IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING OR FREEING FROM ADHERING GRANULAR MATTER REVOLVING METALLIC OR OTHER RIGID SCREENS OR REELS FOR SCREENING GRAIN, GRAVEL, MACADAM, OR OTHER GRANULAR MATERIAL."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pieter Van Gelder and Thomas Apsimon, both of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Mill Furnishers, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING OR FREEING FROM
ADHERING GRANULAR MATTER REVOLVING METALLIC OR OTHER RIGID
SCREENS OR REELS FOR SCREENING GRAIN, GRAVEL, MACADAM, OR OTHER
GRANULAR MATERIAL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pieter Van Gelder and
Thomas Apsimon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
4th January 1881.
PIETER VAN GELDER and THOMAS APSIMON, both of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Mill Furnishers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING OR
FREEING FROM ADHERING GRANULAR MATTER REVOLVING METALLIC OR OTHER
RIGID SCREENS OR REELS FOR SCREENING GRAIN, GRAVEL, MACADAM, OR OTHER
GRANULAR MATERIAL."
In reels or revolving screens of perforated iron, iron bars, wire, or like material,
the grains or nodules of matter being screened are apt to stick in the meshes, but
can be pushed back into the screen by gentle or sufficient pressure exerted from the
outside. Stationary and revolving brushes have been used for this purpose, but it
is found that they have a tendency to wedge the grains or nodules at the end of
the slot or mesh. In place therefore of brushes we use rollers or rows of discs of
various kinds running on the reel. For some purposes heavy or weighted rollers
of cast iron are sufficient; in other cases rollers covered with india rubber
or india rubber or other elastic rollers are to be used, the rubber or elastic.
matter pressing itself into the meshes and bearing upon the material stuck in the
mesh as the roller and reel revolve, while for some purposes a series of loosely or
tightly strung smooth or fluted washers or discs strung on a strong metallic bar is
the most preferable type of roller.
The rollers are preferably pressed against the upper part of the screen, and
revolve with it. Instead of having a brushing action they exert a pressure tending
directly to press the grains out of the meshes in which they are caught. Although
iron only is mentioned here, we do not bind ourselves to this material, as others
could be used for some purposes. In a similar manner "india rubber must be
understood to stand for elastic materials suitable for this purpose.
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Pieter Van Gelder and Thomas Apsimon in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th July 1881.
PIETER VAN GELDER and THOMAS APSIMON, both of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Mill Furnishers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS. FOR CLEANSING
OR FREEING FROM ADHERING GRANULAR MATTER REVOLVING METALLIC OR
OTHER RIGID SCREENS OR REELS FOR SCREENING GRAIN, GRAVEL, MACADAM, OR
OTHER GRANULAR MATERIAL.”
In reels or revolving screens of perforated iron, iron bars, wire, or like material,
the grains or nodules of matter being screened are apt to stick in the meshes, but
can be pushed back into the screen by gentle or sufficient pressure exerted from
the outside. Stationary and revolving brushes have been used for this purpose,
but it is found that they have a tendency to wedge the grains or nodules at the
end of the slot or mesh. In place therefore of brushes we use rollers or rows of
discs of various kinds running on the reel. For some purposes heavy or weighted
rollers of cast iron are sufficient; in other cases rollers covered with india-rubber,
or india-rubber or other elastic rollers are to be used, the rubber or elastic
matter pressing itself into the meshes and bearing upon the material stuck in
the mesh as the roller and reel revolve, while for some purposes a series of
loosely or tightly strung smooth or fluted washers or discs strung on a strong
metallic bar is the most preferable type of roller.
Our Invention is best described by aid of the accompanying Drawings, in
which it is shown as applied to a cylinder for sieving wheat or grain. Fig. 1 is an
elevation, and Fig. 2 section. A is the perforated part of the reel; B, a small
india-rubber roller (formed of washers or discs of india-rubber a) fixed on a metal
spindle b; and C brackets which keep roller B in position as it revolves on the
surface of A. The roller B is free to rise and fall in these brackets as it meets
with any irregularities in the surface of A.
This Invention is here shown as adapted to cylinders, but it is also applicable to
conical reels or those of hexagonal, octagonal, or other section, the ends of the
roller B as it passes over the different angles of the reel rising and falling in slides
in the brackets C; or the roller may be fixed in brackets placed a little to one
side, which rise and fall with it as the angles are passed over (see Fig. 3).
The roller B presses against the upper surface of the screen A, and revolves with
it, and instead of a brushing action it exerts a pressure tending directly to press
the grains out of the meshes in which they are caught. The roller B, if made of a
soft or pliable material (such as india-rubber) will with constant use become
moulded on its surface with the irregularities of the holes or perforations in A,
those parts coming over the holes being raised, which will also help in the removal
of the grains from the meshes.
Having now described our Invention, and the best modes known to us of
carrying it into effect, we wish it to be understood that what we believe to
be new and desire to protect under the bereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
First. The manufacture of apparatus for cleaning or freeing from adhering
granular matter revolving metallic or other rigid screens or reels for screening
grain, gravel, macadam, or other granular material, substantially as described, and
especially the construction of rollers having surfaces capable of regulating them-
selves to the varying surface of the reel and the slots or perforations therein, either
by making said rollers in segments strung loosely on a central bar, or of elastic
material, such as rubber, capable of conforming itself in some measure to the surface
of the reels.

page_text: Second. The mode of cleaning or freeing revolving screens or reels from granular
matter sticking in the meshes, consisting in pressing an elastic roller, or series of
discs, either by means of their own weight or otherwise against the screen or reel,
so that as the screen revolves the discs or projecting surface of the roller press
against the adhering particles and knock them out of the meshes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pieter Van Gelder, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Thomas Apsimon, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty one.
PIETER VAN GELDER. (L.S.)