AN IMPROVED MAGNETIC APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OR REMOVING PARTICLES OF IRON FROM GRAIN
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of AN IMPROVED MAGNETIC APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OR REMOVING
PARTICLES OF IRON FROM GRAIN." A communication from abroad by
Simeon Howes, Norman Babcock, and Carlos Ewell, all of Silver Creek,
New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED MAGNETIC APPARATUS
FOR SEPARATING OR REMOVING PARTICLES OF IRON FROM GRAIN." [A com-
munication from abroad by Simeon Howes, Norman Babcock, and Carlos Ewell,
all of Silver Creek, New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to that class of magnetic separators which are employed
for separating from grain, previous to grinding the samne, any fragments of wire or
other pieces of iron which may be mixed with it.
The objects of the said Invention are to so construct the separator that the
particles of iron which are arrested by the operation of the magnets are auto-
inatically removed from the surface on which they lodge, and that the magnets
can be readily inserted into or removed from the compartment in which they are
arranged.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a compartment or chamber
in which is arranged a series of horse-shoe magnets. The latter are bent in a
plane at right angles to the width of the bar of which each magnet is formed;
blocks of wood are arranged between the magnets, and there is a tie rod or bolt
whereby the entire series of magnets and interposed blocks are firmly secured
together. The blocks are shaped to fit snugly in the compartment, so that when
they are placed in the same the magnets will be held in place without requiring
any other fastening.

page_text: The magnets are arranged in a top plate of the compartment. This plate is
arranged in an inclined position at an angle at which the grain will run, which is
intended to be freed from the accompanying iron. The said plate is provided with
an opening through which the ends of the magnets project, and which is made of
the same size as the compartment in which the magnets are arranged.
The upper part of the frame of the machine is connected with the lower part of
the said frame by a hinge which permits the upper part to be swung back, whereby
the said opening is exposed, when access may be had through said opening to the
compartment in which the magnets are arranged for the insertion or removal of the
same. A feed-hopper is arranged between the side walls over the upper part of a
plate in the lower part of the upper portion of the frame, and is provided with a
plate whereby the flow of grain from the hopper is regulated. This bottom plate
of the upper part of the machine rests upon the aforesaid top plate of the lower
part, and is inclined at the same angle in which the said top plate of the lower
part is inclined. The bottom plate is provided with an opening into which the
poles of the magnets project; a plate of zinc is secured to the upper side of the
bottom plate, and extends from a rear plate downward to the edge of the said
bottom plate.
I provide also a wiper or scraper, whereby the particles of iron which adhere to
the zinc plate are removed from the latter. This wiper is attached to an endless
belt which passes over two pulleys arranged on the outer side of the side walls,
and supported in suitable bearings, which are secured to the outer side of the said
walls. The bearings of one of these pulleys are made adjustable in line with the
belt by means of a screw bolt and nut, whereby the tension of the belt can be
regulated. The aforesaid wiper is composed of an angular piece having a tight top
plate, which prevents the grain from entering the space below this plate when the
wiper traverses the zinc plate. The upper part of the belt passes over the side
plates, and the lower part of the belt passes through openings which are formed in
the said side plates, and which are made large enough to permit the wiper to pass
through the same. Motion is imparted to the belt by means of gear-wheels and a
pulley, or any other suitable means.
The grain to be treated is shot into the hopper, from which it flows upon and
over the zinc plate, and is discharged over the lower edge of the latter. The
particles of iron which are mixed with the grain are subjected to the attraction of
the magnets exerted through the zinc plate, and are thereby arrested and held on
this plate while the grain passes on.
At certain intervals according to the speed of the belt, the wiper traverses the
zinc plate and gathers the particles of iron which have lodged on the same, and
moves them to one side of the plate, where they are discharged through the
openings into any suitable receptacle.
The top plate at the head of the wiper prevents the grain from coming in
contact with that side of the wiper against which the particles of iron accumulate
as they are moved over the zinc plate, and it thereby prevents any grain from
becoming mingled with the iron.

page_text: Figure 1 16
Figure 2, a longitudinal section of my improved apparatus or macnine.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Like letters of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of the Figures.
A, A, represent the side walls, B, the front wall, and C the rear wall of the
compartment or chamber in which are arranged a series of horse-shoe magnets D.
The latter are bent in a plane at right angles to the width of the bar of which
each magnet is formed; E represents blocks of wood arranged between the magnets,
and e is a tie-rod or bolt whereby the entire series of magnets and interposed blocks
are firmly secured together. The blocks E are shaped to fit snugly in the com-
partment formed by the walls A, B, C, so that when they are placed in the saine
the magnets will be held in place without requiring any other fastening;
F represents the top plate of the compartment in which the magnets are arranged.
This plate is arranged in an inclined position at an angle at which the grain
intended to be freed from the accompanying iron will run. The said plate F is
provided with an opening f through which the ends of the magnets D project, and
which is made of the same size as the compartment in which the magnets are
arranged; G, G, represent the side walls of the upper part of the frame of the
machine; H is the rear cross plate, and I the bottom plate of this part of the
frame. The upper part of the frame is connected with the lower part of the frame
by a hinge i, which permits the upper part to be swung back, whereby the
opening is exposed, so that access may be had through the said opening to
the compartment in which the magnets are arranged for the insertion or removal
of the same; K represents the feed-hopper arranged between the side walls Gover
the upper part of the plate I, and provided with a plate L whereby the flow of
grain from the hopper is regulated. An overflow aperture is made in this plate L
for the purpose of always maintaining a supply of material in the hopper. To
accomplish this the slide should be so adjusted that the material will not be
discharged from the hopper quite so rapidly as it is received, and there will there-
fore be a slight overflow through the said aperture 1. The material which
overflows passes down between the rear wall of the hopper and the slide, and
unites with that discharged from the lower hopper-opening. By this means the

page_text: overflow of the hopper is prevented, while it is always kept supplied with
material.
The bottom plate I of the upper part of the machine rests upon the top plate F
of the lower part of the machine, and is inclined at the same angle as that of the
top plate F of the lower part. The said plate I is provided with an opening m into
which the poles of the magnets project; N is a plate of zinc secured to the upper
side of the plate I, and extending from the rear plate H downward to the edge of
the plate I; O is a wiper or scraper whereby the particles of iron which adhere to
the plate N are removed from the latter. This wiper O traverses the said plate N
in one direction only, and is attached to an endless belt P which passes over two
pulleys p arranged on the outer side of the side walls G, and supported in suitable
bearings pl, which are secured to the outer side of the walls G. The bearings of
one of these pulleys are made adjustable in line with the belt by means of a screw
bolt and nut q, whereby the tension of the belt can be regulated.
This wiper O is composed of an angular piece having a tight top plate O¹, which
prevents the grain from entering the space below the plate Or when the wiper
traverses the zinc plate N. The upper part of the belt P passes over the plates G,
and the lower part of the belt passes through openings r, which are formed in the
side plates G, and which are made large enough to permit the wiper to pass through
the same.
Motion is imparted to the belt by means of gear-wheels S and a
pulley S', or by any other suitable means.
The grain to be treated is conveyed into the hopper K, from which it flows upon
and over the zinc plate N, and is discharged over the lower edge of the latter.
The particles of iron which are mixed with the grain are subjected to the attraction
of the magnets exerted through the zinc plate Ñ, and are thereby arrested and held
on this plate while the grain passes on. At certain intervals according to the
speed of the belt, the wiper O traverses the plate N, and gathers the particles of
iron which have lodged on the saine, and moves them to one side of the plate,
where they are discharged through the opening r into any suitable receptacle.
The plate O at the head of the wiper O prevents the grain from coming in
contact with that side of the wiper against which the particles of iron accumulate
as they are moved over the plate N, and it thereby prevents any grain from
becoming mingled with the iron. The frame of this wiper is made entirely or
partially of magnetic material, so that in passing over the conveying surface, it will
be drawn down thereon by magnetic attraction, and its edges are faced with strips
of india-rubber or similar material.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. In a magnetic apparatus for separating or removing particles of iron from
grain, the combination with an inclined surface over which the material to
be treated flows, and magnets whereby the particles of iron are intercepted in
their passage over this inclined surface, and held against the same, of a wiper
traversing the said inclined surface in one direction only, substantially as above
set forth.
Second. The combination with an inclined surface over which the material to be
treated flows, and magnets whereby the particles of iron are arrested and held
upon this inclined surface of an angular wiper attached to an endless belt, and
with or without a tight top plate O', substantially as above set forth.
Third. The combination with the compartment in which the magnets are
removably arranged, and which is provided with an opening fin its top plate F,
of the upper part of the frame provided with the feed hopper and inclined
bottom plate I, and a hinge whereby the upper and lower halves of the machine
are connected, substantially as above set forth.
Fourth. The hopper provided with a partition having an overflow aperture, 5
substantially as herein set forth.

page_text: Fifth. The combination, substantially as herein set forth, of a magnetic conveying
surface anda wiper, the frame of which is formed of magnetic material.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W ROBT. LAKE (r.g)
W¼ ROB™. LAKE (L.S)