Improvements in Apparatus for Blending Powdered Materials.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Blending Powdered Materials.
I, JOHN SLINGLUFF DETWILER, a citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 1933 Judson Place, in the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia,
and State of Pennsylvania, Merchant, 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:-
My invention has relation to apparatus for blending or thoroughly commingling
powdered or comminuted materials such as different grades or kinds of flour by
gaseous or neriform flotation and settling.
It is well known that in pulverizing or reducing materials or substances to a
comminuted state or condition that a certain amount of heat is generated and in the
case of grain or the like, that such heat generated causes the sugar or glutinous
constituents of the mass to become adhesive to such an extent as to ball or lump and
in such manner as that in the passage of the grain or the like through reducing rolls
or millstones for the constituents or particles to become by re-adhesion combined
with or united to one another. Moreover, the heat generated by the milling.
operation in the case of grain or the like is calculated to produce fermentation thus
causing the product to become sour by exposure and other influences. Again in the
practised methods of treating grain or the like, a large percentage of the moisture
taken up by the grain is retained thereby and is calculated to produce fermentation,
which results as a consequence in the flour or the like becoming sour and unfit.
for use.
.
4
The principal objects of my invention are first, to overcome entirely the above
mentioned disadvantageous features in the treatment of grain or the like and to
provide a simple, comparatively inexpensive and efficient apparatus for effecting the
thorough blending or commingling of such comminuted or powdered material or the
like by gascous or aeriform flotation, agitation and settling, second, to provide, an
apparatus for, thoroughly and expeditiously segregating the particles of the.
comminuted or pulverized mass by aeriform or gascous flotation and mechanical or
other agitation to cause the intimate commingling, admixture or thorough blending,
of the same, freed from heat, moisture and noxious vapors, and causing the settling.
thereof in a perfectly blended, finely divided and purified state or condition, in bulk
adapted for immediate or subsequent use and entirely free from tendency.to
fermentation or souring thereof; third, to provide suitable apparatus for producing;
a perfect blend or admixture of the materials of like or unlike nature, character,
specific, gravity or kind; and fourth, to provide an, apparatus adapted to effert
during the operation thereof the purification of the powdered or comminuted
materials in such manner as that heat, moisture, gas or other noxious matter is
liberated therefrom and with the resultant admixture or perfectly blended product
delivered in a chemically pure state or condition for immediate or subsequent use,
without manifestation of or tendency to fermentation or souring thereof..
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.
The nature and general features of my invention will be more fully understood,
from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,
forming part hereof; and in which
Figure 1, represents a vertical longitudinal section through one form of apparatus.
adapted for the conduct of my invention, showing a cylindrical shell having a.
contracted top and outlet, with a series of inlets in the bottom thereof and. a. screw.
conveyer for introducing materials in the path of the issuing air, gas or other mixing.
and purifying agent and with revoluble fans and fingers within said shell for causing
in the agitation of the materials lifted into the presence thereof by means of the.

page_text: incoming air, gas or other agent segregation of adhering infinitesimal particles of
the mass and the blending of the divided particles of the same, preparatory to
discharge from the apparatus through the outlet in the top thereof.
Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional view on the line -, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section on the line y-y, of Fig. 4, of a combined
separating and settling chamber provided with a screw conveyer for discharging
the perfectly blended or commingled materials into a suitable receptacle or barrel
for use.
Fig. 4, is a side elevational view of the separating and settling chamber adapted
for use in connection with an apparatus of the type illustrated in Fig. 1, by means
of a pipe connection applied to the outlet of the apparatus; the said view illustrating
the outlets arranged in the walls of said chamber and covered with wire gauze for
permitting of the escape of air therethrough so that effective settling may be ensured
of the blended materials in the bottom of said chamber and removal thereof be
permitted by means of a conveyer adapted to discharge the same through an outlet
into a barrel or other suitable receptacle.
Fig. 5, is a vertical longitudinal section through a still further modified form of
apparatus for blending or commingling different materials and effecting the
purification thereof preparatory to settling and the air separated therefrom in a
chamber of the general type illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and this view showing an
air or gas admission pipe in communication with an admission conduit with a
revoluble conveyer for admitting materials therethrough, whereby through the
intervention of the air, gas or other agent, such materials are presented to the
revolving drum provided with stationary beaters or fingers for causing adhering
particles to be segregated and the infinitesimal particles of the segregated mass
perfectly blended together, preparatory to their discharge from the revolving drum
through an outlet conduit connected with one of the journals of said.drum and
extending into the interior thereof.
Fig. 6, is a top or plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7, is a transverse section on the line -z, of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8, is a vertical longitudinal section of a still further modified form of apparatus
adapted for the conduct of my invention, showing a conveyer in the bottom of the
chamber, an air or gas admission pipe extending into the same, a shaft provided
with revoluble fingers adapted to travel between and about stationary fingers secured
to the wall of said chamber and an inlet conduit in the top of said chamber for
admitting materials into the interior thereof in a reverse direction to the volume of
air, gas or other mixing agent presented thereto, for segregating the particles of
the conglomerate and adhering materials and causing the intimate or thorough
blending together thereof by the combined action of the air, gas or other agent and
the mechanical agitation therein, and showing also means in said chamber for
permitting of the liberation of the air, gas or other agent therefrom and settling of
the perfectly blended or commingled materials in mass in the bottom of said chamber
for permitting of their discharge by means of a conveyer into a suitable receptacle
for use; and
.
Fig. 9, is a transverse section on the line w-w of Fig. 8.
In the drawings with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 A., is a cylindrical shell having
a conical-shaped cap a, provided with a contracted outlet a¹. a, is a cylindrical
base engaged by the shell A. In the base a, are provided a series of inlet
openings a, and an enlarged inlet elbow a', for the reception of a conduit a³,
which is provided with a screw conveyer a, actuated by any suitable means, not
shown. To each of the elbows a', of the air or gas inlets a³, are secured short
sections of pipe a8, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The base a, is provided
with a cone-shaped central bearing post a, which is adapted to be packed with
suitable material so as to prevent the settling materials of the chamber from
accumulating in the body thereof. The base a', is mounted upon a series of
legs alb, is a vertical shaft extending through the cone-shaped bearing post a³,
and held at the top in a bearing or sleeve a", provided with radial arms a",

page_text: which are respectively secured to the interior wall of the shell A. Between the
sleeve or bearing a", and the shaft b, is interposed an anti-friction bushing a¹³, to
avoid heating up of the shaft and to avoid the necessity of the application of oil
or other lubricant thereto. Mounted on the vertical shaft b, at suitable distances
apart are radial fingers b', and fans . The lower end of this shaft is secured in
a step-bearing a mounted on the base-plate a¹. The shaft b, is provided with a
pulley b, which is keyed or otherwise secured thereto and around which passes
a belt 6, travelling over pulleys 6, which are supported from a standard b', secured
to the base-plate a". Motion is communicated to the belt 6, from any suitable
source of power, not shown, for rotating the shaft b. Directly above the cone-
shaped bearing post a', of the base a³, of the shell A, are disposed scrapers 68,
projecting downwardly and mounted on and rotated by the vertical shaft b.
These scrapers are inclined at such an angle as that in the rapid rotation of the
shaft b, they will perform the function of lifting the materials carried into the
base a, of the shell A, by means of the screw conveyer a°.
In use, the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, operates as follows:-
The materials to be segregated and blended enter through the opening at, by
means of the screw conveyer a, mounted therein, which uniformly feeds the
materials to the base of the shell A, and by means of the current of air, gas or
other agent in volume entering through the series of openings a³, the materials are
lifted aided by the scrapers 6, into the presence of the respective revolving fingers
and fans, thereby breaking up the particles of the conglomerate mass and thoroughly
blending or intermingling the same together and which are supported during the
operation by the ascending column or volume of air, gas or other agent and forced
thereby through the contracted cap a, of the shell A, and the outlet a', into a
separating and settling chamber D, such as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, to be
connected with the outlet a', of the shell A, by a pipe connection with the inlet
conduit d, thereof as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The purpose of the separating
and settling chamber D, is to receive the intermingled air and thoroughly blended
materials free from further agitation and to afford the blended materials, due to
their specific gravity, an opportunity to settle in the bottom of the chamber and
for any air, gas or other agent carried therewith to pass off through the series of
outlets d', and , arranged in the wall of the chamber on opposite surfaces
thereof. These outlets are covered with finely meshed wire gauze to prevent
passage therethrough with the air or gas of any of the blended materials by suction
or otherwise, so that in the falling of the materials in their perfectly blended state
or condition into the bottom of the chamber, the mass in bulk is taken by a revoluble
screw or endless conveyer d', and conducted continuously to the outlet d', in the
bottom of the chamber D, and discharged therethrough into a suitable receptacle
or barrel for use.
It may be here remarked that in the operation of the apparatus, the separating
and settling chamber D, will always contain a sufficient supply of blended
materials to completely cover or envelop the conveyer, in the bottom thereof,
so that the outlet d', at one end of the chamber will always be filled. with the
blended material, thereby preventing the escape of air through said outlet.
This opening as an additional security against the entrance of air through the
same may be provided with a wire gauze or other covering extending along
far enough to completely cover the outlet d', and thus to form an air trap
thereat.
With reference now to Figs. 5 and 6, showing another form of apparatus for the
conduct of my invention of segregating and blending different materials together
A', is a revoluble drum provided with hollow end journals A and A', and with
internal beaters or projecting fingers A and A', as illustrated in Fig. 5. These
hollow end journals A and A, are mounted in standards A and A', extending
vertically from a base-plate, not shown. a, is an air or gas inlet pipe connected
with a blast, not shown, and extending through the hollow journal A², of the
revoluble drum A', and in communication therewith is a vertical inlet hopper a",

page_text: provided with a screw conveyer a, for admitting and conveying materials through
the same into the presence of the air or gas adapted to conduct the materials
into the interior of the revoluble drum A. a, is an outlet pipe extending through
the hollow journal A³, of the revoluble drum A', and curved upwardly at one
extremity thereof and downwardly from the outer end of said journal A³, and
adapted to be connected with the inlet d, of the separating and settling chamber D,
as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. On one end of the hollow journal A', is mounted a
gear-wheel e, keyed or otherwise secured thereto and meshing with a pinion e',
mounted on a longitudinal shaft a", which latter is journalled to the standards A*
and A. This shaft al, is provided on the extremity thereof with loose and fast
pulleys and e, for the reception of a belt, not shown, whereby in the engagement
of said belt with the fast pulley on said shaft, motion is imparted to the shaft a
for actuating the pinion e¹, and gear-wheel e, for revolving the drum A', and
thereby causing the materials introduced into the drum to be thoroughly
commingled and the infinitesimal particles of said materials to be perfectly
blended together, preparatory to their discharge through the curved outlet pipe a¹³,
into the separating and settling chamber D, where any air or gas is removed
therefrom, through the gauze covered outlets d', d' and d³, and the materials thus
perfectly blended together, settle in the bottom of the chamber D, and in bulk are
removed therefrom by means of the endless conveyer d', as illustrated in Figs. 3
and 4, through the outlet do, into a suitable receptacle or barrel do, for use.
With reference now to Figs. 8 and 9, A, represents a cylindrical shell having a
shaft b, extending downward through the removable top plate a, thereof. This
shaft is provided with a fixed sleeve 618, having radial fingers 613, extending
therefrom and adapted to travel between and about the fingers 1, radially disposed
and secured to the interior surface of the shell A. F, is an air or gas blowing
engine connected with an inlet conduit a", extending upward into the interior of the
shell A. The bottom or base a², is supported on a series of legs a, and has
a large channel or conduit a', with a screw conveyer a, mounted therein for
permitting of the discharge of the commingled or perfectly blended materials
settling by gravity in the path thereof. In the flanged top a, of the apparatus is
provided a Hanged rim or uipple a", which engages and supports a pipe a³, into and
through which the materials to be agitated and blended together are introduced in
any suitable manner. In the upper part of the wall of the shell A, are provided a
series of radial outlets a", for permitting the ascending columns of air or gas
to escape therethrough and at the same time so arranged as to prevent the escape
of any of the particles of the materials undergoing agitation and blending together
therewith. The shaft b, is provided beyond the top plate a20, of the shell A, with a
pulley which is engaged by a belt 6, passing around a pulley be, which is
journalled to a standard, mounted on the top plate a20, and which belt has motion
imparted thereto from any suitable source of power, not shown. The lower end of
the shaft b, is supported to a bracket or sleeve a", provided with radial arms a¹³,
secured to the interior surface of the shell A.
In use,
The materials to be segregated and by agitation to be perfectly blended together,
are introduced through the inlet a23, in the top plate of the shell A, and allowed to
descend into the presence of the beaters or fingers 613 aud 61, for effecting the
thorough commingling or admixture thereof and supported during this operation by
the ascending column or volume of air or gas continuously presented thereto during
agitation and by reason of the greater specific gravity of the materials being
blended together than the air or gas holding them for the time being in suspension,
such sinks in bulk by gravity therethrough, freeing the air or gas which escapes
from the interior of the shell through the radially disposed outlets a², in the wall
thereof, and the blended together material in bulk falls by gravity to the bottom of
the apparatus, where by means of the endless screw conveyer a, the same is
discharged continuously from the apparatus into any suitable storage receptacle o
directly into a barrel for shipment or use.
this apparatus of Figs. 8 and 9, is operated as follows:-

page_text: It may be here remarked that the materials to undergo the blending operation
are fed slowly through the inlet opening in the chamber and fall in the path of the
rapidly revolving beaters or fingers and fans and are thoroughly intermingled and
blended together by the mechanical action of the same and the air, gas or other
agent presented in a reverse direction to the point of admission of the materials
into the apparatus, will cause the thorough turning, revolution or whirling around
of the various infinitesimal particles of the mass and thus a thorough blending
together thereof is ensured. By permitting the materials to separate from the air
or gas, being lighter than the blended or commingled particles of the mass,
the air or gas will rise to the top of the chamber and pass off while the blended
together materials in bulk will fall to the bottom of the chamber, and in coming in
contact with a conveyer may be conducted off into a suitable receptacle for use.
By such mode of operation as hereinbefore described practice has demonstrated that
a perfect blend of the different materials will always be ensured at the point
of delivery of the same from the apparatus.
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. An apparatus for blending powdered materials, comprising a chamber having
a feed and means for producing a current of air in said chamber to segregate
and blend materials together therein, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. An apparatus for blending powdered materials, comprising a chamber having
at one portion thereof a force feed, air inlets, and means for producing a current of
air for segregating and blending materials together therein, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
3. An apparatus for blending powdered materials, comprising a drum having at
one portion thereof a force feed and a peripheral series of air inlets, and means for
producing a current of air for segregating and blending together materials therein,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. An apparatus for blending powdered materials, comprising a drum having at
one portion thereof a force feed and a peripheral series of air inlets, a central shaft
carrying oblique fan blades for producing a current to the materials and air and
beaters for disintegrating and blending together said materials, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
5. An apparatus for blending powdered materiale, comprising a drum provided
with a rotatable shaft having fingers and fans connected therewith, means for
producing an air current in said drum, a conduit for the introduction of materials
into said drum, a conveyer connected with said drum, pipe connections, a separating.
and settling appliance provided with a conveyer and with a controlled outlet and
screened air outlets in the walls thereof, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
6. An apparatus for blending powdered materials, comprising a chamber having.
a feed, air inlets, means for producing a current of air for segregating and blending
materials together in said chamber, a separating and settling appliance having
a rotatable conveyer and controlled material and air outlets, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 6th day of August A.D. 1894.
JOHN SLINGLUFF DETWILER