IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINERY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Pieter Van Gelder of Sowerby Bridge in the County of
York for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINERY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Pieter Van Gelder at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th July 1882.
PIETER VAN GELDER of Sowerby Bridge in the County of York
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINERY APPLICABLE FOR SEPARATING ONE KIND
OF GRAIN OR SEED FROM ANOTHER."
In "cockle machines" as at present constructed it is often very difficult to
extract small round grains, and as a rule not one tenth of the holes as they emerge
from the grain have an occupant, the cylinders too have to be placed sloping and
thus occupy extra space. It is to remedy these and other defects in the present
system that this my invention is designed.
My invention consists 1st in using the external surface instead of the internal
surface of the cylinder.
2nd In placing the trough receptacle or box containing the grain to be cleaned
against the side of the cylinder all the way along, the cylinder itself forming one
of the sides of the receptacle.
3rd In forming the lower part of said receptacle somewhat wedged shaped and
curving up the edge against the cylinder so that the grain itself shall assist in
keeping the (preferably flexible) edge against the cylinder.
4th In placing an archimedian screw longitudinally through the upper portion of
the receptacle for grain and so pitched and regulated as regards speed as to cause
all the grain to gradually traverse from the entrance at one end to the exit at the
other with such speed that all the grain shall successively come in contact with the
cylinder to the requisite degree to deprive it of cockle or other impurity.
=
5th In a brushing apparatus for brushing the cylinder, preferably a loose
revolving brush on a spindle parallel to the axis of the cylinder.

page_text: 6th In forming the holes for the cockle or other material to be separated of a
pocket shape with a flat lip, the hole at that point having an inverted inward
downward slope while the opposite side of the hole, or side nearest the direction of
motion is curved gently inward. This form of hole enables the seed to more
easily enter and remain in while the machine is revolving the seeds falling into
the pockets and being unable to roll out prematurely from the peculiar pocket
shape of the hole.
7th In a receptacle for the cockle or extracted seeds on the opposite sides of the
cylinder, this can have a worm at the bottom to extract the cockle continuously.
8th In a driving chain and gear which drive both archimedean screws and the
cylinder, by change wheels the respective speeds can be altered to any desirable.
extent.
9th In fixing the seed and "cockle" receptacles with the brush upon a frame
capable of being rotated around the axis of the cylinder and having a regulating
arm or handle so as to regulate their respective heights without altering in any
way their relative distance from the centre of the cylinder.
The mode of action is as follows sufficient grain requiring separation being
A thin
placed in the grain receptacle the cylinder and worms are set in motion.
layer of grain being pressed against the revolving cylinder by more stationary
grain behind it is caused to revolve and travel upward Those grains or seeds
small enough and of the right shape to fall into the pockets do so, and are carried
upward to the other side of the cylinder The remaining grain or seed in the
layer nearest the cylinder is carried up to the surface of the main body of the
grain and falls over into the screw. Descending through the screw it is carried
forward any required distance depending upon the relative speeds, sinks in turn to
the bottom and is again raised in a similar manner and so on till it reaches the
exit end and passes out clear of cockle at the exit spout.
Any stuff adhering to the cylinder is brushed off by the revolving brush.
In this specification the word "cockle" must not be understood in its literal sense
but must be held to mean-the seed or other matter required to be extracted from
the general mass. In a similar manner the word grain generally means the
material to be purified.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Pieter Van Gelder in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th January 1883.
PIETER VAN GELDER of Sowerby Bridge in the county of York " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINERY APPLICABLE FOR SEPARATING ONE KIND
OF GRAIN OR SEED FROM ANOTHER
"
In " Cockle" machines as at present constructed it is often very difficult to
extract small round grains, and as a rule only a small percentage of the holes as
they emerge from the grain have an occupant, the cylinders too have to be placed
sloping and thus occupy extra space. It is to remedy those and other defects in
the present system that this my invention is designed.
Referring to the drawings
Fig 1 is an elevation of my improved machine
Fig 2 Elevation of one end.
Fig 3 Elevation of the other end
Fig 4 part elevation in section showing different shapes of pockets for lifting or
separating the grains or seeds which are to be removed.
Figs 5 and 6 Front view of same pockets.
Fig 7 Elevation showing shape of screw or beater for pushing the material to be
separated against the side of the cylinder of the separater.
A, is a stout beam forming part of a frame, in the drawings shown of wood but
may be of metal of angle T or other cross section used for bearing upon which the
pedestals B B which carry and support the machine, are placed and rigidly
screwed. C is the end framing and C₁ the framing back and front which enclose
the various parts of the machinery. On the shaft D which revolves in the
pedestals B and B is keyed or otherwise rigidly attached a large cylinder E whose
external surface is fitted or covered with small pockets e (see Figs 4, 5, and 6) which
are made of any size or shape according to the grain or material to be cleaned and
the impurities to be removed from it so that the impurities only shall fall into the
pockets and be carried over the cylinder while the valuable material remains
behind. This method of course may be reversed and the impurities be left behind
while the valuable grain may be carried over the cylinder but except an exceptional
case such as where the impurities are larger than the grain I prefer the first
mentioned course. The cylinder E I prefer to make of zinc or copper but may be
made of any other metal or material into which pockets can be worked of the
required shape. The grain is fed from a hopper or other receptacle through a
spout F at one end of the machine into a trough F traversing the length of the
machine adjacent to the cylinder E and open at one side so that the surface of the
cylinder might be said to form one side of the trough or box F. The lower part
or bottom of the receptacle F is formed slanting down or inclining towards the
surface of the cylinder E so that the grain will tend of its own weight to press
against the cylinder. The lip or edge of the bottom f is made of flexible
material bearing against the surface of the cylinder and long enough to curl up,
the weight of the grain tending to keep it tightly against and in close contact with
the surface of the cylinder thus preventing any of the material falling down in the
wrong direction. For a short distance before touching the exit spout the bottom f
ceases to incline towards the cylinder so that no cavity or pocket may be formed
in which the grain could collect and remain stationary as shown in dotted lines f".
A series of beaters or screws G placed on a shaft G₁ are placed longitudinally in
the grain receptacle or trough F for the purpose of carrying the grain from the

page_text: end of the trough where it is admitted by the spout F' to the other end of the
trough to the exit spout F", and at the same time turning the grain and lifting
and pushing it against the cylinder so that every particle may come in contact
with the surface of the cylinder during its travel from one end of the trough to the
other. Each of the blades g of the beaters G represent the thread of a screw and
which if made continuous in the case shewn in the drawings would form a four
threaded screw. The pitch of the screw of the beaters G, the number of the blades g,
and the speed at which the shaft G¹ is run, are all dependent upon the particular
material under operation. For instance the machine shown in the drawings is
designed for use where the per centage of impurities is large or where such
impurities are difficult to remove. The shaft is driven at a slow speed, the number
of blades g cause a frequent turning of the mass of grain while it travels from one
end of the cylinder to the other. Where the grain to be cleaned is more easily
freed from impurities or a comparatively small proportion of the total bulk has to
he lifted out, the beaters may be formed with only three two or one blade thus
forming single double or treble threaded screw, and at the same time the speed may
be increased so as more quickly to pass the grain from the entrance to the exit end
of the trough F. The screw or beaters G are made in sections two of which are
shown Fig 7 so that they may be easily renewed or removed from the shaft when
required also to facilitate their manufacture H H' are the bearings in which the
shaft G revolves. On a spindle I¹ at the opposite end of the cylinder E to that at
which the trough F for receiving the grain is situate is placed a loose revolving
brush I in length equal to the length of the cylinder. This brush the periphery of
which is driven at a greater speed than that of the periphery of the cylinder E
loosens any seeds that have become jammed or stuck in the pockets e and
also keeps the pockets and the surface of the cylinder free from dirt that would
be likely to accumulate thereon. In some instances this brush may be
dispensed with.
The holes e in the surface or the covering of the cylinder which receive the
impurities to be separated from the grain are formed of a pocket shape with a flat
lip the hole at that point having an inverted inward downward slope while the
opposite side of the hole or side nearest the direction of motion is curved gently
inward..
This form of hole enables the seed to more easily enter and remain in while the
machine is revolving the seeds falling into the pockets and being unable to roll out
prematurely from the peculiar pocket shape of the hole. These holes or pockets
may be of any size shape or configuration according to the nature of the seeds to
be removed by then or of the grain to be cleaned such that the impurities may
easily enter them and be carried away and the grain be unable to enter them and
thus remain in the trough or receptacle F until it reaches the exit pipe F". The
pockets shown in Fig 5 are suitable for lifting grass seed out of wheat, and those
shown in Fig 6 for lifting wheat out from amongst barley or oats. Q is a wire
guard hinged at R passing over the top of the trough F its front edge Q' resting
on the surface of the cylinder E. It is made in sections of about two inches wide
as shewn in Fig 8. so that each is of light weight and may be easily lifted. Should
any grains partially enter the pockets e in the cylinder too large to fit therein and
be carried upwards as the said cylinder revolves the front wire Q₁ of the guard Q
coming in contact with the seed overbalances it and causes it to fall out.
F is a receptacle trough or hopper at the bottom of the machine into which the
inaterials extracted by the cylinder E fall An Archimedean screw K traverses this
hopper and draws its contents to an exit spout J whence the accumulated materials
are continuously withdrawn
The screws or beaters G, the brush I and the Archimedean screw K, are driven
by driving chains passing over change wheels L on the ends of each of their
respective shafts from the shaft of the cylinder E,-The cylinder E being driven
by strap pulley or bevel gearing at either end of its shaft. These wheels L may
be changed at pleasure to regulate the relative speeds of the several parts of the

page_text: machine as required according to the nature of the particular material under
operation at the time.
The end frames C are supported on or hung from the shaft E and bearings B
and B and are capable of moving or revolving in either direction without altering
the relative positions of the grain receptacle F with the beaters G the brush I
and the hopper for the separated impurities J with the Archimedean screw K.
At one end Fig 2 a socket or sleeve c cast with the framing and through which
the shaft D passes rests in the pedestal B. It is cast with a slot through which
the shaft D enters into position a loose piece c¹ is placed above the shaft to prevent
the entry of dirt and the whole is held in position by the cap b. At the other end
shown in Fig 3 the shaft only passes into the pedestal B' and in the frame C is
formed a socket or bearing d through which the shaft passes, a cap d¹ screwed
thereon of about the same size as the cap b¹ of the pedestal B¹ and directly behind
the latter supports the frame C in position. M is a bracket or arm with a slot
through which a stud N fixed to the frame C passes, a nut n holding it in the
required position. The slot in the bracket M may be curved, or the bracket as
shown on the drawings may oscillate on a pin or stud m as the end of the stud N
rises and falls in the slot.
By these means the relative position of cylinder E with the other operative
parts of the machine may be varied at will the nut n on Stud N when screwed
tightly against the bracket or arm M holding the various parts in such position.
The mode of action is as follows. The grain requiring separation is admitted
to the grain receptacle F through the spout F' and the cylinder E and beaters G
are set in motion, a thin layer of grain being pressed against the revolving
cylinder by more stationary grain behind it is caused to revolve and travel
upward. Those grains or seeds small enough and of the right shape to fall into the
pockets e do so and are carried upward to the other side of the cylinder. The
remaining grain or seed in the layer nearest the cylinder is carried up to the
surface of the main body of the grain and is carried backward by the beaters G.
Descending between the blades of the screw it is carried forward any required
distance depending upon the relative speeds, sinks in turn to the bottom and is
again thrown by the blades g against the cylinder E and raised in a similar manner
and so on till it reaches the exit end and passes out clean of impurities at the exit
spout F. Any stuff adhering to the cylinder is brushed off by the revolving
brush.
Of course it will be understood that by dividing the surface of the cylinder E
into sections and providing each section with differently shaped pockets the
removal of several different shaped seeds or impurities may be effected in one
operation in such case the hopper J would be divided into lengths corresponding
to the sections of the cylinder, each length provided with separate exit spout,
also if necessary the pitch of the screw of the beaters G, and the number of the
blades might be altered at different parts of its length as circumstances might
suggest or require.
Having now described my invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire
to claim under the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is
A machine for separating one or more kinds of seeds from another kind or kinds
differently sized or shaped in which the pitted exterior of the cylinder is used as
the separator substantially as described and not the pitted interior of the cylinder
as in cockle machines hitherto constructed and further the special parts or details
of the machine which I believe to be new are:-The peculiarly shaped pockets
made to suit the shape of the grain to be extracted and with a flattish side perpen-
dicular or at an acute angle to the surface of the cylinder for the purposes
described-The trough with the Archimedean screw, beaters or blades for carrying
forward the grain in a regular and gradual manner. The combination with the
cylinder pitted on the outside of a revolving brush going rather faster than the
cylinder but with the opposing surfaces travelling in the same direction so that

page_text: the brush shall assist in emptying the pockets. The preferably flexible lip of the
trough turned up substantially as and for the purposes described. The frame on a
bearing concentric with the cylinder carrying the various mountings and adjustable
angularly about that central bearing so that the said mountings can be made to
stand at various heights to suits various kinds of grain without their relative
position one to the other being altered. The special combination of the driving
chain and the various mountings arranged substantially as described, no claim
being made for the principle of driving by a chain and toothed wheels or its
equivalent.
In Witness whereof I the said Pieter Van Gelder have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifteenth day of January in the Year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
PIETER VAN GELDER (L.S.)