method of and Apparatus for Removing the OF Woody Fibre from Grain.
Year: 1889

page_text: method of and Apparatus for Removing the OF
Woody Fibre from Grain.
W45
I, JOHANN HERMANN LEHL of Stralsund and Wolgass Steam Mills, Stralsund in
the Empire of Germany, Merchant do heroby 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 :-
The method hereinafter described and the new apparatus employed therein have for
their object the decortication of grain, to this end the grain is first saturated with
lime water then loosened from the woody fibre by a wheat cleaning machine is worked
up by knife-like helicoidal devices being then polished in a polishing machine so that
by these various operations the silicous woody fibre and the endocarp are completely
removed the grain remaining covered only with the seed-membrane, highly polished
and elastic. The method differs from others heretofore known in that it consists in
moistening the grain with pure limewater in conjunction with a peculiar surface
action in screw-sieves and polishing machines before the corn is ground up
and the grain is introduced into the process of grinding when it is already
decorticated.
This process differs from that of Giroud Dargeau that in the latter the grain is
simply steeped in milk of lime for a little while and is then ground up in the usual
manner. It differs from E. Weiss' decorticating process because the latter uses a
weak sodium-lye (produced by boiling a solution of two parts of calcined soda in
12 parts of water with 1 part of caustic lime previously slaked in 3 parts of
water) and with this sprinkles the grain during the cleaning and previous to grinding
it either by means of special sprinkling apparatus or simply by watering cans so
that the lye is equally distributed over the grain.
It differs also from a more recent process as in this the grain is treated simply
with a current of steam.

page_text: In comparison with these known processes my new method prosents the following
differences :-
The grain is charged with lime water and the horizontal sieve surfaces of a cleaning
machine or other horizontal or vertical surfaces are ntilized together with special
sieves and operating plates for loosening the woody fibre of the grain.
The grain is next forced into screwlike apparatus provided with knife-like surfaces
then polished in a polishing machine until the silicious woody fibre and tho skin aro
entirely removed and the grain only covered with the seed-membrane, is shining and
translucent and may then he treated by any suitable brushing machine or a machine
for removing the points therefrom, that is to say is freed from any yet adhering
portions of the husk and germs.
Figure 1 shows a general view of the special machinory employed and shows the
screw mixer and the double serow in longitudinal section.. Fig. 1 shews a modified
construction of the screw-mixer in elevation and partly in section.
Figures 2 and 2 show in longitudinal section and elevation the form of the metal
sheets forming the screw mixer and the double screw.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the double screw.
A is a mixing screw by which the grain is intimately mixed with the lime water.
This screw consists of separate screws placed so as to "break joint" with one another
the screws being made of sheet metal and perforated the metal stamper and when
perforating the sheets being bent up. Boards forming small passages inserted in the
thread of the screws present obstacles to the movement of the grain contained in the
screw mixer and this causes a more intimate commingling. These perforated screw-
threads are shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 2. In Figure 1 the screw-mixer
is shown with a continuous scrow. From A the grain, moistened with limewater
passes by the tube or pipe to a cleaning machine B, fitted with corrugated sheets of
woven wire or to an apparatus similar to a mill but working with perforated surfaces
and connected with a fan by which the loosened woody fibre is removed from the
grain. From the cleaner the grain passes by the tube or pipe r to a double screw O
with equally divided threads. "In this machine the grain is exposed to a forward and
backward movement so that the kernels press and rub against one another and the
husks of the grain saturated with lime water are squeezed off. In their upper part
these screws are covered with a semi-cylindrical covor. The lower channel consists of
a perforated sheet of metal and a solid trough (the latter being connected with
fans . The grain falls into the first scrow, at the end thereof passos through an
aperture into the second and the kernels are thus compelled to rub against and to
decorticate one another. The grain is conveyed back towards the inlet aperture
passes out of the double screw and by means of a tube d into a polishing apparatus D
in which the kernols are once more rubbed against one another and thereby freed from
the woody fibre that yet adheres. The polishing machine may be of any suitable con-
struction. It is preferred however to make the same in the form of a mill working
with spheres or balls the balls being of suitably large size.
The grain coming from the polishing machine is covered only with the seed mem-
brane highly lustrous and translucent. The screws of the double scrow apparatus are
likewise of the form shown in Figures 2 and 2. They are sheets or plates with
projecting knife like or wing like slots.
The machine B is constructed as follows:-1 is the frame of the machine bearing
the main shaft 2 set in motion by pulley 3.
By means of pulley 4 and strap 5 the fan B is set in motion whoso shaft carrios
the pulley 7.
The pulley 10 is fixed to the crankshaft 11 and is driven by means of pulloy 8 of
shaft 2 and strap 9. The said crankshaft gives to the case 18 by means of the crank
and driving har an oscillating motion. The case 13 is fitted with a sieve with a
perforated and curved surface for the issue of the grain while the shells and dust aro
blown away by the action of the fan B' which sends a strong current of air through
the channel 15 against the sieve.

page_text: 16 are elastic springs for the purpose of giving the sieve a retrograde motion and to
hold it.
Instead of crankshaft 11 a tumbling shaft may be adopted. 17 is a disconnecting
gear.
The husked grain falls into the funnel 18 and from there into the funnel 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
:-
The method of and apparatus for removing the skin or hull and woody fibre
from grain all substantially as described and shewn by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 11th day of February 1889.
BROWNE & Co.,
9 & 10, Southampton Buildings, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.