Improvements in or relating to Purifying, Sorting, Drying, and ̈ Preserving Grain, Seeds, Vegetables, Coffee, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1890-Accepted, 25th Oct., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Purifying, Sorting, Drying, and
¨ Preserving Grain, Seeds, Vegetables, Coffee, and the like.
I, EDOUARD DUBARD Fils, of Levallois, in the Republic of France, Merchant, 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 :-
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for purifying, sorting, and
preserving corn, and vegetables of every description, such as wheat, rye, barley, oats,
buck-wheat, maize, rice, colza, sesame, ground nuts, canary-grass, oil-nuts, millet,
hemp seed, coffee, cocoa, sunflower-seed, peas, lentils, beans, potatoes, and the like.
The materials to be treated, whether in good condition or damaged under way, are
first passed through a winnowing machine, so as to be freed from foreign matter,
dust, stone, &c.; then through a series of washing apparatus, where any remaining
dust or impurities, stains, mould etc. are removed; and through a drying machine
where they are freed from a portion of their moisture. The material is then conveyed
into a series of cylinders arranged within a drying chamber heated to a temperature
of from 60 to 180° as the case may be. After having undergone this drying operation
the material enters the cooling cylinder in which it is acted upon by a powerful fan,
whereby the remaining particles of moisture or moist vapours, are driven off. Upon
issuing from the cooling cylinders, the material may be raised by a suitable elevator
to a well aërated store room where it is left for several hours before being placed in
sacks.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1 shows a general arrangement of apparatus employed for purifying and
preserving corn according to this invention and
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the drying chamber or oven.
The material to be treated say for example, grain, is first raised to an upper story
of the building containing the plant, it is there introduced into the winnowing
machines A by which it is freed from foreign matter such as dust, pieces of stone,
sand, or other impurity likely to interfere with the proper operation of the apparatus ;
upon leaving the winnowing machines which are symmetrically arranged, the grain
descends into the tanks B containing water and in which are arranged a number of
stirring arms or blades whereby the material is stirred in such a manner that the
light portions such as empty husks, pieces of coal, and the like, rise to the surface, and
are discharged with the water overflowing through the opening D while the grain
falls into a basin and the water passes off through the pipe F.
At the lower portion of the tanks B are arranged two worms or conveyors G
whereby the grain is conducted to the orifice H provided with a valve or throttle,
which enables both the water and grain to be passed on to the washing machines I I¹
to which is connected a pipe for supplying water under pressure. These worms or
conveyors consist of two parts one horizontal and the other inclined, both being
connected together by means of a flexible coupling joint. The horizontal portion
constantly stirs or agitates the grain in the water which is continually being renewed
by fresh supplies. The grain by this friction is freed from dust, mould, or other
stains or impurities and the lighter portions pass away with the overflow issuing
through the opening i while in the inclined conveyor the corn is raised up to the valve
or outlet K and from which it is dropped into another washing apparatus L L
operating in the same manner as, but in an opposite direction to, the first. The grain
after leaving L L¹ passes to the washing worms M M of which there is also a double
set, and which operate within a double basin, the first casing of which is tinned and
provided with perforations sufficiently fine to prevent the grain from escaping while

page_text: large enough to let through sand and other such impurities and allow them to escape
into the shoot N. The grain thus washed is then raised out of the water and
introduced into the drying machines o each formed with two drums, one external
stationary drum, and one internal rotary drum the latter turning at a speed of from
150 to 200 revolutions per minute. These two drums are made of preferably tinned
sheet iron.
The inner drum is provided with perforations for the passage of the water which is
collected by a plate situated below from which it is discharged through a pipe. A
small worm arranged at the top distributes the material as it is fed by the washing
worms to the drying columns o where it is freed from part of its moisture as it
passes, and then falls onto a worm Q whence it is conveyed into the drying chamber
or oven through pipes P.
The oven or drying chamber R consists of a double jacketted chamber of sheet
iron, lined with wood applied to some suitable non-conductor of heat. At each end
are provided sheet iron doors affording access into the apparatus for repairs and
cleaning. The outer jacket may be of masonry, hollow tiles or any other material
ensuring the maintenance of a high temperature. It is separated from the inner
jacket by a space provided for the circulation of hot air. A large opening O' is
provided on one side for the introduction of hot air supplied from the chamber J by
means of a powerful fan or the equivalent thereof.
The temperature within the oven may without fear of injury be raised to 60,
90, 120, or 180° according to the requirements of the work and to the nature of the
corn or material to be treated. After being washed and dried the material is conducted
by the pipes P to the cylinders S, after passing through the shoots a b at the upper
portion of which is arranged a stirring device fitted with arms c and agitating the
material so as to prevent any interruption in the distribution. Each of the shafts
passing through the cylinders S; which shafts are supported in suitable bearings,
carries a screw or worm extending throughout the length of the shoot
adapted to supply the apparatus with material while in operation.
and
When the operation is stopped the distribution also coases so that no obstruction
can take place. The moist material is moreover assisted in its onward course by the
arms d. The material conveyed through the cylinders S and held therein in contact
with the hot air, is then caused to pass through other cylinders U constructed and
operating in the same manner as the preceding ones, and provided with a distributing
worm and a supply shoot whereupon it is conducted into the cooling cylinders V
provided with devices similar to those of the drying cylinders and contained within
casings acted upon by a powerful, cold air fan, whereby the remaining moist vapour is
A bucket elevator X receives the grain as it issues from the cooling
cylinders and carries it to an upper story where it is left in a well ventilated
magazine for several hours. When the drying is thoroughly completed owing to
continuous motion in contact with hot air, the grain may be put up in sacks and
preserved in good condition for a very considerable space of time.
driven away.
The drying and cooling cylinders may be of polygonal or circular shape and lined
with tinned wire-gauze or the like, whose size of meshes or interstices is proportionate
to the nature of the material to be treated. These cylinders are supported on rollers
and provided with stretchers or stays to prevent buckling especially when they are of
considerable length.
In the case of materially damaged goods the method of operation may be so
altered that instead of causing them to pass through the drying cylinders S and U in
succession they may if not too moist be submitted to the action of one series of
drying cylinders only. For this purpose the conduit ab connecting the cylinders S
and U is removed and a channel is arranged at the end of the cylinders S whereby
the material is conveyed to the coolers. The cylinders U in this case receive the
material directly as it issues from the drying machines and work it without interruption
as before described.
The drying is controlled according to the amount of damage done to the grain or
the like, and it is at all times thoroughly effected without in any way interfering with

page_text: the essential properties of the grain or other material, through continual motion in
contact with hot air.
The washing worms II', L L', are arranged in batteries and the worms M M'
operate each in conjunction with one of these batteries; and similarly the cooling
cylinders V are arranged to operate in connection with a series of driers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. Washing-tanks provided with stirring devices such as C an orifice D for the
discharge of light particles and overflow water and a worm G adapted to convey
the corn or the like to the orifice H substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the washing tanks B of conveyors such as 1 1, LL
consisting of two parts arranged at an angle to each other and fitted together by
means of a flexible coupling joint one portion being adapted to agitate and assist the
washing and onward motion of the grain or other material and the other portion to
raise the grain out of the water and deliver it to the valves or outlets K K¹
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with the tanks B and screws or conveyors I I, I, L' of screws
or conveyors such as M M' moving within tanks or troughs provided with an inner
perforated wall or bottom so as to enable sand mud or the like but not the grain or
other material under treatment to pass through the perforations and drying machines
or hydro-extractors such as o adapted to free the grain or the like from a portion of
its moisture substantially as described.
4. The combination with the devices specified in the preceding claims of drying
cylinders such as S U enclosed in a double jacketted drying chamber or oven through
which the material under treatment passes in succession as it issues from the drying
columns, such cylinders being arranged to move upon rollers and provided with
feeding troughs a b screws or worms and arms such as d substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with the drying cylinders of cooling cylinders such as V acted
upon by a hot air fan and adapted to free the grain or material under treatment from
the vapour produced by the drying process substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. Maintaining the grain or other material under treatment after it has been
washed in constant motion while in contact with hot air by means of drying cylinders
such as S substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.