IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED ON THE DECKS OF SHIPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEPARATING CHAFF, STRAW, SAND, OR OTHER FOREIGN SUBSTANCES, FROM CORN OR OTHER GRAIN WHEN IT IS BEING DEPOSITED IN THEIR HOLDS FOR SHIPMENT
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Griffiths Prossor, of Waterford, Merchant,
for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED ON THE DECKS OF
SHIPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEPARATING CHAFF, STRAW, SAND, OR OTHER
FOREIGN SUBSTANCES, FROM CORN OR OTHER GRAIN WHEN IT IS BEING DEPOSITED
IN THEIR HOLDS FOR SHIPMENT."
Sealed the 10th May 1861, and dated the 22nd February 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Griffiths Prossor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd February-1861.
I, HENRY GRIFFITHS PROSSOR, of Waterford, Merchant, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED ON THE
DECKS OF SHIPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEPARATING CHAFF, STRAW, SAND, OR OTHER
FOREIGN SUBSTANCES FROM CORN OR OTHER GRAIN WHEN IT IS BEING DEPOSITED IN
THEIR HOLDS FOR SHIPMENT," to bé as follows:-
Hitherto in the shipment of grain which has been collected in the interior
of the country and brought down to seaports to be exported, it has been usual
to deposit it from the collecting barges direct into the holds of the vessels.
Now, owing to the imperfect manner in which the grain is cleaned by the
small farmers and growers, especially those in Ireland, it contains considerable
quantities of chaff, straw, dust, sand, and other such like foreign matters,
which deteriorate very much the value of the grain, causing it to heat and

page_text: spoil when kept long in the holds, or even in closed sacks. In some cases
attempts are made to cleanse the grain upon its arrival at the shipping port
by unloading it from the barges, taking it into granaries, and letting it fall
from one loft to another, passing through sieves, then filling it into sacks, then
emptied into the hold of the vessel which is to export it; this mode of clean-
sing incurs so much expence that it is seldom practised, as it prevents the
merchant from competing with others less scrupulous as to quality. I propose
therefore, in order to obviate this, to make use of a portable apparatus to be
applied solely to the decks of ships, in such a way that the grain may be
hoisted direct from the barge and made to pass through the apparatus and be
cleansed and winnowed in its passage, and fall into the hold of the vessel.
The apparatus which I propose to use is constructed as follows:-The main
body of the machine is rectangular in form, preferably composed of metal
plates of zinc or iron, and is surmounted by a large funnel-shaped hopper, into
which the grain is discharged from the sack, which is hoisted direct from the
collecting barge by means of hook tackle, mouth downwards. From the
hopper it falls upon a sieve which is placed in the middle of the machine;
above this sieve or on a level with it, and preferably in front, enclosed within
the apparatus, I mount a fan, which is turned by a winch or other means, and
to give equality of rotation a fly wheel may be introduced, and for regu-
lating the speed of motion multiplying gear; underneath the sieve is a box. for
receiving and holding the sand, grit, or dust which falls through, and in front
the shoot from which the cleansed grain falls into the hold. The rear of the
apparatus forms a closed compartment, which may, if necessary, contain a
sieve, and into this portion the chaff and straw are urged by the blast of the
fan. The chaff may be removed from the compartment by means of a door in
the side.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Griffiths Prossor in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd August 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
GRIFFITHS PROSSOR, of Waterford, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: mie, the said Henry Griffiths Prossor, Her special licence that I, the said
Henry Griffiths Prossor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Henry Griffiths Prossor, my executors, administrators,
and 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 "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE USED ON THE DECKS OF SHIPS FOR
THE PURPOSE OF SEPARATING CHAFF, STRAW, SAND, OR OTHER FOREIGN SUB-
STANCES FROM CORN OR OTHER GRAIN WHEN IT IS BEING DEPOSITED IN THEIR HOLDS
FOR SHIPMENT," upon the condition (amongst others) that J, the said Henry.
Griffiths Prossor; my executors or administrators; by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Henry Griffiths Prossor, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
• Hitherto in the shipment of grain which has been collected in the interior
of the country and brought down to seaports to be exported, it has been usual
to transfer it from the collecting barges direct into the holds of vessels. Now,
owing to the imperfect manner in which the grain is cleaned by the small
farmers and growers, especially in Ireland, it contains a considerable quantity
of chaff, straw, dust, sand, and such like foreign matters, which deteriorate
very much the value of the grain, causing it to heat and spoil when kept long
in the holds of vessels or in closed sacks. In some instances attempts have
been made to cleanse the grain upon its arrival at the shipping port, by un-
loading it from the collecting barges, raising it up into granaries, and then
letting it fall from one loft to another, and passing through a screen, after
which it is drawn off into bags and deposited in the hold of the vessel. This
measure causes so much trouble and expense that it is seldom practised. In
order to obviote and prevent this deterioration of the grain; I propose to make
use of a portable apparatus, to be applied solely to the decks of ships; in such
a way that the grain may be hoisted direct from the barges, and passing
through it in its way into the hold of the vessel may be cleansed and
winnowed.

page_text: The apparatus which I propose to use is similar to that known as: the ordi-
nary farmer or winnowing machine, containing several valuable additions and
improvements, and is constructed as follows:-The main body of the machine
is rectangular in form, preferably composed of metal, zinc, or iron plates; sur-
mounting the machine is a funnel-shape hopper, into which the grain is
discharged from the sack, which is hoisted direct from the collecting barge,
mouth downwards, by means of block and tackle. From this hopper the grain
passes through two fluted rollers and two roller brushes, two or all of which
revolve, working into each other, and then falls upon a series of riddles placed
in the middle of the front or shoot part of the machine. Above those riddles
or on a level with them, and preferably in front, and enclosed within the appa-
ratus, I mount a fan, which is turned by a winch or other means; to give
equality of rotation I add a fly wheel, and for regulating the speed I introduce
the requisite multiplying power. Underneath the riddles is a box for receiving
and holding the sand, grit, or dust which falls through; in the front of the
machine is a shoot, from which the cleansed grain falls into the hold, or is
received into sacks. The rear of the apparatus forms a closed compartment
(which may, if necessary, contain a sieve), and into this portion the straw and
chaff are blown by the fan or blower, and may be removed from hence by
means of a door as it accumulates. In order to promote a current of air, a
tube may be fixed to the chaff compartment and carried over the sides of the
vessel, also three or more funnels or tube ventilators on the top. The whole
apparatus is fixed upon any convenient part of the vessel's decks to be loaded
with grain.
. In order to shew more clearly the nature of my Invention, I have to this
Specification appended the accompanying Drawings, which shew the general
nature of the apparatus which I adopt to effect the purpose above described..
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan of same..
a is the funnel; c, the blower; d, a toothed wheel; e, a winch for turning ;
f, the discharging shoot containing the riddles; 9, the chamber for dust and
dirt; h, a shoot for taking off large stones or other substances; k, the chaff
and straw receptical, which may be removed by means of the door m; n is
the air pipe shewn broken off; o are ventilators at the top to create a draft.
The riddles f may either have a. vibratory motion or not, as wished. p, p, show
the axles of the fluted rollers, those can be placed to work in each other or
apart, at the desire of the operator, and are to take off any adhering chaff; one
or both may revolve. 2, 7, the roller, brushes can also work into each other or

page_text: apart; these clean the grain and impart a nice glossy appearance; one or both
may revolve.
When other motive power can be obtained, the motion can be communi-
cated by means of straps or other gearing.
Having now described my Invention, and shewn in what the same consists,
I wish it understood that I do not claim any particular form of the apparatus
herewithin described as a fanner or winnowing machine, nor do I claim the
apparatus itself separate and apart from the purpose to which it is applied;
but that which I do claim and wish secured to me by the before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the use of a fanner or winnowing machine constructed after
the manner herewithin described, and to be applied to the decks of vessels for
the purpose of cleaning grain as it is being transfered to the holds of vessels
for shipment.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Griffiths Prossor, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
HENRY GRIFFITHS PROSSOR. (L.S.)