IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROLLING TEA LEAVES, HUSKING AND POLISHING RICE OR GRAIN, AND PULVERIZING AND MIXING QUARTZ, MINERAL ORES, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Charles Guy Thompson, of Chiswick, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR ROLLING TEA LEAVES, HUSKING AND POLISHING RICE OR
GRAIN, AND PULVERIZING AND MIXING QUARTZ, MINERAL ORES, AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Charles Guy
Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March
1880.
ANDREW CHARLES GUY THOMPSON, of Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROLLING TEA LEAVES,
HUSKING AND POLISHING RICE OR GRAIN, AND PULVERIZING AND MIXING
QUARTZ, MINERAL ORES, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My Invention has for its object a novel arrangement of machinery or apparatus
to be used for, rolling tea leaves, or for removing the husks from rice or other grain,
and for polishing such rice or grain, such machinery or apparatus being also
applicable to pulverizing or reducing to fine powder quartz, mineral ores, or other
hard substances, and to crushing and mixing such substances, or substances such as
earths, seeds, or other materials.
I take a spherical globe of suitable size and material, but preferably of hollow
cast iron, and through the centre of this globe I arrange an axis, horizontal or
nearly so, the ends of which fit and revolve freely in corresponding bearings in a
frame or fork, the upper part of which is provided with a vertical axis revolving in
bearings formed upon or attached to any convenient fixed support.
Upon this vertical axis I arrange a driving pulley or toothed wheels, by which
it can be made to revolve at any desired speed by means of steam or other conve-
nient power, and to one end of the horizontal axis I attach a bevilled toothed wheel
which gears into a corresponding horizontal bevilled toothed wheel concentric with.
the vertical axis, and fixed to any convenient part of the framework of the machine
or other suitable support. By the arrangement described when the vertical axis is
made to revolve the globe revolves with it, and the latter at the same time is made
to revolve upon its horizontal axis by means of the bevilled toothed wheels.
The relative speed of the revolution upon the horizontal axis may be varied by
varying the proportions of the bevilled toothed wheels, or sometimes, where the
machine is of small size and light, I use flexible cords or bands passing over suitable
pulleys, instead of bevilled toothed wheels.

page_text: Under the globe, arranged and operated as described, I arrange a horizontal
saucer shaped vessel, the upper surface of which is concave, its curve being the same
as, or slightly greater than, that of the globe.
Where tea leaves are to be rolled by the machine I prefer to arrange the vessel
upon a vertical axis revolving in suitable bearings, and capable also of rising and
falling vertically in the said bearings, and underneath it, or in any other convenient
position, I arrange one or more springs or levers and balance weights, by which the
vessel is forced up with any desired pressure toward the lower surface of the globe,
from which it can be lowered when desired.
I cause the vessel, with its vertical axis, to revolve in either direction at any
desired speed by means of suitable driving pulleys or toothed wheels actuated
by the same power which actuates the globe, as above described, or by other
suitable power. The surfaces of the globe and of the vessel described may be fitted
with ribs or bars of wood or other suitable material.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The globe being set in rotation both
round its horizontal and vertical axes, and the vessel below being also set in rota-
tion, tea leaves introduced into the latter are so acted upon by the complex rolling
action between the globe and the vessel that they become rapidly rolled in the way
desired, the pressure upon them being preferably gradually increased by means of
the spring or weight which elevates the vessel.
When they have been sufficiently treated the tea leaves may be discharged
through an opening in the vessel, or the vessel may be lowered, and they are then
withdrawn and a fresh quantity introduced.
The vessel may be made stationary instead of rotating, as described, or the globe
may be made to rotate upon one of its axes only, instead of upon both, as above
described.
Where rice or other grain is to have its husks removed in the machine I prefer to
line the vessel and to coat the surface of the globe with some suitable rough material,
and I arrange the vessel so that its vertical position can be adjusted readily to any
desired height. The grain, when separated from the husks, may be polished in the
same or similar machine, the surface of the globe and of the vessel being preferably
clothed with a suitable polishing material, such as leather.
A fixed bar or scraper may be arranged to remove any material adhering to the
globe.
Where quartz or mineral ores or other hard substances are to be pulverized and
reduced to fine powder I press the lower vessel upward against the lower surface of
the globe with the necessary force, and if auriferous quartz is to be operated upon
a sufficient quantity of mercury may be placed in the lower vessel for the purpose
of amalgamating with the gold when the latter is set free from the quartz by the
pulverizing action.
Water may be supplied constantly or at intervals into the lower vessel when the
machine is in operation, and screens of metal gauze or perforated plate may be
arranged round the outer circumference of the vessel.
Where the materials operated upon are to be mixed together rather than crushed
or pulverized I sometimes introduce them into the interior of the revolving globe
through a suitable opening closed by a door. The horizontal axis may be provided
with arms or blades inside the globe, and the latter may be provided with perfora-
tions through which dust or waste particles can escape, to facilitate which the
horizontal axis may be provided with one or more fan blades; or the outside of the
globe may be provided with arms which mix the materials in the vessel below it
first described.
My improved machinery or apparatus may be modified so as to be driven or
actuated with any desired relative speed of its various parts to suit varying
circumstances

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Andrew Charles Guy Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th September 1880.
"
ANDREW CHARLES GUY THOMPSON, of Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROLLING TEA LEAVES,
HUSKING AND POLISHING RICE OR GRAIN, AND PULVERIZING AND MIXING
QUARTZ, MINERAL ORES, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My Invention has for its object novel arrangements of machinery or apparatus
to be used for rolling tea leaves, or for removing the husks from rice or other grain,
and for polishing such rice or grain, such machinery being also applicable to the
purpose of pulverizing or reducing to fine powder quartz, mineral ores, or other
bárd substances, and crushing and mixing such substances, or substances such as
earth, seeds, or other materials. In order to put my Invention in operation I take
a globe, more or less spherical in shape, of suitable size and material, but preferably
of hard iron cast hollow, and through its centre I arrange an axis horizontal or
nearly so, the ends of which are fitted into and revolve freely in corresponding
bearings in a strong frame or fork, the upper part of which is provided with a
vertical axis (preferably hollow for the purpose hereinafter described) revolving
in bearings formed upon or attached to the frame of the machine or other
sufficiently strong fixed support. I arrange upon this vertical axis a driving.
pulley or toothed wheel, by which it can be made to revolve at any desired
speed by means of steam or other convenient power, and to one end of the
horizontal axis I attach a bevilled toothed wheel, the teeth of which gear into
a corresponding horizontal bevilled toothed wheel concentric with the vertical
axis, and firmly fixed to the framework of the machine or other suitable support.
By the method of arrangement described when the vertical axis is made to revolve
the globe is compelled to revolve with it, and the latter is also at the same time
made to revolve upon its horizontal axis by means of the bevilled toothed wheels
described. The relative speed of revolution upon the horizontal axis may be.
varied by varying the proportions of the bevilled toothed wheels; or sometimes,
where the machine is of small size and light, I use flexible cords or bands passing
over pullies suitably arranged instead of bevilled toothed wheels. I arrange under
the globe, operated as above described, a horizontal saucer-shaped vessel, the upper
surface of which is concave, its curve being the same or preferably somewhat
larger than that of the globe itself. Where the apparatus is to be applied to the
purpose of rolling tea leaves, I prefer to arrange the lower vessel just described.
upon a vertical axis revolving in suitable bearings, and capable at the same time
of rising and falling vertically to a sufficient extent in the said bearings, and
underneath it or in other convenient position I arrange one or more springs or
levers and balance weights, or both, by which the vessel is forced up with any
-desired-pressure-toward-or-in contact-with-the-revolving globe, from which it can
be withdrawn and lowered whenever desired. I cause the vessel just described to.
revolve with its vertical axis in either direction and at any desired speed by means.
of suitable driving pulleys or toothed wheels actuated by the same power which
actuates the globe in the way above described, or by other suitable power. In the
accompanying Drawings, which are in illustration of my Invention, in Sheet
Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine constructed according to my Invention;
Figure 2 is a plan, Figure 3 a longitudinal section, Figure 4 a sectional plan, and
Figure 5 an end view of the same. The same letters of reference refer to the same.

page_text: parts in the different Drawings. a is the framing of the machine; b is the globe
supported on the horizontal axis c, which revolves in the ends d', d¹¹, of the frame
or fork d, which is shewn provided with a hollow vertical axis e which revolves
in the bearing f attached to the frame of the machine; g is a toothed wheel fixed
upon the vertical axis e, and driven by the toothed pinion h upon the vertical
driving shaft i, which revolves in bearings k, l, upon the frame, and is provided
with fast and loose driving pullies 1, . Upon the horizontal axis c is fixed a
bevilled toothed wheel m gearing into a corresponding bevilled toothed wheel n
which is fixed to the frame a of the machine. Under the globe b is arranged the
vessel o fixed upon a hollow vertical axis p which revolves in the bearing r, and is
fitted with a toothed wheel s driven from a corresponding toothed pinion t upon
the driving shaft i, with the intervention of a third toothed wheel u in order that
the direction of revolution of the vessel o may be opposite to that of b. At v is
shewn a weighted lever by which the vessel o is forced up against the globe b,
and w represents a helical or other spring for the same purpose. The action of the
machine, constructed and arranged as described, is as follows:-The driving shaft i
being set in revolution the globe b is set in rotation round its horizontal axis by
the wheels m and r, and the vessel o is also set in rotation by the wheels s, t, and u,
so that tea leaves introduced into the vessel o are so acted upon by the complex
rolling action between the globe b and the vessel o that they become quickly rolled
in the manner desired, the pressure upon them being preferably gradually increased
by means of the spring w and weighted lever v. When the tea leaves have been
sufficiently treated they may be discharged through an opening in the vessel o, or
the vessel may be lowered and the tea leaves withdrawn and a fresh quantity
introduced. The vessel o may be made stationary instead of rotating, as described,
or the globe may rotate upon any one of its axes cor e instead of upon both,
as described and shewn; and instead of being at right angles to each other
the said axles may be arranged at any other suitable angle. Where rice or
other grain is to have its husks removed in the machine, I prefer to line the
vessel o and to coat the surface of the globe b with some suitable rough material
or cement, and I arrange the vessel o so that it can be readily adjusted
to any desired height. The grain when separated from the husks may be
polished in the same or similar machines, the surface of the vessel o and the
globe 6 being preferably covered with a suitable polishing material, such as
leather. One or more fixed bars or scrapers may be arranged to remove any
material adhering to the globe b or the vessel o. The upper vertical axis e of the
globe b may be made hollow, as shewn, the material to be treated being either
allowed to fall through it upon the globe from a hopper at X, or being conducted
down through curved lateral tubes, as shewn at y, Figure 5, into the vessel o. Where
quartz, mineral ores, or other hard substances are to be pulverized and reduced to
powder by my improved apparatus, I press the lower vessel o upward against the
lower surface of the globe 6 with the necessary force by means of the weighted
lever v, and if auriferous quartz is to be operated on a sufficient quantity of
mercury may be placed in the vessel o for the purpose of amalgamating with the
gold when the latter is set free by the pulverizing action of the machine. Water
may be supplied constantly, or at intervals, into the lower vessel when the machine
is in operation, and screens of wire gauze or perforated plates may be arranged
round the outer circumference of the vessel. Instead of being arranged so that the
axes pass centrally through the globe b and the vessel o one or other or both of the
latter may be arranged excentrically upon the axes, and this excentricity may be
made variable, as shewn at A and B in Figure 2, where the screws or bolts by
which the globe b and the vessel o are respectively attached to their driving
axes c and p, are shewn passing through elongated holes, by which the desired
amount of excentricity may be obtained. In Figure 6 is shewn another form of
arrangement, in which the globe b revolves upon a horizontal axis c only, whilst the

page_text: vessel o revolves upon the bollow vertical axis p. The globe bis capable of a
longitudinal movement backward and forward upon or with its axis c, such
movement being communicated to it by means of a cam D (shewn in dotted lines)
upon the lower shaft E, which communicates a reciprocating motion to the revolving
globe 6 by means of the lever F turning upon a centre G. The shaft E is driven
by the toothed wheels m and n, and drives the lower vessel o by the bevilled
toothed wheels 8 and t. Hinged doors are shewn at H at the lower end of the
hollow axis p, a lever I being arranged for the purpose of opening and closing
these doors, and the material operated upon in the vessel o can be discharged in this
way whenever desired without stopping the machine. A screen or cover is shewn
at L (partly broken off) surrounding the vessel o and suspended from the frame
at M, the material being fed through a central hopper N. In cases where the
materials operated upon are to be incorporated and mixed together rather than
crushed or pulverized I sometimes use a modification of my improved apparatus, as
shewn at Figure 7, in Sheet 2; b is the revolving globe, which is made hollow, and
into which the material to be operated upon is introduced through a suitable
opening (not shewn in the Drawing); e is the vertical axis round which the fork
or frame d is made to revolve, as already described, d', d², being the bearings in
which the vessel b is made to revolve by the bevilled toothed wheel m fixed upon
its axis, and driven by the corresponding bevilled toothed wheel n fixed to the
which
frame. Through the centres or bearings of the globe 6 passes a shaft
carries upon it one or more beaters or mixers z of any suitable form, and is made
to revolve by the bevilled toothed wheel 8 which is also driven by the fixed
bevilled toothed wheel n. The hollow globe 6 is shewn provided with perforations
at t, through which any dust or waste particles escape. Instead of being spherical,
as shewn in the different Drawings, the globe may be made more or less flattened
or elongated, or of other shape suitable to the particular purpose to which it is to
be applied; or its surface may be provided with ribs, grooves, projections, or
depressions, or arms operating upon the material in the vessel below, some forms of
which are shewn in Figures 8 to 21.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I do not confine inyself to the precise forms of my improved apparatus
described and shewn in the Drawings, which may be varied to suit varying
circumstances, but I claim, The globe revolving upon a vertical and horizontal
axis simultaneously in combination with a lower fixed vessel, substantially
as described and shewn in the Drawings; also the combination of the globe
revolving upon a vertical or horizontal axis, or upon both simultaneously,
with a lower vessel revolving upon a more or less vertical axis, substantially
as described and shewn in the Drawings; also the methods of altering and
adjusting the height of the lower vessel vertically, substantially as and for the
purpose described and shewn in the Drawings; also the method of feeding the
inaterial to be operated upon through the hollow vertical axis of the rotating
globe, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawings; also in apparatus,
arranged as and for the purposes described, the method of removing the
material from the lower vessel through the hollow axis of the latter, substantially
as described and shewn in the Drawings; also the methods of causing the
rotating globe to reciprocate backward and forward, substantially as described
and shewn in the Drawings; also the combination with the hollow axis of the
lower vessel of hinged doors operated by a lever, substantially as and for the
purpose described and shewn in the Drawings; also the hollow vessel rotating.
simultaneously upon a vertical and horizontal axis, substantially as and for the
purpose described and shewn; also the combination of the hollow vessel rotating
simultaneously upon a vertical and horizontal axis with a second concentric axis
carrying mixing devices and rotating simultaneously in the same or opposite
direction, substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn in the Drawings;

page_text: also the general arrangement of machinery or apparatus, substantially as and for
the purposes described and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Charles Guy Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 7th day of September, in the year of our
Lord 1880.
ANDREW CHARLES GUY THOMPSON. (L.S.)