Improvements in Husking, Winnowing, and Cleaning Rice and other Materials, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1888-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1889
CUMI LUID
Improvements in Husking, Winnowing, and Cleaning Rice and
other Materials, and Apparatus therefor.
I, BERNARD CONRAD SCHUMACHER of 127 Fenchurch Street, in the City of London,
Manager of Pegu Rice Company, 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 has for its object improvements in husking, winnowing, and cleaning
rice and other materials and apparatus therefor.
My said invention relates to the direct application of compressed air for the
purpose of husking winnowing and cleaning rice and other grain seeds and berries so
as thereby to effectuate a practical result and benefit not hitherto obtained.
The compressed air for use in connection with my invention is generated and
communicated by steam air compressors or by any known and sufficiently powerful
means of generating and forcing compressed air.
Apparatus arranged in accordance with my invention is shown by the drawings
annexed. Figure 1 is a sectional elevation. Figure 2 is a plan. Figure 3 is a
section on the line 3. 3 in Figure 1 and Figure 4 shews a separate part.
The method of carrying my invention into effect reference being had to Figure 1 is
as follows: An inverted hollow cone or hopper of a size and material suited to the
requirements of the operator or some other effectual means is provided for the
reception of and for conducting paddy grain seeds or berries to be operated on into a
curved passage (a) constructed of wood or iron. This curved passage towards the
lower end assumes a horizontal direction and terminates at the point (6) in the shapo
of a pipe of 24 inches diameter or of a larger or smaller diameter according to the
class of seed grain or berry to be operated on the larger and coarser kind of seed
grain or berry requiring a pipe of greater diameter than the smaller kind. To the
lower end of the curved passage at the point (b) is screwed a cone shaped cap (c) at
the back of the curved passage at a point (d) immediately opposite to and on a
direct level with the centre of the cone shaped cap is introduced a pipe (e) connected
with outward means of forcing compressed air which pipe (e) passes throughout the
curved passage (a) into the said cone shaped cap (c) as shewn in Figure 1. To the
said cone shaped cap is attached or screwed another pipe (f) of a length and diameter
varying with the degree of pressure required and according to the class of grain
seed or berry to be operated on but preferably and under ordinary circumstances as
applied to rice of a diameter of an inch and a quarter and a length of 9 feet 6 inches.
This pipe (f) proceeds in a horizontal direction from the cone shaped cap (e) and
enters the working chamber of the husking and winnowing or cleaning machine to
about the centre of such chamber. At the end of the said pipe (f) within the
working chamber is placed a curved and grooved target (h) called the "striking
surface of stone or of composition or cement of sufficient hardness to resist wear
and tear and of the length of 18 inches or. thereabouts such striking surface being
fixed at an angle of 25° or thereabouts from the line of the pipe (f) and having a
downward inclination. The groove in the striking surface (h) at one end fits on to
the end of the pipe (f) and increases in width or circumference as it proceeds towards
the further end.
The working chamber marked G is made in two divisions or parts, one division of
a semi circular form of a radius of 20 inches or larger according to the scale on
which the apparatus is constructed closed at the sides and the other division of an
irregular shape partially closed at the sides in manner hereinafter described. The
semi circular division of the working chamber A B is lined or covered on the inside

page_text: with india rubber or other suitable material to reduce the force of the impact. The
irregular division of the same chamber E-CD with the exception of that part between
the letters C and D is lined with tin. Between the letters C and D the wall of the
chamber is also lined with india rubber or other suitable material..
The compressed air proceeding from the pipo (f) after contact with the striking
surface is utilised for the purpose of winnowing and cleaning thus economizing both
space and air and simplifying the procèss.
The mode of working is as follows. The grain seeds and berries after leaving the
striking surface rebound in the chamber at an angle equal to the angle of incidence
striking the wall of the chamber at the point A and thence again rebound striking
the wall of the working chamber at a tangent at the point R whence by the impetus
afforded by the compressed air proceeding from the pipe (f) directed by the formation
of the wall of the working chamber the grain seeds or berries with the husks or shells
which have become separated therefrom by means of contact with the striking surface
and the wall of the working chamber are driven round the curve of the irregular
portion of the working chamber in an upward direction.
one foot.
In the sides of the working chamber large openings are made about the centre and
by these openings air enters. The sides at the point (1) are of a minimum width of
At the point (2) the sides are reduced to a minimum width of 5 inches in
order to create the proper draught of air required for regulating the pressure. From
the point (2) the sides gradually widen until at the point (3) they attain the maximum
width of two feet.
By the force of the compressed air the grain seeds or berries with the detached
husks or shells are carried up to the point D or thereabouts in the working chamber.
Atmospheric air enters or is sucked in through the openings in the irregular division
of the working chamber and by its counter action the force of the compressed air is
partially subdued causing the grain seeds or berries at or about the point D to assume
their natural gravity. The power of the compressed air having been controlled to this
extent the grain seed or berries gradually roll down the curve of the wall of the
working chamber CE through the opening at E effected by the overlapping of the
portions of the working chamber the grain seeds or berries escape winnowed and
cleaned and are removed by a hopper or scuttle or other convenient means.
From the point D the husks or shells or other lighter substances are by the force of
the compressed air controlled as before described steadily carried upwards and are
ejected through the opening F in the working chamber into a husk box or house such
as that shewn in the accompanying drawing as annexed to the working chamber.
The dust and lighter substances are driven by the force of the compressed air con-
trolled as aforesaid through apertures (4) in the husk box while the husks or shells
being of greater gravity fall to the bottom of the husk box and are thence removed
by a hopper or scuttle or other convenient means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The use substantially, as described of compressed air in the process of husking
winnowing and cleaning rice and other materials.
2. The method substantially as described of busking rice and other materials
consisting in propelling the same through a tube by means of a jet of compressed air
against a striking surface.
3. The method substantially as described of winnowing and cleaning rice and other
materials by causing the same to be delivered by a current of air through a tube into 5
a casing, and to be carried round therein down on one side and up on the other-the
husk travelling forwards until it reaches a receiver whilst the grain returns by gravity
against the air current and is delivered into another receptacle.
4: Apparatus substantially as described for husking rice and other materials and
consisting of a jet by which compressed air issues; a nozzle delivering the rice or 5

page_text: material into a passage whence it is sucked in by the jet into a tube through which
the rice or material is propelled by the air and a striking surface with which it is thus
brought into contact.
5. Apparatus substantially as described for winnowing and cleaning rice and other
material consisting of a casing and a pipe through which the rice or material mixed
with husk or shells is carried by a current of air into the casing; such casing having
within it a curvilinear passage along which the rice or material is made to travel so
that the husk reaches a receptacle provided for it whilst the rice or grain returns by
gravity and enters another receiver.
6. Apparatus substantially as described and represented by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 17th day of October 1888.
B. C. SCHUMACHER.