IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STORING AND TREATMENT OF GRAIN
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STORING AND TREATMENT OF
GRAIN."A communication from Jean Gustave de Coninck, of Havre, in
the Empire of France, Merchant.
Sealed the 16th November 1855, and dated the 19th June 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th June 1855.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STORING AND TREATMENT
OF GRAIN," communicated to me from Jean Gustave de Coninck, of Havre, in
the Empire of France, Merchant, to be as follows:-
This Invention, relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
granary and apparatus connected therewith for storeing, preserving, ventilating,
and cleaning grain and seeds of all kinds. The improved granary consists of
a building of any convenient external form, but made sufficiently high to
contain several floors, which floors are divided vertically into columns or sets
distinct from each other.
These columns or vertical series of floors are made so as to leave a central
well or shaft in the centre of the building, this shaft extending from the base-
ment to the top floor. In the centre of this shaft works an ordinary elevator

page_text: or chain of buckets, which elevates the grain to be treated from the bottom
of the well or shaft into a hopper or receiver in the top storey. From the
bottom of this hopper branch off a number of supply pipes, which convey the
grain into the top chamber of any one of the vertical series, the other pipes
being closed by conical plugs inside the hopper. In order that the grain
may be more evenly & regularly distributed over the first or top floor, the
mouths of the supply pipes are fitted each with a kind of inverted saucer,
placed a few inches below them, upon which the grain falls, and descends
therefrom in the form of a shower on to the floor.
The whole of the floors have longitudinal slits or perforations made in them
to allow the grain to fall through on to the next lower floor; but these
openings gradually increase in size from the top floor downwards, so that the
grain will pass through the several floors more freely and rapidly the lower it
descends. This has the effect of causing the level of the grain or "couches"
on the lower floors to descend also more rapidly, and act as pistons for drawing
in fresh air from suitable ventilating windows covered with wire gauze; since
the more rapidly the level falls, the more air will enter the chamber, and as
such fresh air passes through the falling grain, it follows that it will be perfectly
ventilated, although in a most simple and economical manner. Strips or
projecting ribs of wood or other suitable material with sloping sides are laid
between the longitudinal openings in the floors, whereby the grain is better
directed into such openings. On passing through the lowest floor the grain
falls on an inclined riddle or sieve, which separates the small seeds from it,
and allows the good grain to fall through a lateral opening (fitted with a
sliding door) in the chamber at the bottom of the inclined sieve into the
central well or shaft, whence it is again elevated to the top floor. by the elevator.
Each of the vertical sets or series of floors is similarly connected by a sliding.
door with the central well, which door may be kept closed when not in use.
A metal casing surrounds the lower portion of the elevator, and extends from
above the level of the grain in the well to, near the bottom of the same, so that
the grain is taken only from the bottom of the well. When supplying fresh
grain to the well, the sacks are emptied into a hopper, and the grain enters a
double riddle, which is vibrated by any suitable mechanism, and thence passes
into the well free from any extraneous matters larger than the grain, which
might stop up the openings in the floor. If desired, the ventilation of the grain
may be still further increased, by forcing a current or currents of air into the
chambers by means of a suitable fan or other blower, & conducting air
passage or passages.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th December 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and
of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
1
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,_by. Her-Letters-
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE STORING AND TREATMENT OF GRAIN," a communication from Jean
Gustave de Coninck, of Havre, in the Empire of France, Merchant, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instru-
ment 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 performed, 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 Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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:-
The said Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
granary and apparatus connected therewith for storing, preserving, ventilating,
and cleaning grain and seeds of all kinds. The improved granary consists of
a building of any convenient external form, but made sufficiently high to
contain several floors, which floors are divided vertically into columns or sets
distinct from each other. These columns or vertical series of floors are made
so as to leave a central well-or-shaft in the centre of the building, this shaft
extending from the basement to. the top floor. In the centre of this shaft

page_text: works an ordinary elevator or chain of buckets, which elevates the grain to be
treated from the bottom of the well or shaft into a hopper or receiver in the
top story. From the bottom of this hopper branch off a number of supply
pipes, which convey the grain into the top chamber of any one of the vertical
series, the other pipes being, closed by conical plugs inside the hopper when
not required for use, in order that the grain may be more evenly and regularly
distributed over the first or top. floor. The mouths of the supply pipes are
fitted each with a kind of inverted saucer, placed a few inches below them,
upon which the grain; falls, and descends therefrom in the form of a shower
on to the floor. The whole of the floors have longitudinal slits or perforations
made in them to allow the grain to fall through on to the next lower floor;
but these openings gradually increase in size from the top floor downwards, so
that the grain will pass through the several floors more freely and rapidly the
lower it descends. This has the effect of causing the level of the grain or
couches on the lower floors to descend also more rapidly, and act as pistons for
drawing in fresh air from suitable ventilating windows covered with wire
gauze, since the more rapidly the level falls, the more air will enter the
chamber, and as such fresh air passes through the falling grain, it follows that
it. will be perfectly ventilated, although in a most simple and economical
manner. Strips or projecting, ribs of wood or other suitable material with
sloping sides are laid between the longitudinal openings in the floors, whereby
the grain is better directed into such openings. On passing through the lowest
floor the grain falls on an inclined riddle or sieve, which separates the small
seeds from it, and allows the grain to fall through a lateral opening (fitted with
a sliding door), in the chamber at the bottom of the inclined sieve into the
central well or shaft, whence it is again elevated to the top floor by the
elevator. Each of the vertical sets or series of floors is similarly connected
by a sliding door with the central well, which door may be kept closed when
not in use. A metal casing surrounds the lower portion of the elevator, and
extends from above the level of the grain in the well to near the bottom of
the same, so that the grain is taken only from the bottom of the well. When
supplying fresh grain to the well, the sacks are emptied into a hopper, and the
grain enters a double riddle, which is vibrated by any suitable mechanism, and
thence passes into the well free from any extraneous matter larger than the
grain, which might stop up the openings in the floor. If desired, the ventila-
tion of the grain may be still further increased, by forcing a current or currents
of air into the chambers by means of a suitable fan or other blower and con-
ducting air passage or passages.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now

page_text: proceed particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall refer to
the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the, same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the Figures.
Fig. 1 of, the Drawings is an external elevation of the improved granary;
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 1, 2; Fig. 3 is a horizontal
section of the same taken along the line 3,4; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail
of a portion of one of the perforated floors.
דיר.
The building A. which may be of any height, is of rectangular form. In the
interior of the building are arranged 8. colums or sets of chambers. B, the
floors of which are formed with longitudinal slits in them, covered with wire
work, and having projecting ribs between each slit, as shewn at Fig. 4. These
floors are supported by means of suitable. pillars..; The.8 sets of chambers, are
arranged, round the interior of the building along the internal face of the
inner walls A. A space C is left down the centre of the building, and
receives-light-and air-from the roof of the granary. The bottom of this open
space is hollowed so as to form a well or basin D, capable of receiving the
grain as it flows from any, one, or more of the columns or sets.of. chambers:
The bottom of this well is. funnel shaped, so as to: direct. towards the centre
thereof all the grain which falls into it. In the centre of this well is a
cylinder E, formed of metal or other. suitable material. This cylinder, rises
from near the bottom of the well to the top of the same; it, has a sufficient
diameter to allow the elevating apparatus to pass freely through it. Round
the bottom. of, the cylinder are left openings to admit the grain to its interior,
so as to be within range, of the buckets of the elevator, which serves for all
the columns; as does also the well. At the upper part of the granary the
elevator discharges the corn into a hopper f, the base of which is furnished
with inclined conducting tubes g, each leading to a column or set of chambers.
Each of these tubes can be closed at will by means of a wooden cover or plug
attached to a cord passing over a pully and leading down to the bottom of the
granary.
In order to work any one or more of the columns or sets of chambers, the
lateral doors h, which are placed at the foot of the column for that purpose, are
opened, and the central well D is thereby filled. The door being closed again,
the column works by itself, and the grain is agitated and ventilated, and the
elevator raises to the upper chamber. that portion of corn which was emptied
into the central basin. The elevator is regulated in such a manner that
it cannot elevate. more grain in a given time than flows from the lower
chamber.in the same time.
In each chamber, and in the same horizontal line with each other, there are

page_text: openings k in the building, furnished with metallic plates, which allow of the
external air being drawn into the chambers. As the level of the grain is
reduced, these openings are made in the external walls of the building, as well
as in the walls forming the internal face of the columns of chambers, looking
inwards towards the central space. They may be of various dimensions, and
may even occupy the whole height of the chamber. In the centre of one of
the four walls forming the building, and level with the ground, is an entrance
door K to the interior of the granary; at the end of the entrance passage
is a double riddle, which may receive a vibrating motion from a driving shaft
which traverses the basement of the building.
.
When grain is brought to the granary and it is required to fill one of the
columns, the sacks are emptied into a hopper placed before the entrance;
the grain flows into the riddles in motion and arrives at the central well
with the grosser extraneous bodies, which would be an obstruction to the
holes in the floors, removed. During the time that only one column is being
filled the motion of the elevator may be accelerated. A small floor allows
of the entrance of an attendant into the central opening left between the
columns. This allows of the chambers being visited and entered, if necessary,
by means of small doors in each. A vast depot of corn may be composed
of a range of granaries. In this case one wall will necessarily be common to
two contiguous granaries.
The driving shaft transmits the motive power in a straight line through the
centre of these buildings. In working this granary it is simply necessary to
raise a small portion in order to move and ventilate the whole of the grain,
since it falls from one floor to another, and the agitating and ventilating of the
grain can be more perfectly performed and with more frequency than in other
granaries. The only part which receives motion from the motive power in
this granary is the elevator.
The ventilation of the grain can be greatly accelerated by a simple con-
ductor placed between the openings of the lower chambers. In the centre of
the building a blower or ventilator receiving motion from the driving shaft
powerfully draws in the exterior air, which is thus forced to traverse at a
great speed, the streams of grain falling through the different floors.
A cleaning apparatus may be advantageously applied on the entrance of the
grain into the granary in order to clean it. This granary may also be used as
a warehouse for ordinary goods if it is not entirely occupied with grain. In
this case boards are put over the gratings or openings in the floors, and
the goods are passed in through the small doors in the chambers, the driving
shaft in this case serving to hoist the goods.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had
occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom
without deviating from the principles or main features of the said Inven-
tion; but what I consider to be novel and original, as therefore claim as
the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is,
-
First, the general construction and arrangement of granaries for storing,
ventilating, preserving, and cleaning grain, as herein-before described.
Second, the peculiar columnar arrangement of perforated granary floors, and
the so .arranging the perforations in such floors that the grain is allowed
to fall from the top floors of the granary through all the lower floors at a
gradually increasing speed as it descends, in the manner and for the purpose.
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)