Improvements in Grain Scourers and Separators.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ORVILLE MARION MORSE, Millwright, of
Jackson, in the County of Jackson and State of Michigan, and EDWARD
WILHELM and JOHN JOSEPH BONNER, Attorneys at Law, both of Buffalo,
in the County of Erie, and State of New York, all of the United States of
America.]
Improvements in Grain Scourers and Separators.
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a grain scourer and separator which is provided with a
Scouring and separating chamber having an imperforate peripheral wall, an outlet
in one end for the heavy material, an outlet at the opposite end for the light
material, and a rotating air propelling device which is located in the separating
chamber near the outlet for the heavy material and which causes the air to circulate
from the axial portion of the chamber to the peripheral wall near the outlet for the
heavy material, thence along the peripheral wall to the outlet for the light material,
and thence back through the axial portion of the chamber, so that the circulating
air current carries the separated dust to the outlet provided for its discharge from
the chamber.
This invention has for its object to better adapt the machine for use as a grain
Scourer and separator by providing contrivances whereby the grain issuing from the
separating chamber is separated from the air current which accompanies the said
grain and whereby the impurities carried on the air current, such as chaff, screenings
and the like, are separated therefrom, and the air current is returned to the
separating chamber, which latter also performs the function of a scouring chamber,
and further, by providing the machine with an auxiliary fan which increases the
speed or force of the air current by which the separation is made after the grain
has been discharged from the scouring chamber.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a vertical grain scouring and separating machine
provided with my improvements, and having the auxiliary fan arranged below the
Scouring mechanism, the plane of section being taken on the line 1-1, Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the fan case on the line 3-3 Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the machine, partly in section, the plane of section
being taken on the line 4-4, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan of the machine.
Figure 6 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the dust spout and
adjacent portion of the scouring chamber, on the line 6-6, Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of a vertical grain scouring and separating
machine provided with my improvements and having the auxiliary fan arranged
above the scouring mechanism.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of a scouring chamber containg two sets of
Scouring devices, one arranged above the other.
Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of a horizontal grain scouring and
separating machine provided with my improvements, the plane of section being
taken on the line 9-9, Figure 10.

page_text: and
Figure 1 is a transverse section of this machine on the line 10-10, Figure
Figure 11 is a vertical section of an upright grain scouring and separating
machine containing the improvements specified herein without the auxiliary fan.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A represents the peripheral wall of the scouring and dust separating chamber
which has preferably the form of a frustum of a cone or pyramid. In the upright
machine represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3, this peripheral wall is secured with its
lower large end to a bottom plate A' which rests upon the stationary frame of the
machine, and with its small upper end to a top plate A³.
B represents a vertical shaft arranged axially in the scouring chamber and
extending below the same. The lower end of the shaft is supported on a bridge-
tree b secured to the stationary frame of the machine and the shaft is provided
above the bridge-tree with a driving pulley 6'. The upper portion of the shaft is
supported in a bearing & secured to the top plate A³.
c represents the feed spout through which the grain or other material operated
upon is introduced into the scouring case, and which enters the upper portion of the
latter near the center thereof and delivers the grain into a funnel c' secured to the
underside of the top plate A². The grain passes from this funnel upon a feed
disk C which is secured to the shaft B in the lower portion of the scouring chamber.
D represents an annular scouring plate which is arranged horizontally below the
feed disk and secured to the shaft by a spider d. This plate carries on its under-
side the blades E by which the air is set in motion within the scouring chamber.
The upper surface of the annular plate is preferably ribbed or roughened to increase
the scouring action and its marginal portion is preferably turned upwardly to hold
the grain longer on the plate. The blades E are preferably inclined in the direction
in which they rotate for the purpose of lifting the grain in the scouring chamber and
retarding its escape therefrom.
represents the dust escape opening which is formed at the upper or small end
of the scouring chamber near the peripheral wall thereof, preferably in the top
plate A, as represented in Figure 6.
F represents a dust spout which connects with this opening and extends down-
wardly on the outer side of the scouring chamber. This dust spout is preferably
provided near its upper end with an internal adjustable gate f.
g represents the grain discharge opening formed in the bottom plate A¹ of the
scouring chamber near the peripheral wall thereof. G represents the chamber into
which the grain and air pass which issue from this opening and in which the grain
is separated from the accompanying air current. The grain drops from the lower
edge of the curved bottom plate y' of this chamber upon an inclined board H which
forms the bottom of the grain escape passage, while the air current accompanying
the grain reverses its direction and passes upwardly and outwardly between the
boards g and H.
The air current is prevented from passing downwardly over the inclined board H
with the grain by a flap-valve which rests upon the grain. I represents a chaff
hopper which is arranged underneath the upper portion of the inclined board II
and through which the air current passes after it has separated from the grain.
The air current expands in this hopper and drops the heavier grade of impurities
such as chaff &c. i is a downwardly inclined passage which is arranged under-
neath the inclined board H and through which the air current escapes from the
hopper I. J is an ascending air passage or leg which is arranged at the lower ends
of the inclined board H and air passage i.
The grain is delivered from the lower portion of the inclined board H into this
ascending air passage above the point at which the air current enters the
ascending passage from the inclined passage i, so that the grain drops at this point
through the ascending air current, whereby any light impurities, which are still
commingled with the grain, are removed. The ascending air passage may be
provided with an adjustable wall; for regulating the force of the air current.

page_text: K represents a chess hopper which is arranged on the outer side of the ascending
air passage J and in which the air current parts with the lighter grades of
impurities, such as screeings &c. k is a horizontal air passage which extends
inwardly from the top portion of the chess hopper K and which communicates at
its upper side with the central portion of the scouring chamber by an opening k¹.
L is a fan case which is arranged underneath the horizontal air passage k around
the shaft B and which contains blades which are secured to the shaft B. is the
eye of the fan which is formed in the upper head of the fan case and which com-
municates with the horizontal air passage k so as to draw the air therefrom. is
the blast spout of the fan through which the air current is delivered into some
portion of the air separating contrivance through which the air current passes which
escapes with the grain from the scouring chamber. I prefer to connect the exit
end of the blast spout with the chaff hopper I, as shown in Figure 2 and as
indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, but it may be connected with the passage
leading from the chamber G to the hopper I or with some other part through
which the air current passes which escapes with the grain.
The air current set in motion by the fan unites with the air current issuing with
the grain from the scouring chamber and flows with the same through the
separating contrivances in which the impurities are separated from the air current,
or through some of these contrivances, and so facilitates and increases the
separating action. After having passed through the separating contrivances the
air current is divided, one part passing into the eye of the fan case and the other
part into the central opening of the scouring chamber, and as these openings are in
communication with each other and the air passage ka perfect equilibrium of the
air is maintained in the several parts of the machine.
The air passage may be provided with an adjustable valve for regulating the
air current through the same.
The peripheral wall of the fan case may be tapered upwardly, as shown in
Figures 1 and 3, and may be provided with a dust discharge pipe at its upper
end for the purpose of separating from the air any fine dust which may still be
contained in it when it reaches the fan.
In the vertical machine represented in Figure 7, the fan is arranged above the
scouring chamber and the blast spout of the fan is connected with the upper end of
the chaff hopper I, while the chess hopper K is connected with the eye of the fan
by an ascending air spout k³. The grain is delivered by the feed spout c into a feed
saucer C.
If desired, the scouring chamber may be provided with two sets of scouring
devices arranged one above the other, as represented in Figure 8. In the con-
struction represented in this figure the grain escapes from the upper scouring
device through one or more openings m formed in a horizontal diaphragm M
secured in the scouring chamber and falls upon a funnel m' by which it is con-
ducted from the periphery toward the centre of the scouring chamber, where it
falls upon a feed saucer C from which it is thrown upon an annular plate D¹ to
to which the lower blades E' are secured. The grain, after having been scoured in
the lower portion of the scouring case, escapes through the opening g in the
bottom plate A'. The lower portion of the scouring case is provided underneath
the horizontal diaphragm M with a dust discharge opening which is connected
with the dust spout F by a branch spout F'.
In the horizontal machine represented in Figures 9 and 10, the shaft B is
arranged horizontally and the fan blades are secured to the shaft near the large
head A' of the scouring chamber. The fan case communicates at one side with
the interior of the scouring chamber by an opening O and at the opposite side
with the upper part of the chess hopper K by an opening 01. The blast spout O'
of the fan is connected with the upper part of the chaff hopper I. The opening 9,
through which the grain and air escape from the scouring chamber, discharges into
a chamber P which has in its bottom an opening p through which the grain falls
upon the inclined board H, while the air current issuing with the grain moves

page_text: outwardly to the top of the chaff hopper I and unites with the air current issuing from
the blast spout of the fan and flows with said air current through the separating
hoppers and their connecting passages and back to the fan case, where the air
current is divided, one part flowing into the scouring chamber through the opening O
and the other part escaping through the blast spout of the fan.
In the construction of the machine represented in Figure 11, the auxilliary fan
is omitted and the grain escaping from the scouring chamber passes over the inclined
board II and through the lower portion of the ascending passage J, while the air
current escaping with the grain from the scouring chamber passes through the chaff
hopper I, passage i, ascending leg J, chess hopper K and back to the scouring
chamber. The chaff hopper I may be provided with a depending apron I for the
purpose of giving the air first a descending and then an ascending direction in the
hopper, and this apron may be perforated, as shown, to allow part of the air to pass
through it in a more direct course. A screen 12 may be arranged at a short distance
above the lower portion of the bottom of the inclined passage i and below the
ascending air passage J, so that the grain escaping from the lower end of the latter
falls uppon the screen and escapes over the lower end thereof, while fine impurities
pass through the screen and escape through an opening 3 together with the
impurities which reach this opening from the upper portion of the inclined passage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination with the scouring and dust separating chamber having a dust
outlet at one end, an outlet for grain and air at the other end and an internal air
propelling device, of a chamber which is connected with the grain outlet and in
which the grain is separated from the air current, and a return passage whereby the
air current is conducted back to the scouring chamber, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the scouring and dust separating chamber having a dust
outlet at one end, au outlet for the grain and air at the other end and an internal
air propelling device, of a chamber which is connected with the grain outlet and in
which the grain is separated from the air current, a hopper through which the air
current passes after having left the grain and in which the heavy impurities are
deposited, an ascending air passage leading to a secondary hopper in which the
light impurities are deposited, and a return air passage leading to the scouring
chamber, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the scouring and dust separating chamber having a dust
outlet at one end, a grain outlet at the other end and an internal air propelling
device, and the air separator through which the air issuing from the grain outlet
flows and from which it is returned to the scouring chamber, of an auxilliary fan
which is connected with said air separator and whereby the movement of the air
through the same is promoted, substantially as set forth."
4. The combination with the scouring and dust separating chamber having a dust
outlet at one end, a grain outlet at the other end and an internal air propelling
device of a chamber which is connected with said grain outlet and in which the
grain is separated from the air current, a grain passage leading from said chamber,
an air passage intersecting said grain passage and through which the air flows from
said chamber toward the scouring chamber, and a fan having its blast spout and
its eye connected with said passage respectively in advance and in rear of its
intersection with the grain passage, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the scouring and dust separating chamber having a dust
outlet at one end and a grain outlet at the other end and an internal air propelling
device, of a chamber which is connected with said grain outlet and in which the
grain is separated from the air current, a chaff hopper into which the air current
flows from said chamber, an air passage leading from said chaff hopper and inter-
secting the grain passage, a chess hopper receiving the air current from said
passage, a return air passage connecting the chess hopper with the scouring

page_text: chamber, and a fan having its blast spout connected with the chaff hopper and its
eye with the return air passage, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of June 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.