IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING AND DRYING GRAIN, SEEDS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: Seeds, and other Substances.
I EDMUNDSON SCHOLES of the Victoria Mills, Hollinwood in the County of
Lancaster, Corn Miller, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING AND DRYING GRAIN, SEEDS AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES to be as follows:-
"
My said Invention relates particularly to the process of cleansing and drying
grain preparatory to the grinding or crushing or malting operations According to
my Invention I subject the grain to the action of a separating, washing and drying
apparatus whereby the process is carried on uninterruptedly and in a much more
economical and efficient manner than heretofore.
In accordance with my improved arrangements the grain to be treated is first
thrown into a coarse sieve which retains the coarser impurities and foreign matter.
The grain falls from this sieve into a bin and thence through a shute into a
reciprocating flat riddle or "dicky" by which it is fed in a broad shallow stream
into a pneumatic cleansing machine. In the said machine the grain is led through
a series of conduits which are comparatively shallow in cross section but extend about
the full breadth of the machine so as to present a thin and broad current of grain to
the action of a series of cross currents of air the said air currents being created by
à fan situated in or in connected with the machine. By preference I place the fan
so as to exhaust air from the interior of the machine and I form a series of slits or
apertures in the end of the machine through which the atmosphere rushes so as to
create the aforesaid air currents. At the point where each air current crosses the
falling stream of grain I place on the vacuum side a small removable trough which
can at times be drawn out and examined to see that the corresponding current of
air is deflecting and removing only dirt and not grain as well. If it is found that
grain as well as dirt is being blown aside into the trough I adjust a louvre or valve
which crosses each air current behind the trough so as to diminish or if need be to
increase the strength of the air current. When once adjusted the troughs quickly
fill with refuse which then overflows from the troughs and falls to the bottom and
central part of the machine from whence it is removed by a worm or scrapers or
other means. The fall of grain is subjected during its descent to the action of any
desired number of air currents so as to completely remove the dry refuse. Instead
of the currents of air being inhaled as described they may be forged across the

page_text: "
stream of grain. From this pneumatic separator the grain is next led to that
portion of the apparatus where the washing operation takes place. The washer
consists preferably of a vertical cylinder with a central revolving shaft carrying an
agitator. The water is directed down an inclined tube or trunk to the bottom of
the washer and rises therein till it overflows at the top and escapes by a waste
pipe. The grain falls from a shute into the washer and meets the ascending
current of water whilst at the same time it is acted upon by the revolving agitator.
When the grain reaches the bottom of the vertical cylinder it is conveyed by a
worm up the inclined tube or trunk and against the downward stream of clean
water whereby it is thoroughly rinsed. By this method of washing the "crease
of each berry is thoroughly cleansed from all impurities. The grain is elevated by
the worm past the water inlet and is fed dircet into a hydro-extractor. On first
entering, the grain falls to the bottom of the extractor but is at once thrown by
centrifugal force against the perforated sides through which the remaining moisture
is drained into a chamber leading to a waste pipe. The interior of the hydro-
extractor is fitted with inclined plates which lift the grain by degrees to the top.
The upper part of the extractor is boxed in by a cover or lid which prevents the
grain from flying out and directs it into a surrounding chamber leading to a shute
which directs the grain into the drying machine The said drying machine consists
of an upright cylinder in the centre of which is a hollow shaft from which project
flat hollow, discs or arms, the hollow shaft and dises or arms being filled with steam
so as to provide the required heat. Instead of steam however hot air or hot water
might be used or the hollow shaft and dises or arms might be heated by gas. The
said hollow heated discs or arms are situated above or below corresponding dises or
arms formed on or fixed to the interior of the upright cylinder, spaces intervening
between the fixed and revolving discs or arms. Inclined plates project from the
revolving and fixed discs or arms and occupy the spaces between the said inclined
plates being so set as to work or lead the grain from the centre of the shaft towards
the wall of the surrounding cylinder. When the grain is pushed by the inclined
plates over the edge of one disc on to the disc beneath the inclined plates on the
said lower disc or arm are so set as to work the grain back again toward the
central shaft and so on, the grain passing backward and forward over the several
successive heated discs of which there may be any suitable number until it is
delivered in a perfectly dry condition at the bottom of the apparatus from which it
is led by a shute to be cooled and stored. A fan is placed in connection with the
said drying cylinder so as to exhaust the air therefrom and cause a current of fresh
air to pass continuously through the apparatus. The vapours and steam arising
from the grain under treatment are thus carried off and the drying of the grain
facilitated. Instead of heating the central shaft and parts in communication
therewith I might make the sides of the surrounding cylinder and also the discs or
arms projecting therefrom hollow and introduce the heating medium there into or
I might heat both the revolving shaft and parts and the surrounding cylinder.
Although I have described the foregoing operations as being applied in the
treatment of grain it is to be understood that they are equally applicable in the
cleansing and drying of other like substances and seeds.
1 AL
JALL
a

page_text: Seeds, and other Substances.
I EDMUNDSON SCHOLES of the Victoria Mills, Hollinwood in the County of
Lancaster, Corn Miller do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING AND DRYING GRAIN, SEEDS AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
accompanying drawings:-
"
My said Invention relates particularly to the process of cleansing and drying
grain preparatory to the grinding or crushing or malting operations. According to
my invention I subject the grain to the action of a separating washing and drying
apparatus whereby the process is carried on uninterruptedly and in a much more
economical and efficient manner than heretofore.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I will now
proceed more particularly to describe and ascertain the system, mode or manner in
or under which the same is or may be used or carried practically into effect
reference being had to the annexed two sheets of drawings and to the letters and
figures marked thereon to be as follows that is to say :-
86
Fig. 1 on Sheet 1 of the said drawings is a sectional view of the washer and
hydro-extractor forming part of my apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are separate sectional
views for the better explanation of parts of the mechanism. In Fig. 1 the casing of
the apparatus for washing the grain is marked A. the traveller for removing the
grain from the washer to the hydro-extractor is marked B. and the hydro-extractor
into which the grain is thrown from the traveller is marked C. At the beginning
of the operation the grain to be treated is thrown into a coarse sieve by which the
coarser impurities and foreign matters are eliminated. The grain falls from the
sieve into a bin and thence through a shute into a reciprocating flat riddle or
dicky" by which it is fed in a broad shallow stream into an pneumatic
cleansing machine. The said sieve, riddle and cleansing machine are not shown in
the drawings as they are well known in the treatment and cleansing of grain and
form no part of my present invention. The grain is conducted through the
cleansing machine in the ordinary manner and is subjected during its passage to
the action of a series of air currents which remove dirt, husks and other refuse as
is well understood. From the said pneumatic separator the grain is led through a
shute a. to the arrangement of apparatus which completes the cleansing and drying
operation and to which my invention more particularly refers. Referring to Fig. 1
the washer is composed as shown of a cylindrical casing A. having a series of pro-
jecting fins b. cast on its inner circumference as shown at Fig. 2. A shaft c. is
supported in the centre and is driven by bevel gearing so as to revolve, carrying
with it the curved washing blades or beaters d. The beaters d. revolve in close
proximity to the fixed fins b. the said fins acting as baffle or dash plates so as to
create a scouring effect upon the grain. The washer casing is narrowed at the foot
as shown and opens into the casing B. of the worm traveller or archimedean
screw o̟. In the arrangement illustrated the sald casing B, lies at an angle so as to̟,

page_text: cause the water which is admitted to the casing through the inlet e. to flow
towards the foot of the casing and rise in the washer A. to the overflow f.
whereby the dirty water carrying the impurities washed from the grain is per-
mitted to escape. The casing B. is occupied by a worm traveller g. which is
driven from a pulley h. and bevel gearing i. as shown and which advances the
grain up the incline and against the downward flowing current of clean water.
The shaft j. carrying the worm traveller is supported at the top of the casing in
bearings k. and at the bottom in a packed gland bearing 1. which prevents the
escape of water past the journal. The shaft j. at its lower projecting end carries
two cams m. which work in contact with a similarly formed cam n. which is
connected as shown more clearly at Fig. 3 by a cross bar and guide rods o. to a
plate p. within the casing so that as the shaft j. revolves the said plate is slightly
reciprocated. Tapered pins q. project from the plate p. and work in holes in the
partition. The fine grit mud and sludge from the washer A. and casing B.
permeates through these holes in the partition r. and enters the chamber 8. from
whence it is removed through the outlet t. The function of the tapered pins q. is
to keep the holes in the partition r. from being silted up and choked by the mud.
Stones and larger impurities are removed by means of the chambered drum u
which is revolved slowly by means of a ratchet and ratchet pawl driven by a
connecting rod v. from the disc w. and operated by a worm and worm wheel from.
the shaft j. The stones and other impurities drop into the chamber in the drum u.
which happens to be opposite the opening in the side of the casing B, and as the
drum is slowly revolved the chamber travels slowly round within the casing and
discharges its contents through the outlet x. When the grain has been lifted to
the top of the inclined casing B. it falls through the shute into the hydro-
extractor C. The perforated or porous vessel 1. constituting the extractor proper
is carried by a central revolving shaft 2. supported in top and bottom bearings as
shown and driven at a high speed by frictional bevel gearing as shown. The top
of the vessel 1. is provided with a projecting flange 3. which overhangs the upper
edge of a casing which surrounds the vessel 1. so as to leave an annular space 5.
between the outside of the vessel 1. and the said casing 4. The said casing 4. is in
its turn surrounded by the outer casing C. an annular space 6. being left between
the inner and outer casings. The annular space 5. is intended to receive and carry
off the water which is thrown by centrifugal force through the side of the vessel 1.
the water escaping from the said annular space to the contracted bottom of the
casing 4. and flowing through the outlet 7. The annular space 6. is intended to
receive the grain as it is raised from the bottom of the vessel 1. and lifted over the
top by the following means. It will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 4
which is a section of the extractor at right angles to Fig. that the cross stay 8.
between the standards 9. carries two hangers 10. which are prolonged to near the
bottom of the vessel 1. Upon the sides of these hangers are secured inclined
plates 11. which are brought close up to the internal circumference of the vessel 1.
and which act as louvres or deflecting plates to lift the grain as it is rapidly whirled
round in the vessel 1. The annular space 6. is preferably boxed.in at the top so as
to prevent the grain from being scattered as it is thrown over the flange 3. and to
direct it into the annular space 6. The annular space 6. opens beneath into the
shute 12. by which the grain is removed either direct or through the medium of an
elevator to the drying apparatus which is illustrated on Sheet 2. of the drawings.
In some cases I might direct a stream of clean water into the bottom of the hydro-
extractor so as to give the grain a final rinsing. As shown in the drawings the
shute 12. is provided with a diverting valve 13. by means of which the grain may
be removed in another direction if desired through the outlet 14. The driving of
the washer and hydro-extractor may be effected from a common driving shaft 15.
as shown or any other convenient driving means may be adopted. The relative
arrangement of the washer and hydro-extractor may also be varied for example
instead of being on the same level or floor they might be upon different levels or
upon different floors of a building. As has been already stated the grain is leď

page_text: from the hydro-extractor to the drying apparatus shown on Sheet-2. of the
drawings. In the said sheet Fig. 5 is partly a section and partly a side elevation,
of the drying cylinder and Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of the same. The said dryer
consists of an upright cylinder preferably composed of curved frame plates D. bolted
together and panelled in the centre with sheet iron plates E. In some or in all of the
said sheet iron panels I may provide a glazed opening through which the drying.
process may be watched from the outside. The interior of the drying cylinder is:
fitted with a series of hollow hot plates F. F¹. The outer circumference of each
alternate plate F. of the series comes close up to the internal circumference
of the drying cylinder and the plate is secured to an inwardly projecting
flange as shown. A portion of the plate is removed at the centre so as
to leave an annular space G. surrounding the central shaft H. The other alternate
plates F¹ of the series fit close up to the shaft H. and are secured by suspenders or
studs to the side of the cylinder so as to leave an annular space G¹ between the
outer circumference of the hot plates and the internal circumference of the drying
cylinder. It will thus be seen that free communication is provided between the
top and bottom of the drying cylinder, that is to say alternately round the outer
circumference and through the centre of the series of fixed hot plates F. F'. In the
example selected for illustration there are eleven such hot plates but any greater
or less number may be employed. Each hot plate of the series is heated by steam
through a branch I from a main supply pipe I. as shown. To remove the water
of condensation I also provide branches J extending from a main drain pipe J.
Both steam and drain branches are fitted with cocks so as to regulate or cut off
communication. For example I might admit steam to a certain number only of
the plates. Instead of using steam to heat the plates I might use hot water or hot
air or gas. To traverse the grain through the drying cylinder I provide in con-
junction with each hot plate a series of inclined blades K. which are attached to
arms L. and are set at such an angle as will tend in the case of the hot plates F.
to carry the grain toward the centre of the cylinder and push it through the
annular space G. on to the plate beneath while in the case of the plates F the
blades K. are set at an opposite angle so as to push the grain delivered to the
centre of the plate toward and over the outer circumference through the annular
space G'. It will thus be evident that grain delivered at the top of the drying
cylinder will be gradually worked over the successive hot plates from the top to
the bottom of the cyilnder whereby it is thoroughly dried. The last hot plate F².
at the bottom has an annular trough at its outer edge which is occupied by
sweeps M projecting from the bottom scraper the said sweeps carrying the grain
round and pushing it into the shute N. indicated by the dotted lines. The shute N.
delivers the grain into a revolving cooling cylinder O. which is supported in
bearings in an inclined position and is open at the lower end. By virtue of its'
inclined position the cylinder O. works the grain from the feed end P. to the
delivery end Q. and transfers it to a shute or receptacle as desired. The feed
end P. of the cooling cylinder is preferably boxed in, for example by a partition
attached to the shute N. or supported from the standard R. Upon the top of the
drying cylinder I mount a fan S. so arranged as to create an upwardly flowing
current of air which meets the descending grain and carries off the steam and
vapours arising therefrom. By preference the air is admitted through the cooling
cylinder O. and thence through the shute N. to the interior of the drying cylinder.
If desired the air admitted to the drying cylinder might be first heated. The
central shaft K. is operated by bevel gearing through a cross shaft and cone pulley T.
The shute U. indicated in dotted lines at the top of the drying cylinder is supposed
to be a continuation of the shute leading from the hydro-extractor or from a
receptacle fed from the extractor. The grain is delivered to the drying cylinder
through the said shute U. upon the first drying plate from whence it is traversed
over the entire series and delivered through the cooling cylinder as described..
The herein before described hot plates might be caused to revolve instead of being
stationery the steam, hot air or other heating agent being admitted through a

page_text: hollow central shaft. In such a case the inclined scraper plates would of course be
stationery or they might revolve in an opposite direction to that of the hot plates.
The sides of the drying cylinder might also be heated if desired. The shape of
the drying chamber and also the method of traversing the grain might also be
modified so long as the hollow drying plates heated as described are retained.
Although I have throughout the foregoing description referred to grain as the
substance operated upon I also wish it to be understood that seeds and cereals of
all kinds may be similarly treated while the drying apparatus may be used in
malting operations or in drying flour, starch and the like..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The general arrangement construction and combination of machinery and
apparatus for cleansing washing and drying grain, seeds and other cereals and
substances by a continuous operation substantially as herein before described
and shown on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
2. The grain washing apparatus consisting of an upright casing formed or
provided with inwardly projecting fins or baffle plates in combination with
revolving blades or beaters carried by a central shaft for the purposes and
substantially as described and shown.
3. The respective means for removing the silt, grit, mud and stones from the
interior of the casing of a worm traveller or archimedean screw employed in
connection with grain washing machines substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
4. In hydro-extractors for removing the moisture from grain the employment of
fixed inclined plates situated in close proximity to the interior of the extractor for
the purpose of elevating the grain in the extractor and delivering it therefrom
substantially as described and shown.
5. The general arrangement construction, combination and operation of the
grain drying apparatus substantially as herein before described and illustrated on
sheet 2 of the drawings or any mere modification thereof.
6. In apparatus for drying grain the employment of hollow drying plates having
their interiors heated by means of steam, hot air, hot water or other suitable
heating agent in combination with inclined plates or scrapers or traversing blades
carried by arms or discs on a central revolving shaft or by other suitable means
the said plates or scrapers traversing the grain across the respective hot plates
alternately towards and from the centre of the drying cylinder or from one hot
plate on to another and delivering the grain at the bottom of the drying cylinder
or chamber substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dh 10th 1
1000