IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR HULLING OR DECORTICATING AND CLEANING RICE AND OTHER GRAIN."
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edmund Martin at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 26th January 1878.
.
EDMUND MARTIN, of Whitechapel, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR HULLING OR DECORTICATING AND CLEANING RICE AND OTHER
GRAIN."
My Invention relates to improvements in machines for hulling or decorticating
and cleaning rice and other grain, the improvements consisting,-
First. In arranging the machine in a slightly inclined position, and feeding the
rice or other grain to be decorticated in at the end, so that the whole circumference
of the machine is utilised to act on the grain, instead of a portion only as in other
machines of this class fed at the top.
Secondly. In constructing the casing surrounding the drum in sections fitted in
a frame and made adjustable, so as to be set nearer to or farther from the drum.
Thirdly. In providing apertures in the casing for the admission of air to keep
the grain cool whilst undergoing the action of the machine.
Fourthly. In the improved arrangement, application, and combination of the
materials with which the scouring surfaces of the decorticating drum and casing
are clothed.
And, Fifthly. In the combination in one with the decorticating drum of a cleaning
drum, surrounded by a casing clothed with the ordinary wire cloth, and forming a
continuation of the decorticator casing.
The machine consists of a drum or cylinder mounted on a shaft, and enclosed
within a cylindrical casing, within which it is rapidly revolved in one direction,
whilst the casing is slowly revolved in the opposite direction.
The drum and casing are placed so as to incline downwards from one end to the
other, the degree of inclination being preferably about 1 foot in 5.
The rice or grain is fed in, at, or around the centre of the upper end of the casing,
whence it is distributed equally around the scouring surfaces.
The casing is divided circumferentially into a number of segments, which extend
from end to end, and are fitted between two end frames, and adjusted by set screws.
in longitudinal bars connecting the end frames. At the middle of each segment

page_text: there is an air inlet aperture covered with wire cloth to prevent the grain escaping.
The segments are lined with emery composition to form the scouring surface, and
the drum is clothed with longitudinal parallel strips fixed radially or edgewise to the
circumference of the drum, and separated from one another by vacant spaces about
a quarter of an inch wide. These strips, for the first portion of the length of the
drum, are preferably made of india-rubber, those on the remaining portion being
composed of what is commonly known as patent felt, or they might be made
entirely of felt. The strips whose outer edges are in contact with the emery lined
casing carry the rice or grain round with them as the drum is revolved, so that
the grain is continually turned over in contact with the scouring surface of the
casing until completely husked. The cleaning drum to which the decorticated
grain then passes to be freed from dust is a continuation of the scouring drum and
revolves therewith. It is covered with the ordinary sheepskin, and its casing,
which is composed of the ordinary wire cloth, is a prolongation of the scouring
casing. From the lower open end of this casing the grain passes to the delivery
spout.