IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING ROOTS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR WASHING ORES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Griffiths, of Shrewsbury, in the County of
Salop, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR WASHING ROOTS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR WASHING ORES AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Griffiths, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th October 1880.
WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, of Shrewsbury, in the County of Salop. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING ROOTS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR
WASHING ORES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to a peculiar rotary machine or apparatus for washing
roots, such as turnips, potatoes, and the like, and for washing ores, mineral earths,
and other like substances. The said improved machine consists of a hollow drum
or cylinder mounted on a central horizontal axle working in bearings so disposed
as to allow the lower portion of the drum or cylinder to be always immersed and
revolve in water or other suitable liquid contained in a tank or reservoir beneath.
The drum, which is of any required diameter and length, may be composed of open
wire-work or of wire-work in combination with perforated or other metal plates or
sheets attached to suitable radial arms carrying a circular rim or frame, which
forms the main frame or skeleton of the drum. Inside this drum there is provided a
spiral or volute shaped passage leading from the circumference to the centre of the
drum above the water level, along which spiral passage the roots and other
substances to be washed are caused to roll over and over in the water during the
revolution of the drum, the said substances remaining immersed in the water in the
tank until by the action of the gentle rotation of the drum (imparted thereto
either by hand or other power) and the spiral form of the surface over which the
substances roll, they are gradually brought to the inner part or convolution of the
spiral passage near to the centre of the drum and above the water level, where they

page_text: are discharged through a central aperture made in one or both the sides of the
drum and communicating with an inclined delivery spout or spouts attached to or
formed on the side or sides of the tank. The roots or other substances to be
washed are fed into the drum from an inclined feeding spout or hopper, the mouth
of which communicates with a corresponding opening made in the circumference of
the drum, so that each time such opening passes in front of the feeding hopper a
charge of roots or other substances will pass into the outer convolution of the
spiral in the drum, and in the process of working will be gradually elevated as
above described to the inner convolutions in succession, and be finally discharged
thoroughly washed through the lateral delivery aperture or apertures in the drum.
A stop or partition may be provided in the outer convolution at a point just above
the inlet aperture, in order to prevent the roots being jammed in case of the drum
being turned in the wrong direction. The dirt and refuse falls through the drum
into the tank below, and can be moved therefrom at convenient intervals through a
suitable mud-hole or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Griffiths in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th April
1881.
"IMPROVEMENTS
WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, of Shrewsbury, in the County of Salop.
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING ROOTS, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR
WASHING ORES AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of rotary
machine or apparatus for washing roots, such as turnips, potatoes, and the like, and
suitable for washing ores, mineral earths, and other like substances. The said
improved machine consists of a hollow drum or cylinder mounted on a central
horizontal axle working in bearings so disposed as to allow the lower portion of the
drum or cylinder to be immersed and revolve in water or other suitable liquid
contained in a tank or reservoir beneath. The periphery and sides of the said
drum, which may be of any required diameter and length, may be composed of open
wire-work or of wire-work in combination with perforated or other metal plates or
sheets attached to suitable radial arms carrying a circular. rim or frame, which
forms the main frame or skeleton of the drum. Inside this drum there is provided
a spiral or volute shaped passage leading from the circumference to the centre of the
drum at an elevation above the water level, along which spiral passage the roots
and other substances to be washed are caused to roll over and over in the water
during the revolution of the drum, the said substances remaining immersed in the water
in the tank until by the action of the rotation of the drum (imparted thereto either by
hand or other power) and the spiral form of the surface over which the substances roll,
they are gradually brought to the inner convolution of the spiral passage near to the
centre of the drum and above the water level, whence they are discharged laterally
through a central aperture made in one or both sides of the drum, and communi-
cating with an inclined delivery spout attached to or formed on the side of the
tank. The roots or other substances to be washed are fed into the drum from a
stationary inclined feeding spout or hopper fixed to the tank or otherwise con-
veniently placed, so that its mouth shall communicate with a corresponding inlet
opening made in the periphery or circumference of the drum, so that each time such
opening passes in front of the feeding hopper a charge of roots or other substances
will pass into the outer convolution of the spiral in the drum, and by its revolution
will be gradually elevated as above described to the inner convolutions in
succession, and be finally discharged after having been thoroughly washed through
the lateral delivery aperture in the drum and lateral inclined spout before referred
to. A stop or partition may be provided between the outer convolution and the
circumference of the drum at a point just above the inlet aperture in order to
prevent the roots being jammed in case of the drum being turned in the wrong
direction. The dirt and refuse falls through the drum into the tank below, and
can be removed therefrom at convenient intervals through a suitable mud-hole or
cock or otherwise.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings is a side elevation of the washing drum detached;
Figure 2 is an edge view of the same in a slightly different position, so as to show
the feed opening more clearly; Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my
improved rotary washer complete, as adapted for washing roots, ores, or other like
substances, and showing the feed opening in a different position as regards the outer

page_text: termination of the convolutions to that shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a
corresponding vertical transverse section of the same.
a, a, are two angle iron or other circular metal rims connected to central
bosses b, b, by radial arms c, c, rivetted or otherwise secured at the outer ends to
the rims a and at the inner ends to the said bosses. Some of these radial arms c¹, c¹,
(on the delivery side of the drum) are secured at their inner ends to an inner
semicircular frame d, secured at each end to the radial arms c, c, so as to leave a
free central opening e in the side of the drum, through which the roots or other
substances are to be discharged as fast as they are washed, the whole constituting
the main framing or skeleton of the drum. The sides and periphery g of the said
drum are composed of open wire-work, wire netting, perforated metal plates, or other
perforated material, the object being to retain the roots or other substances to be
washed inside the drum whilst at the same time to allow free access of water or
other fluid thereto, with a free escape for the mud or earthy matter removed from
such substances in the process of washing. Inside this drum I form a spiral or
convoluted passage, the floor h, h, of which is composed of open wire work, wire
netting, perforated metal plates, or other perforated material, and commences at the
periphery of the drum and terminates at or near the centre thereof opposite the
lateral discharge opening e. The floor of this convoluted passage is inclined down-
wards laterally throughout towards the delivery side of the drum, such lateral
inclination being gradually increased as the passage approaches the lateral central
discharge aperture of the drum, as shown clearly in Figure 4, in order that the
roots or other substances may have a tendency to collect on the delivery side, and
be thereby more readily discharged. The central bosses b, b, are fixed on an axle i
turning on the delivery side in a bearing carried in a bracket / secured to the side
of the tank 1, the opposite bearing being fixed by preference direct onto the tank
itself. A winch handle m is provided on the axle i for the purpose of rotating the
drum by band, but if preferred the drum may be rotated by power through a pulley
and strap or gearing as is well understood. n, o, p, q, are the four corners of a
rectangular opening of any convenient size made in the periphery of the drum at
any convenient part, the beginning of such opening being (by preference) at the
end of the outer convolution, as shown more clearly in Figure 1, where a portion of
the rim a is broken away. Through this opening the roots or other substances to
be washed enter the drum at each revolution from the inclined feed hopper or
shoot fixed to the end of the tank. This shoot is kept supplied by hand or
otherwise with the roots or other substances to be washed, so that each time the
feed opening passes in front of the discharge end of the shoot the whole or a portion
of the contents of the latter will descend into the lowest part of the drum or of the
floor h, h, of the convoluted passage formed therein. As the lower part of the drum
and convoluted passage are immersed in the water in the tank l, it is obvious that
the rotation of the drum in the direction of the arrow will not only cause the
substances under treatment to be rolled over and over whilst immersed in the
water, thereby thoroughly and expeditiously washing the same, but will cause them
at the same time to be gradually carried upwards to the central convolution above
the water level, thence to be finally discharged through the lateral opening e.
From this opening the washed substances discharge themselves into the inclined
delivery shoot a fixed to the side of the tank, and are directed thereby into any
convenient receptacle, a portion of the upper edge of this side of the tank being cut
away to afford a free passage of the washed substances from the discharge opening e
into the said delivery shoot. t is a partition or barrier extending from the inner
periphery of the drum to the outer convolution at a point just beyond the inlet or
feed opening n, o, p, q, in order to prevent all chance of the substances becoming
jammed between the periphery of the drum and the outside of the first convolution
should the drum be rotated in the wrong direction. From the above it will be seen
that the several operations of supplying the unwashed roots or other substances
into the drum, the washing of the same, their removal from the water, and final
discharge from the centre of the drum in a washed condition, proceed in continuous

page_text: succession so long as the rotation of the drum and the supply of the substances to
the feed hopper or shoot is maintained, the apparatus being practically self acting.
The water in the tank can be periodically changed, and the accumulated mud or
refuse removed through the mud cock u, and if preferred a constant inflow and
outflow of water may be maintained into and from the tank. It is obvious that
the spirals or convolutions which separately form no part of my Invention may be
caused to assume the form or arrangement of a helix, having convolutions of
gradually decreasing diameter extending laterally from the side of the receiving
drum towards the delivery end at e, as shown in Figure 5, in lieu of being all con-
tained within the same vertical plane, as in Figure 4, the delivery being effected
either from the side or from the periphery of the smallest convolution, as found most
convenient in practice.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The peculiar combination and arrangement of parts constituting a con-
tinuous action machine or apparatus for washing roots, ores, mineral earths, and
other like substances, as herein before described and illustrated by the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
Secondly. The application and use to and for the purposes set forth of a rotary
drum and reticulated or perforated convoluted passage of wire work or suitable
material, provided with feed and discharge openings in the periphery and centre of
the drum, respectively in combination with a water tank and inclined feed and
delivery shoots, the whole being arranged and caused to operate substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Griffiths, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
WILLIAM GRIFFITHS. (L.S.)