Improvements in and relating to Machines for Sorting and Cleaning Grain and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct.. 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Sorting and Cleaning
Grain and the like.
I, AUGUST SCHNETZER, of the "Concordia" Steam Mill; Budapest, in the
Empire of Hungary, Director of the aforesaid Mill, 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 machine for separating or sorting and cleaning grain
and milling products of all kinds. The grit, dust and other foreign matters being
removed from the grain and the grain sorted according to their specific weights
and volumes by means of an air current produced by suction or exhaustion; the
path of the air current and the regulation of the same in or through the machine
being such that with the smallest consumption of power, perfect results are obtained,
the desired degrees in the quality of the cleaned and sorted material being readily
obtained.
The machine may be arranged on the ceiling of the room or building, or on the
floor thereof, or directly adjoining the apparatus in which the grain or material to
be sorted and cleaned is prepared. A dual or twin-arrangement of a machine
constructed according to my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which :-
Figure 1 is a view in front elevation.
Figure 2 is a view in vertical section on the fine x, x, of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view in vertical section on the line y, y, of Figure 2, and
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The grain or other material to be treated is fed through the opening A and the
charge or quantity is regulated by the delivery roller e by means of the adjusting
device (see Fig. 2). It then falls in a uniform stream into the interior of the
apparatus where it meets a current of air which throws off the several particles
according to their weight and volume, so that they can be collected in separate
compartments or channels. The current of air is produced by any suitable
exhausting or suction arrangement which is connected to the apparatus at the
opening D.
By means of the slide shown separately in Figures 4 and 5, the current of air
may be regulated in a simple manner with respect to its direction, with reference to
the material to be sorted and cleaned and also with respect to its cross sectional
area. The main slide is adapted to be moved by means of an adjusting device a
(see Figs. 1 & 2) and moves in a vertical direction over the opening C in the front
end wall of the casing, so that by rotating the adjusting device a the distance of
the air inlet from the feed inlet of the material to be sorted and cleaned and con-
sequently the direction of the air current, may be regulated. On the back of this
main slide 6 there are two cut-off slides c, c', which serve to close or uncover the
opening 6' in the maiu slide b. This arrangement enables the cross sectional area
of the air current itself to be regulated, so that the several particles or grains
of the material to be cleaned and sorted are carried to a distance corresponding
therewith. The cut-off slides c, c¹, can be fixed by means of the thumb nuts c, e
As in this apparatus the quality or weight of the products collected in the several
compartments or channels depends on the height of the partitions forming such
compartments or channels and also on their position with relation to the air inlet,

page_text: these compartments or channels are constructed in such a manner that the material
under treatment can be caught or carried up at all possible points.
The adjustability of the catching edges or partitions of the compartments or
channels is effected by means of the slides d shown separately in Figures 6 and 7,
which are capable of being moved in a vertical direction by means of screws and
adjusting devices I, from the outside, and the upper portions d' of the same, can be
turned about the pivot, into the positions shown in dotted lines in Figures 2 & 7.
A guide or clip 12 and thumb nut (as shown in Fig. 7) is provided for fixing
the upper portion d' of the slides d in any desired position, this adjustment can be
effected through an opening in the side of the apparatus normally closed by a door m.
The material after treatment falls through the openings nº in the bottom of the
compartments or channels into sacks or other receptacles placed there for the
purpose. The openings nº are closed by means of the flaps n, n', n³, n³, & n', which
are kept normally closed by the suction or partial vacuum produced by the air
current.
The cleaning process is aided by the action of auxiliary currents of air which
euter through openings a provided in the bottom or floor of the apparatus, and can
be regulated by means of flaps K pivoted on shafts K and pass through the
openings o, o, into the compartments or channels where they intermingle with the
falling material under treatment causing it to whirl round, the result being that
the lighter particles are thrown up and caught by the main air current.
The peculiar general arrangement of the apparatus has very considerable
influence upon the mode of operation of the machine. The air is drawn through
the apparatus at a constant pressure from the opening D which is situated as near
as possible to the top and is opposite to the regulating slides b, c, c', so that there
is produced in the apparatus a main current of air having the direction indicated
by the feathered arrows. The casing is of rectangular form in cross section and is
contracted at the front end by the walls w of the inlet hopper, and at the bottom
by the compartments or channels. The latter are arranged in such a manner that
the highest partition of the same is turned towards the front end wall and the
height of the said partitions diminishes towards the rear wall of the apparatus
where the opening D is situated. By this means the clear cross sectional area of
the apparatus
smallest at the inlet and becomes greater towards the opening D,
so that the velocity of the air current is greatest at the slide b, and decreases
towards the opening D. The latter may be regulated by means of slides D' and
adjusting devices D². There is also a lower air inlet E provided in the front end
wall of the apparatus. The air entering through this inlet E has an action
analogous to that of the currents of air entering through the openings x, and is,
like the last mentioned currents indicated by plain (i.e. not feathered) arrows in
Figure 2.
:-
The manner of operation of the hereinbefore described apparatus is as follows:-
The current of air is drawn through the apparatus and out at the opening D
therein. The particles of the grain or the material under treatment entering at the
inlet A are caught by the greatest pressure and drawn to a distance proportionate
to the position of the slides b, c, c'. The heaviest particles falling into the channel 1,
the lighter particles into the channel 2, and so on. In falling down, the material
under treatment meets also an auxiliary current of air and is thereby whirled and
intermingled, so that the lighter particles are carried up and into the next following
compartment or channel or even beyond the same, whilst in each compartment
or channel there is a definite quantity of cleaned and sorted material
collected which is completely uniform as regards quality and which depends on the
distance of the respective compartment or channel from the slide b, the position of
the latter, and the position of the slides d, d'. When the weight of the accumulated
product upon the flap n, or n', or n², or n³, or n', of each separate compartment or
channel becomes so great as to depress the said flap, then the compartment or
channel becomes emptied.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) A machine for sorting and cleaning grain and the like as hereinbefore
described and shown.
(2.) A machine for sorting and cleaning grain and the like, comprising means
whereby an induced current of air is capable of being regulated as to its direction
through the said machine and which consists of a movable cutting-off device
provided on the front end wall of the casing, so that the material to be sorted or
cleaned is subjected according to its respective condition or nature to the action of
the air current in a specific direction, as and for the purpose set forth.
(3.) In a machine for sorting and cleaning grain and the like as claimed by
Claim 2, the arrangement whereby the falling material under treatment before
settling in the several compartments or channels is caused to meet a second current
of air which enters through openings such as in the casing, and which can be
regulated by means of cutting-off devices K in such a manner that its force or
intensity will be in the proper proportion to the main current of air, for the purpose
of throwing up the lighter particles and of conveying them to the main current, as
herein before described and shown.
(4.) A machine for sorting and cleaning grain and the like comprising a main
slide and a cut-off slide such as b, c, c¹, arranged opposite to the point of suction D,
for the purpose by varying the position and size of the inlet opening, of regulating
the main current of air as regards its direction and its force, as hereinbefore
described and shown.
(5.) In a machine for sorting and cleaning grain and the like as claimed by
Claim 2, the use of vertically movable slides d arranged on the compartments or
channels with upper portions d' adapted to be fixed by means of guides or clips
and thumb nuts for the purpose of enabling the catching edge of the several
partitions of the compartments or channels to be adjusted in horizontal and also in
vertical planes, and also for enabling the auxiliary currents' of air to be regulated
at the same time, as herein before described and shown.
Dated this 02-d den of Drinks 2001
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.