A Portable Elevator for Grain, Cereals and other Granular or Pulverulent Material.
Year: 1898

page_text: A Portable Elevator for Grain, Cereals and other Granular or
Pulverulent Material.
I, HENRI MAYAN, of 1, Rue Cadet, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a portable elevator for grain, cereals and
other granular or pulverulent material."
According to the invention my elevator comprises the combination of a suction
and force blower operated by a motor and any suitable gear, of a charging
chamber provided with one or more vertical pipes having suction valves, of a
pipe with a back pressure valve, of a pipe with a perforated partition of a flexible
pipe connecting the blower with the pipe having a perforated partition and a
discharge passage fitted to the pipe of the charging chamber.
The apparatus operates in such a manner that the alternating suction and com-
pression action produced in the charging chamber by the blower effects the suc-
tion of the material to be raised into the charging chamber and then, with the
addition of air to the air drawn in simultaneously with the grain, the forcing
of the said materials into the discharge passage.
The perforated partition arranged in the charging chamber has for its object
to limit the travel of the materials drawn in and to prevent their passage into
the blower.
One or more movable perforated partitions enable the capacity of the charging
chamber to be varied according to the height to which the material is to be
lifted.
The cylinder of the blower is formed with orifices for the inlet of the air with
or without movable shutters or valves according as the cylinder is double or
single acting, for the purpose of allowing air to pass into the cylinder behind the
piston at the end of each suction stroke.
The discharge passage is formed of telescopic tubes permitting the material
to be raised to be taken to a variable height and also to be raised from a height
also variable as desired.
The employment of a double acting blower enables two charging chambers
to be simultaneously employed, the said charging chambers being connected by
two separate flexible pipes and being provided with a separate electric circuit
for each of them or with a common discharge passage.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: A Portable Elevator for Grain, Cereals and other Granular or
Pulverulent Material.
I, HENRI MAYAN, of 1, Rue Cadet, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
-
My invention has for its object an elevator which acts through the medium
of air sucked in and discharged by a single pump or blower, the apparatus being
applicable to the elevation of grain and all other granular or pulverulent materials
generally in a sufficient state of division upon ships and barges, as well as upon
carts and quays or in silos and warehouses; by reason of the facility with which
it can be transported and fitted together, of the simplicity of its action, and of
its large elevating capacity, my apparatus is particularly suitable for charging
and discharging grain upon ships and I will now proceed to describe the inven
tion more particularly with respect to this last application by reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a complete plant arranged for unloading
a vessel containing grain:
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a single action blower:
Figures 3 and 4 are a vertical section and an elevation respectively of a double
action blower:
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a charging chamber having a single
suction tube and two movable perforated partitions:
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the same on line 6-6 of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a charging chamber having several suction
pipes this figure also shews the lower part of the telescopic tubes forming the
discharge passage:
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are front, side and plan views respectively of a pair of
charging chambers having a single discharge passage:
Figures 11 and 12 represent diagrammatically a longitudinal section and a
plan of a double acting blower;
Figures 13 and 14 are longitudinal sections of two modifications of the charg-
ing chamber.
Figure 1 is drawn to a smaller scale than the other figures.
The single action blower represented in detail view in Figure 2 consists of a
cylinder a in which moves a piston and the lower part of which is furnished
with a pipe c designed to receive a flexible tube (Figure 1) sufficiently long
to extend to the most distant points from which the grain is to be discharged.
When the blower or pump is arranged on the double acting principle (Figures 3
and 4) the two ends of the cylinder a are provided with tubes e, el connected
by separate flexible tubes to two distinct and similar charging chambers operat-
ing alternately in the same manner. These flexible tubes are formed either of
metal or of a jacket of rubber, leather or other flexible material armoured inter-
nally with metal wire rolled in a continuous helix or in separate circles, or by
any other device fulfilling the same object.
To operate the piston I can adapt to the carriage e which carries the blower
any suitable motor f carrying with it the source of motive power, such as an
oil engine for example, or receiving the necessary energy by any suitable method
of transmission from an engine situated at a distance, the said transmission being

page_text: effected by means of flexible or extensible passages for steam, compressed air
or electricity. The last method is to be preferred to the others in cases where
a source of electricity can be utilized with facility by reason of the minimum
inconvenience and weight required for the same. The cylinder a may be vertical
or horizontal as desired.
The charging chamber represented in detail in Figures 5 and 6 is formed of
a vessel g, cylindrical or polygonal, with conical or pyramidal ends and provided
with three pipes h, i, j; to the first pipe there is fitted the flexible tube d
connected to the blower; the second pipe i which is arranged vertically at right
angles to the lower part of the apparatus and is furnished with a suction valve
opening upwards, is designed to be immersed in the grain to be raised; the third
pipe which is placed at the opposite end to the first-named pipe, is furnished
with a back pressure valve opening outwards and it has the discharge pipe k
fitted to it. Instead of the single suction pipe the charging chamber can be
provided with several of them, arranged along the length thereof at its lower
part as shewn in Figure 7. Each pipe is formed with feet or lugs which are
of sufficient height to allow the grain to pass through when the apparatus rests
upon the ground. In order to prevent the grain from passing into the pipe d
and thence into the blower, the orifice of the pipe is protected by a perforated
partition, of wire-gauze for example having a mesh sufficiently fine to prevent
the passage therethrough of the smallest grain. Inside the vessel g I can arrange
one or more movable perforated partitions m, m' which permit of reducing the
capacity of the charging chamber as desired and according to requirements;
these partitions are mounted upon pivots m² which can be turned from the out-
side or they can slide transversely similarly to registers.
When the charging chamber is horizontal as it is shewn in Figure 7, the grain
collects practically equally over the whole of its length and can leave a free
space above it for the passage of air forced from the passage into the passage j
in such a manner that the useful effect of the air current is partially destroyed.
By giving the charging chamber, on the other hand, a suitable inclination, either
in the direction indicated in Figure 13 or in the direction indicated in Figure 14,
the grain collects after the suction action towards the lower end and completely
obstructs the passage of air in such a manner that during the forcing action the
entire mass of grain is forced like a ball and the efficiency is improved.
Figure 14 shews an arrangement which I propose to employ for the suction
tubes through which the grain enters the charging chamber; it will be seen
that by curving the pipe i like a swan's neck and making it open into the upper
part of the chamber g, it is easy to place the valve in an inclined or vertical
position at the top of the curve; by reason of this arrangement the grain cannot
collect either upon the valve or upon its seat and the quantity raised is increased:
Figure 14 also shews a perforated partition m movable like a piston in the
inside of the charging chamber and which can be brought into any position
therein by means of a rod m³ passing to the outside through a stuffing box in
such a manner that the quantity of material drawn into and forced from the
chamber at each stroke of the piston of the pump or blower can be regulated
as desired.
When a load of grain is almost exhausted and the suction tube nearly
reaches the floor, a flexible extension (Figure 13) can be fitted to it, and the
said extension can be operated by hand so as to sweep over the floor and draw
in all the remaining grain. This extension is provided at its end with a toothed
portion permitting the passage of the grain into the extension.
The discharge passage & may be formed of sheet metal sleeves arranged to slide
in one another similarly to the tubes of a telescope in such a manner as to permit
of shortening or lengthening as desired the length of the passage according to
the difference of level between the points from which the grain is drawn and to
which it is discharged. The passage k can also consist of a simple flexible pipe
of metal, rubber or any other material.

page_text: If deemed necessary a pair of charging chambers g, y can be employed as illu-
strated in Figures 8, 9 and 10, each charging chamber g being provided with a
pipe h, having fitted thereto a flexible tube connected to the blower and with a
pipe j, the two pipes being united into a single pipe leading to the discharge
tube as shewn; each chamber is also provided with a suction tube i, and is
otherwise similar to, and acts in the same manner as, the single chamber illus-
trated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 and therefore needs no further description.
In Figure 1 I have shewn by way of example a device for receiving the grain
at its outlet from the discharge pipe and for .conveying it to a hopper from which
it can be directly passed into sacks; the passage opens into a chamber or box!
closed at its upper part by a wire gauze cover to allow the dust to disperse and
the bottom of which opens into a trough extending to a hopper / furnished
with a suitable number of sack fillers . The passage may be supported by
means of a framework fixed to the bridge of the ship.
Any suitable device may be employed for supporting the discharge passage
at one or more points along its length and for receiving the grain at its upper
orifice in order that the grain may directly fall into heaps or be carried away
by a suitable conveyor. The following description illustrates the operation of
the elevator when employed for discharging grain from a ship (Figure 1). The
carriage e carrying the blower a and its motor may be run on to the deck of the
vessel at the edge of a hatchway and as near as possible to the heap of grain to
'be raised; the apparatus can, however, also operate efficiently when the blower is
at a distance from the grain providing that the pipe is of the proper dimen-
sions; the motor f is then connected to a fixed or movable dynamo-electric or
other suitable generator placed upon the quay and forming a part of the port's
plant; the charging chamber g is simply placed upon the load of grain with its
inlet pipe underneath; the discharge passage is then arranged in such a
manner that it opens above the space from which the grain is to be conveyed.
The blower being then started the piston effects in the cylinder a a succession
of compression and suction actions which are transmitted by the pipe to the
charging chamber. At each aspiration the valve ¹ rises and a certain quantity
of grain passes into the charging chamber where it is retained notwithstanding
the suction action against the partition or against one of the partitions m, m'
according as the latter partions are opened or closed. During the succeeding
compression period the valve closes, the valve j opens and the air forced by
the piston carries with it into the passage the mass of grain which was pre-
viously drawn into the charging chamber.
The same operation is repeated at each complete movement of the piston
the charge chamber placed upon the heap of grain descends as space is formed
under it and the heap diminishes in height. The operation is the same in the
case where the charge chamber is provided with several suction tubes.
The useful effect of the apparatus is the greater the more brisk and the
greater the variations of pressure in the charge chamber; furthermore, it is
necessary that at the end of each suction stroke of the piston the pressure in
the cylinder a should resume its maximum, that is to say, atmospheric pressure:
to this end I form in the wall of the cylinder one or more inlet orifices arranged
in such a manner that they are uncovered when the piston reaches the end of
its suction stroke and which allow air to enter the cylinder to compensate for
the vacuum under the piston. In the case of a single action blower or pump
(Figure 2) it is only necessary to form the orifices a little below the lower
face of the piston when at the bottom of its suction stroke. When the blower is
made on the double action principle (Figures 3 and 4) two orifices », π are
necessary to allow air to enter on each side of the piston and it is also necessary
that these orifices be closed during the periods of compression; to this end I
can arrange in the wall of the cylinder near the ends thereof two slides p, pr
movable in a longitudinal direction and provided upon their inner faces with
projections på against which the piston & strikes at the end of its stroke; springs p³

page_text: act upon the slides in such a manner as to return them and to close the orifices n, n¹
when the piston moves away from the ends of the cylinder. I can substitute
for these slides p, p¹ other valves etc., which produce the same result.
On the other hand, air openings t, are formed at the two ends of the cylinder a
and are provided with valves s, sl opening inwards automatically under the suc-
tion action of the piston and being closed during the compression action. The
free cross sectional area of the inlets t, t¹ can be regulated by any suitable means,"
for example, by means of eccentric discs u, u which can be adjusted by hand so
as to more or less close the said openings. By the addition of the supplementary
openings t, I can regulate the vacuum produced and reduce it strictly to that
necessary to enable the grain to enter in the required quantity into the charge
chamber. This vacuum is in general much lower than the total vacuum pro-
duced by the movement of the piston when the openings t, are closed, so that
by this arrangement all the work corresponding to the excess of vacuum is saved,
which work would otherwise result in pure loss.
Figures 11 and 12 represent diagrammatically a double action blower in which
the air inlet valves are operated mechanically by means of cams 1, 2, 3, 4 fixed
upon a shaft 5 connected to the driving shaft 6 by gear wheels
and 8. The
two valves 9 and 10 actuated directly by the cams 2 and 3 serve to admit on
each side of the piston alternately at the end of each stroke an invariable quantity
of air; the two other valves 11 and 12, each actuated through the medium of
a lever 13, provide access to a supplementary quantity of air which can be regu-
lated by means of pin valves 15 so that the vacuum in the cylinder a during each
suction stroke can be suitably regulated. It will be obvious that the apparatus
can be modified with respect to its shape, dimensions and material of the different
parts according to local requirements and according to the nature of the material
to be elevated such as grain, minerals, sand, coal, etc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
1. A portable elevator for grain, cereals and other granular or pulverulent
material comprising in combination a suction and force blower or pump actuated
by a motor and suitable transmission gear, a charge chamber provided with one
or more vertical pipes with suction valves, a pipe with a back pressure valve and
a pipe with a perforated partition, a flexible pipe connecting the blower with
the force pipe, of the charge chamber, the whole operating in such a manner
that the successive suction and compression actions produced in the charge
chamber by the blower or pump effect the suction of the material to be elevated
into the charge chamber and the discharge of the said material together with the
addition of air to the air drawn in with the grain into the discharge passage,
the perforated partition arranged in the charge chamber having as a result the
limitation of the passage for the material drawn in and the prevention of its
entrance into the blower, substantially as set forth.
2. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim 1, the arrangement inside
the charge chamber, of one or more movable perforated partitions for enabling
the useful capacity to be varied according to the height to which the material
is to be raised, substantially as set forth.
3. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim 1, the application to the
cylinder of the blower when it is single acting, of one or more air inlet orifices
allowing the outer air to pass into the cylinder behind the piston at the end of
its suction stroke, where it is added to the air contained in the cylinder for
participating in the energetic and practical discharge of the material to be raised,
substantially as set forth.
4. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim 1, the application to the
cylinder of the blower in the case where the said blower is double acting, of
two or more air inlet orifices formed near the ends of the cylinder, which said

page_text: orifices are closed during the greater part of the stroke of the piston and only
open behind the said piston towards the end of its suction stroke, substantially
as set forth.
5. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim 1, a discharge passage formed
of telescopic tubes permitting the material to be elevated, to be taken from a
variable height and to be elevated to a height also variable, substantially as set
forth.
6. In an elevator of the kind. described in Claim 1, the combination with a
double action suction and force blower or pump, of two flexible pipes, two charge
chambers, two discharge passages and two devices for the addition of air to the
air contained in the blower, the whole co-operating in the suction and elevation
of the material to be treated, substantially as set forth.
7. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim 1, the combination with a
double action suction and force blower or pump with a device for automatically
introducing air, of two flexible pipes, two juxtaposed charge chambers and a
single discharge passage serving to discharge the material from the two charge
chambers, substantially as set forth.
8. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim 1 in combination with the
blower, the adjustable air inlets for enabling the degree of vacuum to be varied,
substantially as set forth.
9. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim 1, the charge chambers arranged
in a position inclined either at the front or at the back in order that the material
drawn into them may collect over the whole cross section of the chambers and
form a ball for discharge, substantially as set forth.
10. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim a charge chamber com-
prising a cylindrical inclined jacket, a pipe for the inlet and the outlet of the
air, a pipe for the discharge of the grain with a retaining valve, and a pipe for
the suction of the grain, curved similarly to a swan's neck and provided with a
vertical or inclined valve placed at the top of the said neck, substantially as
set .forth.
11. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim 1, a blower comprising in
combination with a double acting cylinder and a piston, two air inlet valves
opening towards the end of the piston strokes, and two supplementary air inlet
valves combined with passages regulated by means of pin valves, the said valves
being all controlled by cams fixed upon a rotary shaft, substantially as set forth.
12. In an elevator of the kind described in Claim 1, the combination with.the
charge chamber, of a flexible passage terminated by a toothed head and being
adapted to be fixed upon the suction pipe of the said chamber to enable the last
grain remaining upon the ground or floor to be removed, substantially as set
forth.
ated this 30th day of August 1899.
G: F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.