IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATING AND CLEANING GRAIN AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles McFadzean, of Crosshill, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATING AND
CLEANING GRAIN AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Sealed the 22nd September 1877, and dated the 7th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles M°Fadzean at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th April 1877.
CHARLES MCFADZEAN, of Crosshill, in the County of Ayr, North Britain. "TM-
PROVEMENTS IN ELEVATING AND CLEANING GRAIN AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
This Invention, which relates to certain improvements in machinery or apparatus
to be applied to threshing mills, has for its object to elevate the grain from the
lower part of the mill to a height sufficient both for filling it into the bags and to
separate the chaff and other light and impure matter or substances therefroin.
The apparatus consists of a casing, in the lower part of which is a blast fan.
From this part of the casing there proceed upwards at an angle two or more ducts
or passages. The grain with the chaff and impurities is by the action of the fan
blown into the upper duct or passage, and a portion of the chaff escapes through an
opening in the upper part of the upper duct, whilst the grain with such portion
of the chaff or impurity, as is not separated in the upper passage or duct, falls back
and passes through an opening in the lower side of the upper duct into the lower or
second duct. The blast passing up through this lower or second duct again acting
upon the grain still inore separates the chaff and light matter from it, leaving the
grain practically clean, in which state it falls through a spout in the lower side of
the second duct into the bags there placed to receive it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles McFadzean in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
October 1877.
"IM-
CHARLES MCFADZEAN, of Crosshill, in the County of Ayr, North Britain.
PROVEMENTS IN ELEVATING AND CLEANING GRAIN AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
My said Invention, which relates to certain improvements in machinery or
apparatus to be applied to threshing mills, has for its object to elevate the grain
from the lower part of the mill to a height sufficient both for filling it into the
bags and to separate the chaff and other light and impure matter or substance
therefrom.
The said machinery or apparatus consists of a casing containing two ducts or
passages proceeding upwards at an angle, and having a blast of air directed up into
and through them by a fan at their lower end. The grain to be elevated and
cleaned is fed into this apparatus, and together with the chaff and impurities is by
the action of the fan thrown and blown into the upper duot or passage, a portion of
the chaff escaping through an orifice at the upper part of the said upper duct, and
the grain with such portions of the chaff or impurity as do not pass through the
said orifice falls back and into the lower duct through an opening in the partition,
which separates the upper from the lower duct. The blast passing up through the
lower duct acting upon the grain and its impurities separates the remaining chaff
and light matters from it, leaving the grain practically clean, in which state the
gmin falls from the lower duct through a spout into bags placed to receive it. The
chaff separated in the lower duct passes away through an orifice at its top, and the
"weaks" fall from the lower duct through a spout above the grain spout into bags
placed to receive them.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I will now
procced to more particularly describe the system, mode, or manner in or undor
which the same is or may be carried into practical effect, reference being had to tho
accompanying Drawing and to the letters and figures marked theroon, similar
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus constructed according to my said
Invention, and Figure 2 is an elevation of the back of the saine.
The said apparatus consists of a casing A divided by the partition B into two
ducts or passages, an upper one marked C and a lower one marked D, both having
openings at their upper ends marked respectively c, d. At the lower end of the
casing A is a fan E in communication with both ducts or passages. In the
partition B, constituting the floor of the upper duct, is an orifice or slot b extending
from side to side of the apparatus, and forming a communication between the upper
and lower ducts, and in the under side of the casing A, constituting the floor of
the lower duct, are two orifices or slots marked d³, d, respectively. These slots also
extend from side to side of the apparatus and open respectively into the spouts F, G.
The slots b, c, d, are each protected by lips f, f, which may be formed of sheet iron,
so that they can be bent to any suitable angle to the slots. A hoppor marked H
communicates with an opening at the lower part of one side of the fan case.
Dampers or regulating lips marked e, e, are provided on each side of the fan case,
by the movement of which the amount of air entering the eye of the fan may be
regulated or cut-off.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The fan E being driven by any
suitable motor, the grain to be elevated and cleansed is fed from the threshing mill
into the apparatus by the hopper H, and is received by the blades of the fan E,
which throw it up to the top of the upper duct C where a portion of the chaff will
be blown out by the blast through the opening c. The grain will strike against the
top end piece of the upper duct and will return till it reaches the slot b, through
which it will pass into the lower duct. Here the blast from the fan again acts upon

page_text: it and separates the chaff which has escaped the action of the blast in the upper
duct, and the said chaff is blown from the apparatus through the opening d. The
"weaks" are likewise separated from the heavy grain by the blast in the lower
duct, and they ascend to some distance up the said duct, but the blast has not
sufficient power to carry them up through the opening d. The "weaks" conse-
quently descend on the floor at the upper part of the lower duct (which is protected
to a certain extent from the direct action of the blast by the lip f) until they pass
through the slot d and spout G into bags placed to receive them. The heavy corn
falls across the lower duct and through the opening and spout F into bags placed
to receive it. The inner surface of that part of the upper side of the casing above
the opening c is preferably outside of, or over, the line of the inner surface of the
portion of the said upper side of the casing below the opening c, as shewn, so
that the ascending grain may not strike against the edge of the said part.
The apparatus may be furnished with openings and at any suitable or convenient
parts to afford access to the interior.
By the use of apparatus, constructed according to my said Invention, the grain is
cleaned, and the grain "weaks" and chaff delivered at different points at one
operation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same may be carried
into practical effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be
novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved machinery or apparatus for
elevating and cleaning grain, consisting of two ducts or passages up which the blast
from a fan is conducted, and by means of which the grain "weaks" and chaff are
delivered at different points at one operation, the said machinery or apparatus being
constructed essentially in the manner herein-before described with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles McFadzean, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of October, Eighteen hundred and seventy-seven.
CHARLES MORATZEAN