Method of and Apparatus for Reducing Sawdust, Straw, and other Vegetable Substances to an Impalpable Powder or to a Pulp, the Apparatus being also Applicable for Pulverizing Hard Substances.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 7th Oct., 1887
Method of and Apparatus for Reducing Sawdust, Straw, and other
Vegetable Substances to an Impalpable Powder or to a Pulp,
the Apparatus being also Applicable for Pulverizing Hard
Substances.
I JOHN ROBERT ALSING of 27 Leadenhall Street in the City of London
Manufacturer 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 :-
According to this invention I take sawdust straw or other similar vegetable substance
to be reduced to an impalpable powder and place it in a dry state together with a
quantity of flint stones or pebbles in a cylinder (constructed as hereafter described and
shown in the drawings) and upon the said cylinder being rotated at a suitable speed
the substance will be reduced to an impalpable powder applicable, for various useful
purposes.
And in order that my said invention may be better understood I will refer to the
drawing accompanying this specification which shews a cylinder constructed according
to my invention.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same.
Fig. 3 is grating for fixing in manhole.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the Figs.
A is iron drum or cylinder B lining of hard wood cut across the grain, the section.
of the wood forming the grinding surface. (shaft. D pulley for rotating drum.
E. E. pedestals or plummer blocks. F manhole. G manhole cover. H door. K valve.
L hopper. M waggon. N outer casing of sheet iron or any other suitable material to
keep the dust in, which however is not required when the cylinder or drum is used for
wet grinding. O plug.
The material to be pulverised is introduced into the drum A through the aperture F
together with a suitable quantity of small pebbles or flint stones. The drum is then
rotated when the material will be found to be reduced to an impalpable powder. The
manhole cover G is then removed and the grating Fig. 3 put in its place and on

page_text: causing the drum to rotate the pulverised material is delivered into the hopper L thence
to the waggon M the pebbles or flints being prevented from falling out of the drum by
means of the said grating.
When the vegetable substance is required as a pulp or when a hard substance is
treated and required in liquid form I place the materials in the cylinder together with
water to about the extent of two thirds of the capacity of the cylinder. In this case
the resulting pulp or liquid is drawn from the cylinder by means of the valve K an
aperture P being left in the hopper L for this purpose, air being admitted by means of
the door H or other suitable air valve, the said door can also be used for introducing
the material if desired.
Instead of the valve K I may if desired use a plug O in the manhole cover G for
withdrawing the liquid or pulp from the drum or cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The method of reducing vegetable substances to an impalpable powder or pulp
substantially as herein described.
2nd. The wood lined cylinder constructed substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
3rd. The use of water in a wood-lined cylinder (constructed substantially as set
forth) substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Fifth day of September 1887.