IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PURIFYING MIDDLINGS
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the naturo
of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PURIFYING MIDDLINGS"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This Invention relates to bolting or separating machines of that class which
comprises an inclined sieve and an elevating mechanism, whereby the material
which has passed over the sieve and escapes from the lower end thereof is again
elevated and delivered upon the upper end of the sieve, and in which the material
is at the same time caused to move gradually across the sieve so that the material
is repeatedly elevated and caused to flow over the inclined sieve in passing through
the machine.
The object of this Invention is to adapt the machine to the purification of
middlings by organizing the said machine in such manner that currents of varying
strength can be directed upwardly through the different sections of the screen in
order to adapt the force and volume of the air currents to the character of the
material passing over the different screen sections. The Invention to this end
comprises improvements in the construction of the machine which will be
hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a machine provided with the present
improvements.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the tail end of the machine.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line x x Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine.
Figure 5 is a cross section, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the screen and wipers.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the upper part of the machine.
Figure 7 is a top view or plan of the same.
Like letters of reference denote like parts in the several Figures.
A is the enclosing case of the machine secured to a frame A¹ and constructed in
any suitable or well known mauner,,

page_text: B represents the separating or bolting screen arranged in an inclined position
within the case A and composed of a suitable number of sections 6 61 6² arranged
side by side. The several sections are clothed with bolting cloth of the proper
mesh in accordance with the particular kind of work for which the machine is
designed. Ordinarily the sections are clothed with cloth of increasing coarseness
from the head toward the tail of the machine, the section b being covered with the
finest and the section 6 with the coarsest cloth.
The screen is preferably so inclined that the material will flow over the same by
gravity.
C represents the meal chamber, above the screen B, in which the elevating
mechanism D is arranged and which receives the material to be separated or
bolted. E represents the flour chamber underneath the screen which receives the
fine material which has been bolted through the inclined screen and which is
provided with suitable conveyors e e¹ and slides e² for drawing off the various
grades of the bolted material, as may be desired.
The elevating mechanism consists preferably of pulleys or drums d d¹ and
buckets secured to one or more endless belts or chains f¹ running around the
pulleys & d', but any other suitable elevator, for instance a bucket reel, may be
employed, if preferred.
g represents the feed opening through which the material to be separated or
bolted is delivered into the meal-chamber C.
H H H represent air chambers arranged above the several sections of the
screen, seperated by partitions which extend to, or nearly to, the surface of
the screen.
e e¹ are partitions formed in the flour-chamber E underneath the partitions h h¹
of the air-chamber and dividing the flour-chamber into compartments corresponding
with the air-chambers H H' H².
eese are air-openings through which air is admitted to the compartments of
the flour-chamber E.
I represents a suction-fan the eye of which is connected with the air-chambers
HH H by spouts i i¹², each opening into one of the air chambers and provided
with a slide or damper 23 by which the force and volume of the air-currents
drawn through the several air-chambers can be regulated.
The increasing coarseness of the texture of the bolting cloth with which the
different sections of the screen are covered, in connection with the increasing
coarseness and decreasing bulk of the material flowing over successive sections,
tends to grade the strength of the air currents, which are drawn through successive
screen sections, so that light air-currents are drawn through the fine sections, and
stronger or heavier currents through the coarser sections in the absence of any
other means for regulating the air currents.
The chambers H H¹ H³ are arranged side by side between the lower side of the
elevating mechanisin and the upper side of the screen.
kare flexible strips or curtains secured respectively to the upper and lower
edges of the air-chambers and resting on the screen or casing to prevent, as far as
possible, the admission of air to the air-chamber, except through the meshes of
the screen.
The ends of the screen frame project through openings m m¹ formed in the end
walls of the case A. One end of the screen-frame rests against a spring n and
the other end of the screen frame is struck by a knocker whereby the screen is
jarred and the meshes are kept open.
o represents adjustable deflecting boards pivotted to the upper side of the top
plate of the air chamber and connected by a shifting bar o¹ whereby the position
of the deflecting boards o can be regulated.
These deflecting boards can be adjusted so as to turn or deflect the material, as
it is discharged from the elevator, toward or from the head of the machine, thereby
accelerating or retarding the tendency of the material to work toward the tail
end of the machine, which tendency is given to the material by a slight inclination

page_text: or pitch of the machine from its head toward its tail end. By inclining the
deflecting boards more or less toward the head of the machine the progress of the
material toward the tail end is more or less retarded.
The deflecting boards are preferably arranged more closely together as they
approach the tail end of the machine, as represented in Figure 4, thereby retarding
the material more and more in the same measure as its quantity grows less by the
removal of the fine material which is bolted out. If preferred, the machine may
be arranged horizontally and the movement of the material from the head to the
tail of the machine may be effected solely by the deflecting boards o.
P P P represent wipers or cleaners arranged in the several air chambers H H'H'
so as to bear upon the upper sides of the several screen sections. The wipers P P¹ P²
are attached to a frame Q which travels back and forth above the upper surface of
the screen. The wipers P P P² are arranged in vertical planes and extend from
the upper to the lower edges of the screen sections, their reciprocating movement
taking place in planes at right angles to the inclination of the screen.
The wiper
frame consists of horizontal bars q which are guided in openings formed in the
partitions h¹ and inclined connecting bars q which are rigidly secured to the
bars q. The wipers P P P² consist each of series of bars or stocks p which are
connected at their ends by links p' and provided on their under sides with wires p³
or strips of india rubber, felt, or other flexible material, or brushes which bear
upon the upper side of the screen. As each wiper consists of a series of members
flexibly connected together it is free to adapt itself to the surface of the cloth, if
the latter should bag or sag between the frames or ribs of the screen.
The frame Q is actuated by a bar which is secured with its lower end to the
frame and projects through an elongated opening or slot formed in the top
plate of the central air chamber H¹. This slot is protocted by strips of india-
rubber or other elastic material which substantially prevent the air from passing
through said slot. The upper end of the bar projects through a horizontal
slot formed in the front wall of the casing A. The bar is actuated by n
horizontal endless belt R arranged at the front side of the machine near the
slot 7.
The belt r runs over two pulleys 8 s¹ and is connected with the bar by a cord
or chain whereby the arm and the frame Q attached thereto are drawn back
and forth. The pulleys is secured to a short shaft which turns in a brackets
and which carries at its outer end a bevel wheel st. The latter is driven by a
bevel pinions which is secured to the inner end of a horizontal shaft 8, its outer
end being provided with a pulley T to which motion is communicated by an
endless belt t from a pulley t mounted on the upper shaft of the elevating
mechanism. The pulley 8¹ turns loosely on an arbor or stud which is secured to a
bracket Both pulleys are unobstructed at their inner sides, so that the chain or
cord & can pass freely around the pulley with the bolt. The lateral movement of
the frame Q and of cach wiper is limited to the length of one compartment
or chamber H. The requisite reduction of the movement imparted to the end of
the chain by the endless belt, to that required by the frame Q, is readily effected
by the length of the chain 82.
The reciprocating movement of the wipers is comparatively slow so as not to
interfere with the normal movement of the material across the sieve from the feed
end toward the tail of the machine.
In
The middlings to be purified are fed into the meal chamber C through the
spout g, or in any other suitable manner. The middlings are elevated from the
bottom of the casing and caused to flow repeatedly over the inclined screen.
passing over the fine screen section at the head of the machine, the material is
subjected to a light air current adapted to the separation and removal of the light
impurities. This light air-current is caused partly by the close texture of the
bolting cloth, the density of the mass of material flowing over the screen, and
the adjustment of the air current by the slide in the spout i. In flowing over
the next coarser section b¹ the material encounters a heavier air current by reason

page_text: of the coarser texture of the cloth, the decreased bulk of the material and the
adjustment of the slide in the trunk i¹. A still stronger air current operates upon
the material passing over the next coarser section 6, and for the same reasons.
The purified middlings which pass through the screen are collected in the meal
chamber and discharged, separated into different grades, or together, as may be
desired..
The light impurities are removed by the air-currents, and the bran and heavy
residuary material are tailed off-through an opening formed near the bottom of the
casing at the tail end of the machine.
It is obvious that the air currents may be directed through the screen by a blast
fan or fans, instead of a suction fan, if preferred.
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-
First. In a middlings-purifier, the combination with an inclined screen composed
of sections having different degrees of fineness arranged side by side, an elevator
whereby the material escaping from the lower end of the screen is returned to its
upper end, means whereby the material is caused to move laterally across the
screen from the fine to the coarse sections, and an air trunk and fan whereby an
air current is directed upwardly through the screen, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a middlings purifier, the combination with an inclined screen, of an
air trunk and fan whereby an air current is directed upwardly through the screen,
an elevator whereby the material escaping from the lower end of the screen is
returned to its upper end, means whereby a lateral motion across the screen is
imparted to the material, and a cleaner, operating to keep the sieve open,
substantially as set forth.
Third. In a middlings-purifier, the combination with an inclined screen composed
of sections of different degrees of fineness arranged side by side, of an elevator
whereby the material escaping from the lower end of the screen is returned to its
upper end, an air-trunk and fan whereby air currents are directed upwardly
through the screen, and means whereby the force of the air currents which pass
through the different sections of the screen can be regulated, substantially as set
forth.
Fourth. In a middlings purifier, the combination with an inclined screen
composed of sections of different degrees of fineness arranged side by side, of an
elevator whereby the material escaping from the lower end of the screen is returned
to its upper end, a fan whereby air currents are caused to pass upwardly through
the screen, and a divided air-trunk having adjusting devices for regulating the
force of the air currents through the different sections of the screen, substantially
as set forth.
... 1
1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.