Improvements in and connected with Machinery for Producing Cotton Seed Meal from Cotton Seeds.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec, 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895.
TRUVIDIONAL DIDIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Machinery for Producing
Cotton Seed Meal from Cotton Seeds.
I, GEORGE HENRY CROKER, of 18 Bellevue Road, Seacombe, in the County
of Chester, Carver, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to the reduction of cotton seed in its raw state
with fibre adhering to it, that is, as imported into this country, to cotton seed
meal.
According to this invention, there is provided a machine or machinery by which
raw cotton seed as imported can be reduced to meal or pulverized, and at a rapid
rate, such machine being of the rotary disintegrator type with beaters or blades―
that is to say, a machine having the general method of operation of the "Carter
disintegrator," or of a kindred nature, and having the edges or portions of the
parts round the apertures by which the material passes from the inner chamber
wherein it is reduced, to the outer chambers or passages, rounded off, or curved on
their inner side or surface, and the interior of the said chamber practically smooth,
i.e., substantially without projections. Further, the rate of speed at which the
beaters or blades are revolved is relatively very high; that is, considerably higher
than that usually employed for reducing or pulverizing most or all other materials.
I find that a machine having these characteristics or features of construction and
operation, the end aimed at can be accomplished in a satisfactory manner.
According to a part of this invention, cotton seed meal, containing none or little
of the fibre which adhered to the whole seeds, is produced directly from such seeds.
The seeds with the adhering fibre are first reduced or pulverized in a reducing or
pulverizing machine having the characteristics above described, whereby there is
produced meal with the cotton fibre mixed with it; and then this is treated in a
machine by which the part of the mealy portion thereof which adheres to the
cotton or fibre, is knocked off same; and then subsequently the meal is separated
from the cotton or fibre by a suitable separating machine.
"
The type of machine for knocking off the said part of the mealy portion from
the cotton or fibre, which I have used with success, is one wherein spikes or teeth
are employed on rollers, or on a roller and a fixed part, the roller or rollers, as the
case may be, being revolved, and the spikes or teeth of one part being adapted to
pass through the spaces between those of the other; that is to say, in the manner
of an opening," teazing,' or "devilling" machine, or the like. The final
separation of the meal and the fibre or cotton is conveniently effected by agitating
the material on or in connection with a riddle or sieve having suitable movement.
In some cases, the machinery or apparatus is used in direct connection or
combination, and the reduced seed is conveyed by a worm, or other suitable
conveyor from the reducing or pulverizing machine to the machinery for knocking
off the mealy portion from the cotton, and from the meal and cotton so treated, is
charged or fed into or onto the separating machine.
.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1894.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Machinery for Producing
Cotton Seed 'Meal from 'Cotton Seeds.
I, GEORGE HENRY CROKER, of 18 'Bellevue Road, Seacombe, in the County
of Chester, Carver, 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 :-
This invention has reference to the reduction of cotton seed in its raw state
with fibre adhering to it-that is, as imported into this country-to cotton
seed meal.
According to this invention, there is provided machinery by which raw cotton
seed' as imported, can be reduced directly to meal or pulverized, and at a rapid rate.
The reducing machine 1 employ is of the rotary disintegrator type with beaters or
blades (that is to say, a machine having the general method of operation of the
"Carter disintegrator," or of a kindred nature), having the edges or portions of
the parts round the apertures by which the material passes from the chamber
wherein it is reduced, rounded off, or curved on their inner side or surface, and the
interior of the said chamber practically smooth, i.e. substantially without
projections; and the beaters or blades of the machine which act upon the seed,
according to this invention, are revolved at a very high rate of speed, that is,
considerably or notably higher than that usually employed for reducing or
pulverizing most or all other materials. I find that by so operating upon the seed
in a machine having these characteristics or features of construction, the end aimed
at can be accomplished in a satisfactory manner.
Further, according to this invention, cotton seed meal, containing none or little
of the fibre which adhered to the whole seeds, is produced directly from such seeds
in the following manner and by the following means:-The seeds with the adhering
fibre are first reduced or pulverized in a reducing or pulverizing machine operating
as, and having the characteristics above described, whereby there is produced meal
with the cotton fibre mixed with it; and then this is treated in a machine by which
the part of the mealy portion thereof which adheres to the cotton or fibre, is
knocked off same; and then subsequently the meal is separated from the cotton or
fibre. by a suitable separating machine.
of an
The type of machine for knocking off the said part of the mealy portion from
the cotton or fibre, which I have used with success, is one wherein spikes or teeth
are employed on rollers, or on a roller and a fixed part; the roller or rollers, as the
case may be, being revolved, and the spikes or teeth of one part being adapted to
pass through the spaces between those of the other, that is to say, in the manner
The final
"opening," "teazing," or "devilling" machine, or the like.
separation of the meal and the fibre or cotton is conveniently effected by agitating
the material on or in connection with a riddle or sieve 'having suitable movement.
In some cases, the machinery or apparatus is used in direct connection or
combination, and the reduced seed is conveyed by a worm, or other suitable con-
veyor, from the reducing or pulverizing machine to the machinery for knocking off
the mealy portion from the cotton, and the meal and cotton so treated, is charged
or fed into or onto the separating machine.
:
Machinery of the kind above referred to is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. In these drawings there is illustrated, a disintegrator of the "Harrison
Carter" type; and machine or mechanism for, opening and operating upon the
product of the disintegrator, by which it is brought to a condition in which the
meal and the cotton fibre may be subsequently separated by any suitable known
-

page_text: form of apparatus for separating dissimilar materials; and an ordinary ridute
disposed below this machine.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation shewing the disintegrating machine;
Figure 2 shews a transverse section of the machine; and
Figures 3 and 34 shew in detail the construction or form of grid bars through
the apertures or spaces between which, the reduced cotton seed and cotton pass
from the reducing chamber.
Figure 4 is a side elevation shewing the complete combination of apparatus or
machinery by which according to this invention, the reduced and separated meal is
produced direct by mechanical manipulation. Figure 5 is an end section shewing
same; and
Figure 6 is a section shewing in detail the machine employed for working up or
opening the material prior to the meal or cotton being separated.
"
Referring in the first instance to Figures 1 to 3*, the machine, as will be seen,
in all its main parts is precisely similar to a disintegrating machine of the "Harrison
Carter type. That is to say, it comprises a chamber, a, of cylindrical form, with
a hood over its upper half; side casings c; grids d at the lower half; a chamber e
about said half, formed by the enclosing ends and sides f; and a rotating wheel or
disc with beaters i. The constructive features of the machine, different from
those which exist in the disintegrator of this type as ordinarily constructed, are the
formation and nature of the interior surfaces or structure of the chamber a, and
the grid bars d; namely, the surfaces of the walls or parts enclosing the chamber a
are without projections, recesses, or abrupt irregularities, that is, these surfaces are
such as to obviate the adhesion and collection of the disintegrated material at any
one point or points, being even or smooth. As regards the grid bars d, these are
rounded off or made curved on their edges or sides presented to the interior of the
chamber a: they may, with advantage, also be without sharp corners upon all parts
or sides.
In the construction shewn, these grid bars are cylindrical, and are
supported at their ends in suitable sockets or recesses, lying loosely in them, so that
they may turn about axially in these supports. By this construction the apertures
by which the material passes from the chamber a to the chamber e, have no sharp
on the inside, thereby preventing the collection and building up of
deposited cotton or meal at the mouth of or round or at the sides of, and blocking
up, these apertures, and the stoppage of the machine. The end bosses or doors f
are also so arranged that there is considerable space in e exists about the outlet
from a this helps to prevent clogging.
corners
As far as my present practice and experiments shew, the disintegrator herein
referred to, is the best of its type, of which I am aware, for this purpose; but, no
matter what type of disintegrator aualogous to this may be used, the characteristics
as regards formation of the interior, namely, the reducing chamber and-in the
case of grids being used-the grids, should be observed.
The essential improvement in reducing cotton covered cotton seed directly to
meal under this invention is the process or treatment to which the seed is subjected,
that is to say, subjecting it to the action of beaters moving at a high rate of speed,
by which the accomplishment of the end desired is rendered possible. As regards
this essential, I have found it by experiment to be necessary that this rate of speed
of the beaters should be substantially and notably in excess of that at which it has
been thought they should, in this type of machine, and have been designed and
adapted to move. For instance, assuming the machine used to be of the Carter
type, ordinarily called or known as "No. 14," the rate of speed at which the
beaters of such a size of machine are usually designed and directed to be run
at, is about three thousand three hundred revolutions per minute, corresponding
to a peripheral speed of the beater tips of about 17000 feet per minute.
this rate of speed, I have found the action of the beaters on the seed produces
or effects no good result, and that in order to render the action effective, it is
necessary that the velocity should be taken from that uamed-17000 feet per
At

page_text: minute to about from 26000 peripheral feet, and over, per minute. The more
heavily coated the seed is with cotton, the more difficult is the accomplishment
of its reduction satisfactorily and efficiently, demanding the higher rate of speed.
With a peripheral velocity of about from 26000 to 36000 feet per minute, the
reduction of seed may be carried on continuously and successfully, no matter
bow heavily coated. Therefore, by subjecting the seed to the action of beaters
moving at such a velocity in a machine having a suitable internal formation or
construction as regards the reducing chamber, the direct reduction of cotton
covered seeds to cotton seed meal and cotton fibre is effected. These high
velocities correspond in number of revolutions per minute, in a machine of the
size denoted by a Carter's No. 1 disintegrator, of from about 5000 to 7000
revolutions per minute of the beaters.
The seed after reduction is a mixture of cotton seed meal and cotton fibre. In
this condition the meal and fibre are in a close combination or association, having
considerable coherence; and this according to this invention is next broken up or
dissociated, rendering the thorough separation of the meal and fibre capable of
being effectively performed. The means illustrated in the drawings for doing this
is shewn in Figures 4 and 5 and 6, and consists of a cylinder with teeth or spikes
on its periphery, revolving at a high velocity-say 1000 revolutions a minute, and
fixed teeth or spikes past which the teeth or spikes of the said cylinder move.
This mechanism is of the type of a cotton opening, teazing, or devilling machine.
In these drawings, k designates generally the machine, while ' is the revolving
spiked cylinder, and the stationary spiked device, of concave form. These parts
are disposed within the chamber 1, constituting a spout or conduit down which the
reduced cotton seed is caused to pass from the disintegrator, it being fed therefrom
to the machine by a worm conveyor consisting of a worm m in the casing n, arranged
beneath the chamber e of the disintegrator. In passing through this machine, the
product from the disintegrator is teazed or opened, and coherence of the meal and
cotton fibre broken; that is, these constituents of the seed product, although mixed,
are dissociated from one another and in a condition in which they may be readily
and wholly separated from one another, if operated upon in a suitable separating
machine or device. The separating device shewn in these figures consists of a
riddle o disposed beneath the lower end of the outlet mouth of the shoot or conduit
of the device k, the riddle being vibrated up and down in any suitable known way,
and having a perforated or openwork bottom which will allow all the meal to pass
through its meshes and hold up the cotton which is discharged from the end.
This riddle may advantageously have different sized meshes in different parts of
its length, so that those parts not sufficiently finely reduced to render them suitable
for the kettle in making cake from the reduced material, can be again passed
through the machine.
The operations, then, taking place between the introduction of the cotton
covered seed, and the production and discharge of separated meal and cotton,
consists in, reducing the cotton covered seeds to combined meal and fibre by
operating upon it as described; operating upon such combined meal and fibre so as
to open the material and free such meal and fibre from close association or coherence
by a machine such as described; and then separating such treated meal and fibre
in a separating machine.
In the machinery shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6, these operations are carried out
in a direct manner; namely, the disintegrator, as shewn, is fixed upon a floor p, and
directly beneath the chamber thereof which receives the reduced material, the
conveyor is disposed, the casing n of which may be conveniently attached to the
floor beams pl, which form the sides of a chamber above the worm m, its ends being
closed. The reduced material is fed by the worin m to the chamber or shoot in
which the rotating spiked device described is disposed and works; and the material
after being operated upon and delivered by this machine, falls from the lower end
of the shoot onto the riddle o. The worm and the spiked 'cylinder k¹ will be
driven by suitable gearing. To permit of a regular feeding of the disintegrator,

page_text: air is supplied to the inlet spout j, it being taken from the chamber e by a pipe j¹,
thereby making a closed current of air through the machine and the receiving
chamber of the reduced material.
When using a machine of the kind shewn with grid outlets, according to the
fineness of meal required, so will be the distance apart of the bars d: for the finer
grade of meal the spaces will be narrower or smaller, and vice versa:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The process of directly reducing cotton covered cotton seed to meal by
subjecting said seed to the action of beaters moving at a high velocity, as
described.
2. The direct reduction of cotton covered cotton seed to meal by the employment
of a disintegrating machine of the type specified having beaters, and the interior
whereof is constructed or formed substantially as described, and by driving the said
beaters at a high velocity as described.
3. The direct production of cotton seed meal from cotton seed by disintegrating
or reducing the cotton covered seeds to mixed meal and cotton by operating on the
seed as described in a disintegrating machine of the type herein referred to;
subsequently operating upon such meal and cotton by machinery such as described
by which it is opened and the coherence of seed and meal is broken or destroyed;
and then separating the meal and cotton so treated by suitable separating machine:
substantially as described.
4. The machinery for producing cotton seed meal direct from cotton seed set
forth particularly with reference to and as shewn in Figures 1 to 34, and Figures 4,
5, and 6, of the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of December 1894.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.