Improvements in Apparatus for Denoting or Ascertaining the Condition of Seeds, Grain, and other like Substances.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
Improvements in Apparatus for Denoting or Ascertaining the
Condition of Seeds, Grain, and other like Substances.
1, HENRY SIMON of 20 Mount Street Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, 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:
:-
This invention relates to apparatus for denoting and for recording, if desired,
the condition of grain, seeds, and other like substances.
In carrying out my invention, I construct a vessel or receptacle capable of
containing any convenient quantity of the material to be operated on, as for example,
a bushel. This vessel has an inlet for the material at the top and an outlet at the
bottom, these being so arranged and proportioned that when the vessel is suspended
in the path of the falling material, the latter can enter the vessel faster than it can
escape from the bottom. The result is that so long as the supply of falling material
endures, the vessel is always full of it, but that at the same time, the material is constantly
passing through. The vessel is suspended by various means for the purpose of this
invention, as for example from a scale beam, the end of a counterweighted lever, or
by springs. The means of suspension must, in every case, allow of the movement of
the vessel with heavier or lighter contents. Thus, if wet or damp grain is passing
through the apparatus, its weight will be heavier than with dry grain, and the vessel
will consequently be depressed to a lower level.
The movement of the vessel can be indicated and recorded, if desired, by well
known appliances already in common use.
I will describe, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the type of apparatus
which I prefer to employ for the purpose of my invention.
The drawing represents a sectional elevation. The vessel A has, at its upper end,
an inlet i, and at its lower end an outlet o which is of smaller area than the inlet.
It is preferred to make the upper and lower parts of the vessel conical as represented;
at the top to prevent lodgment of the material outside the vessel, and at the bottom to
facilitate the flow of the material through it. In this case, the vessel is supported by
trunnions on the forked end of the scale beam B, which is provided with the usual
knife edge bearings. To the centre of the scale beam there is attached a perpendicular
rod R, preferably weighted at its lower end, to which is connected the index finger I,
the point of which moves over the scale S. As before set forth, the vessel is
suspended in the path of falling material, for example of grain from a grain
dryer, with which it is kept full so long as the fall lasts. To set the apparatus in the
first instance, the vessel is filled with normal grain or other material, and the scale
beam is weighted at W so as to bring the index finger to zero, which is the centre of
the scale. The apparatus having been set, the index finger will constantly indicate
whether the material passing through the apparatus is normal or not, and if not, on
which side the departure exists. Then, if the material is heavier, that is to say
damper, than it should be, the attendant can reduce the speed of its passage through
the dryer or take measures otherwise to more thoroughly dry it, and the reverse.
If it be desired to secure a permanent record of the condition of the material passing
through the apparatus, the motion of either the vessel or of the scale beam may be
translated to the recording pen of a suitable recorder of known construction. Thus,

page_text: as shewn by the drawing, the upper end of the rod R may carry a pen or
scriber P, which produces a trace on paper upon the drum D, which is rotated by
clock-work or otherwise.
If the vessel should be suspended from springs, its motion can be communicated to
the index finger by'a lever or other suitablo means.
The apparatus may be enclosed in a suitable casing C, in which there are openings
or windows for inspection and for the admission of the material at ¹ and its
exit at o¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for denoting the condition of grain, seeds and other liko
materials, a vessel having an inlet at the top and an outlet of smaller area at the
bottom, suspended from a weighted scale beam, a counterweighted lever, springs or
the like, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2. Apparatus for denoting the condition of grain, seeds and other like materials,
constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of January ÅD 1897
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.