Improvement in Hulling Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Hulling Machines.
I, HERMAN THEODORE CORNELIUS KRAUS, of No. 43 Ralph Street, in the,
City of Brooklyn, County of Kings and State of New York, United States of
America, Civil 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:-
This invention relates to the construction of machines for hulling cotton seed or
the like, and consists essentially of two horizontal grinding disks arranged to
revolve in opposite directions and one of which is mounted on a vertical hollow
shaft constituting a hopper for feeding the desired seeds to between the disks; the
disks being enclosed in casing with a suitable outlet for the discharge of the
separated seeds and hulls. The opposed grinding surfaces of the disks are provided
with substantially radial alternating ridges or grooves for increasing the effective
action of the disks, as hereinafter more fully described.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 represents a vertical central section of the hulling machine embodying
my invention.
Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the lower disk.
Figs. 3, 4 & 5 represent plan views of the rolling disks.
Figs. 6 & 7 represent detail views showing the operation of the disks in their
action on the seeds.
Fig. 8 represents a horizontal section view on the line x x Fig. 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The letter A indicates the machine frame, which is provided with bearings for
two vertical shafts or spindles, B C, which carry grinding discs D, E, arranged
horizontally and in juxtaposition to each other. Each of the disk-shafts B C is
provided with a pulley B'C' for connecting it with a suitable source of power, and,
in practice, the motion imparted to the shafts and thence to the disks, is in opposite
directions of equal velocity.
The shaft C which carries the upper disk E is hollow, and communicates with
the-space between the two disks so that if the seeds are introduced into said shaft
from upper open end the seeds are thereby conducted to between the disks for
effecting the desired hulling operation. The hollow shaft C thus constitutes
hopper; and to facilitate the introduction of the seeds thereinto the upper end of
the shaft may be flared, as shown in Fig. 1.
The letter G indicates the casing surrounding the grinding disks D. E., and
G¹ a spout or outlet from said casing, the latter being secured to the machine
trame.
The letter I indicates the alternating radial ridges and grooves formed upon the
opposed grinding surfaces D. E. These ridges and grooves are preferably formed
n detachable portions D¹ or E¹ of either disk in form of a ring sunken into the
respective disks and secured thereto by screws or other suitable fastenings. The
shape of the alternating serrations and grooves of the grinding disks may be
rectilinear, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 4, or
curvilinear as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 or radial ridges or grooves as shown
n Fig. 5. The ridges may be all rectilinear or curvilinear, but I prefer that they
hould be radial on both sides as shown in Fig. V.

page_text: To the under part of the lower disk D is attached a brush, D2 in such a manner
as to share the motion of said disk. The operation of the machine is as follows:
The seeds with their hulls are to be introduced into hollow shaft C and thence
find their way by gravity to the space to the oppositely revolving disk D. E.,
whence by centrifugal force they are impelled outwardly toward the periphery of
the disks and dropping into the casing G they are discharged through the
outlet G assisted by the action of the brush D. In the centrifugal passage of
seeds between the grinding disks D. E. they are subjected to the action of the
radial ridges I and thereby effectually deprived of their hulls, the effect being to
separate or divide the hulls at about the center of the seed, as illustrated by the
diagram Figs. 6 & 7.
It will be apparent that by providing the disks with the detachable rings or
sections D'E' the same may be readily renewed when worn without affecting the
remainder of the machine.
The opposed surfaces of the grinding disks D. E are tapered in relation to each
other as shown in Fig. 1 with the effect of producing a gradually diverging mouth
between the disks extending from the inner to the outer portions thereof, which
obviously facilitates the discharge of the material acted upon and from between the
disks into the surrounding cases.
In order to permit of compensating for wear of the disks in their action on the
seeds, the lower disk D is made adjustable in relation to the upper disk E by means
of a set screw D³ constituting a step or bearing for said shaft.
The passage of the seed from the hollow shaft C into the space between the two
disks D. E. is facilitated by providing the lower disk with a central conical
projection D which is axially coincident and extends upwardly therefrom, as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
It is well known that the principle to break the hull and free the kernel, is not
by pressure nor grinding; the seed will enter the space between the faces of the
disks and will not move about but stand still, because the two disks run with the
same velocity. By being rolled at the same spot the hull is lengthened and will
break somewhere near the center; this will free the kernel, and so long as the hull
remains in the same position and accumulates by its woollen nature, the kernel is
forced by centrifugal force towards the periphery and also by more space between
the grooves. The seed is fed in large quantities, the hull accumulates in rolls
constantly revolving in the direction the disks run, and being as a consequence
more in diameter near the periphery, force in this manner a free discharge for
themselves, which otherwise could not be accomplished.
So long as these rolls of wool are in certain intermissions, the broken kernels
have ample space to actually discharge themselves, as shown in Fig. 5. The
kernels are broken nearest the center of the disk and if not forced at once, the roll
of wool constantly revolving and increasing in size the enclosed seed will find
openings to free themselves and fly to the outside. The machine runs about two
hundred revolutions a minute, and every particle of a kernel will increase its weight
about twenty-five times by centrifugal force.
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 I
claim is :-
Claim I. In a hulling machine, two horizontal grinding disks arranged to revolve
in opposite directions with the same velocity, a hollow shaft for one of said disks
forming a hopper for permitting the introduction of the seeds to the space between
the disks, substantially as herein described.
II. In a hulling machine, two horizontal grinding disks arranged to revolve in
opposite directions with the same velocity, a hollow shaft for one of said disks
forming a hopper for permitting the introduction of the seeds to the space between
the disks, a casing surrounding the disks, with suitable outlet therefrom and a brush

page_text: attachment to the lower disk for facilitating the discharge of material from the
casing, substantially as herein described.
III. In a hulling machine two horizontal grinding disks arranged to revolve in
opposite directions with the same velocity, and provided on their opposed surfaces
with detachable sections having radial teeth in combination with a hollow shaft
carrying the upper disk and constituting a hopper for conducting the seeds to
between the disks, the casing surrounding the disks, with a suitable outlet there-
from and the brush attached to the lower disk, for facilitating the discharge of the
material from the casing, substantially as herein described.
IV. In a hulling machine two horizontal disks arranged to revolve in opposite
directions, and each provided with detachable sections, the faces of which are shaped
to form radial ridges, substantially as shown and described.
V. In a hulling machine the combination of two horizontal grinding disks, a
hollow shaft carrying the upper of said disks and a cone on the lower of said disks
axially coincident thereof and extending upward into said shaft, substantially as
shown and described.
VI. In a hulling machine the combination with two horizontally revolving disks
and with shaft carrying the lower of said disks, of a set screw for adjusting the
disks in relation to each other, substantially as shown and described.
VII. In a hulling machine two horizontal grinding disks having the space
between opposed surfaces gradually increased with relation to each other towards
the periphery thereof, substantially as shown and described.
VIII. In a hulling machine two horizontal grinding disks having their opposed
surfaces tapering with relation to each other extending from the inner to the outer
portion thereof, in combination with tapering ridges on the faces of the disk to
facilitate the discharge of the material acted upon, substantially as shown and
described.
11
531 1
1005
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.