IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HUSKING OR DECORTICATING CORN
Year: 1880

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburg, Germany, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HUSKING OR
DECORTICATING CORN." A communication from Johann Friedrich Jensen, of
Flensburg, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March
1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR HUSKING OR DECORTICATING CORN." A communication from Johann Friedrich
Jensen, of Flensburg, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to improvements in treating corn by steam, and in
apparatus therefor, for the purpose of separating the woody shell from the corn
before grinding without removing the gluten from the corn, as was hitherto the
case where the woody shell of the corn is removed by grinding the corn to flour,
and by then separating the husky or woody parts by sifting. Besides this
advantage the new method involves great saving in power, and a cleaner flour can
be produced if the corn is treated after this system:
Into
The corn after being sifted and impurities, such as stones and otherwise, being
removed from it is first fed through a hopper into a steaming apparatus, which
consists of an iron upright cylinder furnished with bottom plate and cover.
this cylinder steam is led through a pipe penetrating the bottom, and an exhaust
pipe for the steam is fitted to the cover of the apparatus. Within the cylinder an
upright revolving shaft or axle is arranged, to which are fastened, one above the
other, three (or more or less) bell shaped iron discs, the open ends of which are
turned upward. The corn falls from the hopper on to the uppermost disc, from
which it is by centrifugal action thrown towards the inner circumference of the
cylinder, where it is received by a sheet iron hopper fastened to the inner wall of
the cylinder. This hopper leads the corn downward on to the second revolving
disc, from which it is again thrown towards the circumference of the cylinder, and
Din C71

page_text: is there again received from a second stationary hopper, from which it is guided
down upon the next disc, and so on, passing through all the stationary hoppers and
revolving discs until it reaches the bottom of the cylinder, from which it is removed
through an opening and slope by means of a rake fastened to the lower end of the
revolving shaft or axle. The corn in passing thus through the cylinder is thoroughly
heated by the steam passing upward through the apparatus, as before described.
The woody shell is by the action of the steam loosened from the gluten.
For removing the shell the corn is from the steaming apparatus led to the
shelling apparatus, which consists in its main parts of a mill stone enclosed in a
casing constructed of wood and metal. The stone tapers towards the bottom end,
and the steamed corn is led through a hopper on to the top surface of the revolving
stone. By centrifugal action the corn is thrown against the inner circumference of
the casing and passes downward along the tapered edge of the stone, where it is
shelled by the edge of the stone and a wire-web fastened to the wall of the casing
of the apparatus. By means of a fan a strong current of air is drawn through the
machine, which causes the husky or woody parts and other debris to be drawn
away from the corn, whilst the latter, by its superior specific gravity, falls and
escapes through an opening at the bottom of the apparatus in a perfectly clean
state.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st September 1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF HUSKING OR
DECORTICATING CORN." A communication from Johann Friedrich Jensen, of
Flensburg, in the German Empire:
This Invention relates to improvements in treating corn (wheat and other grain)
by steam, and in apparatus for that purpose, and for separating the woody shell
from the corn before grinding without removing the gluten from the corn, as was
hitherto the case where the woody shell of the corn is removed by grinding it in
hot, dry, or cold state, and by then separating the husky or woody parts by sifting.
Besides this advantage of leaving the gluten with the corn and afterwards gaining
it together with the flour when the corn is ground, the new method involves great
saving in power, and a cleaner flour is produced by the treatment of the corn after
this method.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrates the mode of carrying out this
Invention. Figs. 1 and 2 represent a side view in section and ground plan
respectively of the steaming apparatus, whilst Figs. 3 and 4 represent in sectional
side view and ground plan respectively a mill for removing the husk from the corn
after being steamed.
The corn after being sifted and impurities, such as stones and otherwise, being
removed from it is fed through a hopper d into the steaming apparatus, which
consists of an upright cylinder A furnished with bottom plate a¹ and cover a.
Into this cylinder steam is led through pipe e at the bottom of the apparatus,
and an exhaust pipe f for the steam is fitted to cover a. Within the cylinder
an upright revolving shaft or axle is arranged to which are secured, one above
the other, three (or more or less) bell shaped iron discs c, the open ends of which
are turned upward. The corn falls from hopper d on to a metal sieve c² of
the uppermost disc c, from which it is by centrifugal force thrown towards the
inner circumference of cylinder A, where it is received by a sheet iron hopper A¹
fastened to the inner wall of the cylinder. This hopper leads the corn downward
on to the second revolving disc c, from which it is again thrown towards the
circumference of cylinder A, and is there again received from a second stationary
hopper A', from which it is guided upon the next disc c, and so on, passing through
all the stationary hoppers and revolving discs until it reaches the bottom of the
cylinder, from which it is removed through an opening a² and slope or shoot by
means of a rake h fastened to the lower part of the revolving shaft. The corn in
thus passing through the cylinder is thoroughly heated by the steam, which latter
passes upward through the apparatus, as before described, and the woody shell is
by the action of the steam loosened from the gluten. D is the pulley for driving
the upright shaft (the foot bearing of which rests in bracket B) by a strap or other
means made from any available motor. The condensed steam passes from the
different discs downward through borings c¹ of the shaft and through pipes i into
the lower part of the cylinder, from whence it is drawn off through a pipe g.
For removing the shell-from-the corn the latter is from the steaming apparatus
led to a shelling apparatus, either such of known construction, or preferably to that
apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the Drawings, the which I will now describe.
Of this apparatus, C is a millstone enclosed in a casing t, m, constructed of wood
and metal. The stone tapers towards the bottom end, and the steamed corn is led
through a hopper r on to the top surface of the stone. By centrifugal action the
corn is thrown against the inner circumference of the casing and passes downward
along the tapered edge of the stone, where it is shelled by the stone and a wire

page_text: E is
web a fastened to parts of frame H, which said frames can be set and adjusted
by set screws o passing through cast iron brackets p and by screws n passing
through the cover m. 8 are sheet iron plates carrying cork pieces t, which are
loosely pressed against the working side of the stone C by screws u.
the driving shaft carrying pulley G, and placed in bearings K, J, and F.
By means of a fan a strong current of air is moved through pipe V, wind
chamber W, and the machine, and causes the husky or woody parts and other
debris to be drawn away from the corn, whilst the latter by its higher specific
gravity falls and escapes through an opening and slope y at the bottom of the
apparatus in a clean state,
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention I
claim,―
Firstly. The process of treating corn (wheat and other grain) by steam before
grinding for the purpose of loosening the woody husk or shell, as set forth.
Secondly. The steaming apparatus consisting of chamber A, through which steam
is passed, with vertical revolving shaft with bell shaped discs c, a coresponding
number of stationary hoppers, an opening d for feeding, and an opening a² for
removing the corn from the apparatus, substantially as herein described, and
explained in reference to and shown by Figs. 1 and 2 of the Drawings.
Thirdly. The process of removing the woody husk or shell from the corn after
the said steaming process on a mill, substantially as herein described, and explained
in reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the annexed Sheet of Drawings, and
Fourthly. The mill apparatus, as and for the purpose herein set forth, and
represented in Figs. 3 and 4 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.