Improvements in Mortars for Rice and similar Grain.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
Improvements in Mortars for Rice and similar Grain.
I, ALFRED ERNEST MARKWICK of Karachi, in the Province of Sind in the
Empire of India, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in mortars for rice and similar grain in
which the latter undergoes a process of trituration. This trituration consists in
mechanically causing the grains to rub against each other and the object of it is to
remove the inner skin after the husk has been removed.
The object of it is to provide firstly, for the pestle retaining a vertical and
central position in the mortar in order that the process of trituration may be
conducted equally throughout the quantity of grain, and secondly, for each pestle
being driven from beneath the installation of mortars (as many as there may be).
Heretofore it has been the custom to mount the pestle in only a single bearing
fixed at some distance above the mortar and driven from above. This bearing
soon becomes worn and then allows the pestle to take up and work in an inclined
position, with the result that the trituration is much more thorough on one side of
it than on the other.
In carrying the present invention into effect, the mortar or mortars (as many as
may be included in the installation) are mounted upon a frame of a suitable height.
Each pestle is provided with two bearings, one above, and the other in the bottom
of, the respective mortar, both bearings concentric with the vertical axis of the
latter. The bottom bearing has a stuffing box combined with it. The top one is
supported above the top of the mortar in any convenient way, e. g., by means of a
bridge piece. This pair of bearings effectively provides for the retention of the
pestle in a central and vertical position and motion within the mortar and amongst
the grain. The pestle is fitted with a conical extension symmetrically arranged
about its axis.
The revolving shaft from which the pestles (one in each mortar) are driven is
hung under the mortars and each pestle is connected to a crank or equivalent
device thereon, from which it receives the necessary reciprocating vertical motion.
Or, in place of the cranks above mentioned, there may be used a rocking beam and
bell crank gear.
Dated this 13th day of March 1895.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
CUMT LEIE
DIBUITIVATION.
Improvements in Mortars for Rice and similar Grain.
I, ALFRED ERNEST MARKWICK, of Karachi, in the Province of Sind, in the
Empire of India, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in mortars for rice and similar grain, in
which the latter undergoes a process of trituration. This trituration consists in
1 D

page_text: mechanically causing the grains to rub against each other and the object of it is to
remove the inner skin after the husk has been removed.
The object of the invention is to provide firstly, for the pestle retaining a vertical
and central position in the mortar, in order that the process of trituration may be
conducted equally throughout the quantity of grain, and secondly, for each
pestle being driven from beneath the installation of mortars (as many as there
may be).
Heretofore it has been the custom to mount the pestle in only a single bearing
fixed at some distance above the mortar and driven from above. This bearing
scon becomes worn and then allows the pestle to take up, and work in, an inclined
position, with the result that the trituration is much more thorough on one side of
it than on the other.
In carrying the present invention into effect, the mortar or mortars (as many as
may be included in the installation) are mounted upon a frame of a suitable height.
Each pestle is provided with two bearings, one above, and the other in the bottom
of, the respective mortar, both bearings concentric with the vertical axis of the
latter. The bottom bearing has a stuffing box combined with it. The top one is
supported above the top of the mortar in any convenient way, e.g., by means of a
bridge piece. This pair of bearings effectively provides for the retention of the
pestle in a central and vertical position and motion within the mortar, and amongst
the grain. The pestle is fitted with a conical or other shaped extension
symmetrically arranged about its axis.
The revolving shaft from which the pestles (one in each mortar) are driven, is
hung under the mortars; and each pestle is connected to a crank or equivalent
device thereon, from which it receives the necessary reciprocating vertical motion.
Or, in place of the cranks above mentioned, there may be used a rocking beam and
bell crank gear.
Referring to the accompanying figures;
Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
A is the frame upon which the mortars are mounted. It consists of a flat table
the legs of which are secured through their feet to a base B. Both frame and base
are shewn as of the proper size for two mortars, but the number of mortars is not
limited by the invention—the size of the frame being always adjusted to the number
of mortars it is required to support.
C is the rotary shaft from which the pestles are driven. For the purpose of the
present invention, the driving shaft is mounted under the mortars. Consequently,
one of the distinguishing features of the said invention, is that the pestles are
driven from below instead of from above, the highest stationary member of the
plant being the top pestle guide; and the highest moving member, the pestle top
when such pestle is at the top of its stroke.
D, D are the bearings of the shaft C. They are made fast upon each end of the
base B. An end of the shaft projects beyond one of the bearings far enough to
carry the fast and loose pulleys E, E'. F is the driving belt and G an ordinary
strap shifter adapted to slide in guides 7 on the table legs, as heretofore.
H, H are the mortars. They are of the same shape and are made fast upon the
table A as heretofore, being aligned thereon with their vertical axes in the plane
which contains the axis of the driving shaft C.
Each mortar has a door way H₁ in its side, controlled by a door H³, for the
removal of the skinned grain.
I, I are the pestles and I, I, the rods upon which they are, respectively, made
fast. The normal position of each pestle rod 11 and pestle I is one axially
co-incident with the axis of the respective mortar, as heretofore. Special provision
is made, according to the present invention, for the maintenance of this normal
position, such provision consisting of the combination of a top with a bottom guide
in which the pestle rod 1' works.

page_text: J is the top guide. It is held in position by a bridge piece K which extends
from one side of the mortar top to the other, to both of which it is made fast as
indicated in Figures 1 and 2.
The bottom guide is held in its position axially opposite to the top one by being
incorporated with the mortar. Further, it provides the bottom of the latter. This
bottom guide consists of a stuffing box L (having a flange of the same area as the
top of the flange h on the bottom of the mortar, or of the mortar seat a on the top
of the frame table), and a gland L' held up to the stuffing box by bolts in the
usual way.
The reciprocating vertical motion necessary to all the pestle rods of the plant, is
obtained from the shaft C, by any suitable mechanism. The invention does not
limit me in respect of the details of this suitable mechanism and, consequently,
I may make use of any convenient one. I have chosen for illustration the well
known crank e and connecting rod e' driving on to a stud c² projecting from the
side of a downward continuation of the pestle rod. An additional guide M is
provided for each continuation e³, such guide being held by a springer M'
extending from one end leg of the table to the other one at the same end of the
table.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The combination with the pestle rod of a mortar; of top and bottom guide;
downward extension of such rod; rotary driving shaft adapted to revolve in
bearings beneath the mortar or mortars of the plant, and mechanism for transferring
the rotary motion of the shaft to a reciprocating vertical one in the pestle rod; as
set forth.
2. The combination with a mortar; of top and bottom guides and pestle rod
adapted to work vertically therein, as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of August 1895
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.