Improvements in Separating Machines Chiefly Designed for Purifying Middlings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application. 16th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 7th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL DECIFICATION.
Improvements in Separating Machines Chiefly Designed for
Purifying Middlings.
I, JOSEPH JOHN ARMFIELD, of Vale, of Avon Iron Works, Ringwood, in the
County of Hants, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
This invention relates to machines for separating particles or substances of
varying density and is especially applicable for purifying middlings in the
manufacture of flour.
In carrying out my invention I arrange in conjunction with a vibrating screen
or bolting cloth, onto which the material to be treated is delivered and through
which air is drawn all in a well known manner, a series of baffle plates which are
so arranged as to divert the currents of air passing through the screen and thereby
facilitate the deposit of the particles carried thereby.
These baffle plates are preferably arranged in groups corresponding to the
varying mesh of the screen and are carried by frames upon the screen so as to
oscillate therewith.
In practice these baffle plates are advantageously composed of semi-circular or
segmental plates connected together in such a manner as to approximate to the
form of the letter S, or I may use U-shaped, V-shaped or other suitably shaped
plates. These baffle plates are arranged one to overlap the other but so that
spaces are left between the edge of one plate and the hollow side of an adjacent
plate so that the air which is drawn through the screen by the ordinary fan passes
between the several plates before issuing into the fan chamber, the form of the
said plates serving to direct the air currents downwardly to cause them to deposit
the particles which they carry.
In order to more or less contract the air passages between the baffle plates,
each of the said plates is mounted upon an axis or is formed in parts which are
jointed or hinged together.
Each group of plates is adapted to deliver the particles of material deposited
upon it into a trough or channel, whence the said particles are discharged into a
suitable hopper and thence conveyed outside the machine.
Dated the 16th day of June 1891
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Separating Machines Chiefly Designed for
Puritying Middlings.
1, JOSEPH JOHN ARMFIELD, of Vale of Avon Iron Works, Ringwood, in the
County of Hants, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to machines for separating particles or substances of
varying density and is especially applicable for purifying middlings in the
manufacture of flour.
In carrying out my invention 1 employ in conjunction with a vibrating screen
or bolting cloth, onto which the material to be treated is delivered and through

page_text: which air is drawn all in a well known manner, a series of baffle-plates which are
so arranged as to divert the currents of air passing through the screen and thereby
facilitate the deposit of the particles carried thereby.
These baffle-plates are preferably arranged in groups corresponding to the
varying mesh of the screen and are carried by frames upon the screen so as to
oscillate therewith.
In practice these baffle-plates are advantageously composed of semi-circular or
segmental plates connected together in such a manner as to approximate to the
form of the letter S. Or I may use U-shaped, V-shaped or other suitably shaped
plates. These baffle-plates are arranged one to overlap the other but so that
spaces are left between the edge of one plate and the hollow side of an adjacent
plate, whereby the air which is drawn through the screen by the ordinary fan
passes between the several plates before issuing into the fan chamber, the form of
the said plates serving to direct the air currents downwardly to cause them to
deposit the particles which they carry.
In order to more or less contract the air passages between the baffle-plates, each
of the said plates is advantageously mounted upon an axis or is formed in parts
which are jointed or hinged together.
Each group of plates is adapted to deliver the particles of material deposited
upon it into a trough or channel, whence the said particles are discharged into a
suitable hopper and thence conveyed outside the machine.
To enable my invention to be fully understood will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of apparatus embodying my improvements;
and,
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line A B, Figure 1:
Figure 3 is a sectional plan drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2 shewing
the arrangement of the baffles and of the troughs or channels into which the
collected particles are discharged:
Figure 4 is a view drawn to a larger scale
construction of the baffle-plates.
than Figure 3 and illustrating the
a indicates the casing of the machine, and the sieve or screen through which
air is drawn from the underside, for instance, by means of a fan c, and over which
the materials to be purified are distributed from the box d at the head of the
screen.
e, e indicate my baffle-plates which are carried by a framework above the surface
of the screen, as shewn, and adapted to vibrate either with the screen or inde-
pendently thereof. These baffle-plates are preferably constructed of a double
corrugated form, as shewn most clearly in Figure 4, one part of each of which
forms a trough to receive the deposited dust whilst the other part g forms a hood
or cover and overlaps the edge of the adjacent plate. The said plates are advan-
tageously arranged to be adjusted in order to more or less contract the spaces
through which the air passes.
The operation of the apparatus herein before described is as follows,-that is to
say, as the air passes upwards through the screen it carries with it the fine or light
particles of material and as such dust laden air passes through the contracted
passages between the baffle-plates its velocity is increased, and as it emerges from
such contracted passages into the trough portions of the baffle-plates e it again
expands and thus deposits the greater portions of the dust which it carries. Any
dust which is not deposited rises into the upper part of the chamber and then
gradually falls upon the hood-shaped portions g of the baffle-plates e.
which is deposited upon the said baffle-plates is gradually shaken into a trough in
the machine through the medium of which, or of a conveyor therein, it is conveyed
outside the machine.
.The dust
The baffle-plates may extend transversely longitudinally or diagonally in relation
to the sieve or screen. In the arrangement shewn in Figure 3 of the drawing the
said baffle-plates extend from the central line of the machine diagonally towards

page_text: the two sides and are arranged to discharge their contents into two channels h
provided to receive the same.
In order to be enabled to examine the nature of the dust or other particles being
removed from the material under treatment I find it convenient to arrange in the
channels h, h small scoops or drawers i, i which may be readily removed from
time to time in order that their contents may be examined without interfering with
the action of the machine. Such examination is very essential to the proper
working of the machine as it is the guide by which the attendant adjusts the
valves which regulate the air currents on different portions of the sieve or screen.
Instead of using baffle-plates which are a combination of hood and trough as
hereinbefore described, I may employ separate hoods and troughs which may be
of U, V or other suitable shape, and the said hoods and troughs may be placed
in one plane or in varying planes at any suitable distance or distances above the
sieve or screen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a separating machine the combination with the screen or sieve of a series
of baffle-plates forming hoods and troughs and so arranged that the purifying air
after passing through the screen is caused to pass through contracted passages
whereby its velocity is increased and then again allowed to expand, all substantially
as described.
2. In a separating machine, the combination with the screen or sieve of a series
of doubly corrugated plates, each forming a hood and trough, the said plates being
so arranged that the hood of one plate overlaps the edge of the trough of an
adjacent plate, substantially as described.
3. The improvements in separating machines for purifying middlings and for
other purposes, hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
D
1
1
C
1 1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.