Improvements in and relating to the Method of and Apparatus for Reducing Wheat and other Grain by what is known as the Break Process, and in or relating to Apparatus for Elevating Outsiftings, Bran, and other Materials in Corn Mills.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Method of and Apparatus for
Reducing Wheat and other Grain by what is known as the
Break Process, and in or relating to Apparatus for Elevating
Outsiftings, Bran, and other Materials in Corn Mills.
66
"
We, ENOCH WESLEY BATE and PAUL BATE, trading together in copartnership
as Daniel Bate and Sons, of Compton Mill, near Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford, Millwrights, 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 more especially to what is known as the "break
process
of reducing wheat and other grain, and has for its main objects (1) to remove, in a
simple and effective manner, the crease dirt and other impurities from the grain
between the splitting or first breaking process and the separation of any of the finer
portions thereof from the coarser by scalping, so that the material under treatment
shall subsequently to such splitting or first breaking process be clean for all the
remaining treatment, a condition of things which in our opinion is essential to really
good milling, (2) to separate the middlings as quickly as possible from the branny
fibre, (3) to considerably simplify the mechanism employed in breaking cleaning
and scalping the grain, and (4) to carry out the whole process of breaking cleaning
and scalping without need for any elevation of the material until the out-siftings
and bran have been delivered from the apparatus, and preferably until the bran has
passed through the bran rolls and the final overtails have passed through the
sizing rolls.
According to this invention, the wheat or other grain is first graded in the usual
manner so as to divide it into larger and smaller grains, and the graded portions
are then passed, respectively, through separate hoppers into a single splitting or
first break mill, instead of into separate mills as is usual, from which they pass
through a chamber fitted with a louvre ventilator and also with passages com-
municating with an exhauster. The split or broken grain falls through this
chamber into a second break mill, and as it does so the crease dirt and other
impurities which have been loosened and separated by the first break mill are
drawn away by the exhaust action and delivered through a passage from the end
of which they are collected. The broken grain, after passing through the second
break mill, is delivered on to a rotary scalper, and from the lower end of this
scalper the overtails pass down into a third break mill, while the outsiftings pass
down on to the sieve of a fourth or lowest scalper. The broken grain from the
third break mill is delivered into a second scalper from which the overtails pass
into a fourth break mill, while the outsiftings pass into a third scalper below the
sieve thereof. The broken grain from the fourth breaking mill passes into a third
scalper, from the lower end of which the overtails pass into the ordinary bran
rollers, while the outsiftings pass into the fourth or final scalper which divides
them into coarser and finer particles, of which the coarser are passed through a
pair of plain rolls by which they are brought to a finer condition and fall thence
into the elevator pit, while the finer are delivered direct into the elevator pit. The
outsiftings from the scalpers above the lowest one may, however, pass down from
their respective scalpers in any convenient method, so long as they are all delivered
on to the sieve of the lowest scalper to be sifted. An important feature of the
invention consists in adapting the splitting or first break mill to receive and act
upon both the finer and coarser grain, and in constructing this, and also the other
break mills with a single grooved roller which, in the case of each of the break
mills, except the splitting or first break mill, operates in combination with a fixed

page_text: but adjustable grinding block, and in the case of the splitting or first break mill
operates with a pair of such blocks, namely, one for the larger and the other for
the smaller portions of the graded wheat or other grain.
b
C
In order, however, that the invention may be clearly understood, we will describe
with reference to the accompanying drawings a convenient manner of carrying it
out practically. Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the centre of
the complete apparatus for breaking and scalping grain, shewing also a special
arrangement of elevators and other details which will be presently explained;
Figure 2 is a section taken on line x of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional plan
taken on line y y of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional plan taken on line ¹¹ of
Figure 1, with a portion of one end shewn as broken away, for convenience of
illustration; and Figures 5, and 7 are, respectively, an enlarged view of the
section shewn by Figure 1 of the first break mill, a sectional plan taken through the
centre of Figure 5, and a plan thereof with the top removed. The remaining views
will be explained as special reference to them is required. The wheat or other
grain to be treated is graded in the usual manner, and the apparatus for effecting
this is not therefore shewn. The larger grains are passed from the grader or
separater through the hopper a into the first break mill B, and the smaller grains
are passed through the hopper into the mill B. The mill B has a single roller g
only. This roller is of hardened steel or other hard metal and is grooved in the
manner hereinafter described, and is mounted on a spindle which is carried to
revolve in bearings c³ formed in the ends or sides of the mill casing. The larger
grains pass from the hopper a first into the space between an inclined board c and a
block or plate d pivoted within the case at e (see Figure 5), and rest upon the surface
of the roller which forms the bottom of such space. A block of hardened steel or
other hard metal, having its face grooved as hereinafter described, is dovetailed or
otherwise fixed to the lower face of the block d, and these combined blocks are
hung in such manner that they have a tendency normally to fall away from the
surface of the roller g, but may be set up as shewn, by means of a pin / screwed
through the front of the case, so as to bring the face of the block f in close
proximity to the surface of the roller g. The pin may be locked by a handled
lock nut o³. The grain is carried round by the roller under the surface of the
block, and is split or broken in its passage between the grooved surface of the
roller and the grooved surface of the block f; and as it passes from under
the lower edge of the block, the grain is directed, by means of the inclined
plate, towards the front of the case, and falls from the lower edge of this plate
down through the bottom of the casing of the mill B, which is formed open for
the purpose, and through the box Cinto the second break mill B. The smaller
grain falls from the hopper & first into a trough i, and from thence through a number
of shoots, through the inclined plate ', and between the upper part of an inclined
block k and the surface of the roller g. A detached elevation of the trough i, shoots j
and plate ', is shewn by Figure 8. A tubular opening a³ is formed through the
trough for the passage of the pin /. A steel block m, having its face grooved as
hereinafter described, is dovetailed or otherwise fixed to the block, and the
block is pivoted within the case of the mill B in an inverse position, and in such
manner that the combined blocks k and m have normally a tendency to fall away
from the surface of the roller g. These blocks inay, however, be set up by means
of a pin screwed through the front of the case, so as to bring the grooved surface
of the block m in close proximity to the surface of the roller The smaller grains
are thus split or broken between the roller and block m, and fall, after passing
between the roller and block, through the box C into the mill B'. An inclined
board m³ prevents the material shot out from under the block m from falling against
the back of the box C, and directs it down the middle of such box. As the split
or broken grain falls from the blocks f and m through the box C, the crease dirt
and other impurities are drawn, by means of an exhauster D, through openings n
(see specially Figure 4) in the rear corners of the box and through passages_n³,
and are delivered through a passage E into bags or into other receptacles. The
9.

page_text: 2
2"
air which carries away the dirt is drawn through louvre shutters o at the front of
the box C, and these shutters may be pivoted or otherwise mounted to enable them
to be opened or closed any required degree to regulate the draught. When,
however, the exhauster is properly speeded, as is readily ascertained by experiment
in any individual case, there will be no need to vary the draught, as the exhausting
power of the exhauster will be constant. The mill B', and the mills B2 and B³
hereinafter referred to, are constructed similarly to one another, the operative
portions of each consisting of a grooved roller g' (corresponding in character and
the method of its operation to the roller g before described) and hanging plate p
having a block 7 of hardened steel or other hard metal, with grooved concave face,
fixed thereto. The plate p is pivoted within the case so that it has a tendency to
fall away from the surface of the roller', and is set up by means of a pin screwed
through the front of the case so as to bring the grooved concave face of the block
in close proximity to the grooved surface of the roller g'. The grain is further
broken through each successive mill, by passing between the surface of the roller
and the concave surface of the block. A peg or stops is fixed in each side of each
mill, so as to form a stop against the plate p and prevent it being screwed up to
bring the block 9 too close to the surface of the roller; and similar pegs are used,
for similar purpose, in connection with the blocks d and k of the mill B. These
pegs are formed to give an adjustment as to the point to which the plate or block
is screwed. An enlarged side elevation of one of these pins, and a section of a
portion of a mill casing, is shewn by Figure 9. The heads is excentric with the
shank which passes through the thickness of the casing.
A. square w is formed
on the outer end of the pin by which it is turned to any desired degree; and the
pin is held tightly so as to maintain the head in its required axial position, by a
The head s is inside the case, and therefore its position as a stop may be
adjusted by turning it in one direction or another. An inclined board in each
mill B1, B2, B3 prevents the grain entering the case from falling over on to the
wrong side of the roller, and an inclined board v prevents the grain from collecting
in the lower back corner of the case.
nut a².
The grain from the mill B' falls through a sleeve w into a scalper F. The
overtails from the scalper F¹ pass through a sleeve w into the mill B, and from
thence fall through a sleeve w into a scalper F. The overtails from the scalper F²
pass through a sleeve w into the mill 133, and from thence fall through a sleeve w
into a scalper F3. The overtails from the scalper F³ pass down a shoot to the
bran rolls m', and fall from thence into the elevator pit n', from which they are
elevated to the place where they are to be subsequently treated. These scalpers
are of the usual construction, but are arranged one under the other, as shewn, and
are fixed together by means of vertical battens a' ', and the set are carried by
suspender rods c'from bearers d' carried on longitudinal timbers G forming a portion
of the framing of the apparatus. The covers ordinarily used are omitted in the
drawings. Rotary motion is imparted to the scalpers by means of excentrics e
carried upon a vertical shaft H, the excentrics operating within bearings formed
in cross-bars fixed to the battens &', the method of giving the rotary motion being
therefore substantially the same as that ordinarily employed for rotary scalpers,
except that the shaft passes through the scalpers, so that one shaft is employed for
the whole set, and excentrics are employed instead of cranks. The shaft H is
carried near its upper end in a bearing j' fixed to a transome ', which is itself
fixed to the beams G forming the upper part of the framing, and turns at the
bottom in a step m². A fence or boxing p² is, of course, carried around each
opening through a scalper through which the shaft H passes, to prevent the grain
or meal falling therethrough. The shaft H is shewn as broken off at its upper end,
but such end may be used to operate the grader, and may be provided with an
additional bearing above the bearing j¹. The suspender rods e pass at their
lower ends through the projecting ends of battens 92, and the weight of the set of
scalpers is taken by means of nuts on the ends of the pins. The rods are, however,
connected with the scalper F2 by passing through blocks which are tightened

page_text: around them. The joints thus formed require to yield slightly to allow for the
rotary movement of the scalper F2 (in consequence of the rods being fixed at their
upper ends), and to admit of this a rubber ring is inserted in a groove in each
block and the rubber only bears against the rod. Each block is formed with a
cap by which the-ring-is-pressed up against the rod, as shewn by enlarged detached
plan view Figure 12. A fourth scalper F is fixed to the scalper F3 by means of
battens o', so that it partakes of the movement of such scalper.
The outsiftings from the scalper F¹ are delivered down shoots pinto the
scalper Fabove the sieve therein. The outsiftings from the scalper F2 are
delivered down shoots to the scalper F3 below the sieve therein; and the out-
siftings from the scalper F3 (that is to say the outsiftings from the scalpers F²
and 3) are delivered, through the shoot d³, on to the scalper F4 above the sieve
therein. The scalper F4 separates the finer particles from the semolina or coarser
particles. The finer particles or outsiftings from this scalper are delivered through
the shoots direct into the elevator pit , while the overtails, consisting of the
semolina or coarser particles, are delivered through a shoot u¹ to a pair of plain
rollers by which they are crushed finer, and are from thence delivered into the
elevator pit t'. The whole of the material thus delivered into the pit t' from the
scalper F is elevated into the position where it is required to be further dealt with.
A sectional plan, taken on line y' y' of the lower end of the scalper F, is shewn by
Figure 10, from which it will be seen that an outlet a² is left on each side of the
shoot for the passage of the outsiftings to the outlet or shoot s¹.
Figure 11 shows a transverse section, to an enlarged scale, through a portion of
a roller used for either of the mills B B1 B2 or B³, and also a section through one
of the blocks, and a portion of one of the plates p, used with either of the
mills B¹ B2 or B. This view is given to shew clearly the shape or character of
the grooves formed in the roller and in the block. The grooves in the block run
straight across it parallel with the grooves of the roller. The grooves are of the
character of those heretofore frequently employed for the rollers of break mills.
The roller revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow, and it will be seen that
the teeth of the roller have a backward set, with slightly rounded edges, and that the
teeth of the block are set in the opposite direction. The block is shewn to be
fixed to the plate p by means of dovetail dogs e into which bolts f³, passing through
the plate, are screwed. The blocks and m of the mill B are formed with corre-
sponding teeth to the block q, but these blocks have preferably straight instead of
concave faces as the grain is merely cracked or split in the first mill, and for this
purpose needs only to pass over a very short surface of the block. The grooved
concave blocks in the mills B' B2 and B³, are formed and set as shewn by Figure 11,
to be slightly further from the surface of the roller on the side at which the grain
enters between them and the roller than on the side at which such grain passes out.
The corrugations of the rollers and grooved blocks are slightly finer in cach
succeeding mill. With rollers six inches diameter the speed may conveniently be
about 250 revolutions per minute. Break mills constructed in the manner described
require much less power to drive them, and are much less liable to get out of order
and are consequently less costly in repairs, than ordinary mills.
Special provision is made for the ready removal of the rollers from the mills;
and such provision, which is the same in all the mills B B1 B2 and B³, will be seen
on further reference to Figures 5 and 6. A circular opening, somewhat larger in
diameter than the roller, is formed through each side of the case, and a corre-
spondingly-shaped lid 63, fitted with a central bearing for the roller spindle, is
formed with a bung which fits within such opening, and is fixed by means of studs
and nuts. If one of the lids be removed, the roller and spindle may be readily
drawn out of the case. The bearings are, preferably, each fitted with a step or
brass which may be set up by set pins t² to follow the wear.
up
A feature of this invention consists in the manner in which the vertical portions
of the framing are utilized as supports and casings for elevators. The ends of the
framing consist each of vertical timbers J. Between each pair of these timbers is

page_text: carried a pair of elevators formed of the usual continuous belt or chain 62 carrying
elevator buckets ². The space containing these elevators is closed in, at front and
back, by thin wood or metal sheeting, and is divided vertically by means of a
wood or sheet metal diaphragm e² which separates the elevators from one another.
One elevator at each end is sufficient for the purposes above specifically described,
and the other elevators may be used for other purposes required in the mill.
The three mills B1 B2 and B³ are driven by a single belt g, which is itself driven
by a pulley 2 on a shaft g² carried within bearings fixed to the framing, and passes
partially around a pulley on the axis of each roller, respectively, and around a
pulley mounted on a shaft carried within bearings fixed to the framing. It is
preferred to put bearings also to the break mill spindles outside the pulleys thereon,
to prevent a sideway pull on the rollers. These bearings are omitted in the
drawings, but their application will be readily understood. The scalper shaft H is
driven by means of a quarter-turn band passing around a pulley 2 on the shaft i²,
and around a horizontal pulley 2 on the shaft H. Referring, more especially, to
Figure 4, it will be seen that this band is deflected by means of a pulley 2 carried
by the framing, so as to hold the band clear from the side of the framing between
which the elevators are arranged at one end. A balance wheel o², weighted on one
side, is fixed on the shaft H to balance the throw of the excentrics e'.
The mill B is shewn as driven by means of a belt from a pulley on the spindle of
the mill B. The elevators on the right hand side of the apparatus are shewn to be
driven by a belt from a pulley on the shaft, and the opposite elevators by a
pulley on the spindle of the elevators on the right hand side.
It will readily be seen that the improved apparatus above described for breaking,
cleaning, and scalping wheat and other grain, is extremely compact, occupying but
little space in the mill; and that the arrangement of elevators within the framing
of the apparatus is also very compact and convenient.
The bran rolls and the rolls for crushing the semolina are of the ordinary
character, and are driven in the usual or any convenient manner, as will be readily
understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
وو
1. The improvements, substantially as described, in the method of reducing wheat
or other grain by what is known as the "break process, according to which the
material under treatment passes by gravity through the breaking mills and
scalpers, and does not require to be elevated until the breaking and scalping is
completed.
2. The improvements, substantially as described, in cleaning wheat or other grain,
according to which the crease dirt and other impurities are removed by an air
current between the splitting or first breaking process and the subsequent breaking
and scalping.
3. Apparatus, substantially as described, for breaking and scalping wheat or
other grain, in which the break mills and scalpers are arranged in combination as
a whole series so that the material under treatment passes by gravity through the
whole series, substantially in the manner described.
4. In apparatus for breaking, cleaning and scalping wheat or other grain, the
combination of a splitting or first break mill, of a separating box through which the
split or broken grain falls to the next break mill and in which the crease dirt and
other impurities are separated from the split or broken grain by means of an air
current, and of a series of break mills and scalpers through which the cleaned
material passes by gravitation, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a first and second break mill placed the one below the
other, of a separator box between such mills within which the crease dirt and other
impurities are separated from the grain by an air current as the grain falls through
the box from the first to the second mill, substantially as described.

page_text: 6. In a mill for breaking wheat or other grain, the combination, substantially as
described and shewn, of a grooved metal roller with a grooved metal block, the
-teeth-of-the-roller-and-block-being-formed and set in-relation to one-another-and-to-
the direction of rotation of the roller substantially in the manner described.
7. In a mill for breaking wheat or other grain, the combination, substantially as
described and shewn, of a grooved metal roller, with a grooved metal block carried
by a pivoted block or plate capable of being set up towards the roller, the teeth of
the roller and block being formed and set in relation to one another and to the
direction of rotation of the roller substantially in the manner described.
8. A mill for breaking wheat or other grain, in which a single grooved roller
operates in combination with a grooved block (or blocks), constructed so that a lid
which carries one of the roller spindle bearings may be removed and the roller
drawn out from the case through an opening thus uncovered or opened, substan-
tially as described.
9. The splitting or break mill B having a single grooved roller operating in
combination with a pair of grooved blocks, whereby two sizes of graded wheat or
other grain are split or broken, substantially as described.
10. The splitting or break mill B having a single grooved roller operating in
combination with a pair of grooved blocks, and fitted with guides and shoots, sub-
stantially as described and shewn, for the purpose set forth.
11. A set of rotary scalpers fixed together and operating in combination with
break mills substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
12. The rotary scalpers F1 F2 F3 fixed together and operating in combination
with break mills substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. The rotary scalpers F' F2 F3 and F fixed together and operating in
combination with break mills substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
14. The means of operating a set of rotary scalpers fixed together in position one
above the other, substantially as described, that is to say, by the aid of a vertical
shaft passing down through the scalpers, substantially in the manner described.
15. The combination of a vertical shaft, carrying excentrics, with a set of rotary
scalpers fixed together in position one above another, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
16. The method of forming an elastic or yielding connection between the
suspender rods c¹ and the blocks 2 of an intermediate scalper forming one of a set
of rotary scalpers fixed together, one above the other, and supported by suspender
rods, that is to say by means of elastic material inserted within such blocks and
tightened or pressed up around the rods, substantially as described for the purpose
set forth.
17. The excentric-headed stop pins s employed substantially in the manner and
for the purpose described.
18. Elevating bands or the like carrying buckets arranged between vertical
members of the framing of a combined apparatus for breaking and scalping wheat
or other grain, substantially as described and shewn.
19. The general combination and arrangement of parts forming apparatus for use
in breaking, cleaning and scalping wheat or other grain, substantially as described
and shewn by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 31st day of July 1891.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.