CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY APPLICABLE TO CLEANING GRAIN AND DRESSING MEAL
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ASHBY, of Carshalton, in the County of Surrey, Miller, send greeting.
"WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under. the.Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing. date at
Westminster, the Twelfth day. of. October, in the twelfth year of Her. reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Ashby, Her. especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority;
that I, the said John Ashby, my. exors, admors, and assigns, and such others
as I, the said John 'Ashby, my.exors, adñors, or, assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at. all times during the
term of years therein mentioned, should > and, lawfully might use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY APPLICABLE TO CLEANING
GRAIN AND DRESSING MEAL;" in which said. Letters Patent is contained a proviso
obliging me," the said John Ashby, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of- Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more
fully and at large appear..
NOW KNOW YE,- that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said

page_text: John Ashby, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner, in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof (reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say)-
1
My Invention consists, firstly, in improvements on the machines now used
for cleaning grain, the object being to cause such machines to act more
efficiently than heretofore.
My Invention consists, secondly, in the application of flour dressing machines
of an exhausting apparatus for drawing off the air which enters the wire gauze
cylinder or bolting cloth with the meal, the object being in this case to greatly
facilitate the dressing operation.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents in vertical section, and
Fig. 2 in sectional plan, the machine for cleaning grain commonly known as
the corn screen or smut machine, with my improvements applied thereto. It
consists of a vertical cylinder A mounted on a central shaft B, which works in
suitable fixed bearings. The cylinder A is enclosed within a stationary
cylinder C, and is made to revolve rapidly therein, on receiving motion through
a band and pulley or gearing from any first mover. These cylinders are
termed the cleaning cylinders, as the grain supplied to the machine falls into
the space between them, and by coming in contact with their surfaces is
cleansed of the dirt and other matters adhering to the grain. D is a cylin-
drical case for supporting and enclosing the cylinder C, and D is a case in
connection therewith, forming a chamber to receive the corn after it has been
cleaned, and also the refuse matters separated therefrom. This case, D*, also
supports the exhausting apparatus, which consists of a fan wheel a mounted
on a shaft 6, and surrounded by a cylindrical case c, open at bottom to allow of
a free vent for the air from the case D*. E is a shute placed at the bottom
of the cylinders A, C, and is intended to receive the grain after it is cleaned,
and convey it into the case D*, where it meets with a current of air, which
separates the dirt and other light extraneous matters from the grain.
The improvements which I have effected in this machine refer, firstly, to
the construction of the cleaning cylinders; and, secondly, to the means of
regulating the blast of air which by its action separates the grain from the
refuse matters. Instead of employing the ordinary wire gauze to cover the
framing of these cylinders, I provide a material composed of vertical angular
bars attached together by strips of sheet iron in sets of two or three together,
which strips are interlaced between the angular bars. These strips I introduce
at such distances apart as will insure the proper strength of the fabric without

page_text: covering too much of the acting surface of the vertical bars. By referring to
Figs. 3 and 4, which shew this fabric in face view and in cross section, its
peculiar construction will be readily understood. The angular, bars (which
may be either square or triangular-the latter I prefer) are placed at such equal
distances apart as to prevent the escape of the grain, and have an angle
projecting from the face of the fabric (as shewn at Fig. 4). The cross strips.
of metal are intertwined after the manner of making wickerwork. This
covering for the cleaning cylinders I prefer to make in semi-cylindrical pieces,
and I provide the longitudinal edges thereof with bars a", a*, a*, (see Fig. 2,)
so that the pieces may be attached to the frame of the dressing cylinders by
securing the edge bars together respectively by bolts and nuts, as shewn.. By
thus constructing the covering for the cleaning cylinders, the fabric .may be
readily removed when worn out, and replaced, by new semi-cylindrical pieces
(made to a given size), without the assistance of an engineer or mechanician.
These projecting angles form the working surfaces for the cleaning cylinders;
and when the inner cylinder A is made to rotate with great rapidity, the grain
will be driven against the rough-ribbed surface thus formed, and be effectually.
freed from any extraneous matter adhering thereto, while the kernels of smut
will be reduced to powder, which, if it does not escape through the periphery.
of the cylinder C, will fall with the grain into the shute E. This shute E is
furnished with a hinged cover F, which presses on the falling grain, and prevents
air from being drawn through the cylinders. The arrangement for regulating the
current of air, which is employed to separate the cleaned grain from the refuse
matters, is shewn in Fig. 1. G is an adjustable hinged partition placed in the
case D and intended to contract or expand the space which is to be exhausted
by the exhaust fan. H is an adjustable hinged board placed opposite the end of
the shute E for the purpose of contracting or expanding the entrance for the
current of air, which ascends to fill up the vacuum in the case D*; and I is
another hinged board capable of adjustment, its object being to separato
the refuse matters from the grain by interposing at a suitable height an
obstruction to the further progress of the grain when driven forward by the
upward current of air designated by the arrow. By making the partition G
and the boards II and I adjustable, it will be readily understood that the
current of air may be regulated so as to cause the perfect separation of the
refuse matters from the cleaned grain. In the Drawing my improvements
are shewn as applied to a stationary corn screen, such as those used by millers,
and driven by water or wind power; but I propose also, by reducing, the
proportions of the various parts, and supporting the machine on a moveable
frame, to render my improved grain-cleaning machine applicable to the use of

page_text: labor.
Under this head of my Invention I claim the covering of the cylinders
of grain-cleaning machines with a fabric: composed of angular: bars of iron
held together by strips of interlaced sheet metal set at suitable distances apart;!
as above explained, and shewn in the Drawings; and, secondly, the arrange-
ment for regulating the current of air in grain-cleaning machines;, as above
explained.
I will now describe my improvements in machinery for dressing meal or
flour. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a vertical flour-dressing machine;:
with my improvements attached; and Fig. 6 is a plan or top view of the same.
A, A, is the wire gauze cylinder, mounted according to the Invention for
which Her Majesty's Letters Patent were granted to William Ashby on the
Twenty-fifth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and forty-six. Within
this cylinder a rotating brush, carried by the central shaft B, is placed for the
purpose of throwing the flour through the meshes of the wire gauze cylinder
on to the revolving tables or floors C and D, the upper of which receives the
first quality of flour, while the lower one receives the second. quality or
"middlings," as is well understood. In the side of the case E, which
encloses the wire gauze cylinder, an opening is niade extending from the top of
the case to the level of the first table, and over this opening; so as to form a
covering thereto, a vertical pipe F is placed. The upper end of this pipe is
made cylindrical, and forms a case open at top for the reception of an exhaust
fan G, which is mounted on a vertical' spindle, and is caused to rotate with
great rapidity by means of a band from a pulley II on the main driving shaft
of the machine passing round a small pulley keyed on to the spindle of tho
exhaust fan G.
The manner in which the improvements on this machine effect the
desired end (viz.), the facilitating of the dressing operation, will be readily
understood by the practical miller. The meal is fed into the machine by the
shute I, whence it falls into the cylinder A, and has a centrifugal force given
to it by the rapid rotation of the brush on the spindle B, whereby it is thrown
(together with the air drawn into the cylinder at its upper end by the rotation
of the brush), through the meshies of the-cylinder A, and the flour is deposited
on the table C. When, therefore, by the action of an exhausting apparatus;
a strong tendency is established for a current of air to flow into the cylinder,
and through, the wire gauze periphery, it necessarily follows that the operation
of flour dressing, is greatly facilitated. When the flour: has thus escaped it
will (being no longer-agitated and-held-in-suspension, by the rotating brush:)

page_text: fall on to the revolving table and be discharged: therefrom at the usual vent.
The second quality of. flour or "middlings." will be discharged as usual on to
its table, and the bran or offal will fall through the bottom of the cylinder..
In applying this my improvement in machinery for dressing meal to the
inclined cylinders. commonly used for flour dressing,. I find it advisable to
employ a brushing apparatus for keeping the periphery of the dressing cylinder
clean and the meshes thereof open.. To effect this I employ an arrangement
of brushes as shewn at Fig. 7, which represents in. side view the inclined
cylinder; as fitted with my improvements: for facilitating the operation - of
dressing meal, a part of the cylinder. being broken. away the better to explain
the improvement.
:
Fig. 8 represents in plan view the parts for actuating the brushes. A, A;
is the dressing cylinder, mounted as usual in its case; and: by the side of this
cylinder, as indicated by the red lines, is the exhaust apparatus B; for drawing
the air through the meshes of the cylinder: To the upper surface of tho
cylinder A a series of brushes a, a, a, is applied, the design being that eacli
brush shall, by traversing over a portion of the periphery limited by the out-
side hoops thereof, keep the meshes of such part clear for the passage of the
flour through them. These brushes are attached to. rods b, b, which project
from and are bolted to a bar c, extending from one end to the other of tho
cylinder A. This bar is supported at one end by means of a pin, projecting
therefrom, and sliding in a fixed guide d near the lower end of the cylinder.
At its other end this bar is attached by a universal joint to an arme, keyed
to a rocking shaft f, which has its bearings on the outer casing of the
cylinder. To this shaft f another arm 9 is keyed for the purpose of receiving
from an excentric or crank pin on the face of a cog wheel h, a vibrating
motion through a connecting rod. i, and conveying that motion to the
brushes a, a: The cog wheel h is mounted loosely on a stud projecting from
the head end. plate of the cylinder, and on the boss of this wheel a pinion is
keyed, which takes into a wheel 1, similarly. provided with a pinion, and also
mounted loosely on a projecting stud on the end plate k. m is a pinion keyed
on to a stud which revolves in bearings in the end plate, k, and n. is a second
pinion on the same stud, in gear with a ring of teeth o.attached to the outside
of the cylinder A. Rotary motion is given to this gearing by a pinion p
keyed on to the central shaft C (which carries the internal rotating brushes),
and taking into the wheel / before mentioned,, and thus a slow rotary motion
is communicated.to the cylinder A,. for the. purpose of bringing its periphery
under the action of the external brushes a, a, while at the same time a
traverse motion in the direction of the length of the cylinder is given to the

page_text: .
brushes a by means of the crank pin and connecting rod i, for the purpose of
clearing the meshes of the cylinder of coagulated particles of the meal.
When the longitudinal ribs of the cylinder A come in contact with the
brushes a, a, the bar c which carries them rocks in its supports sufficiently to
allow the ribs (which by their pressure on the brushes cause this movement)
to pass under the brushes without injuring them. In applying my exhausting
apparatus to the common bolting cloth machine, I merely make an opening.
in the side of the case (which is made air-tight), and close that opening by
placing over it the pipe or case which contains the fan wheel. I then, by
means of a band and pullies or gearing, communicate rotary motion from the
spindle of the bolting cloth reel to the fan wheel, and thus cause the partial
exhaustion of the case, which exhaustion, as before explained, greatly facili-
tates the operation of separating the offal from the flour.
Under this head of my Invention I claim―
First, the application to machines for dressing meal or flour of an exhausting
apparatus whereby the air which enters the dressing cylinder or bolting cloth
may be drawn out at the periphery thereof for the purpose above set forth.
And, secondly, giving a traverse motion in the line of the dressing cylinder's
axis to the external brushes of meal or flour dressing machines, for the purpose
above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ashby, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine...
Enrolled the Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-nine.