IMPROVEMENTS IN HANGING MILLSTONES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthony Stevenson, of Chester, and Samuel Wylde, of
Runcorn, both in the County of Chester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HANGING MILLSTONES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 9th July 1878, and dated the 9th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Stevenson and
Samuel Wylde at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th
January 1878.
ANTHONY STEVENSON, of Chester, and SAMUEL WYLDE, of Runcorn, both in the
County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HANGING MILLSTONES, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
This Invention consists in mechanical means for perfectly steadying a runner
stone while revolving, so as not so much to grind the meal as to granulate it.
It consists in attaching to the runner stone a ring of metal or other suitable
material, encircling the runner stone outside its circumference. The ring rests on
preferably three rollers fixed on stationary supports, but capable of adjustment by
screws or otherwise so as to exactly balance the stone at any suitable height. Of
course this arrangement could be reversed, and the rollers could be placed on axles
fixed to the stone running against a stationary adjustable ring above or below.
But there are grave objections to this plan, and we prefer the other altogether as
the best and simplest.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Anthony Stevenson and Samuel Wylde in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th July 1878.
ANTHONY STEVENSON, of Chester, and SAMUEL WYLDE, of Runcorn, both in the
County of Chester. IMPROVEMENTS IN HANGING MILLSTONES, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
"
This Invention consists in mechanical means for perfectly steadying a runner
stone while revolving, not so much to grind the meal as to granulate it.
It is best described by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1
is a plan with parts of the flooring removed, and Fig. 2 an elevation (also with
parts of the flooring and joists removed). In these E is the runner or upper stone;
E¹, the lower or stationary stone.
Round the running stone we bolt or otherwise attach a ring F, accurately turned
or faced true on its lower side. This is usually formed of angle iron. This is
supported on rollers A supported in the jaws G of adjustable shanks K. These
shanks work in guides or sliding bearings H, have a screw thread turned on their
lower part, and are raised and lowered by wheel I working on the screw, and sup-
ported on bracket J; C is the flooring; B, beams supporting said flooring.
"
The manner of action is as follows:-The runner stone, instead of being dependent
for its balance on it central "cock top' or pivot, is evenly supported on the
rollers A, which can be exactly adjusted by wheels I, so that the two stones always
run at an even distance from each other. The wheels I can be connected by
gearing or pauls so as to be raised and lowered with absolute equality, but in such
way that any one can be separately adjusted if necessary by hand. This arrange-
ment can be reversed by fastening the wheels to the running stone and let them
run on a circular tram rail round the stone; but this is very inconvenient as the
flour is apt to lodge on the rail, and so cause the identical uneven running our
apparatus is designed to prevent.
Having now described our Invention and the best mode known to us of carrying
it into effect, we wish it to be understood that what we believe to be new and
desire to claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The mode of balancing a millstone by means of rollers on the outside bearing
against a perfectly level rail or plate.
2nd. Adjusting the relative height of the rollers or plate by means of screws or
their mechanical equivalent, so as to compensate for wear of the stones or allow of
the distance between the stones being adjusted.
3rd. The apparatus herein described for balancing millstones by running the
upper stone on rollers, whether the rollers travel on a stationary rail or plate, or
the rail or plate travels on the stationary rotating rollers.
In witness whereof, we, the said Anthony Stevenson and Samuel Wylde,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.