Improvements in and relating to Mixing Machines, Chiefly Designed for Making Mortar.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1839
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GUISEPPE EDILBERTS IMODA, of Turin, in the
Kingdom of Italy, Mechanical Engineer.]
Improvements in and relating to Mixing Machines, Chiefly Designed
for Making Mortar.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The improved mixing machine, like some of the most recent types of mixing
machines designed for use in the preparation of lime or cement mortar, comprises
two principal parts, namely a trough or receptacle wherein the mortar is worked,
and a device for distributing or feeding the ingredients, but the arrangement of
mixing and distributing devices is entirely new. While applying the well known
principle of continuously preparing mortar or other mixtures I have constructed
the parts of the machine in such a manner that all the operations will be effected
at the same time, viz., the mixing of the ingredients, the crushing and working of
the same, and their forward movement to the end of the trough or receptacle where
the mixture is discharged. In the machines heretofore used the ingredients are
introduced together into the machine and the devices for crushing and conveying
the material are much less perfect.
The distributing device is arranged so as to enable each ingredient to be automati-
cally and separately introduced into the mixing trough or receptacle and the
quantities of the several ingredients introduced to be regulated by the machine itself,
thus obviating any mistakes which the men who attend to the machine are liable to
make. In the machines hitherto used all the materials of which the mixture to ba
prepared is composed are introduced by hand into the same hopper and pass together
to the crushing and mixing device, the regulation of tho quantities therefore depends
entirely upon the intelligence and care of workmen, whereas with the machine
constructed according to the said invention the materials can be introduced without
paying the slightest attention to the quantities and relative proportions of the
ingredients for the regulation, of the same; when the device has been adjusted for
the special mixture to be prepared it is automatically maintained constant as long as
desired, and can be changed at will by a very easy operation from the outside of the
inachine.
H
Thus for example, in the preparation of lime mortar, the water is admitted through
pipe having a cock the position of which is adjusted beforehand and the lime and
sand are introduced by means of a shovel into two separate hoppers. The hopper
for the sand is provided above with a metallic grate or sieve so as to allow only such
grains to pass as are of a size suitable for the kind of mortar to be prepared. At
the bottom of each hopper is arranged a door for affording access to the mixing
trough or receptacle, the said door enabling the material to pass to the distributing
and regulating devices. The distributing device for each hopper comprises either
one or two cylinders or two cones the axes of which are parallel with each other. If
only one distributing cylinder is employed the regulation of the quantities of the
materials introduced is effected by opening the door more or less. The latter is
arranged in such a manner that its position can be varied at will and it can be closed
either by means of a hinge, or by sliding or otherwise. If however two cylinders or
two cones are used, the regulation of the quantities is effected, oven when the door is
kept open to the same extent, by adjusting the distance between the cylinders or the
cones can be made smooth, but they are preferably fluted in order to facilitate the
movement of the materials, and also the disaggregation of the latter when two

page_text: cylinders or cones are employed. For the same reason it is advisable to impart to
the said cylinders or cones different relative velocities, but they may be operated at
equal velocitics. The fluting is of triangular section and is made in various manners,
but I prefer the helicoidal form and in this case its directrix is composed of two ares
of a helix which converge to the centre in order that the material shall accumulate in
the middle of the door instead of at one side. If one of the ingredients, as is for
instance sometimes the case with lime is introduced in the form of paste which is
often thick and hard I facilitate its passage through the distributing device by
arranging in its hoppor a cutter which acts automatically in order to subdivide the
same.
From the distributing devices the ingredients the quantities of which are suitably
regulated pass simultaneously but separately to the receptacle wherein they are
worked. This receptacle can be of any shape and is generally made of one of the
known shapes, I prefer however to construct it in the form of a horizontal trough in
which a central shaft causes a continuous series of bosses to rotate at a suitable
velocity. Fach of these bosses carries two diametrically opposite arms one of which
is a soctor of a helicoid, and the other a dividing knife having three longitudinal and
three transverse blades. With these sectors and knives the same effect is obtained as
that produced by the shovel or scraping tool which is operated by hand. The bosses
aro so arranged relatively to each other that the series of sectors and the series of
knives are each upon a helix extending in the direction of the motion to be imparted
to the mortar. The last boss carries a whole convolution of a screw thread or several
portions of helices by which the discharge of the mixture produced is regulated at the
end of the trough which is opposite to the end where the materials are introduced.
By means of these parts or devices I am enabled to effect the disaggregation and
crushing of the materials, their intimate mixing, and their forward movement at the
same time. The above mentioned boss at the end of the trough can be dispensed
with, the other bosses being quite sufficient not only for working the mixture but also
for discharging it regularly as soon as it is prepared. In this manner only a small
quantity of the materials is treated at a time in the improved machine, these materials
are therefore worked in a much more perfect manner, and the mechanical power
necessary for operating the machine is consequently much less than that required for
actuating the machines heretofore employed although the quantity of mortar prepared
by this machine in a given time is much greater.
In order to make the said invention better understood I will describe by way of
example a mixing machine which is based upon the above stated principles.
This mixing machine comprises a hopper into which, say lime, is introduced and
another hopper for the reception of sand. The second hopper is provided with a
grate, sieve or wire gauze which can be easily changed at will according to the
thickness of the grains desired.
Two cylinders provided with triangular flutes serve to distribute the materials of
which the mixture to be prepared is composed.
Two registers for the doors which afford access to the receptacle are regulated from
the exterior by actuating lovers held in a fixed position by any suitable means, for
instance in a similar manner as the hand levers for controlling the unotion of
locomotives. When the lime is too compact it is divided and subdivided by a cutter
which receives its motion from an excentric placed on the exterior of the machine.
If such a cutter is not necessary, for instance in case the lime is fresh and soft, it can
be disengaged and removed by raising the same in the hopper.
A cock is provided for admitting the necessary quantity of water. Part of the
mixing trough is made of U-shape in transverse section.
Upon the shaft of the machine aro keyed the bosses which carry sectors and the
knives the latter comprising six blades of cast metal. Small iron bars may be
employed instead of the said blades especially in the case of more liquid and less
compact mixtures which can be more easily worked. A discharge helix is arranged
at the end of the trough but this is often unnecessary and can therefore be dispensed
with.

page_text: This improved machine is continuous in its action and its operation is perfect and
rapid. It can be used not only for the preparation of lime mortar or cement mortar
but also for the preparation of any other kind of mixtures, such as chemical
substances, which are composed of any number of ingredients. The quantities of
these ingredients will be accurately regulated, the only condition being that a separate
hopper shall be used for each of them. It is well understood that the dimensions of
the machine can be varied according to the quantity of the materials to be mixed and
the kind of work to be produced.
LA 131
AAA
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
(COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Mixing Machines, Chiefly Designed
for Making Mortar.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the samo is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The improved mixing machine like some of the most recent types of mixing
machines designed for use in the preparation of lime or cement mortar comprises two
principal parts, namely, a trough or receptacle wherein the mortar is worked and a
device for distributing or feeding the ingredients but the arrangement of the mixing
and distributing devices is entirely new. While applying the well known principle of
continuously preparing mortar or other mixtures I have constructed the parts of the
machine in such a manner that all the operations will be effected at the same time
viz. the mixing of the ingredients, the crushing and working of the same and their
forward movement to the end of the trough or receptacle where the mixture is
discharged. In the machines heretofore used the ingredients are introduced together
into the machine, and the devices for crushing and conveying the materials are much
less perfect.
:
The distributing device is arranged so as to enable cach ingredient to be auto-
matically and separately introduced into the mixing trough or receptacle and the
quantities of the several ingredients introduced to be regulated by the machine itself
thus obviating any mistakes which the men who attend to the machine are liable to
make.
In the machines hitherto used all the materials of which the mixture to be prepared
is composed are introduced by hand into the same hopper and pass together to the
crushing and mixing device, the regulation of the quantities therefore depends
entirely upon the intelligence and care of the workmen whereas with the machine
constructed according to the said invention the materials can be introduced without
paying the slightest attention to the quantities and relative proportions of the
ingredients for the regulation of the same; when the device has been adjusted for the
special mixture to be prepared it is automatically maintained constant as long as
desired, and can be changed at will by a very easy operation from the outside of the
machine.
Thus for example in the preparation of lime mortar the water is admitted through a
pipe having a cock the position of which is adjusted beforehand, and the lime and
sand are introduced by means of a shovel into two separate hoppers. The hopper for
the sand is provided above with a metallic grate or sieve so as to allow only such
grains to pass as are of a size suitable for the kind of mortar to be prepared. At the
bottom of each hopper is arranged a door for affording access to the mixing trough or
receptacle, the said door enabling the material to pass to the distributing and
regulating devices.
The distributing device for each hopper comprises either one
or two cylinders or two cones the axes of which are parallel with each other. If only

page_text: one distributing cylinder is employed the regulation of the quantities of the materials
introduced is effected by opening the door more or less. The latter is arranged in
such a manner that its position can be varied at will and it can be closed either by
means of a hinge or by sliding or otherwise. If however two cylinders or two cones
are used the regulation of the quantities is effected oven when the door is kept open
to the same extent by adjusting the distance between the cylinders or the cones.
'I'he
said cylinders or the cones can be made smooth, but they are preferably fluted in
order to facilitate the movement of the materials and also the disaggregation of the
latter when two cylinders or cones are employed. For the same reason it is advisable
to impart to the said cylinders or cones different relative velocities but they may be
operated at equal velocities. The fluting is of triangular section and is made in
various manners but I prefer the helicoidal form and in this case its directrix is
composed of two arcs of a helix which converge to the centre in order that the
material shall accumulate in the middle of the door instead of at one side. If one
of the ingredients, as is for instance sometimes the case with lime, is introduced in
the form of paste which is often thick and hard, I facilitate its passage through the
distributing device by arranging in its hopper a cutter which acts automatically in
order to subdivide the same.
From the distributing devices the ingredients, the quantities of which are suitably
regulated, pass simultaneously but separately to the receptacle wherein they are
worked. This receptacle can be of any shape and is genorally made of one of the
known shapes, I prefor however to construct it in the form of a horizontal trough in
which a central shaft causes a continuous series of bosses to rotate at a suitable
velocity. Each of these bosses carries two diametrically opposite arms one of which
is a sector of a helicoid and the other a dividing knife having three longitudinal and
three transverse blades. With these sectors and knives the same effect is obtained as
that produced by the shovel or scraping tool which is operated by hand. The bosses
are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to each other so that the series of sectors and
the series of knives are each upon a helix extending in the direction of the motion to
be imparted to the mortar. The last boss carries a whole convolution of a screw
thread or several portions of helices by which the discharge of the mixture produced
is regulated at the end of the trough which is opposite to the end where the materials
are introduced. By means of these parts or devices I am enabled to effect the
disaggregation and crushing of the materials, their intimate mixing and their forward
movement at the same time. The above mentioned boss at the end of the trough can
be dispensed with, the other bosses being quite sufficient not only for working the
mixture but also for discharging it regularly as soon as it is prepared. In this
manner only a small quantity of the materials is treated at a time in the improved
machine, these materials are therefore worked in a much more perfect mannor, and
the mechanical power necessary for operating the machine is consequently much less
than that required for actuating the machines heretofore employed although the
quantity of mortar prepared by this machine in a given time is much greater.
In order to enable the said invention to be better understood I have represented in
the accompanying drawings by way of example a mixing machine which is based
upon the above stated principles.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the machine.
Figure 2 is a transverse section through the distributing devices.
Figure 3 is a side view of part of the actuating gear.
Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the flutes in the cylinders.
Figure 5 shows the arrangement of the two parallel cones substituted for the two
cylinders.
Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the two cylinders or two cones below the
hopper.
Figure 7 shows one form of knife used in the trough.
Similar letters designate corresponding parts throughout the figures.

page_text: grate, sieve or wire gauze H which can be easily changed at will according to the
thickness of the grains desired.
BB' are the distributing cylinders the arrangement and form of the flutes of which
are shown in Figure 4.
CC are the two registers for the doors which afford access to the receptacle and
are regulated from the exterior by actuating levers D D' held in a fixed position by
any suitable means for instance in a similar manner to the hand levers for controlling
the motion of locomotives. When the lime is too compact it is divided and
subdivided by a cutter E which receives its motion from an excentric F placed on the
exterior of the machine. If such a cutter is not necessary, for instance, in case the
lime is fresh and soft, it can be disengaged and removed by raising the same in
the hopper.
G is a cock for admitting the necessary quantity of water. Part of the mixing
trough is made of U-shape in transverse section.
Kis the shaft of the machine upon which are keyed the bosses which carry sectors
and the knives; the latter comprising six blades of cast metal, Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 7 shows a simpler arrangement with small iron bars which may be employed
instead of the said blades; this arrangement is suitable for more liquid and loss
compact mixtures, which can be more easily worked. L is the discharge helix which
is arranged at the end of the trough but this is often unnecessary and can therefore
be dispensed with.
This improved machine is continuous in its action and its operation is perfect and
rapid. It can be used not only for the preparation of lime mortar or cement mortar
but also for the preparation of any other kind of mixtures such as chemical substances
which are composed of any number of ingredients. The quantities of these
ingredients will be accurately regulated, the only condition being that a separate
hopper shall be used for each of them. It is well understood that the dimensions of
the machine can be varied according to the quantity of the materials to be mixed and
the kind of work to be produced.
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 correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. The general arrangement and construction of machines comprising an
automatic feed inechanism, and mechanism for mixtures of any kind, such as lime or
cement mortar chemical and other substances, as described and represented in the
drawings.
Second. The feed mechanism comprising as many automatic distributing devices
as there are ingredients in the mixture to be made, as described and shown.
Third The automatic regulation of the quantities of the ingredients, by means of
the special arrangement of the distributing devices as described and shown.
Fourth. The special construction of the mechanism which effects in a single
operation the mixing, disaggregation and crushing and the discharge of the product
as described and shown.
Fifth. The special construction of the arms constituting parts of helices, and of the
knives having two series of blades, or bars, as described and shown.
Dated this 16th day of October 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.