Apparatus for Regulating the Supply of Grain to Grain Sorting Machines with Cellular Drums.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Regulating the Supply of Grain to Grain Sorting
Machines with Cellular Drums.
I, JOHANN MAYER, of No. 10, Hansaring, Cologne, on the Rhine, Germany,
Civil Engineer, & Manufacturer, 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: —
In grain sorting machines with drums having cells on their inner surface in
which the cereals are raised up, and which have a longitudinal slot through which
the sorted grain is discharged and through which the grain to be sorted is also
introduced, there is provided a flap which, on the passing of the slot, drops down
and allows a certain amount of grain to pass into the drum, after which the flap
is closed again so as to stop the supply.
This arrangement is liable to the disadvantage that by the dropping of the
supply flap a strong concussion is produced which in time is liable to injure the
machine.
According to the present invention this inconvenience is obviated by providing
an intermediate appliance for leading the grain from the supply flap into the
drum; this intermediate appliance consists of a stationary supply shoot arranged
within the drum, which is provided with a supply flap that opens on the passing
of the longitudinal slot.
In the arrangement shown on the accompanying drawing by way of example,
where the machine is provided with two sorting drums, and in which Fig. 1
shews a vertical cross section, b is the above mentioned supply shoot which is
fixed to the adjustable receptacle g within the drum, but which may also be fixed
independently of the latter. The length of the shoot 6 corresponds practically
to the length of the drum slot a and the width of the shoot also corresponds to
the width of the slot v. The supply of grain from the hopper at top to the
supply shoot 6 is effected when the slot a of the drum is situated over the inlet
end of the supply shoot, the supply being effected by means of the scoops h
which in the arrangement shown are rotated with an intermittent motion.
The lower end of the shoot b is closed by the flap c the pivot of which is at
top. This flap c is held closed by means of a catch d which is raised so as to
release the flap by means of a tappet e. fixed to the inner surface of the drum,
at the moment when the longitudinal slot a has entirely or nearly passed beyond
its lowest position, and therefore, is commencing to rise on the side opposite that
where the shoot is situated.
and this
As soon as this is done the raising tappet e bears against the catch
then releases the flap e so that the grain can now fall out of the shoot b.
The shoot is filled again when the drum has arrived in the position in which
the longitudinal slot, a, is situated in front of the inlet end of the shoot b, at
which moment the scoops h are set in motion so as to deliver into the same the
determined quantity of grain to be acted upon during one revolution of the
drum.
The connection between the catch and the flap e in the position of rest is

page_text: preferably effected by a pink on the flap and a hook on the catch, as shewn in
enlarged view of these parts at Fig. 2. When the catch engages with the
pin in the closed position the pressure of the grain inside the shoot cannot
open the flap, but the flap is immediately forced open by such pressure as soon
as the tappet e raises the catch sufficiently to release the pin k. The length
of the tappet e is made such that it will keep the catch & raised a length of time,
corresponding to that necessary for allowing the quantity of grain to issue from
the shoot which is to be treated at one time in the drum. When this has
taken place the flap c closes by gravity, and immediately afterwards the tappet e
releases the catch so that this in falling engages with the pin k again so as to
hold the flap closed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
Apparatus for regulating the supply of grain to grain sorting machines, with
cellular drums having a longitudinal supply and discharge slot, consisting in
the arrangement within the drum of a stationary supply shoot which is charged
with grain on the passage of the said slot over the inlet end of the shoot, while
the lower discharge end of the latter is closed by a flap which is automatically
opened at the required times to allow of the discharge of the grain, by a device
actuated by the sorting machine, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of September 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.