Improvements in Connecting Spouts or Shoots to Machines having a Vibratory or Rotary Motion.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 25.h May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
Improvements in Connecting Spouts or Shoots to Machines having
a Vibratory or Rotary Motion.
I WILLIAM WALTER WILLIS of "Duncombe," Burrell Street Ipswich in the
County of Suffolk, Miller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of connecting spouts or shoots
through which the material to be treated in machines having a vibratory or rotary
motion, (such as for instance the Plansifter) used principally in flour mills or such
like manufactories where it is desirable that a dust tight connection should be
made from a stationary or fixed spout onto a vibrating or rotating inlet on a
machine having such motion & in the case of discharging sponts from such
machines; onto fixed or stationary spouts or shoots.
To effect this it has been the common practice to have a flexible sleeve strapped
round a ring attached to the fixed spout on the one hand & round a similar ring
attached to the machine casing on the other hand.
The arrangement above mentioned is a source of much trouble and annoyance on
account of the frequent renewals required to the flexible sleeve connection caused
by the material passing through into the machine coming into contact with the
sides of the said sleeves and wearing them away with the result that a great
amount of valuable material is spoilt or depreciated by being scattered about the
floor. And much time is also lost through stoppages of plant necessary to repair
and renew the aforesaid sleeves.
This invention consists in making the beforementioned spout or shoot connection
in such a manner as to prevent the material passing through into such machines
from coming into contact with the said flexible sleeve connection whereby all wear
and tear is taken off the said flexible sleeve, the useful life of which is thereby
prolonged while the great loss of material and time, and the annoyance of frequent
stoppages for renewals is effectually overcome; to effect this I make a tapering
spout which is fitted into and attached to the upper ring beforementioned on the
fixed spout or shoot, the said tapering spout is made long enough to enter the feed
inlet of the machine and delivers the material in the centre of the said inlet,
which inlet is made large enough to receive the said stationary feed spout and to
allow for the travel of the machine; thus the material to be treated is conducted
into the machine without coming into contact with the flexible sleeve which is then
used only for preventing the fine dust from escaping into the room.
In some cases I also make the apparatus in such a form as to dispense with the
flexible sleeve connection altogether such arrangement consisting of and in addition
to the beforementioned tapering spout, a short length of cylindrical spout attached
to the bottom of the said tapering spout or shoot the said cylindrical portion of
the apparatus is further provided with a closely fitting collar capable of adjustment
by sliding up or down the said cylindrical spout after the manner of a telescope
and the said collar or telescopic spout is fitted into a suitable opening in the centre
of a wooden cap or cover the diameter of which is made large enough to cover the
feed inlet to the machine, and the said feed inlet must be large enough to admit
the spout or shoot and to allow for the travel of the machine; thus the tapering
spout or shoot is fixed with the cylindrical portion directly over the centre of the

page_text: inlet to the machine and the sliding collar to which the cap or cover is fixed is
slipped down into position resting lightly on the machine; the said cap or cover
being lined on the under side with thick soft felt forms a dust tight connection;
the whole of the feeding apparatus being stationary the machine running under-
neath the said cap or cover.
Other forms of the apparatus are also made such as will allow of the material
being carried backwards or forwards in any direction required between the fixed
spent or shoot and the moving machine.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1895.
WILLIAM WALTER WILLIS.
Improvements in Connecting Spouts or Shoots to Machines having
a Vibratory or Rotary Motion.
I WILLIAM WALTER WILLIS of Duncombe " Burrell Street Ipswich in the
County of Suffolk, Miller, 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 an improved method of connecting spouts or shoots
through which the material to be treated in machines having a vibratory or rotary
motion (such as for instance the Plansifter) used principally in flour mills or such
like manufactories, where it is desireable that a dust tight connection should be
made from a stationary or fixed spout onto a vibrating or rotating inlet on a
machine having such motion, and in the case of discharging spouts from such
machines onto fixed or stationary spouts or shoots.
To effect this it has been the common practice to have a flexible sleeve strapped
round a ring attached to the fixed spout on the one hand and round a similar ring
attached to the machine casing on the other hand.
The arrangement above mentioned is a source of much trouble and annoyance
on account of the frequent renewals required to the flexible sleeve connection
caused by the material passing through into the machine coming into contact with
the sides of the said sleeves and wearing them away, with the result that a great
amount of valuable material is spoilt er depreciated by being scattered about the
floor, and much time is also lost through stoppages of plant necessary to repair
and renew the aforesaid sleeves.
This invention consists in making the beforementioned spout or shoot connection
in such a manner as to prevent the material passing through into such machines
from coming into contact with the said flexible sleeve connection whereby all wear
and tear is taken off the said flexible sleeve the useful life of which is thereby
prolonged while the great loss of material and time and the annoyance of frequent
stoppages for renewals is effectually overcome.
To effect this, I make a tapering spout which is fitted into and attached to the
upper ring beforementioned on the fixed spout or shoot, the said tapering spout is
made long enough to enter the feed inlet of the machine and delivers the material
in the centre of the said inlet, which inlet is made large enough to receive the said
stationary feed spout and to allow for the travel of the machine, thus the material
to be treated is conducted into the machine without coming into contact with the
flexible sleeve which is then used only for preventing the fine dust from escaping
into the room.
In some cases I also make the apparatus in such a form as to dispense with the
flexible sleeve connection altogether such arrangement consisting of, and in addition
to, the beforementioned tapering spout, a short length of cylindrical spout attached
to the bottom of the said tapering spout or shoot; the said cylindrical portion

page_text: of the apparatus is further provided with a closely fitting collar capable of adjust-
ment by sliding up or down the said cylindrical spout after the manner of a
telescope and the said collar or telescopic spout is fitted into a suitable opening
made in the centre of a wooden cap or cover the diameter of which is made large
enough to cover the feed inlet to the machine, and the said feed inlet must be
large enough to admit the spout or shoot and to allow for the travel of the
machine; thus the tapering spout or shoot is fixed with the cylindrical portion
directly over the centre of the inlet to the machine and the sliding collar to which the
cap or cover is fixed is slipped down into position resting lightly on the machine, the
said cap or cover being lined on the underside with thick soft felt forms a dust tight
connection the whole of the feeding apparatus being stationary the machine running
underneath the said cap or cover; other forms of the apparatus are also made
such as will allow of the material being carried backwards or forwards in any
direction required between the fixed spout or shoot and the moving machine.
Sometimes I also use a spout made in the form of a crank which receives motion
from, and rotates with the sieve box of the machine, the said spout is supported
in position by a pair of suitable collars at the upper and lower ends thereof, the
said collars are provided on the inside with a groove or ball race into which are
placed a series of small balls or marbles made of any suitable material by which
means the spout is made to follow the motion of the sieving box easily and
smoothly, the abovementioned spout is specially designed for machines such as
have a very large crank throw or stroke and to which it would be difficult to
attach either of the other forms of spout mentioned.
I will now proceed to describe the different forms of spouts shewn in the
drawings herewith.
Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation of my improved spout or shoot on which the
flexible sleeve is used to prevent stiving.
Fig. 2 a sectional elevation of a spout which despenses with the flexible sleeve
by using a metal sliding section or telescopic spout and a felt lined wooden cap or
cover.
Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views respectively of Figs. 1 and 2 partly in section.
Fig. 5. is a sectional elevation of a crank spout showing fixed and adjustable
collars and ball race or bearing.
Fig. 6. a plan view of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 end view of feed box and sieve case fitted with two feed spouts one shewn
in full and the other in section, also showing position of sieve.
Fig. 8. plan of feed box Fig. 7. showing feed inlets and spouts also dust cap or
cover.
Fig. 9 end view of sieving box showing three discharge spouts, and recieving
box with doors for sampling and so forth, also showing position of continuation
spouts below floor.
Having reference to the drawings A Fig. 1 is the end of wood spout or shoot
conducting material to be fed to machine B is my improved tapering metal spout
C is collar round feed inlet. D machine feed box, and E is the flexible sleeve
to prevent stiving.
Like reference letters are used on all like parts shewn in plan views.
Fig. 2 A is end of wood spout B my improved feed spout B 1. cylindrical portion
of spout attached to B. And C the sliding collar or telescope made adjustable
on B. And C¹ the wood cap or cover attached to C. by means of the flange as
shewn, and E the felt lining whereby a dust tight joint is made between the
stationary cover and the rotating machine feed box D.
Fig. 3. A is a fixed spout and board to which the crank spout is attached B. a
short length of cylindrical spout round which the crank spout revolves the said
crank spout C. is set to correspond in stroke with the machine driving crank, Clare
wooden collars attached to the said crank spout C2 a similar collar attached to
the feed box D. and B an adjustable collar attached to the fixed feed spout
board by means of the bolts and winged nuts as shewn, E is the ball race and

page_text: balls or marbles whereby the spout is permitted to move round and round easily
and smoothly with the motion of the machine. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8. the
description and reference letters are the same as those given with Figs. 2 and 4
and need no further description.
With reference to Fig. 9 D is end view of sieve box showing a series of
discharge spouts of like construction to those described in Figs. 2 and 7 but having
one cap or cover board E common to the series and which is in this case attached
to the sieve box by iron brackets and winged nuts in the manner shewn in the
drawing, thus the said cover board and spouts slide to and fro upon the fixed
recieving box F. the material passing out of the sieve box is conducted through
the spout B. B1 C. and cap C¹ passing through suitable inlets into the recieving
box, and out of the said box by means of spouts H. Doors G. are provided for
the purpose of sampling the material passing from each of the aforesaid spouts or
shoots.
It will be obvious that the other forms of spouts shewn in Fig. 1 and 5 are
equally adapted for discharge spouts, and also that the apparatus are capable of
other modifications to suit varying circumstances such as for instance to adapt
them to machines in which the cranks are made with longer or shorter strokes
and so forth.
Having now particularly described the nature of my improvements and the
manner in which they are to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
Claim 1. Feeding and discharging spouts or shoots of all forms such as are capable
of conducting the material to be treated into (and out of) machines having vibratory
or rotary motion without the said material coming into contact with the flexible
sleeves (when used) or of other forms such as despense with the use of flexible
sleeves substantially as those set forth and illustrated in the drawings annexed; the
apparatus may be made with metal, or any other suitable materials.
Dated this 27th day of May 1896.
WILLIAM WALTER WILLIS,
Applicant.