Improved Apparatus for Washing and Separating Stones from Currants and other Fruit.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1892—Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Washing and Separating Stones from
Currants and other Fruit.
:-
I WILLIAM GILKES, of 41 Wote Street Basingstoke Hants England Baker
and Confectioner do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I claim by this invention the system of stone separation from fruit (currants) by
gravity that is through the agency of aqueous suspension.
This household utensil is comprised of an ordinary vessel for holding fruit having
a perforated cone shaped bottoin or otherwise, with or without automatic valve at
apex opening upward for the ejection of stones when the utensil is plunged into the
water. Also, in a modified form it may consist of two vessels or colanders; one
(having very large mesh holes through which currants could easily pass) fitting
into another colander (perforated with small holes through which currants could
not pass) so as to bring the perforated bottoms of colanders within a short distance
of each other; and in this system leaving (after rinceing) only about one sixteenth
the bulk of fruit to be looked over. the rest having been freed from stones by
gravity during aqueous suspension of fruit.
Dated this 26th day of March 1892
WILLIAM GILKES,
41, Wote Street, Basingstoke, Hants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Washing and Separating Stones from
Currants and other Fruit.
I WILLIAM GILKES of 41 Wote Street, Basingstoke in the County of Hants
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 the washing of currants and other fruit and to the
separation of stones therefrom by gravity and will be best understood by reference
to the accompanying drawings in which
Figs. 12 & 3 are vertical sections of three different forms of the apparatus
constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing an apparatus somewhat similar to that shown
in Fig. 3 in a water-containing vessel.
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a vertical section and a plan and Figs. 7 & 8
respectively an elevation and a plan of two different forms of the water-containing
vessel.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 consists of a preferably conical unperforated
wall A circular in plan, a perforated conical bottom B having a central opening B';
a valve C having a stem C¹ and a bracket D secured in any convenient manner
preferably to the perforated bottom B as shown, for guiding the valve stem C' in
a vertical direction. The perforations of the bottom B excepting only B' are of
such size as will admit of water passing freely to the interior of the vessel B B¹
but will not allow the currants to pass through.
The
apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is somewhat of an elaboration of that shown in
Fig. 1 consisting as it does of substantially similar parts with the addition of a

page_text: chamber or casing E secured to the underside of the perforated' bottom B and
having a cap E' fitting on its lower end. The casing E is formed with a central
passage E connected with the outer wall of E by webs E and within this passage
is centrally supported by webs E the guiding sleeve E' of the valve spindle C¹
which at its lower end is provided with a head C to prevent the valve from moving
out of position.
The apparatus shown in Fig. 3 consists of two conical vessels F & G the former
fitting within the latter and each provided with a perforated or equivalent such
as wire-gauze, bottom F' G. The bottom F which is preferably of wire-gauze of
about half inch mesh stands about preferably three quarters of an inch above the
hottom G which may be of metal perforated with preferably circular holes of say
about quarter inch diameter.
The apparatus shown in Fig. 4 consists of three vessels two, F and G being
substantially similar to those marked F & G in Fig. 3 but of cylindrical instead of
conical form and the third one H being of unperforated metal for containing
the water into which the vessels F & G and contents are plunged. The
vessel is provided with loop handles F to enable it to be readily lifted out
of G which latter is also provided with loop handles G2 G which are pivotted
at G to the vessel G and the arm G³ of each of which handles is adapted to
extend over the top edge of F so as to hold F. down in proper position within G
during the operation of the apparatus. When the vessels F & G are removed
from H the handles G' G³ may be turned outwards so as to move the arms G³
from over the edge of F which may then be lifted out of G by means of its
handles F.
If desired the handles G³ G³ may be extended upwards as shown in broken
dotted lines in Fig. 4 and means may be provided so that these extended handles
may be readily connected to and disconnected from a suitable motor for recipro-
cating F & G in a vertical direction.
The water-containing vessel H shown in Figs. 5 & 6 is provided with a
platform H preferably constructed of corrugated sheet metal and inclining
slightly towards the vessel H. The outer end of the platform H' is supported
by a stay H2 connected thereto and to the lower part of the vessel H. Extending
transversely over the platform H' at a suitable height therefrom are two bars H³
each rivetted or otherwise secured to the vertical rim H' which surrounds the
platform H at its outer part.
The water containing vessel shown in Figs. 7 & 8 consists of a vessel H of
substantially similar construction to that shown in Fig. 4 already described, but
without a base flange and to the outside of which are pivotted at 12 two
levers the upper ends of which are bent inwards to project over the mouth
of the vessel H and at their ends are each provided with a head or bar 13
which is sufficiently long to rest upon the upper edge of H when the bars. I'
are in the position closest together. The lever arms l'incline outwards. às
shown in Fig. 7 and may be perforated to pass over guide pins on which
are provided spiral springs the tendency of which is always to push the
arms farther from the vessel Hand the bars 18 nearer together. K is a
curved lever pivotted in a sleeve or bearing K' secured near the lower part of
the vessel H and the ends of which lever K engage each with one of the arms [
so that when these ends are depressed the levers II will both be simultaneously
moved from the position in which they are shown in full lines to that shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 7.
"
In treating currants in an apparatus such as shown in Fig. 1 the vessel A' may
be charged with currants up to say the level indicated by the dotted. line L the
valve at this time of course occupying its lowest position and obstructing the
opening B. The vessel A. is then plunged repeatedly into water so that the water
will enter through the perforations of B and also through the opening 'B' the
valve C being by the pressure of or against the water raised from the position
shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The currants, when the

page_text: vessel A is plunged into water will be suspended in the water which gains access to
its interior and the stones by gravity will descend to the bottom of the vessel and
pass out through the then-unobstructed opening B. When the vessel A is finally
withdrawn from the water the valve C assumes its lowest position and obstruct
the opening B' so as to prevent the escape of the currants from A. It has been
found that by but very few plunges into the water the stones will be all removed
from the currants, but of course these plunges may be increased or decreased
according to requirements.
The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is substantially the same as that
last described with reference to Fig. 1 but in this case the stones instead of falling
into the vessel into which A is plunged, fall into the chamber E where the water is
at rest so that there is no tendency during the downward plunges of the vessel A.
of the stones already separated from the currants to pass upwards through the
opening B' to again mix with the currants. As soon as it is considered that the
currants are sufficiently washed and all the stones have been separated from them,
the vessel A is withdrawn from the water and the valve C will cover the opening B¹
so that the currants cannot fall out of A. After this, the cover E¹ may be detached
from the chamber E and the stones contained therein removed.
The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as that
previously described, but the result is slightly different in so far that the size of the
openings in the bottom F is sufficient to admit of the passage therethrough of some
of the currants along with the stones, but these are retained above the bottom G¹
and need not be cleared out after each operation, because some of these curiants
may at the succeeding operation be floated up or raised through the openings of F
to again mix with the currants in the vessel F. The vessel consequently may
either be removed from the passage G at each operation or after two or three
operations.
The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 and the result thereof are sub-
stantially the same as of Fig. 3 the vessels F & G of such Fig. 3 being if necessary
provided with loop handle such as FG similar to those shown in Fig. 4. The
plunging of the vessels F & G in H may be effected by hand by means of
handles G which are preferably so shaped as to prevent the hands of the operator
coming into frictional contact with the wall of the vessel H.; or as before described
the plunging may be effected by a suitable motor connected to the handles G2 which
for this purpose will be extended as indicated in dotted lines.
Should it be desired to place the vessels F and G, after the removal from H,
in a centrifugal machine for drying the currants, the handles G may be turned
outwards and the bent over ends shown in dotted lines may pass through slots or
openings formed in the wall of G below the perforated bottom G'.
By using a water containing vessel such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the vessels F
and G or a vessel such as A Figs. 1 and 2 may after the removal from H be rested
upon the bars Hso that the water will run through the perforated bottoms of such
vessels on to the corrugated shelf H' from which by reason of the incline of said
shelf the water will run back into H.
When it is desired to remove the currant containing vessels from the vessel H.
shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the free ends of the lever K are depressed by the
operator's foot or otherwise so as to press the arms 1' of levers II' inwards
and so withdraw the bars I from over the mouth of H so as to leave said
mouth unobstructed for the raising of the currant-containing vessel. After the
currant-containing vessel has been removed from H the operator may release
the lever K whereupon the springs J will force the levers II' from the position
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 to that shown in full lines in that fig. The
currant-containing vessel nay then be stood upon the bars 1' and the water will
drain out from said vessel into the vessel H as will be well understood, the
bars being in their normal position at a distance apart somewhat less than
the diameter of the bottom of the currant-containing vessel.
It is to be understood that the term "stones as herein used does not apply

page_text: to the stones of the fruit, but to the gravel or similar stones which have
accidentally become mixed with the fruit.
The before described fruit-containing vessel may be constructed with a bottom
inclining to one side only and provided with a valve at its lowest part or with
several inclines and several valves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :―
1. The separation of stones from currants and similar fruit by suspending the
currants or fruit in water and allowing the stones to descend therefrom by gravity
substantially as described.
2. For the purpose of separating stones from currants and other fruit placing
said fruit in a vessel having a perforated bottom and plunging or placing the vessel
into water whereby the fruit is suspended in the water and the stones are allowed
to descend to the bottom of the vessel by gravity substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for separating stones from currants and other fruit a vessel
having perforated bottom inclining to the valve or valves substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2
4. In apparatus for separating stones from currants and other fruit the combina-
tion with a vessel having a perforated bottom such as B with a central opening B¹
of a valve such as C operating in conjunction with the opening B' substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In apparatus for separating stones from currants and other fruit the combina-
tion with a vessel having a perforated bottom such as B B₁ and valve such as C for
obstructing the central opening B₁ of a chamber such as E and removable cap or
cover E' substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In apparatus for separating stones from currants and other fruit the combina-
tion of two vessels such as FG one fitting within the other and each provided with
a perforated bottom the perforations of the inner vessel being larger that those of
the outer vessel substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
7. In apparatus for separating stones from currants and other fruit the combina-
tion of three vessels such as F G & H the inner one having a bottom with large
perforations for the passage chiefly of stones the middle one having a bottom with
smaller perforations for the passage of water and the outer vessel being adapted to
contain the water the whole constituted and operating substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In apparatus for separating stones from currants and other fruit the combina-
tion of a vessel having in its bottom one or more openings large enough to admit of
the stones passing there-through of a water-containing and draining vessel.
constructed substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawings."
9. In apparatus for separating stones from currants and other fruit the combina-
tion of a vessel having in its bottom one or more openings large enough to admit of
the stones passing there-through of a water-containing and draining vessel constructed
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 7 & 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 26th day of December 1892.
WILLIAM GILKES.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant..