SEPARATOR AND SMUTTER MACHINE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Elton Kratz, of 69, Mark Lane, in the City of
AN IMPROVED
London, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "
SEPARATOR AND SMUTTER MACHINE." Partly a communication from abroad
by Martin Deal, of Bucyrus, Ohio, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Elton Kratz at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May 1881.
HENRY ELTON KRATZ, of 69, Mark Lane, in the City of London, in the County
of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED SEPARATOR AND SMUTTER MACHINE." Partly a
communication from abroad by Martin Deal, of Bucyrus, Ohio, in the United States
of America.
This relates to improvements in separators and smutters for the more effectually
removing smut, cockle, chaff, and other impurities from wheat, rye, corn, buck-
wheat, and other cereals.
This Invention consists in the arrangement of a receptacle or reservoir between
the wide air chambers, and extending underneath the scouring cylinder, into which
all the offal from the air chambers and scouring cylinder is precipitated, and in
which is a lattice.or slatted shute, which conducts cheat, seeds, and the heavier
part to the bottom, where it is discharged from the machine. At the same time
the smut, dust, chaff, and light worthless parts are drawn through the lattice and
passed out through the fan chamber.
Also in the construction of a double portable riddle for separating cockle, small
seeds, sand, straw, sticks, etc., from the grain and feed bar for distributing and
bolding grain in check on the riddle.
Also in the method of securing an even distribution of the grain in the wide air
chambers by means of several small hoppers under the riddle, and also in the
method of feeding the grain into the bottom of the first air chamber, whereby it
is more evenly distributed in the air chamber than when introduced through an
aperture in the side of the air chamber, the effect of which is to derange the
current of air in the air chamber, and prevent the proper application of the
suction.
•

page_text: Also in the method of slowing the cynnder case and
air entirely around it.
In securi
Also in the perforated spiral beaters or blades to secure additional scouring
surface.
Also in the method of discharging the grain from the scouring cylinder into
the second air chamber, whereby distance is obtained in which to blow or apply
the suction, together with an even distribution of the grain in the second air
chamber.
Also in the regulating of the suction of the fan so as to adapt the machine to
light or heavy grain.
The frame of the machine consists of six posts, two being about half the height
of the others, which are all connected together by girts or stays. Some of them
are made of iron so arranged as to furnish bearings for the different shafts, and not
intercept any of the working parts or passages of the machine, and also prevent
any communication of fire from the bearings.
A riddle is suspended near the top of the frame by four springs, two on each
end, so as to allow it to vibrate endwise, and is vibrated by an eccentric, which is
driven by belt from pulley on fan shaft.
A hopper is located over upper end of riddle, through which the grain is fed on
to the riddle; the quantity is regulated by a hinged feed bar extending from side
to side, which also serves to distribute the grain evenly over the surface of the
riddle, and is operated by a spring lever from the outside, which is provided with
an index point near its extremity to secure it by resting it in any of the indenta-
tions of a quadrant plate.
The riddle may be made of perforated metal plate, the upper part with small
perforations to extract the cockle, sand, and small filth, which is conducted from
the basin by means of a tube to outside of machine, where it can be conducted into
any suitable receptacle or pass off in shute.
The balance of the riddle is perforated sufficiently coarse to allow the grain to
shake through, whilst the straws, sticks, etc., are passed over the surface and
conducted away by the shute. Whenever a change of riddle becomes necessary,
screws are released and the riddle withdrawn and another substituted without
stopping the machinery.
The riddle is made double to secure a better separation of the grain; also the
perforations are oblong, and in the lower riddle the longest diameters are at right
angles with those of the upper riddle.
Under the riddle there are several small hopper shaped receptacles which conduct
the grain in several streams, and deliver it in a distributed condition down a
chamber, where, as it passes over to the bottom of the wide air chamber, every grain
is subjected to the action of the suction, which is caused by the rush of the atmo-
sphere through the air chamber to fill the vacuum caused by the exhaustion of the
air by a fan from a receptacle.
The suction carries chaff, cheat, smut balls, seeds, etc., up air chamber over to
the receptacle just mentioned, where cheat, seeds, and heavier parts are conducted
down a slatted shute, and delivered at an opening in a clean condition, the dust
and lighter particles having been drawn through the slats and passed off through
the fau.
The grain having thus been freed from sand, cockle, straws, stones, chaff, sinut
balls, etc., is conducted down a shute and delived at a spout, making thus a
complete separator; or the grain may be passed on into the scouring cylinder,
part of one end of which is perforated, as well as part of frame removed to secure
a free circulation of the air around the entire cylinder.
The cylinder case is made in two sections, so that the upper section may readily
be removed. The scouring case is provided with longitudinal slots, too small to
allow any grain to pass through, these slots lying as close together as the strength
of the material will admit, and lapping or breaking joints so as to avoid any
unslotted surface, thus securing an effective scouring surface, which no part of the

page_text: grain can avoid, and affording an instant escape into the receptacle before
mentioned of all loosened dirt and dust at all points of the cylinder by means of
the suction from fan. This suction is thus cleansing the grain during its entire
passage through the cylinder.
.
The cylinder consists of a central shaft, to which are firmly attached three or
more spiders placed at equal distances apart, with six or more arins, each so arranged
as to give a spiral position to the beaters or blades, which are made of iron about
two and a half inches wide and closely perforated with three-eighth inch holes.
This cylinder being rotated at a high velocity rubs the grain against the interior of
the cylinder case and through the perforations of the blades, rubbing off all the
smut, dirt, and other impurities, and being spirally formed carries the grain
gradually along to the opposite end of the cylinder, where by its velocity and
centrifugal action it is discharged through a passage tangential to the upper side of
the cylinder and passes into a scattering box with numerous offsets which checks
and scatters the grain and distributes it to a second air chamber where suction
again acts on it as in the first, and the cleaned grain is discharged at bottom of
tube under scattering box.
The fan case is so constructed and connected with the fan that it may be turned
to bring the discharge aperture in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal direction, as
may be most convenient according to locality of machine. It also has an aperture
of about a foot in diameter around the axis of the fan for the ingress of air from
the first named receptacle. This aperture has a sliding valve operated by a lever
by which the suction can be increased or diminished as desired, thus rendering the
same machine suited to any kind of grain.
1
A valve covering aperture in back of the said receptacle is for the purpose of
regulating strength of suction in air chambers.
The operating power is applied to the machine by a belt over a pulley on the
shaft of the scouring cylinder, on opposite end of which is a pulley through which,
by means of a belt over it and a corresponding pulley on the shaft of the fan,
motion is communicated to the fan.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Elton Kratz in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th November 1881.
HENRY ELTON. KRATZ, of 69, Mark Lane, in the City of London, in the County
of Middlesex. "AN IMPROVED SEPARATOR AND SMUTTER MACHINE." Partly a
communication from abroad by Martin Deal, of Bucyrus, Ohio, in the United States
of America.
This relates to improvements in separators and smutters for the more effectually
removing smut, cockle, chaff, and other impurities from wheat, rye, corn, buckwheat,
and other cereals.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 0, 0, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line X, X, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of scouring cylinder with the cap removed, showing the
slotted cylinder case.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of same with the upper half of slotted cylinder case.
removed.
Fig. 6 is a view of a valve by which to regulate the current of air to suit heavy
or light grain.
Fig. 7 is a detached view of double riddle.
Figs. 8 and 9 are details of same.
The same letters of reference occurring in the several Figures indicate corresponding
parts.
This Invention consists in the arrangement of a receptacle or reservoir between
the wide air chambers, and extending underneath the scouring cylinder, into which
all the offal from the air chambers and the scouring cylinder is precipitated, and in
which is a lattice or slatted shute which conducts cheat, seeds, and the heavier
part to the bottom, where it is discharged from the machine. At the same time
the smut, dust, chaff, and light worthless parts are drawn through the lattice and
passed out through the fan chamber.
Also in the construction of a double portable riddle for separating cockle, small
seeds, sand, straw, sticks, etc., from the grain, and feed bar for distributing and
holding grain in check on the riddle.
Also in the method of securing an even distribution of the grain in the wide air
chambers by means of several small hoppers under the riddle, and also in the
method of feeding the grain into the bottom of the first air chamber, whereby it is
more evenly distributed in the air chamber than when introduced through an
aperture in the side of the air chamber, the effect of which is to derange the
current of air in the air chamber and prevent the proper application of the
suction.
Also in the method of slotting the cylinder case and in securing a circulation of
air entirely around it.
Also in the perforated spiral beaters or blades to secure additional scouring
surface.
Also in the method of discharging the grain from the scouring cylinder into the
second air chamber, whereby distance is obtained in which to blow or apply the
suction, together with an even distribution of the grain in the second air chamber.
Also in the regulating of the suction of the fan so as to adapt the machine to
light or heavy grain.
The frame of the machine consists of six posts A, A¹, the two marked A¹ being
about half the height of the others, which are all connected together by girts or
stays B, B; those marked B' are made of iron, so arranged as to furnish bearings

page_text: for the different shafts and not intercept any of the working parts or passages of
the machine, and also prevent any communication of fire from the bearings.
A riddle C is suspended near the top of the frame by four springs D, D, two on
each end, so as to allow it to vibrate end wise, and is vibrated by an eccentric L
which is driven by belt from pulley on fan shaft M.
A hopper E is located over upper end of riddle, through which the grain is fed
on to the riddle; the quantity is regulated by a hinged feed bar F extending from
side to side, which also serves to distribute the grain evenly over the surface of the
riddle, and is operated by a spring lever from the outside, which is provided with
an index point G near its extremity to secure it by resting it in any of the.
indentations of quadrant plate H.
The riddle may be made of perforated metal plate, the upper part I with small
perforations to extract the cockle, sand, and small filth which is conducted from
the basin J by means of tube K, K, to outside of machine, where it can be conducted
into any suitable receptacle or pass off into shute N.
The balance of the riddle is perforated sufficiently coarse to allow the grain to
shake through whilst the straws, sticks, etc., are passed over the surface and
conducted away by the shute N. Whenever a change of riddle becomes necessary
the screws P, P, are released, and the riddle withdrawn and another substituted
without stopping the machinery.
The riddle is made double, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, to secure a better separation.
of the grain; also the perforations are oblong, and in the lower riddle the longest
diameters are at right angles with those of the upper riddle.
Under the riddle there are several small hopper shaped receptacles R, R, which
conduct the grain in several streams and deliver it in a distributed condition down
the chamber S, where, as it passes over to the bottom of the wide air chamber T,
every grain is subjected to the action of the suction, which is caused by the rush
of the atmosphere through the air chamber T to fill the vacuum caused by the
exhaustion of the air by the fan U from receptacle V.
The suction carries chaff, cheat, smut balls, seeds, etc., up air chamber T over to
receptacle V, where cheat, seeds, and heavier parts are conducted down the slatted
shute W and delivered at opening Y in a clean condition, the dust and lighter
particles baving been drawn through the slats W and passed off through the
fan.
The grain having thus been freed from sand, cockle, straws, stones, chaff, smut
balls, etc., is conducted down shute Z and delivered at spout a, making thus &
complete separator; or the grain may be passed on into the scouring cylinder b,
part of one end of which c is perforated as well as part of frame removed, as shown
in Figs. 4 and 5, d, d, to secure a free circulation of the air around the entire
cylinder.
The cylinder case is made in two sections, so that the upper section may readily
be removed. In Figs. 2 and 5, e represents outer cover of cylinder, and the
scouring case which is provided with longitudinal slots, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5,
too small to allow any grain to pass through, these slots lying as close together as
the strength of the material will admit, and lapping or breaking joints, so as to
avoid any unslotted surface, thus securing an effective scouring surface, which no
part of the grain can avoid, and affording an instant escape into the receptacle V
of all loosened dirt and dust at all points of the cylinder by means of the suction
from fan; this suction is thus cleansing the grain during its entire passage through
the cylinder.
The cylinder consists of a central shaft g, to which are firmly attached three or
more spiders placed at equal distances apart, with six or more arms, each so
arranged as to give a spiral position to the beaters or blades i, i, which are made
of iron about two and one half inches wide, and closely perforated with three-eighth
inch holes, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. This cylinder being rotated at a high
velocity rubs the grain against the interior of the cylinder case and through the
perforations of the blades, rubbing off all the smut, dirt, and other impurities, and

page_text: being spirally formed carries the grain gradually along to the opposite end of the
cylinder, where by its velocity and centrifugal action it is discharged through a
passage tangential to the upper side of the cylinder, and passes into a scattering
box k, Fig. 3, with numerous offsets which checks and scatters the grain, and
distributes it to the second air chamber, where suction again acts on it, as in T,
and the cleaned grain is discharged at bottom of tube under scattering box.
The fan case U is so constructed and connected with the fan that it may be
turned to bring the discharge aperture in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal
direction, as may be most convenient according to locality of machine.
It also has
an aperture m of about a foot in diameter around the axis of the fan for the ingress
of air from receptacle V. This aperture has a sliding valve n, Fig. 6, operated by
a lever P, by which the suction can be increased or diminished as desired, thus
rendering the same machine suited to any kind of grain.
The valve q, Fig. 2, covering aperture in back of receptacle V is for purpose of
regulating strength of suction in air chambers.
The operating power is applied to the machine by a belt over the pulley r,
Fig. 3, on the shaft of the scouring cylinder, on opposite end of which is a pulleys,
through which by means of a belt over it and a corresponding pulley t on the shaft
of the fan motion is communicated to the fan. These pulley's may be arranged, as
shown in Fig. 3, or each placed at the opposite ends of their respective shafts if
found more convenient.
Having thus described the construction, arrangement, and operation of the
machine, what I claim as new is,-
1st. The receptacle V arranged and operating in combination with the wide air
chambers and T and horizontal scouring cylinder, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
2nd. The overlapping longitudinal slots covering the entire cylinder case, in
combination with frame provided with air passages d, d, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
3rd. The perforated spiral beaters or blades i in combination with the slotted
horizontal cylinder b, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4th. The sliding valve n placed over the inner air passage m leading from the
separating chamber into the fan, and provided with a lever p in combination with
a suction fan, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5th. The arrangement of scouring cylinder with suction fan so as to draw the
air from the centre of the cylinder, thus securing an equally thorough ventilation
at both ends of the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6th. The driving the riddle by a belt in combination with an eccentric, thereby
giving the riddle a smooth even motion, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
7th. The arrangement for discharging, the grain by its centrifugal action at an
aperture on the upper side of the cylinder, whereby the grain is thrown into the
air chamber in a distributed condition and again subjected to the suction,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Elton Kratz, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
H. E. KRATZ. (L.S.)