A New or Improved Mode of and Means or Appliances for Testing and Recording the Characteristics or Properties of Flour and Dough.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Mode of and Means or Appliances for Testing
and Recording the Characteristics or Properties of Flour and
Dough.
I JAMES HOGARTH of West Mills, Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire, Miller and Corn
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved mode of, and
means or arrangement and combination of appliances for mechanically testing
and sampling different qualities of flour and graphically indicating and record-
ing the various characteristics or properties of the different flours as tested,
such as the power of the flour to absorb water to yield a dough of a given consis-
tency; the actual consistency of the dough in a kneading machine; the propor-
tional strain or power required to drive the kneading machine after the sample
of flour (and water) has been placed therein; the amount of bread each sack
of flour will yield; and the quality of the gluten entering into the composition
of any given sample of flour.
These operations are effected under my invention by an arrangement and
combination of mechanism and mechanical movements, and graphically recorded
as hereinafter described by diagram lines or figures traced on lined paper,
the spaced lines on the paper in the transverse direction indicating the quantity
of water used in a given time, and the spaced lines in the other or longitudinal
direction indicating the power or proportional power exerted in pounds pres-
sure required in mixing the flour and kneading the mixture or dough at the
various times.
The improvements consist, first, in the use of a small mechanical kneading
machine of any ordinary construction, into which the flour is placed, and the
water is fed gradually at a slow uniform rate preferably from a new or
improved arrangement of feeder in the form of a cylinder with small discharge
pipe and tap and fitted with a traversing piston reciprocated in the cylinder at
a slow uniform rate as by a screw spindle on the piston traversed by a screw nut
or pinion with teeth on its outer circumference actuated by a worm on a spindle
from the gearing of the dynamometer, or from a time-piece or other uniform
regulative motor. The cylinder would be marked with divisions on a line
on its outer surface to indicate the quantity of water delivered during any
given time, and motion and position of the piston in its cylinder. The water
would be fed from this cylinder in amongst the dough of the kneading machine,
and the kneading machine would be driven through a belt on the pulley of
one spindle of a dynamometer, the other spindle driving the actuating spindle
of the kneading machine. The dynamometer preferred would be a simplifica-
tion of the usual construction of that worked by bevel wheels secured on the
adjacent ends of the driving and driven spindles actuated through bevel wheels
gearing into these on opposite sides mounted loose on a transverse spindle at
right angles to the said two spindles and carried in bearings on a wire cord
pulley, having the one end attached to the circumference of the pulley and the
other to a spiral spring or differential weighted lever, so arranged that in
either case the wire cord would reciprocate a recording pencil or pointer, so
as to give it an equal travel for each increment of weight in pounds draught on
the cord, and capable of being turned down to act on the said lined sheet of
paper, preferably mounted on a cylinder, the pencil traversing in the trans-
verse direction across the paper, and longitudinal division lines indicating

page_text: pounds pressure on the paper according to the power transmitted through the
dynamometer in driving the kneading machine during the time the water was
flowing on to the flour in it. The cylinder with the paper on it would be
turned at an uniform rate, proportionate to the transverse lines and divisions
on it in the circumferential direction indicating the water added to the flour in
the kneading machine during that time. Thus the pencil would trace on the
paper a graphic diagram running up in a curved or irregular line to the
greatest power and pressure required to mix the floor with the quantity of water
absorbed at the same time, and trace the line down again from the maximum,
and show the stiffness of the dough at any given time during the operation,
to be able to compare these graphic diagrams given by the different qualities
of flour.
My improved simplification of the dynamometer would consist in mounting,
instead of bevel wheels as heretofore, two spur wheels on the adjacent ends of
the two spindles within the cord or traction wheel, actuating two short spur
wheels mounted on loose short parallel spindles radially opposite each other,
within the traction wheel, the cord from which would be counter-weighted by
a spiral spring or accumulative weight, which as before stated would give to
the pointer an equal travel for each pound pressure or increment of weight.
This new or improved arrangement and combination of appliances I term A
Graphic Flour Indicator," but the same arrangement might be applied on a
large scale to bakers kneading machines generally, to show the actual con-
sistency of the dough which at present is only guessed at.
For testing the quality of gluten in the flour I use a second-diagram, taken as
before described, and after adding the quantity of water necessary to hydrate
any given sample of flour to its maximum point of hydration, I note the loss
of tenacity during a long test say, six to twenty-four hours. The new diagram is
allowed to revolve continuously and the pencil to describe a line spirally around
it. The loss in tenacity per hour indicated on the diagram will give the quality
of the gluten.
Dated the 16th October 1889'
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Mode of and Means or Appliances for Testing
and Recording the Characteristics or Properties of Flour and
Dough.
I JAMES HOGARTH, of West Mills, Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire, Miller and Corn
Merchant, 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 in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
four sheets of drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved mode of, and
means or arrangement and combination of appliances for mechanically testing
and sampling different qualities of flour and graphically indicating and record-
ing the various characteristics or properties of the different flours as tested.
such as the power of the flour to absorb water to yield a dough of a given consis-
tency; the actual consistency of the dough in a kneading machine; the propor
tional strain or power required to drive the kneading machine after the sample
of flour (and water) has been placed therein; the amount of bread each sack
of flour will yield; and the quality of the gluten entering into the composition
of any given sample of flour."
These operations are effected under my invention by an arrangement and

page_text: on
combination of mechanism and mechanical movements, and graphically recorded
lined paper,
as hereinafter described by diagram lines or figures traced
the spaced lines on the paper in the one or transverse direction indicating the
quantity of water used in a given time, and the spaced lines in the other or
longitudinal direction at right angles to the former lines indicating the power
or proportional power exerted in pounds, pressure in mixing the flour and knead-
ing the mixture or dough at the various times.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended four sheets of explanatory drawings in which the same reference
letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on sheet 1 is a general plan view with the dynamometer D on the first
motion driving shafts C, C¹, and water cylinden B in horizontal section showing
one construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of the machine or
mechanism in accordance with my invention. Figure 2 on sheet 2 is a front
side elevation corresponding to Figure 1, but with the belt driving pulleys C
Cremoved; and Figure 3 is a transverse section of the indicating mech-
anism e to e, and diagram card barrel F as taken on the lines 2-2 on Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 show part of two diagram cards X, X', as graphically taken
on the indicator barrel F from different samples of flour dough in accordance
with these improvements; the small transverse lines and divisions a indicate
pressure from the zero line 0 upwards from the left to the right hand sides of the
figures in pounds or other measures of weight; while the wide divisions and
lines in the opposite or longitudinal direction indicate the quantity of water
used during a given time or pant of a revolution of the indicator barrel F.
Figure 6 on sheet 3 is a sectional end elevation of the machine shown in
Figures 1 and 2, and as taken near the, line 1-1 on Figure 1. Figure 7 is a
transverse section through the dynamometer on the line 3-3 of and at right
angles to Figure 6. Figures 8 and 9 show a sectional side elevation and trans-
verse section respectively at right angles to each other through the centre, of
another modification of the dynamometer D from that shown in the former
Figures, and in which spur gearing d to d is substituted for bevel gearing.
Figure 10 shows a plan view of a converse arrangement of the mechanism to
that shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, in which the dynamometer D is made to
differentially move the barrel F and card X of the diagram proportionate to the
toughness of the dough, and the pencil regularly by the movement of the first
motion shaft, that is, vice versa to the arrangement in the first modification.
Figures 11 and 12 on sheet 4 are a transverse section and plan respectively of
the gearing end of the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2, with another arrange-
ment of the water cylinder as applied thereto. And Figures 13 and 14 show a
longitudinal and a transverse section respectively of the dough mixer A with
different forms of stirrers or blades from that shown in the former Figures.
Referring to the arrangement of mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 7, the
improvements consist, first, in the use of a small mechanical kneading vessel or
machine A of any ordinary construction bolted by a flange bracket A' to the
main end frame A2, secured below to the main soleplate A3 and carrying the
bearing brackets A" of the first motion shafts C, C', the dough mixer being fitted
preferably with two revolving spiral or equivalent blades al all on spindles a, a,
geared together differentially by the wheels a, a³, and actuated to revolve from
the end of the shaft C, towards one another on the upper side, that is, pressing
the dough down in the centre and separating and bringing it up at the opposite
sides, as indicated by the arrows. The flour is first placed in this vessel A, and
the water is fed gradually in by the small pipe b at a slow uniform rate, pre-
ferably from the delivery end of a new or improved arrangement of feeder
made in the form of a cylinder B, carried in the brackets B³, up from the
basement plate A³, and which would be filled by the stand pipe and filler b with
stop cock, and the cylinder B is fitted with a traversing piston B₁ reciprocated
in the cylinder B at a slow uniform rate as by the screw spindle B of the
piston B traversed by a screw nut or pinion with teeth 611 on its cuter circuni-
ference fitted on the outer end of the cylinder B and gearing into a pinion on

page_text: the far end of a. transmitting spindle 3 carried in bearings parallel to and in
the same standards B, which carry the water cylinder B. This spindle 63 is
actuated by the spur wheels 6 at its other end from the disengaging transmit-
ting spindle b*, actuated by a screw and screw wheel c, c', from the first motion
shaft C, driven at an uniform or it might be differential speed from the fast and
loose belt pulleys C2, C, mounted on its outer free end. The outer surface of
the water cylinder B, or an index plate at the side of it might be marked with
divisions to indicate the quantity of water delivered during any given time, and
motion and position of the piston in its cylinder by a pointer on the spindle B",
or the divisions might be fixed on the spindle B, and have the pointer sta-
tionary. The water would be fed from this cylinder B by the pipe b, as before
stated, in amongst the flour of the kneading machine A, to form the dough,
and the one spindle a of the kneading machine A, would preferably be driven
direct or otherwise from the second spindle C₁ through the wheels d, d', d², of
the dynamometer hollow case or drum D, and actuated, as hereinafter described,
by the first motion pulley shaft C. The dynamometer D, here shown is a modi-
fication of the ordinary construction in which bevel wheels d, d', are secured on
the adjacent ends of the driving and driven spindles C, C¹, actuated through
bevel pinions d², d, gearing into these on opposite sides mounted loose on the
transverse spindle d secured in the centre of the dynamometer hollow pulley
case D at right angles to the said two spindles C, C, between their ends and
forming the cord pulley D as more particularly shown in Figures 6 and 7. The
one end of the cord 1 is attached to the upper part of the circumference of
the pulley. I by a screw plug at D as shown in Figure 7, and carried down
and along the upper part of a tube 12 mounted longitudinally under the pulley
1), in brackets at its ends on the sole plate A³ and passed over the guide
pulley D3 and having its other end brought back and attached at E¹, to the free
end of a spiral spring E, which has its other end fixed at E to the end of the
tube D2 in the lower part of which the spring E is mounted as shown particu-
larly in Figure 2, or a differential weighted lever might be used instead of the
spring E; but in either case so arranged that the cord D¹ will reciprocate a
recording pencil or marking pointer e so as to give it an equal travel for each
increment of weight in pounds draught on the cord D, and capable of being
turned to act and mark on the line sheet of paper X, mounted on the indicator
barrel F, the pencil traversing in this case to and fro in the longitudinal direc-
tion of the barrel as indicated by the double headed arrow at the pencil e, in
Figures 1 and 2 across the division line, indicating pounds pressure on the
paper according to the power transmitted through the dynamometer D, in driv-
ing the kneading machine A during the time the water was flowing regularly
or differentially on to the flour in it from the cylinder B, as before described.
The barrel F, for receiving the diagram paper is mounted by end journals on its
spindle F at the upper end of standard brackets Fx projecting up from the sole-
plate A³ parallel to and over the spring tube 12, and is actuated at an uniform
slow speed by the wheel F2, on its one end, and a pinion and wheel F", F³,
carried on a stud bracket at F, the wheel F3 being actuated by a pinion Fili
mounted on the engaging and disengaging shaft 6, which actuates the wheel 6111
of the spindle 63 of the water supply cylinder B. The spindle 6 which is actu-
ated from the screw and screw wheel c, c', of the first motion shaft C, has its
inner journal end mounted in a weighted eccentric bearing lever c³ carried in
a bracket c¹ so that when this weighted lever falls down on the soleplate
A³, it disengages the pinions F3, Zi, actuating the gearing of the diagram
barrel F and the gearing 611, 63, 62, 611, of the cylinder B and piston B¹
supplying the water to the kneading machine A. This weighted lever c² is lifted
up by the attendant, as shown in this position in Figures 1, 2 and 6, after he
has mounted the diagram paper X on the barrel F, to put the gearing of the
barrel F and the water cylinder B into action where it is retained by a catch ell
on the lower inner end of the eccentric lever c² by the shorter arm of a lever c³,
c4, fulcrumed on a fixed stud at with its long arm projecting up nearly vertical,
all so that the pulling or pushing forward of the upper arm of this lever dis

page_text: engages the eccentric lever c² c", which by its weight falls down and stops the
motion of the said gearing of the barrel F and water supply cylinder B, B', when
the diagram has been taken; and this disengaging may be made automatic when
desired as by securing a projecting pin c on the barrel F, which as it comes round
would press out the lever e, just before making a full revolution of the barrel
F, and its diagram card; as seen dotted in, in this disengaged stopped position
in Figure 6. A diagram sheet X ruled as described in reference to and shown
in Figures 4 and 5, is wound round the barrel F and secured by longitu-
dinal spring or other clips at its ends, or it might be rubber or other spring
hoops at X near its ends. As seen particularly in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the upper
part of the cord. D' which actuates the pencil is attached between the two
parts elle of a screw clip sliding in the inside of a slit in the upper part of the
tube D2 and gripped to the slide block e³, travelling on the outside of the tube D³,
and carrying the spring arm e¹ of the pointer e hinged to one side of the slide
block e, a corresponding arm el, being hinged in like manner to the opposite
side of the slide block e³, having a small pulley el or other equivalent mounted
on its upper extremity rolling on the outside of the indicator barrel F opposite
to the pointer e, the two arms e¹, ell, being gently pulled together by a spiral
spring attached to them by a small link spindle e mounted through a slot in
the arm el, so that as this spindle e is turned it may free the pointer e by fold-
ing down its arm el on its hinge or hold it up to mark on the paper when the
machine is started to make a diagram, as indicated in this position in Figures 1,
2 and 3. Instead however of the marking metallic pointer or pencil e shown, a
set of small marking inking rollers might be mounted in the upper end of the
arm el, as indicated at ex in Figure 3, to roll along and mark the paper, in an
equivalent manner to the marking pointer e. The barrel F with the paper on it
when put into gear by lifting the weighted eccentric lever c³, and setting the
belt on the fast pulley C, as before described, would thus be turned at a uniform
rate, proportionate to the transverse lines y y and divisions on it in the circum-
ferential direction indicating the water added to the flour in the kneading
machine A during that time. Thus the pencil e would trace on the paper a
graphical diagram running up from the zero line o at e, in an irregular line to
the greatest power and pressure required to mix the flour with the quantity of
water absorbed at the same time, as indicated at all in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5,
and trace the curved line down again from the maximum and finish the
diagram on the return line 2, 2, as indicated by the darts e in these Figures,
and show the stiffness of the dough by the height of the diagram on the line xx
from the zero line o at any given time during the operation, to be able to com-
pare these graphic diagrams given by the different qualities of flour. . Two such
different diagrams being shown in Figures 4 and 5.
My improved simplification of the dynamometer shown in section in Figures 1,
6, and 7, and applicable to these flour testing machines consists in mounting, as
shown in Figures 8 and 9, instead of bevel wheels as heretofore, two spur
wheels,, preferably an external toothed pinion d and internal toothed
wheel respectively on the adjacent ends of the two spindles C, C¹, within the
loose cord or traction pulley D, actuating two short spur wheels, d, mounted
on loose short parallel spindles d radially opposite each other within the traction
pulley D, the cord D' of which would be counter-weighted by a spiral spring E,
or it might be an accumulative weight, which as before stated would give to
the pencil or marking pointer e an equal travel for each pound pressure or
increment of weight.
This new or improved arrangement and combination of appliances I term
A Graphic Flour Indicator," but the same arrangement might be applied on
a large scale to bakers kneading machines generally, to show the actual con-
sistency of the dough which at present is generally guessed at.
For testing the quality of gluten in the flour I use a second diagram made
from a sample of the same flour or of a previously treated sample taken as before
described, and after adding the quantity of water necessary to hydrate any given
sample of flour to its maximum point of hydration, I note the loss of tenacity

page_text: during a long test, say, six to twenty-four hours. The new diagram is allowed
to revolve continuously and the pencil to describe a line spirally around it. The
loss in tenacity per hour or other period of time indicated on the diagram will
give the quality of the gluten in the sample.
Referring to the converse arrangement of my flour testing mechanism or
machine, shown in Figure 10, in which the dynamometer D and its cord D³, are
made to move the diagram barrel F differentially and in response to the pro-
portion of the power taken to work the kneading machine A, and the consist-
ency of the dough and regular quantity of water added during the mixing and
kneading, I mount the barrel F by its spindle F¹ on its standards FX parallel
to the first motion shafts C, C' of the dynamometer, and have shown these as
to that shown in
driven by their pulleys C, Cu, in the opposite direction
Figure 1, so that the cord D¹ passes over the upper part of the dynamometer
drum D and barrel F to turn these in the directions indicated by the arrows on
them against the power of the spring E mounted round the underside of an
enlarged part of the spindle F¹ of the barrel F to turn the barrel F and dynamo-
meter D in the opposite direction to the motive power. Thus then the card X
for taking the diagram on in this case would be ruled in the opposite manner to
that shown in Figures 4 and 5, that is to say, the fine lines and divisions .r would
be ruled longitudinally, and the wide lines and divisions y would be ruled cir-
cumferentially; and the pencil e in this case is mounted on a screw spindle f,
carried in bearing brackets from the standards FX actuated by engaging and dis-
engaging bevel wheels at f1 from a spindle f3 mounted in bearing brackets f¹¹,
and actuated by a screw and worm wheel c, c¹, from the first motion shaft C, so
as to traverse the pencil e equal distances for equal times and revolutions of this
shaft C, and regular or differential supply of water to the kneading machine A,
producing the rising and falling curvilineal lines ¹, 1, 2, 2, of the diagram X
in the circumferential direction, shown in Figure 10, instead of in the longi-
tudinal direction as shown and described in reference to Figures 1 and 4 and 5,
otherwise the results and advantages would be substantially the same.
ever instead of using a spiral spring E in this arrangement, a strong coiled spiral
or volute spring might be mounted in the barrel F or in a special barrel attached
to its axle F¹.
How-
Referring to Figures 11 and 12 on Sheet 4, the driving mechanism of the
dynamometer D and kneading machine A and barrel F are all substantially the
same as described in reference to Figures 1 to 7 and lettered to correspond; but
having here applied a more simple modification of the mode and means of
supplying and regulating a uniform or differential quantity of water to the
kneading machine A from the working water cylinder B Bi and screw wheel
gearing shown and described in reference to the first machine Figures 1 to 3,
while taking the diagram and consists of a vertical cylindrical water vessel G, G¹,
close at bottom G but open at top G¹, erected on a bracket at G on the frame A³,
carrying the kneading machine A, and filled with water before starting, up to
the level of the tube b supplying the water to it. The water cylinder G, has
mounted in its upper part a solid metal plunger G, hung and actuated by a
wire or other cord G³ passed over a guide pulley G" mounted on the upper end G
of the cylinder G, and passed round an enlarged part of the spindle F¹ of the
barrel F, so that as this is slowly turned, in the direction of the arrows on it, the
weighted plunger G2, descends at a slow uniform rate proportionate to the turn-
ing of the barrel F, displacing the water in the cvlinder G, also at a regular
proportionate rate, and delivering it regularly to the kneading machine A, by
the tube b, as before described, or it might be differentially by varying the
shape of the displacing plunger G³, as indicated by the dotted lines g or other-
wise; and which mode and means of supplying the water or any equivalent
arrangement may be employed in any of the dynamometer and diagram barrel
arrangements of these flour testing machines. And although the plunger G is
here shown reciprocated by a cord wound round the spindle F¹ of the barrel F,
it might be actuated from it positively in both directions by a rack and pinion
-

page_text: or other equivalent mechanical motion. An index might be engraved either on
the plunger G2 or on the upper outer part of the case G with a pointer on the
plunger G the water being filled in at the oren cup part g, G.
Referring to Figures 13 and 14, this shows a mixing machine or trough A
with radial arms or mixers a', mounted on the two spindles a, a, of the mixing
machine in alternate longitudinal planes, when they are driven at different
speeds by different sized pinions a² 3, as shown in Figure 13, and in the former
arrangements, the one set working up close to the eyes or axle of the other set,
as shown in Figure 14, and may be driven in either direction, and which it is
considered will be more applicable for stirring and mixing, breaking up and
testing the materials such as for some kinds of flours or starches or glutinous
substances, than the screw form of dough mixers a¹, a", shown in the former
arrangements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
First. The mode of, and means or arrangement and combination of appliances
for mechanically testing and sampling different qualities of flour, and graphic-
ally indicating and recording the various characteristics or properties of the
different flours or doughs, substantially as herein described, in reference to, and
by way of application shown in Figures 1 to 7, 10 and 11, and 12, of the accom-
panying drawings.
Second. In apparatus for testing and recording the characteristics or proper-
ties of flour and dough, the combination and use of a dynamometer for measur
ing the power or strain required to drive the kneading machine or to be over-
come in kneading a given sample of flour and liquid and also show the consist-
ency of the dough in a kneading machine, substantially as herein described, in
reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In apparatus for testing and recording the characteristics or properties
of flour and dough, the construction and use of a dynomometer with spur wheel
driving gearing, substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in
Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In apparatus for testing and recording the characteristics or proper-
ties of flour and dough, the combination and use of a parallel cylinder and
piston or plunger moved at a slow regular rate proportionate to the speed of the
apparatus for feeding the water to the kneading machine at a regular or
differential rate, during the taking of the diagram, substantially as herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In apparatus for testing and recording the characteristics or properties
of flour and dough, the combination and use of a spiral or other spring or an
accumulative weight so constructed as to give an equal travel lineally in diagram,
for each increment of power required, substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 10, of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In apparatus for testing and recording the characteristics or properties
of flour and dough, the combination and use of a divided diagram mounted on
a revolving barrel or drum and marked by a pencil, pointer, or other marker
for indicating or recording mechanically and graphically the power required
and quantity of water used in testing a sample of flour in the kneading machine
to distinguish its characteristics, substantially as herein described in reference
to and by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 9th July 1890.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.