IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATORS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph - Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEPARATORS."
A com-
munication from abroad by Jay Sternberg. of Boulder. in the County of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1881.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEPARATORS." A communication from abroad by Jay Sternberg, of
Boulder, in the County of Boulder and State of Colorado, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to a device for separating wheat or other grain from
refuse, heavier matter that is therein, or in fact for separating any matters of
different specific gravity, and to a separator in which a suction is formed to assist
the draft in the process of separation, by the current of air from the fan, re-entering
the fan chamber.
This machine is intended for the treatment of grain after it has been previously
treated by another separator which has taken out the lighter refuse matter, such
as dust, straw, and so forth, and is for the purpose of separating the grain
from heavy refuse matter, such as small stones, small pieces of wire, nails, and
so forth.
The improvement consists, first, in providing a separator with a fan revolving in
a chamber which is located between both ends of an air shaft or trunk of peculiar
construction communicating with said fan chamber, by which a combined draft
and suction is formed in the air shaft or trunk.
The improvement consists, secondly, in combining with said separator valves for
increasing or diminishing the size of the opening for regulating the force of the air
current through the said shaft or trunk.
The improvement further consists in constructing the trunk with suitable
outlets, a projection for diverting the descending air current and forming a channel
having an opening provided with valves, a deflector for separating the current of
air and directing it into the fan chamber through air chambers having openings,
and located on either side of said fan chamber.
The improvement further consists in a feed hopper of peculiar construction
having gauges or valves working in the sides of the hopper for regulating the
supply to the machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd November 1881.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
" IMPROVE-
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent.
MENTS IN SEPARATORS." A communication from abroad by Jay Sternberg, of
Boulder, in the County of Boulder and State of Colorado, United States of
America.
The Invention relates to a device for separating wheat or other grain from
refuse, heavier matter that is therein, or in fact for separating any matters of
different specific gravity, and to a separator in which a suction is formed to assist
the blast in the process of separation, by the current of air from the fan, re-entering
the fan chamber.
This machine is intended for the treatment of grain after it has been previously
treated by another separator which has taken out the lighter refuse matter, such
as dust, straw, and similar, matters, and is for the purpose of separating the grain
from heavy refuse matter, such as small stones, small pieces of wire, nails, and so
forth.
The improvement consists, first, in providing a separator with a fan revolving in
a chamber which is located between both ends of an air shaft or trunk of peculiar
construction communicating with said fan chamber, by which a combined blast and
suction is formed in the air shaft or trunk.
The improvement further consists in combining with said separator valves for
increasing or diminishing the size of the opening for regulating the force of the air
current through the said shaft or trunk.
The improvement further consists in constructing the trunk with suitable
outlets, a projection for diverting the descending air current and forming a channel
having an opening provided with valves, a deflector for separating the current of
air and directing it into the fan-chamber through air chambers having openings,
and located on either side of said fan chamber.
The improvement further consists in a feed hopper of peculiar construction
having gauges or valves working in the sides of the hopper for regulating the
supply of material to the machine.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings,
more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement; Figure 2 is a section taken on
the line x, x, Figure 3; Figure 3 is an axial section at line x, x¹, Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the valve operating device.
A, A', is the outside casing, the portion A' forming air chambers A² at each end
of the fan chamber; C is the fan in chamber B, on shaft c, driven by pulley c¹
outside the casing. The fan chamber B communicates with an air shaft or trunk D,
whose upper part is circular, and which terminates in a chamber E at the rear of
the fan, having grain opening e at its lower extremity.
The current of air from the fan is directed upward into the air shaft or trunk D,
by a projection of the casing b of the fan chamber B. Between this projection
b and the outer casing A is a chamber or receptacle F, into which the heavy
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement; Figure 2 is a section taken on
the line a, a, Figure 3; Figure 3 is an axial section at line x, x¹, Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the valve operating device.
A, A', is the outside casing, the portion A' forming air chambers A2 at each end
of the fan chamber; C is the fan in chamber B, on shaft c, driven by pulley c¹
outside the casing. The fan chamber B communicates with an air shaft or trunk D,
whose upper part is circular, and which terminates in a chamber E at the rear of
the fan, having grain opening e at its lower extremity.
The current of air from the fan is directed upward into the air shaft or trunk D,
by a projection b₁ of the casing b of the fan chamber B. Between this projection
b and the outer casing A is a chamber or receptacle F, into which the heavy
refuse matter before mentioned falls by gravity, the grain under the influence of

page_text: the current of air passing around through the shaft or trunk D to the receptacle
E. The refuse matter is taken from the chamber F by opening the door or gate f,
which is secured in its closed position by any suitable catch f.
G is the feed hopper which is secured to the case A, and provided with valves
or gauges g, gl, working in the sides of the hopper for limiting the amount of grain
entering the machine.
The current of air passes from the fan upward through the shaft or trunk D
around to the chamber E, passing beneath the projection H, up through channel I,
through which it is drawn by suction of the fan through the opening J, and down
to the fan chamber B, into which it enters through the openings 62 between the
fan chamber and air chambers A².
K is a deflector situated above the fan chamber for separating the current of
air to the right and left in its downward passage from the opening J to the fan
chamber; thus an equal amount of air will enter the opposite sides of the fan
chamber through the openings b².
The size of the opening J, and the consequent force of the air current through
the shaft or trunk D, is regulated by valves j, j,j, operated by means of a
suitable governor L' secured to the case A, whose vertically moving stem L' is
connected to the shafts of the valves by means of arms 1. The governor is
driven by pulley c³ on the fan shaft c by means of connecting device L². No claim
is made to this manner of operating the valves, and instead of it a simple lever
may be used applied by hand to one of the valve shafts, said valves being
connected together in any suitable manner so that in closing or opening one of
them the others will open or close in a like proportion.
By means of the valves j, j¹, ja, the amount of air entering the fan chamber is
increased or diminished, and consequently the blast and suction of air through the
shaft or trunk D is regulated.
To allow admittance to the valves j, j, j³, and the parts beneath them, the door
M is raised.
The operation of the machine to separate the grain from the refuse matter is as
follows:-
Steam or other power is applied to the fan C through means of pulley c¹ on the
shaft of the fan which causes a blast and suction through the shaft or trunk D, as
described. The material is then admitted to the machine through hopper G, the
amount entering the machine being regulated by the gauges g, gl, as above
explained. The current of air in the shaft or trunk D is just of sufficient force to
carry the grain as it enters the shaft or trunk through the hopper around to the
chamber or receptacle E from which it escapes through opening e. The objectionable
matter, such as the articles above mentioned, being heavier than the grain, is not
carried around to chamber E with the grain by the air current, but falls by
gravity into the receptacle F, whence it is removed, as before explained.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would here remark that it is well known that air
shafts or trunks of many forms are used in other separators, all having open end
or ends for the entrance or escape of air from the exterior of the machine for a
supply to the fans, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not claim
this feature broadly, but what I do claim is,--
First. In a separator the combination of fan C in chamber B and air shaft or
trunk D, which communicates at both ends with said fan chamber B, by which a
combined blast and suction is formed in the draft shaft, as and for the purpose set
forth.
Second. In a separator the combination of fan C in chamber B air shaft or trunk
D, and valves j, j', ², for increasing or diminishing the size of the opening J for
regulating the force of the air current through said shaft or trunk D, as and for
the purpose set forth.
Third. The combination of fan C in chamber B shaft or trunk D, receptacles F
and E, with outlets and e, as set forth, projection H, channel I, forming part of

page_text: 'the air passage, opening J having valves j, j¹³, deflector K, air chambers A³ and
openings into the fan chamber B, all arranged substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fourth. In combination with a separator the hopper G made with gauges g, g³,
as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
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D. J. B. M
CHATTIT
(E.S.)