IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES APPLICABLE TO CHURNING BUTTER AND FOR SIFTING MATERIALS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Gervase Kirton, of Nottingham, in the County of
Nottingham, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
APPLICABLE TO CHURNING BUTTER AND FOR SIFTING MATERIALS."
Sealed the 8th May 1877, and dated the 11th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Gervase Kirton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th November 1876.
RICHARD GERVASE KIRTON, of Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham,
Mechanic. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES APPLICABLE TO CHURNING BUTTER AND
FOR SIFTING MATERIALS."
My Invention has reference to machines for churning butter or agitating fluid or
semi-fluid substances, and consists in the combination and arrangements of the
main working parts of such machines, whereby much labour or power is saved in
working the same, and improved results are obtained.
.
The box or vessel in which the cream or other material to be operated upon is
contained is fixed as required on uprights or supports, jointed at top and bottom,
to admit of their being worked to and fro by means of a crank or excentric and
a connecting rod having a jointed connection with either the said uprights, or a
platform or table at the top of them on which the said box or vessel rests, or the box
or vessel itself, such jointed connection being formed in such a manner as to obtain
the greatest advantage from the power expended in working the machine. For
this purpose the connecting rod is by preference jointed at a point on the upright,
which will cause the rod to work as nearly parallel as possible with the oscillatory
traverse of the said platform or table to which the box or fluid container is secured.
The shaft of the said crank or excentric is supported on suitable standards fixed to
the frame of the machine, on which shaft is or are keyed a fly wheel or fly wheels
of any required weight, proportioned to the size and weight of the box or fluid.
container, for the purpose of steadying the reciprocating motion of the machine.
There are also fixed to the frame of the machine springs of steel or other suitable
material, which are arranged in such a manner that when the uprights are moved
out of their perpendicular position on either side of the vertical line by the action
of the crank or eccentric the spring or springs on either side will be compressed or
put in tension, the reaction of which will aid in carrying the uprights back again,

page_text: The said box or fluid con-
tainer may if preferred be suspended by uprights, and chains, or other suitable
appliances, instead of being supported in the manner above stated.
thereby diminishing the power required for the same.
When the machine is used as a churn for churning butter the box containing the
cream is provided with a transverse vertical partition fixed in any required
position, so as to form a rigid surface, against which the cream may be caused to
strike by the agitation thereof produced by the motions of the box. The partition
is also formed with openings or spaces in it to admit of the fluid passing through
the partition as required.
The lid of the box is fitted with a valve or valves for the escape of gases
generated during operation. Outlet cocks or plugs are also provided for draining
off any liquid that may be desired. The said box or vessel is secured to the table
or platform by means of screws or clamps, or otherwise, so as to admit of its easy
removal and refixing as required.
When the machine is intended to be used for sifting material in the form of dry
powder, the said box, vessel, or compartment may be internally adapted for such
purpose by substituting for the transverse partition above described horizontal per-
forated partitions, arranged so as to form a medium through which a material or
materials in a divided state can be sifted by the oscillating movements of the box,
vessel, or compartment. Drawers or boxes are arranged underneath the said per-
forated medium, so as to form a convenient means of removing the material as may
be required after treatment.
The above-described machine may be worked either by hand or by mechanical
power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Gervase Kirton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
May 1877.
RICHARD GERVASE KIRTON, of Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham,
Mechanic. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES APPLICABLE TO CHURNING BUTTER AND
FOR SIFTING MATERIALS."
My Invention has reference to machines for churning butter or agitating fluid or
semi-fluid substances, and consists in the combination and arrangement of the inain
working parts of such machines, whereby much labour or power is saved in working
the same, and improved results are obtained.
The box or vessel in which the cream or other material to be operated upon is
contained is fixed as required on uprights or supports, jointed at top and bottom,
to admit of their being worked to and fro by means of a crank or excentric and a
connecting rod having a jointed connection with either the said uprights or a plat-
form or table at the top of them (on which the said box or vessel rests), or the box
or vessel itself, such jointed connection being formed in such a manner as to obtain
the greatest advantage from the power exerted in working the machine. For this
purpose the connecting rod is by preference jointed at a point on the upright, which
will cause the rod to work as nearly parallel as possible with the oscillatory traverse
of the said platform or table to which the box or fluid container is secured. The
shaft of the said crank or excentric is supported on suitable standards fixed to the
frame of the machine, on which shaft is or are keyed a fly wheel or fly wheels of
any required weight, proportioned to the size and weight of the box or fluid con-
tainer, for the purpose of steadying the reciprocating motion of the machine.
There are also fixed to the frame of the machine springs of steel or other suitable
material, which are arranged in such a manner that when the uprights are moved
out of their perpendicular position on either side of the vertical line by the action
of the crank or excentric the spring or springs on either side will be compressed or
put in tension, the reaction of which will aid in carrying the uprights back again,

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, and
Fig. 3 a transverse section, of the box or vessel to be set in motion as required by
the mechanism to which power is applied.
.
A, A, are the standards or frame of the machine; B is the driving shaft, on
which is formed the crank C, to which is jointed the connecting rod D, jointed at
its other end to the upright or support E. This upright or support E is jointed at
the bottom on a pivot F fixed in the frame A, and it is also jointed at the top to
the box or vessel G at one end thereof, the corresponding upright or support E*
being similarly jointed to the frame A and to the other end of the box or vessel G;
and there are two uprights or supports jointed in like manner to the opposite
side of the frame A, and to the opposite side of the box or vessel G. The con-
necting rod D is jointed to the uprights or supports E by means of a transverse
rod at H extending from the upright or support on one side of the machine to that
on the other side thereof. On the crank shaft B are fitted two fly wheels I, one
on each side of the machine, in order to steady the reciprocating motion of the
machine; K, K, are springs fixed at one end to the central part of the frame A,
and at the other end to the uprights or supports E, E, and E*, E*, by means of which
the to-and-fro movements of the uprights or supports are controlled as required; Lis
an outlet for the escape of impure gas or vapour from the interior of the box or
vessel G; and M is a cock or tap for drawing off liquid as required; N, N, are
screws for fixing the box or vessel to the clamp or holder for the same; O is a
transverse vertical partition fitted in the box or vessel when the machine is used
for churning butter. This partition is formed with spaces at the top and bottom to
admit of the cream passing-through from one-side to the other when the box or
vessel G is worked to and fro by the action of the crank or excentric. The
partition is made hollow, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to contain either warm or

page_text: cold water for maintaining the required temperature of the cream. The partition
may be placed vertically, as shewn, or it may be inclined and placed in a different
part of the box or vessel, or more than one partition may be employed.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 5 a transverse section, shewing the
box or vessel with its interior adapted for sifting material in the form of dry
powder. In this case a bar or ledge P is fitted longitudinally at each side of the
box or vessel, which bar or ledge forms a support for a tray Q with a sieve at the
bottom thereof. This tray is made shorter than the interior of the box or vessel,
in order to afford the requisite amount of play therein. R is a drawer fitted under
the tray, in order to receive the material as it passes through the sieve; this drawer
is made to slide, so as to admit of its being pulled out when full.
When it is desired to use the apparatus as a continuous sifter or flexible inlet and
outlet for the material may be connected at the top and bottom of the box or
vessel, as shewn at S and T, in which case the sliding drawer R will not be
required. The pipe descending from the flexible inlet S reaches to near the sieve
of the tray Q, so as to feed in the material as required.
By substituting for the partitions above described laths of suitable and varying
depths, or projections from the bottom and ends of the box or vessel, or by corru-
gating the bottom and sides and fixing laths at the ends thereof, the machine may
be adapted for washing clothes or fabrics contained with water or other liquid
in the box or vessel when this is worked by means of the mechanism above
described.
It will be understood that on power (manual or mechanical) being applied to the
shaft D the revolution of the crank C will, through the connecting rod D jointed
to the transverse bar at H of the uprights or supports E, E, impart an oscillating
motion to the upper part of the machine on which the box or vessel G is fixed,
thereby giving an agitating motion to the box or vessel with its contents, the said
oscillating motion being controlled by the springs K, K, and steadied by the fly
wheels I, I.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my Inven-
tion is,
First. The combination of parts whereby the upper part of the machine or
platform on which the box or vessel is fixed receives motion in the manner
described.
Secondly. The internal arrangement of the box or vessel to adapt it for churning
butter as described.
And, lastly. The internal arrangement of the box or vessel to adapt it for sifting
materials in the form of dry powder, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Gervase Kirton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane.
RICHP. GERVASE KIRTON. (L.S.)