IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RIDDLING OR SIFTING CINDERS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bradford, of High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, and of the City of Manchester, Laundry Engineer, for an Invention
of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RIDDLING OR SIFTING CINDERS AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bradford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1881.
THOMAS BRADFORD, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, and of the
City of Manchester, Laundry Engineer. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RIDDLING
OR SIFTING CINDERS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
The object of this Invention, which relates to improved apparatus for riddling or
sifting cinders and other substances which it is required to subject to a similar
treatment, is to make such apparatus of a simpler and more handy construction
than as hitherto constructed, and so as to enable the same to be manipulated with
great ease and dexterity for effecting its intended purpose with rapidity and
effectiveness.
The improved apparatus is constructed with an outer box or case which is
intended for the reception of the ashes or other sifted particles, and with an inner
tray which is intended for the reception of the mixed ashes and cinders or other
substances to be riddled or sifted. The box or case is enclosed at the bottom and
on all sides, and is provided with a cover, which may either be removable or may be
hinged to one of the sides. At the upper edge of one of its sides (opposite the
hinges of the cover) the box is provided with a simple bearing, which about
centrally supports a vertical hand lever or agitator which has thus a facility for
being rapidly reciprocated to and fro by hand, the upper end being conveniently
formed as a handle, and its lower end so as to enter between or engage with two
projections which are secured to the outside of one of the sides of the inner tray.
The tray is enclosed at its sides, and is provided with a meshed wire-work or

page_text: perforated bottom, and it is freely suspended within the box, so as to have freedom
of to and fro movement by means of bent wire supports, upon which it merely
rests, the supports depending from the upper edges of the opposite sides of the box,
and being loosely hung. The hinged side of the box is provided with a small
recess or projection by which it can be conveniently taken hold of and lifted by
the one hand while the other hand takes hold of the agitator, and when the box is
thus freely suspended (or while it is upon the ground) a good shaking can be given
to the agitator, and is thence communicated by the means hereinbefore indicated
to the inner tray containing the mixed ashes and cinders, and thus effects their
almost instantaneous separation. Upon the cover being opened or removed the
tray and its contents can be freely taken out and can be easily replaced with a
further admixture if required, there being nothing to hinder the free placing and
removal or to require any trouble or delay in adjustment.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Bradford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1881.
THOMAS BRADFORD, of High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, and of the
City of Manchester, Laundry Engineer. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RIDDLING
OR SIFTING CINDERS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
The object of this Invention which relates to improved apparatus for riddling
or sifting cinders and other substances which it is required to subject to a similar
treatment is to make such apparatus of a simpler and more handy construction
than as hitherto constructed, and so as to enable the same to be manipulated with
great ease and dexterity for effecting its intended purpose with rapidity and
effectiveness.
The improved apparatus which I propose to term, and have commercially known
as the "Handy cinder-sifter," is illustrated on the accompanying Drawings in cross
section in Figs. 1 and 2. It is constructed with an outer square or rectangular
box or case 1, which is intended for the reception of the ashes or other sifted
particles, and with an inner tray 2, which is intended for the reception of the
mixed ashes and cinders or other substances to be riddled or sifted. The
box or case is enclosed at the bottom and on all sides, and is provided with a
cover 3, which may either be removable as on the accompanying Drawings or may
be hinged to one of the sides. At the upper edge of one of its sides (opposite the
hinges of the cover) the box is provided with a hollowed casting 4 constituting
bearings which about centrally support a vertical hand lever or agitator 5, which
has thus a facility for being rapidly reciprocated to and fro-by hand, the upper end
being conveniently formed as a handle and its lower end so as to enter between or
engage with two inclined or other projections 6, which are on a plate 7, which is
secured to the outside of one of the sides of the inner tray 2. The tray 2 is enclosed
at its sides, and is provided with a meshed wire-work, as shown, or with a per-
forated bottom 8, and it is freely suspended within the box 1 so as to have freedom
of to-and-fro movement by means of bent wire supports 9, upon which it merely
rests, the supports depending from metal eyes 10, inserted near the upper edges of
and in the opposite sides of the box 1, and being loosely hung. The hinged or
opposite side of the box is provided with a recess, or preferably with a projecting
catch or lifting handle 11, by which it can be conveniently taken hold of and lifted
by the one hand, while the other hand takes hold of the handle of the agitator 5,
and when the box is thus freely suspended (or while it is upon the ground) a good
shaking can be given to the agitator, and a powerful vibratory motion is thence
communicated by the means hereinbefore indicated directly to the inner tray 2
containing the mixed ashes and cinders, and thus effects their almost instantaneous
separation. The ends of the tray 2 may be provided with pads of india rubber to
prevent any undue concussion of the tray with the outer box or any injury to either.
Upon the cover 3 being opened or removed the tray and its contents can be freely taken
out by inserting the fingers in the recesses 12, and can be as easily replaced with a
further admixture if required, there being nothing to hinder the free placing and
removal, or to require any trouble or delay in adjustment. The wires 9, by which
the inner tray 2 is supported, also allow of the outer box with its contained sifted
dust and ashes being lifted for removal by one hand, the wires being capable of
turning up and grasped by one hand so as to allow of the box and its contents
being carried as an ordinary pail and most easily emptied.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into

page_text: practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,―
The combination in apparatus for riddling or sifting cinders and other substances
of a combined handle and hand-lever or agitator centred in or carried by a casting
affixed to one side of an outer case or box so as to be capable of free vibration,
with an inner tray or riddle provided on one side with studs or projections, between
which the depending end of the said agitator freely swings, and with which it
engages, the tray being freely swung or suspended by supports swinging or
depending from opposite sides of the outer case or box, so as to be capable of being
freely taken out and placed in position, and so as to receive a rapid to-and-fro or
shaking movement when the apparatus is held up or suspended by the said hand-
lever, and by an outer lifting handle with which the other side of the box is
provided upon the hand-lever being shaken, and which movement is very efficacious
in effecting the separation of the dust or ash from the cinders or other still useful
larger parts which it is desired to preserve for still further use; and the whole
combination being simpler and more direct in action than any existing contrivance
for a similar purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Bradford, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
THOMAS BRADFORD. (L.S.).