AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CRUSHING, GRINDING, DISINTEGRATINg, Pulverizing, Mixing, AND SEPARATING GRAIN, MINERALS, FIBROUS MATERIALS, AND OTHER SUB- STANCES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ernest Sherwin, of Amhurst Road, Hackney, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR CRUSHING, GRINDING, DISINTEGRATINg, Pulverizing, Mixing,
AND SEPARATING GRAIN, MINERALS, FIBROUS MATERIALS, AND OTHER SUB-
STANCES."
Sealed the 6th April 1877, and dated the 30th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ernest Sherwin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th December 1876.
GEORGE ERNEST SHERWIN, of Amhurst Road, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer. "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CRUSHING, GRINDING, DIS-
INTEGRATING, PULVERIZING, MIXING, AND SEPARATING GRAIN, MINERALS, FIBROUS
MATERIALS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My Invention relates to an improved machine for disintegrating, crushing,
grinding, and pulverizing grain, coal, ore, and other minerals, coke, fibrous materials,
and other substances, and for mixing or combining, and for separating or sifting the
same.
I construct my improved machine as follows, that is to say-It has an external
casing of cast iron or other suitable material, whose interior is circular, and is
formed with a series of inclined or angular planes. Within this casing and con-
centric with its inner surface I place two or more rotating rings, which are attached
by means of a boss, or plate, or series of arms to a central shaft, which extends
through the said casing.
At the periphery of the said rings I arrange a series of steel or other metal pieces,
which I term crushers, and which are securely fixed by rivetting or otherwise. The
peculiar form of these crushers is an important feature of this Invention. Their
beating or crushing surface is angular or inclined toward the path of their motion,
that is to say, these surfaces are parallel, or nearly so, with the aforesaid inclined or
angular planes on the interior surface of the casing. The inclined surfaces and
planes may be either curved or flat.
The said casing is provided with a suitable hopper, through which the material to
be pulverized or otherwise treated is fed into the same. I also provide the said

page_text: casing with a return air pipe, throngh which the blast or current of air produced by
the revolving rings and crushers is returned into the machine at or near the centre
of the said casing.
I make use of the blast as the medium for effecting or assisting the separation or
sifting of the crushed or reduced materials as follows:-The blast is conducted away
from the machine through a tube or trunk connected to the aforesaid casing. At its
periphery I provide the said trunk with openings through which the reduced or
pulverized material passes as its density becomes too great to allow it to pass
further with the blast. The said openings are so arranged that according to their
position they carry off the coarse or fine particles of the crushed or pulverized
material that is to say, the coarse or large particles pass off through the first
opening, those that are somewhat finer pass off through the next opening or
openings and those finer still pass off through the next opening or openings, while
the very finely pulverized material is carried away by the blast into a receiving
chamber and is caught therein, while the blast returns to the machine through the
said return air pipe.
.
I prefer to provide the periphery of the said casing with a coarse sieve or screen
extending partially around the same.
In some instances I construct the said machine with two or more chambers of
different diameter, and in each of which is a set of the rotating beaters or crushers.
The said chambers are separated from each other by the edge of one of the rings,
which works in close proximity to the side of the chamber.
The aforesaid shaft is supported in its bearings in such manner that it is capable
of end wise movement therein, and it is adjusted by means of a screw and wheel or
other device to increase or diminish the space between the suid ring and side of the
chamber, as desired.
The material to be treated is introduced through the hopper into the first or
small chamber, wherein it is partially reduced. It then passes through the said
annular space into the large chamber, and is discharged from the same through the
aforesaid trunk.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Ernest Sherwin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
June 1877.
GEORGE ERNEST SHERWIN, of Amhurst Road, Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer.
"AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CRUSHING, GRINDING, DIS-
INTEGRATING, PULVERIZING, MIXING, AND SEPARATING GRAIN, MINERALS, FIBROUS
MATERIALS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My Invention relates to an improved machine or mill for disintegrating, crushing,
grinding, and pulverizing grain, coal, ore, and other minerals, coke, fibrous materials,
and other substances, and for mixing or combining, or for separating and sifting the
same.
I construct my improved machine as follows, that is to say:-It has an external
casing of cast iron or other suitable material whose interior surface is circular, and
is formed with a series of inclined or angular planes. Within this casing and con-
centric with its inner surface I place two or more rotating rings, which are attached
by means of a boss, or plate, or series of arms to a central shaft, which extends
through the said casing.
Instead of rings I may use discs, plates, or arms.
At the periphery or extremity of the said rings, discs, plates, or arms I arrange a
series of steel or other metal pieces, which I term crushers or beaters, and which
are securely fixed at both ends by rivetting or otherwise. The peculiar form of

page_text: these crushers or beaters is an important feature of this Invention. Their beating
or crushing surfaces are angular or inclined toward the path of their motion, that is
to say, these surfaces are parallel, or nearly so, with the aforesaid inclined or angular
planes on the interior surface of the casing. The said inclined surfaces and planes
may be either curved or flat.
The said casing is provided with a suitable hopper, through which the material to
be pulverized or otherwise treated is fed into the same. I also provide the said
casing with a return air pipe, through which the blast or current of air produced by
the revolving rings and crushers is returned into the machine at or near the centre
of the said casing.
I make use of the blast as the medium for effecting or assisting the separation or
sifting of the crushed or reduced materials as follows:-The blast is conducted away
from the machine or mill through a tube or trunk connected to the aforesaid casing.
At its periphery I provide the said trunk with openings through which the reduced
or pulverized material passes as its density becomes too great to allow it to travel
further with the blast through the said tube or trunk. The said openings are so
arranged that according to their position they carry off the course or fine particles
of the crushed or pulverized materials, that is to say, the coarse or large particles
pass off through the first opening, and those that are somewhat finer pass off through
the next opening or openings, and those finer still pass off through the next opening
or openings, while the very finely pulverized material is carried away by the blast
into a receiving chamber and is caught therein, and the blast returns to the machine
through the said return air pipe.
I prefer to provide the periphery of the said casing with a coarse sieve or screen
extending partially around the same.
The Drawings show various forms of machines in which my Invention may be
advantageously embodied.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the said machines; Figure 2
is a vertical transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a similar section of another form of my Invention.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of another machine, showing further
modifications of the said Invention.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, show forms of beaters or crushers to be used in my improved
machines.
Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Figure 10 a vertical transverse
section on the line x*, **, showing further modifications of my Invention.
Figure 11 is a horizontal section, Figure 12 is a vertical section on the line ¹, x¹,
and Figure 13 is a vertical transverse section on the line y, y, showing one method
of constructing and arranging a screen segment according to my Invention.
The machine shewn in Figures 1 and 2 has two distinct sets of beaters, which are
secured by arms, discs, rings, or other suitable means to two separate shafts or
spindles revolving around the same centre. The beaters a are secured to a disc b
and ring c. The disc b is secured to a boss d, which is firmly fixed on the shaft or
spindle e, supported on suitable bearings at its ends, and driven by a belt passing
over the pulley f. The beaters a³ are secured to the disc b¹ and ring c¹. The disc b¹
is secured to a long boss d', at the opposite end of which the driving pulley f¹ is
keyed; this boss d is kept in position by the pulley fand the boss d, and works
freely upon the shaft or spindle e. The pulley is driven in one direction and the
pulley in the opposite direction, so that the beaters a and a¹ are made to revolve
in opposite directions and dash the material about, instead of keeping it moving in
one direction, as is the case with machines having beaters revolving in one direction
only; and it will be seen that both sets of beaters beat or dash the material against
a serrated or toothed surface or periphery g, that is to say, a surface provided with a
series of inclined or angular planes, as above specified. It is not necessary that this
surface be circular, it may be flat or concave.
The material being fed into the machine through a suitable hopper h at the side

page_text: or periphery of the casing, is dashed about by the revolving beaters until sufficiently
reduced to be carried by the blast into the air trunk i; this air trunk is made of
small area at the end attached to the machine, but its area increases gradually to
the other end, so that the blast having more space becomes of less strength, that is
to say, it travels at a slower speed, and has less pressure at the large end of the air
trunk than at the small end attached to the machine. The material will fall by its
gravity to the bottom of the air trunk so soon as the blast becomes too weak to
carry it further, so that the coarse material will fall through the first opening i³,
provided in the bottom of the air trunk i, and this opening may be connected if
desirable with the mill by a pipe i*, so that the coarse material falling therein is
returned again into the mill. Through the second opening in the air trunk i the
middlings fall; these middlings are conducted by a pipe into a chamber i* provided
for the purpose under the mill or machine. The fine material is carried into the
blast to the end of the air trunk, and escapes through a pipe is into the same
chamber Divisions are made in this chamber to keep the different grades of the
material (that is to say, the portions thereof ground to different degrees of fineness)
in separate compartments, access being had to the same through a door provided in
the side of the said chamber; or the material may be forced out of the said chamber
by means of a conveyer. The whole of the said chamber is left open to the return
air pipe, through which the blast returns again into the mill at or near the centre
of the same. This chamber is bolted to the disintegrator, and the whole apparatus
is secured together in such a manner as to form one complete machine or mill.
In the machine shown in Figure 3 the material is crushed or ground between two
concave plates j, j¹, furnished with beaters or crushers. The beaters or crushers a
are attached to the inner surface of the dished or concave plate j, and this plate or
disc is rivetted or otherwise secured to a boss d, which is made in one piece with
the driving pulley f. The said boss and pulley are kept in position by the casing A
of the machine, a portion of which casing fits into a groove in the boss. The beaters
or crushers a¹ are rivetted upon the inner face of the plate 1, which is firmly secured
by connecting stays to the boss ; this boss and the driving pulley f¹ are
keyed to the shaft or spindle e, which is carried at its ends by suitable bearings e³, e².
The bearing e is made adjustable, and capable of being moved endwise with the
shaft or spindle e by the screw and hand wheel e, e. Thus the disc j¹ is made
adjustable to increase or diminish the space between the discs j, j¹, at their peri-
phery, as may be desired. The plates or discs j, j¹ revolve in opposite directions.
When sufficiently reduced the material passes through the space between them at
their periphery, which space is increased or diminished according to the degree of
fineness to which the material is to be ground. These concave plates j, j', are
enclosed in a suitable casing A, in the side of which a feed hopper h is provided for
introducing the material to be treated between the plates or discs at or near their
centre. The beaters or crushers first herein described are equally applicable to this
machine, that is to say, the beaters or crushers may be angular on their surface or
oblique to their path of motion.
In Figure 4 I have shown in vertical longitudinal section another modification of
my Invention, in which there are two sets of beaters or crushers arranged to rotate
upon two separate shafts or axes, and either in the same or opposite directions. The
casing A. is of an elongated form with circular ends, which ends are provided with
the inclined or angular teeth g, or serrations; or these surfaces may be plain or
partly plain and partly serrated, The beaters a and a¹ are connected by plates,
discs, rings, or the like to the shafts e and e*, which are supported and rotate freely
in suitable bearings, and are driven by belts and pulleys or otherwise in the required
directions. B is the delivery or discharge pipe extending from the top of the
casing A. C, C are two screens inclined downward from the top of the said pipe B,
which is provided with valves or shutters B¹ to prevent the return of any material
down the said pipe. D, D¹, are passages extending from the space below the screens.
C, C', to any suitable receptacle below the machine or mill. E, E¹ are passages

page_text: whereby the unscreened or insufficiently screened material returns into the machine
or mill.
The material after being fed into the mill is continually broken by the beaters
and crushers until it is light and small enough to be driven through the pipe B by
the velocity of the beaters; it then falls down the screens C, C₁, and the fine
material with the blast is carried through these screens; the material not sufficiently
reduced to pass through these screens falls again into the mill through the apertures
in the pipes or passages E, E', to be further reduced. The under part of the screens
are connected to a chamber or other receptacle, and the blast returns again into the
mill through a return air pipo at the side thereof. This arrangement of screens is
also applicable to other disintegrators or crushing machines. And instead of the
double or duplicate arrangement of screens shown in Figure 4 I may employ only
one set of screens ; and may modify or vary the arrangement of such screens as
may be found most convenient or desirable.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the periphery of the casing, and shows
a modified form of my beaters or crushers. The said beaters are formed with pro-
jections or teeth a², which run in grooves formed in and entirely around the inner
peripheral surface of the said casing. Grooves are also made in the periphery at
right angles to those in which the beaters run for the purpose of retarding the
material being treatod.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section, and Figure 7 an interior side view, and Figure 8
an edge view of a segment of the machine, showing a groove g³ formed in and
entirely around the side of the casing A for the tecth or projections a² to run in.
The sides of this grooved segment consist of a series of teeth g'. Instead of
grooving the segment or the casing I may reverse this arrangement, that is to say,
I may form annular projections on the interior of the, segment and corresponding
grooves in the beaters or crushers. These combinations of grooves and teeth or pro-
jections are more especially designed for use in treating fibrous materials, but they
may be applied to any disintegrating or crushing machine or mill.
The machine shewn in Figures 9 and 10 has its beaters a secured between the
arms b, which project from the boss or hub 65, secured on the shaft or spindle e. In
this machine the screen C is arranged within the casing of the machine, and the
material is thrown directly upon it by the beaters a. The ground material and the
blast pass through the screen and passage D to any suitable receptacle connected
with the machine, the air being again returned into the said machine through the
pipe D. These Figures also show various modifications in the construction and
arrangement of the other parts of the machine.
The screen segment illustrated in Figures 11, 12, and 13 is more especially
designed for use in machines for grinding bones. The teeth g are arranged at
suitable distances apart at the periphery of the casing or segment A. The spaces
between these teeth are occupied by the bars r, which form the screen. If desirable
this screen may be covered with wire netting. By this construction I utilize the
space between the teeth y for the discharge of the ground, pulverized, or disin-
tegrated material when the same has been sufficiently treated in the machine.
In some instances I construct my improved machine or mill with two or more
chambers of different diameter, and in each of which is a set of the rotating beaters
or crushers. The said chambers are separated from each other by the edge of one
of the rings working in close proximity to the side of the chamber.
The aforesaid shaft is supported in its bearings in such manner that it is capable
of end wise movement therein, and it is adjusted by means of a screw and wheel or
other device to increase or diminish the space between tho said ring and side of the
chamber, as desired.
The material to be treated is introduced through the hopper into the first or
small chamber, wherein it is partially reduced. It then passes through the said
annular space into the large chamber, and is discharged from the same through the
aforesaid trunk.

page_text: One important feature of my Invention is the construction of disintegrating or
crushing machines, including the chamber or receptacle into which the material is
received after treatment in the same, upon one cominon base, or in a number of parts
that may be readily and conveniently fitted in their proper place, and secured
together so that the said machine may be packed in a small space for transport, and
when delivered in any part of the world may have such parts readily fitted together
or erected and put in working condition by persons not specially skilled in the
manufacture of such machinery.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood that I
am aware that machines for crushing, grinding, pulverizing, disintegrating, and
similarly treating all kinds of materials have been already constructed with beaters,
or crushers, or similar pieces attached to discs, rings, or arms rotating within a case,
box, or cylinder; I am also aware that in some of these machines the beaters or
crushers have been placed and secured between two discs, plates or rings; and that
some of these machines have had a toothed or serrated internal periphery; therefore
I do not claim as my Invention any of these devices separately or otherwise except
as herein-after stated, that is to say, I claim,-
First. In a machine for the purposes above specified the employment of two or
more discs, plates, rings, or series of arms secured upon a shaft or spindle within a
suitable cylinder or casing, and provided at or near their periphery or outer portions
with piecos, herein termed benters or crushers, placed between and secured by both
ends to the said discs, plates, rings, or arms, and operating in combination with
toothed, notched, or serrated surfaces formed or fixed in the said cylinder or casing.
Second. The combination with a machine for the above purposes of the inclined
screens for discharging or delivering by the aid of the blast the fine portions of the
pulverized or reduced materials, and conducting back or returning the coarse par-
ticles of the same into the interior of the machine, as above set forth.
Third. In a machine to be used for the above purposes, and which has the beaters
or crushers placed and secured between two rotating discs, plates, rings, or arms,
and operating in combination with fixed, serrated, toothed, or notched surfaces, the
employment of two or more sets of beaters rotating upon or around one axis in
opposite directions, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The modification of my Invention consisting in the use of concave or
dished plates provided with means for adjustment, as shewn in and described with
reference to Figure 3 of the Drawing for the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a machine to be used for the above purposes the arrangement of the
parts in such a manner that the air current or blast created by the revolution of
the beaters is caused to return by the return air pipe, and through the side of the
machine into the interior of the same, as above set forth.
Sixth. In combination with a machine to be used for the above purposes the
trunk for sifting or separating the pulverized, disintegrated, or reduced materials, as
above set forth.
Seventh. In a machine to be used for the above purposes the employment of two
or more shafts or spindles rotating around different centres or axes, and either in
the same or in opposite directions, and provided with discs, plates, rings, or arms
carrying beaters or crushers arranged and acting in combination with either plain or
serrated fixed surfaces, as described in connection with Figure 4 of the Drawings,
and operating as above set forth.
Eighth. In and forming part of the aforesaid machine the peculiarly formed
beaters or crushers, as shewn and described.
Ninth. The modification of my Invention comprising the form and arrangement
of the beaters and the notched or serrated and grooved surfaces, as illustrated in
Figures 6, 7, 8 of the Drawings for the purposes specified.
Tenth. The segment to be used in the above described machines, constructed as
shewn in Figures 11, 12, and 13 of the Drawings for the purpose specified.

page_text: Eleventh. The peculiar construction of the machines to facilitate their transport
or carriage and their subsequent erection or fitting of their parts together, as above
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Ernest Sherwin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
551TAM
NOINTI