Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 9th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 16th Dec., 1887
I, JOHN BARCLAY HEPBURN, of Redcross Chambers, Liverpool, in the county of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention has for its object an efficient apparatus for reducing oats or other
grain into a fragmentary condition generally known as pin-head meal, by the action
of knives or cutters.
In carrying out my invention, I construct a grain chamber of cylindrical or other
form which may be fixed in position by suitable framing, and closed on all sides.
The upper end of this chamber is preferably removable and is provided with a feed
spout or hopper through which the grain is fed, the lower end perforated with a
number of holes of sufficient size to admit easily the passage lengthwise of a kernel
of oats or other grain to be cut. The holes may if desired be countersunk on the
upper side so that the grain may more readily enter the holes. In order that the
grain, when entering through the feed spout or hopper, may be spread equally over
the bottom of the grain chamber, I provide if necessary a spreader provided with
arms which is fixed to a spindle capable of being made to revolve. This spreader
is fixed inside the grain chambers, and its arms are so placed that the grain is
equally distributed over the whole of its lower or perforated surface. The spreader
may have its bearings formed in the top of the grain chamber or in other suitable
manner.
The underside of the lower end of the grain chamber is made with a true and
smooth surface, and on its face are made to revolve a series of steel blades placed
radially and fastened in a horizontal position, and at a little distance apart, to a
central flange or boss. They are preferably made sufficiently long to pass under-
during their rotation-all the perforations, and their ends may be secured if desired
to an annular ring or frame. Under and partly covering the horizontal spaces
between the blades I place guage plates revolving with the blades and intended to
arrest the grains as they emerge through the perforations in the grain chamber, until

page_text: they are cut off by the blades. The fragments escape through a space between the
knife edge of the blade, and the edge of its adjacent guage plate. It will be obvious
that as the blades are placed radially, the space between each of them will be
considerably greater at their outer than at their inner ends, and therefore in order to
increase the rapidity with which the grain is reduced, I may, if desired provide
additional blades which are secured to the annular ring before mentioned, or in other
suitable manner, the guage plates being of course shaped accordingly.
Below the blades and guage plates, I may place if desired a series of arms or fan
blades which are made of such a shape, that they assist in producing an air current
through the perforations by which the grain passes to the knife blades. Further these
blades, if provided, may also be used to carry the reduced grain or pin-head meal to
the discharge spout. The knife blades, guage plates and fan blades are preferably
made to revolve at a considerable speed on the same spindle or shaft, though other
means may be adopted if desired. This shaft is placed in a vertical position, and may
be conveniently provided with bearings in the main frame of the apparatus. It may
be driven by a pulley fitted to it, or by other approved means. The spreader spindle
may conveniently be driven by this shaft, but as I prefer that the spreader should
revolve at a slower speed than the knife blades, I provide a countershaft for reducing
the speed. I do not however limit myself to the use of a counter-shaft, other means
being equally suitable..
I arrange the framing of the apparatus, so that the grain chamber may be easily
removed for cleaning, and the blades and guage plates for sharpening or repair.
It is obvious that in place of using rotating blades, I may cause them to
reciprocate and in this case, the grain chamber is preferably made square or
rectangular.
Dated this 8th dox of Fahr 1986
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: blades J, J, placed radially or nearly so, and fastened in a horizontal position, and at
a little distance apart, to a central flange or boss K and rim L. Some of them are
preferably made sufficiently long to pass under all the perforations, during their
rotation, their ends being secured to the boss and to an annular ring or frame. A
second, shorter intermediate set of knives are preferably inserted between the longer
ones, as shown. Under, and covering vertically the horizontal spaces between the
blades I place gauge plates M revolving with the blades, and intended to arrest the
grains as they emerge through the perforations in the grain chamber, until they are
cut off by the blades. The fragments escape through a space between the knife edge
of the blade, and the edge of its adjacent gauge plate. It will be obvious that as the
blades are placed radially, the space between each of them will be considerably
greater at their outer than at their inner ends, and it is in order to increase the
rapidity with which the grain is reduced that I prefer to provide the additional
shorter blades before mentioned. These are secured to the annular ring before
mentioned, or in other suitable manner, the gauge plates being of course shaped
accordingly.
Below the blades and gauge plates, I may place, if desired, a series of arms or fan
blades N, which are made of such a shape, that they assist in producing an air
current through the perforations by which the grain passes to the knife blades.
Further, these blades, if provided, may also be used to carry the reduced grain or pin-
head meal to the discharge spout O. The knife blades, gauge plates and fan blades
are preferably made to revolve at a considerable speed on the same spindle or shaft H,
though other means may be adopted, if desired. This shaft is placed in a vertical
position, and may be conveniently provided with bearings in the main frame of the
apparatus, as shown. It may be driven by a pulley fitted to it, or by other approved
The spreader spindle may conveniently be driven by this shaft, but as I prefer
that the spreader should revolve at a slower speed than the knife blades, I provide a
counter shaft for reducing the speed. I do not, however, limit myself to the use of a
counter-shaft, other means being equally suitable.
means.
I arrange the framing of the apparatus, so that the grain chamber may be easily
removed for cleaning, and the blades and gauge plates for sharpening or repair.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The grain falls down spout C onto the bottom of the chamber A, the spreader E, F,
slowly revolving over this stationary bottom, shoves the grain into the perforations,
down which it falls end first, if the machine is going sufficient speed it strikes the
guard plate, and the knife shaves the projecting end off, and it falls through the
perforations; the shavings pass out between the guard plate and knife.
In practice, and for most purposes, I prefer to drive the knives at such speed that
the ends of the grain shall touch the guard plate before being shoved off, and to allow
of different thicknesses of shaving or cutting, I fix the guard plates to the rim with
washers R between them and the rim, so that by using different thicknesses of washer
as required, different grades of meal can be obtained.
It is obvious that this plan of having perforated plate with knives and guard plates
passing rapidly beneath it can be adapted to reciprocating instead of rotary machines;
in such case the chamber A and knife frame are preferably rectangular, and the knives
and guard plates of uniform length, and preferably also rectangular in plan. The
speed the shaft H should be driven will vary somewhat with the kind of grain used,
and product required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In apparatus for producing meal from oats or other grain, the perforations,
knives, and guard plates, in combination with mechanism for supplying grain to the
perforations, whereby a regulated thickness of cut is obtained.
2nd. In combination with the perforated bottom of chamber A, and the rapidly

page_text: moving knives, the guard plates M moving with the knives and adjustable in distance
therefrom, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3rd. In combination with the perforated plate knives and guard plate, the spreader E,
and also the vanes N for the purposes described.
4th. The general arrangement and combination of parts forming a "pin-hoad meal
producing machine, substantially as and for the purposes described.