CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLOUR
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ASHBY, of Croydon, in the County of Surrey, Millwright, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Ashby, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William Ashby, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said William Ashby, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man,
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLOUR;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said William
Ashby, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patenit, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
my
appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Ashby, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, aud to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
My Improvements in the Manufacture of Flour relate to that part of the
process which is called "dressing" or separating the flour from the bran or
offal. The operation of dressing is usually performed in a cylinder covered
with gauze, made either of wire or other suitable material, through which the
fine flour is forced by means of a number of brushes attached to a shaft or
spindle, which is made to, revolve within the cylinder with considerable
rapidity. The meal is fed into one end of the cylinder, which is open at
both ends, and the bran or offal leaves the cylinder at the opposite end after
all the flour has been separated from it, and forced, by means of the revolving
brushes, through the gauze sides of the cylinder into a bin or other suitable
receptacle, from which it is removed in any convenient manner. In order to
prevent the meal from passing through the cylinders too quickly, or before all
the flour has been thoroughly separated from the bran or ellal, it has always
been considered necessary to place the cylinder in nearly a horizontal position,
or with just sufficient inclination to allow the meal to descend gradually. In
consequence of this arrangement of apparatus it has always required a con-
siderable amount of power to drive the shaft or spindle which carries the
brushes, as these latter are always working in a mass or dead weight of flour
or meal, which they are continually stirring up and beating about the cylinder,
to the injury of the meal, at a great expenditure or waste of power, without a
corresponding beneficial result, but which I am enabled to attain more effec-
tually, with much less power, by a simple alteration in the arrangement and
construction of the apparatus. The principal alterations I propose to make
in the apparatus consist in placing the dressing or wire-gauze cylinders in a
vertical position, or nearly so. instead of mounting them in nearly a horizontal
position as has hitherto been tho casc. In consequence of this alteration in
the position of the cylinder, I find it necessary or advisable to drive tho
brushes at a higher velocity than they generally are when the ordinary arrange-
ment of apparatus is employed, and which I am enabled to do at much less
power than is generally required, as the meal does not offer so much resistance
as when the cylinder is placed in nearly a horizontal position. I also propose
to cause the cylinder to move round on its axis, as I find this movement faci-
litates the operation of dressing. The flour, when forced through the wire

page_text: meshes or interstices of the sides of the cylinder, falls down on to revolving
tables, and is from them removed by a suitable instrument into receptacles
conveniently placed to receive it.
Having thus briefly explained the nature and object of my Invention, I will
now proceed to describe more in detail the means whereby I carry it into effect.
Various views of the arrangement of apparatus which I have found useful and
advantageous in practice are shewn in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents a vertical section taken through the centre of the appa-
ratus; Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken in the line A, B, of Figure 1,
or plan view of the apparatus with the driving pulley and band, and the
feeding trough or shoot removed; and Figure 3 is another horizontal section
taken in the line C, D, of Figure 1. a, a, a, a, is the cylinder, which is con-
structed in essentially the same manner as those ordinarily employed for
similar purposes, but with one or two modifications to suit the difference of
arrangement and position, and which will be more particularly referred to
hereafter. I prefer to cover the cylinder with wire gauze, as now extensively
done; but the wooden ribs or bands a¹, a', a', a', which secure the wire
gauze and prevent it from yielding to internal pressure, are bevelled off,
as shown in Figure 1, so that the flour may not be deposited thereon, as it
would do if the ribs offered any ledge to support it. The cylinder is furnished
at its upper end with a wide hopper-shaped mouth b, b, into which the menl
is fed from the trough or shoot c, and the lower end of the cylinder is furnished
with a strong cast-iron crosspiece d (shewn detached at Figure 4), by wliich
it is supported in a vertical position on the brass bearing e, of the cross bar or
bridge (shewn detached at Figure 5). 9, 9, and h, h, are revolving tables
or floors, which are connected to and move round with the cylinder a, a. The
upper table g, g, by being placed above the other one, is intended to receive
the finer portions of the flour, or that which comes through the sides of the.
cylinder, and the lower table h, h, is intended to receive the coarser portions,
or that commonly called "fine middlings." The cylinder also carries at its
upper end a large horizontal toothed wheel i, i, shewn by dots in Figure 2,
and is actuated by an endless screw j, on the horizontal shaft k, which carries.
at its opposite end a pulley, which is driven by a band coming from any
prime mover. m, m, m, m, is an upright shaft to which the brushes are con-
nected, and passes up the centre of the cylinder a, a. The lower end of this
shaft passes through the brass e of the cross piece f, and is supported in a brass
step n of the cast-iron cross bar or bridge o, which is firmly bolted or secured
to the wooden or other framing, as is shewn detached at Fig. 6. The upper
end of the shaft m passes through and is supported by a brass socket furnished

page_text: with adjusting screws, and situated at the extremity of the horizontal support-
ing arms or bridge p, p, and carries a horizontal band wheel or drum q, by
means of which rotary motion is communicated to the shaft. The brushes
are constructed in the ordinary manner, and are connected with or to the
shaft m by means of the iron rings or boxes 1, 2, 7, and set screws 3, 3, 3; and
by means of these latter the brushes may be moved nearer to or caused to
bear against the sides of the cylinder, as circumstances may require, or as the
brushes wear away; or this part of the machine may be constructed and arranged
in the manner shewn in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, as will be hereafter described.
The pressure of the brushes against the gauze sides of the cylinder being
properly adjusted by screwing or unscrewing the nuts of the screws 8, 3,
or by other suitablo means, and the other parts of the machine boing in
proper order, the action of the machine will be as follows:-The shaft m,
with its brushes, is set in rapid rotary motion by means of the strap or
band of the pulley 9; then the meal is gradually fed into the machine from
the shoot C, and the rapid rotation of the brushes, and the motion communi-
cated to the air thereby, will have the effect of driving or throwing the light
or floury particles of the meal towards the circumference or against the sides
of the cylinder, when they will be driven through the gauze by the combined
action of the air and brushes, and will fall down on to the table g, g. The
bran and heavier particles of flour which constitute the "middlings" will be
carried down farther by its weight, and a further portion will be driven through
the lower part of the gauze cylinder, and will fall upon the second table h, h.
If thought desirable, additional tables or floors may be employed, as may be
required, according to the length of the cylinder. As a slow rotary motion is
communicated to these tables 9 and h, by being connected to the cylinder, the
flour that becomes deposited thereon is carried round to exit apertures t and u.
one for each table, and is discharged through theso apertures by means of the
This apparatus
angular or inclined strike or discharging apparatus v, v.
consists merely of two flat pieces of wood, set at an angle, and mounted loosely
on a centre pin, as seen best in Figure 3, and very much resembles a pair of
compasses partially open. It will be now understood that, as the tables or h
bring the flour round against one of the inclined sides of this instrument, it
will be guided off the table in the direction of the arrows, and down the exit
aperture and pipe to a receptacle below. As it is sometimes found advisable
to drive the machine in the opposite direction, two inclined sides, as shewn
are employed instead of only one; and as the apparatus or instrument is left
free to turn on its centre, the mere weight of the flour, on coming against it
as the table is carried round in the contrary direction to that in which it had

page_text: been previously going, will be found sufficient to move. the discharging appa-
ratus or instrument into its proper position, as shewn by dots in Figure 3,
and the flour will be discharged through the exit apertures down the discharg-
ing tubes, as before. When the flour has been perfectly separated from the
bran or offal, this latter will, from its own weight, fall down from the cylinder
into the tube or flue w, from which it will be discharged into a bin or suitable
receptacle below.
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, represent various views of a modification of
my above-described apparatus, in which the construction and arrangement of
some of the parts is slightly varied, but the principle remains the same, the
chief difference being in the modes of mounting the brushes on the upright
shaft and adjusting them when required. Figure 7 represents an elevation of
the machine with the modifications above alluded to. Figure 8, a plan view
with the driving pulley 9 removed; and Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken
through the cylinder just above one of the expanding boxes r. And in order
to prevent useless repetition, I have marked the several parts in this and the
following Figures with similar letters of reference to those marked in corre-
sponding parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. In Figure 7 the framing of
the cylinder is supposed to be made of iron, and is seen at a, a; and the
bovilled ribs a, a, are made of cast iron, and are secured by bolts or screws to
the long meeting rails a, a, which are made of wrought iron, and run the whole
length of the cylinder, and are bolted together by nuts, as shown in Figure 9.
The upright spindle or shaft. m, m, carries the expanding boxes r, r, r, to which
the brushes are attached. These boxes are scen detached, and upon, a
enlarged scale, at Figures 10 and 11, which represent horizontal and vertical
sections of the box. In place of the brushes being held by clips furnished with
nuts and screws, as in the former Figures, they are bolted or otherwise secured
to radial arms w, the outer ends of which are slotted, as seen in the Figures,
for the purpose of receiving the bolts which secure the brushes thereto, and the
inner end is screwed and passes through the box r, and carries a small bevil
pinion, x. The expanding box, is covered in with a lid, through which the
upright vertical shaft m passes. Immediately beneath, this lid, and, mounted
loosely on the shaft m, is a horizontal toothed wheel y, which is driven by a
small pinion on the lower end of the rod. It will be seen, upon referring
to the enlarged views, Figures 10 and 11, that the toothed wheel y is furnished
on its under side with bevilled teeth, which, by gearing into the teeth of the
bevil pinions x, will actuate these latter, and by that means moves the brushes
inwards or outwards as may be required. It will be seen, on referring to
Figure 7, that each box 1, 1, r, is furnished with a separate rod z¹, which
passes up through a hole in the cross plate, and terminates with a squared

page_text: head, in order that it may be easily turned either way by means of a spanner
or wrench. The top, middle, or lower end of the brushes may therefore be
adjusted without interfering with either of the others, by simply turning the
head of the rod belonging to the expanding box of that particular part. Tho
iron cylinder is not supported from below, as in the former instance, but from
above, by the circular plate E, which secured to the two upright posts F, F.
A circular or annular plate G is bolted to tho upper part of the cylinder, and
rests on the plate E in such a manner as to leave the cylinder free to revolve,
which is effected by means of a large toothed wheel and pinion, as in the
former instance.
From the foregoing description it will be that the grand difference between
tho ordinary dressing apparatus and my improved arrangement, as above
described, is, that in the ordinary apparatus (owing to the recumbent position
of the dressing cylinder) the brushes are obliged (at a great expenditure of
power) to continually lift or carry the flour or meal; which labour is not at all
necessary for property dressing the meal; whereas in my improved apparatus
the meal may be continually carried down by its own weight, and it will only
be necessary for the brusher to keep the meal in contact with the gauze
sides of the cylinder, the unnecessary expenditure of power, owing to having a
dead and heavy weight of meal to stir about or agitate, being entirely done
away with.
It will be perfectly evident, therefore, to every intelligent mechanic, or person
conversant with this description of machinery, that a similar or somewhat
similar effect may be produced, even if the cylinder is not placed perfectly
upright; in fact, that as the inclination of the cylinder is increased from the
horizontal towards the vertical position, which I consider the most preferable,
the beneficial effect will increase in proportion. I do not, therefore, intend to
confine myself to the precise arrangement or construction of parts above shewn
and described, nor to the position of the cylinder, as circunstances may arise
in which it may be found advisable or more convenient to place the cylinder in
an inclined position, in order to gain more room, in situations where a proper
height cannot be obtained for the cylinder, or for other causes. And I would
also observe that, in place of making the cylinder cylindrical, I sometimes
make it slightly conical, and mount the shaft or spindle which carries the
brushes in a moveable step in such a manner as to admit of the spindle being
raised or lowered by means of a set screw below, so that as the brushes wear
away they may be brought against the cylinder, and made to act properly by
merely lowering the shaft to which they are attached, in place of having to set
or screw up each brush separately.
And I would further observe, that my improved plan of adjusting the brushes,

page_text: as shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, may also be applied to cylinders of
ordinary construction, or when such cylinders are worked or employed in the
usual position.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that although, in order to clearly
explain the nature and object of my Invention, I have found it necessary to
shew and describe various parts of well-known apparatus which have been in
use for similar purposes for a considerable time, I do not by any means intend
to claim such well-known parts as constituting separately any part of my
present Invention; nor do I intend to confine myself to the plans shewn and
described of actuating the various parts, as these may be modified without
departing from the nature and object of my improvements. But that which I
consider to be new, and therefore wish to claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hercin-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the arrangement and construction of apparatus above shewn and
described.
Second, I claim placing the dressing cylinder or conc in a vertical position.
Third, I claim placing the cylinder at an inclination exceeding forty-five
degrees from the horizontal.
Fourth, I claim the plan, above shewn and described, of adjusting the
brushes of dressing cylinders, so that they may be adjusted with facility
without unmounting the cylinder, or deranging or removing any of the working
parts.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Ashby, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forte.civ
WILLIAM (L.S.) ASHBY.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Twenty-third day of
October, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Ashby came
O before our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Spe-
cification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute in that case made and provided.