IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GRAIN, SEEDS, AND OTHER VEGETABLE OR MINERAL SUBSTANCES.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Perkins, of Hitchin, in the County of Hertford,
and Samuel Handscombe, of Melbourne, in the County of Cambridge, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GRAIN, SEEDS,
AND OTHER VEGETABLE OR MINERAL SUBSTANCES.".
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Perkins and Samuel
Handscombe at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd July
1880.
THOMAS PERKINS, of Hitchin, in the County of Hertford, and SAMUEL
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
HANDSCOMBE, of Melbourne, in the County of Cambridge.
APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GRAIN, SEEDS, AND OTHER VEGETABLE OR MINERAL
SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to apparatus for separating grain, seeds, and other
vegetable or mineral substances.
For these purposes a rotary screen is employed consisting of perforated sheet
metal or other reticulate material and corrugated, so that in the rotation of the
screen the material is carried up by the corrugations and allowed to fall back to
the bottom of the screen, or the screen may be of plain cylindrical form with ribs
or lifters operating in a similar manner. Sometimes the screen is made conical in
forin, it is set in an inclined position, and pockets are provided at the larger and
upper end. The grain or material being led into the pockets as it enters the
screen, its weight causes the screen to rotate automatically. The pockets have
slits at the bottom by which the grain or material gradually escapes into the body
of the screen.
In order to agitate the material within a rotary screen the axes upon which it
is mounted may be set eccentrically. With the same object brushes or dashers
may be suspended within the screen.
In order to keep the perforations of a screen free from obstruction, finger like
pieces of wood or other material mounted upon a rod or spindle are employed;
these by their own weight bear against the outer surface of the screen.
sometimes with rotary screens a cleaner consisting of a rod with metal rings strung
Or

page_text: upon it is employed; the rod with the rings lies upon the top of the screen, and
the rings revolve as the screen passes beneath them, In some cases a trough
is arranged within the screen to receive and convey away the matters removed by
the cleaners from the perforations or meshes of the screen.
Where dressing sieves and a flat screen are employed simultaneously, the sieves
are mounted upon the upper part of a frame, which has a rocking motion imparted
to it about an horizontal axis. The lower part of the same frame supports one end
of the screen, the other end being suspended by hangers.
Sometimes the dressing sieves are arranged to deliver into a rotary screen. In
order to obtain an uniform blast of air from a fan or blower to dressing sieves or
separating apparatus, a governor is applied upon the fan axis carrying the fliers;
-this governor, as-the-speed of rotation of the axis increases, closes more and more
the apertures by which the wind enters to the fan or blower. When it is desired -
to separate round sced from grain, a flat screen is arranged within an internal
rotating cylindrical case. This case has cup like indentations formed in its interior
surface corresponding in size to the seeds to be removed. The grain passes first
over the flat screen, and the thin grain falls through into a shoe or trough which
conveys them away to a receptacle. The full grain passes off the end of the flat
screen into the rotating cylindrical case. The round seeds enter the cavities in the
case, are carried up by them, and dropped into a trough attached to the shoe
already mentioned. By this trough the round seeds aro conveyed to a receptacle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Perkins and Samuel Handscombe in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 3rd January 1881.
THOMAS PERKINS, of Hitchin, in the County of Hertford, and SAMUEL
HANDSCOMBE, of Melbourne, in the County of Cambridge. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GRAIN, SEEDS, AND OTHER VEGETABLE OR MINERAL
SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to apparatus for separating grain, seeds, and other
vegetable or mineral substances.
For these purposes a rotary screen is employed consisting of perforated sheet metal
or wire gauze or other reticulate material and corrugated, so that in the rotation.
of the screen the material is carried up by the corrugations and allowed to fall
back to the bottom of the screen, or the screen may be of a plain cylindrical form
with ribs or lifters operating in a similar manner.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed shews a transverse section, and
Figure 2 a longitudinal section of one end of a rotary screen, having longitudina!
corrugations formed in the perforated sheet metal or wire gauzo or other reticulato
material of which the screening surface is formed. The ends of the corrugated
cylinder A are secured to rings B which are fast upon an axis C. The end of the
screen shown in the Drawing is the end at which the grain or material to be
screened is fed into the screen. The ring B at this end is therefore fixed by arms
to a disc D fast on the axis at some distance inwards from the end of the screen;
this allows the shoot by which the material is fed to the screen to be brought
close to or even to project somewhat into the screen. E, E, are bars which tie
together the two end rings, and also serve as supports for the corrugated screening
surface.
Figure 3 shows a transverse section, and Figure 4 a side elevation of a plain
cylindrical rotary screen of perforated sheet metal, or it might be of wire gauze or
other reticulate material with longitudinal ribs or lifters E on the inner side of the
screening surface. These ribs not only serve to support the reticulate or perforated
surface, but also to carry up the material in the screen and allow it to drop back
to the bottom.
Two ways of building up the frame which supports the cylindrical screening
surface are illustrated at Figure 4.
One way is to hold the ends of the screen at the required distance apart by
rods F with nuts screwed on to them both on the inner and outer sides of the
ends or on their inner sides only. The other way is to use rods of wood & slotted
near each end to receive a wedge, which is caused to bear against the inner side
of the ends whilst the ends are held towards one another by the rods E which
support the screening surface. Or in place of using a wedge at each end a wedge
may be used at one end only, and at the other end there may be a collar on
the rod.
We claim as regards this part of our Invention,-
First. The construction of rotary screens with the screening surface composed
of perforated sheet metal or wire gauze or other reticulated material corrugated
longitudinally, substantially as described.
Second. The construction of rotary screens with the screening surface composed
of perforated sheet metal or wire gauze or other reticulate material, and with
longitudinal ribs or lifters on the inner side of the screening surface, substantially
as described.
Sometimes the screen is made conical in form; it is set in an inclined position,
and pockets are provided at the larger and upper end. The grain or material

page_text: being led into the pockets as it enters the screen, its weight causes the screen to
rotate automatically. The pockets have slits at the bottom by which the grain or
material gradually escapes into the body of the screen.
Figure 5 shows a plan view, and Figure 6 a side elevation of a screen constructed
in this manner.
A is a conical screen set with its axis A* in an inclined position; B, B, are
pockets all around the upper part of the larger and upper, end of the screen;
C, C, is an opening at the bottom of each pocket close up to the screening surface;
D is a shoot by which the material to be screened is to be supplied in a
continuous stream into the pockets at or near the highest point of the screen.
The
weight of the grain turns the screen on its axis, and as the screen turns the grain
or material streams out from the pocket tlirough the opening Cinto the screen,
and by the time the pocket has come to its lowest point below tho axis it is empty,
or nearly so, and is carried upwards empty to the highest point of the screen to be
again filled with the grain or material which is to be screened. In this manner
the screen is kept turning by the weight of the material descending into it.
Another advantage of making the screen conical is, that if the screen is formed
of a tube of sheet metal or wire gauze or such like reticulate material carried on
a frame, as above described, the coned skin or screening surface of the screen may
readily be slipped onto and off from the conical frame. The skin or screening
surface can also be more readily stretched tightly upon the frame, and one skin or
screening surface can quickly be taken off from the frame and another put on in
its-place. Several skins or screening surfaces can also be packed one inside the
other and occupy but little space. Such conical screens may be made either-self
rotating as above described, or they may be rotated by hand or otherwise.
We claim as regards this part of our Invention,-
First. The construction of rotary screens set at an angle with pockets at their
upper end, through which the grain or material is fed into the screen in such
manner that the loaded pockets on one side of the axis, shall by their weight cause
the screen to rotate, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. Making rotary screens with a conical screening surface composed of a
tubo of perforated sheet metal or wire gauze or other reticulate material, to admit
of the tubular screening surface being readily put on to or taken off from the
frame of the screen, as herein before described.
In order to keep the perforations of a rotary screen formed of perforated sheet
metal or wire gauze or other reticulate material free from obstruction, a cleaner
consisting of a rod, either smooth or corrugated, or with metal rings strung upon
it, or a spiral coil of wire is employed; the rod is made to rest upon the top of the
screen and is held loosely in place by cords or otherwise.
Figure 7 shows full size a cross section of a rod having strung upon it a number
of metal rings. A is the rod; B, one of the metal rings; C, the screen surface of
perforated metal. Figure 8 shows a side elevation of a rotary screen C with a
rod A, which may have rings B strung upon it resting upon the top of the screen.
The rod is kept in position by loose ties D from the framing of the machine ns
shown. In place of the rings being each formed separately they might be formed
together of one or more long spirals.
If the tubular screen surface of perforated metal or wire gauze or other reticulate
material is mounted eccentrically upon its axis, as hereinafter described and shown
at Figure 8, the clearer rod will as the screen revolves rest constantly upon the top
of the screen surface; in spite of its eccentric movement the rod will also move
somewhat end wise to and fro relatively to the screen surface, and its action as a
clearer will be so improved.
We claim as regards this part of our Invention, the employment of a smooth or
corrugated rod, or a rod with wire rings strung upon it, or a spiral coil of wire,
made to rest upon the top of a revolving screen, to act as a clearer for keeping clear
the perforations of the perforated sheet metal or wire gauze or such liko reticulate
material of which the screen is formed.

page_text: Where dressing sieves and a flat screen are employed simultaneously, the sieves
aro mounted upon the upper part of a frame, which has a rocking motion imparted
to it about an horizontal axis. The lower part of the same frame supports one end
of the screen,
the other end being suspended by hangers.
Figure 9 shows a vertical section of a dressing sieve and flat screen thus coupled
together; Figure 10 is a side elevation of the casing containing the sieve and screen.
A is part of a dressing sieve coupled to the upper part of a rocking frame B by
chains C; the frame B can rock on axes D. To the lower end of the frame B is
connected by chains E one end of a flat screen F; the other end of this screen is
carried by spring hangers G of ash or other suitable material. The frame B has
rocking motion given to it from a crank or eccentric on the axis of the fan used for
giving the air blast. By this means when an oscillating motion is given to the
frame the dressing sieve and screen are both oscillated to and fro.
Wo claim as respects this part of our Invention the coupling together of a dressing
sieve and flat screen to a rocking frame, so that both the sieve and screen are oscil-
lated to and fro, substantially as herein before described.
In order to obtain an uniform blast of air from a fan or blower to dressing sieves
or separating apparatus a governor is applied upon the fan axis carrying the fliers;
this governor, as the speed of rotation of the axis increases, closes more and more
the apertures by which the wind enters to the fan or blower.
The casing which encloses the sieve A and screen F, shown at Figures 9 and 10,
has mounted within it a fan fitted with a governor acting in the above manner.
An elevation of the fan and governor is shown at Figure 11.
His the fan axis, to which the fan blades are secured in the ordinary manner.
Through each of the two bosses on the fan axis H, to which the arms of the blades
are secured, are formed two holes on opposite sides of the axis; through the two
holes in one boss are passed two rods I; the rods at their ends are secured to a
disc K at the side of the fan, and at their opposite ends to a smaller disc L. A
similar pair of rods with discs attached to them pass through the holes in the other
boss. The two smaller discs L are connected by links to weights M. In this way
when the fan axis is rotated the weights tend to fly out from it, and carry the
discs K nearer to the openings N in the sides of the fan casing, through which air
enters, and so tends to partially close this opening, whilst, the pressure of the
incoming air upon the discs K tends to force them in the opposite direction. In this
way tho apertures N through which air enters will be more and more closed as the
speed of rotation of the fan axis increases, and so a uniform blast will be main-
tained. We claim as regards this part of our Invention the combination with the
axis of a revolving fan of a governor acting substantially in the manner above
described.
In order to agitate the material within a rotary screen the axis upon which it is
mounted may be set eccentrically. Figure 8 shows a side elevation of a revolving
screen so mounted eccentrically. As the screen rotates, the grain within it will be
tossed to and fro, and so kept constantly agitated.
We claim as respects this part of our Invention the mounting rotary screens
eccentrically upon their axes, so as to keep the material which is being screened
constantly agitated.
When it is desired to separate round seeds from grain a shoot or trough is
arranged within an external rotating cylindrical case; this case has cup like inden-
tations formed in its interior surface corresponding in size to the seeds to be
removed. The mixed grain and seed passes into the rotating cylindrical case. The
case is preferably mounted eccentrically upon its axis, so that the grain within it is
kept constantly agitated. As the case revolves, the round seeds enter the cavities
and are carried up by them and dropped into the shoot or trough, and are by this
trough conveyed away to a receptacle.
Figures 12, 13, and 14 show a rotating cylindrical case constructed to act in this
manner; Figure 15 is a cross section taken through the cylindrical case. A is the
axis carrying the screen and casing; this axis may incline slightly downwards from

page_text: the feeding end to the delivery end. The axis has fixed to it eccentrically near its
two ends rings B, B. Between one end ring B and a ring C is a cylindrical screen
surface, whilst between the other ring B and the ring C is a cylindrical casing
formed with cup like indentations on its inner surface, as shown in section on a
larger scale at Figure 16. D is an inclined trough in the inside of the cylindrical
case; its lower end rests in a ring E secured to the longitudinal rods of the frame,
which carries the indented metal cylinder; the other end is supported by a
universal joint from a bolt F passed down through a part of the axis A, which is
fixed and does not rotate, the other half only of the axis being driven, and causing
the screen and casing to revolve. The bolt F is equidistant between the eccentric
ends B, so that as the screen rotates both ends of the trough receive the same
eccentric movement as the two ends of the screen, and the trough keeps always its
proper position within the case. If the axis A were not eccentric to the screen and
cylindrical case both ends of the trough might be supported by the fixed portion of
the axis. The upper end of the trough is slotted, so that it may be brought up
above the axis A, and this slot is covered over with an arched cover, as shown.
The grain is fed in to the screen from a hopper G; the thin grains fall through
the screen, and are conveyed away by a shoot H; the full grain passes on into the
cylindrical case; the round seeds mixed with it then enter the cavities in the case,
and are carried up by them and dropped into the shoot I, and delivered from the
end of the case into the shoot K, whilst the full grain passes away from the case
through an opening L into another shoot, led away in a direction opposite to the
direction of the shoot K.
In place of feeding the-grain-into-the case through a revolving screen the grain
might be fed into it over a flat sieve, which may enter a distance into the case:-
An inclined trough or shoot similar to the trough or shoot D, and supported in
the manner shown, may also be used in the interior of cylindrical screens to receive
and convey away the matters removed by the clearers from the perforations or
meshes of the screen.
We claim as respects this part of our Invention,-
First. Mounting a rotary screen or a circular casing having cup like indentations
on its inner surface eccentrically upon its axis, so as to cause the material within
the screen or case to be agitated, substantially as described.
Second. Mounting a trough, substantially in the manner herein before described
and shewn at Figure 13, within the interior of a cylindrical case, which is revolved
eccentrically, and which has cup like indentations formed in its interior surface, for
the purpose described.
Third. Supporting a trough within the interior of a revolving screen or a
revolving cylindrical case having cup like indentations on its inner surface by
means of a fixed portion of the axis of the screen, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Perkins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty first day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.