IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINES KNOWN AS 'MIDDLINGS SEPARATORS' OR PURIFIERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Walworth, Machine Maker, of Bradford, in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF MACHINES KNOWN AS 'MIDDLINGS SEPARATORS' OR PURIFIERS."
Sealed the 8th August 1876, and dated the 26th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Walworth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th February 1876.
"IM-
JAMES WALWORTH, Machine Maker, of Bradford, in the County of York.
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINES KNOWN AS MIDDLINGS SETA-
RATORS OR PURIFIERS."
,
My Invention relates to separating and purifying middlings, flour, or fine sharps,
also in separating wheat, rice, or other grain. For this purpose I employ two
rollers fitted in bearings fixed on the sides of the apparatus. The rollers are made
the width of the machine, and placed a short distance from each other. Over the
rollers is fitted a leather endless apron (or of any other suitable material). This
apron is made nearly the width of the machine, and is caused to revolve by gear.
Above the endless apron is fixed a hopper open at the top and bottom, and so fixed
that it allows a small opening between the bottom of the hopper and the endless
apron for the middlings or fine sharps to pass on to the travelling apron, carrying a
thin even feed all the width of the apron, which, arriving at the end, falls on to a
slantered board, and from there into an upright exhaust chamber, and into three,
four, five, or more upright exhaust chambers, through which a strong current of air
is drawn by a fan or blower fitted at the other end of the apparatus. The current
of air lifts the light branny particles and a portion of the fine middlings, conveying
them into a chamber having an opening forined at the bottom, which delivers the
middlings on to a fine silk sieve, having a quick oscillating movement, and working
in a chamber formed at the bottom of the apparatus. The fan or blower draws a
current of air through the sieve, keeping the brown particles on the top until they
arrive at the end of the seive and pass off. The fine white particles pass through
the silk sieve and the fine brown particles through the fan into a chamber.
An air valve is fitted on the top of the apparatus to regulate the suction.
The heavier particles or coarse middlings arriving at the bottom of the exhaust
chambers fall on to a coarse silk oscillating sieve working at a quick speed, sepa-
וע

page_text: rating the unground flour from the coloured portion; the coloured portion passes off
at the end of the sieve and the unground flour through the sieve into a receiving
chamber formed at the bottom of the apparatus.
For separating wheat, rice, or other grain I employ a similar apparatus to that
herein-before described, but without sieves, and the whole force of the fan or blower
is brought into action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Walworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th August
1876.
JAMES WALWORTH, Machine Maker, of Bradford, in the County of York. " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINES KNOWN AS 'MIDDLINGS SEPA-
RATORS OR PURIFIERS."
This Invention relates to separating and purifying middlings, flour, or fine sharps,
also in separating wheat, rice, or other grain. For this purpose I employ two
rollers fitted in bearings fixed on the sides of the apparatus. The rollers are made
nearly the width of the machine, and placed a short distance from each other. Over
the rollers is fitted an endless apron of leather or other suitable material. This
apron is made nearly the width of the machine, and is caused to revolve by gear.
Above the endless apron is fixed a hopper open at the top and bottom, and so fixed
às to leave a small opening between the bottom of the hopper and the endless apron.
Over the opening is fitted a lid working on hinges, and kept closed by a spring or
lever and weight, allowing the lid to open more or less, according to the quantity
of feed or weight of middlings in the hopper. The middlings or fine sharps pass
on the travelling apron, carrying a thin even feed the whole width of the apron,
which feed, arriving at the end, falls on to an inclined board, and from thence into
an upright exhaust passage, and into three, four, five, or more upright exhaust
passages, through which a strong current of air is drawn by means of a fan or
blower fitted at the other end of the apparatus. The current of air lifts the light
branny particles, fluff, and all the fine middlings, conveying them into a chamber
having an opening formed at the bottom, which delivers the middlings on a silk
sieve having a quick oscillating movement, and working in a chamber formed at the
bottom of the apparatus. The fan or blower draws a current of air through the
sieve, keeping the brown particles on the top until they arrive at the end of the
sieve and pass off. The fine white pure middlings pass through the silk sieve, and
the fine brown and fluffy particles pass through the fan into a chamber.
An air slide valve is fitted on the top of the apparatus to regulate the suction.
The heavier particles or course middlings arriving at the bottom of the exhaust
passages fall on to a silk sieve working at a quick speed, separating the unground
flour from the remaining coloured portions, which pass off at the end of the sieve,
and the unground flour or coarse middlings pass through the sieve into a receiving
chamber formed at the bottom of the apparatus.
For separating wheat, rice, or other grain I employ a similar apparatus to that
herein-before described, but without sieves, and the whole force of the fan or blower
is brought into action.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1
represents a sectional elevation of a middlings separator or purifier; Figure 2 is a
front elevation, and Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used to represent similar parts.
A are the rollers fitted in bearings B fixed on the sides or top of the apparatus.
The rollers are made nearly the width of the machine and placed a short distance
from each other. Over the rollers is fitted an endless apron C of leather or other
suitable material. This apron is made the width of the rollers, and is driven by
the pulley D worked by a strap E actuated by a pulley F fitted on a shaft G, which

page_text: is driven by the worm wheel F. This wheel is actuated by a worm I fitted on one
end of the rocking motion shaft J. Above the apron C is fixed a hopper K, made
open at the top, and having a small opening L at the bottom of the same width as
the inside of the hopper. Over this opening is fitted a lid M working on hinges N,
and kept closed by springs O or by a lever and weight, by these means allowing the
lid to open more or less, according to the quantity of feed or weight of middlings in
the hopper K. The middlings or fine sharps pass on to the travelling apron C,
carrying a thin even feed the whole width of the apron, which arriving at the end
falls on an inclined board P, and thence on to another inclined board Q and exhaust
passage R, and on to three or more other inclined boards S, T, and U, and exhaust
passages V, W, X, and Y, through which a strong current of air is drawn by a fan
or blower Z fitted at the end of the apparatus. The current of air lifts the light
branny particles, fluff, and all the fine middlings, conveying them into a chamber A¹
having an opening B₁ formed at the bottom, which delivers the middlings on to a
silk sieve C, having a quick oscillating movement produced by the crank D',
actuating a wooden spring gear such as has been heretofore employed. The sieve Ci
works in a chamber E' formed at the bottom of the apparatus. The fan or blower Z
draws a current of air through the sieve, keeping the brown particles on the top
The fine white pure
until they arrive at the end of the sieve and pass off.
middlings pass through the silk sieve, and the fine brown and fluffy particles pass
through the fan into a chamber. On the top of the exhaust chamber A¹ is fitted
an air slide valve F¹ made with openings G₁ working over openings H¹ made in the
top of the chamber A¹. This slide valve regulates the suction, and is actuated by a
screw and hand wheel. The heavier particles or coarse middlings arriving at the
bottom of the exhaust passage Y fall on to a silk sieve I', working at a quick speed
and actuated in a similar manner to the sieve C, separating the unground flour
from the remaining coloured portions, which pass off at the end of the sieve, and
the unground flour or coarse middlings pass through the sieve into the receiving
chamber E, the unground flour is carried forward by the screw J¹, and is either
delivered through a trap door made in the bottom of the apparatus, or gets mixed
with the fine white pure middlings and delivered by the screw J¹ into a suitable
receiver or chamber fitted at the end of the apparatus.
The silk of the sieves is secured to the frames by a simple method; on the out-
sides of the framework are formed grooves, in which fit steel wires; the ends of the
silk are made with tucks or seams, through which are passed the steel wires, and
several tucks or seams may be made to allow of tightening the silk over the frame-
work. The wires after having been placed in the tucks or seams of the silk are
fitted in the grooves and securely held by means of buttons fitted on the sides of
the frame. By these means I obtain an equal tension on each thread of the silk,
and the silk can be drawn tighter (without damaging the silk) than by the means
heretofore employed. The silk can also be removed and replaced in a few minutes.
I also employ this method for clothing silk reels instead of lacing them.
For separating wheat, rice, or other grain employ an apparatus similar to that
herein-before described, but without sieves, and in which the whole force of the fan
or blower is brought into action.
Having thus described my improvements and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as these may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; but what I do claim
is,-
-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of "middlings" separators or
purifiers whereby the fine middlings are separated from the coarse by the action of
the suction either before or after sieving, or separate and apart from sieving,
substantially as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawing.
Secondly. The construction of apparatus for the separation of wheat, rice, and
other grain by the action of the suction, as herein-before described.

page_text: Thirdly. The employment of a fan or blower in combination with exhaust
passages, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourthly. The method or mode of fixing the silk on the frames of the sieves (or
on silk reels), substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Walworth, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
JAMES WALWORTH. (L.S.)