AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR SEPARATING AND SCOURING GRAIN
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of" AN IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR SEPARATING AND SCOURING GRAIN." A communication from
abroad by William Pitt Clifford, of Elmore, in the County of Peoria, State of
Illinois, United States of America.
ed the 5th January 1877, and dated the 21st November 187
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR SEPARATING AND SCOURING GRAIN."
A communication from abroad by William Pitt Clifford, of Elmore, in the County'
of Peoria, State of Illinois, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to provide an improved machine for separating
the grain from weeds, oats, cockles, &c., and grading and scouring the same in a
reliable and effective manner, either before or after the scouring operation, and the
Invention consists of a reciprocating shaker with inclined screens for separating
the lighter weeds, straws, oats, cockles, and sand, which supplies the grain to a
series of grading chambers at the top part of the machine, and a scouring cylinder
and casing with a secondary grading chamber at the lower part of the machine,
while being exposed to three powerful fan drafts for producing respectively the
grading, blowing off the dust and light scourings, and the grading of the scoured and
polished grain.
In the accompanying Drawing illustrating the Invention, Figure 1 represents
a plan view of the improved grain separator and scourer; Figure 2 a vertical longi-
tudinal section, and Figure 3 an end elevation of the same, and Figures 4 and 5
are respectively a detail side view and cross section of the scouring cylinder and
casing. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
By referring to the Drawing, A represents a suitable frame of oblong shape, on
which the different parts of the machine are supported; B is the reciprocating
shaker at the end of the machine, that is operated in the customary manner by
suitable mechanism receiving power from the actuating shaft arranged at the lower
part of the machine. The shaker B receives the grain at its uppermost inclined
screen a that serves to separate the straws, weeds, and other large impurities
dropping the grain on the inclined part of the shaker below the screen, and con-
[Price 6d.1

page_text: ducting it along the same to a second screen b arranged in the lower part of the
shaker at an inclination in opposite direction to the upper part. The screen b is
so arranged that the oats are separated thereby, and conducted off at the end, while
the grain is dropped on a second screen b¹, below the upper screen b, by which the
cockles and sand are removed, the grain passing along screen b¹ to a receiver or
hopper & of the main part of the machine containing the grading chambers C, scouring
cylinder D, and draft fan E.
The grading chambers C are arranged three or more at the top part of the
machine, forming pockets with bottom valves d, through which the grain is con-
ducted off to a suitable receptacle or separate bins as desired. The weight of the
grain accumulating in the pockets of the chambers C automatically opens the valves
to discharge the grain, they closing again when the pressure is decreased.
The grading of the grain is produced by the suction fan E which draws in a
powerful current of air through a valve e below the receiving hopper d to a vertical
trunk F, and then through grading chambers C to a downward extending trunk F¹,
and into the fan casing E¹. The fan draft is regulated by the main valve fin
trunk F, and the valves fl in the grading chamber by which the power of the
draft may be increased or decreased; and thereby any separation of the grain made
before the same enters the scouring cylinder.
The vertical draft trunk F is divided immediately below the receiving hopper d
by a lateral partition g into two sections of which the one next to the hopper d is
covered with an inclined screen gl, below which a second inclined screen and
spout is arranged in opposite direction. The draft acting on the grain during
its passage over the upper screen cleans it completely of any still adhering cockle
or other particles which are extracted and expelled by the fan. A valve y³ of
partition serves to close the main draft passage of trunk F, when it is desired to
close the communication with the scouring cylinder and conduct the grain directly
through an outlet of the partition over the lower screen and discharge spout g² to
the outside. When valve g³ is lowered the outlet of the partition is closed and the
grain allowed to pass to the scouring cylinder D below. A valve f³ of trunk F
above the entrance opening of the grain serves to form a separating eddy in the
trunk for different grades of wheat.
The grain enters the horizontal casing D¹ of the scouring cylinder D by a top
inlet. The casing is made of chilled iron. of which the inner surface is diamond
pointed or toothed in any approved manner.
The revolving cylinder D is provided with spirally twisted longitudinal ribs or
beaters as shown in Figures 4 and 5, which are so arranged as to brush or rub
each kernel or grain against the inner scouring surface of the casing D¹, so as to
thoroughly scour and polish the grain and leave the ends free from fuzz. The
scouring cylinder is placed on the same shaft as the suction fan, and exposed to the
action of a second current of air drawn to the fan through the casing D¹ by means
of screened openings at the outer end, and inclined tin spouts i at the inner end,
which opens into a horizontal draft passage i¹ and branch channel regulated by
a valve 3. The current of air carries off effectually all dust and light scourings
from the grain as soon as loosened, and forces them then through the conducting
channels and fan to the outside.
The scoured grain is conducted from the scouring chamber through a vertical
passage G at the bottom of the same to an exit spout H passing, before reaching the
sume, over another wire screen 7, where it is exposed to a third current of air drawn
in through a vertical trunk H³, and through a grading chamber I by the fan. The
grading chamber I is constructed in analogous manner as the upper or main
grading chamber C, with one or more divisions or pockets, and automatically
opening valves at the lowermost points, also with draft regulating valve or valves f³
and an eddy valve f* for the purpose of grading the scoured grain. The heaviest
grain drops directly through the spout H, while the lighter grain is separated by
the draft and graded in the chamber or chambers I.

page_text: The compact arrangement of the upper and lower grading chambers relatively to
the suction fan and scouring cylinder utilizes the space and admits the convenient
adjustment of the regulating valves for the different purposes and operations of
the machine.
The machine is run from one shaft only, and combines the different parts in
economical, effective, and convenient manner.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is
1st. A grain separator and scourer worked by a suction fan and separate draft
channels for producing respectively air currents for the grading of the grain supplied
from shaker for the cleaning of the grain from dust in the scouring cylinder, and
for the grading of the scoured grain on leaving the scouring cylinder, substantially
in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. The combination of the suction fan with the entrance trunk F, grading
chambers C, conducting trunk F¹, and suitable regulating valves, substantially as
specified.
3rd. The combination of the suction fan E, with the scouring cylinder D, exit
spouts i, conducting trunk i¹, and regulating valve for clearing grain from dust
during scouring, substantially as described.
4th. The combination of the suction fan E with the discharge spout of scouring
cylinder D, trunk H¹, grading chamber I, and regulating valves for grading the
scoured grain, substantially as set forth.
5th. The combination of vertical trunk F having lateral partition g with entrance
screen g', communicating opening and valve g³, and exit screen and spout g² for
conducting off grain before scouring, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)