IMPROVEMENTS IN MILLS FOR GRINDING CORN
Year: 1858

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Newton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
November 1858.-A communication.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MILLS FOR GRINDING CORN,"
to be as follows:-
In the improved mill which forms the subject of the present Invention,
there are as usual two stones or grinding surfaces, the lower one of which is
moveable and is the runner, while the upper one is a fixture or is stationary.
The lower stone or runner is surrounded by an envelope or case of peculiar
construction fixed upon a cross piece which is attached or secured to the fixed
framing. A cast-iron arched piece of framework carries a bearing which
supports the spindle of the lower stone or runner. The fixed or stationary
stone rests upon the edges of the case of the lower stone, and three small
adjustable pins are adapted thereto, so that the stone may be adjusted with
accuracy and nicety. The upper part of the envelope or case is closed and
made air-tight by means of a band of wood turned and cut to fit. The lower
stone is driven by means of a band passed round a large pulley on the vertical
spindle of the runner, and which spindle rests on the end of an adjusting
screw, by turning which, by means of suitable gearing, the vertical adjustment
of the runner is effected.
Another improvement relates to the means of facilitating the grinding

page_text: operation and cooling the meal; this is effected by driving in air between the
two surfaces where the grain is under operation. To effect this object a fan
or ventilator is adapted to the fixed or stationary stone or grinding surface;
this fan draws in the air at its centre, and drives it along a pipe to the eye of
the stone, where there is an air box or chamber provided with adjustable air
holes or regulators, by opening or shutting which air holes or regulators in the
air box the air may be distributed at will either into the interior of the eye or
through passages made in the stone, and which terminate at different points of
the under surface of the stone.
The grain to be operated upon is also supplied through this air box by
means of an adjustable apparatus. In order that the air that is supplied to
the grinding surfaces may be free from all impurities that may be floating
about in the surrounding atmosphere, a damp sponge is adapted to the central
orifice of the case of the fan or ventilator, and the air being drawn through
this sponge, all dust or other matters are arrested and prevented from passing
into or between the grinding surfaces, and at the same the air is cooled.
In conjunction with this blowing in of air through the upper stone, as above
mentioned, air may be drawn by exhaustion through or between the surfaces.
To this end the runner is surrounded with a second and outer case, and the
sides of the inner case are provided with openings through which the air and
flour from within the inner case may be drawn by the exhausting apparatus,
and conveyed away to any suitable receptacle. The exhaust may be produced
either by a fan or any other suitable apparatus, and, if desired, the exhaust of
two or more pairs of grinding surfaces may be made to communicate with one
common chamber.