Improvements in Machines for Screening Corn and other Seeds.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct.; 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Screening Corn and other Seeds.
We, WILLIAM FRANCIS BRIGGS, of No. 26, Cross Street, Fitter, and WFLEIAM
THOMAS WEST, of No. 56, Portland Street, Publican, both in the City and County
of Lincoln, 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 :---
Our said invention relates to improvements in self-cleaning machines for screening
corn and other seeds, by means of which, the width of the mesh can be easily and
speedily adjusted.
Machines constructed in accordance with the present invention, are furnished
with two flat screens, each composed of a number of longitudinal parallel bars
carried by a frame. One of the said screens is fixed in an inclined position to a
suitable frame, and the bars thereof are of a flat or rectangular section, and the
second screen, which is mounted on the upper face of the first mentioned screen,
with capability of an independent lateral movement, is provided with bars, by
preference of a triangular section, in order to ensure the free and regular passage
of the corn or other seed through the mesh. When the bars of the top screen
are immediately above those of the lower screen, the mesh will be opened to its
widest extent, and by causing the upper screen to slide laterally, the width of the
The said
mesh will be decreased according to the extent of such movement.
lateral movement of the upper screen may be effected by one or more screw spindles
passing through brackets or arms fixed to the frame of the lower screen, or by
other suitable means.
A reciprocating endway movement is imparted to the two screens during 'the
operation of screening, by any suitable means, such as, a crank mounted in suitable
bearings, carried by the frame, and connected to one of the screens by a connecting
rod or rods.
Below the lower screen are arranged, at suitable distances apart, a number of
transverse rods, on each of which is loosely mounted, a series of metal discs or
washers which protrude between the edges of the bars of the two screens, one
between each pair of bars, and serve to clean the meshes of the screens during the
reciprocating action of the same.
As before stated, the bars of the upper screen are, by preference, formed of a
triangular section, and they are so arranged, that one of the sides thereof (which is,
by preference, slightly curved) will bear against the discs or washers when the upper
screen is moved for the purpose of adjustment.
We will now proceed to refer to the accompanying drawings; from which the
nature of our said invention will be more clearly understood. The same letters of
reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
Figure 1. is a vertical longitudinal section of a machine constructed in accordance
with this invention, and Figure 2. is a top view of such a machine.
Figure 3. is a vertical cross section of the two screens through the line X. X
Figure 1. showing the mesh opened to its widest extent, and
Figure 4. is a cross section of the screens drawn to an enlarged scale and
illustrating the mesh reduced in width by the lateral movement of the top
screen.
same.
In the above figures, a. is the frame of the machine, and b. and c. are respectively
the frames of the lower and top screens, and b, c, are respectively the bars of the
From the lower face of the frame c. project the pins or studs which work
in slots in the frame b. and serve as guides to the upper frame when the same is
moved laterally for the purpose of adjustment. Within brackets or arms d. d.

page_text: carried by the frame b. are mounted, with capability of turning freely, two screw
spindles e. e., the free ends of which engage into corresponding screw threaded
apertures in the side of the frame c. The two screw spindles e. c. are connected
together by means of the sprocket wheels e¹e and the endless chain e, the whole
being so arranged, that on one of the spindles being turned, by means of a suitable
key or handle, in one direction, the second spindle will be turned in a corresponding
manner, and the frame c. will consequently be made to slidé laterally and to open
the mesh; whilst by the reverse movement of the screw spindles, the said frame
will be caused to slide in the opposite direction, and to reduce the width of
the mesh.
The lower frame . is connected with the crank of the spindle f. by means of
the rod, so that on the revolution of the spindle f. through the medium of the
handle, pulleys and f and endless band or belt 6, a reciprocating move-
ment will be imparted to the frames b. and c. f' is a fly wheel; g. are rollers
mounted loosely on pins projecting from the sides of the frame a. of the machine,
for the purpose of facilitating the said reciprocating movement of the frames b.
and c.
h. h.. are the loose discs or washers which are mounted on rods fixed to the
frame a. below the frame b. One of the said discs or washers on each spindle
protrudes between the bars of each mesh, and being stationary, serves to clean that
part of the mesh within which it is situated during the before mentioned reciprocating
movement of the frames b. and c.
The cross bars and separating pieces i., i, which connect and support the bars
and c' divide the meshes into several lengths, each division being cleaned by one set
of discs or washers h.
j. is a feed hopper and j' is a shoot for conducting the corn or other seed to be
operated upon to the screens.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and, in what manner the same is to be performed; we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In machines for screening corn and other seeds, the arrangement of two screens,
one above the other, the upper one being capable of an independent lateral move-
ment, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
2. In machines for screening corn and other seeds, the arrangement of two screens
as described in the preceding claim, the bars of the upper screen being of a
triangular section, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and set forth.
2
.
Dated this 7th day of August 1891.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.