IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SEPARATING GRAIN OR SEED FROM DUST, CHAFF, AND OTHER REFUSE MATTER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Williani Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SEPARATING GRAIN OR SEED FROM DUST,
CHAFF, AND OTHER REFUSE MATTER." A communication from abroad by Messrs.
Howes, Babcock, & Co., of Silver Creek, New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 24th November 1876, and dated the 9th October 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SEPARATING
GRAIN OR SEED FROM DUST, CHaff, and other REFUSE MATTER." A communication
from abroad by Messrs. Howes, Babcock, & Co., of Silver Creek, New York, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to a grain separator provided with a series of zig-zag
screens mounted in a vibrating frame, and a preliminary and subsequent suction
separator so arranged that the grain after being freed from the greater portion of
the chaff, dust, and other light impurities in the said preliminary separator passes
consecutively over and through the shaking screens, when the large impurities, oats
and cockel, are separated from the grain, which is then discharged into the leg of
the subsequent separator, by which the light grains, dust, chaff, and other remaining
impurities are separated from the grain.

page_text: screens detached.
Figure 8 is a plan or top view thereof.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents the stationary main frame of the machine, which may be of any
suitable construction.
B represents the series of inclined scives or screens arranged in a zig-zag form, as
shewn in Figure 1, and secured to a vibrating or shaking frame C, hung to the
main frame A by clastic hangers or straps c. Each sieve B is composed of a per-
forated plate b secured to a suitable frame b', and a tight plate b² secured to the
frame bunderneath the perforated plate o, and extending to within a short distance
from the lower end of the perforated plate, as shewn in Figures 1 and 7. The
sieves B are so arranged with reference to each other that the material which passes
through the perforations of each sieve is discharged by the tight plate 62 thereof
upon the upper portion of the sieve next below.
D represents a spreading sieve arranged above the upper end of the first or upper-
most of the sieves B, and secured to the latter so as to move therewith. The sieve D
is made highest in the middle and sloping towards its ends, as shown in Figure 4,
the direction of its inclination being at right angles to that of the sieves B. The
perforations of the sieve D are made so large that all of the wheat, oats, and other
grains pass through the same, while the larger impurities, such as straw, stones, and
the like, are prevented from doing so, and pass over the inclined sides of the
sieve D, whence they drop into the gutters d, by which they are discharged to any
convenient place.
E represents a tight plate arranged above the upper tight portion of each of the
sieves B; and F, an adjustable tight plate arranged between the plate E and the
sieve, as clearly shewn in Figures 7 and 8, The plate F projects below the lower
edge of the plate E, and is provided with a transverse dam or upwardly projecting
rib f, arranged at a short distance above the lower edge of the plate F so as to leave
a solid strip f¹ below the dam f. The plate F is secured in place by bolts g, secured
to the upper solid portion of the sieve and passing through slotted holes g¹ in the
plate F, and provided above the plate E with thumb nuts. Upon loosening the
latter the plate F can be readily adjusted so as to cover a greater or less portion
of the perforated plate b. The perforations in the latter are made largest at the top
and gradually decreasing in size towards the lower end of the screen, so that the
separating capacity is largest at the top, where the grain is delivered in a denso
mass, and gradually decreasing towards the lower end of the sieve in the same
measure as the amount of grain contained on the screen is decreased by the passago
of the grain through the perforations of the screen. The dam f serves to distribute
or spread the grain evenly over the entire width of the sieve, and the strip f¹ below
the dam fprevents any kernels of oats in passing over the dam f to strike the per-
forated plate directly with their pointed ends, when they would be apt to pass
through the perforations with the wheat, while by first striking the strip f¹ the
kernels are laid on their side, and in this position delivered to the perforated
plate, when the wheat passes through the perforations, while the kernels of oats
owing to their greater size are discharged over the tail end of the sieve.
By adjusting the plate F so as to cover a greater or less portion of the perforated
plate b the larger openings at the top thereof may be covered or uncovered, and the
separating capacity. of the machine lessened or increased as may be desired, while
by the same means the machine may be adapted to separate grains of different
sizes.
The tight plate 62 of the lowest sieve B extends only to the middle of the machine
or thereabouts, as clearly shewn in Figure 1, and discharges the grain passing
through the lower sieve B on to a tight inclined plate h, leading to the upper end of
a sieve B', the inclination of which is at right angles to that of the sieves B. The
perforations of the sieve B' are made of such size that only cockle and similar
small grains will pass through the same, while the wheat will pass over the tail end

page_text: UL
is sieve, and be discharged into the ascending leg of the subsequent separator.
The sieves B are rigidly secured to the shaking frame C, while the cockle screen B¹
is removably connected therewith.
i is the driving shaft of the machine, supported in bearings i¹ secured to the
uprights of the main frame, and I the driving pulley secured to the end of the
shaft i; j is an excentric mounted on the shaft i, and engaging with a connection j¹
secured to the frame C, so that the rotation of the shaft i will cause the frame C to
vibrate or shake at right angles to the direction in which the grain moves over the
sieves B. By this peculiar shake motion of the sieves the grain to be separated is
slowly and uniformly passed over the sieves, and a most complete and thorough
separation accomplished.
K, K*, are two boxes or receptacles secured to the main frame A at opposite
sides of the sieve B, so as to receive the oats and other tailings passing over the
same.
L is the suction fan arranged in the upper part of the machine, and driven from
the shaft i by two pulleys h, k, and belt k²; K' is the fan case, having two eyes
and a discharge spout ; L' is an air chamber or passage communicating with both
eyes of the fan case, and arranged between the upper portion of the main frame A,
as clearly shown in Figure 6; M is the wind trunk of the preliminary separator,
having its ascending leg arranged centrally over the spreading sieve D, and passing
horizontally over the air chamber L' to the opposite side of the machine, where it
descends and is enlarged to a chess hopper or separating chamber m, and then
reascends and opens into the air chamber L¹, connecting with the eyes of the fan
case. The chess hopper m is provided with a main discharge valve m¹ and an inner
inclined partition m², provided with a secondary valve m³ for preventing undue air
currents from entering the chess hopper when the outer valve m¹ opens; n is an
opening arranged in the outer wall of the chess hopper m between the inclined
board m² and a board m' arranged parallel therewith for admitting a slight upward
air current to the lower portion of the chess hopper to assist in the separation of
the chaff and dust from the chess and light grains; n¹ is a valve arranged in the
reascending portion of the wind trunk M for regulating the force of the air current.
O represents the wind trunk of the subsequent separator, having the foot of its
ascending leg arranged near the tail end of the cockle screen B¹, so as to receive the
material discharged over the tail end thereof. The wind trunk O is provided at the
top of the ascending leg with a short descending leg opening into a chess hopper
or separating chamber p, which latter is provided with a discharge valve p¹, and
communicates with the air passage L' leading to the eyes of the fan case; q is a
valve arranged in the reascending portion of the wind trunk O for regulating the
force of the air current.
Power being applied to the driving shaft i the sieves B are vibrated or shaken in
a direction at right angles to that in which the grain passes over the same, and air
currents are created in the wind trunks M and Ō travelling towards the eyes of the
fan in the direction of the arrows in Figures 1 and 2. The grain to be separated is
spouted into the opening r of the ascending leg of the preliminary separator, when
it meets an ascending air current which separates the chaff and dust and some of
the light grains from the sound or plump grains. The former are carried by the
air current through the wind trunk M to the chess hopper m, where the chess and
light grains are thrown out of the air current and collected in the chess hopper
until their weight opens the valves m³, m³, when they are discharged therefrom,
while the chaff and dust continue in the air current and are drawn into the fan and
expelled through the discharge spout . The sound grains descend through the
ascending air current, and drop upon the screen D, the wheat, oats, and other grains
passing through the perforations thereof into the first sieve B, while the larger
impurities are discharged over the tail ends of the screen D. The latter serves at
the same time to spread the grain over the entire width of the first sieve B. In
passing over the shaking sieves B the wheat passes through the perforations of the
sieves, and the oats over the tail ends thereof into the boxes K, K*. The material

page_text: passing through the perforations of the first sieve B is subjected to a separation by
the second sieve, and so on through the entire series of sieves B until the wheat and
smaller grains are finally delivered on to the cockle screen B', whereby the cockle and
small grains are separated from the sound wheat, the latter passing over the tail
end of the screen B¹ into the ascending leg of the subsequent separator O. The
wheat meets here the ascending air current, which separates and removes from the
wheat all the remaining dust, chaff, chess, and light grains, the chess and light
grains being deposited in the hopper p, whence they are discharged by the valve p¹,
whilst the dust and chaff are carried to the fan, and carried off through the discharge
spout. The oats, owing to the previous separation by the screen D of the stones,
straws, and other large impurities from the grain, are deposited in the receptacles
K,.K*, comparatively free from impurities.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the inanner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a grain separator the series of zig-zag screens having a vibrating motion
at right angles to the passage of the grain, and so arranged that the grain passes
consecutively over and through the screens, as and for the purpose herein-before set
forth.
Second. The combination with the series of zig-zag screens and plates having a
lateral vibrating motion of a centrifugal fan and separating wind trunk, as and for
the purpose herein-before set forth.
Third. The combination with the series of zig-zig screens and tight plates having
a lateral vibrating motion of the preliminary separator, subsequent separator, and
suction fan, as and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the upper screen of the spreading screen secured
thereto and made sloping towards both ends for separating the larger impurities
from the grain and spreading the latter uniformly, as herein-before set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the screen of the adjustable tight plate for regulating
the separating capacity of the screen, as herein-before set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the screen having its perforations decreasing in size
from its top towards its bottom of the adjustable plate for adapting the sieve to
separate grains of different sizes, as herein-before set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the screen of the adjustable plate provided with a
spreading dam and guard strip, as and for the purpose herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)