Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Stones and the like from Wheat, also for Scouring, Washing, and Rinsing Wheat, and for Draining Washed or Rinsed Wheat.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Stones and the like
from Wheat, also for Scouring, Washing, and Rinsing Wheat,
and for Draining Washed or Rinsed Wheat.
I, JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM of 32 Seel Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Milling Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My improvements are intended to be applied to machines for the purpose of
separating stones and the like from wheat by means of currents of water, also for
washing and scouring mud and dirt from wheat while immersed in water, and for
rinsing and for draining the wheat.
In carrying out my invention I form an upper water chamber having one or
more of its sides or walls formed with perforations for the passage of water.
I also form a lower water chamber from which water passes through the said
perforations into the upper water chamber. I place one or more hanging valves
between the upper and lower water chambers and I balance the valve or valves in
such manner that any stones or heavy material which become deposited in the
upper chamber are permitted to fall automatically into the lower chamber by
means of the said balanced valves. In some cases I make the valve or valves with
perforations so that the water from the lower chamber may also flow through the
perforated valve or valves into the upper water chamber.
The mode of operation of this part of my invention is as follows-
A stream of water is passed into and through the lower water chamber and from
thence through the perforated walls, or sides or valves into the upper chamber
also such water then passes in a stream over a sill or through an aperture
in the walls of the upper water chamber into the second portion of the apparatus
where the softening of mud and the scouring and washing of the wheat is performed.
The wheat containing stones and mud is fed into the stream of water flowing
through the upper water chamber, the stones by means of gravity sink to the
bottom of the upper chamber and are automatically discharged therefrom by the
balanced hanging valves into the lower water chamber. The stones which pass
into the lower water chamber are removed automatically therefrom by means
of an elevator or worm or screw as is well understood by millers. The wheat and
mud are carried by the current of water over the sill or through the aperture as
above described into the second portion of the machine.
The second portion of the machine is constructed with a vertical stationary
cylinder having revolving beaters in its interior with flights set at an angle for the
purpose of causing the wheat being treated to become scoured and washed and to
rise inside the cylinder from the bottom to the top, and to be discharged therefrom
through an aperture in the top of the cylinder. I make such stationary cylinder
with either parallel or conical sides. I also make the lower portion of the cylinder
impervious and having on its interior a ribbed or corrugated surface, the upper
portion of the cylinder is formed of woven gauze or perforated metal.
I make one
or more apertures in the perforated cylinder above the lower impervious part for
the admission of jets of water to the interior of the cylinder for the purpose of
rinsing the washed and scoured and uprising wheat with clean water. I use the
perforated portion of the cylinder above the rinsing jet apertures for the purpose

page_text: of draining the wheat by means of the centrifugal force imparted to the uprising
wheat by the revolving beaters and flights.
The action of the second part of the apparatus is as follows-
The wheat, mud and water enter the lower impervious part of the cylinder and
are driven by the revolving beaters and flights around the ribbed or corrugated
interior of the cylinder, thereby the mud becomes softened, broken up and
dissolved in the water, the wheat and the muddy water rise up the interior of the
cylinder until they reach the perforations in the cylinder, the nuddy water then
passes through the perforations, the wheat continues to rise and as it is passing the
jets of clean water it becomes rinsed. Also, I form the impervious portion of the
cylinder with an interior flange or rim to prevent the water and, wheat from
flowing out at the centre of the cylinder:
The water adhering to. the wheat after passing the water jets is drained off by
centrifugal force through the perforations in the upper part of the cylinder.
In some cases I may introduce clean water by means of a hollow shaft fitted
with tubes to form jets by rinsing in the interior of the machine.
Dated this 20th day of July 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Stones and the like
from Wheat, also for Scouring, Washing, and Rinsing Wheat,
and for Draining Washed or Riused Wheat.
I, JAMES HIGGINBOTTOM, of 32, Seel Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Milling 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 :-
i
My improvements are intended to be applied to machines for the purpose of
separating stones and the like from wheat by means of currents of water, also for
washing and scouring mud and dirt from wheat while immersed in water, aud for
rinsing and for draining the wheat.
:
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure 1 is a vertical section;
Figure 2, a plan of my machine ;
Figures 3 and 4 an enlarged view of rinsing jet; and
Figures 5 and 6 similar views of beaters.
In carrying out my invention, I form an upper water chamber A having one or
more of its sides or walls formed with perforations for the passage of water. The
water is supplied to the lower water chamber by the pipe B₁. I also form a lower
water chamber B from which water passes through the said perforations into the
upper water chamber. I place one or more hanging valves C between the upper
and lower water chambers and I balance the valve or valves by means of weight D
in such manner that any stones or heavy material which become deposited in the
upper chamber are permitted to fall automatically into the lower chamber by
means of the said balanced valves. In some cases I make the valve or valves with
perforations of sufficiently small size to prevent the passage of wheat so that the
water from the lower chamber may also flow through the perforated valve or
valves into the upper water chamber.
The mode of operation of this part of my invention is as follows:-
A stream of water is passed into and through the lower water chamber and
from thence through. the perforated wails, or sides or valves into the upper

page_text: chamber also, such water then passes in a stream over na sill E or through an
aperture in the walls of the upper water chamber into the second portion of the
apparatus. where the softening of mud, and the scouring and, washing of the wheat
is performed in an annular washing chamber F. The wheat containing stones and
mud is fed by spout G into the stream of water flowing, through the upper water
chamber A, the stones by means of gravity sink to the bottom of the upper
chamber and are, automatically discharged therefrom by the balanced hanging
valves into the lower water chamber B.. The stones which pass into the lower-
water chamber are removed automatically therefrom by means of an elevator or
worm or screw as is well understood by millers. The wheat and the mud are-
carried by the current of water over the sill, or through the aperture as above.
described into the second portion of the machine....
The second portion of the machine is constructed with a vertical stationary
perforated cylinder H having revolving beaters I in its interior with flights set at.
an angle for the purpose of causing the wheat being treated to become scoured and
washed and to rise inside the cylinder from the bottom to the top, and to be
discharged therefrom through an aperture in the top of the cylinder. Such beaters.
are set out in detail in Figures 5 and 6. I make such stationary cylinder with
either parallel or conical sides. I also make the lower portion H' of the cylinder H
impervious and it may have ribs or corrugations J on its interior surface the upper
portion H of the cylinder is formed of woven gauze or perforated metal. I make
one or more apertures K in the perforated cylinder above the lower impervious
part for the admission of jets of water to the interior of the cylinder for the
purpose of rinsing the washed and scoured and uprising wheat with clean water.
These jets are shown drawu to scale in Figures 3 and 4, in which M is a half inch.
pipe. In some cases I may introduce clean water through the shaft L' which, in
such cases would be made hollow and fitted with tubes to form jets by rinsing in
the interior of the machine. I use the perforated portion of the cylinder above the-
rinsing jet apertures for the purpose of draining the wheat by means of the
centrifugal force imparted to the uprising wheat by the revolving beaters and.
flights. In some cases I may use these rinsing jets upon a washing cylinder in.
which the wheat is descending instead of uprising.
The action of the second part of the apparatus is as follows:-
The wheat, mud and water enter Fat the lower impervious part H¹ of the
cylinder and are driven by the revolving beaters and flights I around the interior
of the cylinder, thereby the mud becomes softened, broken up and dissolved in the
water, the wheat and the muddy water rise up the interior of the cylinder until.
they reach the perforations in the cylinder, the muddy water then
passes through
the perforations, the wheat continues to rise and as it is passing the jets K of clean
water it becomes rinsed. Also I form the impervious portion H' of the cylinder
with an interior flange or rim L to prevent the water and wheat from flowing out.
at the centre of the cylinder.
The water adhering to the wheat after passing the water jets is drained off by
centrifugal force through the perforations in the upper part of the cylinder, the
beaters travelling at a speed of about 2,500 feet a minute.
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. The improvement in the use of wheat cleaning mechanism which consists in
roughly washing the wheat and at the same time separating the stones and then
introducing the said wheat and water into the lower imperforate part of a
stationary and preferably annular chamber perforate above, in which chamber the
grain and water are caused to rotate rapidly and at the same time to rise upwards.
while exposed to rinsing jets, whereby the grain is fully washed aud rinsed and
the water and dirt are thrown off through the perforations by centrifugal force,
leaving the grain as it arrives at the top of the chamber clean and partially dried.

page_text: 2. In apparatus for carrying out the process substantially as described in
aim 1.
(a) A stationary washing cylinder having a lower imperforate chamber
provided with interior flanges whereby the muddy water and wheat are
prevented from flowing out of the washing chamber near the bottom
substantially as described;
(b) The use of additional water ingress or jets for rinsing uprising or
descending wheat substantially as described;
(c). The use of a device for separating the stones from the wheat by upward
current in combination with the imperforate washing chamber and rinsing
jets substantially as described.
Doted thie 91st day of May 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.