IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING GRAIN, AND IN THE MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Polson, of Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, of the Firm of Brown and Polson, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING GRAIN, AND IN THE MECHANISM
EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
"
Scaled the 26th April 1870, and dated the 8th March 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Polson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th March 1870.
I, JOHN POLSON, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, of the Firm of Brown and Polson, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING GRAIN, AND IN THE
MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object the separation of the outer coating or
portions of grain from the interior portion, and in a more efficient manner
than hitherto practised, and it also relates to the effecting of such separa-
tion after the grain has been desiccated and then moistǝned, that is to

page_text: say, the separation is effected when the grain is in the moistened state,
and it is also applicable for hulling or husking grain in the dry state.
The mechanism by which the herein-before described operation is
effected, that is to say, the hulling or husking of the grain, consists of
a cylindrical or conical barrel or drum placed either horizontally or
inclined, which is revolved at the requisite velocity and situated inside
a cylindrical or conical casing, the barrel or drum and casing being of
such dimensions that a space is left between them. The barrel or drum
is wholly or partly covered with a sheet or sheets of perforated iron or
steel, whilst the cylindrical casing is also composed of similar perforated
iron or steel. At one end of the casing a passage or duct is provided,
through which the grain to be hulled or husked is admitted, and at the
opposite end of the casing another duct is provided, through which the
grain after being hulled or husked is discharged, and in order to increase
the intensity of the hulling or husking action provision is made for
adjusting the revolving cylinder or conc eccentrically with the sur-
rounding casing, so as to collect the grain more closely together at the
narrowest part of the space between the said barrel or drum and casing.
For the purpose of cooling the working parts of the hulling or
husking mechanism as well as the grain itself the duct by which the
grain is admitted is provided with an air chamber and fan or exhauster,
by means of which cold air is drawn through the mechanism, thereby
keeping it as well as the grain at a sufficiently low temperature.
A beater is also provided, which is driven by an eccentric or its
equivalent from the shaft of the drum and so arranged as to bear upon
the outer casing, thereby shaking the dust out of the holes of the
perforated iron or steel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Polson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
POLSON, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, of the
Firm of Brown & Polson, send greeting.
3
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year of 3

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the 33rd year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Polson, Her special license that I, the
said John Polson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Polson, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING GRAIN,
AND IN THE MECHANISH EXPLOYED THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Polson, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Polson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object the separation of the outer
coating or portions of grain from the interior portion, and in a more
efficient manner than hitherto practised, and it also relates to the
effecting of such separation after the grain has been moistened with or
without previous desiccation, that is to say, the separation is effected
when the grain is in the moistened state, and it is also applicable for
hulling or husking grain in the dry state.
Under one arrangement the mechanism by which the herein-before
described operation is effected, that is to say, the hulling or husking of
the grain, consists of a cylindrical or conical barrel or drum placed either
horizontally or inclined, which is revolved at the requisite velocity and
situated inside a cylindrical or conical casing, the barrel or drum and
casing being of such dimensions that a space is left between them. The
barrel or drum is wholly or partly covered with a sheet or sheets or
strips of perforated iron or steel, whilst the cylindrical casing is also
composed of similar perforated iron or steel. At one end of the casing a

page_text: passage or duct is provided through which the grain to be hulled or
husked is admitted, and at the opposite end of the casing another duct
is provided, through which the grain after being hulled or husked is
discharged.
For the purpose of cooling the working parts of the hulling or husking
mechanism as well as the grain itself the duct by which the grain is
admitted is provided with an air chamber and fan or exhauster by which
cold air is drawn through perforations in the ends as well as in the duct
to the mechanism, thereby keeping it as well as the grain at a
sufficiently low temperature.
Under another arrangement, that is, when the outer casing is stationary,
a beater may be provided, which is driven by an eccentric or its
equivalent from the shaft of the drum and so arranged as to beat upon
the outer casing, thereby shaking the dust out of the holes of the
perforated iron or steel.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
now proceed to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which
the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :-
-
Figuro 1 is a longitudinal section; Figure 2 represents two half
transverse sections upon the lines a, a, and b, b, Figure 1, respectively;
Figure 3 is a side elevation, and Figure 4 is an end elevation shewing
one modification of my improved apparatus for hulling or husking grain.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts
upon the different Figures on which they occur.
In the first modification of my improved hulling or husking apparatus
the mechanism consists of a cylindrical barrel or drum A, by preference
constructed of segments or staves of timber B, and attached at both ends
to disc C, O, fixed upon the revolving shaft or spindle D. The external
cylindrical surface of the barrel or drum A is covered by perforated
plates or strips a of steel or iron, bent round and secured to the timber
segments or staves B. Upon one end of the shaft or spindle D a driving
pulley E is fixed, and this pulley is provided for the purpose of
communicating a rotatory motion to the barrel or drum A, in the
manner well understood by means of an endless strap or belt passing
around it, and driven from an adjacent revolving pulley. The barrel or

page_text: drum A is situated within a perforated cylindrical casing F, which is
made of steel or iron plates fixed at both ends to rings G, G, carried
by the arms and boss V and free to revolve upon the shaft or spindle D.
At the centre thereof, and upon the exterior of the casing F, a ring H
having spur teeth is fixed which gears into a pinion I fixed upon a
shaft J carried in bearings in the end frames K, K. Upon one end of
the shaft J a pulley L is fixed, this being provided for the purpose of
communicating a rotatory motion to the shaft J by means of a strap or
belt 6 driven by a small pulley M fixed upon the corresponding end of
the shaft or spindle D, and through the medium of the spur wheel H
and the pinion I a rotatory motion is conveyed to the casing E at a
velocity equal by preference to one twenty-fifth or thereabouts of that of
the barrel or drum A, which may be in a direction contrary to that in
which the barrel A. revolves or in the same direction. The exterior
casing of the apparatus consists of end frames K, K, bolted at the lower
part to side frame plates N, N, whilst the top or covering, which is
semicircular, is of sheet iron extending between the end frames K, K,
and secured to flanges c, c, by means of rivets or bolts. Upon one of
the end frames K, a passage O is formed in the manner shewn, to which
a pipe P is attached having by preference through a portion of its length
an outer shell or casing Q, the position of which, as shown in the
Drawings, forms an annular space R around the passage P, and to the
lower part of which a small drip pipe d is attached, provided for the
purpose of withdrawing any superfluous water that may collect in the
space R through the condensation of the steam contained therein. In
place of steam water may be admitted into the space R. The air-tight
chamber S wherein the working parts of the apparatus are situated
terminates at the lower side in a duct T formed as shown, and leading
to a fan or exhauster.
Having thus described the details of my improved hulling or husking
apparatus, its action or mode of operation will be more clearly under-
stood as follows:-The grain which is to be husked or hulled is admitted
through the passage P, and into the annular space R steam or water
is admitted; the said pipe P is perforated as shown for the purpose
of allowing the steam or water to moisten the grain during its passage
through the passage P. In travelling downwards through the duct O
the moistened grain falls into the space between the revolving casing F
and drum A, which may revolve in opposite directions, as indicated
by the arrows upon Figure 2, and at different velocities as herein-before

page_text: specified. The grain is thus exposed to a rubbing or triturating action
between the perforated plates a upon the barrel or drum A and those
forming the casing F, whereby the outer coating or husk is removed
from the inner portion of the grain. This rubbing process is main-
tained throughout the entire length of the barrel or drum A as the
grain travels along its surface, and when having arrived at the end
opposite to that into which it was admitted the grain then drops
into and is discharged through a duct U formed in one of the end
frames K. During the whole of the operation now last described a
a current of cool air is drawn through the perforations e, both in the
duct O as well as in the ends K, passing through the grain and over the
working parts of the apparatus, thereby keeping the grain as well as the
mechanism at a low temperature whilst the hulling or husking operation
is continued. The said current of air is occasioned and drawn downward
by means of an ordinary fan or exhauster conveniently placed at the
outer end of the duct T.
Another modification of my improved husking or hulling apparatus,
but not shewn in the Drawings, consists of a barrel or drum similar to
that hercin-before specified and marked A, but situated insido a fixed
or stationary instead of a revolving cylindrical casing of perforated plates
as in the foregoing modification, and for the purpose of shaking the
dust out of the perforations in the stationary casing a beater may be
provided consisting of a bar hinged at one end to the casing and at the
other connected by a rod to an eccentric or a cam fixed upon the shaft of
the barrel or drum, by the revolution of which it is caused alternately to
beat against and recede from the casing, thus producing a tremor or
vibration therein sufficient to shake out any dust or pulverulent matter
which may tend to accumulate in the perforations.
In the Provisional Specification it is stated that provision is made for
adjusting the cylinders eccentrically with each other. I prefer to dispense
with this part of the arrangement, and to place the cylinder and casing
concentric with one another, as I have found in practice that the best
results are obtained by their being so situated.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―

page_text: First. The general arrangement and combination of parts con-
tituting the mechanism for hulling or husking grain as herein-beforo
lescribed and shewn upon the appended Sheet of Drawings.
Second. The employment of perforated steel or iron plates for hulling
or husking grain, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Polson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of September One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.