Improvements in Apparatus for Sorting or Separating Wheat or other Granular or Pulverulent Substances.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th May, 1890-Accepted, 21st June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Sorting or Separating Wheat or
other Granular or Pulverulent Substances.
I WILLIAM TAYLOR Bates, of 73 Commercial Road Liverpool, Mill Manager, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object a simple and inexpensive apparatus for separating all
loose granular and diverse substances.
In carrying out the invention the apparatus is so arranged that the material to
be separated falls by its own gravity down an inclined shoot, or spout the same
being provided with a false bottom in the form of perforated metal, woven wire, or
similar material. The form of shoot and the angle of inclination is arranged according
to the material to be operated upon. The apparatus being adjustable to any angle,
and may even be used in a horizontal position.
For the purpose of regulating the flow and distribution of the material being
separated, employ a novel arrangement of transverse bars of wood, iron, leather,
indiarubber, or any suitable material. These are fixed and arranged upon an endless
band, or bands, of leather or similar material or upon a chain or chains. To these
I impart motion, and work them at a speed sufficient to retard or assist the
progress of the material for distribution, for the purpose of separation, as well as for
the purpose of keeping open the holes or meshes of the separating medium.
1 generally prefer to make the false bottom, (the separating medium), in one or
more frames so that they may be easily removed and renewed.
I also make these frames so that I can alter their angle of inclination. independantly,
for the purpose of assisting or retarding the flow of material being separated, and for
the purpose of keeping it under control.
1 also, in some cases, place one sieve above another by which means I obtain a
second separation, and I also use a travelling brush or other device under or above
the separating medium (or sieves) for the purpose of keeping open the holes or meshes
of the same; and also, when under, for the purpose of propelling the separated
material but this propulsion is required only when the apparatus is placed at such a
low angle that it will not fall of its own weight.
Dated this the Third day of August 1889.
WILLIAM TAYLOR BATES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Sorting or Separating Wheat or
other Granular or Pulverulent Substances.
I, WILLIAM TAYLOR BATES of 73, Commercial Road, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Mill Manager, 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 any the following statement:-
My invention relates to apparatus for sieving or separating granular or pulverulent
material, and it has for its principal object the production of n simple and
inexpensive apparatus applicable for sieving or separating wheat, wheat products
and the like.
The manner in which the invention is carried into effect may be understood fro
the following.description, reference being hid to the accompanying drawings, in
which
__
:
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the annaratus.

page_text: '
Figure 3 is a transverse section on line xx, Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 are views, drawn to an enlarged scale, of parts of the apparatus
shown in Figures 1 and 3 respectively.
A is a shute or spout, into one end of which the material to be separated is
fed from a hopper B. and along which such material is caused to travel as herein-
after described.. The hopper B may be provided with a feed roller and an
adjustable counterbalanced feeding device, the said feed roller being conveniently
driven by a belt from the driving shaft C. The shute A, which may be either
fixed (as shown) or adjustable to any required angle, is placed preferably at such an
inclination that the material travels down it by gravity, or mainly by gravity
assisted to some extent by suitable conveying devices. In some instances, however,
the shute may be placed in a horizontal, or nearly horizontal position. The form
and inclination of the shute depends, to a large extent, upon the nature of the material
under treatment.
The shute is provided with a false bottom D of perforated metal sheet, wire or
silk gauze, or other suitable sieving material, the said bottom being, by preference,
divided into two or more frames or sections, as at d Figures 1 and 4, in order to
facilitate the removal or repair of any part of the sieving surface.
For the purpose of regulating the flow and distribution of the material under
treatment, employ a novel arrangement of bars E of wood, iron, leather, india-
rubber or other suitable material. These bars are fixed to, and arranged in a
more or less transverse position upon, an endless travelling band or bands F of
leather or other suitable material, or upon a chain or chains, the said band or its
equivalent being mounted upon pulleys F F in such manner that the bars E are
caused to travel successively along the shute in proximity to the sieving surface.
Motion is imparted to the endless band F from a driving pulley fixed on the
driving shaft C which carries one of the band pulleys F', and the speed of the band is so
regulated, according to the requirements of each case, that the movement of the bars E
either retards or assists the progress of the material down the shute. The action of
the bars E also serves to distribute the material evenly over the sieving surface, to
proluce a better separation of the material, and to keep open the perforations or
imeshes in the sieving medium D. During the return movement of the bars E they
are upheld by bearing strips e.
It is also preferable to so arrange the false bottom D that it may have its
angle of inclination altered independently of the shute for the purpose of assisting or
retarding the flow of the material, and for keeping the same under control.
I may also impart a rocking or shaking movement to the various sections for
the purpose of keeping the meshes or holes of the sieving surface open and
clean. To this end the sieving sections may be arranged as shown in Figures 1,
3, 4 and 5.
Each sieving section is in contact, at its lower end, with a beaked cam G, while at
a suitable point between its centre and its upper end it is supported upon a fulcrum G.
The cams G of all the sections are mounted on a shaft g lying below the false bottom D,
and the said shaft may be conveniently driven from the main shaft C, by. mitre
gearing and a belt g².
The rotation of the cams causes a rapid rocking or shaking motion to be imparted
to the sieve sections, which helps to keep meshes or holes of the sieving surface open
and clean.
The material passing through the sieve travels down the shute and out at the
opening-H; whilst the material remaining on the sieve passes over the end thereof and
is discharged at the exit J. The upper side of the shute is closed by a cover K;
and in some cases, I may also connect the shute with an exhaust apparatus, as by
a trunk La
B
I may also in some cases provide the apparatus with a second perforated false
boom or sieve, by means of which I am enabled to obtain a second soparation of the
material. In certain instances also, I may use a travelling brush or scraper below the
sieve for the purpose of keeping open the perforations or ineshes of the same. The

page_text: said brush or scraper or one working independently thereof, may also be employed for
propelling the separated material, which has passed through the sieve, towards the
discharge opening H. This latter arrangement, however, will only be required when
the apparatus is placed at such an angle that the said material will not move down-
wards by its own weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. An apparatus for sorting or separating wheat, middlings or other granular or
pulverulent materials, having in combination with a sieve, an endless travelling band
or its equivalent working longitudinally over the sieve and carrying a series of bars
arranged at suitable intervals more or less transversely to the sieve and adapted co
assist or retard the onward flow of material over the surface of the same, substantially
as described.
2. The improved apparatus for sorting or separating wheat or other granular or
pulverulent substances, combined and constructed as a whole, substantially as shown
and described.
Data thi hore of Mar 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester and London, Patent Agents.