Year: 1886

page_text: I, PIETER VAN GELDER of Sowerby Bridge in the County of York, Milling
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for washing or damping,
conditioning and cleaning grain by the use of water and heated air, in which the
time during which the grain is allowed to be immersed may be increased or lessened
according to the nature and requirements of the grain under treatment, and from
which the grain will be discharged practically in as dry a state as required for
grinding purposes.
A tank is constructed of rectangular or other suitable shape to hold or receive
the water. Into this tank at one end projects an archimedean screw or other
conveyor, such as are at present used for collecting and moving grain and flour, in
many of the machines at present in use in the treatment of grain and manufacture
of flour. Preference being given to the use of paddles, which can be set at different
angles, this conveyor rotates in a perforated casing of V shape, which encloses
it on three sides and extends its entire length. A second casing encloses the
perforated casing for about two thirds or three fourths of its length. The end of
the perforated casing not covered by the second casing projects into the tank, so
that the water flows around or over the grain that may be in the casing. The
conveyor and its perforated casing are pivoted or hinged at one end, so that they
may be kept in a horizontal or inclined position as required, and thereby regulate
the speed at which the grain travels, which implies the length of time the grain is
immersed or kept in contact with water. The action arrived at, is, that the grain
is continually brought in contact with a fresh stream of clean water whilst dirty
or used water also continually escapes at the lower end of the conveyor through
the over-flow. A chain or rope fastened to a windlass is secured to the conveyor,
which sustains the weight at one end and by means of which the end is raised and
lowered and the inclination of it adjusted. A hopper is provided for conducting
the grain into the machine. As this is attached to the conveyor casing, it is
provided with telescopic sides to admit of its being raised and lowered. One or
more pipes with a series of taps extends the length of the conveyor, and from any
or all these taps the water may be admitted as required. At the lower end of the
Q1

page_text: perforated casing is a receptacle for stones or any similar heavy material that may
be in the grain, it is provided with a door or valve through which it may be
emptied. The tank is provided with an over flow and an exit pipe through which
the mud and dirty water passes. The grain passes through the hopper into the
water in the tank, and gradually travels from one end of the perforated casing to
the other, by which time it is thoroughly drained. It passes from the conveyor
into a drying chamber. In order to cause the grain to fall in a thin layer or
stream through the drying chamber, it is received by a roller and slide similar to
what are used for regulating the feed of grain in other machines which I now
construct. An externally fitted revolving roller carries the grain in a regulated
stream emptying it down onto a sloping board or iron slide, from the bottom of
which the grain is again raised and turned by means of a similar roller; two,
three, or more sets of these rollers may be employed as found necessary, and finally
the grain is discharged through a shoot in a dry condition.
Below or at the side of the chamber is conveniently placed a coil heated by steam
or otherwise over which a current of air is drawn, preferably by an aspirating fan,
placed on top of the 'drying apparatus. The current of heated air rising and
impinging against the particles of falling grain carries off with it the moisture.
The temperature of the air may be regulated to any required degree.
WM P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: is placed be varied to regulate the speed at which the grain travels. The con-
veyor D will move the grain along at a greater speed when the trough C is
horizontal, and the speed of the travel of the grain will decrease as the trough is
inclined or the inclination increased. When the grain travels quickly it remains
immersed or in contact with the water for a less period of time than when
travelling more slowly, consequently the inclination of the trough C regulates the
time of immersion of the grain. The conveyor is shown geared to a shaft d
running at right angles to it, and in this case the trough C should be pivoted
about the centre of the shaft d', so that any movement thereof may not interfere
with the gearing together of the two shafts. If preferred however, the two shafts
may be geared by means of a flexible joint or universal coupling. In the
drawings c is a journal or bearing on the end of the trough C, through which the
shaft d passes, the shaft sustaining the weight of the trough and conveyor. El is
a chain or rope passing over pulleys e and attached to a windlass F or other
winding gear. The end of the chain is secured to the perforated trough C and
sustains the weight of the trough and the conveyor D. By means of this chain or
rope the end of the trough is raised and lowered and the inclination of it adjusted.
G is a hopper for conducting the grain into the machine. This hopper is attached
to the perforated trough and is provided with telescopic sides to admit of the
raising and lowering. One or more pipes H with a series of taps h extends the
length of the conveyor, and from any or all these taps the water may he admitted
as required. The pipe H is hinged or provided with a flexible joint h¹ to allow of
its moving with the trough C. The tank is fitted with an overflow pipe b at one
end. This pipe is made with a hinge or joint, so that the top may be turned over
to receive the overflowing water at a lower level than when erect. The tank
may be emptied through the pipe B¹, which is closed by the valve b¹. Figure 6.
shows the construction of the material from which the perforated trough is made,
for although the perforations may be of other form or shape than those shown,
I prefer the oblong, tapering perforations. At the lower end of the perforated
trough C is formed a well or receptacle J to receive or collect stones or other
foreign material of high specific gravity. This may simply be furnished with a
slide by means of which it can be emptied periodically, or it may be fitted with a
small elevator P, Figures 4 and 5, whose buckets p will pass down into the well J
and raise stones or other material therefrom. This is shown with a handle for
operating it, though if required to be continually in operation it may be geared so
as to receive continuous motion.
The grain passes through the spout or hopper into the lower end of the
perforated trough C, which is immersed in the water in the tank B. The rotation
of the conveyor D causes the grain to travel upward to the other end of the
trough. As the grain moves along, the paddles of the conveyor turn it over and
over, and it becomes thoroughly washed. Stones or similar material of high-specific
gravity are washed out of the grain as it partially floats in the water, and are
deposited in the well or receptacle J. The grain does not fall into the well J, as it
is caught by the paddles of the conveyor before falling to the bottom, and does not
at once come in contact with the bottom of the perforated casing, stones however
or heavy material fall to the bottom. The grain gradually travels from the water
in the tank to the other end of the perforated trough C, as it travels it meets the
stream of water from the taps on the pipe H. The grain is thus continually
brought in contact with a fresh stream of clear water, whilst the dirty water
escapes at the lower end of the conveyor through the over flow. By the time the
grain reaches the top of the perforated trough C, it is thoroughly drained, the
water which has drained off it having passed through the perforations and down
the casing E into the tank B. The grain then passes into a drying chamber K,
through which it falls against an upward current of air, preferably dry and heated.
In order to cause the grain to fall in a thin layer or stream through the drying
chamber, it is received by an externally pitted roller L and slide similar to what are
used for regulating the feed of grain.in other machines, which I now construct and

page_text: which have been patented by me. The externally pitted revolving roller carries the
grain in a regulated stream and empties it down onto a sloping board or iron
slide M, from the bottom of which the grain is again raised and turned by means
of a similar roller W, two three or more sets of these rollers may be employed as
found necessary, and finally the grain is discharged through a shoot N in a dry
condition.
The
Below or at the side of the drying chamber is conveniently placed a coil or
stove O, bented by steam or otherwise, over which a current of air is drawn,
preferably by an aspirating fan, placed on top of the drying apparatus.
current of heated air rising and impinging against the particles of falling grain,
carries off with it the moisture. The temperature of the air may be regulated to
any required degree, preferably not exceeding 120 degrees Falirenheit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I do not claim broadly apparatus for washing grain, in which the
grain is made to travel through a current of water, or propelled by means of a
conveyor or screw, as I am aware of the apparatus described in the specifications of
English patents Nos. 1277 of 1854, 1909 of 1877, and 318 of 1878; and make no
claim for such apparatus, but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A machine for washing, damping or cleaning grain, having a perforated
trough with conveyor revolving therein, hinged or pivoted at one end and
suspended at the other, whereby the inclination of the trough may be varied or
adjusted so as to regulate the speed at which the grain travels, substantially as
described.
2. A machine for damping or cleaning grain, having a fixed tank or water
receiver and projecting thereinto a movable perforated trough pivoted at one end
and suspended at the other, substantially as described.
3. A machine for damping and cleaning grain, having a fixed tank, a movable
trough with conveyor, a fixed casing and movable water inlet pipe, substantially as
described and shown.
4. In an apparatus for washing grain the use of a conveyor, constructed of a
number of paddles capable of being set or adjusted to any required angle,
substantially as described and shown.
5. An apparatus for cleaning or damping and drying grain constructed and
arranged, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 26th day of November 1886