Improvements in Machines for Conveying or Transporting Grain and other Materials of a like Nature.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Conveying or Transporting Grain
and other Materials of a like Nature.
I, OTTO GULBRANDSEN, citizen of the United States of America, residing
at 109 W. Adam Street, Syracuse, in the County of Onondaga, and State of New
York, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
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 is directed to improvements in machines for conveying or
transporting grain and other materials of a like nature, and more particularly to
machines of this class in which the conveyance or transportation is effected by the
rotation of spirally arranged feeding or propelling blades.
The invention has for its objects the improvement of the construction, operation
and efficiency of this class of machines generally; the production of means by
which the material in any desired quantities may be received or discharged at any
point or points along the length of the machine; the provision of facilities by
which the course of the material may be changed at will; the provision of means
for rendering the machine perfectly dust-proof; the production of the machine in
sectional parts whereby the expansion is reduced to the minimum, and whereby the
said sections may be arranged side to side or offset to economize in floor-space, and
to provide for the transfer and change of course of the material, and the utilization
of different sections for different materials; the utility for reducing the temperature
of heated material; the provision for obtaining complete control of the inaterial
both in the direction of its course and in bulk; and the construction of a machine
practically free from liability to disorder.
I will now describe in detail my improved conveying machine in its preferred
form, but I do not wish it understood that I confine myself thereto as my invention
is susceptible of embodiment in other forms, and the following description and
accompanying drawings are merely for the purpose of illustrating one form of
structure capable of carrying my invention into effect.
In the said drawings-
Figure 1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a discharging station.
Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the same.
Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a receiving station.
Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the same.
Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view partly in section of the arrangement of four
conveying machines with connecting station.
Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view partly in section of the conveyor showing in
elevation a receiving and a discharging station.
Figure 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the connected receiving
and discharging ends of two machines.
Figure 8 is a transverse view partly in section of the connecting station for the
four machine arrangement.
Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section of the frictionless support for the
machine.
Figure 10 is a transverse view of the same.
Figure 11 is a plan view partly in section of two sections of a conveyer
rranged at right angles to each other and provided with 3. connection
tation

page_text: Figure 12 is a side view of the angular station, the discharge end of conveyer
being removed.
Figure 13 is a sectional view through the discharging end and showing the
receiving end partly in elevation and partly in section.
Like letters of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the
drawings.
In the said drawings, A. denotes the conveyer proper which consists of a
cylindrical shell provided in the interior with a number of spirally arranged
conveyer blades a, a, preferably rivetted in place to the inner side of the shell.
The conveyer proper with its blades are rotated through any desired source of
power and to reduce friction the conveyer is supported at intervals on roller bearings
which I will now describe. At each of said intervals the shell is provided with
two rings b, b, which are recessed on their adjacent sides to form a seat for a tire b',
the latter conforming on its inuer side to said seat and held thereto by the clamping
action of the rings through bolts and nuts 62, 63, connecting same. The rollers are
shown at c c and are mounted in pairs on rock frames pivoted at c¹ in standards c² 2.
These standards are adjustably connected together by a bolt rod c³ screw threaded
at its ends and provided with securing nuts whereby the said pairs of rollers may be
adjusted to or from each other to provide a proper bearing for the tire which rests"
thereon.
At suitable intervals along the length of the conveyer are made openings a¹ a¹
which correspond in number to the number of conveyer blades employed, and at
each side of said openings are secured flanges or plate rings d d rivetted to the
outer side of the shell by the use of angle-iron rings d' d'. Secured to these
flanges d by rivetting or otherwise are scoops d2 d2 arranged at said openings, the
bottom of a scoop being secured to one side of an opening, while the mouth of a
scoop extends some distance beyond the other side of the opening for a purpose to
be presently explained. Beyond the flanges d but adjacent thereto are annular
flanges c and between the flanges d and e are a number of spirally arranged
blades e secured to the outer side of the shell. Such is the construction of parts
auxiliary to the receiving station which consists of a casing the under side of
which is semi-cylindrical and preferably eccentrically arranged in relation to the
conveyor proper. This casing encloses that part of the conveyer between the
flanges d, and is provided with dust proof packing rings f¹ which are extended to
meet the flanges e formed on the exterior of the conveyer, and making a dust proof
joint. The spiral blades el before referred to further cooperate to render the
structure dust-proof by conveying the accumulations of dust in the packing ring
back to the casing.
At a point preferably in the side of the casing is an inlet
opening by which the material is fed to the conveyer and extending from said
inlet opening is a chute f having a removable closure or cap. The conveyer
rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the scoops in turn carry the
material upward until by gravity it falls therefrom through the openings to the
interior of the conveyer through which it is propelled by the spiral conveyer
blades. As before stated, the scoops are of a comparatively great depth, the walls
extending considerably beyond the end of the opening and this provision ensures
the retention without danger of loss of the material from other receiving stations
until the same passes therefrom through the openings to the interior of the
conveyer. The casing for convenience in assembling the structure is made in two
halves as are also the packing ring, bolts being employed to connect the parts.
Referring now to the construction of the discharge station and the parts auxiliary
thereto, v, g, denote flanges or plate-rings, similarly constructed to the flanges d,
which are secured to the outer side of the shell, and gl g' are scoops, one for each
spiral blade a, which scoops are each secured at one side to a flange g and at the
other side to the terminating end of a spiral blade g³ secured to the outer side of
the shell and terminating at its other end with the opposite flange g to which it is
connected. Discharge openings h are made in the shell at the base or bottom of
the scoops g¹, each of said openings extending from one flange y to the other flange g

page_text: on the exterior of the conveyer. The outer spiral blades g2 conform in position to
the inner blades and form at their termination one side of the scoops gl. A casing į
encloses these parts and is provided with dust-proof joints ' and similarly constructed
to the casing for the receiving station. Dust-proof rings and dust conveyer
blades cooperate with the dust-proof rings in a manner similar to that before
described in reference also to the receiving station. In the bottom of the discharging
casing i is an opening controlled by a closure preferably in the form of a hinged
door and extending from said opening downward in a chute i, as shown. The
material coming through the conveyer from the receiving station will, when it
reaches the discharge openings, fall therefrom to the bottom of the casing i and if
the door is lowered or open, the material will discharge through the chute.
When no discharge of material is desired, the door is closed, and the material as
it falls from the openings to the bottom of the casing is carried over by the outer
spiral blades into the path of the scoops g¹ which return it to the interior of the
conveyor through which it passes to such place as a discharge is desired. The
opening may be controlled to any desired extent by the door, and if said door
is but partly open, only a portion of the bulk of material will be discharged while
the remainder will be taken up by the scoops gl and conveyed further.
24
Referring now to Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, it will be observed that by my inven-
tion I am enabled to arrange any number of conveyers in series for the purpose of
controlling the direction of flow of the material, for simultaneously handling
different materials, for reducing the temperature of heated material, and for
economizing floor-space. I have shown in these figures four conveyers arranged side
by side in parallel relation with the adjacent ends of same enclosed by what I term a
connecting station. In these figures the general structure is similar to that herein-
before described in reference to the detailed description of Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.
The conveyers are provided with spirally arranged inner conveyer blades, and are
mounted to rotate on roller bearings. I have numbered these conveyers 1, 2, 3, 4,
numbers 1 and 3 being provided with receiving ends, and numbers 2 and 4, with
discharging ends, all of said ends being enclosed by a casing j. The discharging
ends are each provided with an end flange d which extends beyond and within the
conveyer, and adjacent to this flange is a second flange k similarly arranged to the
flange d. To that portion of the flange & within the cylinder are connected the ends
of the conveyer blades and at the points of connection the flange is cut away to
provide a communication between the spiral channels formed by the blades and a
series of inside pockets formed by tangentially arranged plates k interposed
between and connected to the interior portions of the flanges d and k, and by the
casing to which said plates extend. The material as it is fed forward by the blades
finds its way through the openings or cut-away portions of the flange k and from
theuce passes to the interior pockets k¹ and is retained until by the revolution of
the casing said pockets are brought in turn uppermost and inverted and all of the
material falls therefrom into the funnel-shaped mouth of a chute which is arranged
well into this delivery end as shown. This chute extends through a partition in
the connecting station and into the receiving end of the adjacent section of conveyer.
This chute is provided with a door l preferably of the sliding type as shown, and
which closes said chute transversely. In the underside of the chute is an opening 12
controlled also by a door 13, preferably of the sliding type, and these doors are
operated from the outside of the casing by suitable connections not here shown.
The door controls the flow of material into the receiving conveyer, and the same
may be closed or opened to any desired extent. When the door 13 which controls
the opening 2 is open the material falls therethrough to the bottom of the casing
from whence it is scooped up by the outer scoops k which are secured between the
outer portions of the flanges d and k, and the material is then disposed of in a
manner presently to be described. On the outer side of the flange d are pro-
jections which direct the accumulated material in the bottom of the casing to
the outer scoops k*.
The conveyers numbered 2 and 4 are provided with receiving ends which are

page_text: similarly constructed to the receiving ends described in reference to Figures 1 and 3,
inasmuch as scoops d³ and openings a' are employed to carry the material from the
casing to the inside of the conveyer. The spiral conveyer blades a terminate
with and are connected to a flange or plate-ring m which is connected to the end
of the cylinder, and is extended beyond the periphery of same to form the sides of
the scoops d². n is a partition which separates the conveyers longitudinally, and the
same is provided with an opening n' controlled by a door n². As before stated, in
reference to the discharging end of conveyer number 1, the material having fallen
to the bottom of the casing and from thence been scooped up by the outside scoops *,
said material as it is carried over is deposited through the opening n' into the
receiving end of conveyer numbered 4, the door n² having been previously opened,
and is carried therefrom by the scoops d2 into said conveyer and thence in a
direction the reverse of its original course. By partially opening both of the
doors and a portion of the material will be carried to and through conveyer
number 4 in the manner just described, and the remainder will be carried to and
through conveyer number 2. In the bottom of the casing is an opening controlled
by a hinged door o, by the opening of which the door n being first closed the
material in any desired quantity may be withdrawn.
Any number of doors such as have been herein referred to may be employed,
and sight. doors are provided at suitable points for making observations. The
stations also are preferably provided with removable covers, and as before stated
the parts are made in halves bolted together.
In Figures 11, 12 and 13 I have shown two sections of conveyers which are
arranged at right angles to each other, but which may be arranged at an angle
greater or less than a right angle, for the purpose of conveying the material from
a discharge end of one section angularly to and through the other section, a
connecting station being employed for enclosing the ends of both sections. The
construction of the sections is similar to that herein before described the receiving
end of one section being provided with openings a¹ to which are secured exterior
scoops d² interposed between plate-rings d. The discharge end is covered by a
plate p forming a part of the connecting station a dust-proof joint being provided
between said plate and the section end, and from the plate extends a casing q which
encloses the receiving end of the other conveyer, a dust-proof joint being provided
at q. The receiving section is preferably supported at a line below the discharging
section as shown, in order to facilitate the entrance of the material to the former,
but good results may also be secured by arranging both sections on the same line
or plane. The material as it is fed forward by the blades in the discharging section
passes through the opening in the plate p and falls to the bottom of the casing from
whence it is taken by the scoops d2 on the receiving end of the other section and
from said scoops passes to the interior of the latter section when it is propelled
forward by the blades in the direction of the arrow. The dust-proof joints referred
to are similar in construction and operation to those previously described with
reference to the other conveyers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a conveying machine, the combination with a revoluble cylinder provided with
internally arranged fixed spiral conveying blades, and with a tire clamped between
recessed flanges on the exterior of the cylinder, a bearing for said tire consisting of
rollers arranged in pairs, each pair being mounted in boxes on rock arms, standards
in which is journalled a shaft supporting said rock-arm, and a bolt passed through
said standards and provided with inner and outer binding nuts for adjusting the
relative positions of the pairs of rollers with respect to said tire.
2. In a conveying machine, the combination with a cylinder capable of revolution
having internal spirally arranged conveyer blades and openings in its side each
communicating with a channel or space between two blades, external scoops one

page_text: for each opening, a fixed casing surrounding that portion of the cylinder having
the openings and scoops, having an opening controlled by a closure, annular
flanges on the cylinder beyond the casing, and dust proof rings interposed
between said annular flanges and the sides of the casing to provide a dust proof
connection.
3. In a conveying machine, the combination of a rotary conveyer provided with
internal spiral conveyer blades and external scoops leading to the interior, and
external spiral conveyer blades terminating at said scoops.
4. In a conveying machine, the combination of a revoluble cylinder provided
with internal spiral conveyer blades and having openings in the sides thereof, one
for each blade, scoop: for said openings, external spiral conveyer blades terminating
at said scoops and annular flanges adjacent to said scoops and to the other terminations
of the external blades.
5. In a conveying machine, the combination of a revoluble cylinder provided
with internal spiral conveyer blades, and openings in its sides one for each passage
between the blades, scoops for said openings, external spiral conveyer blades
terminating at said scoops, annular flanges adjacent to said scoops and to the
other terminations of the external blades, and a casing surrounding said external
blades and flanges and provided with an opening in its bottom having a closure for
controlling the discharge of the material.
6. In a conveying machine, the combination of a revoluble cylinder provided
with interior spirally arranged conveyer blades, interior pockets located at the end
of the cylinder at the terminus of said blades, exterior pockets at said end, and a
casing enclosing the end.
7. In a conveying machine, the combination with a rotary conveyer having a
discharge end provided with pockets communicating with the interior, of a second
conveyer in aligument therewith and having a receiving end provided with scoops
leading to the interior, and a casing enclosing said ends and having a partition, and
a chute having one end adjacent to the pockets in the discharging end, and having
its other end projecting through the partition into the receiving end.
8. A conveying machine comprising a rotary conveyer having a discharging end
provided with internal and external pockets the latter having projections, a second
conveyer in alignment therewith having a receiving end provided with scoops
leading to the interior, a third conveyer in parallelism with the first conveyer and
having a receiving end in transverse alignment with the discharging end of the
first conveyer, said receiving end being provided with scoops leading to the interior,
a fourth conveyer in alignment with the third conveyer having a discharging end
provided with internal and external pockets the latter having projections, and a
casing surrounding said ends having a vertical longitudinal partition provided with
an opening controlled by a closure, and vertical transverse partitions, and chutes
passed through said transverse partitions, each of said chutes being provided with
a funnel mouth adjacent to a discharging end and with its other end projecting into
a receiving end, and provided with a closure for the main opening, and with an
opening in its lower side controlled by a closure, all substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
9. In a conveying machine, the combination of a rotary conveyer having in its
interior a plurality of spirally arranged conveyer blades, and at the termination of
said blades a series of tangentially arranged receiving and discharging pockets
communicating with the space between two blades, and a chute the mouth of which
is adjacent to said pockets for the purpose set forth.
10. In a conveying machine, the combination of a rotary cylinder having on its
interior a plurality of spirally arranged conveyer blades, two flanges at the end of
said cylinder, the inner one of which is perforated at its junctive with the
terminating blades, pockets located between said flanges and at said perforations,
the outer flange having an annular opening, and a chute the mouth of which
projects through said latter opening to the inner flange.
11. In a conveying machine the combination with a rotary cylinder having

page_text: conveying blades and a discharging end provided with discharging pockets, a
second rotary conveyer having conveying blades and a receiving end provided with
scoops leading to the interior, a fixed casing enclosing the ends of both conveyers
and provided with a partition separating said ends, and a chute passed through
said partition to provide a communication between the conveyers, having con-
trollable openings.
12. A conveying machine comprising a series of revoluble cylindrical sections,
each of which is provided with a plurality of internally arranged spiral conveyer
blades, said sections being arranged longitudinally and transversely in pairs with a
receiving end of one station adjacent to the discharging end of another section, said
receiving and discharging ends being and operating substantially as described, and
a casing surrounding the adjacent ends of said sections, and provided with partitions
having controllable openings therein, and means whereby the course of the material
may be controlled in the manner set forth.
13. In a conveying machine the combination with a rotary cylinder having
conveying blades and a discharging end, a second rotary conveyer having conveying
blades and a receiving end provided with scoops leading to the interior, a fixed
casing enclosing the ends of both conveyers and provided with a partition separating
said ends, and a chute passed through said partition to provide a communication
between the conveyers, having controllable openings.
14. A conveying machine comprising a section having a discharging end, a
section having a receiving end arranged at an angle to said discharging
end, a casing enclosing said ends, spiral blades within the sections, and scoops on
the exterior of the receiving end, all substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 21st dow
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.