A Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning Cotton Seed.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning Cotton Seed.
We, EDWARD SHEARDOWN and JOHN CHARLES BARKER of No. 44 High Street Hull
in the County of Hull, Seed Crushers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to means of clearing cotton seeds from fibre and dirt, which
we effect by a series of operations by several machines of the following description.
In the first place, we pass the seeds along the annular space between an outer
cylinder and an inner revolving barrel, both the cylinder and the barrel being studded
with projecting pins, those of the cylinder being somewhat inclined in the direction of
rotation of the barrel. The pins are arranged in circular rows so that those of the
barrel pass between those of the cylinder with sufficient clearance for the passage of
the cotton seeds; also the pins instead of being longitudinally in rows parallel to the
axis, may either for the barrel or the cylinder be arranged helically so as to promote
the travel of the seeds from the feeding to the delivery end, for which purpose also the
machine may be inclined downwards from the feed end. The seeds are introduced at
this end and are fed forward by a helical blade or several of these into the annular
space where they are acted on by the pins, and after travelling the whole length of
the cylinder they are delivered at the other end. The cylinder is divided longitudinally
in halves jointed together so that access can readily be got to the interior. The
annular space near the delivery end may communicate with an exhaust fan by which
the finer fibres and dust are drawn off. The seeds and dirt and fibres detached by the
machine above described are next passed through a revolving inclined screen having
meshes of sufficient size to pass the seeds as well as the shorter fibres and dirt, whilst
the longer fibres which had been more or less twisted in the first machine, are delivered
at the end of the screen. The seeds and accompanying small fibres and dirt are next
passed through a machine of the kind first described, having its annular space in com-
munication with a strong exhaust, which removes most of the fibres and dirt. When
it is desired to have the seeds more completely cleaned, we pass them, as they come
from the machine last mentioned, through the annular space between a cylindrical
screen of fine mesh and a barrel carrying stiff brushes which revolves with its axis
vertical within the screen. The screen is enclosed within a casing subject to the
exhaust of a fan. As the seeds descend, they are thoroughly brushed, the fine particles
brushed from them being drawn by the exhaust through the screen. At the bottom
the thoroughly cleaned seeds are delivered, the heavier particles of dirt being removed
from the bottom of the annular space outside the screen.
The seeds as they pass away from the brushing machine, may be led along a shoot
subject to the exhaust of a fan by which are drawn off such fine fibres as may accom-
pany the seeds.
Daind this 10th day of Danumber 1800
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning Cotton Seed.
We, EDWARD SHEARDOWN and JOHN CHARLES BARKER of No. 44 High Street,
Hull, in the County of Hull, Seed Crushers, 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:—
Our Invention relates to means of clearing cotton seeds from fibre and dirt, which
we effect by a series of operations by several machines of the following description.

page_text: In the first place, we pass the seed along the annular space between an outer
cylinder and an inner revolving barrel both the cylinder and the barrel being studded
with projecting pins, those of the cylinder, being somewhat inclined in the direction of
rotation of the barrel.
The pins are arranged in circular rows so that those of the barrel, pass between those
of the cylinder with sufficient clearance for the passage of the cotton seeds. Also the
pins, instead of being longitudinally in rows parallel to the axis, may either for the
barrel or the cylinder be arranged helically so as to promote the travol of the seeds
from the feeding to the delivery end, for which purpose also the machine may be
inclined downwards from the feed end. The seeds are introduced at this end and are
fed forward by a helical blade or several of these into the annular space where they
are acted on by the pins, and after travelling the whole length of the cylinder they
are delivered at the other end. The cylinder is divided longitudinally in halves jointed
together so that access can readily be got to the interior. The annular space near the
delivery end may communicate with an exhaust fan by which the finer fibres and dust
are drawn off.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan, and Fig. 3 is a transverse
section of the machine above described.
A is the cylindrical casing which is divided longitudinally into halves jointed together
at the one side so that it can be readily opened to give access to the interior. Bis
the internal revolving cylinder which has pins projecting from it into the spaces
between pins projecting inwards from the casing A, these latter pins being preferably
inclined in the direction of revolution of the cylinder B as shewn in Fig. 3. C is the
feed opening and D is the discharge opening of the casing A. At the feed end of the
cylinder B are fixed several helical blades E to advance the seeds that are fed at C
along the annular space between A and B. The machine is preferably mounted in an
inclined position as shown in Fig. 1 so as to promote the advance of the seeds towards
the delivery for which purpose also the pins, instead of being arranged in rows parallel
to the axis, are preferably arranged in helical rows somewhat inclined to the axis.
The
The seeds and dirt and fibres detached by the machine above described are next
passed through a revolving inclined screen having meshes of sufficient size to pass the
seeds, as well as the shorter fibres and dirt whilst the longer fibres which had been
more or less twisted in the first machine are delivered at the end of the screen.
seeds and accompanying small fibres and dirt may again be passed through a machine
of the kind first described, having its annular space in communication with a strong
exhaust, which removes most of the fibres and dirt. When it is desired to have the
seeds more completely cleaned, we pass them, as they come from the machine last
mentioned, through the annular space between a cylindrical screen of fine mesh and a
barrel carrying stiff brushes which revolves with its axis vertical within the screen.
The screen which is preferably woven of steel wire having rectangular section is
enclosed within a casing subject to the exhaust of a fan. As the seeds descend they
are brushed and rubbed against the screen, the fine particles removed from them being
drawn by the exhaust through the screen. At the bottom the thoroughly cleaned seeds
are delivered, the heavier particles of dirt being removed from the bottom of the
annular space outside the screen.
The seeds as they pass away from the brushing machine, may be led along a shoot
subject to the exhaust of a fan by which are drawn off such fine fibres as may accom-
pany the seeds. Fig. 4 is a vertical section partly in elevation and Fig. 5 is a sectional
plan of the brushing machine above mentioned. F is the cylindrical casing which may
be of sheet metal as shewn, having within it the wire gauze screen G, inside of which
is the revolving barrel H carrying the brushes K. The seeds fed in at L pass down
the space between the screen G and the barrel H subject to the action of the brushes K,
and on reaching the bottom they are carried round by revolving blades M to the
outlet N. The fine particles which pass through the screen G descend to a space P
at the bottom which is in communication with the exhaust fan. Through the cover of
the casing there is.a central aperture Q admitting air.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The herein described method of cleaning cotton seeds by passing them once or
oftener through the annular space between a cylindrical casing and an internal
revolving cylinder both provided with projecting pins, screening the discharged
material, and passing the partly cleansed seeds through a brushing machine subject to
exhaust
2. The combination of a cylindrical casing and an internal revolving cylinder, both
provided with projecting pins, arranged and operating substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 1. 2 and 3.
3. The brushing machine substantially as described with reference to Figs. 4
and 5
Dated this 9th day of September 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
28, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.