in the direction of the arrows.
riddle 8 allows the shrunken or imperfect grain, sand, soil and other small
impurities (which have escaped the action of blast) to pass through its meshes, to
the fourth riddle 9, but retains the large grain which is carried to the back end and
delivered by the channel 21 into a trunk 22 where it again, in falling, is subject to

page_text: the action of the blast which extracts imperfect grains and light foreign substances
and deposits them in the receptacle 23 whence they pass out at side by the
spout 23. The cleaned perfect grain falls out at the spout 24 and is taken to
other machines when necessary for further treatment. The small grain, passing
through the third riddle 8, on to the fourth riddle 9, is there cleaned from any sand,
soil or other small impurities, retained during the passage over and through the
various riddles, carried to the back end of riddle and delivered into the recep-
tacle 25 and thence out at side by the spout 25°. The sand or other impurities fall
through the meshes of the riddle 9 into the receptacle 26 and thence out at side by
the spout 26*.
The fan 27 which we prefer to use is enclosed in a case 28 having its centre
eccentric to that of the case, so that in running in the direction of the arrow the
blades run close to the circle of case, at one portion of their revolution, and gradually
leave it as the outlet is approached The fan is driven by a belt upon the sheave 29
the air is drawn in by the fan at its centre through an opening 30 inside of case
and delivered into a suitable receptacle connected with the outlet 31. The
direction of the exhaust blast, created by the fan, is indicated by the arrows shewn
in full lines. 32, 33 and 34 are throttle flaps by which the blast can be regulated
or shut off at various points
The entire machine, with the fan, is enclosed in a case 35 except the front which
is open for access to the riddles any one of which can be readily withdrawn for
cleaning or changing without interfering with any of the other parts, or by means
of the air openings shewn on front of each riddle it can be partially cleared by a
suitable clearing tool without drawing it out from the case
Having now fully described and illustrated our invention and its practical
operation we would have it understood that what we consider novel and therefore
claim as secured to us by the herein before recited Letters Patent is.
1. In a separating machine the application of an exhaust blast to act upon grain
or seeds on their first introduction into the machine and continuously during their
passage to, from, over and through various riddles arranged to facilitate the action
of the blast substantially as shewn and described.
2. The arrangement and construction of the riddles so as to facilitate the removal
of one or more of them for any purpose and the total or partial clearing of one or
more of them without stopping the whole machine substantially as shewn and
described.
3. In combination with a separating machine so constructed, the use or application
of a fan, constructed as described, for the purpose of creating the exhaust blast
substantially as shewn and described.
4. A separating machine consisting of the various parts particularly mentioned
and shewn in the Specification and drawings in combination and constructed and
operating substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof we the said Robert Mather Davidson and Alexander
Miller, on behalf of ourselves and the said James Davidson, have hereunto
set our hands and seals this thirteenth day of March in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness:
T. J. DANSON F. Inst. P. A.
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent
Newcastle on Tyne.
(L.S.)
ROBT. M. DAVIDSON
ALEXANDER MILLER (L.S.)