Year: 1885

page_text: I, PIETER VAN GELDER of Sowerby Bridge, in the County of York, Milling
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for decorticating
or hulling wheat rice or other grain and removing dust from it, and leaving it in a
cleaned and polished state.
It consists essentially of improvements in apparatus by means of which the hull
is removed by the abrasive action of a revolving stone or disc, and the dust
cleaned off and the grain polished by a brush revolving in a conical casing.
A large circular stone or disc is mounted in a horizontal position upon a vertical
spindle to which it is attached by any of the means well known at the present
time for mounting such stones, and the foot of the spindle is supported in an
adjustable socket regulated by screws. The stone is provided with deep furrows
on the under side. This stone is driven by belt passing onto a pulley on the
spindle or by other suitable means, and revolves at a high velocity. Below the
revolving stone is securely fixed a rigid plate or disc preferably iron to sustain and
give rigidity to the apparatus a journal through which the spindle passes is carried
by this plate.
Surrounding the periphery of the stone is placed a vertical perforated, casing
preferably of thin steel. This casing is formed of a series of sections or parts each
fitted with a screw or spring adjusting device, so that the distance between the
periphery of the stone and the perforated casing may be regulated as required, for
some classes of grain a distance of about one quarter of an inch will be found most
suitable, but it will largely depend on the nature of the grain under treatment.
Outside the perforated casing is fixed a second vertical casing or screen and
between this screen and the perforated casing the dust or refuse from the grain is
collected, the rotation of the stone causing a current of air constantly to pass
through the perforations in the first casing, and carry with it the dust removed
from the grain by the abrasive action of the stone. Beyond the screen or second
casing is fitted a frame which revolves slowly round it, and is carried upon a series
of rollers or other suitable bearings, and actuated by a pinion gearing into teeth
on its periphery. This travelling or revolving frame carries one or more brushes
Prine 71
•

page_text: and scrapers which are affixed to arms which extend upward from the frame and
pass over the top of the screen extending down into the space between it and the
perforated casing. The brush acts against the perforated casing and removes the
dust that may have collected upon its lower portion, while the scraper collects
the dust as it accumulates, and delivers it through an opening into any chamber or
receiver which may be provided for it.
An inlet hopper is placed above the stone through which the grain enters upon
the top, the centrifugal force carrying it to the edge, it passes down the space
between the periphery and the perforated casing, the opening to the outlet hopper
is regulated so that it can be opened and closed either horizontally or vertically, a
sliding plate or shutter in each case being actuated by a screw or other equivalent
menus.
The rigid plate or disc is provided with a series of holes for the purposes of
ventilation, through which a current of air passes, which carries off the dust as it
is raised, and also keeps the grain and stone cool. An aspirator or exhaust pipe
is fitted in the casing over the stone. The several parts are all enclosed in a
suitable casing of wood or metal or combination of both as may be desired.
After leaving the scouring stone, the grain is passed into a conical receiver with
internal revolving brush, which removes any dust that may adhere to it, and
polishes the surface. The receiver is preferably placed vertically, consisting of
finely perforated material or wire gauze fitted to suitable frame-work of wood or
other material. The body of the brush is mounted on a vertical spindle and the
bristles are attached in rows spirally thereto, with a space between, about equal to
the width of the row of bristles. A close chamber is formed outside the per-
forations of the cone. In this chamber at the bottom is placed a revolving scraper
actuated by a pinion gearing into lugs on its periphery. This scraper is mounted
on rollers, and revolving at a comparatively slow speed collects the dust that falls
to the bottom of the chamber, and conveys it to an exit hopper, through which it
passes to a receptacle or receiver provided for it. The foot-step of the spindle
carrying the revolving brush is fitted with set screw or other regulating device to
allow of the brush being lowered in the cone as the bristles wear.
The cone is
several inches longer than the brush, and as the brush wears it is lowered to a
narrower part of the cone, and thus can be set at the required distance from the
casing of the cone in which it revolves. The vertical spindle is encased at the
bottom by a tube to prevent the grain coming in contact with it when passing
from the machine. This tubular casing cannot extend close up to 'the brush other-
wise it would prevent its being lowered when required. To cover that part of the
spindle thus left bare a short length of tubular casing is attached to the brush
which telescopes over the end of the other tube, and thus completely prevents the
contact of the grain with the shaft. A current of air is passed upwards through
the descending grain. The grain enters the apparatus through a hopper at the
top and falling onto the top or end of the brush is carried by the centrifugal force
to the edge and passes down between the brush and the perforated casing of the
cone the operation removing dust and polishing the surface of each particle of
the grain,

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Decorticating, Cleaning, and
Polishing Grain.
I, PIETER VAN GELDER of Victoria Mills Sowerby Bridge in the County of York,
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:-
The object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for decorticating
or hulling wheat, rice, or other grain and removing dust from it, and leaving it in
a cleaned and polished state.
It consists essentially of improvements in apparatus by means of which the hull
is removed by the abrasive action of a revolving stone or disc, and the dust cleaned
off and the grain polished by a brush revolving in a conical casing.
Referring to the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of hulling apparatus.
Figure 2, plan of same with part of casing removed.
Figure 3, sectional elevation of cleaning apparatus.
Figure 4, plan of Figure 3.
Figure 5, enlarged sectional elevation of opening and closing device (m" M")
Figure 6, transverse section on line x-x, Figure 5.
Figure 7, brush (K¹) enlarged scale.
Figure 8 plan of bearing (E) for shaft.
Figure 9, section of stone (A) on line y-y, Figure 2 showing shape of furrow (a).
A is a circular stone or disc mounted in a horizontal position upon a vertical
spindle B, to which it is attached by any of the means well known at the present
time for mounting such stones. The foot of the spindle is supported in an
adjustable footstep C, the position of which is adjusted by set screws c, c', in
socket D, and is supported at top by a bearing E. The bearing E is preferably of
the form shown, having three brasses F, which are secured in position against the
rotating shaft by the wedges f. This stone is driven by belt passing onto a pulley b
on the spindle B, or by other suitable means, and revolves at a high velocity.
Below the revolving stone is securely fixed a rigid plate or disc G, preferably iron,
to sustain and give rigidity to the apparatus, and also to support the journal E
through which the spindle B passes. In the plate G are cut a number of holes g,
and the stone A is cut on its underside witli a series of furrows a of the shape
shown in dotted lines Figures 1 and 2, and in cross section Figure 9. H is a vertical
perforated casing (preferably made of thin sheet steel) surrounding the periphery
of the stone, and between this casing and the stone, the grain to be acted upon
passes. The perforated casing is so made, that the distance between it and the
periphery of the stone may be regulated to suit the grain under treatment, for
many classes of grain a distance of one quarter of an inch will be found to answer.
The perforated casing is supported top and bottom by a framework h of wood or
other material, with vertical pieces hat intervals, dividing it into sections. The
circular casing H is preferably made in two pieces held together at the ends by

page_text: bolts I, I, and the position of the casing may be altered by slackening or tightening
these bolts, and when in normal position it is held securely by dogs i and bolts i¹,
the heads of which slide to and fro.as required in slots g' in the disc G. The
perforated casing may be set by means of a guage passed between the stone and
the casing, and the nuts on the bolts then screwed up tight, or a screw or spring
adjusting device may be fitted at intervals, or to each section of the casing. Out-
side the perforated casing is fixed a second vertical casing or screen J, and between
this screen and the perforated casing, the dust or refuse from the grain removed by
abrasion is collected.
The action of furrows a in the stone as it rapidly rotates is to produce a strong
current of air which passes up through the holes g, and out through the perforated
casing, carrying with it the hulls and lighter material, which is removed from the
rice or other grain by the abrasive action of the stone. Beyond the screen or
second casing J is fitted a frame K which revolves slowly round it, and is carried
upon a series of rollers k, or other suitable bearings, and actuated by a pinion ki
gearing into teeth on its periphery. This travelling or revolving frame carries one
or more brushes K₁ and scrapers K" which are affixed to arms which extend
upward from the frame, and pass over the top of the screen, extending down into
the space between it and the perforated casing. The brush K¹ acts against the
perforated casing, and removes the dust that may have collected upon its lower
portion, while the scraper K" collects. the dust as it accumulates, and delivers it
through an opening into any chamber or receiver which may be provided for it.
To allow the brush K¹ to pass the uprights of the framing, it is mounted to rotate
or swivel in the end of the arm which carries it, being controlled by a spring k",
see Figure 7.
L is a hopper which receives the grain from which it passes through an inlet 1,
and enters upon the top of the revolving stone A: The rotating motion of the
stone carries the grain to its edge whence it passes down between the periphery of
the stone, and the adjustable perforated casing H. The length of time the grain
is under treatment is regulated by the orifice m to the discharge hopper M. The
orifice m is controlled by two doors or shutters, one m¹ sliding vertically, and the
other m sliding horizontally. These doors may be opened and closed by any
suitable mechanical means, such as screws, levers, or their equivalent, but I prefer
a screw arranged as M² in Figure 1, and M" in Figure 5. The current of air pass-
ing through the holes g. in the disc G caused by the rotation of the stone, as herein-
before described, serves in addition to carrying off the dust to keep the grain and
stone cool. An aspirator or exhaust pipe n is fitted in the casing over the stone,
and the several parts are all enclosed in a suitable casing N, of wood or metal or
combination of both as may be desired.
After leaving the scouring stone, the grain is passed into a conical receiver O,
with internal revolving brush P, which removes any dust that may adhere to it,
and polishes the surface. The receiver is placed vertically, and the grain enters
through a hopper Q at the top. The body of the brush P is preferably made conical
or slightly tapering towards the bottom, and is mounted on vertical spindle P¹.
The bristles pare attached to the body in rows arranged spirally or inclined as
shown by dotted lines, a space being left between each row about equal in distance
to the width of the row of bristles p. A perforated casing R of a finely perforated
metallic sheet or wire gauze surrounds. the brush and corresponds with it in
contour. This casing is supported by a framework of wood, iron, or other material.
A close chamber S is formed outside the perforations of the conical casing. In
this chamber at the bottom is placed a revolving scraper T actuated by a pinion 't
gearing into lugs on the periphery. This scraper is mounted on rollers t, and
revolving at a comparatively slow speed, collects the dust that falls to the bottom
of the chamber S, and conveys it to an exit hopper U, through which it passes to
a receptacle or receiver provided for it. A brush V mounted on an upright arm,
and swivelling similarly to that shown in Figure 7 is fitted to the revolving ring
which carries the scraper T. This brush removes any dust that may adhere to the

page_text: foot of the perforated casing R. The footstep W of the spindle P¹ carrying the
revolving brush P is fitted with set screw w or other regulating device to allow of
the brush being lowered in the conical casing, as the bristles wear. The casing is
several inches longer than the brush, and as the brush wears, it is lowered to a
narrower part of the casing, and thus can be set at the required distance from the
casing in which it revolves. The vertical spindle P¹ is encased at the bottom by
a tube p¹, to prevent the grain coming in contact with it when passing from the
machine. This tubular casing cannot extend close up to the brush, otherwise it
would prevent its being lowered when required. To cover that part of the spindle
thus left bare a short length of tubular casing poll is attached to the brush which
telescopes over the end of the tube p¹ and thus prevents the contact of the grain
with the shaft X is an aspirator or exhaust shoot attached to the top of the
encased chamber, through which a current of air is drawn upwards through the
descending grain, and the dust and lighter particles carried away. Another shoot X¹
is placed in the discharge hopper to carry off any dust from the grain at that point.
Any of the dust that collects or settles on the shoot may be removed through the
door x.
The grain enters the apparatus through the hopper at the top, and falling
onto the top or end of the brusb, carried by the centrifugal force to the edge, and
passes down between the brush and the perforated casing, the operation removing
dust, and polishing the surface of each particle of the grain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I do not claim broadly the use of revolving stones or brushes, for
decorticating or cleaning grain, but what I claim is,
1st An apparatus for decorticating, cleaning or polishing grain, having a rapidly
revolving stone, disc, or brush, encased by a perforated casing between which and
the periphery of the revolving stone, disc, or brush, the grain passes, substantially
as described.
2nd An apparatus for decorticating, cleaning, or polishing grain having an enclosed
or settling chamber, with travelling scraper and brush moving therein, placed
around a perforated casing through which a current of air and dust is driven by a
rapidly revolving, abrading, or brushing surface substantially as described.
3rd In an apparatus for decorticating, cleaning, or polishing grain, the apparatus.
for removing the dust from the casing and settling chamber, consisting of a moving
ring mounted upon rollers, carrying the requisite scrapers or brushes and actuated
by a pinion or its equivalent bearing against the periphery.
4th An apparatus for hulling, cleaning, or polishing grain, constructed and
arranged substantially as described and shown in Figures 1 and 2, and in Figures 3
and 4 taken together or each taken separately.