IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOUR MILLING MACHINE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Basil Wilson, Engineer of 2 Martello Terrace
Holywood Co. Down Ireland for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOUR
MILLING MACHINERY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Basil Wilson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1882.
ALEXANDER BASIL WILSON Engineer of 2 Martello Terrace Holywood Co Down
Ireland IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOUR MILLING MACHINERY
This invention relates to several detail improvements connected with flour
milling machinery and consists
First In mechanism to be applied to the feed apparatus having working surfaces
running at differential speeds the difference in speed being determined by belts or
friction, as shall regulate the quantity of feed by the difference between the speeds
of the rollers.
Secondly In the employment of a comb to the feed apparatus.
Thirdly In the employment of a continuous web of air filtering surface in motion
Fourthly In an improved manner of securing silk or other dressing material to the
frames supporting same.
Fifthly In improvements in centrifugal dressing machines
The first part of my invention applies to machines known as "Roller Mills" and
only to those when a difference of speed of working surface of each pair of rolls
acting together is obtained by belts or friction and not by gearing.
In such machines I actuate the feeding apparatus by such an arrangement of
belts or gearing combined or separately, that the supply of material to be ground
is regulated by the difference in number of revolutions of the two rolls.
For this purpose I use a similar device to what is known as a "Jack in the box"
motion or hunting screw motion so proportioned that so long as the rolls run at
their proper difference in speed the feed is supplied in quantity as may be

page_text: determined but if they run at a more equal speed by reason of too much feed or
too slack belts the feed is supplied more slowly or stops altogether at such a
difference in speed of the rollers as the "Jack in the Box' or other motion may be
regulated for.
The second portion of my invention applies to all machines in which the feed is
regulated by a revolving roller working in connection with an adjustable shutter.
Resting on or near the roller and behind the shutter I place a comb the teeth of
which are curved into such a form that particles of straw or other foreign
substance which would clog the feed are pushed up the teeth of the comb by the
combined action of the feed roller and the pressure of the material into a position
from which they can be readily seen and removed.
The third portion of my invention relates to all machines the object of which is
to separate light from heavy particles of ground wheat by the action of a current
of air and more particularly to separate such particles from the current of air.
For this purpose I use a continuous web of silk or other suitable material kept
in slow motion and arranged in such a manner that the current of air from which
the light particles have to be separated passes through a portion of the surface
only which is constantly changing as the web advances. Thus exposing the air to
a filter the surface of which is continuously renewed the dust or other matter
readily dropping off the web when removed by its slow motion from the influence
of the air current. This part of my invention applies specially to purifiers and
steive rooms.
The fourth portion of my invention relates to all machines in which a fixed
surface of silk or other porous material is used for separating particles of ground
wheat into different sizes. Such fixed surfaces being either vibrated as in many
purifiers or made to revolve, as in centrifugal dressing machines.
To secure the silk or other material to the frame which carries it I form a groove
round the part to be covered and fasten the material to the frame by rods of metal,
wood or other substance driven or held together with the edge of the material into
the groove, thus avoiding the necessity of binding the material or using paste for
attaching it.
This portion of my invention is specially intended for centrifugal dressing
machines in which case the grooves may form part of the reel or frame or may
consist of strips of sheet metal bent to a suitable form.
The fifth portion of my invention relates to centrifugal dressing machines only.
To prevent currents of air passing to and from the reel and the bran discharge
spout. I form a screw on the central spindle working in a fixed metal tube and
discharge the bran or other substance through the centre of the discharge end of
the reel. And if necessary I make the central spindle hollow and use it as an air
supply or suction pipe as may be required.
1 also make the beaters of sheet metal of ring section or similar thereto the
rounded end being driven into a corresponding recess in the beater carrier
The advantages derived from the use of my invention are. An increase of
capacity of production. An improvement in working.
A reduction in space
required and The greater facility in renewing parts of various machines used for
the purpose

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Basil Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th November 1882.
ALEXANDER BASIL WILSON, Engineer of 2 Martello Terrace, Holywood, Co Down
Ireland IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOUR MILLING MACHINERY
This Invention relates to several detail improvements connected with flour
milling machinery and consists of ;-
First; mechanism to be applied to the feed apparatus having working surfaces
running at differential speeds, the difference in speed being determined by belts or
friction as shall regulate the quantity of feed by the difference between the speeds
of the rollers.
Secondly; the employment of a comb to the feed apparatus.
Thirdly; the employment of a continuous web of air filtering surface in motion.
Fourthly; an improved manner of securing silk or other dressing material to the
frames supporting same.
Fifthly; improvements in centrifugal dressing machines.
"
The First part of my Invention applies to machines hnown as "Roller Mills
and only to those where a difference of speed of working surface of each pair of
rolls acting together is obtained by belts or friction and not by gearing.
In such machines I actuate the feeding apparatus by such an arrangement of
belts or gearing, combined, or separately that the supply of material to be ground
is regulated by the difference in number of revolutions of the two rolls. For this
I use a similar device to what is known as a "Jack in the box
motion or
purpose
hunting screw motion, so proportioned that so long as the rolls run at their proper
difference in speed the feed is supplied in quantity as may be determined; but if
they run at a more equal speed by reason of too much feed, or too slack belts, the
feed is supplied more slowly or stops altogether at such a difference in speed of the
rollers as the "Jack in the box" or other motion may be regulated for.
The Second portion of my Invention applies to all machines in which the feed is
regulated by a revolving roller working in connection with an adjustable shutter.
Resting on or near the roller and behind the shutter I place a comb the teeth of
which are curved into such a form that particles of straw or other foreign
substance which would clog the feed are pushed up the teeth of the comb by
the combined action of the feed roller and the pressure of the material into a
position from which they can be readily seen and removed. The teeth of the
comb may be made of steel and magnetized if required.
The Third portion of my Invention relates to all machines the object of which
is to separate light from heavy particles of ground wheat or other grain by the
action of a current of air and more particularly to separate such particles from the
current of air. For this purpose I use a continuous web of silk or other suitable
material either secured as a covering round one roller or stretched between two
or more rollers kept in slow motion and arranged in such a manner that the
current of air from which the light particles have to be separated passes through
a portion of the surface only which is constantly changing as the web advances,
thus exposing the air to a filter the surface of which is continuously renewed, the
dust or other matter readily dropping off the web when removed by its slow
motion from the influence of the air current.
This part of my Invention applies specially to purifiers and steive rooms.
The Fourth portion of my Invention relates to all machines in which a fixed

page_text: surface of silk or other porous material is used for separating particles of ground
wheat into different sizes such fixed surfaces being either vibrated as in many
purifiers or made to revolve as in centrifugal dressing machines.
To secure the silk or other material to the frame which carries it I form a
groove round the part to be covered and fasten the material to the frame by rods
or bands of metal wood or other substance driven or held together with the edge
of the material into the groove, the material being gripped between the rods or
bands and the sides of the grooves as well as or in addition to being gripped
between the rods or bands and the bottom of the grooves as has been hitherto
done, thus avoiding the necessity of binding the material or using paste for 1
attaching it.
This portion of my Invention is specially intended for centrifugal dressing
machines in which case the grooves may form part of the reel or frame or may
I consist of strips of sheet metal bent to a suitable form.
The Fifth portion of my Invention relates to centrifugal dressing machines only. 1
To prevent currents of air passing to and from the reel and the bran discharge
spout, I form a screw on the central spindle working in a fixed metal tube and
discharge the bran or other substance through the centre of the discharge end of
the reel which metal tube I do not as it has been hitherto made secure with a stud
or projection attached to the end of machine and fitting into a recess in the tube 2
but I either secure it by bolts or screw pins if made cylindrically as hitherto, or in
preference I make the tube for part of its length of other form than cylindrical
which fits into a correspondingly shaped portion of the end of the machine thus
preventing the tube from turning with the reel or moving.
The end of the reel into which the material is fed I form hat shaped. Into the
centre of the part corresponding to the crown I feed the material by a screw fixed
on the central spindle, the diameter of the screw being considerably smaller than
the diameter of the crown.
Round the central bole in the crown through which the screw works and the
feed is delivered I form holes of two inches diameter or thereabouts which are
closed when the machine is at work by paper, cloth, or some easily fractured
material being pasted or otherwise secured over them.
Round the part corresponding to the brim of the hat the frame work and the
silk is secured.and the reel end is so fixed in the machine that the crown of the
hat in which are the holes is outside the external casing and freely exposed:
to view.
In the inside of the hat in line with the brim I fix a circular disc of wire gauze
having a hole in the centre slightly larger than the diameter of the feed screw and
I make the feed screw sufficiently long to pass through the hole in the gauze, the
object of the above being to prevent foreign bodies larger than will pass through
the gauze getting into the reel.
And if necessary I make the central spindle hollow and use it as an air supply
or suction pipe as may be required.
I also make the beaters of sheet metal of such a section either thicker at one
edge or bent into such a form that they can be pushed or driven end wise into
correspondingly shaped recesses in the beater carriers and cannot be moved or
detached therefrom except by being moved end ways, such end ways movement
being only possible when the beaters are parallel to the central spindle. On the
beater carriers being pulled round the central spindle to curve the beaters into
the necessary spiral form the recesses nip the beaters and prevent them from
moving end ways.
The advantages derived from the use of my Invention are; an increase of
capacity of production; an improvement in working; a reduction in space
required; and the greater facility in renewing parts of various machines used
for the purpose.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim ;-
First: The mechanism to be applied to the feed apparatus of Roller mills having
working surfaces running at differential speeds the difference in speed
being determined by belts or friction as shall regulate the quantity of
feed by the difference between the speeds of the rollers as hereinbefore
described.
Secondly-The employment of a comb to the feed apparatus as described.
Thirdly-The employment of a continuous web of air filtering surface in motion
as described.
Fourthly The improved manner of securing silk or other dressing material to
the frame supporting same as described.
Fifthly The improvements in centrifugal dressing machines as described.
:
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Basil Wilson have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eighth day of November in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ALLA.
B. WILSON. (L.)