IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING, PULVERIZING, AND SIFTING MINERAL, ANIMAL, AND VEGETABLE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Thompson, of Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR GRINDING, PULVERIZING, AND SIFTING MINERAL, ANIMAL, AND VEGETABLE
ncܩܫܢ Crrmom
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 8th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING, PULVERIZING, AND
SIFTING MINERAL, ANIMAL, AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates first to improvements in machinery or apparatus for
grinding, reducing, pulverizing, and sifting various kinds of mineral, animal, or
vegetable substances by the centrifugal action of rollers, balls, or spheres to which
motion is imparted by discs or plates which are fitted on and revolve with a shaft
in such manner that their circular motion, centrifugal force, or tendency to attain a
position at right angles with the said shaft is utilised to cause a ball to impinge on
the inner periphery of a suitable casing.
Although I find it advantageous to employ the arrangement of apparatus above
described I can produce a similar effect or operation by working a ball between a
concave or other suitably shaped wheel made with elastic grooves or otherwise or by
pressing the revolving plate or plates together, by a spring or springs, or by pulling
or pressing the plates together, thus causing them to press upon the ball-by centri-
fugal force applied on a similar principle to a steam engine governor arrangement of
mechanism. Or a similar result may be obtained by the centrifugal force of a
revolving wheel the rim of which is composed of segments loosely fitted upon the
arms of the said wheel in such manner that their centrifugal force is exerted upon
the ball causing it to revolve and impinge upon the periphery of the casing
aforesaid.
י
Another part of my Invention consists in causing a loose ball to run around the
periphery of a suitable casing by imparting to such case a kind of vibrating rotatory
motion by means of suitable cranks, cams, or other apparatus, which causes the
OJ1

page_text: ball to crush or grind the material against the periphery of the case by centrifugal
force.
Another part of my Invention consists in improved methods of enclosing and
working grinding, pulverizing, and other mills within the interior of a rotating
sieve which takes its bearings upon the standards or supports of the mill and
with which is combined a wheel so constructed that it will collect, elevate, and
deliver the substances to be ground to the mill working within the interior of the
said sieve.
Although I find it advantageous to employ the above method I obtain a similar
result by constructing or combining with the aforesaid rotating sieve plain ends or
wheels which take their bearings and rotate upon the standards or supports of the
mill substances to be ground being passed or fed through a channel or opening in
the neck of the standard around which revolves the boss of the plain ends or
wheels. The material to be ground after passing through the channel or opening
falls into any suitable receptacle in the interior of the sieve from which it is elevated
to the mill hopper by a band or any other suitable elevator.
In the interior of the rotating sieve is fitted a collector which may be so con-
structed as to collect and return to the hopper of the mill for regrinding such of the
substances that are too coarse to pass the meshes of the sieve.
In working mills in this manner I encase them so as to retain the substances
being ground during the operation of sifting. This casing for this purpose is fitted
with a drop door so arranged that as soon as the collector carrying the coarse
material has passed it opens and allows the ground substance from the mill to fall
into the sieve, the door closing again immediately to retain another quantity while
that it has just deposited is being sifted.
Another part of my Invention relates to the arrangement and application in con-
nection with grinding, pulverizing, and crushing mills of a rotating return' spiral
sieve or sieves which work in combination with a combined collecting and elevating
wheel or other suitable collecting, elevating, and feeding gear. This spiral sieve is
so coiled that the coarse particles are caused to return to the point from which they
started.
Another part of my Invention relates to the grinding or reducing by abrasion of
sugar and other such materials as may be formed in a loaf or block.
In carrying this part of my Invention into practice two blocks or cylinders of
sugar or other substance are pressed through hollow mandrils or other suitable
holders by press weight gear so as to force the surfaces into contact in such manner
that when the aforesaid mandrils or holders have a rotatory motion imparted to
them in opposite directions the sugar or other substances are reduced to a suitable
degree of fineness.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry. Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
May 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex. " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING, PULVERIZING, AND
SIFTING MINERAL, ANIMAL, AND VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates first to improvements in machinery or apparatus for grind-
ing, reducing, pulverizing, and sifting various kinds of mineral, animal, or
vegetable substances by the centrifugal action of rollers, balls, or spheres to
which motion is imparted by discs or plates which are fitted on and revolve with a
shaft in such manner that their circular motion, centrifugal force, or tendency to
attain a position at right angles with the said shaft is utilized to cause a ball to im-
pinge on the inner periphery of a suitable casing.

page_text: Although I find it advantageous to employ the arrangement of apparatus above
described I can produce a similar effect or operation by working a ball between a
concave or other suitably shaped wheel made with elastic grooves or otherwise, or
by pressing the revolving plate or plates together by a spring or springs, or by
pulling or pressing the plates together, thus causing them to press upon the ball by
centrifugal force applied on a similar principle to a steam engine governor arrange-
ment of mechanism. Or a similar result may be obtained by the centrifugal force
of a revolving wheel the rim of which is composed of segments loosely fitted upon
the arms of the said wheel in such manner that. their centrifugal force is exerted
upon the ball causing it to revolve and impinge upon the periphery' of the casing
aforesaid.
Another part of my Invention consists in causing a loose ball to run around the
periphery of a suitable casing by imparting to such case a kind of vibrating rotatory
inotion by means of suitable cranks, cams, or other apparatus, which causes the
ball to crush or grind the material against the periphery of the case by centrifugal
force.
Another part of my Invention consists in improved methods of enclosing and
working grinding, pulverizing, and other mills within the interior of a rotating
sieve which takes its bearings upon the standards or supports of the mill and with
which is combined a wheel so constructed that it will collect, elevate, and deliver
the substances to be ground to the mill working within the interior of the said
sieve.
Although I find it advantageous to employ the above method I obtain a similar
result by constructing or combining with the aforesaid rotating sieve plain ends or
wheels which take their bearings and rotate upon the standards or supports of the
mill, the substances to be ground being passed or fed through a channel or opening
in the neck of the standard around which revolves the boss of the plain ends or
wheels. The material to be ground after passing through the channel or opening
falls into any suitable receptacle in the interior of the sieve from which it is elevated
to the mill hopper by a band or any other suitable elevator.
In the interior of the rotating sieve is fitted a collector, which may be so con-
structed as to collect and return to the hopper of the mill for regrinding such of the
substances that are too coarse to pass the meshes of the sieve.
In working mills in this manner I encase them so as to retain the substances
being ground during the operation of sifting. This casing for this purpose is fitted
with a drop door so arranged that as soon as the collector carrying the coarse
material has passed it opens and allows the ground substance from the mill to fall
into the sieve, the door closing again immediately to retain another quantity while
that it has just deposited is being sifted.
Another part of my Invention relates to the arrangement and application in con-
nection with grinding, pulverizing, and crushing mills of a rotating return spiral
sieve or sieves which work in combination with a combined collecting and elevating
wheel or other suitable collecting, elevating, and feeding gear. This spiral sieve is
so coiled that the coarse particles are caused to return to the point from which they
started.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed, which show
machinery or apparatus arranged and constructed in accordance with my Invention
for grinding, pulverizing, and sifting mineral or other substances.
machine.
The substance to be ground or pulverized is deposited in the hopper a, from
whence it falls through the passage of spout b into the hollow rim wheel c which

page_text: forms one end of the rotating sieve d and which takes its bearings upon the neck of
the standard e. The ring or wheel c is constructed with an incline trough-like rim
fitted with elevating buckets, so that the substance falling into the rim passes
through the open spaces between the arms f of the wheel into the buckets by which
in course of the rotary motion imparted to the said wheel the material to be ground
is elevated, delivered, or fed into the mill hopper g, from which it passes through
the channels h, h, into the circular ring or case i where it is operated upon by the
centrifugal force of the ball j which runs around the inner periphery of the ring or
case i and which is impelled or driven by the wheels or discs k, k, which are so
fitted on the shaft as to admit of their having a certain amount of side play, so
that while they are revolving with the shaft their circular motion gives them a
tendency to attain a position at right angles with the said shaft with which they
revolve, but the ball being of such a diameter as to prevent them attaining their
natural position they press or wedge upon it in such a manner as to impinge it upon
the periphery of the case or ring i, thus by their rotary motion cause it to roll
around the said case and freely exert its centrifugal force upon the substance under
operation.
Attached to and revolving with the wheels or discs k, k, are a series of blades k¹, k¹,
which are set in such a position and at such distance as to prevent the substance
under operation getting away from the action of the ball j until it is sufficiently
reduced for the operation of sifting. The mill is encased so that the substance after
passing through the spaces between the blades k¹ aforesaid falls into the receptacle
m, which is constructed with a door n, the object of which is to accumulate and
retain a quantity of the substance passing from the mill, while a given quantity is
under the operation of sifting by the rotating sieve d, which is fitted with a collector
o, which at every revolution of the sieve gathers and returns to the mill hopper j
for regrinding such quantity of the substance that is too coarse to pass the meshes
of the sieve d.
After the collector o in course of its revolution has passed the outlet of the
receptacle ma cam or projection p in the wheel r forming the sieve end comes
in contact with the roller s, lifting it in such a manner as to cause it by its
connection with the shaft t to open the door n of the receptacle, and retain
it open sufficiently long to admit of the ground or pulverized substance accumulated
therein being deposited on to the meshes of the sieve d. The cam p having passed
the door n again closes to retain or accumulate another quantity of substance while
that it has just deposited is under the operation of sifting.
.
The rotary motion is imparted to the rim wheel c and sieved by their connection
with the wheel r, which receives its motion from the shaft through ordinary
pullies and toothed gearing (as shown). The escape of dust is prevented by the
wood casing u, u, u, and the substance falling from the sieve passes through the
open spaces w, to which any suitable shoot or receptacle may be attached.
Also when desirable I feed the mill at the side, and allow the pulverized sub-
stance to be blown through one or more suitable apertures in the periphery of the
ring or case in the ordinary manner.
Figure 3 shows a plan, and Figure 4 a front view of another arrangement of
machinery or apparatus for grinding, pulverizing, and sifting animal, mineral, or
vegetable substances constructed in accordance with my Invention.
Motion is imparted to the case or ring a by its connection with the rotating
cranks b, b, and the revolving shaft c, which imparts to the case a kind of vibratory
rotating motion, causing the inner periphery of the case a to act on the ball d, so
as to cause it to roll around and exert its centrifrugal force on the inner periphery
of the ring or case a. The substance is fed by any suitable apparatus into the
case, where it gets distributed and is acted on by the centrifugal force of the ball d,
and when sufficiently reduced it passes through the meshes of the sieve e, from
which it may be conducted into any suitable receptacle.
When necessary for some purposes I make the working parts of chilled iron or
other hard metal, also I line the periphery (on which the ball exerts its centrifugal

page_text: force) with chilled iron or other suitable hard metal, which may be made in the
form of a ring or segments.
Figure 5 shows a rotating return spiral sieve, constructed and arranged in
accordance with my Invention.
The rotating wheel A is formed with two trough-like rims a and b; c is the
hopper in which the substance to be ground or pulverized is deposited, and from
which it falls into the inner rib b, which is constructed with buckets which in
course of their revolution elevate, deliver, or feed the substance to be ground into
the mill hopper & (B may be supposed to form a portion of a grinding or pulver-
izing mill). The substance passes from the hopper d into the mill B, when after it
is sufficiently reduced for the operation of sifting it passes through the channel e
into the outer rim a of the rotating wheel A. The rim a is not fitted with buckets, .
but has a channel laid across it (as shown by dotted lines) in such a manner that
at each revolution of the wheel it conducts the substance into the pipe f, which
forms the inlet to the spiral sieve, which is attached to and revolves with the
wheel A; the substance passing from the pipe into the sieve falls by its own gra-
vitating weight as the sieve revolves and takes the course shown by the arrows,
that which is reduced sufficiently fine falling through the meshes, and' that which
is too coarse to pass the meshes returning through the channel g into the buckets of
the rim b, by which it is elevated, delivered, or fed into the mill hopper & for
regrinding.
I would remark that I do not limit myself to the exact arrangements, com-
bination and construction of machinery or apparatus herein-before described, as
the same may be considerably varied without departing from the true character
or novel features of my Invention, nor do I claim any of the mechanical parts
separately; but what I claim is,-
Firstly. Improved arrangement and combination of machinery or apparatus
for grinding, pulverizing, and sifting mineral, animal, and vegetable substances by
enclosing mills or grinding apparatus within a rotating sieve fitted and combined
with a collecting, elevating, and feeding wheel or other suitable mechanism for
automatically conveying or feeding the substance to the mill or grinding apparatus
working within its interior, substantially in the manner herein-before described and
represented in the Drawings annexed; I also claim the method of encasing the
mill so as to retain the ground or pulverized material, and so as to automatically
deposit it at proper intervals on the meshes of the said sieve, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described and represented in the annexed
Drawings.
Secondly. I claim the improved method of impelling or driving of a suitably
formed ball, roller, or sphere by the contact of discs or wheels, so constructed as to
admit of the said discs or wheels keeping in frictional contact with the said ball
while it is exerting its centrifugal force on the substance within a casing, so as to
grind and pulverize it, substantially in the manner herein-before described and
represented in the Drawings annexed.
Thirdly. I claim the improved method of imparting to a suitably formed ring or
case a kind of vibrating rotatory motion, so as to cause the inner periphery of such
case to act on a loose ball in such manner as to cause it to roll around and exert
its centrifugal force on the periphery of the case, substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described and represented in Figures 3 and 4 of the
Drawings hereto annexed.
Fourthly. I claim the use and application of return spiral sieves, which may be
made of any suitable number of coils ranging one above or around another, and
which may have various sized meshes when the substance is required in various
degrees of fineness, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described
and represented in Figure 5 of the Drawings annexed; I also claim the combination
with such sieves of a suitable collecting, elevating, and feeding wheel, and adapting
the same to grinding, pulverizing, and other crushing machinery, substantially in

page_text: the manner and for the purposes herein-before described and represented in the
Drawings annexed.
Lastly. I claim the improved general arrangements and combinations of machinery
or apparatus for grinding, pulverizing, and sifting mineral, animal, and vegetable
substances, substantially in the manner herein-before described and represented in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Thompson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
W.C.
W. H. THOMPSON. (L.S.)