CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF DISINTEGRATORS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Strick and William Evans, both of Swansea, in the
County of Glamorgan, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF DISINTEGRATORS."
Sealed the 9th May 1876, and dated the 16th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Strick and William
Evans at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February
1876.
JAMES STRICK and WILLIAM EVANS, both of Swansea, in the County of Gla-
morgan. 'CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT of
"
DISINTEGRATORS."
The Invention relates to that class of mechanism known as disintegrators
employed for separating or reducing substances into their integrant parts so as to
assume a granular or powdered state.
The improvements consist in mounting upon vertical or horizontal axis two dises
with peculiarly constructed surfaces capable of being driven in opposite directions,
and so arranged that when in action they will rapidly reduce substances submitted
to their disintegrating surfaces into a fine granular condition.
The novelty of the construction, arrangement, and action of these discs may be
thus described :-The inner surfaces of the said discs are provided with a series of
projecting ledges of alternate lengths radiating thereon from points around their
centers to the extreme edges thereof. The intervening space or opening formed
between the termination of each ledge at the outer circle of each disc partially
closed in by abutting plates placed at right angles to the surface and parallel to the
axis of each disc. The said radiating projecting ledges are so arranged that their
sides presented to the direction of motion form obtuse angular surfaces to the plane
of the discs.
The discs are placed upon their shafts or spindles relative to each other in
positions which will allow but of a slight clearance between the edges of their pro-
jecting ledges.
The top cover or hood shielding the discs is provided on one side thereof with a
feed entrance or "hopper" in such a position that the substances placed therein are
passed through a central aperture or opening in one of the discs to the action of
both, the centrifugal velocity of which precipitate such substances alternately against

page_text: the obtuse or bevel ledges and closing-in plates before mentioned, and so speedily
reduces them into fine granular particles, in which state they pass from the machine
into a receiver.
In order that coarse or fine granular particles may be produced by the same
machine, the discs are capable of adjustment on their shafts as to the distance
separating their disintegrating surfaces.
In some cases the discs may be so arranged that one only will be driven whilst
the other remains stationary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said James Strick and William Evans in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th August 1876.
JAMES STRICK and WILLIAM EVANS, both of Swansea, in the County of Gla-
morgan. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF
DISINTEGRATORS."
The Invention relates to that class of mechanism known as disintegrators
employed for separating or reducing substances into their integrant parts so as to
assume a granular or powdered state.
The improvements consist in mounting upon vertical or horizontal axis two discs
with peculiarly constructed surfaces capable of being driven in opposite directions
at differential or similar speeds, and so arranged that when in action they will
rapidly reduce substances submitted to their disintegrating surfaces into a fine
granular or powdered condition.
The inner surfaces of the said dises are provided with a series of projecting ledges
or angle plates of alternate lengths radiating thercon from points around their
centres to the extreme edges thereof. The intervening space or opening formed
between the terminations of each ledge or angle plate at the outer circle of each disc
is partially closed in by abutting or projecting plates placed at right angles to the
surface and parallel to the axis of each disc. The said radiating projecting ledges
or angle plates are so arranged that their sides presented to the direction of motion
may form obtuse angular surfaces to the plane of the disc.
The discs are placed upon their shafts or spindles relative to each other in
positions which will allow of but a slight clearance between the edges of their pro-
jecting ledges or angle plates.
The top cover or hood shielding the discs is provided on one side thereof with a
feed entrance, hopper, or shoot in such a position that the substances placed thereon
are passed througli a central aperture or opening in one of the discs (which is called
the feeding disc), and subjected to the action of both, the centrifugal velocity of
which precipitates such substances alternately against the ledges and closing-in
plates above mentioned, and so causes them to be speedily reduced to a fine granular
or pulverulent condition.
The discs can be so mounted or fixed that the distance between them can be
adjusted to suit the material or substance to be acted upon, so as to produce coarse
or fine granular or pulverized particles as may from time to time be required.
In some cases the discs may be arranged so that one only will revolve whilst the
other remains stationary.
In order that the Invention may be well understood and explained in detail we
have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of about three inches
to the foot, similar letters of reference being marked upon corresponding parts on all
the Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation (with one side of the hood removed) of the

page_text: shewing one of the discs mounted in movable bearings, so that its distance can be
increased or diminished from the surface of the other disc as required. We would
here remark that although this view shews a means of adjusting the distance
between the discs, such means of adjustment can be dispensed with if. desired, and
both discs may be mounted so as to revolve in stationary bearings.
Fig. 2 represents an end elevation.
Fig. 3 represents in elevation one-half of the inner face of the left-hand disc, in
which the ledges or angle plates are shewn as arranged and secured thereto in
alternate radial lengths. The arrows indicate the direction in which the disc
revolves.
Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of the disc shewn in Fig. 3 taken through the
line x, x.
Fig. 5 represents a similar view to Fig. 3 of disc, in which the ledges or angle
plates, instead of being radial, are set forward in the direction of motion.
Fig. 6 represents a similar view, in which the ledges or angle plates are of curved
form bent forward in the direction of motion.
Fig. 7 represents in elevation the inner surface of the right-hand or feeding disc,
provided with arms which may be sharpened at the one edge so as to form cutters
for giving a preparatory reduction to the size or bulk of the substances fed to the
discs, such cutters being particularly useful when the machine is employed for disin-
tegrating fibrous substances, such as cane, bark, or the like; but arms of ordinary
construction may be adapted for supporting the feeding disc upon its spindle or
shaft in lieu of cutters if desired. In Fig. 7 there are also shewn intermediate stops
or projecting plates, which may be introduced if desired.
Figs. 8 and 9 represent respectively a front and end elevation of a stop plate,
which is fixed to the framing, and covers the lower half of the central opening or
eye of the feeding disc.
In the foregoing Figures a, a, is the bed plate and framing of the machine, upon
which are mounted the standards b, b, which are fixtures, and b', b, which are
arranged so as to slide on the framing a by means of a screw and hand wheel c, or
other suitable equivalent. These standards or bearings support two spindles or
shafts d, d', on which are keyed respectively the discs e, e', and driving pullies f, ƒ³,
both of which are capable of being driven in opposite directions at equal or diffe-
rential speeds; or if desired one only may revolve whilst the other remains
stationary. The discs are covered in by the hood or cover o.
The inner or disintegrating surfaces of the discs e, e¹, are provided with ledges or
angle plates g. 9, 9, 9, which can be secured by rivets or otherwise to the discs,
either radially, as shewn in Fig. 3, or set forward, as shewn in Fig. 5, or curved
forward, as shewn in Fig. 6. When the plates or ledges are as shewn in Figs. 5
and 6, they tend to give a percussive action in opposition to the centrifugal force of
the discs.
The stops or abutting angle plates h, h, not only assist in reducing the substances
thrown against them, but also prevent their too rapid discharge before being
thoroughly disintegrated.
The substances are fed into the machine through the shoot or hopper i, either past
the arms, which support the feed disc, or when these arms are sharpened to form
cutters are partially disintegrated by them before they enter the space between the
discs. In this space the substances operated on are precipitated from the surfaces
of the one disc to those of the other, and against the closing-in angle plates or abut-
ments h, h, until they are reduced into a powdered or granular condition, in which
state the reduced particles escape from the machine through the openings m and the
clear space between the discs into the interior of the hood, from whence they pass
away by shoot n.
The ledges g, g, herein described as angle plates, may if desired be made of a
triangular section or in one piece with the disc, so as to give them greater strength
and stability.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, we hereby declare that we make no general claim to the
use of rotating discs having projections on them, but we claim in disintegrators
having rotating discs the combination of projections on the said discs, radial, or set,
or bent forwards, with other projections nearly closing at the circumference the
spaces between the before-mentioned projections, substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
!
In witness whereof, we, the said James Strick and William Evans, have here-
unto set our hands and seals, this the Twentieth day of June, in the year of
our Lord 1876.
Witness to the signature of
both parties,
F. M. HOOD,
Accountant,
Swansea.
JAMES STRICK. (L.S.)
WM EVANS. (L.S.)