IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MEAL, FLOUR, OR OTHER PULVERIZED OR GROUND SUBSTANCES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SIFTING OR DRESSING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Davies, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
TREATING MEAL, FLOUR, OR OTHER PULVERIZED OR GROUND SUBSTANCES, FOR
THE PURPOSE OF SIFTING OR DRESSING.”
Sealed the 17th July 1877, and dated the 18th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Davies at the Office
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1877.
EDWARD DAVIES, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MEAL, FLOUR, OR OTHER PULVERIZED
OR GROUND SUBSTANCES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SIFTING OR DRESSING."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the method of and apparatus
for treating meal, flour, or other pulverized or ground substances, for the purpose of
sifting or dressing, and consists in a novel description of revolving or centrifugal
silk-dressing machine.
The novelty consists,―
Firstly. In making the revolving or centrifugal silk dresser of conical form, having
a circular section, thereby allowing the dresser to run on a horizontal axis, and at
the same time have an inclined surface for the discharge of the sifted material.
Secondly. In placing in, and rotating inside such conical dresser, conical elastic
brushes or beaters, so arranged that their position, in relation to the silk dresser, is
capable of adjustment when running.
The silk dresser is provided with silks of different meshes, the finest mesh being
round the upper or narrower portion of the dresser, and the coarser mesh being
round the lower or wider portion of the dresser. The dresser and rotating elastic
brushes or beaters are mounted on a suitable shaft in a frame or box arranged with
suitable spouts for discharging the different degrees of fineness or coarseness of the
material or substance under treatment.
The material is fed into the dresser or reel at its smaller end, and owing to the
peculiar shape of the dresser or reel passes by degrees to the larger end, being
treated in its passage by the brushes or elastic beaters, so that the smaller particles.
pass through and are dressed by the upper portion of the silk, and the larger
particles pass through the lower portion of the silk, the bran being discharged at
the larger end.

page_text: The silk is fitted to the dresser on frames, so that the silk may be flush with the
inside of the reel. Above the silk, and acting thereon, I apply a blow pipe, which
causes a current of air to impinge upon the upper portion of the silk so as to keep
the meshes open. Other material than silk may be used for covering the dresser, as
will be understood.
The advantages of my Invention may be thus enumerated. Owing to the
increasing surface caused by the varying diameter of the silk or dresser the meal or
other material has to travel, as it passes down the reel from top to bottom, over a
greater and gradually increasing dressing surface than any other machine now in
use. In consequence of the rotating brushes or beaters being adjustable in their
position inside the dresser or reel it is possible to dress different degrees of fineness
without changing the silks; the silks being put in in frames are easily changed.
The use of brushes or elastic beaters for the purpose of distributing the meal or
other material over the entire surface of the silk or other dressing medium, through
such elasticity, prevents the meal being unduly driven or forced through the silk, as
is the case with beaters constructed of vanes of metal, or other hard non-elastic
material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th July
1877.
EDWARD DAVIES, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MEAL, FLOUR, OR OTHER PULVERIZED
OR GROUND SUBSTANCES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SIFTING OR DRESSING."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the method of and apparatus
for treating meal, flour, or other pulverized or ground substances, for the purpose of
sifting or dressing, and consists in a novel description of revolving or centrifugal
silk dressing machine.
The novelty consists,―
Firstly. In making the revolving or centrifugal silk dresser of conical form,
having a circular section, thereby allowing the dresser to run on a horizontal axis,
and at the same time have an inclined surface for the discharge of the sifted
material.
Secondly. In placing in, and rotating inside such conical dresser, conical elastic
brushes or beaters, so arranged that their position in relation to the silk dresser is
capable of adjustment when running.
The silk dresser is provided with silks of different meshes, the finest mesh being
round the upper or narrower portion of the dresser, and the coarser mesh being
round the lower or wider portion of the dresser. The dresser and rotating elastic
brushes or beaters are mounted on a suitable shaft in a frame or box arranged with
suitable spouts for discharging the different degrees of fineness or coarseness of the
material or substance under treatment.
The material is fed into the dresser or reel at its smaller end, and owing to the
peculiar shape of the dresser or reel passes by degrees to the larger end, being
treated in its passage by the brushes or elastic beaters, so that the smaller particles
pass through and are dressed by the upper portion of the silk, and the larger
particles pass through the lower portion of the silk, the bran being discharged at
the larger end.
The silk is fitted to the dresser on frames, so that the silk may be flush with the
inside of the reel. Above the silk, and acting thereon, I apply a blow pipe, which
causes a current of air to impinge upon the upper portion of the silk, so as to keep
the meshes open. Other material than silk may be used for covering the dresser, as
will be understood,

page_text: "
The advantages of my Invention may be thus enumerated. Owing to the
increasing surface caused by the varying diameter of the silk or dresser the meal or
other material has to travel, as it passes down the reel from top to bottom, over a
greater and gradually increasing dressing surface than any other machine now in
use. In consequence of the rotating brushes or beaters being adjustable in their
position inside the dresser or reel it is possible to dress different degrees of finenes
without changing the silks; the silks being put in in frames are easily changed.
The use of brushes or elastic beaters for the purpose of distributing the meal or
other material over the entire surface of the silk or other dressing medium, through
such elasticity prevents the meal being unduly driven or forced through the silk, as
is the case with beaters constructed of vanes of metal, or other hard non-elastic
material.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood I now proceed more
particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is
or may be used or practically carried into effect, and for that purpose I have
hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings illustrative of my Invention, and marked
with letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation, like letters and figures being used to denote similar parts throughout
the various views.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation, shown in section, of an apparatus constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a section through A, B, Figure 1; Figure 3
is an end view of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a modification of au apparatus constructed according to my Invention,
illustrating how the same may be applied for treating middlings; Figure 5 is a
section through C, D, Figure 4.
Upon reference it will be seen that my Invention consists in constructing the silk
dresser A. of conical form, with a circular section; the dresser A is thus enabled to
run on a horizontal axis B, and at the same time have an inclined surface C for the
discharge of the sifted material. Inside the conical dresser A there is provided an
adjustable series of beaters D set conically, and arranged so that they can be
adjusted in their position relative to the distance between the beaters and the silk;
this effected by an arrangement, such as shown at E, which moves the axis or shaft,
and thereby the beaters, as required. The beaters are keyed on to the shaft B and
are rotated by means of the pulley and strap F. The silk dresser A runs on the
shaft B, and is rotated by means of the hollow shaft H and the strap and pulley G.
The conical silk dresser A is provided with silks of different meshes, the finest mesh
being round the upper or narrower portion of the dresser at a, and the coarser
meshes being round the wider portion of the dresser at b. The whole apparatus is
mounted on a suitable frame I, and the dresser discharges into the chambers J, K, L,
and through the spouts connected therewith. The bran is discharged at the lower
end of the dresser through the spout M. The silk is fitted to the dresser A, so as
to be flush with the inside thereof.
In some cases the dresser is provided with a blow pipe O, such as shown at
Figure 1, which causes a current of air to impinge upon the upper portion of the
silk, so as to keep the meshes open.
By preference the beaters D are constructed of clastic material, such as india-
rubber, or brushes may be substituted, the object being to prevent the meal being
unduly driven or forced through the silk.
In the modification shown at Figures 4 and 5 the conical dresser A is provided
with an internal perforated pipe P, which is in connection with an exhaust pipe R
and a suction fan S.
The meal is fed through the shoot T, and the dresser is rotated by the pulley G.
The smaller particles of the flour being in suspension are sucked by the exhaust fan
through the perforations in the pipe P; the bran and larger particles are discharged
through the valves U and the shoot V. This arrangement constitutes a middlings
purifier.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-

page_text: tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. Constructing a machine for treating meal, flour, or other pulverized or
ground substance, for the purpose of sifting or dressing, in which the revolving or
centrifugal silk dresser is of conical form, such as shown at A in the accompanying
Drawings, so as to afford a larger dressing surface, an inclined lower surface, and at
the same time enable the dresser to be run in a horizontal position, in manner
such as shown in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing
Specification.
Secondly. Constructing a centrifugal dressing machine of conical form, such as A
in the accompanying Drawings, having therein a series of brushes or beaters, such
as D in the accompanying Drawings, which are also of conical form and capable of
adjustment in their position relative to the dressing surface of the machine, such
brushes or beaters being of elastic material.
Thirdly. Constructing a centrifugal machine, such as shown at Figures 4 and 5 of
the accompanying Drawings, for purifying middlings, consisting of a dresser, such
as A, with an internal perforated pipe, such as P, working in connection with an
exhaust fan, such as S, as described in the foregoing Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Davies, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
EDWARD (L.S.) DAVIES.