An Improved Process for Separating the Germ from Crushed Maize or Indian Corn.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 2nd June, 1900
PROVISIONAL COOLWICUTION
An Improved Process for Separating the Germ from Crushed Maize
or Indian Corn.
1, ERNEST SAMUEL SPENCER, of Castle Brewery, St. George's Road, Southwark,
in the County of Surrey, Managing Director to a Public Company, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Whole maize or Indian corn is first cruslied and then sieved to obtain an
even grade; the meal and small grade is thereby removed from the larger
grade particles. The remaining larger grade, particles are then passed through
a trough forming part of any suitable arrangement of apparatus, and are there
subjected to a suitable current of water flowing in one direction; whilst the
crushed maize is, by suitable apparatus, gradually conveyed in the opposite
direction to that in which the water flows. The crushed- maize whilst under
treatment is well roused in the water, and the latter is kept at a suitable level
in the trough. By this process the germ is more effectually and economically
separated from the crushed maize than by the processes heretofore in use.
Dated this 8th day of July 1899.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
An Improved Process for Séparating the Germ from Crushed Maize.
or Indian Corn.
I, ERNEST SAMUEL SPENCER, of Castle -Brewery, St. George's Road, Southwark,
in the County of Surrey, Managing Director to a Public Company, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
Whole maize or Indian corn is first crushed and then sieved to obtain an
even grade; the meal and small grade stuff are thereby removed from the
larger grade particles. The remaining larger grade particles are then passed
through a trough forming part of any suitable arrangement of apparatus, and
are there subjected to a suitable current of water flowing in one direction, whilst
the crushed maize is, by suitable apparatus, gradually conveyed in the opposite
direction to that in which the water flows. The crushed maize, whilst under
treatment, is well roused in the water, and the latter is kept at a suitable level
in the trough. By this process the germ is more effectually and economically
separated from the crushed maize than by the processes heretofore in use.

page_text: An arrangement of apparatus suitable for carrying my invention into effect is
represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1.is a longitudinal section of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 1 showing one pair of crescent shaped conveyor
blades in the horizontal trough.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of Fig. 1 showing one pair of blades to assist in the
suspension of the germ and lighter particles, as well as to assist in the flow of the
water and of the germs or lighter particles carried thereby in a contrary direction
to that of the crushed maize.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the inclined part of Fig. 1.
Figs. 6-and 7 are separate views of one of each of said blades, and
Fig. 8 is a cross section of a modified form of trough,
a is a trough which is fixed in a horizontal position and is preferably of
smaller section at the lower part than at the upper part thereof. At one end of
this trough a, and communicating therewith, I arrange an inclined trough b. At
the lower part of the horizontal trough a is arranged a conveyor, preferably
formed of a number of crescent shaped blades a fixed to a shaft c passing at
one end through a stuffing box al and journalled in bearings de. Between these
crescent shaped blades I preferably arrange other blades, which are also
fixed to the shaft c to assist in the suspension of the germ and lighter particles;
as well as to assist in the flow of the water and of the germs and lighter particles
carried by the water in a contrary direction to that of the crushed maize. The
inclined trough has a screw or other conveyor to carry the germ-freed crushed
maize out of the water and to drain the same, finally delivering it to a suitable
chute y.
The water is admitted by a pipe at that end of the horizontal trough a which
adjoins the inclined trough b, and a plate is fixed over the meeting ends of
the conveyors cc, f, to receive the water from the pipe hand to spread and
direct it towards the overflow. This plate i also prevents any disturbance by
the incoming water of the germ-freed crushed maize near the point wliere it is
being delivered to the inclined trough and conveyor f.
At the overflow end of the horizontal trough is mounted an adjustable
slide whereby the height of the overflow can be adjusted. A chute k and
hopper to supply the crushed maize to the horizontal trough a are arranged
at a suitable point along the length of the latter. The conveyor shaft c is driven
by means of a belt e passing around a pulley fixed on said shaft c, and the
worm is driven by a belt passing round a pulley f2 fixed on the shaft /" of
said conveyor. Other means of driving said conveyors may however be adopted.
In order to prevent the worm f from carrying the water to the upper end of
and overflowing the inclined trough b, 1 perforate a portion of such trough band
fix a jacket b' around such perforated part to receive the water passing through
the latter, a pipe delivers the water from such jacket b¹ to the horizontal
trough.
'
The overflow water from the trough and the germs carried thereby are
received by the hopper 7, whence they are conveyed by the pipe m to any suit-
able receiver.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows.
Water and crushed maize are supplied to the horizontal trough, the water-
How is directed towards the overflow end of said trough a, the crushed maize is
conveyed by the conveyor blades e, in a contrary direction to that of the flow
of the water, towards the inclined conveyor f, which latter raises the germ-
freed crushed maize from the water and allows the main part of the latter to
drain therefrom. The blades assist to separate the germ and lighter particles
from the crushed maize.
The germs and other light particles are thus separated from the crushed maize.

page_text: The speed of the conveyors and the flow of water may be varied according to
circumstances;
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:-
The improved process for separating the germ from crushed maize or Indian
corn, consisting of immersing the crushed maize or Indian corn in a current of
water flowing along a horizontal trough, agitating the same whilst in the water,
giving it a gradual motion in one direction towards an elevating and draining
conveyor, and causing the water to flow in the contrary direction to the motion
of the crushed maize or Indian corn, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 9th day of April 1900.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.