IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR HULLING AND CLEANING RICE, WHEAT, AND OTHER GRAIN
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustav Adolph Buchholz, of Strasbourg, in the
Empire of France, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
MACHINERY FOR HULLING AND CLEANING RICE, WHEAT, AND OTHER GRAIN."
Scaled the 8th September 1857, and dated the 29th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gustav Adolph Buchholz
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th June 1857.
I, GUSTAV ADOLPH BUCHHOLZ, of Strasbourg, in the Empire of France,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVED MACHINERY FOR HULLING AND CLEANING RICE, WHEAT, AND OTHER GRAIN,"
to be as follows:—
The
This Invention relates chiefly to a novel construction of stone or rubbing
surface to be used in the hulling or cleaning of rice and other grain. The
stone I make either cylindrical or conical, and mount it vertically in a case of
corresponding form, and mado by preference of pierced metal. On the
periphery I turn annular grooves of different depths, the object being to
obtain as much acting surface as possible on the periphery of the stone.
grain to be acted upon is fed into the case at or near the top, and a space
being left between the case and the periphery of the stone, the grain passes
down and enters the annular grooves, where the grains are severally polished
on two or more sides simultaneously. The down pressure of the continued
supply of grain, aided by the centrifugal action of the stone, causes the grain

page_text: to pass out of one groove into that next below it, and so on in succession until
it arrives at the discharge opening in the bottom of the case.
In constructing my improved machinery I prefer to arrange a series of
rubbing surfaces around a common centre, and at such varying elevations.
that the grain as it is discharged from the first case will enter the second of
the series, and so on in succession until it has been subjected to the action
of the whole series of rubbing surfaces. Or, instead of the cases being
arranged in the form of a helix, they may be set at different elevations in a
direct line.
When operating upon wheat, I prefer to receive the grain on to oscillating
sieves, for the purpose of separating the bran therefrom, and the wheat
then runs down the sieve to the next succeeding case. But when opera-
ting upon rice this arrangement will not be necessary; I therefore run the
rice from one case directly to another, and by adjusting the height of the
inlet opening I regulate the amount of feed to the rubbing surfaces. In
the last case of the series, wherein the polishing operation is effected, I mount
a rotary brush, and I cover the periphery of the case with leather or other
soft substance. The grain therefore, in passing through this case, will undergo
the finishing operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Gustav Adolph Buchholz in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GUSTAV
ADOLPH BUCHHOLZ, of Strasbourg, in the Empiro of France, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Gustav Adolph Buchholz, Her special license that I, the said
Gustav Adolph Buchholz, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Gustav Adolph Buchholz, 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

page_text: for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR HULLING AND CLEANING RICE, WHEAT, AND OTHER
GRAIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that 1, the said Gustav Adolph
Buchholz, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Gustav Adolph Buchholz, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of "Improved Machinery for Hulling and Cleaning Rice,
Wheat, and other Grain," relates chiefly to a novel construction of stone or
rubbing surface to be used in the hulling or cleaning of rice and other grain.
The stone I make either cylindrical or conical, and mount it vertically in a
case of corresponding form, and made by preference of pierced metal. On
the periphery of the stone or rubbing surface I form annular grooves of
different depths, the object of these grooves being to obtain as much acting
surface as possible on the periphery of the stone or rubbing surface. The
grain to be operated upon is fed into the case at or near the top, and a space
being left between the case and the periphery of the stone or rubbing surface,
the grain passes down and enters the annular grooves of the cylindrical or
conical rubbing surface, where the grains are severally polished on two or
more sides simultaneously. The down pressure of the continued supply of
grain, aided by the centrifugal action of the stone or rubbing surface, causes
the grain to pass out of one groove into that next below it, and so on in
succession until it arrives at the discharge opening in the bottom of the case.
In constructing my improved machinery I prefer to arrange a series of such
rubbing surfaces with their cases and other appendages around a common
centre, and at such varying elevations that the grain as it is discharged from
the first case will enter the second case of the series, and so on in succession
until it has been subjected to the action of the whole series of rubbing
surfaces.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents, in side elevation, my
improved machinery or apparatus complete, and consisting principally of a
series of stones or rubbing surfaces mounted in suitable cases, with their
proper appendages, as will be hereafter described, and arranged in helical
order round a centre; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. The number of

page_text: cases constituting one series must depend upon the quantity of work to be
performed. I have found in practice that a scries consisting of twelve cases
will clean grain enough to supply four pairs of grinding stones, but a larger or
lesser number of cases may be used. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one of the
cases with its rotating grinding surface and the other appendages complete.
All the cases are constructed in a similar manner, but, if desired, the last and
lowermost of the series may be provided with a rotating brush or brushes
instead of the rotating cylindrical or conical rubbing surface. Fig. 4 is a view
in elevation of one of the cylindrical rubbing surfaces detached, and shewing
the series of annular grooves that are made round the periphery thereof. The
first improvement, which relates to the construction of these rubbing surfaces,
will be best understood by referring to Figures 3 and 4. a is the stone or
rubbing surface, which is firmly mounted or fixed on a vertical shaft b, that
is supported in a step e in the cross framing. A series of annular grooves
c, c, c, are made round the periphery of the stone or rubbing surface a (as
seen in the Figures), and rotary motion is communicated to the rubbing
surface by means of a band passed round the rigger or band wheel d on the
vertical shaft 6 of the stone or rubbing surface. The envelope or casing,
which is made of perforated metal or wire gauze, is shewn at f, f, and is
strengthened and supported from behind by wooden blocks g, g. Between the
perforated metal lining or case and the rubbing surface there is space enough
to admit of the grains of corn or seed passing between the surfaces, whereby
they will be rubbed and cleaned during their passage through the apparatus.
The grain or sced is supplied to this space down the shoots or pipes h, the
lower end of which opens into and communicates with the space between
the rotating rubbing surface and wire gauze or perforated metal casing. The
amount of the feed is, however, regulated by means of a moveable register
plate i, which has an opening made in it corresponding to the opening at
the end of the pipe h. This register plate i is capable of sliding up and down
in vertical grooves, as shewn in the detached Figures 5, and by means of this
plate the quantity of grain that is supplied to the case may be increased or
diminished at pleasure. It will be seen on referring to Figures 1 and 2, that
the grain or seed is supplied from one case to another throughout the series
through the pipes or shoots h, which are all provided with a regulating
contrivance such as that just described, and shewn in Fig. 5. The grain or
seed from one of the lower cases of the series is delivered through another
kind of contrivance, which also acts as a regulator, and is capable of adjust-
ment so as to govern the quantity that is discharged from the cleaning
apparatus. This contrivance is shewn in the detached view Fig. 6. j is the

page_text: discharge or exit pipe from the last or lowermost case but one of the series
shewn in Figures 1 and 2; k is a trough or channel to receive the grain from
the pipe j. From this trough the clean grain is conveyed to any suitable
receptacle. The quantity delivered from the exit pipe j is regulated by an
adjustable mouthpiece 7, which is screwed on to the end of the exit pipe j,
and is capable of being screwed higher or lower thereon, and thus enlarging
or diminishing the exit aperture as may be required.
It will be seen, on referring to Figures 1 and 2, that the series of cases, with
their rubbing surfaces, is arranged in a helical coil around a common centre,
so that the grain or seed may pass from one case to the next immediately
following it, and so on in regular succession until it finally issues from the
lowermost case on to the trough or channel k, from whenco it is passed into
the polishing case. But instead of the cases being arranged in the form of a
helical coil, in the manner just described, they may be set at different
elevations in a direct line.
When operating upon wheat, I prefer to receive the grain from the cases
on to oscillating sieves, for the purpose of separating the bran therefrom,
instead of conducting it down close pipes, as shown in the Drawing; the
wheat then runs down the sieve to the next succeeding case, while the bran or
dust will pass through the sieve and be conveyed away to any suitable
receptacle. But when operating upon rice, this arrangement of oscillating
or vibrating sieves will not be necessary; I therefore run the rice from one
case directly to another through pipes or shoots, in the manner shewn, and by
adjusting the height of the inlet opening by means of the register plate or
other analogous contrivance, I regulate the amount of feed to the rubbing
surfaces. In the last case of the series, wherein the polishing operation is
effected, I mount a rotary brush, and I cover the inner periphery of the case
with leather or other soft substance; the grain therefore, in passing through
this case, will undergo the finishing operation, and will come out bright and
clean.
Having now described my Invention of improved machinery for hulling
and cleaning rice, wheat, and other grain, and having explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that
what I consider as new in the above-described improved machinery, and
desiro to claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as afore-
said, is,―
First, constructing the rotating rubbing surfaces with annular grooves.
0

page_text: described, for regulating the supply of grain or seed to the cases or the
quantity that is allowed to pass through the apparatus.
Third, I claim arranging the cases with their rubbing surfaces in the
manner shewn and described, or in any manner substantially the same,
whereby the grain or seed from the first case may by its own gravity pass to
the next following, and so on throughout the whole series.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustav Adolph Buchholz, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
GUSTAV ADOLPH BUCHHOLZ. (L.S.)
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