IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANSING OR WASHING CEREALS, COFFEE AND OTHER GRAIN, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Denton Abel at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1883. Communicated
to him from abroad by Dr Ludwig Mautner, Ritter von Markhoff, of Vienna in
the Austrian Empire
"
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANSING OR WASHING CEREALS,
COFFEE AND OTHER GRAIN, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR Communicated to
him from abroad by Dr Ludwig Mautner, Ritter von Markhof, of Vienna in the
Austrian Empire
This invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for cleansing
cereals, coffee, and other grain fruit whereby the grain is cleansed within a com-
pletely closed vessel provided with a peculiar stirring apparatus by means of a
continuous or periodical flow of liquid under pressure. The pressure to be
employed will seldom exceed that of one atmosphere, and the liquid used by
preference is water. The stirring apparatus must be so arranged that it passes
through the mass of grain without damaging the latter and, at the same time,
effects by its rotation a constant motion of the grain and consequently a continuous
slight attrition of the same.
The apparatus consists of a cylindrical casing, closed at top and bottom, the
conical lower end of which terminates in a branch, and which is closed at top by a
removeable cover. The internal mechanism of the apparatus consists of a stirring
apparatus having a vertical spindle carrying several perforated or openwork vanes,
by the rotation of which the mass to be cleansed is put in motion. Such vanes
may be constructed of a framework covered both with longitudinal and transverse
wires, but the one vane might be entirely covered with longitudinal wires and the
next one with transverse wires, so that the planes of rotation of two consecutive
vanes cross each other. Or, in place of wires, framed wood or metal bars may be
used which are fixed to corresponding arms secured to the central spindle.
This spindle which passes at top through a stuffing box fixed on the cover carries
above the same a bevil wheel with which gears another bevil wheel fixed on a
driving shaft carried by two brackets on the cover and receiving motion through
fast and loose pullies, by which means rotary motion is imparted to the stirring
apparatus.

page_text: For charging the apparatus with the grain to be washed, the cover is provided
with a branch that can be closed air tight, while another branch at bottom is
provided with a rotatible perforated or wire gauze valve for discharging the washed
grain and is closed outside hermetically by a cover secured by a bridge piece and
screw, The rotatable valve serves to retain the mass of grain while the dirty
water can flow off into the space between the valve and the cover, from which
space it can escape through a discharge pipe; the valve also serves to regulate
the discharge of the washed grain, into sacks or receptacles when the cover is
opened.
The supply of water is effected by a pipe which is connected by a three way
cock and branch pipe with the top of the apparatus, while by a fourway cock
and second branch pipe the supply pipe is also connected to the lower end of the
apparatus. The cleansing water can therefore be made to enter either the top or
the bottom of the apparatus according to the position of the cocks, the discharge
of the dirty water being of course made to take place at the opposite end to that
at which the fresh water enters. For this purpose a second or escape pipe is
provided which is connected at top by a three way cock and branch pipe with the
cover of the apparatus, and at bottom to the fourth branch of the before mentioned
fourway cock. The escape pipe is raised a sufficient height above the apparatus
that, while the requisite circulation of water through the apparatus and the escape
pipe is maintained, the contents of the vessel shall be kept under the required
pressure. The pipe which is connected at bottom to the said four way cock serves
for completely emptying the apparatus and pipes of the cleansing liquid.
From the above arrangement of the pipes and cocks it will be seen that
according as the latter are set in one position or the other, the cleansing water
may be made to enter the vessel at top, and, after flowing down through the mass
of grain, be made to escape up the escape pipe; or the cleansing water may be
made to enter at bottom and escape at top.
For easy access to the interior of the apparatus for repairs, it may be provided at
bottom with a manhole.
It will be evident that the apparatus while acting in the same manner as above
described may also be arranged in a horizontal position, in which case the
arrangements for changing the direction of the cleansing liquid may be dispensed
with.